Two former starting quarterbacks — both of whom were acquired in major trades — were released Thursday. However, one already found a new home.
The Kansas City Chiefs released quarterback Matt Cassel, whom they acquired from the New England Patriots four seasons ago.
However, Cassel he wasn’t a free agent for long as the Minnesota Vikings signed him. Terms were not announced.
Cassel had 19 turnovers in nine games last season, but has 58 career starts. If he doesn’t compete with 2011 first-round pick Christian Ponder for the starting job, Cassel would be considered an upgrade as the No. 2 quarterback.
Meanwhile, oft-injured Kevin Kolb ended his stay with the Arizona Cardinals, who was released before he was owed a $2 million roster bonus on Saturday.
The March 17 payment would be difficult to swallow for the new regime with the Cardinals. Kolb was paid a $7 million roster bonus last March, but the failed trade in 2011 in which the Cardinals traded a second-round pick and former first-round draft choice Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Eagles leaves the franchise searching for a starting quarterback.
Kolb, who would not renegotiate his deal, was owed $9 million in base salary for 2013 as per terms of the seven-year, $63 million contract he signed in 2011.
–Running back Steven Jackson agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons on a three-year deal. He spent nine seasons with the Rams, including eight straight 1,000-yard rushing seasons. He is the active leading rusher in the NFL (10,135 yards).
But Jackson, drafted 24th overall in 2004, has played in the postseason just once — with one win — and voided the final year of his contract with the Rams to enter free agency for the first time. That deal would’ve paid Jackson $7 million in 2013.
The Falcons had the best record in the NFC in the regular season in 2012 at 13-3. They lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game and released starting running back Michael Turner, who led the team with 800 rushing yards on 222 carries (3.6 yards per attempt).
Also, center Todd McClure’s announced his retirement. McClure posted the following message on his personal Twitter account “Huge thanks to everyone for all there well wishes. I am retiring an Atlanta Falcon. More to come at press conference after owners meetings,” McClure wrote.
He started all 16 games in 2012 and 198 games in his career, setting the franchise record for consecutive starts with 144 from 2002-2010.
–The Minnesota Vikings signed center Joe Berger and defensive back Jamarca Sanford as unrestricted free agents, the team announced.
Berger, 30, spent his first two seasons with the Miami Dolphins, playing in all but one of the team’s game during that period. Sanford returns to the Vikings for a fifth season. The 27-year-old has appeared in 57 games.
–Former Cowboys wide receiver Kevin Ogletree signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Ogletree was a known commodity to the coaching staff, namely wide receivers coach John Garrett.
Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2009, Ogletree played in 46 games with two starts and had 57 receptions for 730 yards and four touchdowns.
–The Philadelphia Eagles signed outside linebacker Connor Barwin to a six-year, $36 million contract worth up to $40.55 million. He’s the latest addition to the Eagles’ transition to a 3-4 defense.
Barwin has 19 career sacks but was coming off of a down year in 2012 with the Houston Texans. It was his first season playing without All-Pro pass rusher Mario Williams attracting attention from blockers.
–The Kansas Chiefs agreed on a three-year contract with cornerback Sean Smith worth up to $18 million including $11 million in guarantees.
Smith, 25, had 12 passes defensed, two interceptions and three forced fumbles with the Miami Dolphins last season.
–Detroit Lions offensive tackle Jeff Backus, the all-time franchise record with 187 consecutive starts, announced his retirement after 12 seasons.
Backus, 35, has played left tackle since being selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft out of the University of Michigan.
–Free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha will visit the San Francisco 49ers, according to a Sacramento Bee report.
Asomugha, 31, was released last week by the Philadelphia Eagles after having struggled for the past two seasons. He is guaranteed $4 million from the Eagles regardless of his next team or contract. The 11-year veteran was regarded as one of the league’s top cornerbacks while playing for the Oakland Raiders.
–Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens traveled to Houston to visit with the Texans along with general manager Rick Smith, who was on board franchise owner Bob McNair’s private jet.
Reed turns 35 before the start of the 2013 season, but he said in February before the Super Bowl that he has much more football left in his body.
–The Baltimore Ravens announced the release of safety Bernard Pollard, while re-signing cornerback Chris Johnson and safety James Ihedigbo.
With Pollard gone and Ed Reed meeting with Houston Texas officials, Ihedigbo is the team’s only experienced safety. He appeared in all 16 games last season, starting three, for the Ravens.
The 29-year-old had 19 tackles and one sack along. Ihedigbo has also played for the New York Jets and New England Patriots for 2011.
–The Indianapolis Colts re-signed cornerback Darius Butler to a two-year deal and agreed to terms of a four-year, $22 million deal with defensive lineman Ricky Jean Francois.
Jean Francois is a versatile defensive lineman who suits a defense planning to blend elements of the 3-4 and 4-3 schemes. The 26-year-old visited the Philadelphia Eagles and drew interest from the New Orleans Saints.
–Defensive tackle Nate Collins will return to the Chicago Bears in 2013, agreeing to one-year contract. Collins played in 22 games over the first three seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars (2010-11) and Chicago Bears (2012).
–The Cleveland Browns announced a two-year contract agreement with running back Chris Ogbonnaya.
Ogbonnaya was valuable to the Browns last season because he can play fullback and running back in power formations to spell starter Trent Richardson.
He appeared in 15 games last season with one start. He recorded 24 receptions for 187 yards and rushed eight times for 30 yards.
–The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are hedging on dealing the 13th overall to land New York Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis, according to a Yahoo! Sports report, though the team may be angling to pay a first-rounder in 2014.
Sources told Yahoo! that new Jets general manager John Idzik is willing to hold onto one of his star players until the April draft or longer, despite the fact that Revis will earn a $1 million roster bonus if he’s still with the team Saturday.
–Free agent offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood signed with the Washington Redskins, the team announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Drafted out of Boston College by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the second round, the 29-year-old has started 84 of the 101 regular-season games in which he has appeared. He played in nine games with one start for the Buccaneers last season.
–Offensive tackle Jake Long, the first player selected in the 2008, is apparently getting closer to a deal with the St. Louis Rams.
After being examined by the Rams medical staff, Long reportedly satisfied the team that he’s healthy enough to sign. NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Rams were “OK with him medically” and that the two sides were “hammering out a deal.”
–Defensive back Keenan Lewis is “close” to a deal with the New Orleans Saints, according to an ESPN report.
Lewis visited the Saints on Wednesday. The 26-year-old spent his first four NFL seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, and played in all 16 games over the past two years.