3:43 p.m. | Updated While mayhem was expected when the N.F.L. ended its lockout Monday and launched an instant off-season, everyone predicted the frenetic pace of player movement would resemble a swap meet for billionaires. But it would not be proper mayhem unless something really head-slapping happened. Like, say, the Patriots trading for Albert Haynesworth.
Big trade news of the day, so far:
The latest trade apparently being consummated is the one sending quarterback Kevin Kolb from the Eagles to the Cardinals in exchange for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. This has been in the hopper for a bit, but it came true only when Kolb agreed to receive gobs of money ($63 million over five years).
But the head-slapper is still the Patriots reportedly swinging a deal with Washington to acquire the perpetually discontented Haynesworth and that sound you hear is Redskins Coach Mike Shanahan howling in joy. Haynesworth, a fabulously talented but motivationally challenged defensive tackle, spent last season as the symbol of everything wrong with the Redskins owner Dan Snyder’s approach to team building. Having given Haynesworth a $100 million contract, they had to sit by as he pouted about the team’s new defensive system and became a running joke by not only failing to pass the team’s conditioning test, but not even being able to finish it. Now, apparently Patriots Coach Bill Belichick believes his magic powers extend to extracting that talent from Haynesworth, which means he spent his lockout time building a wand strong enough to move nearly 400 pounds of self-absorbed entitlement.
Only someone as large as Haynesworth could shove a Reggie Bush trade aside for top honors. New Orleans is reportedly sealing a deal that would send Bush, its mercurial running back, to Miami. The move comes as no surprise considering Bush all but announced his own exit after the Saints drafted running back Mark Ingram, and was completed when Bush agreed to a two-year deal with the Dolphins.
Big free-agent signing news of the day, so far:
Receiver Sidney Rice is apparently such a big fan of quarterback Tarvaris Jackson he followed him all the way from Minnesota to Seattle. After agreeing to terms with Jackson on Wednesday, the Seahawks have reportedly snared Rice from the Vikings with a five-year, $41 million deal, which took a little zing out of the arrival of quarterback Donovan McNabb in a trade. The Seahawks are betting big that Rice recovers from major hip surgery and regains the form of his spectacular 2009 season, when he caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards.
Perhaps the biggest prize of the free agency carnival, former Raiders cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, has not made a move yet, but NFL.com is reporting the Texans might be closest to nabbing him, with the Jets and 49ers trying hard as well.
The Giants re-stocked their defensive cookie jar by re-signing Mathias Kiwanuka, but are still working on the offensive side to hammer out deals to bring back players like receiver Steve Smith, running back Ahmad Bradshaw and tight end Kevin Boss.
The Eagles were thinking defense too and signed defensive end Jason Babin, who made the Pro Bowl last season with the Titans after several unspectacular seasons, including one with the Eagles.
Big other N.F.L. mayhem news of the day, so far:
Along with signings and trades, holdouts are elbowing their way into the mix of news. Receiver DeSean Jackson, who has expressed dismay over his current contract, did not show up for the Eagles’ first workouts on Thursday. Similarly, Jacksonville tight end Marcedes Lewis refused to report to a mandatory meeting Wednesday while he tries to get a new deal out of the Jaguars. They join Tennessee running back Chris Johnson, who is reportedly staging his protest over his $800,000 base salary this season.
Quarterback Kevin Kolb was also nowhere to be found at the Eagles’ workout, but that is because everyone expects his trade to the Cardinals to be finalized shortly.
Cutsville:
The Steelers bid goodbye to Antwaan Randle El, the versatile offensive threat who helped them win a Super Bowl, and veteran tackle Max Starks, who started in two Super Bowls.
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