Detroit Lions quarterback Joey Harrington, who is helping his team try to find him a new job, is scheduled to meet in South Florida today with Dolphins coach Nick Saban, a source said Tuesday. Saban said early Tuesday at the NFL owners' meetings that he hoped to sign a backup quarterback as soon as possible. A few hours later, he left for home. "Not that we're putting a timetable on doing this, but obviously, the sooner we can get done, the better," said Saban, speaking generally about acquiring a backup to Daunte Culpepper. "We don't control the timetable. Some of these things are time and circumstance, and you've just got to work through it."

The Miami Dolphins finalized a one-year deal Friday with former Pro Bowl fullback Fred Beasley, agent Pat Dye said. The arrival of Beasley, 31, who has spent his eight-year career with the San Francisco 49ers after being drafted out of Auburn, should create competition at a position the Dolphins used mostly for blocking last season. Terms of the contract weren't available.

The Giants haven't been eliminated from the LaVar Arrington chase yet, but the race is starting to get a little crowded. The ex-Redskins linebacker is planning to visit the Jacksonville Jaguars this weekend and also will make his second visit to Miami. Arrington was supposed to be in Cincinnati yesterday, but due to a scheduling conflict, never made his visit to the Bengals. A source said he is likely to reschedule that trip because he wants to hear what their coach, Marvin Lewis, his former defensive coordinator with the Redskins, has to offer. He may detour there on his way back from Florida early next week.

The Dolphins continued to address their need in the secondary by signing free agent cornerback Will Allen to a four-year contract, finishing what essentially was a trade of cornerbacks with the New York Giants. Allen received a $12 million deal, including $5 million in guarantees for a roster bonus and signing bonus. Allen can earn another $2 million in incentives. Agent Tom Condon confirmed the signing and said the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs had expressed interest in Allen before he visited Miami on Friday. ''Will's very happy,'' Condon said. ``It's a good situation for him.''

The Dolphins decided to stop waiting for Chargers quarterback Drew Brees to lower his contract demands and opted to give the Vikings a second-round choice to acquire quarterback Daunte Culpepper. Culpepper had been talking to the Dolphins for the past week, expressing his desire to be with the Dolphins along with showing a willingness to rework his contract to fit into the Dolphins salary cap. Contract talks between the Dolphins and Brees have been stalled because the Saints had more money and more guarantees on the table from the Saints. Vikings coach Brad Childress said recently Culpepper is on schedule in his rehab from surgery in which he tore three knee ligaments after having a trainer fly to Florida to meet with Culpepper.

Drew Brees, who arrived in South Florida on Sunday and dined with Saban that night, remained at Dolphins camp well into Monday evening before returning to Birmingham, Ala., to resume his injury rehabilitation. Condon and the team are expected to maintain talks. For the Dolphins and Condon, who is considered a hard-line negotiator, the main issue was over guaranteed money. The Saints are believed to have offered more than $8 million. The Dolphins might not be willing to go there, but Brees has been advised by many friends and associates to sign with Miami. The thinking is that the Dolphins are more stable and in a better position to win than the downtrodden Saints.

The Miami Dolphins met Saturday with quarterback Drew Brees in Birmingham, Ala., but were also considering a trade for Daunte Culpepper, said a person involved in negotiations on the first day of free agency. There's competition with the Dolphins for both quarterbacks, said the source, who didn't want to be identified because the team has been tightlipped about its personnel plans.

Former Pro Bowl linebacker LaVar Arrington, who bought his freedom from the Washington Redskins by foregoing $4.4 million, met with the Dolphins on Friday, a source said. Arrington's trip to the Davie training facility was the second such visit by a defensive player in three days. Tackle Sam Adams, waived by Buffalo, also visited.

Drew Brees is headed to New Orleans this morning to discuss with the Saints the possibility he could become their quarterback. The Miami Dolphins are to host Brees tomorrow should he leave New Orleans not a Saint. ?I expect to continue with a couple more teams after that,? agent Tom Condon said.

Miami released linebacker Junior Seau, clearing $2.92 million against the salary cap, and will have 12-year veteran defensive tackle Sam Adams in for a visit today. Buffalo released Adams last week in a salary-cap move. Although Adams can sign now, agent Angelo Wright said his client likely will wait until Thursday -- the start of free agency and the deadline for clubs to get under the salary cap -- before making a decision to see if there will be more money available under the cap. Adams is a stout run defender who would likely challenge Keith Traylor for playing time, if not a job, period. ''I give the Dolphins credit, they're working this hard to make sure they're ready to go when the bell chimes,'' Wright said. 'There are a lot of teams sitting out there saying, `We'll wait a day or two to see how things shake out.' By that time, a lot of players might be gone.''