Schulters close to signing with Titans

By Jeff Reynolds and Nolan Nawrocki, Associate editors

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Friday, March 22, 2002

• Lance Schulters is close to striking a deal with the Titans, who have already offered him a contract. Agent Brian Levy has been in negotiations with the Titans and said Tennessee offers Schulters three key characteristics he’s searching for in a team — the opportunity to play free safety, a grass home field, and closer proximity to the East Coast. Schulters, who grew up in New York City and makes his home there, has already visited Atlanta and is scheduled to make his third visit with the Giants next Tuesday and Wednesday. Arizona has also expressed late interest in Schulters. While San Francisco has shown interest in re-signing Schulters, signs indicate that Schulters will fill one of the Titans’ two open safety positions if financial terms of the agreement can be hammered out.

• Steelers head coach Bill Cowher was impressed with the recovery of LB Kevin Hardy from knee surgery on his recent visit to Pittsburgh. While LB Earl Holmes has expressed interest in returning to the Steelers, Hardy’s mobility would be ideal for the Steelers’ 3-4 scheme. Houston head coach Dom Capers, who was Hardy’s defensive coordinator for several years in Jacksonville, has also targeted Hardy to fill the final LB spot in the Texans’ 3-4 scheme.

• The Steelers are trying to bring in unrestricted free-agent PK Todd Peterson of Kansas City for a visit Sunday before making a decision to match the offer sheet PK Kris Brown signed with the Texans. The Steelers have until 4 p.m. Monday to decide whether to match the Texans’ four-year, $4.7 million offer or take a seventh-round draft pick as compensation for Brown. The Texans’ offer includes a $1 million signing bonus and some guaranteed money in the third and fourth years of the contract. The Steelers matched a guaranteed contract that RB Chris Fuamatu-Ma’afala signed with the Patriots as a restricted free agent last year, but it was only for one year. The Steelers had tendered Brown a one-year salary of $563,000 at the end of February. Brown, a Texas native, reportedly would like to return to his home state and escape the challenging conditions of Heinz Field, where he missed 10 FG attempts last season, making up the majority of his league-high 14 misses.

• While the Steelers are very close to completing a deal to re-sign CB Deshea Townsend, the team’s No. 3 cornerback, they are expected to lose their No. 4 cornerback, Jason Simmons, to Houston, which likely won't please Steelers owner Dan Rooney. Rooney has expressed some frustration about Houston’s ability, with its current low cap figure, to take advantage of salary-cap strapped teams.

• Agent David Dunn is working on signing S Damien Richardson to a multiyear contract to remain in Carolina, with an expected $450,000 signing bonus.

• While many teams are focusing their efforts on the upcoming draft and are spending less time entertaining free agents, the Vikings are busily exploring their options in the free-agent market. Unrestricted free-agent WRs D’Wayne Bates, Tony Simmons, Willie Jackson and Donald Driver visited the Vikings yesterday. CBs Corey Chavous and Fred Vinson are scheduled for visits today. P Matt Turk and RB David Allen also toured the Vikings facility yesterday. Next on the agenda are unrestricted free-agent DT Shane Burton and WR Jerome Pathon, who are both expected to visit early next week.

• Agent Neil Cornrich says deals for WRs Joe Jurevicius and Tony Simmons are imminent and expects Simmons to have a deal done by Monday. The Rams and Giants remain two of the top suitors for Jurevicius’ services. He is a top candidate to replace Az-Zahir Hakim as the No. 3 receiver in the Rams’ potent passing game.

• The Buccaneers took at look at former Bears RB Curtis Enis and former Falcons RB Byron Hanspard, both of whom were out of the league last season. The Bucs already have had visits with Robert Holcombe and Michael Pittman. Next on the schedule are Ricky Watters and Dorsey Levens.

• The Redskins are interested in unrestricted free-agent OG Tony Semple, who met with Washington officials yesterday. Semple is an eight-year NFL veteran who is coming off perhaps his best season, when he started 12 of 15 games for the Lions.

• Veteran S Rod Woodson, who was released by the Ravens earlier this month, has drawn some interest from the Titans.

• The Bengals, who made an offer for former San Diego TE Freddie Jones before he signed with the Cardinals earlier this week, have yet to make an offer to TE Ken Dilger since he visited last week. Unrestricted free-agent CB Jeff Burris is scheduled to visit the Bengals today, where he could fill the CB position opposite Artrell Hawkins. The Bengals have also expressed interest in CB Donnie Abraham but have been unable to schedule him for a visit.

