Niners add veteran QB Josh McCown to challenge for No. 2 job

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Josh McCown was keeping busy coaching high school football back in North Carolina while he waited for the phone to ring, knowing another opportunity might never come.

One call from the San Francisco 49ers changed everything.

McCown signed a one-year deal for the league minimum of $810,000 on Wednesday to be a backup for the 49ers, giving his NFL career new life and adding a veteran to the quarterback competition.

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McCown is expected to compete with rookie Colin Kaepernick for the No. 2 spot behind presumed starter Alex Smith. After throwing passes on a high school field for most of the summer, the opportunity to join new coach Jim Harbaugh's team was more than McCown could ever hope for.

"When you're sitting there waiting for the phone to ring, you work out every day, you want something else to do," McCown said. "I'm excited."

McCown's career has gone through a rapid turnaround.

He took an early morning flight from Charlotte to the Bay Area via Chicago, passed a physical, signed his contract and was on the practice field by the afternoon wearing No. 9. McCown clearly has some catching up to do if he wants to make the final roster. He was intercepted twice in limited action in practice, both by Dashon Goldson, although one was on a last-second heave to the end zone

The 32-year-old was with the United Football League's Hartford Colonials last year and had no plans to return to professional football for anything less than a NFL job. McCown spent eight seasons in the NFL, including the first four with the Arizona Cardinals.

He also played for Detroit, Oakland and Carolina. McCown's best season came in 2004 when he started 13 games for the Cardinals, throwing for 2,511 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

"I'm a competitior. I love to compete," McCown said. "I think the older you get, the more you want to compete. So I'll say that. Whether it's in practice or in a game, I'm looking to compete. And then past that, just looking to get better. As far as the future, tomorrow's not promised."

The 49ers have been searching for another backup since Harbaugh took over in January.

With Smith and Kaepernick taking the majority of snaps, San Francisco still needed a third-string quarterback -- and possibly another player to push the competition. The 49ers worked out Daunte Culpepper earlier this week, and they failed to land a splashier name previously through free agency.

McCown's name always had resonated with Harbaugh's staff.

McCown played for 49ers quarterbacks coach Geep Chryst, who was an assistant in Arizona and Carolina. McCown is also familiar with the West Coast offense, so the two have been in touch about a possible reunion since January.

Harbaugh and Chryst were in team meetings and not made available for comment.

"I don't care what stage of your career you're in, you always want to get better," McCown said. "So for me to be around coach Harbaugh, to see the way he coaches quarterbacks, a guy who has played that position and played it at a high level, it's exciting. It's neat just to see him coach the other guys and I'm appreciative just to be out here."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Veteran RB Williams adopts new look, new mentality as Raven

Ricky Williams didn't really look like the Ricky Williams the football world has come to know.

There were no dreadlocks, no beard in his Baltimore debut. And not only did a Ravens jersey appear strange on him, but it also was without his customary 34. Williams showed up Tuesday for his first practice clean-shaven with a tight haircut and wearing a No. 38 purple jersey.

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After agreeing to a two-year deal with the Ravens on Monday, Williams passed his physical Tuesday and practiced with his new teammates. It might be the lone session in which he wears No. 38, because he struck a deal with running back Jalen Parmele to get back the number he has worn throughout his career.

Maybe it was appropriate that Williams wore an unfamiliar number, because the running back who joined the Ravens to be the backup to Ray Rice is quite different than the star who broke into the NFL with the New Orleans Saints in 1999.

The Heisman Trophy winner's career has featured failed drug tests, suspensions and a heralded, premature retirement. He also has accounted for 9,565 rushing yards, caught 329 passes for 2,523 yards and scored 72 touchdowns. But he has never played in the Super Bowl, and that's one reason why Williams picked the Ravens over the Lions, who told the Detroit Free Press that a conversation between the running back and offensive coordinator Scott Linehan after a game last year didn't constitute tampering.

"The opportunity in Detroit opened up, and it would have been a chance for me to play a lot and be able to contribute a lot," Williams said. "But Baltimore is an established organization with a lot of vets, and ... I thought I would fit in well in this situation and be able to enjoy myself and possibly win a Super Bowl."

