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Roster-Move Roundup: Harrington A Falcon; Bledsoe Retires
Noticeably slow but not quite over. ... That sums up the current state of free-agent movement and other roster-related news of interest to Fantasy owners.

There are still moves in the works involving players like Corey Dillon, Kevan Barlow, Trent Green, Antonio Bryant, Eric Moulds and perhaps Michael Turner. But don't be surprised if things continue to crawl along until draft day.

Meanwhile, we'll go ahead and run down this week's moves of interest, starting in Atlanta, where the Falcons added veteran quarterback Joey Harrington to the roster on Monday.

As ESPN.com insider Chris Mortensen first reported, the two sides agreed to a two-year deal. Atlanta Journal-Constitution beat writer Steve Wyche subsequently reported the contract will pay Harrington $6 million.

It was finalized before the start of a three-day mini-camp that began on Tuesday.

As Journal-Constitution staffer D. Orlando Ledbetter reminded readers on Wednesday, the No. 3 overall draft pick in 2002 has had disappointing stops in Detroit and Miami.

But with the trade of Matt Schaub to Houston, the Falcons wanted an experienced veteran behind starter Michael Vick. Harrington has started 66 games -- 64 more than Schaub -- although as Wyche was quick to note, most of those were losses with woeful Detroit, which chose him third overall in 2002.

"We certainly see Joey coming in as our backup with the experience that he has and what we believe he brings to the table," head coach Bobby Petrino said. "We'll have great competition for the other spot."

After going through his first mini-camp workout as a Falcon, Petrino said Harrington was "rusty" but saw enough to come away impressed.

"What I liked most about him was when they were behind the play, he was really into it," Petrino said. "What the call was. What the check would be for the quarterback. What the defense was. You can see that intelligence part of the football game."

Harrington is excited about playing under Petrino, who has been lauded for his handling of his quarterbacks.

"One of the things I learned in Detroit is that I want to play in an offense that gives me answers," Harrington said. "I believe that coach Petrino's offense does that. It's going to take me a while to pick up the terminology and become comfortable with what his answers are, but I believe in what we are doing so far."

Harrington also gets to play for Falcons quarterback coach Bill Musgrave, who also was a star quarterback at Oregon.

Harrington is wearing No. 13 after wearing No. 3 throughout his career. D.J. Shockley, who'll battle Chris Redman and James Kilian for the No. 3 spot, wears Harrington's old number.

"We're not going to worry about that right now," Harrington said. "That's not going to be an issue. It's a new number, a fresh start."

Redman, who has battled back from shoulder and back surgery, has not played in an NFL game since 2003. He was back in his hometown of Louisville, working in insurance as a property and casualty specialist.

"Chris has always been very accurate and very well on time with his throws," Petrino said. "He had a good day today."

Redman is a former Louisville quarterback who played under Petrino during the coach's one season as the offensive coordinator at Louisville. He was close to signing with Cincinnati last season but failed his physical.

"I've been just trying to get in better shape and get myself ready to go," Redman said. "I've always felt like I've had the physical talent. It was just a matter of getting in the right situation."

Shockley was the team's No. 3 quarterback last season.

"I think D.J. has really worked hard on his technique and improving on his footwork, getting his release where we need it to be," Petrino said.

But Harrington's arrival is a pretty good indication that Shockley isn't there yet. ...

In Dallas. ... Drew Bledsoe retired Wednesday, ending a 14-season career in which he made two Super Bowls.

The top overall pick by New England in the 1993 draft out of Washington State, the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback played for the Patriots, Buffalo Bills and Dallas Cowboys. He was a starter for all three teams, but ended up as a backup with the Cowboys.

In 1996, Bledsoe guided the Patriots to the AFC championship. They lost to Green Bay in the Super Bowl.

"I feel so fortunate, so honored, to have played this game that I love for so long, with so many great players, and in front of so many wonderful fans," he said in a statement released through his representatives at Athletes First. "I fulfilled a childhood dream the first time I stepped on an NFL field, and the league did not let me down one time.

"I retire with a smile on my face, in good health, and ready to spend autumns at my kids' games instead of my own. I'm excited to start the next chapter of my life."

The 35-year-old Bledsoe lost his starting job to Tom Brady in New England in 2001 when Bledsoe got hurt in the second game of the season. He asked to be released following the season.

