EU finance ministers approve Cyprus bailout deal

BRUSSELS (AP) ? Cyprus avoided bankruptcy, and potential turmoil across the eurozone, by securing a last-minute 10 billion euro ($13 billion) bailout with promises to sharply cut back its oversized banking sector and make large bank account holders take losses to help pay much of the bill.

Negotiations into early Monday ended with approval of the deal by the 17-nation eurozone's finance ministers. The European Central Bank had threatened to cut off crucial emergency assistance to the country's banks by Tuesday if no agreement was reached.

Without a bailout deal by Monday night, the tiny Mediterranean nation would have faced the prospect of bankruptcy, which could have forced it to become the first country to abandon the euro currency. That would have sent the region's markets spinning.

"It's not that we won a battle, but we really have avoided a disastrous exit from the eurozone," said Cyprus' Finance Minister Michalis Sarris.

The eurozone finance ministers accepted the plan after hours of negotiations in Brussels between Cypriot officials and the so-called troika of creditors ? the International Monetary Fund, the European Commission and the ECB.

"We believe that this will form a lasting, durable and fully financed solution," said IMF chief Christine Lagarde.

To secure the rescue loan package, the Cypriot government had to find ways to raise 5.8 billion euros ($7.5 billion) on its own. The bulk of that money is now being raised by forcing losses on large bank deposit holders, with the remainder coming from tax increases and privatizations.

Cyprus must drastically shrink its banking sector, cut its budget, implement structural reforms and privatize state assets, said Jeroen Dijsselbloem, who chairs the meetings of the eurozone's finance ministers. The country's second-largest bank, Laiki, will be restructured, with all bond holders and people with more than 100,000 euros in their bank accounts there facing significant losses.

The measures are likely to deepen the recession in Cyprus.

The cash-strapped island nation has been shut out of international markets for almost two years. It first applied for a bailout to recapitalize its ailing lenders and keep the government afloat last June, but the political negotiations stalled. After a botched agreement last week, the European Central Bank threatened to cut off emergency assistance to the country's banks.

"We've put an end to the uncertainty that has affected Cyprus and the euro area over the past week," Dijsselbloem said.

That uncertainty around the tiny nation of about 800,000 had shaken the entire eurozone of 300 million people, even though Cyprus only makes up less than 0.2 percent of the eurozone's economy.

Several national parliaments in eurozone countries such as Germany must also approve the bailout deal, which might take another few weeks. EU officials said they expect the whole program to be approved by mid-April.

The country's second-largest bank, Laiki, will be dissolved immediately into a bad bank containing its uninsured deposits and toxic assets, with the guaranteed deposits being transferred to the nation's biggest lender, Bank of Cyprus.

Dijsselbloem said it was not yet clear how severe the losses would be to Laiki's large bank deposit holders, but he noted that it is expected to yield 4.2 billion euros overall ? or much of the money that Cyprus needed to raise to secure the bailout. Analysts have estimated investors might lose up to 40 percent of their money.

Large deposits with Bank of Cyprus above the insured level will be frozen until it becomes clear whether or to what extent they will also be forced to take losses, the Eurogroup of finance ministers said in a statement.

Dijsselbloem defended the creditors' approach of making deposit holders take heavy losses, saying the measures "will be concentrated where the problems are, in the large banks."

The international creditors, led by the IMF, were seeking a fundamental restructuring of the country's outsized financial system, which is worth up to eight times the Cypriot gross domestic product of about 18 billion euros. They said the country's business model of attracting foreign investors, among them many Russians, with low taxes and lax financial regulation had backfired and needed to be upended.

The drastic shrinking of the financial sector, the wiping out of wealth through the losses on deposits, the loss of confidence with the recent turmoil and the upcoming austerity measures all mean that Cyprus is facing tough times.

"The near future will be very difficult for the country and its people," acknowledged the EU Commission's top economic official, Olli Rehn. "But (the measures) will be necessary for the Cypriot people to rebuild their economy on a new basis."

Cypriot banks have been closed this past week while officials worked on a rescue plan, and they are not due to reopen until Tuesday. Cash has been available through ATMs, but long lines formed and many machines have quickly run out of cash.

Amid fears of a banking collapse, Cyprus' central bank on Sunday imposed a daily withdrawal limit of 100 euros ($130) from ATMs of the country's two largest banks to prevent a bank run by depositors worried about their savings.

The Cypriot government also approved a set of laws over the past week to introduce capital controls, in order to avoid a huge depositor flight once banks reopen.

Creditors had insisted that Cyprus couldn't receive more loans because that would make its debt burden unsustainably high. The IMF's Lagarde said Cyprus would now reach a debt level of about 100 percent of GDP by 2020.

A plan agreed to in marathon negotiations earlier this month called for a one-time levy on all bank depositors in Cypriot banks. But the proposal ignited fierce anger because it also targeted small savers. It failed to win a single vote in the Cypriot Parliament.

Cyprus' bid to secure more financial aid from its long-time ally, Russia, then failed, forcing it to turn again to its European partners. Russia was expected, however, to extend a 2.5 billion euro emergency loan granted last year, also lowering the interest rate due and extending then repayment schedule.

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Associated Press writers Elena Becatoros and Menelaos Hadjicostis in Nicosia, Cyprus, contributed to this story.

______

Juergen Baetz can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jbaetz

Don Melvin can be reached at https://twitter.com/Don_Melvin

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/eu-finance-ministers-approve-cyprus-bailout-deal-052358580--finance.html

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Video: Time For Boots on Ground In Syria?

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/video/cnbc/51326147/

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Another Steve Jobs movie? 'Silly' biopic hits Web on April 15

Internet

Rosa Golijan TODAY

18 hours ago

Funny or Die

All good things must come in threes. That's the only reasoning I've got to justify the fact that Funny or Die ? a website focused on comedy shorts ? is making a full-length comic biopic about Steve Jobs, dubbed "iSteve."

Though we're calling it the third, it'll actually be the first in wide distribution, because it will be released on the website on April 15, before the other films hit theaters or digital channels.

?In true Internet fashion, it?s not based on very thorough research ? essentially a cursory look at the Steve Jobs Wikipedia page,? Ryan Perez, who wrote and directed the third Steve Jobs biopic, explained to the New York Times. ?It?s very silly. But it looks at his whole life.?

Funny or Die informed NBC News that the movie is still being edited, but it should clock in somewhere between 60 and 75 minutes.

Justin Long, known for his roles in "Dodgeball" and "Waiting" ? not to mention Apple's "Get a Mac" ad campaign ? is playing the part of the late Apple co-founder. The New York Times' Brooks Barnes adds that James Urbaniak ("Venture Bros.") and Michaela Watkins ("Saturday Night Live," "Enlightened") will be in the movies as Bill and Melinda Gates, while Jorge Garcia of "Lost Fame" plays Steve Wozniak.

"We were kicking around the idea of making a fake Steve Jobs movie trailer, and as often happens in a writers' room, the joke kind of escalated," Allison Hord, who produced "iSteve," told the Times.

"iSteve" is expected to be a lighter counterpart to the other two biopics, one starring Ashton Kutcher and the other being penned by Aaron Sorkin. While the the Kutcher flick premiered at Sundance, its release date was pushed back. And the Sorkin version is still only in pre-production.

?We might not be the best, but we will be the first,? Perez joked while speaking to the New York Times.

Want more tech news or interesting links? You'll get plenty of both if you keep up with Rosa Golijan, the writer of this post, by following her onTwitter, subscribing to her Facebook posts, or circling her onGoogle+.

Source: http://www.today.com/tech/another-steve-jobs-movie-silly-biopic-hits-web-april-15-1C8930022

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Chechen leader picks new Cabinet minister via Instagram

AP

Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov ? pictured at right at the opening ceremony of a mountain ski resort in Veduchi on Feb. 26, 2013 ? posts gentle, quirky images of himself to more than 84,000 followers on Instagram.

By M. Alex Johnson, staff writer, NBC News

The Russian republic of Chechnya has hired as its new cabinet minister for civic relations someone whom President Ramzan Kadyrov discovered on Instagram.

Kadyrov, who is an enthusiastic user of the Internet photo-sharing site, created the post ? formally called minister of government-civil society liaison ? after a four-hour meeting last week with Instagram users critical of his leadership, the Chechen government said in a statement.

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In a post on Instagram afterward, Kadyrov called the discussion "superficial" and unsatisfying, saying those he met with "did not even understand the issues."

The former rebel leader, who has been accused of widespread human rights abuses ? in 2009, he defended the practice of "honor killings" of women who cheat on their husbands ? has used Instagram to portray himself in a gentler light.?

Government of Chechnya

Arby Tamaev was appointed to the Cabinet after Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov met last week with Instagram users critical of his government.

"He wants to present himself as more modern, that's why he's paying attention to the younger generation," Alexey Malashenko, an analyst with the Moscow Carnegie Center-Caucasus, told The Moscow News. "He is attempting to improve his image."

Kadyrov's?account is filled with pictures of Kadyrov holding babies, kissing deer at the zoo and picking flowers. "I just fed a chicken!!!" reads the caption under a photo of Kadyrov frolicking with a?clutch of chickens, which was distributed to more than 84,000 followers.

One of those followers is arbi_9595 ? real name Arby Seyfudinovich Tamaev ? and Friday, Kadyrov plucked him off the Net to join the government. Pictures on his account indicate that he shares the president's love of fast sports cars.

