March 2012 4for4 Player News Articles

Carson Palmer has made no secret of how good he thinks Denarius Moore can be, and Friday said that Moore “will be a star” with his “big-play making ability.” He has talked to Moore often this offseason and said he loves that Moore is disappointed he didn’t do more last season, when he got hurt. “He’s working hard this offseason and he wants to be the best, and I am going to push him.”

GM Jeff Ireland wouldn't disclose details of those negotiations, but a Dolphins source said the team only was willing to offer Matt Flynn nearly $4 million per year because they weren't convinced he was a franchise quarterback. Seattle ended up paying him more than double at nearly $8 million per year on a three-year deal.

Flynn's former offensive coordinator, Joe Philbin, is now the head coach of the Dolphins, and while the article didn't expressly say that he had reservations about Flynn's potential, he certainly didn't convince the Miami brass that he should be the team's QB of the future. Time will tell if Flynn is truly a franchise QB, but thus far he has certainly performed well when given the opportunity.

Giants RB Andre Brown has been suspended for 1st 4 games in 2012 without pay for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances.

The Oakland Raiders acquired running back Mike Goodson from the Carolina Panthers on Friday in exchange for offensive tackle Bruce Campbell, a trade both teams hope will improve their depth.

Goodson, who ran for 501 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons with Carolina, became expendable after the team signed free agent running back Mike Tolbert earlier this month.

The Raiders needed depth at running back after losing Michael Bush to Chicago in free agency. Starter Darren McFadden has been injury prone, missing 19 games in his four seasons and Taiwan Jones played sparingly as a rookie and is seen as more of a change-of-pace back.

With only five draft picks and none until the end of the third round, new Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie is trying to fill as many holes as he can on the roster through free agency and trades.

In three seasons with the Panthers, Goodson played in 28 games with three starts.

He rushed 125 times for 501 yards and three touchdowns and added 43 receptions for 329 yards. Goodson, 24, had three straight 100-yard rushing games and three touchdowns late in the 2010 season under former coach John Fox in 2010.

Bengals HC Marvin Lewis on BenJarvus Green-Ellis's role with the team:

“I can’t tell you if it’s 1A or 1B, but he would be along with Bernard Scott, and whoever else we get would have an opportunity to play and go forward. So, that’s an opportunity (to be a primary ball-carrier) that we talked to him about. I feel like you’re going to have to share the pounding of the NFL with at least one other player.”

Lewis previously described Green-Ellis as a "three-down player" but at this point it appears that he will split carries with Scott.

Defensive lineman Anthony Hargrove signed with the Packers.

Hargrove, 28, has 19½ career sacks in seven seasons with four teams. His best season came in 2009, when he had five sacks in 16 games (including six starts) for the New Orleans Saints.

Listed at 6-foot-3 and 272 pounds, Hargrove could play end in the 3-4 or as an inside rusher in subpackages. A scout for an AFC team said last week he could envision Hargrove as an effective inside rusher in the Packers’ nickel package, a role Cullen Jenkins played in 2010 before he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Patriots blogger Mike Reiss was asked about Shane Vereen vs. Stevan Ridley in a recent chat, and here's what he had to say: "I think the typecast of him as a Kevin Faulk-type back is off. He is more than a passing back in my view. A big part of him being a healthy scratch was more knowledge of the offense without the benefit of an offseason. Then he did have hamstring injury. My thought on Vereen: Don't sleep on him. Last year's RB snaps: BJGE -- 34 percent; Woodhead -- 33 percent; Ridley -- 14 percent; Faulk -- 6 percent; Vereen -- 1.5 percent. What you're looking to replace is around 40 percent (BJGE/Faulk) and I think Ridley and Vereen -- if they stay healthy -- can split up those duties."

The Patriots are the poster children for the RBBC and it looks like another frustrating year for fantasy owners. This is probably a "hands off" situation unless one RB takes the lead.

David Cutcliffe has been watching Peyton Manning throw for nearly two decades. And after orchestrating Manning's workouts from the time the quarterback was cleared by doctors to resume throwing and when Manning signed his contract with the Broncos last week, Cutcliffe saw enough to confidently be able to tell Denver fans that Manning will be just fine.

"He could play a game. We've done it, we've simulated games, and he's done well. He's going to do nothing but get stronger and going to play up to his standards," Cutcliffe said Thursday in a phone interview with The Denver Post. "I know that's his goal, and there isn't any reason, there is no indicator otherwise."

"He can make all the throws, his release times are perfect, and we pay a lot of attention to that. It's arm speed and getting rid of it. His velocity is good. It's just a matter of, like any other NFL football player, you've got to feel good," Cutcliffe said. "He's in great shape. Not good shape, great shape, and that's part of what we did here as well."

The Giants will struggle to replace Brandon Jacobs. Sure, he'd slowed down a bit in recent years and hadn't been as much a part of the offense. But he still brings something that few if any other running backs in the league bring, in terms of the speed and athleticism he has at his remarkable size. They will need some capable veteran to team with Ahmad Bradshaw and his perpetually banged-up foot, and they've already been at work on finding one.

When the Bears had a private workout with Devin Thomas before the 2008 NFL draft, they obviously figured the former Michigan State standout was capable of contributing.

Four years later, it's obvious the Bears feel the same way about the 25-year-old Thomas.

The need for insurance at receiver based on Johnny Knox's injury status, as well as the desire to keep the special teams units among the league's elite no doubt prompted the Bears to secure Thomas with a one-year contract.

The high-ankle sprain that plagued Sam Bradford for much of the 2011 season didn't completely heal until two months into the offseason, according to Rams HC Jeff Fisher.

"Sam finished his rehab probably about a month ago," Fisher said. "The ankle lingered a little bit in the offseason. He's in good shape now."

Bradford suffered the injury Oct. 16 on the Rams' last offensive play in Green Bay. The ankle never got totally healthy after that game as Bradford missed six games altogether and four of the last five. After the season, Fisher said team medical officials wanted Bradford to stay off the ankle as much as possible to let it heal.

"Now had it been during the season, they probably would've taken a different approach to the rehab," Fisher said.

"But they felt the best thing for him was to just shut it down. My understanding is that as part of his rehab, he has been doing his drops and sets, and throwing some balls. But we're not permitted to be a part of that."

"In talking with the trainer, he's cleared and ready to throw the ball a little bit," Fisher said.

Chargers HC Norv Turner is excited about the strides Ryan Mathews can continue to make in his third season, saying he expects Mathews to be a "guy who has that breakout, big-time year."

Mathews has a reputation for being injury-prone, but he only missed two games in 2011 after missing four games in 2010. He does have a tendency to get dinged up, but was able to play through it for the most part last season. He had at least 14 touches in all but one game and saw at least 19 touches in eight of his 14 games in 2011. He will be the workhorse back in San Diego as long as he can stay healthy, with Curtis Brinkley and Le'Ron McClain chipping in here and there.

The Bengals can cross off another name on their free agency to do list as they have agreed to terms with linebacker Manny Lawson.

Lawson, who is entering his seventh season, spent his first five years with San Francisco. He signed with the Bengals less than a week into training camp last season and started 15 games at outside linebacker. He finished fifth on the team in tackles with 78 along with 1.5 sacks, three passes defensed and seven tackles for loss.

Even before the four neck procedures were done and the nerve regeneration was necessary, some scouts noticed a difference in Peyton Manning. His numbers didn't tail off much in 2010, particularly when you consider the injuries that Indy suffered on offense, but there were subtle hints caught on tape that revised the book on Manning.

"The fall-off was significant on film," said one scout from a rival AFC team. "He showed stiffness and lost athletic traits. What made him special was never his athletic ability or movement skills, but you could see it with his arm strength, too."

Manning will be watched closely this offseason, so we should have plenty of updates about his progress. At this point, he's a midround pick with some upside.

The way owner Stephen Ross and GM Jeff Ireland tell it, incumbent quarterback Matt Moore seemingly has the edge to be the Dolphins' starter in 2012.

"I'm very excited about Matt Moore," Ross said Monday at the NFL owners' meetings.

"There's a lot to be said of Matt Moore and what he was able to accomplish last year," Ireland said.

New coach Joe Philbin, though, doesn't quite see it that way.

The Dolphins recently signed former Jacksonville starter David Garrard to a one-year contract, and Philbin is ready to give him a full shot to win the job.

"It's going to be an open competition. We told both guys that," Philbin said Tuesday. "I told David, my only obligation to Matt Moore is he's a member of the 2012 Dolphins. He's under contract, he played well last year and he deserves an opportunity to compete for a starting job, just like David does."

Moore posted 2497 yds, 16 TDs & 9 INT in 13 games, which prorates to 3073/20/11 over a 16-game season. Those are QB19 numbers, but he (or Garrard) will have a tough time matching them without an influx of talent at WR. Losing Brandon Marshall really hurts Miami's offense.

HC Mike Tomlin said the Steelers will likely add a running back this offseason, either via free agency or the draft. The draft is the more likely scenario, though a veteran such as Justin Forsett could fill the void left by Mewelde Moore and serve as a nice change-of-pace to Isaac Redman until Rashard Mendenhall is able to return.

With Mendenhall hard pressed to make it back for the start of the season, Redman is an interesting midround pick provided that the Steelers don't add too much talent at RB via free agency or the draft.

Running back LeGarrette Blount has a 'tons of ability,' according to Bucs coach Greg Schiano. But his inability to protect the football could force the team to look elsewhere for ball carriers.

