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POSTED
11:13 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 ROGERS-TO-BENGALS RAN
AFOUL OF CAP RULES It has been reported that
the trade that would have sent Lions defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to
Cincinnati was rejected by the league. The reason for the
rejection isn't clear -- Mark Curnutte of the Cincinnati Enquirer
reports that the deal
ran afoul of salary-cap rules. It's still not clear what
about the proposed trade was a problem. Meanwhile, the Browns will
be getting Rogers, for a third-round pick and defensive back Leigh
Bodden. POSTED
10:53 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BROWN WILL BE
HIGHEST-PAID KICKER When he signs his contract
with the Rams, Josh Brown will become the highest-paid kicker in league
history. According to Adam Schefter
of NFL Network, Brown will sign a five-year, $14.2 million deal, with a
$4 million signing bonus. POSTED
10:47 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BROWN KICKING IT WITH
THE RAMS On Friday, long-time Rams
kicker Jeff Wilkins retired. Later in the day, the team has his
replacement lined up. Per the St. Louis
Post-Dispatch, the Rams
have agreed to terms with former Seahawks kicker Josh Brown.
The five-year veteran is on his way to St. Louis to finalize the deal. In 2006, two late field
goals by Brown gave the Seahawks a sweep of the Rams. With Wilkins gone, only
three players remain for the Super Bowl champions known as the "Greatest
Show on Turf": receiver Torry Holt, tackle Orlando Pace, and
defensive end Leonard Little. POSTED
10:28 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 LITO HAS BEEN BENCHED In the offseason, NFL
teams don't spend much time updating their depth charts. But sometimes, they do. As a reader has pointed
out, the Eagles already have revised their on-line to show Asante Samuel
as the first-string left cornerback -- and
Lito Sheppard as a second-string player. There are reports
that the Eagles will try to trade Sheppard. Despite rumors that right
cornerback Sheldon Brown will move to safety, he's still listed as the
starter at right cornerback. POSTED
10:18 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 TANNENBAUM EVASIVE ON
MOSS INTEREST We've been fascinated of
late by the possibility that the New York Jets might make a play for
Patriots receiver Randy Moss. The net impact could be
huge; the Pats would lose a field-stretching difference-maker who helped
fuel the greatest offense ever, and the Jets would pair him with college
teammate Chad Pennington. On Friday, Jets G.M. Mike
Tannenbaum was asked whether the team is interested in Moss.
Here's what Tannenbaum said: "Obviously he did a lot of great
things up in New England, [a record] 23 touchdowns. We are going
to just keep working our plan here, so let's just see what happens.
Right now, we're proceeding with the plan that we have and we'll see
what happens." Hmmm. It's not a
yes, it's not a no, and it's not a maybe. It's simply not an
answer at all. Then again, it could be
that the Jets simply aren't interested but that they want to make the
Pats nervous. POSTED
10:09 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 CONFLICTING REPORTS ON
PACE We're certain of one thing
-- either Calvin Pace has struck a deal with the Dolphins, or he hasn't. The Miami Herald
says that the soon-to-be-former Cardinal
hasn't signed
with the Fins, and that he'll visit the Jets on Saturday. But Pace sounds like he's
leaning toward signing with Miami. ''I'm happy here,'' Pace said.
"But I just feel like I should still take that trip. I've got one
more trip to take, and we'll see what happens." Bucky Brooks of SI.com
reports that
Pace has agreed to terms with the Fins. We suppose that both
reports could be accurate, and that Pace has a tentative arrangement in
place with the Dolphins but wants to hear the Jets out before finalizing
things. We suppose that we'll find out more soon. POSTED
9:47 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 ROGERS TO BROWNS A DONE
DEAL According to Hondo
Carpenter of SpartanNation.com, who as we understand it is very well
plugged in as to the goings on in Motown, the Lions have
finalized a trade of defensive
tackle Shaun Rogers to the Browns. In return, the Lions
reportedly will get cornerback Leigh Bodden and a third-round draft
choice. Carpenter says that the
league office rejected a trade that would have sent Rogers to the
Bengals for a third-round and a fifth-round pick. POSTED
9:22 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 REPORTS OF FLORENCE TO
JAGS PREMATURE In response to a report
from the San Diego Union-Tribune that cornerback Drayton Florence
has a deal "all but done" with the Jags, a league source tells us that a
deal is not imminent, or close. Florence will visit with
the Jags on Saturday, and he might work out a deal with them. But
we're told that he's scheduling other visits and talking with other
teams and isn't poised to sign with the Jaguars, or anyone. With Asante Samuel signed
and Marcus Trufant and Nnamdi Asomougha wearing the franchise tag,
Florence is arguably the best free-agent option on the market at the
position. POSTED
9:07 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 SAME STATE, DIFFERENT
TEAM? On Friday, the Detroit
Lions agreed to trade defensive tackle Shaun Rogers to the Cincinnati
Bengals. The trade somehow fell through. Now, Rogers could still be
coming to Ohio. But as a member of the Browns. Nicholas Cotsonika of the
Detroit Free Press, citing an unnamed source, reports that the
Lions are working on a deal with Cleveland. Earlier on Friday, the
Browns sent a second-round pick to the Packers for defensive tackle
Corey Williams. POSTED
8:59 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 LITO OUT THE DOOR? With cornerback Asante
Samuel in the fold, the Eagles are now going to attempt to trade
cornerback Lito Sheppard, according to Adam Schefter of NFL Network. Calls are already coming
in for Sheppard, a first-round draft pick in 2002 who is still only 26
years old. In recent weeks, there
were rumors that that Sheppard was on the block, and the team strongly
denied it. In hindsight, it's likely that the Eagles didn't want
to tip their hand regarding their plans to pursue Samuel. Sheppard is under contract
for four more seasons, with base salaries of $2 million in 2008, $3
million in 2009, $3.7 million in 2010, and $4.25 million in 2011. POSTED
8:41 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 FLORENCE A JAG? Chargers cornerback
Drayton Florence is looking for a new team. On Friday, he visited
with the Bucs. But now he's on his way to Jacksonville, and he's
expected to join the Jaguars. Per Kevin Acee of the
San Diego Union-Tribune, a deal with the Jags is "all
but done." Meanwhile, former Chargers
running back Michael Turner remains in Atlanta, and his agent is
negotiating with the team about a contract. POSTED
8:31 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BRUCE LANDS IN SAN FRAN You know, we thought for a
second about setting this story up by tapping into certain stereotypes
about San Francisco and men named Bruce. But we're now officially
above such attempts at obvious and lowbrow humor. Anyway, the 49ers have
signed receiver Isaac Bruce to a two-year deal, according to Adam
Schefter of NFL Network. The move reunites Bruce
with Mike Martz, who was the Rams' offensive coordinator for their only
Super Bowl win and thereafter the head coach for six seasons. POSTED
8:17 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 ROGERS TRADE OFF The trade between the
Lions and the Bengals for defensive tackle Shaun Rogers is apparently
off. According to Mike O'Hara
of the Detroit News,
the deal was not consummated and the Lions will be looking to send
Rogers elsewhere. The two teams had agreed that Rogers would head
to the Bengals for a third-round and a fifth-round pick. In our view, that's not
bad news for the Bengals. Maybe it means that someone within the
organization raised an alarm about the 2007 allegations against Rogers
regarding his conduct in a strip club. Though he wasn't charged,
is that really the kind of guy that the team should be signing giving
