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Roster-Move Roundup: Chargers Retain Turner's Rights
With the league deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets from teams other than their own expiring a short time ago (today at noon eastern time to be precise), it appears we've reached a point where movement of higher-end talent is going to wait until next weekend's NFL Draft, if not longer

More specifically, it now appears deals involving the players of most interest to Fantasy owners -- Kansas City QB Trent Green and Chargers RB Michael Turner, for example -- are all but certain to remain on hold for the time being.

In case you haven't been playing attention, Turner visited Tennessee and Buffalo earlier this month, but that was for those teams to become familiar with him as they attempted to negotiate with Turner's agent (on a contract) and the Chargers (on a trade). Since Turner is a restricted free agent, a trade is now the only way he can move on.

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith is asking for a first-round pick and a third-round pick for Turner.

As San Diego Tribune staffer Kevin Acee reminded readers this morning, the GM has said he is "flexible," but he will likely hold out for at least a first-round pick in this year's or next year's draft.

Smith also claims six teams have expressed interest in acquiring Turner, though his agent and at least one of those six general managers have said they don't think a deal will get done.

Not only must the team wanting Turner work a trade with the Chargers, it would need to agree on a contract with Turner before the trade was finalized, because it would not want to risk losing Turner as a free agent after the season.

Smith still believes there will be talk up to and during the draft.

"I have no idea when it's going to go," the GM told Acee. "It's a three-way street. Someone is going to change. It's a bluff. This is a lot of posturing."

Turner has until training camp to sign the $2.35 million tender and play for the Chargers.

As for Green, who isn't a free agent but just as clearly isn't in the Chiefs' plans moving forward. ... NFL Network insider Adam Schefter reported last night that the veteran signal caller cleared one more obstacle to the trade he wants Kansas City to get done with the Dolphins when he informed the Browns on Thursday that, for the time being, he is not interested in visiting Cleveland and wants to focus on finalizing a trade with Miami.

Schefter went on to advise readers that Green even has had multiple conversations with Chiefs president/GM Carl Peterson to make sure that each party knows exactly where the other stands.

In those talks, Green has made it clear that he wants to be reunited with Dolphins head coach Cam Cameron, with whom he worked with for two seasons in the mid 1990s in Washington.

At least Green and Peterson are talking. According to Schefter, the Chiefs and Dolphins are not -- for now.

The two sides are at a standstill in their talks, with Miami unwilling to part with anything more than a sixth-round pick. The Dolphins believe that, ultimately, Kansas City has no choice but to get rid of Green.

And now that Green has informed Cleveland that he prefers Miami, Kansas City has lost a little more leverage in trying to deal its quarterback. Again, it appears that any deal between the two teams won't happen until at least this weekend, if not later. ...

Also according to Schefter, another player of great interest to Fantasy owners, Corey Dillon, appears to be step closer to following through on his previously stated intention to retire.

Dillon, who drew interest from the Titans, Eagles and Bills, first announced his intention to retire in February.

His agent, Steve Feldman, was able to convince the former Bengal and Patriot to carefully assess all his options before making a decision. While he could still have a change of hear, Schefter reports those close to the 32-year-old Dillon say -- without a worthwhile playing-paying situation materializing -- the decision to retire has apparently won out. ...

Meanwhile, there have been some moves of interest in the last week. ...

Starting in Jacksonville. ... Quarterback Quinn Gray and receiver Ernest Wilford have signed their contract tenders today. Terms of the contracts were undisclosed, but agent Drew Rosenhaus told reporters last night that both would sign their one-year, $1.3 million contract tenders before today's deadline passed.

Wilford, 28, started 12 of 16 games last season and recorded 36 receptions for 524 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-4, 218-pounder has started 23 of his 47 career games with 96 receptions for 1,476 yards and 11 touchdowns.

He was originally drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 draft out of Virginia Tech.

According to the Sports Xchange, Wilford knows what's expected of him this year. He knows the expectations are there from the coaching staff, his teammates, the fans.

After three seasons of not showing the numbers that the Jaguars had hope, Wilford knows his time is running out.

The Jaguars signed former Browns receiver Dennis Northcutt during free agency, which crowds and confuses the receiving corps situation even more so. With Reggie Williams and Matt Jones also lacking in numbers, there's a push for someone to break out of the pack and become a go-to receiver this year.

Wilford thinks the competition at the wide receiver position could make everyone better.

"Having more competition at wide receiver with the signing of Dennis gives us a better sense of where we're going," Wilford said. "The more competition we have, the more it will make this team better. All we're trying to do is make this team better. ..."

Gray, 27, saw extensive action in the season-finale at Kansas City and completed 13 of 22 passes for 166 yards. He added two rushes for 26 yards and two touchdowns. The 6-3, 246-pound quarterback was originally signed as an undrafted rookie out of Florida A&M in 2003.

