Turner joins Falcons in 6-year deal

By STAFF and NEWS SERVICES

Last update: March 2, 2008 - 9:54 PM

Free-agent running back Michael Turner agreed to a six-year deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

A four-year veteran who was best known as LaDainian Tomlinson's backup in San Diego, Turner is projected as the power complement to Falcons speed back Jerious Norwood.

The 5-10, 237-pound Turner had 228 carries for 1,257 yards and six touchdowns in four seasons with San Diego.

• The Falcons moved quickly to replace tight end Alge Crumpler by agreeing to terms with free agent Ben Hartsock. Terms were not disclosed.

Utecht draws interest

Former Gophers tight end Ben Utecht, a restricted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts, has drawn interest from the Bengals, Jets and Saints and could make visits this week, according to his agent, Chris Murray.

Utecht has been tendered the low offer of $927,000 by the Colts and, because he was signed as an undrafted free agent, the team would not get any draft-pick compensation if it chooses not to match an offer from another team. Utecht caught 31 passes for 364 yards and a touchdown in his fourth NFL season.

JUDD ZULGAD

Etc.

• Bobby McCray, a free-agent defensive end who spent the past four seasons with the Jaguars, agreed to a five-year, $20 million contract with the Saints. ... Randall Gay, a cornerback who spent the past four seasons with the Patriots, agreed to a four-year contract worth up to $17.6 million with the Saints.

• Dolphins vice president of football operations Bill Parcells denied a weekend Internet report that the Dolphins were trying to trade defensive end Jason Taylor before the NFL draft on April 26.

• Former Packers receiver Max McGee, who scored the first touchdown in Super Bowl history, had a gambling habit that the FBI tracked after his career ended, newly released records show. Agents investigated McGee for about a year, from late 1972 through September 1973, before dropping the case for lack of evidence. He died in October at age 75 when he fell while clearing leaves off the roof of his Deephaven home.

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