Bears C Kreutz might retire after team agrees to sign Spencer

Olin Kreutz's 13-year run in Chicago is over after the Bears agreed to a two-year contract with former Seattle Seahawks center Chris Spencer on Sunday.

A six-time Pro Bowl pick, Kreutz was an emotional leader and an important piece for a team coming off a run to the NFC Championship Game even if he was no longer at his peak.

He had backed off his request for a multiyear contract and was willing to take a one-year deal. Even so, the two sides couldn't reach an agreement.

Now, the Bears are turning to the 29-year-old Spencer, the No. 26 overall pick by the Seahawks in the 2005 draft. Back then, Bears director of player personnel Tim Ruskell was the Seahawks' general manager.

"You guys know how I feel about Olin," Bears coach Lovie Smith said. "He's been a great Chicago Bear for us. Every year is a different year, a different team. You have to move on, which we're going to have to do. We are going to do it. We have a good football team, and other guys will move into that role."

Kreutz told the Chicago Tribune on Sunday that he might not ever play again.

"That is a decision I am still making. I am sure I will have an opportunity," Kreutz said. "I am just not sure if I want to play for anyone else. Retirement is definitely an option."

Kreutz played down any perception of animosity between himself and general manager Jerry Angelo.

"Jerry has been good to me too. He’s given me a lot of money and I’ve been there a long time," Kreutz said. "It felt like maybe it was time to move on. I just got that feeling. If I was right, if I was wrong, if the offer was fair. I have enough money. So the offer wasn’t a big hurdle for me. It was a feel I had, just maybe they wanted to move on no matter what the offer was."

The Tribune reported that the one-year offer Kreutz turned down was for $4 million.

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

Like every other NFL team during this unique offseason, the Bears have been busy, adding former Pro Bowl receiver Roy Williams, running back Marion Barber, defensive tackle Amobi Okoye and punter Adam Podlesh. They overhauled their tight end corps by trading Greg Olsen to Carolina, releasing Brandon Manumaleuna and adding Matt Spaeth.

Losing Kreutz creates more questions on an offensive line that struggled last season. Chicago allowed a league-leading 56 sacks last year, with Jay Cutler taking 52 of them and suffering a concussion in the process. Things improved over the final nine games, when the Bears went with the same five players after going with four different lineups in the first seven games because of injuries and poor play.

Kreutz, however, helped keep things together even though he was no longer a dominant force. He was limited for much of the season while recovering from Achilles' tendon surgery.

Even so, not seeing him at camp the past few days was strange for his teammates. Guard Roberto Garza has been filling in at center and will likely continue to do so until at least Thursday, when Spencer can start practicing.

"(Kreutz) stands for what a Chicago Bear is," Garza said. "Tough. Hard-nosed football player. He made his teammates better."

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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Colts pay their man: Manning agrees to five-year, $90M pact

Peyton Manning has a new long-term deal in time to report to training camp, but he hasn't been cleared to practice.

Nonetheless, Colts owner Jim Irsay said Saturday that he was "thrilled" to give the only four-time MVP in league history a deal that likely will keep him in Indianapolis for the rest of his career.

Brooks: Manning puts his team first

Manning agreed to a five-year, $90 million deal that, according to Irsay, will pay his quarterback $69 million during the first three years.

Irsay described the contract as "cap friendly" on his Twitter page, and sources told NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi that the owner assured Manning that the Colts would be aggressive in free agency.

"Signing Peyton was a top priority for this organization and we are thrilled that the deal is complete," Irsay said in a statement released by the team Saturday. "We feel that it is a salary-cap friendly deal and it allows us more flexibility."

Irsay and Colts president Bill Polian are scheduled to discuss Manning's contract at a Sunday afternoon news conference.

The deal comes nearly five months after the team used the exclusive franchise tag to prevent Manning from negotiating with any other teams. Had Manning signed the one-year offer, he would have made $23.1 million this season.

