Nixon, David ( Free Agents) (3/12/2012)
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LB David Nixon was placed on waivers by the Rams Monday. His salary for 2012 was scheduled to be $615,000.
Winston, Eric ( Free Agents) (3/12/2012)
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OT Eric Winston tweeted the news Monday he was being released by the Texans.
"Unfortunately I have bad news," Winston wrote. "The Texans have decided to release me today. Although it is a surprise, I have nothing but positive memories and great relationships that I have built over the years. While my future seems uncertain, I am confident I will land on my feet. Let me say thank you to Mr. McNair and the whole Texan organization. They have had big role in the player and person I have become. And last but not least to my fans and teammates. You guys are the absolute best! I will miss all of you more than you know."
Robbins, Fred ( Free Agents) (3/12/2012)
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DT Fred Robbins was released by the Rams Monday. His departure saves the Rams $4 million against the salary cap. Robbins was scheduled to be paid $3.75 million in 2012 and he also had $250,000 of likelyo to be earned incentives in his contract.
Brown, Jason ( Free Agents) (3/12/2012)
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C Jason Brown was released by the Rams Monday. His departuer saves the Rams $2.8 million against the salary cap. Brown was scheduled to be paid $5 million in 2012.
Bannan, Justin ( Free Agents) (3/12/2012)
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DT Justin Bannan was released by the Rams Monday. His departure saves the Rams $2.75 million against the salary cap. Bannan was scheduled to be paid $2.75 million in 2012.
Leinart, Matt ( Free Agents) (3/12/2012)
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QB Matt Leinart was released by the Texans.
Sellers, Mike ( Free Agents) (3/12/2012)
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FB Mike Sellers was released by the redskins Monday.
Miller, Nick ( Free Agents) (3/12/2012)
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WR Nick Miller was placed on waivers by the Rams Monday. His salary for 2012 was scheduled to be $615,000.
Atogwe, Oshiomogho ( Free Agents) (3/12/2012)
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S Oshiomogho Atogwe was released by the Redskins Monday.
Daniel, Chase (New Orleans Saints) (3/12/2012)
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QB Chase Daniel, scheduled to become a restricted free agent Tuesday, agreed to a one-year contract with the team Monday. The minimum tender for RFA is $1.26 million, but Daniel agreed to a deal worth $1 million that included a $300,000 signing bonus.
Colston, Marques (New Orleans Saints) (3/13/2012)
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WR Marques Colston signed a five-year contract extension a few hours before he would have become an unrestricted free agent.
The deal was worth between $35-40 million, according to reports.
"This was important to me, to be back with this team in this situation," Colston said in a statement released by the team. "I was not looking to chase free agency; it was more important for me to be back in our program, a program we have been building and a program I believe in.
"The Saints have been loyal to me from the beginning and I want to thank my agent Joel Segal and Saints GM Mickey Loomis for getting this deal done before free agency. Now it is time to get back to work and win some more rings."
Other teams were not as likely to be as happy about the news as the wide receiver would have been among the most coveted free agents at his position.
Colston, 28, has totaled over 1,000 yards receiving in his past three seasons and five of his six seasons with the Saints.
That made him just one of seven NFL players to reach the 1,000-yard mark in five of his first six seasons in the league. He is the only Saint to put together back-to-back 1,000-yard years.
A seventh-round pick in 2006, Colston has moved up the team's record books, where he is tied for second with 48 touchdown catches, and is third with 449 receptions and 6,240 receiving yards.
"Since we drafted Marques in 2006, he's been everything that we are looking for in a New Orleans Saint as a player and a person," Loomis said in a statement. "His combination of production, work ethic and reliability speaks for itself. He has proudly represented our team both on the field and in the community.
"Credit goes to Marques for wanting to get this deal done before free agency started. He's been a major part of our success and we're excited that he will continue to be an integral part of our team for years to come."
Colston has been teamed with Brees for his entire career, including last year.
Thomas,Terrell (New York Giants) (3/13/2012)
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CB Terrell Thomas agreed to a contract with the Giants on Tuesday, hours before he was scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency.
