Despite numerous indications that a deal would go down, the Cincinnati Bengals once again have failed to trade for a new defensive tackle.

FOXSports.com has learned that Dewayne Robertson of the New York Jets, who met with Bengals officials at team headquarters on Monday, will not be traded to Cincinnati.

While they lost out on Robertson, Bengals upgraded their defensive line today by signing free-agent end Antwan Odom to a five-year, $29.5 million contract.

The deal includes $11.5 million in guaranteed money, a source told FOXSports.com.

The 26-year-old Odom is coming off his best NFL season, having recorded eight sacks last season with Tennessee. The Bengals were in the market for a new end after losing Justin Smith in free agency to San Francisco.

Robertson has two years remaining on the rookie deal he signed as the No. 4 pick of the 2003 draft. He is set to earn $1.5 million in base salary this season.

Robertson, who spoke Sunday night to Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, has been a poor fit in the 3-4 defensive scheme New York installed when Eric Mangini became head coach in 2006. Robertson, 26, would likely be better suited to play in a 4-3 system as a penetrating-style defensive tackle.

The Bengals thought they had an agreement Friday with Detroit to acquire defensive tackle Shaun Rogers. But a contractual issue nullified the deal, leading to the Lions instead agreeing to send Rogers to Cleveland for a third-round draft pick and cornerback Leigh Bodden.

Robertson became expendable in New York when the Jets acquired defensive tackle Kris Jenkins in a Friday trade with Carolina. A source said the new Jets contract Jenkins signed includes $9.5 million in guaranteed money and a $4.5 million roster bonus due in March. The total value of the five-year contract is $30.25 million with $18 million coming in the first three seasons, the source said.

Media reports have stated Jenkins was set to earn $20 million in guaranteed money from the Jets. 

 

 

 

Add Carlton Haselrig to the list of former NFL players venturing into the world of mixed martial arts.

 

Haselrig, who played with Pittsburgh (1990 to 1993) and the New York Jets (1995), is set to make his MMA debut April 19 in Atlantic City, N.J. Nicknamed “Don’t Blink,” Haselrig will be facing fellow 265-pound fighter Shane Ott in the main event of Battle Cage Extreme IV.

 

Haselrig, 42, remains the only six-time NCAA champion Greco-Roman wrestler (he won three titles on both the Division I and Division II levels). Despite not having played football collegiately, Haselrig was voted to the 1992 Pro Bowl just four seasons after being a 12th-round Steelers draft choice.

 

But drug and alcohol problems derailed Haselrig’s football career, leading to a 1995 NFL suspension while he was with the Jets. Haselrig also has gotten arrested on numerous occasions.

 

Johnny Morton, Michael Westbrook, Bob Sapp and Marcus Jones are other NFL players who have pursued MMA careers after leaving football. Sapp, a 1997 third-round draft pick by Chicago, has become a superstar in Japan although was knocked out last month in his U.S. MMA debut to Jan Nortje.

There are no guarantees Ricky Williams will be on Miami’s 2008 roster, but the Dolphins may soon have an opening for a new backup running back behind starter Ronnie Brown.

Jesse Chatman, who handled that role in 2007, is scheduled for a free-agent meeting Wednesday with the New York Jets.

Out of football for almost two seasons, Chatman resurrected his career last year by rushing for 515 yards and one touchdown. Chatman also started six games in place of the injured Brown (knee) before being maligned with ankle problems.

Williams started in place of the injured Chatman last November against Pittsburgh after being reinstated by the NFL following a 19-month drug suspension. Williams, though, suffered a torn pectoral muscle after just six carries in that game and missed the rest of the season.

Dolphins executive vice president Bill Parcells exercised a one-year option on Williams’ contract immediately after the season ended. The move insured Williams, 30, couldn’t opt out of his current deal and become a free agent.

Williams is now slated to earn a 2008 base salary of $730,000, which is the NFL-minimum base salary for a player with seven accredited seasons. It’s also a bargain if Williams can regain the form that made him one of the NFL’s top rushers before repeated drug suspensions derailed his football career.