Now 34, Williams no longer is the free spirit who wore dreads and made no secret of his love for marijuana. Thus, the new, conservative look.

"It's just a mirror of my maturity," he said. "I think we all go through phases. I think at my heart I'm a rebel, and I think I've found more productive and mature ways to express my rebellion."

Williams ran for 673 yards and two touchdowns with the Miami Dolphins last season while splitting time with Ronnie Brown. Williams' role with the Ravens will be to spell Rice, who last season was backed up by Willis McGahee.

Williams has no desire to press for playing time. His days of being the featured back are behind him, at least as long as Rice stays healthy.

Asked to guess the amount of carries he will receive on a given Sunday, Williams replied, "You never know. Some games, the defense is taking the run away and we have to pass. Other games, we're going to have to pound the ball to win the game, so it just depends. My guess is it will vary anywhere from eight and 12."

Ravens coach John Harbaugh said he won't play Williams in the preseason opener Thursday night in Philadelphia, but he expects to get plenty of mileage out of the running back once the season begins.

"I think adding Ricky into the mix makes us a better team, no doubt about it," Harbaugh said. "We started talking about him a day or two ago. To me, he looks as good as ever. I'm talking about last year. He ran the ball well. He's very good in pass protection. He understands pass protection. That's the key. So, it's a big addition for us."

Williams said "football is how I put food on the table," but insisted his passion for the game hasn't waned.

"It's different. I think I respect the game more and I appreciate the game more than I did, but I'm not 20 years old anymore, so my priorities are a little bit different," he said. "But I appreciate the game, and I love to compete. I use my mind more than I use my body, but still, my body's strong and I enjoy playing this game."

Williams signed a two-year deal because that's precisely how long he intends to keep playing football.

"I'll be 36 when my contract's up," Williams said. "I think I'll be ready to do something else at that point."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Bengals pick veteran Gradkowski as rookie QB Dalton's tutor

CINCINNATI -- The Bengals reached an agreement with quarterback Bruce Gradkowski on Wednesday, giving themselves an experienced passer who knows their new offensive system and will help rookie Andy Dalton develop.

The 28-year-old quarterback was with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2008 and 2009, when he worked under Jay Gruden, who was hired as the Bengals' offensive coordinator in February. The Bengals drafted Dalton in the second round in April, but he has been unable to learn Gruden's system from the coaches because of the NFL lockout.

Teams aren't allowed to sign players until Friday. After agreeing to terms, Gradkowski tweeted: "BENGAL fans let's get ready to rock n' roll!!! Can't wait for this great opportunity!!"

Bengals owner Mike Brown indicated Tuesday that Dalton would have a chance to start, though the rookie has a lot of learning to do in just a few weeks.

Veteran quarterback Carson Palmer has told the team he would retire rather than play the last four seasons of his contract with Cincinnati, which has two winning seasons in the last 20 years. Palmer asked for a trade, but Brown insisted Tuesday that he won't deal the franchise quarterback as a matter of principle.

Palmer's younger brother, Jordan, is the only other experienced quarterback on the Bengals' roster. He became the offense's leader in the offseason, organizing workouts near his home in California and leading the unit through voluntary workouts for two weeks in Cincinnati.

The Bengals got Gruden's playbook during the one day the lockout was lifted in April, allowing players to have contact with coaches. Jordan Palmer learned the playbook and helped install the system during the voluntary workouts. Dalton participated in the workouts, giving him a taste of what to expect.

Gradkowski was Tampa Bay's sixth-round pick out of Toledo in 2006. He started 11 games as a rookie, his career high. He also played one season for Cleveland Browns in 2008 and the last two with the Oakland Raiders.

Two shoulder injuries limited Gradkowski to four starts last season. He completed 83 of 157 passes for 1,059 yards and five touchdowns with seven interceptions.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Veteran receiver Moss set to re-sign with Redskins

The Redskins and Santana Moss have agreed to terms on a deal that will keep the veteran wide receiver in Washington, according to a league source.

Moss' deal is for three years and is worth $15 million ($6 million guaranteed), with a $5 million signing bonus.

Moss, who just completed his 10th NFL season, finished with a career-high 93 catches for 1,115 yards and six touchdowns in 2010.

