New York Jets agree to deal with former Baltimore Raven Bart Scott

Money Makes The World Go Round

After a battle of bids Friday, linebacker Bart Scott followed coach Rex Ryan from the Baltimore Ravens to the New York Jets on the first day possible, writes Tim Graham. Blog

Linebacker Bart Scott and the New York Jets agreed to a six-year deal worth $48 million Friday, according to Scott's agent, Harold Lewis.

The 28-year-old Scott will make $27 million during the first three years of the contract, Lewis told The Associated Press.

Earlier in the day the Jets had offered a five-year, $40 million deal. When New York upped the offer by a year, Scott chose the Jets over Baltimore.

"What made the decision easier for me are the people in the organization and my familiarity with the coaching staff," Scott said in a statement. "These guys really pursued me hard.

"The opportunity to play under coach Ryan again was huge. I've made it no secret how big a role he has played in me taking the steps from being an undrafted rookie free agent to where I am today. I wanted to keep that chemistry going. It's been so successful that I didn't want to lose that magic."

Scott arrived at the Jets' facility early Friday morning to meet with his former Ravens defensive coordinator, Rex Ryan, who is now the head coach of the Jets.

Scott played seven seasons with Baltimore, amassing 433 tackles and 16 sacks in his career. His best season was in 2006, when he made the Pro Bowl and the All-Pro team. In that season, he had 103 tackles and 9 sacks.

Guard Brandon Moore also agreed to return to New York for a $16 million, four-year deal, a person familiar with the terms said on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't announced the contract.

New York cut Moore on Thursday, but opted to bring him back when Pittsburgh left guard Chris Kemoeatu turned down an offer from the Jets and re-signed with the Steelers.

Jets general manager Mike Tannenbaum would only say they were "close to signing" Moore and fullback Tony Richardson, who helped pave the way for Thomas Jones to lead the AFC in rushing last season.

Scott ranked second on the Ravens in tackles last season and will join promising David Harris as speedy, playmaking linebackers in New York's 3-4 defensive scheme.

"We added The Mad Backer today," Ryan said. "What you've seen him do and accomplish in Baltimore, I think is just the tip of the iceberg. ... He's called The Mad Backer because he basically hates the guys in the other color jerseys."

Scott was a major part of a Ravens defense that ranked No. 2 overall and helped Baltimore reach the AFC championship against Pittsburgh. Scott was believed to be the Jets' No. 1 target this offseason, despite former teammates Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs -- franchised by Baltimore -- also being free agents.

"I think he's going to be more effective with this Jets defense because we're going to have some flexibility with him and David that, quite honestly, we never really had with Ray," Ryan said. "That's not taking anything away from Ray, but Ray was always the MIKE backer and I think now we can switch Bart and David in and out and it's going to give some identification problems to offenses."

Despite signing Scott, the Jets wouldn't completely rule out also signing Lewis.

"We never thought we'd add Brett Favre last August, so right now we're going to take each day one at a time and look at opportunities," Tannenbaum said. "I would never rule out or rule in any player."

A few other former Ravens players could end up back with Ryan. Cornerback Corey Ivy met with the Jets on Friday, and safety Jim Leonhard is scheduled to meet with them Saturday.

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2009 NFL Free Agency: Derrick Dockery agrees to five-year, $26.5 million deal

Dockery

Derrick Dockery, who days ago felt secure entering the third year of a seven-year, $49 million contract with the Bills, underwent the strangest 24 hours of his pro football career, but, in his eyes, his journey had a happy ending.

A day after being told he was being released by the Bills, Dockery agreed to a five-year, $26.5 million with the Redskins, perhaps the last place he thought he'd land. Dockery left the Redskins two years ago to accept a deal that tied him at the time for being the highest paid lineman in football. Even though he loved being a Redskin, the economics of the move were too rewarding.

An off season by the line in 2008 and a big salary made Dockery a salary cap casualty Thursday. But strange things happened. The Bills didn't place Dockery on the waiver wire, and there had been interest by the Detroit Lions in acquiring him in a trade.

Dockery flew to Detroit Friday for a visit and a physical. The Bills didn't get the paperwork in on a trade, so he was officially released Friday. That's when things heated up.

The Redskins called and tried to bring him back. The Lions offered him a richer contract to stay, but Dockery decided he couldn't pass up the chance to return to the Redskins.

The other strange part of the experience is that Dockery didn't lose much money by being released by the Bills, In fact, he had some financial gains. The Bills paid him $18.5 million during his first two years in Buffalo. Those first two years very pretty much guaranteed. The Redskins ended up guaranteeing $8 million of his new contract, something he wasn't expected to have in the remaining five years of his Bills deal.

Dockery couldn't be happier. He's back with the Redskins and he has more job security.

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Minnesota Vikings acquire Sage Rosenfels, give QB new contract

The Minnesota Vikings officially completed a trade with the Houston Texans to acquire Sage Rosenfels by reaching a two-year contract extension with the quarterback Friday.

Rosenfels

Rosenfels, 31, agreed to a two-year, $9 million extension with the Vikings, who gave up a fourth-round draft choice to acquire him, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton. Rosenfels had one year remaining on his deal with the Texans that would have paid him $1.35 million.

He flew to Minnesota on Thursday and was scheduled to undergo a physical Friday morning.

Rosenfels' agent, Rick Smith, told The Associated Press his client "is extremely excited for this opportunity."

Rosenfels is expected to compete with incumbent Tarvaris Jackson for the starting role in Minnesota.

It's the second season in a row that the Vikings have tried to trade for Rosenfels. Last year, the two teams could not agree on compensation, so Minnesota brought in veteran Gus Frerotte as a backup.

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Texans QB Sage Rosenfels passes for 200 yards, a TD and an INT in a win versus the Jaguars.

"It's something we've been working on for a while and it finally came to fruition," Smith said. "This is the first time in his career that he's had a great opportunity to start. Nothing has been promised to him. He's just extremely excited for this opportunity."

The addition of Rosenfels meant there was no room for Frerotte, who was waived Friday. Frerotte expressed no surprise or anger in the Vikings' move.

"I talked to Coach [Brad] Childress and he started to explain the whole deal," Frerotte told the Minneapolis-St. Paul media outlets. "I stopped him and said, 'You don't have to explain.' I appreciate you having me come up there and believing in me. I had a lot of fun and am proud of everything we accomplished as a team. I really enjoyed playing with everybody on the Vikings.

"I just wanted to thank [Childress] and Mr. Wilf for letting me be a part of the team. Most of all I wanted to thank all Vikings fans. Minnesota is one of my favorite places to play and the stadium is awesome. I really enjoyed myself."

Rosenfels went 2-3 in five starts for the injured Matt Schaub in Houston last season. He threw for 1,431 yards with six touchdowns, 10 interceptions and a 66.7 completion percentage.

Bringing in someone to compete with Jackson for the starting job was one of Minnesota's biggest offseason priorities after losing to Philadelphia in the playoffs.

Jackson was benched after two losses to open last season and Frerotte went 8-3 in his place.

When Frerotte went down with a back injury, Jackson flourished to finish the regular season. He rallied the Vikings to a victory over the Lions after Frerotte got injured and won NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors the following week after throwing four touchdown passes in a road victory over Arizona.

