2008 Feeley should find new home soon Cut from the Miami Dolphins, 32-year-old kicker Jay Feely should find a new home before the start of the regular season. The only problem he is facing is the continued accuracy of the field-goal kicke... John Clayton | Wednesday, August 13 Dolphins make way for rookie, cut kicker Feely The Miami Dolphins have cut kicker Jay Feely, a year after he set the team's single-season record for field goal percentage. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, August 12 Archuleta signs with Raiders, to switch positions Adam Archuleta agreed to a one-year, $730,000 contract with the Raiders and plans to start his career anew. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Monday, August 11 Clayton: Vince Young ready to take next step The Titans' Vince Young is well on his way to becoming an elite quarterback, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Monday, August 11 Veteran linebacker Spikes finds home with 49ers Linebacker Takeo Spikes, one of the best defensive players awaiting a job with a new team, signed with the 49ers, the team announced Sunday night. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Sunday, August 10 Steelers sign QB Leftwich to fill in for injured Batch The Steelers filled two injury-created needs Sunday by reaching agreements with quarterback Byron Leftwich and punter Mitch Berger. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Sunday, August 10 Pennington lands 2-year deal, starting job in Miami Chad Pennington agreed Friday night to a two-year, $11.5 million contract that pretty well locks him into starting, according to a source. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Friday, August 8 Goodell sick of complaints about 80-man roster Commissioner Roger Goodell sent a memo to teams ordering them to stop complaining about the 80-man roster. Most coaches and GMs believe the 80-man roster is a disaster because it makes it hard to keep... John Clayton | Friday, August 8 Clayton: History working against Favre, Jets Jets fans shouldn't expect Brett Favre to deliver a championship. When Hall of Fame QBs switch teams late in their careers, the results are usually unspectacular, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Friday, August 8 Clayton: This deal a downer for Favre The deal sending Brett Favre to the Jets isn't a good one for the legendary quarterback, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Thursday, August 7 Clayton: Questions, answers on Favre trade Favre took on Packers management and lost. Now, he must try to rediscover the itch to play football in the AFC. Here are answers to five questions involving the trade. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Thursday, August 7 Clayton mailbag: Vikings firmly in Jackson's corner In his latest mailbag, John Clayton tackles questions on Tarvaris Jackson's mindset, the 49ers' chances, the Steelers' O-line and much more. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Wednesday, August 6 First-round pick Rivers signs contract with Bengals The Cincinnati Bengals signed first-round pick Keith Rivers Tuesday night, ending a 10-day holdout. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, August 5 Clayton: Five reasons Favre would start for Green Bay Here are John Clayton's five reasons Brett Favre would win the starting QB spot with the Packers. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Monday, August 4 Clayton: Favre wins this ugly contest In this ugly battle of wills between the Packers and Brett Favre, the quarterback looks like the winner, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Sunday, August 3 Clayton: No one should be surprised by latest Favre move No one should be surprised about the latest move in the Brett Favre saga, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Sunday, August 3 Clayton mailbag: Raiders have a shot at respectability In his latest mailbag, John Clayton tackles questions on the Raiders' chances in 2008, Brett Favre (surprise), Donovan McNabb and much more. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Wednesday, July 30 Saints' top pick Ellis gets contract, ends holdout The Saints' top pick, Sedrick Ellis, ended his holdout and signed a deal on Tuesday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, July 29 Packers lowballing Grant? Ryan Grant's holdout in Green Bay is particularly weird because it comes when Devin Hester of the Bears received a four-year extension that could be worth as much as $40 million. The Bears paid Heste... John Clayton | July 28, 2008 Favre-Packer relationship on thin ice Once again, the Brett Favre -Packers relationship breakdown needs a mediator. Favre is threatening to show up at Packers camp Sunday even though he hasn't filed his reinstatement papers. The Packers ... John Clayton | July 26, 2008 Jets carve out 5-year deal with Gholston Late-night negotiations Thursday culminated with the New York Jets reaching a five-year contract agreement with first-round draft pick Vernon Gholston that includes $21 million in guarantees. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 25, 2008 Colts' Manning missing camp after knee surgery Peyton Manning is sacked only 3.4 percent of the time he attempts a pass, but recent surgery on a bursa sac problem in his left knee has temporarily left him down for the count. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 24, 2008 McCardell waiting for call While Terry Glenn tries to resolve his injury-waiver beef with the Cowboys and Joe Horn wonders how long he'll be with the Falcons, one longtime veteran wide receiver is waiting around for the chance ... John Clayton | July 24, 2008 Clayton: Orton's makeup suits Bears' style With the Bears once again committed to winning with defense, look for Kyle Orton to ultimately emerge as the team's starting quarterback, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 24, 2008 Clayton: It's tough to watch Packers-Favre divorce The Favre-Packers divorce is painful, John Clayton writes, and it begs the question: How much damage will be done? John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 24, 2008 Colston, Saints agree to 3-year extension The Saints and Marques Colston have agreed to a three-year extension. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 23, 2008 Bears agree to deal with first-round pick Williams The Bears reached an agreement with first-round pick Chris Williams, who is projected to be the team's starting left tackle. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 23, 2008 Clayton mailbag: Cowboys must bolster WR corps In his latest mailbag, John Clayton tackles questions on the Cowboys' WR situation, Jared Allen, Julius Peppers, the Chargers' health and more. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 23, 2008 Smith mum on Bears QB starter Lovie Smith is going to keep the Chicago media and Bears fans guessing when it comes to who steps into the huddle as the team's No. 1 quarterback at the team's first training camp practice on Wednesda... John Clayton | July 22, 2008 Giants deal Shockey at wrong time The weirdest part of the Jeremy Shockey trade was why the Giants waited so long to make the deal. They could have had the Saints second- and fifth-round choices in the 2008 draft. That would have put ... John Clayton | July 21, 2008 Giants agree to trade Shockey to Saints for picks The Saints acquired Jeremy Shockey for a second- and a fifth-round draft pick in 2009. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 21, 2008 Clayton: Brewing controversies Training camp has arrived, but not without its issues. John Clayton details the top controversies not involving Brett Favre or Chad Johnson. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 21, 2008 Ruling could hasten signings The NFL Players Association won its special master grievance against the NFL management council, which should speed up the process of getting lower first- and all second-round selections signed. ... John Clayton | July 20, 2008 Clayton: Getting Taylor worth price for Redskins Getting Jason Taylor was worth the price for the Redskins. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 20, 2008 Skins DE Daniels out for year; Taylor on radar? Washington Redskins defensive end Phillip Daniels suffered an injury Sunday to his anterior cruciate knee ligament, according to a source, a potentially season-ending injury that could lead to Jason Taylor coming to Washington. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 20, 2008 Jaguars receiver Porter nursing hamstring injury Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Jerry Porter is expected to miss part of training camp because of a hamstring injury that hasn't healed. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Saturday, July 19 Jets ink TE Keller; Gholston remains unsigned The New York Jets have come to terms with one of their first-round choices, tight end Dustin Keller, the team announced Friday. Terms of the Keller deal weren't available. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Saturday, July 19 Redskins' second-round pick gets four-year deal The Redskins reached agreement Friday with their top draft pick, wide receiver Devin Thomas, that will allow him to report to training camp on time Saturday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Friday, July 18 Packers, Favre passing point of no return Now that Brett Favre has taken his shots at Packers general manager Ted Thompson and the Packers may try to affect Favre's reputation with a tampering suit against the Vikings, it's going to be hard f... John Clayton | Thursday, July 17 Sources: Pack files tampering charges over Favre The Packers have charged that the Vikings have tampered with Brett Favre. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Wednesday, July 16 Timing right for Peyton's problems The Indianapolis Colts are relatively relieved about the timing of Peyton Manning 's bursa sac procedure because it eliminates a worry that he would have big problems later in the season. Doctors told... John Clayton | Tuesday, July 15 Clayton mailbag: Chargers have golden opportunity In the first installment of his weekly mailbag, John Clayton tackles questions on the Chargers' chances of ruling the AFC, the Giants' chances of repeating, the Bengals' D and more. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, July 15 Clayton: NFL ownership growing increasingly complicated With the recent news of the Rooney family's potentially losing control of the Steelers, will there be a transition from family ownership to corporate billionaires? John Clayton examines. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, July 15 League: Ex-Vikes DE Scott suspended 3 games Former Viking Darrion Scott was suspended by the NFL for three games on Monday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Monday, July 14 Source: Hamlin, Cowboys close to deal The Cowboys and safety Ken Hamlin drew closer on Monday, to completing a six-year deal that will keep the team's franchise player in Dallas the remainder of his career, a source told ESPN.com. Talks ... John Clayton | Monday, July 14 Brennan, Redskins agree to terms of 4-year deal The Washington Redskins reached a four-year deal with sixth-round draft choice Colt Brennan on Monday, leaving them with only two unsigned second-round selections six days before their first training camp practice. