ORCHARD PARK, N.Y., April 17 (UPI) -- The Buffalo Bills on Wednesday signed free agent linebacker Eddie Robinson and acquired kick returner Charlie Rogers from the expansion Houston Texans for linebacker Jay Foreman.
Robinson, 32, was the second-leading tackler for the Tennessee Titans last season and is reunited with Bills Coach Gregg Williams, who was the Titans defensive coordinator before
heading to Buffalo in 2001.
Williams immediately made Robinson the starter at weakside linebacker, shipping Foreman to Houston for Rogers.
Robinson, a 10-year-veteran, has started 148 of 159 regular season games and 10 playoff contests. He has posted 100 or more tackles in five of the last six seasons, including the last
four years with Tennessee.
In 2001, Robinson had 101 tackles, two interceptions, a sack, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. He is often assigned to cover opposing running backs and tight ends in coverage.
Foreman, 26, started all 16 games at weakside linebacker for the Bills last season, but Williams was seeking to upgrade the position. In Houston, he will likely start along with Jamie Sharper, who was claimed in the expansion draft from the Baltimore Ravens, and free agent signee Kailee Wong at linebacker.
Rogers was claimed by Houston in the expansion draft, although the Texans had already claimed Pro Bowl returner Jermaine Lewis, who also played for the Ravens.
In three seasons with the Seattle Seahawks, Rogers established himself as one of the league's most exciting returners. He led the NFL in punt returns with a 14.5 yard average in 1999, including a 94-yard touchdown. Rogers also returned a kickoff 85 yards for a score in Seattle's wild card game loss to Miami.
In 2000, Rogers ranked second in the AFC with a 14.0 yard average on punt returns and was seventh in the NFL with a 24.7 yard average on kickoffs.
However, Rogers' numbers dropped last season to 9.8 yards on punts and 22.4 yards on kicks.
