NFL Trade Rumors

"As the Green Bay Packers continue to make calls to prospective trading partners in hopes of dealing Brett Favre before training camp opens, new evidence has emerged in the team's tampering case against the Minnesota Vikings regarding the semi-retired quarterback. Two NFL sources said Wednesday that, in addition to cell-phone records of calls between Favre and Minnesota coach Brad Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell, the club also claims Favre sent text messages back-and-forth with the two Vikings coaches. In the aftermath of Favre asking for his outright release July 11, the Packers accused the Vikings of tampering with Favre by engaging in "inappropriate dialogue" with ..."

"Give Antoine Winfield credit for honesty. As the majority of Vikings players attempt to steer clear of saying if they would like to see Brett Favre in purple, the cornerback made it clear Wednesday the future Hall of Fame quarterback would be a welcome addition. "I think it would be a great move for us, but I don't know if Green Bay would trade him to a division rival," Winfield said. "Favre is still a great player. That's what you want to do in this league is add as many great players as you can. I think Tarvaris will do a great job for us if it doesn't happen." Tarvaris, of course, is Vikings starter Tarvaris Jackson. The quarterback was one of several veterans who did not report to ..."

"The agent for Raiders running back LaMont Jordan confirmed his client was told not to report to the team's opening day of training camp in Napa, even though the seven-year veteran has two years remaining on his contact. According to the current collective bargaining agreement, an NFL player under contract must be allowed to report and participate in all offseason and training camp meetings and workouts. Alvin Keels, who represents the running back, said he told the Raiders on Wednesday they have just more than 24 hours to release his client, trade him or permit him to report as scheduled. The team's first official workout is at 3 p.m today. On Friday, the Raiders are scheduled to hold two ..."

"Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett, who missed the Cardinals’ voluntary offseason workouts because of unhappiness with their contracts, showed up as expected for the start of training camp. Boldin did not speak to reporters. But Dockett, after pulling up in a green Mercedes shortly after 6 p.m., issued his first public comments on his contract dispute. He said he never considered a training camp boycott, saying his previous absence was “just business.” “I’m here. This is what I’ve been looking forward to: continuing my career where I left off last year,” Dockett said. “Right now, I’m here. I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help this team win. “I’m excited to be here. I know my ..."

"Unless an 11th-hour trade materializes, disgruntled Falcons wide receiver Joe Horn will report for training camp Friday, when all players are required to check in at team headquarters in Flowery Branch. The Falcons open training camp Saturday morning. "We will do everything that is mandatory," Horn's agent, Ralph Vitolo said Thursday morning. "He'll be ready to roll. He's under contract and unless he's traded, Joe will be there, he'll work hard, be professional and compete for a starting job." Said coach Mike Smith: "I'm expecting Joe to be there. He's under contract and we anticipate him to be there. I don't anticipate anybody not being there. I anticipate our full complement of players ..."

"The Jets and representatives for their first-round pick, pass-rushing linebacker Vernon Gholston, are close to a deal that could put Gholston on the practice field as early as today or tomorrow. Gholston, who is in New York, is said to be eager to report, especially after he missed nearly all of the offseason program because he had to wait until his class at Ohio State finished out the semester. He was the No. 6 pick in April's draft. The stumbling block in contract talks is that Gholston's camp wants a five-year deal and the Jets want six, according to someone with knowledge of the negotiations. That person spoke on condition of anonymity because he's not authorized to speak publicly ..."

"With less than 30 hours before the Falcons open training camp, the team has officially entered the %u2018Holdout Zone%u2019. After turning the first round upside down with the $72 million signing of quarterback Matt Ryan, the Falcons appear to be waiting for the market to settle around left tackle Sam Baker (21st overall) and second round middle linebacker Curtis Lofton. It%u2019s not big deal if they don%u2019t report with the rest of the squad between 2-5 p.m. on Friday, but it%u2019s absolutely imperative that both of the rookies are on the field at 8:30 a.m. Saturday for the first practice. Both could land starting spots, but need the action so they can earn their spots and win the ..."

"The Broncos have reached an agreement in principal on a four-year deal with No. 2 draft pick Eddie Royal, who is expected to become the No. 1 punt and kickoff returner.

More details on Royal's signing will be in the Thursday edition of The Denver Post and DenverPost.com.

