The Washington Redskins did it again, jumping Wednesday to sign the first free agent of the season. But the Baltimore Ravens landed the biggest prize of the first day of free agency, signing wide receiver Derrick Mason, whose 96 catches for Tennessee last season led all NFL wide receivers. The Cleveland Browns traded defensive tackle Gerard Warren, the third overall pick in the 2001 draft, to Denver. It was an overall net loss for Cleveland - the Browns will get just a fourth-round draft choice for the underachieving Warren. Cleveland also signed guard Joe Andruzzi, a starter on all three of New England's Super Bowl winners, to a four-year, $9 million deal that reunites him with new Browns coach Romeo Crennel, the former Patriots defensive coordinator. "Joe is a tough, hard-nosed, blue-collar football player," Crennel said. "He gives us flexibility by being able to play both left and right guard and he will add stability to our offensive line." Indianapolis released tight end Marcus Pollard, one of the key cogs in the Colts' potent offense. And the Bengals re-signed wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Minnesota shored up its inner defense by agreeing to terms with tackle Pat Williams, who will team with Pro Bowl tackle Kevin Williams. The Vikings' defense ranked 28th last season, 21st against the run. The 31-year-old Mason, one of six Titans cut last month in a salary cap purge, will join a team whose leading receiver had just 35 catches a year ago. "We were high on his list, and he was high on our list," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said. "He was really the only receiver we have had any active discussions with thus far. What this does is, we bring in a veteran receiver who has the type of attitude and type of personality that we look for in a football player." Houshmandzadeh also was highly regarded around the league, but chose to remain in Cincinnati. "It was tempting to get out and really test the water as a free agent, but in my heart, what I wanted was to be in Cincinnati," Houshmandzadeh said. "I told my agents that, and we were able to get a good deal done. "I'm glad to have it all off my mind so I can start getting focused. I think the Bengals are going to have a great season, and I want to be a part of it." Houshmandzadeh caught 73 passes for 978 yards and four touchdowns. St. Louis, meanwhile, signed 32-year-old linebacker Dexter Coakley, one day after he was released by Dallas. Coakley is fourth on the Cowboys' career tackles list with 1,046, but Dallas cut him rather than pay a $500,000 roster bonus. Washington's catch was a former Raven, center Casey Rabach, who joined a team that has spent millions in the early days of free agency the last two seasons. But more significant for the Redskins was keeping one of their own: left tackle Chris Samuels, whose contract was redone to provide more salary cap room. Pollard 's release saved the Colts $2.65 million against the salary cap. He stands second in Colts history to Hall of Famer John Mackey for catches by a tight end with 263. "I've always dreaded this day because I didn't know how it would happen and how I would deal with it emotionally," Pollard said. "But as far as how Bill (Polian, the team president) and Tony (Dungy, the coach) handled it, I got cut, but I don't feel like I got cut, if that makes any sense." Oakland also made an expected splash by officially completing the deal for Randy Moss, a trade made last week with Minnesota. The Raiders gave up linebacker Napoleon Harris and two draft picks, one of them the seventh overall in April's lottery. Moss might not be the only significant addition to the Raiders' offense. They appeared close to signing running back Lamont Jordan, who spent four years as Curtis Martin's backup with the New York Jets. Jordan averaged 4.9 yards a carry in part-time duty, but has never been a full-time back. "We have a deal in principle that he should sign tomorrow morning - 99.9 percent sure he will be a Raider," Jordan's agent, Alvin Keels, said in an e-mail Wednesday night. Oakland released veteran running back Tyrone Wheatley on Wednesday, along with defensive tackle John Parrella. As for Rabach, who played at Wisconsin, he will probably replace another former Badger with the initials "CR," - Cory Raymer - in the middle of the line. With Jon Jansen back from injury at right tackle and Samuels on the left side, the Washington offense should be stronger than last year's unit, which scored just 240 points, second fewest in the NFL. In other developments Wednesday: - Dallas signed cornerback Anthony Henry to a five-year contract. Henry had four interceptions last season with Cleveland. - Philadelphia re-signed running back Correll Buckhalter, who missed all of last season with a knee injury. - The Lions re-signed Bracy Walker, their starting strong safety last season.

The same New York Jets who backed into the playoffs were the latest team to usher Marty Schottenheimer into the offseason. Doug Brien kicked a 28-yard field goal with 5 seconds left in overtime to get linebacker Eric Barton off the hook for a huge penalty and give the Jets a 20-17 upset over the Chargers in a wild-card game Saturday night. Chargers tied the game in the final seconds, and the Jets survived a see-saw overtime. The winning drive started on the New York 30 after Chargers rookie Nate Kaeding was wide right on a 40-yard field goal try with 4:19 left in overtime. It included an 18-yard pass from Chad Pennington to Santana Moss that was upheld on review. The Jets celebrated wildly while Schottenheimer walked across the field with a far-off look on his face. "That has to be one of the most dramatic games I've been a part of," said New York's Curtis Martin, the NFL's regular-season rushing champion who was held to just 66 yards on 18 carries. And just like that, Schottenheimer still can't win in the playoffs. Named the Coach of the Year earlier in the day, he suffered his fifth straight playoff loss dating to 1993 with the Kansas City Chiefs and fell to 5-12 in his career, which also included a stop in Cleveland. "I've been through this before; that's been well-documented," Schottenheimer said. "My disappointment, quite frankly, is with the players in that locker room and the community." Pennington, bothered by a sore throwing shoulder for five games, threw two touchdown passes for the Jets, who led 17-7 late in the third quarter and should have won in regulation. But the Chargers forced overtime when All-Pro tight end Antonio Gates caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Pro Bowler Drew Brees to tie it at 17 with 11 seconds left in regulation. It came one play after Barton was whistled for a personal foul for hitting Brees on the helmet with his right forearm after Brees threw a desperation pass on fourth-and-goal that was batted down in the end zone.