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NFL briefs

Compiled from Times wires

© St. Petersburg Times, published April 13, 2001

Lions sign former Ram CB Lyght

PONTIAC, Mich. -- Cornerback Todd Lyght, one of a half-dozen defensive starters discarded by the Rams, signed a two-year deal Thursday with the Lions.

Lyght, who played all 10 of his pro seasons with the Rams and was a Pro Bowl player in 1999, said he had offers from the Giants, Seahawks and Chiefs, but decided to return to the Detroit area. He grew up in Flint.

"I'm really excited about playing in Michigan, and I'm really excited about playing for a team that is close to getting there," Lyght said.

Lyght, 32, is expected to provide depth in the secondary. Starting cornerback Bryant Westbrook suffered a ruptured left Achilles' tendon late last season. Lyght's role will depend on Westbrook. If he is healthy, Lyght will be a nickel back behind Westbrook and Terry Fair.

In other team news, a sore knee has forced quarterback Charlie Batch to cut back on his off-season workouts.

BROWNS: Director of operations Dwight Clark said he has let teams know the Browns are willing to trade their No. 3 overall pick April 21 draft to stockpile picks. ... Michael Smith, a linebacker who played for Butch Davis in college at Miami, signed a two-year contract. Terms were not disclosed.

CARDINALS: Arizona, which has the No. 2 pick in next week's draft, visited with 6-foot-6, 365-pound offensive tackle Leonard Davis of Texas. The Cardinals had been thought to be focusing on defensive tackle, but like Davis. "He'll play in this league, in my humble opinion, for a long, long time," coach Dave McGinnis said. "Unless he gets hit by a truck, and it's going to have to be a darned big truck."

FALCONS: Free-agent kicker Jay Feely, who played at Jesuit, signed. He was a kicker at Michigan from 1995-98. He was the team's kickoff specialist his first three seasons, then took over field-goal and extra-point duties his senior year. Feely, who never has played professionally, was discovered by the Falcons at a kicking clinic conducted by former NFL player Ray Pelfrey. Morten Andersen has been Atlanta's kicker the past six seasons.

REDSKINS: Free-agent punter Bryan Barker, 36, who had spent the past six seasons with the Jaguars, signed. He was 15th last season with a 42-yard punting average.

SAINTS: Owner Tom Benson, 73, who had bypass surgery last week, was readmitted to the hospital because of an increased heart rate that "occurs in 30 to 40 percent of heart bypass patients following surgery," said Dr. John Amoss.

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