POSTED 8:57 p.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 10:05 p.m. EDT, April 19, 2006

JOEY WANTS TO BE A FIN

Lions quarterback Joey Harrington has informed the team that he wants to be traded to the Miami Dolphins.

"I look forward to joining the Miami Dolphins whenever I am released or a trade is completed," Harrington said in a statement issued on Wednesday by his agent, David Dunn. "The Dolphins are an ascending team with great coaching and I can't wait to get started. I certainly appreciate all that the Ford family and Matt Millen did for me."

The problem is that the Fins have offered only a sixth-round pick, while the Lions want a third-round or fourth-round selection.

The problem for the Lions, however, is that Harrington can refuse to restructure his contract, necessarily killing the team's ability to trade the No. 3 pick in the 2002 draft to any other team.  Because Harrington is due to receive a $4 million roster bonus on June 15, no new team will be ready or willing to acquire Harrington unless Harrington agrees to a new contract.

We'd heard earlier on Wednesday that the Broncos were possibly willing to send a three or a four to Detroit in order to land Harrington.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT ONE-LINERS

With Joey Harrington out of the picture in Cincy, the Bengals have reached an agreement in principle with former Ravens QB Anthony Wright.

The Giants have signed LB Brandon Short.

The Lions have inked a trio of no-names (and, to no surprise, one of them is a receiver).

The Browns are trying to decide what to do if Vince Young should fall to No. 12.

The Colts have re-signed S Gerome Sapp.

Jags QB Fat Albert addresses criticism that gets directed his way:  "They call me fat.  Well, I'm no model.  If people can't respect how hard I work at this, you can't get disappointed. I know how much I want to win and the pride I take in football.  I could see it if I was struggling.  If I was playing bad I'd probably feel like them."

Anyone who tries to describe a game played on the first weekend of the preseason an "exciting match-up" is either lying or stupid.  Or both.

Bucs G Sean Mahan has signed his one-year restricted free agent tender.

Former Packers RB Paul Hornung has donated dozens of pieces of memorabilia to a Louisville museum.  (We wonder if one of the items is the letter informing him that he was suspended for a year due to gambling.)

Vikings S Willie Offord is going old school in Minnesota.

Here's a shocker -- Pats coach Bill Belichick had little to say regarding the departure of K Adam Vinatieri.

We interrupt this coverage of the NFL for a look at the only college team yours truly gives a poop about.

The NFL Network is squeezing some nut sacks.

POSTED 8:29 p.m. EDT, April 19, 2006

BRONCOS TARGETING WIDEOUT IN ROUND TWO

In the wake of the trade of the Broncos' second first-round pick (No. 22 overall) to the 49ers for the 37th overall and 68th overall selections, we're told that the Broncos plan to use one of the two second-rounders that they now hold on a receiver.  The third-rounder  could be sent to the Lions for quarterback Joey Harrington, a player in whom the Broncos are keenly interested.

But even at the bottom of round three, a day one pick seems to be a bit to pricey for Harrington, whom the Lions already have decided to cut before June 15, if he can't be traded.

The move of the 22nd overall pick out of Denver also reduces the likelihood that the Broncos will select running back LenDale White.  Unless, of course, they plan to take him with the 15th overall pick.

Also, don't be surprised to see the Broncos send one of the extra second or third round selections to the Dolphins for running back Ricky Williams, if Williams ultimately prevails on the appeal of his most recent violation of the substance abuse policy.

As to the 49ers, the move likely will be viewed in some circles as a precursor to a move up in round one.  Although we're not ruling it out, the Niners need quality and quantity.  It therefore makes far more sense for San Fran to use both of their first-round selections to address the various needs on the roster.

As to those who think that the Niners might be looking to swing a trade all the way to the top of the draft, think again.  Under the trade value chart that most teams use, the No. 6 overall pick and the No. 22 overall selection are worth 2,380 points.  That's only good enough to fall somewhere between the No. 2 and No. 3 overall selection on the chart.

And as to those who think the chart really isn't used, note that the No. 22 overall pick and the two selections that the Niners gave up to get it are worth the exact same number of points under the chart -- 780.

POSTED 8:05 p.m. EDT, April 19, 2006

TEXANS GETTING SOME TRADE INQUIRIES

We'd previously heard that Tom Condon's primary selling point in attracting USC quarterback Matt Leinart was Condon's plan to get either the Titans or the Jets to strike a trade up in the draft with the Texans for the No. 1 overall pick, which then would be used on Leinart.

Condon already has achieved partial success.  Sort of.

We're told that the Titans and the Jets have contacted Texans G.M. Charley Casserly regarding the price tag for a trade.  But not in an effort to get Leinart.

Instead, these two teams -- along with the Raiders -- have contacted the Texans in the hopes of possibly landing Leinart's teammate, tailback Reggie Bush.

The development is somewhat surprising, in light of recent speculation that Bush might not even be the first guy picked.

Although there's plenty of misinformation floating around in the days leading up to the draft, we've got no reason to question our source on this one.  So, as always, stay tuned.

POSTED 8:11 a.m. EDT, April 19, 2006

TEXANS TORN BETWEEN BUSH, WILLIAMS?

As the April 29 draft approaches, there are increasing rumors and reports that the Houston Texans are now torn between running back Reggie Bush and defensive end Mario Williams.

The prevailing thought in league circles is that it's about the money.  As in Bush apparently wants too much of it.  And Williams apparently doesn't.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle explains that the team's interest in Williams is genuine, suggesting at one point that Williams could be the next Reggie White.  But is McClain merely helping the Texans in their efforts to temper Bush's financial demands?

