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Following up on a previous update. ... Kerry Collins, who told reporters on Monday that he's unwilling to take the pay cut necessary to remain with the Giants this year, is ready to move on.

Saturday's acquisition of rookie Eli Manning marked the beginning of the end for Collins.

The nine-year veteran, who took the Giants to the 2001 Super Bowl, is slated to make $7 million in base salary this season in the final year of his contract, with a reported salary cap figure of $8.95 million.

Collins, 31, met Monday morning with Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, who told ESPN that Collins wouldn't restructure his contract and that they decided he'd likely "move on" within the next 10 days.

"Ernie told me that he felt Eli was one of the three or four best college quarterbacks he's seen in the last 20 years," Collins told New York Newsday. "Someone like [John] Elway or [Dan] Marino. Someone like that. ..."

And that being the case, his disinterest in sticking around is understandable.

So the question becomes: Where does Collins go from here?

According to New York Daily News staffer Ralph Vacchiano, Collins' agent, David Dunn, was given permission yesterday to speak to other teams and he has already gotten calls from four: Dallas, where former Giants offensive coordinator Sean Payton is an assistant; Baltimore, where Jim Fassel is a consultant; Oakland and Arizona.

"It may be hard for me to find a job as a starter now, but I believe I'm a starter," Collins said. "I believe I've got a lot of good years left. Hopefully there'll be some options and I'll try to pick the one that's best for me."

Meanwhile, San Francisco head coach Dennis Erickson said Monday the 49ers likely won't try to acquire Collins.

"First of all we wouldn't have the money (to sign Collins)," Erickson told Contra Costa Times beat man Cam Inman. "Tim [Rattay] is the guy. We made that decision when Jeff [Garcia] left (March 2). Unless things don't go well, I'd expect Tim to be our quarterback. ... No, not Kerry Collins."

In a related note. ... Vacchiano reports the Giants' search for a veteran backup includes a trio with ties to the Jets, most notably 40-year-old Vinny Testaverde, who is expected to be released by the Jets on June 1.

Testaverde is reportedly interested in joining Bill Parcells in Dallas. However, the Long Island native could be intrigued by the chance to stay in New York and tutor Manning. The Giants can't contact Testaverde because he's still Jets property.

The Giants also are interested in 37-year-old Neil O'Donnell and 33-year-old Jeff Blake, two more ex-Jets who are free agents. But their search began Sunday night when free-agent quarterback Damon Huard arrived for a visit.

The 30-year-old Huard, who spent the last two years as a backup in New England playing under new Giants offensive coordinator Jon Hufnagel, met with team officials yesterday.

Accorsi said the team might wait until June to consider its options but could act sooner.

It is unlikely that Collins' backup the past two seasons, Jesse Palmer, will be on the roster opening day, meaning there would be three new quarterbacks. Possibilities for No. 3 are Ryan Van Dyke, from NFL Europe, and Kentucky's undrafted Jared Lorenzen, a 6-3, 280-pound lefthander with whom the team has agreed on contract terms. ...

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

In Oakland. ... As reported by San Jose Mercury News staff writer Dennis Georgatos, Rich Gannon has recovered from the shoulder operation that ended his 2003 season and should be able to practice without restriction when the Raiders open a three-day mini-camp Friday, head coach Norv Turner said Sunday.

The veteran signal caller suffered a torn labrum in his right shoulder Oct. 20 against Kansas City and underwent surgery in mid-November. Turner said Gannon, 38, is throwing the ball five days a week and this month finished a round of workouts with a series of deep throws.

"He threw two to three balls that traveled over 50 yards in the air and were right on the money," Turner said. "He looked very good to me. He felt semi-rusty or wasn't as pleased with it as I was. That's a positive to me. You guys know better than I do he is a little bit of a perfectionist and has high expectations for himself."

With Gannon and backup Marques Tuiasosopo (torn knee ligament) on track in their returns, the Raiders probably will not pursue Kurt Warner should the St. Louis Rams release him after June 1.

"We're in a situation with Rich where we've got a guy who was the MVP a year ago," Turner said. "I think Kurt is going to want to go somewhere where he can be the starter. You know, I just don't see that happening here. ..."

In Buffalo. ... According to the Associated Press, Drew Bledsoe renegotiated his contract with the Bills on Tuesday, providing salary cap room for the team and ensuring he will continue to be its starting quarterback.

Bledsoe's had seven years left on his old deal, and was due a $7 million bonus had he still been on the Bills roster in November. He was scheduled to make a base salary of $5.9 million this season, a figure that would balloon to $12 million in 2008.

Buffalo traded for a first-round pick in the NFL draft on Saturday to select Tulane quarterback J.P. Losman, whom the team hopes to groom as Bledsoe's eventual successor.

"We still have great confidence in Drew, and we've told Drew that," Bills president Tom Donahoe said. "But we have to prepare for tomorrow."

Bledsoe was acquired him two years ago in a trade with New England.

