Three free agents to visit Denver

[Justano]

The Denver Broncos were active early in free agency, getting visit commitments from Miami Dolphins safety Renaldo Hill, Arizona Cardinals halfback J.J. Arrington and Philadelphia Eagles halfback Correll Buckhalter.

No deals were done in advance of those visits.

The Buffalo Bills began the search for a replacement for guard Derrick Dockery by setting up a Friday visit for Panthers guard Geoff Hangartner. The Bills released Dockery, who was entering the third year of a seven-year, $49 million contract, on Thursday.


The New Orleans Saints opened negotiations with linebacker Jonathan Vilma Friday morning, but the Tampa Bay Buccaneers also checked in expressing interest.

A clause in the trade agreement between the Saints and the Jets would have forced the Saints to give up first round pick if Vilma agreed to a contract extension before the start of free agency. The Jets received a third-round pick for Vilma, but a pre-free agency extension would have forced the Saints to give up a second-round pick.

Steelers guard Chris Kemoetau went to bed early Friday morning trying to decide between a $4 million-a-year offer from Pittsburgh and the New York Jets. The Steelers had hoped to sign Kemoeatu, who is considered one of the top guards on the market, before free agency.

Baltimore Ravens linebacker Bart Scott received an invitation to visit the Jets, according to a source. He is still considering a $7.5 million a year deal from the Ravens.

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