Wasnt a fact that there was anything wrong with it....but with all the runningbacks in the draft there was no point in resigning julius jonse as a free agent.
!!!2008 NFL Free Agency Thread!!! - Updated When Signings Occur
- Thread starter jedi517
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Wasnt a fact that there was anything wrong with it....but with all the runningbacks in the draft there was no point in resigning julius jonse as a free agent.
Marion Barber is our starter, Jones stiff runnin..no move havin..no tackle breakin ass wanted to start to we chunked him the damn duece and showed no interest in bringing him back. Im hoping we pick up somebody like Felix Jones in the draft
Updated: March 11, 2008, 9:33 AM ET
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing back one of the most popular players in franchise history, signing free agent running back Warrick Dunn on Monday night.
Warrick Dunn
Dunn
Dunn was drafted in the first round by Tampa Bay in 1997 and was the team's feature back until he left for Atlanta in 2002. He remains third on the team's all-time rushing list with 4,200 yards. The Bucs initially let Dunn go because of concerns about salary-cap space and his durability.
But Dunn proved those doubts wrong in Atlanta, rushing for 5,979 yards in the past six seasons. Dunn was released by Atlanta last week after the Falcons brought in free agent Michael Turner from San Diego.
Dunn is 33 and one of only 22 players in NFL history to rush for more than 10,000 yards. He isn't expected to be a feature back in this stint with the Bucs, but he could share time in a backfield that may have to start the season without Carnell Williams, who is coming off a major knee injury.
Updated: March 10, 2008, 8:56 PM ET
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Trent Green's return to the St. Louis Rams was a profitable one.
Trent Green
Green
He agreed to a three-year, $8.9 million deal that included a $2.1 million signing bonus and a $900,000 roster bonus on Monday. With a $1 million base salary, Green will make $4 million in 2008.
Green, who ended last season on injured reserve after his second concussion in 13 months, was cleared to play weeks ago and had several teams, including the New Orleans Saints, looking at him as a backup quarterback. Marc Bulger will be the starter in St. Louis, but he will be backed by a quarterback who is one of the most experienced in football.
Hashmarks
ESPN.com's Matt Mosley, Mike Sando and Pat Yasinskas are following the NFL free-agency frenzy and sharing their thoughts. Get the latest news from the always updated Hashmarks.
Green visited Rams Park last week and had been mulling a decision whether to keep playing. He replaces Gus Frerotte as Bulger's backup in his second stint with the Rams.
"We have now solidified our quarterback position," coach Scott Linehan said. "You will be hard-pressed to find the quality we have at that position."
Green also has a chance to reunite with offensive coordinator Al Saunders, who was hired during the offseason.
Green was released by the Dolphins last month. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2001 to '06, starting every game the first five seasons and the first game of 2006 for a franchise-record 81-game streak.
Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
After losing a bidding war for halfback Julius Jones, the Detroit Lions went back to their own roster and re-signed Tatum Bell.
Tatum Bell
Bell
Bell, 26, agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million deal to stay with the Lions. He came to the Lions last season from the Broncos in a trade that included tackle George Foster. Foster agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million deal over the weekend.
With Kevin Jones coming off a torn ACL, Bell will be given the chance to start this season. He started four games for the Lions in 2007 and had 182 yards on 44 carries last year.
In his final season with the Broncos in 2006, Bell had 1,025 yards and a 4.4-yard average. On any given play, Bell has the ability to break a long run because he has great speed and elusiveness.
If Bell has a great season, he is hoping to hit a big payday in 2009.
Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com.
The Tennessee Titans went within their division to fill a big hole on their offensive line.
Jake Scott
Scott
The Titans have agreed to a four-year deal with guard Jake Scott, who played the past four seasons for the Indianapolis Colts.
Scott said he doesn't expect much of an adjustment from protecting Colts quarterback Peyton Manning to the Titans' mobile Vince Young.
"Well, hopefully, if I'm doing my job he won't have to get outside the pocket too much," Scott said. "But I don't think it's really going to change a lot of what I do."
The Tennessean reported that Scott, 26, will be paid an average of $5 million per season.
The unrestricted free agent started 57 games for the Colts, including a current streak of 55 straight. All but four of his starts came at right guard.
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound Scott will replace Jacob Bell on the Titans offensive line. Bell signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Rams this offseason.
Scott has eight career playoff starts, including the Colts' Super Bowl win in 2006. He was the fifth-round pick of the Colts in the 2004 NFL draft.
The Titans also hired Earnest Byner as their running backs coach.
Byner, a former Pro Bowl running back, said he looks forward to working with LenDale White.
"I like some of the vision he has, some yards after contact, protects the ball good when he gets into the pile," Byner said.
The New York Jets signed free agent running back Jesse Chatman to a one-year deal Sunday. Chatman, out of football in 2006, ran for a career-high 515 yards and a touchdown for Miami last season and caught 27 passes for 161 yards.
"Jesse chose New York because he has a past relationship with a couple of the coaches and feels that it's a great opportunity," agent Brett Tessler said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
The signing, first reported by the Palm Beach Post, gives the Jets depth at the running back position with Thomas Jones and Leon Washington already on the team. Chatman, 28, worked with Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer when the two were with the San Diego Chargers a few years ago.
Chatman became the Dolphins' starting running back after Ronnie Brown was sidelined for the season by a knee injury in Week 7. His best game came in a 13-10 loss to Buffalo in Week 10, when he ran for a career-high 124 yards on 27 carries.
The 5-foot-8, 220-pound Chatman spent his first three NFL seasons with San Diego from 2002 to '04, but was released by the Chargers in July 2005. He signed with the Dolphins before that season, but was traded to New Orleans after being inactive for the first five games. Chatman was then inactive for three games with the Saints before they also released him. After sitting out a year and losing 60 pounds, Chatman was again signed by the Dolphins and revived his NFL career.
-- The Associated Press
After being aggressive in upgrading their defensive line and receiving corps, the Cleveland Browns went back to basics and tried to provide insurance for their offensive line by re-signing guard Lennie Friedman.
Friedman, 31, agreed to a one-year deal to be a backup at guard and center. This will be Friedman's third season with the Browns. He's had two starts over the past two years.
In 10 seasons, Friedman has started 34 games for four teams, including the Bears, Redskins and Broncos.
The Browns also reached a two-year, $7 million deal with Dolphins guard Rex Hadnot.
Hadnot was considered one of the prize offensive linemen on the market. He was talking to the Steelers and the Houston Texans, but he decided to take a short-term deal with the Browns.
At 26, Hadnot will have two years to start on a talented Browns offensive line and then see if he can get a long-term contract.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Buffalo Bills signed free agent tight end Courtney Anderson to a two-year deal on Monday.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Anderson, who met with the team last week, has started 28 of 43 NFL games in the previous four seasons. He has 62 catches for 763 yards and six touchdowns. He played in four games last season without a reception for Detroit and Atlanta.
Anderson will be competing with holdover starter Robert Royal, as the Bills reintroduce the tight end position this season under new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert.
-- The Associated Press
The Houston Texans re-signed free agents tight end Mark Bruener and safety Glenn Earl on Monday.
Bruener, a 13-year veteran, appeared in 14 games with one start for Houston last season. The blocking tight end joined the Texans in 2004 after playing for Pittsburgh his first nine seasons.
Earl missed last season after fracturing his foot in the exhibition opener. A fourth-round pick in 2004, Earl has appeared in 37 games with 31 starts for Houston. He started 15 games at strong safety in 2006 and had 70 tackles, two sacks and an interception.
-- The Associated Press
Tight end Ben Troupe and wide receiver Antonio Bryant signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday.
Troupe played for the Tennessee Titans the past four seasons, starting 29 times. He had 106 receptions for 1,056 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a second-round draft pick by the Titans in 2004.
