Bills bolster defensive line with Jags' Stroud

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Mar 2, 2008 | by Associated Press

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- With big-bodied Marcus Stroud now securing the middle of the Buffalo Bills defensive line, it'll be much tougher for opponents to push them around.

"It helps us out tremendously," Bills defensive coordinator Perry Fewell said Saturday, shortly after the Bills acquired the three- time Pro Bowl defensive tackle in a trade with Jacksonville. "He's a guy that will take on two people on offense, so you definitely have to game-plan against him."

That's the type of player the Bills haven't had since losing Pat Williams to free agency in 2004.

Stroud's addition becomes the Bills' latest and most significant move to revamp a porous defense that finished 31st in the NFL in yards allowed last season.

To acquire Stroud, who had Jacksonville's permission to seek a trade, Buffalo gave up an undisclosed number of draft picks. FoxSports

.com is reporting they will be a third- and fifth-round selection in this year's draft.

BROWNS SIGN STALLWORTH: The Cleveland Browns added another prime target for newly re-signed quarterback Derek Anderson on Saturday, agreeing with New England veteran Donte' Stallworth on a seven-year contract. The 6-foot, 200-pound Stallworth has played six years and 84 games in the NFL with New Orleans, Philadelphia and the Patriots. He has 279 receptions for 4,213 yards and 31 touchdowns. Last season with New England, Stallworth had 46 receptions for 697 yards and three touchdowns. He had a career-high 70 receptions and 945 yards with New Orleans in 2005.

JETS, FANECA AGREE TO TERMS: The New York Jets and Pro Bowl left guard Alan Faneca agreed to terms on a five-year, $40 million contract Saturday, making the former Pittsburgh player the highest- paid offensive lineman in the NFL. Agent Rick Smith told The Associated Press on Saturday that the 31-year-old Faneca planned to fly to New York on Sunday, take a physical and officially sign the deal Monday. After making nearly $4.4 million last season, Faneca got a huge deal that Smith said includes $21 million in guarantees.

A Jets spokesman declined comment on the signing of the seven- time Pro Bowl selection, considered perhaps the league's best left guard. Faneca chose New York over San Francisco and St. Louis, all teams that had losing records last season and need help on their offensive lines.

LYNCH AGREES TO DEAL: Pro Bowl safety John Lynch took a pay cut to remain with the Denver Broncos for a fifth season, passing on a chance to retire or test free agency. Lynch was scheduled to make $2 million in 2008 and hesitated about returning to the team after he was asked to take a salary cut, the Denver Post and Rocky Mountain News reported. Lynch was due a $1.12 million roster bonus March 4.

MIAMI SIGNS LB TORBOR: The Miami Dolphins continued their offseason overhaul Saturday, signing linebacker Reggie Torbor and three others on the second day of free agency. Torbor comes to the Dolphins from the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, where he filled in when Matthias Kiwanuka was injured. The 2004 fourth-round pick inked a four-year deal with Miami, who went 1-15 last season.

SAINTS RE-SIGN HENDERSON: The New Orleans Saints re-signed wide receiver Devery Henderson on Saturday and terminated linebacker Brian Simmons' contract. The team didn't release terms of the deal with Henderson, an unrestricted free agent who had 32 catches for 745 yards for the Saints in 2006 and 20 for 403 yards with three touchdowns last year.

NINERS SIGN DE SMITH: The San Francisco 49ers signed free-agent defensive end Justin Smith on Saturday in a move they hope will bolster their pass rush. Smith, the No. 4 overall pick by Cincinnati in 2001, had 43 1/2 sacks in seven seasons with the Bengals and was one of the top pass rushers available on the free agent market this season. His deal is reportedly for six years and is worth $45 million, including $20 million in guarantees.

TEXANS SIGN CB REEVES: Former Dallas Cowboys cornerback Jacques Reeves signed with the Houston Texans on Saturday. Reeves, an unrestricted free agent, spent his first four seasons with the Cowboys where he became a starter last season. He had 60 tackles and an interception in 13 starts last season for Dallas.

JAGUARS SIGN CORNERBACK: The Jacksonville Jaguars signed free agent cornerback Drayton Florence on Saturday, giving them a proven starter to bolster the secondary. The Jaguars chose not to re-sign Terry Cousin, the nickel back the last three years, and safety Sammy Knight. Both 11-year veterans turn 33 before next season. Florence could fill Cousin's role or replace cornerback Brian Williams, who would then move to safety.

EAGLES SIGN DE CLEMONS: The Eagles have signed free-agent defensive end Chris Clemons. Philadelphia agreed on a five-year contract on Saturday with Clemons, who had eight sacks in a reserve role with Oakland last season. The move came one day after the Eagles lured cornerback Asante Samuel away from New England with a six-year deal worth $57 million.

RAMS LAND KICKER BROWN: The St. Louis Rams took the unusual step of targeting a kicker on the first day of free agency. They quickly landed Josh Brown, whose track record they know all too well. Brown, who signed a five-year, $14.2 million contract Saturday as replacement for the retired Jeff Wilkins, has an 80-percent success rate on field goals for his career. He tied an NFL record with four game-winning field goals in the final minute of regulation or overtime in 2006, and two of them stunned the Rams. Those two kicks cost the Rams an NFC West championship, with the Seattle Seahawks winning the division at 9-7 and the Rams going 8-8.