Elsewhere around the NFL:

Tennessee: Eagles failed to match Tennessee’s one-year, $1 million offer sheet for free agent DE Jason Babin, making Babin a Titan. The Tennessee Titans need defensive ends, but Babin managed just five QB pressures and 2.5 sacks off the bench in Philadelphia last season. The 30-year-old isn’t suddenly going to turn into an every-down player. He’ll be a situational pass rusher, rotating with speedy Jacob Ford and trusty Dave Ball.

Carolina: DeAngelo Williams says he is happy and thankful that the Carolina Panthers will keep him in a timeshare with Jonathan Stewart going forward. “The front office and coaching staff are single-handedly prolonging my career and (Jonathan Stewart’s) career. Thirty is like the new 50 in the NFL, especially when it comes to tailbacks,” said Williams, who turns 27 next month. “We’re each about 220 or 230 carries a year. I’d rather have that than 300-plus carries a year. It’s going to be close to a 50-50 split no matter want.”

Miami: A league source has informed Profootballtalk.com that Ricky Williams intends to continue playing beyond 2010. Williams doesn’t have a contract for 2011 and turns 33 in a couple of months, but he’s still playing at a very high level. He’s also in a whole lot of debt, and needs money. Williams, in a contract year, is due $4.35M in 2010.

2010 NFL Draft: Indiana (PA) CB Akwasi Owusu-Ansah ran the forty-yard dash in 4.33 and 4.41 at his Pro Day workout. At 6’1/207, Owusu-Ansah has Raiders measurables. Also an interception machine in the D-IAA ranks, he has production to match. Owusu-Ansah is a legit second-round prospect, and it wouldn’t surprise if he went in the top 50.

2010 NFL Draft: NFL Network’s Mike Mayock predicts that Florida DE Carlos Dunlap will not be drafted in the first round. “His problem is he has a lot of average tape,” Mayock says. “I don’t see him going in the first round due to his lack of consistency.” Dunlap is a physical freak at 6’6/277 with 4.6 speed, but the depth of this talent-rich draft figures to work against him. He may be the biggest boom-or-bust player this year.

Free Agency: Free agent Pacman Jones did work out for NFL teams on Friday, after all. New Orleans Times-Picayune reporter James Varney was in the wrong spot when he reported that Pacman was a no-show. “He’s running the 40 right now and just did an interview with the camera crew we have there,” according to NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora. Only five teams showed up to Pacman’s workout.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Philadelphia: Citing sources on both sides, Scout.com’s Adam Caplan reports that the Eagles have not discussed a contract extension with Kevin Kolb. Kolb is entering the last season on his rookie contract, but in 2011 would be a restricted free agent under the current CBA rules.

The Eagles would likely feel some urgency to lock up Kolb should they trade Donovan McNabb this offseason, but no extension is likely before then. We’d put Kolb’s chances of being the Eagles’ 2010 starter at slightly less than 50:50.

Philadelphia: According to ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio, the Philadelphia Eagles have “so far” told teams that both Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb are unavailable for trade. Most likely, the Eagles are playing hard to get in order to maintain bargaining position in trade talks.

No NFL player can be dealt before March 5 anyway, so there’s no good reason for the Eagles to show their hand. Scout.com’s Adam Caplan “hears” this is the first year Andy Reid is willing to listen to trade offers for McNabb, but the cost is “at least” a first-round pick. McNabb is far more likely to be traded than Kolb.

Cincinnati: Bengals signed WR Matt Jones to a one-year contract. The Cincinnati Bengals Enquirer reports that the deal is worth roughly $700K. Jones, 26, is a good upside signing with minimal risk at this price. While he isn’t even a lock to make the team, the Bengals may have plucked their 2010 starting flanker off the February waiver wire.

Laveranues Coles becomes a serious candidate for release. Andre Caldwell will likely remain in the slot, while Jones and Jerome Simpson battle for snaps outside. The move won’t preclude Cincinnati from using another pick on a wideout, though.

Arizona: The Arizona Republic confirms that the Arizona Cardinals have opened contract extension negotiations with head coach Ken Whisenhunt. Beat reporter Kent Somers says talks are in their “preliminary stages” only. Whisenhunt is currently one of the league’s lowest paid coaches. He’s led the Cardinals to back-to-back NFC West division titles and a 4-2 record in the postseason. His overall regular season record is a sound 27-21.

Elsewhere around the NFL:

Tennessee: Chris Johnson says he wants the Tennessee Titans to make him at least the highest paid running back in the league. “I deserve to be the highest paid running back in the league or even the highest paid offensive player besides the quarterback,” he said. C.J. insists that he won’t use the media to his advantage in potential contract talks. He is signed through 2012, so the Titans don’t need to be in a hurry.

New England: ESPN’s Mike Reiss reports that Randy Moss played through a separated shoulder for most of the regular season. The Boston Herald reports that Moss suffered the injury in Week 5. This may help explain why Moss was a non-factor in New England’s playoff loss and sat out the Pro Bowl. Whether he needs surgery is uncertain, but the injury shouldn’t sideline Moss for OTAs. Moss also had knee and back issues during the season. The 33-year-old’s body may be beginning to let him down a bit.

Chicago: Bears hired Mike Martz as offensive coordinator. Martz was low on GM Jerry Angelo’s initial list of candidates, but rose to the forefront after Rob Chudzinski, Jeremy Bates, Hue Jackson, and a host of others bowed out. Martz, 59, was out of coaching last year but is still widely regarded as one of the game’s brightest offensive minds. It will be interesting to see how the strong-minded coach meshes with Jay Cutler. Martz’s offensive track record offense says the Chicago Bears are making a high-upside move as head coach Lovie Smith enters a win-or-else season.

Miami: Miami Dolphins VP of football operation Bill Parcells says it is his understanding that free agent Chad Pennington intends to keep playing. Pennington said last month that he’ll pursue a chance to start. There are plenty of teams that need starting quarterbacks, but his market value will be limited coming off a third surgery on his throwing shoulder. Pennington will have to go to a place like St. Louis to compete for a starting job.

2010 NFL Draft: Missouri LB Sean Weatherspoon shed roughly ten pounds between the Tigers’ Texas Bowl loss to Navy and the Senior Bowl. Weatherspoon got down to 241 for the all-star game after playing in the 250s as a senior. The move paid off, as Weatherspoon showed improve explosion to the ball and was one of the better linebackers in Mobile. A projected late first-round pick, he could play ILB in a 3-4 scheme or WLB in a 4-3.