Bryant was a second-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002 then moved to the Cleveland Browns in 2004 and San Francisco 49ers in 2006. He has 250 receptions for 3,837 yards and 19 touchdowns.
-- The Associated Press
Tight end Eric Johnson agreed to a one-year contract to return to the New Orleans Saints on Monday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Johnson played 14 games for New Orleans last season, catching 48 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns.
-- The Associated Press
The Bengals agreed to terms on a one-year contract Monday with unrestricted free agent linebacker Darryl Blackstock, his agent said.
Agent Brad Blank would not discuss terms of the deal, but said the 24-year-old Blackstock planned to sign Tuesday.
The 6-foot-4, 244-pound Blackstock has 44 career tackles and four sacks in 46 games with the Arizona Cardinals, who chose him in the third round of the 2005 draft. He had 21 tackles and three sacks last season.
The player had a difficult time choosing between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati, but the Bengals made him feel more wanted, with coach Marvin Lewis calling him personally, Blank said. Blackstock visited Cleveland on Wednesday and Cincinnati the next day.
The Cardinals last month declined to tender an offer to Blackstock, who played with Bengals linebacker Ahmad Brooks at Virginia.
-- The Associated Press
Free agent wide receiver D.J. Hackett is scheduled to arrive in the Washington area on Wednesday to meet with the Redskins.
While the Redskins are usually quite active in free agency, Hackett will be the first free agent to visit with the team since the period opened Feb. 29.
"We'll take a look and see if there's something that can work there," said Vinny Cerrato, Washington's executive vice president of football operations. "It's got to work for both sides, so we'll see what happens."
At 6 feet 2 and 208 pounds, Hackett, 26, could provide a big target for quarterback Jason Campbell. Hackett has played for the Seattle Seahawks since entering the league in 2004, and new Redskins coach Jim Zorn previously worked as the Seahawks' quarterbacks coach.
"We've said we'll look at any player who can help us improve as a team," Cerrato said. "Whether it's free agency, trades or the draft, we're going to do everything we can to get better."
Limited to only six games last season because of a high-ankle sprain, Hackett had 32 receptions for 384 yards (a 12.0-yard average) and three touchdowns in the regular season. He played a key role in the Seahawks' 35-14 victory over the Redskins in the first round of the NFC playoffs, catching six passes for 101 yards and one touchdown.
He has best season in 2006, setting personal marks with 45 catches for 610 yards (a 13.6-yard average) and four touchdowns. In his career, Hackett has 105 receptions for 1,394 yards (a 13.3-yard average) and nine touchdowns.
Hackett's agent has been talking with other teams, but has no other visits planned at this time.
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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are bringing back one of the most popular players in franchise history, signing free agent running back Warrick Dunn on Monday night.
Warrick Dunn
Dunn
Dunn was drafted in the first round by Tampa Bay in 1997 and was the team's feature back until he left for Atlanta in 2002. He remains third on the team's all-time rushing list with 4,200 yards. The Bucs initially let Dunn go because of concerns about salary-cap space and his durability.
But Dunn proved those doubts wrong in Atlanta, rushing for 5,979 yards in the past six seasons. Dunn was released by Atlanta last week after the Falcons brought in free agent Michael Turner from San Diego.
Dunn is 33 and one of only 22 players in NFL history to rush for more than 10,000 yards. He isn't expected to be a feature back in this stint with the Bucs, but he could share time in a backfield that may have to start the season without Carnell Williams, who is coming off a major knee injury.
Updated: March 10, 2008, 8:56 PM ET
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Trent Green's return to the St. Louis Rams was a profitable one.
Trent Green
Green
He agreed to a three-year, $8.9 million deal that included a $2.1 million signing bonus and a $900,000 roster bonus on Monday. With a $1 million base salary, Green will make $4 million in 2008.
Green, who ended last season on injured reserve after his second concussion in 13 months, was cleared to play weeks ago and had several teams, including the New Orleans Saints, looking at him as a backup quarterback. Marc Bulger will be the starter in St. Louis, but he will be backed by a quarterback who is one of the most experienced in football.
Hashmarks
ESPN.com's Matt Mosley, Mike Sando and Pat Yasinskas are following the NFL free-agency frenzy and sharing their thoughts. Get the latest news from the always updated Hashmarks.
Green visited Rams Park last week and had been mulling a decision whether to keep playing. He replaces Gus Frerotte as Bulger's backup in his second stint with the Rams.
"We have now solidified our quarterback position," coach Scott Linehan said. "You will be hard-pressed to find the quality we have at that position."
Green also has a chance to reunite with offensive coordinator Al Saunders, who was hired during the offseason.
Green was released by the Dolphins last month. He played for the Kansas City Chiefs from 2001 to '06, starting every game the first five seasons and the first game of 2006 for a franchise-record 81-game streak.
Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
After losing a bidding war for halfback Julius Jones, the Detroit Lions went back to their own roster and re-signed Tatum Bell.
Tatum Bell
Bell
Bell, 26, agreed to a one-year, $1.6 million deal to stay with the Lions. He came to the Lions last season from the Broncos in a trade that included tackle George Foster. Foster agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million deal over the weekend.
With Kevin Jones coming off a torn ACL, Bell will be given the chance to start this season. He started four games for the Lions in 2007 and had 182 yards on 44 carries last year.
In his final season with the Broncos in 2006, Bell had 1,025 yards and a 4.4-yard average. On any given play, Bell has the ability to break a long run because he has great speed and elusiveness.
If Bell has a great season, he is hoping to hit a big payday in 2009.
Senior writer John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com.
The Tennessee Titans went within their division to fill a big hole on their offensive line.
Jake Scott
Scott
The Titans have agreed to a four-year deal with guard Jake Scott, who played the past four seasons for the Indianapolis Colts.
Scott said he doesn't expect much of an adjustment from protecting Colts quarterback Peyton Manning to the Titans' mobile Vince Young.
"Well, hopefully, if I'm doing my job he won't have to get outside the pocket too much," Scott said. "But I don't think it's really going to change a lot of what I do."
The Tennessean reported that Scott, 26, will be paid an average of $5 million per season.
The unrestricted free agent started 57 games for the Colts, including a current streak of 55 straight. All but four of his starts came at right guard.
The 6-foot-5, 295-pound Scott will replace Jacob Bell on the Titans offensive line. Bell signed a free-agent contract with the St. Louis Rams this offseason.
Scott has eight career playoff starts, including the Colts' Super Bowl win in 2006. He was the fifth-round pick of the Colts in the 2004 NFL draft.
The Titans also hired Earnest Byner as their running backs coach.
Byner, a former Pro Bowl running back, said he looks forward to working with LenDale White.
"I like some of the vision he has, some yards after contact, protects the ball good when he gets into the pile," Byner said.
The New York Jets signed free agent running back Jesse Chatman to a one-year deal Sunday. Chatman, out of football in 2006, ran for a career-high 515 yards and a touchdown for Miami last season and caught 27 passes for 161 yards.
"Jesse chose New York because he has a past relationship with a couple of the coaches and feels that it's a great opportunity," agent Brett Tessler said in an e-mail to The Associated Press.
The signing, first reported by the Palm Beach Post, gives the Jets depth at the running back position with Thomas Jones and Leon Washington already on the team. Chatman, 28, worked with Jets offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer when the two were with the San Diego Chargers a few years ago.
Chatman became the Dolphins' starting running back after Ronnie Brown was sidelined for the season by a knee injury in Week 7. His best game came in a 13-10 loss to Buffalo in Week 10, when he ran for a career-high 124 yards on 27 carries.
The 5-foot-8, 220-pound Chatman spent his first three NFL seasons with San Diego from 2002 to '04, but was released by the Chargers in July 2005. He signed with the Dolphins before that season, but was traded to New Orleans after being inactive for the first five games. Chatman was then inactive for three games with the Saints before they also released him. After sitting out a year and losing 60 pounds, Chatman was again signed by the Dolphins and revived his NFL career.
