NFL Free Agency Capsules: Vikings acquire QB Rosenfels

MINNEAPOLIS - The Minnesota Vikings acquired quarterback Sage Rosenfels from the Houston Texans on Friday and signed him to a two-year, $9 million contract.

Rosenfels' agent, Rick Smith, said his client "is extremely excited for this opportunity."

The 31-year-old Rosenfels will compete with incumbent Tarvaris Jackson for the starting job.

It's the second season in a row that the Vikings have tried to trade for Rosenfels. Last year, the two teams could not agree on compensation, so Minnesota brought in veteran Gus Frerotte as a backup.

It was not immediately clear what the Vikings gave up to land Rosenfels, but the Houston Chronicle previously reported it would be a fourth-round draft pick.

"It's something we've been working on for a while and it finally came to fruition," Smith said. "This is the first time in his career that he's had a great opportunity to start. Nothing has been promised to him. He's just extremely excited for this opportunity."

Rosenfels went 2-3 in five starts for the injured Matt Schaub last season. He threw for 1,431 yards with six touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 66.7 completion percentage.

Bringing in someone to compete with Jackson for the starting job was one of Minnesota's biggest offseason priorities after losing to Philadelphia in the playoffs.

Jackson was benched after two losses to open last season and Frerotte went 8-3 in his place.

When Frerotte went down with a back injury, Jackson flourished to finish the regular season. He rallied the Vikings to a victory over the Lions after Frerotte got injured and won NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors the following week after throwing four touchdown passes in a road victory over Arizona.

In the first round of the playoffs, however, Jackson took a big step back against the frenetic blitzes of the Philly defense. He went 15-for-34 for 164 yards and had an interception returned for a touchdown in a 26-14 loss to the Eagles that ended Minnesota's season.

"We need to put somebody in place that will push (Jackson) and compete with him, and I think competition is the nature of the game," Childress told reporters at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. "At some places it may not be ... (but) in our situation, we need to have a good healthy competition, because I think that makes everybody better."

Rosenfels was up and down last season as well.

He completed 21 of 29 passes for 224 yards and two touchdowns in relief of Schaub against the Vikings in November, but he also threw an interception in the end zone in the 28-21 loss.

In October, Rosenfels came in for Schaub again and had the Texans up by 17 points in the fourth quarter, but fumbled twice down the stretch as the Colts rallied to win 31-27.

But the market for quarterbacks is especially thin this offseason, with other options including Jeff Garcia, Dan Orlovsky, Rex Grossman and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

Playing under Gary Kubiak in Houston, Rosenfels ran a West Coast offense similar to the one that Brad Childress employs in Minnesota. He did throw four more interceptions than touchdowns, but he had a good completion percentage, which is important in this scheme.

Jackson has struggled in that area, having yet to complete better than 59.1 percent of his passes in his three seasons in the league.

Last year he started five games and played in nine total, throwing for 1,056 yards with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions.

The trade likely means the 37-year-old Frerotte, who threw for 2,157 yards with 12 touchdowns and 15 interceptions last season, will be let go.

Texans hire former OL Matthews as assistant coach

HOUSTON - The Texans have hired Hall of Fame lineman Bruce Matthews as an offensive assistant coach.

The move announced Friday is the first coaching job for Matthews. He retired in 2001 after 19 seasons with the Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans. He ranks second to Jackie Slater of the Rams in longest tenure with one franchise.

The 47-year-old Matthews was a first-round pick by the Oilers in 1983. He appeared in 296 games starting 292. He started at all five positions on the offensive line.

Matthews was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007.

Packers interested in free agent DE Chris Canty

It's no surprise that the Green Bay Packers didn't join in the spending spree on the first day of NFL free agency. But they have expressed interest in free agent defensive end Chris Canty.

Canty's agent, Brad Blank, said Friday that Canty already has visits lined up with the New York Giants and Seattle Seahawks, adding that the Packers have called and a visit to Green Bay was a possibility next week.

"When I get a sense of what the market is, I'll call the Packers back and ask, ‘Are you in this?"' Blank said. "And I hope they are."

The Packers' interest in Canty was reported on the Web sites of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Green Bay Press-Gazette earlier Friday.

Canty has played the first four seasons of his career in Dallas after the Cowboys took him in the fourth round of the 2005 draft.

Blank said Canty fits best as a defensive end in a 3-4 defense, tying up blockers to free up outside linebackers to make big plays - as he did for DeMarcus Ware in Dallas. The Packers are switching from a 4-3 alignment to a 3-4 next season, and star pass rusher Aaron Kampman is moving from defensive end to linebacker.

Canty was open to playing in Green Bay if the offer was right, Blank said.

The Packers have taken a conservative approach to free agency under general manager Ted Thompson, placing a larger priority on signing their own players to contract extensions and improving primarily through the draft.

-- Chris Canty

'Pacman's' next football team will be on reality TV

Adam "Pacman" Jones landed a new team Friday. Sort of.

