Ogletree Makes Impression

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Kevin Ogletree has a colorful way of describing the motivation he gained from being snubbed by all 32 teams in the seven-round NFL draft last spring. “That’s my little candle I’m keeping lit, and it’s burning inside,” the Virginia alum told reporters Monday in Irving. Ogletree’s strong push to beat the odds and make the team as an undrafted rookie free agent continued with a three-catch, 37-yard performance against Tennessee that included a 2-yard touchdown reception from Jon Kitna.

“It was my first touchdown in the NFL, it was in the new stadium, there were a lot of reasons that brought joy to me,” Ogletree said. “… It was a nice experience. Hopefully, there will be more.”

1st Rounder Cason Gets $12 million Deal

Chargers first-round draft pick Antoine Cason had to be a little patient, but he will be on the field with his teammates Friday. Just over 24 hours before the Chargers were set to hit the field for their first full-squad practice of training camp, Cason agreed to terms on a five-year contract.

“I had faith that it was going to happen pretty soon,” said Cason, the 27th overall pick in April’s draft. “We all knew I wanted to be in camp early. It just took a little bit to get there. I’m excited about it.”

Bell, Browns First Pick, In Camp on Time

The Browns’ Class of 2008 will be fully represented when training camp opens Wednesday afternoon. Beau Bell signed a four-year deal with the team, ensuring no holdouts or missed practice time. The Browns had a unique draft class after trading away their first three picks prior to the draft, then twice trading up on the draft’s second day to get Bell. Bell is expected to provide immediate help on special teams and push for playing time at linebacker. He had 126 tackles in 12 games last fall and hopes to follow his UNLV teammate, Eric Wright, in making an immediate impact with the Browns.

Seahawks Sign FB Schmitt

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with FB Owen Schmitt, their fifth-round draft pick out of West Virginia. With Schmitt agreeing to a reported four-year deal, the Seahawks have reached terms with four of their drafted rookies. Selected by the Seahawks with a pick obtained from the Cowboys, Owen Schmitt’s collegiate claim to fame was the 11 facemasks he reportedly shattered during his career at West Virginia.

Cowboys Agree with Scandrick

IRVING, Texas – The Dallas Cowboys agreed to terms with fifth-round draft pick Orlando Scandrick, a cornerback from Boise State. Scandrick is expected to sign his four-year, $1.85 million deal on Friday.The speedy cornerback joins a crowded position that includes returning starters Terence Newman and Anthony Henry, not to mention newly-acquired Adam Jones and first-round pick Mike Jenkins. With his top-rate speed, Scandrick might be in position to contribute right away on special teams, seeing that the Cowboys lost several key coverage players last year in Keith Davis, Nate Jones and Jacques Reeves, who all signed with other clubs in free agency.

Hayden Signs His Deal with Panthers

CHARLOTTE — The Carolina Panthers have signed sixth-round draft choice (181st overall) Nick Hayden from Wisconsin, the team announced. A 6-foot-4, 292-pound defensive tackle, Hayden played in 44 games, starting the final 39 contests of his career, for the Badgers. He compiled 132 tackles, 10 sacks, six quarterback pressures, six fumble recoveries, which tie for the third most in school history, six passes defensed and two blocked kicks.

Hayden was twice named All-Big Ten Conference honorable mention. He earned the recognition as a senior in 2007 when he recorded 48 tackles and 4.5 sacks and as a sophomore in 2005 when he produced career highs of 56 tackles and 5.5 sacks. Hayden becomes the first of the Panthers nine draft choices to sign.

Falcons agree to terms with Cooper

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA – The Atlanta Falcons signed six-year free agent safety Deke Cooper. Cooper, 6-2, 210 pounds, played last season for the Carolina Panthers where he collected 59 tackles (46 solos) with three interceptions while starting 15 of 16 games played. Cooper is a veteran of 73 games with 37 starts and has played for three teams – Carolina (2002, 2007), Jacksonville (2003-05) and San Francisco (2006) since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent. For his career, Cooper has tallied 249 tackles, six interceptions and 16 passes defensed.

Schmitt is EA Sports Cover Athlete

Former West Virginia University fullback Owen Schmitt will be featured on the cover of EA Sports’ “NCAA Football 09″ for the PlayStation Portable. Schmitt, who gained celebrity status with his mohawk and collection of busted facemasks, is the first WVU athlete to don the cover of a video game. EA is featuring different athletes on each version of this year’s game. Schmitt joins former Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan (PlayStation 3), Arkansas running back Darren McFadden (Xbox 360) and California receiver DeSean Jackson (PlayStation 2) as cover athletes.

Chargers Grab Antoine Cason in 1st Round

“We got a guy that we think is going to be a terrific football player,” Chargers General Manager A.J. Smith said. “Solid character, work ethic, production over the years. Fantastic. (There were) a lot of quality, good football players and we got ourselves one.”

Browns Trade Up, Get Beau Bell in 4th

“This guy is kind of a hammer type hitter,” Browns General Manager Phil Savage said. “If you saw some of his highlights, he knows how to finish. He brings some explosion at the end of plays. We feel like he’s a powerful tackler.”

Seahawks Select Owen Schmitt with #163

“He’s a good fullback and we don’t have anybody else like him on the roster,” Seahawks offensive coordinator Gil Haskell said. “He’s got good hands, blocks and he can run.”

Panthers Jump on Hayden in 6th

Nick Hayden played in 44 games with 39 starts at Wisconsin. He recorded 132 tackles, 10 sacks, six quarterback pressures, six fumble recoveries, six passes defensed and two blocked two kicks in his career.

