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ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Wide receiver Tai Streets signed with Detroit on Wednesday and reunited with Steve Mariucci, his coach when he began his career in San Francisco.
It was the second major free-agent signing by the Lions, who have won just 10 games in three seasons, five last year in Mariucci's first with the team. They already have signed Damien Woody from New England, perhaps the best offensive lineman available.
Streets potentially gives the Lions a dangerous receiving corps. He will be paired with second-year man Charles Rogers and veteran Az-Zahir Hakim.
In five seasons with the 49ers, Streets had 168 receptions for 2,008 yards and 13 touchdowns, including 47 catches last season for 595 yards and five TDs.
"He's had success. He upgrades us and gives us a big kid who runs well," said Lions president Matt Millen.
He added: "We still have holes we want to fill, but I'm pleased with the players we've added. I want to be more pleased."
Mariucci said the Lions may be interested in adding free-agent linebacker Ian Gold, and running back Garrison Hearst, who played for Mariucci in San Francisco.
Giants waive BarrowMike Barrow has been among the Giants' most fiery, visible players - the man who roused the team on the sideline before games, ran the defensive huddle and topped the list of leading tacklers. Wednesday he abruptly became an ex-Giant, released in a salary cap-driven move that general manager Ernie Accorsi called "one of the most difficult decisions I have ever been a part of in football."
Barrow, 33, was cut days before he was due a $1-million bonus and after he refused to accept a proposed pay reduction. He was to earn $4.5-million in salary and bonus this season in the next-to-last year of a six-year deal.
The move will save about $3-million against the cap. His departure means the Giants will have three new starting linebackers in 2004. They already signed Carlos Emmons from Philadelphia and Barrett Green from the Lions.
BRONCOS: Daryl Gardener, who was suspended twice and played little during a disappointing 2003 season, settled his dispute with the team over a $5-million signing bonus. Terms were not released. He and the Broncos filed grievances against each other after the team withheld $2-million of his signing bonus and tried to recoup $3-million already paid because of conduct detrimental to the team. ... Meantime, Denver signed free-agent quarterback Mike Quinn and re-signed cornerback Scott Turner.
BROWNS: Free-agent defensive end Ebenezer Ekuban, a first-round draft pick of Dallas in 1999, agreed to a three-year contract, the Associated Press reported. The team also signed fullback Terrelle Smith, a punishing blocker who spent the past three seasons opening holes for Deuce McAllister in New Orleans, to a four-year, $4.4-million contract.
CARDINALS: David Macklin, who started 37 games at cornerback for the Colts over the past four seasons, agreed to a three-year contract of undisclosed terms.
COWBOYS: Punter Toby Gowin was released after averaging a career-low 39 yards last season.
FALCONS: Eric Beverly was signed from Detroit to compete with Roberto Garza for the starting left guard spot.
PANTHERS: Carolina agreed to terms with cornerback Artrell Hawkins, beginning to rebuild a secondary that has lost three players this offseason. Hawkins, released by Cincinnati last week, is a candidate to start at left corner, a position vacated when Reggie Howard signed with Miami.
PATRIOTS: New England re-signed running back Kevin Faulk, who played a key role in the team's run to the Super Bowl title last season with a career-best 638 yards rushing on 178 carries and 48 receptions for 440 yards.
RAIDERS: Free-agent defensive back Ike Charlton was signed. He played seven games for the Giants last season as a midseason pickup.
REDSKINS: Walter Rasby returned to the team, giving coach Joe Gibbs the blocking tight end he needs for his offense. Rasby played with the Redskins in 2001 and 2002 before spending last season with New Orleans.
OWENS HEARING: Terrell Owens' request to be declared a free agent will be heard Saturday by arbitrator Stephen Burbank and a decision is expected Sunday.
The standout receiver was prevented from becoming a free agent when the NFL Management Council ruled last week that his agent, David Joseph, failed to void the last two years of his contract with the 49ers by a Feb. 21 deadline. The 49ers then traded Owens to Baltimore for a second-round pick.