News & Info/Headlines

A trade involving Redskins receiver Laveranues Coles and New York's Santana Moss just might be back on. According to Washington Times staff writer Jody Foldesy, the Jets seemed to breathe life back into the potential deal yesterday by signaling some willingness to work with the respective parties on a swap.

New York Newsday staffer Ken Berger agreed, advising readers this morning that a person close to the situation said of the deal: "I would not kill it. I wouldn't say it's dead. I would say it still has a pulse."

Although details of the Jets' step forward weren't clear, the fact they apparently were ready to talk wasn't unexpected. As Foldesy put it, the Redskins, Jets and Coles have been playing "a high-stakes game of liar's poker" for about a week now, and the only certainty in their respective bargaining positions was that Washington wouldn't let Coles walk away as a free agent.

Under terms previously discussed, the Redskins would receive the speedy Moss in exchange for Coles. Moss then would receive a new contract from Washington.

However, the specifics of Coles' financial prospects remain uncertain.

As Washington Post beat man Nunyo Demasio outlined it this morning, barring a trade, Washington has until midnight tonight reach an agreement with the wide receiver to release him as he has requested in exchange for forfeiting a $5 million deferred signing bonus payment due April 1.

If a pact is reached in time -- and the NFL approves the paperwork by midnight (eastern time) -- Washington will gain salary cap relief for the 2005 season. Effective tomorrow, the Redskins would not get any salary cap benefit until 2006, giving Washington only two realistic choices: keep the disgruntled wideout or trade him and take a massive salary cap hit.

But Foldesy suggests that New York could give Coles a new pact as part of the deal, or they could pick up part or all of the $5 million Washington is due to pay Coles on April 1. That $5 million represents the final installment on Coles' original $13 million signing bonus.

Whether the Jets acquire Coles or not, it's possible Moss has played his last game as a Jet.

It could be difficult for Moss to return after being shopped so aggressively. As Berger noted, agent Drew Rosenhaus is adamant about keeping Moss from playing out the final year of his contract without an extension.

So the Jets are making contingency plans -- plans that seem to center on Derrick Mason.

The free-agency season officially begins tomorrow, but Mason is free to sign before then because the former Tennessee Pro Bowl wide receiver was cut last week for salary-cap reasons along with five other key Titans players.

According to Florida Times-Union staff writer Bart Hubbuch, Mason, who had 191 catches and 15 touchdowns the past two seasons, said he has narrowed his list to Jacksonville, Baltimore, Cincinnati and both New York teams.

The Jaguars continue to be his first choice after they recently hired his Tennessee position coach, Steve Walters, for the same job. ...

Following up on an item from Sunday's Fantasy Notebook. ... Less than a week after being named the Indianapolis Colts' non-exclusive franchise player, Edgerrin James hired Rosenhaus.

According to Indianapolis Star News beat man Mike Chappell, James, who fired Scott Parker earlier this month, could not be reached for comment, but the Miami-based Rosenhaus confirmed Monday he had added the Colts' career rushing leader to his representation stable that includes about 90 clients.

Chappell went on to suggest that Rosenhaus' first order of business is to gauge the Colts' interest in signing James to a long-term contract. The non-exclusive franchise designation is a one-year contract that will pay James $8.1 million in 2005.

However, the "tag" allows Rosenhaus to shop James on the NFL's free-agent market, which starts tomorrow.

Rosenhaus, who helped broker the Champ Bailey-for-Clinton Portis deal as Portis' agent last year, said he plans to be "very aggressive" to determine the interest other teams have in James.

Miami Herald staffer Armando Salguero confirmed that aggressive approach this morning, reporting that Rosenhaus will be actively trying to get James a multi-year offer from several teams, including Miami.

"I will be calling several teams about Edgerrin, including the Dolphins," the agent told Salguero.

Last week during the annual NFL scouting combine, Colts head coach Tony Dungy and president Bill Polian made it clear they want James to return.

And as Salguero suggested, moving James from Indianapolis is a daunting task. Any team signing him to a contract would have to compensate the Colts with two first-round draft picks. The only way the price for James would be less is if the Colts agree to take a lower compensation.