Kadyrov announced the appointment ? where else? ? on Instagram:

"Today I met with (Agriculture Minister) Abubakar Edelgeriev and the new minister of the Chechen Republic. You all remember him and know him by his nickname @arbi_9595," he wrote.

"Arby Tamaev responded to my request to gather Instagram users, showing initiative and perseverance," Kadyrov wrote. "Now he will have to demonstrate these same qualities as a minister of the Chechen Republic, tackling the interaction between the government and civil society."

After his appointment, Tamaev updated his profile to note that he had been flooded with correspondence on the site and asked potential new followers: "Please do not write!"

Follow M. Alex Johnson on Twitter and Facebook.

Watch World News videos on NBCNews.com

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/18/17360677-chechen-leader-picks-new-cabinet-minister-from-among-his-instagram-followers?lite

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$1M pilot project aims to take out feral pigs

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services shows a group of feral pigs feeding in a pasture. The agency has teamed up with the state of New Mexico and others as part of a $1 million pilot project to eradicate the pigs from the state. Nationally, federal officials say the feral pig population has ballooned to an estimated 5 million. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services)

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services shows a group of feral pigs feeding in a pasture. The agency has teamed up with the state of New Mexico and others as part of a $1 million pilot project to eradicate the pigs from the state. Nationally, federal officials say the feral pig population has ballooned to an estimated 5 million. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services)

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services shows a family of pigs invading the Palmetto State Park's camp grounds in Abbeyville, La. The agency has teamed up with the state of New Mexico and others as part of a $1 million pilot project to eradicate the pigs from New Mexico. Nationally, federal officials say the feral pig population has ballooned to an estimated 5 million. (AP Photo/Richard Nowitz, U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services)

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services shows a group of trapped feral pigs. The agency has teamed up with the state of New Mexico and others as part of a $1 million pilot project to eradicate the pigs from the state. Nationally, federal officials say the feral pig population has ballooned to an estimated 5 million. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services)

This undated photo provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services shows a corn field trampled by feral pigs. The agency has teamed up with the state of New Mexico and others as part of a $1 million pilot project to eradicate the pigs from New Mexico. Nationally, federal officials say the feral pig population has ballooned to an estimated 5 million. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services)

This undated image provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services shows a group of feral pigs protecting a feeding area from livestock. The federal agency has teamed up with the state of New Mexico and others as part of a $1 million pilot project to eradicate pigs from the state. Nationally, federal officials say the feral pig population has ballooned to an estimated 5 million. (AP Photo/Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ? Using the cover of darkness, feral pigs have learned to outsmart even the most seasoned hunters as they set about on their nightly terrors, rooting up crops and suburban gardens, harassing native wildlife and turning watering holes into pigsties.

The invasive porkers have made themselves at home across more than three quarters of the U.S. and are responsible for an estimated $1.5 billion in damages each year. Most worrisome is their ability to learn from each encounter with a frustrated human.

Ask anyone who has had a run-in with feral pigs. The conversation always circles back to intelligence.

"They're much brighter than I am," said Ray Powell, a veterinarian and New Mexico's land commissioner. "If they had the dexterity, they'd be driving vehicles around. I mean these guys are really smart."

Feral pigs have already taken over Texas and are expanding their numbers in other states, but federal and state land managers think they have a chance to tip the balance in New Mexico. They're willing to bet $1 million in federal funds on a yearlong pilot project aimed at eradicating the pigs and using what they learn here to keep them from gaining a foothold elsewhere.

It marks the first time the U.S. Department of Agriculture has teamed up with a state to develop a comprehensive plan for getting rid of the pigs.

A small army of state and federal employees has been trained to stalk, trap and kill New Mexico's feral pigs. Various techniques have been used by wildlife managers and landowners for decades in the fight against feral swine, but the New Mexico team is focusing on determining what combination works best in which circumstances and how effectively helicopters can be to track the pigs across vast landscapes.

"We're trying to get ahead of the curve with this so we can prevent a lot of the damage that we know will be coming if we don't do anything about it," said USDA Wildlife Services state director Alan May. "Sport hunting pressure alone won't be enough to stop a population from spreading."

Timing is a big part of the project, said UDSA undersecretary Edward Avalos. Hitting the pigs quickly will prevent them from becoming more educated, he said.

Pigs have been known to scope out traps for days before sending in the group's lowest ranking members to test for danger. And if a trap isn't built just right, the pigs will find a way out, either by climbing over each other or squeezing under the fencing.

The plan calls for building special traps in strategic locations along with stalking the pigs at night.

The team will also be looking to the "Judas pig" for help. After trapping a family of pigs, all but one ? usually an adult female ? are shot and killed. The Judas pig is then fitted with a radio collar or microchip so it can be tracked as it looks for another group of pigs to hang out with.

This is important since feral pigs are quite elusive. Rarely seen during the day, they have learned to avoid being taken down by rifles or suckered into traps.

Their intelligence, in combination with their ability to mate year-round, is what has enabled wild pigs to evade capture and take over prairies, mountain valleys and rugged deserts from Canada to Mexico.

The wild pig population in the U.S. has ballooned to more than 5 million. In one year alone, federal managers trapped and killed more than 32,000 pigs from 28 states and collected thousands of samples to check for the nearly three dozen diseases feral pigs are capable of carrying and passing on to humans, livestock and other wildlife.

Introduced by Spanish explorers centuries ago, pigs began to expand their range. Hunters complicated matters by importing Eurasian boars to the U.S. for sport. Generations in the wild, the pigs have evolved into "survivors," willing to eat just about anything and capable of traversing some of the most rugged territory.

Ranchers and farmers have complained for years about the damage feral pigs can cause, but federal and state officials said the loss of crops, the spread of noxious weeds as the pigs carry seeds to new spots and the stress they put on endangered species and other wildlife is now worse due to a persistent drought that has hammered two-thirds of the country.

New Mexico is embarking on its third straight year of drought, water supplies have dipped to record lows, farmers and ranchers are struggling, and there are now signs of feral swine in 22 of the state's 33 counties.

"Here, it's a new problem," said Bidegain, who has seen pig numbers in his area grow from zero to nearly 300 over the last two years. "You research, read stuff on the Internet and watch videos of how other guys are trying to do it. It's almost like you have to stalk them for two months before you figure out how they operate."

Bidegain has to watch for big potholes left behind by the pigs to keep from damaging his tractor. Nearby, Quay County rancher Bill Humphries said the pigs were responsible for leaving "bomb craters everywhere" along a quarter-mile stretch of road on his family ranch. On other ranches, pigs have learned to break the floats in stock tanks to keep water flowing for their mud baths.

In Mississippi, peanut farmers often wake to find uprooted plants. In Texas, where there are an estimated 2.6 million pigs, the animals have moved from destroying pastures and crops to tearing up suburban gardens.

Texans spend about $7 million a year on trying to control pigs and repair some of the damage, said Billy Higginbotham, a professor and wildlife specialist at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center.

"We're not like New Mexico, Nebraska or Kansas, for example, where we're just beginning to get a few and can probably think in terms of eradication," he said. "What we're simply trying to do here is not even use the "e'' word ? eradication ? but to think in terms of managing the damage."

Wildlife managers had complained for years about a lack of manpower and money to fight the growing pig problem. Now, they say the pilot program will enable them to systematically take out populations that are centered along the Canadian and Pecos rivers in eastern New Mexico, in the Bootheel and along the Middle Rio Grande, home to thousands of acres of irrigated farmland.

Feral pigs are also moving into southeastern New Mexico, where the federal government has been trying to boost the number of sand dune lizards and lesser prairie chickens. Both are on the menu for pigs.

Pig experts say patience is key, and federal wildlife specialist Ron Jones knows this well. He has been stalking pigs in eastern New Mexico since the first group was spotted in Quay County in 2006. He has spent the last few weeks trying to outsmart an older black and white spotted male that's missing half an ear.

"I've watched him on the trail cameras," Jones said. "He's got some age on him and he's very educated. He has probably had everything in the book thrown at him."

USDA officials couldn't say how long it might take to push the pigs out of New Mexico, but Avalos said he is confident it's possible.

If not, Powell warned New Mexico's agriculture and natural resources will be in trouble.

"It could have enormous costs," he said.

___

Follow Susan Montoya Bryan: http://www.twitter.com/susanmbryanNM

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-03-18-Food%20and%20Farm-Outsmarting%20Pigs/id-3a6ff44bb7fb49d48e66afd63b5c61a4

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Sony announces Xperia SP and Xperia L - new mid-range and entry-level handsets

Without much in the way of fanfare, Sony Mobile has announced new mid-range and entry-level Android handsets, the Xperia SP and Xperia L. The subjects of many pre-release leaks, these new Xperias were expected to make an appearance at Mobile World Congress, but were no-where to be found on the show floor.

As rumored, the Xperia SP is a 4.6-inch, 720p-screened device with an aluminum trim that incorporates elements of both the Xperia Z and Xperia U. Like the former, it's uses on-screen keys and has big, stylized metal power button; like the latter, it's got a customizable light bar down below that can tie into certain apps like the music player. It's also Sony's first mid-range phone with 4G LTE support. On the inside, the SP is powered by a 1.7GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 chip, so there’s plenty of horsepower to go around.