By having the long-term deal done, Manning's salary-cap number will be reduced, allowing the team to sign more of its own free agents. The Colts already have re-signed two key veterans -- safety Melvin Bullitt and kicker Adam Vinatieri -- this week. They also lost linebacker Clint Session to the Jacksonville Jaguars in free agency.

Other key players the Colts are trying to work out deals with include running back Joseph Addai and left tackle Charlie Johnson. They still haven't signed first-round pick Anthony Castonzo.

The Colts report to training camp Sunday at Anderson University, about 40 miles northeast of Indianapolis. Colts coach Jim Caldwell said Friday he expected Manning to be at camp if he was signed.

However, Manning will not practice because he's continuing to rehabilitate from neck surgery he had in May. It was the second time since March 2010 that he had neck surgery.

The Colts announced Saturday that it will put the quarterback on the physically unable to perform list, preventing him from practicing until he is removed from it. Because it is the preseason, he could be removed from the list at any time and return to practice.

"There is every medical indication that he is progressing steadily," team neurosurgeon Dr. Hank Feuer said in a statement. "While he looks fine, he still has some rehabilitation to go. Recovery from disc surgery is unpredictable and it is not a medical concern that he is not ready at this time."

Manning has started all 227 regular-season and playoff games in his 14-year career, and the Colts repeatedly have said they expect the quarterback to be ready to start in the season opener against the Houston Texans.

Manning has completed 64.9 percent of his passes in his career, throwing for nearly 55,000 yards and 399 touchdowns. He has led the Colts to the playoffs 12 times, reaching two Super Bowls and winning one.

But as the contract negotiations dragged, Manning became more irritated with the pace.

On Friday night, Manning told The Indianapolis Star that he had instructed agent Tom Condon to complete the deal by Sunday at the latest.

And after months of Irsay promising to make Manning the highest-paid player in league history, surpassing the annual average salary of $18 million that Tom Brady agreed to in September, the quarterback said he didn't have to own that title.

On Saturday, the two sides finally came to terms on a deal that will continue to make Manning the highest-paid player in franchise with a caveat -- that the team can hopefully keep some of his teammates under contract, too.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Williams agrees to five-year, $43M deal to stay with Panthers

The Carolina Panthers promised they'd be aggressive in free agency, and they stayed true to their word Wednesday.

In perhaps the wildest day of transactions in franchise history, running back DeAngelo Williams agreed to a five-year, $43 million contract, NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi reported, and linebackers James Anderson and Thomas Davis also agreed to five-year deals, people familiar with the deals told The Associated Press.

Williams, who's guaranteed $21 million in his new deal, also drew serious interest from the New York Giants and Denver Broncos, Lombardi reported, but the Panthers were able to keep their all-time leading rusher.

Fantasy: Panthers RBs' stock down The reality of DeAngelo Williams re-signing with Carolina is that neither he nor RB Jonathan Stewart will be overly reliable in stats, Michael Fabiano writes. More ...

The Panthers also agreed to terms with seven free agents, including kicker Olindo Mare, defensive tackle Ron Edwards, tight end Ben Hartsock, fullback Rick Brockel, defensive backs Cletis Gordan, Devon Hall and Kevin Payne. Free agents can't officially sign until Friday.

The addition of Mare signals the end of the John Kasay era in Panthers history. Carolina is expected on Thursday to release the only player remaining from the 1995 expansion roster.

Going after Mare over Kasay was due in part to the NFL's new rule that moved kickoffs up 5 yards to the 35-yard line. Mare has more leg strength than Kasay, who ranks eighth on the career NFL scoring list with 1,823 points.

Mare, who'll receive a four-year, $12 million contract, is just three years younger than Kasay, 41, but still has good leg strength and converted 73 of 83 field-goal attempts the last three years with the Seattle Seahawks.

