QB Batch to visit Steelers

By Nolan Nawrocki, Associate editor

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Friday, June 14, 2002

• The Steelers are scheduled to meet with free-agent QB Charlie Batch today. The move seems strange because agent Tom Condon has been trying to find a place where Batch can compete for the starting job and Pittsburgh just signed No. 2 QB Tommy Maddox to a five-year contract Monday, giving him a $500,000 signing bonus. Maddox had one year left on the contract he signed with the team last year. If he were to sign with Pittsburgh, Batch would likely have to battle Tee Martin, the Steelers’ No. 3 quarterback the past two years who has been playing in NFL Europe, for the third-string job. The visit appears to be a move by Condon to give Batch more leverage in the negotiations and drive up Batch’s price tag. Batch has already visited Houston, Jacksonville and Green Bay.

• The Jaguars have continued to be active in the free-agent market, signing OL Raleigh Roundtree from the Chargers. A fourth-round pick in 1997, Roundtree started 31 games the past two seasons. The Jaguars have also taken a look at former Redskins DE Marco Coleman, who visited Jacksonville with Batch earlier this week and may be signed if he is willing to accept a near-minimum salary. If Coleman signs with Jacksonville, he would be trading places with former Jaguars DE Renaldo Wynn, who signed with Washington earlier in the offseason and helped make Coleman expendable.

• After failing to sign free-agent LB Hardy Nickerson, the Eagles do not appear to be interested in any other linebacker on the market. Former Saints OLB Keith Mitchell appears to be the best available unsigned linebacker. The Eagles will likely keep an eye on the waiver wire rather than settling for a linebacker whom they feel will not upgrade their talent.

Thursday, June 13, 2002

• After visiting Minnesota and coming close to an agreement with the Vikings, unrestricted free-agent DT Jim Flanigan signed a two-year contract with the 49ers. Flanigan, an eight-year veteran who spent last season with the Packers, started eight games in 2001 and has played in 124 games in his career, starting 96 of them. Before joining the Packers, Flanigan spent seven seasons with the Bears.

• The Steelers signed free-agent WR Terance Mathis to a one-year, $775,000 contract, which included a signing bonus of $25,000. With a strong backing from Steelers QB Kordell Stewart and the ability to man the slot position, Mathis beat out free-agent WR Herman Moore for the job.

• Free-agent QB Charlie Batch worked out for the Jaguars yesterday and is believed to be close to an agreement with the team. While the Jaguars drafted East Carolina QB David Garrard in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft, Jaguars head coach Tom Coughlin would like a veteran to back up starter Mark Brunell because Jonathan Quinn departed for Kansas City via free agency. Batch is the second veteran quarterback to visit the Jaguars since last month, when Tony Banks visited. Batch is scheduled to visit the Packers today before making a decision. He also visited the Texans last weekend.

• Steelers restricted free-agent RB Amos Zereoue has reached an agreement on a four-year contract worth nearly $8.8 million, which includes a $2.15 million signing bonus. The Steelers drafted Zereoue in the third round from West Virginia in 1999. He did not see much action during his first two seasons but averaged 5.2 yards per carry while rushing for 441 yards last season.

Wednesday, June 12, 2002

• Former Lions QB Charlie Batch is making plans to visit the Packers and Jaguars after visiting the Texans last weekend. He is expected to arrive in Green Bay tonight and stay a day to work out. The Packers want to give Batch a physical exam and see how he fits in their system.

• The Dolphins agreed to terms with former Ravens DE Rob Burnett on a two-year, $12 million contract, which includes a $200,000 signing bonus. The Patriots were also in the running for the 12-year veteran.

• The Broncos reached an agreement on a seven-year contract with former Bears OLT Blake Brockermeyer after signing free-agent OT Ephraim Salaam less than two months ago. Like Salaam’s deal, Brockermeyer will receive a $700,000 signing bonus and option payments that will force the Broncos to decide whether to keep Brockermeyer within two years. Brockermeyer has battled shoulder and knee injuries and had postseason surgery that could keep him out of part of training camp, but he is expected to push Salaam for a starting job. He gives the Broncos valuable depth on the line.

