Ravens, Washington ink one-year contract

From combined dispatches

The Baltimore Ravens signed unrestricted free agent Kelley Washington to a one-year contract to bolster their receiving corps.

A six-year NFL veteran who spent the past two seasons with the New England Patriots, Washington was a third-round draft pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003. He has 73 catches for 896 yards and nine touchdowns during his career.

“Kelley is a professional who’s been in this system and has had hard coaching,” said Ravens quarterbacks coach Hue Jackson, who coached Washington in Cincinnati.

“I know [wide receivers coach Jim] Hostler will take him to a whole different level,” Jackson said. “I also think Kelley is good for our guys in that he knows what to expect, and he’s willing to do everything it takes for our team to succeed.”

The Ravens also released wide receiver Marcus Maxwell.

SPRING MEETINGS: New Orleans could get back in the Super Bowl rotation this week.

NFL owners will award the 2013 Super Bowl to either New Orleans, Glendale, Ariz., or South Florida - where their spring meetings will take place in Fort Lauderdale.

And while nothing as definitive as selecting a Super Bowl site is expected, the owners could vote on a proposal to expand the regular season to 17 or 18 games, with a reduction in the preseason that would keep the overall total, minus playoffs, at 20 games.

The Super Bowl has been staged in New Orleans nine times, tied with Miami for the most years hosting the big game. Miami will break that tie in February.

BILLS: No stranger to attention, Terrell Owens drew plenty of it for the start of Buffalo’s voluntary minicamps. The wide receiver joined his new teammates at practice for the first time since signing with the Bills in March.

Wearing his familiar No. 81, Owens took part in stretching drills. He then played catch on the sidelines with receiver James Hardy while the special teams worked out.

EAGLES: Defensive coordinator Jim Johnson has taken an indefinite leave of absence while he continues treatment for a cancerous tumor on his spine.

“Jim and I agreed that he needs to concentrate all of his efforts on his recovery,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said. “His health is number one.”

VICK: Even though Michael Vick is leaving prison this week, he won’t exactly be a free man.

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