On the opening day of the NFL's free agent signing period, Jones instead was on vacation in Puerto Rico and talking about his role on the upcoming reality TV show "Pros vs. Joes 4: All Stars." His marketing representative refused to allow Jones to comment about what's next in his real playing career, but earlier in the interview Jones declared, "I'm definitely not at the end of my career. I'm basically just getting it going."

The 25-year-old Jones is by far the youngest among the six NFL and six NBA stars who will compete against regular guys in the latest installment of the Spike TV show. All others are either retired or close to it.

"It's a good show," Jones said. "Hopefully I can bring a little excitement to it."

Jones' NFL future is in doubt because of his off-field issues and mediocre performance on the field last season.

He was a star cornerback and kick returner for the Tennessee Titans in 2005 and ‘06, but the NFL suspended him for the entire 2007 season because of an accumulation of legal problems. He was traded to the Dallas Cowboys in 2008, then was suspended for six more games following a fight with his team-provided bodyguard. The Cowboys announced they were dumping him soon after the season ended, weeks before the move actually could be made. His on-field play was a factor, too, as he had no interceptions and a pedestrian 4.5 yards per punt return.

In the TV show, Jones will be reunited with former Tennessee teammate Steve McNair. Tim Brown, Simeon Rice, Priest Holmes and Rich Gannon are the other NFL players who will take on the Joes in three skills competitions and a three-on-three scrimmage in each episode. There will be four episodes per sport, a change from previous seasons when multiple sports were played in each episode.

"I'm going to make sure I do my job," Jones said. "I don't want no balls caught on me."

The basketball talent includes Alonzo Mourning, Robert Horry, Glen Rice, Antoine Walker, Shawn Kemp and Steve Francis. Jones, however, would love to join them.

"I hope so, man," he said. "I'm very competitive. I was All-American in basketball (in high school). There's nothing I can't do."

The show will begin taping March 3. The first episode will air April 27.

-- Jaime Aron

Haynesworth gets 7-year, $100M deal from Redskins

ASHBURN, Va. - After signing a contract with an NFL-record $41 million in guaranteed money, Albert Haynesworth made a guarantee of his own.

"You're not going to remember Albert Haynesworth as a bust," he said.

That's a tall order, even for a player as talented as Haynesworth. The 27-year-old All-Pro defensive tackle has to live up to the $100 million, seven-year contract he signed Friday with the Washington Redskins, a team that reverted to form by snagging the biggest name available with a blockbuster deal within hours of the midnight start of free agency.

"With the contract, it's going to be all on me," Haynesworth said. "My goal is to be the best player on the field and to eventually get to that Hall of Fame status and be mentioned with Reggie White and Bruce Smith and all the greats."

At least he can claim membership in a championship team - as in champions of the offseason. The Redskins also spent the wee hours re-signing cornerback DeAngelo Hall to a $54 million, six-year deal that includes $22.5 million guaranteed.

"We're not done yet," added coach Jim Zorn a few hours before the Redskins agreed to terms with left guard Derrick Dockery on a deal. Dockery played his first four seasons with Washington before leaving for Buffalo as a free agent after the 2006 season.

All this from a team that has laid off at least 30 people since the start of the year in two rounds of cutbacks. The Redskins are among an estimated 10 to 12 teams that have cut staff during the economic downturn.

But marquee free agents appear to be recession-proof. Haynesworth's guaranteed payout tops the $37 million the Atlanta Falcons gave Michael Vick in 2004. He'll receive $32 million of the guaranteed money in the next 13 months.

"I think this is similar to what baseball was," executive vice president for football operations Vinny Cerrato said. "You saw early on, (Mark) Teixeira and CC Sabathia and then after that first wave - nothing. And I think it's going to be similar here (in the NFL). I think after the draft you'll see a lot of veteran guys still out there. There'll be no middle area. It's the top and then it's the bottom."

Asked if he felt sheepish dishing out so much money to a football player during tough times, Cerrato said: "I understand the economy and I watch it every day. We had a budget, and we owe it to the fans to improve the football team."

Haynesworth said his reaction to the money was a loud and astounded "What?" when informed by his agent in a phone call at 3:45 a.m.

"All the years of my mom making me run around the house when I was getting too big, waking me up at about 6 o'clock in the morning to get ready of the season, it guess it's a recouping or something like that," said Haynesworth, whose mother traveled with him to Washington for the news conference.

Meanwhile, the Redskins added another name to the unemployment rolls by cutting expensive, oft-injured cornerback Shawn Springs, deemed expendable after Hall was re-signed.

Still, the theme of the day was the Redskins were back as the first-day free-agent newsmakers. From Smith in 2000 to London Fletcher in 2007, Dan Snyder made his NFL name as the owner who always got the player he wanted, even if it meant overpaying for players who didn't pan out. Snyder's deep pockets have produced only one playoff win this decade.

Last year, the team was uncharacteristically quiet, making no major signings during the entire free-agency period. An 8-8 season with an aging roster - along with the fact that the Redskins have only four picks in upcoming draft - prompted the owner to revert to his old ways.

