Former Chargers defensive end Igor Olshansky will be leaving the AFC West for the 2009 season. He will be leaving the AFC altogether. However, he will still have the opportuinity to play the Denver Broncos.

Olshansky, who was speculated by Sayre and others to be a good fit on the Broncos, has signed with the Dallas Cowboys on a four year, $18 million dollar contract.

Olshansky is expected to replace Chris Canty on the Dallas line.

Just days after reeling in the most talked about defensive free agent of 2009, the Washington Redskins released one of the decade’s best defensive lineman, Jason Taylor.

Taylor would have earned about $8 million dollars in 2009, which is a bargain considering Albert Haynesworth’s contract has $41 million in guaranteed money alone.

Now, Taylor joins the free agent market, but there aren’t likely to be a lot of teams interested in an aging defensive end who only recorded 3.5 sacks in ‘09.

The Broncos tried that with Simeon Rice two years ago, and it did not work out.

The Denver Post is reporting that the four year contract that running back J.J. Arrington reportedly signed with the Broncos has hit some turbulence.

According to Arrington’s agent, “In reading through the contract language, some issues arose that threaten to kill the deal.”

The deal is by no means dead, but at this point the Broncos do not need any distractions of this kind as they try to sort out the controversy over Jay Cutler.

The Seattle Seahawks replaced Rocky Bernard on their defensive line on Sunday morning, signing former Packers defensive tackle Colin Cole.

Cole was signed to a five year contract worth $21 million dollars.

The Packers are undoubtedly disappointed with this signing, as Cole was one of their prime targets to be re-signed. Now, they are expected to step up their efforts to sign Cowboys defensive end Chris Canty. Canty is currently visiting with the Seahawks.

Reports are coming in from Adam Schefter that the Detroit Lions have traded quarterback Jon Kitna to the Dallas Cowboys. Compensation has not been announced.

This deal is an interesting one, as Dallas already owes Detroit their first round pick for receiver Roy E. Williams. It may also mean the end of backup QB Brad Johnson’s career.

The Denver Broncos official website reported at 12:05 MST that the Broncos officially reached a deal with free agent safety Brian Dawkins.

There had been rumors and unconfirmed reports swirling all day Friday, but it took until midday Saturday to finalize the deal.

Dawkins is already in Denver and is scheduled for a press conference at 1:30 MST, just over an hour from now (12:24 MST).

Terms of the deal have not been announced, but it is expected to be four to five years and in the neighborhood of $20 million dollars.

Dawkins, despite being 35 and slightly past his defined “prime,” played with true passion during the Eagles’ playoff run in 2008 and is a true leader on defense.

The Denver Post is reporting that the Broncos may be close to a deal with Cleveland Browns inside linebacker Andra Davis.

So far, the rumors have been of a two to three year deal for the 30-year old.

Davis is a classic ILB from a 3-4 defense, and could fit in very well as a starter in 2009. Many Denver fans now hope that Davis may get a chance to start alongside Rey Maualuga come September.

Davis was voted defensive captain in 2008, and tallied only 90 tackles, but has averaged 104 over the past six seasons.

The Broncos have already made a significant splash in the first day of free agency, and figure to make several more deals before the weekend is over.

ESPN.com’s Bill Williamson is reporting that a source “close to the situation” has confirmed that the Broncos have agreed on a three year, $4.5 million dollar deal (1 million bonus) with Houston Texans restricted free agent David Anderson.
The Texans have one week to match the deal.

Now that Jabar Gaffney is on board, the signing of Anderson could mean the end for Brandon Stokley. As Williamson reports, “It is unlikely [McDaniels] will want one of them to be a fifth receiver. Stokley could be on the outs if Anderson is brought in.”

As free agency began, cornerback DeAngelo hall experienced a feeling similar to the one he had exactly one year ago. He signed the big deal once again.
Hall reached an agreement with the Washington Redskins on a six-year, $54 million deal that is reported to have $22.5 million guaranteed and $30 million in the first three seasons. Sound familiar? Al Davis and the Raiders signed him to a six year deal last year, and that did not work out. It still remains to be seen if Hall is willing to work hard after getting his paycheck.

The second man taken off the market was Jets fullback Tony Richardson, who was re-signed by his former team to the tune of one year and half a million dollars guaranteed.

These are the extreme early deals, and re-signings are the early trend.