By PFW staff
July 1, 2008

Updated at 5:50 p.m EDT Monday, July 1

Following is a summary of the news involving free agents and other contract-related news around the league:

Tuesday, July 1

 The Patriots released CB Willie Andrews on Tuesday, just one day after he was arrested for allegedly pointing a gun at his girlfriend. Andrews, 24, was mostly a special teams contributor during his two seasons with New England. "The New England Patriots take the conduct of our players very seriously," the team said in a statement. "We are aware of the very disturbing and alarming reports regarding Willie Andrews. We will not offer any additional comment, as is our policy regarding pending legal matters."

Monday, June 30

 The Buccaneers locked up their starting running back for the long term on Monday, signing Earnest Graham to a multiyear contract extension. According to NFL Network, it’s a three-year deal that will pay Graham $10.5 million. Graham started 10 games last season after injuries had sidelined Cadillac Williams and Michael Pittman. He rushed for a team-high 898 yards and 10 touchdowns, as well as making 49 receptions for 324 yards.

 The Titans have signed RFA ORT David Stewart to a six-year contract, ensuring more stability on their offensive line. According to The Tennessean, Stewart’s deal will pay him $38.9 million, averaging more than $6 million per year, with $10 million in guaranteed money and a 2008 base salary of approximately $1 million. The Titans locked up starting OLT Michael Roos to a six-year, $43 million extension in April.

 After being unable to broker a trade, the Steelers have released veteran RB Najeh Davenport. Davenport rushed for 123 yards in a Week 15 win over the Rams last season and started the wild-card game, scoring two touchdowns, but he became expendable after the Steelers drafted RB Rashard Mendenhall and signed UFA RB Mewelde Moore.

 The 49ers have officially signed former Raiders OT Barry Sims, adding some key depth in case ORT Jonas Jennings should continue to experience injury problems. Sims, who can play either OT spot, started 119 games during his nine-year Raiders career, missing only eight games. Oakland released him Feb. 29.

Friday, June 27

 The Jaguars agreed to terms with DE Paul Spicer on a two-year, $8 milllion contract extension that will keep him in Jacksonville until at least 2010. Spicer, a ninth-year veteran, has had 7½  sacks in two of the last three seasons and started 42 games during that stretch.

Tuesday, June 24

 The Giants and OG Chris Snee have agreed in principle to a six-year contract extension that will make him one of the five highest-paid guards in the league and keep him in New York through 2014, according to an NFL Network report. Snee, the son-in-law of Giants head coach Tom Coughlin, has started the full 16-game schedule for three consecutive years. He skipped voluntary workouts earlier this offseason to express his desire for a new deal.

 The Giants put QB Jared Lorenzen on waivers Monday, ending his four-year stint with the team. Lorenzen served as a backup for QB Eli Manning during his tenure and played in four regular season games and one playoff game. The Giants' remaining backup quarterbacks — Anthony Wright, David Carr and rookie Andre' Woodson — will compete for what is likely to be two roster spots on the depth chart behind Manning.

Saturday, June 21

The Chargers signed UFA RS Mark Jones on Friday. All of Jones’ NFL experience has been on special teams. Last season he returned 12 punts for 143 yards as a member of the Buccaneers before a knee injury ended his season in late October. During his four-year career, Jones has an 8.7-yard average on 117 punt returns and a 24.8-yard average on 18 kickoff returns.

Wednesday, June 18

 Special-teams standout Cameron Worrell moved to his third team in the past three years as he signed with the Jets to help bolster their special-teams coverage units and add depth at safety. Worrell, a five-year veteran, started seven games with the Dolphins last season and finished with 56 tackles. He previously played with the Bears.

 The Falcons cut loose disappointing S Jimmy Williams, the 36th overall pick in the 2007 draft. Williams reportedly moved into new head coach Mike Smith's doghouse after showing up at a voluntary minicamp nearly 20 pounds heavier than expected. He was drafted out of Virginia Tech as a cornerback but was switched by the Falcons to safety prior to the 2007 season. He has started seven times in 27 career games.

 The 49ers were awarded ex-Eagles DT LaJuan Ramsey on waivers. Ramsey, a 6-3, 300-pounder who's entering his third NFL season, played nine games for Philadelphia last season but was deemed expendable after the Eagles picked up free-agent veteran Kimo von Oelhoffen. Ramsey is expected to add depth to the Niners' DT rotation.

