i think everyone knew this was coming with the sighing of samuels but the article goes on to say how the falcons got a 2nd round pick this year and a 5th rounder enxt year for hall who is a notch better then sheppard, which really starts to make me wonder if a trade for receivers such like chad johnson is out of the question, i personally think a 2nd 3rd and lito should be enough, id give them 2 second round picks since we have them if need be. but anyways all we can do is cross our fingers GO BIRDS!

As rumors swirled that the Lions might trade wide receiver Roy Williams, coach Rod Marinelli called Williams and told him not to believe them. Marinelli told Williams he was going to stay in Detroit and have the best year of his career.

But Williams doesn't seem worried -- not about the possibility of being traded, not about entering the last year of his contract. He knows he needs to work harder, but he figures everything will take care of itself.

Asked Tuesday about the trade talk, Williams repeated it was the nature of the business.

At one point, he said: "If it's a football decision, it's a dumb decision. But if it's a business decision, then it's going to be pretty good. I just do what I can. I'm here right now."

At another point, he said: "If it happens, it happens. If it doesn't, I'm going to play ball wherever it's at."

Does Williams want to stay in Detroit?

"Oh, yeah," he said. "I want to stay here. I think we're headed in the right direction."

Williams is preparing for his fifth season with the Lions, who drafted him seventh overall in 2004. He said as far as he knew, his agent had not spoken to the team about an extension. Would he like to get a deal done before the season?

"I'm ready to do whatever," he said. "If they want to make me a Lion for life, I'm good with that. If not, I'm just going to play my type of ball and see what happens after that."

Players often don't like playing in the final year of a contract because of the risk of injury. Some voice their displeasure publicly or skip the voluntary off-season workouts as a negotiating tactic. But Williams said he did not consider that.

"Not at all, because I'd be hurting myself and I'm hurting this team," Williams said. "I'm not one of those guys where I'm going to be mad at you so we can get something done. I'm just going to do what I do. I'm a man of my word, a man of my work, so we can get something done like that."

Though Williams had issues with offensive coordinator Mike Martz last year, he said he was a little upset when Martz was fired because Martz is a "high-level guy" and the players didn't reach his level.

He said time will tell whether the Lions will be better off. But he thinks the balanced attack of new offensive coordinator Jim Colletto could help him and Calvin Johnson make a bigger impact.

"I've always said we've got to run the football," Williams said. "If we can run the football, that's going to bring that safety down. There's not too many corners in this league that can stop us one-on-one on the outside, and that's for anybody. That's Champ Bailey, Al Harris, whoever it might be, the best in the biz."

Two other things might help Williams:

One, studying. Williams said he hasn't always studied as hard as he should and plans to change.

"The lightbulb finally went off," he said. "I'm the oldest one in this group besides Mike Furrey. I have to be the leader of this group -- like, the real leader of this group. So therefore we're going to watch film together when we're not with the coaches. I'm going to have the guys come out to my house and have food and drinks and everything for those guys, and we're going to know our opponent better than they know themselves."

And two, health. Williams has dealt with nagging injuries the last two years, and quarterback Jon Kitna sees a difference in him this off-season.

"When you're a skill position guy and you don't feel like you're 100%, you don't have that same confidence and that same air about you," Kitna said. "When he's 100% and feels good about himself, he'll be dominant."

Williams said: "I'm just getting myself in shape, and it's not because it's the last year of my contract. I feel I'm a good enough player that something's going to happen anyway, whether it's good or bad. So I'm just putting myself in the best situation I can be in."

Miami Dolphins officials got a look Tuesday at two candidates for the No. 1 draft pick â€" Virginia's Chris Long and Boston College's Matt Ryan, at their schools' Pro Days. But more contact with Miami awaits according to the Miami Herald.

The Dolphins have scheduled private meetings with Long, Ryan and Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long in their college cities, according to officials who work with each player.....

well birds fan, make of this what you will, but this article says how boldin exspects a new deal, and also refers to the fact that fitz's contract is NOT complete yet so if you ask me its pretty obvious they have n chance to keep both, so we might be able to land one of the pro bowlers, we can only hope though, GO BIRDS!

with fitz being sighned as exspected boldin becomes the new target of many teams to trade for

