POSTED 9:42 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 10:31 p.m. EDT, April 12, 2006

CHARGERS, NINERS SWAP FORMER FIRST-ROUNDERS

We reported earlier on Wednesday that the Chargers were shopping cornerback Sammy Davis, a 2003 first-round selection of the team.

It didn't take them long to find a suitor.

San Diego has shipped Davis to San Francisco for 49ers receiver Rashaun Woods, a 2004 first-rounder.

The most curious aspect of the trade, in our view, is its timing.  By formalizing the deal before the draft, other teams will now presume that the 49ers will be looking for at least one receiver -- and that the Chargers will be hunting for a corner -- in the upcoming draft.  And this increases the likelihood that someone else will trade in front of either of them to get a guy that they are targeting.

As to the Niners, the loss of Brandon Lloyd and Woods arguably increases the likelihood that the team will select Maryland tight end Vernon Davis with the sixth overall selection in the draft. 

The Chargers also are trying to move linebacker Donnie Edwards and safety Hanik Milligan.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

The Jets have signed former Bills OL Trey Teague to a two-year deal.

DE Lance Johnston has re-signed with the Raiders after a five-year detour to Minnesota.

LB LaVar Arrington is more likely to sign with Green Bay if He Who Will No Longer Be Named announces he'll be back for 2006, and He Who No Longer Will Be Named is more likely to announce he'll be back if Arrington signs. 

It was refreshing to learn that a neutral, objective witness with no stake in the outcome of the matter testified on behalf of RB Ricky Williams.

USC OT Winston Justice explains his agent switch as follows:  "I wasn't happy with the service, and now I have a new team in place."

USC RB LenDale White says, "I am not Maurice Clarett."  (There's a great advertising slogan.)

QB Vince Young will visit the Vikings next week.

Lions WR Mike Williams plans to trim 15 pounds of fat off of his ass.

The Redskins are $3.8 million under the cap.

A new Super Bowl XL version of the classic electric football game will be released on Saturday, complete with a zebra that gets several key calls wrong.

Roethlisberger scores!

Less than a month after prosecutors dropped domestic violence charges against Packers RB Ahman Green because he and his wife had reconciled, Green has filed for divorce, again.  (This looks like a job for DJ Dirty Sanchez.)

K Adam Vinatieri says that he didn't give the Pats a chance to match the offer he received from the Colts.

The media has been barred from the Raiders' first minicamp under new-old coach Art Shell.

The Bengals reportedly plan to draft a tight end.

Here's a good look at the realities of being a sports agent.

Bucs OT Anthony Davis has lost 25 pounds since the end of last season (and new teammate Torrin Tucker has found it).

POSTED 9:18 p.m. EDT, April 12, 2006

MADDEN THINKS HE WHO WANTS OUT OF GREEN BAY

The unofficial vice-president of the He Who No Longer Shall Be Named fan club, NBC's John Madden, thinks that the Packers quarterback wants the franchise to trade him to another team.

Madden recently expressed his opinion to the NFL Network.  Madden says he hasn't spoken to He Who, and that Madden is basing his opinion on the comments He Who has made.

Of course, one of the comments He Who has made recently to the president of the fan club, Chris Havel of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, was that He Who has no desire to play for any other team.

POSTED 9:07 p.m. EDT, April 12, 2006

PATS, SEYMOUR REACH AN AGREEMENT

The Patriots and defensive lineman Richard Seymour have reached an agreement on a long-term contract, according to ESPN.com.  The deal reportedly is an extension worth four years and $30 million, making him a member of the team through 2010.

We detect a little ambiguity regarding the mechanics of the deal, in light of the CBA provision that prevents a team from renegotiating a player's contract to increase his salary twice within the same year.  Technically, a deal can be signed within twelve months after Seymour's most recent renegotiation.  However, Seymour can't get any more money until twelve months after the date of his last restructuring.

Per Article XXIV, Section 9(a) of the CBA:  "The contract of a Veteran Player may not be renegotiated to increase the Salary to be paid to the player during the original terms of the contract for a period of twelve months after the player’s most recent contract renegotiation." 

So if the money can't be paid until August 2006, why do the deal now? 

First, it ensures that Seymour will participate fully in the offseason program, and that he will not be a training camp hold out.  Second, it gives the fans and the local media something positive to cling to at a time when plenty of Pats players have left the team.

POSTED 8:39 p.m. EDT, April 12, 2006

DJ DIRTY SANCHEZ STANDS DOWN

Prosecutor Mike Grieco a/k/a DJ ESQ a/k/a DJ Dirty Sanchez has stepped down as the lead prosecutor in the Sean Taylor case.

