NFLWIRE.Net

When the Minnesota Vikings made Percy Harvin their first-round draft pick last month, coach Brad Childress immediately asked his offensive coordinator about his plans. Childress wanted to know how Darrell Bevell would use Harvin, the versatile wide receiver from Florida who will be counted on this season for his ability to catch, run and return kicks.

The NFL Players Association wants the support of various groups of retired players in its upcoming contract talks with the league. “I don’t represent active players. I don’t represent retired players. I represent all NFL players. We are one team,” DeMaurice Smith, the union’s new executive director, said Saturday at a meeting of the NFLPA Retired Players Organization.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — When the Minnesota Vikings made Percy Harvin their first-round draft pick last month, coach Brad Childress immediately asked his offensive coordinator about his plans.

Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield was not on the field when the Minnesota Vikings opened a mandatory three-day minicamp on Friday, and coach Brad Childress said he didn’t expect to see him all weekend long. Winfield is entering the final year of his contract, but the coach said his absence is not contract-related.

Defensive tackle Israel Idonije has agreed to a two-year contract extension that keeps him with the Chicago Bears through 2011. Idonije started three games and appeared in all 16 last season, posting career highs with 28 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks. A former undrafted free agent, Idonije has appeared in 71 games over the past five seasons, registering 99 tackles and 5 1/2 sacks.

Jon Jansen, a fixture on the Washington Redskins offensive line for much of the last decade before injuries took their toll, was cut by the team Friday. Jansen was released after a morning meeting with owner Dan Snyder, front office chief Vinny Cerrato and coach Jim Zorn. Jansen and his wife were flown in Snyder’s plane from their Michigan offseason home to Redskins Park, where the 33-year-old…

DETROIT (AP) — Jon Jansen’s search for a new team lasted less than a day.

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) — Atlanta Falcons offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka is free on bond after being accused of fighting with his wife over his Facebook activity, police said Friday.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Free agent linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa agreed Friday to a one-year contract with the Chicago Bears after leading the St. Louis Rams in tackles four of the past six seasons.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will miss this weekend’s mandatory three-day minicamp.

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Defensive tackle Israel Idonije has agreed to a two-year contract extension that keeps him with the Chicago Bears through 2011.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Jon Jansen, a fixture on the Washington Redskins offensive line for much of the last decade before injuries took their toll, was cut by the team Friday.

Mr. Barr was a defensive back and All-Pro receiver who played on the last Detroit Lions championship team.

Tom Brady looked rusty during passing drills, but did not appear to favor his leg or limp as he practiced in front of reporters and television cameras for the first time since last September.

The San Diego Chargers on Thursday rejected a developer’s proposal to build a $1 billion stadium as part of a redevelopment of the land surrounding Qualcomm Stadium, saying the project would be too enormous for the Mission Valley site. Hours before Perry Dealy publicly unveiled the project, attorney Mark Fabiani sent the developer a letter saying the team doesn’t think it has a realistic chance…

J.J. Arrington’s career with the Denver Broncos was halted before he even took his first handoff when the team released the tailback following a failed a physical due to a balky right knee. Arrington signed a four-year deal worth about $10 million in early March and figured to be a third-down specialist for the Broncos in 2009, a role similar to the one he played last season for the NFC champion…