Chris Johnson Deals with Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson from the Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms of a contract extension for four years for  reported $53.5 million with $3o million guaranteed. This ends the holdout of the three-time Pro Bowl running back.

Both the teams had agreed to the terms, confirmed by Tennessee, Thursday. Chris Johnson updates his twitter saying he had a dinner in Orlando, Florida together with Joel Segal – his agent, talking about business on the 34^th of this holdout.

Chris Johnson led the NFL in yards for three seasons and did not report to the camp without a new deal. He is the 24^th overall pick in the 2008 draft from East Carolina. He is also the sixth player in the history of NFL to run for 2,000 yards when he rushed for 2,006 yards last 2009.

The Tennessee Titans went over his contract a year ago and scheduled him to be paid with $1,065,000 in this season.

Now, Chris Johnson will be under the contract until 2016, this was confirmed by the person who was very familiar with the new contract.

On the other hand:

Fred Taylor, Jaguars running back is going to retire in the NFL after 13 seasons. He rush 12,000 yards in his career.

He will also sign a one-day contract with Jacksonville on Friday. This is to formally retire with the team that originally drafted him as the ninth overall in 1998.

The former Florida star Fred Taylor had 11 seasons with Jacksonville and still remains  the leader in rushing with 11, 271 yards.

Report Says Joe Thomas Signs Contract with Browns

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, left tackle Joe Thomas has signed a seven-year, $84 million contract with the Browns.

The contract includes $44 million in certain money. Thomas had been put to enter the last year of his five-year $42.5 million rookie contract.

Thomas had a few rough outings last season, but is extensively believed one of the game’s top blind-side guardians.

The 28-year-old has created the Pro Bowl all four seasons since being a first-round plan pick.

Thomas informed the Akron Beacon Journal before the statement of his latest deal façade, “I’ve always loved playing for the Browns, and I love the fans. I love the city. I really see myself as a big member of the organization, and I really enjoy that. So certainly would like to stay here. But you never know what’s gonna happen in the NFL. It’s a crazy league and anything could happen.”

General manager Tom Heckert had said his focus was on employing the team’s stated $24 million in cap space on keeping young talent instead of splurging in free agency.

Thomas said, who is set to create a base salary of $8 million this year, “That’s something that I’m sure we’ll look at down the line, but we’re not really too worried about that as of right now, I think my focus is just trying to learn the [West Coast] offense first and trying to help this team win some games. I think along with those [goals], the contract stuff takes care of itself. I’m sure at the end of the season or toward the end, there may be discussions. But right now, first things first. We’ll try to hit the ground running here in the first game.”

Larry Fitzgerald Signs $120M Contract with Cardinals

Larry Fitzgerald has agreed to a $120 million contract for eight years with the Arizona Cardinals that will make him the highest-paid non-quarterback of NFL, according to several reports.

The pact comprises around $50 million in guaranteed money, according to the report.  The Cardinals did not reveal financial terms in announcing the contract, although general manager Rod Graves informed the reporters that the club was ready to make Fitzgerald the highest-paid player in team history.

Team president Michael Bidwill said at a news conference that, “We’re excited about what the future holds, not only for Larry and the Cardinals, but to see him retire as a Cardinal some day. Hopefully, not any time soon.”

Fitgerald, 27 years old, has become the face of the Cardinals since the team made him the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft.  He has racked up 613 catches for 8,204 yards and 65 touchdowns in his seven-year career.  He has also been chosen to the Pro Bowl for five times.

Since 2006, Fitzgerald has had not less than 90 receptions for four successive years, even though his 90 receptions for 1,137 yards, and six touchdowns last season were his lowest totals.

He expressed disappointment with the Arizona’s offense last year after quarterback Kurt Warner retired.  To that end, the Cardinals traded for Philadelphia Eagles backup Kevin Kolb this offseason and right away signed him to a long-term contract.

Fitzgerald could have become a free agent after the season; the Republic noted that clauses in his last contract avoided the Cardinals from trading him or assigning him as their franchise player.

Fitzgerald said, “I’m not one to try to hold a hammer over anybody’s head.  The (Cardinals’) activity in free agency this year is something I haven’t seen since I have been here, and I think that is just an example, a sign of things to come.”

Steve Smith Agrees To a Contract with Philadelphia Eagles

Former New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith is the newest free agent to choose he would fairly be in Philadelphia.