DJ Dirty Sanchez (as he will forever be known in this space) asked to be removed from the case because "he sees himself becoming the courtroom focus, rather than the individual charged with the criminal offense," said his boss, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle.

On the surface, the move was a stroke of genius by Taylor's legal team, since it was a motion to dismiss filed by lead counsel Richard Sharpstein based on the contents of Grieco's myspace.com profile that prompted Grieco to back out.  We doubt that the motion to dismiss based on allegations that Dirty S was using the coverage of the case to support his night job had much of a chance to get the charges against Taylor pitched, but it nevertheless got Grieco off of the case.

But given the inexplicably poor judgment reflected by Grieco via his myspace.com page -- which has been taken down but still can be seen right here -- maybe Sharpstein would have had a better chance at an acquittal by going to trial against a guy who so obviously doesn't "get it."

Meanwhile, our guess is that Grieco will soon be looking for another day job.

POSTED 4:04 p.m. EDT, April 12, 2006

TAYLOR PROSECUTOR JEOPARDIZES ENTIRE CASE

The Associated Press reports that the criminal trial of Redskins safety Sean Taylor has been postponed yet again after Taylor's lawyers filed a motion to dismiss the charges based on unique (to say the least) allegations of prosecutorial misconduct.

The motion charges that lead prosecutor Michael Grieco has used the case to promote Grieco's side gig as a night club disc jockey, by running links to news items regarding the case on a web site.

"It's obvious he's exploiting his job as a prosecutor for private gain," said Taylor attorney Richard Sharpstein.  "It has clouded his view of justice."

Though we're not sure whether it's enough to allow Taylor to escape a trio of serious felony charges that entail minimum mandatory prison terms of three years each, Grieco's decision to augment his income as one of the chief law enforcement officials in Miami-Dade County via spinning records by night reflects questionable judgment, at best.  Failing to maintain a complete firewall between his two careers is inexcusable, given the gravity of the work he performs on behalf of the citizens.

But if Grieco's moonlighting isn't enough to get him not only yanked from the case but also poop-canned from his day job, Grieco's page on myspace.com contains more than enough ammunition to result in Grieco playing tunes exclusively for his livelihood.

Grieco has since deleted his profile.  But one of our readers somehow has preserved the thing, and it is colorful.  And disturbing.  Yet at the same time hilarious, from a "How can this guy be so freakin' stupid?" perspective.

Unless this is from the prosecutor's training manual, Mike Grieco is one sick puppy. 

In addition to the photo of S&M Barbie, there's a cartoon called "Biff does the 'Dirty Sanchez'" and a rapping, dancing young boy named "Gino the Ginny," who lets the expletives fly, and all sorts of other stuff that isn't very becoming to a prosecutor, such as multiple "friendships" with underage girls.  

Frankly, we're amazed that Grieco didn't appreciate the ultimate connection between his on-line persona of "DJ ESQ" -- and the eventual removal of the "ESQ" from his official professional title.  

If he didn't get it before, we have a feeling he'll figure it out soon.

POSTED 1:28 p.m. EDT; UPDATED 1:45 p.m. EDT, April 12, 2006

CHARGERS SHOPPING TRIO OF VETS

A league source tells us that the San Diego Chargers currently are shopping three veteran players -- safety Hanik Milligan, cornerback Sammy Davis, and linebacker Donnie Edwards.

Edwards is under contract through 2007, and he's scheduled to make $3.55 million in 2006.  Davis' deal runs through 2009, with relatively manageable salaries.  Milligan is scheduled to earn $460,000 in 2006, the final year of his rookie deal.

Milligan made it to the 2005 Pro Bowl as a special-teamer, and word is that he's staying away from voluntary workouts in an effort to get a new contract.  The efforts to move Edwards and Davis could be a precursor to a post-June 1 release of either or both of them.

SABAN NOT HAPPY WITH CULPEPPER'S CHOICE OF WORDS

There's talk in league circles that Dolphins coach Nick Saban wasn't pleased with certain portions of the recent comments from quarterback Daunte Culpepper at a Monday press conference.  Supposedly (or, as they say in Jersey, supposably), Culpepper's equivocation regarding his availability for the start of the 2006 season has caused a little consternation for the Nicktator, who believes that it will now be more costly to sign a veteran backup at the position.

The irony here is that Saban apparently is loosening up his "one voice" approach by allowing other members of the organization to address the media.  Based on Culpepper's recent performance, Saban might just put the kibosh to his adventures in glasnost.

