Yardbarker: New England

Broncos Sign NT Jamal Williams To A Three-Year, $16M Deal

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 22:11:45 -0500

According to ESPN, nose tackle Jamal Williams agreed to a three-year, $16 million deal that has a maximum value of $22 million with $7 million guaranteed. The Broncos' front seven is getting stouted by the day with the additions of former Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman Justin Bannan, former New England Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green and now the 6-foot-3, 348-pound Williams, formerly of the San Diego Chargers. "Jamal is a leader and a proven high-end player at his position," general manager Brian Xanders said. "He has anchored some of the NFL's best run defenses during his career, and we are fortunate to add him to our roster." For his career, Williams has registered 436 tackles, 13 sacks, one interception, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.

Source: National Football Post

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Patriots owner speaks out

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:58:00 -0500

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was on local sports radio WEEI today and gave a lengthy, 47-minute interview. You can listen to the entire interview here. Below are some of the noteworthy points from that interview: Confirmed the signings of CB Leigh Bodden and LB Marques Murrell The Patriots considered Vince Wilfork the top player in [...]

Bodden officially re-signs with the Patriots

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 21:44:05 -0500

Yesterday it was reported that CB Leigh Bodden had reached an agreement in principle to stay in New England. Today, it was made official. Bodden signed a 4-year deal worth $22 million, with $10 million in guaranteed money and $14 million over the first two years. The Patriots now have three of their top veteran [...]

Rams Fight Back For Fells

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 19:12:22 -0500

Former Rams TE Daniel Fells currently finds himself in the middle of a bidding war between the Rams and the New England Patriots of all teams. My earlier post today jumped the gun when Fells to New England looked like a done deal. Fells is looking for a place where he can compete for the starting job and St. Louis is a good of a place as any because they currently only have Billy Bajema on the roster at tight end. I am an unabashed Daniel Fells fan and I would be happy if the Rams resigned him, but would understand if they let him go, hoping to find more talent through the draft. Around the Horns says Fells could decide on his choice tomorrow.

The New England Patriots re-sign Leigh Bodden

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:09:53 -0500

The Patriots have re-signed 28-year old cornerback Leigh Bodden to a 5-year, $28.5 million dollar deal. Bodden played in 15 games for the Patriots last season in which he had 55 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 forced fumble, 18 passes defensed and 5 interceptions (one returned for a TD). Bodden has now played in 90 games in his NFL career and he has 346 tackles, 9 forced fumbles, 18 interceptions (one returned for a TD) and he has defensed 76 passes. The Patriots were smart to lock up Bodden before other teams drove up the price on him as he is a fine CB.

INCOMING (OFFICIAL): Houston Dynamo Sign Academy Midfielder Navas Cobo

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:45:00 -0500

From the Houston Dynamo Front Office, the team has signed Dynamo Academy product Francisco Navas Cobo to a developmental contract, making him the second Dynamo Academy player in team history to be signed to a first-team contract, it was announced today. Navas Cobo joins goalkeeper Tyler Deric, who signed with the Dynamo on February 27, 2009. Houston native Navas Cobo, a midfielder, is the 11th player in Major League Soccer history to proceed directly from an academy program to the first team. Houston is the second team to sign multiple players directly from its academy, joining Chivas USA. Navas Cobo, 18, returned to Houston in August 2009 after several years in Colombia and immediately joined the Dynamo Academy, hoping to take advantage of the unique opportunity available to players in the Dynamo youth system. Head coach Dominic Kinnear saw him play several times last fall and invited him on trial with the first team for the 2010 preseason. Navas Cobo appeared for the first team in its first four preseason scrimmages and both games against MLS teams, playing 90 minutes against FC Dallas on February 27. He becomes the youngest contracted player in Dynamo history. With the Dynamo Academy, presented by Statoil, Navas Cobo helped the U-18 team into first place in the Texas Division of the USSF Development Academy league at the break for the Texas high school season. Playing as a wing, he scored five goals in 13 games and set up several others. He was named USSF Player of the Week on November 26 for his performance in games against Internationals (Cleveland) and the Columbus Crew. “To have a successful Academy, you need talent and opportunity,” Dynamo Director of Youth Development James Clarkson said. “In Francisco Navas Cobo, we have talent, and through Dominic Kinnear’s vision and support of the Dynamo Academy, we’ve been able to provide opportunity to Francisco and the other young men in our development system. This signing shows that the Dynamo Academy is working, and we look forward to the day when one of our Academy players makes his MLS debut.” What do you think? Excited to see more academy players signing with the first team or is the real impact still a few years off? What is the effect of teams like the Dynamo and their success with Holden and Clark on young players signing with the team and/or willing to go through the academy? What about teams like New England and how they handled Dempsey? Is Houston going to be the place to find and develop young talent in the US or are other teams stepping up? -Patrick Beatty

Revs head off on 12-day road trip, new faces in tow

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 16:34:55 -0500

On Wednesday, March 10, the New England Revolution embark on a 12 day pre-season excursion, with the entire roster, including Taylor Twellman and Matt Reis, making the trip. The team will be operating out of Cary, N.C. and will face off against USL-2 side Charlotte Eagles and the Revs' old U.S. Open Cup rivals Carolina RailHawks, now part of the newly formed NASL. The Revs are also scheduled to play a closed door scrimmage against Duke University. Read on at ASN's Revs page.

