>>Bears, Mariani Agree To Two-Year Deal
(Lake Forest, IL) -- The Bears agreed to a two-year deal with return man Marc Mariani on Tuesday. Mariani averaged 24.8 yards on 92 kickoff returns for Tennessee in 2010 and 2011. In a corresponding roster move, the Bears waived safety Ahmad Dixon.
>>Panthers Release WR Avant
(Charlotte, NC) -- The Carolina Panthers are moving on without wide receiver Jason Avant [[ ah-VONT ]]. He has been waived after just 11 games with the team. Avant signed a one-year deal with Carolina after he was released by Philadelphia in March following an eight-year stint with the Eagles. He had 21 catches for 201 yards and one touchdown this season with the Panthers. Avant's release comes after criticizing the team's conservative play-calling down the stretch of Sunday's loss to Atlanta. Carolina also placed right tackle Nate Chandler on injured reserve with a lateral meniscus tear in his right knee. The Panthers filled the roster spots by activating running back Mike Tolbert off injured reserve/designated to return and promoting wide receiver De'Andre Presley from the practice squad.
>>Steelers Release LeGarrette Blount
(Pittsburgh, PA) -- LeGarrette Blount is looking for work just hours after he reportedly walked off the field before the end of the Pittsburgh Steelers' "Monday Night Football" victory. The team has released Blount despite signing him to a two-year deal worth nearly four-million-dollars in the offseason. He had no carries in the game and only played a few snaps in Pittsburgh's 27-24 win over the Tennessee Titans. If another team claims him off waivers, it will cost them just over 317-thousand-dollars. The fifth-year back has rushed 65 times for 266 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games this season.
>>Browns Waive RB Tate
(Berea, OH) -- The Cleveland Browns are parting ways with running back Ben Tate. The Browns have waived the free-agent signee just eight games into his tenure with the team. Tate signed with Cleveland in March after three seasons with the Houston Texans. He started six games and rushed for just 333 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 3.1 yards per carry. Tate missed two games after a knee injury in the season opener against Pittsburgh.
