POSTED 7:35 p.m. EST; UPDATED 8:11 p.m. EST, March 24, 2006

 

BITTER 'HAWKS BITE BACK WITH BURLESON

 

Mike Sando of the Tacoma News Tribune reports that the Seattle Seahawks have exacted revenge against the Vikings by signing receiver Nate Burleson to a seven-year, $49 million offer sheet containing two poison pill provisions intended to make a farce out of the poison pill that the Vikes used to wrest guard Steve Hutchinson away from the Seahawks earlier this week.

 

Per Sando, the deal becomes fully guaranteed if Burleson plays a certain number of games in the state of Minnesota, or if his average per-year salary exceeds the average annual wage of the highest-paid running back on the team.

 

A league source tells us that, from the Seahawks' perspective, the contract is a four-year, $14 million proposition, with $5.25 million in guaranteed money.

 

But, if the Vikings match the offer, it's the same total payout that the Seahawks would have been forced to swallow if they'd matched the offer that the Vikings made to Hutchinson.

 

The only difference is that Burleson is a restricted free agent.  Since the Vikings tendered him at the lowest level, they will receive a third-round pick from the Seahawks if the offer is not matched.  Seattle, in contrast, got nothing for Hutchinson.

 

So Hutchinson and a three for Burleson isn't a bad deal.

 

Burleson had a great year in 2004, and it was assumed that he'd be the go-to receiver in the absence of Randy Moss.  But injuries limited him significantly in 2005, and the Vikings otherwise have plenty of other options at the position. 

 

Our guess is that, with or without the poison pills, the Vikings will choose not to match. 

 

MORA EVIDENCE THAT VICK IS ON THE OUTS?

 

With the Falcons now committed to coach Jim Mora for four more years, it's hard not to think that the organization is gradually shifting its focus away from quarterback Mike Vick.

 

After all, Vick openly has questioned the offensive philosophy on multiple occasions this offseason.  We've previously reported that he does not like Mora.

 

The arrival of Bill Musgrave, who tutored backup quarterback Matt Schaub at Virginia, and the team's refusal to part with Schaub as part of the John Abraham trade reinforces our belief that the franchise is toying with the possibility of life without Vick, which could happen as soon as 2007.

 

Mora's original contract was for five years, with the last two at the team's option.  The new deal replaces the two option years and adds another season. 

 

"We're delighted Jim is our head coach, and we want him to be a part of our long-term success," owner Arthur Blank said. "Jim demonstrates every day his knowledge and passion for football, and he is a great leader for our players."

 

POSTED 7:22 p.m. EST, March 24, 2006

 

RUNYAN TOOK LESS MONEY TO STAY PUT

 

A league source tells us that Eagles tackle Jon Runyan decided to pass on a much richer offer from the New York Jets in order to stay in Philly.

 

Per the source, the Jets' offer entailed more total money, more guaranteed money, and "considerably" more cash in the first and second years of the contract.

 

In all, the deal is worth (we're told) $12.5 million over three seasons, with a $2.5 million roster bonus and a $1.15 million base salary in 2006.

 

Because of the Eagles' enormous cap surplus, there was no need for a traditional signing bonus, which would have spread the $2.5 million cap charge over three years.

 

The Buccaneers got involved in the bidding for Runyan late in the game, but he decided against making a visit because of the distance from his New Jersey home.

 

POSTED 4:37 p.m. EST, March 24, 2006

 

RUNYAN RE-UPS WITH EAGLES

 

As a free agent, Jon Runyan hoped to stay on the East Coast.

 

As it turns out, he won't even have to move.

 

Runyan re-signed with the Eagles on Friday, after being pursued by the Jets.  The three-year deal will extend Runyan's six-year stay in Philly.

 

In the end, he made only one visit in free agency.  He spent the first several days of the signing period on vacation in the Cayman Islands, at a time when plenty of guys were eating at the money trough.

 

POSTED 3:02 p.m. EST, March 24, 2006

 

LEAGUE SAYS NEW CBA NOT RETROACTIVE

 

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tells us that recent revisions to the Collective Bargaining Agreement limiting the ability of teams to recover bonuses and other money paid to players are not retroactive.

 

In other words, the new CBA provisions do not supersede contractual rights that already were formed and vested under an agreement that permitted teams to negotiate with individual players the inclusion of forfeiture language.

 

That might be news to the union, which based on a report in the Detroit News seems to believe that the new CBA exonerates Lions receiver Charles Rogers from a duty to refund bonus money due to a four-game suspension for violating the league's substance abuse policy.

 

Retroactivity is often an issue when contracts and law are changed.   Usually, previously settled rights can be disrupted only with clear evidence of an intent to do so.  Even then, there are limits.

