NFL notebook: Saints owner Benson dies

Tom Benson, the longtime owner of the New Orleans Saints, died Thursday. He was 90. Benson passed away peacefully at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans with his wife at his side, the team announced in a statement. The owner of the Saints since 1985, Benson had been hospitalized with the flu since Feb. 16. Although the team reported Benson's condition was improving in early March, he took a downturn recently, the Times-Picayune of New Orleans reported. Benson, who also owns the NBA's New Orleans Pelicans, helped to revive a Saints franchise that had never had a winning season at the time of his purchase. New Orleans went 12-3 in 1987 -- its first winning season since its inception in 1967 -- and reached the postseason for the first time. Under his ownership, the Saints went to the postseason 11 times, earned six division titles and won Super Bowl XLIV following the 2009 season -- four years after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina that forced the team to play away from its home stadium for one season. --The Oakland Raiders made two significant moves at the wide receiver spot, signing free agent Jordy Nelson to a two-year deal and releasing wide receiver Michael Crabtree, multiple media outlets reported. Nelson, who was released by the Green Bay Packers earlier this week, agreed to a contract with the Raiders worth $15 million, with $13 million guaranteed, per NFL Network's James Jones. Nelson, who turns 33 in May, will replace the 30-year-old Crabtree, who will be released, according to ESPN. Crabtree was scheduled to make more than $7.7 million in base salary and bonuses in 2018. --The Raiders reached an agreement with former Pro Bowl running back Doug Martin, multiple outlets reported. Although the team did not disclose terms of the deal, the NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Martin received a one-year contract. The Raiders also brought in a fullback, agreeing to terms with Keith Smith. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the deal for Smith was two years and $4.2 million. --The Miami Dolphins, who were expected to release three-time Pro Bowl selection Mike Pouncey, prepared for the move by acquiring fellow center Daniel Kilgore from the San Francisco 49ers. The Dolphins weren't done, however, as they signed former four-time Pro Bowl guard Josh Sitton to a two-year deal, according to multiple outlets. The Chicago Bears declined to pick up an $8 million option to retain Sitton on Feb. 20. Kilgore was acquired along with a seventh-round pick (No. 227) in this year's draft in exchange for Miami's seventh-round selection (No. 223). Pouncey told the Palm Beach Post that he declined the Dolphins' request for him to take a pay cut. --Minutes after announcing the release of Jason McCourty, the Cleveland Browns instead traded the veteran cornerback to the New England Patriots. The Browns also sent a 2018 seventh-round draft pick to the Patriots in exchange for McCourty, who will join his twin brother Devin McCourty in the New England secondary. Cleveland received the Patriots' sixth-round draft choice in 2018 in the deal. Jason McCourty was among 10 players cut loose by the Cleveland on Thursday. His trade comes one day after the Browns reached agreement on a reported four-year deal with free-agent cornerback T.J. Carrie. --The Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to terms with free-agent tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, multiple outlets reported. The deal for Seferian-Jenkins is for two years and worth $10 million, according to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport. --The Washington Redskins apparently have retained the services of linebacker Zach Brown by reaching agreement on a three-year, $24 million deal, multiple media outlets. Brown, 28, has played on one-year contracts each of the past two seasons. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2016, when he had 97 solo tackles, 4.0 sacks and one interception while starting all 16 games for the Buffalo Bills. Last season with the Redskins, he started all 13 games in which he played and collected 84 solo tackles and 2.5 sacks. --The Carolina Panthers reached agreement on a three-year deal with defensive tackle Dontari Poe, multiple media outlets reported. The Charlette Observer reported the deal is worth $27 million, while NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported the contract will pay Poe between $9 million and $10 million per year. --Tight end Tyler Eifert has had an injury-plagued career, but the Cincinnati Bengals are going to keep him. Eifert agreed to a one-year deal with the Bengals, multiple media outlets reported Thursday, and NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reports that the contract carries a maximum value of $8 million. The Bengals also officially announced that they signed punter Kevin Huber to a three-year deal. --The Indianapolis Colts signed unrestricted free-agent defensive end Denico Autry to a contract, the team announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Colts, but multiple outlets reported that it is a three-year, $17.8 million contract with $6.5 million guaranteed. --Unrestricted free-agent cornerback Johnathan Joseph has agreed to a two-year contract extension with the Houston Texans, multiple outlets reported. Joseph, 33, who is two-time Pro Bowl selection, has spent his last seven seasons with the Texans after playing five years with the Cincinnati Bengals. --Houston Texans tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz has retired after sustaining three concussions last season. The Texans have placed Fiedorowicz on the reserve/retired list. The move allows the team to maintain the rights to the 26-year-old should he elect to resume his career. --The Jacksonville Jaguars officially signed wide receiver Donte Moncrief, guard Andrew Norwell, safeties Don Carey and Cody Davis and tight end Niles Paul to contracts, the team announced. --The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed nose tackle Beau Allen, the team announced. Allen will take the place of Chris Baker, who was released by Tampa Bay last month and subsequently signed by the Cincinnati Bengals. --The New England Patriots officially announced they acquired defensive tackle Danny Shelton from the Cleveland Browns. Although the Patriots did not release terms of the deal, the Browns announced that they sent Shelton and a fifth-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft to New England in exchange for a third-round selection in 2019. --Offensive lineman Jermon Bushrod agreed to a deal to return to the New Orleans Saints, multiple outlets reported. The versatile Bushrod has been the starting right guard for the Miami Dolphins over the last two seasons. --The Kansas City Chiefs signed punter Dustin Colquitt to a three-year contract, his agent announced over social media. Per CAA Football, the contract is worth $7.5 million and could increase to $9 million with incentives. --Linebacker Jerry Attaochu signed a one-year contract with the San Francisco 49ers, according to his representatives. SportsTrust Advisors posted the signing on its Twitter account. Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network, citing a source, reported the deal was worth up to $5.125 million, including $2.5 million fully guaranteed. --Quarterback Kirk Cousins was officially signed by the Minnesota Vikings. Although the team did not disclose terms of the deal, multiple media outlets reported that Cousins' contract is for three years and $84 million -- all of it guaranteed. --The Washington Redskins signed wide receiver Paul Richardson to a contract, the team announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed by the Redskins, but multiple outlets reported on Tuesday that the contract is for five years and $40 million -- with $20 million in guarantees. --The Kansas City Chiefs re-signed fullback Anthony Sherman, the team announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although the Kansas City Star reported it was for one year and $2 million plus incentives. --Free-agent defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh is expected to visit with the New Orleans Saints on Friday, according to a report by NFL Media. --The Detroit Lions signed free-agent guard Kenny Wiggins, the team announced. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.