DT Adams to choose between Seahawks, Bengals

By Nolan Nawrocki, Associate editor

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Friday, July 19, 2002

• The Bengals increased their three-year contract offer to free-agent DT Sam Adams Thursday after the Seahawks entered the bidding for his services. The Seahawks originally drafted Adams, and the team is interested in bringing him back to bolster its defensive line. The Seahawks have less money available under the cap than the Bengals, but Adams said he wants to make a decision by the end of today. Money has been the main factor in Adams’ decision all along. Whichever team drops more money on the table will likely prevail for Adams’ services.

• The Chargers signed LB Jamel Smith to a one-year deal and released rookie RB Levron Williams. The 6-1, 235-pound Smith was originally signed by the New England Patriots as an undrafted rookie free agent from Virginia Tech in 2000 and was waived by the Patriots before the start of the season. In 2001, he signed with the Rams and was allocated to play in NFL Europe for the Rhein Fire. After being released by the team, he joined the Fire again this spring.

Thursday, July 18, 2002

• The Rams have taken a look at former Seahawks DE Michael Sinclair and are expected to move fast in negotiations with the 11-year veteran, who spent his entire career in Seattle. Sinclair will give the Rams a veteran pass rusher if they can reach a deal. The Dolphins have also expressed interest in him.

• The Eagles signed former Seahawks LB Levon Kirkland to a one-year, $750,000 contract Wednesday, giving the Eagles depth at the position that Jeremiah Trotter vacated earlier in the offseason. The opportunity to play for a Super Bowl contender weighed heavily on Kirkland’s decision. He will also have the chance to compete with Eagles MLB Barry Gardner for a starting job.

• The Seahawks joined the race for former Ravens DT Sam Adams Wednesday, when head coach Mike Holmgren called Adams to inform him of his interest. The Bengals appear to be the front-runner in the derby to sign the former Pro Bowl tackle, but Adams has been less than thrilled with what the Bengals have offered him.

• The Packers signed PR Darrien Gordon to a one-year, $650,000 contract, with a $10,000 bonus and $15,000 in incentives.

• Persistence paid off for the Jets Wednesday, when they beat out the Dolphins, Titans and Bills in signing unrestricted free-agent DT Josh Evans. The seven-year veteran won an appeal last week to have his third substance abuse suspension overturned and subsequently chose to sign with the Jets, who remained in contact with Evans while the appeal was pending.

• The Saints are still in the hunt for a veteran backup running back, but new Saints general manager Mickey Loomis must also reach deals with nine draft picks in eight days and negotiate a contract extension for head coach Jim Haslett.

• The Cardinals are looking to add an offensive tackle and safety before training camp opens in eight days. The team has expressed interest in Broncos unrestricted free-agent S Eric Brown, who could visit the team next week, but Brown is reportedly seeking a deal worth more than the veteran minimum of $525,000 after starting his first four seasons in Denver. The Cardinals are not looking to spend more than the minimum for a player who is expected to back up starters Kwamie Lassiter and Adrian Wilson, which could likely make Brown wait until injuries and poor performances increase the demand for his services after training camps open.

Wednesday, July 17, 2002

• The Bengals began negotiating with former Ravens DT Sam Adams after he visited the team Monday and Tuesday. When he heard that the Bengals were interested in making a contract offer, he postponed his flight home to the Seattle area but later caught a flight when no deal was struck. The Raiders, Broncos and Ravens have all expressed interest in the eight-year veteran, but the Bengals are in the best position under the salary cap to offer Adams the lucrative deal he is seeking. Adams was impressed with the Bengals’ defense and would be excited to play for Bengals DL coach Tim Krumrie. Adams is friends with Bengals QB Jon Kitna and offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski from their days together in Seattle.

• Former Seahawks LB Levon Kirkland has drawn interest from a number of teams since being released last week. The Vikings, Eagles, Lions, Jaguars and Redskins have all inquired about the 10-year veteran. The Vikings and Eagles are both in great shape under the cap, but with market driving down the value of free agents, neither team expects to pay more than the $750,000 veteran’s minimum. The Vikings have free-agent acquisition Henri Crockett slated to start in the middle. Because he played outside in Atlanta, Kirkland’s presence would give the Vikings more security in the event that Crockett struggles. The Eagles were hoping to sign Hardy Nickerson before the Packers plucked him from the market. Kirkland is not much of an upgrade over Barry Gardner but could serve as a mentor for the youngster and aid his development. The Lions have Chris Claiborne in the middle but could move him to the outside to make room for Kirkland. The Jaguars could give him the best chance to start after the departure of Kevin Hardy. The Redskins are stacked at linebacker with Jeremiah Trotter, Jesse Armstead and LaVar Arrington, which would likely make Kirkland nothing more than a backup in Washington. If the chance to start dictates Kirkland’s decision, the Jaguars may offer the most opportunity.

• The Packers addressed a major need by signing unrestricted free-agent PR Darrien Gordon. The eight-year veteran is expected to replace Allen Rossum, who signed with the Falcons earlier in the offseason.

• Former Bengals WR Darnay Scott is scheduled to visit the Patriots and Packers with the hope of fielding offers and finding a new team next week, before training camps begin to open around the league. He has already visited the Falcons and Jaguars, but Atlanta is expected to be out of the running after signing WR Willie Jackson.

