NFL Buzz: Latest free agency updates

Last month's Super Bowl participants have been tidying up their rosters on the second day of this year's no-cap free-agency period. Follow the announcements and rumors here in our NFL free-agency blog.

Bookmark this page, and make sure to keep refreshing the page often for the latest news.

For the latest free-agency rankings — overall and by position — click here.

NOTE: All times are Eastern.

MORE BUZZ: March 6 |  March 5 | March 4 (eve of free agency)

March 7 News and Notes

Vikings set to host kicker — 10:14 p.m.

The Minnesota Vikings seem set to make their first move in free agency.

On his Twitter account, Carolina kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd said he was taking a free-agent visit Monday with Minnesota. FOXSports.com confirmed with an NFL source that the posting was legitimate.

Lloyd’s “tweet” also indicates that he had a “flight to New York” scheduled Tuesday, but he didn’t specify whether the meeting would be with the Jets or Giants. The Jets have allowed kicker Jay Feely to test the free-agent market and recently signed former Dallas starter Nick Folk. The Giants’ kicker is Lawrence Tynes, who is set to collect a $50,000 roster bonus with a $1.1 million base salary in 2010.

Lloyd — a four-year NFL veteran from the United Kingdom — has yet to attempt a regular-season field goal. But he is an ace on kickoffs. Lloyd has 51 touchbacks over the past two seasons for Carolina, which let him hit the market after declining to offer a restricted free-agent tender.

Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell is coming off the best season of his 14-year NFL career, having connected on 92.9 percent of his field goals in 2009. But the 35-year-old Longwell registered only five touchbacks in his 98 kickoff attempts last season.

— Alex Marvez

Source: CB to visit Eagles, Ravens — 7:03 p.m.

Veteran cornerback Marlin Jackson is scheduled to start making free-agent visits to the Baltimore Ravens and Philadelphia Eagles next week, a league source confirmed.

Jackson, who was not tendered as a restricted free agent by the Colts, became free to sign with any team starting Friday.

Jackson missed 21 games over the past two seasons because of knee problems, but was pretty durable the previous three seasons.

Jackson, who turns 27 in June, was a 2005 first-round pick by the Colts.

— Adam Caplan

Browns get aggressive — 6:46 p.m.

League sources told Scout.com and FOXSports.com that the Cleveland Browns wanted to be aggressive in free agency. After just a few days in, it appears that they are well on their way to doing so.

First, they scheduled free-agent defensive tackle Justin Bannan for a visit. Before he could take that visit, he signed with the Denver Broncos. Then, the Browns traded disappointing defensive lineman Corey Williams to the Detroit Lions.

On Sunday, the team first signed free-agent right tackle Tony Pashos to held stabilize their offensive line. Later in the day, they signed veteran linebacker Scott Fujita.

Fujita, who turns 31 in April, figures to play inside Cleveland's 3-4 defensive scheme after playing outside in the New Orleans defense. The savvy linebacker is a physical player who will bring a veteran presence to Cleveland's defense.

— Adam Caplan


Bengals LB is on the mend -- 4:10 p.m.

Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Rashad Jeanty says he is well on his way to a full recovery from a fractured fibula suffered in a first-round playoff loss to the New York Jets.

In a Sunday interview with me and co-host Jim Miller on Sirius NFL Radio, Jeanty said he didn’t need surgery to repair the injury and is already in a walking boot. Jeanty said he will be ready for upcoming minicamps.

Entering his fifth NFL season after three years in the Canadian Football League, Jeanty could draw interest from another team as a restricted free agent. A 15-game starter in 2008, Jeanty was Cincinnati’s top backup linebacker last season and led the Bengals in special-teams tackles with 16.

The Bengals wouldn’t receive any draft-pick compensation if Jeanty signed an offer sheet elsewhere that the franchise declined to match. Jeanty, 26, is scheduled to earn $1.2 million in base salary from the Bengals in 2010.

– Alex Marvez

Eagles will pay Vick roster bonus -- 3:58 p.m.

The Philadelphia Eagles will pay veteran QB Michael Vick his $1.5 million roster bonus due on March 9, a team source confirmed to Scout.com.

A league source notes that the team will also be guaranteeing $1 million of Vick's $3.75 million base salary for 2010. The roster bonus and base salary guarantee are due on the same date, the source said.

