Saturday 24th March 2012
Saturday agrees to deal with Packers
MILWAUKEE The Green Bay Packers made a rare reach into unrestricted free agency to find a new anchor for their offensive line, agreeing to a two-year deal with veteran free agent center Jeff Saturday on Friday. Saturday’s agent, Ralph Cindrich, confirmed the deal Friday afternoon. ESPN reported the deal earlier Friday. The 36-year-old Saturday has started 188 regular-season games in 13 NFL seasons. He replaces former Packers starter Scott Wells, who signed with the St. Louis Rams as a free agent. The …

The San Francisco 49ers re-signed quarterback Alex Smith to a three-year contract on Wednesday after the National Football League (NFL) team was spurned by Peyton Manning.
The 49ers were believed to be one of three teams in serious contention for Manning’s services but when he agreed to a deal with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, San Francisco moved quickly to solidify their quarterbacking position by extending’s Smith contract.
“I’m glad this is finally done. For me this was the plan all along,” Smith said on a conference call.
“I guess …

Unusually quiet in recent weeks, the New York Jets shattered the calm Wednesday by completing a trade for polarizing quarterback Tim Tebow.
The Jets sent two picks — a fourth-rounder and sixth-rounder in 2012 — to the Denver Broncos in exchange for a seventh-round selection.
Tebow, a former first-round pick, went on the trading block Monday when the Broncos secured free agent Peyton Manning, who signed a five-year, $96 million contract.
Several teams expressed interest, including Tebow’s hometown Jacksonville Jaguars, but the Jets — perceived as a sleeper at the outset — pulled …

WR DeSean Jackson agreed to a five-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that the deal is worth $51 million.
The two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver, is already tagged as the franchise player, meaning that next season he would’ve earned at least $9.4 million. He will now get the long-term security that he was looking for last year.
“We are thrilled to be able to keep one of the NFL’s top playmakers in Philadelphia,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said in a statement on Wednesday.
“DeSean …

Hines Ward, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ all-time leading wide receiver, announced he will retire from the National Football League (NFL) after 14 seasons, the team said on Tuesday.
Ward spent his entire career in Pittsburgh and is the team’s all-time leader in receptions (1,000), receiving yards (12,083), receiving touchdowns (85) and 100-yard receiving games (29).
“I’m officially retiring as a Pittsburgh Steeler,” a tearful Ward said at a news conference.
“To my team mates, I want to thank you guys for the great memory, the times we hung together when no …

Peyton Manning was signed by the Denver Broncos Tuesday and will start to rebuild his career after missing the entire 2011 season after neck surgeries, the
Quarterback will wear No. 18 jersey
Four-time NFL Most Valuable Player Peyton Manning has a new football home, calling Denver a great fit for the next chapter in his illustrious career after announcing on Tuesday he had signed to play with the Broncos.
Terms of the deal for the 11-time Pro Bowl quarterback were not disclosed but a report on the National Football League’s website …

12 NFL teams show interest in 4 time NFL MVP Peyton Manning as he looks for new home.
Now that four-time NFL MVP quarterback Peyton Manning is officially a free agent and no longer affiliated with the Indianapolis Colts, teams all over the league are showing strong interest in signing the future Hall of Famer. The favorites to land Manning have already been named even before he left the Colts, but it appears that many more will get in the running to bring in the franchise quarterback.
The Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, …