The long-time backup quarterback to Matt Hasselbeck in Seattle, Wallace rejoins Mike Holmgren in Cleveland. The trade, which was made on Monday night, gives Wallace his best chance yet at starting. Holmgren seems set to cut Derek Anderson free and may trade Brady Quinn or tell Browns head coach Eric Mangini to give Wallace every chance to win the No. 1 job.

Wallace is athletic and has a big arm. He’s a seventh-year pro who has never started more than eight games in a season for the Seahawks, but he’s seasoned and has a better career passer rating (83.1) than either Anderson (69.7) or Quinn (66.8).

The Jets will be helping newly acquired cornerback Antonio Cromartie clear up his paternity matters by giving him $500,000, according to the NFL Network. Cromartie failed to cover a lot of things during his time in San Diego, including his private parts. He ended up fathering seven children by six women in five states.

He’s 25 and will make $1.7 million in 2010. It’s the last season of a five-year deal worth $12 million. So, it’s not like he can’t afford the payments.

Jets GM  Mike Tannenbaum wouldn’t confirm the “dead-beat dad” payoff, but said the team is going to give Cromartie “his best chance to be successful.”

Cromartie is to appear in a California court this month on paternity-related issues.

The Jets acquired Cromartie last week in exchange for a 2011 NFL Draft pick that could be a second-rounder depending on the cornerback’s performance (on the field).

The Steelers’ quarterback is in big trouble again. A 20-year-old college student said Ben Roethlisberger sexually assaulted her at a nightclub in Milledgeville, Georgia early Friday, a few days after his 28th birthday.

Roethlisberger can’t get Chiles (Kramer won’t let him take the case) so he’s had to settle for Ed Garland, the big-shot attorney from Atlanta who got Ray Lewis off on murder charges 10 years ago. Ed Garland issued a statement on Monday, saying there was “no criminal activity” and Roethlisberger is “completely innocent of any crime.”

Police say an investigation has begun and detectives want to interview Roethlisberger, who hasn’t been charged.

Last offseason, Roethlisberger got into trouble when he was accused of raping a woman in a Lake Tahoe hotel room. In 2006, he suffered serious injuries after getting hit while riding a motorcycle.

The Eagles are throwing Vick a bone in the form of roster bonus on Tuesday, a source told the Associated Press.

Vick is under contract for $5.2 million this year and is still likely to get dealt, although teams are keeping a tight leash on their wallets and draft picks at the moment. Expect a deal to happen on or near the first round of the NFL Draft on April 22.

The Eagles will give Vick the bonus in order to avoid releasing him and getting nothing in return, which would be a dog-gone shame as far as Philly fans are concerned.

The Eagles already have Donovan McNabb and Kevin Kolb, and Vick has stated he’d prefer to go somewhere he can be the top dog.

That’s not the case. The one-time Philadelphia Eagles’ teammates known for their on- and off-field feuding will team up on the hardwood for the upcoming “Pros vs. Joes” season on Spike TV. McNabb, who went to the NCAA basketball championship game as a member of the Syracuse basketball team in 1994, will lead Owens and Antonio Gates against former NBA pros Hakeem Olajuwon, Kenny Smith and Rick Fox.

Owens played college ball at Tennessee-Chattanooga and Gates at Kent State. McNabb was mostly a benchwarmer during his time at Syracuse.

A date for the showing of the episode hasn’t been set yet.

Owens and McNabb helped lead the Eagles to the Super Bowl in 2004. Then T.O.’s antics went overboard as he ripped McNabb while demanding a new contract from the team.

McNabb got in a couple verbal jabs of his own and relations turned frosty, although they appear to have thawed enough for the duo to accept what you’d expect to be some pretty nice coin to shoot hoops for an afternoon.

No word yet on what sucker GM will bring T.O. aboard. He was let go by the Bills last month and is a free agent.

The two unrestricted free agents signed with Pittsburgh on Monday.

Battle, 6-1 and 208 pounds, spent seven seasons with San Francisco and stood out as a dependable possession receiver. The 30-year-old caught 178 balls for 2,150 yards and 11 TDs, while also pitching in as a kick returner and punt returner during his 88-game career.

Allen, 27, has played his entire six-year career with Tampa Bay after being drafted in the fourth round in 2004 out of Ohio State. He missed all but two games last year with injury. But he’s a favorite of Mike Tomlin, the Steelers’ head coach and former Buccaneers defensive backs coach.

Both Allen and Battle are strong on special teams, an area the Steelers were brutal in last season.

Welcome to San Francisco David Carr, Patrick Willis doesn’t think you’re wasting your, and more importantly for him, his time.

 The 49ers signed the free agent QB to a 2-year deal Monday despite the initial protests of their defensive stalwart.

The 3-time Pro Bowl MLB, like many an NFL vet this offseason would like to see free agent money on a QB spent on the infamous Michael Vick, and tweeted his opinion when he heard San Francisco was interested in the No. 1 overall pick in 2002.

“I’m saying if we going to go get another qb. spend money on a difference maker. Like vick. my opinion. And well u got urs.”

“We have 3 qb’s that are better then him. That’s a waste of his time.”

Carr, 30, served as the backup in Carolina and with the New York Giants the past three seasons after struggling as the face of the franchise with the expansion Texans in his first 5 years. He has passed for 14,366 yards in his 8-year career, with a 59.8 completion percentage and 65 TDs with 70 INTs but has a penchant for holding on to the ball too long. 

Carr led the league in the number of times sacked three times and in fumbles twice.

Nevertheless, Willis softened his stance upon hearing that Carr had agreed to terms with the Niners.

“I heard that Carr signed. He is my teammate now. Which means I’m all in for the guy,” Willis wrote.

“It’s all about the team. Congrats and welcome aboard.”

Carr’s deal may not be welcome by Shaun Hill, the erstwhile starter who lost his job to Alex Smith midway through last season. Hill, who’s scheduled to earn $1.5 million this season, could be released given that the team also has Nate Davis as its third QB.

Cards close deal for Jets S Kerry Rhodes

2010 NFL free agent tracker

Ravens trade for WR Anquan Boldin

Bears sign free agent DE Julius Peppers

Lions sign first free agents: Burleson, Vanden Bosch

Panthers release QB Jake Delhomme, make way for Matt Moore

Chargers trade CB Antonio Cromartie to the Jets

2010 NFL mock draft, post-combine version