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Vikings' Ponder wants to start but willing to learn from veteran

Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder, the Minnesota Vikings' first-round draft pick, told KFAN-AM that he's gunning to become the team's starting quarterback this season, but he understands the thought process behind possibly bringing in a veteran.

"Obviously, I think everyone in my position would love to start Week 1," Ponder told the radio station last week. "It's the competitor in me, and something I've always dreamed of was starting in the NFL, and I want to do it ASAP. But obviously there are some reasons behind bringing a guy in, and obviously there's some definite pros to it. If they still bring in a guy, it's going to be someone who knows what he's doing. It will give me a lot to learn from and help me out.

"But at the same time, I want to definitely start Week 1. So, we'll see what happens, and whatever happens, I'll be completely fine with it. I think the coaches are going to make the best decision for me personally."

Ponder, a former Florida State star, said his offseason training at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., has helped him learn NFL verbiage and play-calling in a minicamp-style setting.

"There's probably 15 to 20 guys here at IMG and some guys that are in college, some guys are in the NFL and they are coming out and catching routes," Ponder said. "We had some guys that came in that were from the Vikings a couple of weeks ago and we did the same thing when they were here. (Vikings wideout) Manny Arceneaux is down here full time. ... (Vikings tight end Visanthe) Shiancoe was just down here for a couple of days this week ... I got to work with him a bit as well."

Shiancoe joined Ponder and Vikings quarterback Joe Webb, who was forced into starting as a rookie late last season because of injuries to Minnesota's other signal-callers. Ponder and Webb likely would compete for the starting job if the Vikings don't add a veteran quarterback.

"We really went over the playbook," Shiancoe told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora last week.

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"Visanthe is a freak," Ponder said of Shiancoe's athleticism.

Ponder told the radio station that he has kept an eye on labor talks during the NFL lockout, and he can't wait to get going once things are settled.

"I've definitely been following it," Ponder said. "It's just too hard to tell (when the lockout will end) because there's not enough details being released and everyone is being optimistic about it. Then you hear comments here and there that say not to be optimistic about it because we are a long way away, so it's too hard to tell. I want to be optimistic about it, and hopefully things are going to end soon. But at the same time, I don't want to get my hopes up and nothing happens. ... Hopefully it clears up in the next couple weeks. So we'll see."

Vikings star running back Adrian Peterson is waiting to see what Ponder can bring to the offense, The Star Tribune reported Monday, citing ESPN.

"I really don't know much about the guy," Peterson told ESPN earlier this month. "I've heard nothing but good things about him. I've watched him a little bit at Florida State. One thing I have noticed is he's smart with the ball, he's very accurate and just taking the surrounding cast we have as far as receivers -- Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Shiancoe -- I feel like he'll be able to do enough to get us there.

"We all have our part to do to contribute. I'm definitely going to do my part. So I'm going to do the best I can to make it easy on him, (being as how) he's a first-year guy and we'll see how he responds."

With the lockout in its fourth month, Peterson refused to count out Webb in the team's quarterback battle -- or the addition of a veteran passer.

"Obviously (Brett) Favre is retired, we've got some guys returning -- Joe Webb," Peterson said. "When you draft a quarterback (as high as Ponder), I'm sure you would assume that he's going to come in as the starter. The lockout is still in effect, and it's still undetermined when the season is going to start. I don't know how we throw a young guy into the fire like that. To just start.

"To be able to sit here and tell you who exactly is going to start, it's a long stretch for me to pick. I'm sure whenever the lockout is lifted and we start where there is some type of training camp, the best player will be on the field."

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Newton: Veteran Smith has attended some Panthers workouts

CHARLOTTE -- Veteran Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith has attended some player-organized workouts, according to rookie quarterback Cam Newton. Newton did not say how many sessions Smith has attended, but did say he has thrown passes to him.

"Steve has been out here and we've had an opportunity to throw it around," Newton said. "You hear a lot of stories like 'He's going to do this, he don't miss any passes.' I learned that first hand."

Smith, who reportedly has asked to be traded, was not in attendance during the media availability portion of Thursday's workout. More than 40 players participated in the final session of the two-week minicamp.

