Even though knee injuries have severely limited his production of late, the Patriots are interested in trading for Deion Branch says beat writer Danny O’Neil.

Branch’s best season came as a Patriot in 2005 when he caught 78 passes for 998 yards and five touchdowns. But in ’06, bad blood between him and the team started to form due to a contract dispute and he wound up filing a grievance against the Pats. He claimed that New England failed to complete a fair trade between him and another team that was willing to give him a contract extension. Finally on September 11, Branch was traded to the Seahawks in exchange for a first round pick in the 2007 draft.

Now the Patriots want him back and apparently Tom Brady has even been lobbying for the team to pull off a trade.

The Seahawks have a couple of young receivers that they would like to get on the field more, so moving Branch would be in their best interest – especially if they can get a mid-round pick for him. Obviously the Patriots have a need at receiver after trading Randy Moss on Wednesday, but will Branch want to return to the team that he cried foul play on? He didn’t exactly leave on the best of terms.

That said, it’s not like Branch has too many years left in the league and he may be willing to let bygones by bygones in hopes of having another chance to win a ring. The Seahawks are currently in the thick of things in the NFC West, but how long will that last? The Patriots still offer him the best opportunity to win.