its recent history of struggles with off-field issues? POSTED
8:09 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 VOLEK GETS $9 MILLION A league source tells us
that, in exchange for Billy Volek's agreement to remain with the
Chargers for three years, he'll be paid $9 million. Per the source, Volek also
will receive a signing bonus of $3 million. Not bad for a guy whose
primary job on game day is to not play. POSTED
8:03 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 MORE ON ANDERSON
We need to clarify our
earlier post on Derek Anderson. With a signing bonus in the
neighborhood of $6 million or $8 million and an initial payment due in
April, the Browns can trade him without owing any money to Anderson. To be clear, they'd still
take the cap hit. But, hey, at a time when teams are crying about
how much money they now have to spend on players, chewing up some cap
money without spending a dime might not be a bad thing. With all that said, it's
our understanding from talking to multiple sources that Anderson won't
be traded. POSTED
7:40 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 VOLEK STAYS PUT A strong performance in
the AFC divisional round against the Colts wasn't enough to get Chargers
quarterback Billy Volek any big offers in free agency. And so he'll stay with the
Bolts, with a three year deal. "This
is a great team," Volek told the San Diego Union Tribune. Volek reportedly drew
interest from the Bears, Vikings, Raiders, and Bills. POSTED
7:30 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BROWNS COULD STILL
TRADE ANDERSON Throughout the afternoon,
we were flooded with e-mails from folks peddling rumors that the Browns
might have signed quarterback Derek Anderson to a three-year contract
merely in advance of trading him. Our first reaction was
that the Browns wouldn't want to make a huge bonus payment to Anderson
and then trade him and an incur a huge cap hit. But then it occurred to us
that maybe the trigger date for the first payment is far enough into the
future (for example, one or two weeks) to gives the Browns an
opportunity to move him. It wouldn't be definitive proof that
there will be a trade; it would merely be evidence that a trade
could happen. And we've learned that the
first payment is due to Anderson . . . in April. Again, this doesn't mean
that he'll be traded. But unless and until that big payment is
made there will be a window of opportunity for the Browns to move him. Stay tuned. POSTED
7:11 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 NO FANECA DEAL YET? ESPN.com has reported that
guard Alan Faneca will sign with the Jets. Tom Rock of Newsday
reports that Faneca's agent, Rick Smith,
claims that the report is false. Previously, it was
reported that Faneca would spend the next two days deciding whether to
sign with the Jets, Rams, or 49ers. So, apparently, Faneca is
still available. POSTED
7:07 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 MOSS ON THE MARKET Though free agency opened
19 hours ago, receiver Randy Moss is now officially on the market. Per Adam Schefter of NFL
Network and John Clayton of ESPN, Moss isn't close to a deal with the
Patriots, and he is open to entertaining offers from other teams. The questions now become:
(1) who is interested; and (2) how much will they offer? Our take? Moss wants
to know what else is out there before accepting the Pats' best offer, if
for no reason other than to know what he is sacrificing. He's a
guy with a reputation for being selfish and moody; what better way to
improve his image than to walk away from a bigger offer and sticking
with the Pats? But the problem is that
teams likely have vivid memories of his behavior in Oakland. He
was all smiles and "committed to excellence" and "I just wanna win,
baby" when the trade from Minnesota went down, but before too long he
was a malcontent. Maybe it wasn't really his
fault. It's not as if the Raiders are the model professional
sports franchise. But it's a huge gamble to take if Moss expects
$25 million or more in guaranteed money. This one could get very
interesting. Especially if the Jets decide to visit the ultimate
indignity upon the Pats by trying to swipe the guy who made an above
average offense into a pinball machine. And so concludes a month
that has seen the pendulum swing as sharply as it ever has for any NFL
team. On January 31, the Patriots were awaiting their coronation.
With February 1 came the names Arlen Specter and Matt Walsh.
February 2 brought the report that the Pats cheated the Rams out of
Super Bowl XXVI. On February 3, 18-0 became 18-1. Things haven't gotten much
better since then. The only thing we're sure of is that, in March,
things surely can't get much worse. POSTED
6:45 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 $8 MILLION PER YEAR FOR
FANECA Former Steelers guard Alan
Faneca wanted a lot of more. He wanted more than the Steelers
would pay him, and both sides knew it. Faneca got his payday on
Friday, courtesy of the New York Jets. Per Michael Smith of
ESPN.com,
Faneca will be paid $32 million over four years, with $23 million
guaranteed. Faneca immediately
stabilizes an enormous weakness on the offensive line, filling the hole
between left tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Nick Mangold. POSTED
6:39 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 WILSON TO RAIDERS Winning a Super Bowl is
the NFL's equivalent of the time-honored "beer goggles." Suddenly,
the players on the team with the trophy look better than they really
are. And the Giants are
experiencing some of that on the first day of free agency, less than
four weeks after securing their first championship of the free-agency
era. Gone are linebacker Kawika Mitchell, linebacker Reggie Torbor,
and (per Nancy Gay of the San Francisco Chronicle and Adam
Schefter of NFL Network) safety Gibril Wilson. Schefter reports that the
deal is for the six-year, $39 million package that Jay Glazer of
FOXSports.com reported the Raiders had offered. POSTED
6:34 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 HAZARD PAY IN OAKLAND? With the Raiders giving
defensive tackle Tommy Kelly a deal with $18 million in guaranteed money
and with the team now reportedly (per Jay Glazer of FOXSports.com)
offering $16
million in guaranteed money to safety Gibril Wilson, there's talk in
league circles that the Raiders are coughing up the coin in an effort to
shed a perception of dysfunction. Though officials with
other teams weren't happy with Kelly's haul, since it screws up the
market for the rest of them, the agents are now paying attention to the
Raiders. Of course, there's only so
much that the Raiders can spend. But they appear poised to spend
it in order to get players to choose to play there. POSTED
6:23 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 TRIPPLETT TERMINATION
CLEARING SPACE FOR STROUD? In 2006, the Bills signed
defensive tackle Larry Tripplett to a five-year deal. Today,
Tripplett got dumped. The move might have
something to do with the fact that the Bills are courting Marcus Stroud,
a Pro Bowler who has received permission from the Jags to shop himself
to other teams. If other deals are any
indication, Stroud can be had for a three and a five. POSTED
6:06 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 'HAWKS HAULING IN ALGE? After flirting with teams
in Tampa and Tennessee, former Falcons tight end Alge Crumpler could be
re-joining his former head coach. Per the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, Crumpler is close to signing with the
Seahawks. He would provide a significant upgrade at a tight end
position that has underachieved of late. Jerramy Stevens couldn't
consistently catch in 2006 and previously, and Marcus Pollard was a
little over the hill in 2007. POSTED
5:58 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 LIONS GETS A THREE AND
A FIVE FOR ROGERS The going rate for
overweight interior defensive linemen who used to be good is a
third-round and a fifth-round draft pick. The Panthers got that from
the Jets for Kris Jenkins. And, per media reports, the Lions got
the same deal from the Bengals for Shaun Rogers. Maybe the packages would
be bigger if these guys didn't do so much damage at the buffet line . .
