Hot Breaking NFL Rumors

Bears to Come With Briggs Counteroffer April 2 Washington Post: "The Washington Redskins' proposed trade for Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs will reach a secondary stage today when the Bears are expected to counter the Redskins' offer of the team's sixth overall pick in next month's draft in return for Chicago's 31st pick and Briggs."

Dillon, Titans set to talk April 2 Nashville Tennessean: "Earlier this offseason, veteran running back Corey Dillon said he was planning to retire from the NFL. His agent said on Sunday, however, the 'right situation' could change his mind, and on Wednesday Dillon is scheduled to meet with the Titans to see if there might be a match."

Cards likely to stick with No. 5 pick April 2 Arizona Republic: "As usual, the Cardinals hold special intrigue, because, barring a trade, they will enter the draft with a top-10 pick (No. 5) for the 10th time in the past 11 years. So until the draft is held April 28-29, we'll hear endless commentary about the Cardinals trading up, trading down and staying put."

Carr a worthy investment? April 1 Tacoma News Tribune: "For the Seattle Seahawks, the focus this week could be an intriguing prospect who was made rich by another club without commensurate productivity. Former No. 1 overall draft pick (2002) David Carr was set free by the Houston Texans after the team gave the starting quarterback job to Matt Schaub, a career backup with Atlanta."

Falcons could add Bledsoe April 1 Trenton Times: " Atlanta -- After trading Matt Schaub to Houston, the Falcons need a legitimate No. 2 behind Michael Vick. There are rumors that Drew Bledsoe could land here. Chris Redmond re-joins his old Louisville head coach as No. 3."

Thomas Trade? April 1 Denver Post: "There has been speculation Denver will trade for Miami middle linebacker Zach Thomas. While anything is possible, especially with the ultra-aggressive Broncos, don't expect it."

Raiders high on JaMarcus April 1 New York Daily News: "In the last three years, the Raiders have passed up QBs Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Leinart and Jay Cutler to take OT Robert Gallery and S Michael Huff. That's why they will take LSU QB JaMarcus Russell with the No. 1 pick this time around... Millen will take Wisconsin OT Joe Thomas or trade down. The Bucs, at No. 4, are the team most likely to try to move up to get Johnson. There's a small chance Millen could take Notre Dame QB Brady Quinn."

Cleveland now in bidding for Chiefs' Green
March 30
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: " A new team has reportedly surfaced in the bidding for Kansas City quarterback Trent Green, whose agent has previously expressed his strong desire to play for the Dolphins. Chiefs President/General Manager Carl Peterson told The Kansas City Star on Wednesday that he was approached by Cleveland General Manager Phil Savage about potentially acquiring Green, who is on the trading block."

Who fits best for Panthers QB?
March 30
Charlotte Observer (registration required): "David Carr or Joey Harrington? The Panthers are talking with representatives of both quarterbacks as they attempt to find a backup to starter Jake Delhomme for next season."

Is Moss On Board the Kiffin Express?
March 30
Contra Costa Times (scroll down) (registration required): "Moss' name has surfaced in countless trade rumors. The Raiders haven't confirmed or denied whether they have dangled Moss as trade bait. Kiffin's phone call to Moss didn't shed any light on whether Moss has jumped aboard the Kiffin Express, as has fellow wide receiver Jerry Porter."

Teams show plenty of interest in Bolts' Turner
March 30
North County Times: "Smith declined to discuss specifics in terms of interested teams or what offers he has fielded. But it's known that the Green Bay Packers are highly interested in Turner. The Buffalo Bills also have interest."

Harbaugh says Carroll is gone after 2007
March 30
Los Angeles Times (registration required): "USC does not play Stanford until October, but new Cardinal Coach Jim Harbaugh has already stoked flames with Pete Carroll, albeit inadvertently. Earlier this week, Dennis Dodd of CBS SportsLine.com quoted Harbaugh as saying Carroll would be gone after next season."

Redskins meeting Russell, others
March 30
Washington Times: "Vinny Cerrato, Washington Redskins vice president of football operations, confirmed an ESPN.com report yesterday that LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell will meet with the team's coaches and front office April 10... An NFL source said the Bears coaches and front office are scheduled to meet this weekend to decide whether to trade Briggs and the No. 31 pick overall to the Redskins for the sixth pick. "

Hot Breaking NFL News

Briggs plans 10-Game holdout to combat franchise tag March 27 Chicago Sun-Times: "Drew Rosenhaus, Briggs' agent, said Monday at the NFL owners meetings that his client will line up for the Bears next season -- but only on a limited basis if the team refuses to remove the franchise tag it put on the linebacker. Rosenhaus said Briggs would sit out the first 10 games, then return for the final six to accrue a played season under league rules... A report on NFL.com on Monday evening said the Bears were talking to the Washington Redskins about a deal in which they would move up from No. 31 to No. 6 in the first round."

Dolphins GM sees 'Lot of ways' to improve March 27 South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "One of those areas is quarterback, where the Dolphins have interest in both Kansas City's Trent Green and David Carr, who was released last week by Houston. The Kansas City Star reported that the Chiefs want a second-round draft choice in exchange for Green."

Lions could battle Dolphins for Green March 27 Florida Today: "If the Miami Dolphins really want Kansas City quarterback Trent Green, they may have to outbid the Detroit Lions for him."

Browns haven't called draft play yet March 27 Akron Beacon Journal: "The Browns won't draft a defensive player third. • They might trade down, but they will not trade up to the first or second spot. • If another quarterback is brought in, it will be through the draft and not via trade or free agency. So rule out Trent Green, forget David Carr and don't think that the Browns gave a lot of thought to acquiring Matt Schaub, who recently was traded from the Atlanta Falcons to the Houston Texans."

