NFL GridIron Gab Daily Digest

According to Dan Pompei of the National Football Post, once the lockout lifts, don't be surprised to see the Ravens and Haloti Ngata shake hands on a long term deal.

Ngata isn't going anywhere because the Ravens used a franchise tag on him, but it would make sense for both sides to agree to a deal early in free agency because Ngata currently is taking up more than $12 million in cap room.

The Ravens couldn't sign Ngata to a contract prior to the lockout because the 30 percent rule prevented them from giving him the kind of raise he deserved. They will be able to now, and it will enable them to clear maybe $6 million in cap space and increase their maneuverability in free agency.

When the lockout finally ends, Chris Harris perhaps can work on persuading the Bears to make a move he already has discussed with Steve Smith according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.

There is a belief the Panthers will look to trade the 32-year-old wide receiver when player movement can begin. One report earlier this summer indicated he could be available for a third-round draft pick, something Harris no doubt would like Jerry Angelo and the Bears to consider.

"If the opportunity is there, why not?" Harris said during a visit on "The Waddle & Silvy Show" on WMVP-AM 1000. "You can never have enough big-time playmakers on your team."

Harris has worked out with Smith during the offseason and says he is "looking just as good as he's been." He joked that he could show the newcomer the city. They were teammates with the Panthers for three seasons and Smith could be looking to escape the rebuilding situation in Carolina and seek a competitive team.

Legendary senior writer jclombardi reports about NFL lockout deal.

BREAKING NEWS: Sources are verifying ESPN's Chris Mortensen’s report that NFL owners and NFLPA settled the final unresolved issues in the NFL lockout.  Monday, the NFLPA is expected to approve the new collective bargaining agreement.  Then, the players can report to their training camps beginning on Wednesday.  Next, in the coming week, the NFLPA is expected to recertify as a union clearing the way for the new 10 years CBA.  ESPN’s timeline:

• Monday: NFLPA’s executive committee votes whether to recommend approval of the CBA approved by owners on Thursday. Then, a player rep from each of the 32 teams votes whether to recommend approval of the CBA.

• Tuesday/Wednesday: Players from some teams report to facilities and vote whether to recertify the NFLPA as a union and accept the proposed CBA. If the NFLPA has gotten the necessary votes, teams can also start contract talks with their own players, including free agents and draft choices.

• Friday: The remaining players report and vote whether to approve recertification and the CBA. If the NFLPA then receives the necessary 50-percent-plus-one-vote majority in approval, then it recertifies as a union.

• Saturday: Free agency starts and teams can officially sign players. 

Update: PFT says, “Big implications of the new CBA, which is expected to be voted on by the NFLPA* Executive Committee on Monday. Top rookie picks will make a lot less, and there have been rules put in place to discourage rookie holdouts. Revenue sharing has been adjusted. The salary cap will be flexible in 2011.  Padded practices will plummet. Tampering won't be a big issue this year.”

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In the past couple of weeks numerous free agents have expressed their interest in joining the Miami Dolphins once the lockout is lifted.

Well with free agency soon to start, former Fin Jason Taylor is the newest free agent to be to express possible interest in a third stint with the team.

Taylor has said that "no ships have sailed, and no bridges have been burned". Now before the lockout was formally enforced both sides made it clear that Taylor returning to Miami would be an option that they would not close the door on when the time came for free agency.

But now when it's put up or shut up time, and the Dolphins looking doe another edge rusher to line up opposite Cameron Wake, will the Dolphins look to their all-time leading sack artist to lighten the load for Wake?

Dan Pompei of the National Football Post reports that no matter what kind of shape Randy Moss is in, he might not find much interest on the open market, based on conversations with coaches and front office men.

Moss, who always has been somewhat of a specialist as a route runner, is more limited in the route tree than ever at the age of 34. "He can only run—a go, corner and a post now," one personnel director said. "Maybe a hitch."

That is not to say Moss can no longer beat a defender deep. He can, and he will, but his offensive coordinator will have to play to his strengths and not ask him to do what he can't do well.

A lot of offenses are not willing to make that kind of sacrifice for an aging receiver like Moss who is a notorious poor practice player, and an offensive coordinator explained his lack of interest in Moss by saying he worries that speed-reliant receivers like Moss decline more rapidly than bigger, stronger receivers with an all around game.

Last week Giants co-owner John Mara had a little chat with disgruntled Giants' DE Osi Umenyiora, who is one of ten named plaintiffs in the Brady v. NFL case. According to John Mara, he made one thing very clear: He wants Umenyiora back next season.