Wharton, Travelle ( Free Agents) (3/14/2012)
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OG Travelle Wharton was released Tuesday. Wharton, 30, made 99 starts for Carolina over the past five years, the second-highest total behind Jordan Gross' 135 by a Panthers offensive lineman. He started every game last season.
"It was an extremely difficult decision on Travelle," Hurney said in a statement. "He's been a tremendous player for us, and he is a class act. It got to the point where in the big picture we decided it was a move we needed to make. We placed a June 1 designation on his release, which means we will carry his cap number until June 1, but Travelle is immediately able to negotiate and sign with another team.
Redman, Chris (Atlanta Falcons) (3/14/2012)
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QB Chris Redman, 34, was re-signed by the Falcons to a one-year contract. Redman has appeared in a total of 20 games since joining the Falcons prior to the 2007 season. He made four starts in 2007 and two in 2009, posting a combined 1-5 record.
Last year, Redman saw action in five games, completing 18 of 28 passes for 18 yards, no touchdowns and one interception.
He began his career as a 2000 third-round draft pick by the Baltimore Ravens, for whom he made six starts in 2002, going 3-3.
Douglas, Harry (Atlanta Falcons) (3/14/2012)
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WR Harry Douglas re-signed with the Falcons and agreed to a four-year contract.
In three seasons with Atlanta (2008, 2010 and 2011), Douglas has amassed a total of 84 catches for 1,112 yards and three touchdowns. He had 39 receptions for 498 yards and one TD last year.
In a Nov. 13 loss to New Orleans, Douglas had eight catches for 133 yards, which were both career highs. He was targeted 14 times with the Saints' defense focusing on wide receiver Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez.
Douglas, 27, was a third-round pick in 2008 out of Louisville.
Hangartner, Geoff (Carolina Panthers) (3/14/2012)
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OG Geoff Hangartner, who was due to become a free agent, instead re-signed.
Hangartner, 29, didn't miss a snap last season after signing Carolina one week before the season. He had been released in camp by the Buffalo Bills, for whom he made 16 starts in 2009 and 12 in 2010.
Hangartner previously played for Carolina from 2005-08, making 27 starts in that span.
"We drafted Geoff in the fifth round in 2005 and lost him through free agency and were glad to have him back last season when he resumed his starting role," Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said in a statement.
Costanzo, Blake (Chicago Bears) (3/14/2012)
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LB Blake Costanzo agreed to a two-year contract with the Bears.
Costanzo is a five-year vetearn who had previous stops in Buffalo, Cleveland and San Francisco, where he compiled a total of 71 tackles on special teams.
He was second on the 49ers in special teams tackles last season with 17.
McCown, Josh (Chicago Bears) (3/14/2012)
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QB Josh McCown re-signed with the Bears Wednesday, and is likely to be the No. 3 quarterback behind starter Jay Cutler and newly acquired backup Jason Campbell.
McCown will be entering his 10th NFL season and started two games late last season after signing in December and replacing No. 2 quarterback Caleb Hanie as the team's fill-in starter with Cutler (thumb) out.
A third-round pick in 2002, McCown has 33 career starts with the Cardinals, Lions, Raiders, Panthers and Bears.
Jennings, Tim (Chicago Bears) (3/14/2012)
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CB Tim Jennings signed a two-year contract with the Bears.
Jennings started 15 of the Bears' 16 games last season and 28 of 32 in the past two years, after playing his first four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts.
He picked off three passes in his time with the Bears, while piling up 153 tackles (six for loss), two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
For his career, Jennings has played in 85 games and notched 310 tackles, with seven interceptions and 42 pass break-ups.
He's also had five forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in that span, which included 49 starts.
Neal, Mike (Green Bay Packers) (3/14/2012)
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DE Mike Neal was issued a four-game suspension by the NFL for a violation of the league's policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Details about the cause of the suspension weren't announced, and the Packers declined comment, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Neal can have full participation with the team through the offseason and training camp, and he can play in preseason games. The suspension takes effect with the regular-season opener.