He also asked for his release from the Bills after the 2004 season, when the team informed him it was going with J.P. Losman as the starter the next year. Bledsoe didn't want to be a backup there after he led the Bills to the brink of the playoffs.

He then signed with the Cowboys and was their starter for all of 2005 and part of '06.

His last pass as a pro, which was intercepted at the goal line by New York Giants cornerback Sam Madison on Oct. 23, 2006, set in motion the beginning of the Tony Romo Era when then-head coach Bill Parcells decided to bench Bledsoe.

Romo started the final 10 games and helped direct the Cowboys to the playoffs, earning a Pro Bowl berth.

As Dallas Morning News staffer Todd Archer noted, even though he was clearly disappointed in the move, Bledsoe never made an issue with the demotion and continued to serve as the offensive captain.

Now, Bledsoe leaves the game with 44,611 passing yards (seventh-most in history), 251 touchdown passes (13th), 6,717 attempts (fifth) and 3,839 completions (fifth). ...

In New York. ... As first reported by ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli, the Giants stabilized their quarterback depth chart on Friday by reaching a contract agreement with unrestricted free agent Anthony Wright, who is expected to serve as the primary backup to Eli Manning.

According to Pasquarelli, Wright will officially sign a two-year contract early next week. Financial details of the contract were not immediately available.

Wright appeared in four games with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006, completing all three pass attempts. The Giants will be the fifth different team with which he has played.

As Pasquarelli suggested, Wright, 31, will represent an upgrade over Tim Hasselbeck and Jared Lorenzen, the other quarterbacks on the New York depth chart. Neither backup registered a single pass attempt in 2006, and Wright, a proven commodity, has appeared in 28 career contests.

He has completed 331 of 598 passes in his career for 3,578 yards, with 20 touchdown passes, 25 interceptions, and an efficiency rating of 66.9. Wright has run 79 times for 222 yards.

Twice in his career, in 2003 and 2005, both times with the Baltimore Ravens, he has logged seven starts in a season. ...

In New Orleans. ... As first reported by NFL Network insider Adam Schefter, the Saints signed receiver David Patten to a one-year contract Thursday, hoping the 10-year veteran can rebound from two disappointing seasons with the Redskins.

A Saints spokesman confirmed the deal to the Associated Press, but couldn't release financial details.

Patten was cut last month two seasons into a five-year, $13 million free-agent deal he signed with the Redskins after helping the New England Patriots win three Super Bowls earlier in the decade.

Patten caught 22 passes in nine games in 2005 before knee surgery ended his season. In 2006, he caught just one pass for 25 yards, having fallen behind Santana Moss, Brandon Lloyd and Antwaan Randle El on the depth chart.

He has not caught a touchdown pass since the 2004 season, when New England was en route to its third NFL title in four years.

The 32-year-old receiver also has played for the New York Giants and Cleveland in his 10 NFL seasons.

Although the veteran receiver recently visited his former team, the Patriots, the consensus among observers has consistently said Patten might best fit with the Saints, who have been looking for a veteran capable of working out of the slot and providing much-needed experience to an otherwise inexperienced group.

Mission accomplished: Patten was on board in New England for three Super Bowl wins. ...

In Houston. ... The Texans' backfield remained crowded Tuesday after the club re-signed running back Samkon Gado. Financial terms were not disclosed.

The Texans already had plenty of depth in their backfield. They signed running back Ahman Green as a free agent and re-signed running back Ron Dayne.

Acquired from Green Bay prior to Week Two last season, Gado ran for 210 yards and a touchdown in nine games for the Texans in 2006.

Gado rushed for 584 yards and six TDs as a rookie with Green Bay in 2005.

He faces a rather daunting task this summer in terms of earning touches.

Including Green and Dayne, the Texans will take five running backs into training camp, guaranteeing fierce competition, especially among Gado, Wali Lundy and Chris Taylor, a second-year player.

"We have to run the ball to be successful. We're going to start there," head coach Gary Kubiak said. "That's why we went out and we got a player that has explosive, playmaking ability in Ahman Green. We re-signed Dayne, who played well for us last year."

The coach stressed that Green and Dayne sit atop the rotation.

There's no pressure then on Samkon, Wali or Chris Taylor," Kubiak said. "They can just show us what they are capable of, because we already know who our two guys are right now."

