St. Louis Rams sign TE Billy Bajema to block for Steven Jackson

New St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo recently suggested that tailback Steven Jackson would be the man around whom the Rams' offense was designed. On Monday, Spagnuolo validated that desire, reaching agreement with free agent tight end Billy Bajema on a contract.

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Bajema, 26, spent the first four seasons of his NFL career with San Francisco and is regarded as strictly a blocking tight end. In fact, in four seasons with the 49ers, Bajema registered only seven catches, and just two since his rookie season.

The signing, rumored for the past week, was first reported by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and later confirmed by a team source. Contract details were not yet available.

A former Oklahoma State standout, Bajema was a seventh-round pick of the 49ers in the 2005 draft.

He joins Eric Butler, Daniel Fells, and projected starter Joe Klopfenstein on the St. Louis roster. It is expected that he will be used as the team's blocking tight end. The Rams released veteran tight end Anthony Becht two weeks ago.

Bajema started in a career-high 10 games in 2008, and appeared in all 16 contests but caught only two passes for 34 yards. He had no receptions in each of the previous two seasons. As a rookie, Bajema had a five receptions for 54 yards.

He has yet to score a touchdown in the NFL but is a strong in-line blocker, consistent with Spagnuolo's intent to run the ball.

New Orleans Saints re-sign backup quarterback Joey Harrington

The New Orleans Saints re-signed backup quarterback Joey Harrington on Monday afternoon.

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Harrington had been an unrestricted free agent after serving as New Orleans' third quarterback for 12 games last season. But the Saints had said all along they wanted Harrington back and were just waiting until there was room under the salary cap.

The Saints are set with Drew Brees, who threw for more than 5,000 yards last season, as the starter. But top backup Mark Brunell will turn 39 in September.

Harrington, 30, was a first-round pick by Detroit in 2002. In seven NFL seasons, he has started 76 games while completing 1,459-of-2,538 passes for 14,683 yards with 79 touchdowns and 85 interceptions.

Plaxico Burress of New York Giants prepares for court hearing

NEW YORK -- A lawyer for New York Giants star receiver Plaxico Burress says a hearing in his gun possession case will be postponed.

Burress

Defense attorney Ben Brafman said Monday the wide receiver will show up to court Tuesday but "it's just a matter of getting a quick adjournment."

Burress accidentally shot himself in the thigh at a nightclub in November. He has been charged with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree, a felony carrying a minimum prison sentence of 3 years upon conviction.

Brafman would not say whether the hearing is being adjourned so a plea deal can be reached.

"I'm not going to get into that," he said.

Two independent sources with knowledge of the negotiations between Burress and the Manhattan district attorney told ESPN's Sal Paolantonio that Burress knows any lengthy trial on felony weapons charges would only delay his possible reinstatement to the NFL.

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Commissioner Roger Goodell comments on disciplinary action for Plaxico Burress.

The district attorney's office has told Brafman that any plea deal would have to include jail time, the sources said. A sentence of longer than five months would make it difficult for Burress to return for the 2009 season.

Prosecutors commonly offer reduced charges in gun possession cases, considering past criminal history, arrest circumstances and the reason for having the weapon.

The 31-year-old wide receiver has no criminal record. The gun he was carrying had been licensed in Florida and that license only recently expired. The gun was not licensed in New York.

Statistics show that more than eight out of 10 people arrested in New York City in 2008 for the same charge Burress faces received a reduced charge, though some plea deals included jail time.

"This is going to be a close call," said Randy M. Mastro, a former prosecutor and deputy mayor under Rudy Giuliani. "He's got a pretty compelling story to tell. ... But at the same time, there's been a tremendous public outcry, particularly by some politicians, about this famous figure having a weapon."

ESPN reported last week that Burress' attorney had been in contact with prosecutors for months trying to avoid a lengthy trial. On Monday, The New York Times reported a plea deal was being seriously considered and it appeared likely to include Burress serving some jail time.

The district attorney's office has not commented.

Burress has not spoken publicly about why he was carrying a gun, but some have speculated that he was carrying it for safety reasons after teammate and fellow wide receiver Steve Smith was robbed at gunpoint three days earlier after being driven to his residence in a chauffeur-driven car.

"There's a pretty compelling story that there were traps in the circle of players which he traveled," Mastro said. "He has a story to tell the courts that is more sympathetic than the typical gun possession charge."

Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who has waged a long campaign against illegal guns, has publicly castigated Burress for illegally carrying the .40-caliber weapon. And there was talk of a cover-up by the Giants and the NFL after the Nov. 28 incident at the Latin Quarter; it took police nearly 12 hours to figure out Burress had shot himself and was hospitalized, and the player turned himself in three days later.

"He's a public figure, the case has become a notorious one," Mastro said. "His fame may not help him in this case."

Precedent is on Burress' side. Only about 14 percent of the people charged last year with criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree -- the same charge that Burress faces -- are ultimately convicted of that charge, said John Caher, a spokesman for the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Of the 1,248 people in New York City initially arrested on second-degree criminal weapons possession in 2008, 184 were convicted of the charge. About half were convicted of a misdemeanor or violation, and the remaining convictions were usually lesser felonies with some jail time.

Reduced charges in similar cases include attempted possession or third-degree gun possession, which result in lesser or no jail time. It's not clear whether a plea deal will result in Burress serving any jail time.

Burress' Giants teammates have been supportive about his return, but they're concerned about the future of the team without him. The Giants lost four of their final five games after Burress was suspended, fined and placed on the nonfootball injury list, meaning he also could not appear in the playoffs. The Giants finished 12-5, losing at home in the playoffs to the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Giants, who signed Burress to a five-year, $35 million contract extension in September, have left the door open for Burress to return once his legal issues are resolved.

Pittsburgh Steelers-Arizona Cardinals rematch to open Monday Night Football preseason on ESPN

ESPN will kick off its 2009 Monday Night Football preseason schedule with a rematch of Super Bowl XLIII when the defending champion Pittsburgh Steelers host the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, Aug. 13 at 8 p.m. ET.

Preseason Monday Night Football

ESPN will kick off its 2009 Monday Night Football preseason schedule with a Super Bowl rematch:

Date Visitor Host 

Thursday, August 13 Arizona Cardinals Pittsburgh Steelers 

Monday, August 17 Carolina Panthers New York Giants 

Monday, August 24 New York Jets Baltimore Ravens 

Monday, August 31 Minnesota Vikings Houston Texans  

ESPN's Mike Tirico and analysts Ron Jaworski and Tony Kornheiser will call four NFL preseason games during the month of August -- one on Thursday and three on Mondays -- before their regular-season debut on Monday, Sept. 14. All MNF preseason games will begin at 8 p.m. ET.

The NFL's exhibition season begins Aug. 9 in Canton, Ohio, where the Buffalo Bills will play the Tennessee Titans in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game. The Dallas Cowboys will play for the first time in their new $1.1 billion stadium Aug. 21, facing the Titans.

Quarterback Kurt Warner and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald -- who played collegiately at the University of Pittsburgh -- will lead the defending NFC champion Cardinals against Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers at Heinz Field in the August 13 game.

On Monday, Aug. 17, Eli Manning and the NFC East champion New York Giants will host the Carolina Panthers, winners of the NFC South in 2008, at Giants Stadium on ESPN.

A week later, the Baltimore Ravens will host the New York Jets at M&T Bank Stadium as Jets first-year coach and former Ravens defensive coordinator Rex Ryan returns to Baltimore.

On August 31, ESPN will close out its preseason schedule when the Minnesota Vikings face the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium.

ESPN Deportes, ESPN's 24-hour Spanish-language domestic sports network, will once again offer a Spanish-language production of MNF preseason and regular season games in 2009. The on-air team will include Alvaro Martn (play-by-play), Raul Allegre (analyst) and John Sutcliffe (sideline reporter).

Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco absent from offseason workout program

CINCINNATI -- Bengals receiver Chad Ocho Cinco was absent from the start of the team's offseason program Monday, quarterback Carson Palmer said.

Ocho Cinco

After a down year in 2008, Palmer and the Bengals hoped Ocho Cinco would be present.

"I'm not worried about him; I'm worried about the guys we have here," Palmer said at a news conference Monday. "The guys that want to be here and want to work now are the guys who are in the locker room right now and are here today."

Despite Palmer's confirmation, Bengals coach Marvin Lewis would not say what players were present. Palmer did sound more upbeat when asked about other receivers such as Laveranues Coles, who was present. AFC North

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Last year Ocho Cinco caused a major stir by skipping "voluntary" workouts and publicly stating his desire to be traded. It is not known if this absence is again hinting that he wants out of Cincinnati. Ocho Cinco has not been in contact with the Bengals recently.

Last year Cincinnati passed up trade offers because the team was unwilling to take an $8 million salary-cap hit. This year that cap number is reduced to $4.87 million to trade Ocho Cinco, making it more of a possibility.

