WR Simmons will try his chance with the Saints

According to latest reports, free agent wide receiver Jamarko Simmons has been offered a chance to try if he could put on the New Orleans Saints jersey. The Saints are scheduled to hold rookie minicamp next week, and Simmons is allowed to take part in with newly drafted young players.

Formerly a star wide receiver with the Western Michigan University, Simmons unfortunately did not have a good start with his professional football career. With no team picking him after last year’s NFL draft, he became an undrafted free agent and signed with the Green Bay Packers as a priority free agent. However, he injured his back last summer and even did not get a chance to show what he can do for the team before the Packers eventually released him in August. Afterwards, he had a surgery on the back and seemed to have a good recovery.

Actually, the Saints did not offer any promise except for the tryout in rookie minicamp, but the tryout itself means quite a lot to Simmons as it is his first one. Definitely he will try his best of impress Saints’ coaches as much as he can during the minicamp so that he could have a chance to play for the Super Bowl XLIV champions.

Free agent WR Marshall may join Seahawks

According to the Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, the team’s general manager John Schneider has been negotiating with the Denver Broncos restricted free agent wide receiver Brandon Marshall about a possible deal.

"There has been some talk," Carroll said today at the NFL owners meetings, per the Denver Post. "John has handled that so far. But it’s very preliminary."

Negotiating a contract is the first step in creating some action for Marshall, who has already visited the Seahawks. Since a negotiation is still going on, it’s likely that a trade will be worked out between the Seahawks and the Broncos. Putting on the Seahawks jerseys may give Marshall a new chance to prove his value as a star running back.

Former Bucs punter Bidwell joined Redskins

With hope to have a final solution to the team’s instability at punter spot, the Washington Redskins signed 34-year old free agent Josh Bidwell on Tuesday, making him the only punter on the team’s current roster and the seventh punter the team has used over the past two years.

Putting on the Green Bay Packers jersey in 1999 as a fourth-round pick, Bidwell spent four seasons in Green Bay from 1999 to 2003 but missed entire of his first season because of testicular cancer. Joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2004 and spending all the last six years there, he again missed a whole season last season after having surgery on his right hip. His best season was in 2005 when he was selected to the Pro Bowl.

With a career average of 42.8 yards, Bidwell is expected to end the Redskins’ changes in punters. In last season only, the Redskins used four different punters as the first one: Hunter Smith missed three games because of leg injuries. Sam Paulescu, Glenn Pakulak and kicker Shaun Suisham each had a chance to fill in but none of them offered satisfying performance.

Seahawks signed offer sheet with Chargers RFA QB Whitehurst

According the NFL reports, the San Diego Chargers restricted free agent quarterback Charlie Whitehurst is likely to put on the Seattle Seahawks jersey with a two-year $10 million contract. Per the report, the Chargers may get draft picks, including a 2011 third-round selection through the trade with the Seahawks.


Whitehurst was the target of both the Seahawks and the Arizona Cardinals, but the latter agreed to terms with former Cleveland Browns starting quarterback Derek Anderson on Wednesday, thus he signed the offer sheet with the Seahawks on the same day, making the trade near to be finalized.

For some reason, the four-year pro has just appeared in only two NFL regular-season games without throwing any pass. If the trade is going on well as it has been expected, Whitehurst is going to be a backup for Matt Hasselbeck after the Seahawks’ former No. 2 quarterback Seneca Wallace was traded to the Browns last week.

Safety Clark visited Dolphins to look for new chance

Still on the open free agent market with freedom to choose a new team, safety Ryan Clark made his first visit since becoming a free agent on Sunday and the destination was the Miami Dolphins, who released safety Gibril Wilson on Friday after one disappointing season to both sides.


Clark has spent the past four seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers, helping them win the Super Bowl in 2009. Before putting on the Steelers jersey, he played two seasons with the Washington Redskins and the previous two with the New York Giants. During his eight-season career, the veteran has had totally 75 starts and eight interceptions. He made three interceptions for the Steelers last year, and one of it was made to seal a win over the Dolphins.

Before Clark’s visit, the Dolphins have already signed linebacker Karlos Dansby from the open market to bolster their defense. But I guess if affordable, they would not mind also having Clark, who is also the pursuit of seven other teams, on their defense.

Titans DE Bosch is ready to hit free agency

According to reports by the Tennessean, eight-year veteran defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch is getting prepared to join the free agent market on Friday with heavy demand, and there have been a few teams including the Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles waiting.


Per the reports, the Pro Bowl defensive lineman could only wear back the Titans jersey for the 2010 season for one reason: none of the other teams’ offer meets his demands. The three-time Pro Bowl selection is determined to enjoy all the freedom as an unrestricted free agent.

There is little hope that the Titans could retain Vanden Bosch, who is a gritty technician playing with a relentless motor and is valued almost equal to Julius Peppers and Aaron Kampman. It would be not hard for him to find a new NFL team to play for in 2010 season.

Cardinals tender second round pick to TE Patrick

Although tight end Ben Patrick is not a important part in the Arizona Cardinals’ passing game, the team just does not want to lost too much if they have to give up the three-year veteran. Thus the Cardinals are planning to send the second round qualifying tender to him to before Thursday’s deadline.

Patrick played in nine games last season, making seven starts, and caught 12 passes for 146 yards and two touchdowns. He’s considered a developing blocker and will give the Cardinals some continuity on offense as the team works to revamp the defense.


Putting on the Cardinals jersey as a seventh-round draft pick in 2007, Patrick is originally worth a higher-level tender. If not making proper offer in time, the Cardinals could have faced challenges from other teams looking to sign him away as a restricted free agent.

Panthers will make no effort to retain DE Peppers

As the Pro Bowl defensive end himself has expected, the Carolina Panthers will make no effort to retain Julius Peppers, who is to be a free agent next month. It has been reported that a confirming statement will be made on Tuesday.

As it has already been expected, the Panthers will not designate Peppers as its franchise player for a second consecutive season, letting the Thursday deadline to designate franchise and transition players pass by. Panthers’ general manager is expected to speak with reporters on Tuesday about the franchise’s decision on Peppers.


It will be anyway good news to Peppers, who has been asking for leave since last offseason. As the Panthers allow him to be free, he could feel free now to choose which team to join for next season. A popular speculation is that he will put on the New England Patriots jersey as the Patriots tried to trade for him last season and begin the pursue again this offseason.

Bengals may retain two unrestricted free agents

As both safety Roy Williams and defensive tackle Tank Johnson is turning to be unrestricted free agents, the Cincinnati Bengals begin to take action so that both could continue wearing the Bengals jerseys for 2010 season. Talks about new contract have been going on between the team and agents.

According to information released on the Bengals’ official Web site, Williams’ agent has been discussing a new contract with team officials. And the team has also offered a contract to Johnson, who is currently represented by Drew Rosenhaus. Imminent deals are not likely but it is likely that both will eventually stay in Cincinnati.

Besides Williams and Johnson, the Bengals are also in need to prepare for contract negotiations with other in-house free agents including kicker Shayne Graham and offensive guard Bobbie Williams.