NFL news roundup: Victor Cruz, Branden Albert still searching for deals

The New York Giants made a substantial offer to wide receiver Victor Cruz, but Cruz is still holding out for more. According to a report, the Giants have offered Cruz a deal worth close to $8 million per season. While the deal would make the former Pro Bowler one of the highest-paid players on the Giants, it's still well short of the going rate for top-end wide receivers. Over the last two seasons, top free agent wide receivers such as Vincent Jackson, Dwayne Bowe and Mike Wallace have signed deals worth $11 million per season or more. SB Nation's Giants blog, Big Blue View, has more on Cruz.

Chiefs left tackle Branden Albert is also still waiting for a long-term contract, but he may be close to getting one. Kansas City franchised Albert and the Chiefs have been shopping him on the trade market. The Dolphins have long-been one of the rumored suitors, and according to Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, the Dolphins are prepared to pay Albert like an elite left tackle if they can work out a deal. For more on the trade negotiations, visit Arrowhead Pride and the Phinsider.

While Cruz and Albert continue to wait to sign contracts, James Harrison recently signed a deal with the Cincinnati Bengals. Harrison's two-year deal with Cincinnati is worth $4.45 million. Before releasing him, the Steelers offered Harrison a deal which would have paid him $4.5 million in 2013, but he refused to take a pay cut. Behind the Steel Curtain and Cincy Jungle have much more on Harrison's new deal and what he missed out on by leaving Pittsburgh.

Jimmy Haslam, the owner of the Cleveland Browns, has been in the news recently as the FBI conducts a fraud investigation into his company, Pilot Flying J. Haslam, who maintains he did nothing wrong, has spoken with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell several times. Goodell said he met with Haslam, but the NFL has not gotten any information from the FBI, which is not sharing details of the investigation with the league.