News & Info/Headlines

According to Associated Press sports writer Jaime Aron, Drew Henson can finally be considered a member of the Dallas Cowboys. And the same could soon be said of Keyshawn Johnson -- Joey Galloway willing.

Galloway will spend Thursday night deciding whether to accept a one-year contract with Tampa Bay that could be worth $2.6 million if he earns all incentives, according to a source close to negotiations who spoke with Aron on condition of anonymity.

If he takes it, he'll be dealt for Johnson. If not, the deal is off, and the Cowboys likely would have to wait for Tampa Bay to release Johnson -- probably by April 1, when he's owed a $1 million bonus the Bucs have no intention of paying.

"We've told Tampa that we'll tell them [Friday]," said Galloway's agent, Leigh Steinberg. "Things look very promising."

Cowboys owner Jerry Jones indicated Thursday afternoon he was merely waiting to get Galloway's signature on the new contract.

Aron suggests if Jones misspoke, it was probably out of "giddiness" over finally ending the long negotiations for Henson and Johnson, a combination he hopes will one day become another Troy Aikman-to-Michael Irvin. He's also excited about wrapping it all up in time for both to be at the start of the offseason conditioning program on Monday."

Johnson agreed weeks ago to a four-year, $20 million contract with a $4 million bonus to play for Dallas -- and especially for Bill Parcells, his coach for three seasons with the New York Jets.

The Cowboys agreed last Friday to give Henson an eight-year deal that guarantees him $3.5 million and can be voided after four years; they also agreed to acquire him from the Houston Texans for a third-round pick in 2005.

The NFL scrutinized the contract because it goes two years beyond the collective bargaining agreement. On Thursday, league officials told the Cowboys it would be approved.

All that remained to make the Henson acquisition official was the NFL announcing both the signing and the trade within the league. That was expected late Thursday or early Friday.

"We're pleased that the technical aspects of the league approving the agreement is behind us," Jones said. "We're all set there."

Henson has been getting back into football shape since November, but he knows that after three years away he's got a lot of catching up to do. He has no idea whether he'll play this season.

"Whatever is supposed to happen will," he said. "All I'm going to do is take each day and try to improve and make the most of it. To put a date on it wouldn't be the best thing for me."

Jones said Henson would be "in the competition" for playing time, but added that he's unlikely to beat out starter Quincy Carter.

"I want to be realistic how fast he can come along after that layoff," Jones said.

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

In Miami. ... As reported by AP sports writer Mark Long, David Boston passed his team physical and officially joined the Dolphins on Thursday, possibly giving them their best receiver tandem since Mark Duper and Mark Clayton.

"We have the potential to have one of the most impressive passing attacks in the league next year," general manager Rick Spielman said.

Boston will line up opposite Chris Chambers for a team that ranked 26th in passing last year. The Dolphins think the combination will dissuade opponents from focusing on running back Ricky Williams.

"It could change the way defenses play us," head coach Dave Wannstedt said.

Wannstedt has been searching for receiver help in recent years, signing Cris Carter, Dedric Ward, Derrius Thompson and James McKnight -- all of whom have had disappointing seasons in Miami.

Boston, who currently tips the scales at 236 pounds (after ballooning to 258 pounds last year), flew back to Arizona on Thursday night, but planned to be back in South Florida before the team begins its offseason conditioning program Monday.

"I'm hungry. I'm a hungry guy," he said. "I love to work, I love to play the game of football. I can't wait for the offseason program to start. ..."

In Cincinnati. ... Corey Dillon, in his first public comments since the end of the 2003 season, listed the Raiders as one of three teams he is interested in playing for next season.

According to Contra Costa Times beat man Steve Corkran, he left little doubt over the team he favors among the Raiders, Denver Broncos and Dallas Cowboys by donning a Raiders jersey with the No. 34 of retired running back Bo Jackson in an appearance on the "Best Damn Sports Show Period" on Wednesday night.

"I look good in the silver and black," Dillon said on the show.

He added that he has no intention of playing for the Bengals next season, though he has two seasons left on his contract. He also said Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis instructed Dillon's agent, Steven Feldman, to seek a trade for Dillon.

Feldman met Lewis' demands, Dillon said, but he and his agent have yet to hear if a deal has been consummated. According to Cincinnati Enquirer staffer Mark Curnutte, the Raiders have offered the Bengals a third- or fourth-round draft pick for Dillon.

Dillon also was critical of Bengals teammates Willie Anderson and Rudi Johnson, and said he became embroiled during the season in a "power struggle" with Lewis.

Anderson, who opened many a hole for Dillon during his seven-year stint at right tackle, had said that if Dillon didn't want to be with the Bengals, he should be let go. "Bye, good riddance," Anderson said Dec. 29.

"Willie Anderson rode coach Lewis to a Pro Bowl," Dillon said. "I made (three) Pro Bowls even before coach Lewis was even thought of.

"And now, for [Anderson] to have the audacity to speak on me to the media, I think that was kind of girlish on his part. Be a real man and come talk to me about your problems."