Blount fumbled five times last season, losing three.

"I think LeGarrette has tons of ability,'' Schiano said Wednesday at the NFL owners meetings. "No one who touches the football will get touches if they don't protect the football. That is one of our core covenants. The ball. It's so important, they named the game after it. So, we make a big deal about that thing.''

Schiano said repeatedly that he wants the Bucs to run the football and use play action passes to take shots downfield. He credited running back Ray Rice with spearheading the turnaround at Rutgers and described the Ravens running back as a 'bell cow.'

The Bucs, who own the No. 5 overall pick, may have an opportunity to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson, whom Schiano described as 'a special talent.'

By comparison, one of Richardson's strengths is ball security. Richardson lost only one fumble in 614 career touches. In fact, that turnover came in the sixth game of his freshman season, which means he went 550 touches without a fumble.

"I've studied a lot of tape on him, he's a very talented guy,'' Schiano said of Richardson. "I met him briefly, I look forward to spending more quality time with him here before the draft. You can't argue with production. One of the things I think you really have to look at, it doesn't guarantee anything, but when you're looking at that running back making the jump from high school to college or college to the National Football League, one of the real barometers is production. Was he able to be consistently productive and Trent has done it in what's arguably the toughest league in college football. So he's a special talent.''

Blount's value depends on whether or not the Bucs bring in another RB this offseason. If they draft Trent Richardson, it sounds like Blount will be relegated to backup duty.

Adrian Peterson is scheduled to begin running this week. For real this time.

Last month, Peterson said in multiple interviews he was ready to run less than two months after undergoing knee reconstruction, prompting Minnesota Vikings coach Leslie Frazier to call his star halfback and tell him not to rush his rehabilitation.

That rehabilitation has remained on target, Frazier said on Wednesday at the NFL meetings, and Peterson is back in Minnesota with the Vikings' training staff this week as he prepares to take the next step -- moving from jogging in a pool to dryland.

"He's supposed to start running this week," Frazier said. "We'll get a better gauge of where he is once he starts running. But everything he's done up to this point has been very good."

The Vikings continue to hope for Peterson to play in Week 1, but Frazier acknowledged last month Peterson may be highly limited early on. Frazier said on Wednesday the Vikings are moving forward with contingency plans to add a third back who could play a significant role behind Toby Gerhart whether Peterson makes it back or not.

"It's too early right now to say that he's going to absolutely make it back by the first game," Frazier said. "But so far, he's on target with everything we've asked him to do."

If the offseason news is good and it appears that Peterson is on track to return Week 1, he probably holds 2nd round value. If it looks like he's going to miss the start of the season or if his touches are severely limited, his value will fall into the middle rounds. It usually takes more than a year for an RB coming off ACL surgery to return to form, so at this point we're not terribly excited about AP in 2012.

Kenny Britt is in his sixth month of rehab after tearing the ACL and MCL in his right knee last season. The fourth-year pro believes the hard part is behind him.

“I guarantee I will be back and better than I’ve ever been before,” he said. “With all the work I have been putting in, I will be 110 percent better than before. This has not been a setback if you ask me. The way I see it, it has been a head start for 2012.”

Britt insisted that he hasn’t had time for the distractions he admitted got him into trouble off the field in the past.

Observers agree that Britt has grown up a lot this offseason, and teammates are keeping their fingers crossed that he can return to his pre-injury form, when he appeared on the verge of a breakout season.

“He has been there every day since he got hurt,” quarterback Matt Hasselbeck said. “And he is not there for a couple of hours, he is there five to six hours a day. His attitude has been great. He brings a lot of life and energy into whatever room he is in. … And he’s been doing and saying all the right things, so I think everyone is encouraged.”

“The one good thing for Kenny is his injury happened so early in the year,” Hasselbeck said. “I have played with guys who had that injury early in the year and guys that had it late in the year, and the guys that had it early bounce back faster. So, hopefully, he’ll be on track. Obviously, he is a guy everyone is counting on doing some big, big things.”

Britt is a phenomenal talent, but has proven to be a knucklehead off the field. Perhaps his new bride can keep him in line.

The NFL changed its regular season overtime system Wednesday, aligning it with the overtime format used during the postseason.

The revised system prevents a team from winning a game with a field goal on the opening possession of overtime. It was approved by the owners of the 32 NFL franchises on the final day of the annual league meeting here.

The owners also approved automatic instant replay review of all turnovers. A coach no longer will have to use one of his instant replay challenges to seek review of a turnover.

The San Francisco 49ers agreed to a one-year contract with former New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs, a league source said Wednesday.

Jacobs will pair with starting running back Frank Gore. He rushed for 571 yards (3.8 YPC) and scored seven TDs in 2011.

Jacobs will impact Gore's workload, especially around the goal line, where he has a reputation for being a good short-yardage back. This is definitely bad news for Gore. However, barring a RB addition, Ahmad Bradshaw is looking much stronger as the feature back for the Giants.

When evaluating Caleb Hanie, the Broncos saw something on film that wasn't visible through production.

Hanie, 26, will be Peyton Manning's backup quarterback after he agreed to terms on a two-year contract Saturday with the Broncos.

Moving to shore up more holes on the depth chart, the Rams agreed to terms with a pair of free agents Monday — wide receiver Steve Smith of Philadelphia and tight end Matthew Mulligan of the New York Jets.
Smith’s deal is for one year; Mulligan’s is for two years.

If Smith is healthy, the Rams could have some much-needed help in their wide receiver corps. As a member of the New York Giants in 2009, he set a franchise record with 107 catches, good for 1,220 yards which was the second-highest total in Giants history, and made the Pro Bowl.

But left knee problems, including microfracture surgery late in the 2010 season, have slowed his career. He also ended up on the injured reserve list last December as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles. Smith, 5-11, 195 pounds, is 26.

Running back Kevin Smith is returning to the Detroit Lions, and this time it didn't take half a season for it to happen.

Smith, who played in seven games and led the Lions with four rushing touchdowns last year, signed a one-year deal to remain with the team today.

He'll likely serve as insurance for Mikel Leshoure and Jahvid Best. Leshoure missed all of last season with a torn Achilles tendon while Best played in just six games and has a history of concussions.

As the article states, Smith joins a backfield that already has two pretty good RBs in Jahvid Best and Mikel Leshoure. This looks like an ugly RBBC, fantasy-wise.

Bears president and CEO Ted Phillips told the Sun-Times Monday evening that the club has made Pro Bowl running back Matt Forte a "strong offer" and the they're hopeful he'll accept it.

"Matt Forte is our No. 1 running back. He's been told that, and he knows that. We all know that. He's going to be a Bear for 2012, at least," Phillips said. "He knows he has a long-term offer on the table, and we hope, at some point and time, he chooses to accept that."

Very quietly, the New Orleans Saints have restructured a pair of contracts to free up about $2.3 million in salary-cap room.

According to contract details obtained by ESPN.com, the Saints restructured the contracts of wide receiver Lance Moore and cornerback Patrick Robinson in recent days. The moves put the Saints at $3.285 million under the salary cap, but that’s not counting the new contracts signed by linebacker Curtis Lofton on Saturday night and linebacker Chris Chamberlain on Friday night. Those deals are expected to be turned in to the league Monday.

Tim Tebow will be at the center of the most well-attended news conference in backup quarterback history Monday. But on Sunday, Jets Coach Rex Ryan opened the door to something more: that Tebow could be used at other positions.

“We’ll see,” Ryan responded with a smile when asked about Tebow’s lining up at a position other than quarterback.

“Mark Sanchez is our No. 1 quarterback, Tim Tebow is our No. 2 quarterback, but he’s also going to do other things for this football team,” Ryan said. “He is a football player, and that’s what I keep wanting to put out there. Let’s not just look at him as a quarterback. I look at him as a football player. Let’s not hear what guys can’t do — let’s talk about what they can do. I see a guy with a lot of ability, and we’re going to do that.”

Tebow has repeatedly said he wants to play quarterback, even though talent evaluators have long believed he may have a better chance of a lengthy career as a multidimensional player, perhaps as an H-back, tight end and running back.

But in a 10-minute interview with a small group of New York-based reporters during the annual N.F.L. meetings, Ryan repeatedly referred to Tebow as a “football player.” That was perhaps an indication that the Jets were thinking about expanding his role under the new offensive coordinator Tony Sparano, who used the Wildcat as the Dolphins’ coach.

“I don’t see Tim just holding a clipboard,” Ryan said. “He’s going to be playing for us. There’s no doubt. He’ll have a role. Wildcat. He’ll be a better Wildcat quarterback in the game. Is that his only role? We’ll see what happens.”

It's going to be interesting to see what Ryan has in store for Tebow in 2012. It sounds as if he'll be on the field early and often in one form or another, and may be worth a flier late in fantasy drafts, even as a backup QB.

Bears wide receiver/kick returner Johnny Knox, who continues to slowly recover from December spinal fusion surgery, is scheduled to start the regular season on the physically-unable-to-perform list, according to multiple sources familiar with Knox's progress.

It has long been speculated Knox wouldn't be ready for the start of the season considering the severity of his injury. He was forced to wear a back brace after the surgery and continues to walk with a limp now. But there was more structural damage than initially anticipated, according to one source.

Knox could not be reached for comment.

There is a strong chance Knox won't play in 2012, but placing him on the PUP list would leave open a return to the field if Knox's recovery is accelerated. He would have to sit out the first six weeks of the regular season once designated to the PUP list.

