Montana State Coach Fired

Montana State fired football coach Mike Kramer on Friday, several days after another former Bobcats athlete was arrested on drug charges.

Kramer was 40-43 in seven seasons at the Bozeman school, including an 8-5 mark last year. He led the Bobcats to three Big Sky Conference titles and three NCAA playoff appearances.

Former wide receiver Rick Gatewood was arrested this week on drug charges and is accused of using his athletic scholarship money to traffic cocaine from California in the Bozeman area. His brother also faces drug charges.

Gatewood is the sixth former Montana State athlete arrested or charged with crimes involving drugs or murder in the past year.

Gatewood, a Richmond, Calif., native, was an all-Big Sky Conference wide receiver in 2004 and 2005. He signed with the Oakland Raiders as a free agent last summer, but didn't make the team, and was expected to try out with baseball's Philadelphia Phillies this month.

Montana State cornerback Andre Fuller pleaded not guilty in March to charges he sold cocaine to a confidential informant last June. He was suspended from the football team while the case is investigated.

Former wide receiver Edward Sullivan of Carlsbad, Calif., and Derrick Davis Jr., a former cornerback from Santa Monica, Calif., also have been charged with selling drugs.

And last June, former redshirt football player John Lebrum and former Bobcat basketball player Branden Miller were charged with murder and kidnapping in the shooting death of suspected drug dealer Jason Wright. They have pleaded not guilty and are scheduled for trial in the coming months.

In October 2004, former assistant head football coach Joe O'Brien was sentenced to four years in prison for his role in a methamphetamine distribution conspiracy.

Montana State opens its 2007 regular season Sept. 1 at Texas A&M.

The Bobcats posted their first postseason win in 22 years when they beat Furman 31-13 in the Division I-AA championships last fall, and finished the season ranked 10th in the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision. Montana State was beaten 38-17 by eventual champion Appalachian State in the I-AA quarterfinals.

Johnson Set to Meet With Titans

Former Panthers wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson has accepted an invitation by head coach Jeff Fisher to visit the Tennessee Titans over the weekend.

The Titans, which need an experienced receiver to help Vince Young, said Thursday they are interested in Keyshawn Johnson. But the veteran has made it clear he has no intention of being a cheap rental.

Johnson has been waiting for the Raiders to make him an offer. After taking a week's vacation, Johnson has been communicating with about six teams who have shown interest in him. The Titans will be the first team he visits.

The Carolina Panthers released Johnson, who turns 35 in July, earlier this month after drafting Dwayne Jarrett. He had 70 catches for 815 yards and four touchdowns last season and became the 16th player in NFL history with 800 career catches.

His 70 catches for 2006 easily tops the receptions of all the receivers currently on the Titans' roster who played in the NFL last year.

Johnson's relationship with Fisher goes back to Southern California, when the coach played for the Trojans and Johnson was a ball boy.

David Givens is the Titans' only receiver with more than five seasons in the NFL and the only one with more than 65 career catches (166). But he had a second surgery on his left knee seven weeks ago and isn't expected to be ready for the start of the season.

The Titans' receivers include Justin Gage, a four-year veteran signed as a free agent who has 64 career catches; a trio of players drafted in 2005 led by Brandon Jones with 27 catches in 2006; and another trio of draft picks last month -- none taken before the third round.

Compare that to the 6-foot-4 Johnson, who was the No. 1 pick in the 1996 draft. He spent last season with Carolina after being released by the Dallas Cowboys to free up enough salary cap space to sign Terrell Owens.

Johnson said last year he wants to play a couple of more seasons to reach 1,000 career receptions. But productivity has never been his problem.

He clashed with Jets teammates and wrote the book "Just Give Me the Damn Ball" after his rookie season.

Johnson helped Tampa Bay win a Super Bowl in 2002, only to be deactivated for the final six games the next season after feuding with coach Jon Gruden.

The Best QB You Don't Know

He doesn't make the headlines. You won't see his name in the papers for his latest arrest, his newest Hollywood girlfriend or his exciting dog fighting business.

You'll here nothing about him during the off-season. He won't be uppermost in the public consciousness.

His name is Marc Bulger and he's the best quarterback in the NFL not named Peyton Manning.

Bulger is the unassuming leader of the St. Louis Rams, who has slowly but surely proven to the world and the NFL that he is more substance than the flash (in the pan)and glitz of Michael Vick.

He won't be featured in any magazines, news shows, or celebrity gossip rags. You'll be lucky if anyone mentions him at all. Too bad, because he's the best quarterback you never heard off.

Don't believe me? Well, numbers don't lie.

Last season, Bulger threw for 4,301 yards, only Manning and Drew Brees had more. He had 24 touchdown passes with only eight interceptions, as well as a 63 percent completion percentage.

Not bad when you consider he was learning a brand new offense under first-year coach Scott Linehan last season.

For his career, Bulger has thrown for 16,233 yards with 95 touchdowns and 59 interceptions for a 91.3 passer rating and a career 64.4 percent completion percentage. Not bad for a guy who was a sixth round draft pick.

For comparison, Manning has a 64 percent completion percentage and a 94.4 passer rating. Not much difference is there?

He doesn't have the Super Bowl rings of Tom Brady or Manning, nor the arm of a Carson Palmer, but he has the heart of a lion and the determination of a Hannibal, leading his soldiers over the Alps. Bulger won't let adversity stop him.

He was considered too small in stature and arm strength coming out of West Virginia. How did he answer the critics?

All he's done is go to two Pro Bowls, winning an MVP in one of them, while leading the Rams to the playoffs three times in his five years as a starter. Bulger may have had a Super Bowl ring on his finger by now if the Rams defense would have been sturdier.

His accuracy is tops in the league. Most of the other quarterbacks would agree with that. He can hit a receiver in stride without breaking his rhythm. He's a silent leader who does his talking on the field. Simply put, he's the best quarterback no one knows about.

His name is Marc Bulger and he's one of the best of his generation. Maybe someday he'll get the respect he so richly deserves.

Goodell May Shorten Draft Time Limits

In what we could only hope happens, NFL boss Roger Goodell is considering shorting time limits for making selections in the first two rounds of the draft.

The subject may be brought up when owners convene next Tuesday in Nashville for the league's annual spring meeting. The main focus of the one-day get together will be what city will host the Super Bowl in 2011.

This year's draft included the longest first round in history, at six hours and eight minutes. It also had the longest first day, with the first three rounds stretching 11 hours, four minutes.

The current time limits are 15 minutes for the first round, 10 minutes for the second, and five minutes for the final five rounds. The competition committee is expected to recommend time limits of 10 minutes for the first round, seven minutes for the second, and five minutes for the remaining rounds.

Because the draft falls under the auspices of the commissioner, a formal vote technically isn't necessary to enact changes in the lottery, but Goodell is not inclined to act alone on the matter. Instead, the owners could reduce the time limits by simply affirming a recommendation from the competition committee.

Part of the reason for the reduction is that Goodell and NFL owners would like to get at least the first round in prime time televison. The NFL Draft has grown by leaps and bounds and prime time equals prime dollars for the league.

I for one don't care about that. I love the draft, but 11-plus hours is way too long even for the most die hard draftniks. The owners, coaches, personnel men and scouts have had months and months to evaluate the players. Why should it take them 15 minutes to make a decision after all that preparation?

Here's hoping the Goodell and the owners have the good sense to shorten the time lag.

McNabb Should Be Ready For Training Camp

Barring any setbacks, Donovan McNabb should be ready when the Philadelphia Eagles open training camp in 2½ months.

The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback has rehabbed vigorously since a knee injury ended his season in Week 11 last year. He's running and throwing and is on course for a complete return when players report to camp on July 27.

"He's been throwing once a week, and he looks good in that area," coach Andy Reid said Monday after the team completed its first minicamp. "Progressively, he'll be given more days where he can get out and throw, and he'll continue his rehab. The closer we get to camp, he'll be back to full speed. So, we're expecting him, when camp starts, to be able to participate."

McNabb is spending a lot of time at the team's practice facility, but also will rehab at his home in Arizona part of the summer. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last Nov. 19. It was the third time in five years that McNabb's regular season ended in mid-November.

When the Eagles hold their first practice of training camp, it'll be exactly eight months to the day McNabb had reconstructive knee surgery. The season opener at Green Bay on Sept. 9 will be 9½ months post-surgery.

McNabb was having one of the best statistical seasons of his eight-year career before he got injured. He finished with 2,647 yards passing, 18 TDs, six interceptions and a passer rating of 95.5.

The Eagles surprised quite a few people, including McNabb, by picking quarterback Kevin Kolb in the second round with their first selection in last month's NFL draft. However, there is no quarterback controversy. McNabb is the starter for as long as he stays healthy.

Both Favre, Packers In The Right

The Brett Favre/Green Bay Packers drama that played out in the media over the weekend is a case of both the player and the team being in the right.

This isn't a black and white issue. There is no hero or villain. Each side has a valid argument and both are correct in their rationales.

In case you missed all that happened, Favre expressed his disappointment that the Green Bay brass could have gotten Randy Moss but wouldn't give up a fourth round pick to get him.

Favre talked to Moss all off season, they have the same agent, and Moss expressed an interest in playing with the Pack.

Moss ended up going to New England and Favre vented his frustrations at his annual celebrity golf tournament in Mississippi on Saturday.

"It is disappointing," Favre said on Saturday. "We could have gotten him for less money than New England did. He wanted to play in Green Bay for the amount of money we would have paid him. It [was] well worth the risk."

"The last thing I want to do is start any [controversy]," Favre said. "But I think he would have been a great addition. You throw Randy Moss, you throw [current starters] Donald Driver and Greg Jennings on the field at the same time, and go three-wide receiver set ... and I think it's pretty intimidating. And we lost out on that, and I think that it's a shame, because I know we could have had him."

Rumors of Favre asking to be traded were unfounded of course. As he made clear today.

"I was frustrated a couple weeks back when Randy Moss was traded to New England. I never wanted to be traded and I don't want to be traded. I want to be in Green Bay," Favre said Monday in a statement posted on the team's Web site. "I want to finish my career as a Packer. Sometimes when I get frustrated I let my emotions get the better of me.