Asked if he had talked to Anderson since the Dec. 29 comments, Dillon said, "He don't want to talk to me 'cause, you know, I had out liquid diets, and he don't want to go on that program right now. ... He's a bum. He's just a guy. I got more credentials than Willie Anderson, and for a guy of that caliber to even speak on me, that's just crazy."

Dillon also was asked about his relationship with Lewis.

"We portrayed it to the media that everything was OK, but you got a guy coming in and it's a power struggle," Dillon said. "He figured that I'd been there, I'm the guy, everybody looks at me, and I have some say so over what goes on in that organization.

"It kind of became a power struggle of him as a rookie head coach coming in trying to set the tone to let me know, 'Hey, this is how I'm running the program.' And I didn't have no problem with that. It just got a little out of control."

Then Dillon was asked if he would play the same role as he did in 2003, sharing time with Johnson: "No, 'cause Rudi ain't Corey Dillon.

"I'm still young. I think I still can do some things in this league. ..."

In Denver. ... As Rocky Mountain News staff writer Lee Rasizer reported it early Thursday: "His wish to become a full-time tailback will go unfulfilled, so Reuben Droughns instead will do the next best thing: take an opportunity and run with it."

The unrestricted free agent agreed to a three-year contract to return to the Denver Broncos and play fullback. Terms were unavailable.

But the Broncos didn't stop there.

They signed free-agent tight end Jed Weaver, late of San Francisco, to a three-year, $3.1 million contract that included a $500,000 signing bonus.

The addition of the 27-year-old tight end provides Denver with a hedge in case Shannon Sharpe retires. It also gives the Broncos a player perhaps entering the prime of his career.

Weaver made more catches last season with the 49ers (35) than he did in his three previous seasons with Miami (34). His 437 receiving yards last season also was the highest output of his five-year career. The increased production was due in large part to his getting a chance to start full time for the first time.

"When given the opportunity, he's always delivered and I think the best is to come for him, and we're glad the Broncos recognize his talent," Weaver's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told Rasizer. "I think he's going to be a real contributor this year."

How much might depend on Sharpe's call on his future.

"It's a no-lose scenario," Rosenhaus added. "The Broncos use as many two- tight-end formations as any team in football."

Weaver isn't considered a dominant blocker at 6-foot-4, 258 pounds, relying more on athleticism, speed and precise route running. But Denver still has Dwayne Carswell on its roster, and in-line blocking remains his specialty.

Weaver immediately will be able to swap stories with Droughns now that Droughns also is on board: Both attended the University of Oregon and were teammates in 1998.

Droughns had hoped to rekindle some of those same memories with other NFL teams during his free-agent foray. In two collegiate seasons at Eugene, he rushed for more than 2,000 yards. Droughns was looking for an opportunity to duplicate such success by being given an opportunity to carry the ball on a regular basis.

But teams with whom he spoke focused more on Droughns' recent history, and he has only 40 pro carries in 40 career appearances on his resume.

"I believed that somebody would give me a shot, but at the same time I understand, since nobody has really seen me run the ball," Droughns said. "And it's kind of hard to depend on a guy you haven't seen run the ball much in four years."

Droughns, however, remains "excited." He has been told by coaches that he will get an opportunity to assume a role similar to the one Mike Anderson filled last season; involvement in the offense in a backup role as a single setback added to a primary charge as a blocker.

Still, "I know my role will be as a fullback," Droughns said. "Hopefully, I'll get a few more carries dabbled in there a little bit. ..."

In San Francisco. ... Tight end Eric Johnson re-signed with the 49ers on Thursday, agreeing to a three-year, $4.5 million deal.

Johnson missed all of last season after breaking his collarbone in an exhibition game. But his strong performance in his first two pro seasons persuaded the 49ers to sign him to an incentive-laden deal that could make him one of the highest-paid tight ends for his experience level.

Johnson, a seventh-round draft pick in 2001 out of Yale, had 76 catches for 683 yards and three touchdowns in his first two seasons. ...

In Tampa. ... Running backs Jamel White and Brandon Bennett signed contracts with the Buccaneers on Thursday.

Bennett is also a kick returner who spent five seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. He has appeared in 74 games with two starts and rushed for 1,127 yards and five touchdowns, while catching 90 passes for 756 yards and one TD.

Bennett played in 16 games in 2003, finishing 12th in the AFC with a 21.6 kickoff return average.

White, a veteran of four NFL seasons, has played in 59 games with 16 starts. He originally entered the league as an undrafted free agent with the Indianapolis Colts in 2000 before being claimed off waivers by the Cleveland Browns before the 2000 season.

White finished second on the Browns with 46 receptions for 303 yards and one TD last season. He also rushed for 266 yards and one TD, boosting his career totals to 1,324 yards and nine TDs on the ground. ...

In Arizona. ... Karl Williams, a returner and backup receiver with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the last eight years, signed a two-year contract with the team Thursday.

Financial terms were not disclosed.

Williams returned 15 punts for 110 yards and caught seven passes for 114 yards last season.