First-year Panthers head coach Ron Rivera and general manager Marty Hurney said they spoke to Smith, 31, about his future with the team before the lockout and the situation would be addressed once the lockout is lifted.

Smith's star has dimmed in recent years as he's dealt with injuries and ineffective play at the quarterback position. A four-time Pro Bowler, Smith is the Panthers' all-time leading receiver. Last season, he caught 46 passes for 554 yards and two touchdowns.

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49ers' Crabtree offers lukewarm support of veteran QB Smith

As San Francisco 49ers players wrapped up Day 1 of their offensive minicamp under the guidance of Alex Smith, wide receiver Michael Crabtree offered less-than-firm support of the veteran quarterback, according to The Sacramento Bee.

Before Monday's workout, Crabtree was one of the few 49ers wideouts yet to work with Smith this offseason. Smith has thrown to Josh Morgan, Ted Ginn, Kevin Jurovich, Kyle Williams and rookie Ronald Johnson in previous workouts, per reports.

When Crabtree was asked by the newspaper if "throwing with the quarterback was beneficial toward improving chemistry," the wideout responded, "Who's the quarterback?"

When Smith's name was dropped, Crabtree said, "He's the quarterback? I'm just asking."

Pressed on his feelings for Smith, Crabtree continued: "Whoever the quarterback is, I'm gonna do my job. I'm going to do the best I can to get whatever he needs. You know what I'm saying? That's just how it's going to be. I'm not one-sided. I'm for whoever's the quarterback. It's just how I've been. Everybody knows that."

But does Crabtree think Smith will be the guy?

"I wish I could tell you that." Crabtree said. "I know that you're all scratching at it. I wish I could tell you who is going to be the quarterback. I don't know. I don't know. Whoever the quarterback is, I'm 100 percent down with it and I'm ready to go. That's it."

The team drafted Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft in April and Smith will be an unrestricted free agent once a new collective bargaining agreement is reached. Still, new 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh's public and private comments about the quarterback have left the six-year veteran comfortable that he'll be in San Francisco next season.

"I wouldn't be doing it if it wasn't for the relationship there, to be honest with you," Smith told the Bay Area News Group last week. "For the feeling I got from Harbaugh, the offensive coaching staff, from every time I've been in there, from before the lockout, from when the lockout ended that day and a half. ... But I have such a good feeling. I feel they've been up front about everything they've told me."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Veteran CB Hobbs hasn't decided on future after neck surgery

Many people believed Ellis Hobbs' NFL career was over seven months ago, after he suffered another neck injury, but the 28-year-old cornerback insisted Saturday that he hasn't made a decision about his future.

"All I'm doing is relaxing," Hobbs told the Boston Herald. "Because of the lockout, it's just giving me extra time to work on other things. But none of the doctors have said I need to shut it down, I need to stop playing. I myself haven't even thought about that, or going that route. I've weighed both sides of it, and I'm pretty comfortable where I am right now."

Hobbs took a hit to the helmet on the second-half kickoff during his Philadelphia Eagles' 27-17 victory over the New York Giants on Nov. 21. He had full movement of all extremities and gave a thumbs up to the crowd as he was carted off the field.

A neck injury also ended Hobbs' 2009 season, and a source with knowledge of the situation told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora in November that the cornerback "very likely" would retire after having his second surgery.

If Hobbs decides to play next season, he would be an unrestricted free agent. He has 225 tackles and 10 interceptions in his six-year NFL career, which he started as a New England Patriot.

If Hobbs does choose retirement, he has a backup plan. He returned to Iowa State University in 2009 to receive his bachelor's degree in art and design, fulfilling a promise to his mother after he left school seven credits short.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Packers release veteran cornerback Harris

GREEN BAY, Wis.-- The Green Bay Packers have released veteran cornerback Al Harris, cutting short his attempt to return to the field after a serious knee injury.

The 35-year-old Harris is nearly a year removed from a season-ending left knee injury last November. He began this season on the team's physically unable to perform list and returned to practice Oct. 19, giving the Packers a three-week timeline to decide his future.

Packers coach Mike McCarthy said the move wasn't an indication that the Packers think Harris' playing days are over.

"I think Al Harris will definitely play again in the National Football League," McCarthy said.