Smith agreed to a one-year contract last Wednesday with the Eagles after spending four seasons with the Giants that integrated a Super Bowl season and a Pro Bowl season.

The surgically repaired knee of Smith is a concern, and he might not be prepared to play until October or later on. On the other hand, the Eagles were willing to get an opportunity on Smith, one of preferred targets of Eli Manning and a receiver that has amazed them as a challenger.

In a report, Andy Reid the Eagles coach said, “Like I’ve said many times before, (general manager) Howie Roseman and I are always keeping our eyes open for good football players.  And Steve Smith certainly fits that category…We feel very good about our current group of receivers and Steve adds another dimension to that position. He’s played very well against us in the past few years and we’re happy to have him on board.’’

According to Smith in a message posted on his Facebook page, saying the choice to leave the Giants was hard.

Smith posted, “I will always cherish my time in NY and the super bowl victory.  But unfortunately the business aspect proved that the Eagles wanted me to be part of their organization MUCH more than the Giants did.’’

LaMarr, Signing New Deal?

Steelers Pro Bowl linebacker LaMarr Woodley has signed a six-year contract worth $61.5 million that is considered to be the next highest agreement in team history after merely Ben Roethlisberger, according to a reliable source who informed ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Woodley’s deal will pay $18.1 million in the first year and $27 million in the first two.

Woodley, who has 39 career sacks in four season, had been chosen with the franchise tag by the Steelers.

He was called to the Pro Bowl in 2009, when he listed a career-high 13 ½ sacks with 62 tackles, 50 of which were solo.  He had 10 sacks with 50 tackles last season.

Woodley’s deal comes less than a week after Roethlisberger accepted to restructure his contract to assist the defending AFC champions obtain under the $120.4 million salary cap.

In 2008, the quarterback was signed to an eight-year with $102 million agreement.  According to his agent, the reorganizing will not affect the length or money concerned.

The Steelers came in the training camp around $10 million of the salary cap and last week released veterans Max Starks, Flozell Adams and Antwaan Randle El to shed payroll.

Linebacker James Harrison as well will be restructured his contract.  He signed a six-year contract with $51.7 million in 2009.

Ronnie Brown Signs Deal with Eagles

Eagles President Joe Banner noted last weekend that the Eagles are becoming a priority NFL destination – a team players want to join.

Ex-Dolphin Ronnie Brown will support LeSean McCoy this season after signing a 1-year contract for about $1 million, plus some incentives, that there may not be a better illustration of that than yesterday’s news.

Ronnie Brown, 29, was the second player chosen in the 2005 outline, and a 2008 Pro Bowl selection after he went back from lost part of 2007 with an ACL tear. It is hard to believe that he could not find a place that would suggest more money and more carries than he is likely to get with the Eagles. The Miami Herald reported that the Chargers, Ravens and Rams all want Brown, and that Brown got less money to come to the Eagles. A source close to the situation said that was the case.

Brown is 6-foot, 230, with the kind of inside power the Eagles need in a McCoy complement, plus critical for any back who desires to play in this offense, and he is a solid pass receiver.

Agent Todd France said, “He was looking for the opportunity, not just the money, he felt Philly was the best. He has been smart financially, and is looking at the big picture.”

The big picture would include a chance to achieve some Super Bowl luster, and then become a free agent in the offseason. That would be quarterback Vince Young’s thinking in signing a 1-year Eagles contract.

Brown carried 200 times last season for 734 yards and five touchdowns. McCoy had 207 carries in Andy Reid’s pass-first system for achieving 1,080 yards and scoring seven touchdowns. When the Eagles set franchise records for points and generally yardage, Eagles running backs other than McCoy managed just 78 carries last season.  That is, if you figure Chad Hall’s nine carries as belonging to a wideout. Running backs other than McCoy grasped 21 passes, again, excluding out Hall’s 11.

Brown has never carried the ball less than 200 times in a full period.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said in a statement released by the group, “Ronnie is an all-around running back with a versatile skillset, he can run the ball, catch it, and does very well in pass protection. He’ll add some good size to our backfield, and he’s a good character guy. We think he’ll be a tremendous complement to LeSean and the other young backs on this team that we really like.”

Brown got the 3^rd rank on the Dolphins’ all-time rushing list, with 4,815 yards in six seasons, trailing only Larry Csonka and Ricky Williams. He was an early pioneer of the NFL “wildcat” trend, something Reid likes to tinker with.