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Lions Sign Ex-Buc LB Nece; Patriots Cut John Lynch

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A Tribune staff, wire report

Published: September 1, 2008

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Linebacker Ryan Nece, cut by the Bucs on Saturday, was signed by the Detroit Lions on Sunday. The Lions also claimed rookie running back Marcus Thomas.

The team also signed eight players to the practice squad, including former baseball prospect and Dallas quarterback Drew Henson.

Nece signed with Tampa Bay as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2002 and played six seasons with the Bucs, appearing in 85 games and starting 35.

San Diego drafted Thomas out of Texas-El Paso in the fifth round and released him Saturday.

Lynch Could Re-Sign With Pats In Future

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - John Lynch, the longtime Pro Bowl safety signed by New England two weeks ago, was released by the Patriots on Sunday.

"It goes without saying but John is an all-time great safety, one of the league's classiest professionals and his elite play speaks for itself," Coach Bill Belichick said of Lynch, who turns 37 on Sept. 25. "As has been the case in other situations, I would not rule anything out down the road."

During their decade-long run of success, the Patriots have regularly signed veterans and often released them, only to sign them again if needed. Belichick's comments indicate Lynch may be in that category. He has played 15 seasons, 11 for the Bucs and four in Denver.

"I have no regrets about my time thus far with the Patriots," Lynch said in a statement released by the club. "The immense respect that I've long held for the organization has been only heightened over the past couple of weeks. I am going to keep all options open and look forward with excitement to see what the future brings."

New England signed Lynch after he was released by Denver early in training camp.

The Patriots also cut Chad Jackson, their second-round pick in 2006. The wide receiver from Florida has been plagued by injuries and played only two games last season.

BILLS: Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters' holdout entered a new level Sunday, as his continued absence raises questions about whether he intends to start missing regular-season games in an attempt to force the team to provide him a raise by renegotiating the final three years he has left on his contract.

Peters now stands to be fined more than $191,000 - or one-seventeenth of his $3.25 million base salary this season - for each week he misses. The Bills already have fined him about $550,000 for missing training camp, which opened July 25, as well as more than $8,600 for missing two mandatory minicamp sessions in June.

COWBOYS: Receivers Danny Amendola and Mike Jefferson were signed to the practice squad, and there is a chance that one or both of them will play in the season opener.

The Cowboys have reached an agreement in principle to re-sign safety and special teams standout Keith Davis, who had signed a two-year free agent deal with Miami in March. But Davis was cut by the Dolphins before their final preseason game.

DOLPHINS: Signed Ricky Williams to a one-year contract extension through the 2009-10 season.

Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland said Sunday the team wanted to keep the 31-year-old running back so "he didn't become a free agent" after this season.

Williams won the NFL's rushing title in 2002 before flunking the league's substance abuse test five times, announcing an early retirement and torpedoing the Dolphins franchise as they've missed the playoffs for six straight seasons.

Williams will likely begin the season as the starting tailback after unseating Ronnie Brown, who is 10 months removed from having the ACL in his right knee reconstructed.

EAGLES: Former University of South Florida cornerback Trae Williams, a fifth-round pick of the Jacksonville Jaguars this year who was cut Saturday, has joined Philadelphia's practice squad, Bulls secondary coach Troy Douglas said.

49ERS: Claimed linebacker Ahmad Brooks off waiver from Cincinnati, waiving linebacker Dontarrious Thomas to make room on their 53-man roster.

Brooks spent his first two NFL seasons with the Bengals, starting five games as a rookie. He appeared in just two games last year before a groin injury ended his season, and he was among Cincinnati's final cuts Saturday.

GIANTS: Shored up their defensive end position by signing former Philadelphia Eagles first-round pick Jerome McDougle.

The Super Bowl champions lost seven-time Pro Bowler Michael Strahan to retirement in June and then had two-time Pro Bowler Osi Umenyiora sidelined with a season-ending knee injury a little more than a week ago in a game against the Jets.

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