Instead, McCarthy said the decision was made with the team's overall roster in mind.

Tramon Williams has emerged as a potential Pro Bowl-caliber cornerback in Harris' absence, and coaches believe rookie Sam Shields can develop into a top cornerback over the next few years.

And if the team were to activate Harris, they would have to release another player -- a move that might hinder them in other areas, particularly on special teams.

"This is not a physical decision," McCarthy said. "This is a big-picture roster decision."

The Packers activated safety Atari Bigby from the physically unable to perform list on Saturday. McCarthy said the team has not yet made a decision on the future of rookie running back James Starks.

Harris started all 102 games he played in for the Packers over seven seasons (2003-09) after being acquired from Philadelphia. He had 14 interceptions and 108 passes defensed during his time in Green Bay.

McCarthy brushed aside any concerns that the move would have a negative effect in the Packers' locker room.

"You look at all those variables," McCarthy said. "With that, you always trust your leadership in your locker room. Al's a veteran player, a popular player. These are decisions that need to be made at different times of the year. We felt that Al had an opportunity to come back from a serious injury, he did an excellent job with his rehab. As far as the locker room, we trust the leadership in the locker room."

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With the rest of the team celebrating a 45-7 rout of the Dallas Cowboys, Harris told espnmilwaukee.com late Sunday night that he expected to be released. McCarthy said the final decision wasn't made until Monday morning, and that general manager Ted Thompson was trying to reach him to discuss the move.

"Ted and I both have been very up front with Al all the way through the process," McCarthy said. "Time and time again, he knew what his options were, where we felt that he stood and so forth."

McCarthy thanked Harris for his dedication to the team, and Thompson praised him in a statement.

"We want to thank Al for his contributions to the Green Bay Packers," Thompson said. "His hard work, dedication and professionalism have been the keys to his success. During his time here, he has been a valuable member of our organization and our community. We wish him the very best in the future and he will always be a part of the Packer family."

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Bucs release veteran TE Stevens after drug arrest

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers released backup tight end Jerramy Stevens on Monday, two days after he was arrested and charged with possessing marijuana.

Stevens didn't play in Sunday's 18-17 Bucs victory over the St. Louis Rams.

The Bucs filled the open roster spot by promoting rookie tight end Ryan Purvis from the practice squad. Purvis, who went undrafted out of Boston College, caught five passes for 69 yards and a touchdown in four preseason games.

Stevens was pulled over in his Ford pickup truck on Saturday at 7:05 a.m. for loud music, Tampa police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said Sunday in a news release. The officer said he smelled marijuana inside the vehicle and found 38 grams, or 1 1/3 ounce, of marijuana.

Stevens, 30, was taken to jail and charged with possession of marijuana with intent to sell and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Stevens previously was convicted of drunken driving in 2007 and pleaded guilty to reckless driving in 2003.

Stevens signed with the Bucs in 2007 after spending the first five years of his career with the Seattle Seahawks. The former first-round draft pick had 15 receptions for 130 yards and one touchdown last season and has 202 catches for 2,217 yards and 22 scores in his career.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Veteran QB Palmer's late mistakes cost Bengals against Bucs

CINCINNATI -- Josh Freeman had no timeouts to use and a packed stadium screaming for him to make another inexperienced mistake that would decide the game.

Uh-uh, not this time.

These baby Bucs are growing up.

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Freeman led Tampa Bay to a signature win Sunday, directing two scoring drives in the closing minutes for a 24-21 victory over the Cincinnati Bengals. Connor Barth's 31-yard field goal with 1 second left secured a major breakthrough for the upstart Buccaneers.

At 3-1, they've matched their victory total for all last season, when they dropped their first seven under first-year coach Raheem Morris. They were on the verge again Sunday against a Cincinnati team that seemed to have one well in hand.

"It took us 15 weeks to win this many last year," said Freeman, who started as a rookie in that dreadful season. "We're a young team, but we feel we have the opportunity to win every game. And it's not who's leading the longest, it's who's leading at the end."

The Bengals (2-3) were, until Carson Palmer's interceptions turned it around.

And now, the defending AFC North champions are in a lot of trouble.