With Royal signed, the only Broncos player not under contract is first-round pick, Ryan Clady. However, negotiations have been progressing and the Broncos and their rookie left tackle are expected to reach an agreement on a six-year contract by Thursday night."

"Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha won't be holding out, after all. Team officials are "optimistic" Asomugha will sign his one-year contract and report for today's first practice of training camp, according to a league source familiar with the situation. A second source from outside the organization confirmed Asomugha's anticipated arrival. Players began arriving for training camp Wednesday at the Napa Valley Marriott, where the Raiders' camp will be held for the next three weeks. No one has to officially report until today. Until Wednesday, team officials did not know when Asomugha would arrive. He had yet to sign his franchise-tag tender, a one-year deal worth $9.675 million. "The team ..."

"Nick Hardwick will likely be declared Physically Unable to Perform today or tomorrow, but the Chargers center is confident he won't be so designated by the end of training camp. %u201CI really feel like I'll be back before that list allows,%u201D said Hardwick, who had surgery on his right foot in March. %u201CI don't want to be sitting that long.%u201D A player placed on the Active/PUP list cannot participate in training camp or in exhibition games. The player can attend meetings and do rehab. The team, however, can declare him active any time before the final roster cut the week before the regular season starts. If a player is on the Reserve/PUP list when the season starts, he must ..."

"The tranquil start to Bears training camp disappeared faster than a Devin Hester touchdown return today when the Bears special teams ace refused to show up for the opening practice in a contract holdout. Hester did not report to camp on Tuesday night before midnight as players were required to do and missed team meetings this morning, but he officially became a contract holdout with the start of practice at 3 p.m. His decision not to report to camp had to be a surprise to a franchise that reached 12th-hour contract solutions for middle linebacker Brian Urlacher and rookie left tackle Chris Williams in an effort to ensure the entire roster would report on time."

"Brian Westbrook chose Georgia-based Todd France as his new agent yesterday, and France now has the difficult task of trying to get his client a new contract. France did not return a phone call last night, but two NFL sources confirmed Westbrook's decision. One league source said the move probably would not become official until today because France must file paperwork with the NFL players union."

"A day after Eagles coach Andy Reid and quarterback A.J. Feeley assured reporters that Brian Westbrook wouldn't boycott training camp, quarterback Donovan McNabb weighed in with a similar sentiment.

"Westbrook will be here," McNabb said Tuesday. Westbrook, the team's All-Pro running back, and the Eagles have been trying to rework the five-year, $25 million deal Westbrook signed in 2005. One newspaper report last week quoted Westbrook as saying he hadn't made up his mind about reporting to Lehigh University by 5 p.m. Thursday, when veterans are due. After the team's first practice, McNabb said he hadn't spoken to Westbrook, which means his statement was based more on opinion than ..."

"Whatever concerns Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has going into training camp, injuries and the fact that the two's first and second-round draft picks remain unsigned apparently aren't among them.

Tomlin said at a news conference today that he doesn't expect first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall or second-round selection Limas Sweed to miss any practice over their contract situation.

The two, he said, are expected to sign with the Steelers before Sunday when players are required to report to training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe."

"Safety Tyrell Johnson, the Vikings' second-round selection and the team's top pick in the April draft, is near an agreement on a multiyear contract, and indications are it could be completed early today. Three of the Vikings' five picks agreed to terms Tuesday, a day before training camp opens in Mankato. The Vikings announced they had signed defensive tackle Letroy Guion (fifth round, Florida State) and receiver Jaymar Johnson (sixth round, Jackson State). Center John Sullivan (sixth round, Notre Dame), meanwhile, had a "verbal agreement" in place."

"The Seahawks' rookies reported Tuesday to begin preparing for the start of training camp practices on Friday morning. With two notable exceptions. USC defensive lineman Lawrence Jackson and Notre Dame tight end John Carlson, the team's top two picks in April's NFL draft, were not on hand because they have yet to sign or agree to contracts. But the club remains optimistic that Jackson and Carlson can be signed before the first training camp practice. The agents for Jackson and Carlson simply said there was no news to report in the negotiations for their clients."