With Byron Leftwich firmly entrenched as the starter and David Garrard locked in at No. 2, Gray's chances of contributing depend almost solely on the health and effectiveness of both. ...

In Cleveland. ... The Browns signed tight end Steve Heiden to a four-year contract extension last Saturday. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Heiden, 30, often lines up in double tight-end alignments with Kellen Winslow, who had a team-high 89 catches last season. Heiden caught 36 passes for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

Acquired from San Diego in 2002, Heiden has 142 receptions for 1,171 yards and 11 scores in five years with the Browns.

Also in Cleveland. ... A month after signing Jamal Lewis to serve as their starting tailback, the Browns on Monday added his friend and personal protector, fullback Alan Ricard.

This despite the fact Ricard has only played in two games the last two years.

As Akron Beacon Journal staffer Patrick McManamon reminded readers Tuesday, Ricard was Lewis' fullback for five years in Baltimore, including in 2003, when Lewis ran for 2,066 yards.

But Ricard was out of football last season and played in just two games in 2005 before being sidelined by a calf injury. The Browns gave Ricard a one-year contract. He will compete with Lawrence Vickers in training camp.

The Browns also signed tight end Ryan Krause to a one-year deal Monday.

Krause, a free agent who last played in San Diego, has played in just five games the last three seasons. He was coached last season by Rob Chudzinski, the Browns new offensive coordinator. ...

In Carolina. ... Panthers wide receiver Drew Carter signed his one-year restricted free agent tender Wednesday.

Carter had been tendered at the middle level of $1.3 million. Had someone signed him to an offer sheet and Carolina hadn't matched, they'd have received a second-round pick in return. No one was going to do that.

As Rock Hill Herald beat writer Darin Gantt noted Thursday, the Panthers have long been teased by Carter's potential, and this is a key year for him since the clock is ticking on veteran Keyshawn Johnson's career.

The Panthers have just one unsigned restricted free agent remaining, tight end Michael Gaines. According to Gantt, Gaines is expected to sign soon as well. ...

In Minnesota. ... The Vikings added some depth at wide receiver last Friday, as four-year veteran Cortez Hankton agreed to a one-year contract.

Hankton, 26, caught 34 passes for 310 yards and two touchdowns in four seasons with the Jacksonville Jaguars after making the team as an undrafted free agent from Texas Southern.

He had his best season as a rookie in 2003, when he caught 17 passes for 166 yards.

According to St. Paul Pioneer Press staffer Don Seeholzer, Hankton also visited Buffalo and Cleveland. He joined the Vikings' offseason program Monday. ...

In Miami. ... The Dolphins hold exclusive negotiating rights on Cleo Lemon, a restricted free agent, now that today's deadline passed without any offers coming from other teams.

According to the Miami Herald, Lemon's agent, John Ricer, told reporters on Thursday his client was likely to sign the one-year, $1.3 million contract tender allowing him to become an unrestricted free agent after next season.

Ricer said he has been in negotiations with the Dolphins about a potential extension, but a more lucrative deal could become available after this season. ...

Also in Miami. ... The Dolphins signed two players Monday, accumulating depth within two offensive units that could use a few more additions.

Although Miami Herald staffer Jeff Darlington noted, neither has likely been added to compete for starting jobs, center Johnathan Ingram and running back Ray Perkins -- who both spent last season on different practice squads -- were added to the roster.

Perkins has known Cameron since 2005, when Perkins was signed to the Chargers as an undrafted free agent. He has spent the past two years on San Diego's practice squad. ...

In Detroit. ... The Lions signed receiver Kevin Kasper to a one-year contracts and released wide receiver Craphonso Thorpe on Wednesday.

Kasper was cut by the Lions after two games in 2006. He has played for Denver, Seattle, Arizona and New England. Thorpe signed with the Lions on Jan. 1 after playing on Detroit's practice squad.

In Indianapolis. ... The Colts added to their depth at wide receiver by claiming Thorpe off waivers from Detroit.

The 6-1, 188-pound Thorpe was a fourth-round draft pick of Kansas City in 2005. Thorpe, 23, played at Florida State.

In New England. ... The Patriots announced the re-signing of Kelvin Kight Wednesday. Kight was an exclusive rights free agent. According to Boston Globe staffer Mike Reiss, Kight's re-signing was an expected move.

Kight, 24, initially joined the team as a free agent last July. He spent 13 weeks on the practice squad before being activated to the active roster. Kight played in the team's final four regular-season games and two playoff contests.

The 6-foot, 213-pound Kight finished last season with one reception and four special teams tackles. ...

There you have it. Although there are still a number of unrestricted free agents of interest floating around out there, it now appears movement will be limited enough to curtail these regular Roster-Move Roundups. Not that I'll be taking any breaks.

Indeed, it's safe to assume I'll continue to follow and pass along Fantasy-specific news and notes of interest as they arise throughout the remainder of the offseason.

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.