Another day of player signings and releases brought with it several significant developments on the defensive side of the ball, including some big moves at the linebacker position, so without further adieu let’s get to it. – The Detroit Lions, who apparently never had the warm and fuzzies about slotting linebacker DeAndre Levy in the middle, agreed to terms on a one year, $3.25 million contract with free agent LB Stephen Tulloch, who was second in the NFL with 160 [...]

The Nashville Tennessean reports that the Titans have agreed to terms with free agent linebacker Barrett Ruud on a one year contract. The 28 year old Ruud, who has played his entire six year carer with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, had 118 tackles, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception in 2010. The Ball Says: Ruud’s not an imposing athlete (as the apparent lack of suitors for his services would seem to bear out), but he’s a smart, steady, [...]

Well, the NFL’s been back in business for less than a week, and already there’s been enough news and player movement to give you a severe case of vertigo. The deluge caused Gary to sprain both his thumbs banging out IDP Updates (either that or he’s passed out stinking drunk, whatever), and he asked me to fill you in on some of the IDP stories of the past couple days. We have a lot of ground to cover, so here [...]

Cleveland linebacker D’Qwell Jackson recently told the Akron Beacon-Journal that he will be the starting middle linebacker in the Browns new 4-3 defense in 2011. Jackson, a sixth year veteran who missed the entire 2010 season with a torn pectoral muscle, said “Right now, they’re saying (I’ll play) Mike backer.” The Ball Says: This refutes earlier reports that had Chris Gocong penciled in as the starting MIKE and Jackson at WILL. Jackson is only 27 years old and led the [...]

The Houston Texans made some significant improvements to their beleaguered secondary on Thursday, signing free agent cornerback Johnathan Joseph to a five year, $48.75 million contract (including $23.5 million guaranteed and a whopping $12.5 million signing bonus) and inking safety Danieal Manning to a four year, $20 million deal, according to a report in the Houston Chronicle. Joseph, 27, had 42 tackles and three interceptions in 12 games for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2010, while Manning logged 72 tackles and [...]

The Indianapolis Star reports that linebacker Clint Session has signed a 5 year, $30 million contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The 26 year-old Session, who had 38 tackles and a sack in 2010 for the Indianapolis Colts before an elbow injury cut short his season, will receive $11.5 million in guarantees, and replaces the departed Justin Durant on the weak side for the Jaguars. The Ball Says: Session has something of an injury history, but he’s a solid tackler who [...]

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports that the Eagles have agreed to contract terms on a 5 year, $28 million deal with Pro Bowl defensive end Jason Babin. Babin, who had 58 tackles, 12.5 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles in 2010 while a member of the Tennessee Titans, will reportedly receive between $5-6 million in guarantees. The Ball Says: There is some risk involved in signing a 31-year old defensive end coming off by far the best season of his career (he [...]

The Carolina Panthers have signed SLB James Anderson and WLB Thomas Davis each to five year contracts as reported by WCCB-TV in Charlotte. The 27 year old Anderson had a career-high 130 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception, and 2 forced fumbles last year, while the 28 year-old Davis missed the entire 2010 campaign with a torn ACL. The Ball Says: Anderson finished in the Top 10 among linebackers in 2010 in Default IDP Manor Scoring, but it’s unlikely he can [...]

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the Chargers have made free safety Eric Weddle the NFL’s highest paid player at his position, signing the fifth-year pro to a five year, $40 million contact with $19 million guaranteed. Weddle, 26, had 95 tackles, half a sack, and two interceptions for San Diego in 2010. The Ball Says: Another big payday keeps a defensive standout put, and although it was nowhere near a certainty that Weddle would remain with the Bolts, teams [...]

Defensive end Charles Johnson, who had a career-high 11.5 sacks for the Carolina Panthers a season ago, has agreed to a six year, $72 million contract to remain with the Panthers, according to a report in the Spartanburg Herald-Journal. The 25 year-old Johnson, who chipped in 62 tackles and a forced fumble in 2010, will receive $30 million in guaranteed money. The Ball Says: The Panthers weren’t expected to let Johnson walk, and while the money’s a bit mind-blowing it’s [...]