Titans add QB Rattay, LB Gardner
May 9th, 2007
Nashville, TN (Sports Network) - The Tennessee Titans agreed to terms with quarterback Tim Rattay and claimed linebacker Gilbert Gardner off waivers from Indianapolis on Wednesday.
Rattay played in the final four games for Tampa Bay last season, including two starts, and threw for 784 yards and four touchdowns. The seven-year veteran started nine games in 2004 for San Francisco and compiled 2,169 yards passing with 10 touchdowns.
Gardner started 12 games for the Super Bowl Champion Colts last year and finished with 66 tackles. In three seasons with Indianapolis, the former third round selection registered 97 tackles and 15 starts.
"Tim (Rattay) will come in to learn our system, compete for a spot on our roster and give us the option of keeping three quarterbacks," said Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt. "Gardner is a player who improves our outside linebacker depth as someone who has seen time as a starter and has the tools to be an effective special teams contributor."
The Titans also signed offensive lineman Marques Ogden and fullback Jonathan Evans and waived defensive tackles Marcus White and Adrian Haywood and fullback Nic Luc.
Jags sign CB Thornton
Wed, May 9, 2007
By Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The Jacksonville Jaguars signed free-agent cornerback Bruce Thornton on Wednesday, filling Ahmad Carroll's roster spot.
Thornton, a fourth-round pick by Dallas in 2004, was out of the league last season after being waived by the New York Jets in August.
Thornton played one game with the Cowboys in 2004, injured his knee and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve. Dallas waived him the following year. He signed with San Francisco in September 2005 and started 11 of the final 12 games. He finished with 31 tackles and two interceptions.
The Jaguars needed another defensive back heading into minicamp Saturday. All-Pro cornerback Rashean Mathis has a sore quadriceps, second-year player Dee Webb has a shoulder injury and Carroll was waived Monday following his arrest on weapon and drug charges.
Carroll was arrested in Atlanta on Saturday and charged with carrying a weapon without a license, possession of drugs and possession of a firearm during the commission of a felony. He was released on a $7,000 bond.
Steelers sign Barlow to one-year deal
May 10th, 2007
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Steelers signed running back Kevan Barlow to a one-year contract on Thursday. Financial terms of the deal were not released.
After spending five seasons in San Francisco, Barlow was traded to the New York Jets last August. He ran for a career-low 370 yards on 131 attempts last season, a paltry 2.8 yards per carry. The Jets released the disappointing Barlow in February.
Barlow, who played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh, has rushed for 3,984 yards in his six years, all but last season spent in San Francisco. His best year came in 2003, when he tallied 1,024 yards on just 201 carries, a 5.1 yard-per-carry clip.
The 49ers originally selected Barlow in the third round of the 2001 draft.
Steelers sign Barlow to one-year deal
May 10th, 2007
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Pittsburgh Steelers signed running back Kevan Barlow to a one-year contract on Thursday. Financial terms of the deal were not released.
After spending five seasons in San Francisco, Barlow was traded to the New York Jets last August. He ran for a career-low 370 yards on 131 attempts last season, a paltry 2.8 yards per carry. The Jets released the disappointing Barlow in February.
Barlow, who played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh, has rushed for 3,984 yards in his six years, all but last season spent in San Francisco. His best year came in 2003, when he tallied 1,024 yards on just 201 carries, a 5.1 yard-per-carry clip.
The 49ers originally selected Barlow in the third round of the 2001 draft.
Falcons terminate CB Webster's contract
May 10th, 2007
Atlanta, GA (Sports Network) - The Atlanta Falcons terminated the contract of veteran cornerback Jason Webster on Thursday.
Webster appeared in eight games (seven starts) last season for Atlanta, registering 47 tackles and two interceptions.
Before being placed on injured reserve in late December, Webster was inactive for seven straight games.
In three seasons with Atlanta, Webster compiled 178 tackles in 33 games.
