In a slightly surprising move this afternoon, the Redskins agreed to a three year contract with former Chiefs and Bengals running back Larry Johnson. Although the team has yet to announce the signing, multiple sources around the league are reporting the deal is final.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the deal is worth $3.5 million but could reach $12 million if all incentives are met.

Johnson will likely join fellow running back Clinton Portis in Washington’s backfield next season, but it’s still not known if Portis will actually play for the Redskins next fall, so the possibility exists that Johnson will be the featured back on his own.

Johnson was released by Kansas City in the middle of last season shortly after a feud erupted on his Twitter account between himself and several fans. Johnson began the fracas with a scathing attack on his head coach Todd Haley, and then turned his anger towards the fans who responded, calling one poster a “fag” and belittling several others with references to their inability to play pro football.

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This off-season has already brought about plenty of changes across the board for Cleveland, and that process continued this morning with the signing of former Patriots tight end Ben Watson.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Browns and Watson reached an accord on a three year contract that will pay him $12 million, with $6.35 million of that guaranteed.

Drafted in 2004, Watson has spent his entire career up to this point in New England, racking up 167 receptions for 2,102 yards and 20 touchdowns. He’ll bring unquestioned leadership to the locker room in Cleveland and a solid work ethic on the field, which will undoubtedly assist whoever the Browns choose to play at quarterback this fall.

The Eagles were quiet throughout the first few days of this offseason’s free agency period, but lately they’ve exploded with some moves. Earlier in the week, Philadelphia traded wide receiver Reggie Brown to the Buccaneers for a 6th-round draft pick, and yesterday they agreed on a contract with veteran defensive back Marlin Jackson, formerly of the Colts.

Today they made more announcements, most notably in which they confirmed adding young offensive hybrid Chad Hall via a three year deal. The Eagles also are believed to be meeting with free agent running back Justin Fargas (Raiders) this evening regarding a potential contract.

It was also learned recently that the Eagles offered a contract to versatile runner Kevin Faulk before he re-signed with the Patriots, so it is clear the team is looking for a veteran back to complement LeSean McCoy at the position.

Fargas, a bruising player who was most recently recorded as being 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, gained 491 yards on the ground and 3 touchdowns in 12 games. In previous seasons, he’s gone from being a backup to rotational player to full-time starter, and overall has a career total of 3,369 rushing yards, to go along with 32 games played in the starting lineup and 77 receptions.

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A day after signing their first free agent of the offseason, the Eagles have announced the addition of another player. Chad Hall, a former star wide receiver at Air Force Academy, was signed to a three year contract and is expected to provide some serious competition for a reserve spot on the roster.

Hall has not played extended amounts of football for the past two seasons, as he has been serving as a lieutenant at Hill Air Force Base in Salt Lake City, UT, but is now free to pursue what he hopes will be a lengthy and successful career in the NFL.

At 5’8″, 180 lbs, he is certainly not a huge target in the passing game, but is proven to have extremely well-rounded agility and speed. In addition to surpassing his school’s all-time record for yardage as a wide receiver, Hall played as a running back and on special teams as a kick/punt returner.

During the 2007 season, he managed to gain 1,478 rushing yards and 15 running touchdowns, while also catching 50 passes. Once considered by some to be a candidate for the Heisman Trophy Award and a definite high-round draft selection, Hall seems to be an interesting young player and also appears to be a sure “low risk, high reward” project. Read the rest of this entry »

More often than not, one of the biggest indicators of where a free agent player will end up signing is the report of that player taking a physical with a club. Even though it’s usually not much more than a formality for most players, the physical is a definite requirement for every player before a contract can officially be signed.

According to Paul Allen of KFAN 1130 in Minneapolis, former Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson is still in town at this moment visiting with the Vikings front office/coaching staff, and is expected to take a physical with the team at some point today.

While it is certainly possible that the two sides have not reached an accord as of yet, Tomlinson submitting to the medical check by Minnesota’s team doctors would seem to indicate that a deal is on its way. If he does decide to join the Vikings, Tomlinson would be the team’s backup running back behind fellow All-Pro Adrian Peterson, and would help Minnesota replace an important part of their offense that is missing now, after Chester Taylor signed in Chicago last weekend.

