July 2011 4for4 Player News Articles

The New England Patriots have flown in former Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris and will be working him out on Monday.

Quarterback Dennis Dixon, a restricted free agent, did not sign his tender and has yet to report to Pittsburgh Steelers training camp.

Dixon's agent, Jeff Sperbeck, says his client prefers a chance to compete for another team over backing up two-time Super Bowl champion Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh.

Dixon was drafted by the Steelers in 2008 and has been Roethlisberger's backup the past three seasons.

"Dennis would love the opportunity to start," Sperbeck said. "Yes, we would look forward to an opportunity for a trade - it's a starting opportunity we're looking for."

Unfortunately for the Philadelphia Eagles, DeSean Jackson isn’t the only starting wide receiver who is missing from camp.

Jeremy Maclin, who had battled mononucleosis and lost 15 pounds during the offseason, hasn’t come to training camp as of yet. Eagles head coach Andy Reid mentioned Maclin was ill, but he didn't state exactly what the illness was.

It’s obviously serious enough to keep him out of camp.

This is something to keep an eye on.

Free agent running back Jason Snelling is on his way to New York for a visit with the Giants.

The development comes at a time when veteran free agent Ahmad Bradshaw remains unsigned. With Bradshaw possibly willing to explore other options, the Giants are, too.

The flirtation with Snelling could be aimed at getting a final answer out of Bradshaw. And if the answer is "no," maybe Snelling could be the guy.

Snelling spent his first four seasons with the Falcons.

A very early training camp observation is that the Tennessee Titans appear to be splitting tight end Jared Cook out wide more often.

The athletic Cook has the potential to make an impact. He's worth considering when you are looking for a backup tight end on draft day.

The Philadelphia Eagles have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for free agent wide receiver Randy Moss.

Contrary to another report, there is speculation that Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson does not intend to end his holdout without a new contract on Monday or Tuesday.

Offensive tackle Matt Light has agreed to terms on a 2-year contract with the Patriots.

Green Bay Packers head coach Mike McCarthy says tight end Jermichael Finley could be good to go for a full steam practice on Wednesday.

If Carolina Panthers quarterback Jimmy Clausen starts games early in the season, the Panthers are going to have designed plays that will utilize number one overall pick Cam Newton in a relief role.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have come to an agreement with veteran free agent running back Mewelde Moore.

The 5-11, 209-pounder spent the past three years with the Steelers, predominately as a third-down back.

Moore had 33 carries for 99 yards a season ago and 26 catches for 205 yards.

The Steelers were in need of a third-down back. The role was filled during today's first day of full padded practice by rookie Baron Batch.

Moore is a quality veteran, but offers almost nothing to fantasy general managers.

According to San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh, running back Frank Gore will end his holdout and arrive at the team practice facility tomorrow.

Good news for the 49ers and fantasy owners.

Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, a first-round pick in 2008 and the NFL rushing king in his second season, is underpaid. He’s under contract for 2011. And he’s holding out.

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster, undrafted in 2009 and the NFL rushing king in his second season, is underpaid. He wasn’t under contract for 2011.

But he won’t be holding out.

The Texans have announced that Foster, an exclusive-rights free agent (i.e., not a free agent), signed his one-year tender for the third-year minimum, which under the new labor deal has increased to $525,000.

Foster previously has said he’s not worried about the situation, and that he believes the team will take care of him.

The Carolina Panthers will meet with free agent quarterback Derek Anderson on Monday.

Panthers general manager Marty Hurney confirmed there won't be a workout, but the team will sit down and meet with the 28-year-old journeyman quarterback.

Some on the staff already know him. The 6-foot-6, 235-pound Anderson has a history with Panthers offensive coordinator Rob Chudzinski, who coached him to the Pro Bowl during the 2007 season with Cleveland Browns. Anderson threw for 3,787 yards and 29 touchdown passes that season.

Anderson won't be returning to the Pro Bowl anytime soon, and it's a mystery as to why anyone would be interested in him after he performed so poorly in Arizona last season.

The most interesting Cincinnati Bengals camp quote of the day came from head coach Marvin Lewis. He said to blame him for not getting running back Bernard Scott more touches last year.

Scott has talent, but is expected to remain a secondary back behind Cedric Benson and have limited fantasy value.

Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson revealed to the media in his Sunday news conference that second-year wide receiver Jacoby Ford suffered a broken left hand and could be out a couple of weeks.

The Raiders are counting upon Ford to be one of their primary playmakers this season on the heels of his stellar rookie season last season.

Ford appeared to hurt his hand during practice Saturday. He was spotted with his left hand wrapped afterward but did not speak with the media.

Ford’s absence gives younger receivers more of an opportunity to press their case for inclusion on the 53-man roster.

Hopefully this is indeed a short-term injury, as Ford is the most intriguing wide receiver on the Oakland roster.

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson is planning to end his holdout.

Jackson is planning to report to training camp either tomorrow or Tuesday and he's doing so without a new contract.

So far Jackson has missed the first 4 days of camp while trying to work out a long-term deal.

The Eagles offered him an extension, but Jackson declined.

So why end the holdout now?

He is getting fined $30,000 a day and if he doesn't report soon, he will not be able to become a free agent after this season.

No team has generated more headlines than the Eagles this past week, and this is more good news for a team many people feel has a great chance of winning a world championship. It's also good news for Jackson's fantasy value, as a long holdout could have caused him to fall down the charts.

As Peyton Manning approached the microphone a mere 100 yards from the Anderson University football field on Sunday afternoon, it was the building behind the Pro Bowl quarterback that will be Manning’s home away from home for at least the start of training camp.

Fresh off surgery on his neck in May, Manning will begin training camp on the PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) list while continuing to rehab on site in the team’s training facilities.

Manning enters the 2011 campaign with 208 consecutive starts even though this is not the first time he has missed a time at training camp.

Back in 2008, Manning missed time during camp and had some struggles early on. He still remained a top fantasy quarterback. It wouldn't be surprising to see the same scenario play out in 2011.

Quarterback Christian Ponder has agreed to terms with the Minnesota Vikings, getting around $11 million fully guaranteed. The Vikings had selected Ponder in the first round of April's draft.

The Chicago Bears closed the door on the career of one of the franchise’s most decorated linemen when center Olin Kreutz was not re-signed.

The Bears added unrestricted free agent Chris Spencer, agreeing to terms on a two-year contract, on Sunday in a move that left players and coaches alike stunned. Kreutz was given an ultimatum on Saturday – take a $4 million, one-year contract or not. The six-time Pro Bowl performer wanted $4.5 million. Neither side budged.

The Bears allowed more sacks than any other NFL team last season. They have added offensive tackle Gabe Carimi, the 29th pick in the draft, but line coach Mike Tice hasn’t had any offseason time to work with him. Now, the weakest area of the team got weaker.

This is not a positive for any of Chicago's offensive players.

Veteran quarterback Mark Brunell has re-signed with the Jets, getting a one-year deal.

A cult hero is returning to Green Bay - the Packers have re-signed running back John Kuhn.

Kuhn generated some mild buzz last year. However, the emergence of James Starks and the return of Ryan Grant has crushed his fantasy value. Fantasy owners need to look elsewhere for a cult hero.

If you were wondering whether Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson really was going to report on time, the answer is in, and Peterson has arrived.

The Denver Broncos have reached an agreement with former St. Louis Rams tight end Daniel Fells. Fells is expected to be the starter.

Fells is the second tight end to sign with Denver today, joining Dante Rosario. Fells did nothing in St. Louis and he won't do anything in Denver.

After guard Deuce Lutui flunked his physical in Cincinnati for being overweight, he has decided to return to the Cardinals.

The Washington Redskins have reached an agreement with offensive tackle Jammal Brown on a five-year deal.

Rookie St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn is recovering from an offseason knee injury. He's on the PUP-Non Football Injury list for now.

Yes, there is still a chance Malcom Floyd will be a member of the San Diego Chargers in 2011. A slim chance that is better than none only because of how the market has fallen.

Floyd is waiting for a call many expected would come in the first couple days after the free agency negotiating period opened. Floyd will end up somewhere, but likely for about half what his agent was initially asking. That initial asking price topped $5 million. It would need to come down even further for Floyd to return to the Chargers.

Re-signing top running back Ahmad Bradshaw was one of the New York Giants’ main priorities in free agency, but the Giants may have directed their running back pursuits elsewhere.

The Giants have been in discussions with free agent running back Jason Snelling, who played the last four seasons with the Falcons.

Snelling has also received interest from the Bengals this week. It’s unclear whether Sunday’s re-signing of Cedric Benson removed Snelling from consideration in Cincinnati.

The Arizona Cardinals are trading RB Tim Hightower to Washington for a conditional late-round pick based on playing time, along with DE Vonnie Holliday.

After playing with Derek Anderson last season, Hightower won't notice much difference with John Beck, Rex Grossman, and Kellen Clemens. Hightower will battle Ryan Torain and rookies Roy Helu and Evan Royster for playing time. Given that Mike Shanahan has often employed a merry-go-round approach in the backfield, Hightower could find some playing time. Right now, he's probably no more than a late round flyer in most fantasy leagues.

The Cincinnati Bengals reached agreement with running back Cedric Benson on a one-year deal.

The market was pretty limited for Benson. He's been a pretty good fantasy back in Cincinnati and that shouldn't change in 2011.

Don't read too much into it but Danario Alexander and Brandon Gibson have been lining up as the first-team receivers for the St. Louis Rams during the first portion of training camp.

Detroit fans wanted the Lions to make a big free agent signing to upgrade the cornerback position. Instead, they’ll settle for signing a cornerback they already had.

The Lions have re-signed free agent cornerback Chris Houston, who started 15 games in Detroit last season.

New Denver head coach John Fox is not going to have a new "receiving" tight end this season. But the Broncos will. The Broncos do have an agreement in place with tight end Donte Rosario, pending a physical exam that he will take tonight. Rosario played the previous four seasons for Fox in Carolina.

Rosario, 26, had a career-high 32 catches last year, 26 in 2009 and 18 in 2008. He has the athleticism at 6-4, 250 pounds to be more productive in the passing game, but Fox’s offense in the past was geared around receiver Steve Smith and the running game.

Rosario will compete with Dan Gronkowski for the Broncos’ "off-the-line" tight end position, and allows the Broncos to not push their two rookie tight ends, Julius Thomas and Virgil Green, into prominent playing time before they’re ready.

Rosario isn't going to be the second coming of Shannon Sharpe. Ignore him as you did during his days with the Panthers.

Former New England Patriots defensive end Ty Warren is headed to Houston to visit with the Texans following a visit with the Broncos.

The Arizona Cardinals are working on a deal with former New York Jets wide receiver Braylon Edwards. The deal is not a lock to happen and could fall through.

It would be a good move for the Cardinals if it happens. New quarterback Kevin Kolb might not be Kurt Warner, but if he's got Edwards, Larry Fitzgerald, and Todd Heap as targets, he's going to have some big games.

The Buffalo Bills and former Green Bay Packers linebacker Nick Barnett have reached an agreement on a three-year, $12 million deal including $6 million guaranteed.

Barnett will fill the void left by Paul Posluszny, who left for Jacksonville. Posluszny had over 100 tackles in 14 games during his last season in Buffalo. It's a good move by the Bills, and it's good for Barnett's IDP stock.

Tight end Daniel Graham, who played the previous four seasons with the Broncos, has agreed to terms with the Tennessee Titans. Graham will get a three-year deal.

Graham is largely a blocker and won't make a fantasy impact in Nashville.

San Francisco defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin will meet with 49ers coaches on Monday. It's been assumed that the free agent he would go elsewhere but the two sides may be able to work something out.

Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones has agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Packers.

Other teams had reportedly been pursuing Jones, but with Donald Driver's career on the back nine, it's smart for the Packers to bring Jones back. While speedy, Jones has been prone to drops in his career. He's certainly worthy of being on fantasy rosters, but with Greg Jennings and Jermichael Finley projected to be the top receivers in Green Bay, Jones is best utilized as a spot starter.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are not in a hurry to sign running back Cadillac Williams. Tampa will take a long look at Kregg Lumpkin as a potential third down back. Veteran Earnest Graham and rookie Allen Bradford could also be in the mix.

As he was visiting with the Jets, former Baltimore Ravens tight end Todd Heap reached an agreement with the Arizona Cardinals on a two-year deal.

It's a homecoming for Heap, who played his college ball at Arizona State. He's the first capable receiver at tight end the Cardinals have had since Ken Whisenhunt took over as Arizona's head coach. Mostly, the Cardinals have used blockers at the position. While Heap is a little past his prime, the Cardinals have an unproven group of receivers behind Larry Fitzgerald. He could easily be Kevin Kolb's number two target, and the addition of Heap gives a slight boost to Kolb's stock.

Former Houston Texans fullback Vonta Leach has agreed to a three-year, $11 million contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

Normally the signing of a fullback isn't major news, but Leach is one of the best blockers in the business. While the departure of Leach isn't going to keep Arian Foster from being the top pick in most leagues, Leach's arrival in Baltimore will only enhance Ray Rice's chances of success. It also means they have likely closed the door on a LeRon McClain return.

Tampa Bay rookie tight end Luke Stocker will miss at least two weeks with a hip injury.

The New York Jets are closing in on a deal for their free-agent cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

After the Seattle Seahawks asked linebacker Lofa Tatupu to take a paycut, he asked them to release him. The team now plans to do so, albeit reluctantly.

