By PFW staff
Feb. 22, 2008

Updated at 5:05 p.m. EST Friday, Feb. 22

Following is a summary of the news involving potential free agents and other contract-related news around the league:

Friday, Feb. 22

 The Steelers created more salary-cap space by releasing three veteran players — LB Clint Kriewaldt, CB-KR Allen Rossum and TE Jerame Tuman. Kriewaldt, a nine-year veteran who was a special-teams standout, was hindered by shoulder and neck injuries in 2007 and ended the year on injured reserve. Tuman, also a nine-year vet, played in six games in '07 before going on I.R. with a back injury. Rossum, a 10-year vet, played one season with Pittsburgh and was their leading kickoff and punt returner. 

 The Dolphins re-signed CB Michael Lehan to a three-year, $4.95 million deal, making him the first of their own free agents to be re-signed by the team. Lehan, a five-year veteran, started a career-high 14 games last season.

 With a $6 million bonus due to WR Donté Stallworth on Sunday and another $2 million due to him March 1, the Patriots surprised no one when they declined to pick up the option on the six-year veteran, making him an unrestricted free agent. Stallworth played one season for New England after signing as a free agent last offseason. He caught 46 passes for 697 yards and three touchdowns while filling the Pats' No. 3 WR role for much of the season. He added eight catches in the postseason.

 The Seahawks continue to take steps toward solidifying their offensive line, signing starting ORT Sean Locklear to a five-year contract extension worth a reported $32 million maximum, with $12 million in guaranteed bonuses. Locklear, 26, was slated to be an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 29. He has started 42-of-59 games in his four-year career. 

 The Jaguars signed two more of their unrestricted free agents, inking backups OG Tutan Reyes and LB Tony Gilbert. Reyes, 30, who played in one game for Jacksonville last season, signed a one-year deal while terms were undisclosed for the deal for Gilbert, who led the team in special-teams tackles in 2006 but missed all of '07 after suffering a torn biceps in the preseason.

Thursday, Feb. 21

 As expected, the Patriots did not place the franchise tag on WR Randy Moss by Thursday's league-mandated deadline for using the franchise marker. However, while Moss is technically due to become an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 29, the Patriots are working hard to hammer out a deal to keep Moss, who broke the NFL single-season record for TD catches (23) last year, in the fold long term. Moss has said that he wants to stay and QB Tom Brady, also coming off a record-setting season, said that he wants Moss to return.

 The Cardinals released starting FS Terrence Holt, OT Oliver Ross and DL Chris Cooper. The moves were made in an attempt to free up salary-cap space prior to tendering several key restricted free agents, including CB Eric Green, DE Antonio Smith and OL Elton Brown.

 The Panthers announced they have released RB DeShaun Foster, ending the 2002 second-round pick's career with Carolina. Foster leaves as the franchise's all-time leading rusher but was a disappointment since he never proved he could be the dependable lead back that coach John Fox and the Panthers desired.

 The Cowboys have decided to apply the franchise tag to FS Ken Hamlin, who had five interceptions and 14 passes defensed in 2007 and was voted to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. Hamlin, 27, played last season on a one-year, $2.5 million deal after playing the first four years of his career in Seattle. If the Cowboys don't work out a contract extension with Hamlin, he will be due a guaranteed $4.396 million in 2008.

 Word out of Cleveland is that the Browns and RB Jamal Lewis have agreed to terms on a three-year deal. Lewis, 28, was set to hit the open market next week as an unrestricted free agent. However, the Browns made re-signing Lewis a priority and continued to speak with him about an extension. In his first season in Cleveland, Lewis rushed for 1,304 yards and nine touchdowns in helping the Browns to a 10-6 record.

 The Seahawks have informed Pro Bowl CB Marcus Trufant that they will be applying the franchise tag on him. The franchise player salary for a cornerback in 2008 is worth $9.465 million, but the two sides are expected to continue discussions about a long-term deal. Trufant, a five-year veteran, had seven interceptions last season.

Most interestingly, by using the franchise tag on Trufant, it means that the Seahawks can't franchise PK Josh Brown — the Seahawks' franchise player in 2007. As a result, Brown, highly thought of by Seattle and other teams around the league, will hit the open market Feb. 29 as an unrestricted free agent.

 The Texans cut loose four veteran players  — LB Shawn Barber, C Mike Flanagan, TE Jeb Putzier and C Drew Hodgdon. Flanagan, 34, is the only player of the four who had a big impact on the team last year as he started 13 games. The moves are expected to create about $8 million in cap space.

Also, Houston is trying to set up a visit with free-agent LB Zach Thomas, a Texas native, sometime next week.

 With OG Alan Faneca likely to depart in free agency, the Steelers moved to keep another free-agent offensive lineman from leaving without compensation as they placed the transition tag on OL Max Starks on Wednesday. Starks, a fourth-year pro who was slated to become an unrestricted free agent, lost his starting job at right tackle to Willie Colon in 2007 but filled in well late in the season at the OLT spot when Marvel Smith was out with back problems.

