Cardinals re-sign QB Brown

TEMPE, Ariz. -- After going 3-2 as a starter last season, quarterback Dave Brown on Tuesday re-signed with the Arizona Cardinals.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Cardinals confirmed that Brown signed a two-year contract.

When Jake Plummer suffered a broken right ring finger in an October 17 loss to Washington, Brown stepped in and struggled in losses to New England and the New York Jets, but rebounded with back-to-back wins over Detroit and Dallas.

Brown, who turns 30 on Friday, earned his third consecutive win as a starter in a November 28 game against the Giants, but needed Plummer to come off the bench and rally the Cards to a 34-24 victory.

Packers get Bowens from Broncos

SportsLine has learned the Green Bay Packers have acquired defensive end David Bowens from the Denver Broncos for an undisclosed choice in the 2001 draft.

Bowens, 22, was the Broncos' fifth-round selection in the 1999 draft. He played in all 16 games, primarily as a situational pass rusher, and totaled 14 tackles, one sack and one fumble recovery.

Ed Donatell, the Packers' new defensive coordinator, is the former secondary assistant in Denver, liked what he saw of Bowens last year in limited playing time, and recommended the trade to Green Bay general manager Ron Wolf.

The Packers are attempting to revamp a pass rush that netted only 30 sacks in 1999 and certainly needs an end with upfield quickness. Green Bay courted former Atlanta defensive end Chuck Smith in free agency but he signed with Carolina. Four-year veteran Keith McKenzie, the team's leading sacker in 1999, with eight, is an unrestricted free agent. The Packers did sign journeyman John Thierry, but even some Green Bay officials are skeptical of his ability.

An in-between type player physically, neither big enough (6-feet-2, 255 pounds) to play full time at end nor fast enough to move to linebacker, Bowens had 30 sacks in college. His first two years, at Michigan, he had 16 sacks, including 12 in 1996. He transferred to Western Illinois, which meant he had to sit out the '97 season, then had 14 sacks in 1998 at his new school.

The Packers will assume the final two seasons of Bowens' three-year, $843,000 contract that he signed with the Broncos last summer.

--Len Pasquarelli

Reed signs contract with Saints

NEW ORLEANS -- The New Orleans Saints agreed to terms with wide receiver Jake Reed on a two-year contract Tuesday.

Reed's contract is reportedly worth $4.5 million and includes a $1.5 million signing bonus.

"We've been courting him for a number of weeks now," Saints coach Jim Haslett said. "We wanted Jake from Day 1, we told him that. He was our No. 1 receiver."

Reed, 6-feet-3, 216 pounds, was the Minnesota Vikings' third-round pick in 1991. From 1994-96, Reed had 1,000 yards every year and had 26 touchdowns in that span.

After the Vikings acquired Randy Moss, Reed's playing time decreased, as did his productivity. In 1999, Reed started eight games, had 44 catches for 643 yards -- an average of 14.6 yards -- and two touchdowns.

"When you get that taste in your mouth, like being a 1,000-yard receiver, and get reduced to being a third receiver guy you're just hungry to get out there on the field and make plays, and I'm just hungry," Reed said.

Reed, whose signing was announced Monday, said he was encouraged by the signing of quarterback Jeff Blake and other moves the new coaching staff has made.

Broncos sign Pittman from Cowboys

DENVER -- After waiving veteran defensive ends Neil Smith and Alfred Williams to clear room under the salary cap, the Denver Broncos on Tuesday signed Dallas Cowboys free agent defensive lineman Kavika Pittman.

Financial terms were not disclosed, but the Denver Post reported Saturday that the Broncos and Pittman had agreed on a seven-year contract worth $28 million with a signing bonus topping $3 million.

According to the report, the contract is heavily backloaded with the last two years worth $13 million.

Pittman, 26, has been a starter at right end for the Cowboys each of the past two seasons. He led the team with six sacks in 1998 but managed only three last season and recovered two fumbles.

A second-round pick of the Cowboys in 1996, Pittman saw spot duty in his first two seasons before becoming a full-time starter in 1998.

The 6-foot-6, 267-pounder might replace Smith at left end. Backup Harald Hasselbach remains bothered by vision problems after the socket around his eye was broken last season. Maa Tanuvasa, who ranked fourth on the team with 6½ sacks, started at right end for the Broncos last year.

Denver also signed reserve defensive lineman Nathan Davis away from the Cowboys.

Davis has played seven games in three NFL seasons after being taken in the second round of the 1997 draft by Atlanta. He was released by the Falcons and signed with the Cowboys before the 1998 season.

