FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots re-signed exclusive rights free agent offensive tackle Wesley Britt and exclusive rights free agent linebacker Pierre Woods today. Terms of the agreements were not disclosed.
Britt, 26, has played in 14 career games with two starts, all with the Patriots from 2006-2007. The 6-foot-8-inch, 320-pound offensive tackle was originally drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the fifth round (164th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft out of Alabama. Britt was released by the Chargers on Sept. 4, 2005 and was signed to the Patriots' practice squad the following day. He spent the entire 2005 season on New England's practice squad and was signed to the Patriots' active roster on Jan. 30, 2006. He played in 10 games for New England as a first-year player in 2006 and earned his first career start at right tackle at Cincinnati on Oct. 1 of that season. Last season, Britt played in four games while being listed among the day-of-game inactives on 12 occasions. He made one start in 2007, opening as a second tight end in New England's regular season finale against the New York Giants on Dec. 29.
Woods, 26, was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Michigan on May 8, 2006. The 6-foot-5-inch, 250-pound linebacker led the Patriots with 21 special teams tackles in 2007 and has totaled 32 career special teams stops in 24 career regular season games. He has also made seven special teams tackles in six career playoff games. As a rookie in 2006, Woods made New England's opening day roster as an undrafted free agent and finished fourth on the team with 11 special teams tackles while seeing action in eight games. Last season, Woods played in every game and totaled multiple special teams stops in five contests. Woods has also recorded four tackles (2 solo) in defensive play during his career.