• TE Ken Dilger has received offers from Detroit and Tampa Bay. Chicago, Seattle, Houston, Buffalo and Denver have also expressed varying degrees of interest in him.

• Cleveland has expressed the most interest in re-signing unrestricted free-agent DE Keith McKenzie, but his price tag reportedly remains too high for the Browns, who already have three defensive linemen — Courtney Brown, Gerard Warren and Orpheus Roye — with contracts worth more than $30 million. The Browns recently signed free-agent DE Kenard Lang to a five-year, $17 million deal that includes a $3.4 million signing bonus.

Thursday, March 21, 2002

• Coming off one of the best seasons of his 17-year career, P Sean Landeta agreed to re-sign with the Eagles. The deal is for one year and about $750,000.

• The Dolphins re-signed special-teams performer and S Scott McGarrahan to a three-year contract. McGarrahan adds depth in the secondary after the Dolphins had lost two-year starting SS Brian Walker in free agency to the Lions.

• New York Jets head coach Herman Edwards plans to meet with one of his former pupils to shore up the Jets’ depleted secondary. Unrestricted free-agent CB Donnie Abraham, whom Edwards coached in Tampa Bay, may fill the other corner slot opposite Aaron Beasley, who left Jacksonville as a free agent.

• Unrestricted free-agent QB Rodney Peete has accepted a one-year, $775,000 contract to play for Carolina. The 13-year veteran is expected to serve as a tutor for Panthers QB Chris Weinke. Peete, who spent the past two seasons as a backup in Oakland, received a $25,000 signing bonus.

• Green Bay reportedly reached an agreement with unrestricted free-agent DE Joe Johnson that will average around $5 million a year and include a signing bonus of around $6 million. The Saints were offering just under $16 million over the first three years of a contract. Johnson’s loss is the second to hit the Saints’ defensive line in a week. DT La’Roi Glover signed with Dallas last week.

• Interest in Patriots QB Drew Bledsoe is expected to pick up as the NFL draft approaches, when teams will begin looking to trade for a proven winner rather than wait for a rookie to develop. Buffalo and Cincinnati have both expressed recent interest in Bledsoe. Don’t be surprised if Washington, Chicago, Carolina or Baltimore, each of which has expressed interest in Bledsoe, comes back into the picture as Draft Day nears.

• After playing in all 16 games for the Browns last year and attracting interest from New England and Miami, DT Mark Smith agreed to re-sign with the Browns.

• The Texans signed three-year veteran LB Khari Samuel, who played one game for the Bears and nine for the Lions, mainly on special teams. Samuel joins a group of linebackers that includes Kailee Wong, Jamie Sharper and Greg Jones.

• St. Louis head coach Mike Martz has officially closed the possibility of WR Cris Carter joining the Rams, saying Carter no longer is a candidate to replace Az-Zahir Hakim, who signed with the Lions. The Rams have a meeting with WR Johnnie Morton scheduled and have already spoken with free-agent WRs Joe Jurevicius and Terrence Wilkins.

• Tampa Bay signed DE Greg Spires to a $2.4 million deal that includes a $300,000 signing bonus, filling the hole recently opened by the departure of DL Steve White.

Signings:

CAROLINA PANTHERS: Agreed to terms with RB Lamar Smith on a three-year, $4.3 million contract.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: Agreed to terms with DL Mark Smith on a reported two-year, $2.6 million contract, which includes a $500,000 signing bonus.
DETROIT LIONS: Signed RB Lamont Warren.
DENVER BRONCOS: Signed DT Lional Dalton to a seven-year, $22 million contract, which includes a $3 million signing bonus.

Wednesday, March 20, 2002

• The Panthers have agreed to a three-year contract with RB Lamar Smith after he received a strong recommendation from Carolina OL coach Paul Boudreau, who was on the Dolphins’ staff in 1999 and 2000 when Smith played there. Smith had been considered as a possible replacement for Warrick Dunn in Tampa Bay. Arizona unrestricted free-agent RB Michael Pittman, who visited the Bucs yesterday, is believed to be the front-runner to replace Dunn in Tampa. St. Louis unrestricted free-agent RB Robert Holcombe visited the Bucs on Monday.

• After losing three starters to free agency, the Vikings avoided losing a fourth by agreeing to terms with TE Byron Chamberlain on a five-year deal worth up to $10 million if performance incentives are reached, including a signing bonus of $1.7 million, according to agent Jonathan Feinsod. The Vikings have lost CB Dale Carter, SS Robert Griffith and LB Kailee Wong to free agency.