"I got caffeinated up because I knew that Mr. Snyder was going to be oh-so-ready," Zorn said. "We had a big entourage last night at 12:01, and that phone started humming."

Whatever the money, the Redskins get credit for targeting two deficiencies from last season: sacks and turnovers.

Haynesworth should help with the sacks. The lineman got to the quarterback a career-high 8½ times last year, more than one-third of a Washington team total (24) that tied for 28th in the NFL. If nothing else, he will divert attention away from defensive ends Jason Taylor and Andre Carter, who managed 7½ sacks between them in 2008.

Haynesworth, 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, has 24 sacks in seven NFL seasons since the Titans drafted him in the first round out of the University of Tennessee in 2002. His possible downsides: He hasn't played a full season since his rookie year because of various injuries, he's been known to take plays off, and he's still living down a five-game suspension for swiping his cleated foot over Dallas center Andre Gurode's face in 2006.

The suspension is the NFL's longest for an on-field act, and Haynesworth also was required to attend anger management sessions. Now, having signed with an NFC East team, Haynesworth will face Gurode twice a year.

"I started a new chapter in my life after my incident," Haynesworth said. "It really tested my faith in myself. I had to look at myself and see if I wanted my career to go down the drain, and I wanted all of y'all to remember Albert Haynesworth as the player that kicked somebody in the head - or be remembered as a player that turned around, took his punches, did what he did, and stepped up and became a great player."

Hall will be getting paid to get picks. His five interceptions for the season - three with Oakland, two with Washington - were three more than any other cornerback on the Redskins' roster. Washington had only 18 takeaways in 2008, tied for 28th in the league.

The 25-year-old cornerback also netted his second big payday in as many years. He was guaranteed about $24 million in a $70 million, seven-year contract he signed a year ago with Oakland, but he struggled to adjust to the Raiders' man-to-man defense and was waived after eight games.

The Redskins picked him up less than a week later, and he provided a needed boost to a secondary beset by injuries. He was also a model citizen, avoiding the outbursts that prompted the Atlanta Falcons to trade him to Oakland in 2008.

To fit Haynesworth and Hall under the salary cap, the Redskins spent this month renegotiating several contracts to clear money for the upcoming season. The team also saved money under the cap by releasing linebacker Marcus Washington last week. Then came an eight-hour session at Snyder's house the day before the start of free agency to work out all the possible scenarios.

"The bags under our eyes - and under Albert's eyes - are there for a reason," Zorn said.

-- Joseph White

Browns trade Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay

CLEVELAND -The spectacular moments were too few. The headaches, too many. Kellen Winslow's five-year run with the Cleveland Browns, a succession of stops, starts and setbacks, is finally over.

Cleveland traded the talented and troublesome former Pro Bowl tight end to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Friday in exchange for undisclosed draft picks new coach Eric Mangini can use to begin rebuilding the disappointing Browns following a calamitous 2008 season.

It was not immediately known what selections the Browns received for Winslow, whose stay in Cleveland was marked by brilliance, injuries and controversy.

An All-American at Miami, where his infamous postgame "I'm a soldier" rant shaped outside opinion of him, Winslow missed most of his first two NFL seasons with injuries. He nearly killed himself in a motorcycle accident, but came back and showed flashes of fulfilling his Hall of Fame pedigree.

Winslow squabbled with Cleveland's front office this past season. He was almost always hurt, but he almost always played.

Back in Florida, he's ready for a new beginning.

"Cleveland was great to me," he said in Tampa. "I had a great time playing with Braylon Edwards, Brady Quinn. I'm going to miss those guys. But it's also a new opportunity. I've played with some of the guys on this team - Jeff Faine, Antonio Bryant, Luke McCown. I'm as happy as can be. I'm healthy."

Winslow will be reunited in Tampa with Alfredo Roberts, his tights ends coach in Cleveland the past two seasons.

With the Browns, Winslow had 219 catches for 2,459 yards and 11 touchdowns. He matched Hall of Famer Ozzie Newsome's club record with 89 receptions in 2006 and made 82 in 2007, earning him a Pro Bowl spot. He played in 44 games, but he missed 36 because of injuries.

There had been speculation that Cleveland's new management team of Mangini and general manager George Kokinis would deal Winslow for draft picks - the Browns only had four in the ‘09 draft before the deal - so it was not completely surprising they cut ties with the 25-year-old in a blockbuster move on the first day of free agency.

"The Cleveland Browns thank Kellen for his contributions to this organization over the past five years," Kokinis said in a statement. "We appreciate his passion for the game and wish him success in Tampa Bay. The draft picks we have obtained through this deal will give us greater flexibility as we look to infuse more talent and create competition and depth on this football team."

Winslow's acquisition continues a busy week for the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay cut linebacker Derrick Brooks, an 11-time Pro Bowler and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year; wide receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard; running back Warrick Dunn; and linebacker Cato June in moves to save more than $10 million in salary cap space.

