Kolb trade to Cardinals could be consummated by Friday

A trade that would send quarterback Kevin Kolb from the Philadelphia Eagles to the Arizona Cardinals isn't done yet, but multiple league sources told NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora on Wednesday that they believe it would occur within the next 48 hours.

The Cardinals appear to be the leading suitor for Kolb, with the Miami Dolphins the most likely destination for Denver Broncos quarterback Kyle Orton, who was placed on the trading block Tuesday.

The Kolb trade talks haven't advanced to the stage where his representatives are talking contract with the Cardinals, sources told La Canfora, but the sides were in contact before the NFL lockout started in March, and Arizona understands what the parameters of a new contract likely will entail. So completing a deal wouldn't be difficult.

Sources continue to say cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could head to Philadelphia in a swap for Kolb. The Eagles had interest in free-agent cornerback Ike Taylor, but he agreed to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Tuesday.

A possible hitch could be a long-term deal that Kolb wants with a new team. He has a one-year contract with the Eagles. If Kolb signs a new contract as part of a trade with the Cardinals, he wouldn't be allowed to practice with the team until Aug. 4, the same day any incoming veteran free agents would first be allowed to work out.

NFL Network insider Albert Breer reported Tuesday that, according to team sources, the Eagles' plan all along was to be patient in exploring the Kolb trade market. That said, the four-year veteran passer didn't report to Eagles camp Wednesday. Technically, he wasn't required to arrive because of a one-day grace period, the result of the collective bargaining agreement being completed Monday.

The NFL free agency cycle is in full effect, with teams and players agreeing to terms fast as training camps open. Get the latest on all the news right here.

That said, under the new CBA, a lengthy holdout by Kolb, or any player, could be costly. Breer reported Wednesday that the fine allowable by teams has almost doubled, going up to $30,000 per day, and if a player doesn't report 30 days before the regular season, he doesn't accrue the year toward free agency.

Kolb has openly talked about his desire to play for Arizona, saying it would be a good fit. The quarterback, who turns 27 next month, has appeared in 19 games, with seven starts in the last two seasons. He has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,082 yards and 11 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.

Poor play at quarterback was a major component in Arizona's dropoff from two-time NFC West champion to a 5-11 season last year. The team is set to release quarterback Derek Anderson on Thursday, and coach Ken Whisenhunt has emphasized that the Cardinals are aggressively seeking a veteran at the position.

Kolb began last season as the heir apparent to Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia, but he went down with a concussion in the opener, losing his job to Vick in the process. Kolb did have a couple of strong performances after that when Vick was hurt. Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 6, Kolb completed 23 of 29 passes for 326 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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League, players hold three-day summit; Friday court date next

ST. LOUIS -- The NFL's labor situation has been on hold for weeks while Friday's lockout-injunction hearing at the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals loomed.

It seems the league and players grew a little restless.

The parties secretly met Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday in suburban Chicago in an effort to break the nearly three-month-long stalemate in negotiations.

Owners Jerry Jones (Dallas Cowboys), Robert Kraft (New England Patriots), Jerry Richardson (Carolina Panthers), Art Rooney (Pittsburgh Steelers) and John Mara (New York Giants) -- all members of the NFL's labor committee -- were in attendance, as were active players Mike Vrabel, Brian Dawkins, Tony Richardson and Jeff Saturday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, NFL Players Association executive director DeMaurice Smith and NFLPA president Kevin Mawae.

Four key issues in Friday's hearings NFL Network reporter Albert Breer and legal analyst Gabe Feldman explain what could happen when the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals hears the league's request to keep its lockout of players in effect. More...

The league and players issued a joint statement confirming they had met, but they said they would honor a court-ordered confidentiality agreement.

Smith and Goodell declined to comment to the Chicago Tribune on Thursday when seen leaving Hotel Baker in St. Charles, Ill. All Jones would say about the meeting is: "We can't make a comment about it at all, but we're trying. We're trying. I think the fact that we're meeting is good."

One player, whom the Tribune didn't identify, said the point of the get-together was for the parties to talk without lawyers present.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Arthur Boylan also attended the three-day summit, but sources said it was in a different role than he served in leading court-ordered mediation in April and May. After three days of what Boylan called "confidential settlement discussions," he canceled mediation scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday in Minneapolis in an effort to keep the sensitive talks private.

Friday's appeals-court hearing will go on, though, and a large player presence is expected. While Drew Brees, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning -- superstar plaintiffs in the antitrust lawsuit against the league -- likely won't make the trip because of prior engagements, between 20 and 30 active players are expected to attended, including other named plaintiffs such as New York Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora and Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison.

Among those already in town Thursday were a four-man contingent from the Kansas City Chiefs -- Rudy Niswanger, Brian Waters, Jon McGraw and Andy Studebaker -- as well as New York Jets teammates Richardson and Brandon Moore and Carolina Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith.

