News & Info/Headlines

In an article published late Friday, Associated Press sports writer Jaime Aaron reported that talks between Tampa Bay and Joey Galloway have hit a dead end, forcing the Dallas Cowboys to come up with a Plan B in their bid to acquire Keyshawn Johnson.

The proposed swap of receivers was contingent on both players renegotiating their contracts. Dallas and Johnson have agreed on a $20 million, four-year deal, but Tampa Bay and Galloway never came close to an agreement.

The salary cap-strapped Bucs held firm to an offer of $1 million for one year, agent Leigh Steinberg said Friday. Galloway is due $6.31 million this season, $7.5 million next season and $8.5 million in 2006 under his existing contract.

"I would think that it's extremely unlikely that we would ever strike an accord on these economic terms," Steinberg said. "Given the nature of the way Tampa views their cap constraints, their position appears to be unmovable. ...

"Joey clearly understood he needed to make a major adjustment in his compensation. But not to the level that was offered."

The Cowboys could still get Johnson by trading a draft pick. Or Tampa Bay could cut Johnson and Dallas could sign him as a free agent.

The Bucs would like to get something back for their initial investment of two first-round draft picks when they acquired Johnson from the New York Jets, even if it's just a late-round pick in 2005 or '06.

The matter may not be resolved for nearly four weeks. March 31 is Tampa Bay's deadline because Johnson is due a $1 million roster bonus the next day and the club has no intention of paying it.

The Bucs deactivated Johnson the final six games of last season because of his ongoing problems with head coach Jon Gruden. Johnson would likely get along better with Cowboys head coach Bill Parcells because he's played for him before.

Parcells drafted Johnson for the Jets with the first overall pick in the 1996 draft and coached him for three seasons.

Another offshoot of the breakdown between Galloway and the Bucs is what the Cowboys would do with the former Ohio State star if they get Johnson.

Dallas could try renegotiating, but is more likely to cut him. The Cowboys would then have to decide whether to do it before or after June 1, the difference being how much of a hit they'd want to take on this year's salary cap.

Steinberg said he's kept Dallas player personnel director Stephen Jones informed of his stalled talks with Tampa Bay, but they haven't discussed Galloway's status if the trade doesn't happen.

"I'm not clear what the next step will be," Steinberg said. "The situation will keep evolving."

Also in Dallas. ... Running back Duce Staley, another Steinberg client, could be making a visit to Dallas. He's been to Tampa Bay and is headed to Pittsburgh on Sunday.

As Dallas Morning News staffer Todd Archer noted this morning, running back is one of the Cowboys' biggest needs in the off-season, and with Thomas Jones off the market after signing with Chicago, Staley and Charlie Garner are considered the most accomplished backs available.

The Cowboys do not appear interested in a deal for Cincinnati running back Corey Dillon, although his agent, Steve Feldman, said Dillon would like to play for the Cowboys. The Bengals have placed the first- and third-round tender on Rudi Johnson, who is seen as Dillon's long-term replacement.

Staley averaged a career-high 4.8 yards per carry last season for Philadelphia, but he did not have more than 13 carries in a game, splitting the job with Correll Buckhalter and Brian Westbrook.

His size (5-11, 220) also goes against the type of running back Parcells is accustomed to employing, but Staley does have three 1,000-yard seasons. He had 463 rushing yards in 2003.

Other Fantasy-specific news and notes from around the league. ...

According to Sports Illustrated senior writer Don Banks, after spending Friday visiting the Cleveland Browns, former San Francisco quarterback Jeff Garcia is scheduled to continue his free-agent tour Saturday by flying to Atlanta to meet with the Falcons.

But as Friday night ended, Browns officials were still trying to persuade Garcia to stay over in Cleveland and resume meeting with club officials Saturday. It is not known whether the Browns made Garcia a contract offer in line with becoming their starting quarterback, or whether Cleveland's interest is strong enough to warrant Garcia skipping the rest of his free-agent visits.

Banks went on to point out that besides the Falcons, who would like him to serve as Michael Vick's backup, Garcia remains in contact with both Tampa Bay and Detroit, both of whom may request a visit in the coming days.

Garcia reportedly likes the idea of playing for Gruden, but the Lions also are appealing because former 49ers head coach Steve Mariucci wants Garcia to back up Joey Harrington.

There are two major drawbacks regarding the Bucs: Their tight salary cap situation may prohibit them from adding Garcia, and Gruden is reluctant to alienate starting quarterback Brad Johnson, who led the team to its only Super Bowl title less than 14 months ago.