The Dolphins selected Florida State running back Lorenzo Booker in the third round of last year’s draft. But Booker struggled for playing time as a rookie and, at 5-foot-11 and 191 pounds, may not have the size to handle an every-down role.

Coming off a torn anterior cruciate ligament, Brown is expected to return for the start of the regular season. Brown, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2005 draft, was enjoying his best NFL season before getting hurt.

New York’s interest in Chatman is curious simply because the team already has two solid running backs in Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. But Chatman also has value on special teams. 

The Buffalo Bills have interest in one of Atlanta’s top restricted free agents.

FOXSports.com has learned the Bills are scheduled to meet Monday with Falcons fullback Corey McIntyre.

While he wasn’t featured much on offense during two seasons with Atlanta, McIntyre has special teams value. The three-year veteran was a Falcons special teams captain in 2007.

The Falcons gave McIntyre a low RFA tender of $927,000 and have the right to match any offer he signs elsewhere. Because he was undrafted out of West Virginia, Buffalo wouldn’t have to surrender draft pick compensation if McIntyre were signed away. 

Miami has a new starting quarterback.

FOXSports.com has learned Oakland's Josh McCown has agreed to a two-year, $6.25 million contract with the Dolphins. McCown will receive a $2.5 million signing bonus.

The Dolphins were seeking to address the position after releasing Trent Green and, as FOXSports.com first reported, allowing Cleo Lemon to leave via free agency today to Jacksonville. Before the McCown signing, unproven 2007 second-round draft pick John Beck was the only notable quarterback on the roster.

McCown started nine games during an injury-plagued 2007 season with Oakland. While he posted pedestrian passing statistics, McCown was lauded for his leadership skills and willingness to play through pain.

McCown has 31 career starts in six NFL seasons.

The McCown signing is one of a flurry of roster moves Miami has made in Bill Parcells' first off-season heading football operations. Various media reports have the Dolphins signing four free agents — linebacker Reggie Torbor (New York Giants), guard Justin Smiley (San Francisco), defensive tackle Randy Starks (Tennessee) and wide receiver Ernest Wilfork (Jacksonville) — while also trading with Dallas for nose tackle Jason Ferguson. The Dolphins also entertained Arizona linebacker Calvin Pace on a free-agent visit.

If the Cincinnati Bengals want to start working some 3-4 formations into their defensive scheme, the franchise may have the prototype nose tackle to man it.

The Bengals are trying to finalize a trade with Detroit for nose tackle Shaun Rogers. FOXSports.com has learned that the deal – which was originally believed completed earlier today – is still being negotiated.

Media reports say the Bengals were offering third- and fifth-round draft picks. That is the same compensation the New York Jets gave Carolina in today’s trade for defensive tackle Kris Jenkins.

Rogers has experienced a rollercoaster seven years in Detroit. Rogers’ stay is remembered as much for weight issues and clashes with coaches as his two Pro Bowl seasons.

The 2007 campaign was reflective of much of his NFL career. Rogers was a dominating player at times but he didn’t consistently perform at a high level. Having lost patience, Detroit began shopping Rogers shortly after the season ended.

The Bengals are in need of defensive line help to shore the NFL’s 21st-ranked run defense (118.3 yards).

Atlanta’s re-signing of Chris Redman continues a curious off-season quarterback trend.

The grass wasn’t greener for six players who could have left elsewhere.

Redman joins Billy Volek (San Diego), Todd Collins (Washington), Rex Grossman (Chicago) and Shaun Hill (San Francisco) as quarterbacks who are returning to their respective club despite having a chance to leave as unrestricted free agents. Derek Anderson (Cleveland) also tested the market as a restricted free agent for about 10 hours today before re-signing.

With the exception of Anderson, there is the possibility none of these players will enter this season as a starter. And even in Anderson’s case, he may be playing elsewhere in several years if Brady Quinn proves ready for the job.

What to make of this?

A) Hill, Grossman, Collins and Redman must believe they have a better shot at starting with their current team than elsewhere.

B) Those same clubs with a fluid starting situation didn’t believe there were better options via trade or free agency. Atlanta and possibly Chicago are expected to have interest in selecting a quarterback early in April’s draft.