There is a significant drop off after Brandon Marshall in the Bears' receiving corps, and it doesn't look like Knox will be able to contribute much at all in 2012.

The Steelers expect running back Rashard Mendenhall to play in 2012. What they don't know is when or in what capacity. Mendenhall tore his ACL in the Steelers' regular-season finale, and general manager Kevin Colbert said later that the two-time, 1,000-yard rusher probably would need a year to fully recover.

"To clarify, what I said was I never think players coming off an ACL are 100 percent for a full year. It doesn't mean they can't play," Colbert said Sunday before the start of the NFL owners meetings. "At some point, we'll have Rashard back. I'm confident of that." Mendenhall, a first-round pick in 2008, is going into the final year of his contract.

Mendenhall injured his knee in the team's regular season finale, so he'll be hard pressed to contribute at the start of the season, and probably won't be himself until 2013. If the Steelers don't shore up the RB position any further, Isaac Redman would get a big boost in value.

The Arizona Cardinals and cornerback William Gay have agreed to a two-year deal.

Patriots WR Chad Ochocinco restructured his contract for coming season, lowering base salary from $3 million to $1 million.

Ochocinco is not a fantasy factor right now, especially with the addition of Brandon Lloyd.

New Orleans Saints Executive Vice President/General Manager Mickey Loomis has announced that the club has agreed to terms on a five-year contract with unrestricted free agent LB Curtis Lofton.

Lofton, 6-0, 241 pounds, was originally picked by the Atlanta Falcons in the second round (37th overall) of the 2008 NFL Draft, starting 63 of the 64 games he has appeared in. In four seasons, Lofton has notched 577 tackles (387 solo), while filling up the stat sheet with four sacks, three interceptions, seven forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and 15 pass defenses.

Free-agent running back Tashard Choice announced via his Twitter account on Saturday that he'll be staying with the Buffalo Bills.

"It's official I'll be a Buffalo Bill this year," Choice tweeted. "I wanna thank God, the organization, family,friends and fans. Hit the ground running."

The Bills have not announced an agreement or any terms of a deal.

Despite not having the smoothest of negotiations, Erin Henderson is returning to the Minnesota Vikings.

The 25-year-old linebacker agreed to terms on a one-year deal to stay with the team that signed him as a rookie free agent in 2008, his sports agency tweeted on Friday.

The Seahawks have agreed to terms with RB Kregg Lumpkin.

Marshawn Lynch owners need not be nervous. Lumpkin is a backup at best.

The Packers signed DT Daniel Muir.

On Friday, the Colts signed former Rams wide receiver Donnie Avery shortly after trading for backup quarterback Drew Stanton.

The Saints and WLB Chris Chamberlain agreed to a three-year deal, a source confirmed.

Former Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts defensive end Jamaal Anderson is joining the Cincinnati Bengals.

"I'm excited to say I'm starting a new chapter in my career with the Cincinnati Bengals! Shout out to the #WhoDeyNation," Anderson tweeted Friday.

The Vikings have re-signed WR Devin Aromashodu.

The Arizona Cardinals have agreed to terms on a year contract with Jay Feely, who has kicked in all 32 games over the last two seasons for the team.

The Panthers signed WR Chris Manno, who was with the Chiefs during training camp last year.

Per league source, the Bengals and DT Pat Sims have agreed to terms.

The New York Jets traded recently signed quarterback Drew Stanton to the Indianapolis Colts, the Jets announced Friday.

Terms of the trade weren't immediately available.

The Jets signed Stanton last Friday to be their No. 2 quarterback, but their plans changed when they completed the trade for Tim Tebow.

Stanton became upset and asked the Jets to trade or release him.

Running back Marion Barber has retired from the NFL, the Chicago Bears announced Friday.

The 28-year-old spent his first six seasons with the Dallas Cowboys before joining the Bears for the 2011 season. On 1,156 carries, Barber rushed for 4,780 yards and 53 touchdowns in seven seasons. He was a fourth-round pick out of Minnesota in 2005, led the NFL in rushing touchdowns in 2006 (14) and made the Pro Bowl in 2007.

"I want to thank everyone who helped me become a better player," Barber said in a statement provided by the team. "I owe a lot to a lot of coaches, and am also very grateful to the owners and organizations I played for. Last but not least, I want to thank the fans for the support and inspiration they gave me."

The Broncos went a long way in shoring up weapons for Peyton Manning on Friday, signing former Colts tight end Jacob Tamme as well as former Texans tight end Joel Dreessen.

Tamme signed a three-year, $9 million deal on Friday afternoon, becoming the first former (and only?) Colts player to join Manning on the Broncos. Despite a belief that Peyton would bring along an entourage at his next stop, that has yet to be the case.

In 2010, with Dallas Clark sidelined, Tamme caught 72 passes for 677 yards and 4 TDs in 11 games (including the playoffs), which prorates to 105-985-6 over the course of a full 16-game season. Is he going to catch 100+ passes? Probably not, but those numbers demonstrate the kind of potential that he has with Peyton Manning throwing him the ball. Dreessen will pilfer some targets, but Tamme should be the TE1 to start the season.

A major factor in Tim Tebow’s push to come to New York over Jacksonville, his hometown, is that he sees a clear path to resuming his career as a starter, sources tell the Daily News.

The Jets will start Tebow off in a limited role as the Wildcat quarterback — GM Mike Tannenbaum must have said 20 times the other night that Mark Sanchez is the starter and Tebow is the backup — but what other backup flies cross-country on a private jet, as Tebow did Thursday from Van Nuys, Calif., to Morristown, N.J., only to disembark to an adoring crowd of Tebow-ing fans?

Bengals OC Jay Gruden on the running back rotation: "I don't know what it will be, but BenJarvis Green-Ellis deserves to carry the ball. Bernard Scott deserves more carries. ... If a guy gets hot, he'll get the carries ... they both understand that."

The Lions re-signed backup TE Will Heller.

The Niners re-signed WR Ted Ginn Jr., one of the NFL’s top returners, to a one-year contract Thursday. The re-signing of Ginn was a bit of a surprise. He had taken free-agent visits to Detroit, Minnesota and Baltimore and had expressed a desire to have a more prominent role as a receiver.

After spending his first four seasons with the Buccaneers, QB Josh Johnson, 25, signed a two-year deal with the 49ers on Thursday, a surprise move that adds intrigue to the team’s quarterback position. Johnson, an Oakland native, played for Harbaugh for three seasons at the University of San Diego.

“Josh is a promising young player that has experience in our offensive system,” said Niners general manager Trent Baalke. “He is a skilled athlete with good arm talent. Josh has shown promise in limited action, both as a backup and starter at the NFL level. We are pleased to add him to our team.”

This move has been long in the making, but is a bit of a surprise considering the 49ers already have second-year QB Colin Kaepernick and Alex Smith in the fold. Johnson is expected to battle with Kaepernick for the backup job.

"Ochocinco will be back in New England next year," Schefter says in the video above. "They believe that he'll spend this offseason immersing himself in the playbook, familiarizing himself with the Patriots' offense. They're going to bring all these wide receivers in and let them compete in training camp and the best receivers will play."

With Deion Branch re-upping, the Patriots now have 10 WRs on the roster. The depth chart currently looks like: Deion Branch, Wes Welker, Brandon Lloyd, Donte' Stallworth, Chad Ochocinco, Julian Edelman, Matt Slater, Anthony Gonzalez, Tiquan Underwood, Britt Davis.

Tight end Joel Dreessen said this morning that he’s decided to sign with the Denver Broncos. The Texans made a strong push to re-sign Dreessen on Thursday night, but he told both teams he would sleep on it and make a decision Friday morning.

If the Broncos don't sign another TE, Joel Dreessen could easily be a top 5-10 #fantasyfootball TE. I expect them still to sign Clark or Tamme. In Houston, Owen Daniels gains value with FB James Casey and Garrett Graham behind him on the TE depth chart.

Patriots reached agreement on a one-year deal with WR Deion Branch.

RB Michael Bush agrees to terms with the Bears, per league source. Four years, $14 million.

This is not the ideal (or even a good) landing spot for Bush, who has feature back talent but will find himself behind Matt Forte. It also kills the potential value of Kahlil Bell, should he remain in Chicago. The Raiders will feature Darren McFadden, but he has been injury-prone in his career, and at this point Marcel Reece and Taiwan Jones are next in line for touches. If DMC were to go down again, Reece and Jones would likely form a "Thunder & Lightning" combo.

RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis reached agreement on a three-year deal with the Bengals.

For a time, it looked like Michael Bush was the best bet to land in Cincinnati, but instead the Bengals turn to the effective yet unexciting BenJarvus Green-Ellis. After a solid 1008 yards (4.4 YPC) in 2010, Green-Ellis only managed 667 yards (3.7 YPC) in 2011. Fantasy-wise, his main value was as a TD threat -- he found the endzone 24 times in two years. The Bengals are not the Patriots, so the Law Firm will have a tough time matching those TD numbers in 2012. However, he should get more consistent carries unless he falls into a timeshare with Bernard Scott.

DE Mark Anderson's Bills deal is four years for $27.5 million and $8 million fully guaranteed, per a league source.

Schefter on Twitter: DT Brodrick Bunkley to Saints: 5 yrs, $25m with $9m fully guaranteed.

The NY Jets have just traded a 4th round pick for Tim Tebow.

