‘Honey Badger’ signs with Texans
The “Honey Badger” is headed to Houston.
The Houston Texans said Monday they had signed unrestricted free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu and claimed wide receiver Sammie Coates off waivers from Cleveland.
Mathieu was released last week by Arizona after five seasons when the two sides couldn’t rework his contract. The 25-yearold safety was due for $18.75 million of his contract to be guaranteed when the league year officially began and Arizona saved nearly $5 million in cap space by cutting him.
He has 11 career interceptions, four sacks, 41 passes defensed and 303 total tackles in 66 NFL games during a career plagued by injuries. Only last season did Mathieu appear in all 16 games and he finished with two interceptions along with 74 tackles. CHARGERS ADD POUNCEY >> Veteran center Mike Pouncey agreed to a twoyear contract with the Los Angeles Chargers, who added a standout runblocker to their offense.
Pouncey was released by Miami last week after the three-time Pro Bowl selection refused a pay cut. He started all 16 games for the Dolphins last season, his seventh in the NFL.
The Chargers swooped in to grab a new centerpiece for what’s likely to be an impressive offensive line. Los Angeles finished fourth in the league last season with 376.6 yards per game despite fielding only the 26th-best rushing attack. Philip Rivers was sacked a career-low 18 times last season, but Los Angeles sometimes struggled to get traction with its running game.
SUH TO VISIT RAMS >> The Rams, having completed the reshaping of their secondary, have moved on to strengthening their defensive line.
Free agent Ndamukong Suh, one of the most dominant NFL interior linemen of the past decade, is set to visit with the Rams this week and discuss the possibility of a contract.
The Rams agreed to terms with defensive end Dominique Easley, who missed all of last season with a major knee injury suffered during training camp. Easley, who played well as a backup in 2016, signed a one-year contract and should be ready for the start of the season.
Suh, who turned 31 in January, has a history of aggressive on-field incidents, but his level of play is unquestioned. The No. 2 overall pick of the 2010 draft, Suh excelled for five seasons in Detroit before he signed the big deal with Miami. Suh earned first-team All-Pro honors in 2010, 2013 and 2014.
— Rich Hammond
SCANDRICK TO WASHINGTON>> Washington signed cornerback Orlando Scandrick to a two-year deal worth up to $10 million, a person with direct knowledge of the move told The Associated Press. The Dallas Cowboys released Scandrick over the weekend after he made 38 tackles in 11 starts last season. AROUND THE LEAGUE >> Minnesota finalized its trade with Denver to acquire quarterback Trevor Siemian, to be their backup to free-agent prize Kirk Cousins. The Vikings sent a 2019 fifth-round draft pick to the Broncos for Siemian and a seventhround pick this year.
• Buffalo began restocking its offensive line in free agency by reaching agreements to sign center Russell Bodine and tackle Marshall Newhouse.
• Carolina and unrestricted free-agent slot wide receiver Jarius Wright agreed on a three-year deal, the AP reported.
• The Tampa Bay Buccaneers signed former Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Vinny Curry and center Ryan Jensen in free agency.
• The New York Giants re-signed defensive end Kerry Wynn and three free agents — receiver Cody Latimer, defensive end Josh Mauro and cornerback B.W. Webb.
• The Seattle Seahawks acquired cornerback C.J. Smith from the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a conditional seventh-round draft pick in 2020.
• Jacksonville brought back linebacker Lerentee McCray on a one-year deal.
• The Detroit Lions resigned defensive tackle Christian Ringo.