Hey birds fans, this isnt any rumor or anything said by an expert this is just a dedication from one fan to the men who holds the team to together, Donovan Mcnabb. I know over the past yeara many people wanted to see #5 cut or traded, but i for one never felt that way. Its always easy to see the flaws a person makes, injuries, INTs, fumbles, or any other mistakes the experts say, but what about being the #3 winningest QB behind manning and brady, or the consectutive NFC championship games and the super bowl, Mcnabb may not have the rings or awards, but he has the stats and he has the the talent, i for one belive that if the eagles can get him a #1 reciever he will be this years MVP and he will lead the birds the title, then all the true fans can just smile and say they knew it all along, and all the band wagoners can say "o well i never wanted mcnabb gone" but anyways, good luck # 5, and for the people who think this is over confidence or not realistic, look at what happened last time he had a #1 reciever, i love you mcnabb!! BRING US THE BIG ONE! GO BIRDS!!!! E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Many are saying how we will get williams and many others are saying we will get fiz. i mean i would love either one but i heard its lito,2nd round pock, darren howard, and 6th round 4 williams, and their 6 round pick? ( sorry if im incorrect) and 4 fitz lito, 2 and 4thr ound pick? maybe even more ( again im not sure what is the deffinite offer becasue of all the rumors, but if you today could pick one, which one would u birthds fans want? fitz or williams, id love either or but let me wat u think

personally id love to have him, as im sure all you who bleed green would. but i havent heard anything about it anywhere, so if there are any truths' to this rumor comment and let me know but i mean if its just bullshit stop posting it, i mean this site was created so people could talk about the sports & teams they love but your mocking the people. the team and the sport when u post fake articles and try to joke around about what some people feel passionate about you, but if anyone can prove it, jus comment/messgae me nd let me know

Right now its to be said the cards or re-negotiating his contract to lower the cap so most like 6-7 year with 8-10 million a season, but if that does happen i wouldnt exspect the birds to make a BIG attempt on him offering what ever it takes, it is reported that reid would not pay moss 9 million and their had to be a big reason behind that besides being cheap or stupid. so hopefully the contract we get re-structured and the eagles can give up lito & 1 + 3 picks for him? or maybe even 1+ 2.let me know what you think and lets hope for the best GO BIRDS!!! E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The New England Patriots and Randy Moss are finalizing terms on a three-year, $27 million deal, a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

The two sides are currently in the process of reviewing contract details, the source told ESPN.

On Friday, Moss started to listen to offers from other teams. On Saturday, he explored possibilities with other franchises and even discussed the possibility of reuniting with his former Vikings teammate, Daunte Culpepper, on another team.

After taking a pay cut when he was traded by Oakland to New England last April, Moss had an outstanding season. He set the NFL record with 23 touchdown catches in a season and totaled 98 receptions for 1,493 yards.

He repeatedly has praised quarterback Tom Brady, who has said he wants Moss back.

ESPN's Chris Mortensen and John Clayton contributed to this report. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

There's an outside chance that the Eagles could acquire the services of free agent wide receiver Randy Moss. I don't know that they're interested in him, but Moss and the New England Patriots are getting no where in their negotiations. I"ve learned that the Eagles are one of the teams which Moss would like to play for.

I've also been told that the Cowboys and Jaguars have shown sincere interest in signing Moss. The Eagles can't let the Dallas Cowboys sign Randy Moss. I don't know that a team which included both Terrell Owens and Randy Moss could win but I know I wouldn't want to be the defensive coordinator who had to design a plan to stop them.

The contract negotiations between Randy Moss and the New England Patriots has been going very slow. The Pats aren't showing an appreciation for Moss who broke the NFL all-time touchdown reception record in NFL history.

He wouldn't mind playing for the Eagles and had expressed that last year. like to play for New England again in 2008 but he wants to be compensated for his ability and production. He wants to play for a good team which has a chance to win a championship.

So what about those playmak ers McNabb said he needs for the Birds to soar?

Team president Joe Banner said Friday the Eagles "will financially be able to do other things if we want ... and I think there is a reasonable chance we will." Conversations between the Eagles and the Arizona Cardinals re garding the availability of stud wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald were held, according to a league source, but the Cardinals' asking price for Fitzgerald "was absurd," according to the source.

Other unrestricted receivers still available as of yesterday afternoon for McNabb and an Eagles offense that ranked 24th in red zone effi ciency include Randy Moss (Patriots) and D.J. Hackett (Seahawks).

Bernard Berrian (Bears) and the Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a six-year deal yesterday, while former Eagle Donte Stal lworth, according to the NFL Net work, signed with the Cleveland Browns.

Moss, meanwhile, is looking for an annual salary similar to what Samuel received from the Birds -- between $9 and $10 million per season.

"I think we enter every free- agency period hoping to make a big impact," Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said. "I never want to be the type of organization or owner that doesn't keep reloading and going for it because to me, you're always going to have a chance to make mistakes by taking risks. Keep going for it. Be aggressive. I hope (the Samuel signing) shows that we're aggressive and that all we care about is winning."