We knew Tebow was on the way out once the ink was dry on Peyton Manning's contract, and the Jets showed immediate interest in the polarizing QB. It's going to be interesting to see how this situation develops with Tebow and Mark Sanchez in the country's largest media market. Keep in mind that the Jets just signed Sanchez to a five-year deal worth $20M guaranteed.

Saints HC Sean Payton has been suspended for one year. Saints GM Mickey Loomis has been suspended 8 games and fined $500,000. The Saints have also been fined $500,000 and lose a second round pick in 2012 and 2013. Former Saints and current Rams DC Gregg Williams received the stiffest penalty, being suspended indefinitely, with a review to come after the 2012 season. Player penalties have not yet been handed down.

This is obviously huge news for the entire Saints organization. Payton is the mastermind behind the team's prolific offense and his absence will hurt Drew Brees and Co. The key Saints will still be fantasy factors, but a downgrade across the board should be expected. It will be interesting to see how this affects contract negotiations with Drew Brees, who is currently franchised and reportedly remains far apart from the Saints on a long-term deal.

The Vikings signed RB Jerome Felton.

Giants running back Ahmad Bradshaw declared himself healthy Tuesday and ready for whatever the team asks him to do next season. With the recent release of Brandon Jacobs, the Giants may need to depend on Bradshaw to produce like he did in 2010, when he had a career-high 276 carries and 1,235 yards.

"I picture my role to be just like [it was in 2010]," Bradshaw said. "I got the stem cell injection on my right foot that I refractured and it feels great. I feel like I can come out this next season and be ready for whatever they give me."

QB Matt Flynn chose the Seahawks over the Dolphins because he felt the Seahawks offered a better situation and have a better chance to win now. Flynn has not been promised the starting job and will be in a competition with Tarvaris Jackson.

Mike Holmgren restated his commitment to QB Colt McCoy Tuesday. It was the second time the Browns’ president expressed confidence in McCoy since the unsuccessful attempt to move up to No. 2 in the draft.

We should all grasp, by now, the reality of McCoy and Seneca Wallace being the primary quarterbacks in a training camp competition. Any rookie brought in probably wouldn’t come from the first two rounds, as Holmgren and GM Tom Heckert have pledged to use the draft to support their present quarterbacks with an upgraded surrounding cast. You don’t support your quarterbacks by adding another high in the draft.

McCoy certainly didn’t have the horses around him last year and was forced to learn the West Coast offense on the fly because of the owners’ lockout. The fact Pat Shurmur was in his first season as head coach and did not hire an offensive coordinator exacerbated McCoy’s development. Now Shurmur should have the worst behind him and seasoned coordinator Brad Childress is on hand to help.

Quarterback Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers have agreed to terms on a three-year contract that will pay him $8 million per season with $16.5 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the negotiations said Wednesday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no announcement had been made. Smith was expected to sign within the day. Smith’s new deal, which was all but done late Tuesday, can pay him up to $33 million.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that Early Doucet has reached agreement with the Cardinals on a two-year deal. Doucet was the team's top threat on third down last season. Arizona didn't need to create any additional holes at the position. Bringing back Doucet seems like a logical move.

Doucet set career highs last season with 54 receptions for 689 yards and five touchdowns in 2011.

It took a week into free agency and a red-eye visit to the Miami Dolphins before quarterback Alex Smith appears to officially be returning to the 49ers as of late Tuesday afternoon.

The NFL Network reported that Smith and the 49ers have agreed to terms on a new contract.

It also took a few awkward turns, including the 49ers' covert courting of Peyton Manning.

But now Smith's turvy-topsy union with the 49ers resumes, a tenure that began in 2005 as the No. 1 overall draft pick out of Utah.

Last season, Smith produced a career-best year upon coach Jim Harbaugh's arrival, helping the lead the 49ers to a 14-4 overall record, the NFC West title and a berth in the NFC Championship Game.

On Sunday, Smith took a red-eye flight to Fort Lauderdale, spent six hours at the Dolphins facility and reportedly entered into contract negotiations with the AFC East doormat.

On Monday, 49ers CEO Jed York reiterated the company line: "We have a contract on the table and it's up to him. We'd like for him to be here and we'll see where it goes."

Rather that interfere, York said he would let Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke solve the 49ers' quarterback quandary.

Texans are trading MLB DeMeco Ryans to Eagles for fourth-round draft choice. The trade is contingent on Ryans' passing a physical Wednesday.

Stephen Tulloch never generated the bidding war he hoped for in free agency, and that was just fine by the Detroit Lions.

After a morning of negotiations with Tulloch’s agent, Drew Rosenhaus, the Lions re-signed their top remaining free agent this afternoon, according to two sources.

The deal is for five years, one of the sources said.

Hines Ward had no doubt that he wanted to be a Pittsburgh Steeler through his NFL career, and after 14 great seasons, he'll retire that way. In an emotional Tuesday morning press conference, the team's all-time leading receiver announced that he will be hanging 'em up.

"I have accomplished all I have set out for and more," he said. "I don't want to play in any other uniform. Black and gold runs deep in me, and I will remain a Steeler for life."

The Steelers released Ward on February 29, after a 2011 season in which he caught just 46 passes for 381 yards and two touchdowns. "Hines has been an integral part of our success since we drafted him in 1998 and we will forever be grateful for what he has helped us achieve," Steelers president Art Rooney II said at that time. "He has meant so much to this organization, both on and off the field, and we appreciate his efforts over the past 14 years. Hines' accomplishments are numerous, and he will always be thought of as one of the all-time great Steelers."

The Steelers are ready to move on to Antonio Brown and Mike Wallace, provided another team doesn't make a run at him.

DB Jarrett Bush agreed to terms to remain with the Green Bay Packers on a three-year contract, according to a league source. No terms released.

Quarterback David Garrard’s NFL career appeared to be going south after being released by Jacksonville before the 2011 regular season and undergoing back surgery while missing the entire season.

As it turns out, Garrard’s career did head south — to the Dolphins, who signed him to a one-year deal Monday night. Garrard, who started in Jacksonville for four seasons, will go into training camp with a chance to beat out Matt Moore to be the Dolphins’ No. 1 quarterback.

"At least he’s in a position to compete for a starting job," said Al Irby, Garrard’s agent. "I think Miami got themselves a great quarterback."

The Dolphins' QB situation is shaky after the franchise failed to sign Peyton Manning, Matt Flynn and (probably) Alex Smith. It appears that the team will go into 2012 with Matt Moore (2497 yards & 16 TDs in 13 games), Garrard and possibly a rookie signal caller. Whoever wins the job won't have the luxury of throwing to Brandon Marshall, who was traded to the Bears after he allegedly punched a woman outside a NYC nightclub.

Hoping to improve their pass rush, the Titans agreed to a five-year, $35 million contract with defensive end Kamerion Wimbley, according to multiple reports.

According to The Tennessean and Scout.com, Wimbley receives $13.5 million guaranteed in the pact.

The Jaguars reached agreement with former Giants CB Aaron Ross on a three-year deal worth up to $15.3 million.

While the Steelers had no interest in free agent running back Mike Tolbert, they do have one very big concern at the position. They do not believe Rashard Mendenhall will be of much use to them in 2012, which is the final year of his contract.

It’s possible Mendenhall may have had his last carry with the Steelers.

Sources told me that the Steelers will not count on Mendenhall returning to form until at least the 2013 season, and his contract with the Steelers will have expired by then. GM Kevin Colbert basically said he’s not counting on him until 2013 when he said this on Feb. 13: “I never feel good about an ACL until a year. I’m not a doctor, but that's my mindset. If he gets back before that, to me it's a bonus.”

Even if he does get back before that, however, he’s not expected to be at the level he was as a running back before the injury in the playoff game at Denver and subsequent surgery. The Steelers not only have lost Mendenhall, they likely won’t re-sign UFA Mewelde Moore.

So, where does that leave them? It leaves them with Isaac Redman as their starter with Jonathan Dwyer, John Clay and Barron Batch in the stable behind him.

The Detroit Lions re-signed backup QB Shaun Hill to a two-year deal.

According to multiple reports on Twitter, the Patriots have re-signed veteran receiver Donte' Stallworth to a one-year deal.

Stallworth was initially with New England in 2007, and played in all 16 games with nine starts. He had 46 receptions for 697 yards and three touchdowns during that record-setting season for the Pats' offense.

Don't expect much from Stallworth unless the injury bug bites the Patriots receiving corps.

Laron Landry has agreed to a contract with the NY Jets.

Peyton Manning will become the next quarterback of the Denver Broncos, barring a snag during intensified contract negotiations that have commenced under the instruction of the four-time MVP to his agent Tom Condon, according to multiple sources.

Once the Manning deal becomes official, Denver will try to trade Tim Tebow, according to sources.

A contract between the two sides is expected to be a formality. Broncos vice president of football operations John Elway and Manning first discussed the parameters of a five-year, $95 million contract during their March 9 meeting in Denver, the first time the former Indianapolis Colts quarterback visited a team during his free agency.

Finally. In Denver, Manning joins an offense that features two promising receivers in DeMaryius Thomas and Eric Decker along with a solid running game. The 49ers definitely offered more talent and a much better defense, but perhaps Manning decided that playing in the AFC (and not against brother Eli in the playoffs) was more important. He's coming off a serious neck surgery and is joining a new team, so he is not a shoo-in for top 5 numbers as some might suggest. We expect his ADP to land somewhere in the 5th-8th round range as the offseason wears on. Thomas and Decker get a big boost with Manning in town.

