The Associated Press

Jerry Rice suggested last season he might play until he's 45. Now he has a contract that will pay him until he's 46.

"It could happen," Jim Steiner, Rice's agent, said after his client signed a six-year, $30 million deal Tuesday that helped the Oakland Raiders with their salary-cap problems.

"He takes it year to year based on how he feels and how he's playing. Who knows?"

The 40-year-old Rice is the league's career leader in receptions (1,456), yards receiving (21,597) and touchdowns scored (203).

The Raiders' other venerable wideout, 36-year-old Tim Brown, also signed a restructured contract. The Raiders, by some accounts, were as much as $50 million over the cap.

Dallas, meanwhile, signed another veteran, fullback Richie Anderson. He'll be reunited with Bill Parcells, who coached him with the New York Jets.

Also, Houston re-signed inside linebacker Jay Foreman, who led the expansion team in tackles last season, and Miami re-signed punter Mark Royals.

Seattle re-signed outside linebacker Anthony Simmons to a five-year deal worth more than $23 million, including a signing bonus of at least $7.5 million.

Cornerback Dexter McCleon agreed to terms with Kansas City. The former St. Louis Ram lost his starting job to Dre' Bly last year. Now the Rams have neither of them - Bly signed with Detroit last week.

The Eagles acquired linebacker Mark Simoneau in a trade with the Falcons and gave him a five-year contract.

He's expected to replace Shawn Barber, who signed with the Chiefs on Monday. Atlanta will receive a sixth-round draft choice this year and a fourth-round pick in 2004.

Another busy team in free agency, the New York Giants, solved some of their special teams woes, agreeing to terms with veteran punter Jeff Feagles, formerly of Seattle, and long snapper Ryan Kuehl, late of Cleveland.

The agreements came hours after New York re-signed backup quarterback Jason Garrett, cornerback Kato Serwanga, tackle Barrett Brooks and linebacker Brad Rice.

Washington made an offer to Green Bay Packers restricted free agent safety Matt Bowen and the Packers have one week to match. If the Packers let him go, they'll receive a sixth-round draft pick from the Redskins.

Rice, who joined the Raiders in 2001, had 92 catches for 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns last season, his 18th in the NFL.

With Brown and fourth-year man Jerry Porter, he gives the AFC champions one of the NFL's top receiving trios for quarterback Rich Gannon, the league's MVP.

Return to Bengals front page...