. and to the plumbing. POSTED
5:52 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 SIX YEARS, $57 MILLION
FOR SAMUEL He wanted $10 million per
year. In the end, $9.5 million will have to be enough. According to Adam Schefter
of NFL Network and John Clayton of ESPN.com, cornerback Asante Samuel
has signed a six-year, $57 million deal to join the Eagles. Per Schefter, the deal
includes $20 million in guaranteed money and pays out $32 million over
the first three years. The guaranteed money is
less than the amount paid to Nate Clements of the Niners in 2007, but
the average is higher. Clements' deal is for seven years, $64
million. POSTED
5:18 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BRONCOS CUT WALKER,
GOLD by Michael David Smith
The Denver Broncos have
released wide receiver Javon Walker and linebacker Ian Gold, the
team said on its web site. Both were once among
Denver's top players, but both are also coming off knee injuries, and
both were due roster bonuses next week. The Broncos acquired
Walker in exchange for a second-round draft pick in 2006, and he had a
very good first year in Denver. But injuries slowed him down in his
second season, and the Broncos were looking to trade him. Although the Dallas
Cowboys were among the teams interested in acquiring Walker's services,
the $5.4 million roster bonus he's due may have been too much for any
team to want to take on. Gold was once a Pro
Bowler, and he started all but the last two games for the Broncos last
year, but the quality of his play has declined in recent years. POSTED
5:01 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 EAGLES SIGN ASANTE
SAMUEL by Michael David Smith
Adam Schefter of NFL
Network is reporting that the Philadelphia Eagles have signed free-agent
cornerback Asante Samuel. According to Schefter,
Samuel signed the six-year deal just moments ago. He arrived in
Philadelphia today, and it had been widely reported that the Eagles
wanted to do all they could to keep him from leaving without a signed
contract in place. No financial details are
yet available. Samuel was said to be seeking a contract that paid in the
$10 million a year range. POSTED
4:50 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 RANDALL GAY DRAWING
INTEREST by Michael David Smith
Although he won't sign as
big a contract as his teammate Asante Samuel, New England Patriots free
agent cornerback Randall Gay is drawing significant interest. Mike Reiss of the
Boston Globe is reporting that Gay, a native of Louisiana who played
football at LSU, is
set to visit the New Orleans Saints on Saturday morning. If he
leaves his hometown team without a contract, he'll head to a visit with
the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday. Meanwhile, Charles
Robinson of Yahoo! Sports is reporting that Gay is also drawing interest
from Atlanta, Seattle, Detroit and Kansas City, and that it's also still
possible that he'll stay in New England. Robinson cites a source
who says Gay is hoping to command a five-year deal in the range of $15
to $25 million in total money. Gay played in all 16 games for the
Patriots last season, starting three. POSTED
4:30 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 DOLPHINS SIGN JOSH
MCCOWN by Michael David Smith
Adam Schefter of NFL
Network reports that the Miami Dolphins have reached a contract
agreement with free agent quarterback Josh McCown. Per Schefter, the contract
is a two-year deal worth $6.25 million. Although that's a contract more
in line with what a backup usually makes, McCown may very well be the
Dolphins' starter in September. Of the three quarterbacks on the
Dolphins' 2007 roster, two -- Trent Green and Cleo Lemon -- are already
gone, and the third -- John Beck -- was unimpressive in the four games
he started. McCown started nine games
for the Raiders last year, completing 58.4 percent of his passes and
throwing 10 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He previously started 22
games for the Cardinals from 2003 to 2005, and he spent the 2006 season
with the Lions, where his only regular-season playing time came at wide
receiver. The Dolphins have been the
busiest team in the league on a very busy first day of free agency. POSTED
4:19 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 ALL QUIET ON THE
REDSKINS FRONT by Michael David Smith
Jason La Canfora of the
Washington Post reports that the Redskins
do not have a single free agent visit planned. Per La Canfora, the
Redskins' actions have been limited today to "checking in with the
agents for their own free agents, monitoring the market and holding
internal discussions about possibilities on the trade or free agent
market." That's a rather stunning
departure for a team whose owner, Daniel Snyder, has never shied away
from making a big splash with big contracts for big-name free agents.
But considering that the Redskins are barely under the $116 million
salary cap for 2008, the team doesn't have much choice. The Redskins' top priority
in free agency was to re-sign their own free agent quarterback Todd
Collins, and now that they've done that, they're not expected to make
any big news any time soon. POSTED
3:55 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BEARS LOOK TO TRADE
GRIESE by Michael David Smith
The Chicago Bears have
given quarterback Brian Griese permission to seek a trade, the team says
on its web site. After the Bears reached
contract agreements with Kyle Orton and Rex Grossman, Griese is the odd
man out. The Bears are likely to acquire a third quarterback in the
draft or free agency. Griese is owed a $300,000
roster bonus next week, and it is presumed that the Bears will cut him
before then if no team steps forward to offer something up in a trade. Meanwhile, the Bears also
say they're not going to break the bank in free agency. "The thing that you have
to do is you have to
create sobriety in the marketplace," General Manager Jerry Angelo
said. "Because you have the money doesn't mean you have to spend all the
money." POSTED
3:41 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BENGALS BAG ROGERS
by Michael David Smith
Michael Smith of ESPN.com
is reporting that the Detroit Lions have traded defensive tackle Shaun
Rogers to the Cincinnati Bengals. No word is out yet on what
the Lions got for Rogers, who had been on the trade block for several
weeks and had been rumored to be heading to the Jaguars, Jets, Dolphins
and Broncos, among other teams. For the Bengals, acquiring
Rogers gives them just the kind of big defensive tackle head coach
Marvin Lewis has always employed in his defense. The 340-pound Rogers is
in the mold of Sam Adams and Tony Siragusa, the huge defensive tackles
who played for the Super Bowl-winning Ravens team on which Lewis served
as defensive coordinator. POSTED
3:33 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 COWBOYS CALLING ON
BELL? by Michael David Smith
Although he doesn't
represent quite the kind of "wow" Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has vowed to
add to his offense, running back Tatum Bell may be coming to Dallas. ESPN.com is reporting that