• Since learning that he will be reinstated to play this season, former Titans DT Josh Evans has received renewed interest from Buffalo and Miami, where he recently visited. The Jets, who came close to signing Evans in March, remain interested, as do the Titans.

• The Seahawks have been considering former Packers LB Bernardo Harris to replace the recently released Levon Kirkland. Harris, who is considering several teams, has not scheduled a visit with Seattle because they are believed to be offering merely the veteran’s minimum of $650,000.

• The Rams signed free-agent DT Terry Jolly, who spent last season in the Bucs’ training camp. Jolly recently played for the Barcelona Dragons in NFL Europe.

• The Saints signed CB Fakhir Brown and DL DaMonte McKenzie and released five undrafted free agents Tuesday. Brown played 18 games and started 11 with the Chargers in 1999 and 2000. McKenzie played for the Rhein Fire in NFL Europe this spring and has spent time in the training camps of the Bucs and Cowboys. Among those released were S Chonn Lacey, RB Jonathan Adams, P Dan Hadenfeldt, LB Andre LeClair and OL John Romero. Adams has already been signed by the Cardinals.

Tuesday, July 16, 2002

• The Vikings have agreed to terms with Cleveland unrestricted free-agent TE O.J. Santiago. The five-year veteran spent three seasons with the Falcons before being traded to the Cowboys in 2000. He will join a team that is deep in talent at the TE position with Byron Chamberlain, former FB Jim Kleinsasser and Hunter Goodwin on the roster, but head coach Mike Tice, a former NFL tight end, is planning to use more multiple TE sets and would like to create heavy competition in training camp.

• Former Bengals WR Darnay Scott visited the Jaguars Monday and met with head coach Tom Coughlin. Because Scott still plans to take more visits, the Jaguars did not enter negotiations with the veteran.

• The Jaguars may also be interested in 10-year veteran LB Levon Kirkland, who was released by the Seahawks last week. The Jaguars are looking for veteran depth at the LB position vacated by Kevin Hardy. The team recently made an attempt to sign former Saints LB Keith Mitchell before he signed with the Texans. The Eagles, who lost out on free-agent LB Hardy Nickerson last month, may also be in the running. Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid will likely consult his former mentor, Seattle head coach/general manager Mike Holmgrem, about his decision to release Kirkland. The Eagles have been looking for depth at the MLB position since removing the franchise tag from Jeremiah Trotter and letting him sign with the Redskins. Kirkland was a college teammate of Eagles FS Brian Dawkins, who could be used to recruit Kirkland to the City of Brotherly Love.

 Monday, July 15, 2002

• Less than a week after losing CB Terrell Buckley in free agency, the Patriots restocked their secondary with unrestricted free-agent S Victor Green. Green came close to reaching an agreement with the Patriots after being released by the Jets earlier this spring but decided to continue exploring his options. Green, 32, is a nine-year veteran who had spent his entire career with the Jets. He is believed to have signed a one-year contract for the veteran’s minimum of $750,000, with just $450,000 counting against the Pats’ cap. Green was released by the Jets after refusing to accept a pay cut. He was due to receive a $2 million roster bonus from the Jets in March before being released.

• The Jaguars appear to be interested in scheduling a visit with former Bengals WR Darnay Scott. The team has been in contact with Scott’s agent, Rocky Arceneaux, as it continues to search for depth in the wake of WR Keenan McCardell’s departure to Tampa Bay. The Falcons had expressed interest in Scott before they signed Willie Jackson Friday. The Chargers are also believed to be among the interested suitors for Scott, who played college football at San Diego State.

• The Seahawks released LB Levon Kirkland on Friday, clearing $1.8 million in salary-cap room. Kirkland had signed a three-year, $7.5 million contract with a $2.3 million signing bonus before last season. The move is believed to have come because Kirkland was overweight and out of shape. Although he has played at 275 pounds for most of his career, his weight became an issue when it jumped above the 300-pound mark last season. While he has started 123 consecutive games, including all 16 for the Seahawks last season, the team apparently did not feel Kirkland would be ready for training camp. His agent, Mason Ashe, said the 10-year veteran was caught off guard and displeased by the move, especially after recently being married and settling into a new home in Charlotte, N.C. With a thin free-agent LB class, Kirkland is hoping he can catch on with another team.

• Less than four months after signing free-agent WR Keith Poole, the Bucs released him Friday. Poole has been bothered by a hamstring injury, which had limited his participation in practice. With the acquisition of free-agent WRs Joe Jurevicius and Keenan McCardell and the selection of University of Michigan WR Marquise Walker in the NFL draft, Poole became expendable. Poole is a five-year veteran who spent his first four seasons in New Orleans before moving to Denver last season.

• The Bears signed former Colts DT Christian Peter to a one-year contract Friday. Peter is a five-year NFL veteran who played for Nebraska. He spent his first four seasons with the Giants before moving to the Colts last year. He was selected in the fifth round of the 1996 draft by the Patriots but was released after the team came under public pressure because he had been charged with sexual assault prior to the draft. The Giants then signed him as a free agent in 1997.

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

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