POSTED 1:29 p.m. EDT, April 27, 2006

SKIES BRIGHTEN FOR TEAM LEINART

Our official Team Leinart source tells us that the mood is dramatically improving in and around the 2004 Heisman winner.  Word is that agent Tom Condon recently has told Leinart that he'll "definitely" be off of the board within the first three picks on Saturday.

Condon, we hear, now believes that Titans G.M. Floyd Reese -- who wants Vince Young -- has been overruled by owner Bud Adams.  Tennessee coach Jeff Fisher and offensive coordinator Norm Chow both are strongly believed to be pro-Leinart.

Condon also believes, we're told, that there's also a possibility that the Saints will still take Leinart at No. 2.  Rumors are circulating that quarterback Drew Brees is behind schedule in the rehabilitation of his shoulder injury, which required surgery earlier in the offseason.

On Tuesday night, we heard that the Leinart camp was bracing for a potential fall past the ten spot.  Our somewhat-educated guess is that, if Leinart should be available past No. 7, someone will try to trade up with the Bills to get him at No. 8.  

POSTED 1:13 p.m. EDT, April 27, 2006

MARIO IS MERELY A SMOKESCREEN

A league source with knowledge of the situation tells us that, despite claims from the Texans that the team currently is negotiating with both Reggie Bush and Mario Williams, the involvement of Williams in the process is nothing more than a smokescreen.

So even if our source as to the striking of a deal between Bush and the Texans somehow was wr-wr-wr-wrong, it's increasingly clear to us that Bush is the guy, and that there are no genuine negotiations occurred or planned between the Texans and Williams.   

Williams is expected to be selected by the Saints at No. 2.

POSTED 11:55 a.m. EDT, April 27, 2006

CASSERLY CONFIRMS IT -- NO DEAL YET FOR BUSH

In our quest to actually engage in some "real" journalism (imagine that), we've heard from Texans G.M. Charley Casserly as to the rumors we've heard of a done deal between the Texans and tailback Reggie Bush.  

After catching wind of the agreement from a source who has been rock-solid for us in the past, we initially called Texans V.P. of comunications Tony Wyllie.  We left a message on Wyllie's cell phone, and then we tried to reach Casserly.  We heard back from Wyllie first, and we've now had a chance to talk to the G.M. himself.

And Casserly confirms the team's position that no deal is in place.

In so doing, Casserly sounded pretty convincing to us.

He said that the rumor of a deal is "absolutely not true."  Casserly said that the team is in active negotiations with both Bush and defensive end Mario Williams.  "That's the honest to God truth," Casserly added.

So now we're torn.  The source who told us about the deal is a credible one.  But "honest to God" is a pretty strong affirmation, unless Casserly secretly is an atheist or something.

For now, we'll take the team's word for it.  But we're also going to follow up with our source.

POSTED 11:02 a.m. EDT; LAST UPDATED 11:27 a.m. EDT, April 27, 2006

TEXANS DENY BUSH DEAL

A source tells us that the Houston Texans have reached an agreement with tailback Reggie Bush, which will make him the first overall choice in the 2006 draft.

The Texans, however, disagree.

Reached via his cell phone in New York, Texans V.P. of communications Tony Wyllie told Profootballtalk.com (man, it sure sounds like we know what we're doing when we write it up like that) that the team is "negotiating with both players."

"Reggie Bush and Vince Young?" we asked.

"Very funny," Wyllie said.

The other player is North Carolina State defensive end Mario Williams.  The Texans reportedly have been negotiating with both players, although the focal point to date apparently has been Bush.

Although the recent questions regarding Bush's college eligibility likely do not affect his draft standing, we believe that the team is squeezing Bush's agent, Joel Segal, because Segal surely is concerned (in our estimation) that he could be fired by Bush if Bush isn't the No. 1 overall pick.

POSTED 8:05 a.m. EDT, April 27, 2006

SCOUTS EXPLORE WHETHER DREW HAD ROLE IN DENNY'S INCIDENT

A reader with access to Pro Football Weekly's pay-based "Inner Circle" tells us that the folks at PFW are reporting that league scouts continue to investigate whether UCLA running back Maurice Drew had any role in the recent incident at a Westwood Denny's that left Ricky Manning facing charges of assault with a deadly weapon after a guy who was using a laptop in the restaurant got the sausage beaten out of him by a group of men.

Per PFW, Drew's agent confirmed that the former Bruin was "eating dinner" at the time but says that Drew had no role in the matter.