Williams holds club records in Tampa Bay for most return yards in a single game (116 vs. Chicago on December 21, 1997), best single-season punt return average (21.1 in 1996) and best single-season kickoff return average (27.4 in 1996).

He also has 137 career receptions for 1,700 yards and seven touchdowns. ...

In Tennessee. ... As reported by Nashvillecitypaper.com staff writer Terry McCormick, head coach Jeff Fisher has had nothing but bad things to say about free agent quarterback Billy Volek this week.

That's because Fisher, who is in Florida for the NFL competition committee meetings this week, has been spending lots of time in the same room with his committee co-chairman Rich McKay of the Atlanta Falcons, who just happens to be one of Volek's most serious pursuers outside of the Titans.

"Coach Fisher has been calling me a lot lately and staying in touch," Volek said. "He said he's been telling Mr. McKay that I'm still injured and that my spleen is still bothering me. Jeff has really been neat about this, about staying in touch."

Volek, who has now healed from his season-ending December spleen laceration, and agent Ken Staninger faxed another proposal to the Titans Wednesday on the heels of receiving an offer from the Buffalo Bills late Tuesday night, further complicating the decision for the free-agent quarterback.

"Buffalo has certainly made a very serious proposal. It is a very legitimate offer and Billy and I have talked about it," Staninger said.

The Falcons have put a strong three-year offer on the table for Volek, who said he hopes to have a final decision on his future made in the coming days.

Volek admits part of the delay is out of his loyalty and his four years in Tennessee.

"I want to stay here. [general manager] Floyd [Reese] knows that," Volek said. "The coaches know that and they've been staying in the loop with me on everything. ... If it was just a money situation, I'd have already signed with Atlanta. But I want to do what's best for my family and my career."

Whatever that decision is, Volek wants to resolve his future quickly.

"I'd like to get something done with Atlanta, Tennessee or Buffalo," Volek said. "I'm ready to get this behind me and move on. If I'm not here, I'll be with another team, and I'll need to get in there and learn the offense with another team and start working with the wide receivers and start throwing.

"And if something gets done here, I'm ready to start working out down at the facility again. ..."

In New England. ... Providence Journal staffer Tom E. Curran reported early Thursday that Patriots wide receiver David Patten evidently received a $250,000 roster bonus he was due to be paid this week, confirmation that the veteran wide receiver is still very much in the Patriots' plans.

There was some question whether the bonus was to be paid on March 15 or on the 15th day of the NFL's 2004 year, which was yesterday. March 3 was the start of the league's business year. Either way, Patten, as his agent Mark Lepselter said, "is still a New England Patriot" as of today.

With David Givens and Deion Branch continuing to emerge as receivers and Bethel Johnson likely to make strides in his second year, Patten's position appeared tenuous -- especially with a receiver-rich draft coming up in a month.

Patten played in just six games in 2003 after injuring a knee against the Giants in early October. He ended the season on injured reserve after catching just nine passes.

In Kansas City. ... The Chiefs re-signed free agent tight end Jason Dunn to a six-year contract Thursday. The deal is reportedly worth nearly $7 million with signing bonuses of $1.5 million now and $1 million next year included.

Dunn has served as the blocking tight end in Kansas City behind Pro Bowler Tony Gonzalez since 2000.

"Jason is an extremely integral part of our offense and possibly the finest blocking tight end in the National Football League," Chiefs president Carl Peterson said. "He also has contributed touchdowns with his few receptions and is particularly effective in the red zone."

In 56 games with the Chiefs, Dunn has been responsible for providing an extra blocker for the running game. He has just 13 catches for 131 yards and four touchdowns. ...

In San Diego. ... Following up on a previous report. ... The Chargers now have private workouts scheduled with the top three quarterbacks available in next month's NFL draft.

The Chargers will work out North Carolina State's Philip Rivers on Monday in Raleigh, N.C.; Miami of Ohio's Ben Roethlisberger on Tuesday in Oxford, Ohio; and Ole Miss's Eli Manning on Wednesday in New Orleans.

The Chargers' contingent will include general manager A.J. Smith, coach Marty Schottenheimer, assistant general manager Buddy Nix, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, president Dean Spanos and his son, John Spanos, a team scout.

"Its better to have these sessions three days in a row rather than spread them out over time because we get a chance to make immediate comparisons when everything is fresh in our minds," said Smith, who is trying to rebuild the NFL's worst team.

Smith said it's still too early to say whether the Chargers will use the No. 1 pick overall or trade down in an attempt to fill their many needs.

The Chargers have already met with Iowa tackle Robert Gallery, considered by many to be the top offensive line prospect in the draft. Smith said he also is contemplating visits with at least two defensive players. ...

In New York. ... Veteran place-kicker Mike Hollis was waived by the Giants on Thursday after failing a physical.

Hollis, who signed a five-year, $4 million contract a year ago, never kicked for the Giants in a regular-season game. He hurt his back in training camp and spent last season on injured reserve.

The move means Matt Bryant, the free agent who has been the Giants' place-kicker the past two years, will head to training camp on top of their depth chart.