2008 Off Season (Official Thread)

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - NFL Football Transactions - National Football League

Other Transactions Today:

Baltimore Ravens- Released RB Mike Anderson
Buffalo Bills- Release OL Aaron Merz, CB Jerametrius Buter, RB Anthony Thomas and LB Coy Wire
Cleveland Browns- Released DE Orpheus Roye
Minnesota Vikings- Released QB Kelly Holcomb
San Diego Chargers- Signed OL Scott Mruczkowski to a three-year contract extension through the 2010 season

 

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Bengals trade for Rogers, will re-sign Dhani Jones at linebacker - NFL

Bengals trade for Rogers, will re-sign Dhani Jones at linebacker

DETROIT -- The Detroit Lions on Friday traded Shaun Rogers to the Cincinnati Bengals for third- and fifth-round selections in the NFL draft.

Detroit had been fielding offers for the talented but inconsistent defensive tackle. On Friday, the Lions settled on the Bengals' offer of two picks in the middle of the NFL draft in April.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - 'New chapter' as Vilma dealt from Jets to Saints - NFL

'New chapter' as Vilma dealt from Jets to Saints

A dead piece of bone has rested in one of Jonathan Vilma's knees since high school. When it dislodged in October of last season, Vilma was put on injured reserve by the New York Jets and didn't play for them again.

It was the first time in his football career that he had a season-ending injury. Now, four months removed from surgery, Vilma, traded to the New Orleans Saints on Friday for a conditional 2009 fourth-round draft pick, gets a new start and joins a defense he says better fits his skills.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Jaguars look to Porter to fill longtime void at WR - NFL

Jaguars look to Porter to fill longtime void at WR


The Jacksonville Jaguars, who have been searching for a No. 1 wide receiver since Jimmy Smith retired, reached a contract agreement Friday with Jerry Porter, one of the top wide receivers in the unrestricted free agent market.


Porter, 29, was expected to sign a six-year, $30 million contract later on Friday. He played the first eight years of his career with the Oakland Raiders.


In addition, the Jaguars on Friday completed a trade they agreed to earlier in the week, adding former Minnesota first-round wide receiver Troy Williamson in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick. Williamson, who was a disappointment in his three seasons with the Vikings, should add a deep threat to the Jacksonville offense.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Former Bengal Williams agrees to sign with Vikings for $33 million - NFL

Former Bengal Williams agrees to sign with Vikings for $33 million

An all-night negotiations session with the Minnesota Vikings produced a deal that has made Madieu Williams a formal Bengal and now one of the highest-paid safeties in the NFL.

Williams, 26, agreed to a six-year, $33 million contract Friday morning after his agent, Ken Zuckerman, and Minnesota officials worked through the night to get a deal done. As both sides spelled out the final language of the contract, Williams headed to the airport Friday morning for a flight to Minneapolis to sign the deal.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Wilkins retires as Rams' career scoring leader - NFL

Wilkins retires as Rams' career scoring leader

ST. LOUIS -- Jeff Wilkins, the St. Louis Rams' career leading scorer and the best active long-range kicker in the NFL, announced his retirement on Friday after 14 seasons.

The departure leaves the Rams with three players from their Super Bowl victory in 2000: offensive tackle Orlando Pace, wide receiver Torry Holt and defensive end Leonard Little.


Isaac Bruce, who caught the eventual game-winning touchdown pass in that game, was released in a salary cap move on Thursday.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Cowboys' Adams agrees to long-term deal; RB Barber tendered offer - NFL

Cowboys' Adams agrees to long-term deal; RB Barber tendered offer

IRVING, Texas -- Tony Romo won't have to worry about who is blocking his blind side. His faith will remain in Flozell Adams.

According to a team source, the Dallas Cowboys re-signed the four-time Pro Bowl left tackle Thursday to a six-year deal worth more than $42 million with $15 million in guaranteed money over the first three years of the contract, ESPN's Ed Werder reported.


"I'm just really happy to be here," Adams told the team's Web site. Asked if he considered leaving Dallas, he added, "Nope. Not at all."



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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Report: Giants' Coughlin to get 4-year, $21M extension - NFL

Report: Giants' Coughlin to get 4-year, $21M extension

Tom Coughlin's expected new contract extension reportedly will make him one of the NFL's highest-paid coaches.

