Jets will make a strong push for Samuel

Jets will make a strong push for Samuel
The Jets and Pats may have a new reason to feud. Alex Marvez says Eric Mangini covets one of New England's prized possessions.

Panthers release Morgan, Wahle
The Carolina Panthers released injury-prone linebacker Dan Morgan and guard Mike Wahle on Monday in the first of many expected changes during the offseason. Morgan was Carolina's first-round pick in 2001, but played in only 59 of 112 games with the Panthers because of numerous injuries, including at least five concussions. He missed the final 13 games last season with a partially torn right Achilles' tendon. Wahle started all 16 games last season at left guard.

Dolphins cut Green, Booker, 2 other starters
In the Dolphins' first major player purge since Parcells took charge of Miami's football operations, the team parted ways with Green, wide receiver Marty Booker and seven other players Monday — ushering in the start of what's expected to be a massive offseason roster shakeup by the rebuilding franchise.

Steelers will talk with Roethlisberger about extension
The Pittsburgh Steelers this week will open contract talks with several players including�quarterback Ben Roethlisberger the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Roethlisberger has two years left on the contract he signed as a rookie in 2004, but both sides have expressed a desire to reach a contract extension this year.

"I'm eager, anxious, because I want to get it done with. I want to say let's go, let's get it over with so the talks can stop, people can stop bugging me about it," he said. "Because I just want to play football.''

Putting wacky coach carousel in perspective
Jim Zorn. Huh? Mike Smith. Who? John Harbaugh. Say what? Adam Schein tries to make sense of all the off-season coaching changes.

Fassel smells a rat, can it be Vinny Cerrato?

It appeared Jim Fassel was a lock to return to the NFL as head coach of the Washington Redskins. Then came the Jim Zorn annoucement out of the blue.

"There was something going on behind the scenes, there's no question about it,'' Fassel told CBSSports.com. "I thought things were falling my way, then, suddenly, this happens. It's strange."

Dan [Snyder] wanted to make a big splash, and I think he was worried about the Baltimore thing," Fassel said, referring to his termination from the Ravens during the 2006 season. "He worried about the public relations, and he didn't know which way to go. I heard someone say there are no more George Youngs or Jim Finks in this league, people who really know the game. And I think that happened here. I don't think Dan surrounded himself with enough football people."