NFL Capsules: Seahawks reportedly land Houshmandzadeh
SEATTLE - T.J. Houshmandzadeh and the Seattle Seahawks agreed on a five-year contract, according to media reports Monday.
Citing unidentified sources, ESPN.com, The NFL Network and the Seattle Post Intelligencer reported on their Web sites that the former Cincinnati Bengals receiver's deal is for $40 million and includes $15 million in guarantees.
His agent, Kennard McGuire, did not respond to repeated text messages, e-mails and calls to his cell phone and office on Monday.
He was in the Twin Cities this weekend negotiating with the Vikings, but left last night without a deal.
The 31-year-old Houshmandzadeh has caught 204 passes in the last two seasons. Seattle didn't have a wide receiver catch more than Bobby Engram's 47 last season.
The Seahawks had seven injuries at the position while sliding to a 4-12 finish in 2008.
Houshmandzadeh teamed with Chad Johnson to give the Bengals one of the best receiving tandems in the NFL in 2005, when the Bengals had their only winning record in the last 18 years.
While Cincinnati's offense disintegrated in the last three years, Houshmandzadeh emerged.
A dependable possession receiver, Houshmandzadeh caught 90 passes in 2006 and tied New England's West Welker for the NFL lead with 112 catches in 2007. He made his first Pro Bowl appearance that season.
With quarterback Carson Palmer sidelined by an elbow injury and the offensive line struggling last year, the Bengals had the worst offense in the league. Houshmandzadeh was its best player, catching 92 passes with four touchdowns.
Titans sign WR Washington, DT Haye
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - After losing All-Pro Albert Haynesworth to a record-setting contract last week, the Tennessee Titans dipped into the free agent market for two players.
The Titans signed Pittsburgh Steelers free-agent receiver Nate Washington to a six-year deal on Monday, and added former Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Jovan Haye with a four-year deal.
The Titans are hopeful Washington is ready to step into a more prominient role after being third on the Steelers depth chart behind a pair of Super Bowl MVPs in Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.
The 25-year-old Washington, who caught 40 passes for 631 yards for the Steelers last year, will be counted to replace Brandon Jones, who left for San Francisco as a free agent, and start alongside holdover Justin Gage.
"I'm ready for that opportunity and I'm ready for that responsibility to step in and be a No. 1-type receiver," Washington said.
Washington also adds much-needed speed to Tennessee's receiving corps.
"We were concerned about him as an opponent, and we're glad now to have him running down the field and catching passes for us," coach Jeff Fisher said.
Haye is returning home in a sense, having played college football in Nashville at Vanderbilt University. He spent the past three years with Tampa Bay where his best season came in 2007 with six sacks and 68 tackles.
"He had six sacks in '07, and last year battled through a lot of injuries, and I'm sure when we get him back to 100 percent, he'll be very effective for us," Fisher said.
Haye was asked about trying to replace Haynesworth, a two-time All-Pro who signed a $100 million deal with the Washington Redskins on Friday.
"Albert was a great player, and he did great things here in Tennessee," Haye said. "I'm not coming here to try and fill his shoes. I'm just going to be me. Whatever I have to offer, I'm going to give. I don't see it as replacing Albert. You can never replace Albert. He's a big massive guy and a great football player.
"I'm just looking to make my own name, and hopefully, one day somebody else can say the same (about me)."
Fisher said he is confident that Haye will join a rotation that includes Tony Brown, Jason Jones and Kevin Vickerson, and that the group can help offset losing Haynesworth.
"We're good at the tackle position," Fisher said. "We're gonna rotate and we're not gonna drop off. You don't replace Albert, but we had interest in (Jovan) last year when we still had Albert, and if we had re-signed Albert, we still would have had interest in him."
Fisher also announced Monday that longtime Titans punter Craig Hentrich has decided to postpone his retirement plans and play the 2009 season. Hentrich, a free agent, will have to sign a new contract. He had considered retiring after having back problems for the past several season, including a pair of surgeries.
"For all intents and purposes, Craig Hentrich will be the punter for this football team again next year," Fisher said.
Kurt Warner visits 49ers headquarters
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Kurt Warner is being courted by an eager division rival of the Arizona Cardinals.
The San Francisco 49ers sent a private jet Monday for the two-time MVP quarterback, who traveled from Phoenix to the 49ers' Silicon Valley training complex. He underwent a physical exam and had a meeting with their top brass.