"As I said in February when I announced that I was coming back, I am excited about the young talent on our team and the improvements we're going to see from one year to the next. I really enjoy the young guys I'm playing with. I'm working hard down in Mississippi right now, rehabbing, and I plan to be in the best shape of my life. I look forward to playing with this team and seeing what we can do. I think we can be pretty good."

Both sides are right.

Favre is entering his 17th year and he wants to win now. Who knows how many seasons he has left? At the most, the soon-to-be Hall of Famer is down to the last 1-2 years left of his career and he wants one more chance at a Super Bowl.

To Favre, a vet like Moss might be the difference between last year's eight-win Packers and a 10, 11, or 12-win 2007 squad.

On the other hand, GM Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy are looking towards the future. The Packers brass want to go young and the future does not rest in the hands of a 38-year old quarterback, future Hall-of-Famer candidate or not.

You can't build a team around a quarterback entering his 17th year who openly wonders if the next season is his last, and who in 2006 had a worse TD to INT ratio than Rex Grossman, Michael Vick, Eli Manning, Steve McNair and J.P. Losman, among others. While Thompson says all the right things publicly, his actions speak clearly: If Green Bay is going to win a Super Bowl, it's more likely that Aaron Rodgers or someone else will be the quarterback other than Favre.

For now, Favre and the Packer front office are stuck with each other. Favre knows his time is short and he wants to win now, but is there enough around him to get to the Super Bowl?

That question, unfortunately, is a very big no.

Tweleve Elected to College Hall of Fame

Doug Flutie was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame on Wednesday in his first year of eligibility, joining Ahmad Rashad and 10 other players honored by the National Football Foundation.

The 5-foot-10 (barely) Flutie won the Heisman Trophy in 1984 for Boston College and threw one of the most memorable passes in college football history. His 48-yard touchdown pass to Gerard Phelan as time expired gave the Eagles a 47-45 victory over Miami. The desperation 'Hail Flutie' toss and the sight of him leaping in the air as he sprinted down field to celebrate with his teammates has become timeless.

Flutie threw for 10,579 yards in his college career and led BC to a 10-2 record and Cotton Bowl victory during his Heisman season.

Flutie was elected with Rashad, a star receiver and running back at Oregon, and former Dartmouth linebacker Reggie Williams.

The other new Hall of Famers are: Oklahoma center Tom Brahaney, Michigan defensive back Dave Brown, Clemson linebacker Jeff Davis, Texas defensive back Johnnie Johnson, Ohio State quarterback Rex Kern, Indiana running back Anthony Thompson, Houston defensive tackle Wilson Whitley, Southern California linebacker Richard Wood and Notre Dame defensive tackle Chris Zorich.

Herb Deromedi, who won 110 games as coach at Central Michigan over 13 seasons, also was elected.

The latest class will be inducted at the National Football Foundation's awards banquet in December and enshrined at the Hall in South Bend, Ind., during the summer of 2008.

Penn State coach Joe Paterno, elected last year, will be inducted and enshrined with this year's class. Paterno's induction was postponed last year because he was still recovering after breaking his leg during a game against Wisconsin in November.

Rashad was known as Bobby Moore during his college career at Oregon, where he played running back and wide receiver and was a three-time all-Pac-8 selection (1969-71). He went on to play 11 seasons in the NFL, his best years with the Minnesota Vikings

Williams, who still holds the Dartmouth record for unassisted tackles in a career, is the first black player from the Ivy League elected to the Hall of Fame.

Titans Sign Two; Barlow To Steelers

The Tennessee Titans signed quarterback Tim Rattay and also claimed linebacker Gilbert Gardner off waivers from the Indianapolis Colts on Wednesday.

The Titans also signed free-agent offensive lineman Marques Ogden and fullback Jonathan Evans and waived defensive tackle Marcus White and undrafted rookies fullback Nic Luc and defensive tackle Adrian Haywood. Ogden is the younger brother of Baltimore left tackle Jonathan Ogden.

Tennessee carried only two quarterbacks on the roster in 2006, with veteran Kerry Collins backing up Vince Young, and Matt Mauck was on the practice squad. Collins re-signed with the Titans this offseason.

Rattay started 18 games with San Francisco and Tampa Bay, including playing in the final four games last season for the Buccaneers. His best season was in 2004, when he had nine starts and threw for 2,169 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Gardner, a third-round pick in 2004, becomes the third former Indianapolis defender the Titans have picked up. They signed linebacker David Thornton as a free agent last year and gave cornerback Nick Harper a three-year deal in March.

Gardner had 97 tackles and 15 starts with the Colts over the past three seasons, with 12 of those starts coming last season.

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Still seeking to fill the void they experienced last season when the retirement of Jerome Bettis left the offense without a power-type tailback, the Pittsburgh Steelers have reached agreement with free agent Kevan Barlow on a one-year contract.

Financial details of the agreement, which has been rumored for the past several days, were not immediately available.

A Pittsburgh native who attended that city's Peabody High School and then starred at the University of Pittsburgh, the six-year veteran will sign the deal before the Friday morning start to the team's first mandatory minicamp under new coach Mike Tomlin.

In Pittsburgh, it's expected that Barlow will compete with Najeh Davenport for the No. 2 tailback job behind Willie Parker. The coaching staff wants to reduce the workload for Parker, a speedy but undersized tailback who logged a career-high 337 rushes in 2006. Davenport carried just 60 times as Parker's backup in 2006; third-down tailback Verron Haynes, who might still be in camp with Pittsburgh if he can successfully rehabilitate his surgically repaired knee, had only 15 carries.

Parker rushed for 1,494 yards and 13 touchdowns, but the consensus is that he might be even more productive with a little more rest.

For his career, Barlow has carried 1,022 times for 3,984 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also has 144 receptions for 1,164 yards and three scores. Barlow has appeared in 84 games and started in 33 of them.

Eagles Did Right In Drafting a QB

Donovan McNabb said in a recent interview that he was shocked the Philadelphia Eagles drafted a quarterback with their first selection in the 2007 NFL Draft.

He shouldn't be.

The Eagles are just protecting themselves. It has nothing to do with a lack of loyalty to McNabb, it has everything to do with the future of the franchise. Kolb may or may not be the man to replace McNabb, but Andy Reid and GM Tom Heckert are thinking long term and decided Kolb was the best fit.

McNabb is still the number one guy, but the time frame on Donovan's career is hitting the tail end.

He will be 31 years old at the start of this season and he hasn't been able to play a full 16 games in three of his last five years. Plus, McNabb has only two more years left on his contract so you can't blame Reid and the Eagles for looking ahead to life without Donovan.

This is a business, first and foremost, and the Eagles are looking at it from a business perspective. The Eagles needed to take a quarterback in this draft. The only question that remains is Kolb the right man for the job.

He does have the stats on his side. The Eagles traded out of the first round and chose Kolb in the second round with the 36th overall pick. Kolb threw for 12,964 yards, 85 touchdowns and 31 interceptions in four years at Houston. He passed for 3,808 yards, 30 TDs and only four picks last season.

Some question if he's ready for the NFL. He's a system quarterback who threw mainly out of the shotgun in college. One thing that is on his side is time. He can learn under McNabb and A.J. Feely, provided McNabb is will to be a mentor. Donovan is still the man, even though he sounds awfully threatened by the selection of Kolb.

McNabb told WIP-AM radio that he was shocked when the Eagles took Kolb. He then had a meeting with Reid, but he wouldn't say what the conversation was about. Who want to bet it was about Kolb? Sounds like a guy who's not to secure about his job.

The Eagles open their first minicamp on Friday. McNabb won't participate in practices but will be working out at the practice facility. He said he isn't sure if he'll play in the preseason opener on Aug. 13, but expects to be ready for the second or third game.

McNabb has led the Eagles to four NFC championship games and a Super Bowl loss in eight seasons in Philadelphia. He has done a great job and his legacy is assured, but
father time is breathing down his neck and so is a young quarterback from Houston. Only time will tell how it all plays out.

NFL News and Notes

Receiver Steve Smith agreed to a three-year contract extension with the Carolina Panthers on Tuesday in a deal that will keep him with the team through the 2012 season.

Smith had been hoping to get a new deal for some time and the Panthers had made a long-term deal one of their priorities after releasing veteran receiver Keyshawn Johnson last week.

Smith, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, led the NFL with 103 catches for 1,563 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2005. Smith's numbers declined last season. He missed the first two games with a hamstring injury, and finished with 20 fewer catches, 400 fewer receiving yards and four fewer touchdowns as Carolina went 8-8.

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Six-year veteran defensive right end Justin Smith, designated by the Cincinnati Bengals as a franchise player before the start of the free agency period, on Tuesday signed the one-year tender, guaranteeing him a base salary of $8.644 million for the 2007 season.

Smith is the third of the NFL's seven franchise players to sign a contract. New Orleans defensive end Charles Grant recently signed a seven-year contract with a maximum value of $63 million, including $20 million in guarantees. Last week, Seattle kicker Josh Brown signed a one-year tender for $2.078 million.

Smith, 27, is a steady if unspectacular player who was the team's first-round selection in the 2001 draft. While he may never play up to his status as the fourth overall prospect chosen that year, Smith is a solid and durable two-way player who has led Bengals' linemen in tackles for each of the past five seasons.

The former Missouri standout has appeared in 95 straight games, all starts, and missed just one contest, the season opener in his rookie year. His absence in the opening game that year was because of a protracted contract negotiation, with Smith not signing until the eve of the first game.

For his career, Smith has 388 tackles, 41½ sacks, seven forced fumbles, five recoveries, two interceptions and 15 passes defensed.

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The rumor mill is running at full speed this week with news of Keyshawn Johnson, Corey Dillon and Kevan Barlow.

Depending on the offer Johnson most likely will land in either Tennessee or Green Bay for the 2007 season. A lot depends on whether Keyshawn thinks the Titans and Packers can be playoff teams. Both franchises were 8-8 last season.

Look for Johnson to end up in Tennessee. Vince Young needs an experienced receiver after Drew Bennett and David Patten left town and the organization failed to draft a big time receiver in the draft.

Barlow, released last week by the Jets, is in Pittsburgh looking for a deal. Both sides are considering a one-year deal that will enable Barlow, a former star running back at Pitt, to return to the facility he trained at while in college. The Steelers' headquarters is next to the Pitt practice field on the South Side of Pittsburgh.