Dallas is showing interest in Bell, an unrestricted free agent who
spent 2007 with the Detroit Lions. Bell never looked like a
good fit with the Lions, finishing his one and only season in Detroit
with 182 yards. But in 2006, Bell's only year as a starter, he ran for
1,025 yards with the Broncos, and his pure speed could make him just the
kind of player Jones craves. POSTED
3:16 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 JAGUARS MAY TRADE FOR
ROGERS by Michael David Smith
The Jacksonville Jaguars
are looking to trade veteran defensive tackle Marcus Stroud, and now
they may be looking to replace him by trading for veteran defensive
tackle Shaun Rogers. The Jacksonville
Times-Union reports that the
Jaguars are in discussions with the Detroit Lions about acquiring
Rogers, whom the Lions hope to trade before a $1 million roster bonus
comes due Saturday. But the Lions may be
willing to pay Rogers the bonus, even though they don't expect him to be
in Detroit next season, just to give themselves more time to orchestrate
a trade. Other teams said to be interested in Rogers include the Broncos
and Jets. Both Stroud and Rogers are
big, talented defensive tackles who have had injury problems. Both have
also served four-game suspensions for violating the league's policy on
anabolic steroids and related substances. POSTED
2:58 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 DOLPHINS ADD TORBOR,
WILFORD, STARKS by Michael David Smith
No team has gotten off to
a faster start to the free agency period than the Miami Dolphins, who
have added two more players to their defense and one to their offense
this afternoon. The South Florida Sun
Sentinel is reporting that the Dolphins have
signed free agent linebacker Reggie Torbor, previously of the
Giants. Adam Schefter of NFL
Network is reporting that the Dolphins have signed free agent defensive
tackle Randy Starks, previously of the Titans. And the Miami Herald
is reporting that the Dolphins have
agreed to terms with free agent wide receiver Ernest Wilford,
previously of the Jaguars. Bill Parcells, the new
boss in Miami, has vowed to remake the Dolphins' roster. And he's not
wasting any time. POSTED
2:38 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 MITCHELL HEADS TO
BUFFALO The next time linebacker
Kawika Mitchell faces the Patriots, it won't be with quite the
same level of talent around him. Mitchell agreed to terms
on Friday with the Buffalo Bills, jumping into the division that
currently is ruled by the Pats. Per Adam Schefter of NFL
Network, Mitchell's deal is for five years and $17.5 million, with $5
million in guaranteed money. SPRINT MAKES
"UNPRECEDENTED" MOVE It's fitting, we suppose,
that on the same day that PFT is enjoying a level of traffic and
exposure that some Internet hack would have regarded as impossible not
too long ago, our official telecommunications partner has launched a
truly revolutionary approach to wireless service. Starting today, Sprint has
made available to all of its customers the "Simply Everything" plan. For $99.99 per month,
Sprint customers get (you guessed it) everything. Simply. The "everything" includes
unlimited voice, data, text, e-mail, Web-surfing, Sprint TV, Sprint
Music, GPS Navigation, Direct Connect, and Group Connect. "This
is a bold, unprecedented move," said Sprint Nextel President and CEO
Dan Hesse. "Wireless today is about much more than just voice.
It is about data services -- texting, email, video, pictures, music,
navigation, surfing the Web and more. Customers want these
applications, but without complexity and without having to worry about
their bill. The $99.99 Simply Everything plan delivers it all
right to the palm of their hand now. "Today's handsets are
powerful data devices. Each day they get better, faster and easier
to use with more intuitive user interface designs and full Internet
access. Our high-speed networks were built with this in mind and
it's where we believe the battleground lies -- offering fast access to
the best content and data services. We are removing the barriers
for customers to feel free to use all of the features of their phones."
A second line is $5
cheaper, and the third line is $5 less than that. "All major carriers have
good voice networks," Hesse said. "Our network is about more than
voice and more than just being the largest wireless data network.
It is about allowing customers to connect with people, information and
entertainment. It is about simplicity, usability and real value.
The $99.99 Simply Everything plan eliminates overage surprises and
provides a worry-free environment." Folks, if there was ever a
time to switch to Sprint, it's right now. If you don't think so,
go home and look at your cellular bill, and also take a gander at some
of the "everything" that you'll get for $99 per month from Sprint. POSTED
2:19 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 MADIEU GETS $13 MILLION
GUARANTEED Sean Jensen of the St.
Paul Pioneer Press reports that Vikings safety Madieu Williams
will receive $13 million in guaranteed money. Williams and fullback
Thomas Tapeh officially will be introduced by the Vikings later today. They also are pursuing
receiver Bernard Berrian and defensive end Justin Smith. POSTED
2:14 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 PFT HAS OFFICIALLY
BLOWED UP We need to stop for a
second and thank each and every one of you (not in the Steve Martin way)
for your support of the site. The last 24 hours have been, as
Chris Farley would say, "awesome." We ended up with 686,000
page views on Thursday, more than twice our traffic from the day before
the start of free agency in 2007. And, already, we have
shattered the single-day all time traffic record of the site. With
like 10 hours to go. Last year, we had roughly
750,000 page views for the full 24-hour period after free agency
launched. This year, we're already north of 800,000. Meanwhile, the site's
exposure has been unprecedented in the past day, with appearances on NFL
Network and The Dan Patrick Show and The Jim Rome Show and
radio spots on WFAN and WJFK and various other stations in NFL cities. POSTED
1:53 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 SAMUEL SET TO JOIN THE
FLOCK Various media reports,
collected and referenced by our good friends at SportingNews.com,
indicate that cornerback Asante Samuel
will indeed sign a contract with the Eagles on Friday. It's reportedly a
five-year, $47.2 million deal. To the casual fan, that's short of
the $10 million per year average from the eight-year, $80 million deal
signed last year by Nate Clements of the 49ers. As everyone in PFT
Planet knows, the Clements deal is actually seven years and $64 million,
making it worth a hair over $9 million per year. Samuel's deal carries an
average of nearly $9.5 million. They could have added a phony
final year that would have pushed the average to $10 million per year or
more, and we respect both sides for doing what looks to be a "real"
deal. Also, there's a certain
irony regarding the five-year duration of the contract. Typically,
the Eagles like to lock players up for looooong periods of time.
