Official NFL Free Agent Signings Thread

[That Guy]

Texans | Casserly feels Neal was never really a free agent
Sun, 2 Apr 2006 10:28:18 -0700

Ron Borges, of the Boston Globe, reports Houston Texans general manager Charley Casserly felt agent Jonathan Hurst never really allowed New England Patriots OL Stephen Neal to truly become a free agent. Casserly was among several teams pursuing Neal and he thought the Texans had a good chance of landing him. Casserly grew suspicious of the legitimacy of Neal's free agency after Hurst canceled a meeting with the Texans. According to Casserly, Hurst told him, ''It's just not going to work out." Casserly asked how it could since the team had yet to meet with Neal or make a formal offer. When Hurst refused to bring Neal to Houston, Casserly said he was going to call the player directly. ''I left a message on his cell phone," Casserly said. Neal never returned the call and he re-signed with the Patriots for what Casserly said was less money than the Texans would have offered him.

Buccaneers | Gruden hopes to get Phil Simms involved with team
Sun, 2 Apr 2006 11:02:37 -0700

Stephen Holder, of the St. Petersburg Times, reports Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Jon Gruden is hoping to get former QB Phil Simms involved with the team. Gruden said, "He doesn't come around. We're trying to get him to come around some more because I'd like to be around Phil Simms. He gives me confidence being around guys like that." Simms works with CBS during the season and prefers to stay in the background. Gruden added, "I'm trying to encourage him to get a little closer to the situation because I think he could help us."