Colts award OT Glenn with richest contract

By Jeff Reynolds and Nolan Nawrocki, Associate editors

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Friday, March 15, 2002

• The Colts signed OT Tarik Glenn to a six-year, $30 million deal shortly before the 4 p.m. Friday deadline to negotiate a deal for a franchise player. The deal, which includes a $10 million signing bonus, represents the most lucrative deal to date in free agency. Glenn, 25, was the Colts’ first-round pick in 1997 and has started all 80 games since he arrived.

• The Jets signed OG Dave Szott, who received a unique three-year, $4.2 million deal that will allow him to leave the team following games and not have to return until Wednesday mornings for meetings. Szott will reportedly stay in a hotel from Wednesday through Friday and won’t have to report to the team until game day or when the team departs for road trips. Szott has a child who has cerebral palsy and receives treatment near Szott’s New Jersey home. He played 11 seasons for the Chiefs before signing with former head coach Marty Schottenheimer in Washington.

• New England signed PK Adam Vinatieri to a long-term deal shortly before the 4 p.m. deadline to negotiate a deal for a franchise player.

• With the possibility of losing LB Warrick Holdman still hovering, the Bears signed former Eagles LB Mike Caldwell to a four-year, $4.7 million contract that includes a $750,000 signing bonus. Caldwell will also receive a $250,000 workout bonus that he will be paid before training camp begins. The Eagles added to their LB corps by signing unrestricted free agent Shawn Barber to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. The deal includes a $750,000 signing bonus.

• Houston signed unrestricted free-agent RB James Allen to a one-year, $800,000 contract, which includes a $200,000 signing bonus. After losing his starting job with the Bears to rookie Anthony Thomas, Allen instantly becomes a favorite to gain the Texans’ starting job.

• Pittsburgh matched the Browns’ offer for OL Oliver Ross. Ross will earn $4.55 million over the next three years, including $900,000 in signing and roster bonuses. The signing likely means the Steelers will not be able to re-sign OG Rich Tylski, who started for the Steelers at right guard the past two seasons.

• Negotiations are expected to heat up for Baltimore unrestricted free-agent CB Duane Starks after the conclusion of the NFL owners meeting, according to agent Jason Rosenhaus. Starks has visited Arizona and Detroit. Cleveland and Oakland have also been at the forefront of negotiations for Starks. The Ravens’ salary-cap problems make it unlikely that Starks will re-sign with Baltimore.

• OG Frank Middleton has taken visits to Cleveland, San Francisco and Houston since being released by the Raiders, where he started 11 of 13 games last season. Middleton played four seasons for the Buccaneers before coming to Oakland.

• Baltimore unrestricted free-agent WR Patrick Johnson has visited Atlanta, Jacksonville, New Orleans and Miami and will make a trip to Tampa Bay.

• San Diego C Kendyl Jacox has visited Houston and expects to take several more trips in the coming weeks.

• Washington unrestricted free-agent LB Robert Jones recently completed a two-day visit to Green Bay.

• Neither CB-RS Darrien Gordon nor S George Teague has visited any teams, although both will likely schedule some visits after the NFL owners meeting. A number of teams have expressed interest in both players, according to agent Jordan Woy.

• The Rams have invited unrestricted free-agent WRs Joe Jurevicius and Terrence Wilkins for visits today, indicating that they may be looking past veteran WR Cris Carter, who has expressed great interest in winning a Super Bowl with the Rams before retiring. LB Shawn Barber is also visiting with the Rams.

• New York Giants unrestricted free agent Shaun Williams has not taken any visits, according to agent Sean Jones, but has been receiving interest from Oakland, Denver and Tennessee. The Giants have expressed strong interest in bringing back Williams but are just $800,000 under the cap.

• Unrestricted free-agent DT Santana Dotson has garnered interest from Houston, Tampa, Minnesota and Jacksonville. Dotson, 31, started the final 13 games for Green Bay last year, finishing with 39 tackles and 3.5 sacks. The 10-year veteran, who played in college at Baylor, may find a good fit in native Houston.