New Yotk Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw has been waiting for the kind of big-money offer that every free agent with name recognition and more than 1,000 yards rushing in his contract year believes he’ll receive. To date, it hasn’t happened. The most interest in Bradshaw has come from the Giants, but another player could be emerging.

The Redskins have expressed preliminary interest. If it progresses, there could be an NFC East tug-o-war for two teams who’ll face each other on opening day.

Bradshaw is more talented than any back on Washington's roster, but the supporting cast in New York is far superior, even with Bradshaw losing carries to Brandon Jacobs. While his volume of potential work in Washington would keep him viable, defenses would key on him because they have no reason to fear the awful Washington quarterbacks. He'd be a safer fantasy bet in New York.

New England's newest acquisition, defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, will be on the field practice today. He has passed his conditioning test.

So, this was much faster than last year with the Redskins, and certainly not the circus it was for Washington coach Mike Shanahan.

If Haynesworth has his head on straight, he could be a major asset for the Patriots.

The Philadelphia Eagles have added veteran 6-5, 300-pound guard Evan Mathis, who has started 22 games for Panthers, Dolphins, and Bengals since 2005.

It wouldn't be a day without an Eagles signing! Needless to say, the signing of Mathis doesn't represent a big splash, but he'll add quality depth and that's good for all of Philadelphia's fantasy weapons.

The Oakland Raiders have dived into free agency and landed a familiar face - they reached an agreement with safety Michael Huff, who has spent his entire NFL career in Oakland.

Huff is in the top thirty of our IDP rankings and his value will remain steady given he's staying in Oakland. He'll need to step it up in coverage along with the entire Oakland secondary now that Nmandi Asomugha is in Philadelphia.

The Detroit Lions have signed former Tennessee Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch to one-year, $3,250,000 deal, including $1.8 million guaranteed.

Tulloch had developed into a solid IDP player in Nashville and he will remain one in Detroit. In fact, his numbers could improve even more given the strength of Detroit's defensive line relative to Tennessee's.

Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best is healed from turf toe in both feet. After about an eight-week break at the end of last season, he began working out lightly in February, then going hard in March.

"Unless it's the same thing, the same kind of hits happen again, you can't be cured from it," Best said of turf toe, which is the spraining of toe ligaments. "I can't get it again. I'm just praying that it won't happen again. But as far as lingering from last year, there's no way."

The Lions are building the type of offense that fantasy owners can trust, and Best will be a big part of that. Although the Lions drafted Mikel Leshoure, Best will see lots of work and has the potential to be a top twenty fantasy back.

Free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress will sign with the New York Jets. Burress inks a 1-year deal, fully guaranteed, for $3,017,000.

It will be mighty interesting when the Jets and Giants play later this year. The Jets didn't appear to have a strong hand last night in the Plaxico sweepstakes, but as they say things can change in a New York minute. Burress will take the place of Braylon Edwards. He'll have some value, but the Jets remain a run-heavy team with an often shaky quarterback. He probably shouldn't be starting for fantasy teams on a weekly basis barring the development of incredible chemistry with Mark Sanchez.

Jacksonville Jaguars tight end Marcedes Lewis will end his short holdout on Monday and report to training camp.

"Basically they still are negotiating but I'm tired of not being with my team! And I need to be there..." Lewis said via text message.

Lewis plans on being in Jacksonville by Monday for meetings and walk-throughs until his deal is finished. The Jaguars franchised Lewis in February and the Pro Bowl tight end signed his franchise tender in March.

The franchise tag would pay him $7.3 million for a one-year deal, but Lewis does not want to play for a one-year deal. He wants a long-term deal and the Jaguars said they want to give him one, but they were unable to reach an agreement with Lewis' agent, Bus Cook, on Lewis before training camp began on Wednesday.

Fantasy owners had no reason to be overly concerned about missed time, but it's nice to see that Lewis will report. He's Jacksonville's top receiver heading into the season and a top ten fantasy option at his position.

Guess who might be taking a page out of New England's two tight-end playbook?

With so much focus on which wide receiver the New York Jets will pursue in free agency, former Baltimore Raven and two-time Pro Bowl tight end Todd Heap is in town to visit the Jets facility in Florham Park on Sunday.

The 6-5, 247-pound Heap was cut by the Ravens last week as part of several salary cap-saving moves. Heap played on the Ravens for eight seasons while Jets head coach Rex Ryan was on the Baltimore coaching staff.

Ryan rolled out the red carpet for the veteran tight end by picking him up at Newark Liberty International Airport Saturday night. Ryan grabbed Heap in a bear hug before driving off in a SUV.

At this point, the Jets haven’t made an offer to the veteran tight end.

Although Heap is past his Pro Bowl days, this signing wouldn't be great news for Dustin Keller.

The candidates to replace Darren Sproles as San Diego's third down back are are Mike Tolbert, Jacob Hester and Ryan Mathews. Likely, since none has demonstrated Sproles’ acumen for pass protection or for running routes, it will be a combination.

He is not at Sproles' level, but Tolbert currently possesses the best all-around skill set to be the primary replacement for Sproles. Hester, though, is an athletic fullback who head coach Norv Turner utilizes to block and catch.

Mathews is the unknown. His aptitude in those two areas had a long way to go to catch up to his running ability in 2010, but he has spent a lot of time working on with running backs coach Ollie Wilson. Mathews said already in camp he can tell the difference when he lines up, knowing where to look and which defender to pick up.

This is a battle to watch, especially with Tolbert and Mathews each possessing fantasy value. Whoever can get the receptions that Sproles used to get will see their value rise, especially in a pass-happy offense like San Diego's.

At running back, the first snap at Packers practice Saturday night belonged to veteran Ryan Grant. Grant, who missed most of 2010 with an ankle injury, practiced without limitations.

"I thought Ryan looked very well," Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy said. "He had a couple of runs that came out of there. He looked like his old self."

There has been a lot of hype about James Starks after last year's Super Bowl run, but Grant was a solid starter before his injury and is going to play a prominent role in the Green Bay backfield. He could be a bargain on draft day.

The Seattle Seahawks have signed kicker Brandon Coutu.

With Seattle opting to go with Tavaris Jackson at quarterback, there's not much hope that anyone who kicks for them is going to perform well.

Unfortunate news out of Cincinnati Bengals camp - linebacker Roddrick Muckelroy has suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon.

Free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress won't be at the New York Jets facility on Sunday after all.

Former Dallas running back Marion Barber has signed a two-year deal with the Chicago Bears.

Barber has looked like a player on the decline in recent years and won't be a significant threat to Matt Forte. However, if Barber serves as Forte's main backup, he'll be worth adding to your team as a handcuff. And he could help the Bears at the goal line, where Chicago has had problems. Barber won't be a regular fantasy starter, but might have value as a reserve.

The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to terms with cornerback Nate Clements who was released by San Francisco for cap reasons.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said Saturday that starting linebacker Keith Brooking and backup running back Tashard Choice will both be out at least two weeks while recovering from injuries.

Brooking strained his hamstring in practice Friday and Choice injured his left calf muscle in the team's first training camp practice Thursday.

Jones also said that rookie running back DeMarco Murray - the Cowboys' third-round draft pick out of Oklahoma - will be out about 10 days and won't play in the first preseason game. Murray came into camp with what was described as an injured hamstring.

Another former Houston Texan has found a new home. The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms with defensive tackle Amobi Okoye. Okoye, the 10th overall pick in the 2007 draft, gets a one-year deal.

The Denver Broncos have signed wide receiver David Anderson, who had been released by the Houston Texans.

Elway's tweet stated it was "a great addition for us." Anderson is a good guy to have in the locker room because of his comedic abilities and solid work ethic, but it's hard to see him making a major impact in Denver.

Two-time Pro Bowl defensive end Osi Umenyiora has ended his holdout after a day and reported to the New York Giants.

Umenyiora reported to training camp Saturday afternoon after missing the opening day of training camp at the team’s headquarters.

The 29-year-old failed to report Friday. He said during the summer that he was unhappy with the team because general manager Jerry Reese failed to live up to a promise to renegotiate his contact after last season.

Umenyiora started all 16 games last season and led the league with 10 forced fumbles. His 11 1/2 sacks tied Justin Tuck for the team lead.

Former Tampa Bay linebacker Barrett Ruud has agreed to a 1-year deal with the Tennessee Titans.

Ruud, listed in the top fifteen in our IDP rankings, should maintain his value in Nashville.

Cleveland Browns training camp began with a mild surprise Saturday morning - the sight of receiver Mohamed Massaquoi hobbling around with a walking cast on his left leg, from foot to knee.

But Browns head coach Pat Shurmur said that the injuries to Massaquoi (foot) and guard Eric Steinbach (knee) are "nothing we feel is serious.'' Both players are on the non-football injury list and still active.

Shurmur said the timeline of Massaquoi's injury is a little fuzzy and didn't specify how it happened. Massaquoi, who caught balls from the JUGS machine after practice, declined to discuss the injury.

In his absence, the two starting wideouts in practice were Brian Robiskie and Josh Cribbs.

Washington Redskins safety LaRon Landry injured his Achilles in midseason last year. He went on injured reserve late in the season. Nearly eight months have passed and coaches are still wary about letting him go full-speed.

Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said the lockout certainly didn’t help matters. Landry was unable to come to the team facility, unable to meet with trainers and rehab under the team’s watchful eye. So the Redskins now have to monitor Landry closely these first few days of camp to understand exactly what he’s ready to do on the practice field.

Landry is on the PUP list, which means he’s attending practice, but not able to participate in all the drills with his teammates.

There doesn’t seem to be a specific timeline in place for Landry. The team has already waited eight months for the Achilles to heal, so it’s not clear when he’ll get the green light.

The Oakland Raiders re-signed Khalif Barnes to a one-year deal to be their starting right tackle. Oakland decided not to sign former Baltimore tackle Jared Gaither.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are reportedly concerned about a hip injury suffered in practice on Friday by tight end Luke Stocker, their third round pick from Tennessee.

The Phildelphia Eagles have traded defensive tackle Brodrick Bunkley to the Cleveland Browns for a fifth round pick in 2012 and agreed to terms with linebacker Akeem Jordan on a one-year deal.

Bunkley will help the Browns as they transition to the 4-3 defense, but Cleveland's defense has no fantasy value.

The Steelers had a very productive 7-hour long meeting with Plaxico Burress today. Many of his former teammates - including Ben Roethlisberger - are lobbying the front office to sign Burress.

Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, or BPD.

"BPD is a well understood psychological disorder. It's not a form of misbehavior," said Mary Zanarini, a professor of psychology at Harvard Medical School, who treated Marshall this summer.

BPD is a mental illness that studies say is more common than schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, but is rarely diagnosed because of misperceptions in the mental health community, and the challenges of providing a proper treatment plan.

The disorder is marked by difficulties with relationships and self-image and controlling moods and emotions.

Marshall has informed the Dolphins of his diagnosis and said he is revealing his story with the goal of creating more awareness of BPD and advocating for better treatment and medical coverage for a treatment program that cost him $60,000.

"I'll be the face of BPD," Marshall said. "I'll make myself vulnerable if it saves someone's life because I know what I went through this summer helped save mine."

Kudos to Marshall for aiming to make his life better. If Marshall matures as a person, it should help make owners feel more secure in drafting him, although his stock is hindered right now by Miami's shaky quarterback situation.

Former Bills and Jaguars quarterback Trent Edwards has reached an agreement with Oakland on a one-year deal to back up Jason Campbell.

Captain Checkdown is no threat to Campbell's starting job.

The Minnesota Vikings have reached an agreement with former Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins on a three-year contract.

This was the best you could do, Minnesota?

The Indianapolis Colts have re-signed running back Joseph Addai. Addai has played his entire career in Indianapolis.

Never flashy, Addai has generally been a solid back and a decent fantasy player when healthy. Bringing Addai back is another sign that Donald Brown is a bust. The main question with Addai is whether rookie Delone Carter might serve as the team's short yardage back. If that's the case, Addai's stock takes a hit. For now, he remains an adequate starting option if you target running backs later in drafts.

Dallas Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett has proclaimed linebacker Keith Brooking and running backs Tashard Choice and DeMarco Murray as "day-by-day" with their injuries.

Choice strained a calf muscle on the first day of camp and could miss 2-4 weeks. Murray arrived in camp with a hamstring injury and is on the non-football injury list, while Brooking strained his hamstring while returning an interception in Friday’s practice. They could miss up to two weeks as well.

With Choice and Murray missing time, Lonyae Miller, who was the only tailback at the player-run practices in May, and rookie free agent Phillip Tanner have received more action. Miller was a late-season call up from the practice squad last year but did not get a carry.

With Choice and Murray out, the grip Felix Jones has on being the lead back in the Dallas backfield grows stronger.

After stopping in Pennsylvania earlier today to meet with the Steelers power brokers, free agent wide receiver Plaxico Buress will visit with the 49ers later today, and then head back to the East Coast to meet with the Jets tomorrow.

Needing a receiver to replace Sidney Rice, who left for Seattle, the Vikings are apparently out of the mix for Braylon Edwards.

The San Diego Chargers have resigned backup quarterback Billy Volek. Volek's contract is for two years.

Philip Rivers has enjoyed good health since becoming San Diego's starter, but Volek is a capable backup if called into action.

The rich have gotten richer: Former Packers defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins has reached an agreement with the Eagles on a five-year, $25 million deal.

