Although the focus for Thursday's supplemental draft remains primarily on former Georgia Tech tailback Tony Hollings, who is expected to be selected somewhere after the third round, there could be a second prospect chosen as well in the special-cases lottery.

In the past week, some teams have warmed to Alabama State defensive end Earl Cochran, especially since Cochran has gained weight and is now in the 255- to 260-pound range. In '02, when he posted 62 tackles, 9.5 sacks and 18 tackles for loss, the 6-foot-4 Cochran played at roughly 224 pounds.

At that weight, Cochran would probably have projected to linebacker in the NFL, but he has never really played in a two-point stance or out "in space." With the additional bulk, and having been clocked in the mid-4.8s in the 40-yard dash, Cochran is now viewed as a late-round possibility.

"I wouldn't call him 'explosive,' but he's got some (pass rush) skills and he's a still a guy who is growing," said the college scouting director for one NFC franchise that might have an interest in Cochran. "I could see us, or somebody else, maybe doing something with him in the seventh round. It's a long shot, but we're still (considering) him."

There are six players, all of whom lost their college eligibility for a variety of reasons, who are available in Thursday's supplemental draft. Hollings drew 20-plus teams to his workout last week and is all but certain to be selected.

Denver Broncos: Tight end Dwayne Carswell, arrested last Friday night in Atlanta, has been freed on $2,500 bond.

The nine-year veteran had been held in the Fulton County (Ga.) Jail, but was granted bail during his Saturday arraignment. Carswell is charged with simple battery, domestic violence and resisting a police officer after an alleged incident that involved a woman claiming to be his girlfriend.

In a court complaint, Nkeiruka Anyamone said that Carwsell picked her up by the neck outside a bar in the city's Buckhead entertainment district. Anyamone also claimed that she was bitten on the right arm during the incident and required medical treatment.

Judge Roy Roberts ordered Carswell to have no contact with Anyamone and the Broncos tight end faces a Tuesday preliminary hearing.

This marks at least the third time that Carswell, 31, has faced similar charges.

In 1998, Carswell was arrested in Denver when police there claimed that he grabbed his girlfriend by the neck. Carswell subsequently pleaded guilty to a lesser charge and he was sentenced to a year of probation. In 2002, he was accused of harassing and assaulting a Pueblo County, Colo., woman who claimed to be his former girlfriend. There were a pair of mistrials in that incident and Carswell agreed to restitution and community service.

Carswell has played his entire career with the Broncos, appearing in 121 games, and has 162 receptions for 1,453 yards and 11 touchdowns. For most of his tenure he has served as the backup to Shannon Sharpe. He did start 16 games each in 2000 and 2001, when Sharpe signed with Baltimore, and went to the Pro Bowl after the 2000 season.

New England Patriots: The Patriots have signed seventh-round draft choice Ethan Kelley, a nose tackle from Baylor, to a three-year contract.

Kelley received a deal that included standard rookie minimum base salaries of $225,000 (2003), $305,000 (2004) and $380,000 (2005). The signing bonus was $21,500. He is the first of the Patriots' 10 choices in the '03 draft to reach contract terms.

The 243rd player chosen overall, Kelley began his college career as an offensive lineman and started for a season and a half at guard. He switched to defensive tackle as a junior. In two seasons on the defensive side, Kelley recorded 133 tackles, four sacks, 19 pressures, three fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles.

New Orleans Saints: Perhaps stealing a page from the book of their most heated rival, the Saints will have Hall of Fame member Joe Montana visit training camp, to meet and work with starting quarterback Aaron Brooks.

The Atlanta Falcons last summer invited Steve Young to camp to meet Michael Vick. While the brief session was more a highly-publicized photo opportunity than anything else, it provided Vick the opportunity to strike a rapport with Young, and the two spoke by phone several times during the season.

Dates and details of Montana's visit with the Saints have not yet been finalized.