After the Pittsburgh Steelers didn't welcome back Marvel Smith this winter, the veteran offensive tackle decided he'd continue his career near his most faithful supporters. Smith agreed to a two-year deal Monday to return to his native Bay Area with the San Francisco 49ers, who expect him to be their starting right tackle.

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The Houston Texans have signed free agent defensive tackle Shaun Cody. Cody has spent his entire four-year career with the Detroit Lions, who drafted him in the second round in 2005. A career backup, he appeared in each game for the Lions last season with four starts and finished with a career-high 36 tackles. Comments Off

The NFL has released its preseason schedule, featuring a Super Bowl rematch between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals. The exhibition season begins Aug. 9 in Canton, Ohio, where the Buffalo Bills will play the Tennessee Titans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. The Super Bowl champion Steelers will host the Cardinals on Aug. Comments Off

The New York Jets could be hitting the road this summer for Rex Ryan's first training camp as coach. Despite moving into their $75 million training facility in Florham Park, N.J., less than a year ago, the Jets are scouting other areas -- possibly in upstate New York -- to hold at least part of their training camp. Comments Off

Less than four years after Hurricane Katrina tore up the Louisiana Superdome and cast doubt on the future of major professional sports in New Orleans, the city is formally pronouncing itself ready to bring back the Super Bowl. The New Orleans Saints and the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation on Friday submitted a bid to host the NFL's championship game in 2013, which would be the city's 10th... Comments Off

Veteran free-agent defensive tackle Rod Coleman has agreed to terms on a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints. The 32-year-old former Pro Bowl selection did not play last season after being released by the Atlanta Falcons, where he had some of his best seasons under current Saints defensive line coach Bill Johnson. Comments Off

Almost every move the Carolina Panthers make -- or can't make -- this offseason is based on one figure: $16.7 million. That's the staggering salary-cap number four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Julius Peppers carries under the franchise tag. The money counts on the cap even though Peppers hasn't signed the one-year tender and has said he wants to play elsewhere. Comments Off

Offensive lineman Duke Preston has agreed to terms with the Green Bay Packers. Preston's agent, Craig Domann, confirmed the deal Friday in an e-mail to The Associated Press. The former fourth-round draft pick out of Illinois spent his first four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. The free-agent lineman has started 20 career games, including 11 last season. Comments Off

An agency investigating a deadly boating accident involving two NFL players and their friends in the Gulf of Mexico has concluded it was caused when the vessel was improperly anchored and the boat capsized after one of them tried to throttle forward to pry loose the anchor. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's investigation also cited carelessness and operator inexperience as... Comments Off

Fullback Naufahu Tahi (now-FAH-HOO' Tah-HEE) is staying in Minnesota. The Vikings matched Cincinnati's offer of one year and $1.4 million on Friday, meaning they will keep the restricted free agent. Tahi was signed off the Bengals practice squad in 2006. He beat out Thomas Tapeh (tuh-PAY) for the starting fullback job during the season and helped open holes for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor in... Comments Off