In the first round of the playoffs, however, Jackson took a big step back against the frenetic blitzes of the Philly defense. He went 15-for-34 for 164 yards and had an interception returned for a touchdown in a 26-14 loss to the Eagles that ended Minnesota's season.

"We need to put somebody in place that will push [Jackson] and compete with him, and I think competition is the nature of the game," Childress told reporters at the NFL combine last week in Indianapolis. "At some places it may not be ... [but] in our situation, we need to have a good, healthy competition because I think that makes everybody better."

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner likely to enter free agency

Kurt Warner

Quarterback
Arizona Cardinals

Profile

2008 Season Stats

Att Comp Yds TD Int Rat 

598 401 4401 30 14 96.9 

After an all-day negotiating session at the Arizona Cardinals complex Kurt Warner's agent, Mark Bartelstein, couldn't reach an agreement.

Barring a last minute phone call, Warner will become a free agent at midnight Thursday.

Bartelstein boarded a flight Thursday evening for his home in the Chicago area, but he said he would keep in contact with the Cardinals.

Warner is hoping to land a contract around in the range of the top five quarterbacks in the NFL -- $14 million to $16 million a year. He wants a two-year deal.

The Cardinals have offered $10 million to $12 million.

Talks have been amiable. Warner said he will retire if he doesn't play for the Cardinals.

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Offensive guard Derrick Dockery being waived by Buffalo Bills

Offensive guard Derrick Dockery, who was signed to a seven-year, $49 million deal two years ago by the Buffalo Bills, was informed Thursday he is being released.

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Veteran tight end Robert Royal, who had two years left on his contract, also will be released, according to his agent, Rick Smith.

The two moves would free up a total of about $8 million in salary cap space for a team that has missed the playoffs for nine consecutive years, the worst streak in franchise history.

Dockery was one of the key prizes in the free-agent class of 2007. His agent, Todd France, was able to get him a Steve Hutchinson-type package to leave the Washington Redskins for Buffalo. His seven-year, $49 million deal was the highest salary for a guard at the time.

During the first two years of the contract, Dockery was guaranteed $18.5 million. France said he was informed by the Bills that they wanted to go in a different direction, and that Dockery didn't fit the offensive line scheme under assistant Sean Kugler, who took over last year after Jim McNally retired.

Dockery, who will go on the waiver wire at 4 p.m. ET, could go to the top of the list of guards in free agency.

The 28-year-old Dockery, who played in college at Texas, entered the league as the third-round pick with the Redskins and has 77 career starts.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds, he started all 32 games in Buffalo and was part of one of the NFL's largest offensive lines in terms of height and weight. But the line struggled last season, allowing 38 sacks, 12 more than the previous team, and the offense finished 25th in the NFL in total yards.

In another move, the Bills have re-signed starting fullback Corey McIntyre to a two-year extension.

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Source: Miami Dolphins snag ex-Oakland Raiders safety Gibril Wilson

Gibril Wilson, like most good safeties, knows how to react in tough situations. Wilson bounced back from his release from the Raiders with a solid deal from the Miami Dolphins.

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According to a source, Wilson agreed to a five-year, $27.5 million deal with the Dolphins that included $8 million in guarantees. He is scheduled to make $12 million over the first two years of the contract and $16.5 million over the first three.

Last season, the Raiders gave him an $8.4 million signing bonus and a $605,000 base as part of a six-year, $39 million contract. Even though he was released after one year by Oakland, Wilson will make $21 million from 2008 through 2010.

In his first season with the Dolphins, football operations vice president Bill Parcells aggressively hit the market, signing guard Justin Smiley and others right after the free-agency period began. This year, Parcells is doing some of his best work before the start of free agency.

The signing of Wilson, along with the re-signings of tackle Vernon Carey and inside linebacker Channing Crowder, resolved three starting lineup issues as the Dolphins prepare for free agency.

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Source: New York Jets plan to part ways with Laveranues Coles

Laveranues Coles

Wide Receiver
New York Jets

Profile

2008 Season Stats

Rec Yds TD Avg Long YAC 

70 850 7 12.1 54 294 

The New York Jets have parted ways with receiver Laveranues Coles, an NFL source told ESPN.com.

The Jets have restructured Coles' contract to allow him to become an unrestricted free agent.

"I have had the pleasure of getting to know Laveranues since he has entered the league in 2000," Jets GM Mike Tannenbaum said. "He is a fierce competitor, a great teammate and a good friend who has always given his best to the New York Jets.

"I spoke with him today and expressed my appreciation for his contributions both on and off the field. This move will allow Laveranues to explore his options, and we both agreed to keep the lines of communication open."

Money is the driving force behind the club's decision to let Coles go. He has been dissatisfied with the Jets for a number of reasons within the past year. He's entering the final season of his contract and is on the books for $6 million guaranteed in 2009.

Coles has spent seven of his nine NFL seasons with the Jets, and is fourth on the team's all-time list with 459 receptions. He had 70 catches for 850 yards and a team-high seven touchdowns last season.

He led the Jets in receptions four times and finished one catch behind Jerricho Cotchery last season.

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D.J. Hackett, Jeremy Bridges, Nick Goings among Carolina Panthers' salary-cap cuts

The Carolina Panthers have made their first moves to clear salary-cap room after signing Jordan Gross to a six-year, $56.4 million contract last week and franchising defensive end Julius Peppers.

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On Wednesday, they released wide receiver D.J. Hackett, running back Nick Goings and offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges.

The moves saved the Panthers $4.74 million in cap space. Recently, they turned a $10 million roster bonus scheduled for cornerback Chris Gamble into a guarantee, which saved the Panthers another $8 million.

The team also restructured the contract of linebacker Landon Johnson.

Nothing has happened to cornerback Ken Lucas, who remains on the roster despite an $8.33 million cap number. It's unlikely the team would release him, but it is possible they might listen to trade requests from other teams.

"Ken's here at this point," general manager Marty Hurney said. "We're always talking and working on things. But I'd rather talk about what we've done at this point because anything else is speculation."

Hackett was signed to a two-year, $3.5 million free-agent deal before last season, but he was a disappointment in 2008. Plagued by injuries, the ex-Seahawk never challenged Muhsin Muhammad for the No. 2 receiver job and eventually fell behind Dwayne Jarrett on the depth chart.

Hackett, who caught just 13 passes for 181 yards, probably had his fate sealed when he was on the inactive list for Carolina's playoff loss to Arizona, while Jarrett was the No. 3 receiver.

Bridges was a valuable reserve who could play both guard and tackle and started 28 games in three seasons with Carolina.

"Jeremy's flexibility meant a lot to the football team," coach John Fox said in a statement.

But Bridges turns 29 in April and carried baggage off the field.

Bridges was suspended for the first two games of the 2007 season after being arrested -- and later convicted -- of a misdemeanor assault charge after being accused of pointing a gun at a woman outside a strip club.

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Jay Cutler tries to squeeze the ball into a tight spot and Chris Gamble makes him pay.

Bridges started four games because of injuries to other players last season, but was held out of a December win against Tampa Bay, less than 24 hours after he was arrested again on a misdemeanor assault charge in connection with a disturbance at a restaurant. Bridges has a court hearing scheduled for Monday.

