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KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have signed free agent running back Thomas Jones, who led the New York Jets to the AFC championship game last season and was the NFL's third-leading rusher.
The Chiefs announced the deal Tuesday but declined to disclose the terms.
Jones had career highs of 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns last season. He was a 2008 Pro Bowl selection with 1,312 yards and 13 touchdowns.
The 31-year-old is expected to supplement third-year running back Jamaal Charles, who was Kansas City's MVP last season with 1,120 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
Browns release QB Anderson
CLEVELAND — Quarterback Derek Anderson's uneven five-year stint with the Cleveland Browns is over.
The team released the one-time Pro Bowl quarterback Tuesday, one day after the Browns acquired backup Seneca Wallace in a trade from Seattle.
Anderson made the Pro Bowl in 2007, when he threw 29 touchdown passes and led the club to a 10-6 record. But he lost his starting job to Brady Quinn last season, got it back when Quinn was injured but then played poorly.
The 26-year-old Anderson was due a $2 million roster bonus March 19, and his salary was set for $7.45 million in 2010.
Steelers bring back Randle El
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers, normally one of the quietest teams in NFL free agency, suddenly are one of the busiest.
The Steelers made a pair of surprise moves by re-signing safety Ryan Clark and bringing back wide receiver Antwaan Randle El on Tuesday — a day after signing two backups who excel on special teams: safety Will Allen from the Buccaneers and wide receiver Arnaz Battle from the 49ers.
There's more, too: They're also bringing in offensive tackle Jonathan Scott, who played the last two seasons in Buffalo under new Steelers offensive line coach Sean Kugler. Scott started eight games last season but wasn't given even the lowest tender offer to stay with the Bills.
Clark signed a $14 million, four-year contract only a day after visiting the Miami Dolphins. Clark reopened talks with the Steelers after deciding he preferred to stay in Pittsburgh rather than switch franchises.
Randle El is coming back four seasons after leaving Pittsburgh to sign a $31 million, seven-year deal with the Redskins. He was released despite being Washington's second-leading receiver last season with 50 catches, although none were for touchdowns. Randle El agreed to a three-year deal.
T.O. to meet with Bengals
CINCINNATI — Terrell Owens headed to Cincinnati on Tuesday to see if the Bengals were interested in adding him to their stalled-out passing game.
The 36-year-old receiver tweeted on Tuesday that he was on his way to meet with team officials. Receiver Chad Ochocinco has been lobbying for the Bengals to sign Owens since the end of last season, when the Bengals' passing game lacked a deep threat.
Cincinnati needs at least one proven receiver after releasing Laveranues Coles, who lasted only one season with the Bengals. Receiver Matt Jones, who was out of the NFL last season after Jacksonville released him for off-field problems, has signed a one-year deal with the Bengals.
It's unclear whether they have much interest in Owens, whose production declined each of the last two seasons with Dallas and Buffalo. Former Tampa Bay receiver Antonio Bryant was in Cincinnati on Tuesday.
Owens, a six-time Pro Bowl receiver, had 69 catches for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns with Dallas in 2008, and dropped off to 55 catches for 829 yards with five TDs last season in Buffalo.
Broncos sign ex-Patriots DL
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The Denver Broncos continued beefing up their defensive line with the signing of unrestricted free agent Jarvis Green, who spent his first eight NFL seasons in New England.
Green, who packs 285 pounds on his 6-foot-3 frame, is well versed in the 3-4 alignment that coach Josh McDaniels implemented in Denver last year after being hired away from Bill Belichick's Patriots.
Last season, Green had 47 tackles in 13 games, including 12 starts.
In other news:
• After six years backing up Peyton Manning in Indianapolis, Jim Sorgi will get a chance to do the same for Peyton's brother Eli. The Giants announced Tuesday that they have signed Sorgi to a one-year deal. He will compete with second-year man Rhett Bomar for the Giants' backup quarterback job.
• Injury-plagued running back Kevin Jones has been released by the Bears. The Bears let Jones go after signing running back Chester Taylor away from Minnesota. Jones missed last season after tearing ligaments in his left ankle in the preseason.
• Michael Vick says the Eagles exercised their 2010 option on him, meaning the quarterback will receive a $1.5 million roster bonus sometime this week. That doesn't necessarily guarantee he'll return to the Eagles for another season. With McNabb and backup Kevin Kolb still in the fold for the Eagles, there has been speculation that the Eagles might try to trade Vick. He says “the entire organization knows I want to be a starter,” but he appreciates the opportunity the Eagles gave him.
• The Vikings have signed kickoff specialist Rhys Lloyd. Lloyd handled kickoffs for the Panthers the last two seasons, leading the NFL with 30 touchbacks in 2008. Ryan Longwell remains the regular kicker for the Vikings.
• The Vikings and cornerback Benny Sapp have agreed to terms on a new contract.
• The Patriots have re-signed cornerback Leigh Bodden to a four-year deal and longtime starting offensive lineman Stephen Neal.
• Nose tackle Jason Ferguson has been re-signed by the Dolphins, even though he faces a suspension for the first eight games of this season.
DeNiro to play Vince Lombardi
BRISTOL, Conn. — Robert De Niro is set to play Vince Lombardi in an upcoming movie.
ESPN announced Tuesday that the Academy Award-winning actor has agreed to play the Hall of Fame coach in the film it is developing with Andell Entertainment and the NFL.
“Lombardi” will chronicle the years in which he transformed the Green Bay Packers from the NFL's worst team to league champions. It is tentatively scheduled to be released in 2012 during the weekend between the conference championship games and the Super Bowl.
Screenwriter Eric Roth, who won an Oscar for “Forrest Gump,” has also signed on to the project.
— World-Herald Press Services
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