Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Eagles put the finishing touches on their trade to acquire OT Jason Peters from the Bills late Friday. Philadelphia announced it signed Peters, who had two years left on his previous contract, to a new six-year deal, which will keep him on the team through 2014. Terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"Jason Peters is the best left tackle in football," said head coach Andy Reid. "He is a powerful and athletic tackle and I have admired his play over the last few years on film. I have always believed that success in the National Football League is derived from the strong play of the offensive and defensive lines.

"This offseason we have added two young, top-flight offensive linemen in Jason and Stacy Andrews."

The Eagles traded a 2009 first-round pick (No. 28 overall), a '09 fourth-round pick (No. 121 overall) and a sixth-round pick in '10 for Peters, a two-time Pro Bowler.

Friday, April 17, 2009

The Bills added insurance to their RB corps Friday, signing veteran Dominic Rhodes to a two-year contract, NFL.com is reporting.

The Bills' starting running back, Marshawn Lynch, has been suspended by the league for the first three games of the 2009 season for violating its personal-conduct policy. In addition, backup RB Fred Jackson is skipping voluntary workouts this offseason because he's unhappy with his contract. Rhodes has the ability to capably fill in for Lynch during the suspension.

Rhodes spent seven of his eight NFL seasons in Indianapolis, where last year he started four games. He rushed 152 times for 538 yards and six touchdowns, and he caught 45 passes for 302 yards and three scores.

Several news sources are reporting that the Eagles have traded one of their two first-round picks, No. 28 overall, plus other considerations to the Bills for disgruntled OT Jason Peters.

The Eagles had a hole at left tackle, where Peters will land, but had said previously that they were comfortable with either OLG Todd Herremans or ORG Shawn Andrews, both college tackles, playing in the spot that was vacated when Tra Thomas was allowed to sign with Jacksonville.

The Bills now have two first-round picks, including their No. 11 pick. PFW has learned that the Eagles also will send a fourth-round pick, No. 121 overall, plus a sixth-round choice in 2010 to Buffalo to complete the deal.

This trade might take the Eagles out of the sweepstakes to land a veteran receiver, such as Arizona's Anquan Boldin, or Panthers DE Julius Peppers, whose name has been attached to Philadelphia.

The Bengals re-signed RFA LB Rashad Jeanty on Friday.

Jeanty, 26, notched 96 tackles and started 15 games for the Bengals last season. He plays on the strong side in Cincinnati's defense.

Jeanty is entering his fourth season with the Bengals. He played with the CFL's Edmonton Eskimos from 2003-05.

The Bengals also acquired RB Gary Russell on waivers from Pittsburgh. Russell was released on Thursday. Russell has rushed for 98 yards on 35 carries in two NFL season.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

The Lions added some much-needed depth on offense with the free-agent signings of WR Ronald Curry and FB Terrelle Smith.

Curry spent the past seven seasons in Oakland but hasn't had a big season since 2006, when he caught 62 passes for 727 yards. He will get the chance to compete for the No. 3 WR position with Will Franklin, who was signed off waivers from the Chiefs this week, and perhaps a rookie or two.

Smith is considered a good lead blocker and capable receiver. He made the Super Bowl with the Cardinals last season and helped a resurgent running game in the playoffs. He will be the favorite to start at fullback and should be valuable on special teams.

Both players were signed to one-year deals, but no further terms were disclosed.

The Bengals re-signed RFA LB Brandon Johnson on Thursday.

The 6-5, 245-pound Johnson played all 16 games last season and started nine after Keith Rivers suffered a broken jaw in October. Johnson notched 83 tackles and intercepted two passes.

Johnson, 26, is entering his fourth NFL seasons. He played with Arizona in 2006 and '07.

Falcons RFA OG Harvey Dahl has signed his one-year, $1.545 million tender, the team announced Thursday.

Dahl, a third-year veteran, is coming off his first season as a full-time starter. He started 16 games last season after appearing in just five contests in the previous two campaigns. An aggressive blocker with a mean streak, Dahl helped clear holes for the league's second-ranked rushing game, led by 2008 Pro Bowler Michael Turner.

The Niners locked up two key components for the long term early Thursday afternoon, extending the contracts of OLB Parys Haralson and PK Joe Nedney. Haralson, who registered a team-high eight sacks last season, signed a four-year contract extension through 2013. Nedney, who is entering his 14th season, agreed to a two-year contract extension through 2011.

Originally selected in the fifth round (140th overall) of the 2006 draft by the 49ers out of Tennessee, Haralson compiled a career-high 57 tackles in 2008, as he saw action in 16 games (10 starts). A year prior, he tallied 52 tackles and 2½ sacks in 16 games (11 starts) after assuming the starting role due to a season-ending knee injury to LB Manny Lawson.

Nedney is one of the more accurate kickers in the NFL and has connected on 101-of-115 field-goal attempts since being signed by the 49ers in 2005. His .878 field-goal percentage over the past four seasons ranks as the highest conversion total among all NFL kickers during that time span.

The Steelers re-signed QB Charlie Batch and released reserve RB Gary Russell on Thursday.

Batch, 35, is likely to be the top backup to Ben Roethlisberger. He signed a one-year contract. Batch, who missed last season with a shoulder injury, has thrown eight TDs and three interceptions in seven previous campaigns as a Steelers reserve. He has started four games with Pittsburgh.

Russell racked up 98 yards and three TDs on 35 carries in two seasons with Pittsburgh. He saw action as the Steelers' short-yardage back last season and scored on a one-yard TD run in Super Bowl XLIII.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Maurice Jones-Drew has gone from being one of the most underpaid running backs in the league to the third-highest-paid at the position. According to ESPN.com, the Jaguars' featured back has signed a four-year extension that will pay him $8.2 million per year. Steven Jackson and Larry Johnson are the two highest-paid running backs. Jones-Drew was scheduled to earn $535,000 for 2009, the final year of his deal.

Jones-Drew had not been in attendance at the team's voluntary offseason program. With the release of Fred Taylor, the squatty three-year veteran became the No. 1 option and was searching for a contract that would pay him elite money.

As not only an outstanding ballcarrier and receiver, he's also earned praise as one of the best blocking running backs around.

Monday, April 13, 2009

The Packers traded LS J.J. Jansen to the Panthers for a conditional draft pick on Monday, Packers GM Ted Thompson has announced.

Jansen, a Notre Dame product, spent last season on injured reserve with a knee injury. He signed with Green Bay as an undrafted free agent in May.

Jansen will likely replace 15-year veteran Jason Kyle, who is an unrestricted free agent, as Carolina's long snapper.

Several news agencies are reporting the Giants have re-signed CB Kevin Dockery, who was tendered at the second-round level.

Dockery, who will make $1.545 million on his one-year deal, is expected to battle with Terrell Thomas for the team's nickel CB spot.

The Giants have excellent depth at corner with Dockery, Thomas and starters Corey Webster and Aaron Ross.

The Steelers reportedly signed ROLB James Harrison to a six-year contract on Monday. Multiple reports say the deal is worth about $51 million, with $20 million guaranteed.

Harrison, who turns 31 next month, was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year in 2008 after notching 101 tackles and 16 tackles. Harrison also authored one of the all-time individual defensive efforts in Super Bowl XLIII when he returned an interception 100 yards for a touchdown to close out the first half.

Harrison has only been a full-time starter for two seasons, but he has racked up 24½ sacks in that span.

Related articles:

Last week's free-agent news wrap-up
By PFW staff, April 6-12, 2009