HEAV
03-25-2006, 12:28 PM
The Buffalo Bills have given WR Eric Moulds permission to seek a trade. The disgruntled receiver has two years left on his contract, but rather than take a pay cut he asked to be released. The Denver Broncos have shown the most interest in Moulds, followed by the Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, and New England Patriots. The ten-year veteran is still smart enough to know how to get open. Moulds paced the Bills with 81 catches for 816 yards and four scores last year.
That left plenty of room for the Giants to continue the chase for former Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington. They're waiting for his price to drop, but there were no signs of that happening yesterday as Arrington headed to Jacksonville for a weekend visit in search of a $6 million-per-year deal. Though agents Carl and Kevin Poston claim the Dolphins, Bengals and Jaguars also have serious interest in Arrington, whispers around the league indicate everyone is waiting for Arrington to get real about the payday.
The Bucs also entertained Raiders free-agent cornerback Charles Woodson. Woodson, according to his agent, had a good meeting with the Bucs. "Charles said everything went well," agent Carl Poston said. "But I expected him to enjoy it. They have good people there and they all know each other." Woodson, who has spent his entire NFL career with the Raiders, was drafted in 1998 by then-Raiders and current Bucs GM Bruce Allen. Gruden was coaching the Raiders at that time. Poston said no contract negotiations have taken place, nor does he expect any until Woodson visits the Green Bay Packers next week. Poston said he also hoped to arrange a visit with the Seahawks, but Seattle officials said Friday they have no interest in Woodson.
Rams coach Scott Linehan said the signing of free-agent running back Tony Fisher is unrelated to Marshall Faulk's status with the team. Linehan remains under the impression that Faulk is coming back for his 13th NFL season. "I think he is," Linehan said Friday. "He has never given me any indication that he's not."
Free-agent veteran defensive end N.D. Kalu met with team officials at Falcons' headquarters in Flowery Branch Friday, team officials confirmed. The nine-year veteran has spent most of his career with the Eagles. The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder could provide support in rushing situations and alleviate some of the wear-and-tear on recently acquired John Abraham.
Dolphins safety Lance Schulters came away from a visit to the Seattle Seahawks impressed, but he has yet to sign a contract with the team, agent Brian Levy said. Levy said both Schulters and the Seahawks seem interested in a deal. Although Schulters didn't rule out returning to the Dolphins, it seems unlikely.
The Falcons hosted veteran behemoth defensive tackle Grady Jackson, who spent the past three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. The 6-2, 345-pound veteran is expected to take a few more visits before deciding where he would like to play.
It's believed the Seahawks' offer stipulates if Nate Burleson plays more than five games in the state of Minnesota in a year, the entire $49 million contract becomes guaranteed. The second provision involves Burleson's salary in comparison to the running backs on the team, and it would have the effect of requiring Minnesota to guarantee the $49 million.
The word in Oakland is that former Vikings receiver Randy Moss lobbied hard with Raider owner Al Davis to make a deal for quarterback Daunte Culpepper so they could be teammates again.
Green Bay is making a push to sign Marc Boerigter, the towering Kansas City free agent. With wide receivers in demand because the draft class is so poor and more than 20 already off the board, Boerigter's market value has been pushed up. The Packers appear to be competing with Tampa Bay and New England for his services.
The Colts next order of business is locking up DE Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, one of the NFL's best pass-rush tandems, on a long-term basis. Each is under contract through the 2006 season. Freeney is in the final year of his rookie contract and will count $6.18 million against the cap, while Mathis signed a one-year, $2.069 million contract as a restricted free agent. "We're going to keep Mathis and Freeney,'' Irsay said. "And to get those two guys done . . . we had to look at our roster in anticipation of how we're able to conform to the cap and do these things.'' The Colts could sign both to long-term contracts, or lock up one and use the franchise tag on the other. Either way, Irsay is ready to whip out his checkbook.