As it now stands, Samuel's deal will expire before the contracts signed
by some of the young players who cashed in early. POSTED
1:26 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 NO VISITS FOR FANECA For Pro Bowl guard Alan
Faneca, free agency isn't about wining and dining or touring facilities
or meeting with other players already on the team. It's about getting paid. And so Faneca won't be
making any visits. Instead, per Charles Robinson of Yahoo! Sports,
Faneca will assess offers from the Jets, Niners, and Rams, and then sign
with one of them on Sunday. He's expected to receive a
deal worth $8 million per year, at a length of four or five years. POSTED
1:23 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 TAPEH RETURNS HOME The Vikings have announced
that they have signed fullback Thomas Tapeh, an unrestricted free agent
who previously played for the Eagles. Tapeh attended the
University of Minnesota and grew up in the Twin Cities. He spent
two seasons working with Vikings coach Brad Childress when Childress was
the offensive coordinator in Philly. His arrival means that Pro
Bowl fullback Tony Richardson likely won't be re-signed. POSTED
1:18 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 JERRY IS A JAG The Jaguars continue to
re-make a receiving corps that isn't as well known for catching football
as they are for, well, not catching them. Though trading for Troy
Williamson wasn't exactly the way to improve the overall quality of the
hand-eye coordination at the skill positions, signing Jerry Porter
should help. A lot. According to Adam Schefter
of NFL Network, the Jags have reached an agreement with Porter on a
six-year deal worth $30 million, with $10 million in guaranteed money. Porter was a chronic
malcontent in Oakland, but he definitely has talent. A good
Jacksonville offense will be better with him on the team. POSTED
1:10 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 GIANTS, VIKES WANTED
CLEO, TOO As it turns out, the
Jaguars had a little competition for the services of quarterback Cleo
Lemon. Per a league source, the
Giants and the Vikings were also chasing the free-agent quarterback, who
became the starter in Miami last year after Trent Green ran his head
into the knee of Travis Johnson. Lemon opted to go to
Jacksonville; in Minnesota, he might have had a better shot at beating
out starter Tarvaris Jackson. POSTED
1:07 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 REDMAN ISN'T A CAMP ARM We joked earlier in the
day that quarterback Chris Redman is under contract with the Falcons,
but might not be on the opening-day roster. As it turns out, Redman
likely is a lock to make the team. Per a league source,
Redman got a $2 million signing bonus as part of his two-year deal with
Atlanta. Not bad for a guy who
probably never would have gotten another shot if Bobby Petrino hadn't
become the coach of the Falcons. POSTED
1:00 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 WILKINS CALLS IT QUITS The Rams have announced
that veteran kicker Jeff Wilkins has retired. Wilkins was signed through
2009, and was due to earn a base salary of $800,000 this season. The move puts the Rams in
the market for a kicker. Perhaps they'll try to lure Josh Brown
from NFC West rival Seattle. POSTED
12:52 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 TAMPA BAY TOGA PARTY
GETS LARGER Maybe they're gonna need a
bigger boat. There's yet another free
agent who'll be visiting Tampa. It is
Saints receiver Devery Henderson, according to Alex Marvez of
FOXSports.com. The Bucs had a total of
$44 million in 2008 cap space as of midnights. They have signed
Saints center Jeff Faine, and they are exploring various other possible
additions. POSTED
12:46 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 CORRECTION ON COREY
WILLIAMS NUMBERS A league source tells us
that the reported numbers on the contract for Browns defensive tackle
Corey Williams are a bit off. Williams gets $16.3
million in guaranteed money, and a six-year deal worth $38 million. POSTED
12:42 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 JOIN US IN THE JUNGLE Attention, PFT Planet.
In roughly one hour, there will be a mandatory pit stop, in the Jungle. So find your closest
Jim Rome Show affiliate or sign up to
listen on the Internet, and be
there at 1:35 p.m. You won't be missing
anything here; my limited multi-tasking skills don't include updating
PFT while doing a radio spot. POSTED
12:22 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 LEMON STAYS IN THE LAND
OF ORANGES Quarterback Cleo Lemon has
a new team, and he still won't be paying state income taxes. According to Alex Marvez
of FOXSports.com,
Lemon has agreed to terms with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He
previously played for the Miami Dolphins. It's a three-year, $8.1
million deal. It includes a $2.95 million signing bonus and $4
million in incentives. Lemon will serve as the
backup to starter David Garrard. POSTED
12:16 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 TUNA LANDS FERGUSON The Dallas Morning News
reports that the Cowboys
will trade defensive tackle Jason Ferguson to the Miami Dolphins. The two teams will swap
sixth-round picks in 2008, and Miami will send its 2009 sixth-rounder to
Dallas. Ferguson suffered a
season-ending injury in Week One of the regular season, and was regarded
as expendable. Miami V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells
drafted him to join the Jets in 1997, and then signed him as a free
agent in 2005. POSTED
12:06 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 JENKINS TO SIGN NEW
DEAL WITH JETS Former Panthers defensive
tackle Kris Jenkins has a new home. He also has a new contract. According to Steve Reed of
CarolinaGrowl.com, Jenkins will sign a
five-year,
$35 million contract with the New York Jets. The Jets acquired Jenkins
from Carolina for a third-round and fifth-round draft pick in 2008. The deal includes $20
million in guaranteed money. Apparently, the Jets hope
that Jenkins becomes a space eater in the 3-4 defense, allowing
linebackers to run free to the ball. Thus, for a change, it won't
hurt Jenkins if/when he shows up for a weigh-in, and the scale squeals
like a stuck pig. POSTED
12:00 p.m. EST, February 29, 2008 VIKES LAND MADIEU Adam Schefter of NFL
Network reports that the Minnesota Vikings have worked out an agreement
with free-agent safety Madieu Williams. The deal for Madieu is six
years, $34 million. He's expected to sign the
contract when he arrives in Minnesota later today. POSTED
11:42 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BIG MONEY FOR FAINE Adam Schefter of NFL
Network and Jason Cole of Yahoo! Sports report that the contract between
the Bucs and center Jeff Faine is a six-year, $37.5 million deal, with
$15 million in guaranteed money. Faine will earn $20
million in the first three years of the deal. In response to this
development, some league insiders are baffled. Some folks don't
regard him as a high-end player, and he tends to lose too much weight in
the offseason, apparently because of how he wants his body to "look". For now, though, it looks
like the body of a man with $15 million in guaranteed cash. POSTED
11:25 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 VIKES TO BID HELLO TO
MADIEU? Adam Caplan of Scout.com
reports that the Vikings are working on the parameters of a contract
with safety Madieu Williams. He's reportedly going to
fly to Minnesota today to meet with the team, and a deal could be done. The Vikings desperately
need help at safety, given the release of Dwight Smith and the
free-agent status of Tank Williams and Mike Doss. POSTED
11:12 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 TOGA PARTY IN TAMPA Lock up the kids, break
out the booze, and get the garbage bag full of one dollar bills ready --
there's a party being planned in Tampa. With $44 million in cap
room (before signing Jeff Faine), the Bucs are aggressively lining up
free-agency visits. PewterReport.com reports
that 49ers defensive end Marquis Douglas and Vikings running back
Mewelde Moore
will visit as soon as Friday. Pewter Report also says
that the Bucs are trying to line up a
visit with
cornerback Drayton Florence of the Chargers. Other visits also are
scheduled or in the planning stages. Hey, if they're serious
about getting Mewelde Moore, maybe they should have a party on that
big-ass pirate ship in the end zone of Raymond James Stadium, and invite
guys like Daunte Culpepper, Fred Smoot, Moe Williams, and Bryant
McKinnie. POSTED
11:02 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 TURNER TO VISIT FALCONS Adam Schefter of NFL
Network reports that the Atlanta Falcons are hosting Chargers
running back Michael Turner for a free-agent visit. Turner is an unrestricted
free agent, and he is regarded as the best available running back in
free agency. He would be paired in Atlanta with Jerious Norwood,
and Warrick Dunn likely would be traded or released. As Pat Kirwan of NFL.com
pointed out during an NFL Network spot on Thursday that was sullied by
the sunshine-and-sleep-deprived mug of yours truly, spending a ton of
money on Turner might not be the best move in a year with so many
running backs available in free agency. Kirwan also said that the
Lions are expected to make a big push for Turner, who drew raves as the
backup to LaDainian Tomlinson. POSTED
10:55 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 ANDERSON GETS $24
MILLION OVER THREE A league source tells us
that the full value of the contract to be $24 million over three years,
along with the opportunity to earn more via incentives. Per the source, the deal
has not yet been signed. The reported guarantee of
$14 million is based on bonus money and first-year salary, since as a
practical matter Anderson will be paid his full base salary in 2008.
