NFL / CFL Trade Rumors, Forums

Cleveland Browns deal for Seattle QB Seneca Wallace

Mary Kay Cabot

Mike Holmgren moved a little bit of his West Coast offense East on Monday when he traded for his former protege, Seattle backup quarterback Seneca Wallace.

The Browns surrendered a late-round pick in 2011 for Wallace, a league source told The Plain Dealer. That means the Browns still have 11 picks in 2010, including nine in the first five rounds.

Wallace, 29, is expected to come in as a backup, meaning the Browns could still deal for a starter. But Wallace can play other positions, including receiver and returner. The Browns confirmed the trade late Monday pending Wallace passing his physical on Wednesday -- but they'd only say the pick was undisclosed.

With Wallace, the Browns are almost certain to release Derek Anderson before his $2 million roster bonus is due March 19. What it means for Brady Quinn is still uncertain.

Holmgren drafted Wallace with a fourth-round pick in 2003 out of Iowa State after coaching him in the Senior Bowl that year and being impressed with Wallace's versatility. There was some thought that Wallace should switch to more of an Antwaan Randle El-type receiver, but he insisted on playing quarterback, and Holmgren was willing to develop him.

Wallace -- the shortest active quarterback in the NFL at 5-11, 205 pounds -- started 14 games in place of Matt Hasselbeck over the years because of injuries, going 5-9 as a starter. His most extensive action came in 2008 when he started eight games, split up into two different stints.

During his second stretch at the end of the season, he flashed some ability, including a three-TD game against the Patriots and a victory over the Jets. Overall, he threw for 1,532 yards in 2008 with 11 TDs and only three interceptions that year.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/03/report_browns_deal_for_seattle.html

Andre Carter may be the odd man out in Redskins' switch

Jason Reid

As we've studied the roster and tried to understand all of the Redskins' holes, it's almost been an assumption that the team's two outside linebackers in a 3-4 defense would be Brian Orakpo and Andre Carter. But this probably was never a wise assumption. Carter has been careful with his words since the new staff came on board and talk began to spread about the team shifting to the 3-4.

But when Carter came to Washington in 2006, he made his feelings pretty clear. He had just left San Francisco, which had switched to a 3-4 defense in his final season there and moved him from defensive end to linebacker. When he signed with the Redskins and was introduced in Washington, he said he was "playing out of position" as a linebacker.

"When the 49ers announced they were changing to a 3-4, I'm like, 'Oh, great,' " Carter said at the time, apparently with more than a hint of sarcasm. "But I did it. I feel that's a testament to my character. I made some plays [at linebacker], but it took me out of some plays as far as getting to the quarterback."

That quote appeared in the Washington Times. The Washington Post reported the next day: "The Redskins saw me as a defensive end, and I saw myself as a defensive end," Carter said. "And it's just great for me being back in the trenches because that's where it all started for me."

Talking to people more familiar with his time there, Carter didn't exactly shine in his stint as a linebacker. He began the year No. 2 on the 49ers' depth chart and eventually started 14 games. But by December, 49ers coach Mike Nolan was again using Carter a lot more at end.

Carter's stats in his lone year as a linebacker were solid -- he was credited with 58 tackles and 4.5 sacks -- but those familiar with the year said he was uncomfortable standing up and lacked the natural instincts to drop back in pass coverage.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/redskinsinsider/3-4-defense/andre-carter-may-be-the-odd-ma.html

T.O., Bryant to visit

Joe Reedy

After a quiet weekend, the Bengals got involved with free agency on Monday, re-signing defensive tackle Tank Johnson while getting set to welcome wide receivers Antonio Bryant and Terrell Owens on Tuesday.

Johnson took to Twitter Monday evening and announced: "Cinci we got a deal! Very grateful to The Browns and all the Who Dey Nation!!! I'm Baaaaaaaack!!!! Now let's win some more."

The deal is for four years with the team expected to announce it Tuesday or Wednesday.

In the search for a wide receiver who can stretch the field, it will be an interesting day with Bryant and Owens visiting Paul Brown Stadium.

When it comes to receivers who are unrestricted free agents, Bryant and Owens are the top two. Bryant, an eight-year veteran, was hampered in Tampa Bay due to two knee injuries that happened during training camp. He played 13 games and had 39 receptions for 600 yards, an average of 15.4 yards per catch, with four touchdowns. In 2008, he enjoyed a career year with 83 receptions for 1,248 yards and seven touchdowns.

Bryant, who turns 29 today, arrived in Cincinnati Monday night. He was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in 2002 and has also played with Cleveland and San Francisco.

Owens, whose visit was reported by ESPN, is a 14-year veteran who had 55 receptions for 829 yards and five touchdowns last season in Buffalo.

As for their own free agents, Johnson was one of the Bengals' top offseason priorities.

