Bills: RB Spiller leaving town

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - On the same evening that found the Bills trade for running back LeSean McCoy from the Eagles, Bills running back C.J. Spiller has announced he will not return to the team next season.

He was told of the trade by Willie McGinest, host of NFL Total Access on the NFL Network, on which he was appearing, and minutes later received a telephone call from the Bills to inform him of the swap.

He had said previously that he was open to rejoining the team.

"I hoped that I could return [to Buffalo]," Spiller told the network. "Very few guys get to play their whole career at one team, but unfortunately that doesn't happen in this business and I found out today it doesn't happen in this business."

With the new hole in the Eagles backfield courtesy of the McCoy trade, Spiller wondered aloud if he could fill that spot.

"I'm pretty sure that Chip [Kelly] has my agent's phone number, so I'm pretty sure we might have to make a call over there," he said.

"I've never been in that type of system before," he said of Kelly's up-tempo scheme, "but I don't think I'd have any problem adjusting to it."

Spiller was slowed by injuries this season, carrying 78 times for 300 yards in nine appearances for Buffalo, though in a five-year career, all with the Bills, he has 12 touchdowns on 3,321 yards. 

Eagles trade McCoy to Bills for LB

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. - The Buffalo Bills and Philadelphia Eagles have agreed in principle to a trade that will send running back LeSean McCoy to Buffalo and linebacker Kiko Alonso to Philadelphia, according to multiple sources.

The trade will become official next week when the league year begins on March 10, Adam Schefter of ESPN has reported.

"I just spoke with the Eagles organization and there is no trade for LeSean at this time. There have been discussions but nothing finalized," McCoy's agent Drew Rosenhaus said in a tweet near 6 p.m. on Tuesday evening.

McCoy finished third in football last season, rushing for 1,319 yards on 312 attempts for 5 touchdowns, and will seek to aid a Bills backfield that averaged only 25th in rushing in 2014. 

He is signed with the Eagles through 2017 and was due an estimated $9.75 million next season, giving the team a $11.95 million cap hit.

Alonzo will seek to insert himself into an Eagles defensive backfield that this week saw the departure of cornerback Cary Williams and ten-year veteran outside linebacker Trent Cole.

Those cuts gave the Eagles $31.75 million against their salary cap, and Alonzo is still subject to his rookie contract, giving him $4.3 million over four seasons through 2016.

Alonzo missed all of last season with a torn ACL for Buffalo, though the season prior placed second in Rookie Defensive Player of the Year voting. He played college football at Oregon for current Eagles head coach Chip Kelly.

In 2013, Alonzo started all 16 games for the Bills, recording a team-best 159 tackles, adding 2 sacks, a forced fumble, two recovered fumbles, and four interceptions.

Buffalo added former Jets head coach Rex Ryan to the same position in the offseason and are looking to improve on a 9-7 record. Philadelphia finished 10-6 for the second straight season.

Eagles to release LB Cole

PHILADELPHIA - Outside linebacker Trent Cole will likely be released by the Eagles after neither side could agree on a new extension for the ten-year veteran, a league source told Adam Caplan of ESPN.

His cap number was expected to be $11.6 million next season, an amount the Eagles deemed to high as head coach Chip Kelly, now in charge of personnel decisions, is carving his way through cap space as the team expects to be a major player in the coming free agency period.

Caplan reports Cole will be let go on Wednesday, before the free agency period begins at 4 p.m. Eastern time next Tuesday.

Cole was selected by Philadelphia in the fifth-round of the 2005 NFL Draft from Cincinnati, and has racked up 569 career tackles, 19 forced fumbles, and an interception. 

Cowboys: WR Beasley signed for 4 yrs

IRVING, Tex. - Wide receiver Cole Beasley and the Dallas Cowboys agreed to a four-year contract on Tuesday, a day after Dez Bryant was given the franchise tag by the team, according to multiple reports.

The deal is reportedly worth nearly $14 million for the former SMU standout, with $7 million guaranteed, though possible incentives could add $1.5 million. 