Barlow had been a consideration for the Titans, Packers and a few other teams, but offers were slow coming. The Steelers have been looking for a big back to pair next to Willie Parker. If things work out, Barlow could be a Steeler by the end of the week.

Although it's a long shot, Pro Football Weekly is hearing Dillon could be considered by the Rams down the road if he became willing to be a backup to Steven Jackson. Dillon has close ties with Rams head coach Scott Linehan and new special-teams coach Al Roberts, both of whom coached him in college at Washington.

Dillon drew interest from Baltimore and Buffalo earlier in the offseason, but both teams chose other options at running back. Dillon, 32, rushed for 812 yards last season and led the Patriots with 13 touchdowns.

Did I Sleep Through The 2007 Season?

Can someone help me? Did I sleep through the 2007 season?

Did I suddenly become Rip Van Winkle? How could I have missed out on the New England Patriots winning Super Bowl XLII?

But wait. I just checked my calender and unless my eyes are playing tricks on me it's only May 7 and the regular season is still four months away.

If that's the case, then why in the hell is practically every football writer, website and newspaper handing the Lombardi Trophy to the Patriots?

The off-season additions of Adalius Thomas, Tory James, Donte Stallworth, Wes Walker and Randy Moss, have made the Patriots stronger. There's no doubt about that. On paper, New England is one of the favorites. But games aren't won on paper. They're won on the field.

How can anyone in their right mind pencil New England into the Super Bowl when training camp hasn't even started yet?

Did people suddenly forget that San Diego is loaded with talent and Philip Rivers is another year older and probably wiser? Let's not forget Indianapolis either. The defending champions got even stronger on offense with the addition of Anthony Gonzalez in the slot and Tony Ugoh is a future fixture at tackle.

The Colts did lose both corners in free agency, but Tony Dungy's Cover 2 scheme doesn't need great cover corners and youngsters Marlin Jackson, Kelvin Hayden and Tim Jennings should be able to adequately replace Nick Harper and Jason David. And let's not forget Peyton Manning, Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne.

Over in the NFC, Philadelphia and New Orleans got stonger, Matt Hasselbeck and Shaun Alexander are healthy for Seattle and Chicago still has that tough defense.

There are too many variables to start making Super Bowl predictions right now. The main one being injuries. Every year some big name players go down during the long grind of training camp and preseason. Who can say that won't happen to New England?

Every team has question marks and the Pats are no different. Will Randy Moss behave himself? Can the key players stay healthy? Can Laurence Maroney take the pounding of a full season as number one tailback? Can an aging defense be as good as it has been, even with the addition of Thomas?

The Moss deal was a good one. He's well worth a fourth round pick, but he's a one dimensional receiver who will need Welker and Stallworth to take defenders away from Moss to give Randy one-on-one chances.

It seems many in the media are picking the Pats just because of the Moss deal. My question to them is - how many Super Bowl rings does Randy Moss have? Wide receivers don't win Super Bowls. It takes a strong defense and an effective running game.

New England is aging on the defensive side (Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel, Rodney Harrison) and Maroney had a lot of help from Corey Dillon last season. The jury is still out on his ability to be a feature back.

The Patriots are good and have a chance to go all the way, but it's way too early to start making Super Bowl predictions.

NFL Free Agency

Addressing a need it missed in the draft, Philadelphia signed former Chicago free-agent defensive tackle Ian Scott to a one-year, $1 million deal. Scott visited the New England Patriots on Wednesday, then flew straight to Philadelphia, where he linked up with his new team. The Bears now have lost Scott and Alphonso Boone from last season's defensive line.

This is a great pickup for the Eagles. Scott is not All-Pro caliber by any means, but he's a solid performer who has started on a Super Bowl team. Scott plugs the middle and eats up space for the linebackers to make a play. With the addition of Montae Reagor and Scott, Philadelphia should be much better against the run in 2007.

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In the same week the Jacksonville Jaguars released him, punter Chris Hanson reached agreement with the New Orleans Saints on a one-year, $630,000 deal. New Orleans punter last season was Steven Weatherford, who averaged 43.8 yards per punt.

Also, Buffalo and Cincinnati each put in a waiver claim for former USC and Dolphins defensive tackle Manny Wright on Tuesday. But on the basis of records, Wright's services were awarded to Buffalo.

Wright, along with Marcus Vick were released this week by the Dolphins. Wright has talent, but his immaturity has hurt his chances of having a solid NFL career.

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Seattle's free-agent kicker Josh Brown signed his one-year, $2.078 million tender, meaning the player that the Seahawks franchised last winter will be kicking for them this fall. The two sides will continue talking about a long-term contract, but they haven't made significant progress toward one just yet. The highest paid kicker in the game is Indianapolis' Adam Vinatieri, who makes an average of $2.4 million per season.

Brown is a clutch kicker and the Seahawks were wise to keep him in the fold. Brown collected three game-winning field goals last season, two of those were against the division rival Rams.

Johnson, Hicks Released; Sims Dealt to Bucs

Football can be a cruel game, especially for established veterans.

You sacrifice your body for years and years and then when you reach the dreaded 30s, a good player becomes expensive and expendable.

Just ask WR Keyshawn Johnson and DE Eric Hicks - both were released on Tuesday.

The Carolina Panthers drafted wide receiver Dwayne Jarrett on Saturday and cut Johnson on Tuesday.

They said they wanted to get younger," Johnson told the St. Petersburg Times on Tuesday. "That's fine with me. I'd like to go somewhere and help someone win another Super Bowl."

Johnson, who will turn 35 in July, had 70 catches for 815 yards and four touchdowns last season and became the 16th player in NFL history with 800 career catches. The Panthers signed Johnson last year after he was released by Dallas in a salary cap move so the Cowboys could sign Terrell Owens.

Hicks was released by Kansas City three days after the Chiefs drafted Turk McBride in the draft.

Hicks, who made the Chiefs' roster as an undrafted free agent out of Maryland in 1998, has appeared in 128 games with 104 starts over nine seasons. Hicks ranks fifth in team history with 44 1/2 sacks, with a career-best 14 sacks in 2000. He also ranks 12th in tackles with 574 -- including 284 solo stops -- with a single-season best of 118 tackles in 2003.

It's going to be tough for either of them to land somewhere until training camps start in July. Both teams will probably have to settle for a veteran's minimum contract.

Despite their aging bodies, Johnson and Hicks should provide a team with solid play and veteran leadership.

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Defensive tackle Ryan Sims, the sixth overall pick in the 2002 draft, was traded by Kansas City to Tampa Bay for an undisclosed draft choice.

Sims was a huge disappointment with the Chiefs, often overweight and often injured.

In five seasons, the 6-foot-4, 315-pounders appeared in 59 games with 36 starts. Over that span, he had 149 tackles -- 79 unassisted -- with five sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

Bad Boys: Jones Appeals; Tank Pleads Guilty

Tennessee Titans cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones notified the league office yesterday that he is appealing the season-long suspension imposed by Commissioner Roger Goodell for violating the NFL's conduct policy.

Jones has been questioned by the police in a series of incidents since being drafted in 2005 and is facing possible felony and misdemeanor charges stemming from a February incident in Las Vegas. Goodell suspended Jones for the 2007 season, but made the suspension subject to review after 10 games.

No hearing is scheduled yet. Jones's appeal is to be heard by Goodell or a person designated by him.

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Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tank Johnson pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor gun charge.

Johnson pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm without an owner's identification as part of a deal with prosecutors to avoid additional jail time. He is to serve 45 days in jail, a term that is to be served concurrently with the 120-day sentence that he's already serving for violating his probation in a previous gun case. Johnson was arrested in December after police officers found six unregistered firearms in his home.

Johnson is expected to be suspended by Goodell for a significant portion of next season.

NFL Draft Afterthoughts

The 2007 NFL Draft was a exciting and long.

Long as in the slowest first round in NFL Draft history. The 72nd NFL draft set records for the longest Round 1, longest Day 1, and longest two days (over 18 hours).

Now comes the second wave of free agency and the rookie mini-camps. Agents will be very busy on the phones trying to get their unsigned guys to stick with teams and make a roster next year.

Also, today is the day when every newspaper, website and the mother has their own grades for the draft. You won't find those here - why? Because unless you're a super psychic no one knows in April what teams draft was good or bad.

It's too early to tell. Injuries, playing ability and other factors figure into it. Look if all the writers and so-called experts knew it all (including myself) then how did we all miss out on Marques Colston last year?

Last year, Chicago was give a D and Buffalo was an F in many publications, but both teams had excellent drafts. Fans, if you're down on your team's draft, don't be worried. A teams draft tends to turn out better than the so-called experts think it will.

The good thing is soon, very soon, training camps will start up, preseason games will begin and before you know it, the regular season is just around the corner.

Let the games begin.

NFL Draft Preview: Mock Draft/Top 20 Overall

(This is the eighth of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position)

We're less than 24 hours away from the 2007 NFL Draft and here at the Football Fanatics blog, it's time for our annual mock draft.

Trades, smokescreens, rumours and all kinds of information and misinformation circle around in the final hours before draft day and this year is no different. And since it's impossible to figure the teams wheeling and dealing, so without worrying about accuracy we just wanted to have fun.

Without further delay, let's get to the picks.

