Rod Woodson Is Released by Raiders

The Oakland Raiders released Rod Woodson on Tuesday after the 11-time Pro Bowl safety failed a physical.

The 39-year-old Woodson had a chronic left knee injury last season and had surgery in December. He was put on injured reserve Nov. 26.

Woodson had said he’d like to return to the Raiders this season and doesn’t want to end his career injured.

“Rod Woodson is one of the greatest defensive backs to ever play the game,” Raider Coach Norv Turner said. “He has been a leader on and off the field during his time with the silver and black.”

Woodson, a 17-year veteran, spent the last two seasons with Oakland.

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Free safety Sean Taylor signed a seven-year, $18-million deal with the Washington Redskins.

Taylor, the No. 5 overall draft pick, became the NFL’s highest pick to sign this season, even though he fired his agent shortly after the draft and didn’t hire a new one until last week.

Taylor will receive a $7.2-million signing bonus, and the total bonus money in the deal -- including option and roster bonuses -- exceeds $13 million.

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Ricky Williams could be forced to give the Miami Dolphins more than $8 million already paid to him because he retired before the expiration of his contract.

Because of penalty clauses included when Williams’ contract was reworked two years ago, the team could try to recoup $5.3 million in incentive money, said sources familiar with the terms who requested anonymity. The Dolphins also could seek $3.3 million of the $8.8-million signing bonus Williams received when he joined the New Orleans Saints in 1999.

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Brock Lesnar is hoping to become the next big thing for the Minnesota Vikings.

Better known to World Wrestling Entertainment fans as “The Next Big Thing,” Lesnar signed a contract with the Vikings.

The former NCAA heavyweight wrestling champion from Minnesota wants to win a spot on the defensive line. At 6 feet 3 and 286 pounds, the 27-year-old Lesnar has not played football since his senior year of high school in South Dakota.

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First-round pick Shawn Andrews agreed to a six-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, shortly before rookies were due to report for their first meeting of training camp.

Andrews, the 16th overall pick from Arkansas, will compete for the starting spot at right guard. Terms of his contract weren’t immediately known.

The Eagles also agreed to terms with four other draft picks, including cornerback Matt Ware, a third-round pick from UCLA.

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The Dallas Cowboys waived Chad Hutchinson, ending their attempt to turn the former major league pitcher into a starting quarterback. The team also said back surgery on safety Darren Woodson went well. He’s expected to be out up to eight weeks, which would run through the second game of the season.

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Mark Hatley, the Green Bay Packers’ vice president of football operations, has died at age 54. The cause of his death wasn’t known. Hatley was second in command behind Coach and General Manager Mike Sherman on personnel matters in Green Bay, where he was responsible for overseeing the team’s scouting efforts.

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Linebacker Jonathan Vilma, the No. 12 overall selection in the draft, signed a five-year deal worth about $10 million with the New York Jets.... Quarterback Jeff Smoker and defensive end Anthony Hargrove signed three-year deals with St. Louis.... Former All-Pro linebacker John Mobley was released by Denver because of a lingering neck injury.