IRVING, Texas - The Dallas Cowboys took care of one of their top offseason priorities yesterday when they acquired quarterback Jon Kitna as the likely backup for Tony Romo.
Dallas traded starting right cornerback Anthony Henry to Detroit, where Kitna appeared in only four games last season before going on injured reserve with a back injury.
The 36-year-old Kitna, who was due a $1 million roster bonus next week, was not expected to return to the Lions. He is scheduled to make $1.95 million this season. In his four games for Detroit last year, Kitna completing 68 of 120 attempts for 758 yards and five touchdowns with five interceptions.
When Romo missed three games last season because of a broken pinkie finger, the Cowboys went 1-2 and leaned heavily on their defense to beat Tampa Bay 13-9 for the lone victory in that stretch. The Cowboys, who began the season as a Super Bowl favorite, instead finished 9-7 and missed the playoffs.
Dallas released 17-year veteran quarterback Brad Johnson on Thursday.
Henry started all 16 games for Dallas last season. Orlando Scandrick or Mike Jenkins, both rookies last season, could be in position to take over in the starting job.
Dallas also signed free-agent linebacker Keith Brooking to a three-year contract. Brooking, released Friday by Atlanta, played all 11 of his NFL seasons with the Falcons and was the last remaining player from their Super Bowl team a decade ago.
Brooking, a five-time Pro Bowler and Atlanta's leading tackler each of the last eight seasons, became a free agent after failing to work out a new contract with the Falcons. He was the team's first-round pick in 1998, and helped the team reach the Super Bowl as a rookie.
The Lions completed another move when the team signed running back Maurice Morris to a three-year deal and cornerback Eric King to a two-year contract.
Detroit didn't release terms of the free agent contracts in announcing the deals.
The 5-foot-11, 216-pound Morris rushed for 574 yards and caught 19 passes for 136 yards and two touchdowns for Seattle in 2008. He spent seven seasons with the Seahawks, who drafted him out of Oregon in the first round (54th overall) of the 2002 NFL draft. He has 2,612 career rushing yards and five touchdowns on 634 attempts.
The 5-10, 185-pound King spent the last three seasons with Tennessee and was placed on injured reserve in November.
After being drafted by the Buffalo Bills in the fifth-round (156th overall) of the 2005 draft, King was claimed off waivers by the Titans before the 2006 season. He has 60 career tackles.
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Denver Broncos have signed seven-time Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins, who spent his entire 13-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Although Dawkins turns 36 next season and is clearly on the downside of his career, he brings a hard-hitting style and leadership qualities coveted by new Broncos coach Josh McDaniels.
McDaniels, the New England Patriots offensive coordinator before he was hired to replace Mike Shanahan in Denver, envisions his new veteran safety playing a role similar to what Rodney Harrison had in New England in recent seasons.
The Broncos also signed free agent safety Renaldo Hill, who helped lead the Miami Dolphins' turnaround last season
Dawkins figures he has at least a couple more good seasons in him. He started all 16 games last season for the third time in four years and recorded 75 tackles, three sacks, six forced fumbles and an interception.
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Receiver Brandon Jones has agreed to join the San Francisco 49ers, getting a five-year contract worth $16.5 million.
Jones spent his first four NFL seasons with Tennessee, where he caught 41 passes for 449 yards and a touchdown last season. He was hampered by significant injuries in two of his four seasons, including a groin injury that limited him to nine games in 2007.
HOUSTON - New Texans defensive end Antonio Smith can't wait to team up with Mario Williams.
The Arizona Cardinals free agent who had eight tackles and a sack in the Super Bowl signed with Houston, and it didn't take him long to gush about playing opposite the No. 1 pick from 2006.
"I think it's going to be a great pair," Smith said. "I like to have fun out there, and I think that's exactly what it's going to be."
First Published March 1, 2009, 12:17 p.m.
