Monday, March 15, 2010

Agent: Packers agree to new deal with RT Tauscher

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Veteran Green Bay Packers right tackle Mark Tauscher(notes) has agreed to terms on a multiyear contract that will bring him back to the team, his agent said Sunday.

Agent Neil Cornrich said the deal will allow Tauscher, who went to the University of Wisconsin, to play his entire football career in his home state. Tauscher was an unrestricted free agent.

Milwaukee’s ESPN 540 AM radio reported Tauscher’s return on its Web site Saturday night. The team has yet to announce the move.

Cornrich said Tauscher was thankful the team’s front office—including general manager Ted Thompson, vice president of football administration/player finance Russ Ball and coach Mike McCarthy—gave him the chance to finish his career with the Packers.

“He’s ecstatic,” Cornrich said. “Mark’s very grateful that Ted Thompson, Russ Ball and Coach McCarthy have worked so diligently to provide him an opportunity to return to the Green Bay Packers.”

Speaking at the team’s Fan Fest on Friday, McCarthy said he was optimistic about Tauscher’s return.

“I feel Mark Tauscher is definitely not too far away, and hopefully we’ll have some news for you there shortly,” McCarthy said.

The new deal for Tauscher completed a flurry of activity this weekend for the Packers, who also completed long-term deals with two cornerstones of what was a much-improved defense last season: nose tackle Ryan Pickett(notes) and safety Nick Collins(notes).

The Packers also recently re-signed veteran left tackle Chad Clifton(notes), who also was an unrestricted free agent.

“We’re focused on bringing our own free agents back, getting better as a football team, starting internally, and then we’ll add another draft class to this group,” McCarthy said Friday. “We like where we are today, but the importance of the offseason program and keeping your own players has been our focus, and that time is upon us now.”

Promising young lineman T.J. Lang(notes) could be in line to eventually replace Tauscher at right tackle. The team also is expected to look closely at offensive line prospects in the NFL draft.

Tauscher, Green Bay’s starting right tackle for most of his first nine seasons in the league, began the 2009 season out of football after a torn left anterior cruciate ligament ended his 2008 season.

The Packers brought Tauscher back in midseason after his replacement, Allen Barbre(notes), struggled on the field.

After working his way back into football shape, Tauscher returned to his starting spot, bringing stability to the NFL’s worst pass protection unit and earning praise from quarterback Aaron Rodgers(notes)

Tomlinson signs 2-year deal with Jets

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Tomlinson’s agent, Tom Condon, said Sunday that the New York Jets signed the former Chargers running back to a two-year contract. The Jets confirmed that they have agreed to a deal, adding the aging star to the NFL’s top-ranked rushing offense last season.

“He wanted to go to a team that he thought had a chance to compete for the championship,” Condon told The Associated Press in a telephone interview. “He wanted to go somewhere where he had a chance to have a significant role, and so with the Jets he also was going to be very familiar with the offensive system.”

The Jets reached the AFC championship game last season, eliminating Tomlinson and the Chargers along the way.

The 2006 NFL MVP, cut last month by San Diego, chose New York over Minnesota after visiting the Vikings on Thursday. Tomlinson spent Friday with the Jets, capping it with dinner with coach Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and other team officials.

The Jets went after Tomlinson hard even though he turns 31 in June, is coming off his least productive season and there are questions whether he has much left. New York apparently still saw plenty to like from Tomlinson, who ranks eighth on the NFL’s career rushing list with 12,490 yards, and gave him a deal worth about $5.2 million.

Once one of the NFL’s most dynamic players, Tomlinson is expected to back up second-year running back Shonn Greene(notes), who emerged in his rookie season and made Thomas Jones(notes) expendable. Jones signed with Kansas City last week after running for a career-high 1,402 yards and 14 touchdowns.

Tomlinson was welcomed to the Jets by several of his new teammates on Twitter, including left tackle Damien Woody(notes), defensive end Mike DeVito(notes) and All-Pro cornerback Darrelle Revis(notes).

“Good move by the organization,” Revis tweeted. “I couldn’t be more excited about this.”

Added Woody: “LaDainian running behind our line … I think he’ll put up better numbers than people think.”

Former Chargers teammate Antonio Cromartie(notes), acquired by the Jets before the trade deadline on March 4, said: “Congrats to my homie L.T.”

The Jets were already selling Tomlinson jerseys on their official Web site within minutes of announcing the deal. The $80 green and white replicas are without a jersey number for now; third-year cornerback Dwight Lowery(notes) currently wears Tomlinson’s familiar No. 21.

Tomlinson ran for 730 yards—his first season under 1,000—on 223 carries for an average of 3.3 yards per carry, all career lows. He scored 12 touchdowns, but his role was reduced in an offense that shifted its focus to quarterback Philip Rivers(notes) and the passing game.

He’s still regarded as an excellent route runner and superb receiver, two qualities that made him attractive to both New York and Minnesota.

Tomlinson is the latest high-profile player to be signed, drafted or acquired by the Jets in the last few years, joining Cromartie, Brett Favre(notes), Kris Jenkins(notes), Mark Sanchez(notes), Bart Scott(notes) and Braylon Edwards(notes).

With the Jets moving into the new Meadowlands Stadium, the 82,500-seat, $1.6 billion home they’ll share with the Giants, Tomlinson’s star power could potentially help the team sell more personal seat licenses.

More than that, though, New York hopes Tomlinson’s contributions on the field are greater. While he likely won’t be the focal point of the offense, as he had been for so many years with the Chargers—a role he has said he’s OK with—the Jets are hoping he can still be a dangerous presence with the ball in his hands.

He’s also familiar with the Jets’ style of offense and coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, who was San Diego’s quarterbacks coach from 2002-05. The Jets have Sanchez returning for a second season, along with a solid offensive line that helped pave the way for New York to average a league-leading 172.2 yards on the ground per game.

Those factors might have helped the Jets beat out the Vikings for Tomlinson’s services. While Minnesota was also just a game away from the Super Bowl, the uncertainty surrounding Favre’s return might have caused Tomlinson to hesitate about signing with the Vikings.

Tomlinson met with Minnesota team officials Thursday, but left for the New York area without a deal. He then spent all of Friday with the Jets—touring the team’s facility and the new stadium—before returning home to San Diego to mull his options on Saturday.

He was drafted with the fifth overall pick in 2001 out of TCU, and immediately became a star as he helped the Chargers become a perennial playoff contender. His 138 career touchdowns rushing rank second in NFL history, and his 153 total touchdowns rank third.

NFL-Tomlinson charges across country to NY Jets

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Tomlinson, who was recently released after nine seasons with the San Diego Chargers, had visited several potential teams before choosing the Jets in a two-year contract worth slightly more than $5 million, the New York Times reported.

The 30-year-old will boost a Jets team that reached the AFC championship game last season and was the top-ranked rushing team in the league.

