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With the free-agent signing period set to begin Thursday at midnight (Eastern Time), NFL teams have begun making roster moves in order to get under the cap before the deadline. While many of the name found in today's roundup are well-known, none of the moves made came as tremendous surprises. ...

We'll start in Baltimore, where the Ravens waived Jamal Lewis, the team's all-time leading rusher -- with 7,801 yards career yards, on Wednesday.

But, according to BaltimoreRavens.com staffer Mike Duffy, the release doesn't mean that the seven-year veteran won't don a Ravens jersey in the future. General manager Ozzie Newsome expressed his desire to re-sign Lewis sometime this offseason.

"We are involved in negotiations with Jamal, and there has been good dialogue," said Newsome. "Jamal has been a significant contributor to us in the last seven seasons.

"It's our hope to have him back with the Ravens."

Lewis was named the league's Offensive Player of the Year in 2003 when he rushed for 2,066 yards, the second most in NFL history. He rushed for 1,132 yards in 2006.

The 27-year old tailback spent the 2005 offseason serving time in prison after a guilty plea to using a cell phone to set up a drug buy. He also has had ankle problems and underwent surgery to remove bone spurs in January.

The Ravens' first pick in the 2000 draft, Lewis was due a $5 million roster bonus on March 3 along with a $5 million base salary for the 2007 season. As the Associated Press reported, team officials spent the last week negotiating with agent Mitch Frankel in hopes of striking a deal that would be more cap friendly.

Releasing Lewis, who carried a salary-cap figure of $11.6 million, creates $8.3 million in cap room. Baltimore is now roughly $11.3 million under the league salary cap limit of $109 million. Lewis was paid $6 million last season, including a $5 million signing bonus.

Last week, the Ravens decided not to assign a $7.2 million franchise tag to Pro Bowl linebacker Adalius Thomas, ensuring his eventual departure as a high-priced free agent.

If Lewis ends up moving on, it would leave the Ravens with veteran Mike Anderson, who carried just 39 times for 183 yards last season, and Musa Smith, an ineffective third-down back who once again ended the season on injured reserve.

Also on the roster is P.J. Daniels, a fourth-round draft pick from Georgia Tech who didn't get into a game as a rookie last season.

For what it's worth, Profootballtalk.com editor Mike Florio suggested tonight the Ravens could get Lewis back under contract, via a one-year deal worth roughly $2 million.

But not until after Lewis takes some time to see what others might be willing to offer. He did the same last year before re-signing in Baltimore.

As for possible destinations? The Broncos expressed some interest in Lewis last offseason and could again this time around. The Giants and Jets are also among the teams said to be looking for backfield help. ...

In Minnesota. ... The Vikings released 15-year veteran quarterback Brad Johnson. The move will allow Johnson to pursue his options immediately when the market opens Thursday night.

The team just made the move official in a press release that quoted head coach Brad Childress as saying: "[Johnson] has been a true pro throughout his career and we wish him the best as he moves forward. Brad was an important part of the team and a guy who led by example on and off the field.

"He is a class act and a guy younger players could learn a lot from about what it takes to play in the NFL."

Johnson opened the 2006 season as the Vikings starter, but Childress benched him with two games remaining in the season. In 14 starts, Johnson completed 61.5 percent of his passes for 2,750 yards. He threw nine touchdown passes and 15 interceptions for a 72.0 passer rating.

In two stints with the Vikings, Johnson had a 28-18 record as a starter. He also has played for Washington and Tampa Bay.

Johnson, 38, has played 15 seasons in the NFL and fully intends to make it 16 in 2007. According to Minneapolis Star-Tribune staffer Kevin Seifert, it is believed that three to five teams have serious interest in signing him as an experienced veteran backup.

The Vikings have toyed publicly with drafting a blue-chip quarterback in April, but Seifert believes their most likely course of action for 2007 is to pit Tarvaris Jackson and Brooks Bollinger in a training-camp competition for the starting spot. ...

Also. ... The Vikings informed informed tight end Richard Owens today that he will receive a low tender of $850,000. In Owens' case, it means the Vikings have the right to match any offer he receives but would get no compensation if he moves on to another team. ...

In Houston. ... Eric Moulds' tenure in Houston was a short one. The Texans on Wednesday released the veteran wide receiver less than a year after acquiring him from the Buffalo Bills.

The 33-year-old Moulds, who came to Houston on April 6 for a fifth-round draft pick, struggled last season with the Texans, hauling in 57 receptions for 557 yards and one touchdown.

"We made some difficult decisions [Wednesday]," Texans general manager Rick Smith said. "We appreciate the contributions that [Moulds] made to our football team, organization and community."

A 1996 first-round draft pick, Moulds has 732 catches for 9,653 yards and 49 TDs in 11 career seasons. His finest year came with Buffalo in 2002, when he had a career-high 100 receptions for 1,292 yards and 10 TDs - also a career best.