Beasley, who was set to become a restricted free agent, will also receive a $4 million signing bonus.

He caught 37 passes for 421 yards last season, adding four touchdowns during the Cowboys' 5-1 stretch to close out the regular season, a 12-4 campaign that found the team advance to the NFC Divisional Round. Another 101 yards came on seven receptions in two postseason games against Detroit and Green Bay.

"He's quick, he's fast, he's explosive, and he's strong," head coach Jason Garrett said of Beasley. "He's a sneaky guy cause when he walks in, he looks like the paperboy. He does. He's like, 'hey, give me my $3.85 for the last seven days.' He's something else. He just has a knack about him and I think people do under-appreciate how physically talented he is."

In three seasons with the club, he has 91 receptions for 916 yards.

Eagles release CB Williams

PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles have released cornerback Cary Williams, according to multiple sources.

Williams would have cost the Eagles $6.5 million against the salary cap, according to salary records of the NFLPA. A free agent in 2013, he signed a three-year, $17 million deal.

His departure will ensure at least one open space in the Eagles' defensive backfield, though corner Bradley Fletcher and safety Nate Allen are both set to try the free agency market, leaving safety Malcolm Jenkins the only man under contract for Philadelphia in the deep part of the field.

Williams started every game of the past two seasons (32), notching 126 tackles and 5 interceptions on over 1,100 snaps, in a six-year career recording 306 tackles and 9 picks. 

Eagles sign LB Brad Jones

PHILADELPHIA - Former Packers linebacker Brad Jones signed with the Eagles on Monday, the team's first free agent signing, according to sources.

Jones started 36 games for the Packers, playing in 76 total contests, after being drafted in the seventh-round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He featured at the outside position for three seasons before being moved inside for 22 games.

Inside is where the Eagles are hoping he will provide some help after long-time starter DeMeco Ryans missed the latter half of last season with a torn Achilles tendon. 

And his replacement, Casey Matthews, will become an unrestricted free agent after starting 11 games for the Eagles last year.

"I came out here and I think that I kind of immediately knew that the atmosphere out here is different than anywhere else," he told Eagles.com. "The things that are going here, with the staff and with the players, it's completely different than any other organization I've been with. I'm excited."

Jones has 258 tackles, 10 sacks, and and two forced fumbles (1 recovery) in a six-year career.

"I think the group of guys and the coaching staff, just everybody [in Philadelphia], it's a different feeling out here," he said. "It's good, it's unique, and I wanted to be a part of it."

Eagles will not tag WR Maclin

PHILADELPHIA - The Eagles decided they will not apply the franchise tag to wide receiver Jeremy Maclin at the deadline on Monday, according to multiple sources.

Maclin need not enter the free agency market right away, however, as the Eagles are the only team that is allowed to deal with him in the coming week before other teams are allowed to on March 10.

Were Maclin tagged, he would be guaranteed a one-year tender worth at least $12.71 million, all guaranteed money.

Maclin said on Saturday at a local team appearance that he wanted to remain with the Eagles following a vastly improved 2014 campaign after missing the preceding season with a torn ACL. He played this past season on a year-long, $5.25 million deal signed when he was injured.

He ranked first on the team last season with 85 receptions for 1,318 yards and 10 touchdowns in Philadelphia's 10-6 outing. 

He is interested in a four-year, $39 million arrangement, per Pro Football Talk, similar to the one the Packers signed receiver Jordy Nelson to last season.

Steelers cut Lance Moore

PITTSBURGH - Wide receiver Lance Moore was released by the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday, according to the Post-Gazette and other sources. 

Moore caught only 14 passes for 198 yards and two touchdowns last season, his only with the Steelers after eight seasons with the Saints, including a Super Bowl XLIV championship.

The team was relieved of his $1.5 million paycheck with the release, though a $435,000 player minimum will net the franchise a saving of just over $1 million. 

Moore, a Toledo product, has suited up for 115 games in his career (32 starts), and has 360 receptions to his name for 4,479 yards and 40 touchdowns.