The Jets recently released long time running back Thomas Jones(notes) and Tomlinson join second year running back Shonn Greene(notes) in the back field.

Tomlinson rushed for 12,490 yards and 153 touchdowns, won two rushing titles and was named the NFL MVP in 2006 while with the Chargers.

Walker healthy, hungry for another chance after release by Raiders

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Javon Walker was released by the Oakland Raiders earlier this week, but he says he isn't done with the NFL.

Multiple injuries and incomparable tragedy have derailed Walker's career since he caught 69 passes for 1,084 yards and eight touchdowns with the Denver Broncos in 2006. However, Walker professed Friday on NFL Network that after several surgeries — including an experimental procedure on his right knee — he's 100 percent healthy and ready to play for whatever team is willing to give him a chance.

"The NFL is all about what have you done for me lately, and you know, I haven't done anything lately,” Walker admitted. “But (I'm) just (looking for) somebody who's going to dig down deep and say, 'Let's take a look and see what this kid can do.'"

Appearing on the NFL Total Access set, Walker told host Fran Charles that a broken ankle and lingering knee problems from his time in Denver never allowed him to perform at the level the Raiders had hoped he would when they signed him to a six-year, $55 million contract before the 2008 season. Walker went on to start seven games for the Raiders that year, catching 15 passes for 196 yards and one touchdown.

Since then, Walker, who appeared in three games for the Raiders last season, traveled to Israel to have an experimental surgery (without the team's knowledge) in which cartilage from his knee was regrown, then inserted into the knee. Walker said the procedure, which is usually performed on soccer players, has allowed him to regain his explosiveness at age 31.

As surprised as the Raiders must have been to learn about Walker's lingering knee problems and the distance he traveled to fix them, the receiver said he was equally shocked when the team offered him such a hefty contract two years ago.

"It was a surprise to me," Walker said. "But, you know, like any human, if somebody offers you something good, I wasn’t going to say no. … Really, football has never been about the money to me, but what the Raiders offered, it’s not like I'm going to turn it down and say, 'Hey, you know, I don't think I deserve this.' I was like 'OK, maybe I can be a part of the puzzle to make this organization go again.'"

Walker also discussed the Thursday conviction of a suspected gang member in the murder of his friend and former Broncos teammate, Darrent Williams. Walker was in the limousine with Williams when he was gunned down in the early hours of Jan. 1, 2007.

"I'm mostly happy for his family," Walker said. “For them, obviously they can't get Darrent Williams back, but at least they get some closure on that whole situation, what occured. At least they got the guy who committed such a, to me, horrifying tragedy."

Packers defensive cornerstones Collins, Pickett locked up long term

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The Green Bay Packers signed safety Nick Collins and nose tackle Ryan Pickett to long-term contract extensions Friday, securing the services of two cornerstones in their much-improved defense.

The team didn't release details of either deal, but Collins' agents, Dave Butz and Alan Herman, confirmed a report on the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's Web site that their client received a three-year, $23.4 million contract.

A league source told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora that Pickett agreed to a four-year, $28 million deal, with $10 million coming in the first year. Pickett was an unrestricted free agent, but the Packers placed the franchise tag on him earlier in the offseason. Collins was a restricted free agent.

The deal marks the end of a long wait for Collins, who was angling for a contract extension before last season. But if he was unhappy with his contract status, it didn't show on the field. Collins was selected to his second consecutive Pro Bowl last season, and he has 13 interceptions in the last two seasons.

"The Packers always try to be proactive in our discussions with our current players, and we are pleased we were able to come to an agreement with Nick," Packers general manager Ted Thompson said in a statement released by the team. "Nick has been an impact player for us, and we look forward to having him continue his career as a Packer."

Pickett, whom the Packers signed as a free agent before the 2006 season, was a vital part of what was one of the NFL's best run defenses under new coordinator Dom Capers and his 3-4 alignment last season.

"We have continued to talk to Ryan and his representatives and are pleased we were able to sign Ryan to this extension," Thompson said. "He has been a key part of our success on defense, and we look forward to having Ryan be a part of our future in Green Bay."

After re-signing veteran left tackle Chad Clifton -- and watching standout pass rusher Aaron Kampman sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars as a free agent -- the Packers' top remaining offseason priority is the status of veteran right tackle Mark Tauscher, who's an unrestricted free agent.

Also Friday, the Packers unveiled a throwback-style third jersey and uniform that the team will wear for selected games during this season, and perhaps beyond.

Redskins try to solidify backfield by giving Johnson three-year deal

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Not content with just one aging, opinionated running back, the Redskins added a second one Friday night when they signed Larry Johnson to a three-year, incentive-laden contract.

Johnson agreed to a deal with a base value of $3.5 million, but he could make as much as $12 million if he meets certain incentives.

Johnson joins Clinton Portis in what should make for an intriguing backfield dynamic under new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan. Johnson is 30, Portis is 28 -- although Portis' body has been battered by 50 percent more carries. Both have been to two Pro Bowls. Both need to show some sort of resurgence rather than a steady decline toward retirement.

And both have been known to get in trouble for saying too much.

Johnson ended his season with the Cincinnati Bengals after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs in November. His six-plus years in Kansas City were marred by off-the-field problems, including two suspensions in his last 12 months with the team. The final straw came when he posted a gay slur on his Twitter account, insulted followers and questioned the competence of head coach Todd Haley.

Johnson's most productive years were 2005 and 2006, when he had back-to-back 1,750-yard seasons. He has 6,219 yards and 55 touchdowns on 1,421 carries over eight NFL seasons, plus 154 catches for 1,373 yards and six TDs.

Shanahan and Redskins general manager Bruce Allen have said Portis will be the team's running back next season, but he ended 2009 on injured reserve with a concussion. He ran for a career-low 494 yards and didn't have the burst of speed from earlier in his career.

The flamboyant Portis hasn't shied from publicly criticizing coaches and teammates in years past, and he hasn't been a fan of the team's offseason workout program.

On Thursday, Shanahan guaranteed that Portis will be in attendance when the offseason workouts begin Monday. With Johnson and Portis both on the roster, the Redskins have insurance in case one or the other misbehaves or is unproductive.

"Competition is a great motivator," Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, said Friday.

Schaffer said Johnson also was motivated to return to the Washington area, where he grew up as a Redskins fan.

The Redskins have taken a different approach to free agency under Shanahan. Johnson is the fourth player signed in eight days, but none of the contracts have been blockbusters -- and he's by far the biggest name added to date.

"We are excited to bring in a running back that has had so much success in this league," Shanahan said in a statement released by the team. "Larry is a physical runner who will be a great addition to our backfield."

Bucs sign veteran Alston to bolster linebacker corps

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed free agent linebacker Jon Alston.

The club announced the deal Friday.

Alston was a third-round draft pick of the St. Louis Rams in 2006. He spent the past three seasons with the Oakland Raiders, appearing in 39 games with eight starts.

