The New England Patriots are stocking up on wide receivers who have experience in their complex offensive system.
A person with knowledge of the negotiations said yesterday that wide receiver Donté Stallworth has agreed to a one-year contract to return to the Patriots.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the matter.
The Patriots also reportedly reached agreement last week with Brandon Lloyd, who played for current Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels when he was head coach of the Denver Broncos in 2009 and the first 12 games in 2010. The Patriots have not officially announced signing Lloyd.
Meanwhile, Michael Lombardi of NFL.com reported that the Patriots signed veteran offensive lineman Robert Gallery.
The 31-year-old Gallery started 12 games at left guard for the Seahawks last season; prior to that he spent seven years with Oakland.
Gallery, listed at 6-7, 325 pounds, was the second overall pick in the 2004 draft out of Iowa, where he played for former Bill Belichick assistant Kirk Ferentz. When he was drafted, Gallery was a tackle, but has since been kicked inside.
Stallworth spent one season with the Patriots in 2007 when they went 18-0 before losing the Super Bowl to the New York Giants. He had 46 catches during the regular season. He had 17 receptions with Cleveland in 2008, two with Baltimore in 2010 and 22 with Washington last year.
He was suspended for the 2009 season by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the league’s personal conduct policy for a DUI vehicular manslaughter charge.
New England also has signed wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez, formerly of the Indianapolis Colts.
All three moves could spell the end of Chad Ochocinco’s career with the team. He signed a two-year contract before last season but struggled trying to learn the offense and finished with 15 catches in 15 regular-season games. The Patriots also have Deion Branch and Wes Welker, but neither is the deep threat they lacked last season.
Welker is a free agent, but was given the franchise tag and would bring compensation to the Patriots if another team signs him.
The Patriots announced yesterday the signing of two free agents: defensive end Trevor Scott from the Oakland Raiders and cornerback Marquice Cole from the New York Jets.
Scott, Oakland’s sixth-round draft choice out of Buffalo in 2008, had 13 1/2 sacks in 58 games, including 16 starts, in four seasons with the Raiders.
Cole, who spent the last three seasons with the Jets, was undrafted coming out of Northwestern in 2007. He signed as a rookie free agent with Oakland, then moved on to Tennessee and New Orleans. In 37 games, including one start, he has two interceptions, including a 35-yard touchdown return.
Jets sign safety Landry
LaRon Landry is bringing his bone-jarring hits to Rex Ryan’s defense.
The free-agent safety signed a one-year deal with the Jets, filling one of New York’s most pressing needs.
With starter Eric Smith the only experienced safety on the roster, the Jets focused on addressing the position in free agency. Landry visited with New York on Sunday, and had a number of other teams interested in him despite finishing last season for Washington on injured reserve with an injured left Achilles tendon.
ESPN reported that the deal was for $4 million.
Panthers add RB Tolbert
The Carolina Panthers have added more depth to their already deep stable of running backs.
The Panthers announced yesterday they’ve signed free agent Mike Tolbert from the San Diego Chargers. Tolbert spent three seasons with Ron Rivera, who was the Chargers defensive coordinator before becoming the Panthers head coach.
“Mike is a very versatile player who can do a lot of different things for us,” Panthers general manager Marty Hurney said in a release. “He plays fullback, catches the ball well out of the backfield, plays running back, and is an outstanding special teams player.”
Tolbert’s agent Joel Turner said his client signed a four-year contract, but would not disclose the financial terms of the deal.
Bengals get Allen, keep Nelson
The Bengals signed free agent cornerback Jason Allen from Houston and agreed to a four-year deal with safety Reggie Nelson, who was one of their unrestricted free agents.
The moves bolster a secondary that was one of their main concerns in the offseason. Top cornerback Leon Hall is recovering from a torn left Achilles tendon.
Allen played in all 18 games for the Texans and their first-round playoff victory over Cincinnati, getting four interceptions overall last season. Nelson started every game for the Bengals last season and led the team with four interceptions.
Browns’ Dawson signs franchise tag
Browns kicker Phil Dawson has signed his one-year tender as the club’s franchise player.
It’s the second straight year the steady Dawson, who has been with the Browns since its 1999 expansion rebirth, has been tagged. General manager Tom Heckert recently said the team would like to sign the 37-year-old Dawson to a long-term contract.
Dawson, who will make $3.8 million next season, is coming off one of his best years. He converted 24 of 29 field goals, making seven beyond 50 yards.
Kosier released by Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys released starting guard Kyle Kosier, a 10-year veteran who spent six seasons in Dallas.
The move wasn’t a big surprise. The Cowboys last week signed a record seven free agents, including offensive guards Nate Livings and Mackenzy Bernadeau to multiyear contracts.
Kosier started all 80 games he played in Dallas since arriving from Detroit in 2006. The 33-year-old guard played one season for the Lions after opening his career with three seasons in San Francisco.
Lions re-sign punter Graham
The Detroit Lions re-signed punter Ben Graham to a one-year contract.
Graham was the team’s punter for the final seven games of last season, putting 10 of 28 punts inside the 20-yard line with only three touchbacks. He replaced Robert Malone, who filled in for one game for the injured Ryan Donahue, and had a kick returned for a touchdown by Chicago’s Devin Hester. Graham then signed and punted the rest of the year.
Raiders sign cornerback Spencer
The Oakland Raiders signed cornerback Shawntae Spencer to a one-year deal in their latest move to bolster their depleted secondary.
Spencer was released last week after eight seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and quickly found a new home across the bay with the Raiders.
Spencer is already familiar with Oakland’s new defensive coordinator, Jason Tarver, who was a defensive assistant for most of Spencer’s tenure with the 49ers.
Spencer started 72 games his first seven years for San Francisco, including all 32 in 2009-10. But he lost his job in training camp last year and spent most of his final season with the 49ers as a reserve.
Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.
AP Photo/Michael DwyerNew England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, center, walks on the field as players Dan Koppen, right, and Tom Brady, second from right, take part in a drill during NFL football training camp, Friday, July 30, 2010, in Foxborough, Mass.
