FOXBORO - The official start of free agency came just after midnight today, and the Patriots have already made a few moves to begin the festivities.

The first official move came with restricted free-agent defensive lineman Mike Wright, who was given a tender offer to stay with the team according to published reports.

Of the three levels of restricted free-agency tenders, Wright received the middle tender, worth a one-year contract at $1.41 million. Any team that would attempt to sign Wright would have to surrender a second-round draft pick to the Patriots if they choose not to match the tender offer made by the other team.

That would be a big bonus for the versatile Wright, who entered the NFL as an undrafted rookie free agent out of Cincinnati. It would also likely be too steep a price for another team to pay. Had the Patriots offered the lower tender of $927,000 for one year, they would not have received compensation if Wright signed elsewhere.

In addition to being a backup defensive end, the 6-foot-4, 295-pound Wright is also capable of backing up Vince Wilfork at nose tackle, although Rashad Moore also filled that role after Wright went on injured reserve late in the season.

More exciting news is likely to be forthcoming today as players begin the chase for free-agency dollars. The Patriots already stand to lose a chunk of their defensive backfield as cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Randall Gay are going to test their value on the market, and free agent safety Eugene Wilson is being allowed to go his separate way.

The Patriots' linebacking corps is heading for a major overhaul with the salary-cap-related release of veteran Rosevelt Colvin and the surprising release of rookie Oscar Lua, who showed promise in last year's training camp but suffered a knee injury and spent the entire year on injured reserve.

Veteran Junior Seau became an unrestricted free agents and is likely to make his intentions known as early as today. It was reported late Thursday that linebacker Tedy Bruschi has agreed to a new multiyear contract with the team.

A league source speaking on condition on anonymity to The Associated Press said the deal is expected to be signed on Friday. Bruschi played and started in all regular season and playoff games this past season.

The receiving corps, revamped last year, is already heading for another rebuilding. The Patriots have told their first two acquisitions of last year, Donté Stallworth and Kelley Washington, that they will not pick up the options on their contracts that would have driven their salaries up by millions of dollars. Reportedly, the Patriots have had conversations with Washington's representatives about returning the receiver to Foxboro at a lower salary, more fitting for a player who didn't crack the receiving lineup last year but excelled on special teams.

Troy Brown is also a restricted free agent and will probably retire.

And then there's the case of Randy Moss, for whom the Patriots did not use their franchise tag to keep him in place for one year at just under $8 million.

The rumors have been swirling that the Patriots already have the record-setting receiver under contract for next year and beyond, and have been unable to announce the pact until today's beginning of free agency. However, there were recent reports of some interest in Moss on the part of the Dallas Cowboys.