-- The Associated Press
After being aggressive in upgrading their defensive line and receiving corps, the Cleveland Browns went back to basics and tried to provide insurance for their offensive line by re-signing guard Lennie Friedman.
Friedman, 31, agreed to a one-year deal to be a backup at guard and center. This will be Friedman's third season with the Browns. He's had two starts over the past two years.
In 10 seasons, Friedman has started 34 games for four teams, including the Bears, Redskins and Broncos.
The Browns also reached a two-year, $7 million deal with Dolphins guard Rex Hadnot.
Hadnot was considered one of the prize offensive linemen on the market. He was talking to the Steelers and the Houston Texans, but he decided to take a short-term deal with the Browns.
At 26, Hadnot will have two years to start on a talented Browns offensive line and then see if he can get a long-term contract.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Buffalo Bills signed free agent tight end Courtney Anderson to a two-year deal on Monday.
The 6-foot-6, 270-pound Anderson, who met with the team last week, has started 28 of 43 NFL games in the previous four seasons. He has 62 catches for 763 yards and six touchdowns. He played in four games last season without a reception for Detroit and Atlanta.
Anderson will be competing with holdover starter Robert Royal, as the Bills reintroduce the tight end position this season under new offensive coordinator Turk Schonert.
-- The Associated Press
The Houston Texans re-signed free agents tight end Mark Bruener and safety Glenn Earl on Monday.
Bruener, a 13-year veteran, appeared in 14 games with one start for Houston last season. The blocking tight end joined the Texans in 2004 after playing for Pittsburgh his first nine seasons.
Earl missed last season after fracturing his foot in the exhibition opener. A fourth-round pick in 2004, Earl has appeared in 37 games with 31 starts for Houston. He started 15 games at strong safety in 2006 and had 70 tackles, two sacks and an interception.
-- The Associated Press
Tight end Ben Troupe and wide receiver Antonio Bryant signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday.
Troupe played for the Tennessee Titans the past four seasons, starting 29 times. He had 106 receptions for 1,056 yards and seven touchdowns. He was a second-round draft pick by the Titans in 2004.
Bryant was a second-round draft pick by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002 then moved to the Cleveland Browns in 2004 and San Francisco 49ers in 2006. He has 250 receptions for 3,837 yards and 19 touchdowns.
-- The Associated Press
Tight end Eric Johnson agreed to a one-year contract to return to the New Orleans Saints on Monday.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Johnson played 14 games for New Orleans last season, catching 48 passes for 378 yards and two touchdowns.
-- The Associated Press
The Bengals agreed to terms on a one-year contract Monday with unrestricted free agent linebacker Darryl Blackstock, his agent said.
Agent Brad Blank would not discuss terms of the deal, but said the 24-year-old Blackstock planned to sign Tuesday.
The 6-foot-4, 244-pound Blackstock has 44 career tackles and four sacks in 46 games with the Arizona Cardinals, who chose him in the third round of the 2005 draft. He had 21 tackles and three sacks last season.
The player had a difficult time choosing between the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati, but the Bengals made him feel more wanted, with coach Marvin Lewis calling him personally, Blank said. Blackstock visited Cleveland on Wednesday and Cincinnati the next day.
The Cardinals last month declined to tender an offer to Blackstock, who played with Bengals linebacker Ahmad Brooks at Virginia.
-- The Associated Press
Free agent wide receiver D.J. Hackett is scheduled to arrive in the Washington area on Wednesday to meet with the Redskins.
While the Redskins are usually quite active in free agency, Hackett will be the first free agent to visit with the team since the period opened Feb. 29.
"We'll take a look and see if there's something that can work there," said Vinny Cerrato, Washington's executive vice president of football operations. "It's got to work for both sides, so we'll see what happens."
At 6 feet 2 and 208 pounds, Hackett, 26, could provide a big target for quarterback Jason Campbell. Hackett has played for the Seattle Seahawks since entering the league in 2004, and new Redskins coach Jim Zorn previously worked as the Seahawks' quarterbacks coach.
"We've said we'll look at any player who can help us improve as a team," Cerrato said. "Whether it's free agency, trades or the draft, we're going to do everything we can to get better."
Limited to only six games last season because of a high-ankle sprain, Hackett had 32 receptions for 384 yards (a 12.0-yard average) and three touchdowns in the regular season. He played a key role in the Seahawks' 35-14 victory over the Redskins in the first round of the NFC playoffs, catching six passes for 101 yards and one touchdown.
He has best season in 2006, setting personal marks with 45 catches for 610 yards (a 13.6-yard average) and four touchdowns. In his career, Hackett has 105 receptions for 1,394 yards (a 13.3-yard average) and nine touchdowns.
Hackett's agent has been talking with other teams, but has no other visits planned at this time.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Cards, Fitzgerald agree on deal that frees cap space
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
The Arizona Cardinals and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald reached agreement on a blockbuster four-year, $40 million contract that will free up much-needed salary cap room for the team.
Fitzgerald announced the deal on his Web site, saying he will make $33 million over the first three years of the contract.
Over the final two years of his old deal, Fitzgerald was scheduled to make $14,592,500 in 2008 and $17,355,000 in 2009. That put the team in a tight cap bind -- with less than $400,000 of cap room remaining -- so signing players was tough until they struck a deal with Fitzgerald. They had only 48 players on their roster and only 16 players on defense.
The team was trying to find a way to convince Fitzgerald to sign a six-year deal. In the end, Fitzgerald got his way and signed a four-year deal.
Fitzgerald will receive a $15 million signing bonus Tuesday. His base salary will be $2 million, giving him a $17 million payout this year. He has a $5 million option bonus in 2009. Over the four years of his contract, he will receive $30 million in guarantees.
The new deal will save the team $8.842 million in cap room, dropping his salary cap number from $16,485,000 to $7,643,334.
Fitzgerald caught 100 passes for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Cardinals last season. In 60 career games over four year seasons, all in Arizona, he has 330 receptions for 4,544 yards -- a 13.8 yards per catch average -- and 34 touchdowns.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
Cards, Fitzgerald agree on deal that frees cap space
By John Clayton
ESPN.com
The Arizona Cardinals and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald reached agreement on a blockbuster four-year, $40 million contract that will free up much-needed salary cap room for the team.
Fitzgerald announced the deal on his Web site, saying he will make $33 million over the first three years of the contract.
Over the final two years of his old deal, Fitzgerald was scheduled to make $14,592,500 in 2008 and $17,355,000 in 2009. That put the team in a tight cap bind -- with less than $400,000 of cap room remaining -- so signing players was tough until they struck a deal with Fitzgerald. They had only 48 players on their roster and only 16 players on defense.
The team was trying to find a way to convince Fitzgerald to sign a six-year deal. In the end, Fitzgerald got his way and signed a four-year deal.
Fitzgerald will receive a $15 million signing bonus Tuesday. His base salary will be $2 million, giving him a $17 million payout this year. He has a $5 million option bonus in 2009. Over the four years of his contract, he will receive $30 million in guarantees.
The new deal will save the team $8.842 million in cap room, dropping his salary cap number from $16,485,000 to $7,643,334.
Fitzgerald caught 100 passes for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Cardinals last season. In 60 career games over four year seasons, all in Arizona, he has 330 receptions for 4,544 yards -- a 13.8 yards per catch average -- and 34 touchdowns.
John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Source: Giants to give former No. 1 pick Carr one-year deal
ESPN.com news services
Veteran quarterback David Carr has agreed to a one-year contract with the New York Giants, a source told ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas on Wednesday.
Carr, 28, spent last season with Carolina and struggled after taking over for an injured Jake Delhomme. Carr was the No. 1 overall pick in 2002 by Houston and spent the first five years of his career there.