The Xperia L is Sony’s new leading entry-level device for 2013, and the manufacturer’s highlighting its 8-megapixel Exmor RS camera, a component it shares with the Xperia SP. The L is powered by a 1GHz dual-core Snapdragon S4 Plus CPU and packs a 4.3-inch FWVGA (854x480) display. Visually, it’s a close match for last year’s Xperia T, with a chunky convex chassis.

Both phones run Android 4.1 Jelly Bean out of the box, and are due for release during the second quarter in red, white and black color options. We’ve got spec lists and a couple of videos after the break.

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/9ODPruQL7ss/story01.htm

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Israeli premier names new, hard-line defense minister

JERUSALEM (AP) ? Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appointed on Sunday a hard-line former military chief as the country's new defense minister.

Moshe Yaalon, a former army commando, has said Iran's suspect nuclear program is Israel's top security concern, though he has been vague about whether Israel might carry out a military strike on Iran. He also has voiced skepticism about the chances for reaching peace with the Palestinians.

Yaalon, widely known by his nickname "Bogie," was Israel's military chief from 2002 to 2005. He oversaw Israel's army operations during the bloody years of the second Palestinian uprising when Palestinian bombers killed Israeli civilians and Israel's army conducted military incursions into Palestinian cities.

Yaalon also prepared Israel's military for the country's 2005 withdrawal from the Gaza Strip. He did not support the decision to remove Israel's military installations and settlements from the Palestinian territory, and retired shortly before the withdrawal took place. After retiring, Yaalon briefly served as an expert with the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

For the past four years, Yaalon served as both vice premier and strategic affairs minister in Israel's outgoing government. In those positions, Yaalon was a member of Netanyahu's Security Cabinet, which dealt with sensitive matters and played a leading role in monitoring Iran's nuclear program.

Israel believes that Iran is trying to develop a nuclear weapon ? a charge that Tehran denies. Netanyahu has repeatedly hinted that Israel might strike Iran's nuclear facilities if it concludes that international sanctions and diplomacy have failed to curb the Iranian nuclear program. Israel considers a nuclear-armed Iran a mortal threat, citing Iranian calls for Israel's destruction and its support for anti-Israel militant groups.

"The most dangerous threat today is the nuclear threat on the part of Iran, which is working to achieve regional hegemony," Yaalon said in a recent interview. "It is impossible to deal with the Middle Eastern instability without dealing with this threat."

"It must be at the top of our priorities," even ahead of the conflict with the Palestinians, he said in the interview. "We need to prepare for defending ourselves."

Yaalon has been vague about whether Israel would strike Iran on its own. He is believed to favor military action only if it is coordinated with the U.S. The topic is expected to be high on the agenda when President Barack Obama visits Israel later this week.

Yaalon takes a hard-line view toward the Palestinian. Yaalon has said he believes the Palestinian leadership is not serious about wanting peace with Israel and he is cool to making concessions to the Palestinians.

Among other security challenges Israel faces is the chaotic situation in Egypt's Sinai desert, where al-Qaida-influenced militants are believed to be operating near the Israeli border; the Hamas militant group's control of the neighboring Gaza Strip; the civil war in Syria; and the activities of Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.

Netanyahu said in a statement to reporters that Yaalon has the experience to lead the country's defense during a "decisive period for the security of Israel, as the region around us rages."

Yaalon will replace Defense Minister Ehud Barak, who is retiring.

Israel's new government is expected to be sworn this week, ahead of Obama's arrival.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/israeli-premier-names-defense-minister-104913106.html

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Antarctica concerns grow as tourism numbers rise

ROSS ISLAND, Antarctica (AP) ? Across most of Earth, a tourist attraction that sees 35,000 visitors a year can safely be labeled sleepy. But when it's Antarctica, every footstep matters.

Tourism is rebounding here five years after the financial crisis stifled what had been a burgeoning industry. And it's not just retirees watching penguins from the deck of a ship. Visitors are taking tours inland and even engaging in "adventure tourism" like skydiving and scuba diving under the ever-sunlit skies of a Southern Hemisphere summer.

In a remote, frozen, almost pristine land where the only human residents are involved in research, that tourism comes with risks, for both the continent and the tourists. Boats pollute water and air, and create the potential for more devastating environmental damage. When something goes wrong, help can be an exceptionally long way off.

The downturn triggered by the economic meltdown created an opportunity for the 50 countries that share responsibility through the Antarctic Treaty to set rules to manage tourism, but little has been done. An international committee on Antarctica has produced just two mandatory rules since it was formed, and neither of those is yet in force.

"I think there's been a foot off the pedal in recent years," said Alan Hemmings, an environmental consultant on polar regions. "If it takes five years, 10 years to bring even what you agree into force, it's very difficult to micromanage these sorts of developments."

Antarctic tourism has grown from fewer than 2,000 visitors a year in the 1980s to more than 46,000 in 2007-08. Then the numbers plummeted, bottoming out at fewer than 27,000 in 2011-12.

The Rhode Island-based International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators doesn't have its final 2012-13 figures yet but estimates close to 35,000 visitors this season, which runs from November through March. The industry group expects slightly more tourists next summer.

It's not just the numbers of tourists but the activities that are changing, said Hemmings, who has been part of a delegation representing New Zealand in some Antarctic Treaty discussions.

"What used to be Antarctic tourism in the late '80s through the '90s was generally people of middle age or older going on cruises and small ships where they went ashore at a few locations and they looked at wildlife, historic sites and maybe visited one current station," he said. "But there's an increasing diversification of the activities now so it's much more action orientated. Now people want to go paragliding, waterskiing, diving or a variety of other things."

Visitors can also skydive over the frigid landscape, and London-based Henry Cookson Adventures took two and three-man submarines to Antarctica in the latest summer. Hemmings said he was once asked to advise on a Germany company's plan to fly gliders over the colossal Transantarctic Mountains to the South Pole, but that project was never carried out.

On Ross Island, a stark black-and-white outcrop of ice on porous, volcanic rock, the active volcano Mt. Erebus stands as a warning of the dangers of tourism in this remote and hostile environment. In 1979, an Air New Zealand airliner on a sightseeing tour from Auckland slammed into the mountain in whiteout conditions, killing all 257 people aboard. After that disaster, sightseeing flights over Antarctica did not resume until the mid-1990s.

Some of the earliest attempts at skydiving in Antarctica also ended in tragedy. Two Americans and an Austrian died in the same jump in 1997 near the U.S. Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station at the geographic South Pole.

Hypoxia ? a lack of oxygen ? is a suspected reason why the skydivers failed to deploy their parachutes in time. Antarctica is not only the world's coldest, driest and windiest continent, but also the highest. The South Pole is on an icy plateau 2,835 meters (9,301 feet) above sea level and the air is relatively thin.

The last fatalities at sea near the continent were in February 2011, when a Norwegian-flagged, steel-hulled yacht with three crew vanished during wild weather in the Ross Sea.

It's not only tourists who get into trouble. Searchers will wait until at least October to recover the bodies of three Canadians involved in scientific research who died in a plane crash in January near a summit in the Queen Alexandra range. A fire aboard a Japanese whaling ship in the Ross Sea killed a crew member in 2007. And anti-whaling activists lost a boat that collided with a whaler in 2010. No one was injured.

Hemmings said tourist ships have been involved in several mishaps in Antarctica in the past five years.

"Misadventure can befall anybody," he said, but he added that the number of tourist ships coming to Antarctica's busiest areas was a concern.

While Antarctica is as big as the United States and Mexico combined, tourists and scientists for the most part keep to areas that aren't permanently frozen and where wildlife can be found. Those account for less than 2 percent of the continent.

It's a land of many hazards, not all of them obvious. The dry air makes static electricity a constant threat to electronics and a fire risk when refueling vehicles. Residents quickly get into the habit of touching metal fixtures as they pass, and metal discharge plates are set beside all telephones and computer keyboards.

Most tourists arrive on the Antarctic Peninsula, which is easily accessible from Argentina and Chile. The next most popular destination is the Ross Sea on the opposite side of the continent, a 10-day sail from New Zealand or Australia.

Both landscapes are intensely bright and profoundly silent during the 17 weeks between sunrise and sunset in the summer. The peninsula is a milder environment and has a wider variety of fauna and flora.

The Ross Sea, where the Royal Society Range soars 4,200 meters (13,200 feet) above the ice-clogged waters of McMurdo Sound, demonstrates the colossal grandeur for which Antarctica is renowned. It was also the starting point of British expeditions to the South Pole during the so-called heroic era of Antarctic exploration from 1895 to 1915. The early explorers' wooden huts still dot the coast.

The Ross Ice Shelf, the world's largest mass of floating ice covering an area almost as big as Spain, rises as steep, gleaming cliffs 60 meters (200 feet) from the sea.

Two cruise ships visited the sea's Ross Island, connected to the continent by ice, last summer. Summer temperatures average minus 6 degrees Celsius (21 Fahrenheit) but often seem colder due to wind chill.

Passengers visited the largest settlement in Antarctica, the sprawling U.S. McMurdo Station, which can accommodate more than 1,200 people, as well as New Zealand's neighboring Scott Base, which sleeps fewer than 90. Many also visited a drafty hut built by doomed British explorer Capt. Robert Falcon Scott in 1902 as an expedition base a few hundred meters (yards) from McMurdo Station.

The two bases, separated by a 3-kilometer (2-mile) ice road, don't facilitate tourism, but tourists are generally welcomed. Both have well-stocked gift shops.

Antarctic New Zealand's environment manager Neil Gilbert said more robust monitoring is needed to track impacts of tourism.