Warner led the Cardinals to the Super Bowl last season, but became a free agent when he didn't re-sign with the club. Arizona has offered a two-year, $20 million contract to Warner, but he's apparently seeking a deal worth at least $14 million per season.
For the right offer, the former St. Louis Rams star seems willing to leave Arizona, his home for the past four seasons. The 49ers have a new coach and a decent amount of talent, but no proven starting quarterback - so they rolled out the red-and-gold carpet for Warner.
"It's still up in the air," San Francisco general manager Scot McCloughan said while leaving the complex about 30 minutes before Warner departed in a stretch Range Rover limousine. "We're very excited he's willing to come visit us and possibly be a 49er. ... He's a very classy guy, and you can see why he's been so successful in his career, the way he carries himself."
NFC West rival San Francisco finished just two games behind the Cardinals in second place last season, and the club has enough cap room to accommodate Warner's salary wishes. Among the Niners' many obstacles would be enticing Warner, who will be 38 years old by training camp, to uproot his large family again.
After flying into San Jose, Warner and his wife, Brenda, arrived at the 49ers' training complex shortly before lunchtime. He had lunch and a meeting with McCloughan and coach Mike Singletary before traveling to Stanford Hospital for his exam.
Warner returned to the complex in a Cadillac driven by 49ers athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson at about 4 p.m. Warner mouthed the words "I'm not talking" through the window to reporters as they drove through a security gate.
The Warners were expected to fly home Monday night, but McCloughan and owner Jed York indicated they might have dinner plans or further discussions before he returned to Phoenix.
Warner proved he's still at the top of his talents last season. After claiming the Cardinals' starting job from Matt Leinart, Warner passed for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns, leading the franchise to its first division title since 1975. He also starred in four playoff games, completing 68 percent of his passes for 1,147 yards and 11 TDs.
Singletary has been unwilling to designate veteran Shaun Hill as his starter for next season even after Hill led San Francisco to five wins in its final seven games and a 7-9 record that knocked the interim tag off Singletary's title. Hill has been an effective quarterback over the past two seasons, going 7-3 as a starter, but he doesn't have the arm strength or pedigree that wows coaches.
Alex Smith, the injury-plagued former No. 1 draft pick, is working on restructuring his contract to stay with the 49ers, who'll release him if they can't reach a deal with a much lower base salary than the $9 million in his current contract.
The 49ers might not be the ideal football fit for Warner, who would leave a lineup with star receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin to join a run-based offense with no proven pass-catchers - although Warner's arrival might persuade longtime Rams teammate Isaac Bruce to put off retirement for another season.
San Francisco's biggest signing Monday also pointed to another reason Warner might not be perfectly suited for the Niners. Fullback Moran Norris signed a three-year contract to return to the 49ers, who have repeatedly said they plan to build a run-first offense around running back Frank Gore and new coordinator Jimmy Raye.
But Warner met with Raye and quarterbacks coach Mike Johnson on Monday afternoon, talking football and weighing his options.
"We just said hello," York said of his interaction with Warner. "He's a great guy, class act, great person."
-- Greg Beacham
Workout refusal leads Redskins to cut DE Taylor
WASHINGTON - After a year of "Dancing With the Stars" and struggling with the Washington Redskins, Jason Taylor wanted some family time.
He's got his wish.
The former NFL defensive player of the year's disappointing turn in the nation's capital came to an end Monday when he was cut by the Redskins for refusing to commit to the team's offseason workout program.
The Redskins wanted to add a workout clause to Taylor's hefty contract, but the 34-year-old defensive end declined. The clause would have required Taylor to take part in 25 days of offseason workouts.
"He wanted to spend the offseason with his family," said Taylor's agent, Gary Wichard. "He just kind of chose family over going up there."
The flap is reminiscent of last year, when Taylor clashed with the Miami Dolphins for competing in "Dancing With the Stars" rather than working out with the team in the offseason. Taylor finished second to Kristi Yamaguchi on the reality television show, then was shipped by the Dolphins to the Redskins.
That meant Taylor spent virtually the entire year apart from his wife and children in Florida.
"He had been away for four months in Los Angeles, then he got back to Miami and then he got traded," Wichard said. "He wanted to spend time with his three kids."
The six-time Pro Bowl end had been considered a possible salary cap cut in Washington because of the value of his contract, which would have paid him about $8.5 million this season. The Redskins, however, were willing to give him the full salary if he had agreed to the workout clause.
