Downingtown's Pat Devlin signs deal with Miami Dolphins

 
After failing to hear his name called out during the three-day NFL draft, then waiting anxiously for the lockout to end, Pat Devlin finally got some good news Tuesday on the first day of postlockout business.
Devlin, a quarterback who played at Downingtown East High, Penn State and Delaware, agreed to a free-agent contract with the Miami Dolphins, according to Carter Chow, his agent. Chow did not disclose the terms of the agreement, but ESPN.com reported that Devlin had said yes to a three-year deal.
The Dolphins have starter Chad Henne returning at quarterback and are expected to bring in a veteran to take over the No. 2 spot. Published reports mentioned Kyle Orton, who has been put on the trading block by Denver, and free agent Mark Bulger as possible candidates, with Devlin having a chance to become the No. 3 quarterback.
Devlin, who set a Pennsylvania high school record with 8,162 passing yards at Downingtown East, chose Penn State over Miami to play his college ball. However, after redshirting his first season in Happy Valley and seeing limited playing time the next two years, Devlin transferred to Delaware.
Devlin passed for 5,696 yards and 37 touchdowns in two years with the Blue Hens. Last season, he was named Colonial Athletic Association offensive player of the year and led Delaware to the Football Championship Subdivision title game.
Giants sign Herzlich. In another rookie free-agent transaction of local interest, the New York Giants agreed to terms with former Conestoga High star Mark Herzlich, the Boston College linebacker who survived cancer.
After being chosen Atlantic Coast Conference defensive player of the year as a sophomore, Herzlich was diagnosed with bone cancer and missed the 2009 season. He returned in 2010 for the Eagles and registered 65 tackles, four interceptions and two forced fumbles in 13 games, all starts.

Vikes working on Donovan McNabb?

 
The Washington Redskins and the Minnesota Vikings continue to work on a tentative trade involving Redskins quarterback Donovan McNabb, a source confirmed late Tuesday.
The deal, if it can be completed, would be contingent on McNabb restructuring his contract, the source said. It could force McNabb, who could make up to $14.75 million in 2011 if the Redskins keep him, to take a one-year deal for less than half of that.
The problem for McNabb is that he may not have much time to make a decision, the source said, because the Vikings are evaluating the veteran quarterback market.
The Vikings' quarterback situation is unsettled with the retirement of Brett Favre and free-agent backup Tarvaris Jackson has agreed to a deal with the Seattle Seahawks, sources confirmed to ESPN.com. Minnesota drafted quarterback Christian Ponder with the 12th overall pick in the 2011 draft and unproven Joe Webb also is on the roster.
The Redskins gave up two draft picks last offseason to the Philadelphia Eagles for McNabb, but the quarterback's lone season with Washington was troublesome. He was benched twice in a 6-10 season, and there were testy exchanges involving his agent, Fletcher Smith, and the team.
Despite his struggles, the Redskins gave McNabb, who will turn 35 in November, a five-year contract extension nominally worth $78 million -- but the only thing it guaranteed was that the quarterback would receive an extra $3.5 million last season. The deal contains a clause that allows the Redskins to cut McNabb before this upcoming season with no further financial obligation.
Eagles fans in New York at the 1999 draft booed vociferously when the team selected McNabb instead of Texas running back Ricky Williams with the No. 2 overall pick.