Cincinnati Bengals 03/01/2007 8:52 AMThe Dayton Daily News reports in a stunning move Wednesday afternoon, the Cincinnati Bengals terminated the contract of veteran LB Brian Simmons, releasing him to free agency. Simmons, a first-round draft pick (No. 17 overall) in 1998, spent nine years as a Bengals' starter at middle and weak-side linebacker. But he became a salary-cap casualty as the club braces for Friday's start of the NFL's unrestricted free agency period.Read more
Dallas Cowboys 02/27/2007 12:35 PMNFL.comâs Adam Schefter reports the Cowboys are expected to release veteran QB Drew Bledsoe, which will free him to sign with another team and save Dallas $5.5 million against the salary cap. Bledsoe is due a $1 million roster bonus March 2, and the Cowboys do not intend to pay that or the $4.5 million in base salary he is scheduled to make in 2007.Read more
Atlanta Falcons 02/27/2007 8:58 AMThe Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the Falcons plan to tender restricted free agent QB Matt Schaub a one-year qualifying offer of more than $2 million Tuesday, a person with knowledge of the situation told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday. Included in that tender is the requirement that if another team signs the highly regarded backup it must compensate the Falcons with first- and third-round draft picks.Read more
New Orleans Saints 02/27/2007 8:49 AMThe Times-Picayune reports the Saints kept their best run defender off the free-agent market Monday when DT Hollis Thomas agreed to a four-year, $12 million contract that will be worth $6 million this season with bonuses and salary, according to his agent. Thomas said Monday night that talks between the Saints and Ron Slavin, Thomas' Madison, Wis.-based representative, intensified over the weekend at the National Scouting Combine in Indianapolis and that the duration of the contract means he'll likely end his career in New Orleans.Read more