Giants release center J.D. Walton

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New York Giants on Monday released center J.D. Walton, a 16 game starter last season, according to the team website.

Walton was drafted 80th overall out of Baylor in the 2010 Draft by the Broncos, but was sidelined with a dislocated ankle two years later. He was claimed off waivers by the Redskins in 2013 before joining New York on March 12 of last year.

Cutting him frees up $3 million of cap room for the Giants, who are seeking an upgrade at the position, and on Monday assigned a $14.8 million franchise tag to defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

Walton has started all 52 regular season contests of his career, as well as two postseason appearances.

Patriots: Gostkowski more likely for tag than McCourty

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Should the New England Patriots apply the franchise tag to anyone before the 4 p.m deadline on Monday, it is more likely to be given to kicker Stephen Gostkowski than star safety Jason McCourty, according to ESPN and other sources.

Gostkowski's tag is estimated to be around $4.5 million, compared to McCourty's projected $9.5 million, according to Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com.

Both players were named All-Pros last season, Gostkowski missing only two field goals and finishing perfect on extra points.

"I've thought about all different scenarios, "McCourty said on Feb. 25, "whether I'm here or whether I'm somewhere else. At this point, I don't have a contract, so it could happen that I could be playing somewhere else. It would be crazy not to think that."

McCourty, considered the best safety on the market, began his career at cornerback before moving full-time to safety in 2013, securing two interceptions last season for the Super Bowl champions.

Not tagging McCourty could give the Patriots room to sign cornerback Darrelle Revis an expected $20 million ($25m cap number) next season, or to sign him to an extension for more money.

New England has twice before used the franchise tag, both times on kicker Adam Vinatieri in 2002 and '05.

Giants tag DE Pierre-Paul

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - After not being able to come to a long-term agreement, the New York Giants on Monday placed the franchise tag on defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul.

The move came after several weeks of rumors to that effect. Pierre-Paul can sign a franchise tender and play next year on a one-year deal for a guaranteed $14.8 million, then either enter free agency or be franchised again for a reported $17.8 million.

The tag is non-exclusive, meaning another club can arrange a deal to sign the five-year man from South Florida, giving the Giants seven days to match such an offer. Should they not, the team signing him must surrender two first-round draft picks as compensation.

The first-round pick from 2010 will account for roughly $15 million against the salary cap next season, after racking up 12.5 sacks and 77 total tackles last season.

Cowboys will tag WR Dez Bryant

IRVING, Tex. - The Dallas Cowboys will assign the franchise tag to Dez Bryant, keeping the All-Pro wide receiver from testing the open market, team vice president Stephen Jones confirmed on Monday.

The team will inform the league of their decision by the 4 p.m deadline, ensuring Bryant will earn nearly $13 million next season.

Bryant said in the offseason he would be "highly disappointed" if he received the tag, which is the fifth all-time in Cowboys history.

Jones mentioned at the Combine last month that a potential tag would be a "placeholder" between the two sides before they would ideally reach a long-term deal to keep Bryant with the club.

The team met with Bryant's agents, Tom Condon of CAA and Kim Miale of Roc Nation, last tuesday, per Todd Archer of ESPN, though no party believes a deal will be forthcoming by March 10, the first day of free agency.

In five seasons with Dallas, Bryant recorded 381 receptions for 5,424 yards and 56 touchdowns, the most catches, yards, and scores by any Cowboy in franchise history.

Lions will not tag Suh

ALLEN PARK, Mich. - Defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh was deemed worthy the $26.9 million he would cost the Detroit Lions next season, so on Monday the team decided they would not place the franchise tag on him, according to Tim Twentyman of the Lions website.

Suh will instead become an unrestricted free agent come March 10, and will gauge his value by testing the market for potential suitors elsewhere.

He featured on a Lions front that ranked tops in the league against the run, second overall, and third in scoring.

He and his agent, Jimmy Sexton, have been involved in negotiations over the past few months on a potential long-term deal, but are yet to secure any agreements. The likely number for such a deal would be around $100 million.

Texans defensive end J.J. Watt signed a six-year, $100 million ($51.8m guaranteed) deal last season, an all-time record for a defensive player.

