Raiders Vikings Football

Oakland Raiders defensive tackle Pat Sims makes a tackle against the Minnesota Vikings during the 2013 season.

(AP Photo)

Defensive tackle Pat Sims is going home - not to Auburn or Fort Lauderdale, but to his original NFL home with the Cincinnati Bengals. Cincinnati announced on Wednesday it had signed the unrestricted free agent.

The Bengals selected Sims out of Auburn in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. The 300-pounder spent his first five NFL seasons as a part-time starter and regular contributor for Cincinnati.

Sims left the Bengals for a one-year, $1.75 million contract from the Oakland Raiders. Sims started every game for the Raiders in 2013 and made a career-high 54 tackles, including two sacks. He re-signed with Oakland for the 2014 season, but Sims lost his starting spot to rookie Justin Ellis and recorded 25 tackles and no sacks.

"Pat was a good player for us here, and we think he can fill a role for us this year," Cincinnati defensive line coach Jay Hayes said. "He lends a physical dimension. He's a very aggressive run player, and we're happy to have him back."

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The Cincinnati Enquirer reported Sims signed a one-year contract at the league minimum. For a seven-year veteran, that would be $870,000.