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.

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.

The Vikings have extended a long-term offer to wide receiver Sidney Rice. It isn't clear if the offer was a one-year restricted free-agent deal or a multiyear deal, but an NFL source said the goal is for it to be a long-term contract. Minnesota would be unable to negotiate with Rice after the collective bargaining agreement expires March 3, if the owners lockout the players.

Talks between the Colts and Peyton Manning on a long-term contract are ongoing, but the quarterback's agent says nothing is imminent. "We're having conversations so that's a positive," agent Tom Condon, said. "But I would agree with [Colts Vice Chairman Bill Polian] that nothing's imminent." Two weeks ago, the Colts designated Manning their exclusive franchise player, a move designed to keep him off the free-agent market.

Jeremy Shockey, who visited with and passed a physical for the Dolphins last week, plans to visit the Panthers. It is not known if Shockey is negotiating a contract with Miami. The tight end was released by the Saints earlier this month.

The Jaguars remain interested in safety Bob Sanders, who passed a physical with the team this past week. "I loved the time that we had with him," coach Jack Del Rio said. "We're exploring, I know he's exploring, whether or not Jacksonville will be a fit for him. That's the question. How much does he have left? He was very eager to continue his career, thinks he has a couple good years left in him. Certainly when he's on the field, he's one of the more dynamic players in the league." Sanders, who was released by the Colts earlier this month, also visited with the Bills this week. "The thing I will just add is the injuries that knocked him the last year have been bicep here, bicep here," Del Rio said. "Basically he probably feels as good as he's felt."

The agent for Patriots guard Logan Mankins, Frank Bauer, is making it clear that he and Mankins are not happy with New England's use of the franchise tag on his client. Mankins has yet to sign the franchise tender, and Bauer indicated the guard is still weighing his options. Added Bauer: "Everything with New England is built on leverage and using the system. Everything is leverage." Bauer had some strong words for the Patriots, who offered Mankins a $3.26 million unrestricted free-agent tender prior to last season when the two sides couldn't agree on a long-term deal.

Cardinals general manager Rod Graves says that contract talks with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and the team are "ongoing." "Those negotiations with Larry Fitzgerald and his agent, Eugene Parker, are ongoing," Graves said at the NFL Scouting Combine. "At this point, I have all reasons to be optimistic ? and that?s more my personality than anything else. "Larry means a lot to the football team ? I think that?s an understatement. We?re going to work and try and do everything we can to try and consummate the deal." Fitzgerald's current contract runs through the 2012 season and pays him base salaries of $7 million in 2011 and $5 million the year after that.