Ocho Cinco, 31, is coming off one of the worst seasons of his career, recording just 53 catches for 540 yards and four touchdowns. He also was deactivated for a November game against the Pittsburgh Steelers for violating a team rule.

Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats accepts officer's apology

Houston Texans running back Ryan Moats and his wife say they are ready to move past an incident in which a Dallas police officer held the player outside a hospital as his mother-in-law died inside.

"Well, first of all I accept his apology, and I hope it's sincere -- a sincere apology," Moats said on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday. "I've kind of left it up to my wife because I love Jo, my mother-in-law. ... She was just like my mom.

"And so I wanted to leave that up to [Tamishia] if she wanted to hear that from him."

Tamishia Moats walked away from the scene of the March 18 incident to go into the hospital, even as the officer had his gun drawn. She said there was nothing officer Robert Powell could have done to persuade her to stay.

Video: NFL player pulled over

On the Web site of the Dallas Morning News, video from a police dashboard camera shows a Dallas police officer stopping Texans running back Ryan Moats in front of the hospital where his mother-in-law lay dying of cancer. Watch

"I was thinking through my mind, 'I'm going to go into this hospital, I will be by my mom's side no matter what,' " she said on the ABC morning show.

Moats said she would appreciate a personal apology from Powell.

"When you're in a situation like that you really don't think about how dangerous it is because honestly he could have shot me," Tamishia Moats said. "I mean, he pointed the gun at me and basically said, you know, don't take another step, don't move, get back over here."

Powell, 25, a three-year member of the Dallas police force, issued a statement Saturday through his lawyers expressing regret for the incident.

"Actually, it would be comforting if we heard an apology directly from him," Tamishia Moats said. "But up to this point we have not received a personal call from him, directly. Maybe he has tried to reach out and we just perhaps missed his call. We definitely would accept his apology because, you know, he's a human being so we would, definitely."

Another allegation against Powell relating to an NFL player's wife surfaced over the weekend.

The Dallas Morning News reported that Maritza Thomas, wife of former Dallas Cowboys linebacker Zach Thomas, was handcuffed and spent approximately three hours in jail after Powell pulled her over for an illegal U-turn in July 2008.

Four of the five tickets issued against Maritza Thomas were later dropped including failure to show proof of insurance, running a red light, improper address on driver's license and a registration sticker was not on the windshield. She accepted deferred adjudication for the illegal U-turn charge, and her record will be cleared next month.

Powell stopped Moats outside Baylor Regional Medical Center in the Dallas suburb of Plano after his vehicle rolled through a red light. By the time the 26-year-old NFL player received a ticket and a lecture from Powell, his mother-in-law was dead. The ticket issued to Moats has been dismissed.

"I know that I got there safely as I could," Moats said Monday morning. "I flagged down all the traffic. I didn't run through the red light. I stopped at the red light. And I asked permission of the other drivers [at the intersection] to let me go; they saw me with the hazards on, so they let me go. They had grins -- they let me go. So I wasn't reckless at all."

When the exchange was at its most contentious, Powell said he could tow Moats' SUV if he didn't have insurance and that he could arrest him for fleeing because he didn't immediately stop when Powell turned on his sirens. The pursuit lasted a little more than a minute.

"I just had to say to him, 'Could you just write the ticket and let me go,' " Moats said. "I was thinking maybe he could walk up with me and let me say my goodbyes and then write me. ... I didn't have a problem with paying the ticket. I understand about the red light. I thought he would have some kind of sympathy."

Tamishia Moats wore a breast cancer ribbon Monday as she talked of memories of her mother, who died of the disease at the age of 45.

"Once, she took her entire bonus from work to buy Christmas presents for all of her kids because she loved the holidays and she believed that all kids should have Christmases, and she wanted each kid to have a least two gifts to open," Moats said.

"She was always looking out for other people before herself."

Offensive tackle Marvel Smith to sign contract with San Francisco 49ers

Free agent offensive tackle Marvel Smith, the former Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl standout who was limited by back problems to only 17 appearances the past two seasons, has agreed on a multiyear contract with the San Francisco 49ers.

Details of the contract, confirmed by sources close to Smith, were not yet available. But in a deal that protects the 49ers if Smith suffers further back problems, not nine-year veteran can earn more than $10 million, if he is healthy for the first two seasons of the contract.

Because of his physical woes, Smith, who underwent surgery for a herniated disk, was released by the Steelers this spring.

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Smith, 30, will have a chance to continue his NFL career in his native Bay Area. He is an Oakland native and twice earned all-city honors while playing for that city's Skyline High School.

A nine-year veteran, Smith could solve the 49ers' longtime problem at right tackle if he is healthy. Although he has played most of his career at left tackle, San Francisco has projected him as its starting right tackle.

The 49ers used three different starters at the position last season.

The 49ers on Friday released eight-year veteran tackle Jonas Jennings, who started two games in 2008 and whose four-year career in San Francisco was marred by injury.

Jennings was the first major free agent signing of former coach Mike Nolan's tenure in 2005, leaving the Buffalo Bills for a seven-year, $36 million deal. But the lineman played in just 23 of the 49ers' 64 games, finishing three of his four seasons on injured reserve.

Jennings would have made $4.2 million in base salary during the upcoming season. The 49ers told him to stay away from their minicamp earlier this month while they worked out the details of releasing him.

Smith, an outstanding pass blocker, was named to the AFC Pro Bowl squad in 2004. The former Arizona State star entered the league as Pittsburgh's second-round choice in 2000.

During his career, Smith has appeared in 111 games, with 108 starts. He has played all 16 games in four different seasons. A chronic back problem, however, limited Smith to just 17 games in 2007-2008. He finished the 2008 season on injured reserve.

Several teams have shown interest in Smith since his release, and he visited with 49ers' coaches and officials last week. Part of that visit was a physical examination, and Smith was deemed healthy enough to pursue.

His agent, Kenny Zuckerman, said that his client was healthy by the end of the season and could have played in Super Bowl XLIII had he not been on the injured reserve list.

Plaxico Burress' attorney working to resolve gun case

The attorney for Plaxico Burress has been in constant communication with the Manhattan district attorney's office for months, trying to get the charges against Burress resolved so that the New York Giants wide receiver can avoid a lengthy trial with the goal of returning to the NFL in time for the 2009 season, a source with knowledge of those conversations said Thursday.

Burress is expected to appear in Manhattan criminal court Tuesday morning for a pre-trial hearing. So far, no plea arrangement has been reached.

Burress

"Stay tuned," a source close to the case said Thursday.

After accidentally shooting himself in a Manhattan night club last Nov. 29, Burress was arraigned Dec. 1 on two counts of second-degree criminal possession of a loaded and unlicensed weapon, a Glock semi-automatic pistol, which is a felony and carries a mandatory minimum jail sentence of 3 years.

Noted criminal defense attorney Benjamin Brafman, who represents Burress, did not return phone calls. A spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau, who has been under intense public pressure since the start of this case to prosecute Burress to the fullest extent of the law, declined to comment.

But others, including many of Burress' teammates, have been lobbying publicly for a more lenient solution to the case. A spokesman for the Giants said Thursday that other than cooperating with authorities, the team has had no involvement in the case and has not lobbied to get the charges against Burress reduced.

The most common way to avoid the three-and-half years mandatory minimum sentence is to get the charge lowered to a third-degree possession.

But last year, in New York City, nearly 80 percent of the people convicted of a third-degree charge still ended up behind bars, according to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Of those people, 41 percent ended up serving more than one year in jail; 24 percent ended up serving one year in jail; 6 percent less than one year in jail, and 6 percent had a mixture of jail and probation 24 percent only had probation.

Burress wants to resolve his case without a trial so that he can begin the process of returning to the team. He was suspended by the Giants for four games without pay at the end of last season.

But the process of returning to the team fold will involve much more than what happens in court. If and when his case is resolved, Burress would then face a possible fine or suspension from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

After that, league sources say, the Giants front office and coach Tom Coughlin want to meet with Burress to determine his level of remorse and commitment to returning as a productive and responsible member of the team.

The ordeal began four months ago at a time when the Giants were riding high in the NFC East.

According to the complaint filed in Manhattan criminal court, Burress arrived at the Latin Quarter nightclub in Manhattan just before midnight on Nov. 28 with four others, including teammates Antonio Pierce and Ahmad Bradshaw. The other members of their party were not football players, according to police. At 12:05 a.m., a single gunshot was heard.

A witness told police that Burress was sitting near the V.I.P. area of the club holding a drink in his left hand and fidgeting with his right hand in the area of the waistline of his pants. The witness then heard a single "pop" sound before hearing Burress say, "Take me to the hospital."

Burress was on the ground, with his legs shaking, when a bloody gun -- a .40-caliber Glock -- fell out of his pantleg and onto the floor, according to the complaint. Sometime later, Burress, who does not have a permit to carry a handgun in New York City, was treated and released at a hospital before returning to his New Jersey home.

