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Presumably, the Eagles' deadline for paying that roster bonus to Terrell Owens is now sometime early next week, but Owens' release could come sooner. Kansas City seems to be emerging as his most likely destination.
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Forget the possibility of the Vikings signing free-agent quarterback Drew Brees of the San Diego Chargers. Word within NFL circles is that Brees' surgically repaired shoulder was more damaged than many people know. Quarterbacks who might intrigue the Vikings would seem to be Aaron Brooks of the New Orleans Saints and Brian Griese of the Tampa Bay Bucs.
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Although Daunte Culpepper told the Minnesota Vikings to trade him or release him yesterday, it remains uncertain whether the Ravens will pursue the two-time Pro Bowl quarterback. It is believed the Ravens have concerns about Culpepper's health, which could limit him next season. The Ravens are hesitant about investing money in a free agent or a draft pick in a trade for a player who might not be ready for the season opener. Plus, some Ravens officials aren't convinced that the Vikings will let go of Culpepper. It appears the only way the Ravens would go after Culpepper is if it involved a low-risk deal, which meant an incentive-laden contract that included little guaranteed money.
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The Patriots ended their 12-year agreement with all-time postseason sack leader Willie McGinest, according to one NFL personnel director last night. Although the Patriots reportedly remain hopeful of signing McGinest, league sources said last night that the Cleveland Browns, San Diego Chargers, Dallas Cowboys, and several other teams intend to explore signing McGinest.
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At quarterback, the Bears once had interest in former Steeler Tommy Maddox, but no longer. Maddox could attract interest from Oakland. The Bears would bring back Jeff Blake rather than sign Jon Kitna.
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There appears to be substantial interest around the league in former Rams WR Isaac Bruce. According to league sources, Carolina and Tampa Bay have expressed interest in Bruce, joining Detroit, Houston and Washington. Rams president of football operations Jay Zygmunt spoke with Bruce's agent Jimmy Sexton on Wednesday, but it is believed that no new offers were exchanged.
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Coach Jack Del Rio has repeatedly declined comment on the team's plans. But in terms of first-tier free agents, the Jaguars are thought to be most interested in New Orleans center LeCharles Bentley and Carolina linebacker Will Witherspoon.
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Rams safety Adam Archuleta will be courted by Chicago and Washington, according to league sources.
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Pittsburgh's Antwaan Randle El remains a target, an explosive player who could plug No. 2 receiver and returner holes simultaneously as well as give the Bears a No. 3 quarterback on game days. The Bears will monitor what could be a bidding war between Dallas, Philadelphia and Washington, in addition to Randle El's own Steelers.
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The Browns have expressed interest in former Washington linebacker LaVar Arrington, according to his agent. The question now is whether Arrington has interest in them. "Yes, they have called to ask if he's going to be available, and the kind of interest he'd have in Cleveland," agent Carl Poston said Wednesday. "I told them he wants to wait for the collective bargaining agreement to be done."
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Safety has been targeted for a Falcons upgrade and free agent candidates include Lawyer Milloy, who was released by Buffalo, Seattle's Marquand Manuel and Tennessee's Tank Williams. The Falcons likely don't have enough room to pursue Pittsburgh safety Chris Hope.
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The Jets have been eyeing Jon Kitna for a while and may strike quickly once the free agency period starts. Detroit is also said to be interested in Kitna, a proven veteran who served as a mentor to Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer. Baltimore is interested as well but is also looking at Kerry Collins.
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The Jets, in the market for an offensive tackle, had former Titans left tackle Brad Hopkins in for a visit yesterday. They're also interested in Falcons left tackle Kevin Shaffer, who will become an unrestricted free agent.
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The Commanders will be looking for veteran offensive linemen able to back up the starters, and they could land an established kicker and punter as well. Kickers Adam Vinatieri (New England), Mike Vanderjagt (Indianapolis) and Ryan Longwell (Green Bay) have impressive résumés, and a punter like Tom Rouen (Seattle) could be attractive to Washington, too.
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It remains to be seen whether the Eagles will find a replacement for strongside linebacker Dhani Jones, who still has three years remaining on his contract. They would save $660,000 on the salary cap if they released Jones.
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Colts RB Edgerrin James remains a long shot to return for an eighth season. First of all, team president Bill Polian doesn't know what it will take to re-sign the team's career rushing leader and keep him off the free agent market, which begins Saturday. After a speaking engagement Wednesday at Butler University, Polian said he has yet to discuss James' situation with Drew Rosenhaus, James' agent. "I have not done that because we have been so tied up with the cap issues,'' he said.
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Titans GM Floyd Reese said he talked quarterback Steve McNair’s agent Bus Cook in general terms Wednesday, and that the two should talk more in the coming days to try to reach an agreement on an extension to lower his $23.463 million cap figure.
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A source close to Drew Brees indicated Sunday that agent Tom Condon is expected to call the Dolphins on the first day of free agency to set up a visit. Brees has been splitting the offseason between San Diego and Birmingham, Ala., as he does rehabilitation work on his right (throwing shoulder). Brees sustained a torn labrum in the season finale and had surgery in January. If Minnesota competes for Brees, that could leave Culpepper available to the Dolphins. Culpepper, who is rehabbing his surgically repaired right knee in Orlando, caused another stir Wednesday when he told several media outlets he has asked the Vikings to trade or release him.
