Sunday, April 12, 2009

The Chiefs have agreed to contract terms with LB Zach Thomas on Sunday. It is believed to be a one-year deal worth $2 million.

Thomas, 35, started 12 games for the Cowboys in 2008, when he recorded 94 tackles and one sack. He spent his first 12 seasons as a pro with the Dolphins and was voted to the Pro Bowl seven times.

Thomas is the second key veteran linebacker added to the Chiefs' rebuilding defense. Kansas City acquired ex-Patriots LB Mike Vrabel in the trade that brought QB Matt Cassel to town.

After saying they planned to take four quarterbacks to training camp, the Buccaneers appear to have found their "fourth" man, reaching agreement with former Steelers backup and unrestricted free-agent QB Byron Leftwich on Sunday.

Leftwich joins front-runner Luke McCown, veteran Brian Griese and 2008 fifth-round pick Josh Johnson on the Bucs' depth chart at quarterback. Having reportedly received offers from the Redskins and Steelers, Leftwich apparently felt his opportunity to win a starting job was better in Tampa.

Earlier this week the Steelers had offered Leftwich a two-year contract calling for salaries slightly more than the veteran minimum, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. However, Leftwich was assured of no better than the No. 2 job in Pittsburgh, where Ben Roethlisberger is entrenched as the starter.

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Restricted free-agent DT Kedric Golston has signed his one-year, $1.54 million tender to stay with the Redskins.

The sixth-round pick from Georgia in 2006 started 12 games last season, recording 28 tackles and two sacks.

The Redskins have now re-signed all three of their restricted free agents, including DT Anthony Montgomery and PK Shaun Suisham.

Unrestricted free-agent QB Byron Leftwich finally received a contract offer from the Steelers, but it may not be enough to persuade him to return to Pittsburgh.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Steelers offered Leftwich a two-year contract that would pay him slightly more than the veteran minimum. If he were to stay in Pittsburgh, Leftwich would prefer a one-year deal, the Post-Gazette said.

Leftwich has paid visits to the Redskins and the Buccaneers but didn't reach agreement with either team. He is considered arguably the top quarterback remaining on the free-agent market.

The Steelers acquired Leftwich last August after backup Charlie Batch was lost for the season due to a broken clavicle. The team has indicated that it wants to bring back both Leftwich and Batch as backups to Ben Roethlisberger.

Friday, April 10, 2009

The Buccaneers secured a key piece of their offensive line Friday as RFA OLT Donald Penn signed his one-year tender, which is worth $2.8 million. The deadline for restricted free agents to sign their tender is April 17.

Penn, who received the highest-possible tender, has been jockeying for a long-term deal and did not report to Tampa Bay's voluntary minicamp last week. The 25-year-old Utah State product has started 28 games over the past two seasons for the Bucs.

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

The Colts re-signed LB Tyjuan Hagler, the team announced on Wednesday. Hagler was an unrestricted free agent who was not pursued heavily earlier in free agency, and he comes back to his 2008 club, which was needy at linebacker.

Hagler's versatility to play both inside and outside linebacker adds to his value. Although better-suited for the strong side, he could compete for starting duties with Philip Wheeler at weak-side linebacker. They could also shift Clint Session to the weak side and plug in Hagler on the strong side.

The Redskins announced Wednesday that they have signed LB Robert Thomas. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Thomas played in two games with the Raiders in 2008, starting one and registering two tackles. He's entering his eighth pro season, playing in 84 games, starting 50, and registering 292 tackles, two sacks, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

According to multiple reports, the Bengals have signed DT Tank Johnson to a one-year contract. Johnson, who played for the Cowboys last season, will back up slated starters Domata Peko and Pat Sims.

Johnson, 27, played in all 16 games in 2008, starting one. He notched 22 tackles and one sack. Johnson played for Chicago from 2004-06, but his career with the Bears was derailed by off-the-field problems. He played with Dallas the last two seasons.

Monday, April 6, 2009

The Buccaneers have signed TE Kellen Winslow to a new six-year contract, according to various reports.

Winslow, who was acquired for a 2009 second- and '10 fifth-round pick in a trade with the Browns on Feb. 27, had two years remaining on his previous deal. Reports indicate the 25-year-old's new deal is worth $36.1 million and could be worth up to $42.1 million with incentives.

ESPN.com reports that $20.1 million of the contract is guaranteed.

The Rams added much-needed depth to their receiving corps by obtaining WR Laurent Robinson in a trade with the Falcons. The Rams also received Atlanta's fifth-round (160th overall) and sixth-round (196th overall) draft choices in exchange for their own fifth-round (138th overall) and sixth-round (176th overall) selections.

Robinson, a 6-2, 194-pounder entering his third season, competed in 21 contests (six starts) with Atlanta and had 42 catches for 489 yards and one touchdown. He registered career highs in receptions (seven) and receiving yards (114) at Arizona on December 23, 2007, in addition to scoring his first career touchdown, a 74-yard catch-and-run. This past season he fell out of favor with the Falcons' coaching staff for apparently lacking toughness, but he offers intriguing potential to St. Louis' young and inexperienced cast of pass catchers.

The Packers signed free-agent TE Tory Humphrey and released LB Kenny Pettway Monday afternoon.

Humphrey has spent each of his four seasons with the Packers. He played in all 16 games last season and established career highs in catches (11) and receiving yards (162). He missed the entire 2007 season after breaking his leg in training camp. Humphrey is expected to be third on the depth chart at tight end behind incumbent starter Donald Lee and promising second-year pro Jermichael Finley.

Pettway signed with the Packers last season and appeared in eight games, primarily as a special-teams performer.

The Ravens re-signed CB Samari Rolle to a four-year contract on Monday, multiple media outlets reported.

Rolle, who was released in March, will likely be a reserve for the Ravens, who are likely to start Fabian Washington and Domonique Foxworth at cornerback. Rolle started 10 games last season, notching 23 tackles and intercepting three passes.

Rolle, 32, has made 31 interceptions in his career. He is entering his 12th NFL season.

The Vikings have signed restricted free agent DT Fred Evans today. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Evans has been a regular in the DL rotation the past two seasons and could be a key player early this season if starting DTs Kevin Williams and Pat Williams face suspensions for positive tests for illegal substances.

Evans filled in for Pat Williams the final two games of the regular season and the playoff loss in 2008.

The Raiders have signed veteran QB Jeff Garcia, reports indicate.

Garcia, 39, will back up and mentor JaMarcus Russell, who is entering his second season as a full-time starter. The Raiders had been in pursuit of an upgrade behind Russell and also considered signing Kyle Boller before he joined the Rams over the weekend.

Oakland almost signed Garcia two years ago, but lost him to the Buccaneers, for whom Garcia started 24 games over the past two seasons. Garcia is mobile and efficient, and should be able to give Russell some valuable pointers.

Related articles:

Last week's free-agent news wrap-up
By PFW staff, March 30-April 5, 2009