That adds Hightower to a running back mix that features Roy Helu, Evan Royster and sixth-rounder Alfred Morris. Let the competition begin.

Hightower announced the news on his twitter account Sunday night, saying “I’m baaaaaaaack,” and a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed the agreement between the two sides indeed has been reached.

The current labor agreement between the two sides expires at the end of this month. The league has taken a first step toward identifying possible replacement officials who would work games if an accord is not completed.

Soon, many people in the football community voiced their (unsolicited) opinions about what could cause a man like Junior, who seemed to have everything, to take his own life. Was it chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the degenerative brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head? Depression? Dealing with the emotional difficulties of NFL player transition?

There was no immediate indication after Thursday’s hearing whether the arbitrator, Stephen Burbank, had issued a ruling in the case.

Stephen Burbank, the sport’s system arbitrator, is hearing arguments by attorneys.

The Houston Chronicle first reported the news Wednesday evening. Beck spent the last two seasons with the Redskins before being released by the team on April 28th.

Several people familiar with the case said in recent days they thought it was unlikely that Stephen Burbank, the sport’s system arbitrator, would make an immediate ruling.

Usually, the Redskins would have convened at team headquarters for another round of offseason conditioning workouts. But coach Mike Shanahan gave his players the day off and told them that their attendance at the tournament would count as a workout day.

Limited to five games and just eight catches for 65 yards, Cooley has received rounds of treatment on the knee that repeatedly swelled up on him and sidelined him off and on throughout the preseason and during practices.