Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has 34,517 yards passing for his career with 201 touchdowns. (Chris Keane/Reuters)
(PhatzRadio / CBC Sports) — The Tennessee Titans have switched backup quarterbacks all in the span of a few hours, going from veteran Matt Hasselbeck to Ryan Fitzpatrick.
A person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press that the Titans have agreed to a two-year deal with Fitzpatrick, the former Buffalo Bills quarterback.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal has not been announced by Tennessee officials, who met with Fitzpatrick at the NFL meetings in Phoenix.
ESPN.com first reported the deal.
The move comes hours after Hasselbeck was released Monday because of his $5.5 million contract and a $7.5 million salary cap hit. Fitzpatrick was released the day free agency opened, a day before the team was due to pay him a $3 million bonus.
Raiders ink Walker to free-agent deal
The Oakland Raiders signed former Atlanta defensive tackle Vance Walker to a free-agent contract on Monday in the latest move to upgrade a depleted defence.
Walker is the sixth defensive free agent signed by Oakland in the past week. He joins tackle Pat Sims and Jason Hunter on the line with linebackers Nick Roach, Kaluka Maiava and Kevin Burnett also added to the mix.
The Raiders are expected to bring back only three starters from the defence that gave up the fifth most points in the NFL last season. After addressing the front seven in the first week of free agency, the Raiders now need to work on the secondary, where the only starter from last year under contract is safety Tyvon Branch.
The Raiders have also met with free agent cornerback Terrence Newman. Newman said on Twitter that he expects to make a decision about whether to remain with Cincinnati or sign with Oakland sometime this week.
Walker is considered a run stopper who did not play in obvious passing situations last year with the Falcons. Walker started nine games for Atlanta last season, making 32 tackles with three sacks and a forced fumble.
He played 58 career games with the Falcons over four seasons after being drafted in the seventh round out of Georgia Tech in 2009. He is versatile enough to also play nose tackle or defensive end on a three-man line.
Oakland has already lost two defensive linemen to free agency with Matt Shaughnessy signing with Arizona and Desmond Bryant reaching a deal with Cleveland. Richard Seymour is a free agent and is not expected to return. Backup Dave Tollefson has already been released and longtime starter Tommy Kelly is expected to be cut this off-season.
Vikings finalize deal with Felton
The Minnesota Vikings have signed Pro Bowl fullback Jerome Felton.
The contract was finalized Monday. The two sides agreed last week on a three-year deal worth as much as $7.5 million with a $2 million signing bonus.
Felton helped pave the way for Adrian Peterson’s 2,097 yards rushing last season, the 26-year-old’s first in Minnesota. The Vikings are his fourth NFL team.
The Vikings have signed six of their 10 unrestricted free agents: Felton, backup offensive lineman Joe Berger, safety and special teams ace Jamarca Sanford, outside linebacker Erin Henderson, wide receiver Jerome Simpson and right tackle Phil Loadholt. Middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley and backup offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz signed elsewhere.
The Vikings also traded wide receiver Percy Harvin and released wide receiver Michael Jenkins and cornerback Antoine Winfield.
Polumbus returns to Redskins
Right tackle Tyler Polumbus agreed Monday to a two-year deal to return to the Washington Redskins.
Polumbus tweeted that he had a “tempting” offer to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars, but that he couldn’t leave his coaches and teammates in Washington.
Polumbus started a career-high 15 games last season. He was expected to be the backup to Jammal Brown, but Brown sat out the year with a hip injury.
The Redskins have signed veteran free agent tackles Tony Pashos and Jeremy Trueblood this month, but both are coming off injuries.
Polumbus turns 28 next month. He was undrafted out of Colorado and has played for the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks.
The Redskins also announced that punter Sav Rocca has signed his new contract. The 39-year-old former Australian rules football player agreed to a two-year deal last week.
Steelers bring back Spaeth
Matt Spaeth is coming back to Pittsburgh.
The Steelers signed the free agent tight end on Monday, reuniting Spaeth with the club that selected him in the third round of the 2007 NFL Draft. The 29-year-old Spaeth spent his first four seasons with the Steelers before moving on to Chicago, where he caught just 13 passes for 78 yards and three touchdowns in 31 games.
Pittsburgh needs depth at tight end while two-time Pro Bowl tight end Heath Miller recovers from a devastating knee injury sustained in December against Cincinnati. Spaeth excels as a run blocker and the Steelers are hoping he can help a young offensive line. Spaeth had a career-high 17 receptions in 2008 while helping the Steelers to their sixth Super Bowl title.
Bengals sign Rey Maualuga to new deal
The Bengals have signed middle linebacker Rey Maualuga to a new contract, another move to keep the league’s sixth-ranked defence virtually intact.
Maualuga was a second-round pick from Southern California in 2009. He has had some rough times during his transition to starter, with coach Marvin Lewis challenging Maualuga and quarterback Andy Dalton to become more vocal leaders last season. Pleased with how they responded, Lewis gave both of them a “C” to wear on their jerseys, designating them team captains.
The Bengals went on to make the playoffs for the second straight season, losing to Houston in the opening round.
The Bengals have re-signed four of their defensive players who were eligible for free agency — Maualuga and defensive ends Michael Johnson, Robert Geathers and Wallace Gilberry.
NFL News and Notes: Titans release QB Matt Hasselbeck is a post from: PhatzRadio.com