2007 Football Fanatics Mock Draft:

1. Oakland - JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
(Not taking Leinart or Cutler last season forced the Raiders to take a QB even though Al Davis wants Calvin Johnson)
2. Detroit - Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
(The Lions want to trade down, possibly with Tampa Bay. If they can't, Matt Millen takes the best player in the draft and his fourth receiver in five years.
3. Cleveland - Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
(The debate is between AP, Joe Thomas and Quinn, but owner Randy Lerner wants Quinn)
4. Tampa Bay - Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin
(The Bucs want Calvin Johnson, but if a trade with the Lions falls apart, Gruden won't pass up a left tackle the caliber of Thomas)
5. Arizona Cardinals - Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
(The Card want Thomas but will be happy with the top pass rusher in the draft
6. Washington - LeRon Landry, S, LSU
(The Redskins want to trade out of this pick. If they can't Landry is the guy
7. Minnesota - Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
(The Vikings would love to have Quinn or Landry fall to them. If AP is here though, Minnesota would be crazy not to take him)
8. Atlanta - Amobi Okoye, DT, Louisville
(Bobby Petrino gets one of his own. Will look at Landry if available)
9. Miami - Levi Brown, T, Penn State
(Cam Cameron wants big lineman for his power running game. Brown fit the bill
10. Houston - Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
(The Texans traded with Atlanta to get Schaub and now it will keep them from AP, Landry and Brown)
11. San Francisco - Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi
12. Buffalo - Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
13. St. Louis - Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
14. Carolina - Reggie Nelson, S, Florida
15. Pittsburgh - Lawrence Timmons, OLB, Florida State
16. Green Bay - Marshawn Lynch, RB, California
17. Jacksonville - Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
18. Cincinnati - Aaron Ross, CB, Texas
19. Tennessee - Ted Ginn Jr, WR, Ohio State
20. New York Giants - Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State
21. Denver - Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
22. Dallas - Robert Meachem, WR, Tennessee
23. Kansas City - Justin Harrell, DT, Tennessee
24. New England - Michael Griffin, S, Texas
25. New York Jets - Greg Olsen, TE, Miami, Fla.
26. Philadelphia - Brandon Merriweather, S, Miami, Fla.
27. New Orleans - Chris Houston, CB, Arkansas
28. New England - David Harris, ILB, Michigan
29. Baltimore - Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan
30. San Diego - Dwayne Bowe, WR, LSU
31. Chicago - Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn
32. Indianapolis - Jon Beason, OLB, Miami, Fla.

Top 20 Overall:
1. Calvin Johnson, WR, Georgia Tech
2. Adrian Peterson, RB, Oklahoma
3. Patrick Willis, ILB, Mississippi
4. LaRon Landry, S, LSU
5. Adam Carriker, DE, Nebraska
6. Joe Thomas, T, Wisconsin
7. Gaines Adams, DE, Clemson
8. Levi Brown, T, Penn State
9. Darrelle Revis, CB, Pittsburgh
10. Jamaal Anderson, DE, Arkansas
11. Brady Quinn, QB, Notre Dame
12. JaMarcus Russell, QB, LSU
13. Amobi Akoye, DT, Louisville
14. Paul Posluszny, OLB, Penn State
15. Leon Hall, CB, Michigan
16. Alan Branch, DT, Michigan
17. Ben Grubbs, G, Auburn
18. Ryan Kalil, C, USC
19. David Harris, ILB, Michigan
20. Joe Staley, T, Central Michigan

NFL Draft Preview: Defensive Backs

(This is the seventh of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

Cornerbacks are one of the darlings of the NFL Draft. Coaches, General Managers and Personnel Directors love to select corners, especially in the first round.

Because of the one-back and multiple-receiver sets, teams feel it's important to have three cornerbacks on the field a high percentage of the time in order to match up against all the fast receivers. Some teams played three cornerbacks as much as 62 percent of the time, with the least amount about 33.8 percent.

Over the past 10 NFL drafts, 43 cornerbacks have been selected in Round 1 -- the most of any position. During that time, 89 more were selected in Rounds 2 and 3 -- also the most of any position.

The feeling around the league is that you can never have too many good cornerbacks, especially considering how the game is played these days.

If you want more evidence of how important a good corner is to a team look no further than the big contracts given to Nate Clements and Dre Bly in the offseason.

As far as the top corner in this years class, there's a difference of opinion as to who's number one. The debate is between Pittsburgh's Darrelle Revis and Michigan's Leon Hall.

Revis has the size (6-0, 204) and speed (4.40) that you love to see in a corner. He is smart with great character. He's strong and will support the run, an intangible many cornerbacks don't like to do. He plays with a lot of confidence, is an excellent return man and could even play safety.

Hall is smart, mature and well-liked; he's an outstanding person. He can play press coverage and plays against the run well. He does not play as fast as his timed speed; you expect more from him as far as making plays. He has sure hands; he can return punts. He started 37 games at Michigan so he has a ton of big game experience.

Because of his size and ability to play the run so well, the Fanatics Blog puts Revis in the top spot - just a smidgen ahead of Hall.

The safety position seems to become more important every year, but it still ranks behind cornerback when the draft comes around. For the safety position, teams are looking for someone who can tackle, blitz and be able to run with receivers, tight ends and running backs.

In order to be a top player at this position, one needs to be a good tackler, as many teams now play eight defenders in the box against the run. You have to be a good blitzer and be able to cover big, fast tight ends, and speedy receivers. It also doesn't hurt to be a good special teams performer.

The 2007 NFL Draft has one of the deepest safety classes in a long time. As many as five could go in the first round.

The best of the best is LSU's LeRon Landry, perhaps the most complete NFL-ready performer in the draft. Landry has all the measurables: size (6-1, 213 pounds) and speed (4.35). He had a vertical jump of 37 1/2 inches and a long jump of 10-3.

He started 10 games as a true freshman at LSU in 2003 and earned second-team All-SEC honors. He started 38 games over the next three years at both strong and free safety. Landry is a hard-working player who plays smart and is very instinctive. He is a big hitter, a very good tackler, and he has very good anticipation. He doesn't have great hands and will drop some interceptions. He should start as a rookie and play in a lot of Pro Bowls during his career.

Top 10 Cornerbacks:
1. Darrelle Revis - Pittsburgh
2. Leon Hall - Michigan
3. Aaron Ross - Texas
4. Marcus McCauley - Fresno State
5. Chris Houston - Arkansas
6. Eric Wright - UNLV
7. Josh Wilson - Maryland
8. Daymeion Hughes - California
9. Jonathan Wade - Tennessee
10. A.J. Davis - NC State

Best Pro Prospect: Revis
Sleeper: McCauley
Falling: Hughes

Top 10 Safeties:
1. LeRon Landry - LSU
2. Michael Griffin - Texas
3. Reggie Nelson - Florida
4. Brandon Merriweather - Miami, Fla.
5. Tanard Jackson - Syracuse
6. Eric Weddle - Utah
7. Josh Gattis - Wake Forest
8. Aaron Rouse - Virginia Tech
9. Gerald Alexander - Boise State
10. Sabby Piscitelli - Oregon State

Best Pro Prospect: Landry
Sleeper: Weddle
Falling: Merriweather

NFL Draft Preview: Linebackers

(This is the sixth of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

With more teams switching over to the 3-4 defense, linebacker has become a glamour position once again. Athletic, quick playmakers can find considerable playing time right away in the NFL.

One need only look at the last two seasons to see the impact athletic linebackers have in the league. Shawne Merriman and Demeco Ryans have won Rookie of the Year honors the past two seasons.

So who has the best chance to make an immediate impact and keep the linebacker as Rookie of the Year going?

Look no further than middle linebacker Patrick Willis from Ole Miss. Willis had a complete workout at the Combine. He ran two 40s in 4.51 and 4.53, the short shuttle in 4.46 and the cone drill in 7.23. He also had a 35-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot-11 long jump and did 21 bench presses. Willis worked out again on March 20 at Mississippi's Pro Day and ran 4.57 and 4.58 at a weight of 237 pounds.

He is versatile enough to play inside or outside in either a 3-4 or 4-3 alignment and he's one of the most complete, NFL ready players in this draft - next to Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson and LSU safety LeRon Landry.

He has very good athletic ability, is an outstanding competitor and a very aggressive run stopper. He has great stamina and does a good job playing off blocks. He showed skills dropping into coverage at his pro day and will play with injuries. Willis will be a good player and will make a lot of big plays for his team. He has Pro Bowl ability.

The best on the outside is Paul Posluszny, the latest in a long line of studs from Linebacker U - Penn State.

Posluszny had a complete workout at the Combine where he ran his 40s in 4.70 and 4.71. He also had a 37-inch vertical jump, a 9-foot-8 long jump, ran 4.20 in the short shuttle, 6.94 in the cone drill and did 22 lifts. Posluszny's an outstanding person and a very instinctive player, which is very important for this position. He's smart and has great football IQ.

He's still trying to come back from a knee injury suffered in the Orange Bowl two seasons ago and his mobility is still somewhat of a mystery. Regardless, he's a tough, hard-nosed instinctive player who should do well at the next level.

Top 10 Inside Linebackers:
1. Patrick Willis - Mississippi
2. David Harris - Michigan
3. Brandon Siler - Florida
4. Anthony Waters - Clemson
5. Justin Durant - Hampton
6. Buster Davis - Florida State
7. Michael Okwo - Stanford
8. H.B. Blades - Pittsburgh
9. Desmond Bishop - California
10. Marvin Mitchell - Tennessee

Best Pro Prospect: Willis
Sleeper: Durant
Falling: Okwo

Top 10 Outside Linebackers:
1. Paul Posluszny - Penn State
2. Jon Beason - Miami, Fla.
3. Lawrence Timmons - Florida State
4. Stewart Bradley - Nebraska
5. Rufus Alexander - Oklahoma
6. Zak DeOssie - Brown
7. Stephen Nicholas - South Florida
8. Quincy Black - New Mexico
9. Tim Shaw - Penn State
10. Earl Everett - Florida

Best Pro Prospect: Posluszny & Beason
Sleeper: DeOssie
Falling: Alexander

NFL Draft Preview: Defensive Line

(This is the fifth of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

Defensive end may be the deepest position in the draft and there are plenty of different shapes, sizes and styles for every NFL team to grab hold of.

Defensive tackle is a different story. Two, maybe three will be first round selections and the depth at the position in recent years is nowhere in evidence in this class.

If an NFL team is looking for a pass rushing DE look no further than Clemson's Gaines Adams, Arkansas' Jamaal Anderson and Florida's Jarvis Moss, if it's an all-around end that's needed then Nebraska's Adam Carriker is your man.

How you rate them is based on need - different strokes for different folks as Sly & the Family Stone once sang.

Here at the Fanatics Blog, I believe the best is the on who's the most versatile and that means Carriker. The kid is big and tall(6-6, 296), has excellent quickness and explosion and can play in either the 4-3 or 3-4 alignment. He's a hard worker with a non-stop motor and he plays with pain. The kind of athlete a coach wants on his team.

The best pass rusher by far is Adams. He has the potential to be a quarterback's nightmare for years to come. He has decent strength and good sideline-to-sideline movement. His only knock is a lack of size to play the run, but as a pass-rushing specialist he could be a game-changing player.

Anderson has the potential to develop into that kind of player, as does Moss, but both need to work on their games. Improving their strength and building bulk would go a long ay for both guys. Neither emerged until their senior seasons and both have to prove they can be consistent at the next level.