At the time, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg lashed out at Burress for carrying an illegal handgun. He also criticized New York Presbyterian Hospital for failing to inform the police about Burress' gun-related injury, as city law requires. And he questioned the motives of the Giants, who also neglected to notify the authorities.

"Our children are getting killed with guns in the streets. Our police officers are getting killed with guns in the hands of criminals, and because of that, we got the State Legislature to pass a law that if you carry a loaded handgun, you get automatically 3 years in the slammer," Bloomberg told reporters. "I don't think that anybody should be exempt from that, and I think it would be an outrage if we didn't prosecute to the fullest extent of the law, particularly people who live in the public domain, make their living because of their visibility. They are the role models for our kids."

Bloomberg said the Giants should have immediately notified authorities of the shooting. He said police learned of the incident from watching television.

All of that ratcheted up the pressure on the district attorney to not allow Burress off lightly because he was a celebrity athlete and member of the defending Super Bowl champions.

Enter Brafman, who said at the time that he wanted to go underground with the case, take it out of the public eye and prevail on the authorities that Burress was not a criminal, that the case was a terrible accident and Burress the only victim.

"People should reserve judgment on Mr. Burress until all the facts are in this case are in," Brafman said at the time.

Police officer delays Ryan Moats of Houston Texans in hospital parking lot as family member dies

PLANO, Texas -- A Dallas police officer who delayed Houston Texans' running back Ryan Moats from visiting his mother-in-law before she died in a Plano hospital has been reassigned to dispatch pending an investigation.

Video: NFL player pulled over

On the Web site of the Dallas Morning News, video from a police dashboard camera shows a Dallas police officer stopping Texans running back Ryan Moats in front of the hospital where his mother-in-law lay dying of cancer. Watch

Moats, his wife and other family members rushed from their suburban Dallas home to Baylor Regional Medical Center at Plano during the early hours of March 18 after getting word around midnight that Moats' mother-in-law, Jonetta Collinsworth, was dying. She had breast cancer.

According to Dallas-area media reports, Moats' vehicle, which rolled through a red light, was stopped by Officer Robert Powell in the hospital's parking lot.

Powell kept Moats and another family member for 13 minutes, threatening Moats with arrest and lecturing him. By the time Moats was released and entered the hospital, Jonetta Collinsworth had died.

Moats

Dallas police have dropped the ticket.

The Moatses, who are black, said Wednesday that they can't help but think that race may have played a role in how Powell, who is white, treated them.

"I think he should lose his job," said Ryan Moats, a Dallas native, according to the Dallas Morning News.

Dallas-Fort Worth television station WFAA-TV also obtained dashboard video from inside Powell's cruiser, detailing the exchange in which Powell threatened Moats with arrest.

When the car was pulled over, Moats' wife, Tamishia Moats, and her great aunt got out of the car to get into the hospital.

"Get in there!" Powell said, according to the Dallas Morning News' account of the footage. "Let me see your hands!"

"My mom is dying," Tamishia Moats replied. She and her great aunt ignored the officer and headed into the hospital, while Ryan Moats and another family member stayed behind, according to the report.

"I waited until no traffic was coming," Moats told Powell, explaining why he had rolled through the red light. "I got seconds before she's gone, man," he said, the newspaper reported.

Powell demanded his license, which Moats produced, and proof of insurance, which Moats could not find. "Just give me a ticket or whatever," Moats said, his frustration beginning to show, according to the report.

"Shut your mouth," Powell told him, the newspaper reported. "You can cooperate and settle down, or I can just take you to jail for running a red light."

In another exchange reported by the Morning News, Moats again asked the officer to complete the traffic stop quickly.

"If you're going to give me a ticket, give me a ticket," Moats said.

"Your attitude says that you need one," Powell replied.

"All I'm asking you is just to hurry up," Moats added.

"If you want to keep this going, I'll just put you in handcuffs," the officer said, "and I'll take you to jail for running a red light."

Powell continued on, making several more points, and Moats replied "Yes sir" to each.

"Understand what I can do," Powell said, according to the report. "I can tow your truck. I can charge you with fleeing. I can make your night very difficult."

"I understand," Moats responded. "I hope you'll be a great person and not do that."

Hospital security guards then arrived and told Powell that the Moatses' relative really was upstairs dying, the newspaper reported. But Powell spent several minutes inside his squad car, checking Moats for outstanding warrants. He found none.

Another hospital staff member emerged from the hospital and spoke with a Plano police officer who had arrived on the scene. "Hey, that's the nurse," the Plano officer told Powell, according to the Morning News. "She said that the mom's dying right now, and she's wanting to know if they can get him up there before she dies."

"All right," Powell replied, according to the report. "I'm almost done."

As Moats signed the ticket, Powell made another point.

"Attitude's everything," he said, the newspaper reported. "All you had to do is stop, tell me what was going on. More than likely, I would have let you go."

Powell, hired in January 2006, did not return a call for comment, the newspaper reported. But Dallas Assistant Chief Floyd Simpson said Powell told police officials that he believed that he was doing his job.

"When people are in distress, we should come to the rescue," Simpson said, according to the report. "We shouldn't further their distress."

Terrell Owens doesn't plan to attend Buffalo Bills voluntary workouts

Terrell Owens plans to show up for workouts in Buffalo when he's required to be there.

The Bills wide receiver, signed to a one-year deal earlier this month after being waived by the Dallas Cowboys, told reporters he prefers to follow his own offseason workout routine. He said Wednesday that he's informed coach Dick Jauron that he plans to join his teammates at the Bills facility in Orchard Park, N.Y., when the workouts become mandatory, rather than voluntary.

"I talked to coach Jauron prior to the start of the workouts about that," Owens told reporters. "Right now if there's nothing mandatory that I have to be a part of, then I won't intend to be there."

Owens said he expects to attend the Bills' minicamp in June and could possibly work out with his new teammates at other some point in the offseason. But when it comes to staying in shape, T.O. prefers to do things his way, on his own.

NFL.com Video

Bills WR Terrell Owens meets the media for the first time after being introduced in Buffalo.

"I've never gone to a voluntary workout," Owens said. "I have a personal trainer. I take very good care of myself. I take pride in coming into camp in shape.

"If I'm in the area, I tend to stop by the facilities and work out with the guys. You know, I'm looking forward to that type of stuff."

Owens, who was in Washington on Wednesday night to receive an award from the Alzheimer's Association, said he has reached out to Bills quarterback Trent Edwards and that he's anxious to build a good relationship. "We talked shortly after I signed and we exchanged text messages," Owens said. "We're looking forward to the upcoming season."

Edwards, whose text messages to the Bills front office when Owens was released helped spark the team's pursuit of the mercurial wide receiver, said Monday that he hadn't communicated much with Owens, but that his absence didn't bother him.

"He's obviously been playing the sport a long time," Edwards said, according to the report. "He knows his body, he knows the relationship he needs to have with the quarterback. ... I'm sure he'll be here in the near future, and I'm anxious to get that going."

Two weeks ago, Jauron noted Owens has a history of not taking part in voluntary sessions with his past teams, but hoped the Bills would be an exception.

"My hope is that he's here," Jauron said. "He knows how important it is for us, particularly in his first year with us."

Owens said he did not mind leaving "America's Team" for the relative anonymity of upstate New York.

"For me, it's not a matter of what city I go to, whether they have the popularity of the Dallas Cowboys or the following of Philadelphia or San Francisco. I am embracing a team and an organization," Owens said.

"I wanted to go to a place where a team and teammates wanted me. No matter what uniform I'm in, I'm going to perform. The Bills jumped at the opportunity to get me to Buffalo," Owens added. "I'm excited. I'm going to embrace the city. I can't wait to get in that uniform and start practicing. Sometimes it only takes a player or two to get a team over the hump."

The Alzheimer's Association honored Owens for raising awareness about the fight against the disease, which affects his grandmother, Alice Black, who raised him. On Wednesday, Owens credited his grandmother for the way he plays the game.

"My grandmother has been very, very instrumental in where I am as a person and my determination on the football field," Owens said.

"She said when I was a little kid there will be tough times in life," Owens said. "You just have to face them head-on. There are going to be people that like you and there are going to be people who don't like you.

"There's going to be some jealousy, some envy. But over the years I've been able to remain strong and use her as my rock and my strength."

Roger Goodell to consider whether Michael Vick has shown remorse in reinstatement decision

DANA POINT, Calif. -- When NFL commissioner Roger Goodell considers Michael Vick's potential return to the football from his indefinite suspension, he will be looking for evidence that the Atlanta Falcons quarterback is truly sorry for the mistakes he made.

