By Jeff Reynolds and Nolan Nawrocki, Associate editors

Sunday, March 10, 2002

• San Francisco RB Garrison Hearst met with the Atlanta Falcons late last week. Hearst canceled a visit to Miami after the Dolphins acquired Ricky Williams in a trade with New Orleans Friday. Hearst, 31, spent several hours with Atlanta head coach Dan Reeves and toured the Falcons’ headquarters before undergoing a physical exam and an MRI test on his left ankle. Hearst, 31, who left the University of Georgia after his junior year in 1992 and lives in nearby Alpharetta, is also considering staying with the 49ers or going to Cleveland, according to agent Pat Dye, Jr.

• Philadelphia LB Mike Caldwell visited Chicago Friday. Former Atlanta QB Chris Chandler will visit the Bears this week. Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo said Chandler could be Jim Miller’s backup in case Shane Matthews is traded to Washington, where he would reunite with former Florida coach Steve Spurrier.

• Buffalo re-signed C Bill Conaty Friday and also entertained DB Corey Chavous, who played the last four seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

• The Jets broke off talks with Tennessee DT/DE Josh Evans. Evans’ agent, Mitch Frankel, said Evans would talk to other teams, although the Jets might still be interested.

Signings:

GREEN BAY PACKERS: Signed WR Terry Glenn to a five-year contract.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: Re-signed S Brock Marion to a five-year contract. Agreed to terms with OG Leon Searcy on a one-year, $750,000 contract.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Agreed to terms with DL Kenny Mixon on a five-year, $17 million contract, which included a $3.4 million signing bonus.
NEW YORK JETS: Signed CB Aaron Beasley to a four-year contract.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Signed FB Fred Beasley to a four-year, $6.075 million contract, which includes a $1.4 million signing bonus.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Agreed to terms with QB Rob Johnson.

Friday, March 8, 2002

• After all the wooing from the Dolphins, Bears C Olin Kreutz has decided to stay put in Chicago. Kreutz agreed to terms with the Bears on a six-year deal worth $22.5 million, with a $7 million signing bonus. Kreutz, 24, who interrupted his honeymoon in his native Hawaii to visit with the Dolphins, was a Pro Bowl center last season and served as a Pro Bowl alternate in 1999 and 2000. The Dolphins reportedly backloaded Kreutz's offer with big numbers at the end of the contract, which he likely would not have seen. The Bears put a full-court press on Kreutz last night, when several coaches and teammates, including James "Big Cat" Williams, called Kreutz to voice their desire for him to stay in Chicago. The Bears agreed to tack on another million up front, increasing the Dolphins' offer of a $6 million signing bonus to $7 million. With the bonus increase and support from the Bears’ organization, Kreutz decided to stay put at Halas Hall, where his lively spirit is popular with teammates.

• New Orleans OLT Willie Roaf has visited Kansas City and will be taking a trip to Denver this weekend, according to agent Peter Schaffer. Many other teams have expressed interest in Roaf, but with Roaf still under contract to New Orleans, the only way he will leave the Saints is via trade.

• Jacksonville DT Renaldo Wynn visited New Orleans today. Next on the tour are Cincinnati Monday, Green Bay Tuesday and most likely Seattle on Wednesday. The Seattle visit has yet to be finalized.

• Chicago LB Greg Jones visited Houston yesterday. He is scheduled to stop by the Panthers’ facility early next week and will probably visit the Cardinals after Carolina.

• Indianapolis CB Jeff Burris took his first visit, going to Seattle today, and has been requested to make several other visits next week.

• Agent Jim Steiner, who represents Elvis Grbac, said Broncos DT Leon Lett is leaning toward hanging up his cleats after being released by Denver. Steiner also said that Grbac has communicated to him that his decision to retire, announced earlier this week, is final.

• Rams LB Mark Fields, signed as a free agent from New Orleans last season, will be released today. The Saints are looking to upgrade their LB corps and could be a solid option for Fields, who had a very productive stint in the Big Easy.