Hurney sidestepped a question of whether Bridges' legal problems weighed in the decision.

"There will be some changes for us as far as getting some new guys in here, probably younger guys," Hurney said. "That was the impetus behind it. Every year your team has to take a different look."

Goings had the longest stint of the three in Carolina. Signed as an undrafted free agent in 2001, Goings was used primarily on special teams except in 2004. Because of other players' injuries, Goings led the Panthers that season with 821 yards rushing.

He played in only four games in 2007 because a concussion, but returned last season as a contributor on special teams.

"Nick has been a valuable member of our team since I have been in Carolina," Fox said. "As a starter or in a reserve role, his versatility and contributions on special teams, along with his unselfish attitude, were important to our team and locker room."

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Charges against Jonathan Vilma of New Orleans Saints dropped in Miami

MIAMI -- Prosecutors in Miami are dropping all charges against New Orleans Saints linebacker Jonathan Vilma.

Vilma

Authorities announced their decision in court Wednesday. Vilma was arrested last month on a felony charge of resisting arrest with violence and misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and obstruction of justice. Prosecutors did not immediately give a reason for dropping the case.

Vilma will donate $1,000 to a hospital trauma center, said Ed Griffith, a spokesman for the Miami-Dade State Attorney's office. The officer involved agreed with the decision not to press charges, Griffith said.

Attorney Michael Tein says his client is relieved and is looking forward to focusing on football again.

Vilma is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent on Friday but has said he would prefer to stay in New Orleans. He played every defensive snap and led the Saints in tackles in his first season with New Orleans after spending his first four years with the New York Jets.

"I appreciate that the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office did their due diligence and decided not to file charges against me regarding the arrest that occurred on January 16, 2009 in Miami," Vilma said in a prepared statement. "I believe the State Attorney's Office did the just and right thing in this matter. I would like to thank my family and friends, the New Orleans Saints organization, and my fans for supporting and believing in me."

Tampa Bay Buccaneers release Derrick Brooks, four other veteran players

Linebacker Derrick Brooks, one of the greatest players in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, was released Wednesday along with four other veterans.

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Highlights of the best moments from Derrick Brooks in 2008.

Brooks is an 11-time Pro Bowler and a potential Hall of Famer. Wide receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard, halfback Warrick Dunn and linebacker Cato June were also released.

"Our family and the entire Tampa Bay community owe Derrick an indescribable measure of gratitude for all that he has meant over the last 14 years," Bucs co-chairman Bryan Glazer said in a statement. "His play on the field and leadership in the locker room helped resurrect our franchise and we look forward to celebrating his certain enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame."

With Raheem Morris taking over for Jon Gruden, the Bucs are apparently starting a youth movement and a major change in philosophies. They are also getting away from the Cover 2 defensive scheme that had been employed by former Bucs defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin.

Jim Bates has taken over the defense and is changing the style. In the Cover 2, Brooks was considered the perfect weakside linebacker. He was quick enough to cover the field and make most of the tackles.

He was a first-round pick of the Bucs in 1995 and never missed a game. He had 25 interceptions during his 14-year career in Tampa Bay.

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Michael Crabtree wavering on surgery plans for foot stress fracture

INDIANAPOLIS -- Michael Crabtree might not perform in front of NFL scouts, after all.

Crabtree, the top-rated receiver in this year's draft, has a stress fracture in his left foot, and doctors at the league scouting combine recommended he have surgery to insert a screw.

Crabtree initially decided he would delay the surgery until after his personal workout next month in Lubbock, Texas. On Tuesday, however, he told the NFL Network he was reconsidering, saying it was only "50-50" that he would run before having the procedure.

[+] Enlarge

AP Photo/Darron CummingsMichael Crabtree says he will take some more time before deciding on when to have foot surgery.

On ESPN's "NFL Live" Tuesday afternoon, Crabtree said he was not sure what to do after hearing conflicting opinions, but realizes that time is running out.

"I feel like everybody doesn't have the same answer. I need some time to make that decision, whether I'm going to do this surgery and be ready for minicamp, or take this challenge everyone's giving me to run the 40." Crabtree said. "It's a life-changing decision right now."

Rehabilitation is expected to take 10 weeks or more, meaning Crabtree wouldn't be able to work out for scouts before the April 25-26 draft if the procedure were done soon.

There already are questions about how his condition might affect his draft status. Before the combine, most projected the record-setting Texas Tech receiver to be among the top five picks -- and he still might.

But he measured 6-foot-1 -- 2 inches shorter than his listed height at Texas Tech, creating a potential concern for teams that thought he fit the mold of a taller receiver such as Randy Moss or Larry Fitzgerald.

There could be additional questions about his durability. Crabtree spent part of last season dealing with a right ankle injury and now there are questions about his foot.

With none of the usual statistics to evaluate -- such as the 40-yard dash and 20-yard shuttle -- scouts could have a difficult time assessing Crabtree against such receivers as Missouri's Jeremy Maclin or Florida's Percy Harvin.

"He has a history, and his history is pretty good," Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith said Saturday. "I think he'll be OK."

NFL.com Video

Highly regarded Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree discusses his decision to turn pro.

In the past two seasons at Texas Tech, Crabtree has put together a rsum worthy of being the first receiver selected in April.

He won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top receiver each of the past two years, the first repeat winner since the honor was established in 1994. He also earned All-America honors the past two seasons.

As a freshman, Crabtree caught 134 passes for 1,962 yards and 22 TDs -- all national bests and NCAA freshman records. Last season, he caught another 97 passes for 1,165 yards and 19 touchdowns despite being slowed by the ankle injury.

"I suffered this injury in the Texas A&M game," he said. "Initially, we thought that I could play on the foot, but as we got closer to the combine we realized that I have to get this fixed."

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Chiefs cut LB Donnie Edwards, QB Damon Huard, CB Patrick Surtain

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Three oft-injured veterans who hardly played last season were cut loose on Tuesday by the Kansas City Chiefs: linebacker Donnie Edwards, quarterback Damon Huard and cornerback Patrick Surtain.

The Chiefs announced on their Web site they terminated the contracts of the three, none of whom played much during the 2-14 season.

The moves were made without comment by Scott Pioli, the Chiefs' new general manager, or new coach Todd Haley.

The Chiefs also said they waived tight end Michael Merritt, who played very little last year as a rookie.

Edwards, 35, was a fourth-round draft pick by Kansas City in 1996 and led the Chiefs in tackles for four years. He signed a free agent contract with San Diego but rejoined the Chiefs as an unrestricted free agent in 2007. He played in only seven games this past season and had 34 tackles.

Huard, also 35, has been a career backup to some of the game's best quarterbacks, including Dan Marino at Miami and Tom Brady at New England. He was with the Chiefs the past five years, but injuries caused him to miss the last 11 games of 2008.

Surtain, 32, appeared in only eight games in 2008 and totaled 11 tackles.

Surtain started two games last season because of a youth movement. He was entering the fifth season of his seven-year, $52 million deal and was scheduled to make $7.35 million in 2009.

His release will save the Chiefs $6.2 million of cap space.

The 11-year veteran has had a distinguished career. He has 37 career interceptions and has been to three Pro Bowls. He's been named as an All-Pro twice. Surtain was a second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins in 1998.

