NFL NEWS AND NOTES

Saints RB Reggie Bush left the NBA All-Star Celebrity game in Las Vegas on Friday after spraining his right ankle. Bush remained on the ground for several minutes until limping off the court under his own power. He went to the bench and was in obvious pain holding his right ankle. Minutes later he got up and walked to the locker room. He still had a noticeable limp.....

According to the Boston Globe, Patriots RB Corey Dillon is scheduled to have a $4.4 million salary cap hit, which is a bit high for a player who was used more situationally by the end of the season. So his presence on the roster isn't a certainty. The team has rookie RB Laurence Maroney and third-down back Kevin Faulk under contract for 2007, with Heath Evans and Patrick Pass scheduled for unrestricted free agency.....

The Tennessean reports that one of the first things new Titans GM Mike Reinfeldt wants to do is sign RB Travis Henry to a longer contract. He is not scheduled to be a free agent this offseason but has proven to be a key part of the Titans offense, and they want to keep him happy. "They want to re-do his deal and they want Travis back," Henry's agent said. "We talked about philosophies and Travis' interest in staying there and length of deals and other types of deals for players that have been recent free agents." The Titans are $36 million under the salary cap, so they have the room to give Henry a bigger deal.....

In an interview with the New York Post, retired NFL RB Tiki Barber spoke favorably of former teammate Brandon Jacobs, who is expected to compete for the starting RB job in New York in 2007. "Brandon is a powerful, determined runner," Barber said. "What I will continue to work with him on is controlling and harnessing his emotions, because sometimes they get the best of him. He also needs to learn how to be a complete player. He's also got to run a little bit lower, because they're going to come at his knees since he's 6-foot-4. I think he can be a No. 1 back next year, but he has to win the job.....

While Jerry Jones expects Terrell Owens to still be with the Dallas Cowboys next season, the team owner stopped short of guaranteeing that. Jones said he was enthusiastic about Owens' phone call to Wade Phillips, the new coach who made a point last week during his introductory news conference to refer to the receiver by name. Owens is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money. "He's part of our team, that's what I'm saying," Jones said. "I don't want the play on the words to look one way or another. We are evaluating everybody, but still, my plans are for him to be back.....

The Denver Post reports that the Broncos activated a clause in their contract with WR Javon Walker that keeps the star wideout with the team for the next five seasons. Walker signed a six-year deal with the club last season when the team traded for him, but they had the option of voiding the deal if they didn't want to keep him past the '06 season. After Walker's 69-catch, 1,084-yard, eight-TD season, it was a no-brainer for them to keep Walker.....

Detroit has granted two more veteran players permission to seek trades for themselves. DT Marcus Bell and DE James Hall are now free to see if they can find new teams. They join CB Dre Bly in looking for a new football home. Bly, who doesn’t fit the Tampa Two defense, a cover 2 system, the Lions was reportedly told earlier this week that he should look for another team willing to work out a trade, otherwise he would be released.....

Cincinnati has designated DE Justin Smith as its franchise player. Smith was the 4th player taken overall at the 2001 draft. By using the franchise tag, the Bengals have the right to match any offer sheet Smith would receive from another team, and if Smith were to sign with another team, they would receive compensation in the form of first-round picks in the 2007 and 2008 drafts. In turn, the team is committed to paying Smith a one-year salary equal to the average of the five highest-paid defensive ends in the league; that amount is $8.6 million, according to figures released by the NFL Players Association during Super Bowl week. Teams have until next Thursday to tag players. In tagging Smith, though, the Bengals have pretty much conceded losing OG Eric Steinbach once free agency starts next week.