If T.O. couldn’t get along with Jeff Garcia, Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo, let’s see how he acts when Trent Edwards skips numerous passes to him and the losses mount up.

Maine wanted $3 million and the Mets were offering $2.2 million. So, some genius figured out that $2.6 million was in the middle, and probably got paid for providing that information. Maine can also earn an additional $25,000 if he pitches 200+ innings. Wow, thanks for adding that in there, Omar.

Maine was 10-8 with a 4.18 ERA in 25 starts and 140 innings in 2008, but missed the last five weeks due to a shoulder injury. He was up and down during the season, but overall is a bargain at $2.6 million.

Pedro Feliciano is the last player the Mets have facing arbitration. He made $1.04 million last year and would like to get $1.95 million.

The Phils got some more signin’ to do because Ryan Howard, Ryan Madson, Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton, Jayson Werth and Chad Durbin are still eligible for arbitration.

Hamels’ deal takes care of his arbitration years and will not cut into his free agent years. He was 14-10 in 2008 with a 3.09 ERA. He had a 1.80 ERA in the playoffs and was World Series and NLCS MVP.

Youkilis broke out in 2008, hitting .312 with 29 home runs and 115 RBIs.

Toomer, who turns 35 this year, has been with the Giants for 13 seasons. He began the season second on the Giants’ all-time list with 10,344 all-purpose yards.

He is also the Giants’ record holder for receptions, receiving yards, touchdown catches and 100+ yard receiving games.

His contract is up this year, and ESPN says that’s the end for Amani.

The Yankees have now signed first baseman Mark Teixeira to a reported eight-year $180 million deal.

He joins CC Sabathia (seven-year, $161 million) and A.J. Burnett (five-year, $82.5 million) as high-priced free agent additions to the Yanks.

What recession?

Earlier in the day it was thought that the Red Sox would be the front runner to land the former Angel. Other interested teams included the Nationals (haha! whatever) and the Orioles.

In 2008, Teixeira hit .308 with 33 bombs and 121 RBI’s.

In an e-mail to Boston media from Sox owner John Henry Thursday night, he explained that “we met with Mr. Teixeira and were very much impressed with him. After hearing about his other offers, however, it seems clear that we are not going to be a factor.”

Teixeira’s agent, Scott Boras released statement as well: “The Boston ownership was kind enough to request and travel to meet with Mark Teixeira. While it was a very positive meeting, Mark was candid and advised he is in the process of making a decision and is now attempting to eliminate teams.”

It is now unknown where he who wants to be the $200 million man will end up.

There is word, however, that Henry might just be calling Boras’ bluff. That remains to be seen.

Yep, the NY Post reports that Sabathia will sign with the Bronx Bombers in a seven-year deal that is worth approximately $160 million.

Sabathia made the decision after three days in a row of face-to-face meetings with Yankees GM Brian Cashman. I’m not sure what needed to be discussed for that long considering that no one was in the price range of the Yankees.

“It’s a one-year deal for now, but we’ll work something out long-term,” Hall told FOXSports.com. “That’s why I chose them. I don’t want to hit the market in the offseason and have to move my family again this year.”

The Patriots, Steelers, Ravens and Jets were also interested in Hall’s services, and reportedly offered similar contracts.

“I really like everybody at the Redskins,” Hall added. “Coach Zorn is really cool.”

While Hall is widely considered to be overrated (then again, maybe not. If everyone thinks he’s overrated, maybe he’s not rated that high), he is still only a 24-year old with two Pro Bowls under his belt. He clearly wasn’t worth the large contract and second-round pick that the Raiders invested in him, but Hall right now is listed as the Redskins’ dimeback.

That’s right, regardless of what you think of Hall, he’s their #4 guy behind Carlos Rogers, Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot. That’s some serious depth.

The thought behind the long-term deal (not many dimebacks get lucrative long-term commitments) is that he will eventually replace the aging Shawn Springs.

But, the Redskins are going to have to see that he’s a legit player and not just a waste of space like he was in Oakland (and some of his time in Atlanta). This season, Hall was beaten 40 times for 552 yards on 66 passes thrown his way, according to data compiled by STATS. He has given up more yards than any defensive player this season and is tied for third worst in catches allowed. While 66 passes were thrown his way, consider that his counterpart, Nnamdi Asomugha, was targeted just 10 times. Clearly, teams had no problems avoiding the stud Asomugha and picking on Hall.

The Yankees have announced that they have signed Brian Cashman to a three-year deal to remain as their GM.

From a joint statement by co-chairpersons Hal and Hank Steinbrenner:

“Before we could move forward as an organization this off-season, we needed to come to a resolution on the person who would hold the important position of general manager and allow us to make another run at a 27th World Championship. We are thrilled that Brian has accepted to renew his commitment to this organization for at least three more years.”

Cashman was believed to be on the fence about whether or not he wanted to remain with the organization, but a Yankee source told Newsday that it came down to what was best for his family. His new deal will pay him around $2 million annually.

The Yankees missed the post-season for the first time in Cashman’s tenure this season with an 89-73 record. He will meet with the media Wednesday morning at Yankee Stadium

The Steelers brought in free agents Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper for a tire kicking, and initial reports were that they added both players.