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Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay still scheduled to talk

Colts owner Jim Irsay isn't waving the white flag just yet, telling the Indianapolis Star that there's still a chance Marvin Harrison could stay with the team.

"Marvin and I are talking [Tuesday] at mid-afternoon and we'll see where we go from there,'' Irsay said, according to the Star. "I'm not going to start talking like he's not here, because nothing's been determined officially by any stretch.''

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Agent Tom Condon told The Associated Press on Monday that Indianapolis has agreed to release the franchise's all-time leading receiver, although an official announcement is not expected until Tuesday or Wednesday.

The decision comes one day after team president Bill Polian said he hoped to cut a deal that would keep Harrison in Indy. When Harrison said no, the Colts said farewell.

"There was no hardball with this, just heartache," Polian told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

"Basically, we were not able to come to any kind of agreement, it was not contentious and the Colts have agreed to release him," Condon told the AP in a phone interview.

Irsay, however, told the Star that Condon was "premature" in his announcement.

Harrison

"This is a very, very unusual situation . . . Marvin goes back with me to 1996 when I started to assume ownership,'' Irsay said, according to the Star. "Obviously there have been conversations between Bill and Condon, but Marvin and I are going to talk it through and see where it goes.

"It's a special circumstance. It's a player and an owner, two partners who have been together for a long, long time. We're going to talk through everything and be certain that the direction we go is the right one for both of us.''

The decision to part ways, if it does come to that, is not a surprising move because the Colts would save about $6 million, based on Harrison's base salary. They would still be charged for prorated bonuses from the $66 million deal he signed in December 2004.

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Marvin Harrison becomes the 2nd all-time receiver with his 1,102 receptions.

The Colts found it too expensive for a 36-year-old receiver coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career.

Harrison ranks second in NFL history with 1,102 receptions, and the move will disappoint many Colts fans, who embraced Harrison as a favorite. They referred to Harrison, Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James as "The Triplets," and Harrison was one of the franchise's most identifiable player in the last decade.

His penchant for toe-tapping catches along the sideline and incredible grabs in the middle of the field helped the Colts build one of the league's most successful franchises in this decade.

But longtime teammates understood why Harrison wanted to become a free agent.

"I think whatever Marvin chooses to do for himself, he has to do," center Jeff Saturday said Sunday night. "I love Marvin as a friend and as a teammate."

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Agent: Indianapolis Colts agree to release WR Marvin Harrison

Agent: Indianapolis Colts agree to release WR Marvin Harrison

INDIANAPOLIS -- Marvin Harrison refused to take a pay cut. The Indianapolis Colts couldn't afford to keep him without one.

On Monday, the two sides reached agreement on one thing: Harrison will be a free agent.

Agent Tom Condon told The Associated Press that Indianapolis has agreed to release the franchise's all-time leading receiver, although an official announcement is not expected until Tuesday or Wednesday.

The decision comes one day after team president Bill Polian said he hoped to cut a deal that would keep Harrison in Indy. When Harrison said no, the Colts said farewell.

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"There was no hardball with this, just heartache," Polian told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

"Basically, we were not able to come to any kind of agreement, it was not contentious and the Colts have agreed to release him," Condon said in a phone interview.

It's not a surprising move because the Colts would save about $6 million, based on Harrison's base salary. They would still be charged for prorated bonuses from the $66 million deal he signed in December 2004.

The Colts found it too expensive for a 36-year-old receiver coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career.

Harrison ranks second in NFL history with 1,102 receptions, and the move will disappoint many Colts fans, who embraced Harrison as a favorite. They referred to Harrison, Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James as "The Triplets," and Harrison was one of the franchise's most identifiable player in the last decade.

His penchant for toe-tapping catches along the sideline and incredible grabs in the middle of the field helped the Colts build one of the league's most successful franchises in this decade.

But longtime teammates understood why Harrison wanted to become a free agent.

"I think whatever Marvin chooses to do for himself, he has to do," center Jeff Saturday said Sunday night. "I love Marvin as a friend and as a teammate."

Indianapolis took Harrison in the first round of the 1996 draft and when Manning arrived two years later, the tandem began a record-setting journey.

They combined for more completions, yardage and touchdowns than any duo in league history.

Harrison made eight Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl ring, and his 14,550 yards rank fourth on the NFL's career list. He is No. 5 all-time with 128 TD catches and holds all major single-season and career receiving marks for the Colts.

Over the past two seasons, though, Harrison hasn't been up to his usual standards.

He missed all but five games in 2007 because of injuries, underwent offseason knee surgery and then caught 60 passes in 2008 -- far less than half of his NFL record 143 in 2002.

Philadelphia police also believe one of Harrison's guns was used in an April shooting in his hometown. No charges were filed against Harrison, and the man who made the accusation was convicted on a misdemeanor charge of lying to police.

On the field, Manning has looked more frequently for three-time Pro Bowl selection Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez, a first-round pick in 2007.

Yet coaches and Polian insisted Harrison's skills had not deteriorated.

"What I saw is a guy who is as quick as he's been, with the same hands, and he has the ability he's always had," new coach Jim Caldwell said Thursday at the NFL's annual scouting combine.

And Polian insisted he still wanted Harrison back in his familiar No. 88 jersey.

"Hopefully, we'll find a way to work through that [the contract]," Polian said Sunday. "I don't know if we will, but we hope to."

They couldn't.

Now Harrison will look for work elsewhere. Some have speculated that he would like to play with his hometown Eagles and former college teammate Donovan McNabb.

The Colts will have a vastly different look next season.

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Oakland cuts Harris, Griffith to clear cap room

The Oakland Raiders cleared $8.3 million of salary cap room Monday by releasing starting left tackle Kwame Harris and fullback Justin Griffith.

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Last week, the Raiders released safety Gibril Wilson, wide receiver Ronald Curry and defensive end Kalimba Edwards. The five releases have saved the team $14.6 million in cap room, but it has also put $11.5 million of dead money onto their $123 million cap. If you include the carryover cap losses from DeAngelo Hall, who was cut last year, the Raiders have close to $20 million of dead money on their salary cap.

Harris was signed last year from the San Francisco 49ers. He signed a three-year, $14 million contract and was due a $6 million roster bonus by the end of the week.

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Source: Donovan McNabb pins extension on improvement

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb and Eagles brass held a lengthy meeting last week, where last season's Week 12 benching and the subject of a contract extension were discussed, a source told ESPN.

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Independent of the meeting, the source said that McNabb may hold off on further extension talks until he sees how the Eagles improve themselves in the offseason via free agency and/or trades.

According to a source, McNabb and agent Fletcher Smith quietly met with Eagles coach Andy Reid and Eagles president Joe Banner for several hours last Tuesday at the team's complex in Philadelphia, before Reid and Banner traveled to the league's scouting combine in Indianapolis.

The source said the sides cleared the air once and for all on Reid's Week 12 benching of McNabb in Baltimore. They also held preliminary, informal discussions about a contract extension, the source said. The source said the parties had preferred to keep the meeting confidential as they work through various issues beyond the benching.

Those contract talks may not resume any time soon. McNabb would like the Eagles to add to their already solid core pieces that would make them an even stronger championship contender before engaging in serious negotiations on an extension. McNabb, 32, is under contract for two more seasons.