Javon Walker, a longtime favorite of Reid and an offseason workout partner of McNabb, was cut by the Denver Broncos Friday and has attracted interest from a number of teams, including the Eagles, Giants, Redskins, Cowboys, Vikings and Buccaneers.

"When you go 8-8, it's no time to sit on your hands. It's time to take a step forward," McNabb said. "We're competing to win the Super Bowl, not to just have a winning season or win the division. (Signing Samuel) showed it right there, but obviously we still have some more steps we have to take."

The Randy Moss rumors grew more dire last night, with word that the Packers and maybe even the Cowboys were considering runs at the star free agent receiver and NFL.com reporting that Moss has grown "frustrated" with the Patriots lack of movement.

Although it still seems to make the most sense for Moss to stay in Foxboro, the money has to work, and right now it doesn't. The NFL.com story also noted that Moss doesn't plan to take another discount to stay with the Pats.

If Moss leaves, where might he go? If he's to be taken at his word about wanting to play for a winner, his options narrow considerably.

And judging from his misery in Oakland, he's probably not going anywhere with a subpar quarterback.

Those two factors eliminate much of the league.

Here are the five teams most likely to offer the right mix to Moss:

1. Cowboys - Owner Jerry Jones is rich, so that's not an issue. And Tony Romo is a Pro Bowl quarterback, so that would work, too. Don't be surprised if Dallas puts on the full-court press. Jones already is on record saying he wants to make a splash this offseason, and the Cowboys thus far have been surprisingly quiet, beyond re-signing lineman Flozell Adams.

2. Packers - The Pack should have faced the Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, but they couldn't seal the deal at home against the Giants. QB Brett Favre is supposedly mulling retirement, but as the NFL Network's Adam Schefter noted, nothing would energize him like the presence of Moss, whom he campaigned for last offseason.

3. Steelers - Big Ben Roethlisberger already has won a Super Bowl and last year made the leap from game manager to game changer. The Steelers are always in the hunt, though they appear set at wide receiver with Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes.

4. Giants - Although Eli Manning may not yet be an elite QB, he's got great bloodlines, and many expect him to blossom after what he did in Super Bowl XLII. That said, caveat emptor - he ranked 25th in quarterback rating.

5. Saints - They're coming off a down season, but with QB Drew Brees, RB Reggie Bush and WR Marques Colston, the Saints are an excellent candidate to bounce back, especially in the weak NFC South. Their interest in Asante Samuel [stats] proves they're willing to spend this offseason.

The Seahawks ( Matt Hasselbeck) and Browns (Derek Anderson) mildly fit the formula, but it's hard to picture Moss in either uniform. Then again, it's hard to believe he couldn't reach a deal with the Pats, so anything's possible.

i personally disagree with this article because they dont even have the eagles as contenders

this draft has the eagles taking, cromartie, but id like them to take WR james hardy hes a big reciever with play maker a ability, assuming that we cant get moss i would consider him a great pick for the eagles, or even if they do trade lito for the #7 pick, they can get him along with a Offensive lineman, so everyone just voice your oppinions

Free-agent linebacker Lance Briggs re-signed with the Chicago Bears, agreeing to a six-year, $36 million deal Saturday.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said Briggs will earn $21.6 in salary through the first three years and the deal includes $13 million in guaranteed bonuses.

The three-time Pro Bowl player became an unrestricted free agent Friday.

"I'm extremely happy about it,"' Briggs told the Chicago Tribune. "With Bernard (Berrian) signing with the Vikings, I think it gave me the opportunity to come home. I'm happy to return to the team that I started my career with."'

The agreement with Briggs came only hours after Berrian, the Bears' leading receiver last season, left Chicago for the Minnesota Vikings on Saturday, agreeing to a six-year, $42 million contract.

"We're glad that we got both guys situated," Rosenhaus said. "Both guys are very happy."

Briggs had team-leading 10 tackles for loss last season and finished with 140 tackles (80 solo), and there was heavy speculation that he would leave. Rosenhaus said Briggs was close to signing with the Washington Redskins, who tried to acquire him last summer, and that Green Bay, Tampa Bay and New Orleans were interested.

"The contract made sense in terms of the way we structured the deal," Rosenhaus said. "Kudos to the Bears."

He had a tumultuous offseason a year ago when he vowed never to play for the Bears again after they made him a franchise player. He relented and joined the team right before training camp. The linebacker also made unwanted headlines in late August after crashing and abandoning his Lamborghini alongside a highway in the middle of the night.

But in December, Briggs said he hoped to stay in Chicago.

"I can see myself in a lot of uniforms," Briggs said at the time. "But honestly, I can see myself in a Chicago uniform if things work out that way, which I hope they will."