Former Patriots punter Ken Walter, who struggled mightily at the end of the team's 2003 championship run and lost his job, is attempting a comeback after being out of the game for almost two seasons.

Walter's yips nearly cost the Patriots a few victories in 2003, a year in which he was cut briefly in favor of Brooks Barnard, and then was re-signed for the stretch run.

The Patriots signed current punter Josh Miller for 2004, and Walter was out of work until the Seahawks signed him for a six-game emergency stretch at the end of that season. Now 34, he hasn't punted for an NFL team since.

"I didn't leave the game the way I wanted to," Walter said from his home in Charlotte, "but I signed my [retirement] papers and figured I was done."

So why the comeback attempt?

For one thing, Walter feels healthy again after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder in October 2005, and his physical therapist motivated him to give it a shot. Walter's injury affected the drop on his punts, and he's changed his technique, feeling as if he's driving the ball as well as he ever has. A few teams have taken notice, with the Texans and Jaguars bringing him in for workouts this past week.

Walter, who speaks with former Patriots kicker Adam Vinatieri on a weekly basis, said he looks back fondly on his time in New England (2001-03), in which he won two Super Bowl titles.

"There were so many learning curves -- I was the best of the best, then I was booed, then I had a good game," he said. "Those fans were on me that final season, and for good reason. At times they brought out the best in me, and at times they knocked me down when I was already down. But I wouldn't trade that experience for anything."