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Eagles coach Andy Reid talks about the team coming together around the play of McNabb.

Although McNabb wants to remain in Philadelphia, if the Eagles aren't successful in significantly upgrading an offense that needs help at wide receiver, running back and offensive tackle (veterans Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas are free agents beginning Friday), not only may McNabb drop his request for a new contract, he may consider going as far as to ask the Eagles to trade him.

Complicating the matter is that any marquee free agent at the skill positions (such as Cincinnati wideout T.J. Houshmandzadeh) or any player whom the Eagles may target in a trade (like Cardinals wideout Anquan Boldin or Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez) almost certainly would want assurance that McNabb is going to be in Philadelphia long term.

In 2008, McNabb passed for 3,916 yards with 23 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in leading the Eagles to the conference title game for the fifth time.

Philadelphia began the season 5-5-1, then, following McNabb's benching against Baltimore, won four of its last five regular-season games to make the playoffs. The Eagles earned postseason road wins over the Vikings and defending champion New York Giants before losing to the Cardinals in the NFC Championship Game.

Since then, Banner on several occasions has said publicly that McNabb would return for the 2009 season as the team's starting quarterback.

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Source: Arizona Cardinals top $10 million in offer to quarterback Kurt Warner

Source: Arizona Cardinals top $10 million in offer to quarterback Kurt Warner

Arizona and quarterback Kurt Warner have not agreed to a contract extension, but the Cardinals have crossed an important barrier. Arizona is now offering more than $10 million a year to keep him, according to a source.

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Warner, whose accurate arm and flair for the passing game helped carry the Cardinals to their first Super Bowl appearance, is hoping to land a contract offer that would reflect that he is a top five quarterback. Top five quarterbacks make between $14 million and $16 million a year. The Cardinals, according to a source, are believed to be offering between $10 million and $12 million a year.

Warner threw for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns last season, completing 401 of 598 passes (67.1 percent).

Both sides have until Thursday night to reach a deal or he will be an unrestricted free agent starting Friday.

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Source: Indianapolis Colts' Marvin Harrison may ask for release

INDIANAPOLIS -- Marvin Harrison's reluctance to take a pay cut could mark the end of his career in Indianapolis.

Renegotiation talks between the Colts and Harrison were unsuccessful during the weekend, and he is close to asking the team for his release, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton.

Harrison

Colts president Bill Polian told reporters Sunday at the NFL's annual scouting combine that the team was trying to rework Harrison's deal to lower the receiver's salary cap number from approximately $13.4 million, the highest number of any wideout in the NFL. Harrison is scheduled to make $9 million in 2009.

If Harrison decides against a redoing his contract, the only other options for the Colts would be to keep Harrison at his cap number or to release him.

Harrison has been one of the Colts' most identifiable players since their move to Indianapolis. He ranks No. 2 in the NFL in career receptions (1,102) and holds all of the franchise's major career and season receiving records.

He is also 36 years old, coming off one of the least productive seasons of his career -- he missed all but five games in 2007 -- and with the Colts in a salary cap crunch, Polian may not be able to keep Harrison at his current price.

Next year's cap is expected to be $123 million.

"The new cap rules, that's not something we planned for," Polian said. "As a result, we have some issues with veterans, including Marvin. Hopefully, we'll find a way to work through that. I don't know if we will, but we hope to."

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Earlier this week, Colts head coach Jim Caldwell said he was hopeful Harrison would be able to return to the team, but it was apparent the franchise is unwilling to have him on the team with a $13.4 million cap number.

Though the team isn't expected to make a decision on Harrison until Thursday, when all teams have to be under the salary cap, Harrison could speed up the process by asking for his release to give him time to find a new team, a source told Clayton.

Since being drafted by the Colts in 1996, Harrison has been a model of consistency.

He's made eight Pro Bowls and won a Super Bowl ring. His 14,550 yards rank fourth on the NFL's career list and he's No. 5 with 128 TD catches. Harrison and Peyton Manning also teamed to produce the most proficient passing tandem in league history.

But Manning has increasingly thrown more passes to Reggie Wayne, who has made the last three Pro Bowls, while Anthony Gonzalez, Indy's first-round draft pick in 2007, has made a push for more playing time.

Polian and Caldwell have repeatedly said they do not believe Harrison's skills are deteriorating.

"What I saw is a guy who is as quick as he's been, with the same hands and he has the ability he's always had," Caldwell said Thursday.

Philadelphia police also believe one of Harrison's guns was used in a shooting in his hometown last summer. No charges were filed against Harrison, and the man who made the accusation is now headed to trial for lying to police.

Harrison isn't the only veteran the Colts could lose this week.

Polian said Sunday that he had made an offer to three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday and Saturday was "mulling it over."

Saturday, however, told The Associated Press later that he has discussed it with his wife and has decided to become a free agent. Players can beginning signing with other teams on Friday.

"I think I made it very clear that I wanted to stay in Indy, that's where my wife and family wanted to stay, and I wanted to retire here," he said. "But I'm moving into free agency because my wife and I decided this is what is best for our family, though I've not completely ruled out playing for the Colts."

Saturday has started 138 games in nine seasons and is responsible for making blocking calls along the line.

Those two, along with Manning and punter Hunter Smith, are the longest-tenured players on the Colts roster. Smith's agent, Thomas Mills, has said Smith also does not expect to be re-signed by the Colts before Friday.

Saturday said he was surprised by the offer and has made his decision.

"After Kelvin [Hayden] was done, Bill called and we met and that's when he came with the offer," Saturday said. "We discussed it"

Saturday would not discuss details of the Colts' offer or characterize the contents.

The problem for Indianapolis is salary cap space.

On Thursday, the Colts signed Hayden, a corrnerback, to a new five-year, $43 million deal. That means since 2004, Manning, Harrison, Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Robert Mathis, Ryan Diem, Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark and Ryan Lilja have all signed contracts worth at least $19 million.

Polian does not believe those deals have put Indy in the money pinch; the new salary cap rules have.

Clearly, though, Harrison's six-year $66 million deal, with $22 million in bonuses, signed in December 2004 is now proving too costly and if Harrison doesn't accept a pay cut, he may be looking for work in another city.

"I don't want to characterize the discussions," Polian said of the negotiations with Harrison. "But we are impacted by the salary cap for the first time in 11 years."

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Indianapolis Colts center Jeff Saturday to enter free agency

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The Indianapolis Colts were unable to hammer out a contract extension with center Jeff Saturday, who now plans to enter free agency on Friday.

Saturday was signed as a free agent out of North Carolina by the Baltimore Ravens before being waived in 1998. The Colts picked him up and he has been their starting center for nine years. Saturday missed four games last season because of a calf injury.

Saturday said he will leave the door open to returning to the Colts.

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Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones rebuffs ESPN report on Terrell Owens release discussions

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has struck down a January ESPN report that indicated the team was set during the offseason to discuss the possible release of receiver Terrell Owens.

Jones, speaking to reporters late Saturday at a downtown hotel in Indianapolis, where the NFL Combine is being held, expressed anger over a Jan. 14 report by ESPN's Ed Werder.