The Eagles are making a New York Yankees style splash. The versatile Jenkins, who has performed well in both 3-4 and 4-3 defenses, joins Jason Babin, Nmandi Asomugha, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in a revamped Philadelphia defense. It's Super Bowl or Bust this year in the City of Brotherly Love, and the Philadelphia defense can help lead your fantasy team to a title.

With their agents were unable to find teams willing to make trades, Houston Texans defensive tackle Amobi Okoye and wide receiver David Anderson have been placed on waivers.

Defensive tackle Justin Bannan, who played for the Denver Broncos last season, has agreed to terms on a three-year contact with the St. Louis Rams.

Known for his stout interior play and blue-collar work ethic, Bannan was signed by Broncos coach Josh McDaniels last year and started 16 games. Bannan was released for financial considerations in March, but McDaniels, who is now the Rams’ offensive coordinator, had some influence in bringing him to St. Louis.

The Indianapolis Colts have informed cornerback Kelvin Hayden he will be released.

Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning has agreed to a five-year contract for $90 million.

The Indianapolis offensive machine should keep running for awhile longer. However, Manning could be rusty at the beginning of the season while he works his way back from neck surgery.

The St. Louis Rams are expanding their search for a backup running back behind Pro Bowler Steven Jackson. The Rams are talking with Miami running back Ronnie Brown. They are believed also to be talking with Indianapolis running back Joseph Addai. Atlanta's Jason Snelling remains on the radar as well.

The Philadelphia Eagles have already received calls from teams interested in trading for cornerback Asante Samuel.

Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley has lost almost 15 pounds and looks lean and fit.

But he’s going to take it easy for the first training camp practice of the 2011 season – just to be safe, he said, and nothing more.

"I’m going to do a little something, I’m not going to do any team drills," said Finley. "Besides that I’m going to run, do straight aheads; I’m going to do individual drills and stuff like that."

He said it was just to ease in to practice and added his knee rehabilitation is complete.

"My knees feel great. I'm just excited to be back."

Finley projects to be a top five tight end in 2011 if he stays healthy.

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said Tarvaris Jackson is coming into training camp as the team's starting quarterback.

While Jackson has a big arm and some rapport with Sidney Rice, he's never been a capable starter. The Vikings once benched him for Gus Frerotte. Don't target him on draft day.

The Baltimore Ravens have reached an agreement with cornerback Chris Carr on a four-year deal.

Philadelphia cornerback Asante Samuel does not want to be traded.

Apparently the third wheel in the Eagles' cornerback trifecta, Samuel has been rumored to be on the block after the blockbuster acquisition that netted the Eagles' Nnamdi Asomugha on Friday and the trade that brought Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to Philadelphia the day before.

But the Eagles have said they're keeping all three, although a source with knowledge of the team's thinking said a "great" trade offer could change the game plan.

New England tight end Aaron Hernandez (hip) returned to practice after spending the first two days of camp on the active/physically unable to perform list.

"They were taking it slow, making sure I was healthy because of the lockout," Hernandez said after practice. "But I feel good and I'm ready to go."

Hernandez will have his moments in 2011, but so will Rob Gronkowski. And the addition of Chad Ochocinco will impact all of the incumbent New England receivers. While Hernandez can serve as a weekly fantasy starter, he's far from the surest thing at the position.

Wide receiver Chad Ochocinco is on the practice field with the Patriots today, and in a brief chat after the morning session he said he’s willing to change the way he does things if that’s what he has to do to fit in with his new team.

"I’ll always be me," he said. "But there’s a certain way the Patriots do it, and I’ve always been a chameleon, and I’m going to do it the Patriot way, which is win."

Ochocinco said he had a pleasant chat with his new coach, Bill Belichick, and that he knows Belichick doesn’t want him to be quite as outlandish as he was in the past.

Ochocinco's value is trending upward. He became a secondary receiver in Cincinnati last year and the move to New England will benefit him. He won't explode like Randy Moss did in his first season with the Patriots, but Ochocinco should generate some good performances for those drafting him.

The New York Jets are expected to make a big pitch for free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress. He's unlikely to re-sign with the Giants so it looks like it's Jets vs Steelers again.

The New Orleans Saints have reeled in their second pick of the first round as the club has signed running back Mark Ingram.

It’s a four-year contract. Ingram was selected 28th overall as the Saints traded up with the New England Patriots to grab the pick.

The New England Patriots have confirmed that guard Logan Mankins has signed his franchise tender and can start practicing August 4.

Good news for the entire New England offense.

The Arizona Cardinals have signed cornerback Richard Marshall, formerly of the Carolina Panthers.

New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton said running back Darren Sproles' role will be similar to the one Reggie Bush played for the past five seasons but didn't go into much detail. With his versatility and elusiveness, though, Sproles brings a Bush-like skill set to a backfield loaded with talent - Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory, Lynell Hamilton and eventually Mark Ingram.

Even if Sproles doesn't gain a yard in the regular offense, he should at least inject life into the Saints' tepid return game. Payton is intent on improving those units, and they'll be a point of emphasis during training camp. The addition of Sproles, who's scored touchdowns twice on punt and kickoff returns, should go a long way toward that goal.

If Sproles is the new Bush, he'll have some value in PPR and return yardage leagues. Overall, Ingram will probably have the most to offer fantasy owners, but the New Orleans backfield is overcrowded to say the least.

Baltimore Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said talks on a long-term deal with defensive tackle Haloti Ngata will begin in three or four days.

"The Ravens have had talks with the representatives for Haloti Ngata, and as soon as the dust of training camp settles, we will begin talks on a contract extension," Newsome said Friday.

If the Ravens can strike a deal with Ngata, they would create cap room to fill other needs on the team. Ngata currently accounts for 10 percent of the Ravens' cap.

Free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress had breakfast this morning with Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin at St. Vincent College.

After losing Ron Edwards, the Kansas City Chiefs needed help at nose tackle. Former Baltimore Raven Kelly Gregg could be the answer.

Gregg has agreed to a one-year deal with the Chiefs. A ten-year veteran out of Oklahoma, Gregg spent his rookie season in Philadelphia before catching on with the Ravens in 2001. In nine years with Baltimore, Gregg started 124 games and recorded 19.5 sacks.

If your not familiar with Gregg’s work, he was the guy on the interior defensive line eating up the blocks that kept Ray Lewis clean and free to destroy opposing running backs.

In Kansas City, Gregg will have an opportunity to compete for the starting nose tackle job with Anthony Toribio and rookie Jerrell Powe.

Pittsburgh wide receiver Hines Ward's offseason thumb surgery could keep him on the Physically Unable to Perform list for an extended stretch of training camp.

"The proper time of recovering from a thumb injury, I think I am a week or two away from that," Ward said Friday.

He had thumb surgery June 1 to repair a ligament injury he suffered last season; recovery time is usually two months. Ward is not permitted to practice until his is removed from the PUP list.

Ward's fantasy stock is quite low these days and this won't help matters.

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson plans to report to training camp in Mankato, Minnesota on Sunday, despite the fact he is entering the last season of his contract. Peterson had a staggering cap number of $12.775 million for this season, meaning it would be in the Vikings' and Peterson's best interest to extend his contract.

"We want to be able to make sure that we get Adrian secured at some point," Minnesota head coach Leslie Frazier said. "We're not at that point right now. We've got some things we're trying to take care of. But Adrian is a priority. A major priority for us."

With Chris Johnson and Frank Gore not showing up at their respective camps, it's good to see that Peterson plans on arriving despite contract uncertainty.

The Cleveland Browns announced kicker Phil Dawson has signed his tender as the club’s franchise player and tight end Evan Moore has signed his restricted FA tender.

Expect another season of Dawson being more valuable to the Browns than fantasy owners. While Moore is talented, he's once again going to take a secondary role to Ben Watson.

The Miami Dolphins have not abandoned the possibility of getting Denver quarterback Kyle Orton despite not really making progress in negotiations Thursday and apparently walking away from talks altogether early Friday.

Friday night former Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress sat and chatted with head coach Tom Coughlin as both sides felt each other out about a possible reunion. That sit-down was followed by two short meetings: one with general manager Jerry Reese and one with team president John Mara.

“We’ll see what comes out of this," Reese said. "We don’t bring people in for the fun of it. We bring people in to investigate into the possibility for the New York Giants. We think it’s probably a possibility and we’ll see where it goes."

Defensive lineman Ty Warren has been with the Patriots since 2003, and this is the first time he's felt such a dramatic shift. The defense he's known was changing and he didn't see himself fitting.

So, no, he wasn't surprised by the team releasing him Friday. The bigger surprise was the schematic changes that were unfolding in meeting rooms and on the field.

Between what he heard in meeting rooms and the team's acquisition of Albert Haynesworth, Ty Warren said he saw the writing on the wall.

"I think it looks like they're trying to get away from the 3-4," Warren said of the base alignment that has been a Patriots staple since early in coach Bill Belichick's Patriots tenure.

Such a change, if that truly is Belichick's intention, would signal a major shift in core defensive philosophy. Instead of the base 3-4 alignment, which the Patriots utilized in 40 percent of the defensive snaps in 2010, they could line up in a more traditional four-man front with Haynesworth and Vince Wilfork in the middle.

If New England is going to the 4-3, the acquisition of Haynesworth makes even more sense. He hated playing in Washington's 3-4 defense. New England remains a top fantasy defense, but a shift could lead to growing pains early in the season.

Sources say the New York Jets aren't bringing back WR Braylon Edwards. New York likes him, but they don't have money to re-sign him.

Bills HC Chan Gailey said newly acquired free agent Brad Smith will be listed as a quarterback with his primary role as the quarterback in the Wildcat formation. Gailey said, "Brad is a very good athlete and was a very good quarterback coming out of college. He has proven he can make plays on the football field in a lot of different ways. We love his versatility and what he is going to bring to our football team. If we had four months together, he'd open it up a lot more. I think eventually he will open up the playbook quite a bit. The Wildcat would be an ideal role for him to start."

The St. Louis Rams have reached agreement with former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker on a one-year deal.

Sims-Walker, who will turn 27 in November, had 43 catches for 562 yards and seven touchdowns last season with the Jaguars, a year after he produced 63 catches for 869 yards and seven scores.

MSW is an interesting player in Josh McDaniels' high-octane offense, especially if Mark Clayton doesn't re-up. Sam Bradford is a very capable QB and the battle for targets is wide open in St. Louis.

Rookie second-round pick Titus Young, a receiver from Boise State, started practice but did not participate in team drills. He appeared to have a slight pull or tweaked something.

The Eagles have signed Nnamdi Asomugha. The five-year deal is worth $60 million.

The Eagles were heading into 2011 as a sleeper defense, but that won't last long, not with one of the league's best cover corners entering the fray. The Eagles now have three very good cover corners in Asomugha, Asante Samuel and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. They'll be tough to throw on in 2011.

Matt Forte indeed has reported to training camp as he seeks an extension.

Holdouts this early in camp aren't much of a worry, but if the two sides are far apart, things can get hairy as Week 1 approaches. Good to see Forte in camp; his presence indicates that the two sides aren't that far apart.

Beat writer Armando Salguero speculates about the workload for both Daniel Thomas and Reggie Bush: "The plan is to make 6-1 and 228-pound rookie Daniel Thomas the workhorse. If he averages 18 carries a game that should be perfect. That would leave maybe an average of 10 carries a game for Bush. You have about 288 carries for Thomas and maybe 160 for Bush. That's a whopping 448 rushes for the season going to those two."

If the Dolphins go into the season with Chad Henne under center, there's a good chance that they'll be trailing a lot, so Bush would get more work as the better pass-catching back. Salguero's prediction of 448 total carries for the two seems like lot, especially considering the combined workload of Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in 2010 (359 total carries) and 2009 (388 total carries). The split sounds about right, however.

Antonio Gates admitted that his right foot isn't 100 percent. The torn plantar fascia that rendered him virtually useless after an Oct. 31 game against Tennessee is significantly improved, but it isn't healed in the strictest sense.

Gates, however, believes that he'll be able to play and produce up to his lofty standards this season.

While he didn't practice Thursday afternoon, there's no need for panic. Chargers coach Norv Turner said the staff
plans to ease Gates into training camp once the veterans start showing up.

Gates spoke like a man wary of a relapse. Because the lockout prevented him from working with the Chargers' training staff, he didn't feel comfortable pushing his sore foot.

"This whole thing about the CBA put a damper on a lot of things," Gates said. "People say, 'Oh, he had the time off (his foot),' but when you're not in with the training staff that normally understands you and knows what it takes to rehab it right, it's difficult. So I had to deal with guys that really didn't know me, didn't know what I was about, had to go and do their research ---- so it was difficult. You take the bitter with the sweet. You understand what's at stake with the league, but you've still got to do the things that keep you as healthy as possible."
In doing so, Gates hopes to limit the excruciating pain he endured last year.

"People think it's an injury, but it's a pain tolerance," said Gates, who got married on July 9. "One day you might feel like you can run around and jump around. Next day, it's sore. I think the main thing is to continue with the treatment and training staff. They will continue to do the things that are necessary for me to prepare, but yet get me the proper rest that I need."

This is something to keep an eye on, but Gates should be fine provided he starts practicing as Turner suggested. He is the team's best playmaker on offense, and the Chargers know not to push him too hard.