Banks added: "Despite being very interested in the Browns, since they're the only suitor capable of promising him the No. 1 job, Garcia will probably follow through on his plan to travel to Atlanta. The Falcons' new head coach is Jim Mora, who was the 49ers' defensive coordinator until January, and Atlanta's offensive coordinator is Greg Knapp, who served in the same capacity in San Francisco until Mora hired him. ..."

Also in Cleveland. ... The Browns released running back Jamel White on Friday after efforts to attract trade offers came up short.

White spent his first four seasons with the Browns after going undrafted out of South Dakota. He was owed a $350,000 roster bonus Friday afternoon.

"Jamel expressed a desire to be traded, but we were not able to consummate a deal," Browns president Carmen Policy said. "We have some depth at the running back position, and Jamel wanted to go to a team where he felt he would have an opportunity for more playing time."

White has rushed for 1,324 yards and nine touchdowns to go with 166 catches for 1,273 yards and two scores in 59 NFL games. ...

In Cincinnati. ... The Bengals held on to kicker Shayne Graham on Friday, matching the five-year, $6.5 million offer sheet given by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Graham had the most accurate field goal season in Bengals history in 2003, making 22-of-25 attempts (88.0 percent). He also converted all 40 of his extra-point attempts.

"I made so many great connections in Cincinnati that I really didn't want to break those like I had to every year," said Graham, who had kicked for Carolina and Buffalo the previous two seasons. "I really love the coaches and the guys. It's a great place to be. ..."

In Carolina. ... According to Gaston Gazette staff writer Steve Reed, Panthers general manager Marty Hurney confirmed Friday that the team signed restricted free agent Brandon Manumaleuna from the St. Louis Rams to an undisclosed offer sheet.

The Rams have seven days to match Carolina’s offer or lose the tight end. If the Rams choose not to match the offer, the Panthers must surrender a fourth-round draft pick this year to the Rams.

Manumaleuna, 25, is a third-year pro who caught 30 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns last season in 16 starts for the Rams. For his career, Manumaleuna has 38 receptions for 345 yards and four scores. The 6-foot-2, 288-pound Manumaleuna is known more for his ability to catch the football than his blocking.

The moves comes as a bit of surprise given the Panthers expect last year’s third-round draft pick Mike Seidman back from a knee injury and the fact they recently re-signed seven-year veteran Kris Mangum. If the Panthers end up with Manumaleuna, then it’s unlikely they will re-sign unrestricted free agent Jermaine Wiggins. ...

Meanwhile, St. Louis Post-Dispatch beat man Jim Thomas advised readers this morning that other than confirming that the Rams received the offer sheet Friday afternoon, club president of football operations Jay Zygmunt would only say that the club is studying the offer.

Thomas further cautioned readers not to be surprised if the Rams take most, or all, of the seven days they have to match the offer. If nothing else, it's a tactic that ties up the Panthers' money for a week.

It's also worth noting the Rams don't have a tight end under contract at the moment. Last year's backup, Cam Cleeland, is an unrestricted free agent whom the team is trying to re-sign.

But the team officials aren't taking any chances. Even before the arrival of the Manumaleuna offer sheet, the Rams were lining up visits from free-agent tight ends.

Within the next two weeks, six tight ends are scheduled to visit St. Louis: Kansas City's Jason Dunn, Pittsburgh's Mark Bruener, San Francisco's Jed Weaver, Baltimore's John Jones, Denver's Patrick Hape and New Orleans' Walter Rasby.

According to Buffalo News sports reporter Mark Gaughan, Bruener visited Bills' headquarters on Thursday and renewed acquaintances with head coach Mike Mularkey and Tom Donahoe, the Bills' president and general manager.

Donahoe drafted Bruener in the first round in 1995 for Pittsburgh, and Bruener started eight seasons for the Steelers.

The 6-foot-4, 260-pounder could fill the Bills' need for a second tight end behind starter Mark Campbell.

Bruener was known as the National Football League's best blocking tight end for much of his career. After enduring injury-plagued seasons in 2001 and 2002, he found himself as the Steelers' No. 3 tight end last year. He saw little action behind Jay Riemersma and Jerame Tuman.

Bruener could give the Bills flexibility in a two-tight end set.

He also would create the possibility of a massive strong-side formation, lining up outside 370-pound tackle Mike Williams and 318-pound guard Chris Villarrial, with 262-pounder Daimon Shelton, signed in February -- at fullback.

As Gaughan put it: "If nothing else, 5-9 running back Travis Henry would be harder for the defense to see."