Former Kamehameha Schools and Portland State offensive lineman Brennen Carvalho has signed a three-year free-agent contract with the Green Bay Packers.

"I'm happy to have a chance to go somewhere," said Carvalho, a 6-foot-1, 300-pounder who moved from guard to center this past season and earned the 2007 Rimington Award for NCAA Division I-AA. "That was a dream (to play in the NFL). I'm just happy it happened. Happy for the opportunity."

Carvalho, 21, said he was signed during the end of Sunday's draft. He was not among the 252 players selected in last weekend's NFL draft, nor was he expecting to be.

"I was a seventh-round, free-agent guy who was told that a lot," he said.

Carvalho, a 2004 Kamehameha graduate from Kapa'a, was a two-time first-team All-Big Sky Conference selection who started from his freshman year.

Carvalho spoke with Packers offensive line coach James Campen and said, "He's excited for me coming up there and that makes me excited to go up there."

Carvalho played for former University of Hawai'i coaches Jerry Glanville (head coach) and Mouse Davis.

"I had fun with it," said Carvalho, who had to learn to make snaps in the shotgun.

ELSEWHERE

Eagles: Philadelphia sued its former wide receiver Terrell Owens for bonus money he has not repaid the team.

The suit for nearly $770,000 was filed in U.S. District Court yesterday. Owens lost in arbitration earlier this year, a ruling calling him to repay $1.7 million in bonuses the team paid him when he played in Philadelphia in 2004 and '05.

The Eagles suspended Owens for conduct detrimental to the team midway through 2005, a half-year one year after he helped them get to the Super Bowl. Owens lost $965,000 in salary from the final five games of 2005 after the team withheld game checks.

He was released after that season and the Eagles now are trying to get back the remaining sum: $769,117. Owens subsequently signed with the Dallas Cowboys for $25 million over three years.

Raiders: Oakland released running back Dominic Rhodes yesterday, two days after using their top draft pick to take big-play back Darren McFadden.

The Raiders still have two backs with 1,000-yard seasons on their roster in Justin Fargas and LaMont Jordan, as well as last year's fourth-round pick Michael Bush. Rhodes finished with 302 yards rushing in 10 games last season.

Obit: Former New England Patriots punter Mike Patrick, 55, died Sunday in his hometown of Biloxi, Miss., the team said. No cause was given. Patrick spent his four-season professional career with the Patriots from 1975-78.