NFL News and Notes

Five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Jessie Armstead signed a one-day contract Wednesday so he could retire as a New York Giant.

To make room for Armstead on the roster, the Giants placed starting fullback Jim Finn on season-ending injured reserve. Finn had shoulder surgery Monday.

Taken in the eighth round of the 1993 draft, Armstead played nine seasons for the Giants, helping them reach the Super Bowl in 2000.

A special teams standout for his first three seasons, Armstead became the starting weakside linebacker in 1996. He had five straight seasons of more than 100 tackles, including a career-best 134 in 1997 when he first made the Pro Bowl.

Armstead was released by the Giants in 2002 and signed with Washington, playing with the Redskins for two seasons. He signed with Carolina in 2004 but was placed on injured reserve with a biceps injury.

*****
The Jaguars apparently wouldn't mind seeing Daunte Culpepper join them this season, even though they already have two capable quarterbacks in Byron Leftwich and David Garrard.

Leftwich and Garrard both said Wednesday that the Jaguars have told them they have interest in acquiring Culpepper -- that is, assuming the disgruntled Miami quarterback gets the release he's seeking from the Dolphins, who are trying instead to trade him.

Culpepper, acquired by Miami before the 2006 season, had his best NFL seasons with the Minnesota Vikings and coach Mike Tice -- now an assistant head coach in Jacksonville under Jack Del Rio.

Culpepper, who serves as his own agent, obtained permission from the Dolphins last week to talk to other teams.

Miami began trying to trade Culpepper -- still rehabbing from a serious knee injury in 2005 -- last week after trading for Trent Green with the Kansas City Chiefs.

****
Plenty of news involving Jacksonville,

First, defensive end Bobby McCray re-signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday.

McCray, a 2004 seventh-round draft pick from Florida, had previously refused to sign the one-year offer and had been skipping minicamp. Because McCray was not under contract, the team couldn't fine him. McCray is entering his fourth season with the Jaguars.

McCray, 25, had 97 tackles in his career and had a career-high 10 sacks last season.

In a surprising move, the Jaguars on Thursday abruptly released starting strong safety Donovin Darius, a nine-year veteran who started more games on defense than anyone in franchise history.

Darius, 31, is still rehabilitating from a broken right ankle that limited him to 10 games last season. Although he was unable to participate in the team's offseason program this spring, as he continued his recovery, it was believed that Darius was making good progress and was on pace to be ready for training camp.

Darius was the Jaguars' first-round choice in the 1998 draft and the former Syracuse star became an immediate starter with the team. He appeared in 115 games, all starts, and had a franchise-record 846 tackles, along with two sacks, 14 interceptions, 35 passes defensed, eight forced fumbles and six recoveries.