CHIEFS
DT Williams signed
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have signed defensive tackle Xavier Williams, a restricted free agent from the Arizona Cardinals, who declined to match the offer Kansas City made to the run-stopper.
The Chiefs announced the signing in a statement Wednesday.
The 6-2, 309-pound Williams grew up in the Kansas City suburb of Grandview, Mo., before having a standout career at Northern Iowa. He started twice and appeared in 23 games over the past two seasons in Arizona, making 28 tackles and earning a reputation as someone who can plug up the run.
The Chiefs had been searching for a nose tackle after Bennie Logan became a free agent.
COWBOYS
LB Thomas added
The Dallas Cowboys ended their free-agent drought Wednesday.
The organization and linebacker Joe Thomas agreed to a two-year deal. Thomas met with the team earlier in the day.
It ends what has been an inactive free agency so far for the Cowboys. They were the last team to make an addition since free agency began last week.
They tried to lure in wide receiver Sammy Watkins, but he opted to sign with the Kansas City Chiefs. The Cowboys also discussed possibly bringing in safety Earl Thomas, but the Seattle Seahawks’ asking price is too steep.
The Thomas signing won’t excite the fan base, but he provides depth to the linebacker corps. The Cowboys saw Anthony Hitchens (Chiefs) and Kyle Wilber (Raiders) bolt in free agency, and there are injury and durability concerns with Sean Lee and Jaylon Smith.
Thomas, 26, has spent the past three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. He had a brief stint on the Cowboys’ practice squad in 2015. He has played in 42 games with 8 starts, and has 99 tackles and 7 pass breakups in his career.
His best season came in 2016 when he started seven games and was credited with a career-high 70 tackles.
It could be just the start for the Cowboys as the second wave of free agency begins. They hosted several free agents in recent days, including wide receivers Allen Hurns, Deonte Thompson, Dontrelle Inman and Justin Hunter; guards Joe Thomas and Marcus Martin; and tackles Cam Fleming and LaAdrian Phillips.
PANTHERS
Curry group out
If we see Stephen Curry in the owner’s box at Carolina Panthers games, it will likely be as a guest. A would-be ownership group linked to the NBA star has reportedly dropped out of the bidding for the team, as the price has reached an unprecedented $2.5 billion.
According to a Bloomberg report Tuesday, that’s too much for Michael Rubin, an e-commerce billionaire who had filed a formal notice this month to the NFL and to the bank handling the sale of the Panthers on behalf of current owner and team founder Jerry Richardson. Seeking to diversify his consortium, Rubin had reportedly drawn the interest of Curry, a Charlotte native and passionate fan of the Panthers, as well as rapper/entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs.
At least three bidders remain for the Panthers, according to multiple reports, pushing a price that could set a record for the sale of a U.S. professional sports team. The NBA’s Houston Rockets established a new mark last year when they were sold for $2.2 billion, while the highest figure thus far for an NFL team was the $1.4 billion fetched in 2014 by the Buffalo Bills, the most recent NFL franchise that went for sale.
Forbes valued the Panthers at $2.3 billion last year, placing them 21st out of 32 NFL teams on its list of franchise valuations. The Dallas Cowboys, at $4.8 billion, topped Forbes’ list, while the New Orleans Saints, who might be the next to go on the market, following the death last week of longtime owner Tom Benson, were in 27th place at $2 billion.
PATRIOTS
Slater signed
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Patriots have re-signed special teams captain Matt Slater.
Originally drafted in the 10th round in 2008, Slater has spent 10 years with the team. He has been selected to the Pro Bowl as a special teamer seven consecutive times.
Slater has 136 career regular-season special teams tackles, with 14 more in the postseason.
He played in only nine regular season games last year because of a hamstring injury, but returned for all three playoff games as New England reached the Super Bowl for the fourth time in his career.
LIONS
Willson, Williams added
ALLEN PARK, Mich. — The Detroit Lions have signed tight end Luke Willson, adding a potential starter in place of Eric Ebron, and bolstered their defensive line by adding Sylvester Williams.
Detroit addressed needs on both sides of the ball with the moves Wednesday.
Willson has 89 career catches for 1,129 yards with 11 touchdowns in 72 games, all with the Seahawks. He has 13 catches for 154 yards and 1 score in the playoffs, including 2 receptions when Seattle routed Denver in the Super Bowl four years ago. Seattle drafted the former Rice standout in the fifth round in 2013. The Lions opened free agency by making a major move last week, cutting ties with Ebron instead of paying him $8.25 million this season.
Detroit didn’t re-sign Haloti Ngata and Williams potentially fills the void.
He started 11 games and was a reserve in four games last year for the Tennessee Titans and had 20 tackles. He previously played for four seasons for the Denver Broncos, who drafted him 28th overall in 2013 out of North Carolina. Williams was a key player for Denver’s Super Bowl-winning team two years ago. He has 114 career tackles, including 6 sacks, in 59 starts and 75 games overall.
VIKINGS
Forbath re-signed
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings have re-signed kicker Kai Forbath to a one-year contract after a strong finish to his 2017 season.
The deal finalized Wednesday maintains the stability the 30-year-old Forbath has brought to the position since replacing Blair Walsh midway through the 2016 season.
Forbath has missed 8 of 53 extra points in 23 games with the Vikings, and he endured some mini-slumps in 2017. But he made a career-best seven field goals from 50-plus yards last year, and he made three of four in the NFC divisional round playoff victory over New Orleans, his former team. That included makes from 49 and 53 yards in the fourth quarter against the Saints.
Forbath finished 16th in the NFL in the regular season with an 84.2 field goal percentage.
COLTS
Mewhort, Desir back
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indianapolis Colts are bringing back offensive lineman Jack Mewhort and cornerback Pierre Desir, continuing their free-agent signing flurry.
Mewhort has started at right guard and right tackle before settling in at left guard. But he has battled injuries since Indianapolis drafted him in the second round in 2014 and finished last season on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery in October.
The 6-2, 198-pound Desir made 6 starts in an injury-riddled secondary last season and finished with 32 tackles and 1 interception. Cleveland originally took him in the fourth round of the 2014 draft.
Indy has now signed five players this week after signing only one player, defensive end Denico Autry, in the first five days of free agency.
FALCONS
TE Paulsen gets deal
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — The Atlanta Falcons have added depth at tight end by agreeing to terms on a one-year deal with seven-year veteran Logan Paulsen.
Atlanta was thin at the position after releasing Levine Toilolo.
Paulsen, 31, played in 14 games, including one start, with San Francisco in 2017. He did not have a reception. He started 12 of 16 games with Chicago in 2016.
Paulsen set a career high with 28 catches for 267 yards and 3 touchdowns with Washington in 2