NFL Irish Free Agency Update

The NFL Free Agency period started on Friday and a number of former Notre Dame players were involved in some transactions.  Here’s a quick recap.

Jeff Faine signed a free agent deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after spending the last two seasons with the Saints making him the highest paid center in the NFL according to Yahoo:

Center Jeff Faine, who once was discarded by Cleveland when the Browns signed free agent center LeCharles Bentley, surpassed Bentley as the highest-paid center in NFL history when he agreed to a six-year, $37.5 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, agent Ben Dogra confirmed.

Faine receives $15 million in guaranteed money as part of the deal and will get $20 million in the first three years of the contract. Faine, who has spent the past two seasons with New Orleans, was a first-round pick by Cleveland in 2003.

In 2006, Faine was traded to New Orleans after the Browns signed Bentley, who coincidentally had started his career with the Saints. Bentley hasn’t played a down with Cleveland since signing after tearing the patellar tendon in his right knee.

Faine has played in all but two games the past two seasons, drastically improving his durability after missing 12 games in his first three seasons with Cleveland.

In Tennessee, the Titans released former Irish wide receiver David Givens after two injury plagued seasons.

The Tennessee Titans cut ties with wide receiver David Givens and tendered one-year contracts to seven restricted agents including All-Pro kicker Rob Bironas, tight end Bo Scaife and starting right tackle David Stewart.

The Titans signed Givens to a $24 million, five-year deal in 2006, but the former Patriots receiver played in only five games that season before tearing his left ACL.

Givens was the poster child for under developed by talent by the Bob Davie coaching regime, but found a home in the NFL with the Patriots before cashing in with Tennessee in 2006.  Unfortunately for Givens, injuries have really derailed his career and there is a good chance his career could possibly be over.

Meanwhile, former corner and return specialist Allen Rossum has signed with the San Francisco 49ers.

Kick returner Allen Rossum signed with the San Francisco 49ers on Friday, joining his fifth NFL team.

Rossum, a 10-year veteran who also plays cornerback, is second in NFL history with 13,269 career return yards and 10,520 kickoff return yards. He ranks first among active players with 2,749 career punt return yards, and has seven career touchdowns, all on kick returns.

Rossum has made a very nice career for himself just by being one of the best return men in the NFL over the last decade.