Len Pasquarelli reports for ESPN.com San Francisco 49ers WR Tai Streets is actually a restriced free agent, not unrestricted. The confusion came because Streets signed a five-year contract in 1999, one in which the final two years would void, if he achieved certain performance levels. But he did not play enough in 1999, because of injuries, to accrue a full season toward his pension. He played 2000-2002 and reached the benchmarks to void the 2003 and 2004 seasons on his deal, but the 49ers successfully argued, at least to this point, that Streets has accrued just three seasons toward his pension, not the four required to become an unrestricted free agent. He is appealing the ruling.
Updating an ongoing story, Len Pasquarelli reports for ESPN.com there is still a very strong possibility the Atlanta Falcons will pursue Buffalo Bills franchise free agent WR Peerless Price (Bills).
Updating an ongoing story, Len Pasquarelli reports for ESPN.com league sources say the top guy on the Cleveland Browns QB depth chart will be Tim Couch, not Kelly Holcomb.
As an update to an ongoing story, Len Pasquarelli reports for ESPN.com Washington Redskins RB Stephen Davis is expected to draw significant interest in the free agent market, once he is released, as expected. Teams interested in Davis include Carolina, New England, Dallas, Houston, Cleveland, and Tampa Bay. He needs a new agent and Davis and his financial advisor have been talking with possible replacements for the decertified Steve Weinberg. Possible replacements are Jimmy Sexton, Pat Dye Jr., Marvin Demoff and David Canter, with Tony Agnone trying to make an 11th-hour pitch as well.
Pete Dougherty of PackersNews.com reports the Green Bay Packers may now be in the mix for acquiring WR/KR Jermaine Lewis. His agent, Ken Landphere, says the team hasn’t yet contacted him, but he expects them to do so after the combine.
...dann wird auch duckpack ihn kennen... :wink:
Ernie Conwell - TE, St. Louis Rams Feb. 24, 10:06 a.m.
The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Conwell had minor knee surgery recently. The Rams expect him to be ready to return for the team's second minicamp.
Fantasy Spin: Don't expect this surgery to affect Conwell's position in the draft: the late rounds, if he's taken at all.
Chris Chandler - QB, Chicago Bears Feb. 23, 7:30 p.m.
Chandler's durability became an increasing liability last season and he's too risky to tie up $1.1 million of salary. The Bears planned on a Super Bowl challenge last year, and Chandler made sense in that context. Not now. (John Mullin/TSN)
Fantasy Spin: He's gone from the Bears. We wouldn't be surprised if he ended up as some team's backup or No. 3 quarterback, but he's not worth drafting.
James Allen - RB, Houston Texans Feb. 23, 7:27 p.m.
All indications are Allen won’t be back for a second year with the Texans. Allen started the first five games of the season and finished the season as the third-down back. While he’s not a front-line back, Allen is a steady performer who was a good complement to rookie Jonathan Wells, who is the starter heading into the offseason. (Carlton Thompson/TSN)
Fantasy Spin: It's quite unlikely Allen will end up in a meaningful fantasy role. His heyday might be over.
John Hall - K, New York Jets Feb. 23, 7:20 p.m.
Hall figures to be heading out of New York. The Jets would like to re-sign him, but they don’t see him as a $1 million-a-year kicker. He could be headed to Dallas, where he would be reunited with coach Bill Parcells. (Rich Cimini/TSN)
Kevin Dyson - WR, Tennessee Titans Feb. 23, 6:47 p.m.
One player the Titans will almost certainly lose is Dyson. He missed the second half of the 2002 season after having surgery to repair his hamstring and the Titans' offense suffered downfield when he was out. At first the Titans were hoping Dyson wouldn't draw much outside interest, so they could simply bring him back with a low-impact deal. But it is now clear Dyson will have some options. (Jeff Legwold/TSN)
Fantasy Spin: Dyson is best served as his team's No. 2 or 3 receiver. If he gains such a role, he is then most likely to fit in as our No. 3 or 4 receiver.