Di TRAPANO DIGS RAIDED BY FEDS

Dave Gustafson of the Charleston (W. Va.) Gazette reports that a small army of federal agents raided last week the home of Dante di Trapano, one of the agents representing Raiders receiver Randy Moss.  Gustafson reports that the feds came away from the house with guns, ammo, prescription painkillers, and drug paraphernalia.

Among the items taken were three crack pipes, a chunk of what the authorities think is crack, a bag of white chunks and residue, and miscellaneous items with residue and other white particles on them.  (Maybe he just has a really bad dandruff problem.)

Authorities also recovered two .32 magnum revolvers, three 9 millimeter pistols, a .380 pistol, a .357 revolver, a phone bill, a handwritten letter, and di Trapano's wife's diary.  (Okay, based on that impressive list of weaponry, we take back the dandruff crack.)

Di Trapano, his wife, and three other persons were arrested last month for possession of crack cocaine in a St. Petersburg, Florida hotel.  Di Trapano previously has claimed that he is innocent.  He later was arrested a second time for failure to appear at a hearing relating to the charges.

Chris Dickerson of the West Virginia Record reports that di Trapano has been removed from the sign and the web site of the Charleston law firm that bears his family name.

MANNINGS STICKING WITH IMG, SORT OF

Although the football area of the IMG web site currently remains devoid of any employees or clients, Liz Mullen of the Sports Business Journal reports that the Manning brothers, Eli and Peyton, will stay with IMG for representation in off-field endeavors.

Former IMG football guru Tom Condon will handle the Mannings' NFL contracts at Condon's new place of business, Creative Artists Agency.

Mullen reports that the Mannings previously signed exclusive marketing deals with IMG, and that the contracts expire within a year.  Upon expiration, the Mannings will be free to retain Condon and CAA.

We've also heard that Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson also plans to remain with IMG for marketing representation.  Condon will handle L.T.'s football representation.

Because marketing deals are not subject to the three-percent ceiling on agent fees, and because the Mannings and Tomlinson are among the most popular figures in the NFL, IMG's save will translate into some solid cash money.  A July 2004 article from the New Orleans Times-Picayune that is reprinted on the IMG web site estimates that Peyton Manning earned $9.5 million in off-field pursuits during the 2003 season.     

POSTED 8:50 a.m. EDT, April 12, 2006

CULPEPPER TO MISS MOST OF THE YEAR?

As speculation continues regarding the question of whether Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper will be ready at the start of the 2006 regular season, we're hearing increased rumblings that Culpepper might not be able to play at all this year.

Culpepper is recovering from three torn ligaments -- MCL, ACL, and PCL -- in his right knee, which occurred when he took a low hit from the side in an October 30 game between Culpepper's old team, the Vikings, and the Carolina Panthers.

The Dolphins sent a second-round pick to the Vikings last month for Culpepper, who rapidly fell out of favor in Minnesota via his decision to rehab in Florida, his desire for more a lot more money, and his propensity to send out e-mails to the media in his capacity as his own agent.

Meanwhile, the Fins are looking for a veteran backup quarterback.  They've kicked the tires of Tommy Maddox and are in the running for Lions quarterback Joey Harrington.

LIONS DEBATE DUMPING ROGERS

The Detroit Lions are seriously considering the possibility of releasing receiver Charles Rogers,  we're told.  He was the second overall pick in the 2003 draft, and he missed most of his first two seasons due to two separate breaks of a collar bone.

Healthy in 2005, Rogers was suspended four games for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy.  He reportedly sulked after returning from the suspension, and the team generally has been unhappy with his attitude in the wake of it. 

The fact that the team is chasing him for a return of most of his signing bonus might have a little to do with that.

But because Rogers has failed to achieve any of his big-money salary escalators based on playing time and/or statistical performance, his salary is only $757,917 for 2006.  So it makes little sense financially to run him out the door.

Also, cutting Rogers after June 1 would push $6.5 million or so of dead money into 2007. 

In our view, we don't think that the Lions will be moving too quickly in this regard.  Under the guise of giving the guy every chance to turn it around, the Lions likely will hold Rogers into training camp and the preseason.  But the real motivation could be to ensure that Rogers doesn't land with another team sufficiently early in the offseason to become fully acclimated to his new squad's offensive attack. 

Indeed, the only thing worse than declaring yet another top-five pick a complete bust would be to give him a chance to finally blossom elsewhere.