"That Stephen and I were debating about Terrell, that's just misinformation," Jones said regarding his son, Cowboys vice president Stephen Jones. "That's just not accurate. I don't know where that comes from. That's just total misinformation.

"And the thing is that nobody would know that except for me or Stephen, and I know Stephen didn't tell you. So whoever else said that happened is just wrong. It's just speculation, as far as us debating."

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At least two sources told Werder that Stephen Jones would attempt to convince his father that Owens should be finished with the Cowboys. The Cowboys paid Owens a $12 million signing bonus just last year, included as part of a new four-year, $34 million deal.

"I think we all know that chemistry is the problem with this team more than the schemes or anything else," a Cowboys source told Werder. "Are we going to continue to allow talent to outweigh everything else in the decisions we make with players and putting the roster together?

"We're like the Redskins used to be when they signed every player they wanted. There's more to it than talent. It has to be more about the team."

Jones said Saturday that he's the only Cowboys official with a "full picture" of the team's operations.

"Where I'm coming from here, I just want to make sure you're not getting bits and pieces of information," he said. "That's not doing anybody any good and you're not making accurate reports."

In an effort to plug team leaks, Jones has put a gag order on all his employees, including head coach Wade Phillips, an unusual move he addressed.

Jones attempted to stifle any perception that Phillips has a diminished influence or role.

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"It's well known that relative to our personnel decisions, who makes that decision," Jones said. "All I'm trying to say is basically that's where you need to go to see where the status of that decision is. That's where you need to go. That's what we're trying to avoid.

"What has happened this offseason, there's been a lot of misinformation. You guys aren't getting the accurate information at all."

According to Werder's sources last month, the discussions involving Owens had not been formally initiated and probably wouldn't occur until the Cowboys were more certain of the composition of their coaching staff.

Jason Garrett, once a candidate for at least two NFL head-coaching positions, remains with the Cowboys as offensive coordinator.

Garrett had interviewed with the St. Louis Rams and Detroit Lions about their head-coaching vacancies. The Rams ultimately hired Steve Spagnuolo, while the Lions tapped Jim Schwartz.

"You have to be worried about his influence over there, and I think we'd get some of those players back over to our side if he was gone,'' a source told Werder regarding Owens. "I think we have to decide how detrimental he is to [tight end Jason] Witten and [quarterback Tony] Romo.''

Jones went on and on Tuesday in Texas emphasizing he hasn't decided whether to keep or cut Owens.

Then, long after the subject was seemingly put to rest, Jones brought it up again -- with a pretty obvious hint that T.O. was staying.

"You and I both know that the one that you're asking about all the time, if I gave you the answer that you want to hear, then you would've already had it. So the fact you don't have it ought to tell you something. It really should," Jones said.

The response came in the final minute of a roughly 45-minute news conference called to announce that George Strait will headline the first-ever event at the team's new $1.1 billion stadium. But since it was the first time Jones addressed a large group of reporters since the Cowboys' season-ending loss at Philadelphia back in late December, far more topics came up.

The subject changed from music to football with a question about whether Owens will be on the roster when Strait takes the stage June 6. Jones was ready with the explanation that "we're evaluating our entire roster."

"There are several decisions on our roster we have to look at," Jones said Tuesday. "This is the time of year we do that. I'm not trying to be trite, but as you all know we're evaluating players in college, we're evaluating free agents and we're evaluating our own roster. This is an ongoing thing, not any different than this time last year. ... Our roster is our roster. Changes to that are pure, pure speculation."

When told he could end all speculation by saying Owens is staying, Jones said he wouldn't answer "because we're not talking about the roster; he's part of the roster."

"We've got a lot of things we want to look at. Not just to Terrell, but several positions on the team -- backup quarterback and some other areas," Jones said. "So, again, it's not that it's easy or hard. It's just that I'm not doing it."

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Former Texas Tech Red Raiders receiver Michael Crabtree sidelined at combine with stress fracture in foot

INDIANAPOLIS -- Teams waiting to draft Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree will have to wait six to 10 weeks longer to see how fast he can run a 40-yard dash.

Crabtree, according to a source, has the beginning stages of a stress fracture in his left foot that will require a screw to be surgically inserted to stabilize that area of the foot.

The fracture was discovered during a bone scan conducted Friday during the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.

The scan revealed a slight crack in the fifth metatarsal bone in his left foot.

The fracture, according to a source, was so slight he could have opted not to have surgery, but there was the possibility that the crack would get worse had the screw not been inserted.

Though not considered serious, the injury will prevent him from running for a six to 10 weeks. According to a source, Crabtree plans to take the conservative approach and try to be ready in 10 weeks.

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Crabtree, who had not scheduled the surgery as of early Saturday afternoon, had been considered the top wide receiver in the 2009 draft.

Because he's an underclassman, teams looking to draft him don't have accurate times in the 40-yard dash and shuttles to help with their evaluation process.

Now, those interested teams will have to rely on tapes from his games over the past two seasons.

Crabtree, who suffered a right ankle injury late last season that had not completely healed, was not planning to run at the combine, preferring to wait until his pro timing day in March.

In 2008, Jonathan Stewart, a first-round talent, ran at the combine despite a bad turf toe. The injury didn't get better and the running back out of Oregon required surgery.

Stewart, despite the surgery and not being healthy for teams around the draft, went in the first round to the Carolina Panthers.

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Pittsburgh Steelers sign T Starks to 1-year, $8.45 million franchise deal

Though he was surprised to be tagged as the Pittsburgh Steelers' franchise player, tackle Max Starks wasted little time accepting his fate.

Starks signed a one-year, $8.45 million deal Saturday, locking him in for another season with the team.

Starks

As a franchise player, Starks could have explored other opportunities. Any interested team would have had to offer two first-round picks or work out a trade with the Steelers.

By signing the franchise tender, Starks' entire salary is guaranteed for 2009.

Starks was transitioned by the Steelers from a reserve role last year but didn't open the season as a starter.

Back problems limited the playing time of starting left tackle Marvel Smith, which opened the door for Starks to start and eventually be the starting left tackle through the Super Bowl.

Starks is the third of the 14 franchise players to sign their tenders. Michael Koenen, a punter, signed his tender with the Falcons. Quarterback Matt Cassel did the same with the Patriots.

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Carolina Panthers franchise Julius Peppers, agree with Jordan Gross

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- The Carolina Panthers have placed the franchise tag on defensive end Julius Peppers, setting up a potentially nasty showdown with the four-time Pro Bowl defensive end who wants to play elsewhere next season.

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The move on Thursday came moments after the Panthers agreed with All-Pro left tackle Jordan Gross on a six-year deal. Having locked up Gross, the Panthers placed the restrictive tag on Peppers, who had said he would request a trade under that scenario.

"Julius was expecting to be franchised," Peppers' agent, Carl Carey, wrote in a text message. "We will continue to work toward a resolution that is in line with his professional goals."

If he somehow remains with the Panthers under the franchise tag, Peppers would be paid $16.683 million. No other team can sign Peppers without giving up two first-round picks to Carolina.

Placing the tag on Peppers theoretically allows the Panthers to trade him and get some compensation for the cornerstone of their defense. But Peppers has power because no team would likely trade for him without first securing a long-term contract agreement.

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"We've said many times how many times we value Julius," general manager Marty Hurney said. "We would like him to play here."