The New York Daily News reported Thursday that Coughlin will receive a four-year extension worth approximately $21 million from the Giants after leading New York to a Super Bowl victory over the Patriots. There are only minor details to be worked out and the newspaper reported that an official agreement could be announced as early as next week.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Eagles sign Samuel to six-year contract - NFL

Eagles sign Samuel to six-year contract


PHILADELPHIA -- Asante Samuel has such good hands and terrific instincts that the All-Pro cornerback rarely drops the ball, one reason why he has 16 interceptions the last two years.


The Eagles instincts were on the ball, too, that Samuel was the kind of playmaker they desperately needed to strengthen a defense that recorded an NFL-worst 19 takeaways in 2007.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - 49ers lock up defensive end Smith with 6-year, $45 million deal - NFL

49ers lock up defensive end Smith with 6-year, $45 million deal

The San Franciso 49ers and defensive end Justin Smith agreed to a six-year, $45 million contract that included $20 million in guarantees.

Smith, who had played all of his seven previous seasons in the NFL in Cincinnati, was given the franchise tag by the Bengals in 2007.

Smith was the fourth overall pick in the 2001 draft out of Missouri. He has 43 ? career sacks but managed only two last season. Smith has played in 16 games every season except his rookie campaign when he made 15 appearances.

 

[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Lynch takes pay cut, will play for Broncos in '08 - NFL

John Lynch has accepted a pay cut and will return to the Denver Broncos for a fifth season at free safety after pondering free agency or retirement.

Lynch agreed to a one-year deal that, according to Denver-area media outlets, is significantly less than the $3.12 million in salary and roster bonuses he was due to earn under his existing contract.

It nearly didn't happen. Lynch had made his decision to leave, even drafting a letter thanking fans and teammates for his four years in Denver. But when Lynch called Broncos owner Pat Bowlen on Thursday night to inform him of his choice, Bowlen was out for a late dinner.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Bruce signs two-year, $6 million deal with 49ers - NFL

Bruce signs two-year, $6 million deal with 49ers

In a move that reunites him with former head coach Mike Martz, free agent wide receiver Isaac Bruce, released by St. Louis this week after 14 seasons with the Rams, has signed a two-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

The contract, ESPN.com confirmed, is worth $6 million.

A former Rams' head coach, Martz was hired by the 49ers last month as the team's third different offensive coordinator in three years. It had been speculated since the Rams released Bruce this week, that he would join Martz with the 49ers.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Faneca, Jets tentatively agree to four-year, $32M deal - NFL

Faneca, Jets tentatively agree to four-year, $32M deal

The New York Jets and guard Alan Faneca have tentatively agreed to a four-year, $32 million deal that includes roughly $23 million in guarantees, ESPN's Michael Smith reports. Faneca is expected to travel to New York this weekend, when the deal will be finalized. The Jets plan to play Faneca at left guard.

The departure of Faneca, a former LSU standout who had spent his entire 10-year career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, isn't much of a surprise. Although he was an unrestricted free agent, the seven-time Pro Bowler was clearly irked with the team heading into last season for its refusal to trade him or give him a contract extension he felt he was worth.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Instead of Bengals, Browns land DT Shaun Rogers from Lions - NFL

Instead of Bengals, Browns land DT Shaun Rogers from Lions

Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is being traded but not to the team that was first scheduled to acquire him.

After a deal fell through that sent Rogers to the Cincinnati Bengals for a third-round and fifth-round pick, the Lions rebounded by sending Rogers to Cleveland in exchange for a third-round choice and cornerback Leigh Bodden. Late Friday night, the Lions informed Rogers' agent, Kennard McGuire, that the trade with the Browns has been complete.

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[MD Buckeye]

ESPN - Source: Browns, ex-Pats receiver Stallworth agree to contract - NFL

Source: Browns, ex-Pats receiver Stallworth agree to contract


On the first day of NFL free agency, the Cleveland Browns first locked up quarterback Derek Anderson with a three-year deal.
On Saturday, they gave him a new target to pass to.
According to a source, Donte' Stallworth, who played last season with the New England Patriots, agreed to terms on a seven-year, $35 million contract with the Browns, $10 million of which is guaranteed.
Stallworth caught 46 passes for 697 yards and three touchdowns as part of a receving corps that included Wes Welker and Pro Bowler Randy Moss.
Stallworth's best overall season was in 2005 when he caught 70 passes for 945 yards and seven touchdowns as a member of the New Orleans Saints.