Roethlisberger's attorney hires private investigator for assistance

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An attorney for Ben Roethlisberger has hired a private investigator to look into a 20-year-old Georgia college student's sexual-assault allegation against the Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback.

Police in the college town of Milledgeville continue to investigate, but they have released little information since the accusation was made last week.

Roethlisberger's lawyer, Ed Garland, said he has hired his own investigative team.

"Any lawyer representing anyone needs to know all the facts so that he can perform his duties," Garland said.

Roethlisberger hasn't been charged, and Garland said "no criminal conduct took place."

Carl Cansino, a lawyer for the club where the woman says the assault took place, said he was contacted Friday by the private investigator, Charles Mittelstadt. Cansino also was on hand when authorities interviewed club manager Rocky Duncan on Wednesday.

Police Chief Woodrow Blue said at a Monday news conference that investigators expected to speak to Roethlisberger this week. He said Friday that the investigation continues at a steady pace but declined to comment on any details, including whether authorities had interviewed Roethlisberger or asked him for a DNA sample.

"We haven't set any kind of timetable," Blue said. "Where the investigation leads us will determine that."

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation also is working on the case, but agent Tom Davis in Milledgeville didn't return calls seeking comment. Agency spokesman John Bankhead said only that the investigation is ongoing.

Lawyers for the woman who accused Roethlisberger released a statement earlier in the week saying their client is cooperating with authorities and asking the media to respect her privacy. They haven't responded to calls and e-mails from The Associated Press seeking additional comment.

Photos also have surfaced online of Roethlisberger smiling alongside the officer who wrote the initial incident report early March 5. The police chief said the photos were taken hours before the allegation was made.

Blue said Friday that he wasn't concerned about the photos, saying the officer, Sgt. Jerry Blash, and others had seen Roethlisberger earlier in the evening. Beyond filing the report, Blash hasn't been involved in the investigation, Blue said.

Panthers lack of free-agent aggression makes task ahead tough

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With the vast majority of top free agents off the market, the big spending is just about over. Although unsigned players aren't necessarily on the verge of panic, you can rest assured that they're calling their agents about getting a deal done now.

The annual NFL owners meeting starts March 21, which usually signifies the end of real interest in free agents until after the draft.

One team that seems to have passed on free agency is the Carolina Panthers. They could definitely sell a few available veterans on getting an opportunity to play in Carolina. Coach John Fox and general manger Marty Hurney are in a tough situation right now. How will they compete in 2010 if they don't get some experienced players on the roster?

Every coaching staff and front office faces the challenge of replacing talent with talent. Carolina's roster has been hit hard by free-agent departures, contract terminations and eroding skills. The skill lost must be replaced, and no position has a young, rising star sitting behind the starter.

The Panthers lost defensive end Julius Peppers in free agency, released quarterback Jake Delhomme, linebacker Na'il Diggs, defensive tackles Maake Kemoeatu and Damione Lewis, as well as fullback Brad Hoover. They probably will lose defensive end Tyler Brayton and maybe even guard Keydrick Vincent. Veteran receiver Muhsin Muhammad is also a free agent. Even though some of those names don't sound like stars, they were starters. At this point, the Panthers are going to ask at least six young players to fill the void and start.

Ultimately, the club will likely ask upwards of nine inexperienced players to start for the departed veterans. The young talent pool has a combined 26 career starts and would be possibly replacing nine starters who made 114 starts between them last season.

Consider for their whole career that quarterback Matt Moore (eight starts), receiver Dwayne Jarrett (three), guard Mackenzy Bernadeau (seven), ends Everette Brown (one) and Charles Johnson (four), defensive tackles Louis Leonard (one) and Corvey Irvin (zero), linebacker Dan Connor (zero), and fullback Tony Fiammetta (two) now move into starting roles. So ask yourself the next critical question: Who replaces this young group as the quality reserves on the roster?

Don't overlook the fact that replacing talent off the bench with more talent is also critical with all the potential injuries during the course of a season. A deep roster is usually the only way to success. The New Orleans Saints won the Super Bowl with multiple starters on injured reserve.

Carolina is without a first- and fifth-round pick from previous trades, which currently leaves it with only five draft selections, pending the announcement of compensatory picks. On top of that, the Panthers have only signed special teams contributor Wallace Wright in free agency. Does that mean the team will have four undrafted rookies make the team as backups? That almost sounds like an expansion team.

The Panthers ranked No. 8 in overall defense last season, but with five of the front seven players not projected to return, how can they maintain that top 10 status?

Leaders aren't assigned in the NFL by management; they emerge as they prove they can play and inspire others. Who are the 2010 leaders of the Panthers?

There's no doubt this is an exciting time for the young players on the Panthers. However, as Brown said to me last week, "It will be different in the locker room this year."

That might be an understatement. Not one of the players being asked to step up was even a first-round pick.

Granted, it was time for some of the veterans to be shown the door, as is the case with teams every year. But these wholesale changes are going to put too much pressure on a great coach like Fox and a real smart GM like Hurney.

It's not too late to fortify this roster before free agency completely dries up. Go get guys looking for work, like a possible backup QB in Derek Anderson or veteran guard Bobbie Williams and hope you don't lose a corner like Richard Marshall in restricted free agency.

The Arizona Cardinals have been hit hard in free agency, but at least the team traded for safety Kerry Rhodes when Antrel Rolle left. Without some key draft picks, the Chicago Bears have similar problems to the Panthers. However, they used free agency to bolster the roster. The champion Saints are in the NFC South with the Panthers, and that just makes things even tougher.

Fox and Hurney always take the high road and you will never hear a peep out of them about the challenges ahead. Still, here's a team that needs a starting receiver, a real No. 2 QB, some veteran help on the interior of the defensive line, an elite pass rusher, and more players for special teams. A handful of draft picks aren't going to be enough to get the job done.

Bryant signs four-year contract, wants to further Bengals' success

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Antonio Bryant is the latest complementary receiver to Chad Ochocinco.

Bryant signed a four-year deal with the Bengals on Friday, ostensibly replacing Laveranues Coles, who spent the 2009 season with the team, then was released.

"It was definitely a plus to me that this team really seemed to want me," Bryant said in a conference call. "The interest of the coaches and everyone in the organization made me feel comfortable. It's always easy to go out and perform when you're wanted as opposed to just being there to be there."

Bryant comes off a season in which he complained about a diminished role in the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' offense. After recovering from surgery for torn cartilage in his left knee last year, Bryant had 39 catches for 600 yards and four touchdowns.

The previous year, Bryant revived his career after being out of football in 2007, finishing with 83 catches for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns. The Bucs placed their franchise tag on Bryant, assuring him a salary of $9.88 million last season. He became a free agent after 2009, and the Bengals, who also have contacted Terrell Owens, signed him one week into free agency for about $28 million over four years.