• New Orleans Saints C Chris Naeole has visits scheduled with Cleveland and the New York Jets.

• SS Blaine Bishop visited with his former defensive coordinator, Buffalo head coach Gregg Williams, on Thursday. He met with Detroit on Friday and will meet with defensive coordinator Jim Johnson in Philadelphia Monday.

• While Oakland WR Jerry Rice was concerned with the departure of head coach Jon Gruden, the Raiders’ receiver plans to play out the rest of his contract, which has one year remaining, because he is not unaccustomed to changes in the NFL.

• Pittsburgh restricted free-agent PK Kris Brown will be visiting Houston Monday night. He ís scheduled to leave Houston Tuesday night and head to Buffalo, according to his agent, Glenn Schwartzman.

Signings:

DALLAS COWBOYS: Re-signed OL Larry Allen to a six-year, $37 million contract.
DETROIT LIONS: Signed WR-KR Az-Zahir Hakim to a five-year, $16 million deal.
NEW YORK JETS: Signed DE Steve White to a four-year, $7.25 million deal.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: Signed Cory Raymer to a five-year, $10.5 million contract.

Thursday, March 7, 2002

• The Houston Texans offered unrestricted free-agent LB Kailee Wong the one thing he wanted most: a chance to be a pass-rushing linebacker once again. As a result, Wong signed a four-year, $12 million contract Thursday with the expansion team. The deal includes a $4.2 million signing bonus. After playing middle linebacker for the Vikings the past two seasons, Wong will have an opportunity to play the coveted "rush" LB spot in head coach Dom Capers' 3-4 defense, which could lead to some gaudy sack numbers. Wong had also been courted by the Browns and the Vikings, but both of those teams were planning to use him at middle linebacker.

• Not long ago, Saints RB Ricky Williams said he wouldn’t mind playing for the Miami Dolphins. Thursday, he was very close to getting his wish. According to a well-placed source, a deal between the Saints and Dolphins was near completion at approximately 5:30 p.m. EST to send the two-time 1,000-yard rusher to Miami in exchange for multiple draft picks, including the Dolphins’ first-round choice in the April 20 draft. The Cleveland Browns also were involved in trade talk involving Williams until Wednesday.

• With Chicago C Olin Kreutz close to a deal with Miami, the Bears are watching film of Indianapolis OG-C Larry Moore. Tampa Bay is also eyeing Moore. Kreutz "couldn’t be closer to 50-50" in choosing between the Bears and Dolphins, according to a source close to the negotiations. Kreutz’s decision is expected Friday.

• Oakland DT Grady Jackson is going to Kansas City, where he will visit for several days with the Chiefs. It’s the first place he has visited this offseason. Former San Diego DT John Parrella, who signed a six-year, $24 million dollar deal with Oakland Wednesday, also met with the Chiefs last weekend in Indianapolis. Parrella’s signing makes it unlikely that Jackson will don the silver and black again next season.

• Keep your eye on Green Bay, where the Packers are doing their best to add Patriots WR Terry Glenn via trade. Veteran Packers wideout Antonio Freeman expects to know more about his status before the weekend is over and could be closer to moving out of Wisconsin.

• Steelers RB Amos Zereoue is a restricted free agent, which means, if history is any indication, that he’ll be staying with the Steelers. Richard Huntley, and Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala were in similar situations each of the past two years. Miami made an offer to Huntley, which Pittsburgh matched, and New England took a shot a Fuamatu-Ma’afala last season to no avail. Zereoue is receiving interest from Houston, but the compensation for signing Zereoue is expected to scare off the Texans. The Steelers also cut FB Jon Witman, making Dan Kreider the starting fullback and Fuamatu-Ma’afala his backup.

• Tampa Bay OL Todd Washington is meeting with the Browns in Cleveland Monday.

• Tampa Bay WR-KR Karl Williams is drawing interest from Seattle, New Orleans and Philadelphia, who are all taking a look at Williams on film.

