The Patriots had a couple of transactions today, but so far none of them involved Carolina Panthers pass rusher Julius Peppers. The team announced today that it had signed five players, including free agent offensive lineman Al Johnson.

The Patriots also 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, and announced that they had also re-signed offensive lineman Wesley Britt and safeties Ray Ventrone and Tank Williams.

- Christopher L. Gasper