"You've got a dominant team that played well enough to be in the playoffs, and hopefully I can be an addition, as well as some guys to further that success," Bryant said.

Cincinnati is adamant about improving a passing game that ranked 26th in the NFL last season.

"The players will notice the difference," Bengals offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said on the team's Web site. "It's not as big as the changes we made in the running game last year, but the passing game is getting the same kind of attention we gave the running game in the offseason last year.

"We're looking to match our quarterback's strengths with our receivers in order to get bigger plays downfield."

Bryant, who won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's top collegiate receiver while a sophomore at Pitt, has been with four NFL teams. His career has been hampered by a history of headstrong behavior -- most notably a 2004 post-practice tirade directed at Bill Parcells, in which Bryant threw his sweaty jersey at the then-Dallas Cowboys coach.

Bryant was sent to anger-management counseling and eventually traded to the Cleveland Browns, with whom he had his first 1,000-yard season in 2005 despite falling out of favor with the coaching staff. The San Francisco 49ers, desperate to add a top receiver, signed Bryant in spite of concerns about his character.

In December 2006, Bryant received a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance-abuse policy.

"Football is a testosterone sport. It's not ballet, know what I mean?" Bryant said. "I'm an edgy guy. I'm very edgy, but I think every player has to have some type of edge. That's what defines your competitive nature and how you approach the game.

"I'm a little bit more physical than probably what they're used to. You have to have each side of the scale to balance out the situation in the offense. I know there's a lot of ins and outs in the offense, and what I can do is bring a little more toughness to the game."

The Bengals also signed wide receiver/kick returner Chris Davis, a third-year pro from Florida State, on Friday. The former Tennessee Titan sat out last season after reaching an injury settlement.

Safety Sharper's status still unclear for Saints, who focus on D-ends

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New Orleans Saints general manager Mickey Loomis didn't have an update Friday on negotiations with free-agent safety Darren Sharper, who has publicly lamented that the team isn't "showing the love" he expected after he intercepted nine passes during a Super Bowl championship season.

"Listen, I got all the love in the world for Darren Sharper, I just don't have all the money in the world for Darren Sharper," Loomis said. "If it fits under our salary structure and the resources that we have, then we'll definitely want to have him back. If it doesn't, and he has an opportunity someplace else, then we understand that."

Last season, the Saints drafted safety Chip Vaughn out of Wake Forest in the fourth round, but he spent his rookie season on injured reserve. The team also moved 2007 third-round draft pick Usama Young from cornerback to safety last season. Sharper was Young's mentor, though it remains to be seen if Young is ready to fill Sharper's shoes should the NFL's active interception leader sign elsewhere.

Released from the shackles of the NFL's "final four" rule, the Saints are diving into the free-agent market and starting by taking a close look at defensive ends. St. Louis Rams defensive ends James Hall and Leonard Little both are of interest to the Saints, Loomis said Friday.

Hall was finishing up a visit Friday, and Little was expected to reschedule a visit that he had to call off this week because of a personal conflict, Loomis said.

New Orleans could use another experienced defensive end after releasing veteran Charles Grant last week. But the search was slowed by a league rule for an uncapped season, limiting which free agents can be signed by teams that played in conference title games until they have lost free agents of their own.

When linebacker Scott Fujita signed a three-year, $14 million deal with the Cleveland Browns earlier this week, the Saints could start looking at players with expired contracts on other teams.

"Scott just got an offer that was too good to turn down," Loomis said. "He wanted to return to New Orleans. We wanted him to return to New Orleans, but we understand what free agency is. ... Now we've got an opportunity to bring some guys in."

With Fujita turning 31 and the Saints' roster full of young linebackers, the team couldn't justify matching the Browns' offer.

Loomis said 2009 draft pick Stanley Arnoux, 2009 undrafted free agent Jonathan Casillas, two-year pro Jo-Lonn Dunbar, 2007 draft pick Marvin Mitchell, three-year pro Anthony Waters and veteran Troy Evans all could compete to join middle linebacker Jonathan Vilma and weakside linebacker Scott Shanle as starters. Loomis also wouldn't rule out going after a linebacker in free agency, but he acknowledged that the Saints' depth at defensive end is thinner.

"We have a need at both of those positions. But we have some guys in the building, probably more guys in the building at the linebacker position than we do at defensive end," Loomis said. "We've also got a lot of draft picks that we get to exercise in April, so hopefully we'll be able to fill both those spots between free agency and the draft."

One day after meeting with the Browns, former Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme had a visit lined up in New Orleans on Friday and Saturday, but his flight was canceled, a league source told NFL Network's Jason La Canfora. Delhomme still intends to visit with the Saints, though.

Because Delhomme was released by the Panthers, he doesn't fall under the "final four" rule. But the 35-year-old also wouldn't compete for a starting role in New Orleans, where Drew Brees' job is as secure as it gets.

While Cleveland's quarterback situation is less certain and could be more attractive to Delhomme, Loomis said, "obviously Jake wouldn't take the visit (to New Orleans) if he didn't have some interest."

Delhomme, a Louisiana native, keeps a permanent residence in his hometown of Breaux Bridge, where much of his family still lives and where he trains thoroughbred race horses with his father.

"We need to have a conversation with Jake and how he sees himself and how he sees his role here before we can say, 'Look, we're willing to sign you,'" Loomis said.

Meanwhile, Loomis reiterated coach Sean Payton's comments that the Saints had no intention of releasing Reggie Bush. Loomis added that the team wouldn't ask Bush to renegotiate his contract, which pays him about $8 million in 2010.

Loomis declined to discuss whether a raise and contract extension were in the works for Brees, who's entering the fifth year of a six-year, $60 million contract.

"I'm not going to address that," Loomis said. "These contracts are personal issues for players."

Titans agree to terms with CB Hood, who joined team last season

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The Tennessee Titans announced Friday that they have agreed to undisclosed terms with cornerback Roderick Hood, an unrestricted free agent.

Hood, who's entering his eighth NFL season, made four starts for the Titans in 2009. He had 18 tackles and tied for second on the team with three interceptions after being signed as a free agent in October. He returned an interception 31 yards for a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills.

Hood has made 47 starts in his career, with 234 tackles, 14 interceptions, one sack and five fumble recoveries. He previously played for the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals.

Judge in Williamses' trial says decision could come as early as May

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After more than a year and a half of legal maneuvering in their labor fight with the NFL, Minnesota Vikings defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams might finally learn in May if they must serve a four-game suspension for taking a banned substance.

Attorneys for the players and the NFL made closing arguments Friday, wrapping up a five-day trial that included testimony from the two players, their coach and a league official. The players contend the NFL broke Minnesota law when it applied its anti-doping policy two years ago and are seeking unspecified damages.

Hennepin County Judge Gary Larson told both sides to submit final briefs by April 2 and said he will rule between 30 and 45 days after that, sometime in the first half of May.

