Very Frenzied Free Agency Period!
By Matt DeLucia
Here are the latest moves from around the NFL, on this the first day of a very frenzied free agency period!
The Denver Broncos have been hard at work signing just about anyone that arrives for a visit. They’ve signed RB’s Correll Buckhalter (Philadelphia) and J.J. Arrington (Cardinals) to four-year deals. Also WR Jabar Gaffney (Patriots) four-years at $10 million, plus S Renaldo Hill (Dolphins) another four-years at $10 million. They also grabbed LS Lonnie Paxton (Patriots) at five-years for $5.14 million.
It’s been quite a busy day for the Broncos and their fans. It’ll be interesting to see if they have anything left for other potential free agent signings.
The New York Jets and LB Bart Scott after a few nervous hours this afternoon have finally come to terms on a contract. The deal is reported to be a six-years, at $48 million, with close to $22 million of that being guaranteed. So the Jets ACTUALLY do lock-up one of the two key players they were on the hunt for today.
The Houston Texans have re-signed backup TE Joel Dreessen to a three-year, $3.6 million dollar contract extension which keeps him in Houston.
The Tennessee Titans and QB Kerry Collins have reached a deal for a new two-year, $15 million dollar contract. This is a very smart move for the Titans, since Vince Young has yet to prove he can play at a consistent level in the NFL.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have re-signed C Brad Meester and CB Scott Starks. Terms of the deals have not been released yet.
Other deals today were:
Takeo Spikes the linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers signed a two-year deal with the club.
Safety Cris Crocker and halfback DeDe Dorsey will remain with the Cincinnati Bengals after both players re-signed to new deals.
RB Maurice Morris has a new home with the Detroit Lions, after the two sides reached a deal on a three-year, $7 million dollar contract.
Also announced was the Washing Redskins have released CB Shawn Springs, in a salary cap move. The Redskins who earlier in the day had signed DT Albert Haynesworth and CB DeAngelo Hall needed to make this move in order to clear some cap space.
The New Orleans Saints have “officially” announced that LB Jonathan Vilma has agreed on a new five-year deal. Terms have not been disclosed at this time.