Cowboys give CB Scandrick five-year, $27 million contract

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Orlando Scandrick came into the NFL determined to prove he was better than a fifth-round pick. Before even finishing his rookie contract, the cornerback convinced the Dallas Cowboys how much he's worth.

On Wednesday, Scandrick received a five-year extension worth $27 million -- an additional $2 million this season, and an average of $5 million per season for the added years. He's guaranteed $10 million, according to a person familiar with negotiations who spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms were not released.

"The chip is still on my shoulder," Scandrick said. "Now I need to prove that I'm worth it."

Scandrick came to training camp knowing there was a chance for a new deal from Dallas or that he could play his way into bigger money as a free agent next summer. Having quickly won over new defensive coordinator Rob Ryan with his strong play the first month of camp, talks heated up between the Cowboys and Scandrick's agent. He wound up getting the kind of money a No. 2 cornerback would get, even though he's considered No. 3, behind Terence Newman and Mike Jenkins.

"I always told myself if I got to a certain number, I would take it. And they met my number," Scandrick said, later adding that the overall deal exceeded his expectations.

The deal was done about a half-hour before the Cowboys took the field for a night time practice at their stadium. Word had spread to his teammates and they congratulated him. Then he had a practice befitting his new salary -- an interception, a sack and a blocked field goal.

"I felt energetic, my confidence raised," Scandrick said. "I'm not playing to not make mistakes now. Now I'm playing to make plays. I expect to have a tremendous year."

The 5-foot-10, 193-pound Scandrick arrived in 2008, the same season Jenkins was taken in the first round. Jenkins' signing bonus alone was bigger than Scandrick's entire deal. The various slights, combined with a supreme confidence and strong work ethic, have fueled Scandrick ever since.

Just last week, he was angry enough to hurl a helmet. He and secondary coach Dave Campo bicker constantly.

"He's happy with me today," Campo said, laughing.

Campo tested that, making sure that Scandrick's fire will still rage now that he's in a new tax bracket.

"I just said, 'Hey, you can't lose your edge,' " Campo said. "There's a fine line between the penthouse and you know the other spot. This guy is not a 6-foot, 205-pound corner that runs a 4.3. He's not a real big guy. He's got to keep the edge, be ready to play. I think he'll do that. He's smart enough to do that."

Scandrick found his niche in the nickel package, covering the slot receiver. Campo said Scandrick is among the best in the league at that difficult task.

The challenge, Campo said, is all the adjustments that have to be made within the defense depending on what they expect the offense to do. That requires lots of studying, which Scandrick does as well as anyone. Then there's the difficulty of a receiver being able to break in either direction; on the outside, cornerbacks can cheat one way or another because of the sideline.

"Some guys can do it and some guys can't," Campo said. "He's smart, tough enough and fast. That's pretty good."

He's also only 24.

"That Scandrick is a terrific player," Ryan said earlier in camp. "People want to say he's a sub guy, but this guy is really a special player. That role is very difficult. He has to be one of the smartest guys on the team and also one of the most talented. We're real fortunate. I really like Orlando. I think he should be excellent in our system."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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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.

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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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Eagles still dealing, give DL Jenkins five-year, $25M pact

Following Friday's breathtaking maneuvering to score free agency's biggest prize, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday added defensive lineman Cullen Jenkins to a roster that's suddenly bursting with big names.

Jenkins agreed to a five-year, $25 million deal, a league source told NFL Network insider Michael Lombardi.

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"Thank you #packernation for everything," Jenkins tweeted while explaining why he wouldn't return to the Green Bay Packers. " ... Unfortunately the option wasn't given to continue."

Added Jenkins: "Now it's on to the next chapter and I'm more pumped and motivated than ever."

Jenkins is the fifth major acquisition for the Eagles, who, along with landing Asomugha, found Kevin Kolb's replacement by giving Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young a one-year deal. The team also signed defensive end Jason Babin away from the Titans and acquired cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from the Arizona Cardinals in the Kolb trade.

"It's exciting," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. "It's really exciting to put it all together, and we want to see them out here out on the field and get going."

Jenkins started 66 games in seven seasons with the Packers, with a career-high seven sacks in 11 games last year.

"This is a guy who we didn't think we'd have the opportunity to acquire," Roseman said. "The way things have worked out here in the past few days, when the opportunity came at us, we jumped on it."

Roseman said Jenkins will fill a variety of roles in the Eagles' newly structured defense under first-year coordinator Juan Castillo. But his main role will be as an inside pass rusher.

"On third down, he rushes from inside," Roseman said. "We think he makes a difference in that role. In this defense and in this scheme, it really utilizes all his talents."

To make room for Jenkins, the Eagles traded defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley to the Cleveland Browns for a 2012 fifth-round draft pick.

The Eagles also re-signed unrestricted free agent linebacker Akeem Jordan.

Roseman said he's hearing from agents of players around the league who want to be Eagles.

"People want to come to Philadelphia because of the organization, having coach (Andy) Reid and having a quarterback like Michael (Vick) and the players we have here," he said. "I think they're all great selling points. When you talk to agents, people want to come to Philly."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Chargers lock up safety Weddle on five-year, $40M contract

San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner believes Eric Weddle is on the verge of becoming an elite safety in the NFL.

The Chargers showed they mean it Wednesday, agreeing to a five-year, $40 million deal with Weddle, NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported, citing a league source. Weddle will receive $19 million guaranteed and a $13 million signing bonus.

"I'm on cloud nine," Weddle told The San Diego Union-Tribune. "This is the team I love. I feel we have unfinished business. I want to prove I was worth this deal. When this deal is done, I will be one of the best safeties out there."

Weddle also drew interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars, Houston Texans, Minnesota Vikings, Dallas Cowboys and Cincinnati Bengals, according to his agent, David Canter.

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"There was a very deep market for his services," Canter said.

But after working through counterproposals Wednesday morning, the deal with the Chargers was set.

"It's exciting to think of Eric as being a Charger for his entire career," Turner said.

A starter on AFC West championship teams in 2008 and 2009, Weddle led the secondary in tackles with 72 last season as part of a defense that led the NFL in fewest yards allowed. He has started 48 of the last 51 games.

Weddle has yet to make a Pro Bowl, which Turner believes might be a reflection of his career total of six interceptions.

"He would get a lot more recognition," Turner said, "(but) he probably dropped about six interceptions last year. He's been working on that."

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith moved up 22 spots in the 2007 draft to select Weddle No. 38 overall out of Utah.

The safety became an unrestricted free agent for the first time this offseason.

"I just know with Eric he's on the verge of taking that next step," Turner said. "Lining up next to (safety) Bob Sanders (who joined the Chargers in March) will help him and bring out some of his strengths also.

"He's a guy that's gotten better every year," Turner said. "He's got great leadership skills. He's got great understanding not only of our defense but of what people are doing. He's got great range. We need to get him to where he catches the ball better."

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.

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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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