It wasn't a good week for Utah alumni with the Tennessee Titans.

Four former Utes were cut over the weekend — running back Quinton Ganther, defensive end Josh Savage, linebacker Spencer Toone and defensive tackle Lauvale Sape.

Sape will end up on the Titans' injured reserve list if he clears waivers. Wide receiver Paris Warren is in the same boat with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after suffering a season-ending ankle injury.

Quarterback Brett Ratliff (New York Jets), center Jesse Boone (Oakland Raiders) and wide receiver Cliff Russell (Lions) were the other ex-Utes who were released when NFL rosters were trimmed to 53 players.

Two players from last year's BYU team that went 11-2, tight end Jonny Harline and receiver Zac Collie, were released by the Colts and Eagles, respectively.

Former Timpview High and Utah State defensive lineman Brian Soi was cut by the Dolphins, while former Utah cornerback Ryan Smith, who transferred to Florida and entered the NFL Draft as an underclassman, was released by the Titans.

Other cuts included former BYU linebacker Colby Bockwoldt (Niners), former BYU defensive end Shaun Nua and former Utah State defensive back Ade Jimoh (Redskins).

COOLEY REWARDED: Funny that a player nicknamed "Captain Chaos" would be seeking stability. Tight end Chris Cooley, a Utah State product, got just that Saturday, signing a six-year, $30 million contract extension with the Washington Redskins.

The contract includes $14 million in guaranteed money for the player whose colorful outfits and antics are matched only by his reliability and strength as one of the Redskins' best offensive weapons. Cooley caught 57 passes for 734 yards and six touchdowns last season and led all NFL tight ends in yards after the catch (7.35) and yards after contact (4.1).

"It feels so good," Cooley said. "My biggest worry was that I just wanted to be here. I can play my whole career with the Redskins; that's an unbelievable thing."

A third-round draft pick from Utah State in 2004, Cooley has 165 catches for 1,822 yards over three seasons and has yet to miss a game. His rookie contract was due to expire at the end of this season. He and the Redskins have been talking about an extension for months without much progress — until Cooley pressed for a resolution over the past four days.

"I'm very happy that it's not a worry once the season starts," Cooley said. "Even last season, I thought about it a lot. You're thinking about your whole future and your life. Now I can focus on playing football, making the Pro Bowl."

ALSO: The Pittsburgh Steelers re-signed right guard Kendall Simmons to a four-year extension on Sunday that could be worth as much as $24 million, a deal that makes certain they won't go into the 2008 season without both starting guards ... Bills linebacker Keith Ellison is out indefinitely with a sprained ankle, and Coy Wire will replace him when Buffalo opens the season against Denver next Sunday. "It's not good. It's going to be a while," coach Dick Jauron said Sunday.