• Free-agent LB Hardy Nickerson has reportedly agreed to sign with the Packers and has informed the Eagles of his decision. The guaranteed starting MLB job is believed to have given the Packers an edge over the Eagles, who told him he must compete for the top spot on their depth chart. The Packers recently signed 10-year veteran LB Robert Jones and had second-year pro Torrance Marshall slated to start in the middle.

• Redskins unrestricted free-agent WR Michael Westbrook has received new interest from New England and Philadelphia after an impressive workout with the Bengals, in which he proved he still has excellent speed. After receiving very little interest early in the offseason, the Bengals have begun negotiating to sign Westbrook. The release of results from Westbrook’s workout appear to have given him leverage in the negotiation process, as the Patriots and Eagles have joined the battle for his services.

• Free-agent LB Sam Rogers has received interest from the Rams and Jaguars since being released by the Chargers. He also paid a visit to the Rams yesterday along with three other free agents — LBs Darren Hambrick and Bernardo Harris and S Eric Brown. Hambrick spent three seasons with Dallas before joining Carolina last season. Harris was cut by the Packers earlier in the offseason after gaining weight and losing speed. Brown was released by the Broncos after four seasons.

• A misunderstanding between free-agent DL Christian Peter and the Giants created some friction Tuesday. The Giants were expecting Peter to arrive at their facility for a second visit, but he never showed up. Giants GM Ernie Accorsi was so sure a verbal agreement had been reached that he was making preparations to release two players to create cap room. However, Peter reportedly did not want to sign an injury waiver. The Giants were familiar with Peter from the five years he spent with the team before signing with the Colts last year as a free agent. Shoulder and neck injuries limited Peter to nine games last season.

Tuesday, June 11, 2002

• Weighing offers between the Eagles and Packers, former Jaguars LB Hardy Nickerson appears to be leaning toward joining the Packers, where he has been promised a starting job. While Nickerson would likely earn a starting job in Philadelphia, he will have to battle MLB Barry Gardner for the job. Nickerson also likes the natural grass surface in Green Bay as opposed to the artificial turf in Philly.

• Free-agent TE O.J. Santiago worked out for the Vikings Monday. The team currently has TEs Byron Chamberlain, Jim Kleinsasser, and Hunter Goodwin under contract, but head coach Mike Tice — a former NFL tight end — believes the position is vital to a strong offense and is looking to upgrade the depth. Free-agent DT Jim Flanigan is scheduled to visit the Vikings’ facility later this week.

• With Keenan McCardell becoming a Buccaneer and Derrick Alexander becoming a Viking, the options are narrowing for free-agent WR Antonio Freeman.  Baltimore may be the top suitor, but the front office is still scrambling to find room under the salary cap to grant contract extensions for LBs Ray Lewis and Peter Boulware.

• The Steelers are focusing on upgrading their WR corps by taking a look at free-agent WRs Herman Moore from the Lions and Terance Mathis from the Falcons. Moore is appealing to the Steelers for the role he could play as a mentor to the Steelers’ young receivers, including Plaxico Burress and Antwaan Randle El. Burress became acquainted with Moore when he was playing at Michigan State and Moore was with the Lions. Money is not expected to be a sticking point for either player, who are both believed to be interested in deals for the veteran minimum of $750,000.

• Redskins unrestricted free-agent WR Michael Westbrook impressed Bengals’ officials by running a 4.35 40-yard dash and catching some passes at an individual workout. Westbrook met with team doctors for a physical and had lunch with receivers coach Steve Mooshagian before departing Cincinnati. With the Jaguars no longer expressing interest in the seven-year veteran, Westbrook is likely to sign with Cincinnati, where he would be closer to his native Detroit.