Winslow gives Tampa Bay a versatile offensive weapon. His size and speed make him difficult to defend, but it's unclear who will throw him the ball. Jeff Garcia is not expected to be re-signed, which currently leaves only Brian Griese and Luke McCown - drafted by the Browns the same year as Winslow - to battle it out for the starting job.

Winslow said he hasn't had a chance to speak with Tampa Bay's coaching staff about his role in the offense.

"We haven't gotten that far yet," he said. "I'm sure they'll find a way, though."

Winslow has never lacked confidence. The 6-foot-4, 250-pounder, who before his injuries and multiple knee operations could outrun most defensive backs, was arguably the most talented player on Cleveland's roster. But while he showed uncanny toughness and played through pain, Winslow was often a distraction.

The Browns traded their first-round pick in 2004 and a second rounder to Detroit to move up and select Winslow sixth overall. He broke his leg in just his second game while recovering an onsides kick and missed the remainder of his rookie season. He was rehabbing from the injury when he crashed his high-powered motorcycle while doing stunts in a parking lot.

Winslow was lucky to survive the wreck, suffering serious internal injuries and tearing a ligament in his right knee. He contracted a staph infection in the knee and had to undergo several clean-out procedures. Once healthy he produced, but following the ‘07 season, he hired agent Drew Rosenhaus and asked for a new contract.

The Browns appeared to be making plans for a future without Winslow when they drafted Martin Rucker in the fourth round last season.

Winslow's relationship with the team hit a low when he feuded publicly with former Cleveland GM Phil Savage in October.

Winslow was hospitalized for two days with an "undisclosed illness" and after being released he accused the club, which has had several players contract staph in recent years, of trying to hide his illness. Savage suspended him one game for making disparaging remarks about the team, but the penalty was later rescinded when it was learned that a team employee had sent Winslow e-mails urging him not to reveal the infection.

Winslow told Tampa reporters he is misunderstood.

"People don't really know me yet," he said. "Everybody makes mistakes, and the mistake I made was when I was 19 years old - I'm 25 now- was on national television. Everybody got to see it. I stand here before you now, I think I'm a changed man."

-- Tom Withers

LG Kemoeatu rejects Jets, stays with Steelers

PITTSBURGH - Left guard Chris Kemoeatu turned down an offer from the New York Jets and re-signed Friday with the Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers, who would have been depleted on the offensive line without him.

Kemoeatu's contract is worth $20 million over five seasons and pays him a signing bonus of nearly $4 million, which is believed to be less than the Jets were offering. Nearly $6 million is guaranteed Kemoeatu, a former backup who started only two games during his first three Steelers seasons from 2005-07.

The Steelers released former starting right guard Kendall Simmons on Thursday. Losing Kemoeatu - who helped them win a Super Bowl in his first season as a starter - would have left them with former undrafted free agent Darnell Stapleton as their only experienced guard. Stapleton also was a first-year starter last season.

The Jets wanted Kemoeatu as the replacement for right guard Brandon Moore, but Kemoeatu preferred to stay with a team that has a chance to win a third Super Bowl in five years.

Last year, the Jets signed longtime All-Pro guard Alan Faneca from the Steelers, creating a starting job for Kemoeatu in his fourth season in Pittsburgh.

Kemoeatu was a Steelers sixth-round pick in 2005, likely dropping in the draft because of a 2003 incident in which the former Utah lineman kicked an UNLV player in the face while his helmet was off. Kemoeatu had been suspended for the first half of that game following an on-field dispute with a San Diego State player the week before.

Kemoeatu's contract is the same length as the $24 million, five-year deal Simmons signed in August 2007, only 18 months before Pittsburgh released him.

Simmons' contract included a $7.85 million signing bonus, of which the remaining $4.71 million will count against the Steelers' 2009 salary cap. The Steelers do not have to pay Simmons his non-guaranteed salary of $3.1 million.

Simmons missed the final three months of the regular season and the playoffs last season after tearing an Achilles tendon against the Ravens. The former first-round draft pick also sat out the 2004 season with torn knee ligaments that occurred during training camp.

Simmons' departure means the Steelers probably will be without two longtime starting offensive linemen who missed most of last season with injuries. Former starting left tackle Marvel Smith became a free agent Friday and is likely to leave following the decision to make Max Starks the franchise player.

Starks moved in at left tackle after Smith developed back problems for the second successive season. Smith was limited to five games in 2008, a year after back surgery caused him to miss the final month of the 2007 season.

Another Smith also got no guarantees from the Steelers - guaranteed money, or a job.

Anthony Smith, the safety who unwisely guaranteed a victory over the then-unbeaten Patriots in 2007, became an unrestricted free agent Friday after the Steelers didn't tender him a contract.

The Steelers gave up quickly on Smith, whose career in Pittsburgh declined rapidly after he was a third-round pick from Syracuse in 2006. He angered coach Mike Tomlin not only by guaranteeing the Steelers would beat the Patriots a season later, but by getting beat for two touchdowns during New England's 34-13 victory.

Smith's playing time dwindled last season, and he was deactivated for all three playoff games.