Instead, Taylor turns out to be another expensive Redskins bust, one who cost the team two draft picks and gave them one ineffective, injury-plagued season.
Taylor was acquired on the first day of training camp after Phillip Daniels went down with a season-ending knee injury. The Redskins gave up a second-round draft pick in 2009 and a sixth-round selection in 2010.
But Taylor, who was healthy for nearly all of his 11 seasons in Miami, sprained his knee during preseason and then suffered an unusual calf injury during the win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 21. Taylor required an emergency to operation to have blood drained from his calf and had a second procedure about a month later.
The calf injury caused him to miss three games and hampered Taylor for much of the season. Also, he struggled to fit into a Redskins' defensive scheme that gave him less freedom than he had with the Dolphins. Taylor, whose 120½ career sacks are the most among active players, had only 3½ for the Redskins, his lowest season total since 1999.
"He played hurt," coach Jim Zorn said in a statement released by the team, "but still gave his best effort to be prepared and play hard every week."
The move rules out a chance for the Redskins to field a defensive line that would consist of three renowned sack-masters: Taylor, Andre Carter and Albert Haynesworth, who on Friday signed a seven-year, $100 million contract with a record-breaking $41 million in guaranteed money.
With Taylor gone, the Redskins are expected to focus on re-signing defensive ends Daniels and Demetric Evans, who became free agents last week.
-- Joseph White
Lions sign WR Bryant Johnson to 3-year deal
ALLEN PARK, Mich. - The Detroit Lions signed free agent receiver Bryant Johnson to a three-year contract on Monday, adding the former first-round draft pick to complement rising star Calvin Johnson.
The Lions traded receiver Roy Williams during last season and released receiver Mike Furrey last month.
Bryant Johnson had 45 receptions for 546 yards and three touchdowns last year, his only season with the San Francisco 49ers, after five seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.
He has 255 receptions for 3,221 yards and 12 TDs in 93 career games. Arizona drafted him out of Penn State with the 17th overall pick in the 2003 draft.
Calvin Johnson, in his second season, caught 78 passes for 1,331 yards for the winless Lions in 2008.
Niners re-sign fullback Norris
SANTA CLARA, Calif. - The San Francisco 49ers re-signed fullback Moran Norris to a three-year contract Monday, welcoming back the burly run-blocker after releasing him last summer.
Norris, an eight-year NFL veteran, played for the 49ers from 2006-07. He was the lead blocker for Frank Gore when the running back led the NFC in rushing with 1,695 yards in 2006, earning a trip to the Pro Bowl.
San Francisco dropped Norris after training camp last season because former offensive coordinator Mike Martz's offense didn't make much use of a fullback. Norris signed with the Detroit Lions, starting eight games in their 0-16 season.
"I thought (returning to San Francisco) would be a good possibility, but I just didn't know what route they were going to go," Norris said Monday after signing the deal at the 49ers' training complex.
When Jimmy Raye was hired to replace Martz in late January, coach Mike Singletary confirmed the 49ers' intention to implement a run-based offense. San Francisco quickly moved to re-sign Norris, who was eager to reteam with Gore.
"He knows how I block, and I know how he runs," Norris said. "We're friends on and off the field. ... I knew they were looking for a fullback that was going to stick their nose in. I'm just glad to be back with Frank Gore."
Norris also played for New Orleans and Houston earlier in his career. He has carried the ball just 11 times in his career, but has caught 27 passes for 147 yards and three touchdowns.
While Norris finished his contract at the 49ers' complex Monday, he didn't run into Kurt Warner. The free agent quarterback was in town for a physical exam and a meeting with the top brass of the 49ers, who hope to entice him away from the Arizona Cardinals.
"That would be exciting," Norris said. "He's a winner."
-- Greg Beacham
Patriots sign former Jets TE Chris Baker
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Patriots signed tight end Chris Baker, who played seven seasons with the New York Jets.
Baker has 145 career receptions for 1,505 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was selected by the Jets in the third round of the 2002 draft from Michigan State and played in 98 regular-season games.
For the Patriots, Baker will provide depth at the tight end position behind Benjamin Watson and David Thomas, who are entering the final years of their contracts.
The Patriots on Monday also re-signed offensive lineman Russ Hochstein. The versatile eight-year veteran has filled in at guard, center and tackle during his time in New England. He also played fullback and tight end in some short yardage situations last season.
