POSTED 9:24 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:42 p.m. EDT, April 11, 2006

LEINART "DEFINITELY" HIRING CONDON

We've heard from yet another source that USC quarterback Matt Leinart "definitely" is hiring Tom Condon of Creative Artists Agency to replace Leigh Steinberg, whom Leinart recently has terminated.

The talk in league circles is that Condon and CAA have told Leinart that they will persuade either the Jets or the Titans to swing a deal with the Texans to make Leinart the No. 1 overall selection in the draft.  If that's true, the Condon potentially has run afoul of the NFLPA regulations that impose a five-day waiting period before a new agent can swoop in. 

But don't assume that the NFLPA will take any action, given that Condon also represents NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw.  

We haven't confirmed whether Chuck Price will be involved in the ongoing representation of Leinart, but we've previously heard that Price will still be a part of the team, working directly with Condon.

CONDON GETTING NO EQUITY, BUT PLENTY OF DOLLARS

We're told that Tom Condon's shift from IMG to Creative Artists Agency will not result in Condon acquiring an ownership position in CAA.  However, word is that Condon will be extremely well compensated (think "millions") by his new firm.

Also, we hear that Condon will continue to work out of Kansas City, along with the rest of the CAA football division.

Meanwhile, IMG will continue to represent NFL players.  The only glitch is that, for now, the football wing of the agency has no employees, and no clients.  The football area of the IMG web site is now bare, but for a couple of paragraphs containing basic information and a photograph of a player (Peyton Manning) who no longer utilizes IMG's services.

TUESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

New Bills offensive coordinator Steve Fairchild promises that the unit will have more balance.  (If successful, they'll lose as many yards running as they lose passing.)

Because S Keith Davis was undrafted, the Cowboys will receive no compensation if they choose not to match the offer sheet that Davis signed with the Saints.

The Vikings will visit with Clemson QB Charlie Whitehurst, and have hosted RB Laurence Maroney.

The Vikings also have visited with RB DeAngelo Williams and S Jason Allen.

The names of all Steelers full-time employees will be etched onto the Lombardi.

The Bengals have re-signed TE Tony Stewart.

The Bills hosted free-agent G Tutan Reyes and free-agent RB Jonathan Wells.

The Lions re-signed several free agents, including LB Nate Wayne.

The Colts likely will not bring back LB Rocky Calmus, and WR/KR Troy Walters "is an open question," according to G.M. Bill Polian.

The Pats have re-signed CB Randall Gay, an exclusive rights free agent.

The trial of Bengals WR Chris Henry on felony gun charges is set for May 30.

The guy with a bowler's body is heading for the Bowling Hall of Fame.

Former Steelers QB Terry Bradshaw has donated his four Super Bowl rings, his Pro Football Hall of Fame ring, his College Football Hall of Fame ring, and other stuff to his alma mater, Louisiana Tech, in the hopes that the items will help lure recruits.  (We think the ploy will work, but only if they give the items to a recruit so that he can sell them on eBay.)

Colts G.M. Bill Polian is trying to throw water on the notion that the team will take a running back in round one.

The Seahawks have signed P Tom Rouen.

POSTED 4:43 p.m. EDT, April 11, 2006

BILLS GIVE PRICE $1.8 MILLION TO SIGN

As further proof that the people running the Buffalo Bills are clueless as to what they are doing, a league source tells us that the contract recently signed by receiver Peerless Price pays out a $1.8 million signing bonus.

The deal also includes a base salary of $800,000 in 2006, pushing his first-year compensation to $2.6 million.

In 2007, Price is due to receive a $500,000 roster bonus and a salary of $1.6 million.  In 2008, Price is scheduled to receive a $500,000 roster bonus and a salary of $2 million.  In 2009, Price gets a $500,000 roster bonus and a salary of $2.6 million.

Even if the Bills cut the cord after one season, Price still gets $2.6 million in cash.  Not bad for a guy that no one -- and we mean no one -- wanted.

But very bad for a team that suddenly seems to have the wheels coming off.

PACKERS HAVE LEGITIMATE INTEREST IN LAVAR

Although we were quick to presume on Monday that the Packers' visit with linebacker LaVar Arrington was a knee-jerk reaction to the recent comments of He Who Shall No Longer Be Named regarding the team's failure to sign any impact free agents, we're now hearing that the Packers indeed have a legitimate interest in Arrington.

The Packers, we hear, had planned throughout the past month to eventually enter the bidding for Arrington, because the front office correctly surmised that his demands would not be met by another team.

With that said, the Packers aren't inclined to overpay Arrington.  

So the practical result of the statements from He Who No Longer Will Be Named could be that it will now be harder for the Packers to sign Arrington, since Arrington's agents likely will try to jack up the price tag because of the perception that signing a guy like Arrington might persuade He Who Will No Longer Be Named to return.

This presumes, of course, that the Packers genuinely want He Who to return.  We frankly don't think that they do. 

POSTED 9:03 a.m. EDT, April 11, 2006

LEINART FIRES STEINBERG

Only four days after agent Leigh Steinberg expressed to us a high level of confidence in the face of mounting rumors that USC quarterback Matt Leinart was planning to make a change, ESPN.com's Chris Mortensen reports that Leinart has ended his relationship with Steinberg.