Dallas Clark, Austin Collie and Anthony Gonzalez have been cleared for full participation.

Injuries are an issue with all three players, but pay special attention to Clark and Collie as camp progresses. Collie is a high-upside 5th round pick who has top 10 potential if he can stay healthy. Clark's injury (wrist) is less worrisome because it was more of a freak injury than Collie's ongoing concussion issues.

Former Packers RB Brandon Jackson reaches agreement with the Browns on a 2-year, $4.5 million deal.

We expect Peyton Hillis to be the bell cow RB in Cleveland, but Jackson is a nifty receiver and could eat into his third-down numbers.

Defensive end Ray Edwards agreed to terms on a five-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons on Friday.

The deal is worth $30 million, including $11 million guaranteed.

Pass rush has been an issue for the Falcons, and Edwards certainly addresses that weakness. Look for the Falcons to be a sleeper fantasy defense in 2011.

The Broncos appear to be closing in on signing veteran running back Willis McGahee. ESPN is reporting McGahee has reached a three-year, $7.5 million agreement with the Broncos, but the team will not confirm an agreement.

McGahee has been the Broncos' No. 1 choice in free agency. He played for Broncos running backs coach Eric Studesville when both were in Buffalo from 2004 to 2007.

He is expected to complement running back Knowshon Moreno, not replace him as the starter.

All things considered, Moreno's value has made it through free agency pretty well. McGahee will rotate in, but Moreno will get early down work as well as the vast majority of the third-down snaps since he is such a good receiver. McGahee may vulture some goal line carries, however.

The Miami Dolphins are out of the Kyle Orton trade talks for now after they reached a two-year, $5 million deal with Carolina Panthers quarterback Matt Moore, a source confirmed.

Moore's deal, first reported in The Oregonian, puts all Orton talks on hold. Moore will compete with Chad Henne and rookie Pat Devlin for playing time.

We're not sure that the Moore signing precludes the Dolphins from eventually trading for Orton, but Clayton seems to be writing off the possibility of Orton landing in Miami.

Not only is Williams back with Martz, who he had a 1,310-yard season playing for in Detroit in 2006, he's back together with wide receivers coach Darryl Drake, who coached him at the University of Texas. The two men have a close relationship. It all added up to make it an easy decision for Williams, who is looking to reinvigorate his career after he was a trade bust for Jerry Jones and the Cowboys.

In the last three seasons in Dallas, Williams had 94 receptions for 1,324 yards and 13 touchdowns. That's not far off from what he did in one season under Martz. As one scout said, when the offense is consistently pumping the ball to Williams, he can be terrific. When he starts to get lost in the game plan, he can begin to stray.

Never short on talent, Williams has been a frustrating player for fantasy owners, but he couldn't have landed in a better spot to revive his career. His ADP has been on life support all summer, but he may very well get WR1 targets in Chicago and that makes him an interesting pick in the middle rounds. He's just 29 years old, and had a three-game stretch last season where he caught 14 passes for 232 yards and five TDs. It sounds as if the Bears intend to use him early and often.

Vince Young has reached a one-year deal with the Eagles.

Falcons just released two former first-round picks, DE Jamaal Anderson and WR Michael Jenkins.

The Julio Jones era can now officially begin.

Veteran LB Jon Beason and the Panthers agreed on a five-year, $50 million contract extension with $25 million guaranteed, according to a league source.

I am hearing that San Francisco, Oakland and the New York Jets are the three teams ahead of the pack in the sweepstakes for free-agent cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Antonio Cromartie. Detroit is still monitoring the situation, but they are more likely to add a player like Chris Houston to complement Thursday’s addition of Eric Wright.

New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora will not report for his 9 a.m. ET physical with the team, but may appear later on Friday, according to a league source

The New Orleans Saints didn't waste time replacing departed tailback Reggie Bush. They agreed to a four-year deal with free agent tailback Darren Sproles worth $14 million with $6 million guaranteed. A league source confirmed the deal, which was originally reported by Alex Marvez.

"The skill set that Reggie had was certainly unique. Darren may have a comparable skill set. That would be a pretty good comparison," Saints Coach Sean Payton said earlier Thursday before the deal was finalized -- though he insisted the team wasn't looking for a Plan B when it began pursuing Sproles. "I think (Sproles) is an exceptional talent. He is very versatile and dynamic."

Pierre Thomas takes a hit here. He was supposed to replace Bush in the passing game, but Sproles is simply a better, more explosive pass catcher out of the backfield. This doesn't help Mark Ingram, Lance Moore or Jimmy Graham either.

The foot injury that kept Michael Crabtree out of player-run practices in June is more serious than previously believed, and the 49ers' top wideout could miss four to six weeks of training camp and the preseason, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

That's why the 49ers were in the running for veteran wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, who was traded from Cincinnati to New England earlier today. The 49ers will continue to pursue a veteran receiver on the free-agent market who could perhaps start opposite Josh Morgan when the season begins.

The exact nature of the injury is not known and the 49ers did not return calls Thursday night. Crabtree, who had surgery to correct a stress fracture in his left foot early in 2009, reinjured that foot on June 6, the first day of a player-run minicamp. At the time, Morgan said that Crabtree was sore from wearing new cleats on San Jose State's artificial surface playing field.

Crabtree's stock was already down and this will depress it even further to the point where he might be an interesting pick in the double-digit rounds. Josh Morgan is a perennial tease, but he averaged 3.8 catches for 72 yards and 0.3 TD over the final four games of 2010, so he's worth a flier late in drafts. The 49ers will continue to look for a veteran to replace Crabtree in the starting lineup.

Former Eagles kicker David Akers reaches agreement with 49ers.

Akers is fantasy's most reliable kicker, but he's leaving a great offense to kick for the 49ers. Rookie Alex Henery should be the Eagles' kicker this season.

The Houston Texans have reached agreement with Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Johnathan Joseph on a five-year deal, according to sources.

It appears that the Texans are now out of the running for Nnamdi Asomugha.

Broncos reached agreement with No. 2 overall pick Von Miller.

Texans reach agreement with former Bengals CB Johnathan Joseph on a five-year deal.

The 49ers and QB Colin Kaepernick agreed to a four-year, $5.2 million contract, with $3.8 million guaranteed, according to a league source. Kaepernick, a second-round draft pick out of Nevada, is expected to be the No. 2 quarterback behind veteran starter Alex Smith this season.

The Cowboys have informed veteran kicker Kris Brown that he will be cut by Thursday. He was scheduled to earn $910,000 in 2011.

David Buehler rises to the top of the kicking depth chart in Dallas. The Cowboys could bring in competition.

The Detroit Lions will release wide receiver Bryant Johnson to create some much-needed salary-cap room when NFL waivers open Thursday afternoon.

Johnson was due to make $3.2 million in base salary this year, an exorbitant amount for a No. 4 receiver coming off an 18-catch season.

Cardinals will release LB Gerald Hayes and QB Derek Anderson.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert to a contract late today. Gabbert was the 10thoverall pick.

Gabbert, 6-5, 233, was only the second quarterback drafted by the Jaguars in the first round and the fifth overall.

Expect David Garrard to start the season as the #1 QB in Jacksonville and keep the team as long as they are competitive.

Saints HC Sean Payton said RB Pierre Thomas passed his physical and ran well. Chris Ivory will not be ready to practice for a couple of weeks.

According to an NFL source with knowledge of the situation, the Bears traded Greg Olsen to the Panthers for a player and a draft pick (the player is not believed to be wide receiver Steve L Smith).

The Bears gave Olsen’s agent Drew Rosenhaus permission to shop Olsen, and they are believed to have come to terms with the Panthers on a contract extension as the 2007 first-round draft pick was entering the final year of his rookie contract with the Bears.

Olsen is a talented pass-catching TE and was largely underutilized in Chicago, especially under OC Mike Martz. He will give Cam Newton a big body to throw to, especially in the redzone. This clearly hurts whatever momentum Jeremy Shockey was building. Carolina routinely ignores the TE position, but OC Rob Chudzinski may change that. As for Chicago, this is a big blow to Jay Cutler and the entire offense -- Olsen was his best receiver and the Bears will likely be making some moves to replace him.

Matt Forte is seriously considering holding out of Bears training camp for a new contract, according to beat writer Sean Jensen.

The New England Patriots has acquired wide receiver Chad Ochocinco after he accepted a restructured three-year contract from the Patriots, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton.

Terms of the trade weren't known. Ochocinco was seen catching a plane to Boston Thursday. He was scheduled to make $6.35 million for the Bengals this year. The Patriots wanted him to restructure his contract to fit their cap.

This is obviously big news for Ochocinco, who was on the outs in Cincinnati. Deion Branch's stock takes a hit, while Wes Welker is likely unchanged. Ochocinco will have a chance to revitalize his career playing with arguably the best QB in the game. The 33-year-old's value should rise into the 6th or 7th round.

The Tennessee Titans have officially cut Vince Young.

Young has had some ups and downs over the last three seasons; he has only started 24 games over that span for a variety of reasons. During that time, he posted a TD/INT ratio of 21/12 and also rushed for two scores. Oh, and he made two Pro Bowls (2006, 2009). A change of scenery should do him some good.

The deal is done. Kevin Kolb will sign a five-year extension with the Cardinals for more than $63 million with over $20 million guaranteed. The Eagles get Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2nd round pick.

This is not unexpected, but with the QB market drying up, Larry Fitzgerald and his owners have to be breathing a sigh of relief. If Kolb is even mediocre, Fitzy should be a threat to break back into the top 5. The Cardinals invested a lot of money in their new, relatively unproven QB. As such, Kolb is a mid-range QB2 in fantasy drafts. With Steve Breaston's departure, Andre Roberts is a real threat to start at WR2 and is a sleeper in PPR formats.

The Kevin Kolb trade that has the Eagles backup heading to the Arizona Cardinals, and that has been incrementally moving toward finality, is expected to be completed before the end of the day, an NFL source said.

The deal, in essence, remains the same -- Kolb for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Still left for discussion is the draft pick the Eagles would also get in the trade. Another element that needs to be completed before the deal goes through is a contract extension for Kolb.

Arizona and Kolb's agent Jeff Nalley are reportedly hammering out a deal now.

The Panthers won't be trading Steve L Smith. He met with GM Marty Hurney last night and will be reporting to camp tomorrow.

"For me I'm always going to be a Panther," Smith said Thursday from Charlotte. "They took a shot on me when I was coming from nowhere and now I'm going into my 11th year in the league. This will be where I retire, whether that's five years from now or one year from now."

Smith has been popular trade rumor fodder for the last few months, but it never really made sense that the Panthers would trade away their only proven receiver as they try to usher in the Cam Newton era. Smith is a sleeper as Carolina's WR1, but it's hard to get real excited about his prospects with a rookie QB throwing to him.

A.J. Green has agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals.

It's always good to get rookies in camp as early as possible and the Bengals were able to lock Green up quickly. His stock is depressed due to the team's QB situation, but Bruce Gradkowski is serviceable and if Green gets WR1-type targets, he's a high-upside pick in the middle rounds.

The Eagles reached agreement with former Tennessee Pro Bowl DE Jason Babin on a five-year contract. He's reunited with Jim Washburn.

The final hurdle to a trade between the Saints and Dolphins was cleared when running back Reggie Bush reached agreement with Miami on a new two-year contract, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter Thursday.

New Orleans and Miami had agreed to a trade if and when Bush agreed to a new deal. The Dolphins and Joel Segal, Bush's agent, worked into the early-morning hours to produce the needed agreement. Bush will fly to Miami at some point and sign his new contract to make the trade official.

The Dolphins have been seeking a running back to pair with second-round draft choice Daniel Thomas.

This trade is good news for Daniel Thomas owners. We knew the Dolphins would add a runner, but adding Reggie Bush doesn't threaten early down work nearly the way a guy like Ahmad Bradshaw would have. Other big winners are Pierre Thomas & Lance Moore in New Orleans as well as Bush himself, who should see an increase in touches in the Miami offense.

Before defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth could get to training camp and take his conditioning test, the Washington Redskins traded him to the New England Patriots for a fifth-round draft pick in 2013, according to league sources.

Haynesworth still must pass his physical, as any player in any trade would, for the trade with the Patriots to take effect.

At first glance the Patriots 3-4 defense seems like an odd fit for Haynesworth, who essentially quit on the Redskins the moment they moved to a similar scheme. The Patriots also seem set at the nose, with Vince Wilfork filling the spot. Bill Belichick must think he can motivate Haynesworth in a way that Mike Shannahan simply couldn't, and for a 2013 5th round pick the price was right to try. The Redskins have already paid off the worst of Albert's record setting $100m deal signed in 2009.

Adding Haynesworth only helps to solidify our top 5 fantasy ranking of the Patriots DEF, a squad that improved significantly throughout the 2010 season. They are a good value pick if you want a top defense but don't want to pay the price for the Steelers or Packers.

Steve Breaston has agreed to join the Chiefs on a five-year deal worth $9 million.

Breaston's knee has been a major issue of late so this signing looks a little iffy, especially on the heels of the draft, when the Chiefs came away with Jonathan Baldwin. Breaston is talented, but injury-prone.

Jay Glazer is reporting that the Seahawks have agreed to a five-year deal (worth $41 million) with WR Sidney Rice.

