Cardinals keep OL Joyce

Two days after they brought in an outsider to anchor the young offensive line, the Arizona Cardinals on Monday succeeded in keeping one of their own promising blockers from defecting. SportsLine has learned that the Cardinals have reached a contract agreement with versatile lineman Matt Joyce, who had drawn interest from several other teams.

Joyce, 27, will sign a three-year contract. While financial details were not yet available, the deal is believed to be worth $3 million with a signing bonus of about $750,000.

Saturday, the Cardinals signed center Mike Gruttadauria from the Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams, rewarding him with a four-year, $8.6 million contract. Gruttadauria is regarded as the savvy veteran that line coach George Warhop needs to bring his unit together. But Joyce is a key component because of his size and versatility.

The mammoth (6-feet-7, 310 pounds) Joyce can play tackle or guard and started 15 games in '99 while splitting time between the two positions. Most scouts feel he is more productive at guard. In five seasons, he has played in 53 games, including 34 starts, and the former defensive lineman is just now beginning to dominate in some stretches of games.

Joyce played collegiately at Richmond and was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1994. He also had stints in Cincinnati and Seattle before signing with Arizona in 1996. He visited with Cleveland officials last week and had other auditions set up as well before opting to re-sign with the Cardinals.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Chargers sign Jenkins, keep Graham

Cornerback DeRon Jenkins, arguably the best pure cover player still available in the unrestricted free agent pool, Monday reached a contract agreement with the San Diego Chargers. Details of his three-year deal were not immediately available.

The Chargers also re-signed wide receiver Jeff Graham, who led the team in receptions (57) and receiving yards (968) in 1999.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Rams retain guard McCollum

The St. Louis Rams, who have lost two starters from their Super Bowl offensive line during the free agent signing period, managed to retain a veteran on Monday who figures to move into the No. 1 unit as a result of the defections.

SportsLine has learned that the Rams reached a three-year contract agreement with guard Andy McCollum, a valuable backup who has started 51 games in his six-year career. The contract is worth $3.3 million.

"Given everything that has happened, he's a guy we definitely wanted back," offensive line coach Jim Hanifan said.

The Rams lost right tackle Fred Miller to the Tennessee Titans and center Mike Gruttadauria to the Arizona Cardinals.

McCollum, 29, can play center or guard. He spent the first five seasons of his career with the New Orleans Saints, then signed with St. Louis last spring as an unrestricted free agent. McCollum started 16 games for the Saints in each of the 1996 and '97 seasons.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Redskins add two LBs to roster

The Washington Redskins bolstered their special teams units Monday by reaching an agreement with one free agent linebacker and finalizing a deal with another.

SportsLine has learned that two-year veteran Reggie Givens, an "exclusive rights" free agent who was not tendered a qualifying offer by the San Francisco 49ers, has agreed to join the Redskins. The former Penn State linebacker was signed by the 49ers as an unrestricted free agent in '98 and played in 32 games the past two seasons.

Givens, 28, recorded only two tackles in his two years in San Francisco but he was regarded as a solid special teams player.

Washington also completed a deal first reported last week by SportsLine, finalizing a contract with former New Orleans linebacker Kevin Mitchell. A six-year veteran and an unrestricted free agent, Mitchell, 28, will sign a one-year contract for the league minimum of $440,000.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Lions lock up QB Stenstrom, 2 others

PONTIAC, Mich. -- The Detroit Lions re-signed unrestricted free-agent punter John Jett to a four-year deal Monday and also signed free-agent quarterback Steve Stenstrom and tight end Tony Johnson.

"He likes the team, he has buddies there. It made sense to come back, and the Lions wanted him to come back. It's a good fit," said Jett's agent, Jordan Woy.

Jett averaged 42.3 yards last season.

Neither Woy nor the Lions would disclose financial terms of the contract.

"It's a fair deal for John," Woy said. "He's really happy with it."

Stenstrom played last year for the 49ers, where he started three games and was 54-of-100 passing for 536 yards with four interceptions.

Stenstrom played the previous four seasons with the Chicago Bears, where he completed 123 of 214 passes for 1,359 yards, six touchdowns and six interceptions.

Stenstrom's agent, Leigh Steinberg, said the quarterback signed a two-year deal that will pay him $440,000 each year. Stenstrom also received an $80,000 signing bonus and is eligible for a $25,000 roster bonus in the second year.

"He's very happy," Steinberg said.

Johnson played with New Orleans the past four seasons and had nine receptions for 97 yards and one touchdown. He played mostly on special teams during 1998 and recorded eight tackles.

The Saints released Johnson in November after he was placed on the physically unable-to-perform list in August with a groin injury.

The Lions did not disclose terms of the deal. Johnson's agents could not immediately be reached for comment.

Jags bring back Martin as backup QB

The Jacksonville Jaguars, who lost backup quarterback Jay Fiedler to the Miami Dolphins last week, replaced him Monday with a familiar face. SportsLine has learned that the Jaguars reached a contract agreement with six-year veteran Jamie Martin, who played for the team in 1998.

The agreement was confirmed for SportsLine by agent Tom Mills.

Martin, 28, will sign a two-year contract with a signing bonus of between $120,000-$150,000. Other financial terms were not immediately available.

The former Weber State standout did not play in a single game for Cleveland in 1999, but coach Chris Palmer wanted him back for 2000 and the Browns competed hard for his services. "You had two coaches intimately familiar with him, but we just felt the situation was a little bit better in Jacksonville right now," Mills said.

With the departure of Fiedler, it is expected that Martin will easily claim the No. 2 job behind Mark Brunell. In Cleveland, he probably would have been third on the depth chart behind starter Tim Couch and backup Ty Detmer.

Martin has played 10 games in six seasons, with one start. He has 50 completions in 79 attempts for 596 yards, with five touchdowns and two interceptions, and a passer efficiency rating of 96.9. He served as the backup to Brunell in '98 and played in four games, with one start, for the Jags that year. But his rehabilitation from a knee injury kept him off the free agent market until late last spring.

He previously played with the Rams and Redskins.

-- Len Pasquarelli

Vikings sign Marshall

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings signed free-agent safety Anthony Marshall.

Marshall, who was out of football last year because of a motorcycle accident, played for Philadelphia in 1998 and Chicago from 1994-97. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Raiders hire Casullo as special teams coach

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Bob Casullo, who has coached at Michigan State, Georgia Tech and Syracuse, was hired by the Oakland Raiders as special teams coach.

Casullo coached special teams and tight ends at Michigan State last season.