• Former Atlanta QB Chris Chandler toured Chicago’s facilities Tuesday and Wednesday, meeting with coaches and passing a physical, but was not offered a contract. The Bears have re-signed Jim Miller and acquired Henry Burris this offseason. Bears general manager Jerry Angelo is looking for an experienced backup should Shane Matthews be traded to Washington, where former Bears QB Danny Wuerffel already has reunited with former Florida coach Steve Spurrier. Chandler has played for six NFL teams, including the Buccaneers in 1990-91 when Angelo was the team’s director of player personnel. If the Bears do not lower their asking price for Matthews, the Redskins are likely to sign QB Jeff Blake. Blake visited the Bills yesterday. If he signs with Buffalo, Blake would be reuniting with new offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride, who coached Blake for one season at East Carolina. Chandler could also end up in Washington.

• With the loss of Warrick Dunn to Atlanta, the Bucs are eyeing Dorsey Levens and Ricky Watters to fill the void. The decision to release CB Donnie Abraham may lead to the signing of either CB Corey Chavous or Deshea Townsend, who have both visited the Bucs.

• CB Artrell Hawkins visited Pittsburgh Thursday and was offered a contract to be a nickel back for the Steelers. Hawkins, who started for the Bengals last season, would replace free agent DeShea Townsend should he decide to accept the offer.

Signings:

ATLANTA FALCONS: Signed RB Warrick Dunn to a six-year contract worth approximately $24 million, including at least a $6 million signing bonus.
CHICAGO BEARS: Agreed to terms with PK Jon Hilbert on a two-year, $700,000 contract.
DENVER BRONCOS: Signed S Izell Reese to a one-year, $550,000 contract.
DETROIT LIONS: Signed WR Bill Schroeder to a four-year, $6 million deal with a $2.5 million signing bonus. Signed OT Matt Joyce to a four-year, $4 million deal with a $1.2 million signing bonus. Signed DB Lamar Campbell to a four-year, $4.4 million deal with a $1 million signing bonus.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Agreed to terms with CB Walt Harris on a five-year, $15 million deal, which includes a $3.5 million signing bonus.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Matched the offer sheet that LB Mike Maslowski had signed with New England.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Signed PK John Carney to a one-year, $750,000 contract, which includes a $25,000 signing bonus.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Signed SS Blaine Bishop to a three-year contract.
SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: Agreed to terms with TE Stephen Alexander on a five-year, $15 million contract, which includes a $3 million signing bonus, a base salary of $525,000 in 2002 and a guaranteed $2.775 million in 2003.

Thursday, March 14, 2002

• Chicago LB Warrick Holdman, a restricted free agent, has visited the Cleveland Browns and Houston Texans, who will play their inaugural season next year in Holdman’s hometown. Holdman doesn’t plan on taking a lot of trips but has received interest from 17 teams, with Jacksonville, Carolina and Oakland showing the most interest. Because Holdman’s mother has not been able to see many of his games, the opportunity to play in front of his family and friends in Houston is enticing. Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo has said that the Bears will match any reasonable offer to sign the 26-year-old. Because the Bears failed to check the proper box on a form submitted to the league, they will not receive the fourth-round draft pick they were entitled to should Holdman leave for another team.

• New England LB Ted Johnson opted to remain with the Patriots after rejecting an offer from the Packers. Johnson was scheduled to earn $3.5 million next season, but the team would have released him if he hadn’t agreed to restructure his contract. He agreed to accept the $650,000 veteran’s minimum and also will be paid a $1 million roster bonus and $100,000 workout bonus. The $1.75 million total was more than Green Bay was willing to offer.

• San Francisco general manager Terry Donahue said he hopes to re-sign free-agent S Lance Schulters, but the Niners are preparing for the possibility that he will sign elsewhere. Indianapolis S Chad Cota and Chicago SS Tony Parrish both visited with the 49ers this week.