If Larson favors the league, his injunction blocking the suspensions -- which were initially levied in December 2008 -- likely would be lifted. That would allow the NFL to follow through with the punishment, yanking the heart of Minnesota's stout run defense out of the lineup for a quarter of the 2010 season.

An appeal by the loser is anticipated, however, so the end of this complicated case isn't necessarily in sight. The players declined to comment until after the judge's ruling.

"Been a long week," Pat Williams said outside the courtroom.

A key issue at trial is who employs the two players -- the team, the NFL or both. Players attorney Peter Ginsberg contends the NFL is the employer and thus violated Minnesota law regarding a required three-day notification of their positive test in 2008 and also failed to keep it confidential. News that the Williamses were among several NFL players who took a weight-loss pill called StarCaps containing the banned diuretic bumetanide broke in October 2008.

Ginsberg argued that the NFL has tight control of both teams and players, right down to the required color of the chinstraps on the helmets (it's white). He also criticized the league for unfairness and told the judge that "the arrogance and the cold-heartedness of the NFL in administering the policy needs to be stopped."

Joe Schmitt, an attorney for the NFL, accused Ginsberg of "raising red herrings" and trying to "bootstrap" the arguments about unfairness onto their claim that the league broke state drug-testing law. The unfairness claim was previously dismissed in federal court.

Schmitt argued that the terms of the collective bargaining agreement dictate league activity and said the NFL isn't able to impose at will rules upon the individual teams and players. Ginsberg has accused the NFL of leaking the information about the positive test to the media and therefore breaking the confidentiality code, but Schmitt said there was "not a shred of evidence" that occurred.

"It's undisputed that we got it right," Schmitt said.

The NFL has called the lawsuit a "state law end-around that can undermine all anti-doping policies in sports." Other sports leagues -- including Major League Baseball, the NBA and the NHL -- filed court papers supporting the NFL's position, saying the Williamses' case could affect their ability to enforce their own rules against steroids and other drugs.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wasn't ultimately called to be a witness, but Vikings coach Brad Childress and vice president for football operations Rob Brzezinski testified Friday.

Ginsberg asked Childress if he was the source of the leak, after the players confided their positive test to him.

"Absolutely not," the coach said. "That's so anti-me."

In a lighter moment, Ginsberg concluded his examination by asking Childress: "Who is your quarterback going to be next year?"

Childress simply smiled, unwilling to make any comments about Brett Favre's status.

"It's OK to have fun in here sometimes," Larson said.

The league alleges the leak came from Ginsberg or someone on the players' side. Brzezinski was equally adamant that it wasn't him.

"Don't feel offended. He's asked everybody," Larson said.

Responded Brzezinski: "I like my job, your honor."

Both sides tried to use Brzezinski to support their claims about who employs the Williamses. Brzezinski compared the Vikings to a McDonald's restaurant, as a franchisee operating under the parent company, during Ginsberg's examination. During cross-examination by NFL attorney Dan Nash, Brzezinski testified that the Vikings had complete authority to hire him and dictate his salary -- not the league.

Baskett signs one-year deal to return to Eagles; Fargas visits

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The Philadelphia Eagles signed free-agent wide receiver Hank Baskett to a one-year contract Friday, the same day that free-agent running back Justin Fargas also visited the team but reportedly left without a deal.

The Eagles released Baskett last September after three seasons together. Baskett spent the rest of 2009 with the Indianapolis Colts and played in Super Bowl XLIV, although his inability to recover an onside kick to start the second half helped spark a New Orleans Saints rally to the title.

Baskett had 71 catches for 1,046 yards and six touchdowns in 47 games with the Eagles. Three of his TD catches were longer than 85 yards.

"There were a couple teams who had shown some interest, but my agent and I had been in contact with the Eagles pretty much since Day 1," Baskett said, according to the team's Web site. "That just shows that I was really wanted back here, and that makes me feel good because everyone knows that I left with no hard feelings, and the Eagles, the coaches, everybody let me know that they weren't releasing me on bad terms. Everybody told me that you never know when I could be back here, so it's a good feeling that they showed interest from Day 1."

That interest evidently was more than what the Eagles showed Fargas. The Philadelphia Daily News reported Friday that Fargas would leave his visit without a contract.

At a news conference arranged by the Eagles, Vargas expressed his feelings about playing in Philadelphia.

"Yeah, from what I understand they're excited about the possibility for me to be an Eagle," said Fargas, who was released by the Oakland Raiders after seven seasons with the team. "They feel like my style of play can fit in well here. This is known as a tough city and a tough team, and I consider myself a tough running back. So, it should be a good fit."

Need for playmakers has receivers going fast this offseason

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In the week since teams began their shopping spree for proven talent, one clear trend is that wide receivers are in high demand.

Most clubs in need of receiver help decided to go out and get it rather than wait for next month's draft.

Certainly, those teams could still draft receivers, but the sense of urgency to find a proven commodity in this pass-driven league is obvious.

As Miami Dolphins general manager Jeff Ireland told reporters during the NFL Scouting Combine, "Every offense needs big playmakers."

The Dolphins are still in the market for one, but the Detroit Lions were so determined to get theirs that on the eve of the free-agency signing period they dispatched offensive coordinator Scott Linehan to Seattle to meet with Seahawks free-agent receiver Nate Burleson, whom Linehan coached when he was offensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings. Hours later, Burleson was a Lion.

A more recent example came Wednesday when the Cincinnati Bengals gave 29-year-old Antonio Bryant, slowed by knee problems with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season after a big 2008 campaign, a reported four-year contract worth $28 million to be a complement to Chad Ochocinco.

Earlier in the week, the Pittsburgh Steelers added depth at the position (while also helping their special teams) by signing former San Francisco 49er Arnaz Battle and bringing back Antwaan Randle El.

After the Lions signed Burleson to a five-year contract worth $25 million (including $11 million guaranteed), the Baltimore Ravens landed perhaps the best receiver available by trading with the Arizona Cardinals for Anquan Boldin, and then gave him a three-year contract extension worth $25 million in new money (including $10 million guaranteed).

The Lions are convinced Burleson can do plenty to help prevent opponents from consistently employing coverages to eliminate their No. 1 receiver, Calvin Johnson, from the game. Linehan saw Burleson effectively play that role for Randy Moss in Minnesota.

Boldin isn't a burner, but at 29 he still offers plenty of game-breaking ability, something the Ravens sorely lacked. He has overcome injuries to average more than 81 receptions over the last three seasons. And with Baltimore re-signing steady Derrick Mason, the team now has one of the more formidable receiving duos in the NFL.

The Houston Texans made sure they didn't lose a crucial part of their explosive passing game by re-signing Kevin Walter, who has developed into a chain-moving force on third down, to a reported five-year, $21.5-million contract (including $8 million guaranteed).