By failing to make a $1 million, one-year qualifying offer to Smith, the Steelers won't receive a draft pick in compensation if he signs elsewhere.

-- Alan Robinson

Titans bring back quarterback Kerry Collins

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Kerry Collins agreed to a two-year, $15 million contract with the Titans on Friday after leading Tennessee to an NFL-best 13-3 record last season.

Coach Jeff Fisher had said he wanted the 36-year-old veteran back, and Collins had said he wanted to play again in Tennessee.

"Kerry did a great job for us last year stepping back into the starting role," Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt said in a statement. "He has veteran leadership, tons of game experience and we expect him to continue to play at a high level for us."

Collins has spent the past three seasons with the Titans. He started the final 15 games of 2008 and won 12. That doesn't include winning the season opener when he came off the bench to relieve an injured Vince Young.

Collins had an 80.2 passer rating in 2008 that was the third highest of his 14-year career. He threw for 2,676 yards with 12 touchdowns and only seven interceptions. He led three game-winning drives in helping the Titans land the AFC's No. 1 seed and was sacked only eight times.

Collins tied Steve McNair's franchise record with his 12 wins, matching his personal best set in 2000 when he helped the New York Giants reach the Super Bowl. He ranks 14th and is second to only Peyton Manning among active quarterbacks with 37,393 yards passing. He is 11th with 3,160 career completions.

Collins was the fifth overall pick in the 1995 draft by Carolina and signed as a free agent with Tennessee in 2006.

Titans agree to terms with nickel back Fuller

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms on a contract with veteran Vincent Fuller, the team's primary nickel back for the past two seasons.

Last season Fuller played in all 16 games and had a career-high 43 tackles and one forced fumble.

In 2007 he returned an interception for a touchdown in consecutive games against New Orleans and Atlanta.

Fuller was a fourth-round draft pick by the Titans out of Virginia Tech in 2005.

Jets sign LB Bart Scott to 6-year deal

NEW YORK - The New York Jets bolstered their defense in a big way Friday, signing former Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott to a $48 million, six-year deal.

The 28-year-old Scott will make $27 million during the first three years of the contract, agent Harold Lewis told The Associated Press.

"These guys really pursued me hard," Scott said in a statement released by the team. "They picked me up from my house early in the morning and really let me know they care, they are serious and they are committed to winning."

Scott is reunited with Rex Ryan, who left Baltimore after four years as the Ravens' defensive coordinator to become coach of the Jets.

"The opportunity to play under coach Ryan again was huge," Scott said. "I've made it no secret how big a role he has played in me taking the steps from being an undrafted rookie free agent to where I am today. I wanted to keep that chemistry going.

"It's been so successful that I didn't want to lose that magic."

Scott, Ryan and defensive coordinator Mike Pettine killed time while waiting for the deal to be completed by taking a trip to a mall near the Jets' training facility.

"We just looked around and things like that, and nobody recognized anybody," Ryan said with a laugh.

Guard Brandon Moore also agreed to return to New York for a $16 million, four-year deal, a person familiar with the terms said on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't announced the contract.

New York cut Moore on Thursday, but opted to bring him back when Pittsburgh left guard Chris Kemoeatu turned down an offer from the Jets and re-signed with the Steelers.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum would only say they were "close to signing" Moore and fullback Tony Richardson, who helped pave the way for Thomas Jones to lead the AFC in rushing last season.

Scott ranked second on the Ravens in tackles last season and will join promising David Harris as speedy, playmaking linebackers in New York's 3-4 defensive scheme.

"We added The Mad Backer today," Ryan said. "What you've seen him do and accomplish in Baltimore, I think is just the tip of the iceberg. ... He's called The Mad Backer because he basically hates the guys in the other color jerseys."

Scott was a major part of a Ravens defense that ranked No. 2 overall and helped Baltimore reach the AFC championship against Pittsburgh. Scott was believed to be the Jets' No. 1 target this offseason, despite former teammates Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs - franchised by Baltimore - also being free agents.

"I think he's going to be more effective with this Jets defense because we're going to have some flexibility with him and David that, quite honestly, we never really had with Ray," Ryan said. "That's not taking anything away from Ray, but Ray was always the MIKE backer and I think now we can switch Bart and David in and out and it's going to give some identification problems to offenses."

Despite signing Scott, the Jets wouldn't completely rule out also signing Lewis.

"We never thought we'd add Brett Favre last August, so right now we're going to take each day one at a time and look at opportunities," Tannenbaum said. "I would never rule out or rule in any player."

Scott originally signed with Baltimore as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Illinois in 2002. He saw significant playing time in his fourth season at middle linebacker when Lewis was injured, and played in the Pro Bowl the following season after he registered a career-high 9½ sacks and two interceptions.

Scott had 82 tackles and 1½ sacks last season for the Ravens.

The Jets are expected to be busy again this offseason in free agency, a year after they spent $140 million on bringing in high-profile players like Richardson, Alan Faneca, Calvin Pace, Damien Woody, and trading for Kris Jenkins and later Favre.

