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May 17 2012 - Stephon Gilmore (Bills), CB Stephon Gilmore signed a four-year contract likely worth approximately $12 million. Gilmore was the 10th overall pick in the 2012 draft. He's penciled in as a starter entering offseason workouts and held his own in rookie camp after being a three-year starter at South Carolina.
May 16 2012 - Jeff Allen (Chiefs), OT Jeff Allen (second round) and defensive back De'Quan Menzie (fifth) signed with the Chiefs. Terms were not disclosed.
Allen played in 49 games for Illinois, seeing time at both tackle positions, and finished his career with 47 consecutive starts.
Menzie played in 33 career games for Alabama, registering 68 tackles (47 solo), 3.0 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks (-10.0 yards), one interception and 15 passes defensed.
May 15 2012 - Alex Barron (Seahawks), OT Alex Barron signed a deal with Seattle on Tuesday, the team announced, along with three other rookie tryout survivors -- offensive tackle Andrew Mitchell (Cincinnati), cornerback Donny Lisowski (Montana) and tight end Cooper Helfet (Duke).
"This is real good, especially when you consider that I had to sit out all of last year on injured reserve," Barron told Seahawks.com. "But I'm over that now and moving forward. I'm here to help the team the best way I can."
Barron will be in the running for a backup job. Breno Giacomini, who signed a two-year deal after a strong finish to last season, is likely to start at right tackle and the future of 2011 first-rounder James Carpenter is uncertain because of a knee injury he suffered last November.
May 15 2012 - Maurice Jones-Drew (Jaguars), RB Maurice Jones-Drew is staying away from OTAs because he wants a contract extension. The Jaguars were not expecting the NFL leading rusher in 2011 to attend the voluntary portion of the offseason program, but first-year coach Mike Mularkey indicated a direct message was being sent to the organization.
"It's all voluntary," Mularkey said. "I wish he was here. He knows we wish he was here. He's talked about trying to get an extension for his contract."
With Mularkey and his coaching staff installing new schemes, the presence of the team's star player would be mutually beneficial.
But Jones-Drew, like veteran Fred Taylor before him, prefers to work out on his own and the franchise doesn't question his ability to prepare physically. He had 1,606 rushing yards, tops in the NFL, last season but his contract might be a sticking point even with a more well-rounded cast around him in 2012.
Jones-Drew signed a five-year, $31.5 million deal in 2009 and is vastly underpaid relative to two of the NFL's top-salaried running backs and division rivals Chris Johnson (Titans) and Arian Foster (Texans). Jones-Drew is scheduled to earn $4.45 million this season.
Mularkey said he's not planning to get involved in the contract matter.
May 15 2012 - Darius Fleming (49ers), LB Darius Fleming suffered a torn ACL at the team's rookie minicamp according to NFL.com, which reported Fleming was injured according to the former Notre Dame linebacker's agent, Andy Simms. Fleming sat out midway through the team's first workout with what was believed to be a hamstring injury.
May 15 2012 - Juron Criner (Raiders), WR Juron Criner, regarded as a possession receiver, consistently got behind defensive backs and made a number of circus catches from quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Terrelle Pryor at the Raiders OTA workout Tuesday.
"It's been a learning process for him," coach Dennis Allen told reporters at the end of the practice. "I think every day he gets a little bit better. He's learning more what to do. I was pleased with the way he practiced today. It's not a whole lot different than what we saw on tape in college. That's what we expect of him."
Criner caught one pass of at least 55 yards on a sideline bomb from Pryor and another of at least 50 yards from Palmer in the end zone, sneaking behind DeMarcus Van Dyke to make a catch that caused teammates to take notice.
Criner, 6-3, 224, ran a 4.68 in the 40 at the Scouting Combine and was drafted with the 168th overall pick. In his final two seasons at Arizona, he caught 157 passes in the Wildcats' spread offense.
May 15 2012 - Chris Riley (Bengals), OG Chris Riley, who was claimed by the Bengals off waivers from Washington on May 8, was waived after failing to pass the team's physical.
May 15 2012 - Connor Barth (Buccaneers), K Connor Barth hasn't signed his franchise tender, but he did attend the Buccaneers organized team activities on Tuesday.
Barth was at the OTA session and planned to remain in Tampa through the mandatory minicamp concluding June 14.
But he wasn't an active participant at the drills and until his one-year, $2.654 million tender offer is signed or the two sides agree to a long-term extension, Barth is likely to remain a spectator for liability and injury reasons.