Broncos sign LB Andra Davis
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Denver Broncos have signed linebacker Andra Davis as they continue to revamp their defense.
Davis, 30, was signed Monday. He fits in perfectly with the Broncos' plans to convert to a 3-4 defense since he played in a similar scheme with Cleveland.
Davis spent seven seasons with the Browns, finishing second on the team in tackles in 2008.
The Broncos have made defense a high priority after ranking at or near the bottom in every major defensive category last year, when they surrendered 448 points.
They've retooled their secondary, bringing in Andre Goodman, Brian Dawkins and Renaldo Hill. They also added depth at defensive line with Darrell Reid, a special teams standout who can play defensive end or linebacker in the 3-4 system.
LB Blackstock stays with Bengals
CINCINNATI - Cincinnati linebacker Darryl Blackstock agreed Monday to stay with the Bengals, who have taken two hits to their offense in the first days of free agency.
Blackstock, an unrestricted free agent, started four games last season and appeared in eight others, getting 17 tackles. He was suspended for four games by the NFL for using a performance-enhancing substance.
The Bengals also re-signed defensive lineman Orien Harris, a second-year player who appeared in 14 games last season.
The Bengals have lost right tackle Stacy Andrews, who signed with Philadelphia, and second-string quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, who went to Buffalo as a free agent.
DE Holliday released by Dolphins
MIAMI - Defensive end Vonnie Holliday was released Monday after four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, who have lost three defensive starters this offseason.
At 33, Holliday was the Dolphins' second-oldest player. He started 15 games for the AFC East champions in 2008 and led the team's defensive linemen with 46 tackles. He was third on the team with 3.5 sacks.
"These types of decisions are always difficult ones, especially with someone like Vonnie, who has been a role model both on the field and off it," general manager Jeff Ireland said in a statement. "He was one of our captains last year and was a proven leader, not just in his tenure with the Dolphins, but throughout his 11-year career. "
Holliday was scheduled to make $2.8 million in base salary in 2009 and was due a $1.5 million roster bonus Tuesday.
He started at end in the Dolphins' 3-4 scheme last year and was joined up front by rookie Kendall Langford and nose tackle Jason Ferguson, the oldest player on the team.
Miami has already lost free safety Renaldo Hill and cornerback Andre Goodman, who both signed with Denver as unrestricted free agents.
Holliday joined the Dolphins in 2005 after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs. He spent two seasons with the Chiefs after beginning his career in Green Bay after being a first-round pick in 1998.
He has started 141 of the 151 games he has played.
Chiefs not talking about deal for Cassel, Vrabel
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Scott Pioli pulled off a big deal in his first major act as Kansas City's general manager, landing quarterback Matt Cassel and linebacker Mike Vrabel for a second-round draft pick.
Not a package of draft picks, not the second-rounder and another player, not even with cash thrown in. A potentially franchise-building quarterback and a starting linebacker for one second-round draft pick. That's it.
The obvious question is, how did he get so much for so little?
Sadly, there's still no answer.
Two days after the trade with New England was announced, the Chiefs were again mum on what seems like a monumentally lopsided deal.
Pioli? Unavailable. Coach Todd Haley? Evasive. Cassel? On speaker phone for his introduction to the Kansas City media. Vrabel? Also not available.
"I won't get into specifics of that. I'm glad we have both players on the team," Haley said Monday.
That's it. No discussion of how the trade came together, not even a "we got a good deal." It was calculated, tidy, somewhat mysterious. In other words, very Patriots-like.
Of course, that's no surprise. As vice president of player personnel in New England, Pioli helped turn the Patriots into a dynasty, gathered all the pieces for coach Bill Belichick to win three Super Bowls.
Those ties to New England clearly played some role in the trade to get Cassel and Vrabel. How much? It's hard to tell since no one's talking about the deal.
Cassel was talking, but not in person and not about specifics of the trade. Calling in from somewhere in Kansas City, he was thrilled at the chance to be the man after eight years of being the man behind the man.
"I've been working really, really hard for a long time, and I finally had an opportunity last year and got a taste of what it's like to be out there and play and be on the field every snap," he said. "I'm excited that I'll have the opportunity to do the same thing here and try to get this thing going and get on the right track and win ball games."
On paper, the Chiefs clearly got the better end of the deal.