Neal, 24, has appeared in just nine games for the Packers since the team selected him in the second round of the 2010 draft out of Purdue.
Neal suffered a knee injury in training camp last summer, and he underwent surgery Sept. 13. He didn't make his season debut until Nov. 20. Thereafter, he was next to invisible on the field with nary a sack and only five tackles in the last seven regular-season games.
In 2010, and abdominal injury cost him the first three weeks of the season. After he got into two games, a torn rotator cuff ended his year.
According to the Journal Sentinel, the last "notable Packers player" to receive a four-game ban from the NFL was defensive tackle Cletidus Hunt in 2001.
Garcon, Pierre (Indianapolis Colts) (3/14/2012)
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WR Pierre Garcon, who spent four years with the Indianapolis Colts, announced that he had reached a free agent agreement with the Redskins.
If Washington had hoped the prospect of playing with Griffin would attract free agent wide receivers, the plan is already working.
"I wanted you all to hear it from me 1st before u saw it on the news... I will be signing with the Washington Redskins and I'm very excited about the opportunity in front of me," he wrote on Facebook.
Garcon was a secondary target for Colts quarterback Peyton Manning during the receiver's first three seasons, twice topping 700 receiving yards. Last year, with Manning missing the entire season due to a neck injury, Garcon had a career-high 70 receptions for a career-high 947 yards. He matched his best total with six touchdowns.
Former Colts executive Bill Polian had said on ESPN earlier Tuesday that he believed Garcon would get a big free agent payday in part because of his age, 25.
Last season, the Redskins didn't have a 1,000-yard receiver. Jabar Gaffney led the team with 947 receiving yards. The team's top target, Santana Moss, missed four games with a broken left hand.
Wayne, Reggie (Indianapolis Colts) (3/14/2012)
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WR Reggie Wayne, 33, re-signed with the Colts on Tuesday, reaching agreement on a three-year deal, according to a Twitter message from ESPN's Adam Schefter.
There had been speculation that Wayne and Manning might sign with the same team, but that's not going to happen.
The Colts are expected to draft quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick, and they need some receivers for him. Pierre Garcon left Indianapolis for Dallas, and Anthony Gonzalez was let go. Tight end Dallas Clark is available as a free agent.
With Austin Collie and now Wayne, Luck will have at least two targets.
Last season, Wayne had 75 receptions for 960 yards and four touchdowns.
Thomas, Bryan (New York Jets) (3/14/2012)
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LB Bryan Thomas, longest-standing member of the New York Jets, will be around for another year.
The outside linebacker agreed to a one-year deal with the team on Tuesday. The Jets didn't announce the terms of the contract.
Thomas, 32, tore an Achilles tendon in an Oct. 2 game at Baltimore, and he missed the remainder of last season. He told the Newark Star-Ledger that his rehab is on schedule and that he recently began running.
Selected by the Jets in the first round of the 2002 draft out of Alabama-Birmingham, Thomas has played 145 games and made 94 starts for the Jets.
"I want to be able to play with one team my whole career; that's my goal," Thomas told the Star-Ledger before re-signing with the team. "Be with them, and have the Jets get to where we want to be, which is being able to play for the title. That's the main goal."
In announcing the deal, Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum said in a statement, "Bryan has meant a lot to this organization over his 10 seasons and we are excited he will continue his career here. He is a versatile defender who is adept as a pass rusher and against the run. He understands the defense, allowing him to play a variety of roles for us."
Thomas had a career-high six sacks in 2010.
Hardwick, Nick (San Diego Chargers) (3/14/2012)
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C Nick Hardwick agreed to a three-year contract with the San Diego Chargers on Tuesday, just a few hours before he would have become a free agent.
Hardwick is now under contract through the 2014 season. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Hardwick, 30, entered the league in 2004 and is the Chargers' most experienced offensive lineman.
announced.
Meachem, Robert (San Diego Chargers) (3/14/2012)
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WR Robert meachem agreed to a four-year, $25.9 million contract with the Chargers. Media outlets reported that the deal guarantees Meachem $14 million.