• Free-agent LB Mike Jones agreed to terms on a one-year, $775,000 contract with the Raiders that includes a $25,000 signing bonus. Jones reportedly selected the Raiders over seven other teams out of loyalty to Raiders owner Al Davis, who brought him into the league as an undrafted free agent in 1991. Davis was the only team of 15 that was willing to give the college fullback a chance to play linebacker in the NFL. Jones played his first six seasons for the Raiders before signing with the Rams in 1997. His claim to fame was when he made the game-saving tackle on the final play in the Rams’ Super Bowl victory over the Titans after the ’99 season. Last season, he played for the Steelers but never developed into a starter with the emergence of rookie Kendrell Bell.

Monday, June 10, 2002

• The Steelers locked up two key players by agreeing to contract extensions with Pro Bowl OG Alan Faneca and DE Kimo von Oelhoffen. Faneca, who had one year remaining on his contract, agreed to a new six-year, $25.5 million deal that includes a $6 million signing bonus. Von Oelhoffen, who had two years remaining on his contract, agreed to a new four-year, $9.25 million deal that includes a $3.5 million signing bonus. Both players have additional incentives in their contracts that could push the totals even higher. Since season’s end, the Steelers have now locked up six players from last year’s 13-3 team to long-term contracts, including LBs Joey Porter, Jason Gildon and John Fiala and OL Oliver Ross. The team will continue working on extensions for DE Aaron Smith, S Lee Flowers, OT Wayne Gandy and RB Amos Zereoue.

• The 49ers have made a preliminary contract offer to former Bears free-agent OT Blake Brockermeyer, who was cut by the Bears in April for salary-cap reasons. San Francisco is also pursuing WR Willie Jackson and DL Jim Flanigan.

• The Texans took a look at QB Charlie Batch over the weekend, indicating that they have not been pleased with the performance of veteran QB Kent Graham. Graham began working with the third team behind rookie David Carr and Mike Quinn at minicamp. Now the Texans appear interested in signing the 27-year-old Batch and dumping Graham. Batch passed a physical exam and toured the Texans’ facility Friday before departing. Denver, Green Bay and Jacksonville have also expressed interested in Batch, with the Packers and Jaguars hoping to bring him in for visits this week. But the Texans will likely give Batch the best chance to start, especially if Carr needs more time to develop. Batch said he would like to make a decision quickly so he can learn a new offense, which looks like it will be the Texans'.

• Five-time Pro Bowl LB Hardy Nickerson returned home to California after visiting the Packers last Thursday and the Eagles Friday. He said his main priority is to play for a team that has a chance to win the Super Bowl, which the Packers and Eagles are both well-positioned to do. Nickerson, who turns 37 on Sept. 1, said he has at least two more years left in him.

• The Vikings won the free-agent battle for former Chiefs WR Derrick Alexander while the Bucs won the derby for former Jaguars WR Keenan McCardell. Alexander signed a three-year, $5.1 million contract and joined his new teammates Saturday morning at the Vikings’ minicamp. The eight-year veteran is slated to start opposite Randy Moss although free-agent signee D’Wayne Bates is also expected to see considerable action. McCardell agreed to a four-year, $10 million contract, giving the Bucs a proven receiver opposite Keyshawn Johnson. The deal included a $2 million signing bonus and will give new head coach Jon Gruden another weapon to upgrade an offense that ranked 26^th in the league last season. The team also signed WR Joe Jurevicius in April. Former Bucs starters Reidel Anthony and Jacquez Green both signed with the Redskins in the offseason.

• The Panthers have withdrawn their request for DE Jay Williams to take a pay cut in exchange for Williams’ presence at the final two weeks of voluntary coaching sessions. The move doesn’t guarantee Williams a spot on the roster. The team could still release him after training camp. Williams said he would not participate in the remainder of minicamp last week unless the Panthers agreed to restructure his contract. If the team releases him, they would save $1.65 million under this year’s salary cap. Williams is in the final year of his contract and has started 27 games the past two years but may be squeezed out of a starting job after the team drafted DE Julius Peppers with the second overall pick in this year’s NFL draft. Head coach John Fox promised Williams a chance to win a starting job. Williams’ participation will allow the coaching staff to evaluate his ability.

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

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