Vegas police put Pacman in limbo March 27 Nashville Tennessean: "Pacman Jones' future with the Titans was thrown into further doubt Monday when Las Vegas police asked the district attorney to file three charges against him in connection with a Feb. 19 strip club free-for-all that led to a triple shooting."

Skins still dealing with unfinished business before upcoming draft March 27 Washington Examiner: "Dre Bly: If the Redskins indeed want to trade for him, it likely wouldn’t happen until just before the draft, or on draft day itself. Even a week or two after his trade to Denver, a Lions source said Bly was still talking with friends about a possible trade."

Gruden seeks to woo Plummer March 27 St. Petersburg Times: "The Bucs plan to keep pressuring quarterback Jake Plummer into changing his mind about retirement and hopefully convince him to report to training camp."

Falcons line up for draft windfall March 27 Atlanta Journal-Constitution columnist Terence Moore (registration required): "In other words, the Falcons can’t afford to have general manager Rich McKay do anything less than great with this year’s draft picks. That’s great as in Calvin Johnson or a lineman, and that lineman should be somebody such as Jamaal Anderson."

HOT NFL Rumors

Green wants deal with Dolphins
March 24
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: "The agent for Trent Green said Friday that the quarterback wants to play for the Dolphins in 2007 and the only roadblock is an impasse in trade talks with the Kansas City Chiefs... A source said the Dolphins have interest in David Carr, who was released Friday by Houston shortly after Matt Schaub was acquired in a trade with Atlanta... Should Green or Carr be added, the Dolphins could part ways with quarterback Daunte Culpepper."

Carr's release marks end of Texans' first era
March 24
Houston Chronicle: "Carr's most likely destination could be Minnesota, even though Vikings coach Brad Childress said on the team's flagship radio station Thursday the Vikings wouldn't give a draft choice for him because he never has liked the quarterback's mechanics. Miami was reported to be interested in Carr, but the Dolphins are close to acquiring Trent Green from Kansas City. Oakland and Cleveland also have been mentioned as possibilities now that Carr is free to negotiate with any team."

Wilson deal appears dead
March 24
Denver Post: "A deal with the New York Giants appeared imminent Friday when Wilson visited the team's facility for a physical - ordinarily the final phase of any trade. However, the examination on the middle linebacker raised concerns to the point that any deal involving Wilson is currently in limbo."

Williams may be on Packers' wish list
March 24
PackersNews.com (scroll down): "Meanwhile, it was too soon to tell whether the Packers are interested in running back Domanick Williams (formerly Domanick Davis), who was released Friday along with quarterback David Carr by the Houston Texans. "

Gore update
March 24
Sacramento Bee (scroll down) (registration required): "McCloughan said this week that contract negotiations with running back Frank Gore were 'going good.' Despite reports that the two sides are far apart, McCloughan said he is optimistic Gore would have a long-term deal in place by the start of the season."

Vikings still have shot at drafting Quinn
March 24
St. Paul Pioneer Press (registration required): "The Vikings won't be trading for Houston Texans quarterback David Carr, but there's still a chance they could draft Notre Dame's Brady Quinn if he's available with the seventh overall selection."

Texans may deal pick
March 24
Houston Chronicle (scroll down): "The Texans have the 10th pick in the first round. I see Smith trading down for an additional pick or two. I see the Texans using their first-round pick on a receiver. There's a big group of talented wideouts available, but it's a huge drop-off from the best of the best: Calvin Johnson."

Bye bye Carr? Falcons agree to deal backup QB Schaub to Houston

(courtesy ESPN & Len Pasquarelli)

ATLANTA -- In a move that figures to have significant ramifications for the incumbent starters from both teams, the Atlanta Falcons on Wednesday agreed in principle to trade three-year veteran quarterback Matt Schaub to the Houston Texans.
When the trade is completed, Atlanta and Houston will flip-flop first-round picks in April's draft, and Atlanta will receive Houston's second-round picks in 2007 and 2008. The deal likely will be completed later Wednesday afternoon. Houston has the No. 8 pick in the first round of the draft, while Atlanta is slotted 10th.
Sources told ESPN.com that the trade is contingent upon the Texans reaching agreement with Schaub on a contract, and negotiations have already begun.
In acquiring Schaub, the Texans have ostensibly conceded that five-year veteran David Carr, the top overall player chosen in the 2002 draft and a quarterback in whom Houston has invested considerable time and money, is no longer their quarterback of the future. At the same time, the departure of Schaub indicates that new Falcons coach Bobby Petrino is sold on Michael Vick, who is said to have made a strong impression on the rookie sideline boss in their first few months working together.
Schaub, 25, has been the subject of trade rumors for each of the past two springs. ESPN.com reported last Friday in its "Tip Sheet" column that Falcons officials seemed prepared to begin listening to trade offers for him and had begun discussing possible replacements.
One of the strong candidates to replace Schaub as the backup to Vick, ESPN.com has learned, is Anthony Wright, who played with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006.
Despite starting only two games in three seasons and winning neither of them, Schaub is highly regarded around the NFL. The former Virginia standout, a third-round pick by Atlanta in 2004, has completed 84 of 161 passes for 1,033 yards, with six touchdown passes and six interceptions.
Schaub was a restricted free agent this spring and the Falcons made him the highest qualifying offer possible, at $2.3 million. That qualifying offer meant that, had another team signed Schaub to an offer sheet, and Atlanta not matched it, the Falcons would have received first- and third-round draft choices as compensation.