New twist in labor negotiations affects Collins

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New twist in labor negotiations affects Collins

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Raiders had all but parted ways with Kerry Collins on Sunday night until the NFL bought them some time to reconsider the quarterback's future with the club.

The league and union surprisingly agreed to postpone free agency until Thursday to give owners a chance to consider the union's latest proposal during a meeting Tuesday in Dallas. Talks broke off earlier in the day, leaving veterans such as Collins in danger of becoming salary-cap casualties before midnight Monday, when free agency was supposed to begin.
Without Collins, the Raiders would save $9.2 million against the salary cap once bonuses are factored into the figures.

The Raiders thought they would be forced to let Collins go after the NFL and its union broke off talks earlier in the day, failing to agree upon an elevated cap number that would have allowed teams to keep certain high-priced veterans.

The team had been waiting for word on negotiations before making a final decision on Collins' future with the organization.

The 33-year-old Collins had a 7-21 record in two years as Oakland's starter and said at the end of the season he was willing to restructure his deal but would not play for "peanuts."

New coach Art Shell said when he was hired last month that he believed Collins could be a "great" quarterback for the Raiders, but the team still had to figure out what it would do with him.

The Raiders already made moves this offseason to reduce their payroll for next season. They released defensive lineman Ted Washington, offensive lineman Ron Stone and defensive back Denard Walker last week. They also declined a $10 million option for 2006 for safety Derrick Gibson. Those moves created more than $18 million in additional cap space for 2006.

Oakland also declined to use a franchise tag on Charles Woodson, who made $10.537 million last season.

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Redskins, Arrington agree to part ways

Redskins, Arrington agree to part ways


WASHINGTON (AP) - The Washington Redskins parted ways Sunday night with three-time Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington, who agreed to a contract buyout so that he could become a free agent, The Associated Press has learned.

Arrington agreed to give up more than $4 million in his contract rather than restructure it in a way that would allow him to remain with the Redskins, an official with knowledge of the transaction told the AP on condition of anonymity.
Over the last few days, the Redskins have asked several veterans to restructure their contracts so that the team could get under the salary cap. The team will need to slash some $20 million of cap money if there is no new collective bargaining agreement before the start of free agency.

The start of free agency has been postponed twice while the NFL and the players' union negotiate a possible new CBA. It is now scheduled to start Thursday at 12:01 a.m.

The official told the AP that Arrington was the only Redskins player who refused to rework his deal. Arrington was disgruntled over playing time last season and no longer wished to play for the team.

Yet the Redskins couldn't cut Arrington outright because it would have cost the team under the league's complex salary cap rules. He was due to count some $12 million against the cap in 2006, including a $6.5 million roster bonus.

So Arrington essentially agreed to give money back - and forfeit the upcoming roster bonus - so that the Redskins could get some needed cap relief while allowing him to find another team through free agency.

In a brief statement, the Redskins confirmed Arrington was to become a free agent but gave no details other than that his departure will provide "much-needed salary cap relief." The team coach Joe Gibbs would address the matter at a news conference Monday.

Arrington's departure marks a sour end in Washington for the franchise's most popular player of recent years. Arrington was the No. 2 overall draft pick in 2000 and played in three straight Pro Bowls from 2001-03. He signed an eight-year $68 million contract extension near the end of the 2003 season. He moved his family to the area and vowed to remain with the Redskins throughout his career.

But Arrington hurt his knee early in the 2004 season and played in only four games. In April 2005, after his second knee surgery, he criticized team officials for the way his injury was handled. He was also in a dispute with owner Dan Snyder over a $6.5 million bonus he claims was missing from the final version of his contract.


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Alexander, Seahawks agree on eight-year deal

Alexander, Seahawks agree on eight-year deal

The No. 1 free agent on the open market is now off the market.

FOXSports.com has learned that the Seattle Seahawks have agreed to terms with Pro-Bowl running back Shaun Alexander on a whopping eight-year, $62 million deal that includes a total of more than $15 million in the first year in bonuses (signing and roster) and salary.

NFL MVP Shaun Alexander will return to Seattle and help the Seahawks try to get back to the Super Bowl. (Harry How / Getty Images)

The Alexander deal is not contingent upon a new CBA getting done as the Seahawks have the necessary cap space to make such a move. However, the contract still has to get approved by the NFL front office and Alexander needs to sign the contract.

The league's MVP was wise to take such a deal as the running back market in free agency will likely be much lower than several big-named veterans may think. In addition, Alexander didn't want to leave the Seahawks.

Alexander broke the NFL's single-season touchdown mark this past season, helping push the Seahawks to the NFC title. Alexander rushed for 1,880 yards, 27 rushing touchdowns, and a also a receiving touchdown.

The resilient 28-year old, who has played with Seattle in all six of his NFL seasons, has started all but one regular-season game over the past four seasons. He shook off a concussion suffered in a first-round playoff game against the Redskins in January and gained 236 yards with two scores in the postseason.

Now Seattle must turn their attention to Pro-Bowl guard Steve Hutchinson.

It's unclear how Alexander's deal is structured with regards to how much cap space this deal takes up in the first year of the new contract. Seattle had a decent amount of salary cap room heading into this free agent period.

Now that Alexander is off the market Edgerrin James, Chester Taylor and Jamal Lewis as well as DeShaun Foster (transition tag) will try to follow up in a very slim market.


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Rams release veteran WR Bruce

Rams release veteran WR Bruce

ST. LOUIS (AP) - St. Louis Rams wide receiver Isaac Bruce is a free agent for the first time in his career after the team released him following failed contract negotiations.

The team cut their longest-tenured player Sunday night after talks broke down on a restructured deal. But they remained hopeful Tuesday of getting an agreement that would bring Bruce back for a 13th season.
The 33-year-old Bruce had a salary cap figure of $10 million for next season. He had been due to receive a $1.5 million roster bonus Monday, the first day of the free agency period, as part of an $8.1 million salary.

That was the final year of a seven-year, $42 million contract he signed in 2000.

The Rams had reportedly offered a three-year deal worth about $9 million, including a $5 million contract in the first season.

"Isaac has been an integral and valuable member of our organization for a long time, both on and off the field," said Jay Zygmunt, the team's president of football operations. "This has been a difficult process.

"However, we remain optimistic that a contract extension can be completed in the near future."

Bruce has been with the team since 1994, the year before they moved to the Midwest, and has been to four Pro Bowls.

Bruce is the Rams' career leader in receptions (813), receiving yards (12,278) and receiving touchdowns (77). He also caught the game-winning touchdown pass in the Rams' lone Super Bowl victory after the 2000 season.

His receiving yardage is 12th best in NFL history.

Last season, Bruce missed five games with turf toe and had 36 receptions for 525 yards. In 2004, his last full season, he had 89 catches for 1,292 yards with six touchdowns.


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Rams sign Glover to three-year contract

Rams sign Glover to three-year contract

ST. LOUIS (AP) - The St. Louis Rams signed defensive tackle La'Roi Glover on Monday, inking the six-time Pro Bowl selection who was released by Dallas last week to a three-year deal.

The 31-year-old Glover made the Pro Bowl last season and finished with 26 tackles and three sacks. He has 71 1/2 career sacks, second all-time among defensive tackles behind Warren Sapp's 84 1/2.
Glover, who had 21 1/2 sacks in four seasons with the Cowboys, was released on Thursday.

The Rams need help on the interior line with Ryan Pickett and Damione Lewis both unrestricted free agents.