Texans sign Zabransky
May 10th, 2007
Houston, TX (Sports Network) - The Houston Texans signed undrafted rookie free agent quarterback Jared Zabransky on Thursday.
Zabransky went 33-5 in three seasons as a starter with Boise State, including a perfect 13-0 campaign last year.
Last season, he was named the Most Valuable Player of the Fiesta Bowl after guiding the Broncos to a thrilling overtime victory over Oklahoma.
The Texans also signed rookie free agent running back Darius Walker of Notre Dame.
Docs recommend delay of Williams' NFL reinstatement
By Chris Mortensen
ESPN.com
Miami Dolphins running back Ricky Williams tested positive for marijuana in April and will not be allowed to apply for reinstatement to the NFL until September, sources said.
Williams was suspended last year for violation of the substance abuse policy and was eligible to be reinstated this month, but the league's medical advisors that oversee Williams' personal rehabilitation program recently notified commissioner Roger Goodell of the positive test, sources said.
The doctors also recommended that Williams not be allowed to apply for reinstatement until September, sources said. The commissioner usually adheres to the advice of the medical advisors under the substance abuse policy.
"Falling off the wagon is part of rehab," a source said. "Based on the medical evidence in Ricky's case, the doctors say it's too early to come back. He had the positive test last month. Remember, he's been diagnosed with social anxiety disorder -- that's a real disease and a good percentage of those folks self-medicate with substances like marijuana, often at the moment they are about to have a high level of social interaction."
League spokesman Greg Aiello said the NFL would have no comment, as did Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene.
David Cornwell, an attorney who has represented Williams during his substance abuse cases, said he would honor the confidentiality policies in effect with another no comment.
Eagles release veteran DT Rayburn
May 11th, 2007
Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Eagles released veteran defensive tackle Sam Rayburn on Friday.
Rayburn originally signed with the club as a rookie free agent out of Tulsa and spent his first four NFL seasons in Philadelphia, recording 101 tackles and nine sacks in 52 games.
Rayburn was made expendable after Philadelphia signed a pair of defensive tackles in free agency, Montae Reagor and Ian Scott.
Bengals sign DT Allen
May 14th, 2007
Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Cincinnati Bengals signed defensive tackle Kenderick Allen to a one-year deal on Monday.
Allen was limited to two games for the Green Bay Packers last season after being placed on the Reserve/Injured list with a foot injury.
Allen has played in 31 career games and amassed 52 tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries in stints with the Packers and New York Giants.
Bengals release Sam Adams
May 14th, 2007
Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - The Bengals terminated the contract of defensive tackle Sam Adams on Monday.
The 6-3, 350-pounder out of Texas A&M joined the Bengals last season as an unrestricted free agent from Buffalo, and started 16 games, with 25 tackles and two sacks.
Adams, a 13th-year veteran, has 297 tackles and 44 sacks over his career with Seattle, Baltimore, Oakland, Buffalo and Cincinnati.
"Releasing Sam is a very difficult decision," said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis, "but the timing is such that it provides Sam the opportunity to obtain a roster spot with another team. Sam has had an outstanding NFL career, and we wish him and his family the very best."
Texans Wong retires after 9 seasons
AP Sports
May 16, 2007
HOUSTON (AP) -- Kailee Wong, a linebacker for the Houston Texans since their inception in 2002, retired Wednesday after nine NFL seasons.
Wong finished his career with a Texans-record 15 sacks.
"I've had a good experience here in Houston," Wong said. "I'm very fond of this place with its fans. I am very honored to be one of the few Texans that have been here since the beginning and been a part of the franchise."
Texans general manager Rick Smith said Wong had discussed the possibility of retiring for several months.
"It was absolutely his decision," Smith said. "He's meant a lot to this organization and ... we certainly wanted to give him every opportunity to be a part of this."
The 30-year-old Wong appeared in 10 games last season after missing more than a year following knee surgery.
"Ultimately, I love this team," Wong said. "My decision has nothing to do with the organization. It truly is a personal decision."