At the NFL Scouting Combine, defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer said he was happy with Johnson's first season in Cincinnati. Brought in as a pass rusher, the six-year defensive tackle played 14 games (starting 13) and had 39 tackles with two sacks.

http://news.cincinnati.com/article/20100308/SPT02/3090366/1062/SPT/T.O.++Bryant+to+visit+

Free agent tight end Ben Watson to visit Browns Wednesday

Mary Kay Cabot

Free agent tight end Ben Watson, formerly of the New England Patriots, is scheduled to visit the Browns on Wednesday, a source told profootballtalk.com.

Watson, 29, is visiting the Seahawks today.

An unrestricted free agent, Watson spent all of his six seasons with the Patriots, who drafted with the No. 32 overall pick in 2004 out of Georgia.

In 2009, Watson (6-3, 255) started seven of 16 games, catching 29 passes for 404 yards and five TDs. Browns coach Eric Mangini and offensive coordinator Brian Daboll were assistants on the Patriots staff when Watson was drafted. Mangini spent two seasons with him there and Daboll three.

The Browns were not immediately available to confirm the visit.

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2010/03/report_free_agent_tight_end_be.html

Laveranues Coles could sign with New York Jets for third time

Rich Cimini

Anybody interested in a 3.0 version of Laveranues Coles? The Jets apparently are.
With at least one opening in their thin receiving corps, the Jets haven't ruled out the possibility of re-signing Coles for a third stint with the team, the Daily News has learned.

Coles, 32, was released last week after one season with the Bengals, and he told a New Jersey newspaper he's interested in a return to the Jets. He was cut by the Jets last February, a mutual parting in which he agreed to forfeit $6 million in guaranteed money in exchange for having the final year of his contract voided. The Jets tried to re-sign him for less money, but the Bengals offered a richer deal.

Now the Jets are looking for a third or fourth receiver to play behind starters Jerricho Cotchery and Braylon Edwards (restricted free agent). They also have Brad Smith (RFA) and David Clowney, although neither is regarded as a No. 3 receiver.

The Jets will take their time before making a decision on Coles, perhaps waiting until after the draft next month, but he might be an option if he agrees to a relatively modest one-year contract. He's definitely on their radar.

In this case, the Jets wouldn't be restricted by the new "Final Four" rule because Coles was released by a team and isn't an unrestricted free agent. The rule, designed to prevent the top four playoff teams from spending wildly in an uncapped year, restricts the Jets from signing an unrestricted free agent until they lose one. They haven't lost one yet.

Another former ex-Jet is on the market, tight end Chris Baker (cut last week by the Patriots), but the chances of him returning are less likely than Coles.

Coles, who played with the Jets from 2000-02 and 2005-08, is coming off his least productive season since his rookie year. He caught only 43 passes for 514 yards and five touchdowns, confirming opinions that he lost a step. But Coles believes he was a bad fit in the Bengals' offense and still is capable of being productive for a few more years.

Read more:
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/jets/2010/03/08/2010-03-08_coles_could_catch_on_a_third_time.html

Bills working out Tebow

-Allen Wilson

Tim Tebow is scheduled to workout for all 32 NFL teams during the University of Florida's Pro Day on March 17, but one team that wants a closer look at the quarterback is the Buffalo Bills.

Tebow told NFL.com on Sunday that he has individual workouts planned with the Bills and Seattle Seahawks after his school's Pro Day.

The Bills have been vague about their quarterback situation. They have hinted at going into the season with the guys on the roster, with Trent Edwards getting one more chance to be the starter. But the team also pointed out that it was keeping its options open.

The Bills probably wouldn't draft Tebow with the ninth overall pick, but the fact that they want to work him out privately suggests there is interest in the former Heisman Trophy winner and two-time national champion.

Tebow declined to throw at the NFL Scouting Combine because he has been working with quarterback coaches to improve his throwing mechanics. He'll unveil his new delivery at Florida's Pro Day. But Tebow participated in just about everything else in Indianapolis and impressed with his athletic ability. Word is he also left a great impression on teams that interviewed him.

Oklahoma's Sam Bradford and Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen are the top-rated quarterbacks in the draft and both could be taken somewhere in the top 10. Tebow is expected to be drafted in the second or third round, but given the great intangibles (he's a great leader and a winner) he possesses his stock could soar if he throws well on March 17.

http://blogs.buffalonews.com/billboard/2010/03/bills-working-out-tebow.html

Vikings have plan to get Favre to return

Sid Hartman

My opinion is that the quarterback will be back after again missing offseason workouts and training camp.
Rest assured the Vikings, the Wilf family that owns the team, coach Brad Childress and others in the organization have a plan they will follow to try to get Brett Favre to return for a second season of his contract, one that will pay the 40-year-old quarterback about $13 million in 2010.

No doubt one of the first moves in the plan was Childress' visit to Favre's home in Hattiesburg, Miss., where the coach spent all day Wednesday.

If Favre didn't have any interest in playing football another year, I would think he would have not welcomed Childress like he did to his home.

I believe Favre will definitely come back under the same terms of last season, when he didn't have to take part in training camp or any offseason workouts.

Visiting with Vikings players during and after the season, I find that they don't have any problems with the three-time NFL MVP being treated a lot differently than the other players on the roster.