• Miami free-agent OT Spencer Folau has taken visits to New Orleans and Houston. Folau spent his first four seasons primarily as a backup with the Ravens before moving to Miami last year, where he started 15 of 16 games.

• Baltimore free-agent DT Lional Dalton has visited with Cleveland, Kansas City and Denver.

• Chicago CB Walt Harris is receiving interest from Cincinnati again, a year after declining what was believed to be a four-year, $10 million offer from the Bengals to sign a one-year deal with the Bears. With the long-term contracts awarded to CBs Jerry Azumah and R.W. McQuarters during the season, Harris does not expect to be a prominent part of the Bears’ plans in the future. The Cardinals and Raiders have also expressed interest in Harris.

Signings:

BUFFALO BILLS: Signed OL Marcus Price to a three-year, $1.8 million contract, which includes a $150,000 signing bonus.
CAROLINA PANTHERS: Signed LB Brad Jackson.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: Signed OG-OT Oliver Ross to a reported three-year, $5 million offer sheet.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Re-signed C John Wade. Signed DT Tim Morabito.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Signed OG Larry Moore

Wednesday, March 13, 2002

• RB Garrison Hearst has agreed to a six-year, $20 million contract to remain with the San Francisco 49ers after being courted by Cleveland, Atlanta, Detroit and Oakland. The new deal includes a $3 million signing bonus. Hearst is the third of four free agents to re-sign with the Niners, joining FB Fred Beasley and C Jeremy Newberry. Hearst likely wouldn’t have returned to San Francisco without Beasley, an outstanding blocker and one of Hearst’s closest friends. S Lance Schulters, the only remaining free agent, is being pursued by Tennessee and Atlanta.

• Former Atlanta LB Henri Crockett agreed to terms on a three-year contract with Minnesota after visiting the Vikings and Packers last week. Agent Roosevelt Barnes did not disclose the financial terms of the deal.

• New Orleans DE Joe Johnson will make his first visit of the free-agent season when he visits the Green Bay Packers.

• It appeared as if Buccaneers RB Warrick Dunn was confident that the Philadelphia Eagles were the right fit. In fact, late last week Dunn, who had also visited Detroit, was very close to making Philadelphia his new home according to a source close to Dunn’s negotiations. However, while Tampa Bay isn’t completely out of the picture and Philadelphia could re-emerge as the front-runner, Dunn is now taking a hard look at the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons made a late, aggressive push for Dunn, who would play in the same backfield with QB Michael Vick. Detroit may come forward with the most money and sway the 5-8, 180-pound back to Motown, but the key, according to Dunn, is being the featured back. Philadelphia is willing to grant Dunn the starting job and part ways with Duce Staley. Dunn said Bucs new head coach Jon Gruden made a very attractive sales pitch to keep him in Tampa Bay. Detroit has made no secret about its desire to get rid of James Stewart and bring in a back with better hands and breakaway speed. Now Atlanta, with RB Jamal Anderson returning from his second major knee surgery in three seasons, wants Dunn to carry as much of the load as he can next season. The Falcons have also met with Niners RB Garrison Hearst, a Georgia native.

• Baltimore DT Sam Adams has been garnering interest from several teams but has not gone on any visits. Agent Eugene Parker said Adams is waiting on the market to shake out for defensive linemen, so he can better gauge his value. He also is waiting until after his wife delivers their third child. With his wife expecting soon, Adams has been hesitant to leave home and make any visits. Parker said Adams is leaving open the possibility of staying in Baltimore but is waiting to see what direction the Ravens’ defense takes before making a decision. Parker was not sure how comfortable Adams would be if the Ravens switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 front.

Signings:

GREEN BAY PACKERS: Signed LB Anthony Sessions.
HOUSTON TEXANS: Signed TE Jake Moreland.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Signed CB Dale Carter to a seven-year contract reportedly worth $4 million per year, and WR Jake Reed to a one-year contract.