The defensive tackles all have some risk.

Michigan's Alan Branch is falling on the eve of the draft because of health issues (he may have fractures in his legs) and the fact that some scouts and coaches feel Branch doesn't play hard all the time. He has a tendency to play high and get shoved back at times.

Louisville's Amobi Okoye is the most interesting prospect in the 2007 NFL Draft. He's only 19 and has tremendous potential, but right now that's all it is. He needs to get bigger and stronger and grow into his body. He's not ready to play over center and clog the middle, but his character, intelligence and quickness are top notch. Okoye has a tremendous upside, but the team that drafts him will have to be patient.

Justin Harrell of Tennessee has first-round talent, but a torn bicep caused him to miss most of last season and he may fall out of the first round. Harrell is a strong and explosive tackle who proved at the Combine that his injury is well healed. A very solid player.

Top 10 Defensive Ends:
1. Adam Carriker - Nebraska
2. Gaines Adams - Clemson
3. Jamaal Anderson - Arkansas
4. Jarvis Moss - Florida
5. Anthony Spencer - Purdue
6. Victor Abiamiri - Notre Dame
7. LaMarr Woodley - Michigan
8. Ray McDonald - Florida
9. Tim Crowder - Texas
10. Ikaika Alama-Francis - Hawaii

Best Pro Prospect: Carriker & Adams
Sleeper: Francis
Falling: Moss

Top 10 Defensive Tackles:
1. Amobi Okoye - Louisville
2. Alan Branch - Michigan
3. Justin Harrell - Tennessee
4. Tank Tyler - NC State
5. Marcus Thomas - Florida
6. Turk McBride - Tennessee
7. Brandon Mebane - California
8. Quinn Pitcock - Ohio State
9. Paul Soliai - Utah
10. Kareem Brown - Miami, Fla.

Best Pro Prospect: Okoye
Sleeper: Soliai
Falling: Branch

NFL Draft Preview: Offensive Line

(This is the fourth of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

The safest position to pick in the first round is on the offensive line. Case in point, in the last four years, 13 offensive linemen were drafted in the first round. Last season, those 13 players started 192 of a possible 208 games. That is a 93 percent success rate and the only reason it wasn't closer to 100 percent is injury, not performance.

This years class of tackles, guards and centers have some nice players in the mix, but not a lot of depth.

At tackle, three names pop out as sure first round picks. Wisconsin's Joe Thomas leads the way with Penn State's Levi Brown and Central Michigan's Joe Staley not far behind.

Thomas is a prototypical left tackle with all the measurables, even though he could stand to pack on more weight to his 311-pound frame. He's athletic, quick and has great field awareness. He bends well at the knees and drives off his blocks. Thomas impressed everyone at the Combine with a 4.92 in the 40.

Brown is well-rounded and intelligent. He received not one but two degrees at Penn State. Has size, agility, quickness and works very hard. The only real weakness in his game is a tendency to play high in his stance.

Staley is a former tight end who is rising fast on teams draft boards because of his quickness and athleticism. Has the frame to get bigger and with his huge wingspan, he can smother opponents. Once he learns the position better, Staley could be a big-time player.

Guards are usually not selected much in the first round, but this season three may number ones. They are Justin Blalock of Texas, Ben Grubbs of Auburn and Tennessee's Aaron Sears.

At Center, USC's Ryan Kalil is a solid all-around player who needs to get bigger and add weight, but has the chance to be a solid 10-year starter. Boston College's Josh Beekman and Hawaii's Samson Satele could sneak into the bottom of the first round as well.

Top 10 Tackles:
1. Joe Thomas - Wisconsin
2. Levi Brown - Penn State
3. Joe Staley - Central Michigan
4. Tony Ugoh - Arkansas
5. Doug Free - Northern Illinois
6. James Marten - Boston College
7. Ryan Harris - Notre Dame
8. Marshall Yanda - Iowa
9. Brandon Frye - Virginia Tech
10. Allen Barbre - Missouri Southern

Best Pro Prospect: Thomas
Sleeper: Free
Falling: Harris

Top 10 Guards:
1. Justin Blalock - Texas
2. Ben Grubbs - Auburn
3. Aaron Sears - Tennessee
4. Andy Alleman - Akron
5. Mike Jones - Iowa
6. Manuel Ramirez - Texas Tech
7. Tim Duckworth -Auburn
8. Nathan Bennett - Clemson
9. Cameron Stephenson - Rutgers
10. Mansfield Wrotto - Georgia Tech

Best Pro Prospect: Blalock
Sleeper: Alleman
Falling: Jones

Top 5 Centers:
1. Ryan Kalil - USC
2. Samson Satele - Hawaii
3. Josh Beekman - Boston College
4. Dustin Fry - Clemson
5. Doug Datish - Ohio State

Best Pro Prospect: Kalil
Sleeper: None
Falling: Datish

NFL Draft Preview: Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

(This is the third of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

What can you say about Calvin Johnson that hasn't already been said in newspapers, magazines and all over the Internet? In a word - awesome.

The former Georgia Tech standout has all the tools - size (6-5), speed (4.35), phenomenal hands and no ego or attitude problems. He has the potential to be a field-stretching, game-changing superstar. He's clearly the best receiver by far in the 2007 class.

He doesn't appear to have any weaknesses and is, as far as athleticism and potential goes, the best player in the draft. Even so, I don't think you ever take a wide receiver number one overall, no matter how talented he is. Only two receivers in NFL history - Irving Fryar and Keyshawn Johnson - were selected first overall and while both had decent careers, they aren't the kind you expect from a number one overall selection.

Wideouts can be game breakers, but in the end, receivers don't win Super Bowls, quarterbacks do. Do you hear me Al Davis?

The wide receiver class is solid and deep, but unlike Johnson, every other selection has question marks. Some are rated too high (Ted Ginn Jr, Robert Meachem) and some are rated too low (Anthony Gonzalez).

The tight end spot is down this year with really only two potential first round picks - Miami's Greg Olsen and Arizona State's Zach Miller.

Olsen will definitely be a first-round selection after his showing at the combine where he ran a nice 4.51 in the 40 to go along with his 6-6, 254-pound frame. Miller is equal in size to Olsen, but his 4.87 time in the 40, dropped his stock a little.

Top 10 Wide Receivers:
1. Calvin Johnson - Georgia Tech
2. Dwayne Bowe - LSU
3. Robert Meachem - Tennessee
4. Anthony Gonzalez - Ohio State
5. Ted Ginn Jr. - Ohio State
6. Dwayne Jarrett - USC
7. Sidney Rice - South Carolina
8. Jason Hill - Washington State
9. Steve Smith - USC
10. Aundrae Allison - East Carolina

Best Pro Prospect: Johnson
Sleeper: Allison
Falling: Ginn Jr.

Top 10 Tight Ends:
1. Greg Olsen - Miami, Fla.
2. Zach Miller - Arizona State
3. Ben Patrick - Delaware
4. Scott Chandler - Iowa
5. Martrez Milner - Georgia
6. Matt Spaeth - Minnesota
7. Joe Newton - Oregon State
8. Michael Allan - Whitworth
9. Clark Harris - Rutgers
10. Jonny Harline - BYU

Best Pro Prospect: Olsen
Sleeper: Allan
Falling: Chandler

NFL Draft Preview: Running Backs

(This is the second of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

Adrian Peterson leads a fairly weak running back group in this years draft and is the clear-cut best runner in the class.

The former Oklahoma Sooner has it all - size, speed, strength and explosiveness. His stock rose even higher after he ran a 4.40 at the Combine and proved he has hands and could be a decent receiver at the next level.

The red flag on Peterson is his health. He's a straight up runner in the mold of Eric Dickerson and was injured in each of his three seasons at Oklahoma. He also had some fumble problems in college. Even so, Peterson should be a top 10 pick and has the potential to be a superstar in the league.

Cal RB Marshawn Lynch is the other back mentioned as a first round talent. Lynch has decent size and slippery quickness and is a real threat as a receiver.

His stock has dropped a little of late because of some character issues and bad interviews at the Combine. He also has a history of injuries and was never a full-time starter with Bears - sharing time with J.J. Arrington and Justin Forsett in his collegiate career. Durability is a concern with NFL scouts.

Louisville's Michael Bush would have been a first-round pick for sure, but a broken leg in the opening game of the season against Kentucky that required two surgeries will have Bush falling to the third or fourth round.

He's a huge back with deceptive speed and may be a steal for the team that pulls the trigger on him. For this reason, Bush remains as the third back on the Fanatics list, despite the injuries.

Top 10 Running Backs:
1. Adrian Peterson - Oklahoma
2. Marshawn Lynch - California
3. Michael Bush - Louisville
4. Tony Hunt - Penn State
5. Antonio Pittman - Ohio State
6. Lorenzo Booker - Florida State
7. Kenny Irons - Auburn
8. Brian Leonard (FB) - Rutgers
9. Chris Henry - Arizona
10. Garrett Wolfe - Northern Illinois

Best Pro Prospect: Peterson
Sleeper: Bush
Falling: Lynch

NFL Draft Preview: Quarterbacks

(This is the first of an 8-part series leading up to the 2007 NFL Draft. For the next eight days we'll examine each position in the draft and rank our Top 10 at each position. The final installment will feature the Fanatics 2007 Mock Draft).

The debate rages on as to who will be the first pick in the 2007 NFL Draft - LSU QB JaMarcus Russell or Georgia Tech WR Calvin Johnson?

While that issue is up in the air, the best quarterback in the draft, according to NFL scouts and other experts in the media, isn't. All point to Russell and his amazing physical gifts.

He has the size (6-6, 265 pounds), decent speed (4.8) and arm strength to make all the throws in the NFL. He is a specimen - of that there is no arguement, but there are some question marks in his game that can't be ignored.

Russell is prone to make dumb decisions and throw off his back foot. He came out early and has less than 30 starts in his college career. In addition, he didn't play in a pro-style offense at LSU and spent most of his time in the shotgun. So there's definitely a learning curve involved.

He will be drafted first or second overall because of his physical abilities, but Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn has the best upside of any of the quarterbacks in this draft.

Quinn was a four-year starter, in a pro-style offense that was run by Charlies Weis, a two-time Super Bowl winning coach who groomed Tom Brady while he was offensive coordinator of the Patriots.

