Cowboys defensive end visiting Seahawks, Giants this weekend

Ted Thompson just might venture into new free-agent territory.

In his four previous offseasons as the Green Bay Packers General Manager, Thompson has tried to avoid paying too high a premium for players by never pursuing a free agent who drew major interest on the first day of the open market.

However, on Friday, the first full day of free agency, he had his scouting staff try to bring in defensive end Chris Canty of the Dallas Cowboys for a free-agent visit knowing the Packers will be competing with at least a couple and probably more teams if they get in on the bidding.

Canty, who is attractive to the Packers as a defensive end for their new 3-4 defense, already is scheduled to visit the New York Giants Saturday, and Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and Monday, his agent, Brad Blank, said Friday afternoon.

The Packers, San Francisco and Tennessee also want to bring in Canty, but Blank said his client probably will take only one or maybe two other visits after this weekend. Hell determine where else to go after getting firm contract offers and seeing which of the other teams remain most interested. Theres also a chance it wont get to that point, because many clubs push hard to a sign a free agent while hes visiting, and Canty might not get out of New York or Seattle without a deal.

However, the Packers remained interested in bringing in the 26-year-old Canty after getting a decent idea of what it will take to sign him, so they at least werent initially put off by the price.

Its a perfect situation for him because of the 3-4, Blank said of the Packers. These other teams are 4-3.

The Packers contacted Blank at the start of free agency late Thursday night to express their interest, though they also warned they generally dont move early to sign players. However, their interest escalated, and they called again Friday to set up a visit for Canty.

After Blank gave the Packers a general idea of the contract Canty appears in line for, the teams co-director of football operations, Reggie McKenzie, still wanted Canty to visit as soon as possible after Seattle. But the sides put off setting up a visit until the Packers can confirm theyre still in the running after Cantys meetings with the Giants and Seahawks.

The Packers interest indicates they think highly of Canty as a possible piece in their new 3-4 defense, and they have more than enough salary-cap room (about $34 million) to sign him, though that also would mean eventually losing one or more of their own players who will be free agents a year from now. Canty isnt in the small group of elite free agents this year but is in the second tier of players available.

I think there is (legitimate interest), Blank said.

Canty appeared headed for the Washington Redskins shortly after the free-agent market opened at 11 p.m. Thursday, But after the sides made extensive progress in negotiations overnight, the Redskins early this morning canceled Cantys trip to Washington because theyd signed defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth to a blockbuster deal. Haynesworths contract reportedly is for seven years and worth $100 million to a maximum of $115 million, including a staggering guarantee of $41 million.

Washington could not afford to sign Canty after making that commitment Cantys near-deal with Washington included guaranteed money of about $20 million. Even with Washington, arguably the biggest-spending team in the NFL, out of the bidding, Canty still could be in a for a contract that averages $7 million to $8 million and has guarantees in the $15 million to $20 million range.

Canty was a fourth-round draft pick out of Virginia by Dallas in 2005. At 6-foot-7 and 304 pounds, he has prototypical size for a 3-4 defensive end, a position that doesnt generate big statistics because it requires skills more like a 4-3 defensive tackle than a 4-3 defensive end. Hes played defensive end in the Cowboys 3-4 scheme all four years in the league and had three sacks last season and nine sacks for his career.