WESTBROOK TO RETIRE?

Brian Westbrook was on Radio Row yesterday in the Miami Beach Convention Center, and he didn't sound like a man who is ready to retire, a thought he raised Wednesday when asked whether he could do what New York Giants running back Tiki Barber did during the 2006 season. The Eagles running back said he could retire right now, but he obviously isn't going to do it.....


Patriots owner Robert Kraft yesterday guaranteed the team will spend to the salary cap in an effort to improve a squad that fell one minute short of the Super Bowl....


Unlike the past two seasons, when Atlanta spent roughly $24 million in guaranteed bonuses to acquire Ed Hartwell and John Abraham, Blank said the Falcons would be judicious in free agency and fortify the roster through the draft. Atlanta, which will enter free agency with roughly $10 million to spend against the $109 million salary cap, is taking this approach philosophically, not as a cost-cutting measure, Blank said.....

Dolphins coach Cam Cameron was noncommittal Friday about whether he would want Ricky Williams back with the Dolphins or whether his starting quarterback is currently on the roster.....

Giants middle linebacker Antonio Pierce said signing Bears outside linebacker Lance Briggs, a two-time Pro Bowl pick, is a good idea if his former college teammate at Arizona decides to pursue free agency... Center Shaun O'Hara, one of the Giants' key free agents, said discussions are under way to re-sign him and expressed confidence he would stay with the team......

Cook shares representation with Oakland Raiders receiver Randy Moss and said he'd love to see Favre get the opportunity to play with him. The Raiders have been rumored to be willing to trade the moody Moss, but no one knows for sure whether that's going to happen......

NFL DRAFT

There had to be some grinding of teeth in the Lions' personnel department a week ago when offensive coordinator Mike Martz was quoted as saying a quarterback did not figure in the plans for the first-round pick....

The highest-rated linebackers here, on many teams' boards, are Penn State's Paul Posluszny and Ole Miss' Patrick Willis. Eagles general manager Tom Heckert, who is here with head coach Andy Reid, team president Joe Banner and a phalanx of midnight green-clad scouts to inspect the prime beef, indicated that linebacker 'probably is not a major priority for us right now.