FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons signed safety Rich Coady on Monday, another low-key acquisition for the team that reached the NFC championship game last season.
The 29-year-old Coady has spent all but one of his six NFL seasons with St. Louis, starting five games for the Rams in 2004. He played in all 16 games and finished with 44 tackles.
Atlanta has signed most of its key players to long-term contracts, including the richest deal in NFL history for quarterback Michael Vick. But that strategy came with a downside - little money to spend under the salary cap.
The Falcons have actually subtracted more than they've added since the beginning of free agency, cutting two defensive starters, tackle Ed Jasper and safety Cory Hall, along with backup end Travis Hall.
Atlanta did re-sign Pro Bowl return specialist Allen Rossum and picked up kicker Todd Peterson, moves formally announced Monday.
Peterson, who connected on nearly 82 percent of his field goal attempts with the San Francisco 49ers last season, is making a homecoming of sorts. The 11-year veteran played at Georgia and went to training camp with the Falcons in 1994, but failed to beat out Norm Johnson.
Peterson replaces Jay Feely, the Falcons' kicker the past four seasons. He signed Monday with the New York Giants.
Patriots re-sign fullback Pass, hire assistant coach
FOXBORO, Mass. -- The New England Patriots re-signed fullback Patrick Pass, an unrestricted free agent.
Also, the Patriots hired former Atlanta Falcons offensive coordinator Pete Mangurian as the tight ends coach. Mangurian has 25 years of experience, including three as the head coach at Cornell.
Used primarily as a blocker, Pass had 39 carries for 151 yards and 28 catches for 215 yards -- all career bests -- last season for the Super Bowl champions. His 39 rushes were more than his first four seasons combined, and third on the team.
Pass was a seventh-round pick in the 2000 draft. He has run 68 times for 319 yards and caught 42 passes for 319 yards in five seasons. He also has 34 kickoff returns for 714 yards and 42 tackles on special teams.
Steelers re-sign cornerback Williams for two years
PITTSBURGH -- Cornerback Willie Williams re-signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers for another two years.
The unrestricted free agent started the final 10 regular-season games last season and both playoff games after starting cornerback Chad Scott injured his knee Oct. 17 against Dallas. Williams finished the season with 57 tackles, one sack and one interception.
Next year will mark Williams' 13th NFL season. He was drafted by the Steelers in 1993 in the sixth round and spent several years with the Seattle Seahawks before returning to Pittsburgh in 2004.
Washington, special-teams ace Sellers agree to deal
ASHBURN, Va. -- The Washington Redskins agreed to terms with special teams ace and backup H-back Mike Sellers.
Sellers finished second on the team with 29 special teams tackles last season. He also had one reception for 14 yards and will return as the backup to H-back Chris Cooley.
Sellers entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Redskins in 1998. After two seasons in Washington, he played for the Cleveland Browns for two seasons and then spent two seasons with Winnipeg in the Canadian Football League.
He has 25 catches for 274 yards and six touchdowns in 54 career NFL games.
Cardinals keep back Hambrick with two-year contract
TEMPE, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals re-signed running back Troy Hambrick for two years.
Hambrick, who has spent most of his career in the shadow of Emmitt Smith, signed a one-year contract with Oakland before last season. The Raiders traded him and defensive end Peppi Zellner to the Cardinals for a conditional 2005 draft pick on Aug. 31.
Hambrick, seeing limited action behind Smith, ran for 283 yards and one touchdown in 63 carries before he sprained his foot against Carolina on Nov. 21. Three days later, he was placed on injured reserve.
The Dallas Cowboys acquired Hambrick as an undrafted rookie in 2000, and he was Smith's backup for three years. But he beat out Smith in 2003 and gained 972 yards on 275 attempts, rushing for five TDs, as a 16-game starter for Dallas.
