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Free agent safety James Sanders reached a one-year agreement with the Atlanta Falcons late Tuesday night, according to reports from ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Selected out of Fresno State in the fourth round of the 2005 NFL Draft, Sanders became an immediate contributor in the New England Patriots’ secondary. The 27-year-old participated in 84 games throughout seven years — starting during the majority of New England’s undefeated 16-0 regular season in 2007 — while collecting 301 tackles, eight interceptions, and two touchdowns. 

Praised by his teammates and coaches for displaying fanatic leadership in the face of a suddenly shrinking role, Sanders was caught by surprise upon hearing about his release from the franchise, as he explained to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.

“It was a shock. It wasn’t one of the things I was expecting to hear today. It didn’t cross my mind,” Sanders said Monday afternoon.

The veteran now joins a Falcons secondary led by incumbent starters Thomas DeCoud and William Moore.

For more on the signing of James Sanders and how it impacts the Atlanta Falcons, check out The Falcoholic.

The 11-season tenure of the Atlanta Thrashers in the NHL came to a formal close on Tuesday, as the NHL’s Board of Governors approved the team’s sale and relocation from Atlanta Spirit Group to True North Sports and Entertainment, which will move the franchise to Winnipeg starting next season.

At their meeting in New York, the governors voted unanimously to approve the sale (three-fourths was required) and relocation (only a simple majority was required), according to a release on NHL.com. Winnipeg, whose province of Manitoba sits north of Minnesota and North Dakota, will play in the Southeast Division next season. Giving itself a full year to study realignment issues, the NHL will wait until 2012-13 before moving the franchise to a more geographically sensible division and conference.

On Monday, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution first reported that Craig Ramsay, who coached the Thrashers in 2010-11 and remained under contract, would not be retained by the new Winnipeg franchise, which has yet to announce its name. Media reports said that Claude Noel, who coached True North’s American Hockey League franchise last season, was a finalist for the head job, as was Chicago Blackhawks assistant Mike Haviland.

TSN reported that Thrashers assistant coaches John Torchetti and Mike Stothers also would not be retained. Goaltending consultant Clint Malarchuk, who spent last season with the team, had earlier accepted an offer from Calgary to join the Flames’ staff.

Most Thrashers employees will remain working through the end of the month. It has been reported that none were retained by True North, which has kept most of its staff intact from the AHL’s Manitoba Moose, the franchise it formerly owned and operated until the Moose relocated to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to make room for the new NHL team.

New Winnipeg general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff will represent the franchise at Friday’s draft in St. Paul, home to the NHL’s next closest franchise. At least one Atlanta Spirit employee, Thrashers Senior Director of Team Services Michele Zarzaca, was scheduled to be at the draft, perhaps to help the franchise’s existing players with relocation.

POSTED: 3:28 pm EDT March 20, 2011

UPDATED: 3:44 pm EDT March 20, 2011

ATLANTA (Reuters) – Atlanta Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff has been given a multi-year contract extension after the team’s best three-year stretch, the National Football League club said Wednesday.

Terms of the deal were not announced.

Atlanta has been to the NFL playoffs twice and compiled three consecutive winning seasons since Dimitroff joined the franchise in 2008.

The team’s three-year record of 33-15 was tied for third-best in the NFL over that span.

During his tenure, Dimitroff also hired head coach Mike Smith and selected starting quarterback Matt Ryan in the NFL Draft.

(Reporting by Gene Cherry in Salvo, North Carolina, Editing by Larry Fine)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

PHILADELPHIA — Michael Vick has signed a one-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Pro Bowl quarterback was designated as the team’s franchise player Feb. 15. He signed the franchise tender Wednesday.

Under rules of the collective bargaining agreement that expires at midnight Thursday, a team must pay a franchise player the average of the top five salaries at his position. Vick would make an estimated $20 million under this tag.

Vick led the Eagles to a 10-6 record and the NFC East title after replacing an injured Kevin Kolb in Week 1. Despite missing three games with an injury, Vick had his best season. He set career highs in yards passing (3,018), touchdowns passing (21), touchdowns rushing (9), completion percentage (62.6) and passer rating (100.2).

Vick was voted The Associated Press Comeback Player of the Year after missing two seasons while serving a federal prison sentence for dog fighting and playing sparingly in 2009.