IN BRIEF : Raiders Sign Costello of Falcons

The Raiders have signed free agent linebacker Joe Costello of the Atlanta Falcons. Costello, 28, spent the last three seasons with the Falcons, playing 29 games and starting four, working at inside linebacker, outside linebacker and on special teams. He began his career in 1982 with the Canadian Football League’s Montreal Concordes at defensive end, then was switched to linebacker with the Jacksonville Bulls in the USFL. The Central Connecticut State University graduate had an NFL career-high of 14 tackles in a 1987 game against the Cincinnati Bengals and a best of two quarterback sacks in a game against the Philadelphia Eagles in 1986.

Costello was available on the Falcons “unprotected list” under the new system of free agency in the NFL.