Post by TheShadow on Mar 11, 2007 9:19:06 GMT -5
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Wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who left Lions headquarters without a deal last week, plans on hiring California agents Bruce and Ryan Tollner to finish what has been a difficult free-agent process.
Curtis, a former Ram, has made four visits since the start of the free-agency period March 2: to Minnesota, Detroit, the New York Giants and Philadelphia. But he fired agent Tom Condon after the visits to Minnesota and Detroit. Curtis declined to go into specifics on why he replaced Condon.
Curtis has played in 51 games in his four-year career but started only nine. He wants to be a starter.
"I want to be on the field playing the whole game," he said. "I've accepted my role and loved every minute of it in St. Louis. I played with some great wideouts out there.
"I'm definitely excited about the opportunity to be on the field more."
Curtis met Friday with Eagles coach Andy Reid, who is on a leave of absence because of family issues but returned to the team's practice facility for the visit.
"We had a pretty good chat," Curtis said. "He's pretty personable. He's done a great job here. I really liked my visit."
ARIZONA: Free-agent cornerback Roderick Hood agreed to terms on a five-year contract. Hood, 25, had 18 tackles and one sack for Philadelphia last season. He started five of the 10 games he played and missed six contests due to injuries.
CLEVELAND: Bengals defensive tackle Shaun Smith signed a restricted free-agent offer sheet with the Browns. Once the offer sheet is officially executed, Cincinnati will have seven days to match the offer sheet or pass on it.
INDIANAPOLIS: Colts coach Tony Dungy's acceptance of an invitation to speak to a conservative Christian group should not be construed as an endorsement of the group's opposition to same-sex marriage, the head of the Indiana Family Institute said.
Some local and national gay rights groups have questioned Dungy's decision to appear at a fund-raising banquet this month for the institute, which has been a leading supporter of a proposed state constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between one man and one woman.
Institute president Curt Smith said the invitation was based on Dungy's pro-family activities. The institute, affiliated with Focus on the Family, plans to honor Dungy on March 20 with its "Friend of the Family" award.
KANSAS CITY: Donnie Edwards, the free-agent linebacker who spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Chiefs, agreed to a three-year deal with Kansas City after San Diego didn't try to re-sign him. Edwards, 33, was the top tackler in all five of his seasons with the Chargers, finishing 2006 with 141 tackles in the regular season.
N.Y. JETS: Backup offensive lineman Wade Smith re-signed for one year.
OAKLAND: Fullback Justin Griffith signed a free-agent deal. Griffith, 25, spent his first four seasons with Atlanta and was the lead blocker for a Falcons' offense that led the league in rushing in 2006. He ran for 106 yards and one touchdown and caught 23 passes for 168 yards and three scores. Griffith's signing comes one day after the Raiders added running back Dominic Rhodes from the Colts.
PITTSBURGH: Offensive lineman Sean Mahan agreed to a five-year contract. Mahan, formerly of the Buccaneers, will compete with backup Chukky Okobi and right guard Kendall Simmons to replace former Pro Bowl center Jeff Hartings, who retired after last season.
LEAGUE: As the NFL was about to change its drug-testing program, the IRS has hit the league with a ruling that could cost it millions and could affect several sports leagues. Drug Program Agents -- the men who collect urine samples for drug testing -- are employees, not independent contractors, the IRS declared in a Feb. 27 letter obtained by the New York Daily News, meaning the NFL could be liable for tens of millions in employment tax, pension and other benefits that were never paid. The costs of paying collectors as employees could end up adding millions to the drug program costs for other sports leagues, as well.
FREE PRESS NEWS SERVICES
Wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who left Lions headquarters without a deal last week, plans on hiring California agents Bruce and Ryan Tollner to finish what has been a difficult free-agent process.
Curtis, a former Ram, has made four visits since the start of the free-agency period March 2: to Minnesota, Detroit, the New York Giants and Philadelphia. But he fired agent Tom Condon after the visits to Minnesota and Detroit. Curtis declined to go into specifics on why he replaced Condon.
Curtis has played in 51 games in his four-year career but started only nine. He wants to be a starter.
"I want to be on the field playing the whole game," he said. "I've accepted my role and loved every minute of it in St. Louis. I played with some great wideouts out there.
"I'm definitely excited about the opportunity to be on the field more."
Curtis met Friday with Eagles coach Andy Reid, who is on a leave of absence because of family issues but returned to the team's practice facility for the visit.
"We had a pretty good chat," Curtis said. "He's pretty personable. He's done a great job here. I really liked my visit."
ARIZONA: Free-agent cornerback Roderick Hood agreed to terms on a five-year contract. Hood, 25, had 18 tackles and one sack for Philadelphia last season. He started five of the 10 games he played and missed six contests due to injuries.
CLEVELAND: Bengals defensive tackle Shaun Smith signed a restricted free-agent offer sheet with the Browns. Once the offer sheet is officially executed, Cincinnati will have seven days to match the offer sheet or pass on it.
INDIANAPOLIS: Colts coach Tony Dungy's acceptance of an invitation to speak to a conservative Christian group should not be construed as an endorsement of the group's opposition to same-sex marriage, the head of the Indiana Family Institute said.
Some local and national gay rights groups have questioned Dungy's decision to appear at a fund-raising banquet this month for the institute, which has been a leading supporter of a proposed state constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between one man and one woman.
Institute president Curt Smith said the invitation was based on Dungy's pro-family activities. The institute, affiliated with Focus on the Family, plans to honor Dungy on March 20 with its "Friend of the Family" award.
KANSAS CITY: Donnie Edwards, the free-agent linebacker who spent the first six years of his NFL career with the Chiefs, agreed to a three-year deal with Kansas City after San Diego didn't try to re-sign him. Edwards, 33, was the top tackler in all five of his seasons with the Chargers, finishing 2006 with 141 tackles in the regular season.
N.Y. JETS: Backup offensive lineman Wade Smith re-signed for one year.
OAKLAND: Fullback Justin Griffith signed a free-agent deal. Griffith, 25, spent his first four seasons with Atlanta and was the lead blocker for a Falcons' offense that led the league in rushing in 2006. He ran for 106 yards and one touchdown and caught 23 passes for 168 yards and three scores. Griffith's signing comes one day after the Raiders added running back Dominic Rhodes from the Colts.
PITTSBURGH: Offensive lineman Sean Mahan agreed to a five-year contract. Mahan, formerly of the Buccaneers, will compete with backup Chukky Okobi and right guard Kendall Simmons to replace former Pro Bowl center Jeff Hartings, who retired after last season.
LEAGUE: As the NFL was about to change its drug-testing program, the IRS has hit the league with a ruling that could cost it millions and could affect several sports leagues. Drug Program Agents -- the men who collect urine samples for drug testing -- are employees, not independent contractors, the IRS declared in a Feb. 27 letter obtained by the New York Daily News, meaning the NFL could be liable for tens of millions in employment tax, pension and other benefits that were never paid. The costs of paying collectors as employees could end up adding millions to the drug program costs for other sports leagues, as well.