Bucs/NFL

Zephyrhills' Pickett joins Packers

By wire services
Published March 18, 2006

MADISON, Wis. - The Packers signed former Rams defensive tackle Ryan Pickett of Zephyrhills to a multiyear contract, and reportedly brought in free-agent placekicker Adam Vinatieri for a visit.

Pickett, 6 feet 2 and 322 pounds, led all NFL defensive linemen with 115 tackles in 2005.

In five seasons, he has 401 tackles (192 solo), 51/2 sacks and 17 passes defensed. He has played in 79 consecutive games, including the playoffs.

Vinatieri, who kicked two Super Bowl-winning field goals for the Patriots, got a chance to test the free agency market after New England declined to protect him with the franchise player tag.

The designation would have forced the team to give Vinatieri a one-year, $3-million offer.

ASHBURN, Va. - The Redskins traded quarterback Patrick Ramsey to the New York Jets for a sixth-round pick.

Ramsey, who drew interest from the Bucs, lost the starting job to Mark Brunell last season and asked to be traded. The Jets were looking for another quarterback to compete with Chad Pennington.

Though the Jets restructured Pennington's contract this month, there are concerns he can't come back from a second operation on his right shoulder.

Ramsey was a first-round pick in the 2002 draft, when Steve Spurrier coached the team. In four seasons, he started 24 games, completing 55 percent of his passes for 5,649 yards with 34 touchdowns and 29 interceptions.

CHIEFS: Former Broncos running back Quentin Griffin signed, providing a backup for Larry Johnson if Priest Holmes retires. Holmes has not decided whether to return from a spinal injury.

COWBOYS: The team denied a report late Thursday night from a Lubbock television station that the team had reached an agreement with free-agent receiver Terrell Owens. ... Offensive lineman Jacob Rogers was released. The second-round pick from two years ago was a standout at left tacke for Southern California, but never took an NFL snap after struggling with a move to the right side.

DOLPHINS: Free-agent defensive back Renaldo Hill signed a three-year deal, and former FSU running back Travis Minor re-signed for one year.

FALCONS: Four-time Pro Bowl safety Lawyer Milloy agreed to a three-year contract worth more than $6-million, including a $2.5-million signing bonus, according to Kevin Poston, one of his agents. He was the Bills' second-leading tackler with 170 last season, but was released two weeks ago.

PATRIOTS: Unrestricted free agent Reche Caldwell, a receiver from Tampa and UF, signed. In four seasons with the Chargers, he caught 76 passes for 950 yards and seven touchdowns in 47 games. The Patriots are thin at receiver.

RAMS: Quarterback Gus Frerotte signed a three-year deal. He played under new coach Scott Linehan at Miami last season and in Minnesota for two seasons.

SAINTS: Former Vikings running back Michael Bennett agreed to a two-year deal and likely will back up Deuce McAllister.

SEAHAWKS: Seattle's attempt to keep All-Pro guard Steve Hutchinson will be decided by an arbitration process. That will delay the Sunday deadline for the team to match the Vikings' offer. The league has filed a claim on behalf of the Seahawks contending a clause in the offer sheet Hutchinson signed last weekend circumvents the league's labor contract, meaning Seattle does not have to match that clause to keep their transition player. Also, the Seahawks reportedly have offered a first-round pick to the Jets for defensive end John Abraham. But he prefers the Falcons, who have offered a second-round pick (47th overall), and has already agreed to a deal with them.

STEELERS: Starting cornerback Deshea Townsend re-signed.

[Last modified March 18, 2006, 02:30:29]