NFL Raiders cut Woodson, 39; Broncos release LB Mobley
First-round picks Sean Taylor and Jonathan Vilma signed contracts.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rod Woodson and John Mobley are looking for work.
The Oakland Raiders released Woodson on Tuesday after the 11-time Pro Bowl defensive back failed his physical, and the Denver Broncos cut Mobley after the former All-Pro linebacker also flunked a physical.
While the old stars were leaving, former University of Miami teammates Sean Taylor and Jonathan Vilma signed their first NFL contracts.
Taylor, a safety drafted fifth overall, signed with the Washington Redskins, and Vilma, a linebacker taken with the No. 12 pick, agreed to terms with the New York Jets.
The 39-year-old Woodson made the Pro Bowl 11 times at three positions -- cornerback, safety and kick returner. He had a chronic left knee injury, finished last season on injured reserve and had surgery in December.
"Rod Woodson is one of the greatest defensive backs to ever play the game," Raiders coach Norv Turner said. "He has been a leader on and off the field."
All-Decade performer
Woodson played 11 seasons for Pittsburgh, one for San Francisco, four with Baltimore -- helping the Ravens win the 2001 Super Bowl -- and two with the Raiders. He was voted to the NFL's 75th anniversary team and the all-decade team for the 1990s.
The 31-year-old Mobley injured his neck last season. He and the Broncos held out hope he might be able to return once the injury heals.
"You have to release him to get down to the maximum number of players you can have on the team," coach Mike Shanahan said. "It doesn't mean we don't want John Mobley back on our football team. If six months to a year from now he feels like he is ready to go, then we will assess him then."
Highest pick to sign
Taylor became the highest draft pick to sign so far this year, even though he fired his agent shortly after the draft and didn't hire new ones until last week. He agreed to a seven-year, $18 million contract with the Redskins.
"I'm real happy to have all the business stuff out of the way and all the agent issues out of the way and get back to football," Taylor said.
With Vilma's signing, the Jets have got their top draft choice into camp on time for the seventh straight season. His agents flew to New York three days ago and negotiated all day Sunday and Monday, reaching an agreement in principle late Monday.
"I'm here, I'm ready to go," Vilma said.
Philadelphia and Atlanta also signed first-round picks. Former Arkansas offensive lineman Shawn Andrews -- the No. 16 pick -- agreed to a six-year contract with the Eagles, and former Ohio State receiver Michael Jenkins -- the No. 28 pick -- signed with the Falcons.
Other moves
Also, Super Bowl champion New England placed linebacker Rosevelt Colvin on the physically unable to perform list, and Dallas waived Chad Hutchinson, ending the Cowboys' attempt to turn the former major league pitcher into a starting quarterback. Colvin, who missed most of last year because of a broken left hip, could still be activated for the start of the regular season.
Minnesota signed Brock Lesnar, better known to World Wrestling Entertainment fans as "The Next Big Thing." The 6-foot-3, 286-pound Lesnar, an NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion at Minnesota, has not played football since high school.
"He's very serious about this," said Lesnar's agent, Ed Hitchcock.