Boldin dealt to 49ers; Harvin shipped to Seahawks

A day before Tuesday’s start of free agency, some of the NFL’s outstanding hands already changed hands.

The Minnesota Vikings traded receiver Percy Harvin to the Seattle Seahawks, and the Baltimore Ravens traded receiver Anquan Boldin to the San Francisco 49ers.

Both deals are contingent on the players passing their physical examinations. Teams are not allowed to comment on trades or free agency until the new league year begins at 3 p.m. CDT on Tuesday.

A lot of notable receivers are expected to run go-routes to new teams in the coming hours and days. Former Pittsburgh receiver Mike Wallace appears bound for Miami. St. Louis’ Danny Amendola is rumored to be headed to Philadelphia. And Green Bay’s Greg Jennings will be playing somewhere next season, but he’s unlikely to be in green and gold.

Five weeks after meeting in Super Bowl XLVII, brothers John and Jim Harbaugh took center stage again, with John’s Ravens trading Boldin to Jim’s 49ers, reportedly for a sixth-round pick. That’s a modest price for a player who led Baltimore in receiving yards in each of the last three seasons and caught 22 balls in this year’s postseason. But the Ravens needed to part ways with Boldin after he refused to compromise on his $6 million salary to create more room under the $123 million salary cap.

Clearly, teammate Torrey Smith was unhappy about Boldin being traded, tweeting, “This business is BS at times.”

The Seahawks apparently needed to give up much more to get Harvin, including, according to The Associated Press, their first-round pick (No. 25) in next month’s draft. Harvin is among the NFL’s premier offensive talents, who was leading the league in total yards last season before suffering a badly sprained ankle in a Nov. 4 game at Seattle.

He gives Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson a dangerous, multipurpose playmaker, and leaves a huge void in the Vikings’ roster. Harvin had been unhappy in Minnesota and later told reporters it was because he was unclear about his role in coordinaotor Bill Musgrave’s offense. In Seattle, he will be reunited with former Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell.

Although this free-agent class is flush with pass catchers, there are well-known players at other positions who also will be switching teams.

Reggie Bush, who spent the last two seasons playing for the Dolphins, is the most prized running back on the open market and has the interest of Detroit, Arizona and Denver.

Dolphins teammate Jake Long, too, is packing his bags. The four-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle is the most interesting offensive lineman in free agency. The 2008 No. 1 overall pick figures to have a slew of suitors, likely including Chicago and St. Louis.

On the other side of the ball, some aging stars face uncertain futures. Chicago’s Brian Urlacher is set to become a free agent, but the All-Pro linebacker is working to hammer out a deal to stay with the Bears. Defensive back Charles Woodson was cut by the Packers last month and is free to sign with another team at any time. Linebacker James Harrison was let go by Pittsburgh. The Indianapolis Colts announced last month they would be not re-signing star defensive end Dwight Freeney.

Among the other defensive players who could hit the open market are defensive end Cliff Avril, who had 29 sacks during the last three seasons with Detroit; linebacker Rey Maualuga, who might be leaving Cincinnati; and several capable defensive backs, such as Philadelphia’s Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Miami’s Sean Smith, Atlanta’s Brent Grimes and Denver’s Tracy Porter.

RG3 makes progress

Robert Griffin III remains ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from major knee surgery.

Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan said Monday that Griffin’s muscles are stronger than expected at this stage in the quarterback’s recovery from the January surgery to repair two ligaments in the right knee.

Shanahan says Griffin is working out at Redskins Park twice a day for a combined six to seven hours.

The coach says he has “no idea” whether Griffin will be ready for Week 1 of the regular season, but adds, “If work has anything to do with it, he probably will.”

Tender for Cruz

The New York Giants have placed a first-round tender on Victor Cruz, allowing the wide receiver to enter restricted free agency.

Owner John Mara said Monday that the Giants will risk having Cruz agree to a contract with another club. New York has the right to match any offer, and if the Giants allow him to leave, they will get a first-round draft choice as compensation.

The tender is worth $2.879 million for 2012 for Cruz, who has not made half of that in his three pro seasons. But Cruz believes he can earn more on the open market.

Cruz has become one of the most popular athletes in the New York area with his salsa dances after touchdowns. He has 168 receptions for 2,628 yards and 19 touchdowns. He made the 2012 Pro Bowl and is considered one of the league’s best slot receivers.

’Skins cut Hall

Cornerback DeAngelo Hall was released by the Washington Redskins on Monday, a casualty of the team’s NFL-imposed salary cap penalty.

On the eve of the start of free agency, the Redskins also signed tackle Tony Pashos to a one-year deal, restructured the contract of defensive end Adam Carriker and tendered a qualifying offer to restricted free agent nose tackle Chris Baker.

Hall was cut because the Redskins were over the cap due to an $18 million sanction imposed for the way they structured contracts during the supposedly uncapped season in 2010. Without the penalty, Hall would almost certainly have remained in Washington.

Hall, 29, had two years remaining on the six-year, $54 million deal he signed at the end of the 2008 season. He was due to make $7.5 million in salary in 2013.

One player not in danger of getting the ax — or even a lesser contract — is linebacker London Fletcher, who had left ankle surgery last week but plans to return for a 16th NFL season.

Bye, bye Beanie

The Arizona Cardinals have released running back Beanie Wells after four injury-plagued seasons.

A first-round pick in 2009, Wells showed flashes of the brilliance he had at Ohio State, but has only played one full season — his rookie year.

Wells eclipsed 1,000 yards and scored 10 touchdowns in 2011, but was limited to eight games last season due to a turf toe injury. Last season, he ran for 234 yards and eight touchdowns as part of what was the worst offense in the NFL.

The move leaves the team thin at running back, with even more injury-plagued Ryan Williams the main returner. Williams missed all of his rookie 2011 season and most of last season with injuries.

Among the possible targets for the team under newly promoted general manager Steve Keim is Reggie Bush.

The 6-foot-4, 229-pound Wells was envisioned as a power running back to anchor Arizona’s offense but injuries and inconsistent play kept him from being a consistent threat. He had only three 100-yard rushing games in his four seasons in the desert, including a franchise-record 228 yards against the St. Louis Rams in 2011.

Briefly

• Broncos: Denver released LB D.J. Williams, a highly productive nine-year veteran who has had his share of troubles off the field. He missed nine games last season while serving a pair of suspensions, one for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs and the other for a 2010 alcohol-related arrest. The Broncos also re-signed S David Bruton, their best special-teams player, cut backup QB Caleb Hanie and asked DE Elvis Dumervil to take a pay cut.

• Saints: It appears LT Jermon Bushrod will test free agency. His agent said there was no indication Bushrod would reach a deal with New Orleans in the hours before free agency begins.

• Jets: New York signed David Garrard, the longtime Jaguars quarterback who was a backup with the Dolphins last season. Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said the incumbent Mark Sanchez has a “leg up” in the Jets’ QB competition.

• League news: Commissioner Roger Goodell said Monday he envisions a day soon when players could be checked to determine whether their genetic makeup leaves them more likely to develop brain disease. They then might be told to switch to a less dangerous position — or give up football entirely. He also envisions players being required to wear helmets with sensors that detect hits that could cause concussions.

• Titans: A second-round tender was placed on C Fernando Velasco before the start of free angency. If another team offers him a contract, the tender allows Tennessee to match the offer or receive a second-round draft pick.

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