New England Patriots center Ryan Wendell has admitted that he was delighted to get the call to return to the club during free agency.

The 28-year-old was allowed to hit the free-agent market by the Patriots, but he did not have to wait too long for the offer to return to Gillette Stadium as he penned a two-year deal late last month.

He told 98.5 The Sports Hub: "It was definitely something different, but it was such a blessing. Just to have the career that I've been able to have here at the Patriots, to even have the opportunity to become a free agent, and to market my skills out there and things like that, it was a blessing to have that opportunity.

"And then to be able to sign back with the Patriots, to be where I want to be, to stay here, to stay home, it was great. I'm very thankful for that."

Wendell arrived in the league as an undrafted free agent in 2008.