"The Chiefs and cornerback Brandon Flowers agreed to terms on a four-year contract today. Flowers, a second-round pick, will be a starter when training camp begins Friday in River Falls, Wis. The Chiefs still did not have agreements with either of their first-round picks, defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey and offensive lineman Branden Albert. The Chiefs were optimistic they could strike a deal with Albert before they leave for Wisconsin on Thursday, but an agreement with Dorsey could be far off."

"What would NFL teams trade the Green Bay Packers for Brett Favre? The Packers have asked multiple teams what they would be willing to offer for their team icon and former NFL MVP, the NFL Network reported -- a state of affairs once unthinkable in Green Bay. While it is not known how many teams the Packers have contacted about Favre, they have not limited their inquiries to AFC teams, according to the report."

"Jason Taylor plans to complete the remainder of his contract, he said yesterday, changing his mind about considering retirement at the end of the season after speaking with Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder. At his introductory news conference at Redskins Park, Taylor -- acquired Sunday from the Miami Dolphins for a second-round pick in 2009 and a sixth-round pick in 2010 -- acknowledged he had contemplated walking away from football after completing his 12th season. But Taylor told Snyder, executive vice president of football operations Vinny Cerrato and Coach Jim Zorn that he will play beyond this season."

"The Lions are hoping to sign free agent linebacker Takeo Spikes before training camp. Players report Wednesday and begin practicing Thursday morning. I think there's a chance if we can come to terms that we could get him before camp," coach Rod Marinelli said today. But Spikes apparently is also exploring other options. "There's an interest there on both sides," president Matt Millen said. "I think he wants to still look at some things. We%u2019ll be patient.""

"Plaxico Burress will report to Giants training camp on Thursday in Albany. With Jeremy Shockey gone, the Giants ' last remaining pre-camp headache appears to be Plaxico Burress . But there's nothing to worry about there, according to his agent, who said the receiver definitely will be in camp on time. Drew Rosenhaus , Burress' agent, told the Daily News Monday that his client will report to camp at the University at Albany Thursday morning with the rest of the Giants. And the receiver plans to be there whether he has a new deal in place or not."

"The phone interview had been set up with Chad Johnson to promote the new Warner Home Video DVD release he narrates about big-time NFL playmakers, but the Bengals wide receiver wanted to talk more about the offseason past and the season ahead of him. Johnson, who had arthroscopic ankle surgery in mid-June, less than a week after he was limited in the team's mandatory minicamp, said he was progressing well but not sure when he would be 100 percent and back on the field. "My whole focus right now is on Baltimore," Johnson told The Enquirer about the Bengals' opening game Sept. 7 in Maryland..."I do apologize. I'm back. I'm going to give a double-dose of Chad.""

"Larry Allen hasn't retired yet, and it's unclear whether the 11-time Pro Bowl guard wants to return to the 49ers - but coach Mike Nolan said Monday that Allen has indicated he would like to play this season for somebody. Nolan said he has not spoken to Allen, 36, but said the free agent told offensive line coach George Warhop recently that he would like to play a 15th NFL season. Warhop has been his position coach dating back to their years with the Cowboys. Nolan said he made a few calls to Allen but had not heard from him. "I think that he's just going to leave everything up to his agent," Nolan said. The agent, Marv Demoff, couldn't be reached Monday, but early last month he said ..."

"Now that the Bears have appeased the face of the franchise before training camp, they can focus on appealing to the future of the offensive line. Brian Urlacher agreed Monday to the one-year contract extension that pushes his current contract through 2012 and includes almost $18 million in new money, $6 million in bonuses. Bill Johnson, Urlacher's agent, still has some unfinished business as he attempts to close the deal on another client—left tackle Chris Williams, the Bears' first-round draft pick. As of Monday, it was unclear exactly where talks stood on the matter, and the deadline for players to report to camp in Bourbonnais is midnight Tuesday."

"The Ravens rookies are in, but defensive end-linebacker Terrell Suggs might not be.On a day when first-round choice and rookie quarterback Joe Flacco officially signed his five-year, $30 million contract, general manager Ozzie Newsome happily announced today that the team had signed the six remaining rookie draft picks.But he was somewhat terse when he was asked about the odds of Suggs showing up at training camp in Westminster on Wednesday when veterans are scheduled to report."We're only talking about Joe and the draft choices today," Newsome said."