The team did recognize Barth's commitment and appears willing to address his goal of a new contract before the July 15 deadline.
May 13 2012 - Brandon Taylor (Chargers), S Brandon Taylor agreed to a four-year deal, completing the contracts for all of the Chargers' draft picks. Financial terms weren't disclosed.
Taylor was selected in the third round out of Louisiana State, and is expected to compete for the starting strong safety job.
San Diego also signed defensive lineman Garrett Brown (one year) and rookie free agent cornerback Arthur Hobbs (three years) .
May 14 2012 - Brandon Marshall (Bears), WR Brandon Marshall is not expected to be charged for his alleged involvement in an altercation last month, ESPN reported Monday. Marshall was alleged to have punched a woman in the face outside of a nightclub, but, according to the report, police have been unable to find evidence against Marshall. Police are expected to complete the investigation this week.
May 14 2012 - Jason Peters (Eagles), OT Jason Peters, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, ruptured his Achillies tendon a second time, CSNPhilly.com reported Monday. According to the account, Peters ruptured his Achilles tendon again after the Roll-A-Bout he was using malfunctioned while he was moving through his kitchen. When the device -- which is basically crutches on wheels -- broke, Peters fell and re-injured his Achilles. Peters initially ruptured his Achilles on March 27. The second rupture required a second surgery and recovery will be delayed about three weeks. Peters was hoping to return during the 2012 season, but the second injury puts his career in jeopardy.
May 14 2012 - Brandon Coutu (Free Agent), K Brandon Coutu signed with the Jaguars on Monday, continuing an NFL career that's seen him sign with three teams, but play just one game.
Coutu, a former All-SEC honorable mention selection at Georgia, was drafted by the Seahawks in 2008 and made the team's 53-man roster, but never saw game action. He did not play football in 2009 or 2010 before returning to the NFL in 2011. Coutu spent time with the Seahawks and Jaguars' practice squads last season before finally being signed to the Bills' active roster on December 28. He played in the season finale against the Patriots, connecting on all three of his extra-point attempts and missing a 45-yard field goal attempt in a 49-21 loss.
May 14 2012 - Tim Hightower (Free Agent), RB Tim Hightower is ready to give it another run in Washington.
The 25-year-old unrestricted free agent signed on Monday to stay with the Redskins, continuing a tenure that was interrupted in 2011 by a torn ACL. Hightower played in five games for the Redskins in 2011, carrying the ball 84 times for 321 yards and one touchdown and making 10 catches for 78 yards and one touchdown. He was sidelined by the torn ACL in Week 7 against the Panthers and missed the remainder of the season. Washington went 5-11 in 2011, finishing fourth in the NFC East, but were 3-2 with Hightower in the lineup. In three seasons with the Cardinals, Hightower did not miss a game. He came to the Redskins via trade following a 2010 season that saw him post careers highs in rushing attempts (153), yards (736) and yards per carry (4.8). To make room for Hightower on the roster, the Redskins waived tight end Rob Myers.
May 14 2012 - Nick Fairley (Lions), DT Nick Fairley was due to be arraigned Monday on a misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession, but had his arraignment postponed.
Fairley, 24, is due back in court on July 31. Fairley was arrested on April 3 after police found a small amount of the drug in his car during a traffic stop. The Lions' first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2011 draft, Fairley played in 10 regular-season games for the Lions last season and recorded 15 tackles, including one sack. He made two more tackles in the Lions' Wild Card playoff game against the Saints. Attorney Sidney Harrell Jr. told the judge that Fairley is in a first-step substance abuse program with the NFL and has passed a drug test since being arrested.
May 11 2012 - DeMario Pressley (Free Agent), DTs DeMario Pressley and John McCargo signed with the Bears. Both are former N.C. State players who haven't become regulars in the NFL.
Pressley, 26, spent last season with the Carolina Panthers and joins his fourth team in four seasons. He played for the Texans in 2010 and with the Saints in 2009.
May 11 2012 - John McCargo (Free Agent), The Bears signed DTs John McCargo and DeMario Pressley on Friday, the team announced.
McCargo was a first-round pick of the Bills in 2006, but spent most of that season on injured reserve and never found his niche with the Bills. He was traded to the Colts in 2008, but that trade deadline deal was voided the next day because McCargo failed his physical.
