FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots re-signed wide receiver Jonathan Smith today. Additionally, the Patriots released first-year wide receiver Bam Childress.

Smith, 24, was originally drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2004 NFL Draft. The 5-foot-10-inch, 194-pound wide receiver has played in 16 career games, all with the Bills, and has started one career contest. His NFL totals include eight receptions for 77 yards (9.6 avg.) and a touchdown, six kickoff returns for 152 yards (25.3 avg.), 15 punt returns for 198 yards (13.2 avg.) and a touchdown, and three rushes for 12 yards. Last season with the Bills, the Georgia Tech product caught eight passes for 56 yards (11.2 avg.) and a touchdown while playing in seven games with one start. His punt return for a touchdown came on a 70-yard return against the Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 14, 2004, and provided Buffalo's only scoring in a 29-6 New England victory. In the 2006 preseason, Smith caught six passes for 48 yards and led the Bills with six punt returns for 29 yards. He was claimed off of waivers by the Patriots on Sept. 3, 2006 and was released by the Patriots on Sept. 9, 2006.

Childress, 24, was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent on July 24, 2005. The 5-foot-10-inch, 185-pound wide receiver has played in two career NFL games and was a member of the Patriots practice squad for the first 16 weeks of the 2005 season. He was signed to the active roster on Dec. 31, 2005, and made his NFL debut the next day in New England's regular-season finale against Miami. In that game, he led the team with three receptions for 32 yards and also collected five tackles (2 solo) while playing in the defensive backfield. Childress was released by the Patriots on Sept. 3, 2006 and was signed to the Patriots practice squad the following day. He was signed to the team's active roster on Sept. 9, 2006, and played in the Patriots' 2006 season-opener against Buffalo on Sept. 10, but did not record any statistics.