"The Steelers have not had a significant rookie contract holdout in a decade and it appears they will not have one this summer either. Signing any veterans to contract extensions, however, is another matter. Kevin Colbert, the team's director of football operations, predicted yesterday that the top two draft choices will come to terms by the time the Steelers report to training camp Sunday at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe."

"The Indianapolis Colts report to Terre Haute for the start of training camp Thursday and will practice the first time the following morning, with or without the participation of their draft class. Monday afternoon, the team still had not come to terms with any of its nine draft picks. Team president Bill Polian offered little optimism -- or concern -- that things might change today or before players step onto the practice fields at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology. "We haven't made any progress. None," Polian said. "If they come in, they come in. If they don't, they don't. "We'll play with the guys who are there. If these players don't want to sign because the union thinks our ..."

"With the first practice of training camp drawing closer, negotiations are expected to heat up soon between the Detroit Lions and their eight unsigned rookies. Third-round draft choice Cliff Avril recently signed a deal and is Detroit's only draftee who is under contract. "We're getting close, we're making progress with most of them,'' Lions chief operating officer Tom Lewand said."

"Jeremy Shockey has finally gotten his wish. The Giants have agreed to trade their disgruntled tight end to the New Orleans Saints for a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick, FOXSports.com has learned. The deal is pending league approval, according to a league source. Shockey must also pass a physical. The compensation is the same the Saints offered New York back in April prior and during to the draft ... and it was turned down."

"Receiver Chad Johnson says he'll report on time for the Cincinnati Bengals' training camp next weekend, but his surgically repaired ankle will probably prevent him from fully participating in practice. Johnson also said today that he wants to move on from the fallout of his lobbying for a trade, which included threats to sit out the season if the Bengals didn't deal him. The club refused, turning down a lucrative trade offer from Washington. The Pro Bowl receiver said he's going to be as flamboyant as ever this season. He hopes Bengals fans still support him, and promised to put on a show for them."

"Giants GM Jerry Reese believes that after a somewhat rocky offseason, the Giants will be a happy and determined group in time for their opener on Sept. 4. But will that group include the unhappy Jeremy Shockey? That apparently remains to be seen, even as the start of training camp looms in just three days. Reese would not say if he expects his enigmatic tight end to report to camp at the University at Albany with the rest of his teammates on Thursday morning. And he appeared to leave open the possibility that Shockey won't be part of the Giants at all."

"Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin and defensive lineman Darnell Dockett plan to report to training camp in Flagstaff on time Wednesday, their agent said, but their presence is not an indication they are pleased with their contract situations. “Anquan is not the type of guy to hold out,” said Drew Rosenhaus, who represents both players. “He’s a very principled guy. It’s just not in his makeup.” And Dockett? “Darnell is a man who is going to honor his commitment to come to camp,” Rosenhaus said. Both players want new deals and more money, but there has been little progress in Rosenhaus’ talks with Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves."

"All but four Broncos are under contract, ready to report in four days for the start of the 2008 training camp. The four players happen to be the Broncos' top four 2008 draft choices. Representatives for first-round pick Ryan Clady, second-round selection Eddie Royal and fourth-rounders Kory Lichtensteiger and Jack Williams will resume serious negotiations with Broncos executives today. The Broncos hope to have one or two of those draft picks signed by Tuesday and all four by Thursday night, when all players are to report for their first training camp meeting. The Broncos' first camp workout will commence at 8:30 a.m. Friday."

"For the first time since Andy Reid joined the Eagles, there is evidence he no longer has the final say in all football decisions. Club president Joe Banner, insiders agree, has maneuvered into an unprecedented position of power within the Eagles. The movement began a year ago while Reid took a leave of absence to deal with the arrests and legal issues of his oldest sons. The Eagles aren't the first NFL franchise transitioning to an organizational structure where business types with salary-cap savvy are influencing more and more of the basic football decisions. The shift of power adds to the drama that will start playing out today when the Eagles report to training camp at Lehigh ..."

"The Eagles reached a contract agreement with wide receiver DeSean Jackson, a second-round pick, on the eve of training camp late Sunday night. Rookies and selected veterans are expected to report to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa., by 5 p.m. today. Terms of Jackson's four-year deal were not announced. He was the 49th pick overall. With Jackson signed, defensive tackle Trevor Laws, the team's first pick chosen two spots ahead of Jackson in the second round, is the only member of the Eagles' draft class still unsigned. Laws is likely to reach an agreement today."