He is expected to compete for the backup job behind Eli Manning.
Carr's best season came in 2004 when he passed for 3,531 yards and 16 touchdowns. Although he had 14 interceptions, the Texans finished 7-9, the best season at that point in the franchise's first three seasons.
But the Texans regressed to 2-14 the next season and 6-10 in 2006. The Texans then acquired former Falcons backup Matt Schaub and cut loose Carr for 2007. With Schaub and then Sage Rosenfels -- who took over due to injury -- at the helm, the Texans went 8-8.
Carr, meanwhile, played in six games for the Panthers last season, throwing for 635 yards and three touchdowns with five interceptions. Carolina went 2-4 in those games, and veteran Vinny Testaverde received the bulk of the starts down the stretch.
Roundup: Falcons bring back QB Harrington after release
ESPN.com news services
As expected, quarterback Joey Harrington has re-signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
Terms of the deal were not known.
Harrington, who lost the starting job to Chris Redman last season, his first with the Falcons, was released last week and re-signed to give the team additional salary-cap room.
The Falcons also cut veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich last month.
The 29-year-old Harrington played in 12 games with 10 starts last season. He completed 215 of 348 passes for 2,215 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. He set a career high by completing 61.8 percent of his passes, but the Falcons were only 3-7 in his starts.
Detroit drafted Harrington No. 3 overall in 2002.
Following five seasons with the Lions and one year in Miami, Harrington signed a two-year, $6 million contract to become Michael Vick's backup.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com and The Associated Press
Safety Keith Davis has followed new Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano from Dallas to Miami.
Davis signed a two-year contract Tuesday. Terms were not disclosed.
Davis will also be reunited with Todd Bowles, the Dolphins' new assistant head coach and secondary coach, who was with the Dallas Cowboys the past three years.
Davis spent the past five seasons with the Cowboys and was their special-teams captain. He made 69 tackles on special teams in the past four years, and also has 22 career starts at safety.
While with the Cowboys, Davis was a shooting victim twice before the start of training camp.
In June 2003, Davis was hit in the hip and elbow while picking up a friend at a topless club. He was then released on the first day of training camp. He rejoined the team the following season and became so valued that he started 15 games.
In 2006, one bullet grazed Davis' head and another lodged in his thigh when he was shot while driving on a Dallas highway. He was released from the hospital in good condition two days after the incident.
In Miami, Davis is expected to compete for a starting spot at strong safety. He also is expected to boost the team's special teams, which were a weak point during the Dolphins' 1-15 season in 2007.
He is the 10th player added to the Dolphins' roster since the free-agent period started on Feb. 29.
-- ESPN.com news services
The Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent wide receiver Devard Darling on Tuesday, shoring up the receiving corps after the release of Eddie Kennison.
Darling, Baltimore's third-round pick in 2004, played in 30 games in four seasons for the Ravens, catching 20 passes for 331 yards with three touchdowns. Eighteen of those catches came in 2007, when he played in every game.
In college, Darling played his freshman season at Florida State before transferring to Washington State after the death of his brother, Devaughn. Devaughn Darling died in 2001 at 18 of an apparent cardiac arrhythmia during an offseason workout at Florida State.
The brothers learned they had a genetic blood disorder, known as a sickle cell trait, from a physical before their freshman year at the school. Medical examiners said the disorder may have contributed to the death, although no definitive medical cause was cited.
The 35-year-old Kennison played for the Chiefs for seven seasons and was their top receiver for most of that time. He was limited by hamstring and shoulder injuries to only eight games last season, catching 13 passes for 101 yards.
-- The Associated Press
The Detroit Lions signed Chuck Darby to a three-year deal Tuesday, nearly a week after agreeing to terms with the defensive tackle.
Detroit hopes the seven-year veteran can help fill the void left by trading Shaun Rogers to Cleveland.
Darby played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2001 to '04, when Detroit coach Rod Marinelli coached their defensive line. He was with the Seattle Seahawks the past three seasons, starting six games last season before going on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Source: Giants to give former No. 1 pick Carr one-year deal
ESPN.com news services
Veteran quarterback David Carr has agreed to a one-year contract with the New York Giants, a source told ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas on Wednesday.
Carr, 28, spent last season with Carolina and struggled after taking over for an injured Jake Delhomme. Carr was the No. 1 overall pick in 2002 by Houston and spent the first five years of his career there.
He is expected to compete for the backup job behind Eli Manning.
Carr's best season came in 2004 when he passed for 3,531 yards and 16 touchdowns. Although he had 14 interceptions, the Texans finished 7-9, the best season at that point in the franchise's first three seasons.
But the Texans regressed to 2-14 the next season and 6-10 in 2006. The Texans then acquired former Falcons backup Matt Schaub and cut loose Carr for 2007. With Schaub and then Sage Rosenfels -- who took over due to injury -- at the helm, the Texans went 8-8.
Carr, meanwhile, played in six games for the Panthers last season, throwing for 635 yards and three touchdowns with five interceptions. Carolina went 2-4 in those games, and veteran Vinny Testaverde received the bulk of the starts down the stretch.
Roundup: Falcons bring back QB Harrington after release
ESPN.com news services
As expected, quarterback Joey Harrington has re-signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
Terms of the deal were not known.
Harrington, who lost the starting job to Chris Redman last season, his first with the Falcons, was released last week and re-signed to give the team additional salary-cap room.
The Falcons also cut veteran quarterback Byron Leftwich last month.
The 29-year-old Harrington played in 12 games with 10 starts last season. He completed 215 of 348 passes for 2,215 yards with seven touchdowns and eight interceptions. He set a career high by completing 61.8 percent of his passes, but the Falcons were only 3-7 in his starts.
Detroit drafted Harrington No. 3 overall in 2002.
Following five seasons with the Lions and one year in Miami, Harrington signed a two-year, $6 million contract to become Michael Vick's backup.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com and The Associated Press
Safety Keith Davis has followed new Dolphins head coach Tony Sparano from Dallas to Miami.
Davis signed a two-year contract Tuesday. Terms were not disclosed.
Davis will also be reunited with Todd Bowles, the Dolphins' new assistant head coach and secondary coach, who was with the Dallas Cowboys the past three years.
Davis spent the past five seasons with the Cowboys and was their special-teams captain. He made 69 tackles on special teams in the past four years, and also has 22 career starts at safety.
While with the Cowboys, Davis was a shooting victim twice before the start of training camp.
In June 2003, Davis was hit in the hip and elbow while picking up a friend at a topless club. He was then released on the first day of training camp. He rejoined the team the following season and became so valued that he started 15 games.
In 2006, one bullet grazed Davis' head and another lodged in his thigh when he was shot while driving on a Dallas highway. He was released from the hospital in good condition two days after the incident.
In Miami, Davis is expected to compete for a starting spot at strong safety. He also is expected to boost the team's special teams, which were a weak point during the Dolphins' 1-15 season in 2007.
He is the 10th player added to the Dolphins' roster since the free-agent period started on Feb. 29.
-- ESPN.com news services
The Kansas City Chiefs signed free agent wide receiver Devard Darling on Tuesday, shoring up the receiving corps after the release of Eddie Kennison.
Darling, Baltimore's third-round pick in 2004, played in 30 games in four seasons for the Ravens, catching 20 passes for 331 yards with three touchdowns. Eighteen of those catches came in 2007, when he played in every game.
In college, Darling played his freshman season at Florida State before transferring to Washington State after the death of his brother, Devaughn. Devaughn Darling died in 2001 at 18 of an apparent cardiac arrhythmia during an offseason workout at Florida State.
The brothers learned they had a genetic blood disorder, known as a sickle cell trait, from a physical before their freshman year at the school. Medical examiners said the disorder may have contributed to the death, although no definitive medical cause was cited.
