Vikings let Smoot, Johnson go, free up cap room
Atlanta Falcons:
Ed Hartwell, who played in only 13 games in two
seasons with the Atlanta Falcons after he signed a four-year,
$26.25 million contract as a free agent in 2005, was released by
the team on Friday.
The Falcons released another veteran linebacker, Ike Reese.
Hartwell had been plagued by injuries in his two seasons with the Falcons.
Reese, primarily a special teams player, was in 32 games in Atlanta after being signed as an unrestricted free agent from the Philadelphia Eagles in 2005.
Buffalo Bills: The Bills removed two free agent signings from the past couple of years Thursday when they released guard Chris Villarial and safety Matt Bowen. Villarial was entering the final year of his contract so his release saves the Bills $1.9 million. Bowen, one of four key free agent signings last season, only saves the Bills $150,000, but the salary cap isn't the issue. The Bills entered Thursday with $26.6 million of cap room.
Carolina Panthers: The Panthers released wide receiver Karl Hankton. Known for his special teams play, Hankton, 36, was scheduled to make $680,000.
With Andre Gurode re-signed in Dallas and the Giants working to re-sign Shaun O'Hara, Fraley was going to be the next best option available for teams in need of a starting center. The 6-2,300-pounder from Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh was an undrafted success story. He made 71 starts for the Eagles from 2001 through 2005.
Fraley was the Browns top free agent to re-sign.
Indianapolis Colts: The Colts trimmed $2.8 million of cap room by releasing two injured players -- defensive tackle Montae Reagor and wide receiver Brandon Stokley.
Reagor missed most of the season because of a car accident that happened on the morning of a home game.
Stokley had knee troubles last season before blowing out his Achilles tendon.
Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins saved $5.3 million of cap room Thursday by releasing offensive linemen Bennie Anderson and Seth McKinney. They also released wide receiver Eric Kimble.
Quarterback Joey Harrington remains on the roster, but the team is shopping him in a trade and still might cut him.
Defensive end Kevin Carter and guard Jeno James were also released.
Carter's release came after he was unable to reach an agreement on a restructured contract with Miami.
James was slowed by knee trouble but started 11 games.
Minnesota Vikings: Although the Vikings didn't need the cap room, they cut three players -- cornerback Fred Smoot, right tackle Mike Rosenthal and tight end Jermaine Wiggins -- Thursday to clear $5.3 million of cap room. On Wednesday, the Vikings released quarterback Brad Johnson, saving them an additional $1 million.
Smoot was considered one of the prime free agent signings two years ago, but it didn't work well in his stay with the Vikings. Rosenthal was a big right tackle but he struggled to get start. Wiggins is a pass-catching tight end who is 31 years old and the Vikings are in the market for a tight end.
San Diego Chargers: The team cleaned up its roster by releasing three veterans -- linebacker Steve Foley, wide receiver Keenan McCardell and tight end Aaron Shea. San Diego also decided not to tender a restricted free agent offer to tight end Ryan Krause. The Chargers also confirmed linebacker Donnie Edwards voided his contract and is now a free agent.
San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers ended their somewhat successful and often turbulent relationship with wide receiver Antonio Bryant. Bryant was a dependable receiver but had some off-the-field issues and sometimes would explode along the sidelines. At the combine, the 49ers front office said it was a 50-50 chance Bryant might not be on the team. On Thursday, they decided to let him go even though his release cost them $650,000 of cap room.
Tampa Bay Buccanneers: The Bucs finally gave up on former first-round choice Kenyatta Walker by giving him his release Thursday.
Walker was a first-round pick of the Bucs in 2001. His release saves the Bucs $2.63 million of cap room. The Bucs re-signed fullback Mike Alstott to a one-year contract.
Tennessee Titans: The Tennessee Titans released veteran
tight end Erron Kinney on Thursday.
"We want to thank Erron for his play through the years and I think he understood where we were coming from with this move," general manager Mike Reinfeldt said in a statement.
Detroit Lions: After shopping them around for the past couple of weeks, the Lions have decided to cut tight end Marcus Pollard and defensive tackle Marcus Bell. Both will be placed on waivers Friday.
Their releases will save the Lions $3.05 million in cap room.
Information from The Associated Press and ESPN.com senior writer John Clayton was used in this report.