Quinn put up decent numbers at the combine, including a surprising 24 reps in the bench press and has all the throws. The knock against him was his 2-8 record in big games with the likes of USC and Michigan. That is minor to say the least. He has been over-analysed to the point of nausea.

While Quinn doesn't have the physical makeup of Russell, he is the more NFL-ready quarterback and the one with the better future in the league. So based on what we've already discussed - the Football Fanatics Blog goes against the grain and rates Brady Quinn the number one signal caller in the 2007 NFL Draft.

Top 10 Quarterbacks:
1. Brady Quinn - Notre Dame
2. JaMarcus Russell - LSU
3. Drew Stanton - Michigan State
4. John Beck - BYU
5. Trent Edwards - Stanford
6. Troy Smith - Ohio State
7. Tyler Palko - Pittsburgh
8. Kevin Kolb - Houston
9. Jared Zabransky - Boise State
10. Jordan Palmer - UTEP

Best Pro Prospect: Quinn
Sleeper: Toby Korrodi, Central Missouri State
Falling: Smith

Three Top Draft Prospects Admit Using Marijuana

Three top draft prospects reportedly admitted to past marijuana use in interviews taped by the league at the NFL scouting combine in February and distributed to each of the 32 teams.

Pro Football Weekly reported that Georgia Tech wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Clemson defensive end Gaines Adams and Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye made the admissions during the standard interviews.

All three players are considered possible top-10 selections in the draft. An official with one NFL team, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the interviews are not meant to be released or discussed publicly, said this morning he didn't think the draft status of any of the players would be affected. Players also undergo drug testing at the combine and there's no indication that any of the three tested positive.

NFL News and Notes

Grant Wistrom has done it all in his college and NFL careers, winning three national championships at Nebraska and a Super Bowl with the St. Louis Rams. Now he's looking to add the title of "coach" to his football résumé, and he's willing to start small.

Released last month from the Seattle Seahawks, the 30-year-old defensive end plans to move home to southwest Missouri and become an assistant coach at the Springfield high school where his older brother, Chance, is principal.

Wistrom hasn't officially retired from the NFL, but said Monday he is "99.9 percent sure" he won't be playing an 11th season in the pros.

The Wistrom brothers and Parkview High School head coach Wes Beachler confirmed Monday that Grant Wistrom would be joining the Parkview staff.

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Spurned by their primary offseason target for bolstering the offensive line, the Seattle Seahawks are bringing back veteran guard Chris Gray with a two-year contract worth $2.1 million in base salary, plus bonuses, according to the NFL players association.

Gray, who turns 37 in June, will be starting his 15th season -- his 10th with the Seahawks -- when Seattle has its first minicamp next month. His team record of 121 consecutive starts ended last Dec. 31 in the regular-season finale because of a bruised right quadriceps, but he returned to start both of Seattle's playoff games in January.

His base pay is $820,000 for the upcoming season and would be $1.28 million for 2008.

The Seahawks were close to signing San Diego free agent guard Kris Dielman early last month after they flew him to Seattle on a private jet. While he was out to dinner with Matt Hasselbeck and some other Seattle players, Dielman got a text message from his agent that a Seahawks contract worth approximately $49 million was all but ready to be signed.

But Dielman instead heeded his own doubts, plus constant calls from Chargers teammates to stay with the defending AFC West champions. The next morning, he signed a six-year deal with San Diego worth $39 million, with $17 million guaranteed in the first two years.

Seattle starting offensive line entering the 2007 season will likely have Gray at right guard and oft-injured veteran Floyd Womack, who re-signed earlier this offseason for $700,000 and one year, at left guard. Sean Locklear, a third-round draft pick in 2004, will be beginning his third season at right tackle opposite Jones. Chris Spencer, the team's first-round pick in '05 who started 13 games plus both playoff games last season, will be back at center.

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Making only their second dip into the free agent market this offseason, the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday signed unrestricted defensive end Nick Eason, who played the past two seasons for the Cleveland Browns.

Expected to add depth and flexibility to the defensive line, Eason signed a one-year contract, believed to be for the league minimum base salary.

The only other unrestricted free agent signed by the Steelers this spring was offensive lineman Sean Mahan, formerly of Tampa Bay, who will contend for a starting spot at either center or guard. The Steelers traditionally rely more on the draft than on free agency to build their team and that philosophy will not change under first-year coach Mike Tomlin.

Eason, 26, is coming off the most productive season of his career, having notched 23 tackles in a backup role with the Browns in 2006. He is a good fit for the Pittsburgh defense because he has the kind of size the Steelers want at defensive end in their 3-4 front, and can also slide inside to tackle on occasion.

Pittsburgh last week lost top veteran backup Rodney Bailey, who signed with Arizona as an unrestricted free agent, and Eason will ostensibly replace him on the roster.

A former Clemson standout, Eason was chosen by the Denver Broncos in the fourth round of the 2003 draft. He spent his rookie season on injured reserve, spent some time on the Denver and Cleveland practice squads, then earned a roster spot with the Browns in 2005.

Eason has 44 tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble in 30 regular-season appearances.

Shield Calls It Quits After 14 Years

Kansas City guard Will Shields is retiring after 14 NFL seasons, during which he made a record 12 Pro Bowl appearances and anchored one of the top offensive lines in the league.

The 35-year-old announced his decision on his website on Sunday. He said the physical requirements of football had become more difficult with each passing day.

Shields, who made a team-record 224 starts, made his 12th Pro Bowl appearance last season to tie the record held by Minnesota guard Randall McDaniel.

The Chiefs had been waiting for Shields to decide whether he would come back for another season. Making the announcement entirely without warning on his website seemed in keeping with the privacy he has closely guarded throughout his stellar career. A team spokesman said Sunday night the club was not aware of Shields' announcement.

Shields strongly contemplated quitting after the 2005 season.

On his website, Shields thanked fellow players, coaches and his wife and children.

"I am looking forward to a future filled with sports in mind," he wrote. "Whether it is in the stands, on the sideline, in the press box or in an office -- football will remain in my blood. My best wishes to all and I hope to see you soon. Thank you again, for all your support."

Shields was a third-round draft choice out of Nebraska in 1993 who quickly developed into one of the best players at his position.

Quick and agile for a 300-pounder, Shields led the way Pro Bowl runners Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson.

For several years, he teamed with Pro Bowl left tackle Willie Roaf, Pro Bowl left guard Brian Waters and Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez to form one of the best blocking units in the NFL.

Roaf retired abruptly just before the opening of training camp. It's possible that only Waters and Gonzalez will remain of the great Chiefs line of a few years ago because center Casey Wiegmann, an 11-year veteran, is also contemplating retirement.

Shields' absence, although not unexpected, is certain to leave a big hole in the offensive line as the Chiefs give second-year quarterback Brodie Croyle the chance to compete for the starting job.

Shields also has been active in community affairs, but never used his work in that area to raise his own profile. He created the "Will To Succeed" Foundation in 1993 and dedicated it toward improving the lives of abused, battered and neglected women and children.

Wilson To Be Released By Denver; Carlisle To Raiders

Denver Bronocs linebacker Al Wilson scheduled a press conference today to announce that he is being released by Denver and will become and unrestricted free agent.

Wilson was the number one pick for Denver in the 1999 NFL Draft and quickly emerged as the defensive leader of the club.

Wilson leaves the Broncos as a four-time Pro Bowl player and one of the top defenders in franchise history.

Last month, the Broncos tried to trade him to the New York Giants for a third-round choice. That trade didn't happen because he failed a physical. He had back problems last year along with a thumb injury. Wilson's rights returned to the Broncos, who were, at the time, seemingly willing to keep him on the roster.

With a $5.2 million salary and a $600,000 roster bonus, Wilson didn't fit into the Broncos salary cap after a busy offseason. His release will save the Broncos $1.63 million.

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In other NFL news, unrestricted free agent Cooper Carlisle, one of the few starting-caliber offensive linemen still available in the veteran unrestricted free agent talent pool, has reached a contract agreement with the Oakland Raiders.

Carlisle, 29, played the first seven years of his career with the Denver Broncos. The Raiders saw the chance to get a quality player from a division rival as a bit of a coup. Carlisle will sign a two-year contract, the financial details of which were not yet available.

With 38 career starts, including 16 starts at right guard in each of the last two seasons, Carlisle figures to quickly challenge for a job in the Oakland lineup. The Raiders are revamping their offensive line after surrendering a league-worst 72 sacks in 2006, and are transitioning to a zone-blocking scheme under first-year head coach Lane Kiffin.

For his entire Denver tenure, Carlisle played in the zone-blocking scheme, which calls for smaller, quicker offensive linemen. His familiarity with the blocking system system should give Carlisle an edge in competing for a starting job and should help speed implementation of the new style in Oakland.

Bledsoe Calls It A Career

Drew Bledsoe retired Wednesday, ending a 14-season career in which he made two Super Bowls.

The top overall pick by New England in the 1993 draft out of Washington State, the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback played for the Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. He was a starter for all three teams, but ended up as a backup with the Cowboys.

Bledsoe threw for 44,611 yards and 251 touchdown passes in his career.

"I feel so fortunate, so honored, to have played this game that I love for so long, with so many great players, and in front of so many wonderful fans," he said. "I fulfilled a childhood dream the first time I stepped on an NFL field, and the league did not let me down one time. I retire with a smile on my face, in good health, and ready to spend autumns at my kids' games instead of my own. I'm excited to start the next chapter of my life."

The 35-year-old Bledsoe lost his starting job to Tom Brady in New England in 2001 when Bledsoe got hurt in the second game of the season, and to Tony Romo in Dallas after Game 6 of last season.

He also asked for his release from the Bills after the 2004 season, when the team informed him it was going with J.P. Losman as the starter the next year. Bledsoe didn't want to be a backup there after he led the Bills to the brink of the playoffs.

He then signed with the Cowboys and was their starter for all of 2005 and part of '06.

In 1996, Bledsoe guided the Patriots to the AFC championship. They lost to Green Bay in the Super Bowl.

He remained the Patriots' starter until he was tackled by the Jets' Mo Lewis in the second game of the 2001 season and injured his chest. Brady took over, although Bledsoe got New England into the Super Bowl in place of the injured Brady by beating Pittsburgh in the AFC title game.

