FOXBOROUGH (AP) — The New England Patriots re-signed unrestricted free agent linebacker Tully Banta-Cain on Friday, the first day of free agency, keeping their top pass rusher in the fold for another three years.
"I had some calls from my agent last night that we were going to try to get it done," Banta-Cain said in a conference call with reporters. "I was hopeful it would get done and it did. I'm happy about that."
Banta-Cain played for the Patriots' last two Super Bowl teams in 2004 and '05, before going to San Francisco as an unrestricted free agent in 2007. After two seasons, the 49ers released him and he re-signed with New England.
Last year, he had a career-high 10 sacks and 60 total tackles while starting 10 games.
"I was honored to have the opportunity to come back," he said. "Not many people get the opportunity to come back to where they started. I really wanted to make the most of the season. Despite the way things turned out for the team, I was able to have a significant role.
"It was a great experience to come back. Now I'm really looking forward to my future here."
CHICAGO — Julius Peppers is no longer a Carolina Panther.
The five-time Pro Bowl defensive end has joined the Chicago Bears, ESPN reported yesterday, agreeing to a six-year, $72 million deal calls for him to earn $40 million over the first three years. ESPN cited a source it did not identify and Peppers' agent, Carl Carey, did not return messages left by The Associated Press.
The Bears declined comment but did schedule a news conference for Friday afternoon.
Signing Peppers would be the biggest move on a busy day for the Bears, who also lured running back Chester Taylor from NFC North champion Minnesota with a four-year contract. The deal is worth $12.5 million with $7 million guaranteed, according to a person with knowledge of the negotiation. The person spoke to the AP on the condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced.
By landing one of the league's top pass rushers and a running back who could challenge incumbent Matt Forte, Chicago showed just how serious it is about contending in the NFC after missing the playoffs the past three years.
General manager Jerry Angelo and coach Lovie Smith are operating on a win-or-else mandate from above after a 7-9 season that left many in Chicago calling for sweeping changes.
BALTIMORE — The Baltimore Ravens couldn't pass up the opportunity to add a talented pass catcher to their roster: three-time Pro Bowl standout Anquan Boldin.
Baltimore obtained Boldin from the Arizona Cardinals on Friday for a third- and fourth-round pick in the 2010 draft. The 29-year-old Boldin has amassed at least 1,000 yards receiving in five of his seven seasons, including 1,024 yards on 84 catches last season.
Boldin received a new four-year, $28 million deal with Baltimore in which $10 million is guaranteed. He was to set to earn $3 million next season, the last of the four-year, $22.5 million deal he signed with Arizona after the 2005 season.
NEW YORK — Antonio Cromartie hung up the phone and got excited.
After speaking to Rex Ryan and some of his new Jets teammates, the cornerback was leaving San Diego, putting all his issues behind him and getting a fresh start.
"I think this is going to work out for me and the Jets organization," Cromartie said Friday. "I'm not going to let them down in any way."
That's what the Jets are banking on after acquiring the talented but troubled Cromartie from the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night. The deal reportedly was for a conditional third-round draft pick in 2011 that could become a second-rounder based on his production.
"We felt like the risk was reasonable, given the price we had to pay," general manager Mike Tannenbaum said, "and we really think he has some great years ahead of him."
Cromartie said he was already welcomed to the team by quarterback Mark Sanchez, among others. He'll team with Darrelle Revis to give New York possibly the NFL's best cornerback tandem.
"I'm looking forward to that," Cromartie said. "I'm going to be on the other side of the No. 1 corner in the NFL. Just being next to him and working out with him during the offseason and getting ready going into the season is going to help out tremendously."
That means the defense that was ranked No. 1 in the league is going to get a lot tougher.
"He'll fit perfectly into our system," Ryan said. "Now, we don't necessarily have to always put Revis on the toughest guy. We can switch it up."
Cromartie was considered one of the rising talents in the league in 2007, when he was an All-Pro in his second season after getting an NFL-leading 10 interceptions, but has struggled since — both on and off the field.
"None of us are perfect," Tannenbaum said. "We understand that there are some things that need to get resolved here. We just felt like the problems are fixable."
Cromartie's tackling has been an issue, as well as his attitude, but Cromartie vows to improve. He also is dealing with paternity issues: Cromartie has fathered seven children by women in five states.
"I made some wrong decisions in my first two years in the NFL and now I have to take on that responsibility of being a father to my kids," he said. "That's what I have to do."
The 25-year-old Cromartie also had a bar patron claim that he hit him in the head with a champagne bottle hours after the team's victory at Denver last November. San Diego police later said there was not enough evidence to prove the claim.
