TAMPA - The Bucs re-signed fourth-year safety John Howell on Thursday, beating today's deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets. The team also signed tight end Doug Zeigler, an undrafted free agent from the University of Mississippi who sat out the 2003 NFL season recovering from a leg injury.
Howell missed eight of the final nine games last season with a hamstring injury. In eight games, he had three tackles, a pass defensed and eight special-teams tackles.
Zeigler played with Mississippi quarterback Eli Manning and developed into one of the nation's better pass-catching tight ends. He was a preseason All-America choice as a senior but he fractured his left leg in the fourth game.
In four seasons with the Rebels Zeigler had 48 catches for 612 yards and five touchdowns under the tutelage of Ron Middleton, who now is the Bucs' tight end coach.
Around the league
BENGALS: Cornerback Dennis Weathersby remained in serious condition with a head injury, three days after his car went off a highway ramp and struck a utility pole. A blood test found no trace of drugs or alcohol.
BRONCOS: They signed unrestricted free-agent tight end O.J. Santiago and re-signed unrestricted free-agent tight end Patrick Hape, a former Buc.
The team is waiting to hear if Shannon Sharpe, the league's career leader in touchdowns, receptions and yardage by a tight end, will retire or return for a 14th season. He wants to give the team time to plan before the draft later this month.
COWBOYS: They signed restricted free agents Aveion Cason, Matt Lehr and Markus Steele. Cason, a running back, had surgery Dec. 9 to repair torn ligaments in his right knee. He is expected to be ready for camp. Lehr started all 16 games last season at center after expected starter Al Johnson injured his knee in training camp. Lehr is also a backup guard. Steele is a backup linebacker.
RAIDERS: They signed veteran cornerback Denard Walker, whom the Vikings released last month after signing Antoine Winfield. Terms weren't given.
STEELERS: They re-signed tackle Barrett Brooks for one year and withdrew their $628,000 qualifying offer to tackle Mathias Nkwenti.
NEW PHASE FOR MOON: Ex-quarterback Warren Moon will be an analyst on radio broadcasts for the Seahawks. Moon once played for the Seahawks and the University of Washington.
STORM: The team waived offensive/defensive linemen Jorge Diaz, a former Buc, and Emil Ekiyor, who played at UCF.
Kickers Ignacio Brache and Nick Gatto were invited for a second tryout to replace injured Matt George.
- Times staff writer Frank Pastor and Times wires contributed to this report.