Conversely, Goodell and general counsel Jeff Pash aren't expected to attend the hearing, nor are any owners. The league's contingent was made up entirely of lawyers for the last two big court dates, April 6 in St. Paul and May 12 in Minneapolis.

The appeal court's ruling is expected to create major leverage points and help push along negotiations.

The players want the lockout-lifting injunction, issued by U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson, upheld. That seems unlikely based on the opinion written by the appeals court's three-judge panel in its late April issuance of a stay of Nelson's decision, which preserved the owners' right to lock out the players.

The owners want the injunction lifted and also have made overtures at having the antitrust suit dismissed.

Of the three judges on the panel, two -- William Duane Benton and Steven Colloton -- were appointed by George W. Bush. The other, Clinton appointee Kermit Bye, will run the hearing as the senior judge presiding. He was the lone dissenter on the court's decision to grant the league's request for the stay.

Ben Leber, one of 10 plaintiffs in the antitrust case against the league, said the players haven't discussed a specific drop-dead date for reaching an agreement to ensure the on-time start of training camps, which normally would open in about seven weeks. But he said it's necessary to have one in order to reach a deal.

"Both sides have a day, whether they want to make it public or not," Leber told The Associated Press. "The biggest challenge is going to lie with whose day is going to come up first. Once it got to this point, I think it was just a good guess based on most corporate labor disputes that nothing was going to get done until the 11th hour. Now it depends on which 11th hour gets here first."

New Orleans Saints safety Darren Sharper told The AP that he hasn't heard of specific drop-dead dates being discussed, but he believes by start of August, "something has to be etched in stone," as far a new agreement.

"It looks bleak right now, but I'm thinking that something has to get worked out because too many people will be affected negatively if it does not get worked out," Sharper said.

Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay said last week at the NFL Spring Meeting that he believed some decisions on opening training camps in late July needed to be made by July 4.

NFL Network insider Jason La Canfora and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Steelers' Pouncey sheds boot, says he must practice by Friday

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie center Maurkice Pouncey didn't wear a walking boot on his sprained left ankle, nor did he use crutches before the team left its Fort Worth hotel Wednesday for practice at Texas Christian University.

But Pouncey didn't practice, and he told NFL Network reporter Albert Breer that if he doesn't go Friday, he won't play in Sunday's Super Bowl against the Green Bay Packers.

"If I'm not on the field Friday, most likely I'm not playing," Pouncey said, adding that it's his thought, not something he has been told by the Steelers' coaching staff. "I'm not going to put the team in a bad position."

Pouncey, who wore regular athletic shoes Wednesday morning and later said he spent the Steelers' practice time rehabilitating in the TCU trainers' room, told Breer the walking boot will go back on in the evening. And Pouncey hasn't resumed running yet.

"I feel positive," said Pouncey, who stood by his Tuesday assertion that his chances of playing were 75 percent. "I'm working to get my range of motion back, but it's going good."

Pouncey, who was selected to the Pro Bowl in his rookie season, sustained a high ankle sprain early in the Steelers' AFC Championship Game victory Jan. 23 over the New York Jets. He didn't practice last week, but he said Tuesday that he hoped to take the field Thursday or Friday.

"He's a center who's got a high ankle sprain," Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "If he played a skill position, we wouldn't be having this conversation. But he's an interior lineman. Whether he practices (by Friday) depends how he responds to treatment."

Backup center Doug Legursky, who could start in Pouncey's place, impressed Wednesday with his quickness to get outside on some running plays, as Tomlin has asked.

"He's an athletic guy," Tomlin said. "And I've challenged him to get out and run and lead that group."

Legursky said he's preparing as if he will start against the Packers.

"I prepare every week as if I'm going to start even if all the guys are healthy," he said.

Aaron Smith, the only other injured Steeler, was limited in practice, and Tomlin acknowledged he is losing faith that the veteran defensive end will be able to play Sunday.

Smith hasn't played since tearing his left triceps Oct. 24 against the Miami Dolphins, and Tomlin said, when asked if he had any realistic hope that his lineman could face the Packers: "I do, but it's fading."

Notes: QB Ben Roethlisberger looked sharp while throwing 10- to 12-yard sideline routes. ... No. 3 QB Charlie Batch, performing with the scout team, was particularly sharp against the first-team defense late in the session, hitting rookie WR Antonio Brown up the seam for a long gain and winning praise from Tomlin. ... Starting CB Ike Taylor dropped a sure interception in the session, leading LB Larry Foote to shout from the sideline: "Save it for the game! Save it for the game!" Others were more critical of Taylor. Said Tomlin: "Our peanut gallery was in perfect form today." ... The FOX television crew, led by play-by-play announcer Joe Buck and analyst Troy Aikman, watched practice.

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