Tom E. Curran • E-mail

After some speculation that the Patriots brilliant but ill-fated 2007 season would be his last, Tedy Bruschi is going to keep on playing.

The soon-to-be-35-year-old inside linebacker agreed to contract terms with the New England Patriots on Thursday and will play at least another season. He would have been an unrestricted free agent starting Friday.

The Patriots’ linebacker corps is in deep flux. The team released outside linebacker Rosevelt Colvin earlier in the week, 39-year-old Junior Seau is a free agent and another “graduation” can’t be ruled out for him. That leaves Bruschi, 32-year-old Pro Bowler Mike Vrabel and soon-to-be 31 Adalius Thomas in the fold.

Bruschi, who suffered a stroke after returning from the Pro Bowl in 2004, spoke openly about his football mortality this year, acknowledging the end isn’t far off. At his best, Bruschi’s quickness and strength combined with great instincts made him exceptionally dangerous. At this point, he’s getting by on mostly guile but he brings more to New England than mere on-field presence. He’s been with New England since 1996.

In other Patriots news, special teams ace Larry Izzo isn't going anywhere. Izzo, who'll be 34 in September, has agreed in principle to a deal to stay with the Patriots. The 5-10, 228-pounder is almost exclusively a special teams player although he has appeared in some goal line defenses for New England. 

Izzo's entering his 13th year in the league, which is fairly amazing since he went undrafted coming out of Rice in 1996. The Patriots are also close to getting a deal done to keep another special teams specialist, Kelley Washington, in Foxborough.

Free agency news, analysis Broncos sign 7-time Pro Bowl safety Dawkins Skins sign Haynesworth, Hall for $170M Curran: Redskins' big deals are big mistake Rosenthal: Pats get busy, sign Fred Taylor Rosenthal: Jets smart to sign Bart Scott Curran: Major lack of major free agent stars Rosenthal: Star defenders for big bucks Rosenthal: Few prizes await on offense Rotoworld: Leftwich best bet among QBs Houshmandzadeh best WR  |  Lewis top LB Curran: Economic woes huge  |    Video Curran: Teams face tough choices at QB

Washington is a receiver by trade. Although he didn't have a catch for the Patriots in 2007, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder could be moving up the New England depth chart by osmosis.

The Patriots have already taken a pass on Donte Stallworth and receivers Jabar Gaffney and Randy Moss became free agents at 12:01 a.m. ET Friday. That leaves Washington (when he signs), Chad Jackson and Wes Welker as the Pats’ receivers.

It's a little strange Moss hasn't been signed by now given both sides' desire for him to be in New England for the foreseeable future.

But Moss is a mercurial guy and, while talks continue the closer he gets to having the opportunity to hear other offers, the more hands will sweat in New England.