• The Rams scrapped plans to meet WR Cris Carter after the longtime Vikings star put off his scheduled visit. Carter supposedly got tied up in Cleveland, according to Rams head coach Mike Martz, who said at least three Rams coaches and four players arranged their schedules for Carter’s visit. Martz, a stickler for player promptness for practice and team meetings, said he may revisit the issue of having Carter visit in another week or so. Carter called Martz several times before free agency, selling himself to the Rams and saying how much he wanted to play in a Super Bowl before his career was over. To some, the hastily arranged Cleveland visit was seen as a bid to create leverage with the Rams in contract talks.

• Carter was also in Miami earlier this week. Dolphins vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman said the visit went very well. "Basically, where I left it with him and his agent, we’re going to be at a certain range, and if it’s not the range (they’re) looking for, there’s nothing we can do," said Spielman, while talking to his brother, former NFL star LB Chris Spielman, on WBNS Radio in Columbus, Ohio.

• Unwanted in St. Louis at his asking price, WR Az-Zahir Hakim will be announced as a member of the Detroit Lions Thursday afternoon. Hakim will get a five-year, $16 million deal. Lions president Matt Millen said Hakim will not be a third receiver like he was in St. Louis. Hakim’s strength is his speed, which should remain evident on the indoor surface when the Lions open play at Ford Field — also an indoor facility — this season.

• Carolina CB Doug Evans plans to meet with the Seahawks in Seattle Monday.

• Miami P Matt Turk is in talks with the Jets, and Baltimore P Kyle Richardson is meeting with the Vikings, who recently cut P Mitch Berger.

Signings:

ATLANTA FALCONS: Signed S Keion Carpenter to a one-year contract worth $450,000.
BUFFALO BILLS: Signed LB London Fletcher to a five-year deal.
CHICAGO BEARS: Signed RB Rabih Abdullah to a three-year contract.
CINCINNATI BENGALS: Signed OL John Jackson to a one-year contract worth $750,000, the league minimum for a player with at least 10 years of experience.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: Signed OL Ryan Tucker to a four-year contract. Signed S Robert Griffith to a four-year contract.
DALLAS COWBOYS: Signed OL Larry Allen to a six-year contract.
DETROIT LIONS: Signed WR-KR Az-Zahir Hakim.
HOUSTON TEXANS: Agreed to terms with LB Kailee Wong on a four-year, $12 million deal, with a $4.2 million signing bonus.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: Signed RB Robert Edwards to a one-year contract.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Re-signed DE Willie McGinest.
NEW YORK JETS: Agreed to terms with DE Steve White. Agreed to terms with LB Sam Cowart to a six-year contract reportedly worth $31 million with a $1.8 million signing bonus and options for playing time that could bring him $6 million more. Re-signed LB Marvin Jones.
OAKLAND RAIDERS: Signed DT John Parrella to a six-year, $24 million contract, including a $4.75 million signing bonus.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Re-signed TE Mike Bartrum.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Agreed to terms with TE Mark Bruener on a four-year contract extension.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: Signed DT Jason Fisk to a five-year, $12.5 million contract.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Re-signed OL Matt Willig to a one-year contract.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Signed OL Kerry Jenkins to a five-year, $10 million deal that includes a $2.6 million signing bonus.

Wednesday, March 6, 2002

• According to a source, Saints RB Ricky Williams will be traded to the Dolphins Thursday. The compensation reportedly involves a first-round draft choice (Miami holds the 25^th pick) this year along with other draft picks. One source close to the situation said the Browns, who had also been in trade talks with the Saints, were no longer in the picture as of Wednesday afternoon.

• Free-agent RB Warrick Dunn, named a priority by Jon Gruden at his first press conference as Buccaneers head coach, is said to be very close to inking a deal with Philadelphia. The Eagles already have RBs Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter under contract.

