Pete_Prisco

I like Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Earnest Graham. He's a great story, watiing three seasons to get his chance to start at running back and then having a big season in 2007.

But Graham is not taking part in the team's off-season program and the word is he wants a new contract, a big, new contract. He's now represented by Drew Rosenhaus, so you knew that was coming. But let's face it, Graham is a nice complimentary player, not a star. He can't expect to be paid like one.

Then there's Tampa Bay quarterback Jeff Garcia. He's upset that the Bucs haven't asked him about a new contract. Should they? He's 38 years old. He can't possibly expect a long-term deal. Garcia has one year left on the two-year deal he signed last season. There's no way the Bucs will give him a long-term offer at his age. He has to know that.

With the NFL Draft less than three weeks away, and the Miami Dolphins still not locked in on who they might take with the first overall pick, we might have a hint.

According to a league source, Tom Condon, the agent for Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long, was scheduled to visit with the Dolphins' brass Monday, which means Bill Parcells, to discuss possible contract parameters.

It's common practice that the team picking at the top might want to negotiate with one or two of the players they are considering in hopes of getting a deal favorable to the club. The Dolphins are believed to be considering Long, Virginia defensive end Chris Long and LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey. The Dolphins are said to be leaning toward shying away from taking quarterback Matt Ryan with the top pick.

Miami has a big need for a left tackle they can build their line around. If they drafted Jake Long, they could move Vernon Carey from left tackle to right tackle, which is his natural position.

The NFL owners on Tuesday approved the proposal to allow a defensive player to wear a speaker in the helmet to communicate with the sidelines.

Like on offense with the quarterback, one defensive player, who is identified by a visual indicator on the helmet, can wear the speaker in the helmet. A second defensive player can have a speaker, but he has to be a sub for the first player. You can't have two players on a defense on the field at the same time who both have a transmitter in their helmet.

This rule was shot down a year ago, but passed this year. The feeling is the move was made in part to counter the chances of having another Spygate.The New England Patritos were caught videotaping the signals of the New York Jets and that led to a big fine for Bill Belichick, the team and they forgeited a first-round draft pick.

This would make it so teams wouldn't have to signal in the defenses. Thus, it's the Bill Belichick rule. Interestingly, the Patriots voted yes on the proposal.

PALM BEACH, Fla., -- The NFL awarded 32 compensatory picks for the 2008 draft Monday, with 15 teams getting picks.

The number of picks is based on the net loss of compensatory free agents based on a maximum of four. The compensatory free agents are determined by a formula based on salary, playing time and postseason honors.

The highest of the picks awarded was a third-round choice, the 96th overall, given to the Washington Redskins. That pick seems high considering the Redskins lost guard Derrick Dockery (Bufffalo), running back T.J. Duckett (Lions), linebacker Warrick Holdman (Broncos) and corner Kenny Wright (Browns) and signed just middle linebacker London Fletcher.

Let's call Fletcher and Dockery a wash. The other three players aren't exactly worth that type of return.

Maybe the league felt sorry for the Redskins since they haven't signed a free agent this year.