Leading the league last season with 8.5 sacks, Suh has started all 78 games with Detroit since being drafted from Nebraska as the second overall pick in 2010.

Browns QB Josh McCown feels Cleveland's pain

BEREA, Ohio - Running true to their awkward tradition since returning to the league in 1999, the Cleveland Browns on Friday signed another quarterback to their fledgling eleven.

Josh McCown, the latest name to be added to a long and beleaguered lineage, on Sunday told the Northeast Ohio Media Group that he knows how people may be confused by his signing.

"I get it," he said. "I understand people's perceptions of me. I don't back off it or shy away from [his 1-10 record last season with Tampa]. I understand people's frustration. But my mindset is to come in here, grow, and improve as a football player, and help this team win football games."

Winning football games looked to be a surprisingly pleasant fate last season for the Browns, who, behind hometown signal caller Brian Hoyer, jumped out to a 6-3 record and the first-place spot in the AFC North before a 1-6 collapse down the stretch, being outscored 167-88.

The addition of McCown, and a three-year, $14 million contract ($6.25m guaranteed), likely spells the departure of Hoyer, who on March 10 will become a free agent.

"I met Brian a few years ago at a workout for the Giants and I was impressed with him and I've rooted for him from afar especially with what he went through a couple of years ago with the knee and to come back this year," McCown said. "I love stories like that. It's awesome. I'm a fan of Brian and I like his work ethic. It's been a great story of him playing right there in his hometown."

McCown also spoke to the example he hopes to bring to backup Johnny Manziel, still currently in rehab.

"Johnny is a person," he said, "and every person that I come across has value to me and they matter, and so I want to help him as much as I can with all parts of it, but to grow as a person and as a player and to help him go on and have a fruitful career.

"Just life in general is too short to go through it alone or just looking out for yourself all the time," he said. "So if you can give up yourself to others to help someone else in their journey, I just think you'll find so much more peace in life. So that's my approach when I head into a quarterback room. It's just what can I give back to the guys around me to help us be better? Because ultimately it's going to help our team."

The 35-year-old Texas native had visited with the Jets, Bears, and Bills, and was negotiating with Buffalo and Cleveland before signing with the latter. 

"I just want to serve our team and help everybody in that locker room, do my best to help everybody in the locker room be better at their job, and they're going to help me, too," he said. "I'm just excited about coming in and being a part of a team."

McCown was responsible for 18 turnovers last season with the Buccaneers, tossing 14 interceptions, though in 2013 with the Bears, added 13 touchdowns and only one pick. 

In a 12-year career, he has 61 touchdowns and 59 interceptions and a 17-32 record.

Eagles' WR Maclin: "I want to be here"

PHILADELPHIA - Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin is still confident he and the team can agree to a deal before free agency begins on March 10, according to Philly.com and other sources.

"I've always said I want to be here in Philadelphia, but I've also always said I understand it's a business," Maclin told the Daily News on Saturday at a team appearance. "Both sides have made it known that we both want each other back, so the rest of it is in God's hands. If it's supposed to happen, it'll happen. I want to be here."

The Eagles can give Maclin the franchise tag before the deadline on Monday until the two work out a multi-year deal, though as of yet there is little negligible talk of that happening. The six-year veteran is coming off a one-year, $5.5 million deal this season signed when he was nursing a torn ACL.

"It's part of the business," Maclin said when asked about being tagged. "I'm very attuned to what's going on, I'm very attuned to how everything works. My side and the Eagles, if we're going to come to a head, we will."

Maclin rebounded from his time off last season, snagging 10 touchdowns on 1,318 yards, all team-best marks, in the Eagles' 10-6 campaign.

There has been speculation, too, that Maclin could reunite with former Eagles coach Andy Reid in Kansas City, to join a Chiefs side in need of skill at the wide receiver position.

"You don't really know what's out there until free agency starts," Maclin said of the Chiefs talk. "I know on paper what teams look like they need receivers. I also understand, this is the place I want to be. We'll see what happens."