"The Antarctic Peninsula ... is one of if not the most rapidly warming part of the globe," Gilbert said. "We really don't know what additional impact that those tourism numbers ... are having on what is already a very significantly changing environment."

There are fears that habitat will be trampled, that tourists will introduce exotic species or microbes or will transfer native flora and fauna to parts of the continent where they never before existed.

A major fear is that a large cruise ship carrying thousands of passengers will run into trouble in these ice-clogged, storm-prone and poorly charted waters, creating an environmentally disastrous oil spill and a humanitarian crisis for the sparsely resourced Antarctic research stations and distant nations to respond to.

To reduce the risk of spills, the United Nations' shipping agency, the International Maritime Organization, barred the use of heavy fuel oil below 60 degrees latitude south in 2011.

That was a blow to operators of large cruise ships. Steve Wellmeier, administrative director of the tour operators group, said the ban initially slashed cruise passenger numbers by two-thirds.

But it was only a temporary obstacle to industry growth; large ocean liners can comply with the ban by using lighter distillate fuels in Antarctic waters. About 9,900 passengers are believed to have visited Antarctica on large cruise ships is the season now ending, double the total from 2011-12.

The fuel-oil ban is a rare thing for Antarctic tourism: a binding rule.

The 28 countries that comprise the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Committee have made 27 non-binding recommendations on tourism since 1966, but just two mandatory rules ? and neither of those are yet in force.

A 2004 agreement requiring tourism operators to be insured to cover possible rescue operations or medical evacuations has been ratified by only 11 of the 28 countries. A 2009 agreement barring ships carrying more than 500 passengers from landing tourists ? a measure to protect trampled sites ? has the legal backing of just two countries, Japan and Uruguay.

The United States, by far the biggest source of tourists and tourism operators, has not signed either measure.

The International Maritime Organization intends to enforce a Polar Code, detailing safety standards for ships entering both the Arctic and Antarctic regions. It was supposed to be force by 2013, but the IMO now says it won't be adopted before 2014, and after that it will take another 18 months for the code to be implemented.

Hemmings said the current lack of standards is a problem because increasing numbers of cruise ships are negotiating the poorly charted and storm-prone seas without ice-strengthened hulls as Antarctic legs are added to South American, South Pacific and around-the-world cruises.

Those ships "are not necessarily ice-strengthened, or if they are ice-strengthened, are not ice-strengthened to a high standard because at other times of the year they're doing something different," Hemmings said.

Wellmeier, the industry group official, said the impending rules could knock some currently operating vessels out of Antarctica. In any case, he said he doesn't think tourism there will return to the explosive growth rates of the years before the financial crisis, simply because the ships needed for such expansion are not available.

Tourists far outnumber the scientists and support staff at national scientific research stations in Antarctica during the peak summer season, though the researchers make more of an impact because they stay longer. The summer population at the 39 stations across the continent peaked at about 4,400 in the 2011-12 year.

Wellmeier believes tourists should not be considered separately from the question of overall human impact on the Antarctic environment. He said too often it is research-station personnel who flout the rules.

"We hear horror stories every season," he said. "A group will come ashore from a national program and they're on their day off ... and they're breaking the rules, right and left, smoking and getting too close to the animals."

The United States has been criticized on environmental grounds for building a 1,600-kilometer (995-mile) ice road from McMurdo Station to the South Pole on which tractors drag fuel and supplies on sleds. The road provides a more reliable alternative to frequently grounded air services.

Australia-based adventurer Tim Jarvis sees Antarctic tourists not as a problem, but as part of the solution for a frozen continent where the ice is rapidly retreating. If more tourists see its wonders and the impacts of climate change, particularly on the Antarctic Peninsula, Jarvis said, the world will become more inclined to protect the continent.

"It's a pity we live in a world that's a little bit overregulated in many respects," he said of the prospect of greater controls on tourism.

Jarvis led a party of six in January and February on a 19-day reenactment of British explorer Ernest Shackleton's desperate sea and land journey to a South Georgia Island whaling station in the southern Atlantic Ocean in 1916. After his ship was crushed by sea ice, Shackleton left 22 of his crew at on a remote island, then set sail in a lifeboat on an 800-nautical-mile (1,480-kilometer) voyage to get help.

Jarvis's party encountered 8-meter (26-foot) waves, then repeatedly fell through crevasses as they trekked across the snow-covered mountains of South Georgia. Jarvis suffered frostbite to one of his feet but completed the journey. Three members of his party couldn't complete the climb because of trench foot, a condition caused by prolonged exposure to cold and wet conditions.

While the journey seems death-defying, it was the product of tremendous planning. Jarvis and his party spent more than a year applying for five permits from various treaty countries accompanied by detailed risk assessments and environmental impact statements. They paid for their own backup boat to rescue them in case anything went wrong.

"My broader message to people is that we all have the potential to do far more in our lives than we feel we're capable of doing and we should go and explore that ... but do it responsibly," Jarvis said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/antarctica-concerns-grow-tourism-numbers-rise-053737703.html

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Iditarod dog dies after being buried in snow

Anchorage Daily News, Bill Roth / AP

Iditarod mushers begin the race with up to 16 dogs, but they typically leave some at checkpoints as their animals tire.

updated 9:48 p.m. ET March 16, 2013

ANCHORAGE, Alaska - A dog left behind at a checkpoint along the route of the Iditarod sled-dog race in Alaska was smothered by windblown snow, in the event's first canine death since 2009, officials said on Saturday.

The fatality broke a safety streak that race supporters had cited as evidence of good care for the animals at the center of the contest.

The dog, a 5-year-old male named Dorado in the team of musher Paige Drobny, was found dead on Friday at Unalakleet, an Inupiat Eskimo village and race checkpoint on the Bering Sea coast.

A necropsy, which is the animal equivalent of an autopsy, determined the cause of death was asphyxiation from being buried in snow in severe wind conditions, race marshal Mark Nordman said.

Iditarod mushers begin the race with up to 16 dogs, but they typically leave some at checkpoints as their animals tire. Most mushers finish with a team of about 10 dogs.

Dorado had been left at Unalakleet and was among a group of dogs set to be flown back to Anchorage, Nordman said. The animals were left outside, with their condition checked at 3 a.m. on Friday, he said.

"Between that time and daylight, drifting snow covered several dogs and Dorado was found to be deceased," Nordman said.

Dorado had been dropped off at Unalakleet because of sore muscles, said Iditarod spokeswoman Erin McLarnon.

Most dogs in the Iditarod are huskies or husky mixes.

Animal rights activists have criticized the Iditarod, saying competitors push the dogs too hard in racing and training and subject the animals to dangerous conditions.

"Our stance on the Iditarod has always been that people who care about dogs should not support the race. It's a cruel spectacle," said Ashley Byrne, campaign specialist for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Iditarod mushers and officials have long defended the race's dog-care record, citing the army of volunteer veterinarians involved each year and the extensive dog health screening conducted before each race.

Sixty-six mushers and their dog teams began the 1,000-mile (1,600-kilometer) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race on March 2 in Anchorage. Mitch Seavey won the competition on Tuesday.

Drobny, the competitor whose dog died, reached the Nome finish line on Thursday, in 34th place.

This year's race was marred early on by tragedy. Three people, including a 10-year-old girl, were killed in a March 4 plane crash near Rainy Pass, one of the early race checkpoints. They had been headed to the Native village of Takotna, another checkpoint, to work as race volunteers. (Editing by Alex Dobuzinskis and Xavier Briand)

(c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2013. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp

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More newsKeith Srakocic / Pool via Reuters

St-Pierre manhandles Diaz at UFC 158

MONTREAL (AP) -UFC welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre manhandled Nick Diaz for five rounds en route to a lopsided unanimous decision at UFC 158 on Saturday night.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/51211601/ns/sports-other_sports/

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Cape Fear region people serving in the military

Pfc. Jamye J. Ruffin, daughter of Tonia Folk of Fayetteville, has graduated from the Marine Aviation Supply Specialist Course with Marine Aviation Training Support Squadron 1, Marine Aviation Support Training Support Group 21, Meridian, Miss. She is a 2012 graduate of Seventy-First High School.

Pvt. John T. Arndt, son of Rhonda Arndt of Holly Springs, has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. He is a 2010 graduate of Harnett Central High School.

National Guard Pfc. Michael A. Conely, son of Cynthia Conely of Sanford, and Albert Conely of Cameron, has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C.

National Guard Pfc. Lillie J. Ring, daughter of Pamella Salisbury of Cameron, has graduated from Army basic training at Fort Jackson, Columbia, S.C. She is a 2012 graduate of Union Pines High School, Cameron.

National Guard Pfc. James Robinson Jr., son of Charmay Fryar-Robinson of Fayetteville, has graduated from basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Waynesville, Mo. He is a 2011 graduate of E.E. Smith High School.

Items on local soldiers and airmen come from the Army and Air Force Hometown News Service in San Antonio. Items on local members of the Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard come from the Fleet Home Town News Center in Norfolk, Va.

Source: http://fayobserver.com/articles/2013/03/17/1242813

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32-year-old man adopted by former foster mother

By Monica Garske and Lea Sutton, NBCSanDiego.com

Nearly 20 years after being ripped apart from his foster parents, a 32-year-old man was officially adopted Friday in San Diego, Calif., by the woman he has always considered to be his mother.

Maurice Griffin was abandoned as a baby. At age three, he found a loving family in foster parents Lisa Godbold and her husband, Charles.

