The Rock Hill (S.C.) Herald reports that Panthers OT Jordan Gross has signed a six-year deal to remain with the team. Gross was happy to finish the deal, which reportedly will pay him $30.5 million through the first three years.<str

It’s no surprise that Detroit Lions head coach Jim Schwartz was the man of the hour on Thursday. He’s the first-year man in Detroit who holds the top overall pick in the upcoming draft.

Speculation centering around the future of Indianapolis Colts stalwart center Jeff Saturday has picked up with free agency approaching.

Cornerbacks are prized commodities, and the Houston Texans are taking a step not to lose theirs.

While all the coaches speaking today have a multitude of media furiously jotting down and recording every word they utter, none quite received as much attention as new Lions coach Jim Schwartz.

Indy? Let’s be honest. Not so gorgeous in February. But Lucas Oil Stadium already has proved itself a perfect new home for the NFL Scouting Combine.

With Tennessee able to sign kicker Rob Bironas and unable to tag defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, the Titans today will use their franchise-player designation on tight end Bo Scaife, a league source said.

Jamie Dukes has some burning offseason questions. Who should sign Michael Vick? Will the Chiefs keep Larry Johnson? Which team needs Ray Lewis the most?

CB Kelvin Hayden, who helped the Indianapolis Colts win Super Bowl XLI three years ago, reached an agreement with the team on a five-year, $43 million contract that includes $22.5 million in guaranteed money.

Derrick Ward is making the rounds before the opening of free agency. The Giants’ running back had a busy day, heading down to Orange County to appear on Jim Rome is Burning, before coming to the NFL Network studios to appear on Total Access to talk about free agency and his Web site, dward34.com.

After contract talks failed to produce a deal, the St. Louis Rams designated safety Oshiomogho Atogwe as their franchise player. The safety franchise number for Atogwe is $6.342 million.

Jerry Porter likely will rejoin the Oakland Raiders, with whom he played from 2000 to 2007, before departing last year for a six-year, $30 million contract from the Jacksonville Jaguars.

It’s no longer a question of if WR Marvin Harrison will be let go by the Colts. It has become a question of when. It will happen in the coming days, certainly before the new league year starts a week from Friday, but few are sure exactly when.

After the Chargers designated RB/KR Darren Sproles as their franchise player for the 2009 season, general manager A.J. Smith confirmed what had been speculated for months — that the team will look to renegotiate RB LaDainian Tomlinson‘s contract.

Part track meet, part grammar-school fitness test … those are the workouts of the NFL Scouting Combine. NFL Network has every event, from the weigh-ins to the bench press, covered with more than 15 hours of live programming over four days.