Haynes was third in rushing last season
Pittsburgh Steelers: Running back Verron Haynes agreed to a one-year contract Tuesday with the Steelers
Haynes ranked third on the team last season with 272 yards rushing and fourth in receiving with 18 catches for 142 yards and two touchdowns. Haynes also made 11 tackles on special teams.
The restricted free agents who previously re-signed were linebacker Larry Foote, safety Chris Hope, defensive end Brett Keisel, wide receiver Lee Mays and kicker Jeff Reed.
Foote and Reed signed multiyear contracts, but the other four accepted one-year deals and thus can become free agents next year.
The Steelers also reached an agreement with backup quarterback Charlie Batch reached a one-year deal Tuesday worth $565,000. Batch becomes the fourth Steelers quarterback under contract, joining starter Ben Roethlisberger and backups Tommy Maddox and Brian St. Pierre.
Philadelphia Eagles: Tackle Tra Thomas won't practice during this weekend's minicamp because of a blood clot in his leg.
Thomas will undergo treatment and it is unclear when he will return to practice.
Thomas was chosen for the Pro Bowl this year, but dropped out with a back injury.
Denver Broncos: Just one day after he was released by the Arizona Cardinals, veteran offensive tackle Anthony Clement on Tuesday signed with the Broncos. Contract details were not yet available.
Clement, 29, was selected by the Cardinals in the second round of the 1998 draft and the massive blocker (6-feet-8, 330 pounds) at various times started at both tackle spots before falling out of favor with coach Dennis Green's staff at the midpoint of last season. The former Louisiana-Lafayette standout has appeared in 82 games and started 69 of them. He started 14 or more contests four times in seven seasons and started all 16 games three times.
Denver officials acted quickly in pursuing Clement, who is expected to serve as the backup to starting right tackle George Foster. The Broncos contacted Clement within hours of his Monday release, flew him to Denver on Tuesday for a physical examination, and signed him to a contract.
Jump Ball: The Broncos signed Wesley Duke on Tuesday, a player who could be the steal of the offseason if he turns out to be as good at football as he was at basketball.
Denver signed the four-year starter from Mercer, hoping the athleticism that helped him average 11.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and a little more than one block a game last season will translate to football. Duke also finished fourth in a dunking contest held during the weekend of the Final Four.
The Broncos didn't reveal where the 6-foot-5, 225-pound player will play, although he was listed as a tight end on the NFL.com draft website. Before going to Mercer, Duke played football and basketball and ran track at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross, Ga.
Denver also signed two other rookie free agents: Oregon State cornerback Brandon Browner and Colorado State tackle Erik Pears. The team waived running back Santonio Beard and tight end Keith Willis.
New York Giants: The Giants waived wide receiver Jason Geathers and defensive end Claude Harriott. Both were signed by the team Jan. 3.
Buffalo Bills:
The Bills waived tight end Joe Donnelly.
The former Syracuse player was signed as a free agent in January. In 2003, he started six of eight games for Syracuse and played on the team's punt protection team.
Buffalo on Sunday drafted tight end Kevin Everett in the third round of the NFL draft.
Undrafted Oregon State players sign
Former Oregon State linebacker Jonathan Pollard signed a free agent contract with the San Diego Chargers,
becoming the fourth undrafted Beaver to sign with an NFL team.
He joins Oregon State cornerback Brandon Browner, who signed with Denver, cornerback Aric Williams, who signed with Philadelphia, and safety Mitch Meeuwsen, who singed with Miami.
Browner left school after his sophomore year because he was considered a possible first-round pick, but his stock dropped after he had a poor workout at the NFL scouting combine.
Browner could play at safety for the Broncos.
Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars waived
defensive end Brandon Green and released offensive tackle Sammy
Williams today.
Green had two tackles in three games for the Jags last season after missing his entire rookie year and the second half of the 2004 season on injured reserve.
Williams was re-signed on January 25th after being waived in final cuts in September. He spent 15 weeks on the Jaguars roster in 2003 but did not see any action.
San Diego Chargers: Wide receiver Kassim Osgood signed a one-year
contract Tuesday to remain with the Chargers.
Osgood, an exclusive-rights free agent, had 15 receptions for 308 yards and three touchdowns last season. One of his biggest plays came on special teams, though, when he ran down Chiefs kick returner Dante Hall from behind, causing a fumble and preventing a touchdown in a 34-31 San Diego victory Nov. 28 at Kansas City.
Osgood tied for the team lead in special teams tackles with 13.
San Diego's only unsigned free agent is All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates, also an exclusive rights free agent. General manager A.J. Smith said the two sides continue to discuss a long-term deal, but wouldn't say how close they are.
Tennessee Titans: Titans left tackle Brad Hopkins
pleaded guilty on Tuesday to assaulting his wife.
As part of a plea agreement, Hopkins was sentenced to a year of probation and must attend anger management counseling. If he successfully completes his sentence, his record will be expunged. Hopkins must also donate a total of $10,000 to several charities.
According to the police report, Hopkins grabbed his wife, Ellen, around the neck and choked her because she wouldn't stop talking to an insurance agent about adding a vehicle to their coverage.
Hopkins and his wife, Ellen, did not make a statement after court. Hopkins' lawyer, Ed Yarbrough, said the couple's marriage was better off than before the March 14 incident.
Hopkins, a first-round draft pick by the then-Houston Oilers in 1993, appeared in the Pro Bowl in 2000 and 2003 and was the third Titan to be arrested this offseason.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Placekicker Jay Taylor was among four players released by the Buccaneers on Tuesday.
Taylor signed with the Bucs late last season after former Pro Bowl kicker Martin Gramatica was released. He was 4-for-5 on five field goal attempts and was 11-for-11 on extra points in five games.
Offensive tackle Jeff Hatch, fullback Tom Lopienski and cornerback Rod Babers also were released.
Meanwhile, nine college free agents agreed to contracts. They were cornerbacks Kevin Arbet, Ukee Dozier and Dominique Morris; guard Doug Buckles; guard/center Jonathan Clinkscale; linebacker Matt Grootegoed; defensive tackle Lynn McGruder; running back Fred Reid; and guard/tackle Leon Robinson.
ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
