Here are some quick hits on the other high-profile [...]]]> Albert Haynesworth’s $100 million deal with the Redskins (who called that?  I can’t remember) and the Kansas City Chiefs’ acquisition of Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel from the New England Patriots are far from the only big transactions 43 hours into the NFL’s free agency signing period.

Here are some quick hits on the other high-profile moves made:

• Cleveland Browns trade tight end Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay Buccaneers for second round pick in 2009 draft and fifth round pick in 2010 draft.

This is a good move for both teams. Tampa Bay picks up a proven playmaker who will benefit from a fresh start after never quite clicking in Cleveland, for various reasons (injuries, displeasure with management). Plus, now we know where some of that estimated $60 million of cap space will go. For the Browns, they get a first-day selection and rid themselves of problem child Winslow.

• New York Jets sign inside linebacker Bart Scott to six-year, $48 million contract.

I can’t remember who called this one, either. Great move by the Jets, who struggled in switching to a 3-4 defense last season. New York will run that same alignment this season under new head coach Rex Ryan and who better to help bolster it than Scott, who starred in the 3-4 under Ryan in Baltimore. The Jets also traded a fifth round pick this year and a conditional pick next year to Philadelphia for cornerback Lito Sheppard, so look for them to be much improved on defense this season.

• Denver Broncos sign free safety Brian Dawkins to five-year, $17 million contract.

Dawkins, a seven-time Pro Bowler, is nowhere near the player he was in his prime as he is now 35 years old. Still, Denver was an utter trainwreck defensively last season, finishing 26th in passing yards, 27th in rushing yards and 30th in average points allowed. Dawkins, for at least a year, should be able to help settle things down somewhat. But why did Denver give him five years?

Now, onto a some deals with NFC North implications:

• Minnesota Vikings send fourth round pick in 2009 draft to Houston Texans for quarterback Sage Rosenfels.

And the mediocre wheel of Vikings’ quarterbacks keeps on spinning. With an estimated $25 million of cap space and, basically, a quarterback away from being scary good, Minnesota decided against pursuing an actual signal caller (Kurt Warner, for example). Instead, the purple dealt for a 31-year old already on his fourth team. Then, the Vikings gave him a two-year, $9 million contract extension.

Thank you God.

Had the Vikes picked up Warner – or even, say, Derek Anderson or Jeff Garcia – they would be the clear-cut favorite to rule the division again. But they didn’t and now the division is wide-open.

• Detroit Lions sign running back Maurice Morris to three-year, $7 million contract and trade quarterback Jon Kitna to Dallas Cowboys for cornerback Anthony Henry.

The Morris signing gives the team someone to spell Kevin Smith. Don’t have much of a problem with that move or the Kitna trade (which finally gives the Cowboys a competent backup). Henry is a solid cornerback who will help the Lions improve on last season’s 27th-ranked pass defense. For a team looking to simply win a game, neither move will hurt that cause.

-Chris Lempesis