2008 Off Season (Official Thread)

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Roundup: Eagles add versatile tight end Wilson to offense - NFL

Roundup: Eagles add versatile tight end Wilson to offense

The Eagles added versatility on offense by reaching a three-year agreement with Chiefs tight end Kris Wilson.

Wilson, 26, has the ability to catch passes as a tight end, be a H-back or help out as a blocker at fullback. In going to the Eagles, he will have a chance to develop more of his pass-receiving skills. Terms of the three-year deal weren't available.

Wilson started 22 games over the past two seasons in Kansas City, but it was hard for him to be used for his receiving skills. Tony Gonzalez is one of the best tight ends in football and gets most of the receptions. In four years in Kansas City, Wilson caught only 42 passes.

His best season was 2007 when he caught 24 passes for 180 yards. Wilson went to J.P. McCaskey High in Lancaster, Pa.

The Buffalo Bills re-signed defensive tackle Jason Jefferson, as well as cornerback Dustin Fox and receiver Scott Mayle.

Jefferson, who had been a restricted free agent, completed his third season with Buffalo, registering 20 tackles while appearing in a career-high 11 games.

Fox and Mayle were both exclusive-rights free agents and spent time on Buffalo's practice squad last season.

Fox appeared in five games with the Bills after being promoted from the practice squad. Mayle was inactive for Buffalo's season finale at Philadelphia after spending the first 16 weeks of the season on the practice squad.

 

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Davis, last remaining member of Packers' '98 Super Bowl team, retires - NFL

Davis, last remaining member of Packers' '98 Super Bowl team, retires

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Long snapper Rob Davis retired from the Green Bay Packers, weeks after becoming the only player remaining from the team's most recent Super Bowl appearance.

Davis, a 12-year NFL veteran, will join Green Bay's front office as director of player development.

Davis took over as the Packers' long snapper in 1997 and played 167 games in a Green Bay uniform -- the third-longest streak in team history. Only Brett Favre (255) and Forrest Gregg (187) played in more consecutive games than Davis. He played the 1996 season with Chicago.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Giants agree to three-year extension with guard Seubert - NFL

Giants agree to three-year extension with guard Seubert

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Rich Seubert signed a three-year extension with the New York Giants on Tuesday, keeping the starting left guard under contract with the Super Bowl champions through 2012.

Financial terms were not immediately available.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Niners forfeit fifth-round draft pick after tampering with Bears' Briggs - NFL

Niners forfeit fifth-round draft pick after tampering with Bears' Briggs

NEW YORK -- The San Francisco 49ers forfeited their fifth-round pick in next month's NFL draft after commissioner Roger Goodell said they tampered with Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs.

In a statement released by the league Monday, Goodell also said the teams will switch picks in the third round of the April 26-27 draft. Chicago, which had the 12th pick, will get San Francisco's seventh pick and the 49ers will get Chicago's choice.

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[MD Buckeye]

Cardinals agree on 1-year deal with LB Haggans

Cardinals agree on 1-year deal with LB Haggans

Free-agent linebacker Clark Haggans reached agreement with the Arizona Cardinals on a one-year deal, NFL Network's Adam Schefter is reporting.

Haggans, 31, will be reunited with former Steelers coaches Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm. After being taken in the second round by Pittsburgh in 2000, he spent eight seasons with the team, playing in 107 games with 61 starts.

 

[MD Buckeye]

Cardinals re-sign four free agents

Cardinals re-sign four free agents

The Arizona Cardinals Football Club announced on Wednesday that the team has re-signed four free agents: wide receiver Ahmad Merritt and defensive end Bo Schobel each signed one-year contracts, and defensive end Joe Tafoya and wide receiver Jerheme Urban each signed two-year contracts. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed. In addition, restricted free agent offensive lineman Elton Brown has signed his one-year qualifying offer.

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[MD Buckeye]

New York Giants, National Football League - CBSSports.com

NFL opener might start early to open hole for GOP convention

NEW YORK -- The NFL is considering starting its Thursday night season opener an hour-and-a-half earlier to avoid clashing with the Republican National Convention.

The game, in which the Super Bowl-champion New York Giants will be the home team, now is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4 and will be televised by NBC. League spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday that the NFL is talking with the network about changing the game's starting time to 7 p.m.

Sept. 4 also is the concluding night of the Republican convention.

The highlight games of the NFL's first weekend, including the Giants' opponent for the opener, will be announced Monday during league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. The rest of the schedule will be announced later next month.

NFL considering earlier start to Giants-Redskins opener

NFL considering earlier start to Giants-Redskins opener

NEW YORK -- The NFL's Thursday night season opener will match the Super Bowl-champion New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, with the game possibly starting an hour-and-a-half earlier to avoid clashing with the Republican National Convention.

The game is now scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4 -- the concluding night of the Republican convention -- and will be televised by NBC. League spokesman Greg Aiello said Wednesday that the NFL is talking with the network about changing the game's starting time to 7 p.m.

The Super Bowl winner traditionally hosts the game. The Redskins' participation was confirmed by a person familiar with the NFL schedule who spoke on condition of anonymity because the league has not announced it. The Washington Post earlier reported that the Redskins will be facing the Giants in the season opener.

The highlight games of the NFL's first weekend will be announced Monday during league meetings in Palm Beach, Fla. The rest of the schedule will be announced later next month.

 

[MD Buckeye]

Hardwick faces 4-6 months of rehab after foot surgery

Hardwick faces 4-6 months of rehab after foot surgery

SAN DIEGO -- Chargers center Nick Hardwick had surgery recently on his sprained right foot and is expected to take four to six months to recover.

