IRVING, Texas - The Dallas Cowboys released franchise sacks leader DeMarcus Ware on Tuesday, a salary cap move that owner Jerry Jones called “extremely difficult” after the worst season of the star pass rusher’s career.
Ware broke Harvey Martin’s 30-year-old franchise record for sacks in 2013, but got to the quarterback a career-low six times and missed games for the first time in his nine-year career with a thigh injury.
Ware, 31, also had off season elbow surgery and was set to count $16 million against the salary cap. His release saves about $7.4 million and gives Dallas about $9 million to spend at the moment.
Jones didn’t rule out Ware returning after testing the market, but Ware has likely played his last down for an owner who always had a tough time letting aging superstars go.
RAIDERS
McFadden re-signed
ALAMEDA, Calif. - The Oakland Raiders have resigned running back Darren McFadden (Pulaski Oak Grove, Arkansas Razorbacks) to a one-year contract and have agreed to a five-year contract with offensive lineman Rodger Saffold.
A person with knowledge of the deal says McFadden will be paid $4 million under the deal agreed to at the start of free agency on Tuesday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.
ESPN reported that Saffold will get a $42.5 million contract with $21 million guaranteed despite missing 17 games with a variety of injuries in four seasons in St. Louis.
TITANS
Running back signs
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee Titans have agreed to terms with Chiefs running back, receiver and kick returner Dexter McCluster, said a person familiar with the situation.
The person spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press on Tuesday because the deal had not been announced minutes after NFL free agency started.
McCluster was switched between wide receiver and running back early in his career but flourished in 2013 as a slot receiver and punt returner for new Kansas City Coach Andy Reid.
49ERS
Martin trade caps day
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The San Francisco 49ers capped a busy first day of free agency by acquiring Jonathan Martin in a trade with the Miami Dolphins on Tuesday night.
Martin, who left the Dolphins in late October amid a bullying scandal that rocked the NFL, played for 49ersCoach Jim Harbaugh at Stanford and is expected to compete for the backup spot at both tackles. If Martin makes the opening day roster, the 49ers owe Miami a seventh-round pick in 2015, ESPN reported.
The 49ers’ first move of the day had been to sign safety Antoine Bethea, a two-time Pro Bowler from the Indianapolis Colts, after Donte Whitner left to join his hometown Cleveland Browns. Then they re-signed kicker Phil Dawson (two years) and cornerback Eric Wright (one year). That was followed by the acquisition of quarterback Blaine Gabbert in a trade with Jacksonville for another low-round draft choice, possibly two.
The 49ers signed Bethea to a four-year deal worth $16-20 million. Bethea, 29, was a sixth-round pick in 2006 from Howard University.
BRONCOS
Talib agrees to deal
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Denver Broncos locked up a shutdown cornerback, only his name wasn’t Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
The Broncos spent the first day of free agency bolstering their defensive backfield, agreeing to a four-year deal with Pro Bowl safety T.J. Ward on Tuesday afternoon and then hours later reaching an agreement on a six-year contract with cornerback Aqib Talib.
ESPN first announced the agreement with Talib, which is reportedly worth $57 million.
BUCCANEERS Roster overhaul begins
TAMPA, Fla. - The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began to overhaul their roster Tuesday, agreeing to contracts with Pro Bowl cornerback Alterraun Verner, defensive end Michael Johnson and two other potential new starters on the first day of free agency.
In addition to landing Verner, who had five interceptions for Tennessee last season, and Johnson, who had 11½ sacks for Cincinnati two years ago, the team announced Tuesday that it also had reached deals with former Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Clinton McDonald (Jacksonville) and former New York Giants tight end Brandon Myers.
The team is planning a news conference today to introduce the additions.
Tuesday’s NFL transactions
ARIZONA CARDINALS - Agreed to terms with TE Jake Ballard and PK Jay Feely on one-year contracts and DE Frostee Rucker on a two-year contract. Released G Daryn Colledge.
ATLANTA FALCONS - Agreed to terms with DT Jonathan Babineaux on a three-year contract. Agreed to terms with OL Joe Hawley on a two-year contract extension and G Jon Asamoah, DE Tyson Jackson and DT Paul Soliai. Released S Thomas DeCoud.
BUFFALO BILLS - Re-signed TE Mike Caussin and PK Dan Carpenter. Released QB Kevin Kolb. CINCINNATI BENGALS - Re-signed WR Brandon Tate. Terminated the contract of C Kyle Cook.
CHICAGO BEARS - Agreed to terms with DE Lamarr Houston on a five-year contract; S Ryan Mundy on a two-year contract; and LB D.J. Williams and LB Jordan Senn on one-year contracts.
DALLAS COWBOYS - Released DE DeMarcus Ware.
DENVER BRONCOS - Agreed to terms with WR Andre Caldwell on a two-year contract and S T.J. Ward.
HOUSTON TEXANS - Released TE Owen Daniels and CB Brice McCain.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS - Re-signed PK Adam Vinatieri. Agreed to terms with DE Arthur Jones. Re-signed CB Vontae Davis and RB Ahmad Bradshaw.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS - Released RB Justin Forsett. Agreed to terms with G Zane Beadles.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS - Re-signed LB Larry Dean. Agreed to terms with QB Matt Cassel on a two-year contract and DE Everson Griffen.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS - Agreed to term S Jairus Byrd on a six-year contract.
NEW YORK JETS - Re-signed K Nick Folk to a multiyear contract.
OAKLAND RAIDERS - Agreed to terms with OL Rodger Saffold on a five-year contract, Re-signed RB Darren McFadden (Pulaski Oak Grove, Arkansas Razorbacks) to a one-year contract.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES - Agreed to terms with P Donnie Jones and S Malcolm Jenkins on three-year contracts. Released S Patrick Chung.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS - Released LB La-Marr Woodley.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS - Released CB Carlos Rogers. Acquired QB Blaine Gabbert from Jacksonville Jaguars for a 2014 sixth-round draft pick this year and a conditional 2015 pick. Agreed to terms with K Phil Dawson on a two-year contract.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - Signed TE Anthony McCray to a one-year contract.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS - Re-signed WR Santana Moss to a one-year contract and LB Perry Riley. Agreed to terms with G Shawn Lauvao.
Sports, Pages 21 on 03/12/2014