The signing will impact Alex Smith, who has been flirting with Miami. The 49ers will no doubt make him an offer, and with the way QBs have been turning down the Dolphins, he's likely to re-up with San Francisco. That means the Dolphins will continue their hunt for a QB to potentially replace Matt Moore.

Tim Tebow is likely on his way out and the Broncos have reportedly tested the trade waters to prepare for this scenario. It wouldn't be outrageous to think he'll land in Miami or Jacksonville, given his ties to the state of Florida.

RB Mike Tolbert agrees to 4-year deal with Panthers.

The Panthers appear intent on cornering the running back market. Last summer the Panthers inked DeAngelo Williams to a 5-year, $43M contract. The Panthers also have Jonathan Stewart for one more year on his rookie deal, not to mention second-year QB Cam Newton who ran for over 700 yards and 14 TDs in his rookie season. Enter Mike Tolbert, a former Chargers running-back who excels in short-yardage and goal line situations as well as the passing game.

It is logical to assume the Panthers will look to deal Jonathan Stewart and move forward with Mike Tolbert and DeAngelo Williams in their backfield. If all three remain on the roster come fantasy draft time, this should be a hands-off situation with far too many mouths to feed. Workload was already a problem for Panthers rushers before the addition of Tolbert.

The Patriots reached agreement with Broncos starting TE Daniel Fells. An under-the-radar player, Fells will add to a position group that also features Rob Gronkowski and Aaron Hernandez. He agreed to a three-year deal.

Vikings have indeed agreed to a deal with former Dolphins running back Lex Hilliard. Hilliard started four games last season.

Bengals reached agreement with safety Reggie Nelson.

The Broncos reached agreement with linebacker Joe Mays on a three-year deal.

Matt Flynn has agreed to terms with the Seahawks on a contract worth up to $26M with $10M guaranteed.

With just two starts in his NFL career, the book on Flynn is thin, but it's a very good read. In 2010, with Aaron Rodgers sidelined due to a concussion, Flynn completed 24-for-37 passes for 251 yards, three TDs and an interception in a near-upset of the Patriots in Foxboro. Last season, with Rodgers resting in Week 17, Flynn had a record-setting day, throwing for 480 yards and six TDs (with just one pick) against the Lions in not-so-great conditions at Lambeau Field. He joins a Seattle offense that has a few good weapons in the passing game, including Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin, Golden Tate and Zach Miller. Rice's health will be key. While Flynn doesn't have an overpowering arm, he's accurate and is very poised in the pocket. He'll likely be a middle round fantasy pick (going in the 10th-12th rounds) best suited for spot duty in a Quarterback By Committee (QBBC).

The 49ers picked up another wide receiver for their yet-to-be-signed starting quarterback Saturday.

As the team awaited word from Peyton Manning on the place of his future employment, it signed former Giants wide receiver Mario Manningham to a two-year contract, according to a league source. Financial terms were not revealed. Earlier in the week, San Francisco signed Randy Moss, 35, to bolster a wide receiving corps in need of an upgrade in 2012.

Manningham was looking for an upgrade from his WR3 situation in New York. He now finds himself jockeying for position on the WR depth chart in San Francisco with Michael Crabtree and newly-signed Randy Moss.

The Washington Redskins and quarterback Rex Grossman have agreed to a one-year deal to bring back the nine-year veteran, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Patriots have reached agreement with free-agent wide receiver Brandon Lloyd.

What Lloyd did in 2011 was rather remarkable. After coming off a career season in 2010 (77 catches for 1,448 yards and 11 TDs), he was traded midseason to the Rams, where he quickly found a groove with Sam Bradford, catching 51 passes for 683 yards and five TDs over the final 11 games. Given the circumstances, those are pretty impressive numbers. Lloyd expressed an interest in following Josh McDaniels to New England, where he's a great addition to an already stellar receiving corps. There isn't a ton of upside here since there are only so many targets to go around, but he'd add another dimension to a passing game that definitely needs another intermediate/deep threat.

The San Diego Chargers agreed to a two-year deal worth between $2.5 and $4.5 million with free-agent safety Atari Bigby, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Colts agree to terms with safety Tom Zbikowski.

The Jets addressed a couple of their major needs in free agency Friday, signing wide receiver Chaz Schilens and backup quarterback Drew Stanton.

With everything happening today, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt released a statement in regards to Peyton Manning and Kevin Kolb. Here it is in its entirety:

“Regarding today’s developments and our quarterback position, acquiring Peyton Manning is no longer an option for us.

“Since the end of last season we made it very clear that our plan was to head into 2012 with Kevin Kolb and John Skelton, let the process play out and – like at every position - go with the quarterback who gives us the best chance to win.

“Obviously something very unique and unexpected presented itself. We’ve said it many times: if there’s an opportunity to make our team better we’ll explore it; we view the potential of adding a first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback as one of those. The organization quickly put together an aggressive plan to go after it. We’re proud of that and feel very strongly about what we have to offer as a team and as an organization. In the end it didn’t work out but from our perspective it was very positive and we certainly don’t have any regrets about it.

“We sit here today in the same spot we were heading into the offseason. That’s with two experienced quarterbacks who have both demonstrated positive things in the past and who we feel good about. Like we said at the end of the season when we won seven of the last nine games, carrying the momentum of that strong finish into 2012 is important and that remains unchanged.”

Bears and safety Craig Steltz have agreed to terms on a two-year deal.

The Cowboys have agreed to terms with free agent wide receiver Kevin Ogletree on a one-year deal.

Raiders sign CB Ron Bartell.

The 49ers are reportedly interested in Peyton Manning.

Mortensen on Twitter: "Third team in Manning race that has emerged is 49ers - Manning worked out for Harbaugh & took physical this week"

This would make a lot of sense on many levels. The 49ers have recently signed Randy Moss, who along with Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis would give Manning a pretty potent receiving corps to work with. San Francisco also has a strong running game and stout defense, so the addition of Manning would quickly make the 49ers one of the favorites in the NFC.

Falcons reached agreement with DE John Abraham on a three-year deal.

All signs point to Peyton Manning narrowing his choices to the Broncos and the Tennessee Titans.

Two other Manning candidates, the Arizona Cardinals and Miami Dolphins, are close to falling from pursuit.

The Cardinals should know their fate by 2 p.m. MDT today, when they must make a decision on a $7 million bonus due on incumbent quarterback Kevin Kolb.

If Manning picks the Cardinals, the team is expected to release Kolb before he triggers the bonus. If Manning doesn't choose Arizona, the Cardinals are expected to go with Kolb.

Manning is aware of the Cardinals' situation with Kolb and plans to notify them this morning about whether they are in or out. One NFL source says the Cardinals are out.

Meanwhile, Chris Mortensen on Twitter: "Peyton Manning will work out for Broncos today at Duke University. Indoor facility, as of now. Part of process, per sources."

The Chargers continued to give quarterback Philip Rivers more weapons by signing Denver free agent Eddie Royal. He will likely be the No. 3 or No. 4 receiver in San Diego, depending on the development of second-year receiver Vincent Brown. He was not in the Broncos’ plans. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that it is a three-year deal worth $13.5 million with $6 million in guaranteed money.

But the Chargers will get good use out of Royal, who also gives them a threat in the punt return game. San Diego missed a spark in the return game last year with the absence of Darren Sproles.

Royal made a splash in his rookie year (2008) with 91 catches for 980 yards and five TDs, catching 70.5% of the 129 targets he received from Jay Cutler. After Cutler left, Royal was unable to develop a rapport with Kyle Orton and most recently, Tim Tebow, catching just 115 passes over the next three seasons with a dreadful Rec % of 49.4%. It will be interesting to see how he fares with an upgrade at QB (Philip Rivers), though he's joining a passing game that already features Malcom Floyd, Robert Meachem, Vincent Brown and Antonio Gates, so he may have a tough time getting the necessary targets to make much of a fantasy impact in standard leagues.

RB Steve Slaton is a Miami Dolphin on a one-year deal, according to a league source.

The Buffalo Bills have agreed to a deal with defensive end Mario Williams, a source told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen.

A source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter that Williams agreed to a six-year contract. Schefter has since tweeted that the deal is worth up to $100m with $50m guaranteed.

The Bills have identified improving their pass rush as a top offseason priority after managing just 29 sacks -- including 10 in one game -- last season.

Listed at 6-foot-6 and 285 pounds, Mario Williams is a two-time Pro Bowl starter, who had a Texans' franchise-best 53 career sacks, including a team single-season best 14 in 2007. Williams was limited to playing just five games last season as a result of a torn chest muscle. He also missed three games in 2010 after having surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Aside from possibly Manning, Mario Williams was the biggest impact player available in free agency. Only 27, Williams will be an impact player on the Bills defensive line for years to come. Along with Kyle Williams and 2011 first-round pick Marcell Dareus, Williams makes the Bills defensive line one to be feared in the AFC East.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers announced today that they have signed free agent QB Dan Orlovsky to a two-year contract.

Orlovsky will back up Josh Freeman.

Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams says he has offered free agent quarterback Peyton Manning a contract "For Life" to stay in Tennessee.

Titans owner Bud Adams has made it clear he’ll do whatever it takes to land Peyton Manning. That includes a blank check financially, and a promise Manning could be part of the Tennessee Titans’ organization after his playing days are through.

The Bears have re-signed TE Kellen Davis with 2-year contract.

