Friday, March 03, 2006

Teams around the NFL that figured they needed to be under the 2006 salary cap by late yesterday got a reprieve when the league extended that deadline to 6 PM ET Sunday as part of the overall extension to allow the league and players association to find a last-ditch agreement on a new collective bargaining agreement. That hasn’t stopped a lot of teams from making moves to get their salary caps in order. Tennessee, for example, has released long-time LT Brad Hopkins. The Titans also decided to pay a $1 million fee that will keep QB Steve McNair with the team this season, but which will also allow him to become a free agent after 2006. That could set up an interesting dilemma for the Titans who select 3rd overall at the 2006 draft. Most experts figure that the Titans are a virtual lock to take a QB – most likely Vince Young of Texas – at that spot, however, Virginia OT D’Brickashaw Ferguson might also make an inviting option as a potential replacement for Hopkins. Certainly the questions surrounding Young and his reported poor score on an intelligence test over the weekend could add some spice to the Titans’ deliberations. The Titans may also think twice about Young in that he may not necessarily be an ideal fit for the controlled passing scheme that new offensive co-ordinator Norm Chow brings with him from Southern California. Of course, the Titans could also look at Vanderbilt QB Jay Cutler from home-town Vanderbilt if Young doesn’t impress at his March 22nd pro day at Texas. Meanwhile, other moves in the past day or so saw Miami and Kansas City each replace 4 players. The Dolphins cut star CB Sam Madison, SS Terbucky Jones, OT Damion McIntosh and CB Reggie Howard, while the Chiefs cut LBs Shawn Barber and Gary Stills, along with CBs Eric Warfield and Dexter McLeon. Elsewhere Green Bay released LB Na’il Diggs; Carolina released LB Brandon Short; Dallas cut DT La’roi Glover; Seattle released LB Jamie Sharper and CB Andre Dyson, and Oakland cut DT Ted Washington, OG Ron Stone and CB Dennard Walker.

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