Monday, June 16

 The Texans hope to have bolstered their pass rush with the signing of free agent OLB Rosevelt Colvin, who was cut by the Patriots after the season. Colvin, coming off a foot injury that sidelined him for five regular-season games and all of the postseason, turns 31 in early September. The 10-year NFL veteran has 52½ career sacks and will serve as a situational pass rusher for Houston. Terms of his deal weren't announced, but it's believed that Colvin received the multi-year deal he was seeking.

Friday, June 13

 The Eagles re-signed UFA DT Kimo von Oelhoffen to a one-year deal. A 15th-year veteran, von Oelhoffen played in eight games for Philadelphia last season and started one. He was selected by the Bengals in the sixth round of the 1994 draft and spent six seasons with the club before joining the Steelers for six years and the Jets for one.

Thursday, June 12

 Bengals DT Domata Peko agreed to a five-year, $29.3 million extension with $8.5 million guaranteed on Thursday, which will keep him with the team through the 2014 season, according to reports. Peko, just 23 years old, still had two years remaining on his rookie contract. The third-year veteran has 95 tackles and four sacks in his two seasons. 

Wednesday, June 11

 Saints DE Will Smith has agreed to a six-year, $70 million contract extension with $26 million guaranteed, according to reports. The deal makes Smith, a fifth-year veteran, the third-highest-paid defensive end in the league. Smith had been jockeying for a new contract all offseason and didn't attend the Saints' voluntary workouts to express his frustration. He did, however, attend mandatory minicamp on May 30. Smith had a career-low seven sacks last season but made 10½ in ’06 and received a Pro Bowl nod.

 Ravens OT Jonathan Ogden is expected to announce his retirement on Thursday after 12 seasons, 11 Pro Bowl invites and a Super Bowl title. The 34-year-old reportedly told friends he would not return for the ’08 season. One of the most dominant blockers of his time, Ogden has been hampered by a hyperextended toe since December ’06 and he played a career-low 11 games last season.

Monday, June 9

 Following his DUI arrest in Austin, Texas, over the weekend, the Bears have placed troubled RB Cedric Benson on waivers. Benson received a boating DUI charge in Austin just weeks earlier, but was still considered the team's starting running back by head coach Lovie Smith. Things changed after the latest incident. Though Benson claims he is innocent on both counts, Smith sent Benson home after he reported to practice today, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Benson spent three disappointing seasons in Chicago after being chosen with the fourth-overall pick in the 2005 draft. He never rushed for more than 674 yards in a season.

Thursday, June 5

 The Rams have claimed former Buccaneers QB Bruce Gradkowski off waivers, according to an NFL Network report. The report indicated the Bears and Raiders put in claims on Gradkowski, but the Rams had priority because they finished with the worst record of the three squads last season. Tampa placed Gradkowski, who started 11 games as a rookie in 2006, on waivers June 2. He and Trent Green will be backups for Marc Bulger.

Tuesday, June 3

 The Cowboys announced a three-year contract extension for WR Terrell Owens in a press conference at Texas Stadium Tuesday, a deal that locks him up through 2011. Owens will make $34 million over the next four years, according to reports, which will make him one of the highest-paid receivers in the league. In his two seasons with the Cowboys, Owens has 166 catches for 2,535 yards, and his 28 touchdowns are the most in the NFL during that span.

 The Giants have agreed to terms with UFA DE Renaldo Wynn on a one-year deal, according to the Star Ledger of Newark, N.J. Wynn, a 12th-year veteran, played in 12 games for the Saints last season and had 13 tackles along with 3½ sacks. He adds depth to the squad's talented defensive line and could become more of a contributor if DE Michael Strahan decides to retire.

Monday, June 2

 The Broncos released RB Travis Henry on Monday, citing his lack of commitment to the team. Henry, who agreed to have his contract restructured in February, had been nursing a hamstring injury that he reportedly suffered while running sprints prior to the team’s passing camp, but head coach Mike Shanahan didn’t feel Henry was making enough progress toward a recovery. “Although Travis has the ability to be one of the top running backs in the NFL, we have to make decisions that are in the best interests of our organization and its goal of winning a Super Bowl,” Shanahan said. “We did not feel his commitment to the Broncos was enough to warrant a spot on this football team.” Henry missed four games last season, battling knee and rib injuries. Selvin Young, rookie Ryan Torain and Michael Pittman are the leading contenders to win the starting RB job.

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