"As rookies andvets report to Lehigh this afternoon, we still don't know if Brian Westbrook will show up with the remaining vets on Thursday, but we do know he seems close to hiring agent J.R. Rickert, who represents fellow Eagles running back Correll Buckhalter. Rickert is affiliated with Peter Schaffer and Lamont Smith, the agents Lito Sheppard fired last week in favor of Drew Rosenhaus. Rickert is based is Niskayuna, N.Y., though, and the Schaffer group is based in Colorado. Rickert, originally from the Philly area, also represents Eagles fullback Jason Davis and center Jamaal Jackson."

"Ray Lewis has always been considered the face of the Ravens franchise, and now he might officially get that designation. Lewis is in the final year of his contract, and there was speculation he might get a two-year extension before the start of the 2008 season. But that isn't likely to happen. The Ravens and Lewis are far apart at this point and the Ravens have told Lewis he might become the team's designated franchise player if they can't get a new deal done. The franchise tag is usually used for younger players who are in their peaks and searching for their first or second big contract, not a player like Lewis who is about to enter his 13th season. If the Ravens use the tag on ..."

"Nothing has changed on the Chris Simms front. The disgruntled quarterback is still a Buc, even though he badly wants out of the organization, and he’s still planning to report to training camp on Friday. “I will be at camp,’’ Simms said in a text message. “I have no clue what is gonna happen [once I get there]; we’ll see.’’ There has been some speculation about Simms status for camp, so I decided to go to the source on the matter. His response isn’t surprising. Simms said weeks ago that he had every intention of reporting to camp, “if the Bucs want that kind of media circus.’’ Maybe they do. They have had a few opportunities to trade Simms and could have certainly released him ..."

"Chargers first-round draft pick Antoine Cason remained unsigned Sunday night and didn't sound optimistic he'd be at the first practice of training camp. “I'm not sure. It doesn't look like it as of now,” Cason said by phone. “I don't know.” “I mean, we're we were making progress, of course,” said Cason, a cornerback from Arizona who went to the Chargers with the 27th overall pick. “I've kind of just heard little details of it from my agent. I just control what I can control, my play on the field.” Cason is the Chargers' only draft pick who hasn't agreed to a deal."

"Two-time Pro Bowl linebacker Takeo Spikes visited the Lions this week, a Lions official confirmed to the Free Press. Spikes is a free agent after he was released by the Philadelphia Eagles in March. The Lions could use another linebacker. The Lions lost Boss Bailey and Teddy Lehman this off-season. They drafted rookie Jordon Dizon in the second round to join Paris Lenon and Ernie Sims. Other linebackers on the roster include: Tyrone Pruitt, Alex Lewis, Anthony Cannon, Gilbert Gardner, Alfred Fincher, Caleb Campbell and Buster Davis."

"Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels suffered an injury Sunday to his anterior cruciate knee ligament, according to a source, a potentially season-ending injury that could lead to Jason Taylor coming to Washington. Daniels hurt the knee during the team's first practice. He tried to jump over a teammate and came down on his knee. Daniels had to be carted off the field. Preliminary reports from the initial MRI indicated damage to the ACL and possibly more, according to a source. Following the morning practice, the Redskins started working on trade discussions to replace him. According to another source, talks are underway with the Miami Dolphins for Taylor, who started the offseason by ..."

"Though Josh McCown is considered by many to be the front-runner because of experience, the Dolphins have told NFL people the battle remains competitive with John Beck, and preseason performance will determine the winner. Several players thought McCown was better in May/June drills, but another starter favored Beck. Chad Henne remains an underdog, though nobody would be shocked if he was starting at some point this season. According to sentiment inside the Dolphins, McCown -- who is OK after his wood-chopping accident -- has impressed with athleticism and mobility."

"It's five days and counting until the Titans open training camp, and nobody wants to utter the H-word. Holdout. But just because the word has not been spoken by either of two parties, that doesn't mean its implications have not been considered. This has become a point of heavy speculation in the aftermath of failed contract negotiations between Titans management and defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth. There are indications that the two sides never really got close to hammering out a long-term deal. And after the deadline passed Tuesday, there was a public exchange of rhetoric that suggested neither side was pleased."