One of the Big Ten’s strongest players, Hayden took advantage of that power to excel in his role as a stay at home type of run stuffer along the defensive line. A three-year starter for the Badgers, he has that long arm reach and aggressive nature to consistently defeat blocks to make plays working down the line.

Browns Add Darnell Terrell

Former University of Missouri cornerback Darnell Terrell signed a free agent contract with the Cleveland Browns following the 2008 NFL Draft.

Terrell appeared in 49 games during his college career, starting 34 contests…Posted 169 tackles (107 solos) with 4.5 stops for losses of 25 yards and a pressure…Recovered four fumbles, caused four others and blocked a field goal that he recovered for a touchdown…Returned four interceptions for 28 yards (7.0 avg)

Even players laugh at the PlayStation-like stats

ESPN.com

Chris Greisen’s cell phone was working overtime. It seemed as if the Georgia Force quarterback was hearing from anyone and everyone who ever saw him throw a football. They were all reacting to Greisen’s “SportsCenter” highlights. In his first Arena Football League start, Greisen tossed nine touchdowns in leading the Force to a 69-65 season-opening victory over the Arizona Rattlers.

It was an oddity to some of Greisen’s friends — well, those not familiar with the nuances of the AFL. Nine touchdown passes in a game? Nine.

Georgia’s Chris Greisen is the poster child of the big stats. He threw nine — yes, nine — TDs in the season opener. “They couldn’t believe it, they were like ‘Nine touchdowns in a game, how does that happen?’” Greisen said with a laugh.

That’s Arena Football — a game designed to produce PlayStation-type numbers and stats that seem impossible to attain are suddenly possible. Greisen, the brother of Jacksonville Jags linebacker Nick Greisen, is a perfect example.

Bills Bolster Secondary, Add William James

By Allen Wilson — BuffaloNews.com

The Bills agreed to terms with former Philadelphia cornerback William James on a two-year contract, The Buffalo News has learned. James, 28, is a seven-year veteran who has started 45 games in his career. The 6-foot, 200-pounder gives the Bills more size at cornerback, something they lacked. James is expected to challenge Greer for the starting spot opposite McGee.

“Will is looking forward to going to Buffalo and competing for a starting job,” his agent said. “Will has a lot of confidence in himself and his ability and he’s excited about the opportunity to go in and win a starting job.”

Greisen Returns to Ravens

The Ravens added experienced depth by agreeing to terms with free agent linebacker Nick Greisen, league sources said.

Greisen, 28, who was a backup for the Ravens last season, will sign a three-year, $4 million deal, which includes a $1 million signing bonus. He had 38 tackles on defense and 13 on special teams. Greisen is a proven veteran that has seen time in 84 NFL games with 33 starts. A versatile defender that can play all three linebacker positions, the 6-foot-1, 244-pounder has totaled 275 tackles and four sacks during his six-year career.

Manuel Lands with Broncos

By DenverBroncos.com

On the second full weekend of free agency, the Broncos didn’t rest. Saturday night, the team capped a hectic week in the free-agent signing period by signing safety Marquand Manuel. Manuel hit the market as an unrestricted free agent after spending the 2007 season with the Carolina Panthers, for whom he started two games. The Panthers were his third team in as many seasons; he was in Green Bay in 2006 and with the Seattle Seahawks a season earlier for their run to Super Bowl XL.

Manuel got $4.5 million over three years with $500,000 guaranteed. The total package could swell by another $1.5 million based on playing time incentives.

Falcons Re-Sign Anderson

The Atlanta Falcons today re-signed defensive tackle Tim Anderson. Anderson, 6-3, 324 pounds, joined the Falcons last season after he was signed as a free agent on November 1, 2007. He started the year with the Buffalo Bills where he saw action in four games. In nine total contests last season (five with the Falcons), Anderson totaled nine tackles (five solo) and saw action on special teams.

Anderson was originally selected as a third round pick in the 2004 NFL Draft by the Buffalo Bills. Following four seasons in the NFL, he has tallied 82 tackles (50 solo), one sack for a loss of seven yards and five passes defensed.

A graduate of Ohio State, Anderson registered 125 tackles and 11 sacks in his collegiate tenure. As a Buckeye, he spent four seasons with Falcons’ teammates wide receiver Michael Jenkins and tight end Ben Hartsock in Columbus, Ohio.

Stecker to Remain in New Orleans

Doug Miller, NewOrleansSaints.com

The New Orleans Saints announced today that they have agreed to terms on a contract with unrestricted free agent RB Aaron Stecker, it was announced today by Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis.

“Aaron showed again last year that he’s an important part of everything we do,” said Loomis. “His teammates elected him captain, he carried the load when we had injuries at running back, and he gives us excellent play on special teams.”

Lions Re-Sign RB Aveion Cason

The Detroit Lions announced today that they have re-signed RB Aveion Cason to a one-year deal. Cason (5-10, 204) is in his second stint with the Lions after re-joining the club in 2006. Last season, Cason was fifth in the NFC in both kickoff return yards (1,041) and kickoff return average (24.8), despite not playing in four games. Offensively, he totaled 11 rushing attempts for 38 yards, 14 receptions for 129 yards, and contributed four tackles on special teams. Cason returned to Detroit in 2006 and played in six games (two starts) during the latter part of the season. He joined the club November 9, 2006 and tallied 120 yards of total offense (24 rushing attempts for 94 yards; 5 receptions for 26 yards) and returned four kickoffs for 110 yards (27.5 avg.).