FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots signed wide receiver Maurice Price today. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Additionally, the Patriots signed rookie offensive lineman Ryan Wendell to their practice squad and released rookie defensive back Mark Dillard from their practice squad.
Price, 23, was originally signed by the Kansas City Chiefs as a rookie free agent out of Charleston Southern on May 5, 2007. The 6-foot-1-inch, 197-pound wide receiver missed his entire rookie season due to injury after being placed on the Chiefs' reserve/injured list with a clavicle injury on Aug. 27, 2007. Price was listed as a day-of-game inactive for the Chiefs' season-opening game against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 7, 2008. He was released by the Chiefs and signed to their practice squad on Sept. 10, 2008. Price was released from the Chiefs' practice squad on Sept. 19. Price will wear number 17 for the Patriots.
Wendell, 22, was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Fresno State on May 2, 2008. The 6-foot-2-inch, 275-pound guard/center was with the Patriots throughout their 2008 training camp and was released on Aug. 26. Wendell was a four-year starter at Fresno State and was a first-team All-WAC selection as a senior in 2007.
Dillard, 21, was originally signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of Louisiana Tech on May 2, 2008. The 5-foot-11-inch, 210-pound safety was with the Patriots throughout their 2008 training camp and was released in the final preseason roster cutdown on Aug. 30, 2008. He was signed to the practice squad on Aug. 31 and was released from the practice squad on Sept. 10 before being re-signed to the practice squad on Sept. 15.
