News briefs: Bengals release Coles after one season

CINCINNATI -- Receiver Laveranues Coles is a free agent again after one disappointing season with the Cincinnati Bengals, who had hoped to make him a pillar of their passing game.

The Bengals released the 32-year-old receiver on Thursday, exactly one year after he signed a four-year deal to replace T.J. Houshmandzadeh. The Bengals also got rid of three tight ends, an indication of their top priorities in free agency and the draft.

They desperately need to get someone who can catch the ball.

The Bengals moved quickly after Houshmandzadeh left for Seattle a year ago, eagerly pursuing Coles as his replacement. They signed him one week after he left the New York Jets, who decided not to give him a multiyear contract extension.

Houshmandzadeh was their most reliable receiver and top third-down target, making catches in a crowd. The Bengals expected Coles to be more of a big-play receiver, but he never blended into an offense that became reliant on the run.

Coles had only 43 catches for 514 yards last season, when the Bengals' passing game was a big disappointment. He had two or fewer catches in nine regular-season games. The Bengals needed him to become a bigger part of the offense when deep threat Chris Henry got hurt and, later, died in a fall from a truck, but Coles caught only 16 passes combined in the last seven regular-season games.

The move leaves Chad Ochocinco as the only proven receiver. Andre Caldwell also struggled in his second season. Jerome Simpson, a second-round pick in 2008, appeared in only two games. Full story

Giants make 12 roster moves

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The New York Giants have tendered one-year contracts to nine restricted free agents on the eve of free agency.

The Giants announced on Thursday that defensive linemen Barry Cofield and Dave Tollefson, offensive linemen Guy Whimper and Kevin Boothe, receivers Domenik Hixon, Sinorice Moss and Derek Hagan, linebacker Gerris Wilkinson and safety C.C. Brown got the offers.

Cofield, Hixon and Tollefson received second-round tenders. Moss, Wilkinson, Hagan, Whimper and Boothe received an original round tender, and Brown received a right of first refusal tender.

If another club signs any of these players to an offer sheet, the Giants will have seven days to match that offer. If the Giants choose not to match, they will receive the appropriate compensation from the respective club.

Redskins cut 10 veterans

ASHBURN, Va. -- Guard Randy Thomas, receiver Antwaan Randle El and kick returner Rock Cartwright were among 10 players cut by the Washington Redskins on the eve of free agency.

Cornerback Fred Smoot, defensive tackle Cornelius Griffin, running back Ladell Betts and backup quarterback Todd Collins were also released Thursday night as the Redskins cleared salary cap space in the first major moves under the new brain trust of general manager Bruce Allen and coach Mike Shanahan.

"Obviously, it's a day of change for the Redskins," Allen said.

The next big moves were expected to be put in motion at the midnight start of free agency, when the Redskins were again expected to be aggressive on the open market. Big-spending owner Dan Snyder has yielded roster control to Shanahan, but the coach and Allen have many needs to fill as they take over a 4-12 season and look ahead to a season with no salary cap.

49ers bring back Wilhelm

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- The San Francisco 49ers have re-signed linebacker Matt Wilhelm to a one-year contract, keeping him from becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Wilhelm joined the Niners, coming off an 8-8 season, on Oct. 19 after Jeff Ulbrich was placed on season-ending injured reserve because of a concussion.

The 29-year-old Wilhelm was in training camp with the Philadelphia Eagles last year before being released. He spent the 2003-08 seasons with San Diego, which let him go a week before their first full-squad practice of training camp in 2009.

Wilhelm has 258 tackles, six interceptions and two sacks while playing in 82 games with 22 starts during his seven-year NFL career. He was a fourth-round draft pick by the Chargers in 2003.

Seahawks to slightly raise ticket prices

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Seahawks are asking fans who are renewing season tickets to pay a little bit more in 2010 even though the team is coming off consecutive losing seasons.

The Seahawks recently sent season-ticket holders renewal information that asks for an average of a 3 percent increase in ticket prices over 2009. The largest per-seat renewal increase is $5 per game.

Seattle did not increase season-ticket prices in 2009, but did charge approximately 6,000 new season-ticket holders more for their seats.

