Free agent linebacker Zach Thomas, 36, is expected to sign with the Miami Dolphins, with whom he played 12 seasons, and then announce his retirement Thursday at a 4 p.m. ET news conference.

Brian Cushing will still be eligible for the AP Defensive Player of the Year Award, but if the voters thought he should win it again, a quick survey might have told them not to take the measures they’re about to take.

Bengals LB Rey Maualuga said Monday night that he has gained perspective on many things after his January DUI arrest in Kentucky forced him to confront a drinking problem.

Chiefs rookie safety Eric Berry has signed a multi-year endorsement deal with adidas, the athletic apparel company announced on Tuesday.

The Raiders’ acquisition of QB Jason Campbell in a trade with the Redskins for a 2012 fourth-round draft pick is a sign that Oakland is done experimenting with JaMarcus Russell.

In maybe the biggest surprise selection of the early part of the second round, Buffalo drafted nose tackle Torell Troup out of Central Florida.

It looks like QBs Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy‘s slide down the draft is going to continue for a while.

If you’re going to draft a franchise quarterback in Sam Bradford, you’ve got to protect him, right? The St. Louis Rams used the first pick of the second round (33rd overall) on Indiana guard/tackle Rodger Saffold.

The Vikings swung a trade with the Lions which may make Detroit better.

Wow! Tim Tebow to Denver … in the first round. Tebow said all it would take is for one team to fall in love with him and the Broncos must have been smitten. After a series of trades, the Broncos gave up a second, third and fourth-round pick to Baltimore to get up to No. 25 to get to Tebow.

Okay. Jacksonville has a Top-10 pick (No. 10) and used it on Tyson Alualu, a defensive end from Cal. Huge surprise that is going to lead to a lot of raised eyebrows.

Buffalo’s choice of RB C.J. Spiller shows that the Bills are trying to get some explosive playmakers.

The Raiders threw the first semi-surprise of the NFL draft Thursday night, taking LB Rolando McClain with the eighth overall pick.

Seattle really must be happy with Oklahoma State offensive tackle Russell Okung falling into their lap, as it gets a standout left tackle to replace Walter Jones, who is expected to retire.

The Vikings have been linked to Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen and Florida QB Tim Tebow in the first round, but I’ve been told the team is headed in another direction with the 30th overall pick.