ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Wednesday, May 29, 1996                TAG: 9605290122
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B-3  EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS 

SLADE SIGNS 1-YEAR DEAL WITH PATRIOTS

Linebacker Chris Slade, who has led New England in sacks the past three NFL seasons, signed a one-year contract with the Patriots on Tuesday.

Slade, who has had 22.5 sacks since 1993 and had four last season, was a fourth-year restricted free agent.

Slade, 25, was drafted by the Patriots in 1993 in the second round out of the University of Virginia. In his first year, he led AFC rookies with nine sacks.

In 1995, Slade had 95 tackles, including 71 unassisted. The 6-foot-5, 242-pounder intercepted one pass and returned it for a 27-yard touchdown against the Buffalo Bills on Nov.26.

Slade was voted AFC's defensive player of the week after making 11 tackles in the Patriots' opener against the Cleveland Browns.

LENGTH: Short :   29 lines
KEYWORDS: FOOTBALL