EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - Former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Dan Connor has signed with the New York Giants as a free agent.
The Giants announced the signing of the former Penn State player Saturday without disclosing details.
New York also reached a contract agreement with receiver Louis Murphy, a source familiar with the situation told The Associated Press late Saturday afternoon.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the team had not announced the signing.
Connor can play both inside and outside, so his signing casts some doubt on whether New York will bring back middle linebacker Chase Blackburn, who is a free agent.
Connor started five games at middle linebacker for Dallas last season, making 56 tackles. He also started three games at weak side linebacker. He played his first four seasons with the Carolina Panthers.
“Being able [to] stay in the same division is great,” said Connor, released by the Cowboys on Monday. “Talking to the Giants coaches, the [4-3] system seems to fit me. I wanted to get back into a 4-3 look. It’s a great opportunity. When my agent called me and said they were interested I was so thrilled. This is a class organization with a lot of tradition. They’re a successful team with a winning tradition and it was something I wanted to be a part of. I’m really looking forward to it.”
Connor has played in 56 career games with 27 starts. He has 222 tackles, a sack, a forced fumbleand a fumble recovery.
Connor set a Penn State record with 419 career tackles in 45 games (37 starts). He also had 14 sacks and four interceptions.
Murphy played with Carolina last season and caught 25 passes, including one for a touchdown. He played his first three seasons with Oakland, catching 90 passes, including six for touchdowns.
49ERS
Dahl signs 3-year deal
SAN FRANCISCO - The San Francisco 49ers have signed safety Craig Dahl to a three-year contract, finding a replacement in the secondary after Dashon Goldson received a five-year deal from Tampa Bay.
The 27-year-old Dahl spent the past four seasons with the St. Louis Rams and had 78 tackles and an interception in 2012.
San Francisco’s front office hosted a handful of defensive backs for meetings this week, including veteran free agent Charles Woodson and Louis Delmas, who wound up staying in Detroit.
Goldson spent the past two seasons on one-year contracts for the 49ers and sought a long-term deal. He signed a $41.25 million, five-year contract with Tampa Bay - even after 49ers Coach Jim Harbaugh said re-signing Goldson was a top priority.
San Francisco lost 34-31 in the Super Bowl to Baltimore.
PATRIOTS WR Lloyd released
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -The New England Patriots have released receiver Brandon Lloyd and signed defensive backs Aqib Talib, Kyle Arrington and Adrian Wilson.
Arrington tied for the NFL lead in 2011 with seven interceptions. Wilson is a five-time Pro Bowl selection who holds the NFL record for most sacks in a season by a defensive back (8) and is the sixth player in NFL history to record 25 sacks and 25 interceptions in his career.
Talib was acquired by New England in a trade with Tampa Bay on Nov. 1 for a 2013 fourth-round draft pick. He started in five of six games for New England after the trade and had 19 tackles and an interception that he returned 59 yards for a touchdown.
Lloyd had 74 receptions for 911 yards and 4 touchdowns last season for New England, with 12 receptions for 102 yards and 1 touchdown in two playoff games.
Sports, Pages 30 on 03/17/2013