RB Le'Ron McClain agreed to terms with the Chargers on a three-year contract. At 6-foot, 260 pounds, McClain is more of a fullback and will fill that role in San Diego as the Chargers move on from Jacob Hester.

With the likely departure of Mike Tolbert, McClain could be asked to pick up a bit of slack in the run game but is expected to be used primarily as a blocker.

The Jaguars signed Chad Henne to a two year deal.

Henne will back up Blaine Gabbert.

Chiefs agreed to terms with Peyton Hillis.

The one-year deal is reportedly worth $3 million.

Chiefs OC Brian Daboll likely prompted this move -- he was the OC for the Browns when Hillis had his breakthrough campaign. If the bruising RB can regain his form, he should prove to be a nice complement to the speed of Jamaal Charles, and also offers some insurance if Charles doesn't come back as expected.

The Jaguars reached agreement with former Dallas free-agent wide receiver Laurent Robinson on a five-year, $32.5 million deal.

Robinson was one of the most surprising stories of 2011. After playing in just nine games in the 2008 and 2009 seasons due to injury, and catching just 34 passes in 14 games in 2010, Robinson joined the Cowboys and caught 54 passes for 858 yards and 11 TDs in 14 games, including 40-625-11 over the last 10 weeks. Those 128.5 fantasy points are the fourth-most amongst all WRs over that span. He has great speed and quickly developed a nice rapport with Tony Romo when Miles Austin missed time due to injury. He may not thrive as the Jaguars' WR1, but if they can bring in another playmaker on the other side, he should produce...assuming Blaine Gabbert can deliver the ball.

Eagles gave DeSean Jackson a five-year, $51-million deal.

Given the way Jackson's 2011 season went, this is surprising, though the Eagles did imply they wanted to keep him after they applied their franchise tag. The signing is good news for Michael Vick but bad news for Jeremy Maclin, who deserves more targets than he's been getting.

Chargers agree to terms with OLB Jarret Johnson on a four-year deal.

The former Ravens LB is known as a great run-stuffer.

Kyle Orton reached a three-year agreement with the Dallas Cowboys.

It's interesting that Orton didn't sign with a team where he'd have an opportunity to compete for a starting job. He'll back up Tony Romo in one of the most potent passing games in the league.

Vikings reached agreement with former Seahawks tight end John Carslon on a five-year, $25 million deal.

Carlson showed promise in his first two seasons, posting 55-627-5 and 51-574-7 in his rookie and sophomore years, respectively. But the Seahawks acquired Zach Miller last summer, and Carlson's usage dropped. He finished with just 31 receptions for 318 yards and a TD in 2011. The signing is somewhat curious given the fact that the Vikings already have a talented young TE on the roster in Kyle Rudolph, who caught 26 passes for 249 yards and three TDs playing behind Visanthe Shiancoe. Carlson's arrival puts a dent in Rudolph's sleeper value.

The Detroit Lions have made Calvin Johnson the highest-paid receiver in the history of the NFL. Johnson agreed to a seven-year extension worth close to $130 million, according to sources. The extension will make him a Lion through 2019. It also tops the eight-year, $120 million deal receiver Larry Fitzgerald signed with the Cardinals prior to last season.

More importantly, the deal reduces Johnson's $22 million cap number by approximately $9 million for the 2012 season, according to sources, and will allow the Lions to go after some of their free agent targets, specifically linebacker Stephen Tulloch.

This is great news for the Lions and for Matthew Stafford, who now knows that he'll have his star receiver locked in for the next seven seasons.

Robert Meachem’s speed and big-play ability figure to play well in Norv Turner’s offense, as he will start opposite Malcom Floyd, with 2011 third-round pick Vincent Brown also likely to see increasing time as the team moves on from Jackson.

The Redskins begin the first full day of the new league year with a revamped receiving corps. Pierre Garcon is their new No. 1 receiver. Josh Morgan is expected to push Leonard Hankerson for the other starting spot, with Hankerson coming off hip labrum surgery.

Thursday's moves, however, make it somewhat difficult to see how Santana Moss fits into this new group. He signed a three-year, $15 million deal with Washington last summer, but whether he lasts through the end of it is in doubt.

Jabar Gaffney is due the same $2.65m in 2012 as Santana Moss. We'll have to wait and see how this situation shakes out, but for now, Washington looks crowded at wideout.

Packers free agent QB Matt Flynn is scheduled to visit Seattle on Thursday night, into Friday.

NFL star receiver Brandon Marshall — whose list of run-ins with the law is as long as a football field — allegedly slugged the woman at a Chelsea nightclub, The Post has learned.

Marshall was at Marquee early Sunday when he got into an argument with a group of friends celebrating a birthday, law-enforcement sources said.

At around 4 a.m., birthday girl Christin Myles, 24, left an upper floor of the posh hot spot to greet a friend downstairs.

When she tried to get back upstairs, a bouncer told her she had to wait because there was a fight between two football players — Marshall, 27, and an unknown athlete — who were being thrown out, the sources said.

She later met up with her friends, who by then were arguing with Marshall and the other football player outside, sources said.

Marshall — who earned his nickname with his aggressive style of play — then allegedly cold-cocked Myles in the left eye. She suffered a black eye. It wasn’t clear if he allegedly intended to strike her or one of her pals.

This may explain why the Dolphins were so willing to trade Marshall to the Bears. Stay tuned.

Defensive end Trent Cole became the second Eagles player to get an extension in two days, agreeing to a four-year deal, the team announced Wednesday. The extension puts Cole under contract through the 2017 season.

On Tuesday, Philadelphia agreed to a three-year extension with offensive lineman Todd Herremans.

The Tennessee Titans will be meeting with Peyton Manning on Wednesday, according to owner Bud Adams. Adams said that the Titans' contingent will fly out of Nashville on Wednesday and spend the day with Manning. Adams told the TV station he thinks Manning really is interested in the Titans' offer, and he expects a quick decision from the four-time MVP.

Chargers agree on 4-yr contract with WR Robert Meachem.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that the deal is worth $26 million, with $14 million guaranteed.

The 27-year-old Meachem was underutilized in New Orleans, but produced when given the opportunity. In fact, his 1.61 fantasy points per target was 6th amongst all WRs with at least 20 receptions in 2011. It wasn't a fluke since he finished 10th in the same category in 2010 (1.42 FP/target). Meachem will have to fight with Antonio Gates, Malcom Floyd and Vincent Brown for targets, but if he settles into a starting role, he should be a sneaky mid-round pick this summer.

The Indianapolis Colts and representatives of 11-year veteran and five-time Pro Bowl wide receiver Reggie Wayne agreed to a three-year deal Tuesday night, only hours after his contract lapsed and he became a free agent.

With the Colts keeping Wayne that would provide Luck with a steady hand and savvy head working on the outside. Wayne 33, is second to Marvin Harrison in most Colts receiving categories.

It's a curious decision to sign the much older of the team's two free agent WRs, but the Colts apparently didn't want to leave Andrew Luck without a solid WR to throw to (other than Austin Collie). Wayne is on the downswing in his career and the franchise may be regretting this contract in a year or two.

The Atlanta Falcons today announced that they have agreed to terms with wide receiver Harry Douglas and quarterback Chris Redman.

Douglas will slot in as the Falcons 3rd WR behind Roddy White and Julio Jones. In 2011, Douglas caught 39 passes for 498 yards and a touchdown on 62 targets.

The St. Louis Rams and former Titans cornerback Cortland Finnegan have reached agreement on a five-year deal worth roughly $50 million, according to league sources.

On the first day of NFL free agency, the Seahawks took care of their own by reaching contract agreements with defensive end Red Bryant and special teams standout Heath Farwell.

QB Jason Campbell reached agreement with the Bears on a one-year deal.

Campbell, no longer seen as a starting caliber QB around the league, will back up Jay Cutler in Chicago.

The Oakland Raiders have released TE Kevin Boss.

Just moments after Pierre Garcon confirmed that he’s signing with the Redskins, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that free agent wide receiver Josh Morgan is also on the verge of signing with the Redskins.

What this means is the Redskins are being incredibly aggressive about getting receivers in the fold who can give Robert Griffin III plenty of options from Day One of his NFL career. In a perfect world for the Redskins, Griffin, Garcon and Morgan will all develop a rapport and become a great pass-catch combination in Washington for years to come.

Vincent Jackson has agreed to a five-year deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The deal is for five years and $55.55 million, including $26 million in guaranteed money. Jackson will make $36 million in the first three years of the deal, $26 million in over the first two years.

While this is not particularly good for Jackson's value, it should be great for Josh Freeman and the entire Tampa Bay passing game. Expect Jackson's numbers to take a dip as he experiences a downgrade in QB and offensive efficiency.

Glazer on Twitter: "The Chicago Bears have agreed to terms of a trade w Miami for pro bowl WR Brandon Marshall in exchange for 2 third-rounders."

This is great news for Jay Cutler, who has struggled without a bona fide WR1 for the last few years. He and Marshall had a lot of success in Denver -- Marshall had 100+ catches in both 2007 and 2008 when Cutler was his QB.

Garcon on his Facebook page: "I wanted you all to hear it from me 1st before u saw it on the news... I will be signing with the Washington Redskins and I'm very excited about the opportunity in front of me. I want to thank all Colts fans from the bottom of my heart for all the love and support you've shown me the past 4 years and I hope that at some level u will still follow my career, as I will continue to share my life with you on here..."

