There is still a chance that the Dallas Cowboys, or some other team for that matter, will acquire defensive end Darren Howard in a trade with the New Orleans Saints. But now that the March 16 deadline for signing franchise players to long-term deals has passed, the sense of urgency to grab Howard has abated dramatically. It appeared the Cowboys were in position to reach a long-term contract with Howard but could not agree with the Saints on the trade compensation to New Orleans. Rumors persist that the Saints sought Dallas middle linebacker Dat Nguyen in the proposed swap. Those same rumors suggest that, while owner Jerry Jones was prepared to sacrifice his human tackling machine, coach Bill Parcells did not want to part with Nguyen, who he feels is a team leader. The irony there, if the rumors are accurate, is that it's Parcells who does not like small linebackers, such as the undersized Nguyen. The smart money is that Howard will still be traded before training camps open. New Orleans, which has a pair of first-round defensive ends in Charles Grant and Will Smith, could keep Howard around. But with a salary and cap charge of $7.8 million on the books for now, it's a tad prohibitive, given that Howard isn't projected as a starter.

Another Saints issue: Wide receiver Joe Horn, who seems to request a contract upgrade on a yearly basis, is making noise again. Don't look for New Orleans to make any kind of move to enhance his deal. The Saints want to work on contract extensions for tailback Deuce McAllister, center LeCharles Bentley and cornerback Mike McKenzie. They've taken care of Horn's grievances in the past, he's still under contract, and the team will turn a deaf ear to his rather plaintive bleating this time around.