"It would be understandable to look at the 4-12 Jets, by and large a boring team with zero playmakers, and assume that this is a franchise in rebuilding mode. A team committed to youth, patience and long-term solutions. If only the Jets were correctly taking this approach, going after a quick fix like Brett Favre would be totally misguided. In reality, the Jets think of themselves in a different way. Panicking after a disastrous '07, and fearing that an almost always frustrated fan base was about to turn on them, Mike Tannenbaum and Eric Mangini, who had eschewed big-name players, decided to change their approach, doling out huge contracts to veterans. Bizarrely, the Jets are ..."

"The Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame induction banquet, set for Saturday night at Lambeau Field, will honor two former players and a longtime club employee. But the spotlight will be trained on one of the guests in the house: Brett Favre. Team officials said they had no reason to think Favre would not show up for his old friend. Favre's wife, Deanna, is expected to attend as well."

"The rivalry between the Vikings and the Green Bay Packers just got a lot hotter. An NFL source said Wednesday that the Packers had filed a tampering charge with the league against the Vikings in connection with an alleged contact with Brett Favre. The source said the Packers had provided evidence and information about the alleged contact. At this point, investigators for the league will look into the matter and decide what, if anything, to do. The source added that the Packers believe the case against the Vikings is strong. Penalties can include the loss of draft choices and fines."

"Now that former Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry's legal issues are behind him and he could possibly be reinstated, the question is: Where will he land next? According to Henry and his agent Marvin Frazier, a return to the Bengals is a possibility. "We have interest in several teams, including Cincinnati,'' Frazier said Thursday. Frazier says it's still early in the process, but the Bengals have shown preliminary interest in Henry since his assault charge was dropped in Hamilton County (Ohio) court earlier this week. Perhaps expecting a suspension following Henry's fifth arrest, the team released Henry before the legal system ran its course. But Henry says he wouldn't hold ..."

"Cleveland Browns veteran receiver Joe Jurevicius likely will start the 2008 season on the physically unable to perform list. In an interview Thursday morning with Cleveland radio station WTAM, Browns general manager Phil Savage said Jurevicius' most recent knee surgery performed on June 30 will cause him to miss extended time. If he is placed on the PUP list, Jurevicius will have to sit out the first six weeks of the regular season. Although the Browns are only confirming two surgeries, the procedure was at least the third performed on Jurevicius' knee in the past seven months after he contracted a staph infection following his initial surgery."

"According to the Tampa Tribune, the Lions are reportedly interested in Buccaneers quarterback Chris Simms. The Lions, Cowboys and Bears have all inquired about the former Tampa Bay starter. Simms suffered a life-threatening spleen injury three games into the 2006 season and didn't play in the 2007 season. Since the injury Simms has had a rocky relationship with head coach Jon Gruden and the Buccaneers organization. Currently, Simms is the fifth quarterback on the Bucs' depth chart, behind Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Luke McCown and rookie Josh Johnson."

"As the Brett Favre saga rages like an inferno to the east, Vikings coach Brad Childress reiterated Tuesday that he's comfortable with Tarvaris Jackson and said his third-year quarterback will enter training camp next week as the unequivocal starter. "I think I've always said that," Childress said when asked if Jackson is his guy. "I just think he's right where he needs to be in terms of being a third-year quarterback. Would I have liked to see him play 16 games last year? Absolutely, I would have. But I think he's in a natural evolution. He understands what it means to play an NFL season as a starter with all eyes on him, dissecting everything." Childress has watched the ..."

"Brett Favre wanted to clear the air Monday in his increasingly bitter standoff with the Green Bay Packers. He ended up kicking up a cloud of dust. Whether Favre provided some clarity in an interview with Fox News Network’s Greta Van Susteren remains a matter of debate. What is clear is that Favre, in a carefully orchestrated chat with Van Susteren, a Wisconsin native and Packers shareholder, detailed anger and frustration with both the franchise and specifically general manager Ted Thompson over his future and his past."