While New York probably won't spend as much this winter, the Jets have several needs after allowing wide receiver Laveranues Coles to become a free agent and cutting tight end Chris Baker, linebackers David Bowens and Brad Kassell and defensive back David Barrett.

A few other former Ravens players could end up back with Ryan. Cornerback Corey Ivy met with the Jets on Friday, and safety Jim Leonhard is scheduled to meet with them Saturday.

Another priority for the Jets this offseason is a contract extension with All-Pro returner-running back Leon Washington.

The speedy and versatile Washington will be entering the final year of his deal, and likely would command a contract of no less than $6 million per year. Darren Sproles, whom Washington is often compared to because of their size, speed and game-changing abilities, was tendered a one-year, $6.62 million offer by San Diego as a non-exclusive franchise player.

-- Dennis Waszak, Jr.

Ravens agree to 4-year, $28M deal with Foxworth

OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Cornerback Domonique Foxworth returned home on Friday, signing a four-year, $27.2 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens that included $16.5 million in guaranteed money.

"I've dreamed of playing here," said Foxworth, who starred at the University of Maryland after playing at nearby Western Tech in Catonsville. "When the Ravens got here, automatically we gravitated to them just like most of the city has because they are a hard-nosed, blue-collar football team."

Foxworth was introduced at a news conference at the Ravens' training complex.

A third-round pick in the 2005 draft by the Denver Broncos, he was traded to the Falcons for a seventh-round draft pick last year. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder has four interceptions in 60 career games. Known for his speed, he's expected to start opposite Fabian Washington, which could leave veteran Samari Rolle on the outside looking in after declining to accept a reduction in pay.

The Ravens cut former Pro Bowl cornerback Chris McAlister recently, saving $8 million against the salary cap. "You can look at it as Domonique has replaced Chris," general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "We have talked about ‘have as many corners as you can.' I think they all find their way on the field at some point."

Foxworth started a career-high 10 games for the Falcons last year and had one interception.

"He's a topflight corner and a topflight corner in the Ravens mold," coach John Harbaugh said. "He's physical. He's hard-nosed. He's smart. He plays extremely hard, and he's willing to tackle."

Newsome, who acknowledging cutting veteran defensive end Marques Douglas, declined to answer questions regarding the status of free agent linebackers Ray Lewis and Bart Scott.

Longtime Falcons LB Brooking becomes free agent

ATLANTA - Keith Brooking, the last remaining player from Atlanta's Super Bowl team, became a free agent Friday after failing to work out a new contract with the Falcons.

The 33-year-old linebacker is a five-time Pro Bowler and the team's leading tackler each of the last eight seasons. But he struggled in pass coverage and was caught out of position when Arizona converted a third-and-16 to clinch its playoff victory over the Falcons.

Brooking has spent his entire football career in the Atlanta area. He grew up in the southern suburbs, played his college ball at Georgia Tech and was a first-round pick of the Falcons in 1998, helping the team reach the Super Bowl his rookie season.

As a backup linebacker, he made eight tackles in the NFC championship game at Minnesota, where Atlanta upset the heavily favored Vikings.

Brooking moved into the lineup the following season and had started every game since the beginning of the 2001 season, a streak of 128 contests.

"There are a lot of moving parts at this time, so I do not wish to comment on my situation," Brooking said in an e-mail. "There will always be a huge place in my heart for the Falcons and the Atlanta community, regardless of what my future holds."

The Falcons declined comment on the negotiations with Brooking.

Earlier this week, Atlanta cut ties with veteran safety Lawyer Milloy, who started the last three seasons. Also becoming unrestricted free agents at 12:01 a.m. Friday: linebacker Michael Boley, cornerback Domonique Foxworth, and defensive end Chauncey Davis.

Foxworth agreed to a four-year, $27.2 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens that included $16.5 million in guaranteed money.

Boley and Foxworth stated most of last season, while Davis was a key backup.

The Falcons are planning an overhaul of their defense, especially the secondary. They are not expected to be major players in free agency, preferring to do most of their work through the draft.

One year ago, Atlanta made a big splash on draft day, landing starters Matt Ryan, Sam Baker and Curtis Lofton, along with key contributors Harry Douglas and Chevis Jackson.

-- Paul Newberry

Meester, Starks staying in Jacksonville

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Jacksonville Jaguars opened free agency by re-signing center Brad Meester and cornerback Scott Starks.

It wasn't the big moves the Jaguars have had in recent years - they signed defensive end Reggie Hayward, cornerback Brian Williams, right tackle Tony Pashos, cornerback Drayton Florence and receiver Jerry Porter to open free agency the last four years - and maybe with good reason.

Most of those moves backfired, especially the signings of Florence and Porter, and owner Wayne Weaver has decided to be more frugal this time around.

The offseason has been filled with turnover, highlighted by the releases of Florence, Porter, running back Fred Taylor and defensive end Paul Spicer.

-- Mark Long

Saints agree to terms with top tackler LB Vilma

NEW ORLEANS - The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms with linebacker Jonathan Vilma on a five-year contract Friday, bringing back the team's leading tackler from last season.