This is major news on the heels of the McNabb trade to Minnesota. The Seahawks get a very good young WR with a worrisome injury history, and his stock will take a hit as he changes offenses and QBs (to Tarvaris Jackson/Charlie Whitehurst...not good). This also hurts the value of Mike X Williams, who was shaping up to be a nice middle round sleeper this season.

Meanwhile, Percy Harvin will be the Vikings' WR1 barring something unforeseen. This means more targets, but not necessarily better targets. Rice's departure hurts Adrian Peterson a little, but McNabb's arrival surely offsets that.

Per his agency: Adam Vinatieri has agreed to terms on a new 3-year deal with the Colts.

Vinatieri finished as 2010's PK3. He kicks for a good offense in a dome, so he's a solid pick in the final rounds on draft day.

QB Bruce Gradkowski to the Bengals on a two-year deal.

While other teams were going after Matt Hasselbeck, Kyle Orton and Kevin Kolb, the Bengals were content to aim lower with Gradkowski, who should serve as a stopgap at QB until Andy Dalton is ready to start. Dalton was probably a worst-case scenario for A.J. Green and Jerome Simpson, so this Gradkowski signing is good news for both wideouts. He's a fiery competitor and can put up good numbers, especially late in games when the Bengals are likely to be trailing.

Lance Moore has apparently agreed to a five-year deal with the Saints. He tweeted, "Welp, its been real new orleans........But let's make the next five years even more real. I'm coming back baby!!!"

Moore is a nice sleeper in 2011, especially in PPR formats. He has been going in the 10th round this summer and is a good pick as early as the 9th. Assuming Reggie Bush is released, there will be plenty of extra targets for Moore, Marques Colston, Jimmy Graham, Robert Meachem and Pierre Thomas.

Multiple sources tell Philly Sports Daily that DeSean Jackson will not report to Eagles training camp on Wednesday, and is unlikely to be there Thursday as well.

His planned absence is a clear indicator that the star receiver wants to re-work his deal before putting his body at risk.

Jackson is in the final year of his four-year rookie contract that is slated to pay him $565,000 in 2011.

Consider this a welcome-to-the-NFL moment for 49ers HC Jim Harbaugh: RB Frank Gore is planning to hold out when SF reports to camp.

The Carolina Panthers and RB DeAngelo Williams reached agreement on a five-year, $43 million deal that includes $21 million in guaranteed money.

We're feeling for Jonathan Stewart owners right now. Williams' return puts a big dent in The Daily Show's value -- with John Fox gone, the Panthers probably won't be quite as run-oriented, and there won't be enough carries for both Williams and Stewart to be quality RB2s. Mike Goodson takes a hit as well.

This is good news for Knowshon Moreno and Daniel Thomas, for now.

The Chargers and free safety Eric Weddle have agreed to terms that will make him the highest paid safety in the NFL.

Negotiations began Tuesday and intensified early this morning, with the deal being agreed to in just a couple hours.

The team had maintained all along that it would be more than fair to the player it believes has Pro Bowl potential.

The Houston Texans have agreed to terms with free agent receiver Jacoby Jones.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Jones caught 51 passes for 562 yards in 2010, his fourth season with Houston. Jones was also the Texans’ top punt returner, averaging seven yards on 29 returns.

Michael Lombardi on Twitter: "Running back DeAngelo Williams will be finalized today--Carolina, Giants, Broncos all in the mix--Panthers have a slight lead."

Meanwhile, the Denver Post reports that "the Broncos' budget constraints may preclude them from signing a feature ball carrier such as DeAngelo Williams. Although Fox is the only head coach Williams played for in his five seasons with the Panthers, the Broncos would like to sign a back for roughly half Williams' contract."

It's interesting that there's no mention of the Dolphins, who were once the most-mentioned landing spot for Williams. Given that list of teams, the Giants would be a best-case scenario from a fantasy standpoint, because Ahmad Bradshaw would likely sign elsewhere (Miami?) giving fantasy owners four good options (Williams, Bradshaw, Jonathan Stewart, Knowshon Moreno) at RB2 in the early rounds.

The New York Jets addressed the No. 1 item on their free-agent list, coming to terms Wednesday morning with wide receiver Santonio Holmes, according to a league source.

The deal is for five years, sources told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. By rule, Holmes isn't permitted to sign the contract until Friday.

Holmes' deal, believed to be in the $10 million-a-year range, is so big that it probably means they can't afford to re-sign Braylon Edwards, another high-profile free agent. Edwards is coming off a strong season, but the Jets prioritized Holmes because of his speed and game-changing ability.

In the nine games from Week 8 (after he eased himself into the Jets’ offense) to Week 16 (he didn’t play much in the final week), Holmes averaged 4.9 receptions for 71 yards and .56 TDs. That equates to 15.3 fantasy points per game in PPR formats, or WR9 numbers. He has been going in the 5th or 6th in fantasy drafts this summer, but with his contract settled, his ADP may rise into the 4th/5th turn. He's a terrific value in the 5th and a solid value in the 4th.

K Mason Crosby has agreed to terms with the Packers on a 5-year deal.

Crosby was PK12 in 2010 and PK6 the year before, so with this deal he should continue to be one of the safest fantasy kickers in the game. It's just too bad he doesn't kick indoors or in warm weather.

The Tennessee Titans swooped in Wednesday on Matt Hasselbeck, reaching agreement with the free-agent quarterback on a multi-year contract, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

A team with a major leadership void targeted a player it believes will be a settling force. The Tennessee Titans score with Matt Hasselbeck, ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky writes. Blog

News broke Tuesday that the Seattle Seahawks wouldn't re-sign the 35-year-old Hasselbeck. Instead, the Seahawks agreed to a deal with former Minnesota Viking Tarvaris Jackson, multiple sources told ESPN.

It turns out brother Tim Hasselbeck knew what he was talking about when he began dropping rumors of Matt to the Titans last week. Matt Hasselbeck fills a void at QB for the Titans ahead of rookie Jake Locker. Expect Hasselbeck to start for the majority of the year, at least as long as the Titans are competitive. The signing is good news for Kenny Britt and Chris Johnson and also a good landing spot for Hasselbeck himself, although don't consider him any more than a low end QB2 for fantasy purposes.

In big IDP news, veteran LB Paul Posluszny agreed to terms on a six-year deal with the Jaguars, a league source said Tuesday.

Posluszny had difficulty leaving the Bills, who fought hard to keep him, but the chance to move to a 4-3 defense and some opportunities the Jaguars provided led to his decision.

To no one's surprise, the San Francisco 49ers reached a one-year agreement with quarterback Alex Smith, a source told ESPN.com.

Smith will receive a one-year deal worth around $5 million, the source said.

If Smith plays reasonably well and the 49ers are in the playoff hunt, he'll have an opportunity to start the entire season. If he or the team stumbles, it may become Colin Kaepernick time.

Santana Moss reaches agreement with Washington on a 3-yr deal for $15 million with $5 million signing bonus and $6 million guaranteed.

This is a bit surprising considering the Redskins' youth movement at WR and their interest in a certain New York WR. Moss posted 93-1115-6 last season and that's probably his ceiling. Still, he's a nice value in the middle rounds, especially in PPR formats. The QB situation is dicey, but he and Rex Grossman showed a nice rapport late last season. If Grossman re-ups, it would be a good thing for Moss. On the other side, Anthony Armstrong's stock takes a hit, especially with Leonard Hankerson waiting in the wings.

Jason La Canfora is reporting that the Vikings and Redskins have the parameters of a deal in place to bring Donovan McNabb to Minnesota. The Vikings still have to work with McNabb to restructure his deal, which could be "tricky."

Update: La Canfora is now reporting that McNabb is expected to work out a deal with the Vikings on Wednesday.

Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin are floundering in the 5th/6th rounds due to the Vikings' QB situation, but acquiring McNabb (and re-signing Rice) would clear up those grey skies. If all three are in purple and gold in 2011, look for both Harvin and Rice to move solidly into the 5th round, or even a bit earlier. As for McNabb, he will be a mid- to low-end QB2 in most formats. His shaky play in 2010 is tough to forget, but he'll be playing behind a much better offensive line in Minnesota.

The Panthers and DE Charles Johnson have agreed on a deal that will keep Johnson in Carolina.

The Panthers’ front office and Johnson’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, have worked out a six-year, $76 million deal with $32 million guaranteed, including a $30 million signing bonus.

The 25-year-old Johnson started all 16 games for the Panthers last season and recorded 11.5 sacks.

A source says that QB Tarvaris Jackson has agreed to terms with the Seahawks.

Color us suspicious, but it seems doubtful that the Seahawks are bringing Jackson in to be the starter. They could still be a player in the Kevin Kolb or Kyle Orton trade talks.

It appears increasingly unlikely Matt Hasselbeck will be back in Seattle. The Titans are aggressively pursuing him, and Seattle is also monitoring the Kevin Kolb trade market and has interest.

The Seahawks are also making a play for Minnesota free agent receiver Sidney Rice, sources say.

ESPNDallas.com reports via Twitter that multiple sources are saying that Roy Williams will be released.

This is somewhat surprising as the latest feeling was that the Cowboys were going to let Williams play out his contract. The door is wide open for Dez Bryant, assuming he's mature enough to walk through. Miles Austin and Jason Witten should also see an uptick in targets.

No surprise here, but Schefter says via Twitter, "Another Cowboys cut: Dallas releasing RB Marion Barber."

We believe Felix Jones will be the clear RB1 in Dallas while DeMarco Murray and Tashard Choice fight for carries behind him. Jones is a sneaky good RB2 available in the 4th/5th rounds in PPR formats.

The Bengals say they won't trade Carson Palmer, who wants to leave one of the NFL's least-successful franchises.

Owner Mike Brown reiterated Tuesday that he won't satisfy the quarterback's request to be dealt, saying a trade would reward Palmer for failing to play out the rest of his contract.

The Bengals desperately need a veteran QB, or else they'll be forced to turn to Andy Dalton to start the season. This situation will have a huge impact on the fantasy values of A.J. Green, Jerome Simpson and even Cedric Benson.

Will DeSean Jackson, who has made it no secret that he wants a contract extension, show up tomorrow for Eagles training camp at Lehigh University?

Michael Vick doesn't sound too sure.

"Hopefully, he'll be here tomorrow," Vick said as he was surrounded by a throng of reporters. "DeSean just has some things to think about and some decisions to make that only himself can make."

Nick Barnett said via Twitter that the Packers have informed him he will be let go.

“Just met with G.M. Ted [Thompson]. Thanks for the great 8 years. Very blessed 2 be apart of such a great tradition and great fans,” Barnett wrote via Twitter. ”Happy I was able to be here for the great xlv run… I will always keep a Special place in my heart for this team and city.”

Derrick Mason said he and [GM Ozzie] Newsome didn't discuss the wide receiver returning to the team under different financial terms, but he does plan to play a few more years. Mason said he would certainly be open to coming back to the team if the Ravens want him.

"This is just another chip on my shoulder," Mason said. "This is something else that fuels me and makes me try to be as productive on the field as I can, whether that be in Baltimore -- and I hope it is -- or somewhere else. [My return] is solely up to them. I love Baltimore. The city embraced me. The organization is great from top to bottom. My first thing would be: 'Why not Baltimore?' They're primed to win a Super Bowl and I don't want to go nowhere else but a place that is primed to contend for a Super Bowl."

This is a reminder that fantasy owners should not overreact on the likes of Torrey Smith or Ed Dickson (in the case of Todd Heap) until the dust settles.

Listening to Santonio Holmes' agent, Joel Segal, one wonders what the chances are that the Redskins can pry the talented wideout away from the Jets.

“Santonio is a huge fan of Rex Ryan,” Segal said. “He likes the system, likes the quarterbacks. I think there’s a lot to be said for the Jets’ chances.”

If Holmes left the Jets for Washington, not only would he be leaving a coach he likes to go play for a coach with a very different style; he also would have to learn a new system. He also would be leaving a team with a young, established quarterback to play for a team, that doesn’t know who its starting quarterback is.

If Holmes bolts for Washington, his draft stock would be up in the air until the Redskins settled on a QB. Holmes could be productive in Kyle Shanahan's offense, but it's still a new offense.

The first Dolphins call will be to Denver to survey the cost for Kyle Orton, according to a source.

On paper, Orton is an upgrade from Chad Henne and he'd help the stock of both Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess. In Denver, Tim Tebow would become a high upside QB2 available in the middle rounds.

Coming off of microfracture surgery, Giants WR Steve Smith may have to accept a one-year deal (something a source close to Smith said he's expecting and willing to do).

There is also the possibility that Smith is not ready for the start of the season.

Two words: Mario Manningham. He was terrific last year in Smith's spot and it's looking more and more like he'll be the Giants' WR2 this season. If so, he's a real threat to finish in the top 20.

Kevin Boss wants to return to the Giants, but is definitely going to test free agency.

"For me, my No. 1 priority is to re-sign with New York," Boss said. "That's where I want to be. But at the same time I've earned this right to be a free agent. I think I owe it to myself and my family to go out and test the market and hopefully ultimately end up back in New York."

Appearing on video chat with fans on Livestream on the eve of free agency, DeAngelo Williams told listeners that he’ll meet with general manager Marty Hurney on Tuesday at Bank of America Stadium to discuss his future.

The Panthers can begin talking to free agents Tuesday but can’t sign anyone until Friday under new league rules established Monday.

“I honestly and truly want to stay a Carolina Panther and they’re doing their part of keep me a Carolina Panther,” Williams said. “So I’m very excited about that. Carolina gets the first stab at me. If everything looks great, then why entertain other offers? So that’s where we stand right now.

