Last week in this space, we reported that the Oakland Raiders were the latest team to demonstrate interest in acquiring New Orleans "franchise" defensive end Darren Howard in a trade. This week, the Raiders ratcheted up talks by speaking directly with Howard's agent, Gary Wichard, about what it would take to sign his client to a long-term contract.

That doesn't necessarily mean the trade negotiations are significantly further along, only that Oakland remains interested enough to have made the next logical step. Word is that Howard isn't quite as enamored with the prospects of going to Oakland as he was the potential for a trade to Dallas, where he would be reunited with Cowboys tackle La'Roi Glover, a former New Orleans line mate. Translation: It's going to take a little more money to persuade Howard, who is coming off a season in which he tied his career best for sacks (11) despite playing much of the season out of position at tackle, that he wants to commit long-term to the Raiders. How much more? We don't know. But Wichard had proposed to the Cowboys, who remain interested in Howard as well, a six-year deal at $34 million and change, with $16 million of that in bonus money.

Another sticking point is that Saints officials haven't demonstrated much interest in the trade bait the Raiders are dangling, principally "franchise" cornerback Charles Woodson.