The Oakland Raiders have signed free agent punter Chris Kluwe as a possible replacement for the departed Shane Lechler. General manager Reggie McKenzie announced the deal with the eight-year veteran on Friday.
Analysis: Kluwe played in 127 games for the Minnesota Vikings with a 44.4 yard career average. He ranks second all-time in Minnesota history with a 37.3 net average. Kluwe has been one of the most outspoken players in the NFL, taking up very public fights for gay marriage and against drunken driving this past season so he fits in well in the progressive East Bay.
The Browns have signed Hoyer to a two-year contract, adding more veteran depth to a troublesome position. Hoyer, who starred at a Cleveland area high school, finalized his deal Friday after agreeing to terms with the Browns one day earlier. Hoyer was released earlier this week by Arizona.
Analysis: Hoyer will compete for a backup job with the Browns, who expect Brandon Weeden to beat out Jason Campbell to be the starter. Hoyer was signed by New England as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and spent three seasons backing up Tom Brady.
The Dallas Cowboys have significantly reduced Free's salary after a difficult season that ended with him as a part-time player. The Cowboys reworked the final two years of Free's contract, and will he make $3.5 million in 2013 instead of $7 million. Dallas probably would have cut Free if the five-year veteran had rejected a salary cut.
Analysis: Free is now set to make another $3.5 million in 2014, but that money isn't guaranteed. He originally had $15 million left on the four-year, $32 million deal he signed in 2011. Free struggled last year and ended up splitting time with Jermey Parnell over the final four games.
Irvin has been suspended for the first four games of the 2013 season after the league announced he violated the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Analysis: The NFL announced the decision Friday. Irvin will be eligible to participate in all offseason activities and preseason practices and games, but will be suspended without pay for the opening four games. Irvin will be eligible to return to Seattle's active roster on Sept. 30 following the Seahawks' Week 4 game at Houston.
Analysis: Beauharnais was picked in the seventh round. He is a 6-foot-2, 230-pound three-year starter at linebacker at Rutgers. He was named a semifinalist for the Butkus Award following his senior season.
The Kansas City Chiefs have signed former Kansas defensive end Toben Opurum as an undrafted free agent after trying him out as a fullback during rookie minicamp. The Chiefs announced the move in a statement Friday.
Analysis: The 6-foot-1, 250-pound Opurum began his career with the Jayhawks as a running back, gaining 554 yards and scoring nine touchdowns during the 2009 season. He moved to linebacker as a sophomore and played defensive end the past two seasons, making 109 tackles and 6 1/2 sacks in his career.
The Washington Redskins have signed Thomas, a safety from Fresno State who led major college football with eight interceptions last season. The Redskins announced the deal Friday.
Analysis: Thomas, a first-team AP All-American, was the 119th overall selection in last month's NFL draft. He sat out the 2011 season with a broken left leg and dislocated ankle.
Goodson is facing drug and weapons charges after he was found in a car with an acquaintance early Friday morning on Interstate 80 in New Jersey. The Jets said they were aware of the arrest and were gathering information.
Analysis: Sgt. Adam Grossman says both men were charged with possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and three weapons charges stemming from a handgun found in the vehicle. Goodson played three seasons for Carolina and one for Oakland before the Jets signed him to a three-year deal in the offseason.
Woodson has another team interested in signing him. Woodson's agent, Carl Poston, tells The Associated Press that the 36-year-old defensive back will visit with The Oakland Raiders on Tuesday. The 2009 NFL Defensive Player of the Year would've traveled to Oakland from Denver after meeting with the Broncos on Wednesday, but he had charity obligations this weekend to support Mott Children's Hospital.
Analysis: Poston says the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers along with a couple other teams, who he says don't want to be mentioned, have also contacted him about the eight-time Pro Bowl player. It's clear that not only is Woodson in high, high demand but he's a nice guy to boot from his charity work.
Hargrove signed with the Cowboys after sitting out the 2012 season with a suspension as part of thew New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal.
Analysis: Hargrove, who signed a one-year deal Thursday, got an eight-game ban from Commissioner Roger Goodell after the NFL said the Saints ran a program that paid defensive players improper cash bonuses for hits that injured opponents from 2009 through 2011.
Love was claimed by the Jaguars off waivers from the Patriots.
Analysis: The Patriots released Love on Wednesday after he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. Love had lost about 20 pounds before receiving the diagnosis about two weeks ago. He has since gained about half of it back.
Thomas agreed to a four-year contract with the Steelers.
Analysis: The Steelers selected Thomas with the 111th overall pick in last month's NFL draft, trading a third-round pick in 2014 to the Cleveland Browns to move up and take Thomas. Thomas is expected to be the primary backup at safety after veterans Ryan Mundy and Will Allen left via free agency in the offseason. Thomas was a first-team All-Big East selection last year at Syracuse after making a career-high 88 tackles for the Orange.
Analysis: Jamison, a running back selected 228th overall in last month's draft after leaving Rutgers as a redshirt sophomore, ran for 1,075 yards last season.
McKnight smacked down speculation that he could be the odd man out in the New York Jets' crowded backfield, saying they'd have to "kill me" to take his spot.
Analysis: The running back, entering his fourth season, says Thursday that he doesn't care who the Jets bring in at the position and he's going to "prove" he belongs. New York, which allowed Shonn Greene to leave as a free agent, has McKnight, Chris Ivory, Mike Goodson, Bilal Powell and John Griffin as running backs on the roster.
Owens was released by the Jaguars after seven seasons.
Analysis: The two-time Pro Bowler is the latest veteran to exit the rebuilding Jaguars, joining a list that includes cornerback Rashean Mathis, linebacker Daryl Smith and fullback Greg Jones. Owens made the team as an undrafted rookie in 2006. He played in 104 games and owns the franchise record for special teams tackles (118).
© 2013 by STATS LLC.