The 35-year-old Kennison played for the Chiefs for seven seasons and was their top receiver for most of that time. He was limited by hamstring and shoulder injuries to only eight games last season, catching 13 passes for 101 yards.
-- The Associated Press
The Detroit Lions signed Chuck Darby to a three-year deal Tuesday, nearly a week after agreeing to terms with the defensive tackle.
Detroit hopes the seven-year veteran can help fill the void left by trading Shaun Rogers to Cleveland.
Darby played for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2001 to '04, when Detroit coach Rod Marinelli coached their defensive line. He was with the Seattle Seahawks the past three seasons, starting six games last season before going on injured reserve with a knee injury.
Roundup: Lions cut loose former starting running back Jones
ESPN.com news services
After re-signing halfback Tatum Bell to a one-year contract, the Lions have decided to part ways with last year's starting running back, Kevin Jones.
Jones was informed Thursday morning by the team that he will be released. The former No. 1 pick was entering the final year of his rookie contract. Because of an escalator of his base salary and a roster bonus, Jones was scheduled to make $2.5125 million this season. His release will save the team that amount this season. The 25-year-old back missed seven games over the past two years and averaged only 3.8 yards per carry in each of those seasons.
Looking for another running back option, the Lions are considering the possibility of visiting with Bucs halfback Michael Pittman, who is a free agent.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
Cornerback Frank Walker, the only Packers free agent acquisition over the past two years, is leaving to compete for the third cornerback job in Baltimore.
Walker agreed to a two-year, $3.5 million contract with the Ravens Thursday. He received a $1.25 million signing bonus and will make $1.9 million this season.
Walker signed a one-year deal with the Packers last season and was an unrestricted free agent this winter.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued an aggressive off-season free agency pace by reaching a four-year deal with 49ers defensive end Marques Douglas.
Marques Douglas
Douglas
Defensive End
San Francisco 49ers
Profile
2007 Season Stats Tot Solo Ast FF Sack Int
72 56 16 0 3 0
Douglas, 30, becomes the ninth new addition to the Bucs, who continue to work on other deals. Douglas, a 16-game starter for the 49ers, worked in a 4-3 defense in Baltimore and a 3-4 defense in San Francisco. Under defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, the Bucs use a 4-3 defense.
The 6-2, 292-pound Douglas has started 78 out of a possible 80 games over the past five years for both the Ravens and the 49ers. He left the Ravens in 2005 and signed a three-year deal with the 49ers as one of Mike Nolan's first key acquisitions in trying to turn around that team.
Douglas joins defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson and linebackers Teddy Lehman and Leon Joe as additions to the Bucs' defense. Tampa Bay's other five moves were on offense.
The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with receiver Justin McCareins on Wednesday, bringing him back to the team that drafted him.
The Titans drafted McCareins in the fourth-round in 2001 and traded him to the New York Jets in 2004 for a second-round draft pick that year. McCareins started each game his first two seasons with New York but totaled only 13 starts over the past two seasons with 42 combined catches in that time.
He was cut earlier this month by the Jets.
"Justin is a strong, physical receiver that has the ability to get downfield and has a lot of playing experience," general manager Mike Reinfeldt said. "There is obviously a comfort-level from both sides with his previous time here and he adds depth to the receiver group."
Tennessee is trying to improve an offense that managed just nine touchdowns passing last season, one reason coach Jeff Fisher fired offensive coordinator Norm Chow in January and replaced him by bringing back Mike Heimerdinger.
McCareins has size at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. He had 12 starts in 36 games with Tennessee in which he caught 69 passes for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns. In New York, he had 141 catches for 2,062 and seven touchdowns. He saw limited action last season, catching just 19 passes for 232 yards with some costly drops.
His best year came in 2003 with Heimerdinger as McCareins had 47 catches for a career-high 813 yards and seven touchdowns.
McCareins is the second ex-Titan the team has brought back this offseason, joining defensive end Jevon Kearse who agreed to terms last week on a two-year deal. The Titans also have signed offensive guard Jake Scott and tight end Alge Crumpler this offseason.
-- The Associated Press
The Oakland Raiders continued on the fast track to improving their receiving corps by reaching a contract with Panthers wide receiver Drew Carter.
The Associated Press reported that the deal was for one year and $2 million.
Carter was considered one of the fastest receivers remaining on the market. With Javon Walker and Carter now added to the roster, the Raiders believe they have added more explosiveness to the offense.
JaMarcus Russell is expected to be the starting quarterback this season and he has one of the strongest arms in football. The Raiders lost Jerry Porter to the Jaguars at the beginning of free agency.
Carter, 26, started seven games last season for the Panthers. He was a fifth-round pick in 2004.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers declined to match the three-year, $3.5 million offer sheet on restricted safety Kalvin Pearson, allowing him to go to the Detroit Lions.
The Bucs informed Pearson on Wednesday afternoon that he would be allowed to leave. A week ago, he signed the Lions' offer sheet, which included a $1.1 million signing bonus. Because he was undrafted and given the low restricted tender offer, the Bucs will not receive any draft choice compensation with his departure.
Pearson becomes the fourth former Buc to join the Lions this offseason. Cornerback Brian Kelly, safety Dwight Smith and defensive tackle Chuck Darby signed in the past two weeks. Former Bucs defensive line assistant Rod Marinelli is entering his third season as head coach of the Lions.
The Lions also re-signed unrestricted free-agent cornerback Travis Fisher to a three-year contract and released guard-center Blaine Saipaia.
The 5-foot-10-inch, 189-pound Fisher is entering his seventh NFL season and his second with the Lions. Last season, he had he had a career-high 85 tackles, 66 of them solo. He also made two interceptions.
The 6-3, 315-pound Saipaia is a five-year NFL veteran. He served as a backup center, guard and tackle in two seasons with Detroit.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com and The Associated Press
The Redskins re-signed defensive tackle Ryan Boschetti, who was an unrestricted free agent. Terms weren't available. He becomes the third Redskin to re-sign since the start of free agency, joining quarterback Todd Collins and running back Rock Cartwright.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
Kicker Dave Rayner signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins.
Rayner, a three-year veteran, made 15 of 22 field goals for the Kansas City Chiefs last year. He is 41-for-58 in his career.
The Dolphins already have kicker Jay Feely, who was third in the NFL in field-goal accuracy last year, making 21 of 23. Rayner could make the team as a kickoff specialist, his role with Indianapolis as a rookie in 2005.
-- The Associated Press
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed free-agent linebacker Keyaron Fox to a one-year contract that will pay him the minimum salary of $605,000 for a four-year veteran.
Fox played the past four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs after being drafted in the third round in 2004. He's expected to be a backup linebacker and play on special teams, the same role he filled for the Chiefs.
ESPN.com news services
After re-signing halfback Tatum Bell to a one-year contract, the Lions have decided to part ways with last year's starting running back, Kevin Jones.
Jones was informed Thursday morning by the team that he will be released. The former No. 1 pick was entering the final year of his rookie contract. Because of an escalator of his base salary and a roster bonus, Jones was scheduled to make $2.5125 million this season. His release will save the team that amount this season. The 25-year-old back missed seven games over the past two years and averaged only 3.8 yards per carry in each of those seasons.
Looking for another running back option, the Lions are considering the possibility of visiting with Bucs halfback Michael Pittman, who is a free agent.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
Cornerback Frank Walker, the only Packers free agent acquisition over the past two years, is leaving to compete for the third cornerback job in Baltimore.
Walker agreed to a two-year, $3.5 million contract with the Ravens Thursday. He received a $1.25 million signing bonus and will make $1.9 million this season.
Walker signed a one-year deal with the Packers last season and was an unrestricted free agent this winter.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continued an aggressive off-season free agency pace by reaching a four-year deal with 49ers defensive end Marques Douglas.
