Oakland may not be done raiding the Patriots. The Raiders, according to industry sources, also are interested in signing free agent defensive end Bobby Hamilton. His agent, Brian Levy, said Oakland contacted him regarding Hamilton's availability not long after midnight yesterday, the official beginning of free agency. Levy said Jacksonville also called about Hamilton, 32.
New England and Washington's agent, Angelo Wright, began discussing a three-year, $8 million deal in November. The Patriots finally caved in to Washington's demands before he was to hit the open market, and were willing to pay him $3 million up front with a first salary of $760,000. But Washington, annoyed with the slow progress of negotiations and an erroneous report Monday that he and the Patriots had come to terms on an extension, turned down the offer, knowing that a bigger pay day awaited him in free agency.
Had news of an extension not been leaked, the deal likely would have been finalized Monday. Instead, Washington was in Oakland by early yesterday morning and officially an ex-Patriot by midday. The Raiders are Washington's fifth team. He was a first-round pick of the Niners in 1991.
"Our hope was for Ted to remain a Patriot, but in the end, it didn't work out," said New England coach Bill Belichick through a team spokesman. "He was a significant contributor for us last season, and we wish him well in the future."
At present, the Patriots' future does not include a true nose tackle. Jarvis Green, Richard Seymour, and Ty Warren all have played over center, but seem better suited for end. Dan Klecko saw most of his time at nose tackle in passing situations. . . .
The Lions haven't been competitive since 2000, finishing last in their division three years straight. The offseason is a different story.
