Player Updates

Saints GM Mickey Loomis says the club has agreed to re-sign reserve defensive back Leigh Torrence to a one-year contract. Torrence has been with the Saints since being claimed off waivers in November 2008. He played in five games for New Orleans in 2009 before injuring his shoulder and finishing the year on injured reserve.

The Patriots have kept another free agent from leaving, re-signing cornerback Leigh Bodden to a four-year deal. Bodden had five interceptions last season - three of them against the New York Jets on Nov. 22, including one he returned 53 yards for a touchdown.

Nose tackle Jason Ferguson has been re-signed by the Miami Dolphins, even though he faces a suspension for the first eight games of this season. The Dolphins announced the signing Tuesday in a news release that made no reference to Ferguson's suspension last week for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing substances. At 35, Ferguson improves the Dolphins' roster depth, but they remain in the market for a starter at the position. Ferguson was sidelined by a season-ending quadriceps injury in November that required surgery and has contemplated retirement.

Injury-plagued running back Kevin Jones has been released by the Bears after signing running back Chester Taylor away from Minnesota last Friday. Jones missed last season after tearing ligaments in his left ankle in the preseason finale against Cleveland. He appeared in 11 games and ran for 109 yards with Chicago in 2008 while trying to come back from foot and knee injuries that plagued him the previous two years in Detroit, years that saw him work with offensive coordinator Mike Martz, who is now on the staff in Chicago.

The Minnesota Vikings and cornerback Benny Sapp have agreed to terms on a new contract. Sapp started a total of seven games last season while filling in for injured starter Antoine Winfield, totaling 25 tackles, two passes defensed and two forced fumbles during a particularly strong six-game stretch. He finished the regular season with 55 tackles, the most in his NFL seasons.

The Colts have claimed defensive end J.D. Skolnitsky off waivers from the Redskins. Skolnitsky was on the Redskins' practice squad last season after being signed as an undrafted free agent. The 6-foot-5, 255-pound defensive end played at James Madison and fits the Colts' model for defensive linemen: undersized and quick.

The Denver Broncos continued beefing up their defensive line, signing unrestricted free agent Jamal Williams. Williams, a 12-year veteran, was the run-stuffing anchor of the San Diego Chargers' defensive line. He injured an arm in last season's opener and missed the rest of the year. The 6-foot-3, 348-pound Williams will turn 34 next month and also has a history of knee injuries.

The Chargers kept one of their backup tight ends but lost another on the first day of free agency. Kris Wilson, the team's third tight end the past two years, has apparently moved up the depth chart. He re-signed with the Chargers, agreeing to a two-year deal. His ascension to No. 2 behind Antonio Gates owes more to Brandon Manumaleuna signing a five-year deal with the Bears.

The Bears signed free agent TE Brandon Manumaleuna on the first day of free agency. Manumaleuna, who was with San Diego in 2009, signed a five-year deal.

Terrell Owens is headed to Cincinnati to see if the Bengals are interested in adding him to their stalled-out passing game. The 36-year-old receiver tweeted on Tuesday that he was on his way to meet with team officials. Receiver Chad Ochocinco has been lobbying for the Bengals to sign Owens. Cincinnati needs at least one proven receiver after releasing Laveranues Coles. It's unclear whether they have much interest in Owens, whose production declined each of the last two seasons with Dallas and Buffalo.

On the same day the Chiefs signed RB Thomas Jones to a two-year deal, head coach Todd Haley lauded 2009 rushing sensation Jamaal Charles. While Haley is concerned about Charles holding up for 16 games and figures to use both backs to the point where both will be happy, he's ultimately confident that his young rusher will still deliver. "I don't believe we've seen the best from Jamaal," Haley told the Kansas City Star. "He's acclimated himself to what we expected from him. He's a real good offseason guy and saw that all pay dividends for him last year. ... I'm not going to set a bar on Jamaal because each time we did that last year he kind of broke through that bar and raised it. We're going to continue to push him hard and coach him and see how good he can be."

The Chiefs signed free agent RB Thomas Jones, who led the Jets to the playoffs last season while posting career-best numbers with 331 carries for 1,402 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. It is believed that he signed a two-year, $5 million contract. Coach Todd Haley told the Kansas City Star he believes Charles will still be a great back for them, but indications are that the team is concerned about him holding up for 16 games. Haley thinks both Charles and Jones will be happy. "That's part of being a good coach,'" Haley said. "I don't think you can have enough good football players who want to win and want to be part of something special. Thomas fits that bill. It's just a chance to add another good football player to the mix in addition to the ones we have, Jamaal being one of those guys for sure."

The Broncos continued beefing up their defensive line with the signing of unrestricted free agent Jarvis Green, who spent his first eight NFL seasons in New England. Green, who packs 285 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame, is well versed in the 3-4 alignment that coach Josh McDaniels implemented in Denver. Last season, Green had 47 tackles in 13 games, including 12 starts.

With the Cardinals trading WR Anquan Boldin to the Ravens, all signs point to WR Early Doucet landing the slot role and being the third receiver for the team in 2010. Doucet came on for the Cardinals in the playoffs with Anquan Boldin sidelined and figures into the Cardinals' plans for the upcoming season. "One of the main reasons we really explored [a Boldin trade] was because of the ascension of younger players, like Steve Breaston and Early Doucet," Cardinals GM Rod Graves told NFL.com. "We really felt like those young guys stepped up and that there is still a lot more potential there."

With the Cardinals trading WR Anquan Boldin to the Ravens, all signs point to WR Steve Breaston taking over his spot on the field and being the wideout opposite Larry Fitzgerald. Breaston has done well in the past replacing Boldin, so the move should be fairly seamless for him. Breaston is currently a restricted free agent but with first-round compensation due for him if he signs elsewhere, chances are he's staying. "One of the main reasons we really explored [a Boldin trade] was because of the ascension of younger players, like Steve Breaston and Early Doucet," Cardinals GM Rod Graves told NFL.com. "We really felt like those young guys stepped up and that there is still a lot more potential there."

The Minnesota Vikings have signed kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd. He handled kickoffs for the Carolina Panthers the last two seasons, leading the NFL with 30 touchbacks in 2008. He had 21 touchbacks last year, tied for fourth-most in the league. But Ryan Longwell remains the regular kicker for the Vikings.

The Steelers re-signed safety Ryan Clark, keeping their secondary in tact. Clark was rumored to head out of town but signed a four-year deal to stay in Pittsburgh instead. Clark had an up and down season as the Steelers went 9-7 and didn't make the playoffs after winning the Super Bowl during the 2008 season. With star safety Troy Polamalu missing most of the season with two knee injuries, Clark struggled in coverage at times and, displaying a bit of late-season frustration, criticized Steelers fans for being more demanding than those in other cities.

The Steelers re-signed wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, reuniting him with the team he helped win a Super Bowl with in 2005. But after that game he signed a $31 million, seven-year deal with the Redskins, where he essentially floundered for four seasons. He was released despite being Washington's second-leading receiver last season with 50 receptions, although none were for touchdowns.