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While Ryan McBean's fight with the NFL is over, D.J. Williams is continuing his battle.

The Denver Post reported that McBean has agreed to drop his lawsuit against the league and his NFL suspension has been dropped from six games to three. Denver released McBean last month. He signed with the Ravens on Monday.

Both McBean and Williams were suspended for six games for using a banned substance earlier this offseason. Both players immediately decided to sue the league to get their suspensions overruled. The paper reports Williams is continuing on with his lawsuit.

It is not clear if Williams was offered to have his suspension reduced in exchange for dropping the lawsuit as McBean did.

Williams is one of Denver’s better defensive players.

In other AFC West news:

• ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting Tennessee is visiting with cornerback Drayton Florence on Wednesday. The Chargers are highly interested in Florence. He spent his first five NFL seasons in San Diego. The Chargers want him to be their nickel cornerback. He was cut by Buffalo last week.
• Atlanta cut fullback Ovie Mughelli. Denver may be among the teams interested in adding a fullback.
• The Raiders signed center Colin Miller. He was in Pittsburgh’s camp last season. He faces an uphill battle to make the Raiders’ roster.

It became evident in the past couple of days the Denver Broncos were not going to be able to work out a deal for cornerback Asante Samuel.

Thus, it was no surprise that the Eagles sent Samuel to the Falcons for a reported seventh-round pick on Wednesday. The deal was finalized after Samuel agreed to a new deal with the Falcons. Denver and Samuel tried to strike a deal last week but were unable to.

It’s not the end of the world for Denver not to get Samuel. He would have been a nice addition and he would have given Denver flexibility moving forward. However, if the Broncos thought Samuel didn’t fit in financially, there was no reason to go out of budget for a player who would have been a luxury addition.

In other AFC West news:

Several readers have asked me if safety Nick Collins could be an option in Oakland to reunite with Reggie McKenzie. Collins was released by the Packers on Wednesday. I think McKenzie, who came to Oakland from Green Bay, would be interested But Collins has a serious neck injury and it is unknown if he will be able to play again. If he is cleared, I think Oakland and several teams would show interest.

Former Denver linebacker Nate Webster is likely facing a prison sentence after being convicted of unlawful sexual conduct.

It was almost 12 hours ago when I first reported that San Diego Chargers running back Mike Tolbert has signed a four-year deal with the Carolina Panthers. I ended the short post by saying I would have more on the story later.

I should have indicated it would be much, much later. I guess I got sidetracked by another little story that developed in the AFC West.

Anyway, without further ado, here are some thoughts on Tolbert’s departure:

I don’t like it.

Last month, I wrote the Chargers couldn’t afford to lose another running back. Last year, they saw Darren Sproles go to New Orleans and he was missed. So will Tolbert.

He is a stud in short yardage, he has nice hands, he is a fine blocker, and he is great on special teams. Winning teams have players like Tolbert.

Ryan Mathews will need a new complement. Two names to keep an eye on are Kansas City’s Jackie Battle and Oakland’s Michael Bush. Bush is getting interest from the Bengals, Bears and Seahawks. Perhaps the Chargers will join the party. Other running backs available include Cedric Benson, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Brandon Jacobs, Ryan Grant and Joseph Addai.

The Chargers will see a lot of familiar faces when they play the NFC South in 2012. They will see Tolbert and Sproles as they will see recently departed star receiver Vincent Jackson in Tampa Bay and will face former backup running back Michael Turner when they play the Falcons.

The Chargers' last real priority in-house free agent is defensive tackle Antonio Garay.

Marcus McNeill said he is planning to visit the Kansas City Chiefs. He was cut by the Chargers earlier in the week.

McNeill broke the news on his visit with the Detroit Lions. He is also scheduled to visit the Falcons and he said he won’t sign until he weighs all of his options. The news of the Kansas City visit begs some questions. The Chiefs are visiting with right tackle Eric Winston on Friday.

