Free agent T.J. Houshmandzadeh, the top receiver on the market, claims that he'll decide on Sunday night whether to stay with the Bengals or sign elsewhere. Cincinnati has reportedly made an offer to keep Houshmandzadeh. He's visited Seattle and Minnesota, and the Giants are rumored to be involved as well.

After visiting with the Bengals, free agent running back Derrick Ward is expected to visit the Broncos on Sunday. His age, 28, is an issue, but he's still one of the top runners on the market.

The Bills have signed quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick to be the backup to Trent Edwards. "I think it's helped me a lot in my career to play behind Marc Bulger (in St. Louis) and Carson Palmer," Fitzpatrick told the Bills' official team Web site. "I've been able to see how they approach the game, and in doing that I've been able to help them out. I think that's what I'm going to bring here. "Trent is still a young guy and I'm going to help him out with his preparation. I'm going to be his eyes when he's on the field and I'm looking forward to that relationship."

Bengals coach Marvin Lewis doesn't foresee a scenario in which the team will play without both Chad 'Ocho Cinco' Johnson and T.J Houshmandzadeh next season. Houshmandzadeh became a free agent on Friday, while there have been numerous rumors that Cincinnati will look to deal Johnson. "I don't think such a scenario exists," Lewis said.

The Bengals' first major move of the offseason Monday all but guaranteed kicker Shayne Graham's services for the 2009 season and wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh's entry into free agency. When he heard that the Bengals had given Graham the franchise tag, Houshmandzadeh moved the odds at him playing elsewhere in 2009 to "99.2 percent."

Cincinnati acquired punter Ryan Plackemeier on waivers from Washington on Friday. Seattle drafted Plackemeier in 2006, and he was the Seahawks? regular punter for two seasons. He was waived in September and signed by Washington.

The Bengals would have to pay T.J. Houshmandzadeh $9.88 million in salary for the 2009 season if they where to designate him with the franchise tag, something they're unlikely to do. "I don't want any part of the tag," he said. "The more I think about, I don't think I'll be franchised. It's a lot of money. If you franchise somebody what are you saying about the player? Obviously, you think he is that type of player, and if you think he's that type of player then you're franchising him. "That shows you within itself that OK we think he's one of the better players and we're going to franchise him. If that's the case give him a contract like your franchising him. That's how I see it and don't see the franchise thing happening."