NFL: Patriots' Seymour gets picked up by Raiders

The Oakland Raiders took a big step toward improving their struggling run defense by acquiring five-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Richard Seymour from the New England Patriots yesterday.

Seymour is in the final year of a contract paying him $3.7 million this season. In return, the Patriots received a first-round draft choice in 2011.

The 29-year-old Seymour was drafted by the Patriots sixth overall in 2001, and started 105 of 111 games over eight seasons. He made 460 tackles and 39 sacks. In 2002, he was selected to the first of five consecutive Pro Bowls.

Since going to the Super Bowl after the 2002 season, Oakland has had the worst run defense in the NFL, allowing 141.7 yards per game and 122 touchdowns on the ground.

Merriman arrested. San Diego outside linebacker Shawne Merriman was arrested early yesterday and accused of choking and restraining his girlfriend, reality TV star Tila Tequila, as she tried to leave his suburban home.

Tequila, 27, signed a citizen's arrest warrant, charging Merriman with battery and false imprisonment, San Diego County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Steadman said.

Deputies arrived about 3:45 a.m. at Merriman's house in Poway, north of San Diego, after a woman called to say she was choked by the player and thrown to the ground when she tried to leave, Sheriff's Department spokesman Jan Caldwell said.

Merriman, 25, was taken into custody and booked into the central jail about 8:30 a.m. He was released shortly after 11 a.m.

Tequila was taken to a hospital. Her condition was not immediately available.

Caldwell said deputies determined Tequila had been drinking. She said she was not sure about Merriman.

Tequila, whose given name is Tila Nguyen, is best-known for A Shot at Love With Tila Tequila, which ran for two seasons on MTV.

Texans. Star cornerback Dunta Robinson ended his holdout with Houston and signed the one-year deal the team had been offering all along.

Robinson balked when the team placed the franchise tag on him in February, saying he wanted more than the $9.957 million that came with the designation.

Falcons. Cornerback Brian Williams, who started all 16 games for Jacksonville last season, agreed to terms with Atlanta.

Panthers. Carolina claimed rookie running back Tyrell Sutton off waivers from the Green Bay Packers and defensive tackle Ra'Shon Harris from the Pittsburgh Steelers to fill out its 53-man roster.

The Panthers will host the Eagles in the opener Sunday.

Bills. Turk Schonert told a Buffalo television station Friday afternoon that he was fired as offensive coordinator because the Bills' offense "wasn't simple enough" for coach Dick Jauron.

"He wants a Pop Warner offense," Schonert said in a telephone interview. "He limited me in formations and limited me in plays. He's been on my back all off-season."

The Bills' offensive starters did not score a touchdown in five preseason games after ranking 25th in the NFL in offense in 2008, Schonert's first as the team's play-caller.

Jaguars. Quarterback Luke McCown passed his physical with Jacksonville, prompting the team to cut veteran backup Todd Bouman.

On Saturday, Jacksonville traded an undisclosed draft pick in 2010 to Tampa Bay in exchange for McCown.

Steelers. Center A.Q. Shipley, a seventh-round draft pick from Penn State, was among six players named to Pittsburgh's practice squad.

Seahawks. Seattle signed safety Lawyer Milloy to a one-year contract. Milloy spent the last three seasons in Atlanta and grew up in nearby Tacoma, Wash. The 13-year veteran played his college ball at Washington.

Buccaneers. Tampa Bay claimed defensive end Maurice Evans off waivers. Evans, a former Penn State star, was cut by the New York Giants on Saturday.

Jets. New York acquired quarterback Kevin O'Connell from the Detroit Lions for an undisclosed draft pick.