Tough break for the Colts, who let a good, young receiver go when they are trying to rebuild around likely #1 overall pick Andrew Luck. This is good news for the entire Redskins offense, especially likely #2 overall pick Robert Griffin III.

Glazer on Twitter: "Take 1 name off the list of free agents set to hit the market today. Saints have just agreed to new 5 yr deal w WR Marques Colston"

This is big news for Colston, who will retain his 2011 value provided the Saints are also able to come to terms with Drew Brees. Lance Moore takes a hit, but is still looking at a boost in targets with Robert Meachem likely gone.

Randy Moss is back in the NFL.

The veteran wideout showed the 49ers enough in a Monday workout that the team decided to sign him to a one-year deal.

San Francisco HC Jim Harbaugh, a longtime NFL quarterback, threw passes to Moss for 15 minutes, per CSNBayArea's Matt Maiocco. Evidently that was enough to convince team brass (gold?) that Moss was the man to open up a rather vanilla passing game that ranked 29th (183.1 ypg) in 2011.

Moss, who turned 35 last month and also recently worked out for the Saints, retired prior to the 2011 season after splitting a frustrating 2010 campaign between the Patriots, Vikings and Titans. Since he was not under contract in 2011, he did not have to wait until Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET to sign a new contract like most NFL free agents.

We aren't expecting too much from the 35-year-old Moss, though he is a physical freak and is capable of producing when motivated. The 49ers simply don't throw the ball enough to keep him happy.

The Washington Redskins have pulled off a trade for the No. 2 overall pick in the NFL draft, sending three first-round picks and a second-round selection to the St. Louis Rams in a bid to draft Heisman trophy- winning QB Robert Griffin III, two people with knowledge of the situation said late Friday. The trade will not become official until Tuesday, which is the official start of the NFL’s 2012 calendar.

The Redskins will send the Rams their 2012 1st and 2nd round picks in addition to their 1st in 2013 and 2014.

The Jets have signed quarterback Mark Sanchez to a three-year extension worth $40.5 million, keeping him under contract through 2016.

Sanchez is now slated to earn $58.25 million over the next five years, with $10 million in potential escalators pushing the maximum value over that time span to $68.25 million (and the maximum value of the three new years to $50.5 million). Sanchez is now catapulted to become either the sixth or seventh highest paid quarterback in the NFL

This move locks Sanchez in as the Jets starter for at least the next two years, a curious move considering Sanchez seems to have lost the confidence of his teammates.

The Giants will release running back Brandon Jacobs today after he and the team could not come to an agreement on a reduction in his 2012 salary, according to someone informed of the impending transaction. The person requested anonymity because the team has not yet announced the move.

Jacobs, 29, was scheduled to earn a total of $4.9 million in base salary and a roster bonus that was due later this month. The Giants met with his representatives during the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis late last month and requested he hack that number down to a much more manageable figure. Jacobs resisted and, after one more failed attempt to bridge the gap today, he was informed of his impending release.

The Colts have released linebacker Gary Brackett, tight end Dallas Clark, running back Joseph Addai, defensive back Melvin Bullitt and quarterback Curtis Painter.

It's looking more and more like the team Andrew Luck will join as the No. 1 pick will look nothing like the teams Peyton Manning captained in his 14 years in town.

This is potentially good news for Jacob Tamme and Donald Brown and/or Delone Carter. Tamme caught 67 passes for 631 yards and four TDS over the final 10 games of 2010 filling in for an injured Clark. Of course, he won't have Peyton Manning throwing him the ball. Brown flashed some good potential in 2011, scoring five TDs in a nine-game span and rushing for 4.8 YPC on the season.

It looks like the Buffalo Bills are bringing the band back together on the offensive side of the ball at least.

Days after re-signing Stevie Johnson, tight end Scott Chandler has re-signed with the Buffalo Bills according to the team. It's a two-year contract, his agent announced on Twitter. The annual amount of the deal is unknown to this point.

The Atlanta Falcons have re-signed backup running back Jason Snelling.

The team announced the deal Thursday. Terms were not disclosed.

Snelling had 44 carries for 151 yards and 26 catches for 179 yards and one touchdown in 2011, when his versatility proved valuable. After opening the season as the backup to running back Michael Turner, Snelling also was used at fullback following Ovie Mughelli’s season-ending right knee injury in October.

This is a prudent signing by the Falcons, who have to be aware that Michael Turner is closing in on the end of his career. Turner continues to produce, but if he goes down, it's nice to have a big back like Snelling to share the load with the speedy Jacquizz Rodgers.

Randy Moss may have to get accustomed to wearing black and gold very soon.

League sources tell sportsNOLA.com that Moss had an off-the-charts workout at the Saints facility this morning.

The 35-year old Moss reportedly perfomed the 40-yard dash in the 4.39 to 4.4 range and ran routes while hauling in nearly 50 passes. One source described Moss as being more impressive than anticipated, saying that he is in great shape.

Moss spoke with Saints officials, including Mickey Loomis and Sean Payton, after the workout and both sides were encouraging to one another. The sources confirm that there is a strong chance of the two sides coming together on a deal that would make Moss a Saint in 2012.

Detroit Lions running back Jahvid Best, who sat out the final 10 games last season after suffering another concussion, has been cleared to work out, according to a source familiar with the situation.

The source said Best will be able to take part in the Detroit's OTAs, minicamps and training camp. While Best hasn't been cleared to return to football yet, the source would be "shocked" if Best isn't able to fully participate.

Best suffered his latest concussion on Oct. 16, when the Lions lost to San Francisco, and was placed on injured reserve in November.

Best also missed time during this preseason because of a concussion, and when he was a college player at California, he missed a few games after a fall knocked him out and sent him to the hospital with a concussion and sore back.

Best will be a high-risk pick due to his long history with concussions.

Peyton Manning's record-breaking run as quarterback of the Indianapolis Colts ended Wednesday, when owner Jim Irsay announced the team would release its best player.

"We all know that nothing lasts forever," Manning said. "Times change, circumstances change, and that's the reality of playing in the NFL."

Manning and Irsay each paused frequently, fighting tears and their voices shaking, as they appeared together at a news conference at the Colts' team complex. It was an unusual and awkward scene, two men whose NFL lives have been so closely intertwined, standing side-by-side in jackets and ties as they told the world they were splitting up.

"This has not been easy for Jim," Manning said, "and this has certainly not been easy for me."

The 35-year-old Manning will become a free agent, and is expected to generate interest from a half-dozen or so NFL clubs, provided he's healthy. Manning is coming off a series of operations to his neck and missed all of last season when his team's record, not coincidentally, plummeted to 2-14.

Indianapolis needed to cut him this week to avoid paying him a $28 million bonus, although both Irsay and Manning insisted the decision was not really about money. The Colts are widely expected to begin moving on by taking Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck with the No. 1 overall pick in April's draft.

Irsay repeatedly used the word "rebuilding" and acknowledged: "We're definitely a few years away."

Manning won't retire and hopes to be playing in the NFL at the start of next season.

Still, he said Wednesday: "I'll always be a Colt. I always will be. That'll never change."

It's an end of an era. Adam Schefter lists four teams he believes will make a run at Manning in free agency: the Dolphins, Jets, Redskins and Cardinals. There's also a good chance that Reggie Wayne will follow him wherever he goes, which would help both players.

Drew Brees is "livid" about being franchise tagged and not receiving a long-term contract, according to WIST-AM in New Orleans. The radio station cites sources in the Brees camp that he will not sign the franchise tag deal. Brees and the Saints have until July 15 to hammer out a long-term deal. If a deal isn't struck, Brees must sign the franchise tag deal or hold out.

The Patriots applied the franchise tag to Wes Welker.

The team released this statement but didn't attribute it to anyone within the organization: "Wes Welker is a remarkable football player for our team and has been a vital component to our offense and special teams since we traded for him in 2007. Utilizing the franchise designation allows both sides more time to try to reach an agreement, which is the goal. Wes remains a contractual priority and we are hopeful that he will remain a Patriot for years to come."

Welker would make $9.4 million under the tag next season but may still sign a longer deal rather than play under the one-year tender. Patriots DL Vince Wilfork (2010) and LG Logan Mankins (2011) parlayed the tag into long-term extensions shortly after receiving it.

While it's been projected for some time, the Kansas City Chiefs made it official today as they tagged Dwayne Bowe with the franchise player designation that will guarantee his spot on the 2012 Chiefs roster. It also gives the team time to negotiate a long-term agreement with their best receiver if that's the way they decide to go. In doing so, the team also makes cornerback Brandon Carr an official free agent who will be able to explore the open market soon enough.

Bowe has been the Chiefs' best receiver since they drafted him out of LSU in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft. In five season for the Chiefs, Bowe had nearly 5,000 yards receiving and 36 touchdowns, including a league-leading 15 in 2010. Even though the Chiefs drafted Jon Baldwin in the first round in 2011 and signed Steve Breaston to a five-year deal as a free agent, Bowe was still the top receiving option on the team and that should not change going forward. His value to the Chiefs offense is quite clear and everything else works around that.

With the franchise tag, Bowe will make around $9.6 million, a lesser amount than last year but a product of the new labor agreement struck in 2011.

The Houston Texans have reached agreement on a five-year, $43.5 million contract with running back Arian Foster that includes a hard guarantee of $20.75 million, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Foster will make $18 million this season and $30 million in first three years of deal, the source said.

