12:38PM Friday
March 22, 2013

Adrian Wilson wasn't sure what he was looking for after being released by the Cardinals, but it's obvious who he was hoping to hear from.

Wilson said when Patriots coach Bill Belichick called, his decision became an easy one.

"Whenever Coach Belichick calls, you answer,'' Wilson said, via Shalise Manza Young of the Boston Globe. "Obviously, being able to compete every year, able to play not only for the playoffs, play for the division, but a chance to play in the Super Bowl, . . .

"At the end of the day, I want to come in and compete with everyone else, I have no trouble with that. Coach Belichick was very up-front with me."

The 33-year-old Wilson appeared beyond his days as an every-down safety last year, as the Cardinals didn't use him on passing downs. But he's still an effective player against the run, and said he has a clear understanding of his role now, after signing a three-year deal with the Patriots. He's likely to be given a chance to compete for the starting strong safety job, but his phsyical style gives the Patriots a lot of options.

"It wasn't a hard sell," he said. "But at the same time, talking to Coach Belichick and getting an understanding of what he wanted from me, it was a good fit.

"The situation last year was strictly a coaches' decision," he said. "I don't think that had anything to do with me losing a step, but obviously nobody gets younger."

But when he had the chance to go to a place that's been good to older safeties in the past, Wilson leaped at the chance.