Gross, who was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent, agreed to a six-year deal that had the biggest first-three-year payout to an offensive lineman in NFL history -- $30.5 million over the first three years of the contract.

The signing of Gross takes the level of pay for offensive linemen to a higher level. Last March, the New York Jets made guard Alan Faneca the first $8 million-a-year offensive lineman by giving him a five-year, $40 million contract.

Gross, Carolina's first-round pick in 2003, played last season under the franchise tag in a one-year, $7.45 million deal. Gross, who made his first Pro Bowl and was voted a first-team All-Pro last season, said he wanted to stay in Carolina and was the key cog in an improved offensive line that helped running backs DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have breakout seasons.

"We are very pleased to have Jordan signed for the long term," Hurney said. "He has developed into one of the premier tackles in the NFL and enables us to develop continuity along the offensive line. We are extremely pleased that he will remain a Panther."

The moves mean that all five starters on the line are locked up in long-term deals. The defensive line, meanwhile, is in flux.

Peppers, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 draft, is a freakish athlete who is Carolina's career sacks leader. But Peppers has also been criticized for inconsistent play -- he had a career-high 14 sacks this past season, but a career-low 2 the year before that.

Even in 2008, Peppers didn't record a single tackle against Denver and was shut down in Carolina's upset loss to Arizona in the playoffs.

Peppers, who turned down a lucrative contract extension before the start of last season, has said he would like to play outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense instead of staying in Carolina's 4-3 alignment.

There is precedent to slapping the franchise tag on a player and then dealing him. Kansas City traded defensive end Jared Allen to Minnesota last year for a first-round pick and two third-round choices.

But Allen first agreed to a six-year contract with the Vikings that included $31 million in guaranteed money and could be worth $74 million if he meets certain incentives.

"You guys know how I feel about all this speculation and stuff," Hurney said, when asked if Carolina could pull off a similar deal. "We franchised him and that's where we are right now."

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Buffalo Bills coach Dick Jauron says he hears fans' complaints

INDIANAPOLIS -- Often criticized by Buffalo Bills fans for his emotionless demeanor, coach Dick Jauron revealed Thursday morning he's not detached from their annoyance with him.

Jauron, at Lucas Oil Stadium for the annual scouting combine, spoke for the first time since the Bills finally acknowledged the three-year contract extension he signed during the season and announced he would be retained.

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Neither decision went over well with Bills fans. And the normally stone-faced head coach admitted he's not oblivious to what they think of him.

"I don't know how you do it," Jauron said. "You can't not hear, just like you can't not read negative things that are written. They're written when you lose. The only way to make everybody happy is to win. That's what we all want. We all want the same thing."

The Bills have gone 7-9 in each of their three seasons under Jauron.

"I understand their feelings are negative," he said. "I'm a fan. I certainly have teams I pull for, and the Buffalo Bills are at the top of the list. When we don't win, I'm not particularly happy."

The Bills have missed the playoffs nine straight seasons, and 2008 was the most indigestible of those seasons. They charged to a 5-1 start and looked a surefire playoff team before dropping seven of their next eight and eight of their last 10. Making matters worse, the Bills went 0-6 against the AFC East.

“

You can't not hear, just like you can't not read negative things that are written. They're written when you lose. The only way to make everybody happy is to win.

”-- Dick Jauron

In ESPN.com's NFL coach approval ratings, Jauron plummeted from a high of 95 percent in October to 8 percent in Week 14. His final rating was 13 percent.

"In 2008, because we got off to such a good start, the expectations were huge," Jauron said. "We just couldn't sustain it."

Jauron came under fire from fans and the media for his in-game decisions, particularly wasting timeouts, not properly managing the clock and always deferring when winning coin flips.

"Clearly, I have to get them better prepared and make some better game-time decisions," Jauron said.

Asked to elaborate, he added, "As a coaching staff, we have to get more efficient in terms of our communication. ... Game-time decisions, whenever they don't work, they're the wrong decision. You'd like to have them work. Hopefully, the ball will bounce our way a little more often."

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Pittsburgh Steelers franchise Max Starks

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks received the team's franchise tag Thursday -- even though he isn't guaranteed a job as a starter.

Starks

Starks became the 13th NFL player tagged before the 4 p.m. ET deadline. He received a one-year tender at $8.451 million. Last year, Starks had a $6.985 million franchise tender as the team's transition tag. The franchise number given to Starks this year was based on the average of the top-five cap numbers of offensive linemen around the league from last season.

Any team wishing to sign Starks would have to surrender two first-round draft picks, but the Steelers would have seven days to match any offer and, thus, keep him.

Despite being franchised last year, Starks started the regular season on the bench. Left tackle Marvel Smith had back problems during the season and Starks took over the position and helped the Steelers to their sixth Super Bowl title.

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Oakland Raiders give Nnamdi Asomugha unprecedented contract

The Oakland Raiders reached agreement with cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on a $45.3 million, three-year contract that makes him the highest-paid defensive back in NFL history.

Asomugha

Sources said Asomugha is guaranteed $28.5 million in a complicated deal that features a provision in which the entire contract can be guaranteed if the Raiders decide to keep the 27-year-old for the third season.

This was the second major re-signing by the Raiders in two days; on Wednesday, Shane Lechler agreed to a four-year, $16 million contract, the richest ever for a punter.

Both deals were negotiated by agent Tom Condon, with Raiders owner Al Davis having significant involvement in brokering the agreements.

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Source: Kelvin Hayden, Indianapolis Colts agree to five-year deal

The Indianapolis Colts and cornerback Kelvin Hayden have agreed to a five-year deal worth approximately $43 million, a source told ESPN's Michael Smith on Wednesday.

The deal includes more than $22 million in guarantees.

Hayden

"Needless to say, Kelvin is very happy," Fletcher Smith, Hayden's agent, told the Indianapolis Star on Wednesday night. "The [contract] just made a lot of sense for us."

Hayden intercepted three passes each of the past two seasons but is best remembered for his acrobatic interception in the Super Bowl, which he returned for a touchdown to seal the victory over Chicago.

After the Colts' playoff loss to San Diego, Hayden said he still wanted to play for the Colts but sounded uncertain about his future with the team.

Colts president Bill Polian called Hayden the team's top offseason priority.

Late last week, however, Polian said the Colts likely would use the franchise tag if they couldn't reach a deal before Thursday's deadline. That would have cost the Colts about $9.9 million and would have pinched Indianapolis' salary cap situation more than it already is.

On Wednesday night, Polian still was not sure something would get done.

Within four hours, though, Smith and the Colts closed the deal on yet another big contract. Since 2004, the Colts have signed Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison, Reggie Wayne, Dwight Freeney, Bob Sanders, Dallas Clark, Ryan Lilja and now Hayden to deals worth $19 million or more.

But signing Hayden gives Indy more options to keep other players.

Polian can use the franchise tag on three-time Pro Bowl center Jeff Saturday. Or he could deal with a logjam of free agents, whose representatives said negotiations were stalled while the Colts tried to resolve Hayden's status.

Among those still unsigned are running back Dominic Rhodes, linebacker Tyjuan Hagler, punter Hunter Smith and defensive end Josh Thomas.

