NFL NEWS AND NOTES

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed free-agent quarterback Jeff Garcia on Saturday and obtained the rights to Jake Plummer from Denver, adding two quarterbacks to compete with Chris Simms next season. Plummer, who reportedly was thinking of retiring if he was traded, was sent to the Buccaneers for a conditional 2008 draft choice, the Broncos said. The 37-year-old Garcia, who last year led Philadelphia to the playoffs filling in for the injured Donovan McNabb, agreed to terms a day after talking with the Oakland Raiders. The signing was reported on the Bucs' Web site.....

Wide receiver Drew Bennett signed a six-year contract with the St. Louis Rams on Saturday. Bennett led the Titans with 46 receptions for 737 yards last season and ranks ninth on the team's career list with 273 catches for 4,033 yards and 25 touchdowns. He played his first six seasons with Tennessee after breaking in as an undrafted player.....

The Tennessee Titans released Travis Henry on Saturday after negotiations failed to rework a contract that contained an $8.3 million bonus due Monday. The Titans and Henry's agent had been negotiating over the past few days, trying to rework the bonus into a longer deal. Reinfeldt said Friday it might be good if Henry checked out the market to see what he would bring. "I still would be optimistic that he would return," Reinfeldt told The Tennessean. "Sometimes you need to look at the market and see what all is out there. I'm not sure that's a terrible thing."......

Linebacker Adalius Thomas signed with New England on Saturday, giving the Patriots one of this season's top free agents and a versatile pass-rushing outside linebacker who can do for the team what Willie McGinest once did. Thomas led Baltimore with 11 sacks last year and played in the Pro Bowl, where the Patriots' Bill Belichick was his coach for the AFC.....

According to published reports, the 49ers have agreed to a eight-year, $80 million contract with free-agent DB Nate Clements. Clements had 70 tackles and three interceptions playing for the Bills in 2006.....

The Patriots have officially released RB Corey Dillon, who asked for his release before the start of free agency. He ran for 812 yards and 13 touchdowns in 2006. The Patriots' running back job appears to belong all to second-year RB Laurence Maroney.....

Free agent WR Joe Horn has already drawn interest from the Atlanta Falcons, reports the Atlanta Journal Constitution. The Falcons and Horn's agent have had preliminary discussions about bringing Horn to Atlanta, and a meeting is being set up. "We're not sure where it's going yet," Horn's agent said. "They were the first team I spoke with. He'd be a perfect fit with those young guys. ... We are very interested and they seem to be too.".....

In a move that should certainly impact their approach to the 2007 draft, Jacksonville has reportedly signed former Cleveland UFA WR Dennis Northcutt. Prior to the signing the Jaguars had listed a speed receiver as one of their top 1-2 needs to fill at the upcoming draft.....

In one of the most anticipated on-campus workouts leading up to the draft, Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn will workout at the first of two Irish pro days later today in South Bend. According to NFL.com, though, Quinn will not do a full workout; Quinn will go through passing drills, but reportedly will not run or do interviews. Quinn has been recovering from a minor knee injury and may still run at Notre Dame’s second pro day on March 22nd.....

Coming off a strong performance at last month’s scouting combine, Miami TE Greg Olsen may have put a lock on the top grade among 2007 draft prospects at the position when he ran a 4.41 40 at the Hurricanes pro day on Saturday. Miami S Brandon Meriweather also improved his 40 clocking by a tenth as he also timed out at just over 4.4 seconds in his 40. While the Hurricanes ran on a track described as fast, none of the other Hurricanes who worked out at the combine made significant gains in their 40 times. It wasn’t quite as good day for Miami DT Kareem Brown, the one former Hurricane who did not run in Indianapolis. The 290-pounder only averaged a rather pedestrian 5.40 seconds in his two 40s. Brown, though, was a little quicker in the short shuttle where his time was about average for players at the position at the combine. Meanwhile, over at the Texas A&M pro day, safety Melvin Bullitt put on an athletic, combine worthy performance. Running at 201 pounds, Bullitt ran in the 4.5 range in the 40; had a 40.5 vertical leap and beat the gold standards in both the short shuttle (sub-4.0) and three cone drill (sub-7.0). RB Courtney Lewis also timed in the 4.5 range, but weighed in at only 190 pounds. Former Aggie DE Jason Jack, though, had to be disappointed as the 265-pounder struggled to break the 4.90 mark in the 40. Same story for MLB Justin Warren who was hoping to improve on a 4.92 official 40 time at the combine when he pulled up with a tweaked hamstring, but again times out in close to 4.90 seconds.....

New England is reportedly close to signing Miami restricted free-agent WR Wes Welker. If Welker indeed signs the offer sheet, the Dolphins will have seven days to match it. If they decide not to, they would get the Patriots' second-round draft pick a s compensation.....


Day two of the NFL’s free agent signing period was reasonably busy with more unrestricted free agents coming to terms. The biggest name to sign Saturday, though, may have been San Diego OG Kris Dielman who resigned with the Chargers after visiting Seattle. Other players of note to sign yesterday include Atlanta WR Ashley Lelie with San Francisco; Miami OT Damion McIntosh with Kansas City; and Minnesota CB Fred Smoot who returns to Washington. There have also been conflicting reports about Tampa Bay DE Dewayne White signing with Detroit. Late reports indicate though that White still hasn’t officially signed although he reportedly is still in Detroit as we go to press. Elsewhere Tennessee has released RB Travis Henry rather than pay his a roster bonus.....

Miami has acquired a 6th round pick from Denver in exchange for veteran DT Dan Wilkinson. In exchange for Wilkinson, the Dolphins will get Denver's own pick in the latter part of the 6th round rather than the 6th round which Denver acquired from Detroit yesterday as part of the deal involving CB Dre Bly.