If Winston signs, the only way McNeill would join the Chiefs is if they want to replace Branden Albert at left tackle. I wouldn’t think they would want to replace Albert right now. If Winston doesn’t sign in Kansas City and McNeill does, McNeill would play left tackle and Albert could slide to right tackle. An Albert move to the right side has been discussed for a few years.

McNeill maintains he is now healthy following last season, which was cut short due to a neck injury last season. The Chargers cut him because he was owed a huge signing bonus. Interestingly, McNeill’s replacement is Jared Gaither, who was cut by the Chiefs during last season.

In other AFC West news:

NFL Network is reporting Oakland receiver Chaz Schilens is close to signing with the Jets. He was once a promising player for Oakland, but injuries derailed his Oakland career. UPDATE: Schilens is officially a Jet. He signed a one-year deal. He reunites with former Oakland position coach Sanjay Lal, who has the same job with the Jets.

ESPN’s Suzy Kolber reports the Cardinals are exercising a huge option for quarterback Kevin Kolb, so the Cardinals are out of the running for Peyton Manning. However, the 49ers have joined the race. For now, it appears the Manning chase is down to Denver, Tennessee and San Francisco.

ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports pass-rusher John Abraham is staying in Atlanta. Denver had been interested. Denver is also interested in Baltimore linebacker Jameel McClain, Tampa Bay linebacker Geno Hayes and Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant.

NFL Network is reporting that the Denver Broncos and the Tennessee Titans are not just competing for Peyton Manning, but also for Atlanta pass-rusher John Abraham.

Abraham will turn 34 in May, but he can still be effective. He had 9.5 sacks last season. He is a consistent pass-rusher who has 112 sacks in 12 NFL seasons. He's reached double digits in sacks in three of the past five seasons.

Adding Abraham to a pass rush that includes Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil would give Denver one of the very best pass rushes in the NFL.

In other AFC West news:

NFL Network is reporting the 49ers will sign Oakland special-teams ace Rock Cartwright, pending a physical. Cartwright was a pivotal part of the Raiders’ locker room. The loss would sting some.

In addition to visiting with former St. Louis cornerback Ronald Bartell on Thursday, the Raiders are showing a lot of interest in New Orleans cornerback Tracy Porter. That makes total sense. He played for new Oakland head coach Dennis Allen in New Orleans. Porter is visiting Cincinnati. Expect the Raiders to express interest in several cornerbacks. It’s their biggest need area.

Fox Sports reported that Texas A&M’s Terrell Williams was hired as Oakland’s defensive line coach. Williams played at the school with new Oakland coach Dennis Allen. Former Kansas City defensive line coach Tim Krumrie was also a candidate. Like at Stanford, Texas A&M ran a 3-4. Oakland just hired Stanford’s Jason Tarver as defensive coordinator.

Allen was noncommittal about whether the Raiders will use the 4-3 or 3-4 defense as their base defense. He ran the 4-3 in Denver and Oakland ran the 4-3 prior to Allen being hired. Allen has said the Raiders will show multiple looks.

Also around the AFC West:

• Oakland defensive lineman Richard Seymour told Sports Illustrated he’d be willing to restructure his deal. His $15 million contract for 2012 became guaranteed last week.
• Our condolences go out to San Diego free-agent defensive lineman Tommie Harris. His wife, Ashley, died at the age of 29. So sad, so unspeakable.
• In an Insider piece, ESPN.com’s Seth Wickersham explains a formula that gives the Chiefs hope that hiring Romeo Crennel as head coach was a wise move.
• Once again, Tennessee free-agent cornerback Cortland Finnegan is being connected to the Raiders.
• San Diego is expected to cut tackle Marcus McNeill next month. Atlanta may be a potential landing spot for him. The question about McNeill is will he be healthy? He has been dealing with serious neck issues.
• The Chiefs’ website looks at whether free-agent safety LaRon Landry could be a fit for the team.

