NFL Report

BIG NAMES GOING IN MOTION

First Jay Cutler and Kellen Winslow and now, potentially, Anquan Boldin and Braylon Edwards?

An already crazy NFL offseason is becoming more surreal by the day as big-name offensive players are moved or placed on the market.

The Browns gave up on Winslow and traded him to Tampa Bay; Cutler whined his way out of Denver and landed in Chicago.

Boldin has two years remaining on a six-year, $33.99 million contract signed in 2005. Arizona teammate Larry Fitzgerald is playing on a four-year, $40 million contract. Predictably, this rankled Boldin, who has 502 catches and 40 touchdowns in six seasons.

Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said this week the team would listen to offers.

“It would be foolish from our standpoint not to listen to those opportunities and see what actually exists,” he said. “But I want to make the point: Our goal is to re-sign him to a long-term deal.”

Edwards doesn’t have Boldin’s numbers, which means he could be moved for less. He has only one huge season on his resume — 2007, when he caught 80 passes for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The New York Giants were reportedly interested in Edwards to replace Plaxico Burress, but general manager Jerry Reese shot that down Thursday.

“I’m not talking about Braylon,” he said. “That’s somebody else’s player. He’s under contract, and there’s nothing to talk about [with] that. There’s a lot of chatter, a lot of false reports.”

Not exactly a denial. Edwards probably will get moved by draft day, but the Cardinals will hang on to Boldin for at least one more season.

AROUND THE NFC

*Smart move by Byron Leftwich, opting to sign for more years, more money and potentially more playing time with Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers gave him a two-year, $7.5 million deal, making it easy for Leftwich to turn down the Redskins’ minimum offer and a similar proposal from Pittsburgh. The D.C. native could unseat Luke McCown if he has a good training camp and picks up the Buccaneers’ new offense.

*Long snappers are getting all the love this offseason. Lonie Paxton bolted New England as an unrestricted free agent to sign a five-year, $5.3 million deal with Denver. And Green Bay traded J.J. Jansen to Carolina for a conditional seventh-round pick in 2010 if he makes the team.

*The Cowboys have shown some of their draft plans by not addressing the cornerback spot in free agency. Only five are on the current roster. Dallas is expected to draft at least a few defensive backs in rounds 3-7.

*Seattle will be without a prime-time game for the first time since 1983. The Seahawks also have a three-game road swing in Weeks 10-12 when the MLS Cup invades Qwest Field.

AROUND THE AFC

*The Steelers have several key players in the final year of their contracts, but they have locked up LB James Harrison (six years, $51.2 million, $20 million in bonuses). Harrison has been cut four times in his career but was a stud for the champs, posting 16 sacks and the memorable 100-yard interception return for a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

*Maurice Jones-Drew benefited from not being a first-round pick. The Jacksonville running back was chosen in the second round in 2006 and thus wasn’t saddled by a long-term deal. Three years of production (40 touchdowns, 6,003 all-purpose yards) earned Jones-Drew top-back status with the Jaguars and a new contract that averages $8 million a year and includes $17.5 million guaranteed.

*NFL coaches voted Buffalo’s Bobby April the 2008 special teams coach of the year. The Bills were first in punt returns, second in kickoff returns, seventh in kickoff coverage and 23rd in punt coverage.

*More bad news for the Bills off the field. Running back Marshawn Lynch already has been suspended for three games. Now safety Donte Whitner could face discipline after being charged with aggravated disorderly conduct and resisting arrest stemming from a brouhaha at Ted Ginn Jr.’s birthday party in Cleveland.

AROUND THE DRAFT

*Despite the additions of Mike Vrabel, Zach Thomas and Monte Beisel, the revamped Kansas City defense is still the favorite to select Wake Forest linebacker Aaron Curry with the third pick. The Chiefs have shifted to a 3-4 alignment and could use all the linebackers they can get. Vrabel and Thomas are expected to start.

*Philadelphia is facing a tough decision. The Eagles have the 21st and 28th choices and are a candidate to take a left tackle. But maybe a smarter call would be to package the 21st pick with a high Day 2 pick for disgruntled Buffalo left tackle Jason Peters. He would make an instant impact.

*The Lions would love to have the first overall pick signed by next Saturday. “It’s certainly a goal of ours,” team president Tom Lewand said. “I think the teams that have been able to sign their player prior to the draft have seen a better measure of success by and large. Now is that because there’s a contract in place? I don’t know if there’s a casual effort or not.”

*Tampa Bay sits at No. 18 and wouldn’t mind seeing Georgia Tech defensive end Michael Johnson still on the board. The 6-foot-7 player posted 19 career sacks and 10 forced fumbles with the Yellow Jackets.

FRIDAY FIVE WORST PRIME-TIME GAMES

1. San Diego at Oakland (Week 1) — ESPN insists on showing the Raiders for the nightcap of its opening Monday night schedule. And Oakland always gets destroyed.

2. Carolina at Dallas (Week 3) — This is the Cowboys’ only appearance on ESPN this year. Get ready for seven days of Tony and Roy, Jerry and Wade.

3. Baltimore at Cleveland (Week 10) — Seattle and Cincinnati don’t make a single prime-time appearance this year, but the Browns have two. Ridiculous.

4. Arizona at San Francisco (Week 14) — The Cardinals may have the NFC West wrapped up, and the 49ers will be cursing themselves for not taking Mark Sanchez.

5. Minnesota at Chicago (Week 16) — Why play a night game when the conditions are sure to be frigid? It won’t bring out the best in either team.