The Miami Dolphins began preliminary talks Tuesday with a representative of Michigan offensive tackle Jake Long on a contract to be the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft, according to two sources close to the discussions. However, Miami's early move could be used as leverage to put pressure on Long or one of the other top prospects to get a deal done before the draft.

For now, it appears that Long, the massive left tackle, is tops on the team's list. Long's agent, Tom Condon, met with multiple members of the team's staff at the Dolphins training facility in Davie, Fla. Condon also represents Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan, but the two sources indicated that the Dolphins broached the subject of a contract with Long, not Ryan.

However, the obvious play for Jake Long could be a ploy by the Dolphins to put pressure on other players, such as Virginia defensive end Chris Long, who many believe the Dolphins are also interested in taking. The Dolphins have done extensive work on both

PALM BEACH, Fla. – New England Patriots owner Bob Kraft and coach Bill Belichick tried to heal any wounds among their fellow coaches and owners by addressing the Spygate scandal at the owners meetings Tuesday.

After the meeting, Kraft met with Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy to assess how the address was received by the rest of the league. Dungy told Kraft he was appreciative of the comments. However, neither of the men wanted to elaborate on the moment.

"I prefer to leave that in the room," Dungy said. "But I will say it felt very, very sincere."

The Patriots were fined $500,000 – Belichick was fined a separate $250,000 – and were docked their original first-round pick in this year's NFL draft (they still have the seventh overall courtesy the San Francisco 49ers) as punishment for illegally videotaping New York Jets' defensive signals in last year's season opener. Two days before Super Bowl XLII in February and throughout the offseason, there have been reports and speculation of

PALM BEACH, Fla. – Robert Kraft took a moment Monday to call out Matt Walsh, the resident pain in the New England Patriots' backside.

In short, it's time to put up or shut up. If the team's onetime video assistant has evidence or information that implicates New England of illegally taping foes, the Patriots owner wants to hear.

"I'm looking forward to having him speak and hopefully clear this up and completely exonerating us," Kraft said in between sessions at the owners meetings at The Breakers. "It's kind of strange that six or seven years after the fact, this all comes out. I know ourselves and the NFL have done everything we can do to help his lawyers have him speak. But he never signed a confidentiality agreement."

One day before Super Bowl XLII in February, the Boston Herald reported that a Patriots employee taped the St. Louis Rams' final walkthrough prior to Super Bowl XXXVI in 2002. In an article the day prior to the Herald's report, Walsh was quoted as saying in a The New

NFL owners will consider a series of rules regarding everything from the integrity of the game to having a few hairs out of place next week at the annual owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., but also lurking is a potential battle over the collective bargaining agreement.

The league's most powerful men will discuss how they want to approach the seemingly pending showdown with the players regarding the CBA, as a November deadline looms for the owners to vote to remain in the current agreement.

"I would anticipate there will be a healthy discussion about the CBA and what direction we're going," Kansas City Chiefs president Carl Peterson said. NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said a 90-minute discussion of the CBA was scheduled for Monday, among talks about other topics.

Between now and November, the owners must vote on whether to stay in the deal. Twenty-four of 32 yes votes from owners are required to continue the deal. If that mark isn't hit, the owners can opt out, which ultimately could lead

BATON ROUGE, La. – Pacman Jones is becoming timeless.

No matter how much time seems to pass, plenty of NFL coaches and executives want nothing to do with him.

Thirteen months have passed since a shooting at a Las Vegas strip club that left club bouncer Tom Urbanski paralyzed. Police called Jones an "inciter" of fighting inside the club, and Jones – who, despite reports to the contrary, claims he did not know the shooter – struck a plea deal on gross misdemeanor charges. Nearly a year has passed since Jones was suspended by the NFL for a season, and time has done nothing to heal the wounds he caused the NFL and himself.

"I wouldn't have him on my team," Kansas City coach Herm Edwards said Wednesday, waving his hand dismissively. "I just wouldn't. I won't get into the reasons why."

Of course, that reaction isn't universal. Dallas owner Jerry Jones, who has never shied from controversial characters like Michael Irvin, Charles Haley and Terrell Owens, has been debating whether to bring in

BATON ROUGE, La. – Atlanta defensive line coach Ray Hamilton looked LSU defensive tackle Glenn Dorsey straight in the eye as he gave him instructions about how to do a drill and said, "Just like you're covering A.I."

That's Allen Iverson, for fans who lack the ability to transpose sports. Or for you fans who lack a gift for the absurd. The image of the 6-foot-1, 297-pound Dorsey going lateral against the 6-foot, 165-pound Iverson crossover is downright amusing.

But maybe not as absurd as you think.

Dorsey on Wednesday afternoon solidified his spot as one of the top-five picks in April's NFL draft – not that there had been much doubt. Kansas City coach Herm Edwards, who attended Wednesday's LSU pro day workout with Chiefs team president Carl Peterson as they try to figure how to use this year's No. 5 overall pick, was so worried about Dorsey's 40-yard dash time that he barely watched.

"That doesn't even matter," Edwards said. "As long as he doesn't fall down, that stuff doesn't even

Troy Vincent, former president of the NFL Players Association, expects to be named assistant executive director of the union at a meeting of the union's executives and team player representatives this week in Maui, according to two sources.

Vincent, who said last month in Phoenix that he is officially done as a player, can no longer serve as the player rep. Instead, he'll replace Doug Allen as No. 2 in command of the union. Allen served under NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw for more than a decade. He left the job after the 2006 season to become national executive director of the Screen Actors Guild and the post had been vacant since.

Vincent, 36, played 15 seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles, Buffalo Bills and Washington Redskins. He was originally drafted as a cornerback with the No. 7 overall pick in the 1992 draft by Miami after playing college football at Wisconsin.

He finished his career with 47 interceptions, including three returned for touchdowns, and was

Even when you don't make the connection with William Green these days, you get the message.

"All things work for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose," the recorded voice of William's wife, Asia, says on the couple's answering service.

The 2002 first-round pick (No. 16 overall) has spent the past two seasons finding his way with God. Now, the question is whether Green will find his way back to the NFL. After two seasons out of the game, Green will be working out Tuesday at Boston College, his alma mater, in hopes of catching the eye of NFL scouts, coaches and executives.

There figures to be a good crowd in attendance at the Chestnut Hill campus. Matt Ryan, the top-rated quarterback in this year's draft, is scheduled to work out along with the other draft-eligible players from BC. Ryan could go as high as No. 1 overall to Miami … or to another team if the Dolphins decide to trade out of the top slot.

For Green, the question is whether he will get a