Hill and Collins toiled in obscurity for years before cashing in with new contracts, but neither was more off the NFL’s radar than Redman. Out of the league for most of the previous three years, Redman was signed by Atlanta in 2007 because of his familiarity with then-coach Bobby Petrino’s offense from when both were at Louisville. Redman played well enough to show he is at least a competent NFL backup.

See: Petrino did do something good for the Falcons after all.

Wide receiver Isaac Bruce is moving close to a reunion with his former head coach.

FOXSports.com has learned that Bruce is heading to San Francisco for a free-agent meeting with the 49ers, which recently hired Mike Martz as their offensive coordinator.

Bruce spent the past 14 seasons with St. Louis, including six (2000 to 2005) when Martz was head coach. The Rams released Bruce on Thursday to avoid paying him a $2 million roster bonus.

One of the most prolific wide receivers in NFL history, the 35-year-old Bruce has 942 career catches for 14,109 yards and 84 touchdowns.

Another free-agent wide receiver garnering interest is New Orleans’ Devery Henderson. FOXSports.com has learned that Tampa Bay will be hosting Henderson on a visit. A four-year NFL veteran, Henderson caught 20 passes for 409 yards and three touchdowns last season while making nine starts.

Henderson has the kind of big-play ability currently lacking in Tampa Bay’s wide receiver corps outside of Joey Galloway.

X: The Dallas Morning News reported that the Cowboys have traded defensive tackle Jason Ferguson to Miami. Dallas and the Dolphins will swap sixth-round picks in the 2007 draft, which moves the Cowboys to the top of the round. Dallas also will receive a 2009 sixth-round pick.

After missing almost all of last season with a torn biceps, Ferguson became expendable when Jay Ratliff and Tank Johnson played well in his place. The Dolphins were in need of a 3-4 nose tackle after releasing Keith Traylor. Ferguson also played under Dolphins executive vice president Bill Parcells in 2005 and 2006 when the latter was Cowboys coach.

X: Dolphins guard Rex Hadnot is visiting today with the Houston Texans. Hadnot, a 55-game Dolphins starter who played at the University of Houston, is believed to have become expendable in Miami after the club reportedly signed San Francisco guard Justin Smiley to a free-agent contract.

Of the top quarterbacks available in free agency, one is already off the market while another is meeting with the Miami Dolphins.

The Washington Redskins have announced the re-signing of Todd Collins. Contract terms were not released.

FOXSports.com also has confirmed that Oakland quarterback Josh McCown is taking a free-agent visit with the Dolphins. McCown started nine games for the Raiders last season, but is expected to cede the starting position in 2008 to JaMarcus Russell.

The Dolphins are in need of a starting quarterback, as Trent Green was released and Cleo Lemon is expected to sign with Jacksonville.

As for Collins, he helped guide Washington to four consecutive late-season victories in place of the injured Jason Campbell. Collins, 36, seems likely to return to a backup role behind Campbell.

Cleveland quarterback Derek Anderson should rest easy tonight.

Not only does he now have the security of a multiyear contract, Anderson couldn’t be in a better situation at this point than playing for the Browns.

Anderson allowed himself to test the market as a restricted free agent today and didn’t like what he saw. There’s plenty to like in Cleveland, which is why he agreed to a new deal.

He’s got an outstanding offensive line in front of him. Great, young targets to throw to in Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow. A 1,300-yard rusher (Jamal Lewis) behind him in the backfield.

Anderson wouldn’t have anywhere near the same caliber of surrounding cast had he signed elsewhere.

And while exact terms of his contract aren’t yet known, Anderson is now set for life financially. Even if 2007 first-round draft pick Brady Quinn ultimately proves ready for a starting spot, the 24-year-old Anderson will be heading for another big payday down the road as long as he continues playing at the same caliber as last season

In my book, the Anderson and Lewis re-signings as well as the trade to acquire Green Bay defensive tackle Corey Williams makes -- gasp! --- Cleveland the team to beat in the AFC North.