• Saints general manager Randy Mueller agreed to give OT Willie Roaf a 24-hour extension because he believed the veteran tackle’s agent, Peter Schaffer, was close to a deal with Kansas City. The Chiefs and Broncos have both been negotiating with Schaffer for Roaf’s services. Mueller has said the Saints would keep Roaf on the roster rather than releasing him if they can’t work out a deal with another team. That would mean either extending the contract through 2006 and paying him $4.25 million or reverting to the original contract, which expires after the 2003 season, and pay him $4 million up front. Mueller said Tuesday that he would choose the first option. If there is no trade, Roaf must decide if he wants to play his 10^th season with the Saints. If he retires, the Saints will seek salary-cap relief for the $4.25 million, Mueller said.

• The Raiders shored up a weakness in the secondary Tuesday by reaching a two-year agreement with seven-year veteran CB Terrance Shaw, who was released by the Patriots last month for salary-cap reasons. After failing to sign CB Duane Starks in free agency and still being uncertain about the future of CB Eric Allen, the Raiders added the 28-year-old Shaw.

• After visiting Cleveland, Kansas City and Denver, unrestricted free-agent DT Lional Dalton signed a seven-year contract worth slightly more than $22 million with the Broncos. Dalton, who played the last four years with Baltimore, could permit defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes to move Pro Bowl DT Trevor Pryce outside to defensive end.

• Unrestricted free-agent TE Shannon Sharpe will visit the Seahawks next week, but the Broncos are still the favorite to re-sign Sharpe, according to Sharpe’s agent, Marvin Demoff. Former Colts TE Ken Dilger is the other top unrestricted free-agent tight end in the market, but some teams have said his price tag is too high.

• The Giants made a one-year contract offer to WR Ricky Proehl for $750,000, the veteran minimum. If Proehl accepts the offer, the Giants would likely pass on re-signing WR Joe Jurevicius.

• Unrestricted free-agent safeties Eric Brown and Lance Schulters are both scheduled to visit the Giants next week, although it’s possible their visits will be canceled if the Giants can make progress on re-signing veteran free-agent FS Shaun Williams. Williams is believed to be high on the Titans’ list of free agents to sign, but his price tag may be more than Tennessee can afford.

• Unrestricted free-agent WR Cris Carter is receiving strong consideration from the Dolphins, who have been negotiating with Carter’s new agent, Fletcher Smith. Carter visited Miami before making a visit to Cleveland and a scheduled visit to St. Louis, which was later canceled.

Tuesday, March 19, 2002

• New Orleans must trade OT Willie Roaf or exercise a $4 million option to keep him on the roster by midnight tonight. As of late Monday, the Kansas City Chiefs and Denver Broncos remained interested in trading for the seven-time Pro Bowler, but neither club had made an official offer. The Chiefs, who reportedly are willing to deal a conditional 2003 third-round draft pick for Roaf, are considered the front-runners to acquire his services. Kansas City cleared salary-cap room for a possible deal by renegotiating QB Trent Green's contract last week. However, Roaf is believed to be more interested in playing in Denver, where his 6-year-old daughter lives.

• Oakland, Tampa Bay and Seattle have expressed interest in unrestricted free-agent TE Shannon Sharpe, but the Denver Broncos are the current favorite to gain Sharpe’s services. The former Bronco has said he would to return to Denver, even if it means taking less money than another team would offer him. Sharpe, 33, was a victim of the Ravens’ salary-cap woes earlier this month. The Broncos have expressed interest in bringing the outspoken veteran back to Denver but are unsure whether they will be able to fit him under their salary cap.

• The Cardinals have reached contract agreements with two top free agents, CB Duane Starks and TE Freddie Jones. Starks, who was also pursued by the Raiders, Ravens (his former team), Browns and Lions, agreed to a five-year, $23 million contract, which includes a $5 million signing bonus. Both of the Cardinals’ starting cornerbacks in 2001, Tom Knight and Corey Chavous, are free agents. The Cardinals have not made any attempts to re-sign Knight. Starks is expected to strengthen the secondary at the left cornerback slot, opposite Chavous. Jones, an ex-Charger, agreed to a three-year, $5.1 million contract, which includes a $1.25 million signing bonus.

• Agent Frank Bauer, who represents unrestricted free-agent QB Chris Chandler, plans to meet Chicago general manager Jerry Angelo during the NFL owners meeting this week to discuss signing Chandler as a backup. Angelo expects Chandler to wait until they hear from other teams seeking a potential starter, such as Buffalo, Cincinnati or Washington, before making a decision.

