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Friday afternoon the Cleveland Browns made its first major move this offseason by trading former Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow on Friday for undisclosed draft picks to the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Winslow, the sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft and son of Hall of Famer Kellen Winslow Sr., played in 44 games and recorded 219 receptions for 2,459 yards and 11 touchdowns.

The Browns are starting over with their roster under a new head coach in Eric Mangini and a new general manager in George Kokinis.

Kokinis said in a statement: “The draft picks we have obtained through this deal will give us greater flexibility as we look to infuse more talent and create competition and depth on this football team.” Cleveland has two tight ends left under contract in backups Martin Rucker and Steve Heiden.

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Albert Haynesworth hit the free-agent jackpot Friday morning by reaching agreement on a seven-year, $100 million deal with the Washington Redskins that could end up maxing out at $115 million based on his performance, according to sources.

The deal, which was reached early Friday morning, includes $41 million in guarantees. During the first 13 months of the contract, Haynesworth will earn approximately $32 million.

Haynesworth was bombarded with opportunities when free agency started a minute after midnight ET Friday. More teams contacted him than expected. During the first hour, Haynesworth had at least six teams willing to give him more than $30 million in guarantees.

He and his agent, Chad Speck, spent several hours reviewing the opportunities before making a decision. The final choices came down to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the team that had the most cap room in free agency, and the Redskins, the team that was the most aggressive.

After one of the richest contracts in NFL history Daniel Snyder wasn’t even close to being done.

The Redskins then reached an agreement early Friday morning to keep cornerback DeAngelo Hall, which made him one of the highest paid cornerbacks in football.

Hall accepted a six-year $54 million deal that included $22.5 million in guarantees, giving the 25-year-old cornerback his second big payday in as many years. Hall was guaranteed around $24 million in a seven-year, $70 million contract he signed a year ago with Oakland, but he struggled to adjust to the Raiders’ man-to-man defense and was waived after eight games.

The Redskins picked him up less than a week later, and he provided a needed boost to a secondary beset by too many injuries and not enough big plays. Hall played in seven games and started the last four, eventually moving ahead of Carlos Rogers on the depth chart.

Hall therefore became a top offseason priority, with owner Dan Snyder wanting to work a deal before the cornerback had a chance to test the free agent market. The negotiations with Hall’s agents, Alvin Keels and Joel Segal, went to the last minute — and maybe a little beyond.

In years past Snyders spending hasn’t always resulted in great production on the field. With signing arguable two of the best Free Agents in the market at their positions in Haynesworth & Hall Snyder hopes this can put them over the top in one of the toughest divisions in football.

With potential in the upcoming years for the NFL to take the Baseball approach and have no salary cap Daniel Snyder said these signings may just be a start of things to come in the future.

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The New England Patriots addressed their need for depth at running back on Thursday evening, reaching an agreement with 11-year veteran and free agent Fred Taylor.

Taylor, 33, was released by Jacksonville last week for salary cap reasons, after playing his entire career with the Jaguars. He was scheduled to earn a base salary of $6 million in 2009 and was also due a $1 million bonus in coming weeks.

The terms and financial details of the contract with New England, which will be officially signed on Friday, were not immediately available. The deal was confirmed by sources from the team and close to the player.

The 16th-leading rusher in NFL history, with 11,271 yards and 60 touchdowns, Taylor visited on Wednesday with Buffalo Bills officials. At the time, there were strong indications Taylor would sign with the Patriots’ AFC East rival. But the Patriots persuaded Taylor to leave Buffalo without a contract, and coach Bill Beliehick’s sales pitch proved effective.

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Linebacker Derrick Brooks, one of the greatest players in Tampa Bay Buccaneers history, was told Wednesday he will be released before the start of free agency along with four other veterans.

Brooks is an 11-time Pro Bowler and a potential Hall of Famer. Also informed of their impending releases were wide receivers Joey Galloway and Ike Hilliard, halfback Warrick Dunn and linebacker Cato June.

New head coach Raheem Morris both young, and energetic looks to be turning over the roster in that same direction for the upcoming 2009-2010 season.

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INDIANAPOLIS — Marvin Harrison refused to take a pay cut. The Indianapolis Colts couldn’t afford to keep him without one.

On Monday, the two sides reached agreement on one thing: Harrison will be a free agent.

The decision comes one day after team president Bill Polian said he hoped to cut a deal that would keep Harrison in Indy. When Harrison said no, the Colts said farewell.

Tom Condain, Harrison’s agent said: “Basically, we were not able to come to any kind of agreement, it was not contentious and the Colts have agreed to release him.”

t’s not a surprising move because the Colts would save about $6 million, based on Harrison’s base salary. They would still be charged for prorated bonuses from the $66 million deal he signed in December 2004.

Harrison ranks second in NFL history with 1,102 receptions, and the move will disappoint many Colts fans, who embraced Harrison as a favorite. They referred to Harrison, Peyton Manning and Edgerrin James as “The Triplets,” and Harrison was one of the franchise’s most identifiable player in the last decade.

Indianapolis took Harrison in the first round of the 1996 draft and when Manning arrived two years later, the tandem began a record-setting journey.

