HEAV
03-24-2006, 04:35 PM
The Jaguars could be in the running for free-agent linebacker Lavar Arrington if his price tag comes down. Arrington likely will visit the Jaguars on Saturday.
The Packers are among at least three teams expressing an interest in Oakland Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson. His agent, Carl Poston, said he was trying to schedule Woodson for a visit to Green Bay next week. He was to visit Tampa Bay today and probably Seattle over the weekend.
Negotiations were ongoing yesterday between the Jets and veteran free-agent offensive tackle Jon Runyan. Runyan, entering his 11th NFL season, played the past six seasons with the Eagles. He is believed to have narrowed his choices down to the Jets and Eagles. He and his family lives in Mount Laurel and he is said to want to remain in the area.
The Giants appear to be back on the hunt for a veteran QB. And among their top targets is a player they were looking to sign before they settled on Jim Miller -- Jay Fiedler. Brian Levy, the agent for the former Dolphins and Jets quarterback, said the Giants have recently contacted him regarding his client. "We have touched base," Levy said in an e-mail message yesterday, "but nothing is imminent with Jay." The delay could be due to Fiedler's recovery from the December shoulder surgery that ended his season and his tenure with the Jets. The 34-year-old Long Island native was one of a slew of veterans released by the team last month.
Vince Young is among the 20 college players the Ravens have invited for pre-draft visits. The Ravens will meet with the University of Texas quarterback on April 3 at their Owings Mills training complex, where they can talk to him at length. Team officials will not conduct a private workout with Young and have no plans to schedule one. The problem for the Ravens is that Young's stock is back on the rise after an impressive Pro Day workout in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday. Young is not expected to last beyond the No. 7 pick (Oakland Raiders) and could be drafted as high as No. 3 (Tennessee Titans) or No. 4 (New York Jets). If the Ravens want to move ahead of the Raiders from the No. 13 slot, it likely would require trading their first- and second-round picks.
The NFL owners will begin the task of assembling a list of replacement candidates for the commissioner's job Monday when the league holds its annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress resort in Orlando, Fla. League sources say an intriguing candidate from the outside has surfaced who could get fairly serious consideration. It's former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams. Williams, 51, is the vice president of planning and new development for Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, which is just a stone's throw away from where the owners will be meeting next week. Williams, who spent 14 years as a player in the league before retiring in 1989, has the kind of broad appeal that makes him attractive to the league as a candidate to succeed outgoing Paul Tagliabue. The Dartmouth grad has done an outstanding job building and operating Disney's 200-acre sports complex. His background as a player is appealing to those who feel the league needs a football guy at the top this time, rather than another lawyer. And, last but not least, he's a minority.
The top remaining kickers in free agency are Paul Edinger, who was with Minnesota last year, and Todd Peterson, who was with Atlanta. Peterson made 23 of 25 field goals last year and is a free agent, but his range is so limited, he probably isn’t a candidate for the Packers’ job. The Packers have interest in Edinger, who already has visited New England.
Former Dolphins punter Matt Turk has agreed to a one-year, $850,000 contract with St. Louis, agent David Canter said.
The Steelers are close to re-signing running back Verron Haynes, the last of their key unrestricted free agents, and could have the deal completed before team management leaves for the start of the NFL owners meetings Sunday in Orlando, Fla.
Unrestricted free agent center Mike Flanagan has followed Mike Sherman to Houston. An NFL source said Thursday night that Flanagan, the Green Bay Packers' starting center the past five seasons, agreed to terms on a three-year deal worth close to $9 million with the Texans, who hired Sherman as their assistant head coach/offense last month. "I don't know if (Sherman) knows what he's getting himself into, but he's got me for a few more years," Flanagan told Milwaukee television station WITI. Earlier this week, Packers general manager Ted Thompson said the team was still talking with Flanagan in hopes of re-signing him.
The X-factor now would be Seattle's restricted free agent Josh Brown, but the Seahawks can match any offer sheet he signs. And teams that are hoping for help in the draft aren't going to find much available. There were only two kickers invited to the Combine, and the best is considered to be Josh Huston from Ohio State. But he'll be a rookie, and nobody knows how reliable a rookie can be -- especially at the kicker position.
