The Jacksonville Jaguars released former Pitt offensive tackle Charles Spencer yesterday, four days after using their first two draft picks to revamp the line.

The Jaguars drafted bookend tackles Eugene Monroe and Eben Britton in the first two rounds Saturday, making Spencer expendable. The team signed Spencer in early September after backup offensive tackle Richard Collier was shot and paralyzed.

Spencer, a third-round pick by Houston in 2006, dressed for 10 games last season, but did not play.

The Jaguars also released fullback Anthony Cotrone, who signed with the team as an undrafted rookie free agent last year and spent the season on injured reserve because of a knee injury.

Atlanta signed former Georgia running back Verron Haynes. Haynes, who spent six seasons as a backup with the Steelers, adds depth to an Atlanta backfield that already includes Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. Haynes led the Bulldogs in rushing with 691 yards as a senior, then was drafted in the fifth round by the Steelers. He rushed for 738 yards, caught 58 passes and scored five touchdowns with the Steelers.

New Orleans released defensive tackle Hollis Thomas. The 35-year-old Thomas missed the first half of the 2008 season after hurting his triceps in training camp. He made 10 tackles in the Saints' final eight games. Thomas came to the Saints in a 2006 trade from Philadelphia and had 117 tackles with 6Â 1/2 sacks and a fumble recovery in his three seasons in New Orleans.

Denver signed veteran linebacker Nick Greisen and released fullback Andrew Pinnock. In his eight-year career, Greisen has played for Baltimore, Jacksonville and the New York Giants. Greisen, 29, is the third linebacker the Broncos brought in this week. He played the past two seasons in Baltimore. He was a fifth-round draft pick by the Giants in 2002 out of Wisconsin.

New England released linebacker Bo Ruud, who spent his entire rookie season on the team's injured reserve list. Ruud, a three-year starter at Nebraska, was selected by the Patriots in the sixth round of the 2008 NFL draft. He injured his ankle in training camp and missed the regular season.