June 2011 - Football Wiretap

Offensive lineman Damien Woody confirmed on his Twitter account that he had been released by the New York Jets. According to the New York Daily News, the Jets are also expected to cut outside linebacker Vernon Gholston, nose guard Kris Jenkins and outside linebacker Jason Taylor. These moves will save the team approximately $20 million, which can be used to make other transactions this off-season, potentially including re-signing WR Santonio Holmes.

A source close to the Dallas Cowboys said that the team will allow DE Marcus Spears and S Gerald Sensabaugh to test the waters as free agents before offering them contracts, if they do offer them deals at all. Spears said during the season that he would like to return and is looking for a long-term deal. He has eight sacks and sixteen tackles for loss in his career. Sensabaugh tied for the team lead in interceptions with five last season. Despite that production, the Cowboys are looking to retool their entire secondary.

The Jacksonville Jaguars signed Luke McCown to a one year contract, intending for him to back up David Garrard. McCown has spent the last two seasons with Jacksonville but only played in one game during 2010 after tearing a knee ligament in Week 2. Over his seven season career, McCown has played in 16 games, with seven starts. He has completed 154 of 260 passes for 1,739 yards, with nine touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

The Redskins formally released Clinton Portis on Monday. "We have been through a lot both on and off of the field and we would like to wish him and his family the very best," Owner Dan Snyder said in a statement announcing Portis' release. "He will always be a Redskin and go down as one of the franchise's all-time greats." "Dan [Snyder] and Mike [Shanahan] were honest, straight-up people with me. I always appreciated the opportunity from Dan to play here," Portis said in the statement. "Being a Redskin was a special part of my life. Coming and being in that organization, I turned from a kid having fun to a man carrying responsibilities. I tried to put the world on my shoulders for Coach Gibbs and the Redskins fans."

The Bears have released Tommie Harris and terminated the contracts of linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer and offensive lineman Kevin Shaffer. Harris is a three-time Pro Bowler and had been one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL.

Peter King reports that "it's very likely" that whenever the NFL and the NFL Player's Association agree to a new Collective Bargaining Agreement, it will include a return back to the rule that fourth and fifth year players who are not tagged with either the franchise or transition tag will become unrestricted free agents. This would change the free agent landscape in numerous ways, with one of the major impacts being seen in players like Minnesota WR Sidney Rice who received neither tag from their current squad.

According to his agent Drew Rosenhaus, Vikings WR Sidney Rice will not sign with the team until after he tests the waters of free agency. This news follows quickly after reporting that the Vikings offered Rice a long-term extension and shortly before the potential expiration of the NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement on March 3, which would stop any negotiation between Rice and the Vikings for the duration of any lockout.

Former Titans coach Jeff Fisher has accepted an invitation from the league to serve as a consultant to the NFL's Competition Committee, according to the Tennessean. Fisher, who had been co-chairman of the committee with Falcons president Rich McKay, was dismissed as Titans coach earlier this month. "I wanted to have an opportunity to stay involved," Fisher said. "I am very close with all the members on the committee and the support staff. You can imagine the time we've spent together over the years, it's almost been like a second job. To be able to continue to participate, it is exciting to me."

Some have labeled Auburn defensive tackle Nick Fairley a "dirty player" and he addressed the label on Sunday. "I haven't really met with a team yet, but I have talked to the media, and how I've addressed it is everybody's entitled to their opinion," Fairley said. "A lot of folks out there say I play the game the way it should be played. I hit a light switch when I hit the field and don't turn it off 'til I leave. "I don't think I took plays off," Fairley added. "I think I play the game as it should be played. I play with a high motor. I've been playing football since I was 8 years old, and every time I hit the field, my motor was always running."

Cam Newton came away "frustrated" with his workout at the combine in Indianapolis on Sunday. Newton disappointed, overthrowing a number of receivers. "I underestimated the timing aspect of playing quarterback," Newton said. "You had receivers from the SEC, the SWAC, the MAC. ... I was somewhat frustrated, but at the same time, I was having fun out there." Newton wants to show more consistency during Auburn's pro day March 8.