Cowboys come to terms with ex-Bears DT Melton

Henry Melton only played three games last year because of a torn ACL. (USATSI)

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If you like solving riddles on Twitter, former Bears defensive tackle Henry Melton has a doozy for you.

Thank you chicago for the best 5 years of my life!.... I can't wait to begin the next chapter of my life... With a star on my helmet.

— Henry Melton (@HenMel) March 19, 2014

OK, it's not a riddle that's real hard to figure out, especially when the Cowboys official reporter announced Tuesday night that the team had agreed to terms with Melton, a contract that multiple reports say is for one year with an option.

Melton was a fourth-round pick of the Bears in 2010, and in his first three seasons, he racked up a total of 15.5 sacks. But in 2013, he spent most of the season on injured reserve with a torn ACL and didn't record a single sack for the first time in his career.

But in Dallas, Helton, the No. 41 player on the CBSSports.com free agent list, will reunite with former Chicago defensive coordinator Rod Marinelli, who now holds that same position with the Cowboys.

Among his other reported suitors were the Vikings, Seahawks, and Rams.

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Giants nab two former Broncos; CB Rodgers-Cromartie and KR Holliday



The New York Giants continued to work on their secondary Monday by adding cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who played for the Denver Broncos in 2013. They had already signed safety Quintin Demps and cornerback Walter Thurmond. The Rodgers-Cromartie deal is for a reported five years and $39 million, with $15 million of that being guaranteed. Rodgers-Cromartie had three interceptions for the Broncos on the season and defended 14 passes. He has 19 career interceptions.The Giants also agreed with return specialist Trindon Holliday on a one-year deal. The complete terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed. Holliday is an explosive return man. He was 5th in the league in yards per return (27.7) and was one of only six kick returners to take a kick back for a touchdown. He and Jacoby Jones are the only two players to return kicks for touchdowns in each of the past two seasons. Demps was also an excellent return man in 2013, averaging over 30 yards per return and also adding a return touchdown.



The Giants ranked 27th in the league in yards per kick return and 26th in yards per punt return, so the addition of a couple of stud kick returners makes sense. Their pass defense was around the middle of the pack in 2013 and they ranked 12th in interceptions . The re-vamped secondary should help that number end up in the top ten next season.Fantasy-wise, the Giants Defense/Special Teams is going to be taking some huge steps in the right direction. WIth the additions of Thurmond, Demps, and now Rodgers-Cromartie to the secondary, interception numbers should be up. With Holliday and Demps as returners, they have two of the top five return men from 2013 and two of the six who returned a kick for a touchdown. Holliday also returned a punt for a touchdown.The Giants did lose Justin Tuck. That's a big loss. But, Mathias Kiwanuka has been re-signed. The secondary is looking solid. They have good return men. I like the Giants Defense/Special Teams to be a top 10 team in fantasy in 2014.