NFC champion Philadelphia re-signed Pro Bowl middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, a key player in the 13-3 Eagles run to the Super Bowl.

Trotter, who spent two years with the Redskins, returned to the team he left in a bitter contract dispute after the 2001 season and earned his third Pro Bowl trip despite starting just seven games.

“We retained a good player who really wanted to be here and we really wanted to have here,” Eagles president Joe Banner said.

The New York Giants, content in the past to sign second-level free agents, made their second major move in two days by signing offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie on Friday to beef up a woeful offensive line.

McKenzie, the Jets’ right tackle for the last three seasons, was considered one of the top two offensive tackles on the market. His signing will allow David Diehl, who played the position last year, to move to his natural guard position and bolster a unit that was a major reason for the Giants’ 10-22 record the last two seasons.

“Kareem is a powerful and durable player and will improve an important position to us. He adds to an offensive line that is young and signed,” said Giants’ general manager Ernie Accorsi, who Thursday signed middle linebacker Antonio Pierce, who played for Washington last season.

McKenzie will receive $37.75 million over seven years, with a $12.5 million signing bonus, numbers similar to those paid by San Francisco to Jonas Jennings, the other top tackle on the market. McKenzie gets $18 million in the first three years of the deal.

The Jets signed an ex-Giant, defensive lineman Lance Legree. He has been primarily a part-time player in his four NFL seasons and is expected to help replace Jason Ferguson, who signed Thursday with Dallas. The Jets also formally announced the signing of Derrick Blaylock, the ex-Chief who will back up Curtis Martin at running back, and signed Denver tight end Jeb Putzier to an offer sheet worth $12.5 million. The Broncos have a week to match it.

Cornerback Gary Baxter signed a six-year contract with Cleveland, who filled the hole in the defense created when Anthony Henry, who led the Browns with four interceptions last season, signed with Dallas. Baxter started 16 games for the Ravens last season, getting two sacks and an interception. He also can play safety.

Philadelphia linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, seen during the NFC divisional playoff game against Minnesota, signed a 5 million, five-year contract with the Eagles on Friday.

After two frenetic days, the pace of free-agent signings slowed some as teams began to more carefully consider the field and the asking prices of free agents.

Drew Brees signed the “franchise player” tender of just over $8 million from San Diego. The Chargers could try to trade him to give Philip Rivers a shot at quarterback, although the asking price of two No. 1 draft picks may be too high for most bidders.

“I was ready and eager to get the thing official,” said Brees, who made $1.56 million in base pay last year.

It wasn’t the long-term deal he hoped for, but it was the next-best thing.

“I’m very happy,” Brees said. “I’m ecstatic, the fact I get to be here for another year and build on the foundation that we’ve already kind of set for ourselves. We’re only going to get better.”

The Buffalo Bills replaced the departed Drew Bledsoe by signing quarterback Kelly Holcomb.

Holcomb, who spent last season backing up Jeff Garcia in Cleveland, will play behind sophomore J.P. Losman. The Bills released Bledsoe last week and he quickly signed with the Cowboys.

Holcomb made four appearances in 2004, including two starts. He finished 59-of-87 for 737 yards and seven touchdowns, with five interceptions.

Normally free-spending Washington declared itself done for now after signing center Casey Rabach and wide receiver David Patten, although the Redskins still seemed shaken after losing Pierce to the Giants.

Coach Joe Gibbs said he received several calls from players lamenting the loss, but said the team declined to match New York’s $26 million, six-year offer to Pierce because it didn’t want to pay him more than the $24 million it paid last year to outside linebacker Marcus Washington.

“I wish we didn’t have a cap,” Gibbs said.

Another former New York Giant, quarterback Kurt Warner, was in Chicago talking to the Bears. The former Super Bowl MVP is visiting with three teams — Detroit and Arizona are the others. Warner started the first nine games for the Giants last season after winning two MVP awards with the Rams.

In other signings:

• Cleveland signed punter Kyle Richardson, who was with Cincinnati last season.
• Buffalo signed free agent Mike Gandy to help bolster its offensive line. Drafted by Chicago in the third round in 2001, he started five games at right guard last season and 14 games at left tackle in 2003.
• Miami signed free agent safety Travares Tillman to help rebuild its depleted secondary. He had five tackles in just six games with the Carolina Panthers last season before missing the rest of the games with a broken arm.
• Tampa Bay re-signed veteran free agent tight end Dave Moore. He will return for his 12th season with the Buccaneers after making three catches for 17 yards in 15 games last season. He also serves as the team’s long snapper. Moore ranks third in Bucs history with 161 games played.
• Arizona re-signed running back Damien Anderson and released running back Larry Ned.

Also Friday, Seattle cleared some salary-cap room by releasing often-injured linebacker Anthony Simmons and safety Damien Robinson.

Simmons played in just six games last season for Seattle. He missed two games in October following shoulder surgery to remove bone spurs, then underwent season-ending surgery to repair a broken left wrist following Seattle’s 23-12 loss at St. Louis on Nov. 14.