National Football League

The Latest: Time ticking away on Manziel, Browns

Published Mar. 9, 2016 2:40 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Latest on the first day NFL teams can sign free agents: (all times EST)

2:38 p.m.

As the clock ticked down for NFL free agency to open, Johnny Manziel's troubled tenure with the Cleveland Browns was set to close.

The team will release the quarterback Wednesday unless they can find a team willing to trade for Manziel, who is facing possible criminal charges in Texas and a league suspension.

Manziel started just eight games in two seasons with the Browns, who finally tired of his off-field antics. Manziel was involved in his second domestic violence incident in three months and the Browns' new front office has made it clear they will not tolerate bad behavior by any of their players or employees.

The 23-year-old Manziel went just 2-6 as a starter, failing to live up the ''Johnny Football'' nickname he carried into the pros from college.

With Manziel headed out the door, the Browns are again focused on finding a franchise quarterback in this year's draft. Cleveland has the No. 2 overall pick and are considering North Dakota State's Carson Wentz and California's Jared Goff.

---

2 p.m.

The Philadelphia Eagles are adding a pair of free agents, quarterback Chase Daniel and safety Rodney McLeod, according to a person familiar with the negotiations.

Daniel agreed to a three-year contract, the person told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because free-agent deals can't be finalized until 4 p.m. Wednesday.

Daniel spent the past three seasons backing up Alex Smith in Kansas City, where new Eagles coach Doug Pederson was the offensive coordinator.

McLeod started every game for the Rams the past three seasons after joining them as an undrafted rookie in 2012. On Tuesday, the Eagles signed longtime Bills cornerback Leodis McKelvin.

-Reported by Rob Maaddi.

---

1:50 p.m.

Antonio Gates is sticking with the San Diego Chargers, agreeing to a two-year deal hours before the star tight end became an unrestricted free agent. The 2016 season will be Gates' 14th with the Chargers. He signed as an undrafted rookie in 2003.

Gates was suspended for the first four games of 2015 after testing positive for a banned substance. Upon returning, he had 56 catches for 630 yards and five touchdowns.

---

1:50p.m.

A person with direct knowledge of the agreement says free agent nose tackle Ian Williams has reached a new five-year deal to remain with the San Francisco 49ers.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract hadn't been announced.

Williams has emerged as an important member in the middle of San Francisco's once-stout defense, which lost linebacker Patrick Willis to retirement last March followed by Chris Borland and veteran defensive end Justin Smith.

- Reported by Janie McCauley.

---

1:40 p.m.

The New York Giants are set to sign top free-agent cornerback Janoris Jenkins to a longterm contract.

Jenkins, one of the NFL's top cornerbacks, expects to sign a five-year deal worth about $60 million later Wednesday. The free-agent signing period begins at 4 p.m. EST.

The move comes a day after the Giants agreed on a deal with unrestricted defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

Jenkins' signing will likely mean the end of Prince Amukamara's Giants career. The former 2011 first-round cornerback was told by the Giants to test the open market.

---

1:40 p.m.

The Pittsburgh Steelers signed right guard Ramon Foster to a three-year deal. Signed as a free-agent rookie in 2009, he is one of the team's most dependable linemen.

''Not a bad career so far for an undrafted kid out of Tennessee,'' he said on his Instagram account.

Others who re-signed with the Steelers this week include safety Robert Golden, wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and cornerback William Gay.

---

1:40 p.m.

The Dallas Cowboys are bringing back middle linebacker Rolando McClain for a third season.

The agency that represents McClain, Sports Trust Advisors, said in a tweet that the 26-year-old had agreed to a contract - one year at $5 million, according to a person with knowledge of the contract who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because terms weren't released.

---

1:10 p.m.

It's New Year's Day in the NFL, and free agency is underway.

A slew of signings is taking place from Miami to San Francisco, with teams signing free agents and also waiving players at a rate that will be hard to keep up with.

The official time teams can finalize free-agent signings is 4 p.m. ET.

But here comes the information we are gathering as player moves pick up steam.

Moves started early Wednesday, when Panthers defensive end Charles Johnson took a big pay cut to return to the NFC champions.

---

AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and http://twitter.com/AP-NFL