"I'm not going to make a judgment until I know all the facts on Michael Vick," Goodell said Wednesday at the league's winter meetings, according to USA Today. "I think it's clear he's paid a price, but to a large extent he's going to have to demonstrate to the larger community -- not just to the NFL community and to me -- that he has remorse for what he did and that he recognizes mistakes that he made. " “

I think it's clear he's paid a price, but to a large extent he's going to have to demonstrate to the larger community -- not just to the NFL community and to me -- that he has remorse for what he did and that he recognizes mistakes that he made.

”-- Roger Goodell on Michael Vick "Everyone makes mistakes, but he has to show that genuine remorse in his ability to be a positive influence to correct the things that he did wrong publicly," he added, according to the report.

Vick is nearing the end of a 23-month federal prison sentence after pleading guilty to bankrolling a dogfighting ring. As of Wednesday, he was being transported from federal prison in Leavenworth, Kan., on his way to a Chapter 11 bankruptcy hearing, scheduled for April 2 in Newport News, Va.

Vick, who was once the NFL's highest paid player, owes millions of dollars to creditors. He is also facing fresh charges from the U.S. Department of Labor that he illegally withdrew more than $1.3 million from a pension plan of a company he owned.

His plan for paying his creditors is based largely on his intention to resume his NFL career.

NFL.com Video

The No. 4 mobile quarterback of all time is Michael Vick.

The Falcons still hold the contract rights to Vick but have said they will try to trade him. Vick's bankruptcy plan would allow him to keep the first $750,000 of his annual pay. After that, a percentage would go to his creditors based on a sliding scale.

On Wednesday, Goodell acknowledged that Vick has already paid a price for his mistakes, according to USA Today. But Goodell didn't hint at whether that will factor into his decision, or whether Vick could be reinstated for the 2009 season.

"I haven't sat down and looked at his case," Goodell said, according to the report. "I haven't met with him. I haven't understood where he is. I'm not going to try to guess."

NFL owners pass change on playoff teams draft order

DANA POINT, Calif. -- The NFL owners concluded their annual meeting Wednesday by voting to alter the draft order of pick Nos. 21 through 30 based on the teams' performance in the playoffs.

NFL.com Video

NFL Competition Committee co-chairmen Rich McKay and Jeff Fisher discuss rule proposals at the NFL Annual Meeting.

Under the new draft order, which will take effect in 2010, the order of teams not in the playoffs is still based on record -- i.e., the team with the worst record will receive the No. 1 draft pick.

For the rest, there will be a reseeding based on how far the teams go in the playoffs. For example, the losers of the wild-card games will be seeded 21st through 24th based on their records.

The losers in the divisional rounds will be seeded 25th through 28th. Teams eliminated in the conference championship games will be seeded 29th and 30th.

The Super Bowl loser will be seeded 31st. The Super Bowl winner will receive the final pick in the draft.

The competition committee recommended the change -- which the owners passed 32-0 -- after watching the San Diego Chargers go 8-8 as a division champion in 2008, then win a game in the playoffs. But the Chargers drafted ahead of teams that didn't make the playoffs, and well ahead of the Indianapolis Colts, whom they beat in the playoffs.

The Jacksonville Jaguars withdrew their playoff seeding proposal, which would have given home games to wild-card teams based strictly on their records, instead of seeding teams higher if they win division titles. The Jaguars have been pushing this proposal for two years, but it didn't have enough support.

Two minor rule changes also were adopted:

•If a fumble or backward pass goes out of bounds, the game clock will start when the official places the ball in play.

•The NFL eliminated a second onside kick chance if the first onside kick goes out of bounds. The competition committee believed that bad onside kicks should not be rewarded with a second opportunity.

New York Jets, Donald Strickland agree to three-year deal

The Jets continued their aggressive offseason to upgrade the defense Wednesday by reaching a three-year deal with 49ers cornerback Donald Strickland, a source said.

Strickland

Since the start of free agency, the Jets have been seeking a veteran cornerback to go with Darrelle Revis and Lito Sheppard. They looked at Corey Ivy of the Ravens and former Ravens cornerback Samari Rolle.

Other terms of the deal weren't immediately available.

The 5-10, 187-pound Strickland will be joining his fourth team. He was a third-round choice of the Colts in 2003. He went to the Eagles in 2005. He spent the past three years in San Francisco.

In three seasons with the 49ers, Strickland had 10 starts.

Buffalo Bills' Terrell Owens to receive Alzheimer's Association award

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Terrell Owens might have a pretty good reason for missing the start of the Bills' voluntary offseason conditioning program this week after all.

The star receiver is in Washington, D.C., attending the sixth annual National Alzheimer's Gala. On Wednesday night, he'll receive the Alzheimer's Association's first Young Champions Award for raising awareness in the fight against the disease. Owens' grandmother, Alice Black, has Alzheimer's.

Owens

Among the others being honored will be French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Democratic Sen. Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia and his wife, Sharon Percy Rockefeller.

"Alzheimer's is the seventh-leading cause of death in the United States," Owens said in a statement. "Alzheimer's has affected my own family, so I understand firsthand the impact of this disease. I am proud to support the Alzheimer's Association as they educate people on the realities of Alzheimer's disease so we can inspire enough support to stop it."

Owens, who signed with the Bills on March 7, made headlines Monday when he was one of several players who didn't show up for the start of the team's 12-week voluntary workout program.

According to a news release from the Buffalo Bills, Owens' work as an advocate has included testifying before Senate subcommittees to increase research funding and serving as a spokesman for the Alzheimer's Association Champion awareness campaign.

Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels committed to Jay Cutler, rules out nothing

DANA POINT, Calif. -- Even though he would be the point person in a potential Jay Cutler trade, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels has focused his attention on improving his relationship with his Pro Bowl quarterback instead of seeking offers.

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In speaking to the media for the first time Tuesday since the rift between the two became public, McDaniels reiterated Cutler is the Broncos' quarterback. Still, McDaniels says no options -- including trades -- are being ruled out.

"We're looking forward to getting him back. We're committed to him," McDaniels said. "I'll continue to do what we can do to try to affect our relationship positively from this point forward."

Their relationship became strained last month when McDaniels failed to inform Cutler about trade talks in which the Broncos showed interest in Matt Cassel. Cassel wound up being traded by New England to Kansas City, and Cutler asked to be traded.

McDaniels said there has been communication between both sides in the past couple of days, but the coach would not elaborate. Cutler apparently has no intention of attending Denver's voluntary offseason conditioning program.

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Reportedly, as many as 10 teams have expressed interest in acquiring Cutler, but McDaniels said messages have been left in Denver with team management and not with him directly. Talks, according to McDaniels, have not heated up with any interested team during the owners' meetings.

"Nobody's contacted me," McDaniels said. "Nobody's texted me, nobody's e-mailed me. And nothing is going to happen on our football team unless those decisions go through me.''

Asked point-blank if he thought Cutler would be a Bronco five weeks from now -- a period that would take teams beyond the draft in late April -- McDaniels answered in the affirmative.

"I understand there are things we have to work on toward fixing our relationship, but I'm optimistic about those things and where it's going to go," McDaniels said. "As long as we are both committed to each other, then he absolutely will be our quarterback."

Four safety proposals passed at NFL owners meetings

Apparently, the NFL is serious about putting safety first at this year's owners meeting.

Owners passed four safety proposals Tuesday morning, a full day before they normally pass any rules involving action on the field. In past meetings, owners usually wait until Wednesdays to debate and vote on rule changes involving the game. The Competition Committee makes its annual report to owners on Monday, giving supporters or opponents an extra day to lobby for votes.

NFL.com Video

NFL Competition Committee co-chairmen Rich McKay and Jeff Fisher discuss rule proposals at the NFL Annual Meeting.

When it came to safety this year, there was apparently no debate. Starting this fall, the NFL is going to outlaw the "wedge" on kickoffs, stop the bunching of players on onside kicks, protect blockers from a helmet-to-helmet hit from the blindside and save receivers from forearm or shoulder hits to the head when they appear to be defenseless.

The safety change for the onside kick may seem to be a minor adjustment, but it became more important when the Competition Committee watched tape of violent collisions on onside kicks.

In recent years, the league has tried to make onside kicks safer. Special teams coaches, however, found ways around those changes to group more players in smaller areas to gain an advantage. Under the new rule, players on the kickoff team will be spaced accordingly. First, at least four players of the kicking team must be on each side of the kicker. Second, at least three players must be lined up outside each inbounds line, including one who must be outside the yard-line number.

The "wedge" has been part of kickoff returns seemingly forever. The wedge is simply three players lined up in a blocking triangle that a returner follows as it plows up the field against kickoff coverage. After watching years of tape, the Competition Committee felt the wedge was causing too many injuries. Starting this fall, no more than two receiver team players may intentionally form a wedge to help the returner. The penalty is 15 yards and will be enforced from the spot of the wedge. It will be called if three or more players line up shoulder to shoulder within two yards of each other to lead the blocking.