The Rams made a contract offer to free-agent linebacker Raonall Smith, but Smith still is testing the market. Scott Linehan said the Rams haven't closed the door on trying to sign return specialist Michael Lewis, but Lewis is still rehabbing from knee surgery.
The Packers signed kicker Billy Cundiff away from the Dallas Cowboys for a bargain price. Cundiff became available when he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this week. The Packers pounced, especially after Adam Vinatieri joined the Indianapolis Colts and Vanderjagt chose the Dallas Cowboys.
There is still a chance the Bucs will choose a tackle in the first round of the draft or sign another competitor to push Kenyatta Walker. "We're going to keep talking and see what happens," said Mark Bartelstein, the agent for Titans free-agent tackle Brad Hopkins, who is among those the Bucs are considering.
The Packers are trying to re-sign free agent RB Najeh Davenport. The Packers didn’t make any attempt to re-sign Fisher, who signed with St. Louis on Thursday. Davenport, who is coming off a broken foot that ended his 2005 season, has visited Oakland and Miami.
If you're looking for another reason to think Craig Nall is the answer at quarterback for the Bills, the Packers thought his big hands were well-suited to playing in adverse weather conditions.
The Bengals talked contract Friday with the agent for quarterback Jamie Martin, but Tom Mills said late in the day not to expect a deal any time soon. "We did exchange contract proposals," Mills said of his conversation with Bengals vice president Troy Blackburn. "There is mutual interest." But Mills said a possible contract probably won't be completed for a week or two.
Matt Birk, the Pro Bowl center who missed all last season after hip surgery, is taking part in all of the drills in the Vikings spring program and said he is 100 percent and could play in a game tomorrow if needed.
Free agent linebacker Ben Taylor said Friday night he'll sign a one-year deal Sunday with the Green Bay Packers. Taylor, the Browns' fourth-round pick in 2002, had been weighing one-year offers from the Browns and Packers.
The Jets failure to land Jon Runyan, 32, means they may now be leaning toward selecting Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson over N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams with their fourth pick overall in next month's draft. Veteran tackle Brad Hopkins, who visited the Jets, is still on the market, however.
That left plenty of room for the Giants to continue the chase for former Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington. They're waiting for his price to drop, but there were no signs of that happening yesterday as Arrington headed to Jacksonville for a weekend visit in search of a $6 million-per-year deal. Though agents Carl and Kevin Poston claim the Dolphins, Bengals and Jaguars also have serious interest in Arrington, whispers around the league indicate everyone is waiting for Arrington to get real about the payday.
The Bucs also entertained Raiders free-agent cornerback Charles Woodson. Woodson, according to his agent, had a good meeting with the Bucs. "Charles said everything went well," agent Carl Poston said. "But I expected him to enjoy it. They have good people there and they all know each other." Woodson, who has spent his entire NFL career with the Raiders, was drafted in 1998 by then-Raiders and current Bucs GM Bruce Allen. Gruden was coaching the Raiders at that time. Poston said no contract negotiations have taken place, nor does he expect any until Woodson visits the Green Bay Packers next week. Poston said he also hoped to arrange a visit with the Seahawks, but Seattle officials said Friday they have no interest in Woodson.
Rams coach Scott Linehan said the signing of free-agent running back Tony Fisher is unrelated to Marshall Faulk's status with the team. Linehan remains under the impression that Faulk is coming back for his 13th NFL season. "I think he is," Linehan said Friday. "He has never given me any indication that he's not."
Free-agent veteran defensive end N.D. Kalu met with team officials at Falcons' headquarters in Flowery Branch Friday, team officials confirmed. The nine-year veteran has spent most of his career with the Eagles. The 6-foot-3, 265-pounder could provide support in rushing situations and alleviate some of the wear-and-tear on recently acquired John Abraham.