Brady then was the MVP of the Super Bowl win over St. Louis.

The Bills acquired Bledsoe during the 2002 NFL draft by dealing their first-round pick in 2003 to New England. Bledsoe had strong first season in Buffalo, setting 10 team passing records, including single-season marks with 4,359 yards and 375 completions.

His numbers, however, began to decline drastically. In his final 30 games with Buffalo, Bledsoe never finished with more than 296 yards passing, while throwing 29 touchdowns and 27 interceptions during that stretch.

He finishes seventh all-time in yards passing, 13th in touchdown passes and fifth in completions (3,839).

Carr Signs With Carolina

Former Houston Texans QB and No. 1 overall pick David Carr signed a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers on Friday. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Carr was released by the Texans after Houston acquired Matt Schaub in a trade with Atlanta earlier this offseason. The first player selected overall in the 2002 draft, Carr will serve as the backup to Panthers starter Jake Delhomme, who is coming off an uneven 2006 season.

Carolina coach John Fox reiterated during the Panthers' courtship of Carr that Delhomme is the unchallenged starter, but the addition of Carr certainly provides an interesting alternative if the incumbent struggles as he did a year ago.

Carr, 27, chose the opportunity with the Panthers over one in Seattle. He visited with Carolina coaches and team officials on Monday and Tuesday, then made a two-day trip to meet with the Seahawks, where he would have also been a backup. After returning from the Seattle visit, Carr counseled with his wife and opted for the deal with Carolina.

The Cleveland Browns also indicated interest in Carr in recent days and the Miami Dolphins considered him as well. The only visits he made, however, were to Carolina and Seattle.

In five seasons with the Texans, he completed 1,243 of 2,070 passes for 13,391 yards, with 59 touchdown passes and 65 interceptions, and a passer rating of 75.3. But Carr was the most-sacked quarterback in the league during his tenure with the Texans. Playing behind one of the league's most porous offensive lines, he was sacked a remarkable 249 times.

Carr started 75 games but recorded just a 22-53 record. Between bonuses and base salaries, the Texans paid Carr more than $35 million in five seasons. When they acquired Schaub, whom they immediately named the starter, they initially hoped to be able to trade Carr, but instead released him rather than prolong his time with the franchise.

The move also means the Panthers now have the top two picks from the 2002 draft. Carolina selected defensive end Julius Peppers with No. 2 pick.

Stingley Passes Away at Age 55

Former New England Patriots' receiver Darryl Stingley, who was paralyzed after a hard hit during an NFL preseason game nearly 30 years ago, has died. He was 55.

Stingley was pronounced dead at Northwestern Memorial Hospital early Thursday after he was found unresponsive in his Chicago home, according to Tony Brucci, an investigator with the Cook County medical examiner's office.

An autopsy was scheduled. The cause of death was not immediately available.

Stingley played football until Aug. 12, 1978, when the 26-year-old receiver went up for a pass during a preseason game and was hit from behind by Oakland Raiders' safety Jack Tatum. The hit broke Stingley's neck and left him a quadriplegic.

Stingley was born and raised in Chicago. He was a star running back at John Marshall High School. He attended Purdue on a football scholarship.

In 1973, he was a first-round draft pick of the Patriots.

"On behalf of the Kraft family and the entire Patriots organization, we're deeply saddened by news of Darryl Stingley's death, and our thoughts and prayers are with the Stingley family at this time," team spokesman Stacey James said.

Stingley, who used a wheelchair, became a symbol for violence in the game. He wrote a book about his experiences entitled "Happy to Be Alive." It was published in 1983.

He served as executive director of player personnel for the Patriots and often visited paralyzed patients.

Stingley regained limited movement in his right arm and operated his electric wheelchair on his own.

In 1993, Stingley started a nonprofit foundation in Chicago designed to help inner-city youth.

Goodell's Player Policy Could Include Lifetime Bans

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's to-be-unveiled player conduct policy might allow him to issue lifetime bans for players involved in serious criminal activity, according to a published report.

NFL Players' Association executive director Gene Upshaw, who was briefed on Goodell's policy, told The Washington Post, however, that Adam "Pacman" Jones and Chris Henry are not facing lifetime punishments. Jones and Henry met with the commissioner Tuesday in New York.

"None of these cases we're talking about will be a permanent ban," Upshaw told The Post in a telephone interview. "I don't think we're at that point yet with these cases. We understand there will be some type of suspension, but not that."

Upshaw and six players met with Goodell on Tuesday. The commissioner briefed the panel on several issues, including the conduct policy, but Upshaw told The Post that Goodell didn't brief the panel specifically on Jones' or Henry's situations. Upshaw and the players left before Goodell's meetings with Henry and Jones.

Upshaw told The Post that under the new policy, a first-time offender would have to undergo counseling and be placed on probation and might be fined. A second-time offender might face suspension if his infraction was considered severe.

"One thing was clear: Once a player has gotten himself into this fix, it's going to be up to him to get himself out," Upshaw told The Post.

Goodell has said he will announce his decision on suspensions or other disciplinary action for Jones and Henry before the draft on April 28 and perhaps in the next 10 days.

The NFL had no comment and lawyers for the players had no immediate response. The meeting with the players was held away from the NFL offices where six television cameras stationed themselves with no one to interview.

Henry is one of nine Bengals who were arrested last season, leading to calls for a crackdown on player behavior. But Jones has become the focus for Goodell, who took over as commissioner in September and has been preoccupied by the issue almost from the start of his tenure.

Since being drafted in April 2005, Jones has been arrested five times and questioned by police in 10 episodes. Last week, Las Vegas police recommended he be charged with a felony and two misdemeanors for his role in a Feb. 19 strip club fight that led to a triple shooting.

Titans Talking to Turner

The Tennessee Titans are getting serious in their search for more help at running back and they started Monday by visiting with restricted free agent Michael Turner of San Diego.

Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt was not available for comment. But San Diego general manager A.J. Smith had said several teams had inquired about Turner as the NFL meetings wrapped up last week.

Agent Bus Cook said he hadn't had much time to talk with Turner, who was checking out of a Nashville hotel Monday afternoon. But he said Turner enjoyed his visit with the Titans.

The Titans released Travis Henry last month, and he quickly signed a new deal with the Denver Broncos. Henry rushed for 1,211 yards last season, a big reason why Tennessee ranked fifth in the NFL in rushing with Vince Young.

Henry's departure has left Tennessee with LenDale White and fullback Ahmard Hall, both rookies last year, on the roster with Quinton Ganther and Dontrell Moore. White, a second-round draft pick in 2006, had 61 carries for 244 yards.

Turner is a restricted free agent who the Chargers tendered high enough that any interested team would have to sign the running back to an offer sheet and pay up with a first- and third-round draft pick to San Diego.

Or they could try and lower that cost in a sign-and-trade with San Diego, which Smith said he is open to before the draft April 28-29.

Running backs have done well this offseason. Frank Gore got a four-year extension from San Francisco that included more than $14 million in guaranteed money, and Willis McGahee picked up a contract with a maximum value of $40.12 million after being traded to Baltimore earlier this year.

Both running backs have had serious knee injuries in their past.

Turner has been healthy and averaged 6.3 yards a carry last season as backup to LaDanian Tomlinson and finished with 80 carries for 502 yards.

Turner is scheduled to make $2.35 million in 2007, and Cook said the Chargers have incentive to make a move if they choose.

"If they can get a nice draft pick for him right now, next year they get nothing for him," Cook said.

The Titans entered free agency with lots of room under the salary cap, and they still have plenty of space left.

Their biggest moves included signing cornerback Nick Harper away from Indianapolis. They also lured restricted free agent linebacker Ryan Fowler away from Dallas, safety Bryan Scott and receiver Justin Gage.

The Titans also have Corey Dillon scheduled to visit Wednesday.

NFL Owners Meetings: Replay Permanent

Coaches throwing challenge flags and referees sticking their heads in hoods will remain NFL fixtures. Forever.

On Tuesday, instant replay as an officiating tool became a permanent part of pro football.

"Instant replay is an accepted part of the game. It's what we are," said Atlanta Falcons general manager Rich McKay, co-chairman of the competition committee that recommended the change. "There was not really much discussion about it."

League owners voted 30-2, with Cincinnati and Arizona dissenting. All but three stadiums will be equipped with high-definition equipment and will be recabled before the upcoming season, at a cost of as much as $300,000 per club. The stadiums being replaced in Irving, Texas, Indianapolis and East Rutherford, N.J., will not get the updates.

On Tuesday, owners also voted unanimously to allow a second interviewing window for assistant coaches on Super Bowl teams who are in the running for other head coaching jobs. Previously, only during the week after the season ended could an interview be conducted.

The coach's current team would have to grant permission for the second interview, which would take place during the bye week after the conference title games.

"We wanted to make sure that coaches on Super Bowl teams didn't feel it was a disadvantage," McKay said.

One proposal was defeated. Defenses will not be allowed to have a coach-to-player communications device similar to what quarterbacks use. McKay said owners and coaches were concerned about who would be allowed to wear the device with defenses using multiple formations, and the possibility that more than one player could wind up on the field with such a device.

On Wednesday, NFL owners decided to table a proposal to modify the overtime system. The competition committee came up with the idea of moving kickoffs in overtime from the 30- to the 35- yard line. The change would have made it tougher for the team winning the overtime coin toss to get the winning points on the first possession. According to a competition committee study, moving kickoffs up 5 yards would mean a 5-yard difference in the start of drives in overtime.

Also at the meetings:

In a 26-5-1 vote, owners adopted a rule change to penalize a player if he spikes the ball after a non-scoring play has ended. "You have a player celebrating a 3-yard slant play and spiking the ball on this great achievement," McKay said sarcastically. The league felt it took too much time for the officials to chase down the ball. Plus there was the question of bad sportsmanship.

Down-by-contact is now a permanent part of instant replay officiating. A year ago, the league tried a one-year experiment to include runners being ruled down by contact as part of the instant replay reviews. In a 32-0 vote, down-by-contact was made a permanent fixture in replay officiating. Last season there were 17 plays in which a down-by-contact play was challenged. Five calls were overturned. This permanent change eliminates those controversial plays in which a quick whistle by an official on a contact play doesn't have a chance to be reviewed.

