The Tennessee Oilers are expected to sign their No. 1 draft pick, Kevin Dyson, to a five-year contract that includes a signing bonus of just under $3.5 million, The Tennessean reported.
Dyson and the Oilers were to put the finishing touches on the deal Friday morning, the paper said.The 6-foot-1, 199-pounder from Utah is then to report with the rest of the team to Tennessee State University later today, which is the first day of training camp.
Dyson caught at least 50 passes in his last three years with the Utes, with a high of 60 catches last season. He was timed between 4.35 and 4.37 in the 40-yard dash in most of his pre-draft workouts.
Third-round pick Dainon Sidney, a cornerback from Alabama-Birmingham, agreed to a three-year deal Tuesday. Sidney re-ceived a $400,000 signing bonus to go with a $210,000 salary this season, $262,500 in 1999 and $328,125 in 2000.
Cornerback Samari Rolle, a second-round pick from Florida State, remains unsigned.
SEAHAWKS: Warren Moon says he's still flexible after 15 NFL seasons. The Seattle Seahawks, however, refuse to bend on their latest offer to the quarterback.
Moon said Thursday from agent Leigh Steinberg's Newport Beach, Calif., office that he's willing to discuss different ways to structure the renegotiated contract he is seeking.
But Moon said Seahawks management has refused to communicate with Steinberg since sending a letter Tuesday, indicating they won't offer a multiyear deal or pay him more than $2 million this season.
Moon, 41, wants $3 million to $5 million per year and a two or three-year contract. He has never been late to camp in his 20-year pro career.
"I just hope they open the lines of communication," he said. "I don't think you can make a deal without both sides being willing to communicate. They kind of shut it down with that letter."
Moon is in the last year of a two-year contract that would pay him $550,000 this season.
COLTS: Peyton Manning was at home in New Orleans while the former Tennessee quarterback's agent, Tom Condon, returned to Indianapolis on Thursday for meetings with Colts president Bill Polian.
"We don't have an agreement. We spent much of our time going over our respective positions," Condon said. "We're going to meet again tomorrow. It would be nice if we could wrap this up by the weekend."
The Colts selected Manning with the first overall in the April draft.
Meanwhile, the Colts terminated the contract of linebacker Tony Bennett after he failed a physical. Bennett, 31, was designated the team's transition player this year and recently signed a one-year, $3.3 million deal.
The Colts signed running back Clif Groce, a reserve the past two years, and seventh-round draft pick Aaron Taylor, the Outland Trophy winner as the nation's top interior lineman at Nebraska.
PANTHERS: Greg Lloyd, a five-time Pro Bowl linebacker who was cut by Pittsburgh last week, signed a one-year contract.
Lloyd, whose release saved the Steelers $2.8 million under the salary cap, took a pay cut to sign with Carolina. Sources said the contract includes a base salary of $500,000 and incentives that could push the total to about $1.5 million.
Lloyd, 33, will be reunited with Carolina coach Dom Capers, Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator from 1992-94.
COWBOYS: At Wichita Falls, Texas, Emmitt Smith gave the coaches a scare when he turned up with slight swelling on his right knee. An MRI exam showed no major problems, but the star running back missed both practices.
Defensive end Greg Ellis, the Cowboys' top draft pick, returned to practice after missing two sessions because of back spasms.
SAINTS: At La Crosse, Wis., Kyle Turley, the seventh overall pick out of San Diego State, and wide receiver Alvin Harper, fined $5,859 for missing mini-camp in June, reported on time.
Turley, projected as a starter at right offensive tackle, signed a six-year deal with no option, reportedly for $12 million.
Defensive lineman Joe Johnson, a fifth-year pro who was designated the franchise player, is guaranteed a one-year salary of $3.08 million for this season because of that tag. But he said he won't play for that and also rejected a five-year, $21 million contract offer.
CARDINALS: Defensive back Corey Chavous, Arizona's second-round draft pick from Vanderbilt, agreed to a three-year contract after missing the first day of training camp at Flagstaff, Ariz.
Terms of the deal were not available, but the package was believed to be worth more than $2 million.
JAGUARS: Former Syracuse safety Donovin Darius, the 25th overall pick, signed just in time to run onto the field for a rookie conditioning test.