Hampton Visits 49ers, Now He’s Sold

If it were up to Rodney Hampton, the New York Giants free-agent running back would be a San Francisco 49er next season - maybe even next week.

After visiting with the 49ers on Monday, Hampton admitted he wasn’t considering making a grand tour of camps.

“It went well - the 49ers are a class act and I’d love to be here,” he said. “Hopefully this is the only team I have to visit, and I want something worked out as soon as possible.”

Hampton, 26, a transitional player for the Giants, is guaranteed about $2.7 million this season if he is resigned, and New York could match any other team’s offer.

The 5-11, 230-pound back gained 1,182 yards and scored 10 touchdowns last season while catching 24 passes for 142 yards.

Cardinals retain Williams

Cornerback Aeneas Williams, a two-time Pro Bowler who has intercepted 12 passes the last two seasons, agreed to a $17 million, five-year contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Keeping Williams was a victory for the Cardinals, who designated defensive tackle Eric Swann their franchise player on Feb. 15 but had no way to protect the other key free agent on the defensive unit.

Another Cowboy defects

Dixon Edwards started on two Dallas Super Bowl winners, an obscure but efficient player lost among Troy, Emmitt, Michael, Deion and the rest.

Now he’s the highest paid linebacker ever for the Minnesota Vikings.

The Vikings agreed to pay the Cowboys’ outside linebacker $10 million over four years, including a $2.5 million signing bonus. Edwards is the third defensive starter to leave Dallas since January’s Super Bowl victory, joining cornerback Larry Brown, the Super Bowl MVP, and defensive lineman Russell Maryland, who both went to the Oakland Raiders.

Hot property

Neil O’Donnell, whom the New York Jets are attempting to sign as the cornerstone of their rebuilding program, may now be leaning toward returning to Pittsburgh.

While the Jets hope to have O’Donnell signed this week, talks have been heating up between the quarterback and the Steelers, said O’Donnell’s agent, Leigh Steinberg.

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