Colston stays with New Orleans

Marques Colston is staying put in New Orleans. Brandon Marshall is headed to Chicago.

Hours before free agency began Tuesday, the Saints’ star receiver agreed to a five-year contract to remain in the Big Easy. A bit later, Miami sent its top wideout, Marshall, to the Bears for two draft picks.

“This was important to me, to be back with this team in this situation,” Colston said in a statement released by the Saints.

The top free agent, of course, is Peyton Manning, who was released a week ago by the Colts. He still is conducting his limited tour of teams, but the Dolphins’ trade of their No. 1 receiver could indicate Miami is out of the running for the four-time league MVP.

Also re-signing with their teams were Giants cornerback Terrell Thomas, Eagles tackle Todd Herremans, Chargers center Nick Hardwick, Vikings backup quarterback Sage Rosenfels and Bears cornerback Tim Jennings.

San Francisco, which signed enigmatic receiver Randy Moss on Monday, added cornerback Perrish Cox. Neither was in the league last year.

Players released Tuesday include Cowboys cornerback Terence Newman, Texans tackle Eric Winston and backup quarterback Matt Leinart, and San Diego tackle Marcus McNeill.

• Redskins, Cowboys hit by salary cap : The $46 million in total salary cap reductions for the Redskins and Cowboys over the next two seasons will go to other teams.

A person familiar with the decision said the 28 other clubs will get a boost to their 2012 and 2013 salary caps. The Redskins will lose $36 million in cap space over the next two years, while the Cowboys will lose $10 million.

They were cited by the NFL for paying exorbitant amounts in the uncapped 2010 season to get more spending room for the upcoming season.

• Packer suspended: The NFL suspended Green Bay Packers defensive end Mike Neal without pay for the team’s first four games of the 2012 season for violating the league’s policy on performance- enhancing substances.