01:00 AM EST on Tuesday, March 28, 2006

BY TOM E. CURRAN
Journal Sports Writer

The Patriots will have to keep the "Help Wanted" signs posted outside the wide receivers meeting rooms a while longer. Eric Moulds won't be coming to town.

Moulds' advisor, Greg Johnson , said last night that the Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles are moving more quickly than the Patriots to strike a deal with the Bills to land Moulds.

"It's not going to work out [with New England]," said Johnson. "The timing's not right. The only way it would get done now is if it falls apart with these other teams, and I don't see that happening.

"I know it would take longer to get it done in New England and these other teams want to know [Moulds' plans] and want to get it done quickly. I've got be honest with you, we'll most likely get it done in the next 48 hours."

The Patriots directly expressed interest in the Bills wide receiver. And the veteran Moulds, who's forcing his way out of a bleak situation in Buffalo, said he'd like to play for the Pats. But the Bills surely would have made it expensive for the Pats to acquire him -- far more pricy than the fourth-round pick they're reportedly willing to accept from Houston.

The Patriots have lost receiver David Givens, Tim Dwight and Andre Davis through free agency so far. They missed out on free agent Joe Jurevicius and expressed no interest in Keyshawn Johnson and Isaac Bruce. Yet even with the recent re-signing of Troy Brown , the club has only Deion Branch, Reche Caldwell and Brown as veteran wideouts of consequence.

With the pool of decent free-agent wide receivers seemingly dry, the Patriots must round out the position either through trades or the draft. A trade for Moulds will not be happening and locating a wideout in the draft who can contribute immediately is rare.

As for the recently acquired Caldwell, he hasn't lived up to expectations in the NFL yet.

The Patriots have plenty of picks for next month's draft including six in the first four rounds. They had the currency to barter with Buffalo. But the Pats would have had to rework Moulds' $7.1-million 2006 salary and deal with his demand to get a deal similar to the three-year, $15-million deal Bruce signed recently.

It doesn't appear they'll have to handle either dilemma now.

Two extra picks

The Patriots picked up two compensatory draft picks for players lost in free agency last year. For losing Joe Andruzzi, David Patten and Adrian Klemm and signing Monty Beisel, the Pats get two picks at the end of the sixth-round of this year's draft (Nos. 205 and 206). The Pats now have 10 picks in the upcoming draft including six on the second day.

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The Pats made it official yesterday, re-signing backup fullback Heath Evans yesterday. The 6-foot, 250-pound Evans joined the Patriots midway through last season, playing in six games. He rushed for 192 yards on 51 carries. The six-year NFL veteran began the season in Miami.

Fantasy camp

The New England Patriots Alumni Club is holding a Pats Fantasy Camp in June at Sanibel Harbour Resort in Fort Myers, Fla. For information call Sports Adventures at 1-888-901-PLAY (7529), or visit their Web site at www.sports-adventures.com or email info@sports-adventures.com.

Coaching school

The Patriots will host the third annual New England Patriots/National Football Foundation Coaching Academy for youth and high school football coaches on Saturday, April 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. The half-day seminar will focus on the fundamental skill development of beginner and youth football coaches. The program will include classroom and on-the-field training. Instructors will include members of the New England Patriots coaching staff. Registration fee is $40 and includes the seminar, a continental breakfast, the National Football Foundation Coaching Playbook and CD, a T-shirt, and an official certificate verifying completion of the program.

Visit www.patriots.com to register. For more information, email coaching@bu.edu.

tcurran@projo.com / (401) 277-7340