Sports

Carlsbad-Area Football Players Get Released or Re-Signed During NFL Player Movement

A look at where pros who call San Diego home have landed.

It's cliche at this point to call the last week of NFL free agency and player movement a whirlwind. Trying to squeeze an offseason's worth of moves into a week before training camps open lends itself to that.

And not surprisingly, some NFL pros who called San Diego home during their high school playing days have been involved in the furious transaction frenzy. Now that training camps are underway, and rosters are taking shape, here's a recap (so far) about those who have been re-signed, released or traded.

, QB - New Orleans Saints
Canfield was re-signed to the Saints practice squad in January 2011, and will serve as the team's third-string quarterback if another QB is not added during free agency.

Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

, LB - Green Bay Packers
Chillar was released by the Packers last week in the team's effort to create salary cap space. The veteran linebacker tore his hamstring during an individual workout while the lockout was on, essentially sealing his fate with the team. He will look to sign with another team, but his hamstring injury could prove problematic. Chillar played in eight games last year for the Super Bowl Champion Packers, and had one sack and one interception.

Jonathan Compas - G/C, New England Patriots
Compas was signed to a contract by the New England Patriots. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The Carlsbad High alum was signed by Oakland in 2009 as an undrafted free agent out of UC Davis. He was released by the Raiders and claimed off waivers by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played in two games as a rookie. He was released by Tampa Bay in 2010 and spent last season out of football. A versatile lineman, he is expected to provide depth to the Patriots offensive line.

Find out what's happening in Carlsbadwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

 

Kevin O'Connell - QB, New York Jets
O'Connell has been released by the Jets. He spent last year on injured reserve, rehabilitating a torn labrum, and is coming off shoulder surgery. He was the Jets third-string quarterback, and will look for a backup or third-string role with another club. The three-year veteran has also played for the New England Patriots and Detroit Lions in his career.

RANCHO BERNARDO HIGH SCHOOL

Eugene Amano - C, Tennessee Titans
Amano started 13 games at center for the Titans in 2010 after the retirement of perennial Pro Bowl center Kevin Mawai. He is currently under contract with the Titans.

MOUNT MIGUEL HIGH SCHOOL (Spring Valley)

Khalif Barnes - OT, Oakland Raiders
The Raiders reached an agreement with Barnes on a one-year contract. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. It is Barnes' third consecutive one-year deal. He started 3 games for Oakland last year, and even caught a TD pass. It is believed that the Raiders brought back Barnes to give him a chance to compete for the starting right tackle position.

Ogemdi Nwagbuo - DT, San Diego Chargers
Nwagbuo is still a member of the Chargers, as he was previously under contract. He is expected to backup starting nose tackle Antonio Garay in the team's 3-4 scheme. He is a three-year veteran out of Michigan State.

HELIX HIGH SCHOOL (La Mesa)

Reggie Bush - RB (traded from New Orleans to Miami)
The most famous local alum of late, Reggie Bush is getting a change of scenery, as he was shipped to the Dolphins for undisclosed compensation. Bush was owed $11.8 million in 2011, and it was likely that the Saints were going to release him if they didn't find a trade partner. He agreed to a two-year, $10 million deal with Miami.

Injuries and inconsistency have plagued Bush from living up to his potential as the No. 2 overall selection in the 2006 draft. Miami is hoping his highlight-reel plays and explosiveness will fit well into their offense which ranked 30th in rushing yards per carry and 29th in rushing TDs in 2010.

Alex Smith - QB, San Francisco 49ers
The 49ers re-signed the beleaguered quarterback to a one-year $5 million deal, thus ending speculation that the free agent signal-caller could change homes. He has had an up-and-down career since being drafted No. 1 in the 2005 NFL Draft. He is expected to be the starting quarterback in San Francisco, but if Smith struggles early, rookie Colin Kaperneck could get a look. Smith has 9,399 passing yards with 51 TDs and 53 interceptions in his six-year career.

CASTLE PARK HIGH SCHOOL (Chula Vista)

John Fox, head coach Denver Broncos
He's not a player, but another notable local alum is changing places, as John Fox takes over as head coach in Denver after serving in the same role for the Carolina Panthers for nine years. He has a record of 73-71 as a coach, and has taken his team to the playoffs three times, including the Super Bowl in 2003, where the Panthers lost to the New England Patriots on a last-second field goal.

Other notable San Diego professionals:

Arian Foster (Mission Bay High School) - RB, Houston Texans
Foster emerged from undrafted free agent out of Tennessee to breakout star in 2010, leading the NFL in rushing with more than 1,600 yards, to go along with 18 TDs. He re-signed a contract with the Texans last week that will pay him $525,000. But assuming he retains his form, he will be in line for a huge payday next year when he becomes a restricted free agent.

Ricky Williams (Patrick Henry High School) - RB, Miami Dolphins
Williams isn't expected to be back with the Dolphins after the team drafted RB Daniel Thomas in the first round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and their recent trade for Reggie Bush. Despite being 34, Williams showed that he still has some tread left on the tires, amassing more than 2,000 total yards and 16 TDs in the last two years with Miami.

Kellen Winslow, Jr. (Patrick Henry/Scripps Ranch) - TE Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Winslow is under contract with the Buccaneers and will be the team's starting tight end. He caught 66 balls for 730 yards and 5 TDs last year.

Editor's Note: Updates will be made on these players as more information becomes available.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here