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• The Oakland Raiders have agreed in principle to a contract with free agent running back LaMont Jordan (Jets). Both parties anticipate the contract to be officially signed on Thursday.

• A proposed deal between the Buffalo Bills and Arizona Cardinals concerning running back Travis Henry and offensive tackle L. J. Shelton has fallen through. The Bills are believed to be willing to part with Henry for a second- or third-round draft selection, with the Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers showing mild interest.

• The Chicago Bears have entered trade discussions regarding offensive tackle L. J. Shelton (Arizona)

• The Jacksonville Jaguars have agreed to terms with free agent defensive end Reggie Hayward (Denver).

• The New York Giants have come to terms on a deal with free agent linebacker Antonio Pierce (Redskins).

• The Houston Texans reportedly re-signed defensive tackle Seth Payne to a multi-year contract on Wednesday.

The club had shown interest in veteran free agent defensive tackle Pat Williams but chose to bring back the oft-injured Payne instead.

Williams is scheduled to the Vikings on Thursday and is considered the impact type of defensive lineman the team has sought. In Minnesota, Williams would have the opportunity reunite with his former defensive coordinator Ted Cottrell and former teammate and cornerback Antoine Winfield, who just happened to recommend the defensive tackle to the team.

• The Jets have entertained free agent defensive tackle Lance Legree (Giants) on Wednesday.

• The San Francisco 49ers are in pursuit of free agent offensive tackle Jonas Jennings (Buffalo). Jennings is expected to visit with the 49ers on Thursday.

• The Carolina Panthers have been in close contact with free agent offensive guard Mike Wahle (Green Bay). Negotiations are ongoing.

• The Tennessee Titans may have an interest in free agent quarterback Kelly Holcomb (Cleveland) if starter Steve McNair retires.

• Discussions between the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars have gone ‘nowhere’ in regards to Jaguars’ franchised free agent safety Donovin Darius.

• Free agent defensive end Reggie Hayward (Denver) and the Jacksonville Jaguars are negotiating a contract.

• The Minnesota Vikings, with priorities set at four positions, according to team sources, are expected to offer substantial contracts, bordering on overwhelming, to a talented duo of free agents, defensive tackle Pat Williams (Buffalo) and linebacker Antonio Pierce (Washington), who will visit with the team on Thursday. Additionally, the Vikings are evaluating options at wide receiver and defensive back, with the team expected to remain aggressive in their free agent player pursuit.

• The Chicago Bears have entered trade discussions regarding offensive tackle L. J. Shelton (Arizona)

• Free agent cornerback Mario Edwards (Dallas) is expected to visit with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday.

• Free agent defensive end Tony Bryant (New Orleans) is expected to visit with the Miami Dolphins on Thursday.

• Free agent quarterback Kurt Warner (Giants) is expected to meet with the Detroit Lions on Friday.

• The New York Jets are showing an interest in Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle L. J. Shelton.

• The Cleveland Browns are believed to be discussing parameters of contract with free agent running back Chester Taylor (Baltimore) and linebacker Matt Stewart (Atlanta).

• The New York Giants have crossed linebacker Ed Hartwell off their list of potential signings and are focusing on free agent linebacker Kendrell Bell (Pittsburgh).

• The Atlanta Falcons are expressing an interest in free agent wide receiver Plaxico Burress (Pittsburgh).

· Indianapolis Colts tight end Marcus Pollard has been released in a salary-cap related move when a restructured contract could not be agreed upon.

· The Oakland Raiders have released defensive tackle John Parrella and running back Tyrone Wheatley.

· Although restructuring his contract, Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis is far from a lock to play in 2005. “The Bus” still is contemplating retirement.

· The Cincinnati Bengals and free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Cincinnati) have agreed to a four-year contract to keep the receiver in Cincinnati.

· Look for the New York Giants to secure the services of free agent linebacker Kendrell Bell, formerly of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

· The Cleveland Browns entertained running back Chester Taylor (Baltimore) and safety Brian Russell (Minnesota) today, as well as previously reported visits by Joe Andruzzi (New England) and Matt Stewart (Atlanta).