Jamal Williams still in Denver

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:53:44 -0500

Although the NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora has reported that 348-lbs. behemoth/nose tackle Jamal Williams will visit the New Orleans Saints Tuesday, as of 1:15 p.m. MT the Denver Post’s Mike Klis is reporting that Williams is still in Denver, negotiating with the Broncos. We’re guessing Josh McDaniels isn’t concerned over Williams missing a flight. Not that anyone can blame the Broncos for not getting a deal done yet — they’ve been busy. Earlier Tuesday the team announced the signing of former New England Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green. The Broncos may not be letting Williams slip between their fingers after all. We’ll keep you posted…

Denver finalizes agreement with Jarvis Green

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:33:33 -0500

Taking a page out the Kansas City Chiefs’ playbook, the Broncos have signed former New England Patriots defensive end Jarvis Green to a four year contract, worth an estimated $20 million, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Green is capable of playing effectively in the 3-4 defensive front Denver currently employs, and is well known for his locker room leadership in New England; something the Broncos sorely needed last year. The move likely ends any discussions between Denver and free agent defensive end Dwan Edwards (Ravens), as the Broncos will now look to continue their defensive upgrades in next month’s draft. Related posts:Broncos entertaining multiple players today Broncos get two; sign Bannan, Jones Jamal Williams to visit with New Orleans Saints

Seattle Seahawks Have Confirmed Interested in Leigh Bodden

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:18:51 -0500

Seattle Times beat writer Danny O Neil has confirmed according to a report from ESPN Writer Mike Reiss that the Seattle Seahawks are in the running for free agent cornerback Leigh Bodden. The Seahawks desperately need to upgrade one of the leagues most woeful past defenses over the past two seasons. This is remarkable, considering the same core unit in 2007 gave up the leagues fewest passing TD’s (15). Bodden, the markets best available cornerback, is currently visiting with the Houston Texans. The Texans already lost their No. 1 cornerback when Dunta Robinson took a mega six-year, $57 million contract from the Atlanta Falcons, becoming one of the leagues highest paid corners despite not recording an interception in 2009. The most prominently mentioned teams linked to Bodden besides the Texans and Seahawks are the Steelers, as well as his 2009 squad the New England Patriots. Bodden had a resurgent year on a one year deal with New England, recording five INT’s along with 55 tackles and a career high 18 PD’s. Related posts:Seattle, Kampman discussing deal Kampman still available for hire; Seahawks interested? Carroll on his way to Seattle; resigns post at USC

Jarvis Green to visit Broncos

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:00:19 -0500

One thing is certain: the Denver Broncos are seriously focusing on the defensive line in the early stages of free agency. Defensive end Jarvis Green, most recently of the New England Patriots, will start his free agency tour on Monday with a visit to the Denver Broncos, the Boston Globe reports. Green is scheduled to arrive in Denver today and visit with Broncos brass through tomorrow. Green (6-3, 285) is looking to take advantage of his “unique position” as the only pass-rushing defensive linemen in the 3-4 scheme in this year’s free agent crop, his agent told the Boston Herald last week: Green and his agent, Albert Elias, sat back during the first few days of free agency, making phone calls and focusing on how teams would use him instead of taking visits. … “We are in a unique, unique position to be a free agent,” (Green’s agent Albert) Elias said yesterday. “We believe he was the only person in free agency in his role, a down lineman who can rush and have sacks in the 3-4 scheme. Numbers prove it. We weren’t worried Friday, because we knew there was nobody (like him). We’ve studied the market.” Green had 14 sacks in 2006-2007 but only three in the past two years. The 31-year-old started 12 games for the Patriots in 2009. Depth. Rotation. Talent on multiple levels along the defensive line. None of these guys are world-beaters by themselves, but the Broncos are looking to build a deeper core of talent defensively. If the Broncos can add Green and Jamal Williams to the already heavy addition of Justin Bannan, fans can look forward to a seriously improved defensive front in 2010. Green to visit Denver [Boston Globe] Jarvis Green takes his time looking for right fit [Boston Herald]

Patriots Look Into Free Agent Market

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 14:06:49 -0500

With NFL free agency in full swing and some of the big names going fast and furious to new teams, the New England Patriots have decided in some cases to just hold onto what they have.While the biggest free agent in the market may have been DE Julius Peppers who signed with the Chicago Bears, [...]

Could Leon Washington End Up In New England?

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:20:00 -0500

The New York Post is rumoring that the Patriots could be interested in New York Jets restricted free agent, Leon Washington. The Post cites "two NFL observers" as the source. Washington is coming off of a fractured fibula in the 2009 season. He was averaging numbers that would have given him his best season as a pro, before it was cut short. It is a move that would make sense for a couple of reasons. The Patriots are in need of a running back, and they've gotten to see Washington up close and personal twice a year for the past four years. The cost to get Washington, being as he is a restricted free agent, would be a second round pick. The Patriots have three of those in April's draft. However, would the Jets be willing to part ways with Washington? It is highly believed that the Jets cut their leading rusher for the past three years in Thomas Jones because Washington is such a capable back, along with last year's rookie stand out, Shonn Greene. If you're the Jets, you've got to consider this for a second round pick. Washington was a fourth rounder in 2006, but with many quality running backs available in the 2010 Draft, it's a move the Jets should strongly consider should the Patriots sign Washington to an offer sheet.

Morsels of data from the free-agency feeding frenzy

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 10:12:42 -0500

The general consensus around football is that the 2010 free-agent pool is not a particularly compelling place to go swimming this year. But that hasn’t stopped the free-agency feeding frenzy from spitting out winners (like New England’s Vince Wilfork) and losers (like 49ers fans).....

Boldin Trade Close; BAL, KC, NE Interested

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 15:59:36 -0500

The Arizona Cardinals have multiple trade offers for wide receiver Anquan Boldin and are close to determining which one they'll accept.PFT has heard that the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots are all interested in acquiring Boldin...