'The Bachelor' re-signs with Giants
It took nearly two months of research and plenty of interviews but University of Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who is expected to be a top five selection in this weekend's draft, has finally hired agent.
ESPN.com has learned that Fitzgerald, who broke virtually every school receiving record despite playing only two seasons for the Panthers, will be represented by prominent agent Eugene Parker. The veteran NFL agent, from Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Maximum Sports Management, has a long and impressive list of clients.
Fitzgerald was one of the few top-shelf players in the draft who had not yet selected an agent and, over the past two months, there was rampant speculation about who might be chosen to negotiate his first NFL contract. His father, Larry Fitzgerald Sr., denied previous reports linking his son to various agents and consistently said that the process of choosing representation would be thorough.
The deal became official Tuesday evening when Fitzgerald signed the standard representation agreement with Parker. The NFL Players Association, which certifies agents and monitors their activities, was apprised of the agreement.
Parker has several other well-regarded clients in this draft but Fitzgerald certainly has the highest profile.
-- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
Jackson goes into draft without an agent: Former Oregon State tailback Steven Jackson, expected to be selected in the first round of the draft Saturday, has not yet hired an agent.
Jackson's older sister, Rhonda Jackson-Pullens, has been helping him with business matters. She told The Oregonian that Jackson has narrowed his choices, but the family wants to establish a good relationship with an agent before signing.
Jackson led the Pac-10 with 1,545 yards rushing last season, his junior year.
Even though he hasn't chosen an agent, there is still no chance he could return to Oregon State for a senior year because the deadline for underclassmen to withdraw from the draft passed on Jan. 18.
The first Oregon State player with eligibility remaining to enter the NFL draft, Jackson, who is from Las Vegas, plans to watch the draft Saturday at a friend's house.
-- Associated Press
New York Giants: The quarterback-turned-star of the reality TV series "The Bachelor" is married once again. Well, at least in a football sense.
Backup Jesse Palmer, who spent the last two months as a restricted free agent, has re-signed with the Giants. The three-year veteran signed a one-year deal worth $628,000, the amount of the qualifying offer he was tendered last month to retain a right of first refusal. The former Florida star failed to generate interest in the restricted market.
Palmer, 25, was a fourth-round choice in the 2001 draft. He appeared in only two games in his first two seasons in the league, then saw more playing time in 2003 after starter Kerry Collins was injured. Palmer played in six games last season, starting the final three, and completed 60 of 116 passes for 532 yards, with three touchdown passes, four interceptions and a quarterback rating of 58.5.
-- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
Joseph probably will have surgery, with the hopes of being back for training camp or the start of the regular season.
The Giants haven't had much luck with Joseph since making him their first-round pick a year ago. He only participated in 174 defensive snaps, roughly 15 percent of the defensive plays.
The timing couldn't have been any worse, either. The Giants didn't want to lose any potential assets that might be used in a trade up to get Eli Manning or Robert Gallery in the draft.
-- John Clayton, ESPN.com
Jacksonville Jaguars: Still upset that strong safety Donovin Darius continues to boycott their offseason workout program, the Jags are likely to ramp up their efforts to trade the six-year veteran.
Darius, 28, last month signed the one-year qualifying offer of $4.113 million for a "franchise" safety, but is one of the few veterans not on hand for organized workouts. He met recently with coach Jack Del Rio to explain his absence, but the matter was not resolved and the Jaguars clearly are shopping him. The most likely scenario is a deal just before, or perhaps during, the draft.
"At this point," said Del Rio, "he is still a Jaguar. "But from the organization standpoint, we'll continue to monitor whether there is a [trade] out there that makes sense."
This marked the second year in a row that the Jags saddled Darius with a "franchise" tag, and the former Syracuse star is said to be angry that the team has not negotiated a long-term contract. A first-round pick in the '98 draft, Darius has made 87 career starts and posted 665 tackles and nine interceptions.
-- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
Seattle Seahawks: Quarterback Brock Huard, who was released by the Indianapolis Colts last month in a salary cap move, has been signed by the Seahawks as an unrestricted free agent.
Huard, who spent the past two seasons in Indianapolis as a backup for Peyton Manning, came into the NFL as a third-round draft choice of the Seahawks in 1999. He played in only two games for the Colts last season, completing two of three passes for 22 yards.
The Seahawks traded Huard, who starred at the University of Washington and left after his junior season, to the Colts on April 19, 2002, for a fifth-round draft pick.
With Seattle 1999-2001, Huard played in six games, including four starts, and completed 58 of 104 passes for 667 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions.
The Seahawks, who made the playoffs with a 10-6 record last season, start Matt Hasselbeck at quarterback with Trent Dilfer as his backup. Hasselbeck passed for a franchise-record 3,841 yards last season.
-- Associated Press
Miami Dolphins: Restricted free agent linebacker Morlon Greenwood, a Dolphins starter since he entered the league as a third-round pick in 2001, has re-signed for one year for the standard qualifying offer of $628,000.
Greenwood, a former Syracuse standout, started a career-low 11 games last season but had a career-best 60 tackles at strongside linebacker. The 25-year-old could be challenged for his starting spot in training camp.
-- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
Baltimore Ravens: The team has retained three-year veteran defensive end Marques Douglas with a one-year contract worth $628,000. Douglas was a restricted free agent for the past two months and, despite a strong season as a first-time starter, received very little interest in the free agent market.
Signed by New Orleans as an undrafted free agent from Howard University in 2001, Douglas was acquired by the Ravens off the Saints' practice squad that year. While he played sparingly in 2001-02, his raw athletic skills were obvious.
Douglas, 27, is an emerging player with burgeoning pass rush skills. He had 89 tackles and 4½ sacks in 2003, starting in all 16 games.
-- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
Tennessee Titans: While the deal won't be signed until after the draft, the team has reached agreement with unrestricted free agent safety Scott McGarrahan on what likely will be a two-year contract. The cap-strapped Titans probably have to clear some room before filing the contract with the league.
McGarrahan, 30, was a solid pickup for the Titans last season. A safety who played well in "nickel" and "dime" situations, he also was a standout on special teams. He appeared in every game, recorded the first two starts of his six-year career, and had 27 tackles.
He previously spent time with Green Bay (1998-2000) and Miami (2001-2002) and has appeared in 90 games. McGarrahan met with officials from Cleveland, Tampa Bay and the Giants in free agency but preferred to stay with the Titans.
The Titans continue to negotiate with unrestricted free agent defensive tackle Glen Steele of Cincinnati as well.
-- Len Pasquarelli, ESPN.com
Detroit Lions: The Lions re-signed restricted free agent linebacker Donte Curry to a one-year contract.
Curry enters his third season with the Lions after coming from the Washington Redskins in August 2002. He started 10 games for Detroit that season and finished with 69 tackles, three sacks, three forced fumbles and a fumble recovery.
He played wells on special teams last season, making 21 tackles in 11 games.
Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.
-- Associated Press
Green Bay Packers: The Packers re-signed linebacker Torrance Marshall.
Marshall backed up all three linebacker spots and posted a career-high 24 total tackles. He also had 14 special teams tackles.
A third-round draft pick out of Oklahoma in 2001, Marshall is the second restricted free-agent signed this week by Green Bay. The Packers re-signed tight end David Martin on Tuesday.
-- Associated Press
Dallas Cowboys: Restricted free agent James Whalen has re-signed with the Cowboys.
Whalen is a backup tight end and primarily a special teams player. While hampered last season by a strained leg muscle, he had seven special teams tackles.
After being signed by Dallas in 2000, Whalen was on the practice squad until the last three games. He then spent 2001 on the injured list with a strained right Achilles tendon, and he had 15 special teams tackles while playing all 16 games in 2002.
-- Associated Press
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