The Facts:
Johnson has agreed to terms on a one-year deal with the San Francisco 49ers, a source told ESPN.com. 

Diehards Line:
Johnson, an unrestricted free agent, was a first-round pick (17th overall) by the Arizona Cardinals in 2003, and had spent his entire career with the Cardinals. Last season, he had 46 receptions for 528 yards and two touchdowns. The agreement with San Francisco comes as a bit of a surprise given the interest Johnson expressed in Buffalo after a visit with the Bills. The Redskins and Bucs were also interested.

The Facts:
Following up on a previous item. ... Brown, who turns 27 next month, signed a two-year contract worth $3.6 million on Thursday. He received an $800,000 signing bonus. 

Diehards Line:
As noted in last night's Roster-Move Roundup, Brown joins a group that includes Ahman Green, Chris Taylor and Darius Walker. The Texans are still expected to draft another back. ... As Chronicle staffer John McClain suggested this morning, the Texans hope they are getting the Brown who rushed for 175 yards in Tennessee's season-opening victory at Jacksonville last season rather than the running back who was injured in each of his five seasons with the Titans.

The Facts:
Word out of One Buc Place is that Williams has been dedicated and diligent about his rehabilitation following reconstructive knee surgery last fall by James Andrews, the reknown orthopedist based in Birmingham, Ala. But virtually no scenario will have Williams back on the field in time for training camp. The start of the regular season is a longshot, also. 

Diehards Line:
With the Bucs' off-season conditioning program set to begin Monday, we should have a better gauge soon of just where Williams stands in what will be a grueling comeback. Patellar tears are among the worst injuries football players -- and particularly RBs -- can suffer. ... Meanwhile, Earnest Graham is back. So is Michael Bennett. And now Warrick Dunn is back in mix. Williams progress is something we'll follow closely in coming months, but it's become increasingly clear the Bucs are getting ready to roll without the Cadillac.

The Facts:
According to a source with knowledge of the situation, the Lions and Browns have already called to express interest in Brown, with Cleveland considered a better fit because of Romeo Crennel, the fact that the Browns are an up-and-coming team, and an opportunity to catch some passes behind Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow and Donte’ Stallworth. 

Diehards Line:
As noted in a previous item, the Patriots have told Brown they won't offer him a contract this year. It's worth noting the veteran wideout has made it clear that he won’t play for a team that faces the Patriots next year, which rules out the Jets and Dolphins, who have expressed cursory interest.

The Facts:
The Texans signed Brown on Thursday. He'll join Ahman Green at running back with the Texans and his signing could mean the end of Ron Dayne's tenure in Houston.  

Diehards Line:
Green is expected to be healthy this season after missing nine games in 2007 and finishing with 70 carries for 260 yards. The Texans have not re-signed Dayne, an unrestricted free agent who led the team in rushing the last two seasons. Brown appeared in 12 games last season for the Tennessee Titans and finished with 462 yards rushing and five touchdowns. HC Gary Kubiak believes Brown is ideally suited to the team's zone-blocking scheme.

The Facts:
Brunell has signed with the New Orleans Saints, according to a league source. Brunell visited the Saints this week and also drew significant interest from Atlanta and Green Bay. 

Diehards Line:
The Saints were in the market for a veteran back up to starter Drew Brees. Jamie Martin, who has filled that roll the last two years, is an unrestricted free agent. Brunell was the first player Joe Gibbs pursued after returning to coaching in 2004. He was the primary starter the next two seasons before losing his starting job to Jason Campbell midway through the 2006 season. He'll certainly provide an upgrade over Martin.

The Facts:
Hackett fits the profile that new HC Jim Zorn wants to add to an offensive arsenal that already includes vertically challenged WRs Santana Moss and Antwaan Randle El. But that doesn't mean Hackett, who today became the first free agent to visit Washington this offseason, is going to wind up with the Redskins. "This will all be up to him," Zorn said of Hackett. "We're not going to risk it all to try to pay him. The financial package has to work. But if we have a chance to get him, we'd like to have him. He's got two other teams plus Seattle that wants to match [his contract offers]." 

Diehards Line:
Hackett left Washington with Tampa Bay and Carolina on his itinerary with a return to Seattle also seriously possible. Teams are interested in the 26-year-old Hackett because he's a 6-2, 208-pound receiver who runs smooth routes, has good hands and won't shy from going over the middle. Still, Hackett was left out during the first 13 days of free agency and Zorn suggested concerns about Hackett's injury problems (he only played six games last year) last season have been an issue.

The Facts:
The Lions announced today that they have released Jones. "As I've said all along, we will always make decisions that we believe are in the best interest of our entire football team," HC Rod Marinelli said in announcing the move. 

Diehards Line:
The former No. 1 pick was entering the final year of his rookie contract. Because of an escalator of his base salary and a roster bonus, Jones was scheduled to make $2.5125 million this season. His release will save the team that amount this season. Looking for another running back option, ESPN.com's John Clayton reports the Lions are considering the possibility of visiting with Bucs halfback Michael Pittman, who is a free agent.

The Facts:
The 49ers today released veteran QB Dilfer, who played two seasons with the club. Dilfer was scheduled to be paid a $500,000 roster bonus on March 15, if he were still on the team. (This move saves the 49ers $1.5 million on the salary cap.) 

Diehards Line:
The 49ers have four quarterbacks already on their roster, and it was clear that Dilfer, 35, did not fit into the team's plans. Dilfer missed the final three and a half games of the season after sustaining a nasty concussion. Recent reports have suggested he hasn't decided whether to retire or not, but he appears to have his post-football career chosen. Dilfer saw action with NFL Network prior to a 49ers game against the Bengals. And as Press-Democrat staffer Matt Maiocco notes, Dilfer performed remarkably well for the network during the Super Bowl.

The Facts:
Following up on the previous item. ... Jones said he was informed by a member of the team that he would soon be released. "They told me this morning that they were going to release me," Jones said."Yeah, I was surprised. I was in two weeks ago and saw the staff and (president Matt) Millen and everything was OK. Two weeks later, they told me I was getting released. "They said it was because of the injuries and the contract -- business decisions." 

Diehards Line:
That's certainly an interesting development if it turns out to be true -- and the fact that MLive.com beat writer Tom Kowalski is citing Jones as the source certainly lends considerable credence to the story. ... If that's how it works out, Jones' release would leave the team with recently re-signed Tatum Bell, Brian Calhoun (coming off reconstructive surgery of his own) and Aveion Cason as the only running backs on the roster. Given that lineup, it's safe to assume the team would be looking at running back's in next month's draft. ... Stay tuned. More to come.