NFL teams drop some big-name players
Linebacker Rosevelt Colvin, who played on two Super Bowl-winning New England teams but was plagued by injuries throughout his time with the Patriots, was released by the team Tuesday. Colvin, who went out with a foot injury after 11 games last season, was signed as a free agent from Chicago in 2003. He missed 14 games in 2003, then played all 16 games the next three seasons, registering 201/2 sacks in those seasons.
The Patriots also cut linebacker Oscar Lua, who missed all of 2007 with a knee injury after being drafted in the seventh round last April.
With the free-agent deadline three days away, several teams cut players to create more cap room.
Wide receiver Eddie Kennison was released by Kansas City after seven seasons there. The 35-year-old Kennison was the Chiefs’ top wide receiver for most of that time, but was limited last season by hamstring and shoulder injuries to only eight games, catching 13 passes for 101 yards.
He had 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2004 and 2005, joining Carlos Carson as the only players in Chiefs history to accomplish that feat.
Washington released disappointing receiver Brandon Lloyd, who had only 25 catches in two seasons with the team. The Redskins traded two draft picks to the San Francisco 49ers for Lloyd before the 2006 season, then signed him to a long-term contract that included $10 million in guaranteed money.
The New York Jets released three former starters: WR Justin McCareins, CB Andre Dyson and G Adrien Clarke.
In a deal that won’t be official until the start of the trade/free agency season at midnight Feb. 29, Minnesota agreed to send disappointing receiver Troy Williamson to Jacksonville for a sixth-round pick, according to someone familiar with the trade. Williamson was the seventh overall pick in the 2005 draft.
San Francisco re-signed linebacker Roderick Green shortly before the veteran pass-rusher would have become an unrestricted free agent. Green spent parts of the last two seasons with the 49ers.
Cincinnati re-signed receiver Antonio Chatman and defensive end Jonathan Fanene. Chatman agreed to a two-year deal rather than become an unrestricted free agent.
Carolina is closing in on reacquiring WR Muhsin Muhammad.
Muhammad’s agent, Joel Segal, and Carolina general manager Marty Hurney said Tuesday that they are close to a deal that would return the veteran to where he played his first nine NFL seasons.
“Hopefully we can get something done in the next day or so,” Hurney said.
The two sides began talking shortly after Muhammad was released by the Bears last week. The Panthers, looking to get help for Steve Smith, have made the receiver position one of the team’s offseason priorities.
Muhammad and Smith started together for parts of three seasons, including in 2003 when the Panthers lost to New England in the Super Bowl.
Copyright Associated Press 2008