Cardinals tender offers to Green, Smith

Cardinals tender offers to Green, Smith
The Arizona Cardinals�extended high tender offers of $2 million for the 2008 season to cornerback Eric Green and defensive end Antonio Smith according to the East Valley Tribune.

The offers to the restricted free agents mean any other team that wants to offer them a contract would have to give the Cardinals a first-round draft pick as compensation. And that means Green and Smith will be staying put.

Smith had indicated he expected a middle tender offer, which would have paid him $1.4 million and required a second-round pick as compensation. The Cardinals also confirmed their low tender offer of $927,000 to offensive lineman Elton Brown.

49ers show faith in Smith, pick up two-year option
Alex Smith can remain with the San Francisco 49ers through the 2010 season after the club picked up a clause in his contract Thursday that triggers the last two years of the six-year $49.5 million deal he signed in 2005. The clause is believed to be worth $5.86 million according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

"It wasn't a tremendous amount of money, but it shows we have faith in him, that he's our guy," general manager Scot McCloughan said in a conference call. "If we didn't think he was worth it, we wouldn't do it."

Nevertheless, Smith will apparently have to battle Shaun Hill for the starting quarterback job in training camp this summer. The 49ers recently avoided losing Hill to free agency when they signed him to a three-year contract believed to be worth $6 million. By reaching various incentives, he could earn $11 million. McCloughan also said Smith's rehabilitation from shoulder surgery is progressing well and that he expects the quarterback to be cleared to begin throwing the football when he visits orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday.

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Raiders sign DE Kelly to record $50.5 million deal
Hours before the start of the NFL's free-agency signing period, the Oakland Raiders locked up run-stuffing defensive end/tackle Tommy Kelly with one of the most eye-opening deals ever for a non-Pro Bowl player: seven years and $50.5 million, with $18.125 million guaranteed the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

The contract is the largest ever awarded to a defensive tackle, the position where Kelly, 27, will move to now that Warren Sapp has retired. Kelly would have been one of the most coveted free agents because of his ability to line up as an end in a 3-4 or as a speedy interior player in a 4-3 scheme. Now he can collect $25.125 million in the first three years of his new contract.

The Raiders hurried to complete the deal with agent Gary Wichard after it was learned the Broncos and the Saints were poised to offer contracts to Kelly once the signing period began at 9:01 Thursday night. Kelly, 6-foot-6 and 300 pounds, was a non-drafted free agent of the Raiders in 2004 out of Mississippi State. He missed nine games in 2007 with a torn ACL sustained during the Titans game. He was placed on injured reserve Oct. 31. Prior to the injury, Kelly had 30 tackles and one sack in seven games.

Anderson, Browns agree on deal
Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson wasn't a free agent for long. Anderson has agreed to a multiyear contract to stay with the Browns, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract had not been completed. General manager Phil Savage believed if Anderson had gotten an offer from another team, the Browns probably wouldn't have been able to keep him.

Texas signs Davis to four-year, $16 million pact
Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith and agent Kennard McGuire worked out a four-year, $16 million contract that will keep receiver Andr� Davis off the open market according to the Houston Chronicle.

Chargers don't play free-agency game
A.J. Smith doesn't play the free-agency game like most GMs. Alex Marvez says it's a big reason why the Bolts are set for the long haul.

Saints interested in Jacksonville's Stroud?
The New Orleans Saints might be interested in trading a draft choice for a defensive tackle, possibly for Jacksonville's Marcus Stroud, who could replace Brian Young.

Stroud missed seven games last season, four because of a suspension for violating the league's steroid policy. A seven-year veteran, he had three sacks and 22 total tackles in nine games last season.

Have Eagles struck a deal with Pats' Samuel?

The Philadelphia Eagles, at the very least, have Asante Samuel's attention. New England Patriots Pro Bowl cornerback made Philadelphia his first visit on the free-agent tour today and when NFL teams are interested in a player, they strive to make sure there is no second visit the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

A report Thursday night said the Eagles had already struck a deal with Samuel, but it has also been reported that the New Orleans Saints,�New York Jets�and Tampa Bay Buccaneers intend to make a run at Samuel.

If the Eagles are able to sign Samuel, it's going to be a costly proposition. It's been estimated that the cornerback wants between $10 and $12 million a year to sign. Samuel's addition would also create a logjam at cornerback, where the Eagles already have two-time Pro Bowler Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown. There has been speculation that if the Eagles get Samuel, they will trade Sheppard, who is unhappy with his contact according to several league sources.