Long snapper Jon Dorenbos signed a five-year contract extension with the Philadelphia Eagles on Saturday. Dorenbos would have otherwise become an unrestricted free agent after the season. "Jon has been a very good long snapper for us over the last year and a half," Eagles' General Manager Tom Heckert said. "Good, consistent long snappers are hard to find, and we wanted to shore up that position for the next several years. He has worked very well with (kicker) David Akers and (holder) Sav Rocca, and we're happy to have him back." The 27-year-old Dorenbos was signed late last season after longtime long snapper Mike Bartrum was injured. He's played 22 games with the Eagles including playoffs.

Bob Sanders' big hits have finally paid off in a big way. The two-time Pro Bowler signed a five-year contract extension Friday, a deal that will keep him with the Indianapolis Colts through 2012 and makes him one of the league's highest-paid safeties. The deal is worth $37.5 million and includes $20 million in guarantees, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not yet been announced.

Rick Neuheisel has been named UCLA's 16th head football coach, Bruins' Athletic Director Dan Guerrero announced Saturday. ESPN's Joe Schad first reported the hiring. "I am thrilled to be returning to my alma mater as its head coach," said Neuheisel. "UCLA is a special place and I want to thank Dan Guerrero and Chancellor [Gene] Block for the opportunity to come home. We are going to build a program our supporters will be proud of both on and off the field. I can't wait to get started. I made some mistakes earlier in my career, and I take responsibility for those mistakes. I have learned from that experience, and I would never do anything that would reflect negatively on UCLA."

The Chargers signed kicker Dave Rayner Friday to handle kickoff duties. Nate Kaeding is expected to kick field goals and extra points in the Bolts? regular-season finale Sunday at Oakland. In order to make room for Rayner on the 53-man roster, the Chargers released veteran tackle Roman Oben. During his senior season at Michigan State, Rayner recorded touchbacks on 53 percent of his kickoffs. Rayner handled full-time kicking duties for the Green Bay Packers in 2006. The former Spartan hit 11 touchbacks on the season and connected on 26-of-35 field goal attempts including two 54-yarders and seven more from beyond 40 yards. The Packers released Rayner at the end of training camp this season. He signed with the Kansas City Chiefs a week later and served as their full-time kicker until he was released on November 26. Rayner was a sixth-round draft choice of the Colts in 2005.

The Browns on Wednesday signed veteran defensive end Bobby Hamilton, a member of the Patriots' Super Bowl-winning teams in 2001 and 2003. A 12-year veteran, the 6-5, 285-pound Hamilton has played in 164 games, including 102 starts, with the Patriots, Raiders and Jets. Hamilton began this season with the Jets but was released at the end of training camp.

With several safeties nursing nagging injuries, the Redskins moved to bolster the position for Sunday's game at Minnesota by adding veteran free agent Omar Stoutmire, who played for the team in 2006 and was also in training camp with Washington this summer. An 11-year veteran, Stoutmire is familiar with the design of Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams and, assuming he is in good shape physically, could be ready to contribute quickly if needed. Reserve safeties Pierson Priloeau and Vernon Fox both sustained minor injuries in last week's victory over the New York Giants, and starting strong safety LaRon Landry has been playing at less than 100 percent. Landry missed the team's Thursday practice with an undisclosed injury. The matchup with the Vikings is key to the Redskins, who are still clinging to faint NFC wild-card hopes.

Michigan has hired West Virginia's Rich Rodriguez as its next football coach following a search that featured two other top prospects deciding to stay put. "I am thrilled to have Rich Rodriguez as Michigan's new coach," Athletic Director Bill Martin wrote in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Sunday. "Rich brings an exciting brand of football to Michigan Stadium. We welcome the entire Rodriguez family to Ann Arbor." Rodriguez, whose No. 11 Mountaineers are preparing for their second Bowl Championship Series game in three seasons, will take over Michigan's program from Lloyd Carr.

The Dallas Cowboys on Friday signed starting nose tackle Jay Ratliff, who took over the position when veteran Jason Ferguson was injured in the opening game of the year, to a five-year contract extension. The deal, first reported by The Dallas Morning News and confirmed for ESPN.com by league sources, is worth $20.5 million and includes $8 million in bonuses. A three-year veteran, Ratliff spent his first two seasons rotating between end and tackle in the Cowboys' 3-4 front. He moved to tackle full-time this year and assumed the No. 1 spot on the nose tackle depth chart when Ferguson suffered a ruptured biceps tendon in the first game of the season.

The Buccaneers on Wednesday signed running back Zack Crockett. It marks the second time this season that Crockett has been with Tampa Bay. In Week Seven, the 34-year-old carried once for no gain in a 23-16 loss to the Lions before being released.

The 49ers put quarterback Alex Smith on injured reserve Wednesday and signed Chris Weinke to provide depth at the injury-depleted position. Smith will have surgery Thursday on his separated right shoulder. The former No. 1 overall draft pick was hurt Sept. 30 against Seattle and missed six of the 49ers' last nine games before deciding Monday night to undergo surgery to strengthen his still-aching shoulder.