The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - Linebacker Dwayne Rudd signed a two-year contract Tuesday with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The seven-year veteran was released by the Cleveland Browns in February. He gained notoriety in a game against Kansas City last season for taking off his helmet and throwing it, drawing a penalty that allowed the Chiefs to kick the winning field goal.

Rudd, drafted in the first round by Minnesota in 1997, played four seasons with the Vikings. He started 31 games for the Browns over the past two seasons.

"With my history of playing in the NFC North against these guys during my first four years in Minnesota, it's just a dream come true to be down here and play with one of the best defenses of the '90s," Rudd said.

• Tampa Bay signed linebackers Bubba Alexander and Clayton White, and defensive tackles Ryan Fletcher and Cleveland Pinkney to one-year deals.

White played 16 games as a rookie in 2001 for the New York Giants but spent the 2002 season on injured reserve and was released in February. Alexander, Fletcher and Pinkney did not play last season.

SEAHAWKS: Unrestricted free agent fullback Mack Strong re-signed with the team. He has been with Seattle for 10 seasons, the longest current tenure on the team, and has 103 carries for 358 yards and three touchdowns, plus 108 catches for 744 yards and 10 touchdowns during his career.

PACKERS: The team signed defensive end Chukie Nwokorie and offensive lineman Grey Ruegamer.

Nwokorie's two-year deal is valued at more than $2 million. He appeared in only three games last year because of a back injury.

Ruegamer, a former New England Patriot, has played in 33 games over his four-year NFL career, with three starts, and can play center or guard.

PATRIOTS: New England re-signed offensive lineman Tom Ashworth, who played one game for the team last season. Ashworth spent the entire season on the Patriots roster but was on the day-of-game inactive list for 15 of the 16 regular-season games.

BEARS: Richard Dent, a ferocious pass rusher and mainstay of Chicago's vaunted "46" defense of the mid-1980s, has been hired as an assistant defensive line coach.

Dent, a four-time Pro Bowl selection who holds the Bears' single-season sacks record and was named Most Valuable Player of the 1986 Super Bowl, will focus on improving the Bears' pass rush. He agreed to a one-year contract.

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