Off the wire

FOOTBALL Gonzalez returning

Tony Gonzalez, who has more catches than any tight end in NFL history, announced Tuesday he is returning to the Falcons for the 2013 season. Gonzalez, the Falcons’ leading receiver last season, said on his Twitter feed “I’m happy to say that after speaking with my family, I’m coming back.” Gonzalez said during the season he was 95 percent sure he would retire after the 2012 season. His productive season made it difficult to stick with the retirement plan. Gonzalez, who turned 37 last month, led the Falcons with 93 catches for 930 yards and 8 touchdowns. Each total set a high for his four seasons in Atlanta. He added 14 catches for 129 yards and 2 touchdowns in the team’s two postseason games.

The Cleveland Browns reached agreement Tuesday with linebacker Paul Kruger, who led the Baltimore Ravens in sacks with 13 ½ last season. The 27-year-old Kruger and the Browns agreed to a five-year deal worth $40 million. Kruger started a career-high five games last season after starting just one in his first three NFL seasons.

The Philadelphia Eagles released former All-Pro corner back Nnamdi Asomugha on Tuesday, just two years after he was the NFL’s most sought-after free agent. Asomugha was due to make $15 million this season, including $4 million guaranteed, after signing a five-year, $60 million deal with the Eagles in 2011. He had just four interceptions with the Eagles.

The Tennessee Titans started free agency by waiving safety Jordan Babineaux (Southern Arkansas) and guard Mitch Petrus (Carlisle, Arkansas Razorbacks). Babineaux had signed a two-year deal in March 2012 after joining the Titans just after the NFL lockout ended for the 2011 season. The safety played in all 16 games but started only 12. He was due to earn $1.6 million this season but became expendable when the Titans signed George Wilson (Razorbacks) last month. Petrus was signed when the Titans’ offensive line was hit by injuries late last season and played in two games with one start. The Titans also agreed to terms with Buffalo guard Andy Levitre and San Francisco tight end Delanie Walker. The Tennessean, which first reported the deals for Levitreand Walker, says Levitre’s deal is for six years, $46.8 million.

The Buffalo Bills are moving on without Ryan Fitzpatrick by releasing the quarterback after two-plus inconsistent seasons as starter. Fitzpatrick went 20-33 as a starter over four seasons in Buffalo. And he was in the midst of a six-year, $59 million contract extension signed in October 2011. He finished his career in Buffalo ranking third on the team list in touchdowns, and fourth with 11,654 yards.

The Minnesota Vikings have cut cornerback Antoine Winfield to save money under the NFL salary cap. The 15-year veteran’s playing time was reduced in 2012 to preserve his health, but he had one of the most productive seasons of his career with 11 tackles for loss, 3 interceptions and 13 passes defended. He was due a $7.25 million salary in 2013.

Tennessee Titans left guard Steve Hutchinson has decided to retire after 12 NFL seasons, the last cut short by a knee injury that limited him to 12 games. Hutchinson announced his decision Tuesday morning on Twitter and the Titans confirmed it. A seven-time Pro Bowler and five-time All Pro, Hutchinson started all 169 games he played. He spent his first five seasons in Seattle, six with Minnesota and his final season in Tennessee.

The Carolina Panthers announced they released linebacker James Anderson, a three-year starter, on Tuesday. Anderson had three years left on a five-year, $22 million contract that included a $7 million signing bonus. A veteran of seven NFL seasons, all with the Panthers, Anderson started the first 12 games of the 2012 season before missing the final four with a back injury. His 84 tackles ranked second on the team. In 2011, Anderson set a then-franchise record with 174 tackles.

Dallas linebacker Anthony Spencer has signed a $10.6 million one-year tender, securing his return to the Cowboys while he seeks a long-term deal. The Cowboys put the franchise tag on Spencer for the second consecutive year, guaranteeing him a raise from the $8.8 million in 2012, when he had a career-best 11 sacks. Spencer is moving to defensive end with Dallas’ switch to the 4-3 defense.

Free agent tight end Martellus Bennett tweeted Tuesday that he is headed to the Chicago Bears andleaving the New York Giants. Bennett spent his first four seasons in Dallas before signing a one-year $2.5 million contract with the Giants last March. He had career highs with 55 receptions, 626 yards and 5 touchdowns.

The Oakland Raiders have cut ties with two former first-round picks by releasing starting receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey and defensive back Michael Huff. The moves to get rid of Heyward-Bey and Huff leave just three of Oakland’s former first-round picks on the roster, with linebacker Rolando McClain also expected to be released this offseason.

The Pittsburgh Steelers resigned linebacker Larry Foote and wide receiver Plaxico Burress on Tuesday. Foote, 32, agreed to a three-year deal while the 35-year-old Burress will stick around for 2013. Financial terms were not disclosed. Foote started all 16 games at inside linebacker last season. The 11-year veteran finished with four sacks and 113 tackles. Burress struggled to getonto the field after returning to the Steelers last November. He caught just three passes for 42 yards and a touchdown in three games and was made inactive three times.

Less than two hours after the free agent market officially opened Tuesday, the Indianapolis Colts had agreements in principle with four players in offensive linemen Gosder Cherilus and Donald Thomas, cornerback Greg Toler and linebacker Erik Walden. The team did not release terms.

Receiver Mike Wallace was the Miami Dolphins’ No. 1 offseason target, and they moved quickly Tuesday to seal a deal. Wallace agreed to a multiyear contract on the first day of NFL free agency, a person with knowledge of the agreement said. The person confirmed the deal to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because no signing had been announced Tuesday night. In four years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Wallace caught 32 touchdown passes. Miami also reached a $35 million, five-year deal with insidelinebacker Dannell Ellerbe, who helped the Baltimore Ravens win the Super Bowl last season.

The Chicago Bears have agreed to a five-year contract with New Orleans Saints Pro Bowl left tackle Jermon Bushrod, filling a major hole on the offensive line. The Bears announced the signing Tuesday. A person familiar with the situation tells The Associated Press that the deal is potentially worth about $36 million, with $17.7 million guaranteed. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the terms had not been released.

The Baltimore Ravens have signed free agent defensive end Chris Canty, who spent the previous four seasons with the New York Giants. The 30-year-old Canty was released in February by the Giants. The 6-7, 317-pounder was a starter the last four years in New York, but he missed seven games in 2012 with a knee injury. He finished with 26 tackles and three sacks.

The St. Louis Rams have upgraded their offense by reaching a five-year deal with free-agent tight end Jared Cook. Cook had 44 catches with an 11.9-yard average and 4 touchdowns last year for Tennessee, when he was on injured reserve the last three games with a torn right rotator cuff.

ATHLETICS Notre Dame on move

Notre Dame will join the Atlantic Coast Conference starting next season, a year earlier than expected, following the split among the Big East’s football schools and seven Catholic schools that formed their own basketball-focused conference. The move was announced Tuesday by Notre Dame following a vote by Big East presidents. It comes six months after Notre Dame surprisingly opted to join the ACC in all sports except football and hockey. Tuesday’s move means Notre Dame will join the ACC at the same time as fellow Big East members Pittsburgh and Syracuse, which announced earlier they would join the league. Louisville is expected to join the ACC after next season.

SOCCER Lloyd sidelined

American midfielder Carli Lloyd will be sidelined six to eight weeks after breaking a bone in her left shoulder during the Algarve Cup. After initially saying the injury was minor, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced Tuesday that a magnetic resonance imaging showed the fracture. Lloyd was injured March 6 against Iceland and missed matches against China and Sweden. She also will miss today’s final against Germany at Faro, Portugal. Lloyd has 43 goals in 154 international appearances.