The Associated Press

WASHINGTON - The Washington Redskins maintained a whirlwind free agency pace Saturday as they signed defensive end Regan Upshaw and defensive tackle Brandon Noble.

Upshaw signed a five-year, $7.5 million contract with a $2 million signing bonus. Noble's terms were not immediately available.

Upshaw, Noble and guard Randy Thomas, who agreed to a seven-year, $28 million deal late Friday, joined two new players who joined the team Friday.

The Redskins got St. Louis running back Trung Canidate in a trade and signed ex-San Francisco guard Dave Fiore to a four-year contract worth about $6.5 million, including a $1.5 million signing bonus.

Seven-year veteran Upshaw, a seven-year veteran who played for Oakland last year, could move in as a starter ahead of Bruce Smith, who is no longer expected to be an every-down player if he decides not to retire.

Upshaw missed the first three months of the season while recovering from knee surgery. He became a starter during the playoffs, but he had little impact. The Raiders cut him this week in a salary cap move.

Noble comes from Dallas where he started every game over the last two seasons. The Redskins need a tackle - possibly two - because they were unable to re-sign Daryl Gardener and because Dan Wilkinson might be cut for salary cap reasons in June.

Thomas, a four-year starter with the New York Jets and the top guard available in free agency, got a $7 million signing bonus in his deal. With Thomas and Fiore, the Redskins addressed a position that has been a liability for several years. The team has started 14 guards over the last three seasons.

The Redskins now will have one of the best offensive lines in the NFL in Steve Spurrier's second year as coach. They already have two top-notch tackles, Chris Samuels and Jon Jansen.

LIONS: Free-agent cornerback Dre' Bly signed a five-year contract. An NFL source who spoke on the condition of anonymity said the deal was worth $24.5 million, including a signing bonus of more than $6 million.

Bly, 25, had 193 tackles and 14 interceptions in 64 games for St. Louis. He had 79 tackles (61 solo), two interceptions, two forced fumbles and a sack last season.

BEARS: Free-agent tight end Desmond Clark agreed to a six-year deal. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Clark had two catches for 42 yards in 11 games last season for Miami, which signed him after he broke his wrist while in training camp and was released by Denver. Clark played three seasons for the Broncos, the best being 2001 when he set career marks with 51 receptions for 566 yards and six touchdowns.

The Bears also re-signed tight end John Davis and fullback Stanley Pritchett to one-year deals.

TEXANS: Houston signed offensive lineman Zach Wiegert. Terms were not disclosed.

Wiegert, 6-foot-5 and 309 pounds, played the last four seasons for Jacksonville and started 43 of 47 games with the team before he went on injured reserve last season with a knee injury.

The Texans also claimed linebacker Patrick Chukwurah off waivers from Minnesota. Chukwurah played in 11 games and had two starts for the Vikings last season, finishing with 14 tackles.

JETS: The team unveiled its plan for a $1.2 billion stadium on Manhattan's West Side, featuring a retractable dome and seating for 85,000 fans. The proposed facility is a key part of the city's bid for the 2012 Olympics.

According to Jets president Jay Cross, the new facility would host four major rock concerts per year, along with 10 football games and more than 150 other events. The stadium also would allow the city to compete as a possible host for the NCAA Final Four.

The Jets' current lease at the Meadowlands expires in 2008.

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