NFL

Chiefs RB Jackie Battle becomes a free agent in March and he’s looking forward to testing the waters. "They (Chiefs) said they wanted me back, but I was going to just see what my options were before I made that decision," Battle said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "I don't know what their strategy is, but I'm going to go out there and look around a little bit."

Packers receiver Greg Jennings didn't catch many passes from Matt Flynn over their time together in Green Bay but knows he'll be a good quarterback when given the opportunity. Flynn is expected to sign with a new team this offseason and at least have the chance to compete for a starting job. "Matt's going to be an outstanding quarterback in this league," Jennings told USA Today. "He's gotten a lot of attention because of his output in the games he's had. It goes deeper than that. The way he's prepared himself. The way he's handled the situation of being the backup wasn't typical. He approached every game as I saw Aaron do: As a starter. As if Aaron was not going to play and he was going to lead us to a win. What everyone saw in that Detroit game was a guy who prepared himself physically and mentally as though he was a starter."

The Bills and wide receiver Steve Johnson are "far apart" on a contract extension and might be allowed to test free agency. The Buffalo News claims a league source told them that Johnson is not expected to receive the franchise tag. Meetings between Johnson's representatives and the Bills are scheduled for during the NFL Combine.

Despite publicly stating that he has no plans to retire, Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward is still considering the option according to CBSSports.com NFL Insider Mike Freeman. Ward, who pleaded guilty Wednesday to reckless driving and no contest to a charge of failing to maintain lane as part of a plea deal in Georgia, has said he's willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Steelers and has expressed an interest in continuing his career.

Browns coach Pat Shurmur told the News-Herald of Northern Ohio that he has not given up on quarterback Colt McCoy. "I think it's fair to say (McCoy) has some things he has to improve on," Shurmur said. "They're quantifiable, whether it's footwork, a better feel for the progressions, a better feel for the targets he's throwing to. I think all that is refined when you have an offseason (program) to help. ... I think he can be very good if he plays at a high level like I think he can and makes the improvements he can to help us put the ball in the end zone [to] win football games. I'm expecting that he will. The thing that's encouraging to me is he a guy you know is going to work at it."

Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones hinted that linebackers Keith Brooking and Bradie James might be done with the team. "Bradie and Brooking are two of the best leaders, personalities I have ever had the pleasure of being around," he said Tuesday according to the Dallas Morning News. "They're great guys. Unfortunately, all good things come to an end. That's what we've got to decide. But no one respects those guys more than we do, our family does, than the Cowboys do. Obviously when you make a decision to continue or discontinue, it is a big one."

The Charlotte Observer reports that the Panthers might waive QB Jimmy Clausen to save just over $900,000 in salary cap space. Clausen has been replaced by Cam Newton as the starting quarterback in Carolina.

In an interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio on Wednesday, wideout Mike Wallace spoke candidly about possibly signing with a new team if the Steelers do not give him the franchise tag this offseason. Wallace is scheduled to be a restricted free agent and will at least receive a first-round tender offer from the Steelers, which means a team willing to part with a first-round pick can sign him to an offer sheet. When asked if he would consider signing with the 49ers or Patriots, two teams with late first-round picks and a need at receiver, Wallace said: "Most definitely. Those are the two true playoff-caliber teams who I think that the right person and right piece to those guys will put them over the top. All they need is one more piece to any one of those puzzles on both sides of those teams. So most definitely, they're Super Bowl contenders. If I were to consider going somewhere else, those would definitely be two teams ... I wouldn't want to go anywhere and leave the situation where I'm at where I have a great quarterback and a great organization and go somewhere where I don't feel like I can succeed."

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver is still dealing with complications from a major knee injury in 2010 and is not expected to play in 2012. "My heart is to get back," Weaver said, "but it's not going to happen this season. It's tough."

After about two weeks of speculation, new Steelers offensive coordinator Todd Haley and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger have finally met. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the two met "recently," though NFL rules prohibit a coach and player specifically meeting to talk football strategy and plays until April 16.

Cedric Benson appeared on SiriusXM NFL Radio Tuesday night and expressed his unhappiness with where he stands with the Bengals. The running back is slated to be a free agent but told the station he has not heard from his team yet this offseason about returning. This comes on the heels of offensive coordinator Jay Gruden saying that he'd "like to have all our guys back." Benson is miffed not only with the team's silence but also with how their offense, under Gruden, worked in 2011. "I just think we didn't stick with what the offense was built on," Benson said. "Since I've been there the past four years we've ran the football to try and win games. Even when we had Carson (Palmer) and Chad (Ochocinco), we still kept a strong identity in the run game. I just feel we got away from it. We didn't let that part of the offense grow the way it could have."

The New York Post reports that Brandon Jacobs does not think his Giants career is over. Jacobs said on a radio interview Tuesday that he knows he wants to be back, and he believes that feeling is mutual. “I spoke with my agent, and I do expect to be fully back with the New York Giants next season,” Jacobs said. “These guys in the front office they’ve been doing this for years, they know what they gotta do. I want to be back, but they actually know what has to be done. ... If they don’t want me back then that’s another story, but I got a feeling that they do. I definitely plan on being Big Blue for the 2012 season."

In an interview with ProFootballTalk.com, free-agent-to-be receiver Brandon Lloyd said he'd be open to returning to the Rams, or following offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels to New England. Lloyd's best numbers have come with McDaniels as his play caller. "I find that very interesting. I would like to entertain that and see where that goes," Lloyd said. "I've made no bones about that. I've been very successful in Josh's offense. I admire Tom Brady. I admire what that organization has done. I admire that organization and how they run things over there. I'd definitely be interested in hearing how I could possibly fit into that equation."

The South Florida Sun Sentinel reports that quarterback Chad Henne is not expected to receive a contract offer from the Dolphins, and he will become an unrestricted free agent March 13. Dolphins management has made it clear that they need to upgrade the level of play at quarterback, and the team will likely do that through free agency or the draft. That’s why re-signing Henne, who produced a 75.7 quarterback rating in his four seasons, isn’t an option Miami’s willing to explore. “Chad has done what we’ve asked him to do. I like Chad personally very well. He’s very smart. Very intelligent. Very tough. A football guy. He loves being around the game and is a very good teammate,”Jeff Ireland said last month. “But this football team didn’t win enough games when he was quarterback here. But that doesn’t mean he did everything wrong, or right. ... If he goes somewhere else, Chad’s a good football player. He can play in this league.”

Patriots LB Brandon Spikes posted on Twitter that he was undergoing surgery on Tuesday. Though he didn't give any clarification on what the surgery was for, speculation is that it was to clean up his knee. He had a sprained MCL during the year.

Who's on the move via free agency this offseason? Our Dave Richard surveys the landscape and speculates on some landing spots and the Fantasy implications.

The Denver Post reports that Broncos running back Knowshon Moreno, who followed up a season-ending knee injury by being charged with driving under the influence, will now be watched closely by coach John Fox going forward. "We take that stuff seriously," Fox said. "We've addressed it. We've talked to him. You don't see too many perfect people walking around. But we'll monitor him moving forward."

The Denver Post reports that Broncos safety Brian Dawkins, a nine-time Pro Bowler who missed the Broncos' two playoff games because of a neck injury and will turn 39 in October, will retire or return to Denver for one more season. "Obviously he's been a great player in his career and for us," coach John Fox said. "Both of us need time."

ESPN.com reports that the Raiders will probably let receiver Chaz Schilens -- whose career has been marred by numerous injuries -- walk in free agency.