Pete_Prisco

The signing of New Orleans Saints center Jeff Faine by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will help the Bucs running game. Oen of the big problems the past few years has been that center John Wade isn't powerful enough in the middle of the Tampa Bay line. Faine isn't a huge center, but he's a better run blocker than Wade.

I get improving the center position, but if reports are true that the Bucs made Faine on of the highest-paid centers in the league, they gave him too much money. But who isn't overpaying now.

With young players around him, the Tampa Bay offensive line, which was one of the worst in recent years, is on the way to being pretty good.

One of the players the Atlanta Falcons have targeted in free agency is San Diego Chargers running back Michael Turner, who is visiting Friday.

The Falcons would love to team Turner with Jerrious Norwood to give them an inside-outside combination. Turner is the top-rated back in free agency. He has four years exprience, but only 228 carries. But when he was given the chance to be the go-to runner in the AFC title game when LaDainian Tomlinson was hurt he averaged just 3.8 per rush on 17 carries for 65 yards. His career average of 5.5 is impressive.

There was some thought that Turner's chances at a huge deal would be hurt after the running backs at the combine showed so well. But it appears the Falcons are willing to pay to get a power runner.

Oakland Raiders wide receiver Jerry Porter is in Jacksonville to visit with the Jaguars and word is he is expected to be signed to a deal Friday.

The Jaguars, who are looking for deep speed, will add Porter to a receiving group that has come under fire the past few years. In addition to Porter, the Jaguars are also adding Troy Williamson in a trade for a sixth-round pick from the Minnesota Vikings.

So what are the Jaguars getting in Porter? They're getting a player who can stretch a defense, a player who has been held back playing in bad offensive systems and a player who has some character issues. He got into a squabble with former Raiders coach Art Shell that led to Warren Sapp calling him a "baby."

His best season was a 76-catch season in 2005. He's never gone over 1,000 yards in his eight seasons. He will also turn 30 later this year.

Depending on the type of money they give to Porter, this could be a questionable deal.

Free agency won't officially begin until midnight Thursday, but that doesn't mean there isn't already a buzz about some deals that might be jumping the gun.

Tampering? Yeah, right.

Here's some of what's making the league rounds Thursday night, according to league sources:

---Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Justin Smith is said to be on his way to San Francisco where he will get a contract that will pay him $20 million in guarantees. The interesting thing there is that the 49ers are not a 4-3 team, but could be switching to that defense. Bears linebacker Lance Briggs is also said to be a target of the 49ers, and he is strictly a 4-3 linebacker.

---Cincinnati safety Madieu Williams is a "hot" player. There are several teams interested in Williams, who is expected to command a bonus of $10 million. That's a lot of money for a player who doesn't look instinctive.

---New England corner Asante Samuel, one of the top players in the market, could be on the verge of signing a big deal with the New Orleans Saints.

---The Miami Dolphins are now in the talks to land Detroit Lions defensive end Shaun Rogers. The Dolphins are interested in Rogers as a nose. The Lions are asking for a second-round pick for Rogers. Miami's second-round pick is too high, the first in the round, so it will likely be a third-round pick if they make the deal. There are other teams considering Rogers, including Denver.