Vikings re-sign DT Kennedy
The Vikings announced Wednesday that they have agreed to terms with eighth-year DT Jimmy Kennedy.
The 6-5, 320-pounder will enter his third season as a Viking in 2010 after originally joining the club in December 2008. A backup behind Pat Williams and Kevin Williams, Kennedy matched his career best with three sacks in the regular season and added another sack in the posteason. He made one start in '09, filling in for Pat Williams at Chicago and posting a career-best nine tackles in the game.
The 30-year-old has played in 77 career games with 31 starts and has posted 10 career sacks, including playoffs.
Seahawks obtain QB Whitehurst from Chargers
The wheels continue to turn fast furious in Seattle with the news that the Seahawks have agreed to move down 20 spots in the second round of the 2010 draft and also part with a 2011 third-round pick to acquire QB Charlie Whitehurst from the Chargers. Seattle will now be getting the 60th overall choice in the third round instead of the 40th round. The 27-year-old Whitehurst, a restricted free agent who has yet to throw a pass in four regular seasons, will reportedly receive a two-year deal worth about $10 million to presumably become the heir-apparent to aging Seahawks starting QB Matt Hasselbeck.
The Seahawks had faced competition for Whitehurst’s services with the division-rival Cardinals, but Arizona opted to sign Derek Anderson, who was released last week by the Browns. The Chargers had given Whitehurst an original-round tender, which would have given them a third-round pick as compensation from another team choosing to sign him to an offer. But after the Seahawks’ second eyebrow-raising trade in two days — they swapped defensive ends with the Eagles Tuesday, sending Darryl Tapp to Philly in exchange for Chris Clemons — the Chargers got two high picks in the next two drafts for a relatively unproven commodity in Whitehurst, albeit one with considerable potential.
Niners re-sign free-agent CB Paymah
The Niners announced the signing of free-agent CB Karl Paymah to a one-year contract. The 6-0, 195-pounder is entering his sixth NFL season after originally being drafted in the third round (76th overall) by the Broncos in 2005. Paymah has played in 72 career games (seven starts) and has registered 67 tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble and 14 passes defensed. He spent his first four seasons with the Broncos before signing with Minnesota in 2009. Paymah played in 12 games (two starts) and recorded 14 tackles. as well as 11 special-teams tackles, last season.
A 27-year-old native of Culver City, Calif, Paymah starred collegiately at Washington State, where he was an honorable mention All-Pac 10 player in 2004. Paymah was a teammate of 49ers WR Jason Hill at Washington State in ’03 and ’04. The Niners needed more depth at cornerback behind projected 2010 starters Shawntae Spencer and Tarell Brown with Nate Clements noticeably regressing last season, and aging Walt Harris sitting out the entire ’09 season with a knee injury that required major surgery.
Chargers re-sign DL Scott
The Chargers announced Wednesday that they have re-signed UFA DL Ian Scott to a one-year contract.
Scott, 28, re-joined the Chargers during the 2009 campaign after being released during training camp. He would up playing in 12 games, starting seven, and accounted for 16 tackles and one sack. Before coming to San Diego in '08, Scott played his first four seasons with the Bears, starting 33 of his 49 games there.
Playing both end and tackle last season, Scott is a candidate to start at nose tackle with Jamal Williams having been released earlier this month.
Bears release veteran CB Vasher
One day after signing ex-Colts CB Tim Jennings, the Bears announced the release of veteran CB Nathan Vasher. A fourth-round draft pick (110th overall) in 2004, Vasher appeared in 73 contests (46 starts) in six seasons with the Bears, recording 185 tackles, 19 interceptions, three total return touchdowns (two interception and one missed field goal) and 35 pass break ups.
Vasher earned a Pro Bowl nod after the 2005 season in which he recorded eight interceptions, tied for the third most in single-season franchise history. On Nov. 13, 2005, Vasher set a then-record for the longest play in NFL history, returning a missed field goal 108 yards for a touchdown versus San Francisco. But in great part due to injuries, Vasher regressed dramatically the last three seasons and played mainly a reserve role in ’09 after getting benched following the season opener.
Panthers' Brayton agrees to three-year deal
The Panthers re-signed DE Tyler Brayton on Wednesday, according to reports.