Well, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, that’s not the case. Apparently, both passed their physicals, but in the end the Steelers decided to go with Leftwich over Culpepper.

The move speaks volumes about the state of Culpepper’s career. He lost out to a guy who was cast off in the offseason by the Falcons. THE FALCONS. Leftwich’s passing release makes Randall Cunningham’s look like that of Dan Marino. Also, Leftwich runs like he has concrete in his shoes.

In 2004, Culpepper threw for 4,717 yards and 39 TD’s with a 110.9 passer rating. Oh, how the mighty have fallen. Those who claim that he’s been bad since shredding his knee in 2005 aren’t entirely accurate. Remember, he was stinking up the joint in 2005 before blowing the knee.

Brand and the Sixers do indeed have to wait until the clock strikes midnight to make everything official. If this is all true and Brand signs with Philadelphia, the focus now goes to resigning restricted free agent Andre Iguodala. If Golden State signs him to an offer sheet, the Sixers will have seven days to match, which they most likely will do. Bringing in Brand was not the precursor to getting rid of Iguodala. Keeping the core together and bringing in the missing piece was GM Ed Stefanski’s plan all along.

Brand, 29, has a career average of 20 points and 10 rebounds. In the 2006-07 season, Elton didn’t miss one three-point shot going one-for-one. Philadelphia should be very excited about their basketball team for next year and that they have a GM that knows what he is doing.

Hossa was with the Penguins last year when they got mopped up by Detroit in the Stanley Cup Finals.

A former first-round pick of the Ottawa Senators in 1997, Hossa has 299 career goals and 349 assists in 701 career games.

Owens was set to begin the final year of the original three-year deal he signed with the Cowboys in 2006. His 28 TD’s over the past two seasons are more than any other receiver, including Randy Moss, who had 23 TD’s last year.

Update: ESPN.com has obtained the value of the contract. Owens will get $13 million as a signing bonus and $34 million over the next four years.

Spurs chairman Peter Holt told reporters last week that a handshake agreement was in place.

“If we never had a signed deal that would have been fine,” Holt said Tuesday. “That’s the way the relationship has always been.”

Ramirez is a stud, batting .336 with eight home runs and 21 RBIs this year.

Should fans regard the Samuel signing with the same expectations? This free agent coup is not that until other chips fall into place. Samuel himself is not the savior.

Cornerbacks generally don’t pack much punch in a defensive backfield unless you get pressure on the opposing passer. The Eagles generally have excelled in this area under Jim Johnson, who utilizes the blitz as well as any defensive coordinator in the NFL.

Last season, however, the Eagles pass rush was nonexistent for much of the year. Yes, Trent Cole went to the Pro Bowl with 12.5 sacks, but Kearse and Darren Howard were disappointments. The team tied for 9th in the league with 37 sacks, but that stat is smoke and mirrors.

In seven games the team recorded one or less sacks, including a goose egg in three contests. Moreover, nine of their sacks came on one glorious September afternoon against a Lions offensive line that was looser than a woman walking the Vegas strip. Take that game away and the Eagles sacks-per-game average drops from 2.3 to 1.9. The Dolphins, who ranked 24th in the NFL in sacks, averaged 1.9 sacks per game.

Championship-caliber defenses average closer to three sacks each afternoon. The Super Bowl champion Giants put the opposing passer on his butt 3.3 times a game, while the Patriots brought down the signal caller 2.9 times a contest.

Rushing the quarterback’s throws also leads to turnovers. The Eagles managed a paltry 11 picks in 2007. Samuel, playing with the Patriots, had six by himself last year, and has 16 in the last two seasons.

What else do the Eagles need to do to field a championship defense in 2008?

They need a defensive end who can get sacks, not hurries. If the team can indeed sign Chris Clemons, who recorded eight sacks for the Raiders last year, that will help. Lining him up with Trent Cole and Juqua Thomas will make them stronger. Also, they need to hope that Victor Abiamiri comes into his own this season.

In addition, the Birds must address the safety position. And, they must do it from within by moving cornerback Sheldon Brown to line up alongside Brian Dawkins.

Cornerback was a strength for the Eagles when Lito Sheppard was healthy. Granted, he has knee issues so the Samuel signing isn’t horrible by any means. However, if you deal Sheppard for a 3rd- or 4th-round pick, what have you really gained when you figure in the money allocated for Samuel? If you can move him in a deal for Larry Fitzgerald, then do it. All indications, however, are that the Cardinals want more than the Eagles are willing to give up.

So, what do the Eagles do with their cornerbacks?

You still need a safety and there aren’t any premier players in free agency. Keeping Sheppard on the team and moving Brown to safety would fill a need area without signing another player. Brown can hit with the best of them. Switching his position makes sense as you now have a true cover safety in your defensive backfield.

Imagine Samuel, Sheppard, Dawkins and Brown as the starting defensive backfield, knocking opponents unconscious across the middle while picking passes out of the air. You may have a group that rivals Troy Vincent, Bobby Taylor, Dawkins and Michael Lewis when three out of four made a Pro Bowl.