The Philadelphia Eagles also saw the value of keeping their own by signing Jason Avant, a restricted free agent, to a reported five-year deal worth $18 million (including $8 million guaranteed). Ditto for the Kansas City Chiefs, who re-signed Chris Chambers to a three-year, $12-million agreement (including $6 million guaranteed). On top of that, Chiefs coach Todd Haley is also reuniting with former Arizona receiver Jerheme Urban, whom Haley coached as offensive coordinator for the Cardinals.

The Dolphins made one of the bigger splashes in free agency with the signing of former Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Karlos Dansby. However, they haven't found a wideout, either because the price wasn't right or they wanted to avoid bringing a "diva receiver" into the fold.

That leaves Miami likely counting on the draft to find one, although it's risky because few receivers make an impact as rookies and Dolphins executive vice president of football operations Bill Parcells has never selected a receiver in the first two rounds of a draft he has overseen.

The current college crop offers good depth, but there are some significant question marks surrounding the two highest-rated receivers. Dez Bryant of Oklahoma State received a season-ending suspension from the NCAA last October, and didn't run at the combine because of a hamstring injury. Demaryius Thomas of Georgia Tech is recovering from a broken foot.

The Seattle Seahawks kicked the tires on Denver Broncos restricted free-agent receiver Brandon Marshall, but so far have apparently been unwilling to make a contract offer that, if unmatched by the Broncos, could cost them the No. 6 overall pick of the draft. There has been speculation that the teams might work out a trade that would cost the Seahawks less in draft-choice compensation, but it remains to be seen if such a deal can get done.

Another restricted free agent, Miles Austin of the Dallas Cowboys, is highly talented, but seemingly not enough for another club to risk giving up first- and third-round draft picks if the Cowboys didn't match a contract offer for him. New York Jets receiver Braylon Edwards has the same restricted status, although his inconsistency prevents him from attracting much interest.

The signings of Burleson, Walter, Chambers, Bryant, and Mason have left the receiver pickings in the unrestricted market slim.

After the Bengals chose Bryant over him, Terrell Owens is still available. But at 36, he might be viewed as too old to have a meaningful impact, even at a much lower salary than the $6.5 million he received from the Buffalo Bills last season.

Fans to choose 75 most valuable draft picks of all time

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Voting runs through April 18 on NFL.com

Top 10 all-time draft picks announced during 2010 NFL Draft



Jerry Rice, first round, pick 16. Emmitt Smith, first round, pick 17. Joe Montana, third round, pick 82. Roger Staubach, 10th round, pick 129. Tom Brady, sixth round, pick 199.

They are considered among the greatest NFL players. But who is the most valuable draft pick?

In celebration of the 75th NFL Draft, which kicks off in primetime for the first time on Thursday, April 22, fans now can help choose the 75 most valuable draft picks of all time. Fans can vote for their choices at NFL.com now through April 18.

Following the conclusion of the fan vote, picks 11-75 will be announced from April 19-April 22 on NFL.com and NFL Network. The 10 most valuable draft picks then will be revealed during the 2010 NFL Draft, which begins Thursday, April 22 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The second and third Rounds of the draft will be Friday, April 23 at 6 p.m. ET followed by Rounds 4-7 on Saturday, April 24 at 10 a.m. ET.

The 10 most valuable draft picks will be announced during Round 1, when many of the top 10 will be in attendance at Radio City Music Hall, the home of the 2010 NFL Draft. The order of the top 10 will be revealed after the conclusion of the second round of the draft Friday night. Many of these players will be on hand for the announcement.

NFL.com editors narrowed down the first 74 Drafts to a list of the top 320 players, consisting of 10 players from each team. Fans begin the process of determining the most valuable draft pick by choosing between pairs of players randomly generated from the list of 320 greats. After selecting winners of 30 random matchups, fans will begin to build their own top 10 list. Fans may continue to vote in order to make changes to their personal top 10 list as well as the all-time top 10 announced at the draft. Users then may share their lists and their head-to-head winners on Facebook (you can become a fan of the NFL on Facebook, click here).

NFL.com delivers comprehensive information on each of the 320 players, including the player's draft information and career accomplishments to help the voters make educated selections in determining the most valuable pick.

Below is a list of the 320 all-time most valuable draft picks as chosen by NFL.com editors. Players are listed by the team that drafted them:

Arizona Cardinals -- Anquan Boldin; Dan Dierdorf; Larry Fitzgerald; Roy Green; Tim McDonald; Jackie Smith; Charlie Trippi; Roger Wehrli; Aeneas Williams; Larry Wilson

Atlanta Falcons -- Steve Bartkowski; Keith Brooking; Alge Crumpler; Brett Favre; Bill Fralic; Claude Humphrey; Mike Kenn; Deion Sanders; R.C. Thielemann; Jeff Van Note

Baltimore Ravens -- Peter Boulware; Todd Heap; Jamal Lewis; Ray Lewis; Edwin Mulitalo; Jonathan Ogden; Ed Reed; Jamie Sharper; Terrell Suggs; Adalius Thomas

Buffalo Bills -- Gary Anderson; Ruben Brown; Joe DeLamielleure; Jim Kelly; Reggie McKenzie; Andre Reed ; O.J. Simpson; Fred Smerlas; Bruce Smith; Thurman Thomas

Carolina Panthers -- Jon Beason; Kerry Collins; Jordan Gross; Kris Jenkins; Mike Minter; Dan Morgan; Muhsin Muhammad; Julius Peppers; Mike Rucker; Steve Smith

Chicago Bears -- Dick Butkus; Mike Ditka; Bill George; Stan Jones; Bobby Layne; Sid Luckman; Walter Payton; Gale Sayers; Mike Singletary; Brian Urlacher

Cincinnati Bengals -- Ken Anderson; Willie Anderson; Bill Bergey; Boomer Esiason; Max Montoya; Anthony Munoz; Chad Ochocinco; Lemar Parrish; Ken Riley; Bob Trumpy

Cleveland Browns -- Jim Brown; Willie Davis; Hanford Dixon; Gene Hickerson; Henry Jordan; Leroy Kelly; Ozzie Newsome; Dick Schafrath; Walt Sweeney; Paul Warfield

Dallas Cowboys -- Troy Aikman; Larry Allen; Tony Dorsett; Bob Hayes; Michael Irvin; Bob Lilly; Emmitt Smith; Roger Staubach; Randy White; Darren Woodson

Denver Broncos -- Lyle Alzado; Steve Atwater; Terrell Davis; Randy Gradishar; Tom Jackson; Karl Mecklenburg; Tom Nalen; Shannon Sharpe; Rick Upchurch; Louis Wright

Detroit Lions -- Jerry Ball; Lem Barney; Lomas Brown; Jack Christiansen; Yale Lary; Alex Karras; Barry Sanders; Charlie Sanders; Joe Schmidt; Wayne H. Walker