The team didn't disclose the financial terms.

Vilma became a free agent after his first season in New Orleans. He led the Saints with 151 tackles and three forced fumbles and added a sack and an interception.

Vilma, acquired from the New York Jets last season, said he wanted to return to the Saints.

"It wasn't too difficult," he said of the negotiations. "We both agreed pretty easily on the numbers we thought were fair. There was nothing anybody felt was unreasonable. We got it done quickly, got it done smoothly and now we can focus on football."

Vilma played his first four NFL seasons with the Jets and was the NFL's Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2004. A knee injury cost the former University of Miami star the last nine weeks of 2007, but he played all 16 games for the Saints last season.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said re-signing Vilma was the team's priority during the offseason.

"Jonathan proved he could come back from his injury and play at a high level and we expect the same or better from him starting this season," Loomis said in a statement.

Vilma was arrested last month during a traffic stop in Miami on charges that included resisting arrest and obstruction of justice, but prosecutors agreed this week to drop the charges after he agreed to give to charity and clear up outstanding tickets.

"That was the biggest relief, I should say, of anything that's happened this offseason because it was just a very crazy situation," Vilma said. "I'll just leave it at that. I was just glad the Saints didn't pass judgment. They didn't believe a word of what happened, what they said happened. And I was just excited the fans didn't pass judgment either before there was a decision."

Bills sign QB Fitzpatrick

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick has signed with the Buffalo Bills, providing the team an experienced backup behind starter Trent Edwards.

The signing, announced by the Bills late Friday night, came on the first day of the NFL's free-agency period and after the former Cincinnati Bengals player spent the day meeting with Bills executives. A seventh-round pick out of Harvard in 2005, Fitzpatrick went 4-7-1 in a career-high 12 starts for the Bengals in place of injured starter Carson Palmer last season.

In winning his final three starts, Fitzpatrick finished the season with 1,905 yards passing with eight touchdowns and nine interceptions. He spent his first two seasons with St. Louis before being traded to Cincinnati, and has 2,682 yards passing with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions in 19 career games, including 15 starts.

The Bills were in need of an experienced backup to replace J.P. Losman, who wasn't re-signed after his contract expired this offseason. Gibran Hamdan, a third-stringer for Buffalo last year, is also expected to compete for the backup job on a team coming off three consecutive 7-9 seasons and has missed the playoffs for nine straight years.

"We're excited to have Ryan join our team and feel he will add to our quarterback corps," Bills chief operating officer Russ Brandon said.

Fitzpatrick marked the Bills' most significant move a day after they freed up room under their salary cap by releasing high-priced starting guard Derrick Dockery and veteran starting tight end Robert Royal.

Former New York Jets receiver Laveranues Coles visited the Bills headquarters on Friday, but left town without signing a contract. The Bills also entertained a visit from former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Kendall Simmons. Former Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Geoff Hangartner was scheduled to visit with the team, but it wasn't clear whether he made the trip to Buffalo.

-- John Wawrow

Warner turns free agent but still talking to Cards

TEMPE, Ariz. - Kurt Warner's agent declined to say whether his client had scheduled visits with any other teams now that the Arizona Cardinals quarterback has become a free agent.

"I really don't want to get into the specifics with that," Mark Bartelstein said. "Obviously, people are calling."

Warner became a free agent Friday after he and the Cardinals failed to reach a deal on a new contract. The 37-year-old quarterback has made it clear that he wants to remain in Arizona for what probably would be the final two years of his career.

Bartelstein said he and the Cardinals continue to talk.

"Nothing's changed other than free agency has started," he said Friday evening. "It's an hour-by-hour situation is the best way I can put it."

Bartelstein said Warner deserves a salary to match his status after leading the unheralded Cardinals to the Super Bowl last season. The agent said that would be an average of the top five paid players at his position, about $14.5 million.

But Warner's age - he will be 38 when next season starts - could hold down any interest in him and lower the amount he will be paid.

The Cardinals have not commented other than to say one of their top priorities is to re-sign their quarterback.

Patriots sign RB Fred Taylor

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Running back Fred Taylor signed with the New England Patriots on Friday after spending 11 seasons with Jacksonville.

Taylor was cut by the Jaguars in a salary-cup move. He joins a Patriots team seeking depth at running back, with Laurence Maroney having been bothered by injuries for most of his career.

Taylor visited with the Buffalo Bills and the Patriots this week before signing a deal with New England. Terms were not disclosed.

"It was pretty much a no-brainer," Taylor said on a conference call Friday from his South Florida home.

"Who wouldn't want to play in New England? They've been the most successful organization over the last decade or so."

The 33-year-old Taylor ran for more than 11,000 yards with the Jaguars and is 16th on the career rushing list. He has averaged 4.64 yards a carry, fifth among backs with more than 10,000 yards rushing.

Taylor made his first Pro Bowl in 2007. Last season, he averaged a career-low 3.9 yards a carry behind an injury-riddled offensive line, as Maurice Jones-Drew took over more of the load.