?The whole reason we got into foster care in the first place is because we wanted to adopt Maurice,? recalled Godbold.

Over the next 10 years, Godbold and her husband eventually became Griffin?s foster parents, giving him the stable, happy home he had always dreamed of.

?It was a great, loving family,? said Griffin, remembering the trips to Sunday school and brunch with his foster family.

But Griffin?s happy family life didn?t last long.

Griffin says the foster system failed him, and he was abruptly taken away from the family at age 13. He and Godbold didn?t want to get into specifics about why Griffin was taken from the family, but both of them agreed it was a very painful and difficult time.

?It?s like being abducted from your family and being told to deal with it,? said Griffin.

---

?It was torture; it broke our hearts,? added Godbold. ?Not knowing where he was and not being able to have contact with him was like having a child abducted.?

From there, Griffin bounced from other foster homes to group homes, where he says he was abused and mistreated.

Through the years and tough times, Griffin held on to his fond family memories.

Meanwhile, Godbold tried time and time again to find her long lost foster son ? never giving up.

In 2009, Godbold tracked Griffin down on the internet using social media. From that point on, they vowed never to lose each other again.

Their enduring mother-son bond led them to a San Diego courtroom Friday, where Godbold officially adopted Griffin as her son.

?I?m excited ? this is 20 years overdue,? said Griffin minutes before heading into the courthouse with his soon-to-be mother.

Though the adoption proceeding was short, Griffin said it was the moment he?s been waiting for all his life.

?This is probably the happiest moment in my life. I love my family and I?m happy to be home,? said Griffin, adoption paperwork in hand.

Godbold was also overwhelmed with emotion and said adopting Griffin ? even at 32 years old ? was a privilege.

?This completes the circle. He?s always been my son, but this just completes the circle,? she added.

Griffin now joins Godbold and her two biological children to form a happy family once again. Sadly, Godbold?s husband passed away during the time they lost contact with Griffin.

Griffin said he would have loved to be adopted by Charles Friday too, as he was a man he always admired and loved. Both Godbold and Griffin believe Charles was proudly watching over them on this special day.

Their story of family, love, loss, struggle and perseverance is something they hope will impact other foster children and foster families out there.

Godbold says the message is simple: don?t give up.

?Don?t give up ? persevere. Keep looking for that love, that family connection, whether it?s with an infant or your 32-year-old child,? she added.

Griffin lives in San Diego and Godbold lives in San Jose, Calif., but now that they?re mother and son, they?ll be getting together often.

?She?s my mother,? said Griffin. ?She has always been my mother.?

Source: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/16/17340940-32-year-old-man-adopted-by-former-foster-mother?lite

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Violence Against Women Act shines a light on same-sex abuse (CNN)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories News, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/291412616?client_source=feed&format=rss

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US general: Afghan president putting US lives at risk

S. Sabawoon/EPA

Afghan security officials inspect the scene of a suicide bomb attack outside the Afghan Defense Ministry Saturday. Hamid Karzai suggested the Taliban and U.S. colluded over the attack in order to persuade people that foreign forces had to stay in the country.

By Jamieson Lesko and Ian Johnston, NBC News

KABUL ? The commander of U.S. forces in Afghanistan has warned that President Hamid Karzai is putting the lives of Western troops in danger with his anti-American rhetoric.

A leaked, confidential memo sent by General Joseph Dunford to officers in Afghanistan said recent comments by Karzai could be "a catalyst for some to lash out against our forces."

---

Dunford said Karzai?s "inflammatory speech" about the controversial Bagram Prison could prompt members of Afghan government forces to stage insider attacks on American troops and other Western allies.

And he warned that the Afghan president himself "may also issue orders that put our forces at risk."

The New York Times, which first reported the emailed memo, said it was sent Wednesday after Karzai warned on Tuesday that his forces might seize control of Bagram from the U.S.

The facility was supposed to have been transferred on Saturday, but the deal collapsed at the last minute after Karzai objected to a clause allowing the U.S. to have final say over who were considered ?high-value? prisoners and whether they would have to stay in prison.

Dunford admitted that Afghanistan and the U.S. were "at a rough point in the relationship."

And he warned that the Taliban and other insurgent groups would be "watching and will look for a way to exploit the situation ? they have already ramped up for the spring."

'Vigilance'
Col. Thomas Collins, a spokesman for the International Security Assistance Force, confirmed that Dunford?s memo was not intended for public consumption and had been leaked.

Rahmat Gul / AP

More than ten years after the beginning of the war, Afghanistan faces external pressure to reform as well as ongoing internal conflicts.

He said the memo was an informal email sent "to his subordinate commanders to outline his view of what is going on in the country, in light of recent attacks."

"ISAF routinely conducts assessments and adapts its protection posture to ensure our forces are prepared to meet potential threats and that they have a common understanding of the situation here in Afghanistan," Collins said in an email. "This advisory was prudent given increased Coalition casualties in recent days. General Dunford's email is simply an example of this vigilance."

Two U.S. service members were killed and at least eight others injured on Monday in what officials described as a possible insider attack at a Special Forces operations outpost in Wardak province, eastern Afghanistan. Three Afghans also died.

Last month, Karzai ordered all U.S. special forces to leave Wardak province. A spokesman for the Afghan president said in a statement that?"armed individuals named as U.S. special forces stationed in Wardak province engage in harassing, annoying, torturing and even murdering innocent people."

On Sunday, Karzai accused the United States and the Taliban of colluding to convince Afghans that foreign forces needed to stay in the country after 2014, when NATO is due to withdraw most of its troops.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel responds to Afghan President Hamid Karzai's statements in which Karzai accused the U.S. and Taliban with working together.

"Those bombs that went off in Kabul and Khost [on Saturday] were not a show of force to America. They were in service of America. It was in the service of the 2014 slogan to warn us if they (Americans) are not here then Taliban will come," Karzai said in a speech reported by Reuters. "In fact those bombs, set off yesterday in the name of the Taliban, were in the service of Americans to keep foreigners longer in Afghanistan."

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the two bomb attacks, which killed 17 people.

Karzai?s comments marred a visit by newly appointed Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel?s trip to Afghanistan.

Hagel dismissed the remarks, telling reporters it ?wouldn?t make a lot of sense? for the United States and Taliban to conspire together.

And Dunford told reporters traveling with Hagel that "we have shed too much blood over the past 12 years ? to ever think that violence or instability would be to our advantage."

Reuters contributed to this report.

Related:

War of words erupts in Afghanistan over 2014 US troop pullout

Karzai accuses U.S. and Taliban of conspiring to keep troops in Afghanistan

Karzai, alleging torture, orders US forces out of key province

Source: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/03/14/17312170-us-general-afghan-president-karzai-is-putting-american-lives-at-risk?lite

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Ex-Iron Maiden Drummer Clive Burr Dead At 56

Burr, who battled multiple sclerosis, played on the heavy-metal band's first three albums.
By Driadonna Roland

Clive Burr of Iron Maiden in 2005
Photo: Leslie McGhie/ WireImage

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1703626/iron-maiden-drummer-clive-burr-dead.jhtml

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Rotoworld: Team-by-team NFL free agent buzz

The signings kept on coming on Wednesday, and day two of free agency was just as active as day one.

Quite a few big names traded in their old duds for new gear and fat pay checks. The Broncos may have shifted the power of the AFC with the signing of Wes Welker, but we liked the Patriots? countermove of Danny Amendola. Dashon Goldson?s signing in Tampa Bay shores up a woeful pass defense and gives the Bucs one of the more frightening safety duos in the league. Reggie Bush?s arrival in Detroit gives their offense a weapon in the backfield that it has been severely lacking. Anyways, let?s check out all the action and see what happened with all 32 teams.

Arizona Cardinals: Arizona was one of the most active teams on the second day of free agency after they spent the opening day lining up free-agent visits. ? Running back Rashard Mendenhall was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Coach Bruce Arians has a history with Mendenhall from their days together in Pittsburgh. Upon his signing, Arians called Mendenhall a three-down back, and he could have an early leg up on Ryan Williams for No. 1 duties. ? Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander signed a three-year, $9.5 million contract. The special teams ace says the Cardinals view him as a starter on defense. He?ll slot in next to stud Daryl Washington on the inside. It might explain why free agent linebacker Rey Maualuga left his Wednesday visit without a deal. ? Quarterback Drew Stanton signed a three-year, $8.2 million deal. Another $11.8 million is available in incentives. Stanton says he was promised the opportunity to be able to compete for the starting job. If the quarterback competition is who is currently on the roster, then we?d consider Stanton the favorite. He spent the 2012 season with Arians in Indianapolis as Andrew Luck?s backup. ? The Cardinals added some help to the defensive backfield. Cornerback Jerraud Powers inked a three-year contract, and safety Yeremiah Bell signed on for one year. Powers will start on the outside opposite Patrick Peterson. Free safety Kerry Rhodes, 31, was released on Wednesday, and Bell, 35, will fill his spot. ? Arizona is said to be hammering out a deal with return man Josh Cribbs, but there has been a lot of flip-flopping on him. Some reports have it getting finished on Thursday morning, while others say a deal isn?t close. ? Free agents cornerback Antoine Cason and linebacker Jasper Brinkley are set to visit. ? The Cardinals were loosely linked to free agent linebacker Brian Urlacher, but we don?t see it and neither do the local beat writers.

Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons weren?t linked to a single player on Wednesday. Figures for left tackle Sam Baker?s deal were released, though. It?s a six-year, $41.1 million pact that includes $18.25 million guaranteed and a $10 million signing bonus. The $6.85 million annual average falls right in line with what we expected Baker to get as a serviceable blindside protector. ? Atlanta doesn?t appear to be as in the picture on free agent running back Steven Jackson as we would have expected.

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens pulled another shocker on us by releasing strong safety Bernard Pollard. He was due a $500,000 roster bonus this offseason, and carried a $3.25 million cap hit for 2013. Pollard?s release just floods the free-agent defensive back market even more. He should have no problems finding a job as a knock-your-head-off bone-crunching safety. ? The conflicting reports on free agent safety Ed Reed continued on into Wednesday. Some believe he?s still in Baltimore?s picture, while others think the Ravens don?t even want him back. Reed will visit the Texans on Thursday. Baltimore now needs two starting safeties. ? Exclusive rights free agent outside linebacker Adrian Hamilton was re-signed for one year and $480,000. In 2011 while at Prairie View A&M, Hamilton set a single-season SWAC conference record with 20.5 sacks. He could be a sleeper to replace Paul Kruger.

Buffalo Bills: The Bills stayed relatively quiet again. Outside linebacker Manny Lawson inked a four-year, $12 million contract. He?ll likely replace Nick Barnett on the weak side in Buffalo. Lawson also could be asked to rush the passer on third downs, filling the old Shawne Merriman role. ? Updating a previous item from Tuesday, Ryan Fitzpatrick was designated as a post-June 1 cut. The Bills can spread the $10 million cap hit out over 2013 and 2014.

Carolina Panthers: Carolina got in on the action Wednesday. The cap-strapped Panthers signed veteran cornerback Drayton Florence to a one-year contract, and re-signed quarterback Derek Anderson to a one-year deal of his own. Florence, 32, started three games for the Lions last season, and he?s no more than depth. Anderson?s signing just reinforces how little the Panthers think of former second-round pick Jimmy Clausen. It wouldn?t be a surprise if he was released sometime before the season.

Chicago Bears: After signing big-ticket items tight end Martellus Bennett and left tackle Jermon Bushrod on Tuesday, the Bears kicked back and watched other teams work. Oh, and they shed some dead weight in the process. Defensive tackle Matt Toeaina and tight end Kellen Davis were handed their pink slips. Davis was a complete bust after signing a two-year, $8 million deal last offseason. Toeaina, 28, was limited to just three games in 2012 due to a knee injury. ? Free agent guard Lance Louis is scheduled to visit an ?unknown? team.

Cincinnati Bengals: As owner Mike Brown sits on top of a pile of cash, the Bengals are sniffing around a couple of mid-level free agents. Cincinnati may have some interest in recently released ex-Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He played for the Bengals for two seasons from 2007-08, starting 12 games. Free agent running back Mike Goodson visited the Bengals on Wednesday, but he left town without a deal and is headed to New York to meet with the Jets. ? Coach Marvin Lewis is still hopeful the team can lock up free agent right tackle Andre Smith, but talks have been stuck in the mud for weeks now. Smith?s agent reps free agent left tackle Jake Long, so that may have something to do with it.

Cleveland Browns: After spending big on free agents Paul Kruger and Desmond Bryant on Tuesday, the Browns kept adding to their collection on Wednesday. Tight end Gary Barnidge inked a three-year, $3.75 million deal. Outside linebacker Quentin Groves signed a two-year, $2.8 million contract, and running back Chris Ogbonnaya was re-signed to a two-year deal. Barnidge comes over from Carolina to reunite with coach Rob Chudzinski. He?ll likely assume the blocking tight end role vacated by free agent Alex Smith. Groves was with DC Ray Horton in Arizona last season. He can play special teams, as well as provide a bit of a pass rush. Ogbonnaya played some third downs under the old regime in 2012. ? Cleveland is reportedly interest in free agent tight end Fred Davis. He and Jordan Cameron would be an intriguing pass-catching duo in Chudzinski?s tight end-friendly offense. ? Exclusive rights free agents receiver Jordan Norwood and long snapper Christian Yount were re-signed to one-year deals. Norwood will earn $555,000 in 2013, and Yount will get $480,000.

Dallas Cowboys: The money situation in the Big D remains tight. Left end Marcus Spears was released and designated as a post-June 1 cut. He signed a five-year deal prior to the start of the 2011 campaign, but he doesn?t fit the new 4-3 scheme. Plus, Spears? play has been rather average in recent years. He brings nothing to the table as a pass rusher, although he can play the run a bit. ? Dallas might be able to get involved in free agency next week once the prices come down.

Denver Broncos: The Broncos pulled off the biggest shocker of free agency thus far by signing slot receiver Wes Welker away from the Patriots. By adding Welker to an already potent receiving corps that includes Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, the Broncos are considered the super-early favorites in the AFC. Welker got a fully-guaranteed two-year, $12 million deal. You can read more about Welker?s acquisition in Adam Levitan?s fantasy fallout here. ? Denver didn?t just stop with Welker. Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton was signed to a two-year, $4.5 million pact, and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal. Knighton and Kevin Vickerson will pair up in the middle to try and shut down opponents? running attacks. Rodgers-Cromartie will start opposite Champ Bailey with Chris Harris in the slot, forming a solid coverage trio. Hell, maybe DRC will learn a thing or two from the grizzled vet Bailey. ? Linebacker Stewart Bradley signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract. He?s expected to compete for the starting middle linebacker job. Joe Mays, with his $4 million salary, is likely out of a job. ? A decision on right end Elvis Dumervil is expected to come down on Friday. His $12 million salary becomes guaranteed if he?s on the roster Saturday. ? Denver was named as a possible landing spot for free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, but after Rodgers-Cromartie?s signing, we can rule that out.

The signings kept on coming on Wednesday, and day two of free agency was just as active as day one.

Quite a few big names traded in their old duds for new gear and fat pay checks. The Broncos may have shifted the power of the AFC with the signing of Wes Welker, but we liked the Patriots? countermove of Danny Amendola. Dashon Goldson?s signing in Tampa Bay shores up a woeful pass defense and gives the Bucs one of the more frightening safety duos in the league. Reggie Bush?s arrival in Detroit gives their offense a weapon in the backfield that it has been severely lacking. Anyways, let?s check out all the action and see what happened with all 32 teams.

Arizona Cardinals: Arizona was one of the most active teams on the second day of free agency after they spent the opening day lining up free-agent visits. ? Running back Rashard Mendenhall was signed to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. Coach Bruce Arians has a history with Mendenhall from their days together in Pittsburgh. Upon his signing, Arians called Mendenhall a three-down back, and he could have an early leg up on Ryan Williams for No. 1 duties. ? Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander signed a three-year, $9.5 million contract. The special teams ace says the Cardinals view him as a starter on defense. He?ll slot in next to stud Daryl Washington on the inside. It might explain why free agent linebacker Rey Maualuga left his Wednesday visit without a deal. ? Quarterback Drew Stanton signed a three-year, $8.2 million deal. Another $11.8 million is available in incentives. Stanton says he was promised the opportunity to be able to compete for the starting job. If the quarterback competition is who is currently on the roster, then we?d consider Stanton the favorite. He spent the 2012 season with Arians in Indianapolis as Andrew Luck?s backup. ? The Cardinals added some help to the defensive backfield. Cornerback Jerraud Powers inked a three-year contract, and safety Yeremiah Bell signed on for one year. Powers will start on the outside opposite Patrick Peterson. Free safety Kerry Rhodes, 31, was released on Wednesday, and Bell, 35, will fill his spot. ? Arizona is said to be hammering out a deal with return man Josh Cribbs, but there has been a lot of flip-flopping on him. Some reports have it getting finished on Thursday morning, while others say a deal isn?t close. ? Free agents cornerback Antoine Cason and linebacker Jasper Brinkley are set to visit. ? The Cardinals were loosely linked to free agent linebacker Brian Urlacher, but we don?t see it and neither do the local beat writers.

Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons weren?t linked to a single player on Wednesday. Figures for left tackle Sam Baker?s deal were released, though. It?s a six-year, $41.1 million pact that includes $18.25 million guaranteed and a $10 million signing bonus. The $6.85 million annual average falls right in line with what we expected Baker to get as a serviceable blindside protector. ? Atlanta doesn?t appear to be as in the picture on free agent running back Steven Jackson as we would have expected.

Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens pulled another shocker on us by releasing strong safety Bernard Pollard. He was due a $500,000 roster bonus this offseason, and carried a $3.25 million cap hit for 2013. Pollard?s release just floods the free-agent defensive back market even more. He should have no problems finding a job as a knock-your-head-off bone-crunching safety. ? The conflicting reports on free agent safety Ed Reed continued on into Wednesday. Some believe he?s still in Baltimore?s picture, while others think the Ravens don?t even want him back. Reed will visit the Texans on Thursday. Baltimore now needs two starting safeties. ? Exclusive rights free agent outside linebacker Adrian Hamilton was re-signed for one year and $480,000. In 2011 while at Prairie View A&M, Hamilton set a single-season SWAC conference record with 20.5 sacks. He could be a sleeper to replace Paul Kruger.

