San Francisco 49ers: For the second time in a week, the 49ers have bolstered their offensive line with a free agent acquisition, this time adding four-year veteran Greg Randall with a one-year contract believed to include a base salary of $535,000.
The 49ers earlier this week added Cincinnati guard Scott Rehberg and continue to reshape their offensive line.
Randall, 25, played with the Houston Texans in 2003 and started all 16 games at right tackle. He likely will play right guard in San Francisco, replacing Ron Stone, the Pro Bowl performer released by the 49ers earlier this offseason for salary cap considerations. The versatile Randall, who entered the league as Greg Robinson-Randall before changing his name two years ago, has started 39 games and appeared in 51 contests.
He has never missed a game because of injury and, while his weight has been a concern at times, Randall is a solid player and good technician. He has been flagged for only one holding penalty and three false-starts in his career.
As an unrestricted free agent, Randall drew interest from Dallas, Miami and the New York Giants. It appeared the Cowboys would sign him but, despite their need for a right tackle, they took a fairly casual approach in recent weeks.
Randall was the fourth-round choice of New England in 2000, started 16 games at right tackle in the Patriots' championship season in 2001, then was traded to the Texans last year for a fifth-round draft pick.
--- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com senior NFL writer
Indianapolis Colts: Restricted free agent Rick DeMulling, the Colts' starting left guard for the last two seasons, has resigned with the team. DeMulling signed a one-year contract worth $1.368 million, equal to the qualifying offer the Colts made him last month.
DeMulling, 26, will be eligible for unrestricted free agency next spring if the Colts don't extend his contract before then.
The three-year veteran was the club's seventh-round choice in the 2001 draft, played only sparingly as a rookie, then moved into the starting lineup in 2002. He has started 30 games the past two seasons and is regarded as an emerging young talent at the position.
--- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com senior NFL writer
Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers have re-signed unrestricted free agent offensive tackle Barrett Brooks to a one-year, $660,000 contract, the minimum base salary for a player with his league tenure.
A much-traveled eight-year veteran, Brooks, 31, played part of the 2003 season with the Steelers and provided the team an experienced backup at a key position. A former second-round pick of the Philadelphia Eagles, he has played in 97 games and started in 61 of them, with four different teams.
Pittsburgh also relinquished its rights to restricted veteran Mathias Nkwenti, making him a restricted free agent. A former fourth-round draft pick, Nkwenti had played in just two games in three seasons. He underwent back surgery last year and the Steelers medical staff was uncertain he could pass a team physical exam.
--- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com senior NFL writer
Cleveland Browns: Browns coach Butch Davis said the club has redone the contracts
of defensive end Courtney Brown, defensive tackle Gerard Warren,
offensive tackle Ross Verba and safety Robert Griffith.
The club did not release financial terms on the contracts but
said Verba, who missed all of last season with a torn bicep, had
two years added to his deal.
Brown, a former No. 1 overall pick, has three years left on his
contract.
--- The Associated Press
Green Bay Packers: The Green Bay Packers on Friday
re-signed running back Tony Fisher to an exclusive-rights
contract.
Fisher played in 15 games last season and both of the Packers'
playoff games against Seattle and Philadelphia. He carried 40
times for 200 yards and added 21 receptions for 206 yards as
mostly a third-down back.
The 24-year-old Fisher joined Green Bay as an undrafted rookie
in 2002, amassing 283 yards on the ground in his first campaign.
--- SportsTicker
Cincinnati Bengals: The Bengals re-signed tight end Tony Stewart to a two-year contract.
Stewart, a fourth-year player, was a restricted free agent. He
started seven games for the Bengals last year and had 21 receptions
for 212 yards.
Stewart originally signed with Philadelphia in 2001 and joined
the Bengals in November 2002 off the Eagles' practice squad.
--- The Associated Press
Philadelphia Eagles: The Eagles signed offensive lineman Artis Hicks to a six-year, $6 million contract extension Friday.
The 25-year-old Hicks, who had a year remaining on his original
deal, played in 10 games, starting four in 2003 after seeing no
action as an undrafted rookie the previous season.
Hicks got into the offensive lineup after starting guard John Welbourn broke his leg.
--- The Associated Press