Patriots: The Julius Peppers deal would be the icing on the cake.
New England Patriots:
They have gone their typical low-cost, high-reward route, picking up running back Fred Taylor (two years, $5 million) and tight end Chris Baker (two years, $5.3 million, with an option bonus due in 2011 that could make it a five-year, $14.4 million deal) and shoring up the secondary with the additions of cornerbacks Shawn Springs (three years, $10.5 million, with incentives that could push it to $13 million) and Leigh Bodden, who at one year and $2.25 million is a potential Pro Bowl bargain. They also retained safety James Sanders with a modest three-year, $9 million deal.
The Patriots also announced that they re-signed offensive lineman Wesley Britt and safeties Tank Williams and Ray Ventrone. Williams missed all of last season after he suffered a knee injury in the first exhibition game . . . The Patriots made official the re-signing of defensive lineman Mike Wright.
Coach Belichek and company may not be finished even if they can complete a very doable deal for Julius Pepppers.
Patriots' offseason moves
Acquired officially:
TE Chris Baker
LB Tully Banta-Cain
CB Leigh Bodden
WR Joey Galloway
LS Nathan Hodel
C Al Johnson
WR Greg Lewis
CB Shawn Springs
RB Fred Taylor
Retained officially:
LB Eric Alexander
OT Wesley Britt
P Chris Hanson
G Russ Hochstein
S James Sanders
S Ray Ventrone
S Tank Williams
DL Mike Wright
Departed officially:
QB Matt Cassel
FB Heath Evans
WR Jabar Gaffney
LB Larry Izzo
WR C.J. Jones
RB LaMont Jordan
LS Lonie Paxton
LB Darrell Robertson
LB Mike Vrabel
wil.