 

The issue ultimately could be headed for arbitration or a Special Master proceeding.  One guy who might want to pay close attention to this one is Redskins safety Sean Taylor, who under his contract would be required to pay millions back to the team if he misses any games due to an incarceration on charges for which he'll be tried next month.  

 

FRIDAY AFTERNOON ONE-LINERS

 

Former Packers C Mike Flanagan has jumped to the Texans.

 

Former Packers RB Tony Fisher has joined the Rams.

 

The Fins have finagled 49ers FB Fred Beasley.

 

Texas QB Vince Young will visit the Ravens in April.

 

DT Lional Dalton has re-signed with the Chiefs.

 

Titans G.M. Floyd Reese is sucking up to Team Starry Night, in the apparent hopes of eventually fleecing them.

 

Titans running backs coach Sherman Smith is now the assistant head coach, too.

 

QB Mike McMahon never made it to Denver on Thursday.

 

The Pats are trying to re-sign RB Heath Evans.

 

The Jets could be close to signing OT Jon Runyan.

 

Former Bengals LB Reggie Williams could get consideration for the Commissioner's job.

 

Bills RB Willis McGahee is in Buffalo for offseason workouts; a year ago, he did most of his training in Miami.

 

POSTED 12:32 p.m. EST; UPDATED 1:05 p.m. EST, March 24, 2006

 

PACK NOT  PLEASED WITH FAVRE STORY

 

Our source who told us that Packers quarterback Brett Favre has informed the team that he plans to return for another season now tells us that the Green Bay organization was "pissed" that the story was leaked to us and posted.

 

The source also confirms that the story is 100 percent accurate.  Favre has told the team that he's returning, and the team has -- for whatever reason -- opted not to disclose this fact publicly.

 

On Wednesday, G.M. Ted Thompson refused to comment on the report, explaining that the organization does not comment on Internet stories.  

 

But how hard would it have been for Thompson to say it's not true?  His response tells us that the report is accurate, and that Thompson opted merely to diss the messenger in lieu of telling a bald-faced lie.

 

HARRINGTON:  "TEAM HATES ME, I HATE TEAM"

 

As speculation, rumor, and innuendo regarding the events that transpired at the ill-fated quarterback school involving eventually-to-be-former Lions signal-caller Joey Harrington and offensive coordinator Mike Martz continue to trickle out of Motown, we're told that the catalyst for the looming divorce was a meeting between Harrington and CEO Matt Millen.

 

Harrington, we hear, went into Millen's office and said, "I hate the team, and the team hates me.  I want out."

 

And Millen opted to honor the request.  

 

The Lions are still holding out hope of getting value for Harrington in lieu of simply cutting him loose.  The current favorites to send a low-round pick to Detroit for the former No. 3 overall selection are the Chiefs and the Vikings.

 

Look for the Lions to use the possibility of trading Harrington to the Vikings to get the Chiefs to cough up a six or a seven.  In the end, though, we doubt that the Lions would trade Harrington within the same division.  In 1999, for example, the Vikings wanted to trade from the No. 11 spot up to the No. 9 pick in the draft when the Vikes hoped to get in front of the Ravens at No. 10 and select cornerback Chris McAlister.  The Lions, who held the No. 9 pick, declined because they didn't want to do business with a then-NFC Central rival.

 

Any trade, of course, hinges on the willingness of Harrington to work out a contract that reduces the $8.5 million cap number that his new team would absorb in 2006, based on a $4 million roster bonus due in June and a $4.5 million salary.

 

POSTED 8:54 a.m. EST; LAST UPDATED 10:20 a.m. EST, March 24, 2006

 

BRONCOS GOT BEST OF ABRAHAM TRADE

 

It's usually good to be the middle man.

 

For the Denver Broncos, who helped bridge the gap between the New York Jets and the Atlanta Falcons in their recent trade involving defensive end John Abraham, it was very good to serve as the conduit for the deal.

 

Here's what happened.  The Jets slapped the franchise tag for a second straight year on Abraham, and Abraham wanted out.  So the Jets tried to trade him.  

 

In order to make the trade of a franchise player happen, the old team and the new team need to reach an agreement -- and the new team and the player need to strike a deal, too.

 

The Jets found what they were looking for from the Seattle Seahawks, who offered their first-round selection (No. 31 overall) in the April draft.  But Abraham and the 'Hawks couldn't hammer out a contract for his services.

 

In Atlanta, Abraham was able to reach an agreement, but the Falcons weren't willing to send to New York their first-round choice (No. 15 overall) or quarterback Matt Schaub.