Marques Douglas
Douglas
Defensive End
San Francisco 49ers
Profile
2007 Season Stats Tot Solo Ast FF Sack Int
72 56 16 0 3 0
Douglas, 30, becomes the ninth new addition to the Bucs, who continue to work on other deals. Douglas, a 16-game starter for the 49ers, worked in a 4-3 defense in Baltimore and a 3-4 defense in San Francisco. Under defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, the Bucs use a 4-3 defense.
The 6-2, 292-pound Douglas has started 78 out of a possible 80 games over the past five years for both the Ravens and the 49ers. He left the Ravens in 2005 and signed a three-year deal with the 49ers as one of Mike Nolan's first key acquisitions in trying to turn around that team.
Douglas joins defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson and linebackers Teddy Lehman and Leon Joe as additions to the Bucs' defense. Tampa Bay's other five moves were on offense.
The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with receiver Justin McCareins on Wednesday, bringing him back to the team that drafted him.
The Titans drafted McCareins in the fourth-round in 2001 and traded him to the New York Jets in 2004 for a second-round draft pick that year. McCareins started each game his first two seasons with New York but totaled only 13 starts over the past two seasons with 42 combined catches in that time.
He was cut earlier this month by the Jets.
"Justin is a strong, physical receiver that has the ability to get downfield and has a lot of playing experience," general manager Mike Reinfeldt said. "There is obviously a comfort-level from both sides with his previous time here and he adds depth to the receiver group."
Tennessee is trying to improve an offense that managed just nine touchdowns passing last season, one reason coach Jeff Fisher fired offensive coordinator Norm Chow in January and replaced him by bringing back Mike Heimerdinger.
McCareins has size at 6-foot-2, 215 pounds. He had 12 starts in 36 games with Tennessee in which he caught 69 passes for 1,202 yards and nine touchdowns. In New York, he had 141 catches for 2,062 and seven touchdowns. He saw limited action last season, catching just 19 passes for 232 yards with some costly drops.
His best year came in 2003 with Heimerdinger as McCareins had 47 catches for a career-high 813 yards and seven touchdowns.
McCareins is the second ex-Titan the team has brought back this offseason, joining defensive end Jevon Kearse who agreed to terms last week on a two-year deal. The Titans also have signed offensive guard Jake Scott and tight end Alge Crumpler this offseason.
-- The Associated Press
The Oakland Raiders continued on the fast track to improving their receiving corps by reaching a contract with Panthers wide receiver Drew Carter.
The Associated Press reported that the deal was for one year and $2 million.
Carter was considered one of the fastest receivers remaining on the market. With Javon Walker and Carter now added to the roster, the Raiders believe they have added more explosiveness to the offense.
JaMarcus Russell is expected to be the starting quarterback this season and he has one of the strongest arms in football. The Raiders lost Jerry Porter to the Jaguars at the beginning of free agency.
Carter, 26, started seven games last season for the Panthers. He was a fifth-round pick in 2004.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers declined to match the three-year, $3.5 million offer sheet on restricted safety Kalvin Pearson, allowing him to go to the Detroit Lions.
The Bucs informed Pearson on Wednesday afternoon that he would be allowed to leave. A week ago, he signed the Lions' offer sheet, which included a $1.1 million signing bonus. Because he was undrafted and given the low restricted tender offer, the Bucs will not receive any draft choice compensation with his departure.
Pearson becomes the fourth former Buc to join the Lions this offseason. Cornerback Brian Kelly, safety Dwight Smith and defensive tackle Chuck Darby signed in the past two weeks. Former Bucs defensive line assistant Rod Marinelli is entering his third season as head coach of the Lions.
The Lions also re-signed unrestricted free-agent cornerback Travis Fisher to a three-year contract and released guard-center Blaine Saipaia.
The 5-foot-10-inch, 189-pound Fisher is entering his seventh NFL season and his second with the Lions. Last season, he had he had a career-high 85 tackles, 66 of them solo. He also made two interceptions.
The 6-3, 315-pound Saipaia is a five-year NFL veteran. He served as a backup center, guard and tackle in two seasons with Detroit.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com and The Associated Press
The Redskins re-signed defensive tackle Ryan Boschetti, who was an unrestricted free agent. Terms weren't available. He becomes the third Redskin to re-sign since the start of free agency, joining quarterback Todd Collins and running back Rock Cartwright.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
Kicker Dave Rayner signed a one-year contract with the Miami Dolphins.
Rayner, a three-year veteran, made 15 of 22 field goals for the Kansas City Chiefs last year. He is 41-for-58 in his career.
The Dolphins already have kicker Jay Feely, who was third in the NFL in field-goal accuracy last year, making 21 of 23. Rayner could make the team as a kickoff specialist, his role with Indianapolis as a rookie in 2005.
-- The Associated Press
The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed free-agent linebacker Keyaron Fox to a one-year contract that will pay him the minimum salary of $605,000 for a four-year veteran.
Fox played the past four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs after being drafted in the third round in 2004. He's expected to be a backup linebacker and play on special teams, the same role he filled for the Chiefs.
Bye, Bye Brunell
From Jason L: Former starting quarterback Mark Brunell has signed with the New Orleans Saints, according to a league source. Brunell visited the Saints this week and also drew significant interest from Atlanta and Green Bay. He was the first player Joe Gibbs pursued after returning to coaching in 2004. He was the primary starter the next two seasons before losing his starting job to Jason Campbell midway through the 2006 season.
From Jason L: Former starting quarterback Mark Brunell has signed with the New Orleans Saints, according to a league source. Brunell visited the Saints this week and also drew significant interest from Atlanta and Green Bay. He was the first player Joe Gibbs pursued after returning to coaching in 2004. He was the primary starter the next two seasons before losing his starting job to Jason Campbell midway through the 2006 season.
he Houston Texans signed former Tennessee Titans halfback Chris Brown on Thursday.
Brown, 26, is being brought in to work with starting halfback Ahman Green in an attempt to turn around the Texans' running attack. What appealed to Gary Kubiak and new assistant head coach Alex Gibbs was Brown's style of running. His style is to make one crisp cut and then try to break a long gain.
His best seasons in Tennessee were in 2004 and 2005 when he rushed for 1,067 yards and 851 yards, respectively. Over the past two years, he had only four starts combined. In Houston, he will get a new start to his career.
Terms of the deal weren't immediately available.
Brown, 26, is being brought in to work with starting halfback Ahman Green in an attempt to turn around the Texans' running attack. What appealed to Gary Kubiak and new assistant head coach Alex Gibbs was Brown's style of running. His style is to make one crisp cut and then try to break a long gain.
His best seasons in Tennessee were in 2004 and 2005 when he rushed for 1,067 yards and 851 yards, respectively. Over the past two years, he had only four starts combined. In Houston, he will get a new start to his career.
Terms of the deal weren't immediately available.
OK. Lions cut kevin jones and kalimba edwards. For their running backs they now have signed Tatum Bell (a guy they felt so good about last year they didn't have him dress for 11 games.) And avian Cason...Exactly. This is one fucked up organization.
Updated: March 14, 2008, 12:07 PM ET
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Wide receiver Bryant Johnson has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, a source told ESPN.com.
Johnson, an unrestricted free agent, was a first-round pick (17th overall) by the Arizona Cardinals in 2003, and had spent his entire career with the Cardinals. Last season, he had 46 receptions for 528 yards and two touchdowns.
* Comment
Wide receiver Bryant Johnson has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, a source told ESPN.com.
Johnson, an unrestricted free agent, was a first-round pick (17th overall) by the Arizona Cardinals in 2003, and had spent his entire career with the Cardinals. Last season, he had 46 receptions for 528 yards and two touchdowns.
The Nation welcomes CB DeAngelo Hall.
