Cardinals sign safety Antoine Bethea, bring back center A.Q. Shipley

Published

The Cardinals have agreed to terms with safety Antoine Bethea on a three-year contract and center A.Q. Shipley on a two-year deal.

Bethea (5-feet-11, 206 pounds, 32 years old)  is an 11-year pro who spent his first eight seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and the past three with the San Francisco 49ers. He is a three-time Pro Bowl selection (2007, 2009, 2014) and has started 162 games since being drafted in the sixth round out of Howard in 2006. Bethea will likely fill the position that Tony Jefferson filled last season. Jefferson agreed to a four-year deal with Baltimore, reportedly for $36 million.

Shipley (6-1, 307, 30) will return to the Cardinals after signing with them as a free agent in 2015. He started all 16 games at center last season after serving primarily as a backup in 2015. He played for the Colts and Baltimore Ravens before signing with the Cardinals.

Other reports making the rounds regarding the Cardinals:

--Kent Somers of azcentral.com reports that the team is working on a five-year deal with linebacker/defensive end Chandler Jones and is in negotiations with veteran kicker Phil Dawson, most recently with the 49ers. Somers reports that Jones' deal is expected to average $16.5 million a year and includesguarantees in the $40 million to $50 million range.

--Linebacker Karlos Dansby is returning to Arizona for a third stint with the Cardinals.

http://twitter.com/kentsomers/status/839976935589523456

--Defensive tackle Calais Campbell will reportedly sign a four-year, $60 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

http://twitter.com/AZCardinals/status/839974724125917184

http://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/839923356438786048

--Safety D.J. Swearinger signed a three-year deal with the Washington Redskins.

http://twitter.com/RapSheet/status/839963093803401216