Cassel, after three years as Tom Brady's backup and five more on the bench at Southern California, proved to be a more-than capable starter, leading the Patriots to an 11-5 record and into the playoffs after Brady suffered a season-ending knee injury in the opener against Kansas City.
Cassel would have become a free agent in the offseason, so the Patriots hit him with the franchise tag as insurance in case Brady didn't fully recuperate. With Brady's recovery going well, New England opted to trade Cassel instead of paying the 2007 MVP's backup $14.65 million for one year.
Cassel was reportedly part of a proposed three-team trade that would have sent him to Denver and Broncos starter Jay Cutler to Tampa Bay - a rumor that left Cutler feeling a little sour. That deal apparently fell through and Kansas City was the beneficiary, getting a quarterback who threw for 3,693 yards and 21 touchdowns for what amounts to half a second-round draft pick.
"He's a guy with just one year of experience, but he's coming from a good system and a place where they've done a good job of winning games in the NFL," Haley said. "Anytime you can get a player that's been around winning, I think that's a good thing."
Cassel for a second-round draft pick probably would be seen as a steal. Adding Vrabel, too? That seems like tunnel-under-the-floor bank-heist stuff - again, on paper.
Though on the downside of his 12-year career, Vrabel will provide a veteran presence to a 2-14 team that was the youngest in the league last year. He also should give the Chiefs some help with a pass rush that had an NFL record-low 10 sacks a year ago.
The Patriots, whose only comments on the trade were in a statement issued Saturday, cleared $4.3 million from the salary cap by trading Vrabel, a 34-year-old entering the last year of his contract.
"He plays physical, he's true pro in every sense of the word and, again, you get a guy who's used to winning," Haley said. "Around a young team like we have, I think that's a valuable asset to have on your team. I'm happy to have both guys on this team."
Especially at these prices.
-- John Marshall
Scott received late-night recruiting visit by Jets
NEW YORK - It was just a few minutes past midnight last Friday morning when Bart Scott's phone rang and his two dogs started barking.
The former Baltimore Ravens linebacker had some unexpected visitors sitting in a car in his driveway: New York Jets coach Rex Ryan, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine and secondary coach Dennis Thurman.
"I thought it was the most hilarious thing in the world," the Jets' new linebacker recalled with a laugh Monday. "I am happy that they did not get out of the car and get bit by my dogs. When I heard my dogs barking, I thought they were out chasing deer or something. When Coach Thurman called me and said, 'Come on out, man, and get these dogs,' it was the funniest thing in the world."
The three Jets coaches were on a late-night recruiting trip to Scott's home in Owings Mills, Md., just as the NFL's free agency period began. Ryan, Scott's former defensive coordinator with the Ravens, made it clear he wanted the linebacker to be the centerpiece of New York's defense.
"To be able to have the opportunity to kind of move from the passenger's seat to the driver's seat is very flattering and it comes with a great sense of responsibility," Scott said. "I'm ready to take on the challenge."
The Jets opened their wallets for the imposing 28-year-old linebacker, signing him to a six-year, $48 million deal later that day.
"They did their due diligence and it was very refreshing," Scott said. "They really showed me that they were serious about getting me and they weren't letting me go anywhere."
After going up to the Jets' training facility in Florham Park, N.J., on Friday morning, Scott never had any doubts he'd sign with New York despite reports of a bidding war with Baltimore.
"I was getting calls from my wife and she was stressed out, saying that she's packing, she's unpacking, what's going on? I let her know that it was a done deal and everything was fine," Scott said. "It was an urban legend."
Scott, nicknamed The Mad Backer for his confident and aggressive style on the field, ranked second on the Ravens in tackles last season and will join promising David Harris as speedy, playmaking linebackers in New York's 3-4 defensive scheme.
"We won't back down from anybody," Scott said. "We won't take a step back from anybody. You guys can expect to see a very physical, violent defense. I don't know if this division has ever seen a violent defense. It's one thing to make a tackle, it's another thing to be violent. Violence makes guys stay on the sideline when they get hit."
He said his main priority in finding a team was going somewhere he could play the same type of intense defense he played in Baltimore.
"I made no bones about it that I wanted to stay in Baltimore and that Baltimore would be given an opportunity before free agency even hit to get something wrapped up," he said. "I look at New York as Baltimore because I'm so familiar with the coaching staff, but I was partial to Baltimore because that's the only play I'd known. But if I had to leave, New York was high on my list."
