Browns cut ties with QB Anderson

Just one day after acquiring Seneca Wallace, the Cleveland Browns cut former Pro Bowl quarterback Derek Anderson Tuesday.

The move was not a surprise as Anderson was due a $2 million roster bonus later this month and an inflated base salary of $7.45 million in 2010. Anderson was approaching the final year of a three-year contract.

Anderson never lived up to expectations after having his best season with the Browns in 2007, when he threw for 3,787 yards, 29 touchdowns and led the team to 10 victories.

The move leaves Wallace and Brady Quinn currently as Cleveland’s two quarterbacks heading into next season. The Browns have been very active in searching for trades at the quarterback position, which could continue.

Kevin Williams takes stand in suit against NFL

Minnesota Vikings lineman Kevin Williams says he never would have taken a weight-loss supplement two years ago had he known it contained a substance banned by the NFL.

Market starting to move for LT

It looks like LaDainian Tomlinson is starting to get some action on the free-agency market.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting that Tomlinson is talking to the Minnesota Vikings and there are other teams that are interested. Schefter indicated that Tomlinson, 30, is not close to a deal.

It had been a slow start in free agency for Tomlinson. He has been available since Feb. 23 when San Diego cut the legendary star after nine seasons.

After his release, Tomlinson said he wanted to go to a contender and a team that has an established quarterback. Of course, we aren’t sure if the Vikings will have an established quarterback or not as Brett Favre continues to consider his options, as he seemingly does every offseason.

Perhaps Tomlinson’s signing would prompt Favre to return. Tomlinson would back up Adrian Peterson in Minnesota.

NFL switches wireless sponsors, Sprint’s out Verizon’s in – Kansas City Star

Reuters NFL switches wireless sponsors, Sprint's out Verizon's in Kansas City Star “We made the decision not to extend the sponsorship after the price-tag reached a point where we questioned the return on our investment,” Melinda Tiemeyer said. She added that the NFL contract does not change Sprint's affiliation with individual NFL ..

Bills have penalty issues on O-line

The Buffalo Bills had the NFL’s most-penalized offensive line last year. It induced 48 flags, six more than the next team, the Oakland Raiders.

The Bills’ O-line surrendered 261 penalty yards, second to the Dallas Cowboys.

Clearly, the Bills must improve in that area. They didn’t seem to do that Monday by signing free-agent right tackle Cornell Green.

Green contributed plenty to the Raiders’ high number of O-line penalties. He played in 12 games because of a calf injury, but he was tied for second among all NFL players in number of times flagged. Green was cited for 13 infractions, one behind Cowboys tackle Flozell Adams.

Bills fans have extra cause to be uneasy if the Bills keep Demetrius Bell at left tackle.

Bell led the league in penalties until his season was cut short by a knee injury. In just eight games, Bell tied for 11th in penalties with 10 of them.

Green and Bell combined to commit an astronomical average of 1.15 penalties a game last year.

As you can see by the attached chart, it’s probably a good thing the Bills declined to tender a qualifying offer to restricted free-agent guard Richie Incognito. He led all offensive linemen with 115 penalty yards assessed. Nobody else hit triple digits.

Roethlisberger, at very least, has been guilty of serial bad judgment – SI.com

msnbc.com Roethlisberger, at very least, has been guilty of serial bad judgment SI.com The irony is once upon a time we were all so taken with Ben Roethlisberger's maturity level. Remember when he first took the field as a Pittsburgh Steelers rookie in 2004 and made everything look so easy, almost effortless

Clark, Randle El to return to Steelers – Seattle Post Intelligencer

TSN Clark, Randle El to return to Steelers Seattle Post Intelligencer Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – The Pittsburgh Steelers have reportedly agreed to terms with safety Ryan Clark and are also set to bring wide receiver Antwaan Randle El back to the Steel City. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Clark agreed to …

NFC West free-agency scorecard

NFC West teams have yet to re-sign any of their unrestricted free agents since the signing period began late last week.

None of the Rams’ UFAs has signed elsewhere, although defensive ends Leonard Little and James Hall were reportedly drawing interest from New Orleans.

Just passing along …

Report: Sorgi, Giants agree to contract

I interrupt an NFC East chat to report that former Colts quarterback Jim Sorgi has signed a one-year contract with the New York Giants, according to AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky. Sorgi’s agent informed Kuharsky of this news earlier in the hour.

The terms of the deal are not yet available. Now, let’s return to our weekly chat.

GB’s Collins removes himself from market

Green Bay safety Nick Collins‘ decision to sign his restricted tender carries two important meanings:

• He can no longer sign an offer sheet with another team, essentially removing himself from the free-agent market.
• He can participate in the Packers’ offseason strength and conditioning program because he is now under contract.

What happens from here is not entirely predictable. According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, agent Alan Herman considers the move a demonstration of good faith as he negotiates a long-term extension.

It never seemed likely that Collins would sign elsewhere because his new team would have been required to send the Packers first- and third-round draft picks in compensation. Still, the Packers won’t have to worry about the possibility of Collins soliciting offers for leverage purposes. If no agreement is reached, Collins will earn $3.3 million this season — or about the same annual average in the extension Pittsburgh signed free agent Ryan Clark to on Monday.

Collins’ participation in the offseason program will be a bonus, if not a dramatic development. He skipped most of it last season while protesting the Packers’ unwillingness to negotiate an extension. The more cordial atmosphere this spring suggests Collins and the Packers could be on their way to an agreement.

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