 

Enter the Broncos.  By sending one of their first-round choices (No. 29 overall) to Atlanta, plus a third-rounder (No. 93) and a fourth-rounder in 2007, Denver pocketed the No. 15 overall choice from the Falcons.  Then, the Falcons sent the No. 29 pick to the Jets and ended up with Abraham, a three this year, and a four next year.

 

Under the trade chart that most, if not all, NFL teams use when valuing draft picks, the Broncos picked up -- at a minimum -- 180 points in pick value by getting the No. 15 pick in exchange for the No. 29, the No. 93, and a fourth-rounder in 2007.  And that assumes that the Broncos will have the worst record in 2006, giving them the first pick in each round in 2007.

 

The more likely scenario is that the Broncos will make the playoffs (again), and the net gain to the Broncos will be more like 240 points.

 

The Falcons also made out here, getting a three and a four by standing firm on their refusal to give up their first-round pick.  "A three in this year's draft is huge," said one league source.  "This is a deep draft and that pick is going to be a good player." 

 

The bigger question here, however, is why in the hell didn't the Jets just send Abraham and a three and a four to the Falcons for the No. 15 pick?  If, as rumored, the Jets are considering a jump from No. 4 to No. 2, the No. 4 and the No. 15 pick will get the deal done, and then some.  Heck, with the No. 15 pick on the table the Jets could (given another 100 or so points) jump all the way to the top and nab Reggie Bush, assuming the Texans are willing to slide down to No. 4.

 

Instead, the Jets will need to throw in some more of their own picks to package with the No. 4 and No. 29 selections.  Based on the straight numbers on the trade chart, the Jets will have to send more to the Saints at No. 2 than they would have had to send to Atlanta to get the No. 15 pick.

 

"They basically gave up Abraham for a second round pick," said a league source.  "Hard to figure.  I guess they decided that any deal for Abraham was better than no deal."

 

While we won't say that Tangini got fleeced on this one, they missed an opportunity to improve their total standing on draft day.   

 

POLIAN HAS "NO SHOT" AT COMMISH 

 

In response to our item from Thursday regarding the possibility that Colts president Bill Polian has been running his mouth about the signing of kicker Adam Vinatieri in order to get Polian's name in the paper at a time when folks are putting together their lists of Commissioner candidates, one league insider tells us that Polian has "no shot" at the job.

 

Polian is viewed by many within the league, we're told, as "pompous."  His multiple appearances on Boston radio stations regarding the Vinatieri signing is regarded as typical behavior for a guy who lets the glorification of his own ego get in the way of the broader picture, such as trying to keep influential people from hating your guts.

 

(Of course, to the extent that Polian is influential, he likely now hates our guts.  To that we say, "Welcome to the club.  Your badge is in the mail.  Please staple it to your face.")

 

The early candidates to succeed Paul Tagliabue are NFL chief operating officer Roger Goodell, Falcons G.M. Rich McKay, and Ravens president Dick Cass.  But we've got a weird feeling that, in the end, it won't be any of those three.   

 

FRIDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

 

The Pats have re-signed WR Troy Brown and G Stephen Neal.

 

The Jags could be in the hunt for LB LaVar Arrington, if his price tag comes down (or if he buys 7,500 season tickets).

 

Colts K Adam Vinatieri will get a chance to return to New England when his new team plays the Pats in 2006.

 

The Lions have signed OT Courtney Van Buren.

 

Even though the Lions are trying to get something in return for QB Joey Harrington, that $4 million roster bonus that comes due in June give Harrington all the leverage he needs to veto any trade or, in the end, to force his release.

 

K Mike Vanderjagt's deal in Dallas is for three years, $5.5 million, including a $2.5 million signing bonus.

 

The Cowboys and Saints will play a preseason game in Shreveport on ESPN.

 

Cowboys OT Torrin "Ten Toes" Tucker visited Tampa on Thursday and is due to visit the Falcons on Friday.

 

RB Najeh "Dookie" Davenport will be making a cigar in Oakland soon.

 

QB Mike McMahon has signed with the Vikings as the backup to Brad Johnson; from the "Stupid Fact No One Should Really Care About Since The Guys Aren't Related" file, Johnson was the backup to QB Jim McMahon 13 years ago.

 

The Vikes also have signed S Tank Williams and DE DeQuincy Scott.

 

The Steelers expect to re-sign RB Verron Haynes before Sunday.

 

Click here for more of the best NFL news and information (or you can sneak into a girl's dorm room and take a poop in a hamper while she's in the room sleeping . . . but don't make too much noise in the process or she'll wake up and call the cops and you'll then forever be known as "Dookie").