Smith's agent, Thomas Mills, said Wednesday he did not expect the Colts to sign Smith before the free-agent market opens next week.

Polian has said this is the worst salary cap pinch the team has endured since his tenure began with Indy began in 1998, and that using the franchise tag on Hayden might have forced the Colts to begin releasing other veterans.

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Oakland Raiders' Shane Lechler to become highest-paid punter

OAKLAND, Calif. -- All-Pro punter Shane Lechler agreed to a four-year contract Wednesday to stay with the Oakland Raiders, allowing the club to avoid a potentially tough choice in free agency.

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Lechler could have become an unrestricted free agent next week after being chosen to the AFC's Pro Bowl team for the fourth time in his stellar nine-year career. The deal, sources told ESPN.com's John Clayton, is in excess of $3 million a season. Brian Moorman of the Chicago Bears had been the highest-paid punter at $2.354 million a year.

It was expected Lechler was going to leave knowing that the team wasn't going to give him the franchise tag. Rather than leaving, he accepted becoming the highest-paid punter in football.

"This contract is the greatest ever given to a punter in the history of the National Football League," Raiders senior executive John Herrera told The Associated Press.

The deal also frees up the Raiders to apply the franchise player tag to cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, another potential free agent. The Pro Bowl defender also had the tag last season, when he made $9.765 million.

The Raiders have until 4 p.m. ET on Thursday to franchise Asomugha, but talks between both sides heated up Wednesday night with hopes of getting something done.

Without locking down Lechler before free agency begins Feb. 27, Raiders owner Al Davis would have been forced to choose between keeping Lechler or Asomugha, Oakland's other All-Pro -- and Lechler probably would have left.

Lechler, who made $1.5 million last season, has the highest career punting average in NFL history at 46.8 yards. He led the NFL last season with a 41.2 net average, slightly bettering the NFL record he set in 2007.

His skills have been invaluable to the Raiders, who retained Tom Cable as their head coach earlier in the month. Although Lechler has sometimes expressed frustration with Oakland's six consecutive losing seasons, he'll be back for a 10th season with the club in the fall.

If Asomugha is tagged again, he'll get a 20 percent raise to around $11.7 million. The Raiders tried to reach a long-term deal with the University of California product last year, but didn't get a contract.

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Ravens place exclusive rights franchise tag on Terrell Suggs

The Baltimore Ravens slapped the exclusive rights franchise tag on hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker Terrell Suggs Wednesday. This is the second consecutive year the Ravens have designated Suggs as the team's franchise player.

AFC North blog

ESPN.com's James Walker writes about all things AFC North in his division blog.

•Blog network: NFL Nation

Suggs, 26, was due to become an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 27. The deadline to use the tag was Thursday at 4 p.m. and he will make $10.2 million for one year if a long-term deal cannot be reached.

"Our plan is to sign 'Sizzle' to a long-term contract," Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. "We believe our history of keeping our best players for a long time speaks for itself."

Using the tag on Suggs means future Hall of Fame linebacker Ray Lewis, 33, could soon test the market. Baltimore, which continues to negotiate with both players, had to choose between the two Pro Bowlers and decided to put the tag on the younger player.

Suggs is the Ravens' most dynamic pass rusher. The former first-round pick in 2003 has 53 career sacks in six seasons.

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Culver City Police Department confident Marshawn Lynch will be officially charged

The Culver City Police Department is confident a felony firearm charge will be filed against Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch for possession of a loaded firearm in public.

Lynch's lawyer, however, questioned a direct link in Wednesday's arrest, three days after Lynch played in the Pro Bowl.

Lynch

"When we make an arrest, we believe it to be justified," Culver City Police Lt. Dean Williams told ESPN.com on Tuesday.

The case has been turned over to the Los Angeles County District Attorney, who is expected to formally charge Lynch for possession of a loaded weapon by the end of the week.

In response to media inquiries, the Culver City Police Department on Sunday issued a brief statement that Lynch was arrested for possession of a concealed firearm, but Williams said the actual charge was for possession of a loaded weapon. The gun was an unregistered 9 mm.

The NFL and the Bills, meanwhile, are withholding comment.

Gun safety is a significant issue in the NFL. It has been a hot topic since New York Giants receiver Plaxico Burress was arrested on two felony charges in December after accidentally shooting himself at a Manhattan nightclub.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has taken a low-tolerance approach to repeat offenders, and although Lynch never has been suspended, he has gotten into trouble repeatedly. Lynch will turn 23 in April.

Graham: Bad News

The details of Marshawn Lynch's recent arrest appear to be getting worse, ESPN.com's Tim Graham writes. Blog

•Blog network: NFL Nation

"We may not wait for the legal process to conclude when we have repeat offenders," Goodell said Jan. 30 at his annual state of the league address before the Super Bowl. "You can have a false accusation once, maybe twice. When you start getting into multiple accusations, you are putting yourself in the wrong position. You are making the wrong decision. You are in the wrong places.

"At that point in time, you are reflecting poorly on the NFL, yourself, your teammates. That does damage for all of us."

Sunday's police-issued statement noted officers spotted three men in a 2006 Mercedes-Benz and recognized Lynch as the Bills' running back. Williams added Tuesday the car "was stopped for minor traffic violations, and as I read the report they were well-justified."

The statement said the gun was determined to be Lynch's. Williams declined to provide details how the officers reached their conclusion. He also declined to say whether Lynch was driving the Mercedes or where the gun was found.

"I don't believe he thinks Marshawn was driving the vehicle, and I don't believe he thinks the gun was found on Marshawn's person," said Lynch's attorney, M. Gerald Schwartzbach. "The car was not stopped for any kind of driving violation. It isn't a situation that involved violence or the threat of violence."

Schwartzbach conceded he hadn't yet reviewed a copy of the arrest report.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff Department's inmate database says Lynch was booked at 7:12 p.m. and was released on a $35,000 bond at 8:45 p.m.

Williams said it's not unusual to see Mercedes-Benzes in Culver City, Calif., home of Sony Pictures (formerly MGM Studios). He noted the patches on their police uniforms read "The heart of TV and Screenland" and that celebrity arrests aren't foreign occurrences there.

Lynch last summer was the subject of a hit-and-run investigation in Buffalo after his luxury SUV struck a woman in the street and sped away.

After nearly a month of posturing from Lynch's lawyers and the Erie County District Attorney, Lynch paid a $100 fine in a plea agreement. He didn't face criminal charges because the woman's injuries weren't serious enough. She received seven stitches at a local hospital.

"He's not someone who tries to get in trouble," Schwartzbach said. "He's not someone who tries to violate the law. He just isn't. I hope that this is going to be resolved as quickly as possible and as fairly as possible.

"I'm hopeful he comes out of this with his career intact."

In 2006, as Lynch was about to enter his junior season at California, he was the target of a drive-by shooting outside his prep alma mater, Oakland Technical. Police determined Lynch was the victim of mistaken identity.

Lynch ran for 1,038 yards and eight touchdowns last season. He also caught 47 passes for 300 yards and a touchdown.

"I've known Marshawn for a few years," Schwartzbach said. "Obviously, I'm his lawyer. I'm his advocate. Completely, aside from that, I think he's a terrific person. As big as his heart is on the field it's just as big off the field, and that's saying an awful lot."

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