"Really, the Bears have been jonesing for a running game since trading Thomas Jones to the Jets in March 2007, a month after their last Super Bowl appearance. Can Kevin Jones help supply the potent 1-2 punch that has been missing since then? Apparently, the Bears are curious enough to take a good look at the ex-Lions running back, a former first-round draft pick who believes he can return to 1,000-yard form after two serious injuries the last two seasons. NFL sources said Jones was to take a physical and visit Halas Hall on Tuesday, one week before the Bears open training camp."

"Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom confirmed Monday evening that the team has hired a Baltimore firm that specializes in sports investments. But not, Rosenbloom insisted, for the reason that was reported earlier in the day.Rosenbloom said Moag"

"Brett Favre wants to end his four-month retirement. The Green Bay Packers, who handed the starting job to three-year quarterback-in-waiting Aaron Rodgers in March, have told the NFL's all-time leading passer he can return but only as a backup. In response, Packers fans are demanding No. 4's return to the No. 1 job. How to resolve this mess surrounding the NFL's only publicly owned franchise and its longtime icon? How about a trade to a team that has gone eight seasons without a Pro Bowl quarterback, has an inexperienced starter who grew up idolizing his fellow Mississippian and has an owner with an expansive checkbook? Yes, the Washington Redskins. Envisioning Brett in burgundy yet?"

"The Ravens are unlikely to show interest in acquiring retired Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre , a team source said. The team is set to hold an open competition among Troy Smith, Kyle Boller and Joe Flacco in training camp. One obstacle facing the Ravens if they were to acquire Favre is salary cap space. The Ravens need to sign most of their draft picks, including No.1 pick Flacco, and they are working on a new contract for Terrell Suggs."

"After meeting for a second time with Chris Long's agent, Rams executive Jay Zygmunt said he foresees no snags in the negotiations that would make the team's first-round draft pick late for training camp."We remain very optimistic that we're going to be able to get everything worked out and that Chris will be in camp on time," Zygmunt said after talks with agent Marvin Demoff on Monday in Los Angeles. "Marvin expressed how important that is to Chris, and we expressed how important it is to the Rams.""

"The Cardinals have until Tuesday to sign linebacker Karlos Dansby, who has been designated the team's franchise player, to a long-term contract. Kirk Wood, Dansby's agent, said Monday he doesn't expect a deal to be completed. "I don't think it's going to happen," Wood said. Though the two sides likely will talk one last time Tuesday, "There's a very significant difference in the two business positions. ... We're quite far apart.""

"The Cardinals and linebacker Karlos Dansby remain far apart in contract negotiations, and it's unlikely a deal will be reached by Tuesday, the NFL's deadline for signing franchise players to multiyear contracts. Dansby will play for the Cardinals in 2008, making the franchise tender of $8.065 million. After Tuesday's deadline, Dansby cannot sign a long-term deal until after the season. Cardinals General Manager Rod Graves was not optimistic on Monday."

"After avoiding public comment through weeks of speculation about his football future, Brett Favre is speaking for himself: He wants to play but doesn’t feel welcome in Green Bay, so he’s asking to be released. Favre’s first substantial comments on his latest retirement decision reversal come in an interview with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren scheduled to air at 9 p.m. today. “I am guilty of retiring early and there is a reason for that,” Favre said, according to an excerpt provided to The Associated Press."

"The Ravens are unlikely to show interest in acquiring Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre, a team source said.The team is set to hold an open competition among Troy Smith, Kyle Boller and Joe Flacco in training camp.Two seasons ago, the Ravens went the veteran quarterback route, trading a fourth-round pick for Tennessee Titans quarterback Steve McNair. He went 13-3 in his first season before injuries ruined his second one."

"Brett Favre can't seem to make up his mind, so let's do it for him. Brett, come on down to Tampa Bay. The weather is much better than Green Bay's. There will be a playoff team waiting in your driveway. And most important, it would be great fun for all of us around here. OK, maybe that's not the most important thing. And if the Bucs got Favre it wouldn't be much fun for Jeff Garcia or the other 17 quarterbacks currently on Tampa Bay's roster. But the sad fact is with each new day the chances of Favre returning to the Packers get bleaker. It's hard to figure out which side is more responsible for the mess, Favre for jerking with Green Bay's plans or the Pack for not letting him."

"A story Monday in the weekly SportsBusiness Journal reported that Moag"