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Cowboys get their kicker in Vanderjagt

Associated Press

Mike Vanderjagt, the NFL’s most accurate kicker who was no longer needed in Indianapolis, signed a three-year contract Thursday with the Dallas Cowboys.

Vanderjagt wasn’t re-signed by the Colts, who instead signed Adam Vinatieri earlier this week. Vinatieri twice hit winning kicks in the Super Bowl for New England, but the Patriots allowed him to test free agency.

A story posted on the Cowboys Web site reported that the deal was worth $5.4 million, including a $2.5 million signing bonus. Phone messages and an e-mail to the kicker’s agent, Gil Scott, weren’t returned.

Vanderjagt has the highest field-goal accuracy rate in NFL history (217 of 245, 87.5 percent) and holds the record for making 42 straight.

But on his last attempt for the Colts during the AFC divisional playoffs in January, he badly missed a 46-yarder that would have forced overtime against Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh.

Seahawks re-sign Tafoya

Seattle Seahawks re-signed defensive end Joe Tafoya to a deal in which he will earn $585,000 in base salary in 2006.

The five-year veteran, acquired off waivers from Tampa Bay last March, played in 15 regular-season games and all three of the team’s postseason games as a backup end and special teams player.

Saints to play in Mississippi

Mississippi’s first NFL exhibition game in a decade will feature two stars with significant ties to the state.

Peyton Manning and Indianapolis will play Deuce McAllister and the New Orleans Saints in Jackson on Aug. 26.

Around the league

Bears cornerback Jerry Azumah retired because of neck and hip pain the past two seasons, ending a seven-year career with Chicago in which he made the Pro Bowl in 2003. … The Minnesota Vikings signed quarterback Mike McMahon and safety Tank Williams. … The Oakland Raiders signed veteran cornerback Duane Starks, the second former New England defensive back they’ve acquired this week to bolster the secondary. … The Carolina Panthers are close to a coming to terms with free-agent receiver Keyshawn Johnson, according to general manager Marty Hurney.