The Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills have made strong moves to improve their chances in the AFC East.
Miami traded for former Pro Bowl receiver David Boston, who wore out his welcome in one season in San Diego, while Buffalo signed Pro Bowl cornerback Troy Vincent, who left the Philadelphia Eagles as a free agent.
The Dolphins acquired Boston for a sixth-round draft choice in 2005 and a player to be named, Chargers general manager A.J. Smith said on Monday. The deal is contingent on Boston passing a physical in Miami. Smith said the player to be named won't be high-profile.
Boston caught 70 passes for 880 yards and seven touchdowns in his only season with the Chargers. Teammates criticized his work ethic, and he was suspended for one game following an argument with a coach.
"It just wasn't a fit," Smith said of Boston in San Diego. "It happens in our league, and you just move on."
Boston accepted a restructured contract; he was guaranteed US$6.9 million over the next two seasons in the seven-year deal he signed as a free agent last March.
In Miami, Boston will be reunited with receivers coach Jerry Sullivan, who helped him reach the Pro Bowl in 2001 when both were with Arizona.
Vincent, a leader in the locker room as well as a standout player, ended a stellar eight-year tenure with Philadelphia. Agent Linda Bodley said he chose Buffalo ahead of Cincinnati and Kansas City.
"He's relieved that he's finally made a decision," Bodley said. "And with any of the three teams he couldn't go wrong. He's very pleased."
A 12-year veteran who was selected to his fifth straight Pro Bowl last season, Vincent will turn 33 in June. He's expected to take over for left cornerback Antoine Winfield, who signed with Minnesota. But he could wind up at safety.
Tampa Bay added three veterans Monday, including 33-year-old two-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Todd Steussie, who was released last week by Carolina.
"There was a very short list of places I wanted to go see, and this is the only trip I made," Steussie said. "The biggest thing is it left me wanting a whole lot more. That was one of the reasons I came down here. I wanted to go to a place that would allow me to win one more game than I won last year."
Tampa Bay also signed longtime backup quarterback Jason Garrett and defensive back Tom Knight, who spent last season with Baltimore.
Brian Griese, who was in Miami last year after spending five seasons quarterbacking the Denver Broncos, visited with the Buccaneers, but no deal was struck.
The Buccaneers also said the deal sending Keyshawn Johnson to Dallas remains alive. Johnson, deactivated for the final six games of last season because of differences with coach Jon Gruden, has already agreed to a restructured contract with Dallas worth US$20 million over four seasons. But Tampa Bay hasn't reached agreement on a restructured deal with Galloway, who has three years left on a seven-year, US$42 million contract.
Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington filed a grievance with the league over US$6.5 million he claims is missing from his latest contract with the Redskins. The three-time Pro Bowl linebacker signed a nine-year, US$68 million contract in December, but Arrington claims he actually agreed to a US$74.5 million deal. Arrington contends the contract was supposed to include a US$6.5 million roster bonus for the year 2006.
RSS