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Monday, July 14 Clayton: Five suggestions for Packers GM Ted Thompson Packers GM Ted Thompson has found himself in a tough spot. He can either rectify the Brett Favre saga or potentially be the most hated man in Green Bay. What should he do? John Clayton weighs in. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Monday, July 14 Clayton: Pack must handle Favre delicately Saturday's events only underscore why the Brett Favre situation must be handled delicately, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 12, 2008 Redskins sign WR Kelly to 4-year, $3.3 million deal The New York Yankees signed left-hander Eric Milton to a minor league contract Friday, returning Milton to the organization that originally drafted him. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 11, 2008 Ex-Charger Olivea gets one-year deal from Giants Former Chargers right tackle Shane Olivea, suspended last months for four games for violations of the NFL Substance Policy, has been reinstated and agreed to a one-year deal with the New York Giants. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 10, 2008 Draft day signings delayed The push by teams to get all of their draft choices signed on time may get a little bit of a delay. The NFLPA informed agents for the remaining unsigned draft choices to negotiate cautiously while the... John Clayton | July 9, 2008 No way out for Packers What an amazing transition for Brett Favre . In 2007, he's the king of Wisconsin again, coming off one of his best seasons. Now, he's like that unpopular relative who always threatened to show up at y... John Clayton | July 8, 2008 Clayton: Steelers ownership Q&A News that the Rooney family must restructure their ownership of the Steelers surprised many. John Clayton looks at the issues and provides answers. John Clayton, ESPN.com | July 8, 2008 Steelers try to rework ownership Don't minimize the significance of the Steelers' announcement Monday that the team is restructuring ownership. The Steelers revealed that discussions have been ongoing for two years and that club chai... John Clayton | July 7, 2008 Clayton: With Quinn, Browns in a win-win situation A year ago, the Browns seemed to have disaster in the works at QB. Today, the Browns not only have a Pro Bowler in Derek Anderson, but a seemingly much improved Brady Quinn as the backup. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 30, 2008 Bucs' Graham agrees to 3-year, $10.5M extension Earnest Graham agreed to a three-year, $10.5 million extension that will keep him in Tampa through the 2011 season. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 29, 2008 With no takers, Steelers release Davenport After shopping him for a trade, the Steelers released Najeh Davenport on Friday. According to a source, Pittsburgh had been contacting teams to determine if there was trade interest. Davenport, who w... John Clayton | June 27, 2008 Spicer, Jaguars agree to two-year extension Paul Spicer, who was entering the final year of his contract, agreed to a two-year, $8 million contract extension that will keep him in Jacksonville until at least 2010. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 27, 2008 Niners beat out Rams for services of OT Sims The 49ers beat out the rival Rams for the services of former Raiders offensive lineman Barry Sims. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 23, 2008 Clayton: How the Packers got smart From the chaos that was the Packers' running game early last season, calm emerged in the form of Ryan Grant. John Clayton reviews how Grant became a star, and previews what's ahead. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 21, 2008 Bills' Lynch likely to duck jail Bills halfback Marshawn Lynch probably escaped any jail time and possibly community service time by admitting to the Erie County District Attorney's office that he was the driver in an alleged hit-and... John Clayton | Saturday, June 21 Clayton: Jaguars spring checkup The Jaguars appear to have plenty of weapons, especially at WR, but their offensive line is a cause for concern, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Friday, June 20 Clayton: Texans spring checkup The Texans have finished .500 just once in the franchise's history. But with the hirinig of Alex Gibbs and an improved defensive line, Houston is ready to make a serious playoff run, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Friday, June 20 Clayton: Titans spring checkup Even though the Titans were a surprise success story in 2007, they felt the need to make a lot of changes this offseason, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Friday, June 20 Clayton: Colts spring checkup With Marvin Harrison's knee still a question mark, the Colts are focused on developing the back end of their receiving corps in an attempt to ensure consistency in the passing game, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Friday, June 20 Taylor unlikely to end up with Packers Don't lose any sleep over over the rumor that Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor could end up with the Packers. While the Packers have looked at the possibility of a trade, talks between the two team... John Clayton | Thursday, June 19 Clayton: Rodgers' strong