The NFL voted to go to the college rule when a quarterback accidentally throws a ball that hits an offensive lineman. Under the old rule, that was a 5-yard penalty because an offensive lineman is ineligible to catch a pass. The league felt that adopting the college rule and not penalizing accidental contact would speed up the game. If a lineman tries to catch the ball, though, the play will result in a 5-yard penalty.

The Bears' proposal of increasing the active game roster size to 47 was shot down, 17-15. It needed 24 votes to pass. The Bears felt keeping two extra active players for games would be a benefit. Opponents felt it would give too much of an advantage to a healthier team. What the league doesn't want is one team having a healthy list of 47 players while another has only 40 healthy players for a game.

Eagles Trade For LB Spikes

The Philadelphia Eagles acquired Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes and quarterback Kelly Holcomb from the Buffalo Bills on Monday night for defensive tackle Darwin Walker and a conditional draft pick in 2008.

A nine-year NFL veteran, Spikes was slow recovering last year from a right Achilles' tendon tear he suffered in Week 3 of the 2005 season. He's scheduled to make $9.5 million ($4.5 million this season) over the final two years of the six-year contract he signed after joining the team as a free agent.

Spikes played his first five seasons with Cincinnati and had been seeking a contract extension with Buffalo. But he grew increasingly frustrated playing for a team that's constantly shuffling its roster and coaching staff, and has gone seven seasons since last making the playoffs.

Spikes, a former first-round pick, could be a big upgrade at linebacker for the Eagles, who have struggled at that spot the past few seasons.

Dhani Jones has never been the playmaker the Eagles needed and Matt McCoy struggled last season before losing his job to Omar Gaither. The Eagles also lost free agent Shawn Barber to Houston.

Spikes had 11 starts in 12 games last season, while missing four with a hamstring injury after he was hurt in Buffalo's season-opener at New England. He finished with 76 tackles, one sack and a forced fumble, modest numbers for a two-time Pro Bowl selection.

He's the second high-profile Bills player to be traded this offseason and also the second starting linebacker the team has lost. Buffalo dealt running back Willis McGahee to Baltimore and linebacker London Fletcher signed with Washington earlier this month.

Walker started 15 games and was tied for second on the Eagles with six sacks, and had 56 tackles. Three of his sacks came Oct. 8 against Dallas, and he tied an Eagles postseason record with two sacks in a loss at New Orleans.

With the addition of Walker, the Bills bolster what had been an inexperienced defensive tackle position last season.

Besides veteran Larry Tripplett, Buffalo went with a young rotation led by rookie fifth-round pick Kyle Williams and second-year veteran Tim Anderson. The line also experienced a setback when defensive tackle John McCargo, the second of Buffalo's two first-round picks, was lost for the season after he broke his left foot in Week 5.

Holcomb has made 21 starts over an 11-year career. He joins A.J. Feeley on the quarterback depth chart behind Donovan McNabb. Holcomb did not play last season, but completed 155 of 230 passes for 1,509 yards with 10 touchdowns and eight interceptions in 2005.

Holcomb proved expendable in Buffalo after J.P. Losman won the starting job in training camp following an off-season long three-way competition between Holcomb and third-stringer Craig Nall. That was a considerable step for Losman, who was twice benched in 2005 in favor of Holcomb.

Losman then showed gradual progress last season, leading the Bills to a better than expected 7-9 finish. Losman showed particular improvement over the last half of the season, when the Bills won four of their last seven games.

NFL News and Notes

It appears Bills LB Takeo Spikes, who had asked to be traded or released months ago, will get his wish very soon.

Buffalo has opened up trade discussions and the Eagles and Giants are very interested in acquiring the 30-year old linebacker. The frontrunner appears to be Philadelphia - who would move him to the outside in its defense.

Spikes bounced back from a torn Achilles tendon in 2005 to register 70 tackles and one sack last season.

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It seems the Dolphins are passing on getting Kansas City QB Trent Green because the price the Chiefs are asking for is too steep.

Miami is offering a sixth rounder, while Carl Peterson and company want a second rounder and maybe another late round pick as well.

Also, Olindo Mare is fuming that the Dolphins are not moving fast enough to trade him. Miami signed kicker Jay Feely in the offense, pretty much sending a message to Mare that his time in a Dolphin uniform was over.

Mare wants out so bad, he's offered to give back his $250,000 roster bonus if it will expedite his move out of Miami faster.

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Joe Theismann is out as a "Monday Night Football" analyst after one season, a person familiar with the decision said yesterday.

Reached on his cellphone, Theismann declined to comment on the Newsday report "until I fully understand what has taken place." But he did not deny the news and hinted that it came as a shock.

Theismann is believed to have been informed Friday. An ESPN spokesman said only "we have nothing to announce."

The likely replacement alongside Mike Tirico and Tony Kornheiser will be Ron Jaworski. He worked one end of a Monday night doubleheader last year and is calling Arena Football League games.

Many critics noted a lack of chemistry between Kornheiser and Theismann in their first season together, but the two believed it improved as the season went on. When Kornheiser said in January he would return to the booth, it was assumed the trio would remain intact.

Theismann, 57, has been an analyst for ESPN since 1988, beginning on the network's Sunday night NFL package.

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State officials and the New Orleans Saints have agreed to toss out contract exit clauses that would have let the NFL team leave Louisiana within the next four seasons.

"For the forseeable future, Louisiana's team will keep marching to victory right here," Gov. Kathleen Blanco said at the Governor's Mansion on Monday, announcing the latest developments in ongoing negotiations to keep the Saints in New Orleans.

The contract had allowed the Saints to opt out of its current deal with the state by repaying about $70 million the state has provided in inducements to the team. But the Saints will drop that termination clause, and the state will eliminate its ability to opt out of the contract.

Those changes to the contract keep the team in Louisiana through the 2010 football season, Blanco and Saints officials said.

Both sides agreed to continue negotiating on a long-term agreement that could keep the Saints in New Orleans beyond the current contract.

Saints owner Tom Benson "is committed over the next four years to get a long-term deal done here and to stay here forever," said team spokesman Greg Bensel.

Faulk to Announce Retirement

Marshall Faulk sat out last season with a knee injury that threatened to end his career. He'll officially close the door on his playing days on Monday when he announces his retirement at the NFL owners meetings.

Faulk was the NFL MVP in 2000 and offensive player of the year three years running from 1999-2001. The 34-year-old helped the Rams win their only Super Bowl after the '99 season. He is ninth on the career rushing list with 12,279 yards and tied for sixth with 100 rushing touchdowns.

Faulk began working for the NFL Network as an analyst last year when wear and tear began to get to his knees. He was a seven-time Pro Bowl selection with seven 1,000-yard rushing seasons and 38 100-yard games, and was the first player in league history to gain 2,000 yards rushing and receiving combined in four consecutive seasons from 1998-2001.

His last 1,000-yard rushing season was in 2001, though, and he lost his starting job in 2004 when the Rams drafted Steven Jackson in the first round. Last year, Jackson began the Rams' first player since Faulk to accumulate 2,000 yards from scrimmage and broke Faulk's single-season reception mark with 88 catches.

"It has been an honor and pleasure to play in the National Football League," Faulk said in a statement. "I'd like to thank all my teammates and coaches with whom I've been associated over the past 13 seasons as well as the fans who supported me throughout the years.

"I gave the game my passion, and it gave me a wonderful career and memories that I will always be thankful for."

Faulk set an NFL record, since broken, with 26 touchdowns in his 2000 MVP season. He played his first five seasons with the Indianapolis Colts and the Rams acquired him for second- and fifth-round draft picks.

Faulk had a career-low 292 yards rushing in 2005, his final season.

Texans Taking Big Gamble With Trade

Matt Schaub will finally get his chance to be a starting quarterback, while former first overall pick David Carr needs to pick up the pieces of his shattered football career.

The Houston Texans swung a deal with the Atlanta Falcons yesterday to pick up Schaub, a quarterback with that dreaded word potential hanging around him, but who's only started two games in his three-year career.

The Falcons and Texans swapped first round picks this season and Atlanta will get Houston's second round pick this year and next.

Schaub signed a six-year, $48 million contract with the Texans, a move that officially consummates the trade. As part of the deal, Schaub -- who played golf with Houston coach Gary Kubiak on Monday in a get-acquainted session, the Houston Chronicle reported -- will receive $7 million in guarantees.

Schaub, 25, will earn roughly $20 million in the first three years of the contract.

This is definitely a high-stakes gamble for the Houston organization. Giving that kind of money and handing a starting job to an unproven quarterback could be franchise suicide. Did Bob McNair forget that he's done this once before with a man named Carr?

And in all fairness to Carr, the Texans surrounded him with mediocre talent and an incredibly bad offensive line for five years. Will Schaub be productive if the franchise leaves him out to dry, talent-wise, like it did Carr?

There's no doubt that Schaub has talent and many teams in the league coveted his services. But to give that kind of money to a guy who has yet to win a regular-season start and who barely completed 50 percent of his pass attempts in three seasons with the Falcons, is a little absurd in my book.

Just more proof of the overspending being done in free agency this season.

The deal benefits Atlanta the most. the trade allows the cap-strapped team to essentially recoup the $2.3 million qualifying offer it made to Schaub and invest that money elsewhere. And the haul the team received in the trade -- a swap of first-round choices in 2007 and second-round picks in the 2007 and 2008 drafts -- provides Atlanta with considerable flexibility.

The Falcons now own three selections among the top 44 picks in this year's draft: the eighth choice in the first round and the seventh and 12th selections in the second round. Armed with that kind of ammunition, the Falcons could parlay those three choices to move up the draft board in the first round, perhaps to nab hometown hero Calvin Johnson, the former Georgia Tech wide receiver. Or the Falcons could combine the two second-round picks to acquire another choice near the middle of the first round.

As for Carr, his once promising future looks a little bleak right now. Cleveland, Minnesota and Miami (provided the Trent Green deal falls through) appear to have some interest but are willing to play a wait and see strategy.

The Texans want a first day pick for Carr, but if no takers are found, he'll be released outright. There's no way Houston will pay $6 million to a backup QB. The above mentioned teams are willing to play the waiting game, leaving Carr in football limbo for now.

Bob McNair and head coach Gary Kubiak are putting their faith in a young, unproven quarterback to get them over the hump and into the playoffs. Only time will tell if this huge gamble will make or break the Texans fortunes.