The Seattle Seahawks have boosted their pass-rushing by signing veteran defensive end Dwight Freeney to a one-year deal, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The Seahawks signed the 37-year-old Freeney days before they take on the Houston Texans and their rookie quarterback Deshaun Watson Sunday. Last season, Freeney played for the Atlanta Falcons, tallying ten tackles with three sacks. In the Falcons’ loss in Super Bowl LI to the New England Patriots, Freeney tallied one sack and seven hurries.
After the Super Bowl, Freeney contemplated retirement but later realized that he wasn’t ready to put an end to his NFL career that started in 2002 when he was drafted 11th overall by the Indianapolis Colts.
Freeney will be a welcome addition to the Seahawks with Cliff Avril out with a season-ending injury and Michael Bennett dealing with a foot injury. Freeney played 12 seasons with the Colts, two with the San Diego Chargers and one season each with the Arizona Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons. A seven-time Pro Bowler, Freeney has 122.5 sacks and 329 tackles in his career.
Cowboys sign new kicker
The Dallas Cowboys have found a temporary kicker while Dan Bailey recovers from a groin injury. According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network, the Cowboys signed veteran Mike Nugent, who played the last seven seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. After the Bengals waived him in December, the 35-year-old Nugent joined the New York Giants in the offseason but was released during final cuts.
Nugent has a career 80.8 field goal rate in stints with the Bengals, Cardinals, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Jets. Bailey suffered the injury in the Cowboys’ win over the San Francisco 49ers and is expected to be sidelined for several weeks. Veteran safety Jeff Heath replaced Bailey for Sunday's game, going 2-of-3 on extra points and handling kickoff duties.
Dolphins part ways with cornerback
Garafolo reported that the Miami Dolphins had released cornerback Byron Maxwell, less than two years after acquiring him from the Philadelphia Eagles. The Dolphins traded the No. 8 pick to the Eagles for Maxwell and linebacker Kiko Alonso. The trade came one year after Maxwell signed a six-year, $63-million deal with the Eagles.
In his first season with the Dolphins, the 29-year-old Maxwell tallied 53 tackles and two interceptions in 13 games. This season, Maxwell played just two games with eight tackles and no interception. The Dolphins will use Xavien Howard and rookie Cordrea Tankersley at cornerback. Meanwhile, the Dolphins signed quarterback David Fales as the backup to Matt Moore with starter Jay Cutler sidelined with cracked ribs.
