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Bobby Carpenter is heading to New England.

Carpenter, a free agent linebacker who spent the 2011 season with the Lions, has signed with the Patriots.

In 2006, Cowboys coach Bill Parcells (who coached Bobby’s dad Rob Carpenter with the Giants) picked Carpenter in the first round of the NFL draft. But Carpenter never became a starter in Dallas and was traded to the Rams after four seasons.

Carpenter was released by the Rams at the end of training camp in 2010, then caught on briefly with the Dolphins, where Parcells was running the front office. After the Dolphins cut him the Lions picked him up. Last season he played in all 16 games in Detroit, starting three. He sparked the Lions’ comeback win over the Cowboys by intercepting his good friend Tony Romo and returning it 34 yards for a touchdown.