Friday, May 8, 2009

In a move that nobody really saw coming, the Rams released seventh-year veteran OLB Pisa Tinoisamoa Friday. "This was a difficult decision based on a lot of factors," Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo said after cutting the cord with the team's leading tackler last season. "I have a great deal of respect for Pisa and wish him all of the best."

The Rams selected Tinoisamoa in the second round (43rd overall) out of Hawaii in the 2003 draft. The selection quickly paid dividends, as he went on to become the first-ever Rams rookie to lead the team in tackles with 121 (70 solo). Tinoisamoa was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent following the 2006 campaign, but five games into that campaign, he signed a $24.7 million contract extension through 2011.

The Raiders added depth to their backfield as they opened minicamp on Friday. Veteran FB Lorenzo Neal and RB Gary Russell were added to the roster.

Neal started seven games for the Ravens last season and has rushed for 807 yards in his 16-year career. He will compete for a roster spot with Oren O'Neal and Luke Lawton.

Russell spent the last two seasons with the Steelers and had a brief stint with the Bengals earlier this offseason. He played in 12 games in 2008, rushing 28 times for 77 yards and three touchdowns.

Thursday, May 7, 2009

The Bengals traded reserve DT Orien Harris to St. Louis in exchange for Rams backup RB Brian Leonard on Thursday.

Leonard, 25, played two seasons for the Rams, carrying 88 times for 310 yards and no touchdowns. He played only two games last season because of a shoulder injury. Leonard played tailback and fullback while starring collegiately at Rutgers.

The 25-year-old Harris played 14 games for the Bengals last season, starting one. He notched 14 tackles.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Ex-Cowboys SS Roy Williams has agreed to a deal with the Bengals, multiple media outlets reported on Wednesday. Williams, who played for Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer in Dallas, is likely to compete for a starting job.

Williams, 28, played seven seasons for the Cowboys, notching 414 tackles and 19 interceptions. He was limited to three games last season after twice breaking his right forearm.

The 6-foot, 221-pound Williams is at his best in run support. The Bengals were 21st against the run last season but were 10th in yards per rush allowed.

The Ravens, who may be looking to bolster their WR corps after having failed to draft a receiver, will work out receivers Jerry Porter, D.J. Hackett, Kelley Washington and Tab Perry over the weekend, The Baltimore Sun reported Wednesday.

Porter caught 11 passes for 181 yards and one TD last season for the Jaguars, who had signed him to a six-year, $30 million contract last offseason. He was released in February.

Hackett caught 13 passes for 181 yards and no touchdowns in 2008 for Carolina.

Perry and Washington have primarily been special-teams contributors. Perry missed last season with an Achilles tendon injury. Washington caught one pass for New England in '08.

Turns out, plenty of talented players want to join the 0-16 Lions.

A day after being released by the Steelers, LB Larry Foote has signed a one-year deal with the Lions.

Foote, who was unhappy with a diminished role in Pittsburgh, starting but coming off the field in passing situations and giving way to younger players such as Lawrence Timmons, now has the best chance to grab the Lions' vacant MLB job. Foote, who turns 29 in June, was scheduled to make $2.9 million this season with Pittsburgh. Teams of his one-year deal with Detroit were not released.

The Lions drafted DeAndre Levy in the third round, and he took the majority of the snaps at this weekend's OTAs, impressing the coaches, but Foote now becomes the favorite inside. He said he wanted to join his hometown Lions - Foote also played collegiately nearby at Michigan - even though the Lions are coming off the worst season in NFL history.

Last weekend, the Lions drafted QB Matthew Stafford No. 1 overall, and Stafford professed a genuine interest in going to Detroit despite many fans' interest in the team drafting LB Aaron Curry.

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

The Redskins added to their OL draft by signing ex-Panther Jeremy Bridges.

Bridges has played guard and tackle and could vie for the ORT position or be a reserve inside. The team likes Bridges' footwork and at least will try him outside at first. Jon Jansen is the current starter, but the team has said it wants more competition there. Stephon Heyer and Mike Williams also could factor at right tackle.

