NFL ROUNDUP \ News and notes

Patriots: Punter Todd Sauerbrun won his grievance against the Patriots and is now a free agent. The 13-year veteran is expected to join the Broncos. He agreed to a one-year deal with them earlier this month, but the Patriots matched it through a clause in his contract with New England. Sauerbrun had signed with the Patriots last December and punted in the playoffs. Sauerbrun, with the help of the NFL Players Association, contended that the clause was inappropriate because it was not written separately from the contract itself, a requirement for right-to-match deals. A special master in Boston ruled Wednesday that the Patriots erred, thus freeing Sauerbrun. His deal with Denver was worth more than the 1.395 million he was scheduled to make with the Broncos last year. Sauerbrun started the 2006 season with Denver, but lost his job while serving a four-game suspension for using the banned dietary supplement ephedra.
Also, the Patriots and veteran cornerback Tory James agreed to a one-year deal. The 33-year-old will compete for playing time in a deep Patriots secondary.
Colts: Linebacker and special teamer Rocky Boiman re-signed with Indianapolis. Boiman was an unrestricted free agent after spending last season as key special teams player for the Super Bowl champions. He was primarily a backup on defense and could earn more playing time this season since free agent Cato June, a former Pro Bowl linebacker, signed with Tampa Bay. Boiman joined the Colts in September after being cut by the Cowboys. He started one game last season, finishing with 17 tackles, one forced fumble and one interception.
Dolphins: Miami decided not to match the offer sheet punter Donnie Jones signed with the Rams last week, instead choosing to accept another draft pick as compensation. Miami gets the Rams' seventh-round choice, the 225th overall selection. The Dolphins now have 10 picks in the April 28-29 draft, including four of the first 71.
Lions: Detroit signed cornerbacks Tony Beckham and Ike Charlton and wide receiver Kevin Kasper to one-year contracts and released wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe Wednesday. Beckham skipped the 2006 NFL season after playing for Tennessee in 2002-05. Charlton spent two seasons with Winnipeg of the CFL after playing in the NFL for Seattle, Jacksonville and New York Giants. Thorpe signed with the Lions on Jan. 1 after playing on Detroit's practice squad.
Bears: Linebacker Brian Urlacher was fined 100,000 by the NFL for wearing a cap during Super Bowl media day that promoted a sponsor not authorized by the league. NFL rules prohibit gear that advertises any product but a designated sponsor, league spokesman Brian McCarthy. Urlacher was fined for drinking vitaminwater and wearing a vitaminwater hat during the media session in Miami leading to the title game. Gatorade is the NFL's official drink.
Associated Press
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