“There are possibly a few other teams I don’t know about right now, but I’m pretty excited about where we are going as far as me and the Panthers. Wish me luck. I’m going in (to the stadium) as a Panther and I want to stay a Panther. I want to retire as Panther. But at the end of the day it’s a business.”

Williams said he’s heard the rumors about him possibly heading to Denver to rejoin former coach John Fox, but cautioned, “I had countless people hit me up on Facebook saying that I’m going to Denver. Don’t believe what you hear.”

He even went so far as to say that he's excited about Carolina's new offense.

“[OC Rob Chudzinski] said he has a big role for me and Jonathan [Stewart] to play this year and I’m pretty excited about that,” Williams said. “They even have packages where they will put me and Jonathan in at the same time, so it’s going to be pretty cool.”

Williams certainly doesn't sound like he has one foot out the door. If he re-signs with the Panthers it's going to diminish his own value as well as Jonathan Stewart's. Under John Fox, the Panthers were very run-oriented, so with a new regime in town it's doubtful that there will be enough carries to go around to keep both RBs fantasy viable on a week-to-week basis. If Williams returns, he figures to continue as the starter, while Stewart would rotate in.

Steelers president Art Rooney II says he and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will discuss James Harrison's offseason comments to Men's Journal.

To begin the business of Day One of the NFL's 2011 season, the Broncos will place quarterback Kyle Orton on the trading block.

With the NFL trading period opening at 8 a.m. today, Orton's days as the Broncos' starting QB may be down to hours. The Broncos will be entertaining offers for Orton, according to two NFL sources

The Dolphins are rumored to have Orton as their #1 QB target. Tim Tebow gains a lot of fantasy football stability with the exit of Orton, and has legitimate top 10 upside as a 16 game starter because of his legs. Don't expect Brady Quinn to challenge Tebow for the starting job.

Ravens will sign undrafted Miami RB Damien Berry tomorrow, per league source.

The Broncos agreed to terms with UFA Auburn running back Mario Fannin, who finished his career with the Tigers with a BCS national championship ring and the career record for receptions and receiving yards by a running back.

The Broncos have informed running back Correll Buckhalter that he will be released, a league source said Monday night. Teams cannot officially cut players until Thursday.

Buckhalter, 32, was scheduled to make a $1.92 million salary this year. The Broncos also have younger backs Knowshon Moreno (a first-round pick in 2009), Lance Ball and LenDale White under contract, and head coach John Fox has said several times that running back is one of the team’s top priorities in free agency.

A few hours after the lockout ended, the Ravens delivered some big surprises, informing tight end Todd Heap and wide receiver Derrick Mason that they will get released Thursday, according to league sources.

Releasing the top two pass catchers in Ravens history creates $9.1 million in salary-cap room. But the Ravens are looking to re-signing Heap (scheduled to make $4.6 million) and Mason ($4.5 million) to less money, sources said.

The Ravens are making moves to save cash. We wouldn't be surprised to see either Heap or Mason resigned at a lower figure.

The Redskins have told John Beck that they plan to resign QB Rex Grossman.

The Ravens have told RB Willis McGahee they will be releasing him.

We're excited for the first big news item in a long while. This move comes as no surprise. Willis McGahee could have some fantasy value as a goal line back in a good offense. It will be interesting to see if the Ravens can retain RB Le'Ron McClain who has been vocal about wanting more touches.

Wednesday
Broncos, Cardinals, Cowboys, Chargers, Eagles, Jaguars, Patriots, Raiders, Ravens, Seahawks

Thursday
49ers, Bengals, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Dolphins, Falcons, Lions, Redskins, Saints, Steelers

Friday
Bears, Bills, Browns, Colts, Giants, Packers, Panthers, Rams, Titans, Vikings

Saturday
Jets, Texans

Free-agent and trade negotiations may begin Tuesday and transactions can be filed with the league office Friday at 6 p.m. ET, according to an updated timeline for league business to begin.

A source at the highest-level had earlier told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that those talks might begin as soon as Monday afternoon and the league year would have begun Aug. 2, if the NFL Players Association signed off on it.

The updated timeline from league sources:

• Monday: The NFL will announce that teams can go to 90-man rosters and the official free-agent list will be distributed to teams.

• Tuesday: Teams can reach agreements with rookies and undrafted free agents beginning at 10 a.m. ET. Teams can reach agreements with all free agents and signed players are allowed to enter team facilities.

• Wednesday: Players can begin reporting to training camps 15 days before their first preseason games. According to the proposed timeline, 10 teams would report on Wednesday, 10 more on Thursday and 10 additional teams on Friday. The New York Jets and Houston Texans would be the last two teams to report, on Sunday.

• Thursday: Teams can begin to cut players at 4 p.m. ET.

• Friday: Teams can begin filing transactions to the league office at 6 p.m. ET.

• Aug. 4: Deadline for recertification and ratification of the collective bargaining agreement by the players.

Nothing is final until the ink is dry, and different sources are reporting slightly different things here. However, Adam Schefter is the most reliable of sources, so this looks to be the most likely scenario. We'll find out soon enough with Players expected to vote in the next couple of hours.

Vikings WR Bernard Berrian says he believes he'll be with the team. Didn't rule out restructuring.

Saints RB Mark Ingram insisted that he's feeling no ill effects from the minor knee surgery that limited him during his final season with the Crimson Tide and may have affected his draft stock as he fell to the Saints with the 28th pick.

The NFL Players Association and the league's owners have reached agreement on the remaining points needed in their 10-year labor deal, sources from both sides said.

Despite the fact the new agreement will require a majority vote from the players, that part of the deal between the two sides is considered a formality, according to sources.

The NFLPA is making plans for a major press conference Monday. But first the player reps' executive committee is scheduled to fly to Washington, D.C., on Sunday so they can vote Monday.

The proposed schedule would have players beginning to report Wednesday with full free agency beginning on Saturday. We'll have you covered throughout what will be the craziest free agency period in league history. Look out for a full Free Agency Primer and daily blog coming soon from 4for4.

The Tennessee Titans will have to act quickly if they plan to cut QB Vince Young.

Young is scheduled to receive a $4.25 million roster bonus on the 10th day of the 2011 league year. Under the old CBA, the Titans would’ve had 10 days to trade him before they had to release him. Howard Balzer of the Sports Xchange obtained a summary of the proposed deal that was reviewed by the NFLPA* this week and it states the due date for all offseason option and roster bonuses will move to the second day of the new league year.

What that means is the Titans will have one day to trade or cut Young or they’ll owe him $4.25 million.

Named plaintiff Vincent Jackson now is willing to release his claim without compensation - meaning no money or lifting of the franchise tag.

Whew! It looks like V-Jax has come to his senses and has dropped his request for free agency/compensation to remain under the Chargers' franchise tag. Barring a trade, it appears Jackson will have Philip Rivers throwing to him, and that's a good thing.

Saints trainer Wyatt Harris said receivers Robert Meachem and Marques Colston are fully recovered from their offseason surgeries. Colston had a microfracture surgery to repair cartilage around his right kneecap following the 2010 season. And Meachem had surgery to repair a lingering left ankle injury.

Harris raved about Meachem's progress, labeling him "150 percent" recovered after finally shedding the nagging injury.

"Meachem is better than he was any year he's ever been there with the Saints," Harris said. "More explosive, faster, sudden speed. I am very excited about what y'all are about to see with Robert Meachem."

Harris boasted that Meachem could probably run the 40-yard dash in 4.25 seconds right now and said he has focused this offseason an expanding his "route tree."

After a nice sophomore season (45-722-9), Meachem took a step back in his third year (44-638-5) at least partly due to his ankle injury. With Colston coming off another knee surgery, the opportunity may be there for Meachem to step into a WR1/WR2 role in one of the best offenses in the league.

Vince Young spent time this offseason in South Florida where he was seen at more than one charitable function that included other NFL types.

The word around town is Young was doing his good deed but also making himself very visible to the Dolphins' organization as a good man that would be good for the team and community. Yes, Vince Young would welcome the idea of competing for a starting job as the Dolphins quarterback, according to several sources.

Saints RB Mark Ingram was involved in a traffic crash in Huntsville on Friday morning.

Ingram's car collided with an 18-wheeler on Leeman Ferry Road just before 1:00 a.m. Ingram's girlfriend was in the vehicle.

Huntsville police say no one was injured.

Police are not commenting on who is at fault, but they say alcohol did not play a part.

If the deal is approved by the players on Friday, teams could begin negotiating with all free agents (not just their own) as soon as Saturday. Clubs would then be able to sign free agents starting on Wednesday, July 27.

Packers President Mark Murphy said the owners are done negotiating.

“We’ve put our pens down,” Murphy said. “We’ve negotiated in good faith with the union. We’ve reached an agreement on all the key points.

“They know what we ratified and they’re voting to ratify the same thing.”

Team facilities are set to open Saturday if the players accept the deal. Undrafted free agents could be signed Monday and the league year, free agency and training camp would begin Wednesday. Murphy could not say for certain when the first open practice would be held, but it would likely be July 30 or July 31.

The proposal reverts to 2009 free agency rules with players becoming unrestricted after four years.

All drafted players will be signed to four-year deals and teams will have a fifth-year option on first-rounders. Undrafted free agents can sign three-year deals.

Murphy predicted first-round picks will see a 30-40 percent reduction in pay, but there are no slotted salaries, so contracts will still be negotiated.

It appears that four-year vets like DeAngelo Williams will indeed become free agents once the lockout is lifted and free agency begins.

NFLPA leaders told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen a vote among its 32 player representatives appears likely Friday after the group received the "finishing points" of the agreement NFL owners approved Thursday. The NFLPA did not receive those details until after a two-hour conference call with player reps came to a conclusion without a vote Thursday night.

"All in all, despite the games that were played by the NFL, things look much more optimistic," a players' leadership source said.

In a wide-ranging, quick-turning interview with WQAM in Miami today, Ahmad Bradshaw said it’s “75-25” in favor of the Giants bringing him back once free agency finally begins and he said all the right things about loving New York and the team. But he also said several times that “it’s a business” and he wouldn’t rule out signing someplace else – you know, like in Miami.

“Well it’s all in the Giants’ hands,” Bradshaw said. “I want to be a Giant. I love the Giants organization, I love New York and I give them the upper hand. But it is all about business. I take it very seriously where I want to be. I love New York and would love to stay there but then the money factor comes in.”

The NFL owners voted to end the lockout. The vote was 31-0 with the Raiders abstaining. The ball is now in the players' court.

Cardinals WR Larry Fitzgerald and current Eagles QB Kevin Kolb organized a private throwing session inside Arizona State University’s Verde Dickey Center (the football team’s practice bubble) earlier this month. That would require advance planning and approval of the university.

Adding fuel to the trade rumors, Sal Paolantonio reports that Kevin Kolb is already looking for real estate in Arizona. It's looking more and more like he'll be the next Cardinals QB.

Saints beat writer Jeff Duncan reports that the team can save $12 million in cap space by releasing Reggie Bush once the lockout is lifted.

With the addition of Mark Ingram, the writing is on the wall for Bush. The Saints already signed Pierre Thomas to a four-year deal, so it is unlikely that they will invest significant cap space in another RB. Bush could still be a factor in PPR leagues if he lands in the right spot.

In an interview with Michael Fabiano, when asked about the Madden Curse, Browns RB Peyton Hillis responded, "I don't believe in curses."

Hillis said that he had a "decent year" in 2010, and dodged a question about what kind of workload Montario Hardesty will have in the team's backfield.

Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph has a fan. Larry Fitzgerald was effusive in his praise for the potential of the second-round pick from Notre Dame.

"He's 270 pounds and he's 6-foot-7," Fitzgerald said. "He can run. He can move and get out of his breaks. He's got great hands. He can hold the edge when he needs to block.

"I was teasing him already -- I call him (former New York Giants star) Mark Bavaro reincarnated. He's going to be special like that, I think, and I'm excited to see his progression."

Visanthe Shiancoe has also taken a shine to Rudolph.

"That's going to be my buddy," Shiancoe said of Rudolph after both participated in Larry Fitzgerald's group workout on the "U" campus.

"That's going to be my pal right there. So, we're going to get it going. I'm going to show him everything I know."

It's notoriously tough for rookie TEs to make an impact, but after what Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez did last season in New England, teams may be rethinking the position. Rudolph will have to battle with Shiancoe for snaps, but if his skills demand playing time, the Vikings could opt to run two-TE, two-WR sets with Adrian Peterson in the backfield.

Plugged-in Charger beat report Kevin Acee emphatically says that "Vincent Jackson will be a Charger and that's the bottom line."

The Titans have long been interested in Hasselbeck. General Manager Mike Reinfeldt and Vice President of Player Personnel Ruston Webster both know him from their days in Seattle. Even Jake Locker has a relationship with him.

Chris Johnson owners should keep a close eye on Tennessee's QB situation during free agency. Hasselbeck would keep defenses honest, and that would only help CJ2K's productivity.

Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams are preparing to move on; Daniel Thomas impresses teammates.

The Dolphins haven’t ruled out Ronnie Brown as a backup plan, but he said Saturday “as much as I would like” to stay, “I’ve been hearing it’s unlikely I’ll sign with Miami.”

And Ricky Williams announced in a YouTube yoga video: “I’m preparing to go to a new team and finish my career.”

