The Baltimore Ravens probably will know within the next few days whether they'll be able to complete a proposed trade with the Philadelphia Eagles to obtain defensive tackle Corey Simon. The signs were not promising as of early today.
The deal is contingent upon the Ravens being able to agree to a contract extension with Simon, and a source familiar with the deliberations said that negotiations between the team and Simon's representatives stalled Monday night. The sides were far apart in their attempt to agree to a long-term contract with a sizable signing bonus and the trade soon could be called off if there's no progress in negotiations, said the source, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the deliberations were at a sensitive stage.
The Ravens and Eagles have been discussing a trade that would send Simon, who was named Philadelphia's franchise player in February, to Baltimore for a pair of early-round draft choices, said the source. According to the source, the Eagles want second- and third-round picks for Simon, although one of the selections could come in next year's draft.
If he remains with the Eagles, Simon probably would play next season for the one-year, $5.134 million contract that he has been tendered as the franchise player. Under the franchise-player rules, a team cannot resume negotiations on a long-term contract with its own franchise player before July 15.
49ers Go Scouting
The San Francisco 49ers, who have the top overall selection in the draft April 23, are scheduled to meet with four players in a nine-day span, beginning with a private workout today by Utah quarterback Alex Smith in Salt Lake City.
Next week, the 49ers are to host Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Michigan wide receiver Braylon Edwards and Miami cornerback Antrel Rolle on visits. Rolle probably would be a candidate to be the club's top pick only if the 49ers trade down in the first-round draft order.
The 49ers apparently would like to trade the top pick but probably will have difficulty finding a team willing to move up to the top spot and pay its selection about $20 million in bonus money as part of a long-term contract in a year in which the draft lacks marquee players. Officials from both the 49ers and San Diego Chargers have denied that they've discussed a possible trade in which the top choice would be sent to San Diego for quarterback Philip Rivers.
Most likely, the 49ers will be left to choose between Rodgers and Smith. Both had virtually perfect pro-day workouts for scouts last month, but there have been questions about Smith's performance in his workout because some observers wondered whether his receivers were running at full speed during passing drills. The 49ers are taking two of their own wide receivers, Arnaz Battle and Brandon Lloyd, with them to today's workout.
The 49ers probably will open contract negotiations with Rodgers, Smith and Edwards soon, aiming to have an agreement in place prior to the draft with the player they plan to choose, as NFL rules permit.
Edwards and Rolle are to visit the 49ers next Monday, and Rodgers is to show up next Wednesday. . . .
After trying unsuccessfully to trade defensive end Trevor Pryce, the Denver Broncos now are attempting to negotiate a reworked contract with agent Peter Schaffer to keep Pryce with the team. The Broncos could end up releasing Pryce if the two sides are unable to agree to a new contract. . . . Seattle is close to re-signing free-agent guard Chris Gray, who rejected an offer from the 49ers. . . .
The Arizona Cardinals say they've dropped their request for additional compensation in a proposed trade that would send offensive tackle L.J. Shelton to Buffalo for Bills tailback Travis Henry.
Tom Donahoe, the Bills' president and general manager, said recently one of the things holding up the deal was the Cardinals' demand that the Bills part with more than Henry. Henry requested a trade after losing the Bills' starting tailback job last season to Willis McGahee. . . .
Free-agent defensive end Marques Douglas, formerly of the Ravens, is to visit the 49ers late today and Wednesday. Coach Mike Nolan, formerly the Ravens' defensive coordinator, is scheduled to meet with Douglas after returning from his trip to Salt Lake City to watch Smith's workout. . . .
The one-year contract that backup tailback Najeh Davenport signed with the Green Bay Packers, taking himself off the restricted free-agent market, is worth $641,000, not the $656,000 figure that the club offered to Davenport as its contract tender to retain the rights to him. Davenport accepted $15,000 less, and in exchange received a $100,000 advance on his salary.
C. Hall Traded to Kansas City
The Kansas City Chiefs traded an undisclosed draft pick this month to the Tennessee Titans today for defensive end Carlos Hall.
Hall had 13-1/2 sacks in three seasons for the Titans, including eight as a rookie in 2002. He started 14 games last season but had only 2-1/2 sacks. . . .
The Chiefs also signed free-agent wide receiver Darrell Hill, formerly of the Titans, to a two-year contract. Hill was to be a restricted free agent this offseason, but became an unrestricted free agent when the salary-cap-strapped Titans didn't tender him a contract. . . .
Cincinnati re-signed veteran defensive lineman Carl Powell, an unrestricted free agent.