Signed by the Ravens as an undrafted free agent out of Southern Illinois in 2002, Scott also showed off a little bit of his knowledge of Jets history.
"What better place for the underdog than the original underdog from Super Bowl III?" Scott said.
Scott was a major part of a Ravens defense that ranked No. 2 overall and helped Baltimore reach the AFC championship against Pittsburgh. He said he's actively recruiting former teammates Jim Leonhard and Corey Ivy, free agent defensive backs who have visited with New York.
"Trust me, when Rex left, a lot of guys wanted to come with him," Scott said. "We played last year to get Rex a head coaching job. That's what was one of the goals on the defensive side: Let's play so good that they have no choice but to recognize our defense and recognize the man that's pulling the trigger."
After playing mainly as a backup and on special teams, Scott saw significant playing time in his fourth season at middle linebacker when Ray Lewis was injured. He played in the Pro Bowl the following season after he registered a career-high 9½ sacks and two interceptions. In announcing the signing Friday night, Ryan said people have only seen "the tip of the iceberg" of what Scott can accomplish.
"I feel like I'm putting it all together and rounding it out," Scott said. "I look forward to this year being able to put it all together and take the next step."
-- Dennis Waszak Jr.
Charge dropped but Marshall might not be in clear
DENVER - Denver Broncos star receiver Brandon Marshall faces a possible suspension even though a disorderly conduct charge stemming from a fight with his fiance was dismissed in an Atlanta court Monday.
Municipal Judge Clinton Deveaux dismissed the case after Marshall and his fiance, Michi Leshase Nogami-Campbell, both of whom were charged with disorderly conduct, refused to testify against each other.
Despite being in the clear from a legal standpoint, the Pro Bowl receiver might still be disciplined for repeated violations of the league's personal conduct code, which gives commissioner Roger Goodell the authority to punish players.
"We will (still) look into it," league spokesman Greg Aiello told The Associated Press on Monday after the case against Marshall was dropped.
Marshall, who was jailed for five hours Sunday morning after his fourth arrest in three years, is looking at possibly beginning the season at home just like he did last year. Marshall was banned from the opener following seven police-related incidents with his former girlfriend.
If he's penalized again, it will likely be for much longer.
Repeat offenders of the league's conduct policy, such as Tank Johnson and Chris Henry, have received eight-game suspensions. Adam "Pacman" Jones was suspended for the 2007 season after repeated run-ins with the law.
"It's always a concern whenever the league is looking into things," Marshall's lawyer, Harvey Steinberg, said. "We'll deal with it. ... I'm hopeful the league will treat us fairly and appropriately as they've done in the past."
Broncos spokesman Patrick Smyth said the team has no comment.
The team's new brain trust of general manager Brian Xanders and coach Josh McDaniels were already dealing with the fallout from trade talks with franchise quarterback Jay Cutler over the weekend when Marshall got into trouble again.
Marshall, who turns 25 this month, was suspended for three games last season but he and Steinberg successfully had the punishment whittled to one game plus two paychecks totaling $52,352 when Marshall pledged to stay off the police blotter.
According to the police report, Marshall got into a heated argument early Sunday morning at his home in Atlanta with Nogami-Campbell.
Marshall told officers that he feared for his fiance's safety when she tried to leave his house because she's from Orlando, Fla., and isn't familiar with the city of Atlanta.
While police looked on, the argument escalated and Marshall and his fiance began kicking and punching each other on the sidewalk outside his home, according to the report.
Neither one needed medical attention, and both of them were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and taken to the Atlanta City Jail about 6 a.m. Sunday. They posted bond about five hours later and were ordered to court Monday morning, where charges against both were dismissed.
Marshall's latest arrest puts a crimp in his plans to seek a huge contract as one of the league's top receivers. He's due $2.2 million this season in the final year of a four-year contract he signed as a rookie.
His agent, Kennard McGwire, didn't respond to requests for comment.
Marshall caught 104 passes for 1,265 yards and six TDs last season. But he dropped 18 on-target passes, something he blamed on the nerve damage in his right arm, which he put through a television set while horsing around with his brother in the offseason.
In three NFL seasons, Marshall has caught 226 passes for 2,899 yards and 15 touchdowns, although he's fumbled eight times, losing four.
Marshall's latest arrest came the same weekend Cutler, a fellow 2006 draft pick who also made his first trip to the Pro Bowl last month, became indignant upon after learning McDaniels talked about trading him for Matt Cassel, whom he tutored in New England last year.