"We're a 2-3 team, and it's not a good team," safety Chris Crocker said. "We gave it away."

The Bengals were ahead 21-14 and in position to close it out with 2:28 to go. Palmer tried to get the ball to Terrell Owens on a third-and-13 play from midfield, but Aqib Talib wrestled it away.

Freeman, who missed two plays in the first half after getting dazed by a hit, showed poise with no timeouts left and 63,888 fans screaming for him to give it away. He scrambled 9 yards for a first down, threw a 15-yard pass to Mike Williams, then perfectly lofted a pass to Williams in the end zone. Williams out-jumped Johnathan Joseph for the tying touchdown with 1:26 to go.

"I've got all the confidence in that guy to make the play one-on-one," said Freeman, who finished 20 of 33 for 280 yards with an interception. "You get only so many opportunities to atone for the mistakes you make. Today was a great example of that."

Freeman's best throw was yet to come.

Palmer drove the Bengals to midfield and tried to connect with Ochocinco. The ball slipped off his fingertips and went directly to Sabby Piscitelli, who returned it to the 34-yard line with 14 seconds to go.

"It was like inches, inches away," Ochocinco said. "It was third down. I lunged for it. It was right at my fingertips."

Freeman's next throw was his best. He made a perfect pass to Micheal Spurlock at the 13-yard line. Spurlock got the toes of both feet down while falling out of bounds -- the call was upheld on review.

When Barth's kick went through, the Bucs did hip-bumps in celebration and started running off the field.

One second too early.

The Bengals threw away a multilateral return on the kickoff, starting that Tampa Bay celebration all over.

"I was more emotional after I got off the field and caught my breath," Morris said.

The Bengals will have two weeks to catch theirs. They head into their bye with no idea why their passing offense is so bad.

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Palmer threw three interceptions, including a quick out that was intercepted by Cody Grimm and returned 11 yards for a touchdown in the first half. Palmer finished 21 of 36 for 209 yards. Three of his third-down passes were dropped by wide-open receivers.

The only time Cincinnati moved the ball consistently was when it reverted to the run-first philosophy that got it to the playoffs last season. Cedric Benson carried 23 times for 144 yards, his first 100-yard game of the season. He set a club record with six last season.

It wasn't enough to overcome those two last-minute interceptions.

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis blamed himself for calling the passing plays late in the game instead of running. Palmer disagreed.

"We felt like we had the game in control, and those two plays sealed our fate in this one," Palmer said. "I'm the quarterback of this team. I need to find ways to win the football game."

Notes: Bucs C Jeff Faine left in the second quarter with an injured right thigh and didn't return. He walked off the field with assistance. ... S Sean Jones hurt his back in the first quarter and stood on the sideline with ice on his back. ... The Buccaneers have won their last six games against Cincinnati. ... CB Ronde Barber started his 172nd straight game, tying Dick LeBeau for the longest streak by a cornerback in league history. ... Owens violated the NFL's restrictions on tweeting less than 90 minutes before a game. He grew perturbed when asked about it afterward.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press

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Niners grant veteran safety Lewis his release

The San Francisco 49ers have parted with Michael Lewis, two days after the veteran safety reportedly requested his release.

Lewis did not travel with the team to Atlanta this weekend, having left the team Friday for what coach Mike Singletary deemed personal reasons.

The team announced Lewis' release Monday in a press release.

"I want to thank Michael for his hard work and leadership as a 49er," Singletary said. "We wish him and his family all the best."

Lewis and the 49ers' divorce began when the safety lost trust in the 49ers organization, according to a report Saturday in The Sacramento Bee. That mistrust may stem from an NFL Network report last Wednesday that Lewis and veteran LB Takeo Spikes were on the verge of being benched. Singletary denied the report, saying there would be no lineup changes vs. the Falcons, and stayed true to his word, starting Spikes.

Rookie S Taylor Mays started in place of Lewis and made his presence felt. He recovered a blocked Falcons punt in the end zone in the first quarter for a touchdown.

Lewis, 30, has started all 50 games in which he has appeared with the 49ers. He took a pay cut to remain with San Francisco for a fourth season. He played his first five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Seahawks land veteran RB Lynch in trade with Bills

A fresh start for Marshawn Lynch. A rugged runner for the Seattle Seahawks' lagging ground game.