The Broncos also re-signed linebacker Steve Russ, who has been with the club since being selected in the seventh round in 1995.

Pats cut RB Warren

FOXBORO, Mass. -- Running back Lamont Warren was released by the New England Patriots on Tuesday.

The move leaves just Kevin Faulk remaining from last year's backfield, which was 22nd in the league in total rushing yards. Patriots management has said one of the team's goals is to improve the running.

New England signed former Chicago Bears running back Raymont Harris last week.

Warren, 27, was signed by the Patriots in April after he was released by the Indianapolis Colts. New England used him primarily as a third down-back.

Warren gained 120 yards on 35 carries (3.4 average) for the Patriots, and picked up another 262 yards on 29 receptions, fifth on the team. He also had a touchdown catch.

Thomas visiting Dolphins

DAVIE, Fla. -- For years Thurman Thomas gave the Miami Dolphins trouble. Now he could give them help.

The free-agent running back was enthused about his meeting Monday with Dolphins coach Dave Wannstedt. Thomas likes the idea of playing for a team he used to help beat, and he likes the idea of playing twice a year against the Buffalo Bills, who released him Feb. 10 after 12 seasons with them.

"I want to show the Bills they let go of a guy who can play two or three more years," Thomas said.

Thomas, 33, also plans to visit New England and Indianapolis this week. One factor in Miami's favor: "I live in Orlando, and this is close to home," he said.

Thomas is the Bills' career rushing leader with 11,938 yards and has been the Dolphins' nemesis throughout his career.

He said Wannstedt told him, "We expect, if you do come, to challenge for the starting job." Thomas would have to beat out J.J. Johnson, who rushed for 558 yards as a rookie last season.

It's more likely Thomas, an excellent receiver, would be used as a third-down back. He hasn't been a starter since 1997, when he lost his job to Antowain Smith.

A bruised liver caused Thomas to miss 10 games last year and he rushed for just 152 yards, the lowest total of his career. Thomas said he's healthy now.

Rams match offer for Tucker

ST. LOUIS -- The Super Bowl champion St. Louis Rams solidified their offensive line for next season, matching an offer sheet for tackle Ryan Tucker and signing center Andy McCollum on Tuesday.

If the season started today, McCollum would replace Mike Gruttadauria, who signed a free-agent deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Tucker steps in for Fred Miller, who signed with the Tennessee Titans.

The Rams matched the three-year, $8.25 million offer made to Tucker by the Miami Dolphins. The deal includes a $4 million signing bonus.

"Me and my wife were praying I'd get to stay with the Rams," Tucker said. "We didn't know if they were going to match it or not."

Coach Mike Martz said the line, anchored by Pro Bowlers Orlando Pace and Adam Timmerman, should be improved from last season. It's a more defined picture at this stage, considering last year the Rams lost guard Zach Wiegert and tackle Wayne Gandy to free agency, moved Miller from guard to tackle and plugged Gruttadauria in as the starter after an injury-plagued year.

Tucker, 6-feet-5 and 305 pounds, was a fourth-round draft pick in 1997, but the Rams and many other teams had projected him as a first-round pick before he suffered a knee injury in college. He showed the team a lot when, after Pace was ejected in the second quarter against the New York Giants in December, he didn't allow a sack.

General manager Charley Armey said it wasn't that difficult a decision to match the offer, even if Tucker has been only a backup.

Tucker also was something of a secret weapon on offense, catching a touchdown pass as a tackle-eligible against Detroit and another in the playoffs against Minnesota.

McCollum, 6-4 and 295 pounds, gets a three-year deal for $3.4 million, including a signing bonus of close to $1 million. He started two games at left guard when Tom Nutten was injured and also backed up at center and played special teams.

Bucs sign RB Ellison

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Tuesday signed running back Jerry Ellison, a free agent, to a one-year contract.

Ellison played for Tampa Bay from 1995-98, accumulating 358 yards on 72 carries. Terms weren't disclosed.

Ellison, then a restricted free agent, was not offered contract at the conclusion of the 1998 season. Signed by New England on Sept. 29, 1999, Ellison carried twice for 10 yards and caught four passes for 50 yards.

Jets name Bowles secondary coach

HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. -- Todd Bowles was hired as the New York Jets' secondary coach Tuesday, filling out the staff of new coach Al Groh.

Bowles was an NFL safety for eight years, most with the Washington Redskins. He played on three Super Bowl champions -- the Redskins in 1988 and '92 and San Francisco in '91.

He had 15 interceptions in his career.

A Temple graduate and native of Elizabeth, N.J., Bowles was defensive coordinator and defensive backfield coach at Grambling last season.