Tuesday, March 12, 2002

• The New England Patriots made it to the Super Bowl with a roster chock full of bargain purchases. Their first dip into the free-agent pool in 2002 will represent a much bigger splash. The Patriots signed WR Donald Hayes, a 6-4, 218-pound receiver from the Carolina Panthers, to a reported two-year, appoximately $4 million deal. Hayes, 26, had 52 catches in his fourth NFL season. Hayes also spoke with Green Bay, Minnesota and Denver.

• Former Bills QB Rob Johnson landed on his feet last week in Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers’ signing of Johnson eliminated the possibility of Saints free-agent QB Jeff Blake heading to Florida. But Blake could still trade places with Johnson. He is in Buffalo today, visiting with head coach Gregg Williams and new offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride. If the Bills extend an offer to Blake, they might have to wait for him to visit the Redskins later this week before receiving an answer.

• Jets LB James Farrior is a hot commodity. The NFL’s leading tackler in 2001, Farrior had hoped to return to the Jets at a reduced salary, but head coach Herm Edwards opted to sign former Bills LB Sam Cowart. Now the Bills have interest in signing Farrior to replace Cowart at strong-side linebacker. Farrior, who visited Pittsburgh last week, has plans to meet with the Titans Wednesday. New Orleans has also expressed interest in Farrior and has said it will make upgrading its LB corps a priority.

• Giants OG Ron Stone wouldn’t mind being a member of the Falcons. Atlanta wouldn’t mind having him either, but the two sides haven’t been able to agree on the financial terms of a deal. Meanwhile, Stone is exploring other options. He lives in Dallas in the offseason and is taking a hard look at the Cowboys’ situation. Originally from Boston, Stone is also taking a peek at the Patriots’ OL situation.

• Pittsburgh LB Earl Holmes made his first two visits since becoming a free agent, visiting the Browns Monday and Houston today. The Steelers are meeting with free agents Mike Caldwell of the Eagles and James Farrior of the Jets in the event that Holmes leaves. Farrior likely will leave New York after the Jets signed LB Sam Cowart to a blockbuster deal last week. Detroit LB Stephen Boyd also visited the Steelers last week. LB Kevin Hardy, whose contract with the Jaguars was terminated in the wake of the team’s salary-cap problems, is expected to visit Pittsburgh Wednesday.

• WR Rob Moore will visit the Broncos for an interview today. The Broncos are looking at the 33-year-old Moore to fill their No. 3 WR spot behind Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. Moore, released by the Cardinals last month, was a Pro Bowl selection in 1994 and ’97. The Broncos also interviewed Pro Bowl OT Willie Roaf on Monday, but medical issues remained a critical concern, with Roaf coming off reconstructive knee surgery. Agent Lamont Smith said his client is mulling a proposal that would restructure Roaf’s current contract with the Saints, who must decide by March 20 whether to extend Roaf’s contract through 2006.

Signings:

ATLANTA FALCONS: Signed CB-RS Allen Rossum to a three-year, $3 million contract, which included a $1 million signing bonus.
BUFFALO BILLS: Signed TE David Moore.
DALLAS COWBOYS: DT La’Roi Glover signed a five-year, $22.5 million contract, which included a $6 million signing bonus.
DENVER BRONCOS: Agreed to terms with LB Terry Killens on a seven-year contract, which included a $140,000 signing bonus.
HOUSTON TEXANS: Signed WR Corey Bradford to a three-year, $5.25 million deal, with a $1.8 million signing bonus.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Restructured the contract of DE Tony Brackens. Matched the three-year, $3.6 million offer sheet for CB Jason Craft, which included a $1.2 million signing bonus. Signed DE Stalin Colinet and TE Stevan Fontana.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: Signed WR Sulecio Sanford to a one-year contract.

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