Multiple rumors have placed free agent tight end Brandon Manumaleuna (Chargers) with the Bears for several days now, and while many times things like that never actually come to fruition, in this case it was legitimate. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the Bears have signed Manumaleuna to a five year contract later today. Related posts:Tragedy strikes Chicago: Adams dead at 26 Bears get down to business; Peppers, Taylor visit tomorrow Bears coordinator search heats up

How the heck did the Chargers just give away Antonio Cromartie? Heres the break down. The Jets get Probowler Antonio Cromartie The Chargers get a 2011 conditional pick

Here is a list of Free agent outside linebackers that are available come Friday when teams are allowed to start inking players: Jon Alston / Oakland / RFA James Anderson / Carolina / RFA Tully Banta-Cain / New England / UFA Antwan Barnes / Baltimore / RFA Ahmad Brooks / San Francisco / RFA Ricky Brown / Oakland / RFA Keith Bulluck / Tennessee / UFA Derrick Burgess / New England / UFA Prescott Burgess / Baltimore / RFA Danny Clark / N.Y.

The first trade of the free agency period has taken place, as reports are the Jets have reached an agreement in principle with the Chargers to acquire cornerback Antonio Cromartie.

The NFL free agency period is set to kickoff at midnight on Friday, but the Chargers and Jets are already making headlines by agreeing to a trade.

The Chargers got what they wanted : A 2011 third-round draft pick (which could turn into a second-rounder) in exchange for cornerback Antonio Cromartie (notes) . Cromartie gets a pretty sweet deal, too: He gets to be a cornerback for Rex Ryan, where he’ll get to play all the man coverage he wants. The pick turns into a second-rounder if Cromartie and/or the Jets meet certain performance levels.

The Jets have acquired cornerback Antonio Cromartie from the San Diego Chargers in return for a 2011 third round pick that could turn into a second round pick, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.  Having a number two cornerback to play opposite of Darrelle Revis was a concern for the Jets and this trade solves that

With the league’s best cornerback in Darrelle Revis locking down one side of the field every Sunday, New York’s opponents tend to throw the other way more often than not. According to Fox Sports’s Jay Glazer, those days are all but over, as the Jets are on the verge of landing Chargers cornerback Antonio Cromartie in Related posts:Chargers offer up Cromartie; looking for new RB Tomlinson’s release marks end of an era in San Diego Barron on the block?

The period to sign free agents for the upcoming 2010-11 season is almost here.

  GM A.J.