As always, we’ll keep you posted if more information becomes available.

11-year veteran running back and longtime member of the Patriots, Kevin Faulk, has agreed on a contract extension that will keep him in New England, according to the Associated Press.

Despite being 33 years of age, Faulk was considered to be one of the better rotational runners on the free agent market, and was rumored to be receiving some interest from teams like the Dolphins and the Eagles. However, he decided that reprising his role on the Patriots’ offense was a better option, and should provide the club with at least one more season of reliable pass cactching and rushing out of the backfield.

Last season, Faulk compiled 335 yards on the ground, but also added 37 receptions and three touchdowns. Throughout his entire career, he’s recorded 3,505 rushing yards and 418 catches for 3,605 yards.

In addition to his expected return to New England, other Patriot free agents Leigh Bodden, Vince Wilfork, Stephen Neal and Tully Banta-Cain were able to reach new deals with the organization.

According to the Detroit Free Press, the Seahawks have expressed formal interest in free agent guard Chester Pitts .

Pitts conveyed the interest in his services, during an interview with Sirius NFL Radio, also listing the Lions, Dolphins, and Bengals as his other suitors. Pitts has extensive experience, starting 114 consecutive games before falling victim to a knee injury last season.

He has also expressed his desire to return to the Houston Texans, the team he has played for his entire career, but is keeping his options open.

The Seahawks have also met with former Broncos guard Ben Hamilton this offseason as well, indicating they want to add at least one starter on the open market to aid arguably the league’s worst blocking unit.

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The exodus out of the desert continued late last evening, with wide receiver Jerheme Urban leaving the Cardinals to sign with the Chiefs. The story was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter. No terms have been released as of yet.

Urban was likely swayed by his former coach, Todd Haley, who is now in his second season as head coach in Kansas City. He’ll join a receiving corps that was lackluster at best last season, and could push for playing time from day one depending on what the Chiefs choose to do in next month’s draft.

A fourth quarterback has been spotted on the Seahawks radar today.

According to NFL.com’s Steve Wyche, Seattle is bringing in San Diego Chargers restricted free agent Charlie Whitehurst for a visit.

Whitehurst just wrapped up a visit with the Cardinals, who are also set to host Derek Anderson, in the near future. The Seahawks are doing so as well, but are set to get the first crack at the former signal caller for Cleveland.

Whitehurst would cost any team that signs him a third round pick, given the tender placed on him by the Chargers. Seattle currently does not have a third round pick, but Wyche also said that Seattle is working on acquiring pick in that round, making his visit all the more interesting.

NFLNR reported the Seahawks interest in Eagles quarterbacks Donovan McNabb, and Kevin Kolb earlier today, opening the door to a potential trade between Philadelphia and Seattle involving current starter Matt Hasselbeck. No formal discussions between the two clubs have yet begun, but things are certainly beginning align in favor of the Seahawks swinging a trade in the near future to acquire a new quarterback.

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If there were any thoughts about LaDainian Tomlinson taking over the starting running back job in Minnesota next season, they should be gone now. Although it’s not yet clear whether the ex-Charger is set to sign with the team yet, the Vikings have been adamant about what role he’d play in if acquired.

With Adrian Peterson still on the roster, L.T. would primarily handle the backup duties, reprising Chester Taylor’s former role with the club over the past three seasons. In spite of Tomlinson’s greater level of experience, head coach Brad Childress believes that role would be just fine.

“I would think he knows that, but I always want to over-communicate clarity so we won’t hopscotch around that [topic].”

– Minnesota head coach Brad Childress

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On the same day that the Bengals hosted big-name receiver Terrell Owens for a visit with the front office, the team announced the signing of another free agent wide receiver: former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Antonio Bryant. 

The Cincinnati Inquirer has reported that the deal agreed upon between the two parties is worth approximately $28 million over 4 years. Bryant was bothered by knee injuries last season and was held to just 600 receiving yards, but boosted his status among the best wideouts in the league the previous year, in which he hauled in 83 passes for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns.

While this does not indicate that the Bengals are definitively out of the mix for Owens, the move certainly makes it less likely a deal will form. Nevertheless, Bryant should be a nice complement to starting wide receiver Chad Ochocinco in the Bengals’ lineup next fall.