The third accepted proposal involves a play in which Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward made a block that resulted in a broken jaw for Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Keith Rivers. A 15-yard penalty will be enforced if a player delivers a blindside block to the head of a defender using his helmet, forearm or shoulder. The penalty will be enforced if a helmet, shoulder or forearm strikes the head or neck of the defender.

The final change adds forearm and shoulder hits to protect defenseless receivers. In the past, officials gave an unnecessary roughness penalty to a defender if he delivered a helmet hit to a receiver going across the middle of the field or any spot on the field in which he appeared to be defenseless. Starting this fall, the penalty will also apply if the defender hits the defenseless receiver in the head or neck with his forearm or shoulder.

Source: LaDainian Tomlinson's restructured contract saves San Diego Chargers $2.25 million in salary cap room

Running back LaDainian Tomlinson saved the San Diego Chargers $2.25 million in salary-cap room when he restructured the final three years of his contract, a source confirmed Monday.

NFL.com Video

LaDainian Tomlinson plays despite a groin injury and scores a TD in a 23-17 win vs. the Colts.

Tomlinson was scheduled to make $24 million over the final three years of his contract. Under the new deal, the Chargers gave him a $2.875 million signing bonus and lowered his base salary to $3.825 million, a source said. In so doing, Tomlinson was able to keep the 2009 payout of his contract at $6.725 million.

That $6.725 million payout number was important because Darren Sproles, his backup, was given the franchise designation and is scheduled to make a little more than $6.6 million this season. Under the revised contract, Tomlinson, who is the starter, is making the most money among the running backs.

In return for preserving his 2009 salary, Tomlinson reduced the overall payout of his three-year contract to $6.625 million, a $1.375 million savings. Tomlinson has a $2 million option bonus due after the season, which forces the team to make a decision if it wants to keep him for the 2010 season.

Source: Houston Texans agree to contract with former Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Cody

The Houston Texans reached a three-year contract agreement with Detroit Lions defensive tackle Shaun Cody that should be finalized Tuesday, according to a source.

NFL.com Video

Shaun Cody and the Lions defense forces a 2nd INT from the Vikings, this time with a tag-team effort.

To get a three-year deal this late in the free-agency period is a little rare, but Cody fits into the Texans' plans to upgrade the defensive line. He can play the nose tackle position along with being a "three-technique" defensive tackle.

Cody was a second-round pick of Detroit in 2005. Injuries held him back during a portion of his Lions career. A dislocated toe cost him 10 games in the 2006 season. He had 11 starts during his four seasons with the Lions and appeared in 31 games over the past two seasons.

Terrell Owens misses start of Buffalo Bills' voluntary conditioning program

Terrell Owens missed the start of the Buffalo Bills' 12-week voluntary conditioning program Monday but is expected to attend at least part of the program.

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When asked recently if Owens would be in attendance, Bills coach Dick Jauron said, "Terrell in the past has not been involved in all of those things. My hope is that he's here. He knows how important it is for us, particularly in his first year with us."

About 50 players normally participate in all or most of the program, which consists of meeting with position coaches for film study and working out under the direction of training and conditioning staff. Voluntary organized team activities begin in late May and early June, when Bills players will get on the field for full practices.

Throughout his career, Owens has been known for keeping himself in top physical condition. As a 34-year-old last season, Owens, who participated in some of the workouts with the Dallas Cowboys, had 69 catches for 1,052 yards and 10 touchdowns. He turned 35 on Dec. 7.

Owens signed a one-year, $6.5 million deal with the Bills on March 7 two days after being released by the Cowboys. In his three years with the Cowboys, Owens caught 235 passes for 3,587 yards and 38 touchdowns in 47 games. He led the NFL with 13 touchdowns receiving in 2006, his first season in Dallas.

In his 13-year career, he's a five-time All-Pro and ranks second in career touchdowns, fifth in career yards receiving and sixth in career receptions.

Miami Dolphins trade Samson Satele to Oakland Raiders

The Miami Dolphins have traded one-time starting center Samson Satele to the Oakland Raiders for a draft choice.

Satele

Satele became available this spring when the Dolphins signed former Raiders starting center Jake Grove as an unrestricted free agent three weeks ago.

The trade was first reported by the Miami Herald and confirmed Monday morning by representatives for both players. Miami will receive a sixth-round pick from Oakland and the two sides will swap selections in an undisclosed round, a source close to the situation told ESPN.com's Bill Williamson.

The 24-year-old Satele started all 32 games for Miami the past two seasons. A former University of Hawaii star who was named to several all-rookie teams in 2007, Satele was the Dolphins' second-round pick in that year's draft.

His durability aside, Satele was believed by Miami coaches to be not strong enough to regularly handle the mammoth nose tackles in the AFC East. An offseason goal of the Dolphins was to upgrade at center, if possible.

The Dolphins achieved that goal, they think, on March 3 when they signed Grove to a five-year, $29 million contract, with $14.5 million of it guaranteed money. Speculation began immediately that Satele would either be traded or switched to guard to accommodate the addition of Grove.

A five-year veteran, Grove was a second-round choice of the Raiders in 2004. The former Virginia Tech star played in 54 games with 46 starts for the Raiders. However, he started all 16 games just once, in 2006.

Several injuries, including a calf injury in 2008, forced Grove to miss playing time. He played in only 12 games in 2008, all as a starter. In addition to his time at center, Grove also has started at left guard and right guard.

Donte Stallworth back in Cleveland; police say they have no test results

Donte Stallworth has returned to Cleveland and has been working out in the Browns' voluntary offseason conditioning program while police in Miami Beach continue to probe his involvement in a fatal car-pedestrian accident, The (Cleveland) Plain Dealer reported.

Stallworth's attorney, Chris Lyons, told the newspaper that Stallworth returned to Cleveland earlier this week.

Stallworth

"Donte reported to the Browns on Wednesday morning and he's been welcomed back by everyone -- his teammates, the management, the coaching staff, and they've all been extremely supportive," Lyons said, according to the report. "It's been good for him to get back to work."

Police in Miami Beach said they are still awaiting toxicology results that could result in criminal charges against the wide receiver, the newspaper reported. Police said it was unlikely they would receive the toxicology report during the weekend, meaning any charges against Stallworth might have to wait until Monday or Tuesday at the earliest, according to the Plain Dealer.

In the meantime, police are continuing to refute South Florida-area media reports that test results showed Stallworth's blood-alcohol level was above the Florida legal limit of .08 percent.

"Right now, we don't have the results and we don't have anything to release," Miami Beach police officer Deborah Doty said, according to The Plain Dealer. "There are a lot of rumors going around and it's unfortunate. People have to respect that there is a person who is deceased."

Lyons said Saturday that neither police nor the state attorney's office have released the results of toxicology tests, and neither has said specifically when they will be released.

A Miami Beach police spokesman didn't return an e-mail or phone message from The Associated Press on Saturday.

The Miami Herald and local TV news outlets, citing unnamed people, have reported that Stallworth's blood-alcohol level was above Florida's legal limit.

Stallworth has not been charged with a crime in the death of Mario Reyes, a 59-year-old Miami man who was struck by Stallworth's Bentley on a Miami Beach street early the morning of March 14.

"My family and I are grief-stricken over the tragic accident which occurred Saturday on Miami Beach where Mario Reyes sadly lost his life," Stallworth said in a prepared statement released earlier in the week by the Browns. "My thoughts and prayers are with the Reyes family during this incredibly difficult time."

Lyons said he has remained in close contact with Stallworth and that police in Miami Beach are aware of Stallworth's whereabouts, according to the Plain Dealer.

"He's going to stay up there and keep working out and getting himself in the best condition he can," Lyons said, the newspaper reported. "At the same time, Donte and his family have been respectful of Mr. Reyes' family, and he's always mindful that Mr. Reyes lost his life."

Chicago Bears, safety Glenn Earl agree to one-year deal

The Chicago Bears have added much-needed depth at the safety position, but had to dig into the past to fill the void.

Earl

Chicago has reached a contract agreement with free-agent safety Glenn Earl, who hasn't played in the NFL the past two seasons. Earl will sign a one-year contract, believed to be worth the veteran minimum salary of $620,000.

Once a promising defender, Earl had his career seemingly cut short in the final preseason game of 2007, when he suffered a Lisfranc injury of the foot. Earl was placed on injured reserve for 2007, and was released in 2008. He has not played in the NFL since then, but is healthy again now that the foot is healed, and he confirmed the agreement.

The Bears signed Earl, after he participated in the team's recent three-day minicamp. League rules allow a team to bring a player to camp for a three-day audition in the spring. Earl demonstrated that he is healthy again and can help the Chicago interior secondary.

The team released standout free safety Mike Brown at the outset of free agency. Chicago signed safety Josh Bullocks of New Orleans as an unrestricted free agent, and the four-year veteran is expected to compete for a starting job.

There are only four other safeties on the Chicago roster.

Earl, 27, likely will play on special teams, and as a nickel defender.

