The Official FA Thread

[H1Man]

Patriots re-sign cornerback Chad Scott

Cornerback Chad Scott is staying with New England, one of the first signings by the Patriots in an offseason in which stalwarts like Willie McGinest and Adam Vinatieri left the team.

Scott is a former first-round draft pick who spent most of last season on injured reserve.

He re-signed on Wednesday, a day after Vinatieri, who kicked the game-winning field goals in two of the Patriots' three Super Bowl victories, signed with the Indianapolis Colts.

Last Friday, the Patriots signed wide receiver Reche Caldwell, an unrestricted free agent who spent his first four seasons with San Diego.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5438364

Azumah retires because of hip, neck pain

Bears cornerback Jerry Azumah retired Thursday because of neck and hip pain the past two seasons, ending a seven-year career with Chicago in which he made the Pro Bowl in 2003.

The 28-year-old Azumah missed most of the preseason after minor hip surgery and lost his starting job to Pro Bowl selection Nathan Vasher in the final year of his contract.

"This has been a great ride," he said during a news conference. "It's nothing to cry about or hold my head down to. Just looking at everything I accomplished and achieved, being here with the Bears and how they've embraced me, has been tremendous."

Azumah had a career-high 92 tackles in 2002. He had 90 tackles, a team-leading four interceptions and his lone Pro Bowl appearance - as a kickoff returner - the following season.

He missed the first four games of 2004 while recovering from neck surgery, and had the hip procedure in training camp last summer. He appeared in 15 regular-season games, playing primarily in nickel situations, and totaled 45 tackles while averaging 22 yards on kickoff returns.

Hip pain was a constant problem, and he injured his neck during a playoff game this season against Carolina. Azumah underwent more invasive hip surgery two months ago.

"I knew I'd be playing in pain," Azumah said. "That was what was understood. I'd be playing with some pain, they'd go in and clean it out and would get me better so I wouldn't miss the season. ... I decided to play until, basically, the wheels fell off."

Azumah's neck also bothered him during the season. He said his hip is fine now and dared reporters to race him in the 40-yard dash.

"My body was talking to me," Azumah said. "I feel like I could go out there and perform at a high level - not the Pro Bowl level I was at. I need to take a different road in life."

http://msn.foxsports.com/nfl/story/5438500

[H1Man]

Bills agree to trade Moulds to Texans

The Bills and Houston Texans have worked out their trade and informed Eric Moulds that he is going to the Texans.

The timing was perfect because Moulds was already in Houston. He reached an agreement on a four-year, $14 million contract that includes a $5 million signing. Terms of the trade weren't known but it is believed to a second day draft choice, either a fourth- or a fifth round in 2006.

Moulds decided last week that he preferred to go to Houston instead of the Philadelphia Eagles. He worked out a contractual agreement with the Texans and then awaited the trade.

"I knew Andre Johnson and always wanted to play with him," Moulds said Tuesday. "He's an up and coming receiver, and I felt like the team is on a rise. This is a chance to start new, and an opportunity to play close to home where I grew up."

Moulds has been with the Bills for 10 years. With a cap number over $10 million, Moulds declined to restructure his contract. Though the team wanted him to stay, Moulds decided it was time to move on.

"It's very tough because anytime you've been in a place for 10 years, you get set in your ways," Moulds said. "I have to learn a new city. I think being from the South makes it easier. I'm not going to be shocked by the weather, so it makes it an easy transition. It's still tough to leave Buffalo. I have a lot of fans there, but there comes a time when everyone has to move on."

The Texans wanted Moulds to be a veteran presence on their young offensive roster.

"Andre wanted me here, so I made my decision," Moulds said.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2396697

[H1Man]

Texans sign LB Wali Rainer

The Houston Texans signed unrestricted free agent linebacker Wali Rainer on Tuesday.

The 6-foot-2, 240-pound Rainer toiled in all 16 games for the Detroit Lions last season and started five contests.

Originally a fourth-round pick by the Cleveland Browns in 1999, Rainer has played in 110 career games (64 starts) in stints with Cleveland, Jacksonville and Detroit. He has amassed 690 tackles, four sacks and an interception.

The Texans also inked wide receiver/kick returner Jake Schifino. In 14 career games, all with Tennessee, Schifino has averaged 20.1 yards on 35 kick returns.

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/scorec...ticleID=163266