The Oakland Raiders have finalized a multiyear contract extension with former University of Washington player Marcel Reece.
The team announced the deal Tuesday. Terms were not disclosed. Reece had been slated to make $540,000 this season after signing a one-year contract during the offseason as an exclusive rights free agent.
Reece was a 6-foot-1, 240-pound wide receiver for Washington in 2006 and 2007 after playing two years of junior college football in California. He holds the UW record for longest reception, a 98-yarder from Jake Locker in 2007.
Reece coverted to fullback in the NFL and is now listed at 255 pounds. In 31 career games, he has 56 career receptions for 674 yards and five touchdowns and has rushed for 234 yards and one touchdown on 48 attempts.
He adds versatility to Oakland’s offense with his ability to line up out wide or play as a traditional fullback.
Reece had two catches for 30 yards in the Raiders’ 22-14 loss to San Diego on Monday night.
MODELL MOURNED
Thousands of family members and friends turned out for the funeral of former Browns and Ravens owner Art Modell in Baltimore, including current and former players, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Cowboys owner Jerry Jones.
An important figure in the development of the league, Modell also was one of the NFL’s most polarizing owners. Cleveland fans never forgave him from moving his club to Baltimore for financial reasons after the 1995 season, but Ravens fans were fond of him and Modell also was remembered as a loving family man Tuesday.
Ray Lewis, Ray Rice, Joe Flacco, Haloti Ngata and Torrey Smith were among current Ravens players who attended the service at Baltimore Hebrew Congregation. Former Ravens players Michael McCrary, Peter Boulware and Rob Burnett also went to pay their respects.
“He contributed so much to the NFL,” Goodell said. “He was obviously a close adviser to (former NFL commissioner) Pete Rozelle. He was a big part of NFL history. He played a big role in the NFL, and the NFL is going to miss him.”
Modell’s funeral came the morning after the Ravens defeated the Cincinnati Bengals, 44-13, in Baltimore. The team paid tribute to Modell by wearing commemorative T-shirts during pre-game warmups and in the locker room after the game.
EXTRA POINTS
Goodell has agreed to meet with four players whose suspensions in connection with the New Orleans Saints bounty investigation were recently lifted by an appeals panel. No specific dates have been set for the commissioner’s meetings with Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma, Saints defensive end Will Smith, Browns linebacker Scott Fujita and free agent defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove, a former Seattle Seahawk. … Former Pro Bowl center Dan Koppen signed with the Broncos, two weeks after his release from the Patriots, where he played from 2003-11. … Raiders receiver Jacoby Ford will undergo surgery on his injured left foot and will be out inedinitely. … The Chiefs waived linebacker Cameron Sheffield to make roster space for linebacker Tamba Hali, who was suspended for the season opener after violating the league’s substance-abuse policy.
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