As Houston Chronicle staffer Megan Manful noted, the three youngsters will receive a number of repetitions because Kubiak expects to rest Green, 30, for one practice each day during two-a-days. He might do the same with Dayne.

There won't be much rest on Sunday's, however, with Dayne expected to be used in short-yardage situations and Green getting the bulk of the carries in 2007. ...

Also in Houston. ... The Texans on Thursday signed free-agent wideout Andre' Davis to a one-year, $850,000 contract.

Davis, 27, played in 16 games for Buffalo last season, catching two passes for 13 yards. Davis also has played for Cleveland and New England in his career.

He has 104 receptions for 1,615 yards and 14 touchdowns in 64 games.

"A lot of people know about my speed, and I'm here to bring that and also to stretch the field and open it up for everybody else who's out there," Davis said.

Given that high-end speed and the Texans' lack of depth at the position, Davis would certainly have a shot at breaking into the team's receiving rotation behind No. 1 weapon Andre Johnson.

With the release of Eric Moulds earlier in the offseason, the Texans are definitely inexperienced behind Johnson.

Kevin Walter is slated to start opposite of Johnson. Davis, a second-round draft pick in 2002, will compete for playing time with Jerome Mathis, David Anderson, Charlie Adams and Jamall Broussard. ...

In Minnesota. ... The Minneapolis Star Tribune, citing NFLPA documents, reported last Friday that the Vikings have completed a long-expected restructuring of Jim Kleinsasser's contract.

The Vikings have signed free agent Visanthe Shiancoe to be their No. 1 tight end, and Kleinsasser agreed in principle earlier this month to adjust his contract and remain with the team.

The Vikings filed the new contract last week.

The veteran took a $1 million reduction in his base salary for 2007, dropping from $2.9 million to $1.9 million. His salary in 2008 went from $2.9 million to $2.4 million. It isn't clear whether Kleinsasser would have the opportunity to earn back the money through expenses.

Entering his ninth season, Kleinsasser will battle Jeff Dugan, Richard Owens and others for the No. 2 job behind Shiancoe in training camp. ...

In Denver. ... The Broncos on Thursday signed wide receiver David Terrell to a one-year contract. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Terrell, 28, returns to the same team that cut him at the start of the 2006 season.

A former first-round draft pick, Terrell signed with the New England Patriots as a free agent in April 2005 but was released in September of that year. He signed with the Broncos four days later but only saw game action in Denver's regular-season finale. He was cut by the team last September 2 and spent the entire season out of the NFL.

Terrell was selected eighth overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2001 draft. He spent four years with the Bears and enjoyed his best season in 2004, when he posted a career-high 699 yards on 42 catches.

The 6-3 Terrell has 128 receptions for 1,602 yards with nine touchdowns in 54 career games. He hopes to compete for a reserve role with the Broncos this summer.

He does have a shot.

The Broncos have several wide receivers, but they have injury issues at the position. Rod Smith had hip surgery in February and won't be ready until July. Newly-signed Brandon Stokley is recovering from a ruptured Achilles tendon and likely won't be ready until the start of the season.

While that guarantees nothing more than an opportunity, that's considerably more than Terrell had the day before. ...

It's also worth noting that Broncos backup fullback Cecil Sapp signed his restricted free-agent tender. Sapp also may play tailback. ...

One last note in Denver. ... Head coach Mike Shanahan signed a three-year contract extension earlier this week. The new deal will keep him in Denver through the 2011 season.

Shanahan, 54, led Denver to Super Bowl victories in 1997 and 1998. Since becoming head coach in January 1995, he has led the Broncos to nine playoff appearances and a 123-69 regular season record.

His victory total with Denver is 11th-best by one coach with one team in NFL history. ...

And finally, in Indianapolis. ... Veteran backup quarterback Jim Sorgi signed his one-year, $850,000 restricted free agent contract with the Colts this week. Sorgi has worked behind starter Peyton Manning since the team selected him in the sixth round of the 2004 draft.

Sorgi, 26, who has appeared in 10 games, has completed 65.6 percent of his passes for 619 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.

That's it for now. ... As always, you'll find breaking items in the News & Views section of the site with more in-depth reviews of top stories available here in the Headline News section, where you'll also find the weekly Fantasy Notebook each Sunday during the offseason.