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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted on: Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Ex-Saint Louis star signs deal

Advertiser Staff and News Services

The Jacksonville Jaguars re-signed running back Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala yesterday.

CHIRS FUAMATU-MA'AFALA

Fuamatu-Ma'afala, a former Saint Louis School player who also spent time with the Steelers, was used mostly in short-yardage situations last season. He carried 20 times for 69 yards and a score. He was an unrestricted free agent.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Seahawks
Mili signs four-year, $6 million extension

Tight end Itula Mili signed a four-year, $6 million contract extension with Seattle last week.

The 1991 graduate of Kahuku received a deal that includes a $1.5 million signing bonus.

Mili played eight seasons with Seattle, starting 40 of 102 games he played in, and catching 154 passes for 1,674 yards and 13 touchdowns. The unrestricted free agent visited with Arizona and New Orleans before re-signing with the Seahawks.

Vikings

Wide receiver Taylor gets two-year deal

Minnesota agreed to terms yesterday on a two-year contract with free agent receiver Travis Taylor, who was a disappointment in his five seasons in Baltimore.

Taylor was drafted 10th overall out of Florida in 2000, but was never able to duplicate with the Ravens the success he had in Steve Spurrier's pass-happy offense. Taylor's best season came in 2002 when he caught 61 passes for 869 yards and six touchdowns in 15 starts. Last year, he had 34 receptions for 421 yards.

"Travis gives us a player with a tremendous amount of potential and the ability to be a game-breaker," coach Mike Tice said.

Taylor played with eight different starting quarterbacks in his five years — Elvis Grbac, Randall Cunningham, Tony Banks, Trent Dilfer, Anthony Wright, Jeff Blake, Chris Redman and Kyle Boller.

Daunte Culpepper, a three-time Pro Bowler, is entrenched as Minnesota's starter.

"It's a situation where Travis gets to play with one of the elite quarterbacks in the league, which is something unfortunately he hasn't had a chance to do the last five years," said Taylor's agent, Mitch Frankel.

Taylor should be the No. 3 receiver behind Nate Burleson and Marcus Robinson.

Elsewhere

Redskins: New York released defensive end Keith Washington yesterday. Washington missed the second half of the season after suffering a major knee injury against Chicago on Nov. 7.

Also, Washington made the first overtures to Courtney Brown, with coach Joe Gibbs flying to Cleveland yesterday to try to woo the one-time top draft pick who was cut by the Browns the previous day. Within hours after Brown's release, Gibbs and defensive line coach Greg Blache had dinner with the oft-injured defensive end and his wife.

Cleveland has said it would like to re-sign the No. 1 pick in the 2000 draft, who was released a day before he was due to receive a $2.5 million roster bonus.

Ravens: Baltimore agreed in principle yesterday on two-year contracts with long snapper Joe Maese and offensive lineman Cooper Carlisle. Carlisle agreed to a contract worth $2 million that includes a $500,000 signing bonus. Maese, 26, has been Baltimore's long snapper since 2001, missing only two games. His contract is worth $1.185 million and includes a $100,000 signing bonus.

Dolphins: Miami signed free agent offensive tackle Stockar McDougle to a one-year deal yesterday. McDougle started every game at right tackle the past two seasons with the Detroit Lions.

Packers: Green Bay re-signed offensive lineman Grey Ruegamer and safety Todd Franz yesterday. The team cut Ruegamer earlier this month. Franz spent the past two seasons with Washington.

Browns: Cleveland signed free agent linebacker Matt Stewart to a three-year contract yesterday. The 25-year-old Stewart started every game last season for Atlanta, finishing second on the team with 89 tackles. The Browns also re-signed free agent linebacker Ben Taylor to a one-year contract.

Patriots: Offensive tackle Tom Ashworth, who missed the second half of last season and the playoffs with a back injury, was re-signed yesterday.

Saints: Free safety Tebucky Jones, who was supposed to bolster the New Orleans backfield, was cut yesterday. Jones played better last season after he was criticized for his poor tackling and lack of big plays in 2003.