In Tampa Bay. ... Michael Pittman began serving his jail sentence Monday for his latest conviction. He will have to wait a while for his NFL sentencing.

According to Tampa Tribune staffer Katherine Smith, Pittman reported to a jail in Maricopa County, Arizona on Monday for his 30-day sentence, the result of pleading guilty to one count of endangerment stemming from a May 2003 domestic-violence incident with his wife.

With good behavior, Pittman could be released in 14 days.

Pittman, who served two days in jail in 2001 for misdemeanor charges of criminal trespass and criminal damage also involving his wife, is a repeat offender under the NFL's personal conduct policy. He served a one-game suspension as a member of the Arizona Cardinals after his 2001 conviction.

For his latest violation, Pittman faces a multi-game suspension or possible banishment from the league. Commissioner Paul Tagliabue will decide the penalty.

Head coach Jon Gruden, who has spoken with both Pittmans, said he is standing by his leading rusher from 2003.

Though Pittman still has to go through the league's disciplinary process, Gruden indicated Monday the Bucs would keep Pittman because he would not cost them an active roster spot while under suspension.

The league continues to review Pittman's situation. ...

Also in Tampa. ... As Tribune beat man Roy Cummings framed it: "While the Bucs were recognizing their newest wide receiver -- first-round pick Michael Clayton -- with an introductory news conference Monday, their oldest and most accomplished receiver was looking for some recognition of his own."

Keenan McCardell, who earned a berth in the Pro Bowl last year after leading the Bucs in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns, has told the team he wants a contract extension that reflects his status as its top pass catcher.

"We're looking for an extension that matches Keenan's production," said Steve Carrick, a spokesman for agent Gary Uberstein. "All we want is something that's fair and comparable [to what receivers with McCardell's statistics are getting]."

McCardell, 34, finished 10th in the league with 84 receptions and eighth in receiving yards with 1,174 in 2003. He has two years remaining on a contract that will pay him $2.5 million next season and $2.75 million in 2005. ...

In Green Bay. ... PackersNews.com staffer Rob Demovsky reports the team will have at least four quarterbacks at mini-camp this week, and they still are holding out hope that Tim Couch could be the fifth.

Doug Pederson, who has been Brett Favre's top backup the last three years, will sign a one-year contract today. He will join Favre, Craig Nall and undrafted free-agent Scott McBrien of Maryland.

Progress appears to have been made on the Couch front. His agent, Tom Condon, spoke on Monday with Andrew Brandt, the Packers' vice president of player finance. The two are trying to come to terms on money and contract length before a trade can be worked out with Cleveland.

"We are still talking, and it's a definite possibility," said Andrew Kessler, Condon's associate. "If it gets done before (mini-camp), he'll be there. ..."

In St. Louis. ... The Rams added a fullback to their roster Sunday without taking one in the draft. According to St. Louis Post-Dispatch beat man Jim Thomas, head coach Mike Martz said he plans to convert running back Arlen Harris to fullback for the 2004 season.

"Without talking to Arlen yet, so this will be news to Arlen, we need to keep him on our active roster and keep him in the game," Martz said. "What I'd like to do with Arlen is move him, like we did with Robert [Holcombe], to the fullback position.

Harris was listed at 212 pounds on last season's roster, so he's obviously got to bulk up. But he has good strength and displayed toughness last season as a rookie.

"Although he's short in stature (at 5-10), he's a 400-pound bench press guy," Martz said. "He's very powerful."

The only other fullback on the roster is Joey Goodspeed, who joined the team at midseason in 2003 and played in eight regular-season games plus the playoff loss to Carolina.

The selection of Oregon State running back Steven Jackson prompted the Harris switch. The Rams would prefer to take only three halfbacks into the regular season, with Jackson joining Marshall Faulk and Lamar Gordon in the backfield mix.

According to Thomas, Martz would like to keep both Harris and Goodspeed on the active roster as fullbacks because of their special teams abilities. ...

In Carolina. ... As reported by Charlotte Observer staff writer Pat Yasinskas, the Panthers continued to add to their wide receiver corps, bringing back Donald Hayes on Monday.

Hayes, who played four seasons with the Panthers, signed a one-year contract. His signing closely follows the addition of Southern California's Keary Colbert with a second-round draft pick and the fifth-round selection of Ohio State's Drew Carter.

Head coach John Fox and general manager Marty Hurney dismissed speculation during the draft that veteran receiver Muhsin Muhammad could be a salary-cap casualty.

But the addition of the three receivers would give the Panthers more leverage if they ask Muhammad to take a pay cut. Muhammad, who is entering the final year of his contract, has a $6.5 million cap figure. Carolina could create more than $4 million in cap space by releasing him.

Steve Smith is the other starting receiver. Veterans Ricky Proehl, Karl Hankton, Eugene Baker and Walter Young also are on the roster.

Hayes had his best season in 2000, when he had 66 catches for 926 yards and three touchdowns. He led the Panthers with 52 receptions and 597 yards in 2001, but signed as a free agent with New England after that season.