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NFL notebook: Wilfork signs with Texans
Vince Wilfork reunited with Bill O’Brien on Monday when the longtime New England Patriot signed a two-year contract with the Houston Texans.
The deal is worth $9 million, including $5 million guaranteed, according to John McClain of the Houston Chronicle.
O’Brien, the second-year coach of the Texans, was an assistant with the Patriots from 2007 to 2011.
Wilfork, 33, joins a defensive line that is led by two-time defensive player of the year J.J. Watt and includes 2014 first overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney.
Wilfork played in New England for the past 11 years. The Patriots declined to pay a $4 million roster bonus last week, making him a free agent.
On Monday, Patriots coach Bill Belichick also released a statement, praising Wilfork as “the best defensive lineman I ever coached.”
The Texans also signed wide receiver Cecil Shorts to a two-year contract worth $6 million, including $2.5 guaranteed, according to McClain.
—The Cleveland Browns signed cornerback Tramon Williams and defensive tackle Randy Starks.
Williams signed a three-year contract reportedly worth $21 million, and Starks signed a two-year deal worth $8 million.
Starks, 31, was released last Wednesday by the Miami Dolphins, clearing room for Ndamukong Suh and his $114 million contract.
Williams, who turned 32 on Monday, played his first eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers, tallying 28 interceptions and averaging about 14 pass breakups per season.
—The Philadelphia Eagles worked out quarterback Tim Tebow, who last played in the NFL in 2012, on Monday but did not offer him a contract.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter first reported the news, and the Eagles later confirmed the workout to the Philadelphia Daily News.
Tebow has been an analyst for the SEC Network. He last played for the New York Jets in 2012 after playing two seasons with the Denver Broncos.
—Quarterback Marcus Mariota visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday, days after general manager Jason Licht led a three-man contingent to Eugene, Ore., for the Heisman Trophy winner’s pro day.
Mariota follows Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston through team headquarters at One Buc Place. The two passers are the favorites to be drafted with the first overall pick April 30, and Winston is the presumptive leader in the clubhouse.
The visit comes on the same day as reports that Winston might be leaning toward watching the draft in the company of friends, family and supporters in Alabama. His father said that decision isn’t yet final, and the Buccaneers likely would want their top pick on display if Licht chooses Winston.
—Three days after signing Christian Ponder, the Oakland Raiders released quarterback Matt Schaub.
The move Monday saved the team $5.5 million against the salary cap.
Schaub, 33, was acquired last year from the Houston Texans for a sixth-round draft pick but ended up losing the starting job to rookie Derek Carr.
In an 11-year career with the Atlanta Falcons (2004-06), Texans (2007-13) and Raiders, Schaub has completed 63.9 percent of his passes for 24,311 yards, 130 touchdowns and 86 interceptions, with a passer rating of 89.5.
—The Washington Redskins signed former Seattle Seahawks safety and special-teams standout Jeron Johnson.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, but the Washington Post reported the deal is for two years and $3.5 million.
In four seasons with the Seahawks, Johnson appeared in 46 regular-season games, compiling 19 tackles, two sacks and one fumble recovery. He contributed to the Seahawks’ teams that won Super Bowl XLVIII and appeared in Super Bowl XLIX.
—The New England Patriots signed tight end Scott Chandler.
The seven-year veteran had spent the past five seasons with the Buffalo Bills, catching 182 passes for 2,120 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The Bills released Chandler last Wednesday.
—The Kansas City Chiefs officially re-signed defensive back Ron Parker.
Terms were not disclosed, but the deal is reportedly for five years and $30 million.
Last season with the Chiefs, Parker played in all 16 games (15 starts), tallying 94 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble and one interception.
—The Carolina Panthers signed safety Kurt Coleman to a two-year contract.
Coleman, 26, spent four seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles before joining the Kansas City Chiefs last season.
Panthers defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was the defensive coordinator for Philadelphia during Coleman’s rookie season with the Eagles.
—The Chicago Bears signed guard Vladimir Ducasse to a one-year contract.
A second-round pick by the New York Jets in 2010, Ducasse has played in 63 games with the Jets (2010-13) and Minnesota Vikings (2014). The 6-foot-5, 325-pound lineman from Haiti started six games for the Vikings last season.
In Chicago, Ducasse likely will provide depth behind starting guards Kyle Long and Matt Slauson.
—The New York Giants officially re-signed guard John Jerry and cornerback Chykie Brown.
Jerry’s deal reportedly is for two years and $3.3 million, with $1 million guaranteed.
Jerry started all 16 games at right guard in his first season with the Giants and has started 49 consecutive games.
Brown was claimed off waivers on Nov. 5, one day after he was released by the Baltimore Ravens.
—Former San Francisco 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald plans to sue the woman accusing him of sexual assault.
McDonald confirmed to ESPN on Monday that a lawsuit will be filed.
“I feel like what I am doing is the right thing because I know that I am not this bad person that people are making me out to be,” McDonald told ESPN. “I’ve been fired from my job. I know some teams don’t even want to talk to me because of this past accusation. All I am trying to do is clear my name and move on with my life.”
McDonald has been investigated by local law authorities on suspicion of sexual assault. He has not been charged with any crime.
—DeMaurice Smith was re-elected as the NFL Players Association’s executive director, the union announced Sunday night.
Representatives from every team except the Buffalo Bills participated in the election held in Hawaii, according to USA Today. Smith prevailed on the first ballot — receiving at least 15 of the 31 votes — against a field that included eight challengers. The vote totals were not revealed.
Sports Illustrated’s Peter King tweeted that former safety Ryan Clark, a member of the NFLPA’s executive committee, told him the vote for Smith was unanimous.
Among those vying to replace Smith were former players Sean Gilbert, Jason Belser and Robert Griffith. Belser is the union’s senior director of player affairs and development.
—As the Georgia Supreme Court upheld financing plans for a new $1.4 billion stadium in Atlanta, the city said Monday that it will indeed bid to host the Super Bowl in 2019 or 2020.
That confirms what Falcons owner Arthur Blank has said.
NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said finalists for the 2019 and 2020 Super Bowls will be unveiled at the league meeting in May. The host cities will be selected in May 2016.
—The Minnesota Vikings announced the hires of assistant coaches Andrew Janocko and Robert Rodriguez.
Janocko will serve as offensive quality control coach, and Rodriguez will be an assistant defensive line coach.
Janocko, who was an offensive assistant with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2012-13, will assist offensive coordinator Norv Turner.
Rodriguez spent the previous seven seasons coaching at his alma mater, UTEP.
—Former NFL tight end Jerramy Stevens was charged with driving under the influence.
Stevens was arrested in Los Angeles in January while driving a van belonging to the U.S. women’s soccer team. His wife, USA soccer goalie Hope Solo, was in the van as well.
Stevens, 35, played nine NFL seasons and has a history of run-ins with the law, including a 2012 assault charge stemming from an alleged incident with Solo, although the case was ultimately dropped for a lack of evidence.
—Nike has extended its on-field apparel contract with the NFL.
The deal adds three years to the contract that originally was to expire after the 2016 season, Sports Business Journal reported Monday.
The extension helps Nike avoid a bidding war for the rights to outfit NFL teams. Under Armour was among the companies expected to bid for the contract in 2016, and Adidas was considered a possible bidder as well. That company said Monday that it will not renew its deal with the NBA in 2017.
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