In 2010, the team will have two levels of renewal pricing: one for those who held tickets before 2009 and those who bought season tickets for the first time last season.

Linebacker Ellison, three others tendered offers by Bills

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- The Buffalo Bills have tendered contract offers to retain the rights to four players, including linebacker Keith Ellison.

Ellison, who missed the final eight games last season with a quadriceps injury, has been a reliable role player in four seasons with the Bills. He's a contender to start in a revamped 3-4 defense being installed by new coach Chan Gailey.

The Bills on Thursday also tendered offers to safety George Wilson, cornerback Ashton Youboty and tight end Derek Schouman.

The moves were made a day before the NFL's free-agency period begins.

Patriots release tight end Baker

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Patriots have released tight end Chris Baker, who had 14 receptions and two touchdowns last season.

New England signed the eight-year NFL veteran as a free agent in March 2009. He played in all 16 games last season, with seven starts. He had 142 receiving yards.

Baker has 159 career receptions for 1,746 yards and 14 touchdowns. He was a third-round draft pick by the New York Jets in 2002 from Michigan State.

Bucs release Bidwell, two others

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released punters Josh Bidwell and Dirk Johnson and reserve cornerback Torrie Cox.

Bidwell spent six seasons with the Bucs after joining them as an unrestricted free agent in 2004.

Johnson appeared in 11 games last season, filling in for the injured Bidwell, who did not play after undergoing season-ending hip surgery.

Cox was a sixth-round draft pick of the Bucs in 2003. He played mostly on special teams.

Titans offer tenders to six restriced free agents

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Titans are sliding quietly into free agency.

With a handful of veterans hitting the market at 12:01 a.m. Friday, the Titans' biggest move in the hours before the start of free agency was agreeing to terms with their long snapper, Ken Amato. They also offered tenders to six restricted free agents, including defensive tackle Tony Brown and tight end Bo Scaife.

That means veterans such as linebacker Keith Bulluck, tight end Alge Crumpler, defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch and center Kevin Mawae were among eight Titans ready to test the market. It's part of the Titans' youth movement, which continued in February when they signed left guard Eugene Amano to a five-year deal.

"What it does is it shows in a lot of situations we've done a good job drafting and we have had players developing and it is now time for them to step up and be productive," coach Jeff Fisher said during the NFL combine.

Texans tender Pro Bowl linebacker Ryans

HOUSTON -- The Houston Texans have tendered offers to Pro Bowl middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans and six other restricted free agents.

Ryans, the 2006 Defensive Rookie of Year, had 123 tackles and a sack last season.

The other Texans offered deals Thursday were tight end Owen Daniels, strong safety Bernard Pollard, defensive end Tim Bulman, tackle Rashad Butler, running back Ryan Moats and guard Chris White.

Pollard joined the team in late September and immediately stepped into a starting role to become a key piece of Houston's improving defense. He had 102 tackles, 1½ sacks and four interceptions to help the Texans to their first winning season.

NFL loses bid to move doping case to federal court

MINNEAPOLIS -- The NFL has lost a last-minute bid to have a federal court hear lawsuits by two Minnesota Vikings facing suspension for using a banned substance.

U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson denied the league's request to move the lawsuits filed by defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams out of state court, where a trial is to begin Monday.

In his order, Magnuson said the NFL's request "seems calculated only to avoid trial" and "borders on abuse of process."

The Williamses -- who are not related -- tested positive in 2008 for the banned substance bumetanide, a diuretic that can mask the presence of steroids. They are not accused of taking steroids. They sued the NFL, arguing the league's testing violated Minnesota labor law.

Accused Canadian doctor resigns from CFL's Argos

TORONTO -- A doctor accused of selling an unapproved drug has resigned as team doctor of the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts.

thony Galea resigned in early February after working for the team since 2003, Argos spokeswoman Beth Waldman said Thursday. She said she doesn't know the reason for the Canadian doctor's resignation.

"Dr. Galea resigned as our team doctor so we're no longer associated with him," Waldman said.

Galea is facing four charges in Canada related to the drug known as Actovegin. The drug is extracted from calf's blood and used for healing. Galea's assistant also has been charged in the U.S. for having HGH and another drug while crossing the border in September.