Dolphins safety Lance Schulters came away from a visit to the Seattle Seahawks impressed, but he has yet to sign a contract with the team, agent Brian Levy said. Levy said both Schulters and the Seahawks seem interested in a deal. Although Schulters didn't rule out returning to the Dolphins, it seems unlikely.
The Falcons hosted veteran behemoth defensive tackle Grady Jackson, who spent the past three seasons with the Green Bay Packers. The 6-2, 345-pound veteran is expected to take a few more visits before deciding where he would like to play.
It's believed the Seahawks' offer stipulates if Nate Burleson plays more than five games in the state of Minnesota in a year, the entire $49 million contract becomes guaranteed. The second provision involves Burleson's salary in comparison to the running backs on the team, and it would have the effect of requiring Minnesota to guarantee the $49 million.
The word in Oakland is that former Vikings receiver Randy Moss lobbied hard with Raider owner Al Davis to make a deal for quarterback Daunte Culpepper so they could be teammates again.
Green Bay is making a push to sign Marc Boerigter, the towering Kansas City free agent. With wide receivers in demand because the draft class is so poor and more than 20 already off the board, Boerigter's market value has been pushed up. The Packers appear to be competing with Tampa Bay and New England for his services.
The Colts next order of business is locking up DE Robert Mathis and Dwight Freeney, one of the NFL's best pass-rush tandems, on a long-term basis. Each is under contract through the 2006 season. Freeney is in the final year of his rookie contract and will count $6.18 million against the cap, while Mathis signed a one-year, $2.069 million contract as a restricted free agent. "We're going to keep Mathis and Freeney,'' Irsay said. "And to get those two guys done . . . we had to look at our roster in anticipation of how we're able to conform to the cap and do these things.'' The Colts could sign both to long-term contracts, or lock up one and use the franchise tag on the other. Either way, Irsay is ready to whip out his checkbook.
The Rams made a contract offer to free-agent linebacker Raonall Smith, but Smith still is testing the market. Scott Linehan said the Rams haven't closed the door on trying to sign return specialist Michael Lewis, but Lewis is still rehabbing from knee surgery.
The Packers signed kicker Billy Cundiff away from the Dallas Cowboys for a bargain price. Cundiff became available when he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers earlier this week. The Packers pounced, especially after Adam Vinatieri joined the Indianapolis Colts and Vanderjagt chose the Dallas Cowboys.
There is still a chance the Bucs will choose a tackle in the first round of the draft or sign another competitor to push Kenyatta Walker. "We're going to keep talking and see what happens," said Mark Bartelstein, the agent for Titans free-agent tackle Brad Hopkins, who is among those the Bucs are considering.
The Packers are trying to re-sign free agent RB Najeh Davenport. The Packers didn’t make any attempt to re-sign Fisher, who signed with St. Louis on Thursday. Davenport, who is coming off a broken foot that ended his 2005 season, has visited Oakland and Miami.
If you're looking for another reason to think Craig Nall is the answer at quarterback for the Bills, the Packers thought his big hands were well-suited to playing in adverse weather conditions.
The Bengals talked contract Friday with the agent for quarterback Jamie Martin, but Tom Mills said late in the day not to expect a deal any time soon. "We did exchange contract proposals," Mills said of his conversation with Bengals vice president Troy Blackburn. "There is mutual interest." But Mills said a possible contract probably won't be completed for a week or two.
Matt Birk, the Pro Bowl center who missed all last season after hip surgery, is taking part in all of the drills in the Vikings spring program and said he is 100 percent and could play in a game tomorrow if needed.
Free agent linebacker Ben Taylor said Friday night he'll sign a one-year deal Sunday with the Green Bay Packers. Taylor, the Browns' fourth-round pick in 2002, had been weighing one-year offers from the Browns and Packers.
The Jets failure to land Jon Runyan, 32, means they may now be leaning toward selecting Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson over N.C. State defensive end Mario Williams with their fourth pick overall in next month's draft. Veteran tackle Brad Hopkins, who visited the Jets, is still on the market, however.