· Free agent safety Kenoy Kennedy (Denver) is expected to meet with the Detroit Lions this weekend.

· Free agent linebacker Ian Gold (Tampa Bay) is expected to meet with the Denver Broncos this weekend.

· Free agent defensive end Reggie Hayward (Denver) is visiting with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

· Free agent linebacker Chris Claiborne (Minnesota) will visit with the St. Louis Rams on Thursday.

· Free agent linebacker Antonio Pierce (Washington) is scheduled to visit with the Vikings on Thursday.

· Free agent defensive tackle/nose tackle Pat Williams (Buffalo) is scheduled to visit with the Vikings on Thursday.

· Free agent linebacker Ed Hartwell (Baltimore) could be visiting Kansas City by the end of the week.

· The Cleveland Browns have agreed to terms of a four-year contract with free agent offensive guard Joe Andruzzi (New England), according to sources close to the team.

· The Cincinnati Bengals are in serious negotiations with free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Cincinnati).

· The Cleveland Browns continue to negotiate with free agent quarterback Kelly Holcomb (Cleveland).

· The Miami Dolphins have been in contact with representatives for free agent running back LaMont Jordan (Jets) and quarterback Gus Frerotte (Vikings).

· The Cinicnnati Bengals have been in contact with linebacker Kevin Bentley (Cleveland).

· The Pittsburgh Steelers are showing an interest in defensive tackle Aaron Kampman (Green Bay).

· The New England Patriots are rumored to be interested in cornerback Duane Starks (Arizona).

· The New York Giants have been in contact with free agent linebacker Kendrell Bell (Pittsburgh).

· Three teams in the AFC have contacted the Denver Broncos regarding defensive end Trevor Price.

· Arizona Cardinals cornerback Duane Starks could be close to being moved this week in a trade. Starks was on Sirius NFL Radio this week and said he should be playing for a new team later this week.

Starks has been a big disappointment since signing a big free agent deal with the club after the 2001 season and has missed 22 games due to injury over the last three seasons.

Head coach Dennis Green didn't deny that Starks could be moved during a press briefing last weekend in Indianapolis for the NFL Combine.

· The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to a contract with running back Correll Buckhalter.

· The Kansas City Chiefs and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter could be in serious negotiations for the services of the free agent linebacker. As talks with the Eagles have hit a standstill, the Chiefs have swooped in with hopes of landing the free agent talent.

· Spurning a late run by the New York Jets, defensive tackle/nose tackle Jason Ferguson has agreed to terms of a deal with the Dallas Cowboys.

· The Minnesota Vikings will be bringing in inside/middle linebacker Antonio Pierce for a visit this week.

· While terms/parameters of the contract are unknown at this time, wide receiver Derrick Mason’s deal with the Baltimore Ravens is for five years.

· The Oakland Raiders have made a substantial offer to free agent running back LaMont Jordan to be the Raiders' starting running back. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to show interest in the highly sought free agent, but are not expected to have the resources under the salary cap to meet the substantial offer on the table by Oakland.

· The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have signed kicker Matt Bryant.

· The Detroit Lions will meet with safety Kenoy Kennedy (Denver) as they seek to improve the youth and athleticism in the defensive backfield.

· The Jacksonville Jaguars have not received serious interest for franchised safety Donovin Darius, though a couple of teams (Lions and Vikings?) expressed to the Jaguars they would keep an eye on the situation as free agency heats up.

Free agents DT Pat Williams and MLB Antonio Pierce are expected to visit the Minnesota Vikings over the next 24 hours. The Vikings are looking to upgrade at both positions have and enough money under the salary cap to sign both to lucrative deals should they choose to.

· The St. Louis Rams wasted little time securing a player which should provide immediate relief to a questionable linebacking corps. Veteran Dexter Coakley, a free agent from the Dallas Cowboys, has agreed to terms of a multi-year deal with the team this afternoon. Coakley, a weak-side linebacker and former All-Pro, was released by the Cowboys in a salary-cap related move just prior to the free agent player signing period. The move to bring in the veteran linebacker is viewed as one of many moves the Rams will make to improve their questionable and inconsistent defense. Coakley is expected to take over on the weak-side for Pisa Tinoisaomoa, who will move to safety.