Taylor said coach Bill Belichick did not discuss what his specific role would be with the Patriots or how many carries he might expect to get.

"No one has said anything," Taylor said. "What I can tell you is that I anticipate just coming in and competing and trying to make the guys at my position better and them trying to make me better."

Bears sign lineman Frank Omiyale

Lake Forest, Ill. - The Chicago Bears agreed to a four-year contract with free agent Frank Omiyale on Friday, hoping to stabilize an offensive line that could be losing some key pieces.

Omiyale can play tackle and guard, but his role with the Bears is not clear. They need help at tackle, with John Tait telling them he's retiring after 10 seasons and John St. Clair an unrestricted free agent.

"We told (Omiyale) that we wanted to look at him at guard first, but we're not going to limit him in terms of his reps (to) guard," general manager Jerry Angelo said during a conference call. "We'll expose him to tackle, which is where he's been predominantly trained, but we want to expose him at guard as well. How it ultimately comes to fruition, I can't really sit here and say."

The Bears were interested in the 6-foot-4, 310-pound Omiyale coming out of Tennessee Tech, but Atlanta ultimately drafted him in the fifth round in 2005. Since then, he has appeared in 11 games - 10 with Carolina last season. He started against Kansas City on Oct. 5 and helped the Panthers run for 205 yards in a 34-0 victory.

"I had been waiting around three years," Omiyale said. "That was my first opportunity to show what I had, and I knew if I could do well, hopefully windows would open."

Now, he has an opportunity with the Bears. Exactly where he fits in is to be determined.

Angelo made one thing clear Friday: He still wants St. Clair, who can also play guard and tackle.

"This has nothing to do with how we feel about John St. Clair," he said.

Bengals re-sign S Chris Crocker and HB DeDe Dorsey

CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Bengals have re-signed safety Chris Crocker and halfback DeDe Dorsey.

Terms and lengths of the contracts were not released Friday.

Crocker, who joined the Bengals at midseason in 2008, had become an unrestricted free agent when his contract expired. In the final eight games, he had 48 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one interception and a forced fumble.

Dorsey played in the first four games before a season-ending hamstring injury. He had two receptions for 49 yards.

Dorsey had become a free agent earlier Friday.

Lions reportedly have deal with RB Maurice Morris

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions reportedly have reached agreement with running back Maurice Morris on a three-year, $7 million contract.

The deal was reported Friday on NFL.com, but team spokesman Bill Keenist says the Lions "have nothing to confirm right now."

Keenist also says he can't confirm reports that two other free agents - wide receiver Nate Washington and guard Derrick Dockery - met Friday with Lions officials.

Morris rushed for 574 yards and caught 19 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns for Seattle in 2008.

Washington caught 40 passes for 631 yards and three touchdowns with Pittsburgh last season.

Dockery has started all 16 games at left guard each of the past five seasons - the first three with Washington, the past two with Buffalo.

Broncos address running back woes in free agency

DENVER - The Denver Broncos began retooling their team with a couple of free agent running backs Friday.

The Broncos signed Correll Buckhalter to a four-year deal and were putting the finishes touches on a four-year contract for J.J. Arrington, said J.R. Rickert, the agent for both players.

The Broncos, under new leadership in coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders, cleared $37 million in cap space heading into free agency.

Other players they were talking to include safeties Brian Dawkins, whom they were hoping to lure to Denver after 13 seasons in Philadelphia, and Miami's Renaldo Hill, who played a big part in the Dolphins' turnaround last year.

Buckhalter was hampered by knee injuries early in his career, missing three of four seasons from 2002-05. But he was a solid backup to Brian Westbrook the last three seasons in Philadelphia, and his 369 yards rushing last season were more than any Broncos running back. He ran for two scores and caught two touchdown passes among his 26 receptions for 324 yards.

Buckhalter will get a chance to start for the Broncos, who were hit by an injury epidemic in their backfield last season, when they lost an astonishing seven tailbacks to injured reserve, including converted fullback Peyton Hillis (hamstring) and fellow rookie Ryan Torain (knee).

If healthy, Hillis and Torain will also compete for the starting job with Buckhalter.

"It's been a dream of his and a goal of his since he entered the league," Rickert said of Buckhalter's desire to serve as a featured back. "He's always been in a split situation or a No. 2 situation. He sees this as an opportunity to win a starting job. He's not expecting anybody to give it to him.

"But he knows he's capable of being a starting back in the NFL."

Arrington figures he can be a big contributor in the Broncos' backfield, too. He had 187 yards rushing, 255 yards receiving and 923 yards on kickoff returns for the NFC champion Arizona Cardinals last season.

He's spent all four of his NFL seasons in Arizona, where he averaged a career-best 25.6 yards on kickoff returns last year.

"J.J.'s not what most people would consider an every-down back, but he can be effective and explosive when he comes in," Rickert said. "I don't think J.J.'s coming in thinking about starting. Of course, everybody wants to play and start. But I think he understands where he can fit in."

-- Arnie Stapleton