"It will go on for as long as my 23 years with Warren Moon," Steinberg told us on Thursday.

Steinberg missed his target by only 8,396 days.

Mortensen reports that the NFLPA received on Monday notice of the termination.  By rule, Leinart must wait five days before signing with a new agent.

We reported last week that Steinberg and co-agent Chuck Price were worried that Leinart would hire Tom Condon, who last week left IMG and joined Creative Artists Agency, which already handles Leinart's off-field work.

We received a tip over the weekend that, despite Steinberg's comments, Leinart was still planning to make a change.  We were unable to corroborate the information, so we (stupidly) didn't go with it. 

The tipster also told us that Price will remain in the picture, and that he and Condon will work together in the representation of Leinart.

As we explained last week in connection with the decision of USC tackle Winston Justice to terminate Steinberg, making a change before the draft usually isn't a good idea.  The more prudent move typically is for the player to switch after the draft, since a pre-draft move will only raise questions. 

Looking at the situation more broadly, we wonder whether Condon is the best choice to represent Leinart, given that two of the teams that might be in the running to select Leinart (the Saints and the Jets) already have starting quarterbacks represented by Condon.

If, in the end, the Saints or the Jets select Leinart, there's a decent chance that Drew Brees or Chad Pennington, respectively, will part ways with Condon.

ARRINGTON PUTTING HEAT ON POSTONS?

There's talk in league circles that linebacker LaVar Arrington is putting some pressure on agents Carl and Kevin Poston based on their failure to get him a long-term contract on the free-agent market.

Arrington gave up $4.4 million in earned but unpaid bonus money with the Redskins in order to hit the market four months earlier than he otherwise would have.  We assumed at the time that the Postons had a new deal in their back pockets that would have paid Arrington the $4.4 million, and a lot more, up front.

But days have become weeks and Arrington still is waiting for someone to offer the kind of money that his agents have been demanding.

The problem, as we see it, is that Arrington has unrealistic expectations -- and that the Postons have done nothing to rein him in.  For example, they apparently didn't spend any time gauging the market for Arrington, possibly because they have pissed off so many teams over the years that no one is willing to give them insights as to what their guy can expect to get paid.  With that information, the Postons could have gone back to Arrington and explained to him that what he wants and what he'll get are two different things.

Sure, there's a chance that Arrington would have reacted negatively, and possibly would have fired them.  But if they're now on track to be fired anyway, the Postons could have spent their time trying to get their other high-profile, high-expectations clients (Charles Woodson and Ty Law) under contract.

Before they get new agents, too.

TUESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

USC offensive tackle Winston Justice has hired Gary Uberstine.

More good news for Bills fans -- a league source opines to us that "Marv Levy and Ralph Wilson running that franchise is making Tom Donahoe look like a Hall of Famer."

Lips are zipped regarding the Ricky Williams hearing.

The Fins will host Florida WR Chad Jackson for a second time on Friday.

DE Mario Williams has visited the Lions and Texans, and has five more trips scheduled.

Despite reports implying that the Seahawks have signed K Josh Brown to a long-term deal, Brown merely has inked his one-year RFA tender.

Reason No. 237 as to why CB Ty Law is still unsigned:  "I've made five Pro Bowls.  I should have made nine, because I feel I got ripped off for four others."

Former Packers TE Mark Chmura has turned down multiple opportunities to reprise his recent bashing of He Who Shall No Longer Be Named.

USC RB LenDale White is heading back to Denver to continue to eat food and drink milkshakes.  (And rehab his injured hamstring.)

Packers G.M. Ted Thompson says that He Who Shall No Longer Be Named isn't holding up the team's plans for 2006:  "I wouldn't put it like that," Thompson said  "For whatever reason, it's taking him a little bit of time.  It's a decision he has to make."

USC offensive tackle Winston Justice is visiting the Eagles on Tuesday.

Lions DT Dan Wilkinson might retire or ask to be released.

The Titans are hosting QB Matt Leinart on Tuesday, and QB Vince Young arrives on Wednesday.

Steelers RB Willie Parker will throw out the first pitch for the Pirates' Tuesday game (and the Buccos might have a chance of actually winning the thing if Parket throws the next 100 pitches, too).

Titans player rep Peter Sirmon is siding with QB Steve McNair in his grievance against the team for failing to allow him to work out:  "If the player wants to work out I think the club should allow him to work out," Sirmon said.  "He is under contract."

Jags CB Brian Williams plans to prove that he's worth all the money he's now being paid.  (So what's he gonna do, cure cancer?)

The Packers apparently claim that the Monday visit with LB LaVar Arrington was scheduled one week before He Who Shall No Longer Be Named lobbied publicly for an impact signing.  (We didn't realize that the phrase "one week before" now means "one hour after.")

The Ravens recently worked out Eagles P Dirk Johnson.

Former NFL RB Eddie George has interviewed with ESPN.  (We're all for it, especially if Eddie gets Michael Irvin's job.)