On Thursday, they signed former Browns linebacker D'Qwell Jackson. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

A second-round draft pick in 2006, the 6-foot, 240-pound linebacker has started 48 consecutive games and has 891 career tackles, 11½ sacks, eight interceptions and seven fumble recoveries. Last year, he led the Browns with 143 tackles, had 1½ sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.

In Indianapolis, he will be reunited with former coach Rod Chudzinksi and running back Trent Richardson, both of whom began last season in Cleveland.


PETERSON SAYS VICK WOULD TAKE VIKINGS TO PLAYOFFS


Michael Vick, at age 33, is on his last leg.

Still, Sporting News ranks him as the 38th best free agent available when the market opens on Tuesday.

His experience and veteran leadership could be a valuable asset for a team grooming a young quarterback. And when healthy, something that gets harder ever year, he can still be effective. The Jets were rumored to be interested in the current Eagles’ QB.

Another team in desperate need of quarterback help, the Minnesota Vikings, could give Vick a look, too, if they put weight into running back Adrian Peterson’s endorsement on Twitter.

He said Vick “would intently make the Vikings a playoff team.”

Surely he meant, instantly. But the point is clear. Peterson likes him. Peterson, who has suffered through seasons of subpar quarterback play. They aren’t likely to keep Matt Cassel, also a free agent. Josh Freeman, brought in after he was released during last season from the Bucs, is a free agent. Christian Ponder is still under contract, but isn’t the solution.

The Vikings and new coach Mike Zimmer could look to the draft for help or turn for a faster answer with a veteran free agent.


KAEPERNICK'S MOM COMES TO HIS DEFENSE


San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Colin Kaepernick reportedly wants an $18 million annual salary, comparable to players like Tony Romo and Jay Cutler.

Post Democrat columnist Lowell Cohn doesn’t think Kaepernick deserves that kind of money; in fact, he doesn’t seem to like Kaepernick much at all. Of course, columnists are entitled to their opinions — just as mothers are entitled to defend their sons, which is exactly what Kaepernick’s mother did on Twitter after reading the jabs and uppercuts Cohn took at the 49ers’ QB.

Among the words Cohn used to describe Kaepernick and his salary wishes: smug, hypocrite, phony and rude.

The big line: “Colin Kaepernick is not an attractive personality. Usually he doesn’t say jack. And that’s not attractive. When he says jack — and more — he’s even less attractive.”

The story here isn’t just what Cohn said — columnists stir emotion every day — it’s that Kaepernick’s mother took the time to bite back in social media.


BROWNS AGREE TO TERMS WITH CUNDIFF


Billy Cundiff didn't make Browns fans forget kicker Phil Dawson. However, he did make them miss him a little less.

Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1.02 million contract with the Browns. Cundiff was scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent last week, but Cleveland locked him up for another year.

After the Browns' front office allowed the popular Dawson, a Pro Bowler the previous season, to leave and sign with San Francisco last year, Cundiff made 21 of 26 field-goal attempts and 32 extra points in 16 games. Cundiff also set a franchise record with 42 touchbacks. Of Cundiff's 62 kickoffs, the opposing team started at or inside their own 20-year line 53 times.

The 33-year-old Cundiff, who began his NFL career with Dallas in 2002, made the Pro Bowl with Baltimore in 2010. He kicked in five games for the Browns in 2009 and has also played for New Orleans and Washington. He was in training camp with the New York Jets last summer before he was waived on Aug. 28.

The Browns signed him Sept. 3 and he was able to adequately fill in for Dawson, who had kicked for Cleveland since the franchise's expansion rebirth in 1999 and holds most of the club's kicking records.

During his pro career, Cundiff has converted 76 percent (122 of 160) of his field-goal attempts.

Contributors: Rana L. Cash, The Associated Press