The Atlanta Falcons have reached an agreement in principle with the Oakland Raiders to trade cornerback DeAngelo Hall for the Raiders' second-round pick in the 2008 draft, pending the Raiders finalizing a contract with Hall, according to a source close to the Falcons.
Hall is close to agreeing to a contract with the Raiders that will pay him just below what Asante Samuel signed with the Eagles, according to the source. Samuel signed a six-year deal worth a reported $57 million, with $20 million guaranteed.
Hall is a former first-rounder taken with the eighth pick in the 2004 draft.
The Atlanta Falcons have reached an agreement in principle with the Oakland Raiders to trade cornerback DeAngelo Hall for the Raiders' second-round pick in the 2008 draft, pending the Raiders finalizing a contract with Hall, according to a source close to the Falcons.
Hall is close to agreeing to a contract with the Raiders that will pay him just below what Asante Samuel signed with the Eagles, according to the source. Samuel signed a six-year deal worth a reported $57 million, with $20 million guaranteed.
Hall is a former first-rounder taken with the eighth pick in the 2004 draft.
Damn thats all he was going for? Dammit why didn't the Cowboys pull the trigger on this deal?!
Damn thats all he was going for? Dammit why didn't the Cowboys pull the trigger on this deal?!
Cowboy didnt have enough money.plus their happy with newman and Henry
One of them niggas if not both are gonna get hurt...then what? put some 7th round scrub in to get burned like a local whore all season?
(sound familiar)Raiders agree to $70 million deal to pave way for Hall trade
By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
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ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP)—The Raiders and DeAngelo Hall agreed to terms Thursday on $70 million, seven-year contract that paves the way for the former Pro Bowl cornerback to be dealt from Atlanta to Oakland, a person familiar with the talks said.
Hall arrived in the Bay Area to meet with Raiders owner Al Davis and other team officials Wednesday and the deal was completed the following day, the person said on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not been made. Hall will be guaranteed a little more than $24 million in the new deal, the person said.
The Raiders wanted to sign Hall to a new contract before completing the deal with the Falcons in order to make sure they would have Hall for more than one year. Oakland will send a second-round pick, the 34th overall, in next month’s draft and an additional pick to Atlanta in the deal.
Oakland has already traded its third-round pick in this year’s draft to New England for the pick used to select offensive lineman Mario Henderson in 2007, and its fifth-round pick to Denver for defensive tackle Gerard Warren.
The Raiders could try to recoup some of those lost picks by trading either cornerback Fabian Washington or Stanford Routt.
With Hall slated to start opposite standout cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha in what should be one of the league’s best cover duos, Oakland’s top two picks from the 2005 draft will likely be relegated to the bench.
Routt, the second-round pick in ‘05, moved past first-rounder Washington as the starter last season. Routt is better suited to playing nickel back, possibly making Washington the more likely candidate to be traded.
The Raiders have been very active during the free-agency season after winning just four games last season and a league-low 19 the previous five years.
Oakland has signed defensive tackles Tommy Kelly and William Joseph, receivers Javon Walker and Drew Carter, safety Gibril Wilson, offensive linemen Kwame Harris and Cornell Green to deals that could be worth more than $160 million.
The Raiders also placed the exclusive franchise tag on Asomugha, guaranteeing him about $10 million next season, and re-signed running back Justin Fargas to a $12 million, three-year contract that guarantees him $6 million.
Hall was a first-round pick in 2004 and two-time Pro Bowl selection, but he is nearly as well known for his outspoken demeanor. He clashed openly with former Falcons coach Bobby Petrino last season and was benched for a half after a sideline confrontation.
By JOSH DUBOW, AP Sports Writer 2 hours, 20 minutes ago
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ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP)—The Raiders and DeAngelo Hall agreed to terms Thursday on $70 million, seven-year contract that paves the way for the former Pro Bowl cornerback to be dealt from Atlanta to Oakland, a person familiar with the talks said.
Hall arrived in the Bay Area to meet with Raiders owner Al Davis and other team officials Wednesday and the deal was completed the following day, the person said on condition of anonymity because an announcement had not been made. Hall will be guaranteed a little more than $24 million in the new deal, the person said.
The Raiders wanted to sign Hall to a new contract before completing the deal with the Falcons in order to make sure they would have Hall for more than one year. Oakland will send a second-round pick, the 34th overall, in next month’s draft and an additional pick to Atlanta in the deal.
Oakland has already traded its third-round pick in this year’s draft to New England for the pick used to select offensive lineman Mario Henderson in 2007, and its fifth-round pick to Denver for defensive tackle Gerard Warren.
The Raiders could try to recoup some of those lost picks by trading either cornerback Fabian Washington or Stanford Routt.
With Hall slated to start opposite standout cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha in what should be one of the league’s best cover duos, Oakland’s top two picks from the 2005 draft will likely be relegated to the bench.
Routt, the second-round pick in ‘05, moved past first-rounder Washington as the starter last season. Routt is better suited to playing nickel back, possibly making Washington the more likely candidate to be traded.
The Raiders have been very active during the free-agency season after winning just four games last season and a league-low 19 the previous five years.
Oakland has signed defensive tackles Tommy Kelly and William Joseph, receivers Javon Walker and Drew Carter, safety Gibril Wilson, offensive linemen Kwame Harris and Cornell Green to deals that could be worth more than $160 million.
The Raiders also placed the exclusive franchise tag on Asomugha, guaranteeing him about $10 million next season, and re-signed running back Justin Fargas to a $12 million, three-year contract that guarantees him $6 million.
Hall was a first-round pick in 2004 and two-time Pro Bowl selection, but he is nearly as well known for his outspoken demeanor. He clashed openly with former Falcons coach Bobby Petrino last season and was benched for a half after a sideline confrontation.
Last year, the St. Louis Rams, saddled with injuries to their offensive linemen, had to reach into their bench and outside the organization to find players who could compete for starting jobs.
Center Brett Romberg, one of those players who helped from the bench, reached agreement Thursday on a one-year deal to re-sign in St. Louis. Terms were not available. Romberg, 28, started nine games and played more than 50 percent of the snaps.
He becomes the third offensive lineman to re-sign. In the past couple of weeks, the Rams reached one-year deals with guard Adam Goldberg and tackle Brandon Gorin. They also signed Jacob Bell from the Titans to a six-year, $36 million deal.
Romberg, 6 feet 2 and 298 pounds, is a success story. He was an undrafted player out of the University of Miami, spent four years in Jacksonville as a backup and joined the Rams two years ago. In those two seasons, Romberg played in 19 games and had 10 starts.
Due to all of the injuries and the return of most of the players who filled those roles, Rams coach Scott Linehan will have a good stable of options with starting experience. Romberg has a chance to start at center, or, if needed, help out at guard.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Minnesota Vikings added depth to their defensive backfield by signing safety Michael Boulware.
Boulware spent last year with the Houston Texans. The Texans acquired him in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks with the intent of making him the starter, but he was beat out in camp and played mostly on special teams.
The Vikings needed another safety after parting ways with Dwight Smith and letting Tank Williams and Michael Doss leave in free agency.
-- The Associated Press
The Houston Texans re-signed Will Demps and defensive end N.D. Kalu on Thursday.
Demps appeared in 15 games with eight starts at safety in his first season with the Texans in 2007. He finished with 49 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also made three tackles and recovered a fumble on special teams.
Demps averaged 6.5 tackles over the last seven games in 2007. He made a season-high 12 tackles at Tennessee on Dec. 2 and he forced and recovered a fumble the following week against Tampa Bay.
The 6-foot-3, 257-pound Kalu played in 15 games last season, recording 13 tackles, including three sacks. His sack total was his highest since 2003, when he recorded 5.5 for Philadelphia. In two years with Houston, Kalu has played in 30 games with four starts and made 34 tackles, including five sacks.
