Belichick makes stop at South Florida

Belichick makes stop at South Florida
The Tampa Tribune reports that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick stopped at the University of South Florida on Wednesday as part of his annual Florida trip.

Belichick met with South Florida draft-eligible prospects Mike Jenkins and Trae Williams, both of whom are cornerbacks. Jenkins is considered one of the top cornerbacks in the draft, a possible first-round selection. Williams is projected as a mid-round selection.

Belichick annually makes a pre-draft trip to Florida to get a first-hand look at prospects. He was at the University of Florida earlier this week.

Vikings add Michael Boulware, Kendrick Allen
The Minnesota Vikings signed free agent Michael Boulware Thursday, giving them depth at safety. Boulware came in for a visit Thursday; he visited with the Carolina Panthers on Monday.

"I had a great meeting with the coaches and liked the direction that the organization is going," Boulware told my colleague Kevin Seifert as he rode to the airport. "I think this gives me a great opportunity to come here and get better as a player."

Boulware spent last season with the Houston Texans and the organization wanted to use him at linebacker. Boulware will serve as a backup safety and also play on special teams. The Vikings now have Darren Sharper and Madieu Williams as their starting safeties; Boulware and Eric Frampton are the backups.

Also signing was DT Kendrick Allen, who was last with Green Bay in 2006. He played in two games and spent the rest of the season on injured reserve.

Cowboys working a deal for Pacman Jones?
The Dallas Cowboys have held preliminary discussions with the Tennessee Titans about trading for suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones, according to a source the Dallas Morning News reported. The Cowboys could give up a late-round draft pick to acquire Jones.

According to a source, Titans officials are not in a hurry to make a deal but realize the best way to move on without Jones is to trade him. Jones told his Atlanta-based agent, Manny Arora, if traded he would put the Cowboys near the top of the list of teams he would play for. Arora, however, said he's talked to numerous teams about Jones and would like a trade to occur before the NFL draft on April 26-27.

"If Tennessee chooses not to have him on their roster next year, it's in their best interest to trade him," Arora said, "because if not, they would get no compensation."

Sooner or later DeMarcus Ware will cash in
Either this year or next, linebacker DeMarcus Ware figures to cash in on what should be the most lucrative contract Jerry Jones has ever given out in terms of guaranteed money as the Dallas Cowboys' owner and general manager according to the Dallas Morning News.

After three years, Ware has been named to the Pro Bowl twice and was an alternate as a rookie. His sack totals have increased each year from eight in 2005 to 11� in 2006 and 14 last season, which brought him consideration for the Defensive Player of the Year award. Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones acknowledged recently part of the team's lack of work in the current free-agent market was due to the fact they have to re-sign cornerback Terence Newman, who is in the final year of his contract, and Ware, whose deal runs out in 2009.

Considering Indianapolis gave its pass-rushing fiend, Dwight Freeney, a six-year, $72 million deal with a $30 million signing bonus last summer, the Cowboys are probably looking at similar numbers for Ware. Probably more. Freeney, 28, has done it longer, but Ware only turns 26 in July.