Foster was a candidate to receive the Texans' franchise tender if the sides couldn't agree to a new contract by Monday at 4 p.m. ET, the deadline for teams to use their franchise tags on pending free agents.

In his second season as the Texans' starter, Foster ran for 1,224 yards and 10 touchdowns and made his second Pro Bowl this season despite sitting out three games.

The deal guarantees that Foster will be a top 5 pick in most 2012 fantasy drafts. Despite missing three games, Foster still finished the season as the #4 fantasy RB.

The Buffalo Bills today announced that WR Steve Johnson has signed a contract extension with the team. In accordance with team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Johnson led the Bills in receiving for the second straight year in 2011, catching 76 passes for 1,004 yards and seven touchdowns. Along with a career-high 82 receptions for 1,073 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2010, Johnson became the first player in franchise history to record consecutive 1,000 receiving yard campaigns.

The deal is reportedly worth $19 million guaranteed and roughly $8 million over the first three years. Johnson finished the season as the #21 WR in total fantasy points.

Seattle Seahawks fans might want to consider stocking up on Skittles. Marshawn Lynch is staying put.

The Seahawks' bulldozing, candy-loving running back signed a four-year contract Sunday night that will keep him in a Seattle uniform for the prime of his NFL career and coming off his finest season.

Lynch's contract is worth $31 million, including $18 million guaranteed, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Lynch rushed for 1,204 yards and 12 touchdowns last season and embodied the attitude coach Pete Carroll wanted the rest of his roster to emulate. Lynch also showed a maturity this season that might have been absent in the past.

That maturity was evident midseason when Seattle was struggling at midseason and Lynch had rushed for more than 80 yards just once. He sat down with assistant head coach Tom Cable to ask what he could do as a back to become more productive.

The result was six 100-yard games over the final nine weeks. In the three games during which Lynch failed to top 100 yards, he rushed for more than 80 twice and had two touchdowns rushing the other time as the Seahawks won five of their final eight games and made a late surge for playoff spot. Lynch was the first running back this season to score a touchdown rushing against San Francisco in Week 16. In the season finale against Arizona, Lynch was held out of the end zone to snap a franchise-record streak of 11 consecutive games with a TD.

The deal means that Lynch will likely hold late first round value in 2012 fantasy drafts. Thanks in no small part to O-line coach Tom Cable, Lynch rushed for at least 86 yards and/or a TD in his final 12 games.

As first reported by FOXSports.com NFL insider Jay Glazer, the Saints used their franchise tag Saturday afternoon on quarterback Drew Brees.

The move means that one of the league’s top passers will remain in New Orleans for at least the 2012 NFL season. Profootballtalk.com reported that Brees was given the “exclusive” franchise tender, rendering him unable to negotiate with other teams. In exchange, Brees will make several million more dollars than the “non-exclusive” tag that carries a $14.4 million base salary.

Despite more than a year’s worth of contract talks, New Orleans and Brees were unable to reach agreement on a new deal before the NFL’s 4 p.m. ET Monday deadline to utilize the franchise designation.

By tagging Brees, the Saints are now unable to franchise another top offensive player set to become an unrestricted free agent. Left guard Carl Nicks and wide receivers Marques Colston and Robert Meachem are now likely to hit the market and attract the kind of offers that would lead to their Saints’ departure.

As the article mentions, by using the tag on Brees, it means the Saints can't use it on Marques Colston or Carl Nicks, so it will be much tougher to retain both of those players. Meachem is an interesting player to watch. He showed flashes of potential in New Orleans and could thrive in a pass-happy offense if he's given more snaps and targets.

The Chicago Bears announced on Friday that they applied the franchise designation to running back Matt Forte as the sides continue to work on a long-term contract.

Teams could apply the tag from Feb. 20 through Mar. 5 at 4 p.m. ET as a method of preventing players from exploring the open market. The designation means Forte will play the 2012 season for a base salary of $7.7 million. But it's believed the team applied the tag to buy it more time to come to an accord with Forte on a long-term agreement.

The sides can continue to negotiate until the July 16 deadline for teams to franchise players to multiyear extensions.

Indianapolis quarterback Peyton Manning took another positive step forward in his recovery from neck surgery on Friday, conducting an aggressive throwing session in his Colts helmet, shoulder pads and jersey at Duke University, a source in attendance told ESPN.

Manning can be seen in a video clip posted late Friday on YouTube, independently verified as authentic, making apparent encouraging progress in his recovery from the surgery that sidelined him for all of last season. The session comes as a Thursday deadline approaches for the Colts' decision to exercise their $28 million option on Manning.

Manning has increased his throwing regimen as Colts owner Jim Irsay contemplates a decision on whether to exercise the option. Manning and Irsay also have had conversations about the veteran quarterback continuing his career as a Colt, even though it is likely the team is set to use the No. 1 overall draft pick on former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck or former Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III in April.

Several sources have told ESPN during the past month that Manning's throwing strength has dramatically improved as his nerves continue to regenerate following his latest neck surgery Sept. 8. Dr. Robert Watkins, who performed the single-level cervical fusion, has stated publicly that he has cleared Manning to resume his playing career.

The Saints are continuing negotiations on a long-term deal with Drew Brees.

As of Thursday, the sides remain roughly $5 million a year apart on a new contract. The Saints are making moves to free up salary-cap money, such as a guaranteed deal for defensive end Will Smith that should free at least $5 million. That move will put the Saints at roughly $19 million under the salary cap, assuming the cap remains close to $120 million.

Regardless, if a deal with Brees isn’t done by Monday, the team will have to use the franchise tag on him. The ripple effect of that is significant because the Saints also have wide receiver Marques Colston and guard Carl Nicks coming up as free agents. If the Saints are forced to franchise Brees, there is a strong chance they will lose both Colston and Nicks, each of whom are looking for about $9 million per year.

If that happens, the Saints are in trouble.

If the Saints sign Brees, they will keep at least two of those three players. There’s a decent chance the team could retain all three by using the franchise tag as leverage against either Colston or Nicks, signing one of them and then slapping the tag on the other.

The Washington Redskins used their franchise tag on tight end Fred Davis Friday according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Davis was set to become an unrestricted free agent on March 13, but Washington prevented that by using the franchise tag on the four-year veteran.

The tag gives the Redskins the right to keep Davis by matching any offer from another team. If it is the exclusive franchise tag, he will not be able to negotiate with other teams. If it is the non-exclusive tag, which is far more common, the Redskins would receive two first-round picks from his new team if they allowed him to leave.

Ray Rice has been offered the franchise tag by the Baltimore Ravens.

Rice apparently wants an Adrian Peterson type contract, and considering Peterson signed a seven-year deal worth $100 million before last season, Baltimore doesn’t necessarily agree with Rice’s assessment of his worth. As CBSSports.com’s Will Brinson wrote, a deal that mirrors Carolina’s DeAngelo Williams’ five-year, $43 million deal is probably more appropriate. Assuming he signs the tag, Rice will make about $7.7 million for 2012.

“As we have in the past, placing the franchise designation on a player allows us to keep negotiating on a long-term contract,” Ravens general manager Ozzie Newsome said in a statement. “Our goal is to keep Ray Rice a Raven. We’ve done this with other outstanding players through our history, including Haloti Ngata a year ago.”

The Eagles and DeSean Jackson are talking. But where will it lead?

With the March 5 deadline for teams to use their franchise tag fast approaching, the two sides have been engaged in ongoing dialogue for several days now. That is a positive development on the surface, but it's unlikely to bear any fruit – at least in the short term.

Here's why:

The Eagles are showing some interest in locking up Jackson to an extension, but at numbers that can be perceived as team-friendly. They may have gotten their man at their price in-season, when Jackson's stock was at an all-time low and his future was cloudy.

The leverage has since shifted.

The worst-case scenario for Jackson at this stage is that he nets $9.5 million on the one-year tender in 2012 – or roughly three times what he has made throughout his NFL career to date. Not bad. Even if he suffers a debilitating injury in Week 2, he's set for life. That kind of security allows for agent Drew Rosenhaus to play some hardball.

The wise move now (at least in theory) is to play coy to the Eagles' advances, make them slap the tag on Jackson and then wait for the free agent market to be set. The thinking is that it will only go up, bringing Jackson's value along with it.

Unless the Eagles blow them away between now and March 5, in other words, there will be no deal. Expect the tag.

Beat writer Tim McManus said on Twitter that "DeSean plans to sign franchise tender ASAP" so it appears that he'll stay in Philadelphia for at least one more season. The franchise tag means that Jackson will be paid like a top 5 WR, which he's not, so it will be interesting to see how the WR market shakes out.

The Browns have decided not to use their franchise tag on running back Peyton Hillis, according to a source familiar with the situation.

Throughout the past season, Hillis has wavered about whether he wants to continue playing football, and even considered joining the CIA, according to team sources.

It is unclear if he actually pursued a career with the CIA.

Hillis told Browns coaches as recently as the end of the season that he was contemplating retirement, though it now looks as if he will continue playing, the sources said.

But Hillis has felt defeated throughout his time in football, whether it was being benched at Arkansas in favor of Felix Jones and Darren McFadden, being traded by the Denver Broncos, or being unable to procure the long-term deal he desired in Cleveland.

It led him to tell Browns coaches that he didn't know whether he wanted to play football anymore.

Now Hillis is about to become a free agent and test his value on the open market.

Browns general manager Tom Heckert told ESPN's Josina Anderson Wednesday that the team would like to keep Hillis if the contract is reasonable.

The CIA?!?