As a practical matter, Anderson is likely
to receive the full $24 million, given the short length of the deal.
Barring a serious injury -- or a previously unknown penchant for dog
fighting -- Anderson will get his money. And then he'll get another
contract in 2011, either from the Browns or someone else. POSTED
10:48 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 FINS TO BREAK BANK FOR
PACE? A year after the Dolphins
paid (wasted) $20 million in guaranteed money on linebacker Joey Porter,
they might be getting ready to write a big check to another linebacker. According to Alex Marvex
of FOXSports.com, the Fins could be signing Cardinals linebacker Calvin
Pace to "the
same kind of mega-deal" that was received a year ago by Porter and
by Adalius Thomas of the Patriots. Such a move would
immediately call into question Porter's future with the team. He's
due to earn a base salary of $4.8 million in 2008. It also might prompt 2006
NFL defensive player of the year Jason Taylor to blow his stack.
There were rumblings a year ago that Taylor was not pleased that he
didn't get an adjustment after Porter received his windfall. If
the Fins do it again, that might be the last straw for Taylor. POSTED
10:32 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 EAGLES CHASING CLEMONS A tipster advised us
earlier today that the Eagles are chasing Raiders free-agent defensive
end/linebacker Chris Clemons. Several readers tell us
that WIP's "Mini-Reid" is now reporting that Clemons will sign with the
Eagles within the next 24 hours. Since our tipster has
proven himself, we'll also disclose that the tipster says cornerback
Asante Samuel will be signed today and that the Eagles made a run at
receiver Larry Fitzgerald but the Cardinals wanted too much, and that
cornerback Sheldon Brown likely will be moved to safety. Hey, maybe our tipster is
Mini-Reid. POSTED
10:25 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 ANDERSON STAYS PUT
Adam Schefter of NFL
Network reports that the Browns have agreed to terms with quarterback
Derek Anderson on a three-year deal. Schefter reports that
Anderson will receive over $14 million in guaranteed money. The three-year contract
gives the Browns an opportunity to defer the ultimate decision in the
Derek v. Brady debate. It also allows the Browns to bench Anderson
if he tanks as the starter; with a six-year, big-money deal, the Browns
as a practical matter would have been required to give Anderson more
opportunities. The loser in all of this
is Brady Quinn, and it traces to his 2007 holdout. If he had
reported to camp on time, he likely would have been first in line to
play after Charlie Frye. Also, because Quinn's
incentives are tied heavily to playing time, his chances of earning big
money have now dropped dramatically. POSTED
10:09 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 STROUD VISITING THE
BILLS Last year, a Drew
Rosenhaus client who was unhappy with his situation was traded out of
Buffalo. This year, a Rosenhaus client who is unhappy with his
situation could be traded to Buffalo. Alex Marvez of
FOXSports.com reports that
Jags defensive tackle Marcus Stroud will visit the Bills. Marvez reports that the
Falcons also have expressed interest in Stroud. Atlanta coach Mike
Smith was the Jags' defensive coordinator before getting his new job. The concern with Stroud is
a foot/ankle problem that bothered him in 2007, and a four-game
suspension for violation of the steroids policy, which he served last
year. POSTED
9:48 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 REDMAN RE-UPS WITH
FALCONS A guy whom the Falcons
yanked out of mothballs last year has done enough to stick around. Per a league source, the
Falcons have re-signed quarterback Chris Redman. He had been out
of football for several years before then-coach Bobby Petrino brought
him back, due to his knowledge of Petrino's offensive system. Of course, signing a
contract and making the final 53-man roster are two different things.
But the chances of making the roster are pretty slim if the guy isn't
under contract.
POSTED 9:44 a.m.
EST, February 29, 2008 EAGLES CONFIRM SAMUEL
VISIT The Philadelphia Eagles
have announced that cornerback Asante Samuel will visit the team on
Friday. He will be made available to the media at 4:30 p.m. EST. Meanwhile, there are
rumors that Samuel's deal is done, and that he'll sign it after he
passes a physical. Stay tuned. Until
the contract is signed, someone else can step to the plate with more
money, and Samuel can choose to take it. POSTED
9:38 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 WILLIAMS GETS KELLY
MONEY With the Raiders giving
defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, who is recovering from a torn ACL, $18
million in guaranteed money, other defensive tackles are certain to get
at least that much. The first one to do so is
Corey Williams, formerly of the Packers and now a member of the Browns. According to Adam Schefter
of NFL Network, Williams will receive $18 million in guaranteed money
and $23 million over the first three years of his contract. The Browns gave up a
second-round pick to get Williams. As we explained last night, the
fact that the Browns don't have a first-rounder or a second-round pick
in 2008 could make them more inclined to hope for someone to sign Derek
Anderson to an offer sheet, since it would give the Browns a
first-rounder and a third-rounder if they choose not to match. POSTED
9:00 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 FITZGERALD TRADE
UNLIKELY As the growing PFT Planet
chapter in Philly watches and waits for the Eagles to inject some new
talent into the roster, one of the lingering fantasies is that the team
will swing a trade for Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald. We don't see it happening,
for two reasons. First, Fitzgerald is due
to earn total base salaries of $31 million over the next two seasons
under the ridiculously stoopid contract that the Cardinals gave him as a
rookie. Whoever trades for Fitzgerald has to assume that contract.
And, surely, his new team would want to extend the deal. But any new contract would
have to have guaranteed money that matches the amounts he's due to earn
over the next two years. And it would probably take a lot more
than that to get Fitz to give up an essentially "guaranteed" $31 million
over the next two seasons and a shot at unrestricted free agency in what
very well could be an uncapped year. Second, the Cardinals have
to want to trade him. Though it might be in their best interests
to do so, it wasn't in their best interests to give him that contract in
the first place. So don't count on this franchise doing anything
that reasonable people would regard as smart. Our guess is that
Fitzgerald will spend the next two seasons with the Cardinals, pocket
his $31 million, and go elsewhere in March 2010 -- especially since the
franchise tender for Fitzgerald in 2010 would exceed $20 million. Meanwhile, the Cardinals
now claim that their ability to sign new free agents and keep their own
free agents is
hampered by the Fitzgerald situation. Hey, guys -- you only have
yourselves to blame. And if you don't want to pay Fitzgerald what
you previously agreed to pay him, you have an option. You can cut him. POSTED
8:31 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 McNABB EXPECTS TO BE IN
PHILLY The big news on Friday is
that Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is back in Florida and, as far as
we can tell, has not thrown up. Appearing on ESPN Radio
from a remote set at Disneyworld, McNabb said that he expects to be in
Philly in 2008, and that it would be a shock to him if he wasn't. To their credit the two
Mikes spoke frankly with McNabb about the possibility of leaving.