The Oakland Raiders have not confirmed NFL.com’s report that Greg Knapp will be brought back as the Raiders’ offensive coordinator. Still, here are some thoughts on the pending hire:

This is the most important assistant coach on Dennis Allen’s staff. Because Allen is a defensive specialist, he will be able to help the new defensive coordinator. Yet, it is the offensive coordinator who Allen will have to put his most trust in.

I don’t think this hire will inspire much excitement in the Raider Nation. Knapp has already been Oakland’s offensive coordinator and it didn’t work out well. He is a good, solid coach, but the truth is, he is not known for being one of the most dynamic offensive coaches in the league.

In fairness, Knapp will be working with a much more talented offense in his second tour in Oakland. The Raiders’ offense was anemic when he was the coordinator in 2007 and 2008. When Tom Cable took over as interim coach after Lane Kiffin was fired in 2008, Cable stripped Knapp’s duties from him. In Knapp’s only full season as the offensive coordinator (2007), the Raiders were No. 27 in total offense.

I think what we have to focus on is Allen’s past with Knapp and not Knapp’s past in Oakland. The two worked together in Atlanta earlier last decade. Clearly, Knapp was impressive enough for Allen to give him this chance.

Even though he was most recently Houston’s quarterbacks coach (he did a nice time adjusting to several injuries and he made undrafted rookie T.J. Yates a playoff-game-winning quarterback), Knapp is a run-first coordinator. That jibes well with Oakland’s talent. The Raiders have one of the best running games in the NFL.

Knapp knows some of Oakland’s talent. He had Michael Bush (a free agent who may be given the franchise tag) and starting tailback Darren McFadden in the program when he was last in Oakland. So, that adjustment will not be difficult. For the most part, most of the key offensive parts are new.

Knapp’s hiring likely means 2011 Oakland offensive coordinator Al Saunders will not be brought back, although it is feasible he could take on a lesser role. But Allen (who originally wanted former Green Bay coach Mike Sherman as his coordinator, but he went to Miami), struck fast to replace Saunders. So, it’s clear he wants to build his own staff. New Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie fired coach Hue Jackson because he wanted to find his guy, so it’s only fair Allen is afforded the same luxury.

Still, it will be interesting to see if Allen keeps anyone on Oakland’s staff. McKenzie indicated Monday that there are some coaches on Jackson’s staff that Allen may keep. I’d think perhaps offensive line assistant Steve Wisniewski may be one of them. Meanwhile, several of Jackson’s assistants are leaving. The latest is reportedly tight ends coach Adam Henry.

With Knapp reportedly in the fold, now the biggest remaining job on Allen’s staff is defensive coordinator. Former San Diego defensive coordinator Greg Manusky (he was fired earlier this month) is among those in play. Allen has been denied permission to speak to multiple candidates for the job.

Among the potential candidates to become the Raiders' next defensive coordinator could be Denver linebackers coach Richard Smith, New Orleans defensive line coach Bill Johnson and San Francisco secondary coach Ed Donatell. Broncos coach Dennis Allen has coached with all three men. Smith and Donatell both have coordinating experience. Johnson coached Allen at Texas A&M and worked with him in New Orleans and Atlanta.

There is also talk that Allen could try to hire longtime strength coach Al Miller. Miller coached in Denver during the John Elway days and in Atlanta when Allen was there. There is no doubt Allen is deeply involved in filling out his staff.

FoxSports.com is reporting Kansas City defensive backs coach Emmitt Thomas is no longer a candidate to be the Raiders’ defensive coordinator.

Thomas was a mentor of Allen in Atlanta for several years.

Meanwhile, new Kansas City coach Romeo Crennel, who is expected to run his own defense, said it may be a while before he hires an offensive coordinator. He said he hasn’t asked permission to talk to Brian Daboll -- the former offensive coordinator for the Browns and Dolphins -- but he might. Daboll has been considered a favorite to land the job.

