Within the span of just a few hours, the Giants signed two former members of the Broncos on Monday.
First, the Giants picked up cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in an effort to improve their secondary. The move came after a week where the Giants re-signed five players and agreed to deals with running back Rashad Jennings, guard Geoff Schwarts and linebacker Jameel McClain.
“The main thing, bringing in guys from Kansas City, Seattle, you can see what they’re doing, trying to bring guys that are going to come in and lead by example,” Rodgers-Cromartie said. “That’s always a plus.”
Rodgers-Cromartie, who is entering his seventh NFL season, was a first-round selection in 2008 and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2009. In 13 starts with Denver last season, Rodgers-Cromartie had 31 tackles, a team-high 15 passes defensed and tied for the team lead with three interceptions.
Later Monday evening, the Giants and return specialist Trindon Holliday then agreed to a one-year deal, according to ESPN.com.
The 5-foot-5 Holliday had 1,046 yards with two touchdowns, one of which came against the Giants in Week 2, last season.
– About one week after the team that selected him in the first round of the 2012 draft released him, quarterback Brandon Weeden signed a two-year contract with the Cowboys on Monday.
The former Brown will become the third quarterback on Dallas’ roster as the team expects Kyle Orton to continue in his role as Tony Romo‘s backup quarterback next season despite reports that Orton may not return for a third year.
Weeden had a strong rookie season in 2012 as he passed for 3,385 yards and won five games. The now 30-year-old, though, struggled in 2013 and became the target of Cleveland fans’ frustrations with the organization.
Before he was selected 22nd overall by the Browns, Weeden spent five years as a professional baseball player in the Yankees, Dodgers and Royals systems. Eventually he spent two seasons as a starting quarterback at Oklahoma State.
– Wide receiver James Jones and offensive lineman Kevin Boothe each signed a deal with the Raiders on Monday.
The soon-to-be 30-year-old Jones brings a veteran presence to a team whose most experienced wide receiver has just three years in the league.
“We have a lot of young receivers,” Jones said. “I’ve been in the game for a minute, so I’ll be able to help those guys out leadership-wise. Other than that, just doing what I do on the football field, making some plays, and hopefully I can give the offense a spark.”
Jones said that he was interested in the Raiders because of Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie‘s outlook for the team, which has not made the playoffs since 2002.
“The way he runs his team the GM way is the kind of way I play out on the football field; just hungry and trying to be the best, and that’s how Reggie is,” Jones said. “I’m excited to play for Reggie and hopefully we can turn this thing around.”
Boothe, who was drafted by the Raiders in 2006, will make his return to Oakland after seven seasons with the Giants.
“I like the direction of the team,” Boothe said. “They’ve put some pieces together here and it’s a great culture that they’re building over here, and I am excited to be a part of it. The fact that I have been here before, obviously, this place has always held a special place in my heart as the team that drafted me.”
– Right tackle Zach Strief, who has spent the entirety of his eight-year career with the Saints, agreed to a five-year extension with New Orleans on Monday. While Strief, who became a starter in 2011, entered free agency last week, he continuously showed interest in remaining in New Orleans.
“We are excited to announce that Zach will stay with us into the future,” said Saints general manager Mickey Loomis. “Not only has he done an excellent job at the right tackle position, but he has served us well as an offensive team captain for the past two seasons and has always been a great asset in the community since he first came here in 2006.”
The Saints chose Strief out of Northwestern in the seventh round of the 2006 draft.
– After the best season of Steven Hauschka‘s career, the Seahawks and the kicker have agreed to a multi-year contract. According to NFL.com, while the team has not released the details of the agreement, the three-year deal is worth up to $9 million.
Last season, Hauschka made 33-of-35 kicks overall, never missing an attempt from beyond 50 yards, and had a career-high 48 touchbacks. The kicker was also perfect during the postseason as he went 8-for-8 during Seattle’s Super Bowl run.
– Safety Nate Allen and the Eagles agreed to a one-year contract.
Allen, who has started 54 games for the Eagles over the past four seasons, had a career-high 94 tackles in Philly last year. Allen, a second-round pick, also had six interceptions, three sacks and one forced fumble during his four seasons with the Eagles.
– The Redskins and Brandon Meriweather agreed to a one-year deal Monday night, according to ESPN.com.
Meriweather, who played just one game for Washington in 2012 because of a torn ACL, was suspended and fined last season for two late hits. The two-time Pro Bowler was also fined for a hit in 2010 with the Patriots and 2011 with Chicago.