• Minnesota LB Kailee Wong reportedly had a great visit with the Browns Tuesday. He’ll visit the Texans on Wednesday, and "we’ll have an idea of what we’re going to do," said Steve Baker, Wong’s agent, when they return from Houston. With SS Robert Griffith now on board in Cleveland, Wong appears to be highly interested in joining former teammates Griffith, LB Dwayne Rudd and CB Corey Fuller to play under Browns defensive coordinator Foge Fazio, who coached them all in Minnesota.

• Green Bay is said to be working on a trade for Patriots WR Terry Glenn to shore up its receiving corps. Meanwhile, Packers WR Corey Bradford was in Houston and will make a trip to Detroit Thursday. Green Bay has already made Bradford an offer, according to his agent, Jimmy Sexton. Bradford and Sexton are considering Green Bay’s offer but won’t decide on a destination until Bradford has completed his scheduled visits. Indianapolis WR Jerome Pathon is also meeting with the Texans.

• Tampa Bay WR Jacquez Green, who had 36 catches and one touchdown in an injury-riddled 2001-02 season with the Buccaneers, will meet with head coach Mike Martz and the Rams Thursday and Friday. The Rams have shown interest in Vikings WR Cris Carter, who has also visited Cleveland and Miami, and could bring back their own pair of unrestricted free agents, Az-Zahir Hakim and Ricky Proehl.

• CB Allen Rossum, who has also served as a return man with the Packers, is in Atlanta Wednesday night to meet with the Falcons. Agent Hadley Engelhard said Rossum has not ruled out a return to Green Bay, and other teams have shown interest but have yet to arrange visits.

• Redskins TE Stephen Alexander is planning to visit Dallas following a visit in San Diego. Cincinnati has also expressed interest in Alexander.

• LB Glenn Cadrez re-signed with the Chiefs for a one-year deal.

• After visiting Arizona, Ravens CB Duane Starks is heading to Detroit Thursday.

• Seattle ORT Todd Weiner has agreed to a five-year, $17.5 million contract with the Falcons. That includes a $5.5 million signing bonus. Weiner, a 6-foot-4, 300-pounder, steadily progressed from a backup to a starter with the Seahawks, starting 13 of 16 games this past season after registering seven starts in his first three NFL seasons. He was a second-round draft choice out of Kansas State in 1998.

• Detroit LB Stephen Boyd is headed to Pittsburgh for a visit this week and will make a trip to Houston next week, according to sports agent Alan Herman.

• Washington LB Shawn Barber will visit the New York Jets Thursday and will stick around in the Big Apple over the weekend before visiting with the New York Giants on Monday. Houston has also expressed interest in Barber, 27, but a visit has yet to be scheduled. Houston general manager Charley Casserley is familiar with Barber from his days in Washington. The Giants are looking to fill the void left by the departure of nine-year veteran LB Jesse Armstead to the Redskins. The Jets, who could lose unrestricted free-agent LB James Farrior, may need to shore up their LB corps should Farrior leave. However, they may be looking at Barber as a negotiating ploy with Farrior, according to Herman, Barber’s agent. Barber also plans to visit Philadelphia.

• Pittsburgh OL Oliver Ross visited Cleveland yesterday and is arranging to visit with several other teams next week.

Tuesday, March 5, 2002

• Miami SS Brian Walker is very close to a deal with Detroit. Walker, in Detroit Tuesday, is expected to hammer out the terms of a new contract with the Lions in the next 24-36 hours. The sixth-year player out of Washington State made 82 tackles and one interception last season.

• First-year Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Tice said he has contingency plans should his priority free agents depart. We may see his backup plan at middle linebacker put in place this week. MLB Kailee Wong, one of the Vikings’ priorities, had a great visit with Cleveland, where he would join former Vikings LB Dwayne Rudd, and will be in Houston Tuesday night. "(Houston) is looking at him as an outside guy," said Steve Baker, Wong’s agent. Baker said the visits were prioritized and it was likely his client would be signed in the next two days.