Miami needs a star running back such as James, but the team seems unlikely to be a high-priced shopper when free agency opens. The Dolphins will have to make a handful of roster moves or restructure several contracts today to get under the $85.5 million salary cap.

For the record. ... Pro Football Weekly reports that Dungy is optimistic about James sticking around but intimated the Colts are likely to be a better team next season regardless of the outcome, pointing to the potential bounty that would come in any trade of James.

Stay tuned. We haven't heard the last of this one. ...

Other Fantasy-specific items of interest today. ...

In an article published Monday, Seattle Post-Intelligencer reporter Clare Farnsworth advised readers "the Koren Robinson reclamation project continues."

Farnsworth added: "The talented-but-troubled wide receiver recently completed a 30-day alcohol-abuse program at a rehabilitation center, according to several sources that are attending the NFL scouting combine."

Head coach Mike Holmgren alluded to Robinson "taking care of some personal stuff," without further explanation, during his season-ending news conference.

The next step in determining Robinson's status in Seattle will be a meeting with incoming president of football operations Tim Ruskell and Holmgren once they return from the combine.

Robinson missed six of the team's final seven regular-season games last season -- four for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy and two for breaking team rules.

Holmgren continues to sound committed to helping Robinson through his personal problems, but Ruskell also will have a voice in any decision about Robinson's future with the club.

Robinson, the ninth overall pick in the 2001 draft, caught 78 passes for 1,240 yards in 2002. But his production has dropped to 65 receptions for 896 yards and 31 catches for 495 yards the past two seasons, when Robinson has been plagued by dropped passes as well as his erratic off-field behavior. ...

According to the Sporting News, receiver Az-Zahir Hakim isn't expected to stay with the team, but the Lions won't release him until they find a quality replacement at the No. 3 receiver spot or they need to clear more room under the cap.

Neither of those situations is expected to happen for a few more weeks, which will hurt Hakim's chances of landing with another team. ...

Also according to TSN, Saints head coach Jim Haslett's plan to reduce the offense has been misinterpreted as "dumbing down" the attack. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The Saints are reducing the volume, not the sophistication.

Haslett believes the excessive amount of plays and their wordy terminology had an adverse effect on the unit in recent years. The offense, in Haslett's mind, became a jack of all trades, master of none. He wants to establish an identity as a power-rushing, play-action passing team.

He also thinks the new attack will cut down on the mental errors and negative plays such as penalties, sacks and turnovers that have hounded the unit in recent seasons because players will be thinking less and reacting more. ...

Those wondering what happened to the Cardinals attempt to trade for Travis Henry should assume the Bills realize Arizona's primary trade-bait -- tackle L.J. Shelton -- is likely to be released if the team is unable to deal him.

The Bills, who are definitely interested in Shelton, are aware of this fact.

Meanwhile, Bills general manager Tom Donahue told reporters on Sunday that he has spoken to five clubs about Henry, but wouldn't name them.

Buffalo News staff writer Allen Wilson was kind enough to remind readers that Arizona, Miami, Tampa Bay and Oakland are known to be seeking running back help. ...

As PFW put it Monday: "Give the Bears this: No team has been as quick to strike in free agency in either of the last two offseasons."

Chicago almost immediately signed Thomas Jones at the opening of the signing period in 2004; this year it took just 16 hours to complete a deal with Muhsin Muhammad after he was released by the Panthers on Feb. 25.

As general manager Jerry Angelo, who sent former first-round pick David Terrell packing Tuesday, planning to build an offense around third-year Rex Grossman, head coach Lovie Smith hinted the work would continue.

"I've always said that I thought we needed a little bit more firepower on the offensive side, and normally you get that at the receiver and the RB positions," Smith, who some observers believe would like nothing better than to add Kurt Warner to the mix in Chicago, said at the scouting combine.

Angelo is said to covet Texas halfback Cedric Benson, a player who could be gone by the time the Bears are on the clock with the fourth overall pick in April's draft.

If that's the case, Angelo wouldn't fret. "Anybody on offense that can get in the end zone and make big plays," he said. ...

And finally. ...

Also regarding Muhammad and the Bears. ... SI.com insider Peter King noted on Monday: "I think, and I hate to say this because Muhsin Muhammad is a very good guy and a great football player, Chicago is where receivers go to die."