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And a clear sign that the rebuilding continues in Buffalo.

The Bills gave up on Lynch as their featured ball carrier Tuesday, trading him to the Seahawks for two undisclosed draft picks.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora reported via a league source that one of the picks will be a fourth-round selection in the 2011 NFL Draft.

The deal clears the way for Buffalo to give more playing time to Fred Jackson and first-round draft pick C.J. Spiller in the backfield. And Seattle hopes Lynch can provide a spark that was missing from its run game through the first four weeks of the season.

"We bring a guy into the program that we think is going to give us a little boost," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said after practice Tuesday. "You know that we've emphasized trying to get this running game in order. We hope that he'll help in that regard. We're pleased to get that done. We'll move forward this week. It's good we're on a break. It doesn't disrupt a game-week preparation, and we'll get him in here as soon as possible and we'll get to work."

The Seahawks (2-2) have a bye week following their 20-3 loss to the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. That gives Lynch time to become acclimated to Seattle's offense and potentially be on the field Oct. 17 when the team visits the Chicago Bears.

"We're going to bring him in to play a lot," Carroll said. "We'll wait and see when we get him here, but we're bringing him in here to play a bunch."

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The Seahawks released running back Julius Jones, their leading rusher the past two seasons, to clear a roster spot for Lynch. Jones restructured his contract and took a hefty pay cut right before the start of the season, then carried the ball just 12 times for 30 yards and was inactive Sunday against the Rams.

Seattle's run game has struggled through four games, ranking 27th in the NFL with 79.5 yards per game. The Seahawks were held below 80 rushing yards three times, putting more pressure on veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

Without a clear No. 1 running back, the Seahawks ran by committee before settling on speedy Justin Forsett the past two weeks. Forsett had a season-high 19 carries Sunday against the Rams, but he managed just 65 yards. Seattle hasn't seen a back approach 1,000 yards since Shaun Alexander was the league MVP in 2005 after running for 1,880 yards and 27 touchdowns in the team's NFC championship season.

Now Forsett and Lynch -- teammates at the University of California -- are reunited in Seattle. Lynch was a groomsman at Forsett's wedding earlier this year.

"We're different backs, but I think they complement it well," Forsett said. "If you go back at Cal, we had a nice little one-two punch there, and it's always exciting. Any given moment, any one of us could break, and it was pretty fun. We just have fun together."

Also on Tuesday, the Seahawks re-signed offensive lineman Chester Pitts -- who was cut last week -- and released lineman Evan Dietrich-Smith.

On the other side, the Lynch trade only highlights the much larger rebuilding job in front of the Bills (0-4), who lost to the New York Jets 38-14 last weekend and play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Last week, first-year Bills coach Chan Gailey released former starting quarterback Trent Edwards, who is now with the Jaguars.

"Marshawn has worked hard and played hard for us this season and we certainly appreciate his efforts," first-year Bills general manager Buddy Nix said in a statement released by the team. "We are constantly evaluating our personnel and feel that this is a good move for our team's future."

Spiller shared warm thoughts about Lynch on Tuesday.

“He was a great teammate and I wish him all the best,” Spiller told buffalobills.com. “Our friendship was more like a brotherhood and I’m definitely going to stay in contact with him.”

The Bills filled Lynch's roster spot by signing rookie running back Andre Anderson off their practice squad, a league source told La Canfora.

After losing his starting job to Jackson last season, Lynch reclaimed the job in Week 2 this year and led the Bills with 37 carries for 164 yards. In 45 career games, he has 2,765 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, along with 670 receiving yards and one score.

The deal, made two weeks before the NFL trade deadline, marks a turnaround in philosophy for the Bills, who said last spring that they didn't intend to trade Lynch. He had been seeking a fresh start after his reputation in Buffalo took a hit following off-the-field troubles.

In June 2008, Lynch pleaded guilty to a traffic violation and admitted to driving off after striking a female pedestrian with his car near Buffalo's downtown bar district. In March 2009, Lynch pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge in Los Angeles, after police discovered a semiautomatic handgun in a backpack of the trunk of a parked car in which Lynch was sitting.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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