NFL

The contract locks in Finley through his age-26 season, and he'll be able to test the free agent waters as a 27-year-old in 2014. The deal makes sense for each side, both financially and from the standpoint that Green Bay won't have to argue with Finley about which position he plays regarding the franchise tag. Finley, 25, finished the 2011 season with 55 catches for 767 yards and eight touchdowns. While the yardage and TD numbers were career highs, Finley has the potential to be a far better player than he showed last year. He'll be a recommended post-hype pick in 2012 fantasy drafts.

The Falcons are severing ties as Abraham goes on age 34. With no realistic in-house replacement, Atlanta will look to the draft and free agency for a new right defensive end. Pass rush was a problem for the Falcons in 2011, even with Abraham on the roster and Ray Edwards signed to play left defensive end. Mike Smith's defense tied for 22nd in sacks and ranked 20th against the pass.

NFL Network's Jason La Canfora reports that the surgery was "minor," and it sounds arthroscopic in nature. Richardson does plan to work out at the Crimson Tide Pro Day, but he won't run the forty-yard dash or participate in drills or jumps in Indianapolis. Though the injury is said to be minor and the operation routine, it will concern NFL teams, especially those drafting in the top ten. Running backs and knee injuries don't mix well.

Ohrnberger was actually waived and will be subject to the waivers process. Wright, 30, ended the last two seasons on injured reserve with concussions and is contemplating retirement. His release saves the Patriots $2.355 million in base salary. A once-valuable interior pass rusher, Wright led New England in sacks in 2010 with 5.5. He only made it into one game in 2011.

"They want to go with more than one featured back," said Reedy. "I think they want to work Bernard Scott in a little more." Cedric Benson won't be back, and Reedy mentioned draft prospects Lamar Miller and Trent Richardson, as well as free agent Michael Bush potentially pair with Scott. Scott, 28, averaged a career-low 3.39 yards per carry in 2011, but played better than the numbers indicate. He'll be an interesting mid- to late-round pick in 2012 fantasy drafts.

"I really liked what I saw when (Hillis) was healthy," said coach Pat Shurmur, highlighting the crux of the problem. The Browns aren't going to meet Hillis' long-term contract demands if they can't trust him to stay out of the trainers' room. The front office is reportedly split on keeping Hillis, leaving the franchise tag as a $7.7 million one-year compromise. It's a steep price to pay for a back with declining production and effectiveness over the past year and a half.

The franchise tag for wide receivers is a relatively reasonable $9.6 million, but V-Jax would collect 120 percent of his 2011 salary under the tag for a second consecutive season. It was reportedly "all but decided" at the team's recent state-of-the-franchise meetings that the $13.68 million is a prohibitive number with so many needs to address this offseason. Although Smith changed his mind at the last minute on Darren Sproles two years back, that reversal is said to be "highly unlikely" this time around.