POSTED 6:34 a.m. EDT; UPDATED 9:17 a.m. EDT, April 13, 2006

LEINART CAMP TRYING TO PERSUADE TITANS TO TAKE MATT

The same source who tipped us off over the weekend to the looming termination of agent Leigh Steinberg by USC quarterback Matt Leinart tells us that the driving force behind the change was the lack of interest that the Titans were demonstrating in the 2004 Heisman winner.

The source says that Titans G.M. Floyd Reese is leaning toward Texas quarterback Vince Young, and Titans coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow want Leinart.

The source also tells us that Chow recently informed Leinart that Reese won't trade up to the No. 1 overall spot in order to get Leinart.

Co-agent Chuck Price, who will remain a member of Team Leinart in the wake of the Steinberg termination, supposedly has told Reese that the failure to land Leinart will be the biggest draft gaffe in team history.

Apparently, Reese is now on the fence.

Per the source, Leinart will sign with Tom Condon after the five-day waiting period expires following Leinart's termination, and Condon and Price will work together.  Condon's pitch, as we recently heard, was that he'll get either the Titans or the Jets to trade up to No. 1 with the Houston Texans. 

The long-term plan, we're told, is for Price to learn the ropes of the agent business over the next couple of years, with an eye toward being the lead agent for Leinart's second contract.  (We suspect that Condon hasn't gotten that memo.)

The broader question, as we see it, is whether these goings-on will raise a red flag for any team that otherwise will be interested in Leinart.  There's already a question as to whether he has a sufficient passion for the pro game.  And his pro day workout was hardly a show stopper.

So by trying to force his way into the No. 1 spot, the risk could be that Leinart slides even lower than he otherwise might have gone.

Stay tuned.

BLOOM BUZZ BUILDING

Although he hasn't played football for two seasons, former Colorado receiver/kick-punt returner Jeremy Bloom seems to be building a buzz as the draft approaches.

Making the rounds this week is a DVD of various Bloom highlights.  The disc is being circulated by his agent, Gary Wichard, who is known to be a relentless promoter of his clients.  (In the interests of full disclosure, Wichard also represents Redskins safety Adam Archuleta, who purchased ad space from us this month for his training video.)

The Bloom DVD, which we reviewed on Wednesday, begins with footage of the moguls skier smoking Will Allen, Ahman Green, and various others in the 100-yard dash during a past CBS Superstars competition.  Then, there's footage of Bloom's recent pro day workout, including his 19 reps in the 225-pound bench, multiple examples of very crisp route running, and some impressive ball skills while receiving punts.

The DVD culminates with clips from Bloom's two-year career with the Buffaloes, which featured a touchdown in his first punt return.  The thing that caught our attention was that, when he broke toward the sideline he instinctively switched the ball from his left hand to his right hand.  There are guys who have been playing for years in the NFL who still fail to move the ball to the outside arm, which increases the likelihood that a fumble will land out of bounds before it can be recovered by the opposing team.

Still, the knock on Bloom is that he has played only two years of college ball, and that he allowed his skiing career -- and the endorsement opportunities flowing therefrom -- to wipe out his remaining NCAA eligibility.  This naturally causes some of the old-school scouts to question whether Bloom is fully committed to football.

Some folks (including us) have bashed his stats.  But, as it turns out, his numbers compare very favorably to the first two years of Sinorice Moss's career.  In 2002, Moss had three catches for 30 yards and no touchdowns.  In 2002, Bloom had two catches for 102 yards and one touchdown.

In 2003, Moss had eight receptions for 111 yards and no touchdowns.  In 2003, Bloom had 22 catches for 356 yards and one score.

In his two final seasons at Miami, Moss didn't generate dominant statistics, with 20 receptions in 2004 and 37 catches in 2005.  Moss averaged less than 500 yards receiving in those two years.

And while Moss has the pedigree (his big brother is Santana of the Redskins), Sinorice doesn't have much experience at all in the return game.  How, then, is a guy didn't do it in college presumed by everyone to be a natural at it in the NFL?

We're not raising these points as a knock on Moss.  But it seems that the gap between Moss and Bloom might not be as great as previously envisioned.

We're also not suggesting that Bloom will or should be drafted at or about the same time Moss comes off of the board.  But it's looking to us like Bloom will most likely be targeted by someone in the back half of round three.  Then the question becomes whether a chess match unfolds between two or more teams that might nudge higher up into the round in order to get him.  

Hell, at this point we don't rule out Bloom being taken at the bottom of round two.  And we can think of at least one franchise holding a pick in that ballpark that needs a return man who can be groomed into a pass-catcher.

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THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Jags RB Fred Taylor is skipping the team's voluntary offseason program this year; "I'm going to take care of Fred first," he said.

WR Rashaun Woods starts out as No. 4 on the depth chart in San Diego.

Here's a reason to take in a little college football on TV  in 2006 -- you won't have to watch and/or listen to Aaron Taylor on ABC.

P Jeff Feagles is returning for a 19th season.

The Falcons have cleared roughly $5 million in cap space by reworking the deals of RB Warrick Dunn and LB Keith Brooking.

Panthers CB Ricky Manning, a restricted free agent, was in Chicago on Wednesday for a visit with the Bears.

QB D.J. Shockley might get to continue his career in the state of Georgia.

The Packers have signed K Rhys Lloyd (looks like the butler gig didn't work out for him).

Long-time Lions FB Cory Schlesinger is wondering whether he has a role in the Mike Martz pinball offense.

The Chiefs are bringing in plenty of defensive players for pre-draft meetings.

The Chiefs also have needs at receiver, and are hosting Santonio Holmes and Derek Hagan -- but not Chad Jackson.