Although Manning and Drew were recently together on the set of NFL Network's Total Access, Drew's agent said that Manning and Drew are not acquaintances.  The agent claims that Drew had no involvement or knowledge of the incident, and simply happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Drew is the guy to whom we were referring on Tuesday when we said that the Manning situation could get interesting as the draft unfolds.  Based on the statements from Drew's agent (and agents have no reason to spin the facts for their clients), there's no connection.  Until there's evidence to the contrary, however, we've got no reason to dispute the account of Drew's agent.

DETAILS ON LAVAR'S DEAL

We've finally gotten a look-see at the contract signed by linebacker LaVar Arrington with the Giants.  As previously reported, the package stinks.

The signing bonus, as reported, is only $5.25 million.  The 2006 cap number is $1.8 million, based on a $1.05 million signing bonus proration, a $650,000 base salary, and a $100,000 workout bonus. 

First year earnings:  $6 million.  Or $1.6 million more than he gave up to hit the market in March instead of July.

The deal also contains up to $500,000 in 2006 incentives based on sacks, playing time, and playoffs.

In 2007, Arrington is eligible for a roster bonus of $2.25 million on the 15th day of the league year.  Eligibility for the roster bonus is tied to a playing-time threshold in 2006.  There's another roster bonus worth $46,875 for each game in which Arrington is active in 2006, with a maximum of $750,000.  The base salary for 2007 is $900,000.  Arrington also has a $100,000 workout bonus, more than $1.1 million in incentives, and an escalator of up to $1.5 million.

In 2008, the base salary spikes to $2.95 million.  Also, Arrington is eligible for a roster bonus of up to $450,000, based on $28,125 per active game in 2008.  There's a $1.5 million roster bonus based again on 2006 playing time, a $100,000 workout bonus, $500,000 in incentives, a $1 million Pro Bowl escalator if his 2007 escalator is not triggered, and up to $750,000 in additional escalators.

In 2009, the base salary shoots to $3.95 million.  There's another per-game roster bonus of $28,125, with a maximum haul of $450,000, a workout bonus of $100,000, up to $500,000 in incentives, and an escalator of up to $1 million.

In 2010, the base pay goes to $4.95 million.  The other terms from 2009 are the same, with the maximum escalator at $1.25 million.

In 2011, the base salary is $5.45 million, with the same terms from 2009 and 2010.  The maximum escalator is $1.75 million.

In 2012, the terms are the same as in 2011, but the base moves to $5.95 million.

Our take?  It's a two-year deal with a per-year team option on each of the remaining five seasons.  The minimum value for the first two years is $7 million.  His ability to get paid by the Giants in 2008 and beyond is tied directly to his ability to stay healthy, and perform effectively, in 2006 and 2007.

The package lends further credence to information we've received regarding the outcome of the MRI on Arrinton's knee.  Although he technically "passed" the physical, there are still concerns regarding his ability to play over the long haul.  

DRAFT INFORMATION

Our friends at Football Forecasters have draft analysis of team needs, what teams are most likely to swing a draft day trade, and their own NFL mock draft.

THURSDAY MORNING ONE-LINERS

Uncle Rico was upset to learn that Uncle Charley doesn't want him.

The Texans and Joel Segal are making progress on a deal for Reggie Bush.

The Seahawks have broken off talks with CB Ty Law, at least until after the draft.

Mel Kiper's hair care secrets, and more.

More delays in the Sean Taylor case.

Farewell, DJ Dirty Sanchez.

The Fins are trying to do to the Vikings that which the Fins tried to do to the Browns a year ago (and what the Vikes did to the Fins two years ago).

TE Vernon Davis thinks the Jets will draft him.

Former Penn State QB Michael Robinson is taking aim at some icons in order to make his case to play quarterback in the NFL:  "Peyton Manning and Tom Brady, they're great quarterbacks, but they're going to be a dying breed.  Defenses are getting too fast.  You can't have quarterbacks who are statues."

The Steelers have signed S Mike Logan to a one-year deal.

Redskins S Adam Archuleta confirms that his decision last month came down to the 'Skins and the Bears.

There are plenty of linebackers and cornerbacks who'll be drafted early on Saturday.

DE Mathias Kiawanuka liked hearing his name on TV -- until he realized that the folks uttering it were saying that he'd be dropping in the draft.

Character counts for the Ravens (and we'd hate to see who they'd be selecting if character didn't count).