Buffalo Bills: The Bills stayed relatively quiet again. Outside linebacker Manny Lawson inked a four-year, $12 million contract. He?ll likely replace Nick Barnett on the weak side in Buffalo. Lawson also could be asked to rush the passer on third downs, filling the old Shawne Merriman role. ? Updating a previous item from Tuesday, Ryan Fitzpatrick was designated as a post-June 1 cut. The Bills can spread the $10 million cap hit out over 2013 and 2014.

Carolina Panthers: Carolina got in on the action Wednesday. The cap-strapped Panthers signed veteran cornerback Drayton Florence to a one-year contract, and re-signed quarterback Derek Anderson to a one-year deal of his own. Florence, 32, started three games for the Lions last season, and he?s no more than depth. Anderson?s signing just reinforces how little the Panthers think of former second-round pick Jimmy Clausen. It wouldn?t be a surprise if he was released sometime before the season.

Chicago Bears: After signing big-ticket items tight end Martellus Bennett and left tackle Jermon Bushrod on Tuesday, the Bears kicked back and watched other teams work. Oh, and they shed some dead weight in the process. Defensive tackle Matt Toeaina and tight end Kellen Davis were handed their pink slips. Davis was a complete bust after signing a two-year, $8 million deal last offseason. Toeaina, 28, was limited to just three games in 2012 due to a knee injury. ? Free agent guard Lance Louis is scheduled to visit an ?unknown? team.

Cincinnati Bengals: As owner Mike Brown sits on top of a pile of cash, the Bengals are sniffing around a couple of mid-level free agents. Cincinnati may have some interest in recently released ex-Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick. He played for the Bengals for two seasons from 2007-08, starting 12 games. Free agent running back Mike Goodson visited the Bengals on Wednesday, but he left town without a deal and is headed to New York to meet with the Jets. ? Coach Marvin Lewis is still hopeful the team can lock up free agent right tackle Andre Smith, but talks have been stuck in the mud for weeks now. Smith?s agent reps free agent left tackle Jake Long, so that may have something to do with it.

Cleveland Browns: After spending big on free agents Paul Kruger and Desmond Bryant on Tuesday, the Browns kept adding to their collection on Wednesday. Tight end Gary Barnidge inked a three-year, $3.75 million deal. Outside linebacker Quentin Groves signed a two-year, $2.8 million contract, and running back Chris Ogbonnaya was re-signed to a two-year deal. Barnidge comes over from Carolina to reunite with coach Rob Chudzinski. He?ll likely assume the blocking tight end role vacated by free agent Alex Smith. Groves was with DC Ray Horton in Arizona last season. He can play special teams, as well as provide a bit of a pass rush. Ogbonnaya played some third downs under the old regime in 2012. ? Cleveland is reportedly interest in free agent tight end Fred Davis. He and Jordan Cameron would be an intriguing pass-catching duo in Chudzinski?s tight end-friendly offense. ? Exclusive rights free agents receiver Jordan Norwood and long snapper Christian Yount were re-signed to one-year deals. Norwood will earn $555,000 in 2013, and Yount will get $480,000.

Dallas Cowboys: The money situation in the Big D remains tight. Left end Marcus Spears was released and designated as a post-June 1 cut. He signed a five-year deal prior to the start of the 2011 campaign, but he doesn?t fit the new 4-3 scheme. Plus, Spears? play has been rather average in recent years. He brings nothing to the table as a pass rusher, although he can play the run a bit. ? Dallas might be able to get involved in free agency next week once the prices come down.

Denver Broncos: The Broncos pulled off the biggest shocker of free agency thus far by signing slot receiver Wes Welker away from the Patriots. By adding Welker to an already potent receiving corps that includes Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, the Broncos are considered the super-early favorites in the AFC. Welker got a fully-guaranteed two-year, $12 million deal. You can read more about Welker?s acquisition in Adam Levitan?s fantasy fallout here. ? Denver didn?t just stop with Welker. Defensive tackle Terrance Knighton was signed to a two-year, $4.5 million pact, and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie agreed to a one-year, $5 million deal. Knighton and Kevin Vickerson will pair up in the middle to try and shut down opponents? running attacks. Rodgers-Cromartie will start opposite Champ Bailey with Chris Harris in the slot, forming a solid coverage trio. Hell, maybe DRC will learn a thing or two from the grizzled vet Bailey. ? Linebacker Stewart Bradley signed a one-year, $1.2 million contract. He?s expected to compete for the starting middle linebacker job. Joe Mays, with his $4 million salary, is likely out of a job. ? A decision on right end Elvis Dumervil is expected to come down on Friday. His $12 million salary becomes guaranteed if he?s on the roster Saturday. ? Denver was named as a possible landing spot for free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, but after Rodgers-Cromartie?s signing, we can rule that out.

Detroit Lions: The Lions brought in a nice free agency haul on Wednesday. Running back Reggie Bush landing in the Motor City was blatantly obvious for weeks. He signed up on a four-year, $16 million deal. Bush?s addition adds some much-needed juice to what was a vanilla backfield. The Lions are reportedly set to make Bush a full-time, three-down back. To get a sense of what Bush?s signing means for fantasy purposes, peep Adam Levitan?s piece on Bush from Wednesday afternoon. ? Bush wasn?t the only player the Lions snatched up. Defensive lineman Jason Jones inked a three-year, $9.5 million deal, and safety Glover Quin scored a five-year, $25 million contract. Jones can play both end and tackle. He played under coach Jim Schwartz in Tennessee. Quin is an above-average run supporter. He lacks adequate coverage skills, which is one reason the Texans moved him from cornerback to safety prior to the 2011 season. ? Cornerback Chris Houston re-upped in Detroit on a five-year, $25 million deal, as well. Ideally, the Lions would go out and get a No. 1 corner, but for right now Houston is set to fill that role for the third straight season. ? Detroit came up as a possible suitor for free agent cornerback Cary Williams. He and Houston are essentially the same player ? susceptible to the big play.

Green Bay Packers: The Packers are reportedly getting closer to a three-year deal with free agent running back Steven Jackson. They don?t appear to have much competition for his services, and the major hang-up sounds like money. ? Tight end Jermichael Finley is reportedly ?sitting on pins and needles? as the Packers wait to see what happens with free agent receiver Greg Jennings. If Jennings re-ups in Green Bay, which seems like a real possibility at this point, Finley would likely be dangled in a trade or released.

Houston Texans: Houston was linked to three free-agent defensive backs on Wednesday. Safety Ed Reed is scheduled to visit the facility on Thursday. If he gets out of town without a deal, safety Charles Woodson could be an option. The Texans are in the market for someone to play next to Danieal Manning after losing Glover Quin to the Lions on Wednesday. Houston has been named as a possible destination for free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. If the price is right, Johnathan Joseph and Kareem Jackson could use some help in coverage.

Indianapolis Colts: After a big opening day in free agency, GM Ryan Grigson added another piece to his defensive backfield. Safety LaRon Landry inked a four-year, $24 million deal with the Colts. We didn?t expect him to land $6 million annually like he did, but Landry earned it after posting a career-year with the Jets in 2012. He?ll overtake Tom Zbikowski for the starting strong safety gig. ? Free agent defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois arrived late on Wednesday for a visit. He?s been a coveted man.

Jacksonville Jaguars: The Jaguars weren?t linked to a single free agent on Tuesday, but they got in on the spending a little bit on Wednesday. Linebacker Geno Hayes signed a two-year, $2 million contract. He was with DC Bob Babich in Chicago last season. Hayes could be asked to fill free agent Daryl Smith?s shoes on the strong side, but more likely he?ll back up all three spots. ? Jacksonville also set up three free-agent visits with running back Justin Forsett, right tackle Tyler Polumbus, and cornerback Alan Ball. Forsett was in Seattle with OC Jedd Fisch in 2010. Polumbus wouldn?t be much of an upgrade on the in-house candidates. Ball was not good in Houston last season. ? The Jaguars released receiver Laurent Robinson on Wednesday, just one year after he signed a five-year, $32.5 million deal. He suffered four, yes FOUR, concussions in 2012. He has reportedly been cleared to continue his career, but we?re worried that Robinson could be heading down a dangerous road.

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs laid low for much of Wednesday. Kansas City brass introduced quarterback Alex Smith to the media. They did find Smith a weapon, though. Receiver Donnie Avery was signed to a three-year, $8.55 million deal. We?re not sure if we really like the move all that much. Smith doesn?t have a big arm, and Avery is a one-trick pony as a go-route runner. However, he does add an element to the receiver corps that was missing. ? We learned some further details to quarterback Chase Daniel?s three-year deal that was inked on Tuesday. If Daniel throws for more than 2,000 yards and 12 touchdowns in any season, his deal will void. Obviously, that will only happen if he becomes the starter.

Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins kept quiet after blowing through a load of cash on Tuesday. Free agent tight end Dustin Keller was in town undergoing a physical and having dinner with the Miami brass. He could be signed on Thursday, and would be an upgrade on recently departed Anthony Fasano in the passing game. ? Free agent receiver Brandon Gibson is scheduled to visit on Thursday, but that?s only if he gets away from the Jets. Gibson was in New York all day on Wednesday and spent the night. He?d be the No. 3 or 4 receiver in Miami. ? The Dolphins remain hopeful they can re-sign free agent left tackle Jake Long, but he spent the entire day in St. Louis.

