NFL Notes: UR’s Sidbury signs with Atlanta

UR's Lawrence Sidbury is now an Atlanta Falcon.

UR's Sidbury signs

ATLANTA -- The Atlanta Falcons have signed fourth-round draft pick Lawrence Sidbury, the sixth of the team's eight draft picks to agree to a contract.

Sidbury, a defensive end, ranks fourth in Richmond's career records with 20.5 sacks, including 11.5 in 2008. His four sacks in Richmond's FCS championship game win over Montana are the most in a playoff game in NCAA history. He was named MVP of the championship game.

Redskins draft Jarmon

WASHINGTON -- The Washington Redskins figure they got a bargain by taking Kentucky defensive end Jeremy Jarmon in the third round of the NFL's supplemental draft yesterday.

And Jarmon figures he gets an early jump on his professional career after being declared ineligible for his senior season by the NCAA because he tested positive for a banned substance.

The 6-foot-3, 277-pound Jarmon is the first player the Redskins have taken with a supplemental selection. The team relinquishes its third-round pick in the 2010 NFL draft.

Jarmon will play left defensive end, the same primary position played by Brian Orakpo, Washington's top pick in April. Getting Jarmon is the latest move aimed at upgrading a pass rush that ranked last in the NFC in 2008 with only 24 sacks. Washington began free agency by landing All-Pro defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, then drafted Orakpo.

Jarmon was the only player drafted in the special selection process, which was conducted electronically by the league from its New York headquarters.

Cardinals use franchise tag on Dansby

PHOENIX -- Karlos Dansby will be the Arizona Cardinals franchise player for the second straight season.

The linebacker failed to reach a long-term agreement with the team by Wednesday's deadline, meaning he will keep the franchise tag for the coming season.

That means he will earn the average salary of the top five paid players at his position, about $9.7 million.

"I'm kind of disappointed we couldn't come to an agreement," Dansby said. "The Cardinals had a business decision to make and they made it and we'll have to live with it."

Dansby says he's optimistic he will reach a long-term agreement with the Cardinals down the road.

Elsewhere:

• Prosecutors say they expect to refile a felony drug charge against Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Johnny Jolly Jr. after dropping the case.

The New England Patriots have signed defensive lineman Darryl Richard, their seventh-round draft pick. -- From Wire Reports