The Buccaneers signed McCargo in August 2011, but he was on and off the active roster as a No. 3 or No. 4 defensive tackle.
May 11 2012 - Shea McClellin (Bears), DE Shea McClellin signed a four-year deal with a fifth-year option on Friday, the fifth draft pick signed by Chicago since the April draft.
McClellin, the 19th overall pick in the 2012 draft, is likely to earn approximately $8.3 million based on the contract signed by 2011 19th overall pick Prince Amukamara of the Giants.
May 11 2012 - Mikel Leshoure (Lions), RB Mikel Leshoure pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and paid a fine of $575 in Berrian County in southwestern Michigan.
Leshoure appeared in court for the second time on a marijuana-related charge.
He was cited for possession of marijuana on Feb. 18. After a guilty plea, he paid a smaller fine in that case.
Leshoure was also caught with marijuana in March. During a traffic stop, Leshoure attempted to ingest a small amount of marijuana as the passenger in a car stopped on Interstate 94. The police report stated Leshoure had marijuana on his shirt and was chewing marijuana.
Both arrests were in Berrien County.
May 10 2012 - Phil Taylor (Browns), DT Phil Taylor is scheduled for surgery next week to repair a torn left pectoral muscle, coach Pat Shurmur announced Friday.
Shurmur said the date of the surgery wasn't official, but is expected to be in the middle of next week. Barring setbacks, recovery time would be at least four months.
"Phil tore his left pec ... He is going to miss some significant amount of time, more months than weeks," Shurmur said. "It's too early to speculate how long that will be. I just wanted you to be aware of that. He was weightlifting yesterday in the offseason program and it was just one of those things that happens. It's unfortunate. We feel bad for Phil, but he is in good spirits and he is going to come back from this thing stronger than ever."
Taylor was a 2011 first-round pick. A stout defender who can tie up double-team blocks, Taylor had 59 tackles and four sacks as a rookie.
May 10 2012 - Shayne Graham (Texans), K Shayne Graham, who has played with four teams over the last two seasons, signed a one-year deal.
The Texans drafted kicker Randy Bullock in the fifth round. He was the first kicker the team has drafted. They want Graham to compete with Bullock and to mentor the rookie.
May 10 2012 - John Beck (Redskins), QB John Beck, who was waived by Washington after the draft, signed a one-year deal for $700,000 with the Texans. Coach Gary Kubiak said he wanted to sign a veteran quarterback to compete with rookie Case Keenum, an undrafted rookie, for the third spot behind Matt Schaub and T.J. Yates.
May 10 2012 - Tiquan Underwood (Buccaneers), Tiquan Underwood may be best known as the player released by the New England Patriots roughly 24 hours before the Super Bowl. But the former Rutgers receiver with the tall hair has found work with the Bucs and his old coach, Greg Schiano.
Underwood, 25, signed a two-year contract with the Bucs Thursday.
A seventh-round draft pick by Jacksonville in 2009, Underwood played in 16 games the past two seasons with the Patriots, recording 11 receptions for 141 yards and no touchdowns.
But Underwood was a very productive receiver for Schiano at Rutgers. In four seasons with the Scarlet Knights, he had 132 receptions for 1,931 yards and 16 touchdowns.
May 10 2012 - Myles Wade (Buccaneers), DT Myles Wade was waived to make room for WR Tiquan Underwood but quickly re-signed after Da'Quan Bowers tore his right Achilles.
May 10 2012 - Da'Quan Bowers (Buccaneers), DE Da'Quan Bowers, a second-round pick from Clemson last season, to a torn right Achilles tendon.
Bowers was injured during the Bucs' offseason workout program Thursday and will undergo what could be season-ending surgery Friday.
In response to Bowers' injury, the Bucs released LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson and re-signed defensive lineman Myles Wade. Earlier in the day, the Bucs had waived Wade to make room for the signing of receiver Tiquan Underwood.
Jefferson was awarded with a contract over the weekend after excelling as a tryout player during the rookie minicamp.
Bowers was unavailable for comment, but he vowed on Twitter to return in 2012.
"2013?? Get real ... I'm playing THIS year 2012," Bowers tweeted.
May 10 2012 - Tyvon Branch (Raiders), SS Tyvon Branch signed his one-year franchise tender, assuring him of $6.2 million in salary this season.
Branch still has until July 15 to negotiate a long-term deal which would put more money in his pocket as well as reduce the Raiders' snug fit under the salary cap.
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