More moves must be made before Eagles fans start thinking of traveling to Tampa Bay next February. Samuel himself is not the savior.

After Blast and GCobb.com broke the story Thursday evening, cornerback Asante Samuel officially became a member of the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday afternoon. The deal for the 2007 Pro Bowler and All-Pro is reportedly worth $57 million over six years, with $20 million guaranteed.

Samuel was rumored to also be sought after by the secondary-depleted Saints and the cap-wealthy Buccaneers, but he never made it out of Philadelphia.

With reports of former first-round pick Lito Sheppard’s unhappiness with his own contract, the Eagles made an aggressive play for what they consider to be the top corner in the NFL.

“I think the cornerback position is very important,” said head coach Andy Reid, who has no problem spending big money if it’s one of the positions that he values. “When you have the opportunity to get the best one in the business, then you need to look at that.”

The usually close-to-the-vest Reid rarely makes comments about a player in this manner. Not when he already has two quality cornerbacks on the roster.

This strongly hints that Sheppard is a goner, and NFL Network’s Adam Shefter reported later on Friday that the potential malcontent does indeed have permission to shop his services. Sheppard is widely considered to be an excellent playmaker with a knack for the big play, but his inability to stay healthy is a concern. Sheppard has missed 14 games in the past three seasons and hasn’t played a full season since 2003, his second in the league.

Samuel was a fourth-round pick in 2003 by the New England Patriots and saw his rookie contract expire at the end of 2006. He received the franchise tag from the Patriots for the 2007 season, which guaranteed him a $7.2 million one-year salary. The 27-year old’s new contract not only fills his pockets, but provides him with about as much security as you will get in the NFL these days.

“We regarded Asante as the No. 1 available free agent in the NFL,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said on Friday.

Samuel has 22 career interceptions and three touchdowns. He is known throughout league circles as a big-time playmaker with excellent instincts, but as someone who doesn’t love to hit hard. Despite his aversion to overly physical play, he will be a welcomed addition the Eagles.

That is, to everyone except Sheppard.

According to a source inside the Eagles with knowledge of the situation, former Patriots cornerback Asante Samuel has reached a deal to play in Philadelphia next year.

There are no specific details on the terms, years or compensation. Sports Illustrated’s Peter King reported Monday that the Eagles could offer the cornerback a five year deal worth up to $55 million, but cautioned that it might not be a great move for the team.

“This is a dangerous, dangerous move if the Eagles do it. I’ve been a Samuel guy for the last couple of years, because he’s a fearless competitor, but his play late last season, particularly when the Patriots couldn’t generate a consistent pass-rush on Eli Manning, was poor,” King wrote.

Samuel played in all 16 games in 2007 and recorded six interceptions, one for a TD — against the Eagles. There had been many rumors involving his eventual landing place in free agency, including the possibility of New Orleans and Tampa Bay.

Here’s the skinny on this: The Phillies might need surgery to remove their heads from their rear ends. Just pay the man. Howard is the fastest player ever to hit 100 home runs in their career. He was Rookie of the Year in 2005 despite playing for half of the season. He was league MVP in 2006, hitting .313 with 58 bombs and 149 RBI’s. What are the Phillies waiting for? Who deserves $10 million if not Howard?

Pitcher Cole Hamels is a stud in the making. Shortstop Jimmy Rollins was NL MVP in 2007 and the catalyst for their division-winning run. Chase Utley is hands-down the best second baseman in baseball. Those players are great and they do generate interest in the team. But, as we all know, America is infatuated with the long ball. Howard makes baseballs cry. People go to Citizens Bank Ballpark to watch Howard smash the cover off of the ball and make the Liberty Bell go “ding” in right centerfield.

Photo Caption: “I’m going to put my new gold-plated toilet riiiiight….there.”

Luckily for Phillies fans (and the Phillies), there are independent arbitrators who make sure teams do the right thing. The Phillies should thank the people who ruled in Howard’s favor, ultimately saving the Phillies from themselves. There are reasons that this franchise doesn’t have a great relationship with its fans, and it’s stupid shit like this.

As I said previously, this will require the efforts of Head Coach/VP Andy Reid, General Manager Tom Heckert and salary capologist Joe Banner, as they will need to work out compensation with the Arizona Cardinals as well as restructure Fitzgerald’s current ridiculous deal. He is scheduled to make $14.6 million in 2008 with a total cap number of $16.5 million.

The source also mentioned that Patriots free-agent cornerback Asante Samuel is on the radar as well. This would dovetail with another rumor that has Lito Sheppard wanting a new contract shortly, if not now. While both the Eagles and Sheppard have said that any notion that they have given him permission to seek a trade is false, Sheppard did tell Comcast Sportsnet’s Derek Gunn that he should be paid like a top corner. Maybe he is a top corner, but it’s tough to tell when he’s on the injury report so often.

While I am not reporting that all of these things will happen, what was clear from my source is that the Eagles are not resting on their laurels this off-season. They want to add weapons for Donovan McNabb and infuse playmakers throughout the roster.

How it all plays out remains to be seen, but this is good news for Eagles fans who want the organization to make the push required to get the city a championship.