OMEN
03-19-2006, 10:38 PM
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- The Green Bay Packers made one free-agency catch official on Friday and were working to reel in another one.
The Packers announced the signing of former St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Ryan Pickett to a multi-year contract. And the team brought in free agent placekicker Adam Vinatieri for a visit, an NFL source confirmed.
The source, who requested anonymity because no deal had been struck with Vinatieri, said the kicker was in Green Bay on Friday. Messages left with Packers general manager Ted Thompson and Vinatieri's agent, Neil Cornrich, were not immediately returned.
Pickett, a 6-foot-2, 322-pound defensive tackle out of Ohio State, led all NFL defensive linemen with 115 tackles in 2005.
Pickett entered the draft as a junior in 2001, and the Rams took him 29th overall in the first round.
In five seasons, Pickett, 26, has 401 career tackles (192 solo), 5 1/2 sacks and 17 passes defensed. He has played in 79 consecutive games, including the playoffs.
The Packers also re-signed defensive end Aaron Kampman on Saturday.
Vinatieri, who kicked two Super Bowl-winning field goals for the Patriots, got a chance to test the free agency market after New England declined to protect him with the franchise player tag.
The designation would have forced the team to give Vinatieri a one-year, $3 million offer. Without the tag, the team will not be compensated if he signs with someone else.
Vinatieri, 33, has been named the team's franchise player twice, including last year, when he was paid $2.5 million.
Also Friday, the team signed linebacker Tracy White and released linebacker John Leake. White played in 15 games last season for Jacksonville as a reserve linebacker and special-teams contributor. The 6-foot, 236-pound player had six coverage tackles.
Associated Press.
The Packers announced the signing of former St. Louis Rams defensive tackle Ryan Pickett to a multi-year contract. And the team brought in free agent placekicker Adam Vinatieri for a visit, an NFL source confirmed.
The source, who requested anonymity because no deal had been struck with Vinatieri, said the kicker was in Green Bay on Friday. Messages left with Packers general manager Ted Thompson and Vinatieri's agent, Neil Cornrich, were not immediately returned.
Pickett, a 6-foot-2, 322-pound defensive tackle out of Ohio State, led all NFL defensive linemen with 115 tackles in 2005.
Pickett entered the draft as a junior in 2001, and the Rams took him 29th overall in the first round.
In five seasons, Pickett, 26, has 401 career tackles (192 solo), 5 1/2 sacks and 17 passes defensed. He has played in 79 consecutive games, including the playoffs.
The Packers also re-signed defensive end Aaron Kampman on Saturday.
Vinatieri, who kicked two Super Bowl-winning field goals for the Patriots, got a chance to test the free agency market after New England declined to protect him with the franchise player tag.
The designation would have forced the team to give Vinatieri a one-year, $3 million offer. Without the tag, the team will not be compensated if he signs with someone else.
Vinatieri, 33, has been named the team's franchise player twice, including last year, when he was paid $2.5 million.
Also Friday, the team signed linebacker Tracy White and released linebacker John Leake. White played in 15 games last season for Jacksonville as a reserve linebacker and special-teams contributor. The 6-foot, 236-pound player had six coverage tackles.
Associated Press.