I can't recall many players getting exceptions to sit out training camp, though many years ago former Vikings coach Bud Grant made a special case for the great defensive tackle Alan Page, who was allowed to miss training camp so he could complete law school.

I believe that Favre had a lot more fun playing football for the Vikings than he has any time recently, either at the end of his Packers career or during the 2008 season with the Jets. His relationship with some of the younger players such as Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice and others was fantastic.

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/86729202.html?elr=KArksUUUycaEacyU

What would Seahawks be getting with Brandon Marshall?

Greg Johns:

What exactly would the Seattle Seahawks be getting if they sign wide receiver Brandon Marshall or work a trade with the Denver Broncos to obtain the enigmatic star?

Clearly they'd be landing a big-time wide receiver, a 6-foot-4, 230-pound athlete in his prime at 26 who has averaged 102 catches for 1,236 yards over the past three seasons.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh calls Marshall the best receiver in the NFL, so it's fair to say he'd have his teammate's respect ... though it's equally fair to wonder if there's enough passes in a game to keep those two happy.

But with Marshall, it's never just been about the football talent. He's been in trouble with the law since his days at Central Florida University when he faced charges of assault on a police officer that were later dropped.

Since then he's had a long history of troubles, as outlined here.

The majority of problems center around a volatile relationship with former girlfriend Rasheedah Watley, which led to several charges of domestic assault.

But Marshall also had an ugly incident with his father in Orlando, received a DUI in Denver, was involved in a New Year's Eve scrap at a Denver nightclub that led to the shooting death of one of his teammates and has since had another arrest following an argument with his new fiancee.

The Seahawks or whoever signs Marshall next will surely say they've done their homework and that he's a good man who has made some mistakes, but is maturing and ready to start fresh in a new environment.

That certainly is possible and we're willing to do our homework as well. There's no shortage of material on Marshall's transgressions.

http://blog.seattlepi.com/football/archives/196911.asp

Peppers: I was willing to stay

Charles Chandler

As excited as Julius Peppers is to be a new member of the Chicago Bears - and a very wealthy one - he says things didn't have to turn out this way.

In an exclusive interview with the Observer Saturday, one day after signing a six-year contract that can earn him up to $91.5 million with the Bears, Peppers insisted he was willing to stay with the Carolina Panthers.

Providing specifics for the first time regarding his contract negotiations with Carolina last summer, he said the two sides were split by a $6 million difference for a four-year deal - or $1.5 million per year.

"My feeling is they could have done that," Peppers said. "If they wanted me to stay, it wouldn't have been that big of a deal."

He also said it wasn't until about the time he played in the Pro Bowl on Feb. 1 that he decided he definitely wanted out since the Panthers hadn't made any overtures to resume contract talks.

He emphatically denied that the team made a late effort to keep him and said the only person in the front office or coaching staff who has contacted him since the season ended is defensive line coach Brian Baker, with whom he's developed a close personal relationship.

"It wasn't me who chose to leave," Peppers said in a 29-minute telephone interview from a Chicago hotel room. "At the end of the day, I made the final decision to leave, but it's not like I was closed-minded. ... I was open to staying.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/03/06/1295305/peppers-i-was-willing-to-stay.html

Ravens have more pressing needs than re-signing Mason

Jamison Hensley

The acquisition of wide receiver Anquan Boldin hasn't eliminated the return of Derrick Mason, but the Ravens no longer consider Mason a priority in free agency, a league source said.

Mason, 36, an unrestricted free agent, has been the Ravens' top wide receiver for the past five seasons.

Before free agency began Friday, it looked like Mason would come back to the Ravens because both sides were agreeable to a two-year contract. But Mason chose to test the free-agent market and ultimately lost his leverage Friday, when the Ravens traded third- and fourth-round draft picks for Boldin and a fifth-round selection.

Mason and Boldin are similar receivers who will make the tough catch underneath but won't stretch defenses down the field. The Ravens would still want to bring back Mason because he would be a solid No. 2 wide receiver and would continue to upgrade a group of Boldin, Donte' Stallworth and Mark Clayton.

"My understanding is that Derrick wants to come back," quarterback Joe Flacco told the NFL Network on Saturday. "It's up to what happens with the guys upstairs. We love Derrick. He's been a huge asset for myself and why we're such a successful football team. You know my feelings on it. We just have to see what happens."

There's no urgency to pursue Mason because he hasn't drawn heavy interest in free agency. The New England Patriots and Miami Dolphins have reportedly contacted him, but no visits have been scheduled.

There's even a possibility that the Ravens could wait until after the draft to re-sign Mason. The Ravens might take a wide receiver in the first two rounds, but they would need to add a veteran target if they fail to draft a young one.

Mason's agent has not returned messages from The Baltimore Sun.

Mason has been one of the top free-agent pickups in team history since joining the Ravens in 2005. He ranks second on the Ravens in career catches and has produced three seasons with 80 or more catches (no other Raven has caught more than 76 passes in a season).

http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/ravens/bal-sp.ravens07mar07,0,4017435.story