The Denver Broncos on Thursday signed unrestricted free-agent running back J.J. Arrington and unrestricted free-agent quarterback Chris Simms, it was announced. As per club policy, terms of the deals were not disclosed.
Arrington (5-foot-9, 212 pounds) is a fifth-year running back who spent his first four NFL seasons with Arizona, which selected him in the second round (44th overall) of the 2005 NFL Draft from the University of California. He has played 58 career regular-season games (8 starts), totaling 183 rushes for 654 yards (3.6 avg.) with three touchdowns along with 91 receptions for 693 yards (7.6 avg.) with two scores. Arrington owns 114 career kickoff returns for 2,694 yards (23.6 avg.) with two touchdowns.
In 2008, Arrington saw time in 11 regular-season games (3 starts) and all four postseason contests for the Cardinals, who won the NFC West title and advanced to Super Bowl XLIII. He rushed for 187 yards on 31 carries (6.0 avg.) with one touchdown and tied a career high with 29 receptions for 255 yards (8.8 avg.) with one score during the regular season. He also returned 36 kickoffs for 923 yards (25.6 avg.) with a 93-yard touchdown return.
During his rookie campaign with Arizona in 2005, Arrington rushed for a career-high 370 yards on 112 carries (3.3 avg.) with two touchdowns and had 25 receptions for 139 yards (5.6 avg.). He returned 67 kickoffs for 1,520 yards (22.7 avg.) with a 99-yard touchdown return for the Cardinals in 2006.
Arrington played two seasons at California after beginning his collegiate career at College of the Canyons in Valencia, Calif. He received consensus All-America honors as a senior at Cal, rushing for at least 100 yards in every game en route to finishing the year as the nation's leader in rushing yards (2,018) and yards per carry (7.0 avg., 289 rushes).
A two-way player at Northern Nash High School in Rocky Mount, N.C., Arrington was born on Jan. 23, 1983.
Simms (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) is a seventh-year quarterback who spent his first six NFL seasons with Tennessee (2008) and Tampa Bay (2003-07). He entered the NFL with the Buccaneers in 2003 as a third-round draft choice (97th overall) from the University of Texas.
In 20 career regular-season games (15 starts), Simms has completed 292-of-494 (59.1%) passes for 3,094 yards with 12 touchdowns and 17 interceptions for a 71.2 passer rating. He also has posted 30 career rushes for 52 yards (1.7 avg.) with one touchdown.
Simms owns one game of playoff experience, completing 25-of-38 (65.8%) passes for 198 yards with two interceptions in a start for the Buccaneers in their NFC Wild Card Game against the Redskins during the 2005 season. That year, he helped Tampa Bay to the NFC South title, starting 10-of-11 regular-season games played and completing 191-of-313 (61.0%) passes for a career-high 2,035 yards with 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions for an 81.4 passer rating.
Last season, Simms appeared in one game as a backup quarterback with Tennessee. He completed 1-of-2 passes for seven yards in the Titans’ game at Indianapolis on Dec. 28.
At Texas, Simms became the first quarterback in school history to lead the Longhorns to consecutive 10-win seasons. Simms, whose 26 career wins (26-6 record) as a starting quarterback ranked second in Texas annals, completed 532-of-911 (58.4%) passes for 7,097 yards with 58 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in 43 career games (32 starts) with the Longhorns.
Named USA Today Offensive Player of the Year as a senior at Ramapo High School in Franklin Lakes, N.J., Simms was born on Aug. 29, 1980.