The Patriots last night were on the verge of re-signing Troy Brown to a one-year contract to keep him in New England for a 14th season. Brown would be the first veteran to re-sign following the departures of Willie McGinest, David Givens and Adam Vinatieri. He provides depth at wide receiver, as well as in the secondary, where he has seen action each of the past two seasons. The deal should be consummated today. His signing stems the tide of losses among the team’s battle-tested Super Bowl veterans and comes after Brown admitted in a recent interview he was contemplating retirement.
The Raiders had unrestricted free-agent running back Najeh Davenport in for a visit Wednesday. Davenport, 27, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers as a backup. Davenport, 6-1 and 250, has started two of the 39 games in which he has appeared. He has rushed for 1,068 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
Former Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson intends to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former coach Jon Gruden. Woodson, who spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Raiders, has received scant interest from other teams since the Raiders declined to use the franchise tag on him for a third straight year and let him hit the market as an unrestricted free agent March 11. Gruden coached Woodson from 1998-2001. Woodson made the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons. He has not returned to the Pro Bowl since Gruden left for the Buccaneers in 2002.
Charles Rogers stands to come out as one of the big winners from the extension of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. Rogers, whose first three seasons with the Lions were marked by a twice-broken right collarbone and a four-game suspension in 2005 for a violation of the NFL's policy on substance abuse, appears to have his bonus protected from a grievance filed last year by the Lions.
Larry Allen's signing also could signal a complete shift from the San Francisco teams of old, which liked to pull its guards and run sweeps and traps. If Allen can pair with a healthy Jeremy Newberry, the offense instantly becomes a force up the middle.
An NFL spokesman had no comment when asked if Daunte Culpepper could be in trouble with the league after he testified that he was shooting dice for money during the infamous boat party Oct. 6 on Lake Minnetonka. The NFL doesn't prohibit players from gambling except for betting on NFL games.
Anthony Wright, the starting quarterback in the Ravens' last playoff appearance, visited the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday.
The Dallas Cowboys and the city inched closer Thursday to completing a deal that would return the team's training camp to the Alamodome for a five-year period beginning in 2007, sources with knowledge of the negotiations said. After agreeing to add two years to its initial three-year proposal, the city faxed a contract to the Cowboys on Thursday afternoon, the sources said.
Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. underwent arthroscopic surgery on his reconstructed right knee in January, Browns General Manager Phil Savage confirmed Thursday. "It was just a very minor procedure to clear out some scar tissue from his previous surgery," Savage said. "The doctors tell me he's doing great and he's at the facility [in Berea] working out every day." Winslow initially underwent surgery on the knee on June 14 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in his May 1 motorcycle accident. But it hasn't been an easy road back for the former sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft.
Failing to land Keyshawn Johnson means the Giants will now have to look elsewhere for a third receiver. They re-signed Montclair native David Tyree on Wednesday, but he has been mostly a special-teams contributor in his three seasons with the team. The Giants could re-sign oft-injured free agent Tim Carter or hope third-year receiver Jamaar Taylor can finally stay healthy. They might also look to add a receiver early in next month's draft.
The good news for the Giants is they still have enough room under the salary cap to sign linebacker LaVar Arrington. The Dolphins, Bengals and Jaguars have reportedly shown serious interest in the former Redskin as well.
Other free agents currently available include Tony Banks, Jeff Blake and former Giant Tommy Maddox. Jamie Martin, who had two separate one-year stints with the Jaguars during Tom Coughlin's reign in Jacksonville, also is unsigned, but his agent, Tom Mills, said yesterday the Giants have not yet called.
Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper hasn't wasted any time rehabilitating his injured right knee. Culpepper resumed his rehab schedule Thursday in Orlando less than 24 hours after appearing in a Minneapolis courtroom. A judge is expected to rule next week on a motion to dismiss three misdemeanor charges against Culpepper stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct last October on a boat cruise.
Tom Ashworth figures to be a starter on Seattle's offensive line. Ashworth, formerly with the New England Patriots, agreed Thursday to sign a five-year, $13 million contract. Ashworth, 28, has been a right tackle for most of his four-year NFL career, blocking for quarterback Tom Brady in back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 2003 and 2004. He made a free-agent visit to Seahawks headquarters earlier this week, and his agent said he came away excited, especially about his meeting with offensive-line coach Bill Laveroni.
