The Kansas City Chiefs made another bold moves Thursday.
The Chiefs agreed to terms with cornerback Sean Smith on a three-year deal, helping to shore up their secondary opposite cornerback Brandon Flowers. The move also gave the Chiefs the type of lockdown defender they needed to deal with a bevy of talented wide receivers in the AFC West.
Smith was widely considered among the best cornerbacks available in free agency.
The former second-round draft pick out of Utah has spent his entire career with the Miami Dolphins, starting every game each of the past two years, and has 177 tackles and five interceptions in his four-year career.
He started every game as a rookie, but ran into trouble in 2010 he was benched at one point for violating team rules, and lost his starting job to Jason Allen.
Smith admitted that he wasn't taking his job seriously, rededicated himself and became a standout in the Dolphins secondary.
He made a career-high 59 tackles and two picks last season.
Around the league
Falcons • Atlanta found its replacement for Michael Turner by agreeing to terms with free agent running back Steven Jackson on a three-year deal. The 30-year-old Jackson had 1,042 yards rushing and four touchdowns with the Rams last season. It was his eighth straight season with more than 1,000 yards rushing.
Broncos • Denver signed cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who spent the last two seasons with Philadelphia, to a one-year, $5 million contract.
Also, safety Quinton Carter is facing felony charges alleging that he cheated at a craps game last weekend at a Las Vegas-area casino, authorities said. Security officials reported he was videotaped adding a $5 chip to three bets after the dice already rolled. He faces three counts of committing a fraudulent act in a gaming establishment, a felony in Nevada that carries a possible sentence of one to six years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
Seahawks • Seattle finalized a two-year contract with free agent defensive end Cliff Avril, who had 9½ sacks last season for Detroit.
Eagles • Philadelphia signed ex-Ravens cornerback Cary Williams (three years) and ex-Giants safety Kenny Phillips (one year), giving them four new faces in the defensive backfield in a three-day span. They signed ex-Texans linebacker Connor Barwin to a six-year deal shortly afterward.
Vikings • Minnesota agreed to terms with quarterback Matt Cassel just hours after he was released by Kansas City.
Patriots • New England agreed to terms with receiver Danny Amendola on a deal that would reportedly pay him $31 million over five years.