Hartwell makes Falcons switch

Free agent linebacker Edgerton Hartwell has agreed a $26.2m six-year deal with Atlanta.

The 26-year-old has spent his entire four-year career with Baltimore, including the last three as a starter.

Last season he collected 138 tackles. For his career, Hartwell has amassed 469 tackles, six sacks and four forced fumbles.

In his first year as a starter in 2002, the Western Illinois product posted a career-high 191 tackles.

Hartwell is the fourth defensive free agent to join the Falcons this off-season, joining linebacker Ike Reese and safeties Rich Coady and Ronnie Heard.

Labour contract renewal talks between the NFL and the players' union "have exhausted themselves and are at a dead end," according to NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue.

Two seasons remain under the current deal between the league and the NFL Players' Association.

But if the deal is not extended by the end of next year there will be no salary cap in 2007, something the league does not want.

A jury has ordered Bill Romanowski to pay former Oakland team-mate Marcus Williams $340,000 in damages for punching him during practice.

Williams had been seeking millions of dollars in damages for the attack on 24 August, 2003.

He claimed it broke his left eye socket, affected his memory, gave him double vision and depression, and ended his career after less than two seasons.

The NFL has confirmed that San Francisco and Arizona will meet in a regular-season game on 2 October in Mexico City.