The Packers are among at least three teams expressing an interest in Oakland Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson. His agent, Carl Poston, said he was trying to schedule Woodson for a visit to Green Bay next week. He was to visit Tampa Bay today and probably Seattle over the weekend.
Negotiations were ongoing yesterday between the Jets and veteran free-agent offensive tackle Jon Runyan. Runyan, entering his 11th NFL season, played the past six seasons with the Eagles. He is believed to have narrowed his choices down to the Jets and Eagles. He and his family lives in Mount Laurel and he is said to want to remain in the area.
The Giants appear to be back on the hunt for a veteran QB. And among their top targets is a player they were looking to sign before they settled on Jim Miller -- Jay Fiedler. Brian Levy, the agent for the former Dolphins and Jets quarterback, said the Giants have recently contacted him regarding his client. "We have touched base," Levy said in an e-mail message yesterday, "but nothing is imminent with Jay." The delay could be due to Fiedler's recovery from the December shoulder surgery that ended his season and his tenure with the Jets. The 34-year-old Long Island native was one of a slew of veterans released by the team last month.
Vince Young is among the 20 college players the Ravens have invited for pre-draft visits. The Ravens will meet with the University of Texas quarterback on April 3 at their Owings Mills training complex, where they can talk to him at length. Team officials will not conduct a private workout with Young and have no plans to schedule one. The problem for the Ravens is that Young's stock is back on the rise after an impressive Pro Day workout in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday. Young is not expected to last beyond the No. 7 pick (Oakland Raiders) and could be drafted as high as No. 3 (Tennessee Titans) or No. 4 (New York Jets). If the Ravens want to move ahead of the Raiders from the No. 13 slot, it likely would require trading their first- and second-round picks.
The NFL owners will begin the task of assembling a list of replacement candidates for the commissioner's job Monday when the league holds its annual meeting at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress resort in Orlando, Fla. League sources say an intriguing candidate from the outside has surfaced who could get fairly serious consideration. It's former Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Reggie Williams. Williams, 51, is the vice president of planning and new development for Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex, which is just a stone's throw away from where the owners will be meeting next week. Williams, who spent 14 years as a player in the league before retiring in 1989, has the kind of broad appeal that makes him attractive to the league as a candidate to succeed outgoing Paul Tagliabue. The Dartmouth grad has done an outstanding job building and operating Disney's 200-acre sports complex. His background as a player is appealing to those who feel the league needs a football guy at the top this time, rather than another lawyer. And, last but not least, he's a minority.
The top remaining kickers in free agency are Paul Edinger, who was with Minnesota last year, and Todd Peterson, who was with Atlanta. Peterson made 23 of 25 field goals last year and is a free agent, but his range is so limited, he probably isn’t a candidate for the Packers’ job. The Packers have interest in Edinger, who already has visited New England.
Former Dolphins punter Matt Turk has agreed to a one-year, $850,000 contract with St. Louis, agent David Canter said.
The Steelers are close to re-signing running back Verron Haynes, the last of their key unrestricted free agents, and could have the deal completed before team management leaves for the start of the NFL owners meetings Sunday in Orlando, Fla.
Unrestricted free agent center Mike Flanagan has followed Mike Sherman to Houston. An NFL source said Thursday night that Flanagan, the Green Bay Packers' starting center the past five seasons, agreed to terms on a three-year deal worth close to $9 million with the Texans, who hired Sherman as their assistant head coach/offense last month. "I don't know if (Sherman) knows what he's getting himself into, but he's got me for a few more years," Flanagan told Milwaukee television station WITI. Earlier this week, Packers general manager Ted Thompson said the team was still talking with Flanagan in hopes of re-signing him.
The X-factor now would be Seattle's restricted free agent Josh Brown, but the Seahawks can match any offer sheet he signs. And teams that are hoping for help in the draft aren't going to find much available. There were only two kickers invited to the Combine, and the best is considered to be Josh Huston from Ohio State. But he'll be a rookie, and nobody knows how reliable a rookie can be -- especially at the kicker position.
The Patriots last night were on the verge of re-signing Troy Brown to a one-year contract to keep him in New England for a 14th season. Brown would be the first veteran to re-sign following the departures of Willie McGinest, David Givens and Adam Vinatieri. He provides depth at wide receiver, as well as in the secondary, where he has seen action each of the past two seasons. The deal should be consummated today. His signing stems the tide of losses among the team’s battle-tested Super Bowl veterans and comes after Brown admitted in a recent interview he was contemplating retirement.