They combined for more completions, yardage and touchdowns than any duo in league history.

Harrison made eight Pro Bowls, won a Super Bowl ring, and his 14,550 yards rank fourth on the NFL’s career list. He is No. 5 all-time with 128 TD catches and holds all major single-season and career receiving marks for the Colts.

Now Harrison will look for work elsewhere. Some have speculated that he would like to play with his hometown Eagles and former college teammate Donovan McNabb.

The Colts will have a vastly different look next season.

http://www.PayneInsider.com/

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SALT LAKE CITY — Kevin Garnett suffered a posterior muscle strain of the right knee in the Celtics’ 90-85 loss to Utah on Thursday night

Celtics president Danny Ainge said Garnett will be out 2-3 weeks with the injury.

“Rest and ice for KG,” Ainge told the Globe.

The Celtics might pick up free agent forward-center Mikki Moore, who was cut by Sacramento or Oklahoma City forward Joe Smith if he is ever waived.

Garnett will stay in Boston for the remaining three games of the Celtics’ West Coast trip.

Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said Garnett was “not in tremendous pain” on Friday, but that the knee remained sore and stiff and the Celtics thought it best to be cautious and have Garnett examined.

Garnett injured his right leg while going up for an alley-oop late in the first half. He landed gingerly and motioned immediately to the bench for a substitute, then hopped on his good foot toward the locker room. The Celtics said he strained his right knee.

He warmed up with his teammates before the second half, but did not return to action.

LUBBOCK, Texas — Texas Tech and coach Mike Leach agreed Thursday on a new contract after months of contentious negotiations.

Leach signed the contract shortly after he and Kent Hance, the university’s chancellor, met for about two hours Thursday afternoon to hammer out an agreement. Hance said the negotiating part lasted only about 15 minutes.

“Me and my family are thrilled to death that we’re going to be in Lubbock for another five years,” Leach said at an evening news conference. “I appreciate Chancellor Hance and Gerald [Myers’] efforts to allow us to stay here and the opportunity to be here to coach the Red Raiders for many years to come.”

In the new contract that keeps Leach at Tech through 2013, Leach only needs to notify Myers in writing to interview at another school.

The contract also includes a $250,000 bonus if Leach and Tech win the national championship, a $75,000 bonus if Tech participates in a BCS Bowl and a $50,000 bonus if Leach is picked as national coach of the year

If Tech terminates the contract, the school must pay Leach $400,000 for each year remaining on the agreement. And there is no buyout amount.

In their ninth season under Leach, the Red Raiders reached unprecedented heights in 2008. They went 10-0 for the first time and beat top-ranked Texas to secure the highest ranking in school history at No. 2. Texas Tech was knocked out of BCS contention with a blowout loss to Oklahoma, then fell to Mississippi in the Cotton Bowl to finish 11-2.

Public opinion seemed to favor Leach as the drama unfolded. A few dozen supporters rallied on his behalf Tuesday, the day before a Texas Tech alumnus and another fan took out a full-page ad in the Lubbock newspaper blasting the Texas Tech administration for its stance.

Architect of the nation’s most prolific offense the past decade, Leach is 76-39 and has taken Texas Tech to a bowl game every season. He’s six victories shy of Spike Dykes’ school record of 82.

Home sweet home…

The future Hall of Famer informed the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday that he’s returning to the city where he carved out a Hall of Fame career as a perennial All-Star in the 1990s.

“He’s coming home. … I can’t begin to tell you how ecstatic we are. He is, too,” Seattle general manager Jack Zduriencik confirmed on Wednesday night, calling Griffey “arguably one of the greatest athletes to ever play in the Seattle area.”

“Ken is extremely excited to be coming back to Seattle,” Zduriencik said.

The contract is for one year and $2 million guaranteed and includes incentives that could bring the total value of the deal to $4.5 million, a source said.

“We were informed tonight that Ken Griffey Jr. has decided to return to Seattle,” Braves general manager Frank Wren said. “We will continue to be open to other possibilities to improve our outfield offense and, at the same time, give our young players an opportunity to show us they can win that job.”

Griffey is extremely close to Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and chairman Howard Lincoln from his previous tenure with Seattle from 1989 through 2000. He made the All-Star team and won a Gold Glove with the Mariners every year during the 1990s, and received a hero’s welcome when he returned to the city with the Cincinnati Reds in 2007.

It’s believed that the Mariners would like to continue their association with Griffey in some fashion when he retires — although it’s uncertain in what role.

Griffey is likely to spend time in left field in Seattle, where Endy Chavez is currently the starter, and could also be a DH for new manager Don Wakamatsu. He turned 39 in November, and underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in the offseason.

Griffey’s return is a jolt for the Mariners, the first team with a $100 million payroll to lose 100 games — last season.

“A rejuvenated Ken Griffey coming back to where he started has to be a fabulous motivator for him,” Zduriencik said.

Seattle’s starting outfield currently has Ichiro Suzuki in right field, Franklin Gutierrez in center and question marks in left, and Zduriencik left open the possibility Griffey could play in the field.

But Griffey is coming back to where he spent the heyday of his career — to Seattle.

“I know in his heart of hearts,” Zduriencik said, “he probably wanted to be here all along.”

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