"I talked to him last week," Mara said, "and told him we wanted him back."  It's been well documented that Umenyiora either wanted a new deal which pay's him top dollar, or be traded to a team whose willing to do so. The Giants have not yet made "good" on a new deal for Umenyoria, which has led Umenyoria to believe Resse was lying. Umenyiora is willing to return, but only he has a new deal.

With the emergence of DE Jason Pierre-Paul, the Giants might be content with trading Umenyiora and getting a draft pick for him. However, the value won't be nearly as high as Umenyoria's ability. It never is when your traded a top-notch player.

With that being said, Mara told Osi Umenyoria he needs to talk to Giants GM Jerry Resse first. "I told him that when this [lockout] is over, he's got to sit down with Jerry man-to-man and work this thing out," Mara said. "He's got to do that."

This will be very interesting. If the Giants fail to resign Mathias Kiwanuka, might they be more inclined to take care of Osi? If they do sign Kiwi, might they grant his wish and trade him? We shall see!

Bears running back Matt Forte is looking for a contract extension from the Bears. He had hoped to have one before the start of practice in Bourbonnais, tentatively scheduled for later this week.

“Any time a player has been producing very well,” Forte told Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune, “they’re going to come back and say, ‘Hey, throw me a bone here.’ ”

“I think we’re going about it the right way,” he said. “My agent, Adisa Bakari, talked to (general manager) Jerry Angelo and Cliff Stein last season, just letting them know that we’ve been producing.

“And now that it’s close to training camp, we don’t have much time to negotiate.”

But would Forte consider holding out?

“It never benefits anybody — a player or organization — to hold out or miss practices,” Forte said. “That’s obviously something I wouldn’t want to do.”

Senior writer jclombardi–Packers greats G Rivera & FB Henderson in Hall of Fame.

Rivera & Henderson inducted in Packers Hall of Fame: On Saturday, inside the Lambeau Field Atrium, this attitude was finally rewarded. Both Rivera and Henderson were assembly-line mainstays during their coinciding Green Bay careers, Rivera from 1997-2004 and Henderson from 1995-2006. Neither garnered much attention, instead excelling at selfless jobs through one of the team’s best runs. Now, the right guard and fullback are enshrined in the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. Choked up, Henderson struggled to find words at a news conference beforehand. Having all eyes on him for a change means something. ”It’s great to represent the Green Bay Packers and,” said Henderson, pausing for a few moments, “the Green Bay Packers Hall of Fame. It’s kind of crazy to say that. Every time I come back now, I’m representing so many decades of guys willing to do whatever it takes.” Rivera didn’t dare sit out. To his left was the game’s iron man, Brett Favre, stringing together an NFL-record 297 consecutive starts. Favre’s approach filtered through the entire offensive line, Rivera said. That group – arguably one of the best run-blocking units in team history – played through pain. ”How can you look at him in the eye and say, ‘Oh, Brett, I have a torn MCL. I think I’m just going to take the game off?’?” Rivera said. “You could go ahead and lose that game because the right guard doesn’t play well. I didn’t want that to happen.” As a result, QB Brett Favre’s streak continued and RB Ahman Green tore through the team annals with a Packers-best six 1,000-yard seasons.

Packers Great G Rivera Speaks

Packers Great FB Henderson Speaks

The Cardinals are looking for a quarterback, either by trade or as a free agent pickup. There have been rumors that wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been consulted about the Cardinals next quarterback. Fitzgerald wants nothing to do with disputes assertions that he’s advising coach Ken Whisenhunt and General Manager Rod Graves in their quest for a quarterback.

“There’s not truth to that at all,” Fitzgerald told Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic via text Friday. “I have no criteria. The two sides haven’t even sat down and talked. I have not talked to any coach on staff for six months. I’m like everybody else scrambling to make this season a success.

“There are much more pressing needs for our team than me. I’m under contract. My situation will work itself out. I’m not worried about it; the team shouldn’t be, either. I want to be a Cardinal.”

Of course, Fitzgerald will be a free agent at the end of the season and if they can’t find a quarterback who can get the Cards offense in gear, the chances of him staying, their chances to keep him will be decreased. Fitzgerald compared the Cardinals’ downfall to going from caviar to eating out of the garbage can.

Vince Young is scheduled to receive a $4.25 million roster bonus. The Tennessee Titans would have had 10 days under the old CBA to trade or release Young under the old CBA to avoid paying the the roster bonus.

Jim Wyatt of the Tennessean reports under the new CBA, the due date for all offseason option and roster bonuses is the second day of the new league year.

Therefore the Titans will have one day to trade or cut Young to avoid the $4.25 million roster bonus.