A four-year veteran, Earl was originally a fourth-round pick of Houston in the 2004 draft. The former Notre Dame standout provided size and play-making ability to the Texans' secondary before his injury. And in 2006, he had a career-high 74 tackles.

For his career, Earl has 153 tackles, two sacks, three interceptions, and four passes defensed. He has 31 starts and has played in 37 games.

Philadelphia Eagles sign ex-Seattle Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver for 1 year

Former Seattle Seahawks fullback Leonard Weaver weaved his way through a handful of contract offers and accepted a one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles Friday.

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The contract, according to a source, is a one-year deal that will pay him $1.75 million but also has incentives that could take the deal to $2.5 million.

Although there was more money on the table from a couple of other teams, Weaver felt more comfortable with the offensive opportunities in Philadelphia.

Weaver had been talking to the Vikings, Bucs, Seahawks and other teams, but he was hoping for the right deal from the Eagles.

The Eagles didn't use much of the fullback last season.

NFL.com Video

Leonard Weaver takes a pass 62 yards for a touchdown sealing the Seahawks win over the 49ers in Week 8.

Weaver was coming off a season in Seattle in which he played more than 50 percent of the offensive snaps.

An undrafted 26-year-old who came to the Seahawks in 2005, Weaver is a fullback who can handle a lot of duties.

He gets a few more carries than most fullbacks. He had 33 rushing attempts in 2007 and 30 in 2008. He's also a decent receiver out of the backfield. He caught 39 passes in 2007.

Cincinnati Bengals sign fullback Naufahu Tahi to free-agent offer sheet

Three-year veteran fullback Naufahu Tahi signed a restricted free-agent offer sheet Friday with the Cincinnati Bengals.

The offer sheet was originally reported by the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. It was then confirmed by agent David Lee.

Tahi

"We signed it this morning," Lee said. "We'll just have to see what happens."

Tahi has only 23 touches in three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, didn't register a rushing attempt in 2008, and has only six carries for his career. But the former Brigham Young standout is a strong lead blocker and helped clear the way for Minnesota tailback Adrian Peterson last year.

He would fill the same lead-blocker role with the Bengals.

Because he is a restricted free agent, and Minnesota tendered him a one-year contract at $1.01 million, the Vikings retained a right of first refusal. The terms of the offer sheet, believed to be for one year, were not yet available.

The Vikings have seven days to either match the offer by Cincinnati or pass on it. If they match it, the Vikings will assume the major terms of the offer sheet. If they opt not to match, Tahi will move to the Bengals, and the Vikings will receive no compensation, because Tahi originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent.

Coincidentally, it was the Bengals who signed him in 2006.

Tahi spent some time on the Cincinnati practice squad. He was later waived, and signed with the Vikings.

For his career, Tahi has played in 26 games with five starts. He has six carries for 15 yards and no touchdowns. He also has 17 catches for 44 yards and no touchdowns. Last season, Tahi started five of the 16 games in which he played.

Tahi is the fourth restricted free agent to sign an offer sheet with a different team this year. The other three were all matched by their incumbent teams.

They are: wide receiver David Anderson of Houston (by Denver); defensive back Jarrett Bush of Green Bay (by Tennessee); and New York Jets defensive back Abram Elam (by Cleveland).

New Orleans Saints release cornerback Mike McKenzie

The New Orleans Saints released 32-year-old cornerback Mike McKenzie Thursday, clearing $4.575 million of salary cap room.

NFL.com Video

Coach Sean Payton reveals CB Mike McKenzie is out for the year after suffering a broken right kneecap.

McKenzie's release doesn't come as much of a surprise. Over the past two seasons, the Saints added cornerbacks Jason David, Randall Gay and Jabari Greer in free agency. They also drafted starter Tracy Porter last season.

Injuries limited McKenzie to playing less than 40 percent of the snaps last season. He came to the Saints in a trade with the Green Bay Packers in 2004. During his stay in New Orleans, McKenzie had a reputation of being one of the better man-to-man coverage players in the league.

Source: Free-agent cornerback Corey Ivy to join Cleveland Browns

The AFC runner-up Baltimore Ravens have lost a third cornerback this offseason, with veteran nickel defender Corey Ivy reaching an agreement with the Cleveland Browns.

Ivy

Details of the contract, confirmed by a team source, were not yet available.

Ivy joins starters and Pro Bowl-caliber players Chris McAlister and Samari Rolle as prominent cornerbacks who have departed the Ravens. McAlister and Rolle have been released.

Ivy is not at the same performance level as Rolle or McAlister, but he is one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the league and a solid part-time starter. The Ravens have signed free agents Domonique Foxworth and Chris Carr to rebuild the cornerback position, but the loss of Ivy is a fairly significant one.

The much-traveled Ivy began his career with New England in 1999 as an undrafted free agent from Oklahoma. He played for the Patriots as a rookie, and also has been with Tampa Bay (2001-2004), St. Louis (2005), and Baltimore (2006-2008).

Although he started 11 games in 2007, Ivy has settled into the nickel role and likely will assume the same role for the Browns. He has played in 102 games with just 21 starts. For his career, Ivy has 278 tackles, interceptions and 23 passes defensed.

Last season with the Ravens, Ivy appeared in all 16 games with just one start, and had 52 tackles, no interceptions, and three passes defensed.

Arizona Cardinals reach agreement with guard Elton Brown

The Cardinals reached an agreement Thursday to retain guard Elton Brown, a source said. Terms of the deal weren't immediately available.

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Brown becomes the sixth unrestricted free agent to re-sign with the team. He joins quarterback Kurt Warner, linebacker Bert Berry, punter Ben Graham, linebacker Clark Haggans and quarterback Brian St. Pierre in deciding to stay in Arizona.

A former fourth-round choice of the Cardinals in 2005 under Denny Green, Brown (6-5, 332 pounds) showed his potential by starting nine games as a rookie. He experienced knee problems in 2005 and was inactive during the 2006 season. He started nine games in 2007, but lost his starting job to Deuce Lutui, who is currently the starter.

New Orleans Saints reach deal with Darren Sharper

The New Orleans Saints' defense became much sharper and smarter Wednesday after the team reached agreement on a contract with veteran free-agent safety Darren Sharper.

Sharper

Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The former Minnesota Viking had been talking to the Saints since free agency began at the end of February and had been the team most interested in signing him.

"Darren is an accomplished veteran player that brings a wealth of knowledge and ability to our secondary and has always possessed outstanding instincts and playmaking skills," Saints general manager Mickey Loomis said, according to The Associated Press.

The fit is a natural. Sharper's known for his play-making ability and his leadership on the field. By comparison, last year's Saints defense struggled in the secondary and lacked some play-making ability.

The 33-year-old Sharper will be joining his third NFL team in 13 years. The former first-round draft pick of the Packers spent eight seasons with Green Bay before signing with the Vikings in 2005. Sharper has 54 career interceptions and has been to four Pro Bowls.

The Saints also announced that they have signed veteran free-agent tight end Darnell Dinkins to a one-year contract.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers makeover at linebacker includes Angelo Crowell

TAMPA, Fla. -- The Tampa Bay Buccaneers began reconstructing their linebacker corps Wednesday by signing free-agent Angelo Crowell.

Details of his contract were not immediately available.

The move comes less than a month after the Bucs released veterans Derrick Brooks and Cato June and on the same day that they made it public that safety Jermaine Phillips will attempt to switch to linebacker this offseason.

Crowell, 27, had spent his entire career with Buffalo, joining the Bills in 2003 as a third-round draft pick.

Crowell has played primarily on the strong side. Presumably, the Bucs will keep him there, where June played last season. Phillips, the starting strong safety last year, told reporters in Tampa on Wednesday that the Bucs have approached him about switching to weak-side linebacker, where Brooks had been the starter since 1995. Phillips said he's open to the idea.

Crowell sat out last season with an injury after having the best season of his career in 2007, when he was a defensive captain and recorded 140 tackles. Tampa Bay returns Barrett Ruud at middle linebacker.

Meanwhile, the Bills wasted no time filling Crowell's roster spot by reaching a one-year agreement with linebacker Pat Thomas, a source told ESPN.com's John Clayton. Thomas, 26, started nine games for the Kansas City Chiefs last season.

Baltimore Ravens waive Samari Rolle to make room for CB Chris Carr

OWINGS MILLS, Md. -- The Baltimore Ravens have signed backup cornerback Chris Carr and waived veteran Samari Rolle.

NFL.com Video

John Harbaugh talks about how he admires CB Samari Rolle as a man, as well as his physical and mental toughness on the field.

Carr signed a 2-year, $5 million deal Wednesday, while cutting Rolle saves the team $4.1 million under the salary cap.

Carr is expected to back up Fabian Washington and Domonique Foxworth and return kicks. The four-year veteran played for the Oakland Raiders from 2005 to '07 and the Tennessee Titans last year.

Rolle has spent the past four seasons with the Ravens, playing 48 games. He was diagnosed with epilepsy in 2007 but returned to play in six games that season.

Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome says he expects other teams to be interested in Rolle, but he hasn't ruled out bringing him back to Baltimore.

To replace Carr in Nashville, the Titans agreed to terms with Carolina free-agent receiver Mark Jones on Tuesday. Titans coach Jeff Fisher will look to Jones to field punts and kicks for Tennessee, which got consistent production out of Carr in the jobs in 2008 after signing him away from Oakland as a restricted free agent.

Carr was viewed as bonus depth at cornerback, and wound up filling in a few times and playing well. Jones will likely be looked at in the same way with the Titans, a team that is looking to restock at wide receiver. Brandon Jones signed in San Francisco, and the Titans have no outward interest in bringing Justin McCareins back.

Currently Justin Gage and newcomer Nate Washington are the team's only experienced receivers. Second-year man Lavelle Hawkins is expected to make a jump and the Titans could chase Torry Holt.

The Titans remain thin at corner, after losing Carr and watching Green Bay match the offer sheet Jarrett Bush signed with Tennessee.

Source: Baltimore Ravens agree to deal with L.J. Smith

The Baltimore Ravens are not waiting until the NFL draft to add quality depth to the tight end position.

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According to a source, the Ravens have agreed in principle to a one-year, $1.5 million deal with former Philadelphia Eagle L.J. Smith. The tight end is visiting Baltimore Wednesday and could have a deal finalized by the end of the week, pending a physical.

Smith, 28, spent the past six seasons in Philadelphia, where Ravens head coach John Harbaugh spent most of his career as an assistant. Baltimore is looking for an additional receiving threat and depth at tight end to play alongside current starter Todd Heap, who's had several injuries in recent seasons.

Smith recorded 37 receptions for 298 yards and three touchdowns for the Eagles last year. A former second-round pick in 2003, Smith has 231 career receptions in 85 games. He also had visits with the Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions.

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Cleveland Browns sign tackle John St. Clair to three-year deal

Creating competition at right tackle and perhaps adding an experienced starter, the Cleveland Browns signed nine-year veteran and unrestricted free-agent John St. Clair on Tuesday.

St. Clair received a three-year deal, worth $9-10 million, from Cleveland.

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St. Clair had played the past four seasons with the Chicago Bears, who attempted to re-sign him. The loss of St. Clair, coupled with the offseason retirement of John Tait, leaves Chicago without both of its 2008 starters. St. Clair was a key player to retain for the Bears, but their offer was well below the Browns' proposal.

At the very least, St. Clair will compete with veteran Ryan Tucker for the right tackle spot, formerly held by Kevin Shaffer. The Browns recently released Shaffer to avoid paying him a roster bonus. There were rumors that Schaffer would re-sign at a lower salary, but the edition of St. Clair probably makes that a moot point.

At the worst, the Browns gained a solid No. 3 "swing" tackle with experience starting on both the left and right sides.

Originally drafted by the St. Louis Rams in 2000, the former third-rounder is joining his fourth NFL franchise. St. Clair has played with the Rams (2000-03), the Miami Dolphins (2004), and the Bears (2005-08).

Although he started 16 games for the Rams in 2002, St. Clair wasn't regarded as a full-time starter until signing with the Bears. He played his best football, by far in Chicago, and started all 16 games in 2008.

For his career, St. Clair has started in 55 of 107 appearances.

Renaldo Wynn returns to Washington Redskins

Hoping to replace productivity with experience, the Washington Redskins have reached a one-year agreement with unrestricted free agent defensive lineman Renaldo Wynn.

Contract details were not yet available, but it is believed Wynn signed for at or near the NFL minimum salary. The agreement was first reported by the Washington Times, and has been confirmed by a team official.

Wynn

Wynn, 34, will be on his second tour of duty with the Redskins. He played in Washington from 2002 to 2006, and was a starter for the first three of those seasons. With the Redskins, he started 63 games, missing only one contest the first four years, but has not started more than one game in the league since 2006.

The 12-year veteran was signed to compensate for the recent losses of defensive linemen Jason Taylor and Demetric Evans, which has left the Redskins thin on the defensive line. Evans was lost to San Francisco as an unrestricted free agent, and Taylor was released after he refused to restructure his contract.

A former Notre Dame star, and the first-round choice of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1997, Wynn has appeared in 177 games, with 128 starts. He has played with Jacksonville (1997-2001), Washington (2002-2006), New Orleans (2007), and the New York Giants (2008).

With the Giants, Wynn played in all 16 games, with no starts, and had 25 tackles and two sacks. For his career, he has 238 tackles, 27 sacks, six forced fumbles, and two passes defensed.

Despite his age, Wynn retains some value because of his versatility. He can play both end and tackle, and should be a valuable backup at both spots. The Redskins previously re-signed guard Derrick Dockery after he was released by Buffalo.

First shoe falls for Edgerrin James: Cardinals sign Jason Wright

Wright

The Arizona Cardinals filled one of two possible openings in their backfield Monday by signing Browns backup running back Jason Wright to a two-year contract, the team announced.

The deal for Wright, according to a source, is worth $2 million.

His addition doesn't change the status of running back Edgerrin James, who hopes to be released when the team finds a replacement for him. Wright was signed to fill the role of backup running back J.J. Arrington, who left for the Denver Broncos.

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Derek Anderson pass short right to Jason Wright for a touchdown.

The 26-year-old Wright will be asked to handle maybe five or six carries a game and could take over the job as Arizona's third-down back. He caught 46 passes for the Browns in his past two seasons there and Cleveland wanted to re-sign him.

Wright, who was recruited heavily by Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, opted for the opportunity in Arizona. Tim Hightower remains the starter and James remains on the roster -- for now.

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Tony Dungy asked to be liaison for players

Newly elected NFLPA executive director DeMaurice Smith has asked former Colts head coach Tony Dungy to serve as a liaison between the association's players and the NFL office for player issues both on and off the field.

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Dungy confirmed to ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen that he has been approached by Smith and is interested in the position. Dungy said that Smith informed him that he would be in touch shortly to better define the job.

"It's certainly something that's close to my heart, having been associated with the NFL for so long," Dungy said.

The 45-year-old Smith was elected Sunday on the first ballot by the 32 representatives -- one for each NFL team -- and was introduced to a standing ovation.

Dungy retired from coaching in January after seven seasons with the Colts and one Super Bowl ring.

Dungy talked constantly to his players about being targets, once describing to a visitor the specifics of how he counsels them to avoid the wrong people, the wrong places and the perils of driving in the early morning after consuming a few beers.

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Take a look back at the coaching career of Tony Dungy.

He also has firsthand knowledge of troubled young people -- three years ago, Dungy's son, James, committed suicide at age 18. That winter, he began to think about retirement, which finally came at 53, an age when many get their first job as a head coach.

"I think I've got a responsibility to be home a little bit more, be available to my family a little bit more and do some things to help make our country better," Dungy said when he announced this offseason that he was stepping down.

"I don't know what that is right now, but we'll see."

Also, Dungy had talks Monday with a member of President Barack Obama's administration about participating in some faith-based initiatives aimed at cultural issues, including fatherhood and reducing abortions nationwide. Those discussions will continue, he said.

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Agent: Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker James Harrison to attend workouts despite contract talks

Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison will be present as the Super Bowl champions open their offseason workout program Monday despite unresolved contractual issues, his agent said.

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"Yes, James will be there," agent Bill Parise said of the NFL's 2008 defensive player of the year.

Both sides remain in constant talks, so there was no need for Harrison to miss the session, according to Parise, as it could lead to unwarranted tension.

Though Parise wouldn't elaborate on the negotiations, he recently told ESPN.com that both sides remained hopeful but far apart.

"We're talking and meeting pretty regularly, almost daily, but we're having a difficult time getting to where we need to be," Parise said last month.

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Highlights of the best moments from James Harrison in 2008.

Harrison, 30, is coming off a year in which he recorded 101 tackles, 16 sacks and seven forced fumbles for Pittsburgh.

He made a salary of $1.2 million last season, making him one of the league's best bargains.

So far the Steelers have not been active in free agency while focusing mostly on keeping their own players.

Signing Harrison to a long-term deal is one of the team's biggest internal priorities.

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Meeting with Josh McDaniels, GM backfires, Jay Cutler asks Denver Broncos for trade

Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler said Sunday night that he will not report to the team's first meeting on Monday and has formally asked to be traded. He confirmed that a Saturday meeting with first-year coach Josh McDaniels ended badly from his perspective while McDaniels offered another viewpoint on Sunday night.

"I went in there with every intention of solving the issue, being a Bronco, moving forward as a Bronco," Cutler said. "We weren't in there but about 20 minutes, [McDaniels] did most of the talking and as far as I'm concerned, he made it clear he wants his own guy. He admitted he wanted Matt Cassel because he said he has raised him up from the ground as a quarterback. He said he wasn't sorry about it. He made it clear that he could still entertain trading me because, as he put it, he'll do whatever he feels is in the best interest of the organization.