Green Bay Packers -- Herb Adderley; LeRoy Butler; Forrest Gregg; Paul Hornung; Jerry Kramer; James Lofton; Ray Nitschke; Jim Ringo; Darren Sharper; Bart Starr

Houston Texans -- David Carr; Owen Daniels; Jabar Gaffney; Andre Johnson; Travis Johnson; Jerome Mathis; Chester Pitts; Dunta Robinson; DeMeco Ryans; Mario Williams

Indianapolis Colts -- Raymond Berry; Mike Curtis; Ray Donaldson; Marshall Faulk; Dwight Freeney; Marvin Harrison; John Mackey; Peyton Manning; Lenny Moore; Jim Parker

Jacksonville Jaguars -- Tony Boselli; Fernando Bryant; Donovin Darius; Kevin Hardy; John Henderson; Rashean Mathis; Brad Meester; Marcus Stroud; Fred Taylor; Renaldo Wynn

Kansas City Chiefs -- Jared Allen; Bobby Bell; Tony Gonzalez; Willie Lanier; Albert Lewis; Will Shields; Neil Smith; Otis Taylor; Derrick Thomas; Jim Tyrer

Miami Dolphins -- Dick Anderson; Larry Csonka; Leon Gray; Bob Griese; Sam Madison; Dan Marino; Jake Scott; Dwight Stephenson; Jason Taylor; Zach Thomas

Minnesota Vikings -- Joey Browner; Chris Doleman; Carl Eller; Steve Jordan; Randall McDaniel; Randy Moss; Alan Page; Fran Tarkenton; Kevin Williams; Ron Yary

New England Patriots -- Tom Brady; Nick Buoniconti; John Hannah; Mike Haynes; Lee Roy Jordan; Ty Law; Curtis Martin; Lawyer Milloy; Richard Seymour; Andre Tippett

New Orleans Saints -- Morten Andersen; Wes Chandler; John Gilliam; Rickey Jackson; Archie Manning; Chuck Muncie; Lorenzo Neal; Willie Roaf; Pat Swilling; Dave Waymer

New York Giants -- Harry Carson; George Connor; Art Donovan; Frank Gifford; Sam Huff; Don Maynard; Phil Simms; Michael Strahan; Lawrence Taylor; Brad Van Pelt

New York Jets -- Joe Fields; Mark Gastineau; Craig Hentrich; Keyshawn Johnson; Joe Klecko; Mo Lewis; Joe Namath; Marvin Powell; John Riggins; Wesley Walker

Oakland Raiders -- Marcus Allen; Lance Alworth; Fred Biletnikoff; Cliff Branch; Dave Casper; La'Roi Glover; Shane Lechler; Howie Long; Art Shell; Gene Upshaw

Philadelphia Eagles -- Eric Allen; Maxie Baughan; Bob Brown; Chuck Bednarik; Brian Dawkins; Sonny Jurgensen; Tommy McDonald; Pete Pihos; Clyde Simmons; Steve Van Buren

Pittsburgh Steelers -- Mel Blount; Terry Bradshaw; Dermontti Dawson; Joe Greene; L.C. Greenwood; Jack Ham; Franco Harris; Jack Lambert; Mike Webster; Rod Woodson

St. Louis Rams -- Jerome Bettis; Nolan Cromwell; Eric Dickerson; Kevin Greene; Harold Jackson; Deacon Jones; Jackie Slater; Norm Van Brocklin; Bob Waterfield; Jack Youngblood

San Diego Chargers -- Drew Brees; Fred Dean; Dan Fouts; John Hadl; Rodney Harrison; John Jefferson; Gary Johnson; Junior Seau; LaDainian Tomlinson; Kellen Winslow

San Francisco 49ers -- Charles Haley; Jimmy Johnson; Ronnie Lott; Hugh McElhenny; Joe Montana; Leo Nomellini; Terrell Owens; Jerry Rice; Gene A. Washington; Dave Wilcox

Seattle Seahawks -- Sam Adams; Shaun Alexander; Kenny Easley; Ahman Green; Steve Hutchinson; Walter Jones; Cortez Kennedy; Kevin Mawae; Lofa Tatupu; Fredd Young

Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- Mike Alstott; Ronde Barber; Derrick Brooks; Mark Carrier; Warrick Dunn; John Lynch; Tony Mayberry; Warren Sapp; Lee Roy Selmon; Vinny Testaverde

Tennessee Titans -- Robert Brazile; Earl Campbell; Ray Childress; Eddie George; Albert Haynesworth; Ken Houston; Charlie Joiner; Derrick Mason; Bruce Matthews; Mike Munchak

Washington Redskins -- Champ Bailey; Sammy Baugh; Larry Brown; Darrell Green; Russ Grimm; Chris Hanburger; Paul Krause; Art Monk; Jerry Smith; Charley Taylor

Goodell to speak at UMass Lowell commencement; father honored

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NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will address graduates at the University of Massachusetts Lowell's commencement on Saturday, May 29 at 10 a.m. ET at the Tsongas Center at UMass Lowell.

Goodell also will accept a posthumous Doctor of Humane Letters degree for his father, the late U.S. Sen. Charles Goodell, a Republican who was elected to Congress in 1959 and appointed to the Senate following the assassination of U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy in 1968. He established a solid record on issues such as civil rights, the war on poverty and education.

"Roger Goodell is an inspirational role model who can share his personal story of working his way up from intern to leader of an organization that today oversees the diverse interests of the most successful sports league in the world," said Chancellor Marty Meehan. "Our students will benefit from the examples set by Roger and his father, Charles, both of whom have led without compromising their beliefs."

"I learned a lot from my father about the importance of acting on your values and doing what's right, no matter what the pressure and opposition," said Roger Goodell. "I welcome the opportunity to share with UMass Lowell graduates how the lessons I've learned from my father and leading the NFL can be applied to anything they pursue in life."

Other Doctor of Humane Letters degree recipients include Doris Kearns Goodwin, presidential historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author; Richard N. Goodwin, presidential speechwriter and adviser to John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson and Robert Kennedy; Gloria Ladson-Billings, pedagogical philosopher, scholar and educational author; and Alan P. Lightman, physicist, novelist and author of international bestseller "Einstein's Dreams."

In addition to appearing at Commencement, Goodell, the honorary degree recipients and Distinguished Alumna Bonnie Comley, '81, award-winning Broadway producer, will speak at a Commencement Eve Celebration. The gala will benefit student scholarships, including new endowments in honor of Charles Goodell and Richard and Doris Kearns Goodwin, on Friday, May 28 at 6 p.m. at the UMass Lowell Inn & Conference Center.

Goodell, who was named commissioner in 2006, began his NFL career in 1982 as a public relations intern in the New York league office - a position he secured through an extensive letter-writing campaign to the NFL and each of its then 28 teams. Over the years, he held various positions with the league, including chief operating officer, where he took responsibility for the league's football operations and officiating and supervised league business functions. He headed NFL Ventures, which oversees the league's business units, including media properties, marketing and sales, stadium development and strategic planning. Goodell, a native of Jamestown, N.Y., graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in Washington, Pa., in 1981 with a degree in economics.

