Wright re-signs for another year

The price was right for restricted free agent Mike Wright. The Patriots re-signed the reserve defensive lineman yesterday.

Terms of the agreement were not announced and Wright's agent, Andrew "Buddy" Baker, did not return calls seeking comment.

As a restricted free agent, Wright, 26, was able to entertain offers from other teams, but the Patriots retained the right to match. If New England elected not to do so, any team signing Wright, who joined the Patriots as an undrafted free agent out of Cincinnati in 2005, would have had to surrender a second-round pick.

The Patriots extended a one-year, $1.41 million tender to Wright Feb. 28.

The three-year veteran is a valuable and versatile member of the defensive line. Wright is Vince Wilfork's primary backup at nose tackle - Wilfork's contract is up after the 2009 season - can play defensive end, and is a contributor on special teams. The 6-foot-4-inch, 295-pound Wright played in nine games last season, making one start at defensive end. He finished with 12 tackles and a half-sack, and two special teams tackles before being placed on injured reserve Dec. 13 with a foot injury.

Wilson a Buccaneer

After five years of playing safety for the Patriots, Eugene Wilson is set for a fresh start that includes a return to his roots.

Wilson signed a one-year, $1.8 million contract with Tampa Bay yesterday. The Buccaneers plan to play Wilson at cornerback, the position he played at the University of Illinois before the Patriots switched him to safety his rookie season, 2003.

Wilson's deal includes $500,000 in guarantees and could be worth up to $2.2 million if he reaches all of his incentives.

"He's excited to go back to corner," said James Sims, Wilson's agent. "He feels he'll be playing under one of the best defensive coordinators in the league in Monte Kiffin, a great head coach in Jon Gruden, and a defensive backs coach who everyone swears by in Raheem Morris. [Wilson] really liked [Morris] a lot when he visited with him."

Sims said there were no talks with the Patriots once free agency began, as the sides had agreed to part ways.

Walsh deal closer

Tomorrow will mark a week since the NFL and Michael N. Levy, the lawyer for former Patriots employee Matt Walsh, announced there had been "substantial progress" toward an agreement that would allow Walsh to come forward and detail what he knows, if anything, about the Patriots' illicit videotaping practices. While no agreement is in place and the NFL has not agreed to full legal protection for Walsh, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said yesterday the sides remain on track to reach a deal.

"The lawyers for all involved [the NFL, the Patriots, Mr. Walsh] are getting there," wrote Aiello in an e-mail. "We are on track toward an agreement."

Campus visit

The Patriots held a private workout with Southern Cal defensive end Lawrence Jackson on the USC campus yesterday, according to Jackson's representatives. At 6-4, 271 pounds, Jackson would project to be an outside linebacker in the Patriots' 3-4 defense. He is considered to be as high as a second-round pick among draft experts.

Just because a team holds a private workout for a player doesn't necessarily mean it is genuinely interested. It most accurately indicates the team is still in the process of gathering information, so the player hasn't been ruled out.

Jackson was named to the Associated Press All-America second team after starting all 13 games and totaling 60 tackles (17 for losses) and 10 1/2 sacks. He finished his four-year career at USC with 30 1/2 sacks.