But keeping the 28-year-old Williams was the big news. A Pro Bowl selection in 2009, Williams decided to stay in Carolina to play alongside best friend and fellow running back Jonathan Stewart. Williams said Monday night during an online chat that his goal was to retire as a Panther.

Williams posted back-to-back seasons of more than 1,100 rushing yards in 2008 and '09 before sustaining a season-ending foot sprain during Week 7 of the 2010 campaign. The Panthers held out hope that Williams would recover before the end of the season, but they eventually placed him on injured reserve in mid-November.

The flurry of moves came one day after defensive end Charles Johnson agreed to a six-year, $72 million contact with the Panthers.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Breaston agrees to leave Arizona, play alongside Bowe in K.C.

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Hasselbeck agrees to reported three-year, $21M deal with Titans

Veteran free-agent quarterback Matt Hasselbeck agreed to terms Wednesday on a multiyear deal with the Tennessee Titans, sources confirmed to NFL Network's Albert Breer.

The Tennessean reported the contract is for three years and worth $21 million.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported Tuesday that the Seattle Seahawks were unlikely to re-sign Hasselbeck. Later Tuesday, the team agreed to terms with former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

Life after Hasselbeck in Seattle The Seahawks heavily relied on QB Matt Hasselbeck for so long. Now, with his departure to the Titans, they must find a way to fill the void left by their longtime leader. More...

Hasselbeck spent 10 seasons with the Seahawks, and the Titans hope he can bring stability to their quarterback position and work with rookie Jake Locker, the No. 8 overall draft pick.

Veteran Kerry Collins retired three weeks ago, and the Titans plan to trade or release Vince Young before training camp opens Friday.

"I think it's a good move," Titans wide receiver Damien Williams said Wednesday as news of the Hasselbeck deal leaked. "Obviously, we've got a bunch of young guys with Jake and Rusty (Smith, a second-year pro), and they're not quite acclimated. We've got a brand-new system, so to bring in a veteran that knows how to adapt quickly, I think that's a good move. Those guys can have someone to learn from."

Not every Titans player was enthused about the move. In a radio interview Wednesday, cornerback Cortland Finnegan praised Hasselbeck's accomplishments but questioned whether he's the right fit in Tennessee.

"He throws the ball with good checkdowns, good intermediate passing game. That's a West Coast offense they run, he throws the ball quick," Finnegan said on WGFX-FM, according to MusicCityMiracles.com. "I don't fear his deep ball. Don't get me wrong, he's great at what he's done. Pro Bowls, All-Pros, even playing in the Super Bowl, but for what we have going, what direction I want to go and the team wants to go, I don't know if he fits what we need, but I'm not the GM, I'm not the front office."

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

Back in January, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll pronounced that re-signing Hasselbeck was his team's No. 1 priority, but the two sides couldn't reach an agreement before the 4½-month NFL lockout began.

The 35-year-old Hasselbeck played in 14 games last season, throwing for 3,001 yards and 12 touchdowns with 17 interceptions while completing 59.9 percent of his passes. Originally drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the sixth round of the 1998 draft, the three-time Pro Bowl selection has 29,579 passing yards, 176 touchdowns and 128 interceptions while completing 60.1 percent of his throws in 12 seasons.

Hasselbeck comes to Tennessee already familiar with general manager Mike Reinfeldt, who worked in the Seahawks' front office before joining the Titans in 2007, and Locker, who played at the University of Washington, which is located in Seattle.

"From college to the NFL is a big adjustment," Titans tight end Jared Cook said. "To have somebody to learn under, especially somebody as experienced as Matt Hasselback, I think is going to benefit all our quarterbacks."

In the post-lockout rush to complete rosters, the Titans needed to sign nine draft picks, work to keep some of their own free agents and possibly add a veteran defensive tackle, linebacker and safety. They agreed to terms with 14 undrafted rookies Tuesday.

The challenges don't end with signing players, either. The start of training camp will mark the first time players get to work out with first-year coach Mike Munchak and a staff of new assistants.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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