If another team signs Starks and the Steelers decide not to match the offer, they will receive no compensation. If no other team signs Starks, the Steelers are required to pay him $6.895 million (the average of the 10 highest salaries for offensive linemen in 2007) next season. However, Starks and the Steelers could still agree on a long-term extension.

Wednesday, Feb. 20

 The Raiders placed the exclusive franchise tag on CB Nnamdi Asomugha Wednesday. The five-year veteran is the first player to be given the “exclusive” tag this year, and the first since Colts DE Dwight Freeney was given the designation in February 2007. The exclusive franchise tag means Asomugha can’t even solicit offers from other teams, whereas non-exclusive franchise players can.

 The Colts signed TE Dallas Clark to a six-year contract Wednesday, just one day after they had placed the franchise tag on him. No contract details were immediately available.

 The Packers used the non-exclusive franchise tag on DT Corey Williams and released veteran TE Bubba Franks on Wednesday. Williams, who started nine games in 2007 and recorded seven sacks, will receive a one-year tender of $6.363 million. Franks, an eight-year veteran, was bothered by injuries throughout last season, playing in only eight games and making 18 receptions.

 The Vikings have released veteran S Dwight Smith, who played two seasons with the team. Smith started 13 games last season, intercepting four passes and making 51 tackles.

 As expected, the Titans have placed the non-exclusive franchise tag on DT Albert Haynesworth. The six-year veteran had perhaps his best season as a pro in 2007, recording six sacks and 40 tackles. Had he been allowed to hit the open market, Haynesworth would have been one of the top players available. Haynesworth would earn $7.25 million under the franchise tag, a 20 percent raise from his 2007 salary, and that is higher than the 2008 franchise tender for defensive tackles. The Titans can continue to negotiate a long-term contract with Haynesworth until July 15.

 The Redskins signed potential UFA Ethan Albright, their veteran long-snapper, to a one-year deal. Albright long-snapped for the NFC in the Pro Bowl on Feb. 10.

Tuesday, Feb. 19

 The Colts failed to negotiate a long-term contract extension with free-agent TE Dallas Clark, so they decided to place the franchise tag on Clark on Tuesday. The one-year franchise tender for a tight end is $4.522 million. If another team makes an attempt to sign Clark, it would have to give up two first-round draft picks.

Also Tuesday, Indy signed starting OG Ryan Lilja to a five-year contract worth approximately $20 million before he became an unrestricted free agent.

 The Panthers placed the franchise tag on starting ORT Jordan Gross, likely keeping him in Carolina for at least another year. Gross has started 80 games in his five NFL seasons with the Panthers, at both the OLT and ORT spots, although he is most comfortable on the right side. Carolina would like to keep Gross, the eighth overall pick in the 2003 draft, for the long term as an anchor for their revamped offensive line.

 The Jets signed free-agent S Artrell Hawkins, a player with whom Jets head coach Eric Mangini is familiar from their time together in New England. Hawkins, 31, last played in 2006 with the Patriots. He is best-suited to a backup role at this stage of his career.

 LB Derek Smith was released by the 49ers on Tuesday. He is now eligible to sign with any team in the league. The 11-year NFL veteran originally signed with San Francisco as an unrestricted free agent in 2000 after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Redskins. Smith, who was due to earn $3.28 million in base salary in 2008, was made expendable by the emergence of 2007 rookie sensation Patrick Willis, who became the 49ers’ top tackler in his debut pro season.

“Derek has been an important member of the 49ers, and you don’t make these kinds of decisions without battling the emotion that is natural when you are dealing with a player that has done so much for your organization,” said 49ers head coach Mike Nolan. “We made the decision because we have quality linebackers who we think are the future of the 49ers. Derek was a model professional during his seven seasons with the 49ers, and he influenced a lot of the younger players with his work ethic.”

 As expected, the Ravens applied the franchise tag to OLB-DE Terrell Suggs on Tuesday. One of the top pass rushers in free agency, the 25-year-old Suggs recorded five sacks last season and has 45 in five NFL seasons. According to reports, there is a point of contention between the Ravens and Suggs about the position at which he will be tendered. The Ravens tendered Suggs as a linebacker, which would guarantee Suggs a salary of $8.065 million for 2008 were he to sign the one-year contract. However, Suggs believes he should be tendered as a defensive end — a position he routinely played in Baltimore's defense. If he played more than 50 percent of the snaps at end, he may be tendered at that position, which would earn him a one-year, $8.879 million contract for ’08.

 The Steelers signed DE Travis Kirschke to a two-year contract before he could become an unrestricted free agent, it was announced by the team on Tuesday. Reports value the deal as being worth $2.28 million, with a signing bonus of $300,000. Kirschke, a valued backup, started four games for the injured Aaron Smith last season.