• Tennessee DT Jason Fisk is flying to San Francisco to visit the 49ers. Depending on whether the Chargers re-sign DT John Parrella in the next few days, Fisk likely will make a stop in San Diego too. The Chargers and 49ers have expressed the most interest in Fisk, according to his agent, Josh Wright. Cleveland, Buffalo, Baltimore, Green Bay, Minnesota and the New York Jets have also expressed varying levels of interest in Fisk, but his signing will likely have to wait for the dust to settle from the parade of teams courting Saints DT La’Roi Glover. PFW spotted Parrella meeting with Kansas City officials at a hotel in Indianapolis over the weekend.

• RB Skip Hicks made the most of his time last season as a backup to Eddie George in Tennessee. At least two teams, Cleveland and Houston, have shown interest in picking up Hicks before the Titans can re-sign him. The Texans have an especially keen eye for Hicks, who was drafted by Charley Casserly in Washington. "If he wants to be a backup," said agent Howard Silber, "I don’t know if there is a better place for him than Tennessee." Silber said Cleveland is likely to wait and see what happens with Ricky Williams and Garrison Hearst, though Hearst’s departure would create a vacancy in San Francisco that Hicks would view as enticing.

• The Saints continue to shop OLT Willie Roaf, who missed most of last season after knee surgery. "There are a number of possibilities we are looking at," said Lamont Smith, Roaf’s agent.

• Cut by the Colts, DB Jeff Burris will visit Seattle in the next five or six days in hopes of landing a starting safety job with the Seahawks. Burris will not return to Indianapolis.

• According to sports agent Jack Bechta, Tampa Bay OG-C Todd Washington was set to jump on a plane to visit Houston before Indianapolis OG Steve McKinney reportedly signed with the Texans. McKinney, who played at Texas A&M, was pushing hard to return to his home state, according to Bechta. A representative for McKinney’s agent, Tim Irwin, confirmed McKinney’s signing of a five-year deal. Cleveland was McKinney’s second choice. With Houston now out of the picture, Tampa Bay has expressed interest in re-signing Washington. He has also garnered interest from Miami and San Diego. Washington declined a visit to Chicago until Bears C Olin Kreutz resolves his free-agent situation. Kreutz is visiting Miami and is expected to be close to a deal with the Dolphins.

• The Buccaneers have told WR-KR Karl Williams that he is fourth or fifth on their priority list and would like to re-sign him in the near future. According to Bechta, Williams has garnered interest from Dallas and New Orleans.

• Miami RB Lamar Smith has yet to receive any calls. Smith’s agent, Jonathan Feinsod, deemed the free-agency movement around the league "ridiculously slow." More teams seem to be interested in following the lead of the Super Bowl champion Patriots in signing quality veteran free agents at bargain prices after June 1.

• Feinsod said Minnestota TE Byron Chamberlain is garnering attention from New England and Detroit. Chamberlain visited the Patriots before signing with the Vikings last year and probably would not visit the Patriots again before signing. Chamberlain is currently trying to schedule a visit with Detroit, although the Giants, 49ers and Buccaneers reportedly interest Chamberlain the most. Oakland WR Tim Brown and QB Rich Gannon reportedly told Chamberlain at the Pro Bowl that Tampa head coach Jon Gruden was interested in him, before Gruden left to coach the Bucs.

• After visiting Atlanta, Seattle ORT Todd Weiner boarded a plane for Cleveland. Weiner will evaluate his position following his Cleveland visit before possibly visiting two other teams that have expressed interest in him, according to his representative.

• Carolina WR Donald Hayes is visiting the Patriots today and will travel to Minnesota directly from New England. Green Bay and Denver have also expressed mild interest, and Carolina definitely would like to re-sign Hayes. Hayes, however, reportedly is most interested in Minnesota, where he would be able to line up on the opposite side of the field from Randy Moss. At 6-foot-4, Hayes would give QB Daunte Culpepper two towering targets to throw to.