But they moved on once McNabb made it clear that he plans to be back. POSTED
8:26 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 FANECA WON'T LAND IN 'ZONA When Steelers guard Alan
Faneca began loudly complaining about his contract last year (he was so
upset at one point that team chairman Dan Rooney told a Pittsburgh
television station that he was worried Faneca might "keel over"), many
presumed that Faneca longed to join former Steelers offensive
coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and former Steelers offensive line coach Russ
Grimm in the land of cacti and cap space. But now that Faneca is
finally on the market, the Arizona Cardinals aren't in the mix. As
a league source told us, they simply aren't willing to spend the kind of
money that it will take to sign him. Alex Marvez of
FOXSports.com reports that
three teams
currently are chasing the perennial Pro Bowler -- the Jets, the
Rams, and the 49ers. We're hearing that the
Jets are considered to be the favorites. POSTED
8:00 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 EERIE QUIET ON THE MOSS
FRONT Eight hours into the 2008
free agency period, the Patriots have yet to re-sign receiver Randy
Moss. When the Pats didn't use
the franchise tag on Moss by the February 21 deadline, many presumed
that Moss and the Pats had a verbal deal in place, and that he would
sign it once the 2008 league year commenced. (Due to a quirk in
the CBA, it appeared that Moss couldn't sign a new deal with the
Patriots before February 29; we've heard rumblings that the Patriots
might have believed otherwise.) Others concluded that the Pats
knew that applying the franchise tag to Moss wouldn't be the best way to
keep him happy over the long haul. Agent Tim DiPiero
declined to comment on the situation when reached by the Boston
Globe after midnight. (I tried to get in touch with DiPiero
before Thursday's NFL Network appearance so that I might have actually
had something useful to say on the air, but DiPiero wasn't available and
didn't return the call.) Folks, it's reasonable to
conclude that something is up on this one. At a minimum, we think
Randy wants to see what will be on the table elsewhere before re-signing
with the Pats. And if that number in another town is big enough,
he might opt to take the money and run. POSTED
7:51 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BROWNS INCREASE OFFER
TO ANDERSON So much for the Cleveland
Browns taking money off the table once quarterback Derek Anderson forced
the team to use a restricted free agency tender on him. James Walker of the
Columbus Dispatch reports that the
Browns have upped the offer to Anderson, pushing the guaranteed
money on a three-year deal from $10 million to $12 million and the total
take from $20 million to a number between $21 million and $23 million. Our guess is that the
Browns are trying hard to create the appearance that they did all that
they could to keep Anderson in the event that he goes elsewhere and:
(1) plays as well or better in his new city than he did last year in
Cleveland; and (2) Brady Quinn doesn't. And we're getting a
stronger sense that the Browns are ready for Anderson to move on.
If the Browns thought enough of Quinn to give up the fourth pick in the
second round of the 2007 draft and their first-rounder in 2008 to get
him, why wouldn't they want him to start? The fact that the Browns
were willing to part with a one and a two might shed some light on
whether the Browns believe that Anderson will be given an offer by
another team. If a totally unproven Quinn is worth a first-round
and a high second-round pick, surely a guy like Anderson is worth a
first-rounder and a third-rounder. POSTED
7:24 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 JENKINS TO THE JETS The first of the several
defensive tackles on the trade market have indeed been traded. According to John Clayton
of ESPN.com and Alex Marvez of FOXSports.com, the Panthers have shipped
defensive tackle Kris Jenkins to the Jets for a third-round and a
fifth-round pick. In New York, Jenkins
presumably will become a space-eating nose tackle in the 3-4 front,
which means that his annual battle of the bulge will be a good thing,
for a change. POSTED
7:18 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BUCS EYEING NEW PLAYERS With a pre-free agency
total of $44 million in 2008 cap dollars to spend and a minimum
expenditure of $28 million in order to comply with the salary floor, the
Buccaneers are looking hard for new players. Our friends at Pewter
Report report that the
Bucs are
interested in Seahawks receiver D.J. Hackett, Seahawks linebacker
Niko Koutouvides, Saints running back Aaron Stecker, and Bears tight end
John Gilmore. Visits are being arranged
for Stecker and Gilmore. Also, a league source
tells us that Chiefs defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson is heading to Tampa
on Friday for a visit with the Bucs. Pewter Report reports that
the Bucs are not pursuing Bengals defensive end Justin Smith. POSTED
7:11 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 McCOWN, PACE VISITING
MIAMI The Miami reclamation
project continues without, for now, any of the Tuna's "guys". Jeff Darlington of the
Miami Herald reports that the Dolphins
will host on
Friday free-agent quarterback Josh McCown and free-agent linebacker
Calvin Pace. The talk in league circles
is that Pace thinks he's going to cash in significantly on the open
market. Last year, the Fins gave a contract with $20 million in
guaranteed money to linebacker Joey Porter. Neither player has any
experience with Bill Parcells. The Cowboys passed on Pace in round
one of the 2003 draft, Parcells' first season with the franchise. POSTED
2:48 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 'SKINS KEEP COLLINS A league source tells us
that the Redskins have reached an agreement to retain the services of
quarterback Todd Collins. Collins, 36, helped lead
the 'Skins to the playoffs after starter Jason Campbell went down with a
knee injury. The Rams were believed to
be interested in Collins, given that former Redskins' assistant Al
Saunders, who brought Collins to D.C., is now the offensive coordinator
in St. Louis. Collins will presumably
stay in the No. 2 spot behind Campbell, but Collins provides a quality
insurance policy in the event of further injury to the 2005
first-rounder. POSTED
2:43 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 REPORT OF NINERS
SIGNINGS PREMATURE A league source tells us
that the report from the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat that the
Niners have signed quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, linebacker Dontarrius
Thomas, and running back DeShaun Foster are premature. Per the source, contact
has been made by the 49ers with each player, but no deal has been done.
Yet. POSTED
2:38 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 KIRCUS LANDS IN MIAMI When Dolphins V.P. of
football operations Bill Parcells said that he doesn't want "thugs and
hoodlums," maybe someone should have asked him to define those terms. Parcells has signed former
Broncos receiver David Kircus, who a year ago (allegedly)
beat the crap out of a guy who asked Kircus to leave a party. Kircus thereafter passed a
polygraph test in Denver, but the questions posed to Kircus presumably
focused on whether he acted in self-defense. There was no apparent
dispute as to whether the end result was Kircus beating the crap out of
a guy. So if that's not the
action of a "thug" or a "hoodlum," we'd love to know what is, primarily
because I'm currently trying to instruct Florio Jr. on how not to be a
"thug" or a "hoodlum," and I could use some help establishing the
boundaries for him. POSTED
2:14 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 NINERS START SPENDING Though none are all that
high in profile, the
49ers have already made a few moves in free agency. The Niners reportedly have
agreed to terms with Lions quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, running back
DeShaun Foster, and Vikings linebacker Dontarrius Thomas. Foster
recently had been released by the Panthers. Matt Maiocco of the
Santa Rose Press-Democrat also reports that the Niners will host
defensive end Justin Smith on Friday. Smith is scheduled to visit
the Vikings, too. Finally, receiver Isaac
Bruce could be heading to San Fran, where he'd be reunited with former
Rams coach Mike Martz, who's now the offensive coordinator of the Niners.