Early reviews from workouts with rookie running back Daniel Thomas: “Pretty impressed actually,” receiver Brian Hartline said. “The dude runs well and has pretty good hands.” Said receiver Davone Bess: “What I was most impressed with is how he caught the ball.”

If Thomas can prove he has the hands to be a three-down back, the Dolphins may not need to sign Ahmad Bradshaw or Darren Sproles to fill that role. Expect Thomas's stock to rise into the 3rd or 4th round if he enters training camp as Miami's RB1.

Kyle Orton could be on the move, but not necessarily because Tim Tebow beat him out for the starting QB job.

The Broncos appear to be about $9 million over the estimated salary cap of $120 million, and Orton is set to make $8.9 million in 2011.

If Orton is traded, both he and Tebow could make fine middle round picks as fantasy backups. Tebow obviously has more upside, but if Orton lands in a good situation, he could be an interesting addition to a Quarterback By Committee (QBBC).

Colts quarterback Peyton Manning will not be ready once camp begins July 31 as he recovers from surgery on a disk in his neck.

A source familiar with Manning's health situation said Tuesday that Manning will not be able to participate at the outset, and at this point, there's no way of knowing how much time he might miss.

It could be a week. It could be a couple of weeks. Or even most, or all, of training camp.

We're fully expecting the NFL's most durable QB to be ready for the start of the season, so for now Manning's draft stock should remain relatively unchanged. Brees, Rivers and Brady certainly look a little more appealing in the early rounds.

Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie alone is not enough for Kevin Kolb, per a league source.

The Eagles want a starter in return - which Rodgers-Cromartie is - and more, possibly a 2012 second- or third-round draft pick.

"I think most people can connect the dots now, I hope," Kolb said. "Arizona would be a great place. I've obviously envisioned myself there and some other places."

The Cardinals need a QB and Kolb would be a logical fit.

Vincent Jackson’s status could play a role as negotiations toward a new NFL labor deal wind to an anticipated resolution over the next few days.

While it is not inconceivable the sensational wide receiver could be playing elsewhere this season, those in the know overwhelmingly believe Jackson will ultimately be a Charger in 2011.

Add Tim Hasselbeck to the list of people that think Matt Hasselbeck could land in Tennessee this season.

“It’s kind of been assumed that my brother Matthew Hasselbeck would be back in Seattle,” Tim Hasselbeck said on NFL Live Monday. “It is a very real possibility and it would be a bold move to see him as a Tennessee Titan. They obviously don’t want to start a rookie quarterback . . . it is a logical fit for him and I think it would surprise a lot of people.”

Ahmad Bradshaw made himself very clear during an interview on ESPN 1050 on Monday night: He wants to remain a New York Giant.

But the 25-year-old running back, who could become an unrestricted free agent if and when the lockout is lifted because he's already played four seasons, understands that the NFL is a business, and he may have to move on.

49ers RB Frank Gore on new HC Jim Harbaugh:

Talking to him, you can tell that he's a very smart man. He told me that before I left to make sure that I'm in great shape after the lockout because he'll be counting on me this year. He also told me the way he's going to use me and show the whole world that I'm the best back in the league.

It's not that my running style will change. He's just going to get me catching the ball more and getting me a lot of space. He'll be doing a lot of different things instead of the eight or nine men in the box. He's just trying to get the box loosened up for me.

Cardinals QB John Skelton, 2010’s fifth-round draft pick, made strides as a rookie and won a couple of games as a starter when he got playing time at the end of the year. Of the four QBs that remain on the roster right now, Skelton is the only one assured of a spot for 2011.

Saints RB Reggie Bush, who spoke by telephone with The Times-Picayune on Friday afternoon, reiterated what he has said all off-season: He wants to remain a Saint.

Bush will have to rework his contract to remain a Saint. We'll wait to see if the two sides can agree on a figure.

Ravens RB Le'Ron McClain has been working vigorously this offseason in Alabama to show teams that he is capable of being a ball-carrier again. His speed is up and his weight is down.

So if he returns to the Ravens this year, it probably will have to come with assurances that he'll touch the ball more than 49 times like last season.

"I have no problem getting in there and getting dirty because I love contact," McClain said. "I just want to take my game to another level. No disrespect to anybody, not [offensive coordinator] Cam [Cameron], not John Harbaugh, not Ray Rice or Willis [McGahee]. I just don't want to disrespect my game anymore, like I feel like I've done these last two years."

McClain could be a big time fantasy sleeper this season if he lands in the right situation.

Texans RB Arian Foster says he played the 2010 season with a torn meniscus in his knee, telling nobody until the season was over because he didn’t want to lose his job.

"I'm a Colt. What else I'm gonna be?" WR Reggie Wayne said, dismissing a question about a possible camp holdout. "I'm going to go to work. That's what I do.''

NFL Free Agency not expected to begin until about a week after labor deal finalized, sources say.

I spoke to a source close to Michael Crabtree who said that Crabtree's left foot problem - which kept him from taking part in most of the two player-run camps - is not a serious issue. He said Crabtree was erring on the side of caution and that the wideout would be ready for training camp, which, judging from national reports about the labor negotiations, promises to start on time on July 28.

Bears OC Mike Martz said the Bears need to get WR Devin Hester the ball more after he caught 40 passes for 475 yards, and he thinks they can do that without diminishing his contributions on special teams. Hester finally returned to his record-setting ways on returns after several down seasons, running back three punts for touchdowns and averaging 35.6 yards on 12 kickoff returns.

"If we report to camp and they say, `Tomorrow, you're playing the game,' that'll be plenty," Mike Martz, Chicago's offensive coordinator, said Wednesday.

Boston Globe reporter Shalise Manza Young has heard it on "good authority" that Randy Moss wont be returning to the Patriots.

Running back Cedric Benson was released from jail on Sunday following an arrest on an assault charge, the second year in a row he has gotten into trouble in his home state.

Travis County sheriff's spokesman Roger Wade said Benson was arrested in downtown Austin on a misdemeanor count of assault with bodily injury with family violence. Benson attorney Sam Bassett said in a statement the arrest followed "a conflict" between Benson and a male former roommate.

Wade said Benson posted a $10,000 bond and was released just before 2 p.m.

We're still not sure how the league will be able to handle the personal conduct policy once the league returns for business, but this certainly can't help Benson on his quest for one last big payday. Bernard Scott could see some extra touches early if Benson is suspended a game or two, but we don't see him being asked to handle the workhorse duties over the course of a season.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said on 7 Sports Xtra that client RB Ahmad Bradshaw is training in Miami and interested in signing with the #Dolphins

That said, Drew is probably just using the Dolphins for leverage. All indications are that Bradshaw re-signs with the #Giants.

Bengals OC Jay Gruden's full throttle approach means putting the gas on Andy Dalton. He's not saying Dalton is going to be the starter when camp starts. But he also said the camp starter may not be the Opening Day starter. He thinks whenever camp starts, the club will name a guy from the crop of Dalton, Jordan Palmer and Dan LeFevour. There could also be a veteran free agent in the mix.

If John Fox is sticking to his preference of wanting a "gamer" as his starting quarterback, then the decision over who should open the regular season under center for the Denver Broncos is a no-brainer. The answer is Tim Tebow.

49ers LB Patrick Willis can name a few unanticipated benefits of the NFL's current lockout. The San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker can feel one when he clenches his right hand and feels no pain in his surgically repaired hand. He can sense it in his legs when he's running sprints in his driveway back in the Bay Area, because his limbs seem far fresher at this point in the offseason than in years past. Willis even can see the difference in his free time. He's barely known what that is for as long as he's played organized football.

Browns RB Montario Hardesty said Thursday night, "It's been a long time, but I'm feeling good. I'm continuing my rehab. When training camp starts, I'll be ready to go."

Lions QB Matthew Stafford: I’m going to play all 16 [games], I’ve got Calvin Johnson, Nate Burleson, Brandon Pettigrew. I’m throwing the ball to Jahvid Best and Leshoure out of the backfield. I feel there is going to be a lot of points put up.

Cowboys WR Dez Bryant: I haven't been [medically] cleared yet. But I'm pretty sure whenever they send me out for that test, they will clear me.

Mike Martz told the Associated Press that "size doesn't make any difference" in his offense.

"It makes absolutely no difference," the Bears offensive coordinator told the Associated Press. "With Matt [Forte] as a runner and our ability to run the ball, we get a lot of one-on-one coverage, and you have to have receivers that can beat corners one on one. And generally, the guys that can change direction and run fast - those are the kinds of guys that you're looking for.

Randy Moss is looking forward to entering the NFL free-agent market whenever it opens, according to his agent, Joel Segal, who said Wednesday the wide receiver is primed to return to "the old Randy Moss."

Moss bounced from the Patriots last season to the Minnesota Vikings, then the Tennessee Titans, but he starred in New England in the three previous years and has been working out relentlessly, according to Segal, who said his client is in "freakish shape."

"Randy has been working out, two-a-days, all spring and summer in West Virginia," Segal said. "He is determined, motivated and quite frankly has a huge chip on his shoulder. Whatever team ends up getting Randy, they're going to know they're getting the old Randy Moss. He's not just coming in to be on the team, he's going to be Randy Moss -- a difference maker."

Take everything an agent says with several grains of salt. Despite his disappearing act in the 2nd half of last season, if Moss can land in a good situation and is motivated, he can certainly still be a productive fantasy receiver.

With the sides working at a frenzied pace, they reached a tentative agreement to make the 2011 salary cap $120 million, a source told ESPN.com NFL senior writer John Clayton.

Since February, the players have been willing to accept a $141 million player cost number -- which includes both salaries and benefits paid to players -- per team, multiple sources told Clayton. By agreeing to a $120 million cap, the players allow $21 million per team to be in benefits. Now that a cap number has been formed, teams need to determine the minimum cash payroll number, or what teams will be required to spend.

The Washington Redskins, who largely sat out the free-agent market in 2010, are prepared to make a splash this year, numerous sources familiar with the team's offseason plans said Tuesday.

Signing New York Jets wide receiver Santonio Holmes reportedly is the primary objective of Redskins coach and chief decision maker Mike Shanahan. Guard Marshal Yanda, a player whom the Baltimore Ravens will vigorously fight to retain -- just as the Jets will make a concerted effort to retain Holmes -- also is coveted in Washington.

Patriots RB Fred Taylor feels he could play "a couple more years," but is straddling the retirement fence.

49ers rookie QB Colin Kaepernick said Tuesday that he was cleared last week by his doctor to engage in all football activities including sprinting and jumping. "It feels great," Kaepernick said before lifting weights at San Jose State.

The Broncos are prepared to be active in free agency whenever it starts. They likely will sign a tailback (DeAngelo Williams is one of the candidates), a fullback (Mike Karney will be considered) and a defensive lineman or two.

Though the league has declared its intention to enforce the personal conduct policy during the lockout, the end result will be determined by the labor negotiations. During the lockout, the league has no power over any player; the NFL can discipline players for things that happened during the lockout only if the NFLPA* ultimately agrees to permit it.

We’d be surprised if the NFLPA* consents to that term. And then the league can claim that it tried to hold players responsible for their actions during the lockout, but that the NFLPA* frustrated the NFL’s effort to protect the shield.

From what we hear, nothing has changed in Mike Shanahan's mind about his QB situation: He still plans to go with John Beck as his starter. That could change whenever free agency starts, but it appears to be the direction the Redskins firmly are headed.

Keep a close eye on 49ers free-agent WR Kevin Jurovich, who we hear might provide a surprise impact in the slot. Acquired by the Niners last season after the Eagles released him during training camp — word is the Niners had a very hard time choosing between 2010 sixth-round rookie Kyle Williams and Jurovich — Jurovich has made an impression with his understanding of the Niners' new offense in players-only workouts overseen by QB Alex Smith. "He's a very intriguing prospect," one team insider said of Jurovich. "He gives them that small, shifty slot they haven't had, and he has some return ability. And he can get deep, too."

We hear 49ers rookie QB Colin Kaepernick has wasted no time raising eyebrows in players-only workouts with his strong arm. Sources on the scene cited one Kaepernick bullet that literally knocked free-agent WR Lance Long off his feet on one slant route. "He's got a gun," one close observer said of Kaepernick. "He's got a much stronger arm than Alex Smith. As a sophomore pitcher in high school, he was throwing a baseball 93 mph."

WSSP Milwaukee: After missing most of last year with an injury, are you still considered the starter?:

Packers RB Ryan Grant: “I would think so. I don’t know. From what I’ve heard, that’s the conversation that was told to me. … I was told that by [former running backs coach Edgar Bennett], initially. Jerry [Fontenot, the new position coach] didn’t tell me that anything changed. Jerry told me that as of right now I’m still the leader of the backfield and the expectations won’t change. … I do believe there will be competition, which is fine. I’m all for that.”

Grant missed nearly all of 2010 with an ankle injury while rookie James Starks came on strong in the playoffs as the Packers workhorse. The Packers also drafted rookie RB Alex Green in the 3rd round. This will be a camp battle to keep an eye on with a committee attack likely.

Tennessee Titans receiver Kenny Britt has pleaded not guilty to three disorderly person charges stemming from a June arrest in New Jersey. Britt entered his plea Tuesday in Hoboken Municipal Court. He declined comment. A judge set a Sept. 20 trial date.

Vince Young is still a member of the Titans only because the NFL lockout prevents them from getting rid of him.