• St. Louis ORT Rod Jones is not close to a deal, but the Rams continue to show the most interest in keeping him. Jones started in place of an injured ORT Ryan Tucker in the Rams’ playoff game with the Eagles and started in the Super Bowl. The Rams reportedly believe Tucker has lost his confidence and do not plan to re-sign the veteran tackle.

• DT Eric Swann, who retired prior to last season because of a rash of knee injuries, has been given a clean bill of health by Colorado-based surgeon Dr. Richard Stedman. Stedman, who performed multiple procedures on Swann’s lower limbs, was in awe of the progress in Swann’s knee. Swann’s agent, Steve Zucker, said his client will begin visiting the four to six teams interested in signing him in "about two weeks."

• WR Michael Westbrook will visit with the Packers, who have also shown interest in a wide array of other receivers. Westbrook, however, will give Washington every opportunity to re-sign him.

Monday, March 4, 2002

• One of the most coveted free agents available, Bears C Olin Kreutz, could be named a member of the Dolphins as early as Tuesday. Kreutz, who was drafted by Dolphins vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman, is reportedly deciding whether to stay with the Bears or join head coach Dave Wannstedt in Miami. Ralph Cindrich, who represents current Dolphins C Tim Ruddy, says it looks "very likely" that Kreutz will be a Fin by midweek. As for Ruddy, the veteran feels confident he will draw interest should he hit the open market, which is a certainty if Kreutz joins the Dolphins. "There are a couple of good fits out there," Cindrich said. Kreutz’s agent, Mark Bartelstein, said his client has not been to Miami but will go there this week.

• LB Sam Cowart looks to be leaving Buffalo but may not be moving out of the state of New York. The Jets, who have been one of the busier teams early in free agency, will bring Cowart in Tuesday. The Bills maintain interest in bringing the 1998 second-round pick back.

• One player with a vested interest in where Cowart lands is LB James Farrior, who led the NFL in tackles with the Jets last season. Farrior’s destination of choice remains New York, but he’s unaware what level of interest the Jets have in bringing him back.

• Denver S Eric Brown will visit Tennessee Thursday.

• San Francisco S Lance Schulters is ready to hit the road, and Tennessee and Atlanta will be included on his tour.

• Giants All-Pro OG Ron Stone met with the Falcons Monday evening.

• QB Jeff Blake isn’t banking on a starting job next season, and he has received mild interest from the Buccaneers. Blake has not heard from Houston, nor does he expect to.

• CB Walt Harris, who settled for a one-year deal with the Bears as a free agent last season, is not likely to play cornerback in the Windy City in 2002. The Bengals are aggressively pursuing Harris and have scheduled a meeting with him this week. Arizona is also taking a hard look at Harris.

• TE Ken Dilger, released by Indianapolis, has become a hot commodity on the open market. Having already visited Dallas, the current front-runner, Detroit and New England, Dilger plans to visit Tampa Bay this week. The Buccaneers recently released TE Dave Moore and have "great interest," according to Dilger’s Chicago-based agent, Mark Bartelstein.

• The Raiders have already added LB Bill Romanowski, but the silver and black may not be done adding former Broncos. LB Glenn Cadrez is a candidate to join Oakland’s LB corps, although Denver wants Cadrez to return.

• WR Corey Bradford had a breakout season in Green Bay last season, when he averaged 17 yards per catch on 31 receptions. The Packers remain hot on the unrestricted free agent’s heels, but Bradford is testing the waters. He has at least one scheduled visit this week, with the Houston Texans.

• OT Leon Searcy, one of the casualties of Baltimore’s salary-cap woes, will be visiting the Redskins and Dolphins.

• Houston has expressed interest in former Buffalo QB Rob Johnson, who possibly can serve as the graybeard to show rookie David Carr the ropes. Houston offensive coordinator Chris Palmer coached Johnson for one season at Jacksonville.

• Houston has also expressed a lot of interest in Colts OG Steve McKinney.

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2001 - 2002 Season