Count Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy out of the mix for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ head-coaching job.

The Jaguars hired Atlanta offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey on Tuesday night. McCoy was supposed to have an upcoming interview with the Jaguars. Denver is not out of the woods as far as losing coordinators, though — defensive coordinator Dennis Allen is expected to interview with the St. Louis Rams on Thursday.

In other AFC West news:

Freshly fired Raiders coach Hue Jackson gave his side of the story, saying it was Oakland owner Mark Davis who wanted to make him out and not new general manager Reggie McKenzie. That’s fine, but McKenzie was likely on board or he wouldn’t have taken the job.

The San Diego Union Tribune reports that longtime San Diego offensive assistant Clarence Shelmon is leaving coaching. Look for the Chargers to add another offensive coach to replace Shelmon.

In explaining his desire for a new stadium, Davis said Los Angeles is on the table as is “somewhere.” Davis made it clear he would move back to Los Angeles if the Raiders can't get a stadium built in Oakland. My take? It was simply a public warning shot to Oakland officials. I’m sure they are already aware of the situation.

Former Denver quarterback Jake Plummer wasn’t overly impressed with Tim Tebow’s effort against the Steelers. Prior to Sunday’s victory, Plummer was the last Denver quarterback to win a playoff game.

In a radio interview, Charles Barkley calls Tebow’s advancement in the playoffs a “national nightmare.”

Will Scott Pioli make a run at former New England Patriots safety Brandon Meriweather? The Chiefs showed they had interest in a safety earlier in the week. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported last week that James Sanders was considering Kansas City but signed with the Atlanta Falcons.

Pioli was with the Patirots when they drafted Meriweather in the first round in 2007.He was cut by the Patriots on Saturday.

Meriweather has stated every NFL game he’s played in and he has made the past two Pro Bowls.

There could be a place for him in Kansas City. Pairing Eric Berry, who made the Pro Bowl as a rookie last season and Meriweather could be interesting. I wouldn’t be shocked if the Chiefs looked into it.

Good thing the preseason doesn’t mean much to me or I’d start worrying that it’s going to be a bleak season in the AFC West.

We’ve had enough of those lately.

Yet, those who do put a lot of stock into the preseason (don’t do it folks) have some evidence to point that the division won’t be very good.

Going into Friday’s NFL preseason finale (thank goodness) featuring Oakland at Seattle, the AFC West has won the fewest combined games of any division in the NFL. It has won four games. The NFC South won a total of five games this summer.

San Diego and Denver both finished 2-2. Kansas City (which is 1-11 in the preseason under Todd Haley) went 0-4 and Oakland is 0-3 going into tonight’s game. The only other winless team in the preseason this season is Atlanta, which went 0-4. By the way, the Falcons are my NFC choice to go the Super Bowl.

Yes, let’s hope the preseason doesn’t mean anything.

The Oakland Raiders have cut their roster down to 80 players. There are no surprises although safety Josh Bullocks was a veteran addition to the team. Here are Oakland’s cuts: Fullback Bryson Kelly, wide receivers Steve Goulet and Damola Adeniji, offensive linemen Ben Lamaak and Lou Eliades, defensive tackle Derrick Hill and Bullocks. Linebacker Travis Goethel and offensive lineman Alan Pelc were officially placed on injured reserve as expected.

The Denver Broncos and the Kansas City Chiefs have already made their cuts and the San Diego Chargers have made several. The deadline is Tuesday afternoon.

In other AFC West nuggets Tuesday afternoon:

New Kansas City tackle Jared Gaither is working to knock the rust off after missing all of last season with a back injury.

New Denver running back Willis McGahee talks about his ability near the goal line in a radio interview with a Denver station.

In an attempt to drum up ticket sales, the Dolphins are hoping to cash in on Tim Tebows return to Florida in October. Hey, aren’t the Dolphins dissatisfied with their quarterback situation and isn’t Tebow buried in Denver? Hey, we have an idea.