-- The Associated Press
The Broncos, who laid off eight front office employees Wednesday, went about the business of restocking their football team by reaching a one-year, $645,000 deal with fullback Cecil Sapp.
Sapp, an undrafted free agent out of Colorado, will be entering his sixth season with the Broncos, but clearly 2007 was his most productive. He started eight games and was more involved with the offense than ever before. He caught 14 passes for 51 yards and had 18 carries for 59 yards.
Three teams had been talking to Sapp before he decided to return to the Broncos. He becomes the fourth undrafted free agent to re-sign, joining defensive ends Ebenezer Ekuban and John Engelberger and tight end Nate Jackson.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
With only three safeties on their roster, the Panthers don't have much safety as far as depth, which led them to an agreement Thursday with former Cardinals safety Terrence Holt.
Holt, 27, agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Panthers and will have a chance to compete against Nate Salley for a starting job opposite Chris Harris. Holt was considered a hot property in 2007 free agency. He signed a five-year, $15 million deal with the Cardinals after leaving the Lions.
Despite starting 16 games and playing almost every down on defense last season, Holt was released by the Cardinals Feb. 21. Now, he's the fourth Panthers safety on the roster and has a decent chance of getting a lot of playing time if he has a great training camp. In Detroit and Arizona, he started 41 games in the past three seasons.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Washington Redskins re-signed punter Derrick Frost on Thursday.
Frost returns for his fourth season with the team. He ranked 18th in the NFL last season with a 41-yard gross average and 21st with a 36.4 net average. He had a career-long 64-yard punt in the team's Week 1 victory over Miami.
Frost also serves as the holder on field goal and extra point attempts.
Frost punted for one full season with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Redskins in 2005.
-- The Associated Press
The Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday signed linebacker Brandon Johnson, a free agent who played special teams for Arizona.
Johnson was a fifth-round draft choice out of Louisville in 2006. The 6-foot-5, 224-pounder played in nine games in two seasons for Arizona.
In six games last season, he had six tackles on special teams.
-- The Associated Press
Center Brett Romberg, one of those players who helped from the bench, reached agreement Thursday on a one-year deal to re-sign in St. Louis. Terms were not available. Romberg, 28, started nine games and played more than 50 percent of the snaps.
He becomes the third offensive lineman to re-sign. In the past couple of weeks, the Rams reached one-year deals with guard Adam Goldberg and tackle Brandon Gorin. They also signed Jacob Bell from the Titans to a six-year, $36 million deal.
Romberg, 6 feet 2 and 298 pounds, is a success story. He was an undrafted player out of the University of Miami, spent four years in Jacksonville as a backup and joined the Rams two years ago. In those two seasons, Romberg played in 19 games and had 10 starts.
Due to all of the injuries and the return of most of the players who filled those roles, Rams coach Scott Linehan will have a good stable of options with starting experience. Romberg has a chance to start at center, or, if needed, help out at guard.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Minnesota Vikings added depth to their defensive backfield by signing safety Michael Boulware.
Boulware spent last year with the Houston Texans. The Texans acquired him in a trade with the Seattle Seahawks with the intent of making him the starter, but he was beat out in camp and played mostly on special teams.
The Vikings needed another safety after parting ways with Dwight Smith and letting Tank Williams and Michael Doss leave in free agency.
-- The Associated Press
The Houston Texans re-signed Will Demps and defensive end N.D. Kalu on Thursday.
Demps appeared in 15 games with eight starts at safety in his first season with the Texans in 2007. He finished with 49 tackles, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery. He also made three tackles and recovered a fumble on special teams.
Demps averaged 6.5 tackles over the last seven games in 2007. He made a season-high 12 tackles at Tennessee on Dec. 2 and he forced and recovered a fumble the following week against Tampa Bay.
The 6-foot-3, 257-pound Kalu played in 15 games last season, recording 13 tackles, including three sacks. His sack total was his highest since 2003, when he recorded 5.5 for Philadelphia. In two years with Houston, Kalu has played in 30 games with four starts and made 34 tackles, including five sacks.
-- The Associated Press
The Broncos, who laid off eight front office employees Wednesday, went about the business of restocking their football team by reaching a one-year, $645,000 deal with fullback Cecil Sapp.
Sapp, an undrafted free agent out of Colorado, will be entering his sixth season with the Broncos, but clearly 2007 was his most productive. He started eight games and was more involved with the offense than ever before. He caught 14 passes for 51 yards and had 18 carries for 59 yards.
Three teams had been talking to Sapp before he decided to return to the Broncos. He becomes the fourth undrafted free agent to re-sign, joining defensive ends Ebenezer Ekuban and John Engelberger and tight end Nate Jackson.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
With only three safeties on their roster, the Panthers don't have much safety as far as depth, which led them to an agreement Thursday with former Cardinals safety Terrence Holt.
Holt, 27, agreed to an undisclosed deal with the Panthers and will have a chance to compete against Nate Salley for a starting job opposite Chris Harris. Holt was considered a hot property in 2007 free agency. He signed a five-year, $15 million deal with the Cardinals after leaving the Lions.
Despite starting 16 games and playing almost every down on defense last season, Holt was released by the Cardinals Feb. 21. Now, he's the fourth Panthers safety on the roster and has a decent chance of getting a lot of playing time if he has a great training camp. In Detroit and Arizona, he started 41 games in the past three seasons.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
The Washington Redskins re-signed punter Derrick Frost on Thursday.
Frost returns for his fourth season with the team. He ranked 18th in the NFL last season with a 41-yard gross average and 21st with a 36.4 net average. He had a career-long 64-yard punt in the team's Week 1 victory over Miami.
Frost also serves as the holder on field goal and extra point attempts.
Frost punted for one full season with the Cleveland Browns before joining the Redskins in 2005.
-- The Associated Press
The Cincinnati Bengals on Thursday signed linebacker Brandon Johnson, a free agent who played special teams for Arizona.
Johnson was a fifth-round draft choice out of Louisville in 2006. The 6-foot-5, 224-pounder played in nine games in two seasons for Arizona.
In six games last season, he had six tackles on special teams.
-- The Associated Press
The Patriots, down two cornerbacks because of free agency hits, reached agreement with another veteran, Fernando Bryant, to give them a competitive stable of coverage players.
Bryant, who turns 31 next week, reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Patriots on Thursday morning. Bryant joins Jason Webster and Lewis Sanders as players who signed one-year deals to compete for a starting job with a Super Bowl contender.
The Patriots lost cornerbacks Asante Samuel to the Eagles and Randall Gay to the Saints. They also lost Eugene Wilson to Tampa Bay. Wilson was drafted as a cornerback but finished his Patriots career as a safety.
"Adding a cornerback with Fernando's experience and production is a good opportunity for us," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.
Bryant was a first-round pick of the Jaguars in 1999 and he goes to the Patriots with plenty of experience. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder had 109 career starts for the Jaguars and Lions. He spent the last four years in Detroit, starting 38 games. He was released at the start of free agency.
John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
Bryant, who turns 31 next week, reached agreement on a one-year deal with the Patriots on Thursday morning. Bryant joins Jason Webster and Lewis Sanders as players who signed one-year deals to compete for a starting job with a Super Bowl contender.
The Patriots lost cornerbacks Asante Samuel to the Eagles and Randall Gay to the Saints. They also lost Eugene Wilson to Tampa Bay. Wilson was drafted as a cornerback but finished his Patriots career as a safety.
"Adding a cornerback with Fernando's experience and production is a good opportunity for us," Patriots coach Bill Belichick said.
Bryant was a first-round pick of the Jaguars in 1999 and he goes to the Patriots with plenty of experience. The 5-foot-11, 175-pounder had 109 career starts for the Jaguars and Lions. He spent the last four years in Detroit, starting 38 games. He was released at the start of free agency.
John Clayton covers the NFL for ESPN.com. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
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