What about Bob?

The answer is "no." At least for the moment.

A league source familiar with the Giants' situation tells me there are no plans to pursue Bears free agent linebacker Lance Briggs. This in spite of the fact the Giants now have a need at outside linebacker after the loss earlier today of Kawika Mitchell and Reggie Torbor.

That the Giants are not interested in a big-ticket free agent linebacker isn't a surprise. After all, they were faced with a similar situation last year. They responded switching Mathias Kiwanuka from defensive end to strongside linebacker, and they signed Mitchell to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum to man the weakside spot.

They've already got Gerris Wilkinson penciled in as the tentative starter in Mitchell's spot mext season, and Kiwanuka returns from a leg injury next season. He was replaced by Torbor after suffering a broken fibula in a Week 11 game against the Lions.

It's a decent draft class for linebackers, so don't be surprised to see the Giants go that route. And there's also talk they'll take a look-see at Steelers free agent linebacker Clark Haggans, who is more than serviceable.

It's what the former Giants general manager would always tell you when a player said during a contract negotiation that it wasn't about the money.

"When they tell you it's not about the money," Young would say in his high-pitched voice, "it's about the money!"

Well, that's not the only thing that's all about the money. Check out Tom Rock's blog post about how quickly the Saints updated Jonathan Vilma's bio, how quickly his Jets' jersey has been reduced, and how quickly the Kris Jenkins' Jets jersey has become available.

Unbelievable.

We almost choked on our laptop last night when we heard that Giants free agent safety Gibril Wilson would get a deal between $6-$6.5 million per season with the Raiders. In fact, we didn't believe it, although we trusted our source and went with it in today's Newsday.

Well, it's true.

Wilson has accepted a six-year deal worth $39 million with the Raiders, according to multiple media reports. If we're doing the math correctly, that's $6.5 mil per year.

Oh ... my ... goodness.

No wonder the Giants had no intention of coming close to that offer.

See ya.

The Eagles have signed Patriots free agent cornerback Asante Samuel, giving them a shutdown corner and likely setting the stage for a trade of either Sheldon Brown or Lito Sheppard, the two incumbent starters. A league source confirms the Samuel deal was for six years and $57 million.

There's also a chance that the Eagles keep all three DBs and move Brown to safety.

Former Giants, Eagles and Saints linebacker Dhani Jones is now a Bengals linebacker.

He agreed to a three-year contract.

Cincy writers will now get to cover a very engaging fellow. Jones likes to play music, and he wears a distinctive bow tie.

Football-wise, he'll fit right in with the Bengals. They just bought themselves a very average player.

(UPDATE: HockeyBob correctly points out that Jones was already a Bengal before re-signing - although he's still decidedly average. HB points out that Jones was never with the Saints, but he actually was. He signed with them last year but was released. Next time I run into Jones, he has permission to tackle me in the open field.)

The Broncos have released receiver Javon Walker, who never really fit into the offense after being dealt from Green Bay and battling through knee issues.

Where will he end up? Don't be surprised to see the Eagles kick the tires.

Bill Parcells promised big changes in his first year as the Dolphins' personnel honcho, and he is certainly delivering on that vow.

He is going nuts on the first day of free agency.

A half hour into the signing period - at around 12:30 this morning - he signed 49ers guard Justin Smiley.

He has agreed to terms with Giants linebacker Reggie Torbor.

He has signed Titans free agent defensive tackle Randy Starks.

He has traded for Cowboys defensive tackle Jason Ferguson.

And now he has agreed to terms with Jaguars free agent wide receiver Ernest Wilford.

Oh, yeah, he's aggressively attempting to sign Cardinals free agent linebacker Calvin Pace.

(UPDATE: Parcells is at it again, signing Raiders free agent QB Josh McCown to a two-year deal. Parcells is signing players faster than Neil Best writes blog posts.)

... but it's not the blockbuster that's been talked about involving the first overall pick.

Tuna will acquire Cowboys nose tackle Jason Ferguson, whom he brought to Dallas from the Jets a few years back.

According to the Dallas Morning News, the 'Boys and Dolphins will trade sixth-round picks this season and Dallas gets Miami's sixth-round pick in 2009.

Still no word on whether Tuna and Jerry Jones will swing a deal that gives Dallas the No. 1 overall pick, which the Cowboys would presumably use to select running back Darren McFadden.

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The last time Kawika Mitchell was in Buffalo, he was busy transforming the Giants' season with an interception return for touchdown that helped Big Blue's comeback victory over the Bills in Week 16 last season.

Today, he has joined the Bills as a free agent.

The Giants had held out some hope late last night that they could re-sign Mitchell, but once the free agent market opened, he was gone.

They're likely to officially say goodbye later today to safety Gibril Wilson and linebacker Reggie Torbor, who has reportedly agreed to terms with the Dolphins. Wilson is being targeted by Oakland.

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The Browns had threatened to take a three-year offer off the table if restricted free agent QB Derek Anderson didn't sign it before midnight last night.

But even though negotiations lasted longer than that, he has agreed to a deal that will keep him in Cleveland through 2010. It's believed to be worth $24 million.

A source familiar with the negotiations said late last night that "anything is possible" with the Anderson negotiations. But in the end, Cleveland ponied up enough dough to keep Anderson in the fold and keep Brady Quinn on the bench.

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My sense is that he is not, but that it won't stop teams from inquiring about his availability.

The Saints are reported to have inquired about Shockey, and I believe there's something to it. A league source was cryptic when I asked about any possible trade talks; his comment was "no deal." Not, "We didn't talk" or "They didn't call." Just "no deal." Even after I'd asked for clarification of what he meant by that phrase.

Not that a trade is imminent, but it is interesting nevertheless that the inquiry was made, especially after the Giants have so publicly and ardently made it clear that they want him on the team.

I don't think a team is willing to pay a high enough price (at least a second-rounder, if not a first-rounder) for a guy who is coming coming off a fractured fibula and ankle ligament damage. And the Giants would have to factor in a significant cap hit if they were to move him.

At the end of the day, I think Shockey stays.

Then again, this is the NFL, where you never say never.