Meanwhile, as Tebow's status in Denver drops, so are the sales of his jersey. The former No.1 jersey seller in the league is now 10th.

New Orleans defensive end Alex Brown announced he has been cut. Denver could use more veterans on the defensive line and new Denver defensive coordinator Dennis Allen was on the Saints’ staff last season.

The Chiefs cut kicker Todd Carter and put backup tackle Ryan O'Callaghan on the injured reserve.

Oakland cornerback Chris Johnson has returned to practice after missing a couple of weeks. He will likely start Week 1 at Denver and his return should help Oakland. The Raider have had shaky preseason play at the position.

UPDATE: ESPN’s Adam Schefter is reporting former New England safety James Sanders will visit Kansas City if he doesn’t sign with Atlanta during his current visit there. Sanders played for Kansas City general manager Scott Pioli in New England. Sanders would be part of the Chiefs’ rotation at safety.

Former Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan was famous for signing former first-round busts in a desperate attempt to upgrade his defensive line.

Three years after Shanahan’s firing and the Broncos are still employing that tactic.

The Denver Post is reporting Denver is signing 2008 Jacksonville No. 8 overall pick Derrick Harvey. The team is also trying to sign 2007 Atlanta No. 8 overall pick Jamaal Anderson. Harvey is an end and Anderson would likely play defensive tackle. He was a decent rotational player for the Falcons at tackle after transitioning from end. Denver general manager Brian Xanders was in Atlanta when they took Anderson.

It’s always worth giving former high picks a second chance if the price is right, but it is difficult to rely on those type of players.

Still, Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. likes the idea of Denver adding Harvey.

“He’s a very good run stuffer,” Williamson said. “I know that isn't all that glamorous, but I think between Harvey, (Jeremy) Jarmon, (Robert) Ayers and (Elvis) Dumervil, they have a real nice rotation of defensive ends that have different skill sets. Plus, Harvey still has ability to further develop as a pass rusher.”

Taking chances on former first-round picks didn’t always work for Shanahan. Perhaps fortunes will change for the new Denver regime.

The San Diego Union-Tribune reports that linebacker Brandon Siler has reached a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs.

A source close to the situation told me that Siler will take a physical with the Chiefs and is expected to sign if he passes. Siler will likely compete for a starting job at inside linebacker. If he doesn’t unseat the solid Jovan Belcher, he will likely be a solid special-teams player.

This is an interesting move. The Chargers didn’t put a premium on Siler, but he can help the Chiefs if he signs.

Meanwhile, the Union-Tribune reports there is a ”slim chance” that the Chargers will bring back receiver Malcom Floyd. His market has been slow to develop.

The Broncos are visiting with former No. 8 overall pick Jamaal Anderson. Denver general manager Brian Xanders was with the Falcons when they took the defensive lineman in 2007.

I still wouldn’t be surprised if the Chargers make a run at San Francisco’s Manny Lawson. They have added former 49ers Takeo Spikes and Travis LaBoy. New San Diego defensive coordinator Greg Manusky came over from San Francisco.

The Rams kept defensive tackle Danny Muir. He was connected to the Broncos.

The Union-Tribune reports former Charger linebacker Antwan Applewhite has agreed to terms with the 49ers. He was cut last week.

Now, Denver’s tight end meeting room is getting really crowded.

The Broncos just came to terms with St. Louis tight end Daniel Fells. He signed for one year with a bonus. Fells should get the first crack at starting for the Broncos. He played for Denver tight ends coach Clancy Barone as a rookie in Atlanta.

Fells is 270 pounds and he can catch and block. He had 41 catches for the Rams last season. The Broncos added former Carolina tight end Dante Rosario earlier Sunday. Veterans Dan Gronkowski and Richard Quinn could have difficulty making the team. The Broncos like draft picks Julius Thomas (fourth round) and Virgil Green (seventh).