Brayton became an unrestricted free agent on March 5 and he visited with the Seahawks before agreeing to a three-year deal with Carolina.
The 30-year-old started 31 of the 32 regular-season game the Panthers have played since he arrived prior to the 2008 season. Re-signing Brayton is a key move for Carolina, which is thin at defensive end after losing Julius Peppers.
Eagles release OL Shawn Andrews
The Eagles made a surprise move Wednesday, releasing ORT Shawn Andrews.
Plagued by career-threatening back injuries the past two seasons, Andrews has been limited to two games.
“We appreciate the efforts and contributions of Shawn while he was in Philadelphia,” head coach Andy Reid said. “We have, however, decided to move in another direction.”
The team previously said it believed Andrews was moving in the right direction in his rehab, but it apparently wasn't going well enough and many have speculated that his time in Philadelphia could be done soon. Many also believed, however, that Andrews would get another chance to play this season, which makes the timing of the release the biggest surprise.
Andrews, 27, was a first-round pick in 2004 and earned a starting role in preseason that year, but he got hurt in the first game and went on injured reserve. Andrews started the next three seasons at right guard, earning two Pro Bowl bids, but suffered a season-ending back injury only two games into the '08 season.
Reid moved Andrews to right tackle prior to the '09 campaign following the release of Jon Runyan, but Andrews suffered another back injury on the first day of training camp and hasn't played since.
Cardinals sign ex-Browns QB Anderson
The Cardinals announced Wednesday that they agreed to terms on a two-year contract with free-agent QB Derek Anderson. Terms were not disclosed.
Arizona was in need of QB help with Kurt Warner having retired and 2009 No. 3 QB Brian St. Pierre becoming an unrestricted free agent. Both Anderson, who was released March 9 by the Browns, and Chargers RFA QB Charlie Whitehurst had made visits to the desert in the past week.
The 26-year-old Anderson is expected to get a shot at competing for the Cardinals' No. 1 QB job with former first-round draft pick Matt Leinart. Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt has indicated that Leinart would not just be handed the starting role, and the arrival of the strong-armed Anderson figures to create a healthy competition. Anderson made the Pro Bowl in 2007 when he threw 29 TD passes and led the Browns to a 10-6 record. Since then, however, his career in Cleveland had steadily declined. Last season the Browns went 3-4 with Anderson as the starter. The 6-foot-6 signalcaller registered an abysmal 42.1 QB rating in 2009 with a 3-10 TD-interception ratio.
Bills add former Ravens DL Edwards
The Bills continued to re-shape their defense Wednesday, signing UFA DL Dwan Edwards. According to the Baltimore Sun, it's a four-year deal worth up to $18 million.
Edwards, 28, had spent his entire six-year career with the Ravens after being a second-round draft pick in 2004. Playing in all 16 games this past season and starting nine, the Oregon State product had 47 tackles and one sack, his most productive campaign to date.
As the Bills transition to a 3-4 scheme, the 6-3, 290-pound Edwards brings experience at defensive end in that alignment. This could give him an edge in the battle for a starting DE spot, as many of Buffalo's current defenders aren't well versed in the 3-4. Edwards joins ILB Andra Davis, signed by the Bills on Tuesday, as players who were part of a 3-4 last season.
Dolphins sign OL Incognito
The Dolphins announced Wednesday that they have signed free-agent OG Richie Incognito. According to the Palm Beach Post, the one-year deal could be worth a little more than $1.3 million.
Incognito, a five-year NFL veteran, has started all 47 games in which he has played. The 6-3, 324-pounder can play multiple positions but is known mostly for his penchant for incurring personal-foul penalties. He paid $85,000 in fines the past two seasons and was released by the Rams in December after getting called for two personal-foul penalties in two separate games. He finished the season with the Bills but was not brought back to Buffalo.
Redskins sign QB Grossman
The Redskins announced Wednesday that they have signed free-agent QB Rex Grossman. Terms of the deal were undisclosed.
Grossman, 29, has played in 37 career games, with 31 starts, in his seven-year career. He has completed 524-of-971 for 6,197 yards, with 33 touchdowns and 36 interceptions. He spent last season with the Texans after playing his first six NFL seasons with the Bears.
He worked with current Redskins offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan, who served in the same capacity for the Texans, last season in Houston.
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