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Matthew Emmons/US PresswireJay Cutler said while new Denver coach Josh McDaniels hasn't been critical of him, Cutler can no longer trust McDaniels.

"At the end of the meeting, he wasn't like, 'Jay, I want you as our quarterback, you're our guy.' It felt like the opposite. He basically said that I needed to tell him if we can't work this out, to let him know," Cutler added. "I thought he was antagonizing me and that was disappointing because I was ready to move on, committed as a Bronco. Really, I figured we'd hash things out, shake hands, laugh a little and move forward. What happened [Saturday] was the last thing I expected. If I didn't think it could be fixed, I never would have come back to Denver. It was painfully obvious to me and Bus [Cook, his agent] it's not something they want to fix."

Consequently, Cutler instructed Cook, who also attended the meeting, to formally request a trade. The quarterback said he left town late Sunday and would skip McDaniels' first team meeting on Monday as they begin their offseason program.

Broncos owner Pat Bowlen told the Denver Post on Sunday that he was disappointed with how Cutler has handled the situation. In a telephone interview with ESPN, McDaniels was reluctantly expansive on the story.

"I really have wanted to avoid a he-said, she-said thing but it's only fair for us to present the Bronco side of the story rather than let things get taken out of context," McDaniels said. "There's been a pattern here for the past two weeks the way things [have been represented] in our communications. I don't think anythng that happened [Saturday] was out of the ordinary. At the end of the meeting, Jay said he had thought about things quite a bit and requested a few more hours to mull things over. He said he wanted to talk to Bus on how to proceed. He was gonna call me on my cell phone and that never happened. Instead, Bus called [GM] Brian [Xanders].

"Again, I think that's been a pattern. I couldn't get [Cutler] to talk to me for two weeks or to talk to Mr. Bowlen. Then when he came here this weekend, we couldn't get a one-on-one meeting, just me and him alone. He wanted Bus in there, so I had Brian sit in, too. And it was the four of us. There wasn't any yelling, none of that. I can't believe we get to a totally different [interpretation].

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"It's an unfortunate set of circumstances that has cropped up, a potential distraction and we've done our best to limit that. The main message I want to get out is that we're excited to start our offseason program [Monday]. It's an exciting time for us."

Cutler won't be present at the team meeting.

"I certainly went back there, expecting I'd be there [Monday] but not now," Cutler said. "It's not mandatory. I'll attend every mandatory mini-camp and training camp but that's it. Really, it's best for me to move on. As coach said, he needs every eye in the meeting room to be on him and not me."

As McDaniels pointed out, Cutler had a completely different expectation when he left their private meeting on Saturday.

Cutler said: "You know, even after the meeting, I hung around town, kind of expecting him to call me and say, 'Hey, let's just me and you get away and have lunch or a cup of coffee' and mend things, but that didn't happen. So, I get it, really, it's a business. I'm disappointed beause I love being a Bronco but I think it's run its course."

Cutler denied recent reports that he had asked to be traded when the Broncos fired offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates.

"Yes, I was upset when they let Jeremy go because Mr. Bowlen had assured me when Mike [Shanahan] was fired that the offense wouldn't change because it was the second-ranked offense in football," Cutler said. "But I didn't push for a trade then."

McDaniels and Cutler agreed on at least one element of the controversy, knocking down a Sunday report on NFL Network that the coach had criticized the quarterback's play in 2008.

"That just isn't true," McDaniels said. "Not a word has been said about that."

Cutler added: "Josh has never said anything negative to me about my play or anything else, for that matter."

McDaniels admitted that the team got involved in trade discussions for Cassel, who instead was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs. However, he said any perception Cutler felt that the team could still trade him was misleading.

"That's what we have communicated ever since the deal with Cassel didn't happen," McDaniels said. "Other teams have called but we're not interested in getting draft picks for Jay. I never made a statement [Saturday] that 'you can be traded at any time.' They asked a question and I told them it was the time of year when people inquire about your team. Your job, as a head coach and general manager, is to listen and not bypass any opportunity to help your team improve. I think most people [in the NFL] feel the same way. You make smart, educated decisions that are best for your football team."

Cutler feels like McDaniels lost his credibility with him when he initially denied to the quarterback that the Broncos tried to acquire Cassel only to admit it later.

"Before this trade for Cassel thing ever came up, in the two weeks or so I had spent with McDaniels, he was basically telling me that he came to Denver because he wanted to coach me and that we needed to trust each other," Cutler said. "He's never been critical to me. But trust now? How can I trust him now?"

He also explained that his house being put up for sale was "nothing more than a coincidence."

"I had already shown my house privately to some interested buyers a couple of months ago," Cutler said. "I've really been looking to buy 40 to 70 acres of land there."

As for ignoring phone calls from McDaniels and Bowlen, Cutler said: "Josh and I have exchanged text messages. We had a conference call. And if Pat wanted to speak to me, why didn't he come to the meeting on Saturday?"

Cook said that as an agent he was "totally in shock" that it has gotten so ugly.

"I would have bet my house going into Saturday's meeting that everyone would be shaking hands and smiling," Cook said. "I thought it was going to get worked out. But it was very clear to me that Jay Cutler is not their choice to be quarterback of that team."

Yet Cook admitted that when he called Xanders to request a trade on Saturday night, the team's general manager said it wasn't going to happen and that "Jay should show up Monday."

That wasn't going to happen, either.

Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler likely to skip team meeting after talk with coach Josh McDaniels

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. -- Jay Cutler finally met face-to-face with Josh McDaniels over the weekend, but nothing was resolved, leading to doubt the quarterback will show up for the new coach's first team meeting Monday.

The Denver Broncos' coach and Pro Bowl quarterback, who are involved in a simmering feud over trade talks, met Saturday at the team's training facility, and both sides agreed to regroup and continue conversations, team spokesman Patrick Smyth told The Associated Press.

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It wasn't clear if the sides planned to meet again Sunday.

On Saturday, Cutler and his agent, Bus Cook, met with McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders in what the Broncos described as mild-mannered conversations at Dove Valley.

Denver station KCNC-TV reported that the meeting didn't go well, however, and The Denver Post reported that words were exchanged between Cutler and McDaniels.

Cook didn't return phone messages left by The AP on Sunday.

McDaniels isn't scheduled to address the media until the annual owners meeting in Dana Point, Calif., March 22-25.

But the Broncos insist they're not going to trade Cutler, who just played in his first Pro Bowl.

Cutler has deepened the drama by putting his 7,516-square foot home in suburban Parker on the market for $2 million. And a smaller home owned by Cutler and his parents, Jack and Sandra Cutler, two miles away, is for sale for $835,000. Cutler, however, is keeping his downtown Denver penthouse -- at least for now.

On Saturday night, Cutler was a no-show at a fundraiser at Invesco Field where he was on the guest list. The Broncos said Cutler didn't attend because he didn't want to be a distraction but that he made a donation to the cause, Dani's Foundation, which raises money for research and treatment for rare forms of cancer in children.

Team owner Pat Bowlen was in attendance, but he wouldn't answer any questions and waved off a reporter. On Sunday, he addressed the issue to the Denver Post.

"I'm very disappointed," Bowlen told the Post. "I'm disappointed in the whole picture, not just disappointed that we might lose our star quarterback."

Cutler's name was brought up a lot at that event, a roast for longtime Broncos trainer Steve Antonopulos. Former Denver offensive lineman Mark Cooper, who played in the 1980s, cracked: "Times have changed around here. Now players cry when they hear they're going to be traded."

Cutler has been unhappy since learning that McDaniels, who was New England's offensive coordinator the last three seasons, entertained the notion of trading him to Tampa Bay in a three-way swap that would have brought quarterback Matt Cassel from the Patriots to Denver.

New England instead traded Cassel to Kansas City.

Cutler believes McDaniels, who replaced Mike Shanahan in January, misled him about those trade talks, and he has said he believes he'll be traded by draft weekend if the Broncos find the right deal.

McDaniels has said all he did was listen to the trade proposals, as he would with any player, as he tries to rebuild a Broncos team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 2005.

The Broncos have been the NFL's most active team in free agency, signing 15 players, including quarterback Chris Simms, a former starter in Tampa Bay who has thrown just two passes since having emergency surgery to remove his spleen after a game in 2006.

Simms signed for two years and $6 million, ostensibly to serve as Cutler's backup.

With his relationship with his starting quarterback strained, McDaniels wanted a face-to-face meeting once Cutler returned from his offseason home in Nashville, Tenn., so they could clear the air before the team's offseason training program kicks off Monday with his first team meeting.

All eyes will be on the lookout for Cutler.

If he's a no-show, it will undermine McDaniels' authority and deepen the rift between the 25-year-old quarterback and the 32-year-old first-time head coach, perhaps irreparably.