ESPN.com’s John Clayton reports a source as saying the Bears and the league’s top free agent have finalized a 6-year deal. The proposed contract with the Bears is expected to pay him about $40 million over the first three years.

Peppers, 30, a North Carolina native and the Panthers’ second overall pick from UNC in 2002, will be playing football for a team outside the state for the first time.

1. New Orleans Saints: 10.7
After a one week intermission, the Saints have reclaimed the top spot with their 38-7 (+16.4 Trench Counter) thrashing of the Buccaneers.

2. Indianapolis Colts: 9.6
Pierre Garcon, Reggie Wayne and Tom Santi each had 80 or more yards on Sunday.

3. New England Patriots: 9.0
Wes Welker made all the difference, as he caught 15 balls for 192 yards. He is projected to finish the season with 126 receptions.

4. Minnesota Vikings: 7.2
Brett Favre had a near perfect, 22-for-25, four TD, zero interception day.

5. Green Bay Packers: 7.2
With Sunday’s win, the Packers improved to 3-0 when Greg Jennings has over 100 yards receiving.
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The Giants, coming off a huge losing streak, needed an awesome game from star quarterback Eli Manning and overtime to do it, but the Giants were able to just overcome the Atlanta Falcons, 34-31, Sunday afternoon. They got their first win since Oct. 11 thanks to a 384-yard, three-touchdown performance from their quarterback, and a game-winning 36-yard field goal from Lawrence Tynes.

Going into Week 9 in the NFL its clear that the New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts are the two best teams in the NFL. Both teams from New York, the Giants and the Jets, were overrated by NFL fans after three weeks. Also, the Dallas Cowboy and Philadelphia Eagles are the class of the NFC East.

The other two teams, Eagles and Cowboys are tied at the top of the NFC East and face each other this Sunday, a game that could determine which team heads into the playoffs with a top four seed and which team will be fighting for the wildcard.

The Eagles have been incredible since being upset by the Raiders in Week 6, 13 to 9 as 14 point NFL betting favorites. They’ve covered two spreads in a row including absolutely dominating the Giants 40 to 17 just last Sunday as 1 point home faves.

Cleveland Browns coach Eric Mangini has released wide receiver Braylon Edwards off on his former team. Mangini sent Edwards, a former first-round pick whose troubles have matched his immense talent to the New York Jets on Wednesday for wide receiver Chansi Stuckey, linebacker Jason Trusnik and undisclosed draft choices.

Braylon Edwards has 10 receptions for 139 yards but was held to no catches for the first time in his career in the winless Browns’ 23-20 overtime loss to Cincinnati on Sunday. His best season came in 2007, when he had 80 catches for 1,289 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Detroit’s 19-game losing streak is history as the Lions got their first win in over 21 months with a 19-14 triumph over the Washington Redskins at Ford Field.

The last time Detroit won a game was a 25-20 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on December 23, 2007. The team then dropped their next game at Green Bay and suffered through a humiliating 0-16 season last year, the first-ever winless campaign since the NFL went to a 16-game format. Detroit opened the 2009 season with a 45-27 loss at New Orleans and a 27-13 defeat to Minnesota last week at home.

Brett Favre, the 39-year-old quarterback, has agreed to play for the Minnesota Vikings.

“I felt I did everything I possibly could do to get where I need to be,” Favre said at his introductory news conference Tuesday. “You’re 39, your arm may not feel like it did at 21. But the pieces are in place that you don’t have to do that much and I agree with that.

“If they were willing to take that chance, I was, too.”

The Vikings will pay Favre $12 million this year and $13 million next season, sources told ESPN senior NFL analyst Chris Mortensen and ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter. The contract does not contain performance bonuses.

Because Favre is a vested veteran, the $12 million is guaranteed for this season if he is on the opening day roster. This also applies to the $13 million 2010 deal. This year, $6 million is guaranteed for skill and injury, meaning that if he is bad during the next few weeks, the Vikings can’t get out for less than $6 million.

Looking to add a new dimension to their offense, the Philadelphia Eagles gave the disgraced quarterback a one-year deal with an option for a second year. Vick wasn’t brought in to compete with five-time Pro Bowl quarterback Donovan McNabb for a starting job, but the two could end up on the field together.

The first year of the deal is for $1.6 million with the second-year option worth $5.2 million, sources told ESPN’s Chris Mortensen. Vick can also earn an additional $3 million in incentives over the two years of the contract, sources told ESPN.com’s Len Pasquarelli.

Michael Vick is back in the NFL, albeit without a team to play for. Free now after serving 18 months in prison for running a dog-fighting ring, Vick was reinstated with conditions by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on Monday.

Vick can immediately take part in preseason practices, workouts and meetings and can play in the final two preseason games, if he can find a team that will sign him. A number of teams have already said they would not.

Once the season begins, Vick may participate in all team activities except games, and Goodell said he would consider Vick for full reinstatement by Week 6 (Oct. 18-19) at the latest.

Harrah’s employee Andrea McNulty alleges sexual assault against Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in a lawsuit filed last week in Washoe County, Nevada.

Steeler’s QB Roethlisberger faces one civil count of assault, one civil count of sexual assault and battery, one civil count of false imprisonment, one civil count of false pretenses, one civil count of fraud, and one civil count of intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Lawyer David Cornwell denied the allegations Monday night, in a statement released to PFT. “Ben has never sexually assaulted anyone; especially Andrea McNulty,” Cornwell said.