Free agents Pete Kendall and Jason Fabini now appear unlikely to return to Washington.

With the Panthers, Bridges started 14 games in 2006, 10 in '07 and four last season, but he has had legal trouble, with two arrests in two seasons. He also played with the Cardinals prior to that and has 39 starts in his NFL career.

The Saints waived WR Biren Ealy and TE Kolo Kapanui on Tuesday. The two players were arrested early Sunday and received charges of obscenity, disturbing the peace and lewd conduct.

They allegedly exposed themselves to a woman after she told them to stop urinating in public.

New Orleans announced it signed three more undrafted rookies Tuesday. Western Illinois RB Herb Donaldson, Louisville WR Chris Vaughn and Kent State OT Augustus Parrish were added to the roster.

The Cardinals are keeping busy on the transactions front, announcing the signing of former Rams TE Dominique Byrd early Tuesday afternoon, one day after adding veteran OT Oliver Ross to the roster. Terms of Byrd's deal were undisclosed.

Originally entering the league as the Rams' third-round pick in the 2006 draft out of USC, the 6-3, 255-pound Byrd played in 14 games for St. Louis between 2006-07, registering six catches for 83 yards (13.8-yard average) and one touchdown. Byrd has had his share of problems off the field and was out of football last season after being released by the Rams on April 29, 2008.

Byrd is the latest challenger in what is expected to be a wide-open battle for the Cardinals' starting TE job, along with Steven Spach, Leonard Pope, Ben Patrick and Anthony Becht, another former Ram.

The Patriots signed veteran S Brandon McGowan to a two-year deal, ESPN.com reported Tuesday morning. McGowan comes to New England after spending his first four career seasons with the Bears. Nine of his 13 career starts came in 2007.

The thumping safety is the physical type of back-end player coach Bill Belichick favors and is looking for with Rodney Harrison's career likely finished. In addition to the addition of McGowan, the Pats spent their first pick in the draft on Oregon S Patrick Chung.

Monday, May 4, 2009

The Steelers released LB Larry Foote on Monday.

"Larry has been a big part of our success, but unfortunately the realities of the salary cap made this decision inevitable," Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert said. "We wish Larry and his family nothing but the best as he moves forward with his career."

Foote, 28, started all 16 games for the Steelers last season, notching 63 tackles. He is entering his eighth NFL season. Lawrence Timmons is likely to replace Foote in the Steelers' starting lineup.

The Redskins added free-agent WR Roydell Williams, adding more pressure to second-year WRs Devin Thomas and Malcolm Kelly.

Williams played with the Titans for three seasons from 2005 to '07, catching 84 passes for 1.139 yards and six TDs. He did not play in '08. In '07, his best season, he started 14 games and caught 55 passes for 719 yards with a team-high four TDs.

Thomas and Kelly are coming off disappointing rookie seasons, but each will get the chance to compete for major roles this season. If neither contributes as expected, Williams could find a role with his good deep speed.

The team also announced it has signed WR Trent Shelton, who has spent time with the Seahawks and Colts but has not played in an NFL game, and has cut the following players: TE Devin Frischknecht, WR John Halman, DT Brigham Harwell, LB Ronnie Palmer and OL Isaiah Ross. Ross spent the final 10 weeks on the Redskins' practice squad last season. Frischknecht, Halman, Harwell and Palmer were all college free agents the team had signed last Thursday.

The Ravens signed ex-Dolphins QB John Beck on Monday.

Beck, 27, is familiar with Ravens offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, having played five games, starting four, in Cameron's only season as the Dolphins' head coach. Beck has completed 60-of-107 passes for 559 yards with one TD and three interceptions.

Beck is expected to compete with Troy Smith for the Ravens' backup quarterback job. The Ravens released veteran backup Todd Bouman on Friday.

The Cardinals added depth to their offensive line Monday when they signed free-agent OT Oliver Ross.

Ross originally signed with the team in 2005 before spending the past two seasons on injured reserve with the Cardinals ('07) and the Patriots ('08).

He has appeared in 89 regular-season games and started 52 since the Cowboys made him the 138th pick in the 1998 draft.