The Raiders had unrestricted free-agent running back Najeh Davenport in for a visit Wednesday. Davenport, 27, spent his first four NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers as a backup. Davenport, 6-1 and 250, has started two of the 39 games in which he has appeared. He has rushed for 1,068 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 4.9 yards per carry.
Former Raiders cornerback Charles Woodson intends to visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and former coach Jon Gruden. Woodson, who spent his first eight NFL seasons with the Raiders, has received scant interest from other teams since the Raiders declined to use the franchise tag on him for a third straight year and let him hit the market as an unrestricted free agent March 11. Gruden coached Woodson from 1998-2001. Woodson made the Pro Bowl in each of those seasons. He has not returned to the Pro Bowl since Gruden left for the Buccaneers in 2002.
Charles Rogers stands to come out as one of the big winners from the extension of the NFL's collective bargaining agreement. Rogers, whose first three seasons with the Lions were marked by a twice-broken right collarbone and a four-game suspension in 2005 for a violation of the NFL's policy on substance abuse, appears to have his bonus protected from a grievance filed last year by the Lions.
Larry Allen's signing also could signal a complete shift from the San Francisco teams of old, which liked to pull its guards and run sweeps and traps. If Allen can pair with a healthy Jeremy Newberry, the offense instantly becomes a force up the middle.
An NFL spokesman had no comment when asked if Daunte Culpepper could be in trouble with the league after he testified that he was shooting dice for money during the infamous boat party Oct. 6 on Lake Minnetonka. The NFL doesn't prohibit players from gambling except for betting on NFL games.
Anthony Wright, the starting quarterback in the Ravens' last playoff appearance, visited the Cincinnati Bengals yesterday.
The Dallas Cowboys and the city inched closer Thursday to completing a deal that would return the team's training camp to the Alamodome for a five-year period beginning in 2007, sources with knowledge of the negotiations said. After agreeing to add two years to its initial three-year proposal, the city faxed a contract to the Cowboys on Thursday afternoon, the sources said.
Browns tight end Kellen Winslow Jr. underwent arthroscopic surgery on his reconstructed right knee in January, Browns General Manager Phil Savage confirmed Thursday. "It was just a very minor procedure to clear out some scar tissue from his previous surgery," Savage said. "The doctors tell me he's doing great and he's at the facility [in Berea] working out every day." Winslow initially underwent surgery on the knee on June 14 to repair a torn anterior cruciate ligament suffered in his May 1 motorcycle accident. But it hasn't been an easy road back for the former sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft.
Failing to land Keyshawn Johnson means the Giants will now have to look elsewhere for a third receiver. They re-signed Montclair native David Tyree on Wednesday, but he has been mostly a special-teams contributor in his three seasons with the team. The Giants could re-sign oft-injured free agent Tim Carter or hope third-year receiver Jamaar Taylor can finally stay healthy. They might also look to add a receiver early in next month's draft.
The good news for the Giants is they still have enough room under the salary cap to sign linebacker LaVar Arrington. The Dolphins, Bengals and Jaguars have reportedly shown serious interest in the former Redskin as well.
Other free agents currently available include Tony Banks, Jeff Blake and former Giant Tommy Maddox. Jamie Martin, who had two separate one-year stints with the Jaguars during Tom Coughlin's reign in Jacksonville, also is unsigned, but his agent, Tom Mills, said yesterday the Giants have not yet called.
Dolphins quarterback Daunte Culpepper hasn't wasted any time rehabilitating his injured right knee. Culpepper resumed his rehab schedule Thursday in Orlando less than 24 hours after appearing in a Minneapolis courtroom. A judge is expected to rule next week on a motion to dismiss three misdemeanor charges against Culpepper stemming from allegations of sexual misconduct last October on a boat cruise.
Tom Ashworth figures to be a starter on Seattle's offensive line. Ashworth, formerly with the New England Patriots, agreed Thursday to sign a five-year, $13 million contract. Ashworth, 28, has been a right tackle for most of his four-year NFL career, blocking for quarterback Tom Brady in back-to-back Super Bowl wins in 2003 and 2004. He made a free-agent visit to Seahawks headquarters earlier this week, and his agent said he came away excited, especially about his meeting with offensive-line coach Bill Laveroni.