It's been reported for months that Bush will be the pick.  ESPN's Chris Mortensen said so way back in January.  We scoffed at the suggestion at the time, since so much can happen in the days leading up to the draft. 

If the Texans are to be believed now, Mario Williams has happened -- and Williams could in the end be the guy.

Lost in the current discussion is quarterback Vince Young, which makes us even more convinced that the Texans had been flirting with him as a mere courtesy to the citizens of Vince's hometown of Houston.  Really, if the Texans were genuinely interested in drafting a quarterback at No. 1, wouldn't they also be taking a look-see at Matt Leinart?  In this specific case, where the interest in Young is aimed at placating the locals, adding Leinart to the debate would only risk pissing them off -- even though to the trained eye it would be proof that the interest in Young is real.

And we still don't rule out the possibility that the Texans are pumping up Williams to ensure that, if they ultimately trade down to No. 3, the Saints will pounce on Williams over Bush at No. 2.  Then, the Texans get Bush two slots lower -- which necessarily will make his demands lower.

But not much lower, since Browns receiver Braylon Edwards ended up with a great contract in the three hole a year ago.  In fact, whichever team lands in the third spot this year will be cursing Edwards' name when negotiations get going, because the agent for the No. 3 choice will be trying his damnedest to get the same kind of deal.

POSTONS CLIENTS LIKELY HAMPERED BY DEPTH OF DRAFT CLASS

As our readers continue to ask us when in the hell guys like LaVar Arrington, Charles Woodson, and/or Ty Law will be signing their next NFL contracts, Bart Hubbuch's item in Wednesday's Florida Times-Union has helped us to identify another reason for the decision of NFL franchises to defer getting one of these three players under contract.

Apart from the fact that all three players are attempting through agents Carl and Kevin Poston to obtain much more money than the market would justify, the positions that these guys play -- linebacker and cornerback -- are well represented at the top of the draft.

So for any team that is interested in these guys only 10 days from April 29, they're likely to attempt to address the positions that they play during the draft. 

The practical consequence is that the draft will reduce the number of teams interested in Arrington, Woodson, and/or Law, since at least one of the teams currently looking at one or more of them undoubtedly will decide in the wake of the draft that they've filled their needs. 

With less teams interested, there will be less leverage.  And, in the end, less money on the table.

It's another reason why the Postons should have gotten these guys signed in early March -- and it's a lesson to every agent with clients on the open market early in the offseason.  If you represent a guy who plays a position that is well represented in the draft, get that guy signed long before the names start getting called out in late April.

BIG THREE BORN THREE WEEKS APART

Several readers have pointed out to us an interesting fact regarding quarterbacks Matt Leinart, Vince Young, and Jay Cutler.

They were all born in the three-week window from April 29, 1983 through May 18, 1983.

Cutler is the oldest, born on April 29.  Leinart was born May 11.  Young is the baby.

Although this information has prompted some of the readers to conclude that Cutler was held back for a year and Young was held back for two, the truth is that each of them had a redshirt year. 

For Young, the timeline suggests that at some point he was indeed held back for one year.  But before anyone concludes that he flunked a grade, keep in mind that he was involved in a serious accident when he was seven, which left him hospitalized for months.  Our guess is that the accident was responsible for the fact that his arrival to college ended up being delayed.

So, in the end, it's a non-issue -- even though it's one hell of a coincidence that these three quarterbacks who'll be making their entry into the NFL within the same three hours made their entry into the world within the same three weeks.

TOLLNERS LEAVING STEINBERG?

We'd recently heard that brothers Bruce and Ryan Tollner were candidates to land the representation of USC quarterback Matt Leinart.  The odd twist to that item was that the Tollners currently work with Leigh Steinberg, whom Leinart fired a week ago.  If the Tollners had been hired by Steinberg, word is that they would have joined up with Chuck Price.

We're now told that the Tollners will be leaving Steinberg even though they didn't land Leinart -- and that they'll be taking with them Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.  We're hearing that it's possible, in the end, that the only guy who'll still be with Steinberg is Redskins quarterback Mark Brunell.

The question of whether the Tollners can carry away Steinberg clients is a separate matter that Bruce and Ryan should explore carefully, lest they end up on the wrong side of a $42 million verdict that later is overturned a couple of years after they file bankruptcy in order to block the efforts of the NFLPA to impose a two-year suspension on them. 

WEDNESDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Broncos WR Ashley Lelie is staying away from the team's offseason program in the hopes of getting traded.

Chargers G.M. A.J. Smith says that he isn't dumping players in the hopes of dumping his coach:  "Why would I be running players out of here, when all I'd have to do is recommend to Dean Spanos that we go in another direction with the head coach?  It would seem to be a much simpler process."  (What Smith fails to mention, though, is that he's already tried that route.)

The Jets have signed OT Anthony Clement.

The Tangini Twins watched Matt Leinart throw passes to Reggie Bush on Tuesday.

Joel Segal will eat these words if client Reggie Bush isn't drafted first, second, or third:  "[Reggie] had a nice day with the Jets, but you've got to trade up to get him."

S Marcus Coleman's contract with the Cowboys is for the one-year veteran minimum, with a $40,000 signing bonus.

USC RB LenDale White arrived in Dallas on Tuesday night.

The Rams are likely to pick a tight end on the first day of the draft.

Notre Dame TE Anthony Fasano visited the Redskins on Tuesday.

Rams S Corey Chavous thinks that the Titans will take QB Matt Leinart -- even though Chavous thinks they shouldn't.

Talks are slow regarding a new contract for WR Brandon Lloyd with the Redskins.

The Redskins have nearly 100 percent participation in their offseason workout program.

Texas A&M QB Reggie McNeal is willing to switch positions, if necessary.