POSTED
2:04 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 NO CONTRACT YET FOR
KWAME In response to our report
that tackle Kwame Harris has agreed to terms with the Raiders, agent
Ryan Tollner advised us that there is no deal yet with Oakland. Tollner says that several
teams are interested, and that a deal isn't expected to be reached
before the end of the weekend. POSTED
1:59 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 WOY DID ADAMS DEAL A league source tells us
that the contract negotiated on Thursday between the Cowboys and left
tackle Flozell Adams was handled by agent Jordan Woy. This means that Adams at
some point fired his prior agents, Roosevelt Barnes and Eugene Parker. NFLPA records indicate
that Woy is currently listed as Adams' agent. POSTED
1:51 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 LEAGUE LAUGHING AT
KELLY DEAL Reaction in league circles
to the $50 million contract paid to defensive tackle Tommy Kelly, which
included $18 million in guaranteed money, generally has been
bewilderment and laughter. Kelly has 13 sacks.
In his entire career. And he played in only seven games in 2007. He joined the Raiders in
2004 as an undrafted free agent. POSTED
1:40 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 YOUNG, SIMONEAU STAY
WITH SAINTS Adam Caplan of Scout.com
reports that the Saints have reached agreements with two of their own
free agents. Defensive tackle Brian
Young will sign a three-year, $12 million deal. Also, linebacker Mark
Simoneau will stay put. POSTED
1:36 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 WILLIAMS LINES UP
VISITS Adam Caplan of Scout.com
reports that Falcons free-agent linebacker Demorrio Williams has already
lined up visits with the Chiefs, Bucs, and Bears. Williams plays on the weak
side. In Chicago, he could be the replacement for Lance Briggs. POSTED
1:30 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 HARRIS TO THE RAIDERS A league source tells us
that the Oakland Raiders have reached an agreement with former 49ers
tackle Kwame Harris. Harris was a first-round
pick in 2003. No financial details are
presently available. POSTED
1:26 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BRAYTON TO VISIT
PANTHERS Adam Caplan of Scout.com
reports that Raiders defensive end Tyler Brayton will visit the
Panthers. The Raiders tried to
re-sign Brayton before the start of free agency. Brayton, a first-round
pick in 2003, has played defensive tackle, too. POSTED
1:19 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 PORTER TO VISIT JAGS Alex Marvez of
FOXSports.com reports that free-agent receiver
Jerry Porter will visit the Jaguars on Friday. Porter would be the second
new receiver added by Jacksonville. A trade soon will be official
(if it isn't already) to send Vikings receiver Troy Williamson to the
Jags. POSTED
1:12 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 FAINE TO TAMPA That $44 million in cap
space has burned a hole in the pockets of the Buccaneers. Stephen Holder of the
St. Petersburg Times reports that the
Bucs have reached an agreement
with free-agent center Jeff Faine, previously of the Saints. Per Holder, the deal makes
Faine the highest-paid center in the game. POSTED
1:09 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 FUN WITH WIKIPEDIA A reader has pointed out
to us a curious quote at the bottom of the Wikipedia entry of Browns
quarterback Derek Anderson: "It is rumored that he has
signed a
$47 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, with $17 million
guranteed [sic]. Browns would receive a 1st and 3rd pick in the
2008 draft. Panthers pick 13th." It's probably a load of
crap, but it's intriguing nevertheless. And even if it's accurate
that Anderson will sign with the Panthers, the Browns would have seven
days to match the offer sheet. It's highly unlikely, however, that
they would. [Update:
The Anderson Wikipedia page is now officially a mess.] POSTED
1:00 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 MOSS STAYING PUT? Sid Hartman of the
Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports that receiver Randy Moss is "signed,
sealed, and delivered" to remain in New England. There has been no official
word from the team of any deal. On Thursday, the Panthers
emerged as an unlikely potential candidate for his services. POSTED
12:58 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 SAMUEL VISITING EAGLES Alex Marvez of
FOXSports.com reports that free-agent cornerback
Asante Samuel will visit the Eagles on Friday. On Thursday night, it was
reported that Samuel already has a deal in place with the Eagles. Samuel is looking for at
least $10 million per year. POSTED
12:55 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 SMITH TO VISIT VIKES As owner Zygi Wilf's plane
heads to California to fetch receiver Bernard Berrian, the Vikes also
have made arrangements for a
Friday visit
from Bengals defensive end Justin Smith. Smith played for Vikings
defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier when Frazier worked in that same
role with the Bengals. The Vikings have a need
for help at defensive end because Kenechi Udeze recently was diagnosed
with leukemia. Smith was Cincinnati's franchise player in 2007. POSTED
12:49 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 SMILEY SIGNS WITH FINS Ladies and gentlemen, we
have a signing. In roughly a half hour of
negotiations that started from scratch (eye roll), the
Dolphins have signed 49ers guard Justin Smiley to a five-year, $25
million contract with a $9 million signing bonus. The story announcing the
move was posted 27 minutes into free agency by Matt Maiocco of the
Santa Rosa Press-Democrat. And given that the article has
three paragraphs of quotes from Smiley, and assuming that the
conversation between Maiocco and Smiley lasted at least five minutes,
there's no way in hell that the Dolphins first initiated contact with
Smiley at 12:01 a.m. EST. Then again, anyone who
thinks that Fins V.P. of football operations Bill Parcells gives a crap
about any of that would be sorely mistaken. POSTED
12:42 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 BERRIAN TO VISIT VIKES Barely a half hour into
free agency, and the Vikings have
set up a Friday
visit with Bears receiver Bernard Berrian. Berrian wants a contract
that pays out $24.5 million over the first three years, and that
includes $12 million guaranteed. He would provide a deep
threat for the Vikings' West Coast offense. Having a guy who can
stretch the field opens up the various underneath routes in the system. POSTED
12:39 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 SAINTS SNAG VILMA Tom Rock of Newsday
reports that the Jets have
struck a deal with the Saints for linebacker Jonathan Vilma. Vilma will go to New
Orleans, apparently for a conditional pick in the 2009 draft. The conditional nature of
the selection suggests that there are lingering concerns about Vilma's
knee. POSTED
12:34 a.m. EST, February 29, 2008 SAINTS WANT SHOCKEY With tight end Jeremy
Shockey possibly on the outs in New York, there already are teams
interested in his services. According to John Clayton
of ESPN.com, via our friends at Rotoworld.com, the
Saints have contacted the Giants regarding the availability of
Shocke