"I can't wait to start training him," 49ers HC Jim Harbaugh said of rookie QB Colin Kaepernick. "As soon as that lockout ends, we'll start working with him.

"All I want him to do is come in and compete and just get better each and everyday. If he does that, that will equal success for him. He's got the talent and the ability to be a starter in this league. But that's all up to him. He'll compete with Alex Smith and the rest of our quarterbacks.

"The best guy will play. The guy who practices the best, the guy who plays the best will play. There won't be any games, there won't be any politics. We're going to throw the balls out there and let those guys have at it."

Bucs CB Ronde Barber on brother Tiki Barber to the Bucs: "It was an entertaining thought four or five years ago," Ronde said. "I don't know how realistic it is now."

It's doubtful the Browns will use Joshua Cribbs much as a wide receiver. They want to sort through the group of Mohamed Massaquoi, Greg Little, Brian Robiskie and Carlton Mitchell (the front office likes him a lot). But they will have open competition for a slot receiver, and Cribbs could be in that mix along with Jordan Norwood and perhaps a veteran who is signed.

I hear the Browns will look for another running back once free agency begins. The new coaches absolutely love what they saw of Montario Hardesty on film from his days at Tennessee. And Hardesty is supposed to be fully recovered from his knee surgery. But he does have a history of injuries and surgeries. The Browns don't want to risk him being hurt again and Peyton Hillis being worn down as he was at the end of last season.

Cardinals WR Steve Breaston is likely to end up as a free agent, and his return is cloudy. It could well depend on the level of interest Breaston has should he hit the open market. Breaston started last season as a top key target for the Cards, especially with Fitzgerald coming back from a knee injury. Then Breaston had minor knee surgery himself, and by the end of the season, his role was cut into by rookie Andre Roberts.

Roberts, in fact, came on so strong in the back half of last year, he has changed the dynamic of the wideout corps. The third-round pick struggled mightily in training camp and at the beginning of the season, but by the end showed he may indeed be the Cardinals’ future No. 2 receiver. Early Doucet has flashed every time he has played, but injuries have prevented any extended playing time – and the corresponding trust that he will be available enough.

The Carolina Panthers almost certainly will entrust Jimmy Clausen with their offense when they go to the road to play Arizona on opening weekend.

Other Panthers beat reporters have suggested Cam Newton will get the reins from day 1, but as the lockout drags on, the chances of a Clausen led offense to open the season grow.

There is a growing belief inside league circles that the NFL and NFL Players Association will have an agreement in place that can be ratified during the July 21 league meetings in Atlanta, according to sources familiar with the state of negotiations.

As one NFL owner said this weekend, there's "no reason to believe it won't get done."

Here is how the outlined plan for a July 1 deal could be adjusted for a potential July 21 deal with what would be the corresponding dates, according to sources familiar with the document, which many teams in the league have not yet seen:

• July 1 (July 21) -- Educate the clubs on the new league rules and allow voluntary training for teams and agents.

• July 5 (July 25) -- Sign undrafted rookies, as well as give free agents a chance to re-sign with their teams.

• July 8 (July 28) -- League year starts and free agency begins.

• July 13 (Aug. 2) -- Rosters must be set at 90 players.

• July 14 (Aug. 3) -- Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets.

• July 18 (Aug. 7 ) -- A four-day match period for teams to match restricted free-agent offer sheets.

• July 23 (Aug 12) -- Deadline for rookies to sign contracts (not yet agreed upon).

• July 27 (Aug. 16) -- Signing period for restricted free agents ends, as does the signing period for franchise and transition tenders.

• Aug. 9 (Aug. 29) -- Deadline for players to report to earned credit for an accrued season toward free agency.

This is all still very tentative, but shows how the league may approach a shortened free agency period.

Pittsburgh Steelers star wide receiver Hines Ward has been arrested in Georgia on a drunk driving charge, according to the DeKalb County Online Judicial System.

Eagles WR Desean Jackson, appearing on a hip-hop radio show late last month, used a multiword gay slur in response to a berating caller.

While offensive, this is somewhat of a non-issue unless the league decides to pursue the matter as it regards to the personal conduct policy in the post-lockout world.

“With them drafting a back, they are going in a different direction, I would guess,” said Falcons RB Jerious Norwood’s agent Bus Cook by phone on Thursday. “Jerious is a good football player. Somebody is going to pick him up. He’s a great player. He has had some injuries, but he’s going to make somebody a good player.”

John Fox maintained Thursday afternoon that the Broncos will have a "wide-open competition" at quarterback, but admitted, for the first time publicly, that "deep down, I have an idea" who will be No. 1 when the season starts.
The coach is not telling me or you who it is.

"I prefer a gamer to a good practice player. . . . I want someone who will execute under pressure in a game, " Fox said.

The most likely scenario we see is Kyle Orton being shipped out of town and Tim Tebow starting for the Broncos. However, John Fox has been known in the past for his love of veterans and a conservative style. While we expect Tebow to be the guy, we would not at all be surprised to see Fox go in a more conservative direction with Kyle Orton. Orton did post solid numbers last season before injuries slowed his campaign.

The Eagles will monitor the Plaxico Burress situation, but they consider it very unlikely he signs with them. He is not a free agent priority and stands to make more elsewhere. The Bears, Rams, Seahawks, and Jets are other teams to watch.

Cowboys will keep Roy Williams. Too much money against the cap.

Colts WR Austin Collie doesn't believe he's now more any prone to head injuries than he was before last season.

Ideally, the Jaguars won’t be as dependent on Maurice Jones-Drew this season. It’s likely Rashad Jennings will get more carries during the course of the season, with the idea to take some of the load off Jones-Drew, who will be in his sixth year and who has carried a big load in recent season.

The fate of Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco, the club's all-time leading receiver, may linger beyond the first couple of days. One of the old Paul Brown standards remains "Don't get rid of a player unless you have a replacement." The drafting of Green would seem to suggest the Bengals have that, but past history would also suggest that they won't pull a trigger until they've got all their young receivers accounted for and lined up on the field.

Coach Jim Schwartz made it clear that Jahvid Best still was the primary weapon in the Lions' run game. He's still the game-breaker, presuming the turf toe issues are behind him and he stays healthy. But the Lions have a new and exciting toy in Mikel Leshoure. Where Best darts and dances, Leshoure plows. He's thick-bodied and hits the hole hard without any hesitation or fear of fumbling. He's what the Lions have lacked, a pile-moving, short-yardage runner, who can also do some damage in the open field and can catch the football. The guess here is once Leshoure gets comfortable, he might get 40 to 45 percent of the reps.

Quarterback Kerry Collins on Thursday announced his retirement from the NFL.

"The past several months have brought on much introspection, and I have decided that while my desire to compete on Sundays is still and always will be there, my willingness to commit to the preparation necessary to play another season has waned to a level that I feel is no longer adequate to meet the demands of the position," Collins said in a statement released by his agent, David Dunn.

Assuming Collins stays retired, there is one less option out their for teams like the Titans & Caorlina who would like to sign a veteran QB to pair with their rookie. We're less excited about a Titans offense led by Jake Locker than we are by a vet like Collins.

"I'd say that back in March, we weren't in the same stadium," said one league source of the players and owners. "But if you think of both sides as a team, now we're in the red zone, we're driving, we can see the goal line and we have momentum. But can we still screw it up? Absolutely. That's why tomorrow and Friday are big days, because it's back to the (negotiating) formula that's been most successful.''

Extensions for wide receiver DeSean Jackson and Vick aren't likely to get done before camp or even before the season. But their likely futures with the Eagles and significant future paydays could influence how aggressive the team is in free agency.

Jaguars WRs Mike Thomas and Jason Hill are "essentially penciled in as starters."

A storyline to watch in Jaguars camp is the playing time of backup running back Rashad Jennings. He could see more carries in an effort to ease the burden on starter Maurice Jones-Drew.

It would be a surprise if Santana Moss does not re-sign with the Redskins. Both Shanahan and the receiver have said this offseason that they hope to work out a deal, and just this week Moss said he wants it to be completed quickly.

There has been a lot of confusion on whether Oakland running back Michael Bush will be an unrestricted or a restricted free agent if players with four years of service will be unrestricted free agents once the lockout ends.

It has been reported that Bush will be unrestricted. However, Fox Sports reported late last week that Bush will be a restricted free agent. He was drafted in 2007, but he missed his first season because he was on the non football injury list. He has played three NFL seasons.

According to two NFL sources I spoke to Tuesday, the current expectation is, indeed, that Bush will be restricted in that scenario. Again, nothing will be official until the lockout ends and there is still a gray area, but it looks like Bush might be restricted.

That would be a break for the Raiders. They want to retain Bush and they have several other free-agent issues

With the Cowboys drafting RB DeMarco Murray in the third round, he's being projected as someone to challenge Tashard Choice more than anything else.

Matt Williamson would not be shocked if Colts rookie RB Delone Carter became the No. 1 option at running back.

ESPN's Matt Williamson: “Maurice Jones-Drew’s career to date has been impeccable. I am very high on him, but I do fear that we are seeing the very first stages of his inevitable demise. Running backs don't last long in this league"

Depending on their salary-cap situation, the Chiefs could make a run at free-agent WR Steve Breaston when the league year begins. Kansas City needs a slot receiver to play with starters Dwayne Bowe and Jonathan Baldwin, a role in which Breaston has thrived. He also is very familiar with Chiefs head coach Todd Haley, who was Breaston's offensive coordinator at Arizona in 2007 and '08.

Though not their greatest need, the Chargers do need to add a quarterback or two to their roster behind Philip Rivers. Right now, the depth chart is bare behind No. 17. The team's backup for the past five years, Billy Volek, is a strong candidate to return, though there is some chatter he'd like to go elsewhere to compete for a starting job. San Diego management could be willing to pay a little more than it would like to keep Volek with the Bolts, however, as the Chargers want somebody who is comfortable with the offense that the coaching staff won't need to devote too much time to when the lockout ends.

Rams insiders tell us the name continuing to generate the most positive buzz to backup RB Steven Jackson is that of Darren Sproles.

The loaded veteran market of available wide receivers could become more loaded if the Cowboys send Roy Williams packing, and it’s looking more and more like that will happen. There are two reasons why Williams is likely going to be a former Cowboy in the near future. The first is he’s making more money than he’s worth. The second is the team wants to clear the way for Dez Bryan to play more. There will be a healthy market for Williams though. His effort and attitude has remained good in Dallas despite the fact that he hasn’t found his niche in the offense, and that will help him find future employment.

A front office man points out that one of the reasons Terrell Owens will be moving on to his fourth team in four years this year is he doesn’t always run his route the way he is supposed to and he leaves a lot of gray area for the quarterback. Last year, he led the NFL in most interceptions as a targeted receiver with 12, according to Stats, Inc. What’s more, he has led the league in the category with 43 interceptions over the last five years. And another issue with T.O? He was third in the league in drops last year with 11.

Bucs Fourth-round pick tight end Luke Stocker is expected to get a lot of playing time as the second tight end.

Chad Ochocinco on FA Plaxico Burress: "From what I saw he hasn’t missed a beat. He hasn’t missed a beat. We trained all of last week together he looks really good man, really good."

Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco on HC Marvin Lewis: "Maybe he is trying to cause some friction between himself and me. Maybe he doesn’t like me for real. He doesn’t like me well I don’t like him either. Maybe he’s doing this to help the situation out. Maybe he’s trying to do this to show Mike Brown I don’t think I can coincide with Chad, but dammit I can’t coincide with him either and if he really feels that way when I see him I’m going to whoop his ass."

We're not sure of the exact penalty for "whooping your coaches ass," but we're pretty sure the league doesn't look on it favorably. Needless to say, the relationship between HC Marvin Lewis, Chad Ochocinco & the Bengals appears to be beyond repair. Don't be surprised to see Ochocinco and his $6 million contract playing elsewhere in 2011.

Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew's rehab from knee surgery is nearly complete, with the Jacksonville Jaguars running back telling SiriusXM NFL Radio on Friday evening that he'll be 100 percent within three to four weeks.

Jones-Drew listed himself at 80-85 percent after January's surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.

Still only 26 years old, Jones-Drew's knees were suspect heading into the 2010 season, and grinding bone-on-bone by the end of it. Drew says he will be 100% in time for the season, but we wouldn't be surprised to see the Jaguars work in Rashad Jennings and Deji Karim a bit more this season. If Jones-Drew goes down again, Jennings would be the handcuff to own.

49ers tight end Vernon Davis, in Michael Crabtree's absence, said the foot injury Crabtree sustained June 9 is far more than just a case of a sore foot brought on by the pinch of new cleats. However Davis said he should be ready should training camp start on time.

Running back Frank Gore remains in Miami to continue to rehabilitate his hip. Gore already has a good grasp of the team's new playbook, a teammate said.

Seahawks WR Butler, who suffered a gruesome broken right leg against San Francisco on Dec. 12, appears to have healed six months later, moving well while running routes against some of the campers.

The odds of WR James Jones Jones – a 2007 third-round pick who has had his share of ups and downs in his time in Green Bay – returning to the Packers when free agency opens appear somewhat remote. It’s doubtful the Packers would get into a bidding war.

Vikings K Ryan Longwell: "Our full intention to go back to Minnesota and put together another good stretch of years up there. It does seem like a really good fit. I am a firm believer in the way Coach Frazier approaches coaching and life and approaches people."