-- Arnie Stapleton and Pat Graham
Pro Bowl may return to Hawaii
HONOLULU - Under pressure to bring the Pro Bowl back to Hawaii, the state tourism board will reconsider its refusal of the NFL's offer to play the all-star game in the islands in 2011 and 2012.
This time, the Hawaii Tourism Authority likely will approve the $4 million per year offer, which fell one vote short last week, said board chairman Kelvin Bloom. It was the second time the board had turned down the NFL's proposal.
"I'm certainly hopeful of that," Bloom said following a Monday hearing with the Hawaii House Tourism Committee. "The odds are in our favor."
Since Thursday's vote, the NFL rejected a counteroffer from the state, he said. The authority will revote on the previous bid Friday.
"We would like to return to Hawaii and we stand behind our offer," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in a statement Monday.
The proposed deal would bring the game back to Hawaii in 2011, but it would be played the week before the Super Bowl instead of the week afterward.
The Pro Bowl will be played in Miami in 2010 after a 30-year run in Hawaii.
Tourism officials were worried that Pro Bowl attendance would drop off because players on Super Bowl-bound teams wouldn't play in an exhibition a week before the big game, Bloom said.
They asked the NFL to return the Pro Bowl to the weekend after the Super Bowl if viewership falls off, but the NFL refused to alter its offer, Bloom said.
Bloom said members of the tourism board may change their vote because of mounting public pressure to keep the Pro Bowl's 30-year tradition in Hawaii alive.
"The fact of the matter is that we can't afford to lose this game," Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann told the committee. "Just get it done. That's what the people want. This is a popular game, whether you're a football fan or not."
This year's Pro Bowl generated $28.6 million in spending and $2.9 million in taxes.
In each of the previous four Pro Bowls, the Hawaii Tourism Authority also paid $4 million to bring the game to Honolulu.
"The people of Hawaii and the NFL share a common goal: we want the Pro Bowl in Hawaii to be a big hit," said Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona, who praised the decision to reconsider the NFL offer.
Some board members previously said they were concerned that the money could have been better spent on tourism marketing rather than paying the NFL to use the state's facilities, especially at a time when the state's budget is running short.
"The majority of the members of the board are convinced of the economic benefit to the state," Bloom said. "It's in the NFL's best interest that the Pro Bowl be successful. ... Perhaps playing the game before the Super Bowl will be successful."
-- Mark Niesse
Vikings DE Allen to visit troops
EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen is one of four NFL players who will visit U.S. troops throughout the Persian Gulf region this week.
It's all part of a tradition that started more than 40 years ago with NFL players visiting troops to boost their spirits and show their support.
Allen will be accompanied by Cardinals receiver and Minneapolis native Larry Fitzgerald, Giants linebacker Danny Clark and Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon.
The program started in 1966 when several NFL players traveled to Vietnam and other parts of Asia to visit troops.
It's one of many causes that Allen supports. He had 14½ sacks and made the Pro Bowl in his first season with the Vikings last year.
Snow again postpones Bridges assault hearing
CHARLOTTE, N.C. - A court date for former Carolina Panthers offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges on an assault charge has been postponed for a second time because of bad weather.
Less than a week after the Panthers released Bridges to clear salary-cap space, his hearing on Monday was postponed when Mecklenburg County District Court closed after several inches of snow fell in Charlotte.
Bridges' first hearing date on Jan. 20 was also postponed due to snow.
Bridges was arrested on Dec. 7 and charged with two counts of simple assault and battery and one count of communicating threats. The charges stem from an incident at a Charlotte restaurant where Bridges was accused of spraying champagne on other customers and getting into a dispute with a restaurant employee.
49ers fan search case sent back to lower court
SAN FRANCISCO - The California Supreme Court has decided not to rule on whether the San Francisco 49ers can pat down fans before they enter the team's home stadium. Instead the justices are sending the issue back to the lower court.
The state's high court ruled Monday that it doesn't have enough information to decide whether the pat-down policy is an illegal invasion of privacy. It ordered a trial court to gather more evidence, such as the 49ers' and NFLs reasons for the security measure, before deciding the issue.
Two season ticket holders sued the team in 2005 after the 49ers instituted the policy as part of the NFL's anti-terrorism security efforts. Two lower courts sided with the 49ers and dismissed the lawsuit.
