By PFW staff
March 29, 2008

Updated at 12:30 p.m EDT Saturday, March 29

Following is a summary of the news involving free agents and other contract-related news around the league:

Saturday, March 29

 The 49ers re-signed RFA TE Billy Bajema to a one-year contract late Friday. Bajema, a three-year veteran, is a backup and a blocking specialist. He has only five career receptions, which all came during his rookie season.

 The Dolphins signed UFA S Chris Crocker to a one-year, $1.15 million deal late Friday, according to an NFL Network report. Crocker started 14 games for the Falcons last season and had a career-high three interceptions.

Friday, March 28

 The Browns re-signed C-OG Seth McKinney to a one-year deal, according to various reports. McKinney started the first eight games for Cleveland last season, but was placed on I.R. after he suffered a torn labrum. Ryan Tucker replaced him in the starting lineup after the injury, but McKinney will have a shot to take back his spot, according to Browns GM Phil Savage.

 The Raiders have signed fromer Lions DE Kalimba Edwards to a two-year, $5 million deal, according to an NFL Network report. Edwards was released by Detroit on March 13 and had three sacks with the team last season. He will likely back up Derrick Burgess, but could compete for a starting spot, if he's shifted from right end to left end. 

 The Seahawks have announced the signing of 12-year veteran PK Olindo Mare. Mare, who received a two-year contract, spent last season with the Saints, connecting on 10-of-17 field-goal attempts with a long of 52 yards. Mare was originally an undrafted rookie free agent with the Giants in 1996. He spent that season on the practice squad before signing with the Dolphins in 1997. Mare spent 10 seasons in Miami and is the Dolphins' all-time leader in field goals (245), scoring (1,048 points) and field-goal accuracy (.809 percent). The Seahawks are expected to sign another veteran kicker, and likely will add a rookie kicker, to compete with Mare during training camp.

 The Panthers have signed UFA OG Milford Brown, who started 15 games for the Rams last season. In his six seasons in the NFL, Brown has also played for the Texans and Cardinals, starting a total of 43 games of the 48 in which he has played.

Thursday, March 27

 The Texans announced the signing of UFA S Nick Ferguson on Thursday. Ferguson, who spent the last five seasons with the Broncos, will compete for a starting job in a crowded field of safeties in Houston. Will Demps and C.C. Brown may hold a slight edge over Ferguson for a spot in the starting lineup.

 Titans OG Benji Olson announced he is retiring today, according to the Nashville City Paper. Olson, a fifth-round draft pick in 1998, has dealt with back problems throughout his career, and injuries forced him to miss three games last season, including Tennessee's playoff loss to the Chargers. The Titans' other starting guard from last season, Jacob Bell, signed with the Rams this offseason, but the team inked former Colts OG Jake Scott to a deal to fill the void.

 The Steelers announced they have re-signed UFA DE Nick Eason to a two-year deal on Thursday. Eason, a five-year veteran, played in all 16 games for Pittsburgh last season, his first with the team, and made one start.

Wednesday, March 26

 The Panthers signed OG Toniu Fonoti on Wednesday, according to the Charlotte Observer. Fonoti, a former second-round pick, has been out of league since the Falcons cut him during last year's training camp and has battled weight issues. If Fonoti can stay healthy, he will compete for playing time on the interior of the Panthers' offensive line.

 The Cardinals announced they have re-signed four of their own free agents. WR Ahmad Merritt and DE Bo Schobel received one-year deals, and DE Joe Tafoya and WR Jerheme Urban agreed to two-year contracts. Arizona also announced RFA OT Elton Brown had signed his one-year tender. 

 The Eagles agreed to a three-year deal with UFA TE Kris Wilson on Wednesday. Wilson started 22 games in the last two seasons with the Chiefs and was a backup for TE Tony Gonzalez.

 Packers LS Rob Davis announced he is retiring after 12 seasons in the league. According to a statement released by the team, Davis will join Green Bay's front office and become the director of player development.

 The Steelers agreed to terms with FA DT Anthony "Booger" McFarland late Tuesday, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. McFarland, a nine-year veteran, was released by the Colts on Feb. 27 after he failed a physical. McFarland had played for the Bucs and Colts, who both run a cover-2, 4-3 defense. He will have to adjust to a new scheme in Pittsburgh, which employs a 3-4 defense.

 The Cardinals agreed to terms with UFA LB Clark Haggans on a one-year deal, according to an NFL Network report. Arizona restructured WR Larry Fitzgerald's contract, which cleared cap space to sign free agents like Haggans, a former Steeler.

Tuesday, March 25

The Texans bolstered their QB depth by signing ex-Jaguars QB Quinn Gray to a one-year contract. Gray, an unrestricted free agent, started four games for Jacksonville in 2007 and finished with 10 TD passes, including four against the Texans in the regular-season finale. He is expected to fill the third-QB role for Houston, behind starter Matt Schaub and No. 2 Sage Rosenfels. However, there are rumors that the Texans may look to trade Rosenfels in order to acquire another draft pick.

The Rams have signed WR Reche Caldwell to a one-year, $645,000 contract. Caldwell, a six-year NFL veteran who played for the Redskins and offensive coordinator Al Saunders last season, is expected to help make up for the departure of WR Isaac Bruce. … The team also decided to re-sign DE James Hall, whom it had released 3½ weeks ago, to a more cap-friendly deal (terms not disclosed). Under his old deal, he had been scheduled to make $3.5 million in ’08, including a $500,000 roster bonus.

LB Gilbert Gardner, a backup for most of his four seasons in Tennessee and Indianapolis, has signed with the Lions. Terms of the deal were not announced. As it stands now, the 26-year-old will back up at both OLB spots, although he could challenge for a starting spot if the Lions don’t draft a linebacker high.

The Redskins re-signed OL Jason Fabini to a one-year contract. The 10-year veteran filled in ably for injured ORG Randy Thomas with the Skins last season. He is expected to be one of the team’s top OL backups in 2008.

C-OG Matt Lehr continued his tour of NFC South teams, signing a one-year deal with the Saints, where he is expected to compete for the starting center spot with Jonathan Goodwin. Lehr, an eight-year NFL veteran, has played for the Cowboys, Falcons, Buccaneers and now the Saints. He has started 48-of-85 games in which he has played in the NFL.

The Ravens officially announced the re-signing of backup LB Nick Greisen, a special-teams standout, to a three-year contract. The deal had been rumored for a couple of weeks.

Monday, March 24

The Eagles added LB depth with the addition of versatile Rocky Boiman, who signed a one-year deal on Monday. He will provide depth outside and has been a solid special-teamer. He played with the Colts last season after playing his first four NFL seasons in Tennessee.

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