Meachem had made news earlier Tuesday when the Bills sent separate private jets to fly the receiver as well as free agent defensive Mario Williams to Buffalo for negotiations.
Jason La Canfora of NFL Network reported that Williams left Buffalo without a contract, and Meachem subsequently accepted an offer from the Chargers, according the Union-Tribune and ESPN.com reports.
Meachem, 27, was a key receiver in the Saints' run to the Super Bowl championship following the 2009 season. He has averaged 43 catches for 660 yards over the past three seasons.
A four-year veteran out of Tennessee, Meachem has scored 23 touchdowns in 62 career games.
Rogers, Carlos (San Francisco 49ers) (3/14/2012)
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CB Carlos Rogers re-signed with the 49ers.
Rogers had his best season in the NFL in 2011, his first in San Francisco, but was exposed slightly in the NFC title game against Giants receiver Victor Cruz, who caught eight passes for 125 yards against Rogers in the first half. Rogers said he adjusted in the second half and held Cruz to two catches for 17 yards. Nevertheless, Rogers can struggle with exceedingly nimble receivers, something he doesn't face often in the NFC West.
Cox, Perrish (San Francisco 49ers) (3/14/2012)
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CB Perrish Cox signed with the 49ers and said he would not put himself in position to gather attention off the field.
Cox was acquitted earlier this month on sexual assault charges, with the allegations stemming from an alleged incident in 2010 at a party at his house.
He was released by the Denver Broncos last year and did not play during the 2011 season, with the team saying the move was performance-related, not tied to his legal entanglement.
While Cox said in a conference call after the 49ers signing that he "just wants everyone involved in (the case) to go on with their lives," he acknowledged that he put himself in a bad position.
"(I was) humbled," Cox told reporters. "It was a nervous and scary situation for me. But like I said, I don't blame anybody but myself. I take full responsibility for my actions. I'll never put myself in that position again."
Asked what he felt he did wrong since he was acquitted, Cox said, "I just shouldn't have been in that whole (situation). Whatever happened that day, night, whatever happened ... it shouldn't have happened. Like I said, I should have been smarter and I shouldn't have put myself in that position. That's just my goal from here on out -- never put myself in that position again."
The accuser became pregnant after the night of the alleged sexual assault, and prosecutors said DNA evidence showed Cox was the father, according to reports. The woman reportedly testified she was not alert for the alleged sexual encounter and did not remember it.
Jury foreman Mitch Summerfield told KUSA-TV in Denver the jury believed there had been a sexual encounter, but there was not enough evidence to prove the woman's state of consciousness at the time, or when it happened.
San Francisco general manager Trent Baalke said the team felt secure that Cox would not get into trouble off the field.
"We are pleased to add Perrish to our team," Baalke said in a statement. "As an organization, from ownership o
Farwell, Heath (Seattle Seahawks) (3/14/2012)
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LB Heath Farwell re-signed with the Seahawks. The reserve linebacker signed with Seattle last season after spending five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, who picked him up as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2005. He earned a Pro Bowl invitation as a special teams player following the 2009 season.
Bryant, Red (Seattle Seahawks) (3/14/2012)
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DE Red Bryant landed a big payday on the first day of free agency, and he didn't even have to change teams.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefer and NFL.com's Michael Lombardi, Bryant and the team agreed to terms on a five-year contract that is worth $7 million annually.
Bryant, 27, is considered a top run-stuffer. He started all 16 games last season after appearing in a total of 17 games and making eight starts in the previous three seasons combined.
He also blocked an extra point and three field goals in 2011.
The Seahawks selected him in the fourth round of the 2008 draft out of Texas A&M.
Finnegan, Cortland (St. Louis Rams) (3/14/2012)
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CB Cortland Finnegan agreed on a deal that will be worth close to $50 million over five years with the Rams.
Finnegan will be reunited with Rams coach Jeff Fisher, who drafted Finnegan in the seventh round of the 2006 draft. Since the 2007 season, he has started 77 of a possible 80 games.
Last season, the 5-10, 188-pound Finnegan was fourth on the Titans with 95 tackles.
