NFL owners consider postseason rule changes

NFL owners consider postseason rule changes
The Giants had to hit the road. But a new rule could make it easier for playoff teams that don't win their division, Alex Marvez says.

Giants, 'Skins to play in Thursday season opener
The NFL's Thursday night season opener will match the Super Bowl-champion New York Giants and the Washington Redskins, with the game possibly starting an hour-and-a-half earlier to avoid clashing with the Republican National Convention. The game is now scheduled for 8:30 p.m. EDT on Sept. 4 - the concluding night of the Republican convention - and will be televised by NBC.

Seahawks sign veteran kicker Mare
The Seattle Seahawks signed kicker Olindo Mare, a free agent who was released by New Orleans in February. Mare is a 12-year NFL veteran and will be one option in Seattle's search for a replacement for Josh Brown, the kicker who left the Seahawks to sign with St. Louis on the first day of free agency.

The Seahawks sought to re-sign Brown, who won four games for them in 2006 with late field goals. Seattle's final offer didn't measure up to the Rams' five-year offer of $14.2 million, which included a $4 million signing bonus.

Mare's contract is for two years and totals $3.5 million, according to a report on the NFL's Web site. It's unknown what size signing bonus, if any, Mare received.

Oregon RB Stewart will visit with Cowboys
Oregon RB Jonathan Stewart is slated to come to Valley Ranch for one of the 30 pre-draft visits with out-of-area prospects allowed to the Dallas Cowboys, and every other team, something the burly back noted on Sirius NFL Radio today and we've confirmed since.

Stewart underwent turf toe surgery two weeks ago, a procedure that was supposed to sideline him for 4-6 months. People around the running back have told us since that he's fully expected to be recovered and ready to go before training camps kick off in July, which would put him at the more fortunate end of the aforementioned timetable.

Aside from the injury concern, Stewart is a truly elite prospect who was expected to tangle with Rashard Mendenhall for position behind Darren McFadden in the draft order at tailback.

Pacman cleared to seek trade, Dallas deal imminent?
Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher said Thursday the team gave suspended cornerback Adam "Pacman" Jones permission to seek a trade according to the Dallas Morning News. Meanwhile, the NFL Network is reporting a deal that would send Jones to the Dallas Cowboys is imminent and could be announced this weekend.

According to multiple sources, the Titans and Cowboys held talks about a trade for Jones last week. Jones has been suspended since April 2007 for violations of the NFL conduct policy.

NFL Network reported the Cowboys and Titans spent Thursday discussing the trade and should be able to work out a deal soon. The teams�are still a few rounds apart in discussing compensation�— the Titans have asked for a third-round pick and the Cowboys have offered a sixth-round pick — the deal could get done within the next couple of days.

Denver's Marshall says it's 'time to grow up'
Denver Broncos star wide receiver Brandon Marshall, who keeps finding his name in negative news reports, insisted Thursday he's really a good guy who just needs to grow up.

"It's time for me to grow up," he added. "From here on out, it's Brandon Marshall, clean-cut guy. Just trying to get my life together as far as accidents and DUIs."

Marshall said he was horsing around with his older brother, Fred, at a resort in Orlando, Fla., on Saturday when he tried to avoid a McDonald's fast-food bag and fell into a television set, cutting an artery, a vain, a nerve, two tendons and three muscles in his right arm. He's expected to need four months of recovery, a timeline that would make him available for the start of training camp in late July.

Romo-Simpson secretly get married?
Jessica Simpson's mother claims her daughter has secretly remarried. As Simpson and her mother Tina were leaving Chili's restaurant in Los Angeles Tuesday, Tina revealed that her 27-year-old daughter has secretly wed.

Asked if Simpson was planning to marry football star Tony Romo, whom she had been dating since last November, Tina laughed and responded to the inquiry, "Jessica is already married to Tony. What are you talking about?"

Simpson, who was previously married to singer Nick Lachey, giggled and told gossip Web site TMZ.com, "Well I guess if my mom said it, it must be true!"