BUCCANEERS Hillis signed
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed running back Peyton Hillis (Conway, Arkansas Razorbacks) to a one-year contract.
Hillis, 27, is a sixth-year pro who finished sixth in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage in 2010, when he became the first player in Cleveland Browns history to rush for 1,000 yards, catch 50 passes and score at least 10 touchdowns in a season.
Hillis has appeared in 65 career games, rushing for 2,470 yards and scoring 21 touchdowns on the ground. He has 111 career receptions for 867 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Hillis played for Kansas City Chiefs last season, rushing for 309 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Bucs waived running back Matt Brown to make room on the roster Tuesday.
49ERS
Wright fails physical
SAN FRANCISCO - Cornerback Eric Wright failed his physical with the San Francisco 49ers and will return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
San Francisco Coach Jim Harbaugh declined to say specifically what portion of the physical Wright failed.
Wright was traded to the 49ers on Friday in exchange for a conditional draft pick in 2014, one week after he was arrested in Los Angeles on an unspecified misdemeanor charge. Wright also was suspended for four games last season by the NFL for violating the performance-enhancing drug policy in his first season with the Bucs.
His rights now revert back to Tampa Bay. A second-round pick of the Cleveland Browns in 2007, Wright signed a five-year, $35.3 million contract with the Bucs prior to the 2012 season.
COWBOYS
End to have surgery OXNARD, Calif. - Dallas Cowboys defensive end Anthony Spencer is having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee and could miss the rest of training camp.
Cowboys Coach Jason Garrett said Tuesday the surgery would be performed this week. He said the Cowboys “don’t think it’s a very severe thing” and put the recovery time at two to four weeks.
Spencer hyperextended the knee in off season workouts and said he aggravated the injury in the conditioning test before training camp. He has described the injury as a bone bruise.
Spencer, 29, had a similar procedure in late August in 2008 but just missed one regular-season game. Dallas breaks camp Aug. 16.
He was the leading tackler last season and finished a half-sack behind DeMarcus Ware with a career-high 11.
JAGUARS
Jones-Drew cleared JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Running back Maurice Jones-Drew has been cleared by team doctors to begin practice Friday when the Jaguars hold their first training camp practice.
Jones-Drew had surgery last December to correct the Lisfranc injury that caused him to miss the final 10 games in 2012. He missed all of the team’s off season workouts and organized team activities in the spring, but had vowed he would be ready for the start of training camp.
Jacksonville Coach Gus Bradley, in declaring that the NFL’s leading rusher in 2011 had been cleared, said the team will be smart with how it uses him during camp and preseason games. They will “bring him along slowly.”
Jones-Drew said he has lost some additional weight and that he is now working to get into football shape.
SEAHAWKS Tight end added RENTON, Wash. - The Seattle Seahawks have added depth at a position of need by signing former Atlanta tight end Michael Palmer just two days before the start of training camp.
The Seahawks made the roster move Tuesday. The team released undrafted rookie defensive back Ray Polk to clear a roster spot.
Palmer played in 43 games over the past three seasons with the Falcons after signing with them as an undrafted free agent in 2010. He started 5 games and had 21 receptions for 123 yards and 3 touchdowns with Atlanta. Palmer signed with the New York Giants in the off season but was released May 29.
The Seahawks have seven tight ends on the roster heading into camp. Seattle lost key backup Anthony McCoy to a torn Achilles tendon in the off season.
BILLS Anderson released
BUFFALO, N.Y. - The Buffalo Bills have parted ways with defensive lineman Mark Anderson just one year after he signed a four-year deal with the team.
Touted as a high-profile signing after a 10-sack performance with New England in 2011, Anderson signed a four year, $21 million contract with Buffalo in 2012 but battled injuries during his lone season with the Bills, which led to his release.
Anderson made just 5 appearances, registering 12 tackles and 1 sack as the Buffalo defense allowed 435 points, the most in the AFC East. The Bills finished 6-10 and have since retooled their defense.
The Bills also moved offensive tackle Chris Hairston to the physically unable to perform list.
TEXANS
All draft picks signed
HOUSTON - The Houston Texans have signed second-round draft choice D.J. Swearinger and third-rounder Brennan Williams on Tuesday.
All nine of Houston’s draft picks are now under contract with training camp beginning Friday.
Swearinger, a safety at South Carolina taken 57th overall, had 79 tackles, 2 interceptions, 7 pass breakups, 2 forced fumbles and 2 fumble recoveries for the nation’s second-ranked defense. He finished his career with 244 tackles, 6 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles in 52 games, including 33 starts.
Offensive tackle Williams was selected 89th overall out of North Carolina. He started 22 games for the Tar Heels at right tackle.
Houston signed its top selection, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins of Clemson, on Monday.
BRONCOS Mays cut
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Denver Broncos are saving $3.5 million with the release of linebacker Joe Mays, who lost his starting job and then broke his left leg last season.
Not long after signing for $12 million over three years, Mays was suspended a game and docked $50,000 for an illegal hit on Houston’s Matt Schaub. He then lost his middle linebacker job following a poor performance by the defense in a loss at New England.
That relegated Mays to special teams, and he was blocking on a punt return Oct. 28 when a Saints player inadvertently leg-whipped him, fracturing his fibula just above his left ankle, ending his season.
Mays was the odd man out with Nate Irving, Stewart Bradley and Steven Johnson vying for the job this summer.
JETS Kicker hired
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. - The New York Jets agreed to terms on a one-year deal Tuesday with veteran kicker Billy Cundiff, who will compete with Nick Folk for the job in training camp.
Cundiff worked out for the Jets on Monday. He was last with the San Francisco 49ers, who signed him during the playoffs last January to compete with a struggling David Akers but didn’t play.
The Jets are the 12th organization Cundiff has been with since being signed as an undrafted free agent by Dallas in 2002. A Pro Bowl pick in 2010 with Baltimore, Cundiff is perhaps best known for missing a potential tying 32-yard attempt in the closing seconds against New England in the AFC championship game in 2012.
Cundiff was 7 of 12 on field-goal attempts in five games with Washington last season, and 139 of 184 for his career.
Sports, Pages 24 on 07/24/2013