Minnesota Vikings: Minnesota remains interested in Greg Jennings, but his price is going to have to come down significantly. ? Free agent linebacker Brian Urlacher has reportedly been in contact with the Vikings, but local beat writers aren?t buying it. We aren?t, either. Urlacher has slowed down, and the Vikings are going to stick to their plan of getting younger. ? The Vikings continue to be linked to Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel. There?s zero chance they?ll trade for him, but he could become an option if/when he?s released.

New England Patriots: Talks officially broke down with receiver Wes Welker on Wednesday, and he jettisoned to Denver on a two-year, $12 million deal. The Patriots wasted no time in finding his replacement. Slot machine Danny Amendola signed a five-year, $31 million contract, which included $10 million guaranteed. We really like the move, even if Amendola is an injury-risk. He?s younger, bigger, quicker, and stronger than Welker. Amendola can also play on the outside if need be, as he isn?t limited to just the slot. He?s a legit threat for 100 grabs in 2013. New England may now look to re-sign receiver Julian Edelman to back up/platoon with Amendola.

New Orleans Saints: The Saints remain low on funds. Long snapper Justin Drescher was re-signed to a four-year deal. That was the only transaction for New Orleans on Wednesday. ? Free agent cornerback Keenan Lewis is reportedly on his way for a visit, and the Saints could be in on free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. Either of the two would be upgrades for the worst pass defense in the history of the NFL.

New York Giants: The G-Men moved on from free agent kicker Lawrence Tynes by signing Josh Brown to a one-year deal. Brown kicked for the Bengals at the end of last season. He made the winning field goal to clinch Cincinnati a playoff berth. ? Free agents linebacker Jasper Brinkley and safety Ryan Mundy have set up visits. Brinkley would be an upgrade on Chase Blackburn in the middle as a two-down thumper. Mundy would replace Kenny Phillips as the third safety in New York. ? Free agent left guard Kevin Boothe reiterated his desire to re-sign with the Giants. There hasn?t been much movement on that front.

New York Jets: Free agent receiver Brandon Gibson spent all of Wednesday in New York, and stayed overnight. He may not get out of town without a deal. The Jets are considered the favorite for him. Gibson would be the No. 2 to Santonio Holmes. ? Free agents running back Mike Goodson and outside linebacker Antwan Barnes are scheduled to visit. The Jets are interested in Goodson to replace Shonn Greene?s touches. Barnes was drafted in Baltimore while coach Rex Ryan was there. He?d add a little juice to the pass-rushing efforts. ? New York re-signed FB Lex Hilliard to a one-year pact. He?s a special-teamer. ? GM John Idzik is reportedly holding out for the Bucs? first-round pick (No. 13 overall) in a Darrelle Revis trade. So far, Tampa Bay GM Mark Dominik isn?t budging. Dominik is willing to offer the 2013 second-rounder or a 2014 first-rounder.

Oakland Raiders: The Silver and Black signed a trio of young veterans on Wednesday. Defensive tackle Pat Sims signed a one-year deal, defensive end Jason Hunter inked an undisclosed deal, and outside linebacker Kaluka Maiava agreed to a three-year, $6 million contract. Sims highlights the group, but all three players could end up starting on such a talent-deficient roster. Sims is a former third-round pick, one-dimensional run-stuffer. Hunter was with coach Dennis Allen in Denver, but he missed the entire 2012 campaign with a torn triceps. Maiava started 13 games for the Browns last season, playing surprisingly well versus both the run and the pass. ? Free agent linebackers Nick Roach and Dan Connor have scheduled visits. The Raiders entered Wednesday with all three starting linebacker spots open. ? Oakland reportedly has preliminary interest in free agent quarterback Vince Young. We wouldn?t bet on it happening. ? Exclusive rights free agent cornerback Coye Francies was re-signed to a one-year, $630,000 contract.

Philadelphia Eagles: Nothing but rumors surrounded the Eagles on Wednesday, a day after inking five players. Free agent defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois was in town for a visit, but he left after the sides were reportedly far apart on terms. ? The Eagles may be eyeing free agent right tackles Sebastian Vollmer and Andre Smith. We wouldn?t expect Philadelphia to sign either one. Reports are that the Eagles don?t plan to dole out big money to any free agents. ? Free agents outside linebackers Connor Barwin and Victor Butler, along with cornerback Cary Williams reportedly interest the team. Even after signing Bradley Fletcher on Tuesday, the Eagles are likely seeking another corner. You can never have enough pass rush, so Butler and Barwin make sense as the Eagles transition to the 3-4 scheme. ? Philadelphia has withdrawn from the Darrelle Revis trade talks. It seems to be Tampa Bay or bust for Revis.

Pittsburgh Steelers: The Steelers signed a few veterans and set up a few free-agent visits on Wednesday. ? Quarterback Bruce Gradkowski signed a three-year deal to back up Ben Roethlisberger. Long snapper Greg Warren re-signed on a one-year contract, as did receiver Plaxico Burress. Burress will be no higher than the fourth receiver, if he even makes the team. ? Free agents outside linebacker Victor Butler and tight end Kellen Davis are scheduled to visit on Thursday. Butler could replace James Harrison in the starting lineup, and Davis could be the blocking tight end with Leonard Pope being a free agent. ? Free agent linebacker Dan Connor was supposed to visit on Wednesday, but he never did. He?s now headed out to Oakland for a visit.

San Diego Chargers: The Bolts added a couple of pieces on Wednesday. Guard Chad Rinehart signed a one-year deal, and cornerback Derek Cox landed a four-year, $20 million contract. Rinehart is expected to start at one of the guard spots, and he spent the last three seasons in Buffalo with new Chargers? offensive line coach Joe D?Alessandris. Cox was a top-six free-agent corner, and they got him at a good rate. When healthy, he?s one of the top cover corners in the league.

San Francisco 49ers: San Francisco signed former No. 5 overall pick defensive lineman Glenn Dorsey to a two-year contract on Wednesday. He?ll replace Ricky Jean-Francois as the run-stuffing backup at both end spots. ? Free agent safety Louis Delmas is scheduled to visit on Thursday after the 49ers missed out on LaRon Landry. The Niners are looking for Dashon Goldson?s replacement. ? San Francisco has been mentioned as a possible destination for free agent cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha.

Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks were just minding their own business until Wednesday night they swooped in and nabbed top pass rusher Cliff Avril on a two-year, $15 million deal. It?s a huge discount rate for Avril, who was believed by some to be the top overall free agent entering the offseason. He and Bruce Irvin will team up to replace Chris Clemons as the ?Leo? pass rusher as Clemons recovers from his torn ACL.

St. Louis Rams: The Rams spent the entire day putting free agent left tackle Jake Long through a physical before finally taking him out to dinner on Wednesday night. A decision is expected by Thursday. If the Rams do sign Long, incumbent left tackle Rodger Saffold will reportedly ask for a trade. He doesn?t want to play right tackle. ? Free agent safety Louis Delmas received a contract offer on Wednesday, but he left town and is headed for San Francisco. There is an abundance of free agent safeties on the market to choose from. ? St. Louis was reportedly willing to offer receiver Danny Amendola $4 million annually, but he ended up signing in New England for a shade over $6 million per season.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: The Bucs landed the big fish of the day in free safety Dashon Goldson. They signed him to a five-year, $41.25 million deal. Goldson?s $8.25 million annual average is third-highest in the league among safeties. A ball-hawk who isn?t afraid to come up and hit a running back, Goldson will pair up with Mark Barron to form one of the best duos in the league. ? Linebacker Jonathan Casillas signed a one-year deal worth up to $3 million. The former Saint flashed in limited opportunities throughout his young career, and he?ll likely get a chance to start on the strong side in 2013. ? The Bucs have reportedly been in talks with free agent return man Leon Washington. He?d be an upgrade on Roscoe Parrish. ? GM Mark Dominik is unwilling to give up the No. 13 overall pick in the draft to the Jets for Darrelle Revis. However, he is willing to give up a 2013 second-rounder or 2014 first-rounder. The Jets haven?t budged, yet.

Tennessee Titans: The Titans entered the offseason in the market for a bigger back to complement Chris Johnson. On Wednesday, they think they found one. Running back Shonn Greene was signed to a three-year, $10.5 million deal. Greene isn?t as superb in the short-yardage game as one would believe. He?s likely to siphon some scoring opportunities from Johnson in 2013. ? Linebacker Moise Fokou signed a two-year deal after spending a year with the division rival Colts. He?ll likely back up all three spots, and play on special teams. ? Receiver Brandon Gibson is scheduled to make a free-agent visit on Friday, but he still has to get through his visits with the Jets and Dolphins first. If signed, Nate Washington will likely be traded. He said he prefers to be released, obviously. ? Tennessee is reportedly interested in free agent safety Gerald Sensabaugh. He?d be the third safety with the Titans. Gerald?s cousin, Coty, plays for the Titans.

Washington Redskins: Washington is interested in three free agent cornerbacks: Aqib Talib, Antoine Cason, and Antoine Winfield. They?ve yet to set up visits for any of them, but all three would be the new No. 1 corners in D.C. after DeAngelo Hall?s release. ? Free agent offensive tackle Jeremy Trueblood is scheduled to visit. He?d be an option at right tackle if Tyler Polumbus doesn?t re-sign. Trueblood was booted from the starting lineup in Tampa Bay last season due to poor play. ? Strong safety Brandon Meriweather took a pay cut. He sliced his salary from $2.45 million to $1.2 million after playing in just one game last season due to a knee injury.

Source: http://www.rotoworld.com/articles/nfl/42765/310/nfl-hot-stove-day-3

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