As a vested veteran, the source notes the team will owe him a total of $5.25 million for the 2010 season if he's on the 53-man roster during the first week of the regular season. Vick also has $2.75 million in incentives in his contract which are based on playing time and other parameters.

NFL.com first reported that the team would pay Vick the roster bonus.

-- Adam Caplan

Pashos, Browns agree on three-year deal -- 3:53 p.m.

The Cleveland Browns and free-agent ORT Tony Pashos (San Francisco 49ers) have agreed to terms on a three-year, $10.3 million deal.

Pashos, 29, signed a one-year, $1.2 million deal with the 49ers last September. He suffered a shoulder injury in late October and was placed on injured reserve a few days later. He wound up appearing in only 5 games and started just 1 because of the injury.

Pashos should give the Browns some badly stability to the right side of their offensive line.

- Alex Marvez, Adam Caplan

No place like home? Not for Rolle -- 3:27 p.m.

Antrel Rolle says a homecoming wasn't in the offing.

A South Florida native, Rolle said the Miami Dolphins never got high enough in the free-agent bidding to garner serious consideration. Rolle instead signed a five-year, $37 million contract with the New York Giants that makes him the highest-paid safety in NFL history.

Rolle, who played at the University of Miami and South Dade High School, said the Dolphins weren't willing to spend above $30 million. He also said a free-agent visit to Miami was never scheduled.

"They never reached out," Rolle told me and co-host Jim Miller on Sirius NFL Radio.

Rolle said Arizona was willing to match New York's offer but he was ready to move on after five NFL seasons. Rolle was released last week by the Cardinals so the team didn't have to pay a $4 million roster bonus.

A converted cornerback, Rolle is coming off his best NFL season at safety. He reached the Pro Bowl after notching 72 tackles and four interceptions.

– Alex Marvez

Bills pick up roster bonus for Kelsay -- 3:11 p.m.

While the Buffalo Bills continue to wait for veteran DE Aaron Schobel to make up his mind on his future, the team has made a decision on another veteran defensive player.

The team picked up DE Chris Kelsay's $500,000 roster bonus which was due on March 5, a league source told Scout.com. Kelsay is set to make $3.7 million in base salary this season.

As Scout.com recently first reported, Schobel's $2 million roster bonus is due this Tuesday (March 9) and all indications have been that they plan on paying it. The team will be transitioning to a 3-4 defensive scheme this season and they believe he'll make a smooth transition to outside linebacker.

-- Adam Caplan

Jags angling for DE Brayton too -- 2:46 p.m.

While the Jacksonville Jaguars reached a contract agreement with free-agent DE Aaron Kampman, a league source told Scout.com that the team had free agent DE Tyler Brayton (Carolina Panthers) also on their list to target.

Brayton, as noted previously, is scheduled to meet with the Seattle Seahawks on Monday.

-- Adam Caplan

Broncos hosted Hadnot over weekend -- 2:08 p.m.

The Denver Broncos had free-agent G Rex Hadnot (Cleveland Browns) in for a visit over the weekend, Scout.com has confirmed through a league source.

Denver has very little depth at either guard position, so their interest in Hadnot shouldn't be surprising.

The veteran interior offensive lineman started 21 games for the Browns over the past two seasons.

Hadnot was originally selected in the sixth round of the 2004 NFL Draft by the Miami Dolphins.

-- Adam Caplan

Bills bring in offensive lineman for a visit — 9:28 a.m.

The Buffalo Bills had free-agent OL Wade Smith (Kansas City Chiefs) in for a visit on Saturday, Scout.com has confirmed through a league source.

Jags sign two-time Pro Bowl defensive end — 11:40 a.m.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have signed free agent Aaron Kampman as a step toward solving their pass-rushing problems.

The two-time Pro Bowl defensive end in eight seasons with Green Bay signed with the Jaguars on Sunday.

He should boost a pass rush that ranked last in the NFL with a franchise-low 14 sacks. The sack total is the fifth-lowest in NFL history

— Associated Press

Why is Seattle after Edwards? — 9:16 a.m.

The Seattle Seahawks had free-agent DE Dwan Edwards (Baltimore Ravens) in for a visit on Saturday, Scout.com confirmed through a league source.

The visit is surprising considering Seattle runs a 4-3 defensive scheme, and Edwards has played virtually his entire career in the 3-4.

Edwards only has two sacks in his career, but is known as a solid run-stopping end.

Edwards, who turns 29 in May, was selected by the Ravens in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft.

— Adam Caplan, Scout.com