cbs nfl players
Report: Bryant signs with Bengals
The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that the Bengals have signed free agent WR Antonio Bryant to a four-year deal worth $28 million. Bryant had a smashing campaign in 2008 with the Bucs, catching 83 passes for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns, but was hampered by knee injuries and poor quarterback play in 2009, finishing with 39 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns.
CB Wade signs with Lions
The Detroit Lions have signed free agent cornerback Jonathan Wade to a one-year contract. St. Louis selected Wade in the third round of the 2007 draft. In 47 games through three seasons with the Rams, including six starts, he has 67 tackles and two interceptions.
Redskins sign NT Kemoeatu
Free-agent nose tackle Maake Kemoeatu signed a two-year, $6.975 million contract with the Redskins on Wednesday. The 6-foot-5, 345-pound Kemoeatu spent last season on injured reserve with the Carolina Panthers after tearing his Achilles' tendon in training camp. His agent, Ken Vierra, said in a telephone interview that the tendon is "structurally sound" and Kemoeatu is able to walk and jog but not run yet. The Redskins are expected to shift from a 4-3 alignment to a 3-4 under new defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, and Kemoeatu's presence could allow tackle Albert Haynesworth to move outside.
Eagles find a safety in Jackson
The Philadelphia Eagles and free agent defensive back Marlin Jackson have agreed to a two-year contract. Jackson is coming off back-to-back season-ending knee injuries: He missed the second half of 2008 with a torn ACL in his right knee and returned in 2009 before tearing the ACL in his left knee in a November practice. Jackson has 306 tackles and four interceptions in 56 career games with the Colts. The 6-foot, 196-pound Jackson can play cornerback and safety, and it is believed he will play free safety for the Eagles.
DL Smith lands with Chiefs
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed free agent defensive tackle Shaun Smith, who played last season for Cincinnati. The 6-foot-2, 325-pound Smith has played in 63 games, including 27 starts, with New Orleans, Cincinnati and Cleveland. He has 196 tackles and two sacks during a career that began with the Saints in 2004.
Titans sign LB Witherspoon
The Titans have agreed to a three-year contract with Will Witherspoon as they revamp their linebacking corps. The $11 million deal was announced Wednesday. General manager Mike Reinfeldt says Witherspoon likely will play outside linebacker, likely replacing Keith Bulluck.
DB Torrence stays with Saints
Saints GM Mickey Loomis says the club has agreed to re-sign reserve defensive back Leigh Torrence to a one-year contract. Torrence has been with the Saints since being claimed off waivers in November 2008. He played in five games for New Orleans in 2009 before injuring his shoulder and finishing the year on injured reserve.
Bodden stays with the Pats
The Patriots have kept another free agent from leaving, re-signing cornerback Leigh Bodden to a four-year deal. Bodden had five interceptions last season - three of them against the New York Jets on Nov. 22, including one he returned 53 yards for a touchdown.
Fins re-sign suspended NT Ferguson
Nose tackle Jason Ferguson has been re-signed by the Miami Dolphins, even though he faces a suspension for the first eight games of this season. The Dolphins announced the signing Tuesday in a news release that made no reference to Ferguson's suspension last week for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. At 35, Ferguson improves the Dolphins' roster depth, but they remain in the market for a starter at the position. Ferguson was sidelined by a season-ending quadriceps injury in November that required surgery and has contemplated retirement.
Bears part ways with RB Jones
Injury-plagued running back Kevin Jones has been released by the Bears after signing running back Chester Taylor away from Minnesota last Friday. Jones missed last season after tearing ligaments in his left ankle in the preseason finale against Cleveland. He appeared in 11 games and ran for 109 yards with Chicago in 2008 while trying to come back from foot and knee injuries that plagued him the previous two years in Detroit, years that saw him work with offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who is now on the staff in Chicago.
Sapp stays with Minnesota
The Minnesota Vikings and cornerback Benny Sapp have agreed to terms on a new contract. Sapp started a total of seven games last season while filling in for injured starter Antoine Winfield, totaling 25 tackles, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles during a particularly strong six-game stretch. He finished the regular season with 55 tackles, the most in his NFL seasons.
Colts snare DE Skolnitsky
The Colts have claimed defensive end J.D. Skolnitsky off waivers from the Redskins. Skolnitsky was on the Redskins' practice squad last season after being signed as an undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive end played at James Madison and fits the Colts' model for defensive linemen: undersized and quick.
NT Williams heads to Denver
The Denver Broncos continued beefing up their defensive line, signing unrestricted free agent Jamal Williams. Williams, a 12-year veteran, was the run-stuffing anchor of the San Diego Chargers' defensive line. He injured an arm in last season's opener and missed the rest of the year. The 6-foot-3, 348-pound Williams will turn 34 next month and also has a history of knee injuries.
Wilson stays with Chargers
The Chargers kept one of their backup tight ends but lost another on the first day of free agency. Kris Wilson, the team's third tight end the past two years, has apparently moved up the depth chart. He re-signed with the Chargers, agreeing to a two-year deal. His ascension to No. 2 behind Antonio Gates owes more to Brandon Manumaleuna signing a five-year deal with the Bears.
Owens visits with Bengals
Terrell Owens is headed to Cincinnati to see if the Bengals are interested in adding him to their stalled-out passing game. The 36-year-old receiver tweeted on Tuesday that he was on his way to meet with team officials. Receiver Chad Ochocinco has been lobbying for the Bengals to sign Owens. Cincinnati needs at least one proven receiver after releasing Laveranues Coles. It's unclear whether they have much interest in Owens, whose production declined each of the last two seasons with Dallas and Buffalo.
Haley: Charles will still get work
On the same day the Chiefs signed RB Thomas Jones to a two-year deal, head coach Todd Haley lauded 2009 rushing sensation Jamaal Charles. While Haley is concerned about Charles holding up for 16 games and figures to use both backs to the point where both will be happy, he's ultimately confident that his young rusher will still deliver. "I don't believe we've seen the best from Jamaal," Haley told the Kansas City Star. "He's acclimated himself to what we expected from him. He's a real good offseason guy and saw that all pay dividends for him last year. ... I'm not going to set a bar on Jamaal because each time we did that last year he kind of broke through that bar and raised it. We're going to continue to push him hard and coach him and see how good he can be."
