NFL | Raiders release Dominic Rhodes after drafting Darren McFadden

ALAMEDA, Calif. — The Oakland Raiders released running back Dominic Rhodes on Monday, two days after using their top draft choice to take big-play back Darren McFadden of Arkansas.

Oakland had a surplus at running back after the draft and began addressing it almost immediately by announcing the team cut ties with Rhodes. The Raiders still have two backs with 1,000-yard-plus seasons — Justin Fargas and LaMont Jordan — on their roster, as well as last year's fourth-round selection, Michael Bush.

Rhodes, 29, signed a two-year contract with the Raiders last offseason after helping Indianapolis win the Super Bowl. He restructured his contract earlier this offseason and was expected to share the rushing load with Fargas before McFadden was drafted.

Rhodes was suspended for the first four games last season for violating the league's substance-abuse policy. He played sparingly until Fargas went down with a knee injury late in the year. Rhodes ran for 237 yards the last two games of the season.

Rhodes finished with 302 yards rushing in 10 games last season. He has scored 23 touchdowns and rushed for 2,576 yards in six pro seasons, the first five with Indianapolis.

Rhodes' best season was as a rookie with the Colts, when he ran for 1,104 yards in 2001.

Rhodes shared the rushing load with then-rookie Joseph Addai in the 2006 season, and ran for 113 yards and a touchdown that helped the Colts beat the Bears 29-17 in the 2007 Super Bowl.

Fargas and McFadden, who was the fourth player taken in the first round, are expected to be the prime backs in Oakland.

Steelers sign Huskies

Reffett, Lewis

The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed two Washington Huskies who weren't selected in last weekend's draft — defensive lineman Jordan Reffett of Moses Lake and cornerback Roy Lewis.

Meanwhile, Philadelphia signed Washington State fullback Jed Collins and the Chicago Bears signed Montana offensive tackle Cody Balogh, a former Steilacoom High School standout.

Notes

• Dallas receiver Terrell Owens, 34, has been sued by the Philadelphia Eagles, who said he owes almost $770,000 in bonus money he failed to repay after his suspension from the team.

The Eagles said in a complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia that Owens owes the team $769,117.65 after a January ruling by a league arbitrator that found the team was entitled to about $1.7 million in bonus money paid to Owens when he joined the Eagles.

Drew Rosenhaus, Owens' agent, declined to comment on the matter. Owens has a total of 166 receptions for 28 touchdowns over the past two seasons for the Cowboys.

• The Carolina Panthers added depth on their defensive line by agreeing to a one-year deal with Darwin Walker, 30, who played for Chicago last season. The Bears let Walker go in February.

• Ex-New England punter Mike Patrick died Sunday in Biloxi, Miss., Patriots officials said in a statement that did not give the cause of death. He was 55.

Patrick played for the Patriots from 1975 to 1978.