FOXSports.com has learned Jacksonville’s Marcus Stroud will be taking a visit to Buffalo, which could lead to a trade between the two teams for the defensive tackle’s services.

The Jaguars have given Stroud permission to shop himself in a trade. Stroud’s lofty salary (a team-high $6.3 million in 2008) and struggles to stay on the field have landed him on the trading block. Stroud has missed 12 games the past two seasons because of injuries and a steroid suspension.

Between 2003 and 2005, Stroud was one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles. He could help upgrade a Bills defense that ranked 25th against the run (124.6-yard average) last season.

FOXSports.com also has learned that Atlanta has expressed interest in Stroud. A deal would reunite Stroud with Atlanta head coach Mike Smith, who was his defensive coordinator in Jacksonville the past five seasons. The Falcons need defensive line help after releasing Rod Coleman earlier this month.

Don’t be surprised if Arizona linebacker Calvin Pace leaves South Florida as a member of the Miami Dolphins following a free-agent visit.

A league source told FOXSports.com that Miami is preparing to offer Pace the same kind of mega-deal that linebackers Adalius Thomas and Joey Porter received in free agency last off-season. New England and Miami signed Thomas and Porter respectively to five-year, $32 million contracts that included $20 million in guaranteed money.

Incidentally, Thomas and Porter never made the kind of impact in 2007 that was expected for the money paid.

While the 2003 first-round pick struggled as a 4-3 defensive end in his first four NFL seasons, Pace blossomed last year when moved to outside linebacker in Arizona’s new 3-4 scheme. Pace finished with career highs in tackles (98), sacks (6.5) and passes defensed (6).

By franchising fellow outside linebacker Karlos Dansby, Arizona was willing to let Pace test the market. Unless wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald can be signed to a new contract that lowers his salary cap number of roughly $16 million, Arizona appears likely to lose Pace and wideout Bryant Johnson in free agency.

X: San Francisco running back Maurice Hicks is planning to take a future free-agent visit to Minnesota, FOXSports.com has learned.

Hicks started five games for the 49ers in 2004 and 2005 and has primarily handled kick returns for the past two seasons.

Philadelphia and Houston also have expressed interest in Hicks, a source said.

X: Adam Caplan of scout.com reports that New Orleans will re-sign defensive tackle Brian Young and linebacker Mark Simoneau. Young is slated to receive a three-year, $12 million deal.

The New York Jets are the winners in the Kris Jenkins sweepstakes.

FOXSports.com has learned that Carolina traded the defensive tackle to the New York Jets for third- and fifth-round draft picks.

Although he has battled weight issues in the past, Jenkins should provide the big-bodied presence at nose tackle the team has sorely lacked since coach Eric Mangini instituted a 3-4 defensive scheme in 2006. Dewayne Robertson, who was manning the spot for New York, seems likely to get traded elsewhere. Robertson is better suited as a penetrating-style tackle in a 4-3 defensive scheme.

Jenkins had 38 tackles and 2.5 sacks last season while starting 15 of 16 games for Carolina. But that wasn’t good enough for the Panthers, who wanted to avoid having to pay Jenkins a $1 million roster bonus due next week.

Damione Lewis, who was re-signed earlier this month, is expected to replace Jenkins in the starting lineup.

Expected to take a plunge into free agency, the Minnesota Vikings aren’t disappointing.

FOXSports.com has confirmed reports that Chicago wide receiver Bernard Berrian and Cincinnati defensive end Justin Smith are drawing strong interest. The Vikings hope to visit with both players today.

Signing Berrian and Smith would address two Vikings needs. Minnesota is lacking a veteran wideout to pair with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, while Smith would fill the void created when starting end Kenechi Udeze was recently diagnosed with leukemia. 

FOXSports.com has learned Detroit defensive end Corey Smith is tentatively scheduled for a Monday free-agent visit with Green Bay. A seven-year NFL veteran, Smith saw action in 16 games last season with two starts.

Also, Adam Caplan of scout.com has reported that Oakland defensive end Tyler Brayton has a visit set with Carolina. Caplan says Oakland unsuccessfully tried to re-sign Brayton before the start of the free-agent signing period.