· The Baltimore Ravens, San Diego Chargers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets have discussed dealing for Washington Redskins wide receiver Rod Gardner.

· The New York Giants and Chicago Bears are gauging their interest in free agent quarterback Jay Fielder (Miami).

· The New York Giants, San Diego Chargers, Carolina Panthers, and Detroit Lions have expressed in interest in recently released offensive guard Mike Wahle (Green Bay).

· The Jacksonville Jaguars will meet with free agent defensive end Reggie Haywood (Denver) this week, according to those close to the player.

· The Kansas City Chiefs have an eye on free agent cornerback Ken Lucas (Seattle), if talks with Samari Rolle (Tennessee) are not fruitful.

· The Carolina Panthers and Cleveland Browns have expressed an interest in free agent linebacker Matt Stewart (Atlanta).

· The Washington Redskins have re-signed free agent defensive tackle Joe Salave'a.

· The Browns have New England offensive lineman Joe Andruzzi in for a visit today and Tampa Bay offensive lineman Cosey Coleman is scheduled for a visit later this week.

The Cleveland Browns have officially traded defensive tackle Gerard Warren to the Denver Broncos for a fourth-round draft selection in the 2005 draft.

· While continuing negotiations with free agent defensive tackle/nose tackle Jason Ferguson, the Jets have contacted representatives for free agent defensive tackle/nose tackle Pat Williams of the Buffalo Bills. With the Dallas Cowboys in hot pursuit of Ferguson and negotiations not coming to a successful close with Ferguson prior to the start of the free agent player signing period, the Jets are covering their bases in discussions with the solid Williams, whom just may be a better player at this time in his career than Ferguson.

· Representatives for wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh tell us seven teams had contacted him about the free agent wide receiver today.

· The New York Jets continue to talk with free agent running back LaMont Jordan, as interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Oakland Raiders, and possibly Arizona Cardinals increases.

· Offensive lineman Casey Rabach has passed his physical and his signing will be officially announced later this afternoon.

· Free agent linebacker Ed Hartwell is receiving interest from the Jacksonville Jaguars and Kansas City Chiefs.

· The Minnesota Vikings, looking for a wide receiver after the trade of Randy Moss, don’t have an immediate interest in Plaxico Burress.

· The Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns have had short discussions about Cleveland running back William Green.

· The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have shown an interest in running backs Derrick Blaylock of Kansas City and Chester Taylor of Baltimore.

· Tampa Bay, Detroit, and Denver expect quarterback Jeff Garcia to sign with a team this week.

· Wide receiver/return specialist/defensive back Troy Brown is expected to receive interest from the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns.

· “NEW” New York offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger has spoken with Jets free agent tight end Anthony Becht about returning to the team.

· The Jacksonville Jaguars are in hot pursuit of wide receiver Derrick Mason and have shown a mild interest in Philadelphia defensive end Derrick Burgess

· The New York Jets are in serious pursuit of offensive tackle Jonas Jennings and defensive back Dwight Smith.

· The Cleveland Browns have discussed offensive guard Cosey Coleman and offensive tackle Kareem McKenzie. Defensive tackle Seth Payne is a target to man the NT spot for a proposed Browns’ 3-4 defense.

· A trade of Buffalo Bills running back Travis Henry to Arizona for L.J. Shelton has not been completed at this time.

While defensive tackle/nose tackle Pat Williams continues talks with the New York Jets, the Minnesota Vikings have expressed an interest in the All-Pro caliber run-stuffer.

· The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up to make a run at wide receiver Derrick Mason and defensive back Andre Dyson.

· The Kansas City Chiefs are making a concerted effort to either deal for defensive back Patrick Surtain or sign defensive back Samari Rolle.

· The Arizona Cardinals are in discussions with quarterback Brad Johnson.

· The Dallas Cowboys could announce the signing of former Browns’ cornerback Anthony Henry today.