More New England Patriot Roster Moves...

Coming:

You've gotta hand it to the Patriots, they're always willing to stockpile receivers. A little more than a week after acquiring Greg Lewis to help replace the departed Jabar Gaffney, they added Joey Galloway to the mix on a one-year contract.

The Patriots officially announced the signing of cornerback Shawn Springs. Springs spent the past five seasons with the Washington Redskins after playing the previous seven with the Seattle Seahawks, who chose him with the third overall pick of the 1997 draft out of Ohio State. He has started 147 of his 157 games with 32 interceptions and six fumble recoveries.

The Patriots have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with free agent cornerback Leigh Bodden. The 27-year-old Bodden was released by the Detroit Lions on Feb. 9, after a season in which he had one interception -- although it was the only interception by a defensive back for the 0-16 Lions, who had just four all season. Bodden played last year for the Detroit Lions after spending his first five seasons with the Cleveland Browns, who signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent from Duquesne. Bodden had 13 interceptions and five fumble recoveries in 75 NFL games, 53 of them starts.

The Patriots have signed free agent offensive lineman Al Johnson. The 30-year-old Johnson is a veteran of six NFL seasons with the Cowboys, Cardinals and Miami Dolphins.

The Patriots made official the re-signing of nose tackle/defensive end Mike Wright, who received a four-year deal for about $7.5 million with playing time escalators that could increase the value of the deal by about $10 million.

The Patriots also re-signed offensive lineman Wesley Britt and safeties Ray Ventrone and Tank Williams.

The Patriots have signed a replacement for long snapper Lonie Paxton, who defected to Denver on the first day of free agency, signing a five-year, $5.38 million deal. New England announced today it has signed longtime Arizona Cardinals long snapper Nathan Hodel.

Going:

Larry Izzo, the Patriots' long-time special teams standout who played on all three of the franchise's Super Bowl champions, signed with the New York Jets.

The Patriots' signing of Shawn Springs probably signals the end of cornerback/safety Lewis Sanders career as a Patriot.

In the Works?

The trade that sent Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs appears to be only the first phase of some major wheeling and dealing by the New England Patriots this offseason. The second phase, NFL sources say, is likely to involve a trade that would send . . . Julius Peppers to the Patriots in exchange for the second-round pick (34th overall) they received from the Chiefs Feb. 28.