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One available veteran receivers who the Lions might commit some money to is former St. Louis Rams receiver Isaac Bruce. In addition to being a productive player, Bruce has a strong work ethic and a lot of experience in the offense of new Detroit coordinator Mike Martz.
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The Lions are expected to visit with Washington Commanders quarterback Patrick Ramsey, who is trying to work out a draft-day trade. Other teams, including the Miami Dolphins and New York Jets, are interested in Ramsey. If a deal is done, it would probably happen on the second day of the draft (April 30) when the compensation would be a fifth-round draft pick or lower. The Lions are not expected to be in the running for San Diego quarterback Drew Brees, partly because he's going to want to be a team's starting quarterback and partly because his asking price will be too high.
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It has been more difficult to get a read on DT Ryan Pickett, but Buffalo and Cleveland are possibilities. Both teams are looking for run-stopping defensive tackles, and former Rams assistant Bill Kollar is the defensive line coach in Buffalo.
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With a six-year extension of the collective bargaining agreement reached Wednesday night, teams are now in a better position to make a push for Daunte Culpepper. Among the teams in the market for a quarterback are the Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Detroit Lions and New York Jets. And given Culpepper's ties to former Vikings coach Dennis Green and former Vikings offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, the Arizona Cardinals and St. Louis Rams, respectively, also could be interested.
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It will be interesting to see whether the Vikings make a deal for quarterback A.J. Feeley, who played for Brad Childress in Philadelphia and now is with the San Diego Chargers, for whom Vikings vice president for player personnel Fran Foley worked before coming to Minnesota.
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Defensive end Trevor Pryce, released by the Broncos on March 1, wrapped up his visit with Cleveland and is in preliminary talks with the Browns. He is expected to visit a few more teams soon.
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Gerard Warren is planning a meeting today with his agent. The defensive tackle's message will be much the same as the one he's been saying all along: Get a deal done with the Broncos. Yet NFL labor peace reached Wednesday night might finally assure that can occur - and quickly, too. "I'm trying to stay in Denver, Colorado," said Warren, who's scheduled to hit the open market at 10:01 p.m. MST Friday. "I'm not really trying to look into free agency. What we had was beautiful there, man."
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Adam Vinatieri was paid a little more than $2.5 million last season, and it might take a ridiculous offer for the Patriots not to bring him back. Dallas, coached by Bill Parcells, who brought Vinatieri to the Patriots as an undrafted rookie in 1996, will be among several teams that would try to sign the game's top clutch kicker.
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Though they have yet to go on their first date, free-agent linebacker LaVar Arrington continues to flirt with the Giants. In a radio interview with The Ticket (790 AM) in Miami yesterday, the former Commander again alluded to the Giants as being among his top potential destinations. Midday show co-host Sid Rosenberg -- formerly of WFAN and still a Giants fan -- asked Arrington if he could convince him to play in East Rutherford next year. "It's the NFC East, so it's an option, I'll tell you that," Arrington said. "I'd just love to bless (the Commanders) with my presence twice a year."
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Patrick Ramsey, a former first-round pick out of Tulane, visited the Jets for a workout yesterday in a move that could be the first step toward a trade for the Washington Commanders quarterback. Ramsey and the Bengals' Jon Kitna are at the top of the Jets' list in the search for a veteran quarterback to compete with Chad Pennington for the starting job in training camp in July.
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After two days of intense negotiations in a Dallas suburb, NFL owners voted 30-2 to approve the NFL Players Association proposal on an extension of the collective bargaining agreement, ensuring labor peace for another six years. Only Cincinnati and Buffalo, both low-revenue teams, voted against the extension that increases the salary cap from $94.5 million to $102 million this year. Income from the network television contract and gate receipts is divided 50-50. Teams that bring in more local revenue from stadium naming rights, sponsorships, signage and radio and television deals will have to foot more of the bill.
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The Chargers are believed to be interested in free-agent center LeCharles Bentley, who played for New Orleans last season and would likely move to guard here. Among the free-agent safeties the Chargers are expected to target is Marlon McCree, recently of Carolina, a playmaker who could supplant free safety Bhawoh Jue.
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The Bears are optimistic of reaching a long-term extension for Lance Briggs and are working on a new contract for Hunter Hillenmeyer, which means linebacker depth will be addressed in the draft.
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The Bears might consider an alternative like New Orleans receiver Az-Zahir Hakim, a proven punt returner and member of the Rams while Smith was an assistant there. Hakim caught no fewer than 31 passes each of the last seven seasons and has a career average of 10.7 yards on punt returns.
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Adding a pass rusher has emerged as a free-agency surprise. The Bears have Alex Brown and Adewale Ogunleye, but coach Lovie Smith believes in adding speed to his front four and listed that priority last weekend at the team's annual fan convention. Detroit's Kalimba Edwards and Seattle tackle Rocky Bernard are the premier sack threats who will be in demand.
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Quarterback Josh McCown would interest the Bears, but he will take a spin at securing a starter's job and paycheck first.
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Shawn Barber's addition is the first of several anticipated free-agent moves by the Eagles, who are expected to sign New Orleans Saints center LeCharles Bentley and Detroit Lions backup quarterback Jeff Garcia.
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