Charles Goodell, who opposed the Vietnam War, led the first anti-war march down Constitution Avenue, his arms linked with Coretta Scott King and George McGovern. He then became a target of the Nixon-Agnew "purge" during his re-election bid. Criticized by his own Republican Party as a radical liberal who was undercutting the president, Goodell lost his bid for re-election to Nixon-backed Republican James Buckley. He returned to practicing law and later founded his own firm in Washington, D.C. In 1976, his former House colleague, President Gerald Ford, appointed Goodell chairman of the Presidential Clemency Board, which reviewed more than 20,000 applications from Vietnam War resisters.

UMass Lowell students who apply for a Goodell scholarship will write essays on the impact that Charles Goodell had on U.S. history.

NFL panel finds some knee, ankle injuries more common on turf

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An NFL panel found that certain serious knee and ankle injuries happen more often in games played on the most popular brand of artificial turf than on grass.

The league's Injury and Safety Panel is presenting its study Friday at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in New Orleans.

The report examined the 2002 through 2008 NFL seasons, comparing games played on grass to those on FieldTurf. It found that the rate of anterior cruciate ligament injuries was 88 percent higher in FieldTurf games -- a conclusion that the manufacturer of the synthetic field hotly disputes.

Panel chairman Dr. Elliott Hershman, a New York Jets team orthopedist, said it's too soon to make any recommendations on what surface teams should choose. More research is needed on issues such as whether players are wearing the right types of shoes on artificial turf.

"At this point, we want to stimulate more discussion," Hershman said.

The panel has presented its findings to league owners, the NFL Players Association and companies that make artificial turf. The study has been submitted for publication.

"The paper is designed to stimulate further discussion, inquiry and improvements in playing surfaces," league spokesman Greg Aiello said. "It does not draw any conclusions about the cause of the injuries analyzed. Our panel states in the report that additional analyses, data from future NFL seasons, and studies of injury rates on synthetic turf and natural grass surfaces, including for other athletic populations and levels of football, are needed before any conclusions can be drawn or recommendations made."

Nine NFL stadiums currently have FieldTurf (Cincinnati, Detroit, Indianapolis, New England, Atlanta, Minnesota, St. Louis, Seattle and the new Meadowlands Stadium).

NFL teams began switching from the old carpet-style turf to the springier, more grass-like surface in 2000. By the end of the 2008 season, 14 stadiums used a brand of next-generation turf, while the rest had grass. Too few games were played on brands other than FieldTurf to include them in the study, Hershman said.

The panel started to notice a higher rate of injuries on the new turf in evaluating the data that the NFL compiles each season, Hershman said. Once enough games had been played on the newer surfaces to do a scientific analysis, the panel found that anterior cruciate ligament injuries and a more serious type of ankle sprain occurred at a higher rate that is statistically significant.

The rate for the ankle sprains was 32 percent higher on FieldTurf than on grass. Medial collateral ligament injuries and a less serious type of ankle sprain also happened more frequently, but the difference wasn't statistically significant.

Hershman noted that the NFL research might not apply to lower levels of football or to other sports.

FieldTurf president Eric Daliere argues that the panel's methods are faulty and cites research by Montana State professor Michael Meyers that has been published in The American Journal of Sports Medicine. Meyers' work, though, has only looked at high school and college football, and not the NFL. FieldTurf paid for Meyers' recent study that found lower overall injury rates for college games played on the surface.

"Michael Meyers has come to a very different conclusion on a different level and his is a real study, not just a report," Daliere said. "He mentions poorly designed (analyses) -- and this is the kind of work he does -- and that the statistical analysis by the (NFL) panel was also flawed.

"I don't put a lot of weight in it and think if is unfortunate it is coming out this way at this time."

Meyers said in an e-mail to The Associated Press that he told the NFL in 2008 "there are too many glaring omissions and biases in the study to reach any valid conclusions." He questioned why certain factors that could influence injury rates weren't included and noted that some teams didn't play any games on FieldTurf during some of the seasons studied.

Other university scientists and statisticians also expressed concerns, he said, and the panel withdrew its report after those meetings.

Hershman disputed that.

"Nobody withdrew anything," he said. "We actually did some review of our data based on some of the thoughts they raised, and we validated our data. Because we did all that, we now feel our data is valid, relevant and statistically significant."

FieldTurf promotes the safety benefits of its product on its Web site.

"As a company," Daliere said, "the safety of the athletes really is in our DNA. It's what FieldTurf focused on from the very beginning when we replaced traditional Astroturf with something dramatically safer."

Daliere mentioned that Hershman's team, the Jets, will have FieldTurf in its new stadium.

A close look at the panel's data might not have much effect on NFL teams that know they can save money on maintenance in the long run by using FieldTurf rather than grass. The study estimated that if every stadium with grass were to switch to FieldTurf, that would result in only five additional ACL injuries per season across the NFL because of the infrequency of the injury.

The NFLPA's biennial poll of its players last year showed that their four favorite fields were grass: Arizona, Tampa, San Diego and Carolina. Four of the next six were FieldTurf.

Warren becomes fourth veteran cut by Raiders this offseason

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The Oakland Raiders released defensive tackle Gerard Warren on Thursday, letting go of yet another veteran this offseason.

The decision to release Warren follows moves in the past week to cut running back Justin Fargas, defensive end Greg Ellis and wide receiver Javon Walker. Those moves help the Raiders save money, as well as open up opportunities for young players to receive more significant playing time.

The beneficiary of Warren's release could be Desmond Bryant, an undrafted free agent who showed signs of potential as a rookie.

The only other defensive tackle currently under contract for the Raiders is Tommy Kelly. Defensive end Richard Seymour, who has been designated the team's franchise player, also can move inside to play tackle.

The Raiders acquired Warren from the Denver Broncos just before the start of the 2007 season in the first trade between the AFC West rivals since defensive back Willie Brown came to Oakland in 1967. While Brown put together a Hall of Fame career and helped lead the Raiders to their first Super Bowl title, Warren was unable to end the franchise's current run of losing.

The Raiders had the worst run defense in the NFL during Warren's tenure, allowing 153.7 yards per game and a league-worst 71 touchdowns on the ground. Warren had 76 solo tackles and 10 sacks in 44 games with Oakland.

The Raiders won just 14 games in the past three years, extending their NFL-worst run of seven consecutive seasons with at least 11 losses.

Warren has never lived up to his draft billing after being selected third overall by the Cleveland Browns in 2001. He spent four disappointing years with the Browns before being dealt to the Broncos in 2005. He spent two years in Denver before being unloaded to Oakland.

Warren has 225 solo tackles, 32 sacks, seven forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries in his NFL career. He has been to the playoffs only once in his nine seasons.