As previously noted on this site, the Texans had already decided the addition of a more productive No. 2 receiver to work opposite Andre Johnson would be a priority this offseason. ...

For what it's worth, Domanick Williams -- a.k.a Domanick Davis -- remained on the roster as of the end of business Wednesday. There have been rumors, however, indicating Williams might not make it through the week without being released. ... It bears watching.

In New Orleans. ... The Saints re-signed tight end Billy Miller to a one-year contract Wednesday. The veteran tight end, who had 14 catches for 129 yards in 2006, was slated to become an unrestricted free agent.

Miller was invaluable down the stretch after signing with the club on Oct. 24 last season, posting all of his receptions over the final 10 games as New Orleans drove toward the playoffs.

He had a memorable performance in the team's Divisional Playoff victory over the Eagles, catching four passes for a team-high 64 yards, including a 29-yard grab. He also had receptions of 15 and 13 yards in the contest to move the chains.

"Billy was a productive part of the offense after joining our team during the season," said general manager Mickey Loomis. "He is a veteran who brings consistency and dependability to our tight end corps and his work ethic is a good influence in our locker room. He was a player we wanted to sign as we move forward."

Miller, who hauled in a two-point conversion last season against Baltimore, played in all 10 games after joining the Saints, starting the final three regular-season contests. He led the tight ends with four catches for 31 yards in the NFC Championship Game at Chicago.

Meanwhile, ESPN.com insider John Clayton reports the team released veteran tight end Ernie Conwell Wednesday. That leaves Miller and blocking specialist Mark Campbell as the top two tight ends on the roster.

For what it's worth, re-signing Miller and releasing Conwell seems indicative of a direction, no?

It looks very much like a team on the rise interested in letting go of less-than-productive veterans.

Probably not good news for Joe Horn. According to the Biloxi Sun-Herald, the veteran wideout hasn't heard anything from team officials in terms of reworking his contract.

There's been speculation the Saints will ask Horn to take a pay cut or they might release the team's all-time leading receiver. Horn would make $4.4 million in 2007 and is owed a $1 million roster bonus on March 17.

Horn has said he's willing to restructure his contract but won't take a pay cut. Stay tuned on this one. ...

In Washington. ... According to Washington Post staffer Jason La Canfora, the Redskins and quarterback Mark Brunell have agreed to terms on a new contract, although Brunell has yet to sign it. NFL Network insider Adam Schefter is reporting the same.

According to La Canfora, instead of Brunell counting nearly $7 million against the cap, he'll count probably less than half of that total. It's effectively a one-year deal -- on paper it's a four-year deal but the final three years automatically void out, making Brunell a free agent this time next year.

He got no signing bonus, but will get a roster bonus and a base salary around the veteran minimum (in his case about $820,000).

All told it will likely cost the Skins about $2-3 million against the cap.

As La Canfora suggested, it's a win-win; the Skins keep a veteran backup they really like and Brunell makes less money than he would have under his old contract, but gets the security of some guaranteed money and the pleasure of remaining with his team of choice.

Also. ... The Redskins released veteran tight end Christian Fauria Wednesday.

Fauria played just one season in Washington. Signed by the Redskins as a free agent in March 2006, he struggled through a foot injury most of last season and ended the year on injured reserve.

Fauria, a 12-year NFL veteran, played in nine games and had two receptions for 17 yards.

In Carolina. ... Tight end Kris Mangum, who ranks third in Panthers history with 126 games played, announced his retirement Wednesday.

Mangum, who turns 34 in August, played in 15 games in 2006, but started only five. He caught 21 passes for 170 yards and one touchdown and saw time on special teams despite battling foot and hip injuries.

He trails only John Kasay (156) and safety Mike Minter (148) in games played, but may have had trouble making the 2007 squad.

Carolina is looking to find pass-catching tight ends under new offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson and Mangum is primarily a blocker.

Mangum started a career-high 11 games in Carolina's Super Bowl season in 2003. He had 154 catches for 1,424 yards and nine touchdowns in 10 seasons with the Panthers. ...

And finally, in Buffalo. ... Though Shaud Williams' role was reduced last season he still made a good impression on the new coaching staff as the 'do anything' tailback was signed by the Bills to a multi-year deal Wednesday.

As BuffaloBills.com staffer Chris Brown noted, Williams beat the odds as a rookie in 2004 making Buffalo's roster as an undrafted rookie free agent despite the presence of Willis McGahee and Travis Henry in a crowded offensive backfield.

He was the team's change of pace back in 2005 and hung around in 2006 taking on more of a special teams role.

The level of opportunity for Williams this coming season could be different.

With McGahee's future in Buffalo uncertain and veteran Anthony Thomas set to become an unrestricted free agent at week's end, the offensive staff needed some dependable depth at running back.

That's it for now. ... Check back in coming days as I continue to track roster moves of interest to Fantasy owners.

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.