If Hardwick needs the full rehab period, he could miss the early part of the regular season.

Hardwick was hurt early in a game against the Oakland Raiders on Oct. 14 and missed the next four games. He played in the final six regular-season games and three playoff games.

Hardwick had surgery on March 14 but the team didn't announce it until Wednesday.

On Feb. 28, the Chargers released a list of 11 players who either had surgery since the season ended or had surgeries planned. Hardwick's name wasn't on the list.

 

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Offensive lineman Olson retires after 10 seasons with Titans - NFL

Offensive lineman Olson retires after 10 seasons with Titans

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Offensive lineman Benji Olson, one of the last remaining Titans from Tennessee's lone Super Bowl appearance in 2000, retired Thursday after 10 seasons with the team that drafted him.

Punter Craig Hentrich is now the only player from the Super Bowl squad who has been with the team since then. The Titans recently re-signed defensive end Jevon Kearse, who was a rookie in the Super Bowl but left as a free agent and played the past four years in Philadelphia.

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[MD Buckeye]

Cincinnati Bengals cut wide receiver Chris Henry after latest arrest for assault - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Cincinnati Bengals cut wide receiver Chris Henry after latest arrest for assault

CINCINNATI (AP)?Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry lost his job while in jail awaiting arraignment on assault charges on Thursday.

The Bengals cut him after his fifth arrest since 2005.

An attorney for Henry, 24, entered not guilty pleas for him after Henry was accused of punching an 18-year-old man in the face and breaking his car window with a beer bottle.

Municipal Court Judge Bernie Bouchard set bond at $51,000 on charges of misdemeanor assault and criminal damaging. Noting Henry?s previous arrests involving drugs, guns and alcohol, the judge called Henry ?a one-man crime wave.? He ordered electronic monitoring if Henry makes bail.

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[MD Buckeye]

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio signs 5-year contract extension - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio signs 5-year contract extension

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP)?Jacksonville Jaguars coach Jack Del Rio signed a five-year contract extension Thursday, a reward for winning his first playoff game.

Del Rio?s salary was not disclosed, but it was believed to be a significant jump from the original five-year, $6.5 million contract he signed in 2003.

The Jaguars were 11-5 last season, beat Pittsburgh in the first round of the playoffs and then ended the season with a 31-20 loss at New England.

?Clearly when I reflect back on the last five years, great things have happened,? team owner Wayne Weaver said. ?Under Jack?s leadership, this franchise has continued to really make great progress.?

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[MD Buckeye]

TE Smith signs Eagles' one-year tender - NFL - Yahoo! Sports

TE Smith signs Eagles? one-year tender

PHILADELPHIA (AP)?Tight end L.J. Smith signed the one-year contract he was tendered by the Philadelphia Eagles when they placed the franchise tag on him two months ago.

Smith will make $4.5 million, the average of the top five salaries at his position.

?We?re glad to have L.J. back,? coach Andy Reid said Wednesday. ?We expect him to have a Pro Bowl-caliber season for us. I know he?s worked very hard since the 2007 campaign ended, and he will continue to do so throughout the offseason.?

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[MD Buckeye]

Transactions Since 4/1/08

Arizona Cardinals- Re-Signed CB Ralph Brown
Buffalo Bills- Re-Signed TE Tim Massaquoi & DE Corey Mace
Chicago Bears- Re-Signed S Brandon McGowan
Cincinnati Bengals- Cut WR Chris Henry & P Danny Baugher
Green Bay Packers- Re-Signed WR Ruvell Martin
Houston Texans- Re-Signed T Brandon Frye & S C.C. Brown
Miami Dolphins- Signed S Chris Crocker
Oakland Raiders- Signed C John Wade
Philadelphia Eagles- Re-Signed TE L.J. Smith, Signed CB Joselio Hanson
San Diego Chargers- Re-Signed CB Cletis Gordon & LB Marques Harris
Washington Redskins- Re-Signed RB Nehemiah Broughton

 

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - CB Green, DE Smith sign one-year, $2.017 million tenders - NFL

CB Green, DE Smith sign one-year, $2.017 million tenders

The Arizona Cardinals lost any threat in the restricted free-agent market Thursday when cornerback Eric Green and defensive end Antonio Smith signed their one-year, $2.017 million tender sheets.

Both players were considered valuable enough for the Cardinals to give them first-round tenders. Green, 25, started 19 games at cornerback over the past two years and is considered more valuable this season with Antrell Rolle moving to safety. Smith started 13 games at defensive end last season and played 83 percent of the downs.

When Smith and Green signed their contracts, the Cardinals completed all their transactions in the restricted free-agent market. The only other restricted free agent was guard Elton Brown, who signed a one-year, $927,000 deal.

 

[MD Buckeye]

Oakland Raiders, Chris Carr, National Football League, Tennessee Titans - CBSSports.com

Titans land CB/KR Carr when Raiders don't match offer sheet

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Cornerback and kick returner Chris Carr officially joined the Tennessee Titans when the Oakland Raiders declined to match Tennessee's offer sheet.

The Titans signed Carr, a restricted free agent, a week ago. The Raiders had until Friday night to match the contract. The Titans said Saturday that Oakland had declined to match the offer sheet.

Tennessee hopes to improve its return game with the addition of Carr, the Raiders' career leader in kickoff returns with 201 and kickoff return yards with 4,841.

In three NFL seasons, Carr has played in 48 games with four starts.