• Former Broncos S Eric Brown, 26, became the fifth and likely final safety to visit Tennessee this week. The Titans are reportedly interested in signing two safeties, which they would like to have decided early this week. Former Jets S Victor Green, San Francisco’s Lance Schulters, Indianapolis’ Chad Cota and Chicago’s Tony Parrish are the other safeties who have visited Tennessee.

• The Colts agreed to terms with WR Qadry Ismail on a three-year contract worth approximately $4 million, which includes a $1.25 signing bonus. An additional $1.5 million in performance incentives can also be earned. The signing of Ismail makes it less likely that the Colts will re-sign unrestricted free-agent WR Jerome Pathon or retain restricted free-agent WR Terrence Wilkins.

• The Redskins are taking a look at signing unrestricted free-agent OG Tré Johnson. Johnson played for the Redskins from 1994 to 2000 before being released by former head coach Marty Schottenheimer last offseason. Last year, Johnson signed with Cleveland but played only three games for the Browns before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury.

• At least seven teams, including Detroit, have expressed an interest in signing WR Johnnie Morton after the Lions released the eight-year veteran last week. Morton, 30, is scheduled to meet Tampa Bay officials Friday and St. Louis officials next Tuesday. San Francisco, Green Bay, New Orleans and Minnesota are also believed to be interested in Morton. Minnesota has also expressed interest in Lions unrestricted free-agent WR Germane Crowell.

• Jacksonville WR Keenan McCardell, who has been the Jaguars’ No. 2 receiver the past six seasons, may become another victim of the Jaguars’ salary-cap troubles.

• Lions unrestricted free-agent CB Bryant Westbrook is receiving interest from Dallas and Oakland.

Signings:

CAROLINA PANTHERS: Agreed to terms with CB Terry Cousin to a four-year, $5 million contract. Signed CB DeRon Jenkins. Signed LB Mark Fields.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Signed WR Patrick Johnson to a one-year, $525,000 contract. Re-signed WR Micah Ross. Signed OT Mark Bristol.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Agreed to terms with CB Brian Kelly on a six-year, $15 million contract. Re-signed OL Todd Washington.

Monday, March 18, 2002

• Former Tampa Bay WR Jacquez Green signed a three-year, $4.3 million contract with the Redskins to reunite with former coach Steve Spurrier. The Rams had expressed strong interest in signing Green, as well as the Bucs, according to agent Hadley Engelhard, but the decision to play for his former coach ultimately influenced Green’s decision in favor of the Redskins. Green is the third former Gators receiver, along with Reidel Anthony and Chris Doering, to join the Redskins.

• The Bucs have signed TE Marco Battaglia to a three-year, $3 million contract, likely ending speculation that TE Ken Dilger will join new head coach Jon Gruden in Tampa Bay. Battaglia, who was a second-round draft pick of the Bengals in 1996, has started 11 of 91 games, catching 71 passes for 660 yards and two touchdowns in his six-year career. With RB Warrick Dunn’s recent departure to Atlanta, the Bucs are taking a look at RBs Ricky Watters, Lamar Smith, Michael Pittman and Robert Holcombe.

• The Broncos have agreed to terms with 12-year veteran WR Rob Moore on a one-year, $775,000 contract, which includes a $25,000 signing bonus, to fill the No. 3 WR slot behind Rod Smith and Ed McCaffrey. Once one of the NFL's premier wide receivers, Moore has not participated in a regular-season game since 1999. Moore, 33, has played in 153 games and started 147.

• The Packers are looking to bolster their defensive line through free agency, taking a hard look at DT Grady Jackson, DE Joe Johnson and DE Renaldo Wynn. The Packers were also intrigued by the recent release of Detroit WR Johnnie Morton, as were the Rams. Morton is scheduled to visit St. Louis Friday to audition for the No. 3 WR position.

Signings:

CINCINNATI BENGALS: Re-signed CB Artrell Hawkins to a three-year contract.
DENVER BRONCOS: Re-signed OG Michael Moore. Signed OT Barrett Brooks.
HOUSTON TEXANS: Signed FB Clif Groce. Signed LB Greg Jones.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Signed TE Justin Swift to a one-year contract.
WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Signed DL Tim Engelhardt.

Got scoop?  Drop a line to associate editor Nolan Nawrocki at nnawrocki@primediasi.com.

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