arm finally coming to light It's never easy to replace a legend. However Aaron Rodgers' strong arm is easing some of the worry over how the Packers will manage without Brett Favre, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Wednesday, June 18 Bengals' Johnson to have surgery on both ankles Chad Johnson will have surgical procedures on both ankles on Wednesday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, June 17 Clayton: Subpar defense real issue for Bengals It's hard to tell why Chad Johnson really wants out of Cincy. But an improved defense would make his stay better. John Clayton John Clayton, ESPN.com | Monday, June 16 Clayton: Bills' offense going retro Looking to get more creative and explosive on offense, the Bills have adopted some of the philosophies made famous by Sam Wyche in the 1980s and '90s, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 14, 2008 Bengals agree to 5-year extension with DT Peko Starving for positive news on a day Chad Johnson stirred up minicamp by his presence, the Bengals reached a five-year extension with one of their better young players, defensive tackle Domata Peko. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 12, 2008 Clayton: Time to trade Johnson Chad Johnson's "ailment" just emphasizes how much the Bengals need to rid themselves of the tantrum-prone receiver, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 12, 2008 Clayton: Ogden changed the game at left tackle The retirement of 11-time Pro Bowl tackle Jonathan Ogden means the NFL is losing a man who not only paved the way for running backs but also future offensive lineman, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 12, 2008 Silver lining for Lynch As much as the Marshawn Lynch hit-and-run possibilities are bad for the Bills, it's not going to change the hopes of Buffalo for this season. Lynch, if found guilty, likely wouldn't serve any jail tim... John Clayton | June 11, 2008 Jauron addresses Lynch's issue, Peters' absence Clear skies greeted the Buffalo Bills for the opening of their mandatory camp Wednesday, but a few nasty clouds hovered around the franchise. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 11, 2008 Clayton: Rogers giving Browns much-needed nose job With Shaun Rogers flashing the ability to become a formidable nose tackle, the Browns are optimistic they'll finally field a top-10 run defense in 2008, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 11, 2008 Jones, Bears make interesting pair The interesting name to watch now that the Bears cut Cedric Benson is Kevin Jones , the former starting running back in Detroit. Jones is holding a league-wide workout toward the end of the month. He ... John Clayton | June 9, 2008 Bears waive tailback Benson after latest arrest The Bears waived running back Cedric Benson on Monday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 9, 2008 Clayton: Strahan can make convincing case for Hall of Fame The case for ex-Giants star Michael Strahan as a first-ballot Hall of Famer is convincing, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 9, 2008 Taylor likely a no-show until camp Jason Taylor and Bill Parcells may have cleared the air during a 90-minute meeting Thursday night at a golf club, but the situation still isn't resolved. Taylor didn't promise to show up at minicamp t... John Clayton | June 6, 2008 NFL suspends ex-Bengal LB Thurman indefinitely Linebacker Odell Thurman, released by the Bengals on May 19, has been suspended indefinitely by the NFL, the league confirmed Friday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 6, 2008 Raiders' McFadden signs six-year, $60 million deal Running back Darren McFadden reached a six-year, $60 million agreement Thursday night with the Oakland Raiders that includes $26 million guaranteed. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 6, 2008 Clayton: Today's HOF-caliber backs Plenty of potential Hall Of Fame running backs are playing today. But offensive tendencies and market trends for older ball carriers might affect statistics and candidacies, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 4, 2008 Teams get salary cap relief On Tuesday, the contracts of Mike Wahle and Dan Morgan in Carolina, Kalimba Edwards in Detroit and Brandon Lloyd in Chicago came off the salary cap books. They were pre-June 2 designees, which gave th... John Clayton | June 3, 2008 NFL commish grants Pacman partial reinstatement Adam "Pacman" Jones and the Dallas Cowboys got what they were hoping for Monday -- a partial reinstatement of the suspended cornerback. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 2, 2008 Broncos gain short-term savings By waiting until Monday to release halfback Travis Henry , the Broncos ended up saving $1.1 million in cap room instead of suffering a $2.5 million net loss had they released him in May. On Monday, a... John Clayton | June 2, 2008 Clayton: No. 1 WRs becoming endangered species The dearth of No. 1-caliber wide receivers is becoming the No. 1 problem for teams looking to add playmakers, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | June 2, 2008 Jags add depth at receiver, reach deal with Thorpe The Jaguars have reached a one-year deal with former Colts wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe. John Clayton, ESPN.com | May 31, 2008 Tight ends coach bolsters Stevens The Tampa Bay Bucs' re-signing of tight end Jerramy Stevens goes in part to faith and loyalty displayed to him by tight end coach Bob Casullo . Casullo kept pushing the organization to give Stevens, ... John Clayton | May 30, 2008 Bears reach deal with rookie tight end Davis As the Bears assembled for the first day of minicamp Friday, they came to terms on a four-year contract with tight end Kellen Davis. John Clayton, ESPN.com | May 30, 2008 Urlacher's move could pay off Brian Urlacher 's decision to attend the Bears' three-day minicamp doesn't mean he stopped his pursuit of a bigger contract -- but it could help. The Bears offered him a $5 million signing bonus and a... John Clayton | Thursday, May 29 Clayton: Prepping for the uncapped storm Which teams would be affected most if the league can't get a new labor deal before 2010? John Clayton forecasts five of the best and five of the worst teams facing that scenario. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Wednesday, May 28 Source: Bolts don't want Taylor If you had any questions about the Chargers' interest in Jason Taylor , scratch them from your thoughts immediately. The Chargers aren't interested in trading for Taylor, according to a source. With S... John Clayton | Tuesday, May 27 Jets add depth to backfield by signing Musa Smith The Jets added more depth to their backfield by signing Ravens halfback Musa Smith. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, May 27 Vikings trade defensive end James to Redskins On Friday, the Minnesota Vikings informed Erasmus James that they planned to release him. James was an injured defensive end without a home. Now, he's a member of the Washington Redskins. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, May 27 With questions in backfield, Broncos add Pittman A few weeks ago, the Broncos toyed with the idea of signing Dominic Rhodes or Shaun Alexander, but on Tuesday, they got serious, reaching an agreement with former Buccaneers halfback Michael Pittman. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, May 27 Clayton: Seven non-moves that could prove costly John Clayton identifies seven teams that failed to improve significantly in key areas. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Sunday, May 25 Taylor dances through offers Jason Taylor will host his foundation's annual fund-raiser on June 1 in Miami. It's at the Hard Rock in north Miami with a golf tournament scheduled for June 2. Of course, that doesn't mean Taylor wil... John Clayton | May 23, 2008 Injury-depleted Browns sign veteran CB Cousin Down two cornerbacks with the release of Kenny Wright and the potential season-ending knee injury to Daven Holly, the Cleveland Browns reached an agreement Thursday with veteran cornerback Terry Cousin. John Clayton, ESPN.com | May 22, 2008 Taylor dancing out of Miami Jason Taylor danced his way into the Hollywood elite with his "Dancing with the Stars" success, but it looks as though he could be entering his last dance with the Dolphins. Dolphins coach Tony Spara... John Clayton | May 21, 2008 Clayton: The 17-game solution? Increasing the regular season to 17 games might seem like an odd way to resolve the NFL's pending labor problems, but an additional game could smooth some of the differences between the league and the union. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Wednesday, May 21 CBA gone, but long hair and conduct fines remain The CBA, long hair and conduct fines were covered in the NFL meetings on Tuesday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, May 20 Cowboys give Newman, Barber new big contracts Using the salary-cap loopholes created by Tuesday's decision to have a possible uncapped year in 2010, the Dallas Cowboys locked up two of their key young players -- cornerback Terence Newman and halfback Marion Barber. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, May 20 Falcons agree to massive deal with new QB Ryan Matt Ryan agreed to a six-year contract that ESPN.com's John Clayton and ESPN's Chris Mortensen report guarantees him $34.75 million and could be worth as much as $72 million. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, May 20 Money talks: Indy host to 2012 Super Bowl After losing the right to host Super Bowl XLV to Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones by two votes last year, Colts owner Jim Irsay and the city of Indianapolis improved their bid by $25 million and were awarded Super Bowl XLVI on Tuesday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, May 20 Here we grow again? NFL considering 17th game NFL commissioner Roger Goodell raised the possibility of having a 17th regular-season game as an option to help settle some of the league's future labor problems. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, May 20 NFL owners unanimous, will opt out of labor deal NFL owners have voted unanimously to opt out of a labor contract, which will now expire in 2011. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, May 20 Walsh testimony didn't add much Things have been pretty predictable on the Matt Walsh front the past couple of days. Although he has tried to fill in some gaps on his videotaping with the Patriots, Walsh hasn't presented any evidenc... John Clayton | May 15, 2008 Clayton: Top players over 30 to watch this season At 30 years old, a player's career is at a crossroads, and how successful he is can impact his team. John Clayton examines the top 10 players age 30 and older to watch this season. John Clayton, ESPN.com | May 14, 2008 Harrison to attend minicamp Marvin Harrison will attend the Colts minicamp this weekend, but he will not participate as he recovers from last season's knee injury. It's also unlikely he will be available for any media interviews... John Clayton | May 13, 2008 Suggs' franchise tag grievance vs. Ravens settled Terrell Suggs' grievance against the Baltimore Ravens over whether he should be classified as a defensive end or a linebacker has been settled. John Clayton, ESPN.com | May 13, 2008 Clayton: Five things we learned about Spygate The Patriots got their just desserts for stealing signals. But Matt Walsh, the media and even the Rams share responsibility for Spygate, John Clayton writes. John Clayton , ESPN.com | May 13, 2008 Labor talks progress NFL Players Association executive director Gene Upshaw described last Thursday's labor negotiation session with an owners' committee as a "first step in the process," according to the NFLPA Web site. ... John Clayton | May 12, 2008 Clayton: Five surprise teams to watch in 2008 With the draft over and free agency exhausted for finding impact players, John Clayton picks five surprise teams for the 2008 season. John Clayton, ESPN.com | May 12, 2008 Robinson to Raiders? Koren Robinson wasn't caught by surprise when he was released by Green Bay on Friday. When the Packers used their top draft choice -- a second-round pick on wide receiver Jordy Nelson -- Robinson sens... John Clayton | May 9, 2008 Clayton: Spygate closing with a whimper The NFL sensed that Matt Walsh had no huge revelations to offer in his stash of game tapes. What the former Pats assistant reportedly presented this week confirms that hunch, John Clayton writes. John Clayton , ESPN.com | May 8, 2008 Rhodes happy in Indy Halfback Dominic Rhodes felt good about accepting a minimum salary deal from Indianapolis because his former Colts teammates reached out to him. Peyton Manning and other former teammates kept in tou... John Clayton | May 7, 2008 Source: Chiefs get $8M rookie pool to pay picks The Chiefs received the largest rookie pool to pay draft choices. John Clayton, ESPN.com | May 7, 2008 Clayton: Left tackles loom large Teams are placing a high premium on left tackles, who will play a vital role in shaping the league's power structure for years to come, writes John Clayton. John Clayton , ESPN.com | May 7, 2008 Strahan likely retiring Officially, Michael Strahan is undecided about his future. But he looks and sounds like a player who is going to retire before training camp. Giants linebacker Antonio Pierce went on the radio and s... John Clayton | May 6, 2008 Deep at safety, Bears release veteran Archuleta In a surprising move, the Bears released safety Adam Archuleta, a little more than a year after they acquired him in a trade. John Clayton, ESPN.com | May 6, 2008 Protecting Eli pays: Giants' Diehl gets new contract Replacing Luke Petitgout as the Giants left tackle, David Diehl proved he was the real deal and helped the Giants win Super Bowl XLII. Diehl's reward is a new deal that compensates him for the important job of protecting Eli Manning's blind side. John Clayton, ESPN.com | May 6, 2008 Alexander making connections Shaun Alexander 's two-day meeting with Cincinnati allowed each side to get to know each other, and it could lead to a signing down the road. The Bengals appear to be pretty well set at running back w... John Clayton | May 5, 2008 Clayton: Five things we learned from first minicamps Is Cedric Benson's latest brush with the law the last straw for him in Chicago? Who will emerge as the 49ers' starting quarterback? After the NFL's first weekend of minicamps, John Clayton answers those questions and more. John Clayton , ESPN.com | May 5, 2008 Expand offseason rosters The impact from the 80-man roster is really being felt as teams bring players to minicamps. As of Friday, only 362 undrafted free agents have signed or reached agreements with teams. That's little mor... John Clayton | May 2, 2008 Bengals to bring in Alexander The Bengals are making a great public relations move by bringing in former Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander for a visit Monday. He grew up near Cincinnati and is a popular player. It still might ... John Clayton | May 1, 2008 Culpepper in limbo Daunte Culpepper will have to wait until next week at the earliest to see where he stands with the Green Bay Packers. He visited the Packers before the draft but they drafted two rookie quarterbacks, ... John Clayton | April 30, 2008 Oft-injured Seahawks DT Tubbs has knee surgery Seahawks defensive tackle Marcus Tubbs, a former No. 1 draft choice, recently underwent arthroscopic surgery to clean up his chronically-injured right knee. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 30, 2008 Clayton: Quarterbacks still hold the key Without the benefit of a franchise-type quarterback, a strong running game can take a team only so far, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 30, 2008 Chargers revamp front office, hire ex-GM Mueller The Chargers revamped their front office on Tuesday, hiring former GM Randy Mueller. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 29, 2008 A change in philosophy After years of trying to build their team through free agency and trade, the Redskins seem to have switched their philosophy. Under executive vice president Vinny Cerato , Washington held onto its dra... John Clayton | April 29, 2008 Texans, free agent Weary agree on one-year deal Fred Weary's patience was rewarded Tuesday when the Texans re-signed the offensive lineman to a one-year, $1.5 million contract. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 29, 2008 Rhodes on the market Like Shaun Alexander , halfback Dominic Rhodes might find new job opportunities in free agency after being released by the Oakland Raiders. Twenty teams added running backs during the draft. A dozen b... John Clayton | April 28, 2008 Raiders release Rhodes, get some cap space back Oakland Raiders notified halfback Dominic Rhodes that he is being released. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 28, 2008 Clayton: Six draft trends It was the draft to be an offensive tackle. It was not the draft to be an unhappy veteran star wishing for a new home. These were among the trends of this weekend's draft, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 28, 2008 Clayton: Day 1 winners and losers John Clayton breaks down the winners and losers from Day 1 of the NFL draft. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 26, 2008 Titans sign Roos to six-year, $43M extension The Titans locked up a big key to the future by reaching a six-year, $43 million extension with left tackle Michael Roos. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 26, 2008 Shockey deal still possibility The delay in a possible Jeremy Shockey trade is price. The Giants apparently want more than a second-round pick for the former Pro Bowl tight end. The Saints have been contemplating offering a second-... John Clayton | April 25, 2008 Pasquarelli to be honored by pro football writers Len Pasquarelli, a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com, has been selected by the Pro Football Writers of America as the 2008 recipient of the Dick McCann Award. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 25, 2008 Clayton: As the draft turns ... In the course of an hour, BC QB Matt Ryan could lose $10 million, while Michigan QB Chad Henne could make millions. Those are just two things to watch for on Saturday as the draft unfolds, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 25, 2008 Taylor likely to remain a Dolphin Jason Taylor is dancing with the stars, but odds still favor him playing for the Dolphins this season. Bill Parcells would be willing to part with Taylor but for a No. 1 pick -- something it seems unl... John Clayton | April 24, 2008 Chiefs on the move One of the reasons the Jared Allen trade works for the Chiefs is that the organization is completely on the same page as to where it's going. It's going young in one of the boldest rebuilding efforts... John Clayton | April 23, 2008 Clayton: First and 10, draft edition The NFL shortened the amount of time between picks to create better TV. The change also could lead to fewer trades and some embarrassing blunders, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 23, 2008 Chiefs send DE Allen to Vikings, get 1st-round pick The Chiefs have reached agreement to send Jared Allen to the Vikings, according to sources. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 22, 2008 Dolphins, Long persevere Getting Jake Long signed to a five-year, $57.75 million contract five days before the draft wasn't easy for the Dolphins or Long's representatives. In fact, it almost didn't happen. Both sides were s... John Clayton | April 22, 2008 Fins still have long way to go People rushed to judgment on Monday thinking the Dolphins are close to a deal with Michigan tackle Jake Long . Tuesday and Wednesday will be critical in the negotiations because Miami has to determine... John Clayton | April 21, 2008 Bengals linebacker Thurman reinstated by NFL After being suspended for two seasons due to repeat violations of the NFL's substance abuse policy, Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman was reinstated by the NFL, the team announced Monday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 21, 2008 Clayton: Five compelling pre-draft story lines Potential trades and lingering questions regarding Darren McFadden's character have created a lot of uncertainty at the top of the draft, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Monday, April 21 Steelers re-sign tackle Starks to 1-year contract Steelers tackle Max Starks cleared up any uncertainty about his feelings about playing for the Steelers in 2008 by signing his transition tender. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 19, 2008 Restricted period not too exciting Once again, restricted free agency is going away with a whimper. The Patriots didn't work out a tender sheet with Panthers linebacker Adam Seward so he will remain with Carolina when the restricted fr... John Clayton | Friday, April 18 Chiefs have intriguing problem Don't expect to see anything happen quickly with Chiefs franchise player Jared Allen . If the Chiefs trade him, it could have a major impact on the draft. With the No. 5 pick, it makes sense for the C... John Clayton | Thursday, April 17 Chiefs' franchise player Allen to visit Bucs, Vikes Defensive end Jared Allen, the Chiefs' designated franchise player, has scheduled visits with the Buccaneers and Vikings, even though he doesn't have any assurance the Chiefs would consider trading him. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Thursday, April 17 A welcome surprise: Suggs at Ravens minicamp Terrell Suggs, the Ravens designated franchise player, wanted to surprise his new head coach, John Harbaugh, with a goodwill gesture. Even though he is unsigned, Suggs stunned Harbaugh Thursday by walking unannounced into Harbaugh's first minicamp. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Thursday, April 17 Cards sign free-agent LB Stewart to one-year deal Linebacker Matt Stewart, an unrestricted free agent from the Browns, signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Wednesday, April 16 Johnson, Bengals near stalemate With Chad Johnson 's statements about not planning to show up at any Bengals functions this offseason, the battle lines are drawn for a long stalemate between both sides. Johnson wants a trade. The ... John Clayton | Wednesday, April 16 Johnson leaves no room for doubt, demands trade Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson left no room for doubt Wednesday: He wants out of Cincinnati as fast as possible and he doesn't plan on reporting for any future Bengals functions -- mandatory or voluntary. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Wednesday, April 16 Raiders return to familiar face, sign CB Starks The Raiders went back to an old friend to replace departed cornerback Chris Cash when they signed veteran Duane Starks to a one-year contract. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, April 15 Clayton: AFC North must play 'survivor' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has to read the new 2008 schedule and weep, while Patriots coach Bill Belichick should look forward to a magic-carpet ride to January, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, April 15 Clayton: Networks shine spotlight on NFC East John Clayton, ESPN.com | Tuesday, April 15 Dolphins, Long taking shot The Dolphins are maintaining regular conversations with first-round choice Jake Long , but the sides aren't close enough to get a deal done. The interesting thing will be the Dolphins' strategy. The... John Clayton | Monday, April 14 Groves gets clean bill of health Although a heart operation could be damaging to a draft choice's stock, Quentin Groves shouldn't be too affected by his recent procedure. In some ways, it could have helped his position because it cle... John Clayton | April 11, 2008 Clayton: For a few more dollars ... The NFL recently spurned a chance to expand rosters. John Clayton argues that simply by expanding training camp roster limits, the NFL could have done itself a huge favor at little cost. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 10, 2008 Parcells expects No. 1 pick to sign It's pretty evident Bill Parcells expects to sign the No. 1 pick in the draft. With a new Dolphins owner coming aboard and plenty to do to reshape the roster, Parcells cannot be held hostage by a trai... John Clayton | April 9, 2008 Chiefs might call on Vanderjagt The Chiefs worked out veteran kicker Mike Vanderjagt on Monday, and they might consider signing him. Vanderjagt, the former Cowboys and Colts kicker, made 13 of 14 field goals from 50 yards and close... John Clayton | April 7, 2008 Clayton: Seat heating up for 5 coaches in '08 With owners having quick trigger fingers when firing coaches, several jobs may be in jeopardy at season's end, writes John Clayton. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 7, 2008 Cards' Green, Smith sign 1-year, $2.017M tenders Cornerback Eric Green and defensive end Antonio Smith signed one-year, $2.017 million tender sheets with the Cardinals. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 3, 2008 Eagles' franchise player Smith signs $4.5M tender Philadelphia Eagles starting tight end L.J. Smith eased the minds of everyone in the organization about possibly missing any time this offseason by signing his one-year franchise tag Wednesday. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 2, 2008 NFL owners table reseeding playoffs idea NFL owners concluded their annual meeting owners with quick passages of several proposals and by tabling the re-seeding idea for the playoffs. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 2, 2008 Vikings agree to deal with backup QB Frerotte The Vikings have reached an agreement in principle with former Rams backup quarterback Gus Frerotte. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 2, 2008 NFL tables hair issue; defensive helmet radios OK The Kansas City Chiefs' proposal to tuck or cut long hair so it doesn't hang below the nameplate on a uniform was tabled until the NFL owners meeting in May. John Clayton, ESPN.com | April 1, 2008 Getting on Goodell's good side Even though Roger Goodell says he doesn't have to decide on the futures of suspended players Odell Thurman and Pacman Jones until the start of training camp, the feeling is Thurman has the best chance... John Clayton | March 31, 2008 Walsh still working on deal for Spygate testimony Former New England Patriots videographer Matt Walsh has yet to work out a deal with the NFL in order for the league to hear if he has additional evidence involving Spygate. John Clayton, ESPN.com | March 31, 2008 Clayton: Day 1 NFL meeting wrap-up The sale of the Dolphins was approved at the NFL owners meeting Monday, but there's more pressing business ahead, John Clayton writes. John Clayton, ESPN.com | March 31, 2008 Titans mulling trade options The next move is for the Titans to see how much they really want to move Adam (Pacman) Jones . The Cowboys reportedly have offered a player and a seventh-round draft pick, and it would appear that the... John Clayton | March 29, 2008 League tackling tampering issue The NFL has come up with an interesting way to stop team tampering before the start of free agency in 2009. The league is considering letting teams have a window of time before free agency to discuss ... John Clayton | March 27, 2008 Clayton: Owners meeting preview From reseeding playoffs to wiring defensive players' helmets to offering replay review on some field goals, there are several controversial proposals for the next owners meetings. John Clayton, ESPN.com | March 27, 2008 Hairy situation: NFL owners to consider hair leng