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 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.