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A few things to remember about Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle as he prepares to finally hit the market when, as expected, Arizona declines to pay a $4 million roster bonus:

• Rolle’s contract will essentially be terminated with one season remaining once the Cardinals decline to pay the bonus this week;
• Rolle will then be subject to waivers, according to an NFL general manager I consulted during Super Bowl week;
• Rolle will be able to sign with another team once he clears waivers;
• Rolle will not qualify as an unrestricted free agent, an important distinction for a few reasons: teams that lose UFAs can qualify for compensatory draft choices a year later; Final Eight teams can become eligible to sign UFAs from other teams with less restrictions; and UFAs with Rolle’s level of experience would revert to restricted free agents in an uncapped year;
• The free-agent market could be severely depressed this offseason, so it’s unclear how much Rolle might command once he clears waivers.

I have not seen the language in Rolle’s contract, but I asked him about it after the Pro Bowl in Miami and this is what he said: “Something has to be done by March 1 or else I become a free agent. Everything is going to take care of itself. It has to.”



I’m about to board a connecting flight in Chicago. Enjoy your Sunday.

Free agent Pacman Jones will hold a workout for NFL scouts on March 19.

“I really just want to come here and leave no doubt,” Berry said. “That’s pretty much my whole goal for coming to the combine. For everyone who has that little percentage in their mind that I’m not good enough to be No. 1 or up with there with the other guys, I’m trying to clear that up right now.”



Berry likely will be the first defensive back taken in the April draft. In the AFC North, the Cleveland Browns are a potential target for him with the No. 7 overall pick.



The Tennessee safety’s ball-hawking skills are often compared to Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens. Berry finished his college career with a Reed-like 14 interceptions for 494 interception return yards and three touchdowns.



Berry also said he studies a lot of Reed’s game film, in addition to Troy Polamalu of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bob Sanders of the Indianapolis Colts and former Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor. Berry also was fortunate to play one season at Tennessee under longtime NFL defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who believes Berry is ready for the next level.



“Monte said I would be a fool to come back,” Berry said laughing. “He made me so much of a better player, just from the mental part of the game. He told us exactly why he was calling the play. He didn’t just call the play and make us run it…You kind of got in the mind of a defensive coordinator.”

My flight home from Indianapolis to Dallas featured some of the top offensive tackles from the combine. Still wearing their black Under Armour gear with names helpfully written on the back, Oklahoma left tackle Trent Williams and TCU left tackle Marshall Newhouse took their seats in first class.



They both attempted not to snicker as Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung, projected to go in the top five of the draft, made his way back to the economy section. I counted at least seven offensive linemen on my flight, although I didn’t catch all of their names.



Before the plane took off, a large man in 4C started peppering Williams with questions about the combine. Williams seemed slightly annoyed until the man said, “Hi, I’m DeMarcus Ware.” Williams’ eyes got big and he suddenly became a little more talkative. Perhaps he realized that he might have to face the Cowboys outside linebacker at some point down the road.



Ware was in town meeting with representatives from the players’ association. The soft-spoken Ware is apparently taking a much larger role in the process now that his mentor, Greg Ellis, is no longer with the Cowboys.



One little nugget from my conversation with Ware: He said second-year outside linebacker Brandon Williams is ready to make a move this offseason. He thinks that Williams could become a key contributor as long he’s willing to sell out in the weight room this offseason.



“I’m going to take him under my wing,” said Ware.



And that’s the best news Williams has heard this offseason.

My flight home from Indianapolis to Dallas featured some of the top offensive tackles from the combine. Still wearing their black Under Armour gear with names helpfully written on the back, Oklahoma left tackle Trent Williams and TCU left tackle Marshall Newhouse took their seats in first class.



They both attempted not to snicker as Oklahoma State left tackle Russell Okung, projected to go in the top five of the draft, made his way back to the economy section. I counted at least seven offensive linemen on my flight, although I didn’t catch all of their names.



Before the plane took off, a large man in 4C started peppering Williams with questions about the combine. Williams seemed slightly annoyed until the man said, “Hi, I’m DeMarcus Ware.” Williams’ eyes got big and he suddenly became a little more talkative. Perhaps he realized that he might have to face the Cowboys outside linebacker at some point down the road.



Ware was in town meeting with representatives from the players’ association. The soft-spoken Ware is apparently taking a much larger role in the process now that his mentor, Greg Ellis, is no longer with the Cowboys.



One little nugget from my conversation with Ware: He said second-year outside linebacker Brandon Williams is ready to make a move this offseason. He thinks that Williams could become a key contributor as long he’s willing to sell out in the weight room this offseason.



“I’m going to take him under my wing,” said Ware.



And that’s the best news Williams has heard this offseason.

Scott from Oklahoma City writes: Considering the Rams seem to be wavering on the first pick, would it not make sense to trade down with Tampa Bay for the third pick and maybe a second, ending up with either Gerald McCoy or Sam Bradford at that spot?



Would Arizona or San Diego be willing to part with either one of their receivers for a second-round pick (assuming the trade down also obtained a second)?



Mike Sando: The Rams aren’t wavering so much as they are assessing the situation as part of the usual process teams go through at the combine. They do not have to make a decision today.



Trading down could indeed make sense for the Rams, but why would the Bucs consider moving up? And if the Rams did value Bradford high enough to take him first or third, they should absolutely take him first because he’s a quarterback and quarterbacks valued among the top three picks should, in theory, make a far greater impact than players at other positions.



Arizona would take a second-round choice for Anquan Boldin, in my view, but I question whether they could get that for him. What team would use a second-round choice for a soon-to-be 30-year-old receiver with injury concerns and one year remaining on his contract, particularly with a lockout potentially looming in 2011? It wouldn’t make sense.



If the Cardinals can get a second-rounder for Boldin, they should make that move. It’s not like they’re going to franchise him after the 2010 season. He is almost surely entering his final season with the Cardinals. Get value for him now, if possible.

INDIANAPOLIS — Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette wrote an interesting article Sunday on the contract status of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin.



Dulac mentions the recent four-year extension for former Steelers assistant and current Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt puts a brighter spotlight on the fact Pittsburgh has yet to do the same with Tomlin.



Tomlin beat Whisenhunt in Super Bowl XLIII and, like Whisenhunt, Tomlin has two playoff appearances in three years. Tomlin also has four more regular-season victories (31) than Whisenhunt (27) but one less playoff win.



It’s unknown at this point if the Steelers will enter negotiations with Tomlin this offseason. The team has been hesitant to discuss those matters publicly while preparing for the draft and free agency.



Tomlin is signed through 2011. So perhaps this matter isn’t as pressing as other coaches — like Marvin Lewis of the Cincinnati Bengals — entering the final year of their deals.



But I agree with Dulac that Arizona’s insistence to work out an extension with Whisenhunt after three years might raise some questions if Pittsburgh doesn’t do the same.