Seahawks bring back sack leader

The Seattle Seahawks followed their vital re-signing of league MVP Shaun Alexander earlier this month by agreeing to bring back sack leader Rocky Bernard on Wednesday.

Bernard agreed to a $13 million, three-year contract with a $5.4 million signing bonus, according to an assistant for agent Gary Uberstine at Premier Sports Management in Henderson, Nev.

Bernard, who had 10 1/2 sacks in the regular season and postseason after 9 1/2 in his first three seasons combined, earned $656,000 in base salary last season.

The NFC champions have retained two of their three most important potential free agents. They have four days left to keep Pro Bowl left guard Steve Hutchinson.

Hutchinson, Seattle’s transition player, signed a Minnesota Vikings offer sheet for $49 million over seven years – including $16 million guaranteed – on Sunday. The Seahawks have to match the offer within seven days or lose a 6-foot-5, 313-pound reason Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards and scored a league-record 28 touchdowns in 2005.

The Seahawks don’t intend to lose Hutchinson. Seattle is situated well less than the $102 million salary cap – in excess of $20 million before Wednesday – so it is apparently positioned to afford perhaps $16 million guaranteed for him.

The Seahawks also agreed to bring back punt returner and wide receiver Peter Warrick. Terms of the deal were not immediately available.

Cleveland grabs McGinest

Linebacker Willie McGinest signed with Cleveland, leaving New England to rejoin Browns coach and former Patriots defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel.

The 34-year-old McGinest, a member of three Super Bowl winners, had been with the Patriots since getting drafted in the first round in 1994. He’s the NFL career leader in postseason sacks with 16 and has 78 in the regular season. He signed a three-year, $12 million deal with $6 million in guarantees and incentives.

McGinest looked a bit out of place holding a No. 55 Browns jersey and said it seemed odd.

He said he held no animosity toward New England for releasing him and looked forward to helping build the Browns into a winner.

“I didn’t want to go to a team to sign a contract and get some money,” said McGinest, wearing a Browns cap. “I wanted to be a part of a family. They made me feel like family. They made me feel needed, like I could come in and help them.”

Culpepper trade official

Miami confirmed that it obtained quarterback Daunte Culpepper from Minnesota in return for a second-round draft choice.

Culpepper, 29, passed a physical with Dolphins doctors Tuesday before the trade became final. A knee injury forced him to miss the final nine games last year, but Saban hopes to have him available for the season opener.

“This is a big part of the puzzle,” Miami coach Nick Saban said.

Culpepper became available after he played poorly last year, tore three ligaments in his right knee, took part in the notorious Lake Minnetonka boat party and quarreled with management.

Saban shrugged off Culpepper’s recent lapses as “a few bumps in the road.”

Elsewhere around the league:

“The Tennessee Titans agreed to a six-year contract with free-agent safety Chris Hope, who started the last 32 regular-season games for Pittsburgh. He had a career-high three interceptions last season.

“New Orleans cut Aaron Brooks, the same day they introduced Drew Brees as its new starting quarterback.

“The New York Giants signed free safety Will Demps, who played his first four seasons with Baltimore.

“Philadelphia, which released Terrell Owens on Tuesday, seemed set to sign quarterback Jeff Garcia, the quarterback with whom Owens feuded in San Francisco. Garcia, who spent last season with Detroit, was in Philadelphia for a visit and a news conference was scheduled for today.