Wong, a second-round pick out of Stanford in 1998, had 12 tackles in 2007.
"It's been a really tough day for me because that kid's special," coach Gary Kubiak said. "That's a big loss. I was really counting on him being part of our football team."
Wong spent his first four seasons in Minnesota, where he had a career-high 112 tackles in 2000. His best season with the Texans came in 2004 when he had 71 tackles, 5 1/2 sacks and three interceptions.
"I wish I could have left this place where we had already been in the playoffs, but I do believe that this coaching staff under coach Kubiak and this team is going to bring the playoffs to this town," Wong said. "I'm remorseful that I'm not going to be part of it, but with where I'm at, it's best for me to move on."
Wong ends his career with 652 tackles, 21 1/2 sacks and six interceptions.
Bills ink veteran CB Webster
May 21st, 2007
Buffalo, NY (Sports Network) - The Buffalo Bills signed eight-year veteran cornerback Jason Webster on Monday.
The 29-year-old has 11 career interceptions, and has returned two for touchdowns. He picked off two passes last season for the Atlanta Falcons, when he was limited to eight games due to a torn groin muscle. He was released by the club on May 9.
Webster, a second-round draft pick out of Texas A&M by San Francisco in 2000, spent his first four seasons in the league as a 49er, before joining the Falcons prior to the 2004 season.
Jets sign DE Hicks
May 22nd, 2007
Hempstead, NY (Sports Network) - The New York Jets have signed veteran defensive end Eric Hicks to an undisclosed contract.
Hicks was released by the Kansas City Chiefs earlier this month after playing 128 games in nine seasons with the club.
After signing as a rookie free agent out of Maryland in 1998, Hicks became one of just 64 players to start more than 100 games with the Chiefs. His 44 1/2 career sacks rank fifth in franchise history and his 574 career tackles are 12th in team annals.
The best season of Hicks' career was 2000, when he registered a career-best 14 sacks despite missing three games because of a knee injury. He also had three seasons with at least 90 tackles, including a career-high 118 in 2003.
New York also released defensive lineman Keyonta Marshall.
Raiders sign WR Taylor, RB Brown
May 22, 2007
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -The Oakland Raiders agreed to contracts Tuesday with free agent wide receiver Travis Taylor and running back Curtis Brown.
Taylor had 57 catches for 651 yards and three touchdowns last season for the Minnesota Vikings before becoming a free agent. A former first-round pick by the Baltimore Ravens in 2000, Taylor has 311 career receptions for 4,013 yards and 22 touchdowns.
The Raiders were looking for a veteran receiver after trading the disgruntled Randy Moss to New England during last month's NFL draft. The top two receivers on the roster are Jerry Porter and Ronald Curry, but Oakland was looking to add depth.
Earlier this month, Taylor pleaded guilty to one misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct for his role in a scuffle outside a downtown Minneapolis nightclub early on New Year's Day.
Taylor was ordered to pay a $1,000 fine and $75 in administrative fees, and perform 48 hours of community service. He was also sentenced to 90 days in jail, but he will avoid that as long as he doesn't commit the same or a similar offense in the next year.
Brown was not drafted last month after running for 1,010 yards and seven touchdowns last season at BYU. He also led the Cougars with 62 receptions for 566 yards and three scores.
Steelers release veteran punter Gardocki
May 23, 2007
PITTSBURGH (AP) -The Pittsburgh Steelers released veteran punter Chris Gardocki on Wednesday, less than a month after selecting Baylor punter Daniel Sepulveda in the NFL draft.
Gardocki, a 16-year veteran and Pro-Bowl selection in 1996, never had a punt blocked and averaged a career-best 45.7 yards per kick last season.
The Steelers traded up in the fourth round of last month's draft to take Sepulveda, the first two-time winner of the Ray Guy award as college football's best punter.
Gardocki signed with the Steelers before the 2004 season. He was drafted by the Chicago Bears in 1991 and also played for the Indianapolis Colts and Cleveland Browns.