Ashley Lelie's departure from Denver was a costly one. Broncos coach Mike Shanahan confirmed Thursday that in order to be free from the final year of his contract, the recalcitrant receiver agreed to pay the Broncos a hefty sum. The amount is believed to be $982,000.

Jerry Rice signed a one-day contract to retire with the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, officially ending the receiver's matchless career back where it began. Rice, who played the first 16 of his 20 NFL seasons with San Francisco, shed no tears during a short signing ceremony at the 49ers' training complex. The receiver wore his ring from the 49ers' 1989 Super Bowl championship team on a chain around his neck as he hugged his wife, Jackie, and shook hands with San Francisco owner John York. "I would like to put the uniform on and run on that football field, but I think it's time to move on," Rice said, gesturing toward the practice fields behind him. "I feel welcome here. I feel like this is my home, and this is something I'll never forget."

The Washington Redskins have traded a third-round pick to the Atlanta Falcons for running back T.J. Duckett. The Falcons then turned around and traded a third-rounder choice to Denver for wide receiver Ashley Lelie. Lelie has been trying to get out of Denver for the past year as his role was given to newcomer Javon Walker. Duckett was made expendable as the Falcons are very high on draft pick Jerious Norwood. Duckett gives Washington insurance in case Clinton Portis' shoulder injury is serious. For RealGM?s analysis of the trade, click here.

Broncos coach Mike Shanahan doesn't play favorites, as captains Al Wilson and Champ Bailey discovered Saturday night. The two defensive leaders missed team curfew Friday night and weren't allowed to dress Saturday night for the Broncos' preseason game against Tennessee. Wilson and Bailey weren't seen on the sideline at all in Denver's 35-10 win. "If you miss curfew, you don't play," Shanahan said. "We've got rules and they go for everybody."

Receiver Jerry Rice will retire as a member of the 49ers next week. Rice, who holds most of the significant NFL receiving records, won three Super Bowls during 16 years with the 49ers. He will sign a contract Thursday at the 49ers' training complex before making his retirement official, the club officially announced Saturday. The wideout will be honored again during halftime of the 49ers' game against the Seahawks on November 19.

Bill Parcells said on Friday that wideout Charlie Adams failed his physical, cancelling the trade that sent him from Denver to the Cowboys on Thursday in exchange for a sixth-round draft pick in 2007. ?He?ll probably be going back to Denver,? the coach said. ?Every trade stipulates that the player has to pass his physical.? Parcells said the Cowboys continue to be in the market for a veteran receiver. The team?s top two receivers, Terrell Owens and Terry Glenn, are both 32 and have sustained nagging injuries at training camp.

Maurice Clarett was bankrolled by an alleged member of an Israeli crime organization after leaving Ohio State, ESPN.com reported on Thursday, and Clarett's attorney said yesterday that his client may have been in possession of firearms last week to protect himself against mob activity. In the late summer of 2004, ESPN said, Clarett traveled to Los Angeles and met Hai Waknine, 35, a convicted felon prosecutors believe is a member of an Israeli crime organization called the Jerusalem Group. Waknine became Clarett's sponsor and provided Clarett with cash, a BMW, bodyguards, drivers and beachfront lodging in Malibu, with the understanding that he would receive 60 percent of Clarett's rookie contract, ESPN reported.

While a third round pick appears to be the likely exchange for Ashley Lelie, the Broncos continue to work on trading the receiver. Vikings coach Brad Childress said Thursday that the team is exploring possibilities at the position. Philadelphia and Chicago are also among the teams that may bite at giving up a No. 3 for Lelie.

The Cowboys acquired receiver Charlie Adams from the Broncos on Thursday for an undisclosed draft choice. With Patrick Crayton still out because of a sprained right foot, and Terrell Owens (hamstring) and Terry Glenn (foot blisters) having missed practices this week, coach Bill Parcells wanted to add some depth at receiver.

Longtime Denver receiver Rod Smith said he has recently spoken to holdout receiver Ashley Lelie. "We've talked to him a couple times from the locker room," Smith said. "He's doing well, he's working out, he's preparing himself to play football this year. I care about him as a person. I worry about his welfare from a mental state. Hopefully he's doing the right things to better his career. I wish he was out here, I really do."