Johnnie was cut by Chiefs; Chad by RedskinsESPN.com news services
The Morton brothers both found new NFL homes Tuesday.
The San Francisco 49ers signed wide receiver Johnnie Morton to a two-year contract and the New England Patriots agreed to a one-year deal with kick-returner Chad Morton on Tuesday. Chad Morton's deal is worth $600,000 plus another possible $600,000 in incentives, according to ESPN.com's John Clayton.
Chad Morton
Johnnie Morton
Johnnie Morton, an 11-year veteran, was cut earlier this month by the Kansas City Chiefs, while brother Chad was cut by the Washington Redskins.
"Johnnie is our kind of guy." 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "He is a hard-working professional who will be a great example to our young receivers."
Kansas City recently signed wide receiver Freddie Mitchell, who was released by the Eagles this offseason.
In three seasons with the Chiefs, Johnnie Morton, signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2002, caught 134 passes for 1,932 yards and eight touchdowns in 43 appearances that included 42 starts. His average numbers in a Kansas City uniform -- 44.7 catches, 644 yards and 2.7 touchdowns -- are hardly reflective of the productive career he has enjoyed. In 2004, Morton had 55 receptions for 795 yards and three scores.
The Redskins signed Chad Morton away from the New York Jets as a restricted free agent before the 2003 season, giving him a five-year, $8 million deal.
Chad Morton averaged 22.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns and 6.2 yards on 13 punt returns last season before damaging a ligament in his knee in an Oct. 31 game against the Green Bay Packers.
As it turned out, the 27-year-old Chad Morton received a pay raise by being released by the Redskins. The base salaries of his five-year deal with Washington were at the NFL minimum for the first two seasons, so Morton was only scheduled to make $540,000 this year had he stayed in Washington.
Johnnie Morton, who played his first eight NFL seasons in Detroit, was one of the league's most productive receivers over a five-year stretch with the Lions. Between 1997 and 2001, Morton averaged 73.4 catches, 1,031.2 yards and four scores.
Included in that stretch were four 1,000-yard seasons and also three campaigns in which Morton, one of the NFL's best receivers in terms of adding yards after the catch, had 75 or more receptions. His first season in Kansas City, though, produced just 29 receptions, and his tenure there was largely disappointing.
Information from ESPN.com senior writer Len Pasquarelli was used in this report.
The Morton brothers both found new NFL homes Tuesday.
The San Francisco 49ers signed wide receiver Johnnie Morton to a two-year contract and the New England Patriots agreed to a one-year deal with kick-returner Chad Morton on Tuesday. Chad Morton's deal is worth $600,000 plus another possible $600,000 in incentives, according to ESPN.com's John Clayton.
Chad Morton
Johnnie Morton
Johnnie Morton, an 11-year veteran, was cut earlier this month by the Kansas City Chiefs, while brother Chad was cut by the Washington Redskins.
"Johnnie is our kind of guy." 49ers coach Mike Nolan said. "He is a hard-working professional who will be a great example to our young receivers."
Kansas City recently signed wide receiver Freddie Mitchell, who was released by the Eagles this offseason.
In three seasons with the Chiefs, Johnnie Morton, signed as an unrestricted free agent in 2002, caught 134 passes for 1,932 yards and eight touchdowns in 43 appearances that included 42 starts. His average numbers in a Kansas City uniform -- 44.7 catches, 644 yards and 2.7 touchdowns -- are hardly reflective of the productive career he has enjoyed. In 2004, Morton had 55 receptions for 795 yards and three scores.
The Redskins signed Chad Morton away from the New York Jets as a restricted free agent before the 2003 season, giving him a five-year, $8 million deal.
Chad Morton averaged 22.4 yards on 16 kickoff returns and 6.2 yards on 13 punt returns last season before damaging a ligament in his knee in an Oct. 31 game against the Green Bay Packers.
As it turned out, the 27-year-old Chad Morton received a pay raise by being released by the Redskins. The base salaries of his five-year deal with Washington were at the NFL minimum for the first two seasons, so Morton was only scheduled to make $540,000 this year had he stayed in Washington.
Johnnie Morton, who played his first eight NFL seasons in Detroit, was one of the league's most productive receivers over a five-year stretch with the Lions. Between 1997 and 2001, Morton averaged 73.4 catches, 1,031.2 yards and four scores.
Included in that stretch were four 1,000-yard seasons and also three campaigns in which Morton, one of the NFL's best receivers in terms of adding yards after the catch, had 75 or more receptions. His first season in Kansas City, though, produced just 29 receptions, and his tenure there was largely disappointing.
Information from ESPN.com senior writer Len Pasquarelli was used in this report.
