CINCINNATI – A person familiar with the negotiations said former Patriots running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis agreed to a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals, who need a replacement for Cedric Benson.

Green-Ellis spent four seasons with New England, carrying 181 times for 667 yards in 2011 with 11 touchdowns. Various reports had him agreeing to a three-year deal.

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Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan shakes hands with Heisman winner Robert Griffin III during Baylor’s NFL pro day Wednesday. The Redskins expect to draft Griffin next month. The Associated Press

The Bengals are expected to announce the signing today after final details are completed.

Cincinnati decided not to re-sign Benson, a free agent who disliked his role in the Bengals’ new West Coast offense last season. Benson was the Bengals’ leading rusher each of the last four seasons. They also have running backs Bernard Scott and Brian Leonard.

BILLS: Making its second significant free-agent splash in less than a week, Buffalo signed former Patriots defensive end Mark Anderson to a four-year contract potentially worth $27 million. It includes $8 million guaranteed. The defensive end is a sixth-year player who had 10 sacks with the New England Patriots last season.

Acquiring Anderson comes on the heels of last week’s whopping move in which the Bills signed Mario Williams to a six-year contract potentially worth $100 million, including $50 million guaranteed.

Earlier, the Bills also re-signed free-agent safety Bryan Scott. The nine-year versatile veteran, who can also play linebacker, returns for a sixth season in Buffalo.

COLTS: Indianapolis signed free-agent center Samson Satele, perhaps paving the way for Jeff Saturday’s exit.

49ERS: Quarterback Alex Smith signed a three-year deal with San Francisco that will pay him $8 million per season with $16.5 million guaranteed.

Smith had a breakthrough season last year, throwing for 3,150 yards and 17 touchdowns to help San Francisco reach the NFC title game.

RON ERHARDT, the offensive architect of the New York Giants’ two Super Bowl titles under Bill Parcells, died. He was 80.

The Giants announced that the one-time head coach of the New England Patriots and the longtime NFL offensive coordinator died in Boca Raton, Fla.

VIKINGS: Minnesota dumped another veteran starter, releasing nose tackle Remi Ayodele one unproductive season into a three-year contract.

Ayodele won a Super Bowl with the Saints at the end of the 2009 season and played three years for them before signing with the Vikings. The league has yet to issue discipline for specific players involved in the bounty program.

The Vikings also re-signed backup Fred Evans, who has seen spot duty at both defensive tackle spots since joining the team in 2007.

RAIDERS: Oakland agreed on one-year contracts with free-agent offensive lineman Khalif Barnes and cornerback Pat Lee.

SAINTS: New Orleans and free-agent defensive tackle Broderick Bunkley agreed on a five-year contract.

Bunkley spent last season with the Denver Broncos.

NFL OWNERS next week will get proposals to eliminate referees from instant replay reviews and allow a player to return during the season from the injured reserve list.

The league’s competition committee will propose having the booth official make all decisions on replay reviews. He also would be allowed to review all turnovers just as he now reviews all scoring plays.

The committee will propose expanding the overtime rule used in the postseason — both sides must have an offensive possession if the receiving team kicks a field goal to start the extra period — to the regular season.

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