SALARY FLOOR MOVES UP

One of the most overlooked issues during the recent negotiations regarding the money that will be used to fund the salary cap under the new CBA was the salary floor -- i.e., the minimum money that each team must spend on player salaries in a given year.

In 2006, the minimum is 84 percent of the maximum.  Based on a salary cap of $102 million, this means that every team must spend at least $85.68 million in 2006.

Coincidentally, the maximum per-team expenditure in 2005 was $85 million.

Come 2006, the minimum bumps up to 90 percent.  With the salary cap expected to be at least $109 million, the floor moves to a whopping $98.1 million.

This reality sheds further light, in our opinion, on the Magooish attacks launched by Bills owner Ralph Wilson against the new deal.  Wilson argues that a salary formula based on total football revenues earned by all teams increases the player costs of small-market teams, since the big money earned by high-revenue clubs is pushing the numbers higher for the franchises that earn less money.

And it also helps us understand Wilson's boasts that he's not afraid of the uncapped year.  With no salary cap, there's also no salary floor, allowing the low-revenue teams to pay as little as they want.

NFLPA ISSUES CHANGES TO AGENT REGS

The annual NFLPA convention in Hawaii typically results in some tweaks to the rules regarding the regulation of agents.  Here's a look at changes for 2006.

First, and perhaps most significantly, the NFLPA now prohibits agents from permitting players to agree to incentive clauses aimed primarily at enabling a team to meet the salary minimum in any given year, if the new deal does not have "any significant value" to the player. 

Here's how this one works.  Through the use of "likely to be earned incentives" based on triggers that won't be met, a team takes the cap charge in the current year -- and gets a credit in the next year.  The device is a common tool for carrying over extra cap space that, for whatever reason, the team chooses not to use in the current year.  With a higher salary cap floor, the NFLPA obviously is looking to rein in the practice of bumping cap room from one year to the next.

Although it might be difficult to determine what the phrase "any significant value" means, the reality is that these kinds of transactions typically provide little or no value to the player.

But there's a loophole that will prevent agents from getting in trouble when their clients agree to such maneuvers.  If the player decides to consent to the provision with or without the participation of the agent, the agent must show "satisfactory evidence" to the NFLPA that the agent counseled the player that agreeing to the incentive could "significantly undermine the minimum cap protections for players under the new extension agreement."

So what does the agent do to stay out of the union's crosshairs?  The agent sends a letter to the player that tracks the language of the loophole.

Second, agents are now required to disclose to the NFLPA the names of any financial advisors that they have recommended to players within the past year, or that the agents currently are recommending.

Third, agents must turn over to the NFLPA within 10 days after execution any documents regarding pre-draft expenses, pre-combine expenses, loans, lines of credit, and any other devices that would trigger a repayment obligation to the agent if the player later terminates the relationship.  This device likely is intended to protect players against excessive interest or penalty charges aimed at dissuading the player from firing the agent.  (In fact, in cases where the player is drafted much lower than expected, the agent often wants to be fired, because it's the only way he'll have a chance to recoup in the short term the money paid out for pre-draft and pre-combine training.) 

Presumably, if the agent fails to file the paperwork on a timely basis with the NFLPA, the agent won't try to recover the money if the player later fires the agent.

Fourth, the NFLPA now prohibits agents from referring players to any workers' compensation attorney who is not a member of the NFLPA Workers' Compensation Panel of Attorneys.

Fifth, the NFLPA has promised to use its "best efforts" to create a mechanism for payment of agent fees awarded through arbitration from the Performance Based Pay system that issues supplemental compensation to players after each season.  Otherwise, agents are forced to reduce the arbitration award to a formal judgment in a state in which the player has property, and then execute on it. 

In the past, the NFLPA has refused to garnish wages to satisfy agent fees awarded with the arbitration process.  The agreement to divert a corresponding portion of the Performance Based Pay system to the agent is the first step toward ensuring that the players actually pay for the benefits that they receive from their contract representatives -- without forcing the agents to chase the players all over the country.

Sixth, and as we previously have reported, the maximum fees that can be charged to a player working under a one-year tender as a transition player, franchise player, or restricted free agent have been reduced from three percent to two percent.  For a franchise or transition player tagged in two straight years, the maximum fee drops to 1.5 percent.  In the third year, the maximum fee drops to one percent.

Finally, the NFLPA has called for an amendment to the Standard Representation Agreement to include a checklist of different levels of fee percentages beneath three percent, so that the player is aware that he can negotiate a fee lower than three percent.  This is the primary suggestion that we had received from multiple agents as the union was debating in February the possibility of moving the maximum fee percentage from three to two.