The Browns released OT Kevin Shaffer on Thursday. They also formally announced the signing of LB David Bowens, who plays inside and outside linebacker.

Shaffer started 47 games in three seasons with the Browns. He began his Cleveland career at left tackle but moved to the right side after the team drafted Joe Thomas in 2007.

The release of Shaffer comes after the club released WR Joe Jurevicius one day earlier.

The Texans re-signed S Nick Ferguson on Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.

Ferguson played in 14 games for Houston last season, starting nine. He notched 59 tackles and defended two passes. He is expected to be the primary backup to SS Dominique Barber and FS Eugene Wilson next season.

Ferguson has started 54 games in nine NFL seasons.

The Dolphins made a necessary fortification to their secondary, agreeing on a multi-year deal with former Cardinals CB Eric Green. Green, 26, comes to Miami after playing his first four seasons in Arizona. Terms of the deal were not immediately known.

Green started five games for Cards in 2008 before being replaced by rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in the lineup. He posted 32 tackles and secured one interception on the season.

The addition of Green helps offset the loss of Andre Goodman, who signed a five-year, $25 million deal with the Broncos after standout performances during the second half of the '08 season.

The Rams released TE Anthony Becht, who played one season with the team after joining the team as a free agent from the Buccaneers in March 2008. The former first-round pick of the Jets in the 2000 draft played in all 16 games for the Rams last season with 11 starts and caught six passes for 39 yards.

The 31-year-old Becht, who had elbow surgery this offseason, has played in 142 career games with 118 starts. He has 178 catches for 1,450 yards and 20 touchdowns in his career, in addition to 10 catches for 76 yards and one TD in seven postseason contests.

The Bears announced they re-signed CB Marcus Hamilton to a one-year deal. Hamilton was an exclusive-rights free agent.

Hamilton, who is heading into his second season, played in eight games for the Bears last season and made six tackles after starting the season with the Bucs. The 25-year-old Virginia product spent the entire 2007 season on the Bucs' practice squad. The Bucs drafted him in the seventh round in '07.

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By PFW staff, March 11, 2009