QB SHUFFLE SHAKES THINGS UP MOVES BY BREES, CULPEPPER COULD LAND LEINART IN NEW YORK.

Byline: Billy Witz Staff Writer

When the band stopped Tuesday in the NFL's game of musical quarterbacks, Daunte Culpepper was seated in Miami, Drew Brees landed in New Orleans and Matt Leinart may soon start spreading the news that he's bound for New York.

When the Dolphins said no to Brees' contract demands and settled on Culpepper in exchange for a second-round pick with Minnesota, it left the former Chargers quarterback with only one real suitor - the Saints.

Brees, who underwent shoulder surgery in January, signed a six-year, $60-million contract. But much like the Saints themselves, there are questions about how long he'll be in New Orleans.

Brees' contract is structured so that next spring he'll be due a $12-million roster bonus, meaning he'll be asked to restructure his contract if the Saints want him back or he'll be released if they don't.

Further complicating matters could be the Saints' future. Whether the team stays in New Orleans in 2007 while the city rebuilds or whether it moves - likely to Los Angeles - could influence Brees and the team.

Saints general manager Mickey Loomis issued only a brief statement to reporters in New Orleans confirming the signing of Brees, so it's not clear if the possible short-term relationship between the Saints and Brees removes them from the quarterback market for next month's draft.

With Houston expected to pick Reggie Bush first overall, the Saints were expected to be interested in Leinart with the second pick. While they could draft Leinart and have him sit behind Brees for one season, the more likely scenario is the Saints trading down to either the Titans at No. 3 or the Jets at No. 4. There, in addition to acquiring additional picks or players, the Saints would be able to take Memphis defensive end DeAngleo Williams, Virginia offensive tackle D'Brickashaw Ferguson, or - if they're still interested in a quarterback - Texas' Vince Young or Vanderbilt's Jay Cutler.

``We don't know what they said to (Brees), whether he's the franchise quarterback for the next 10 years, or there's still potential draft possibilities for Matt,'' said Leigh Steinberg, the agent for Leinart.

Leinart, who skipped the workout portion of the NFL Combine last month, plans to throw for NFL scouts, coaches and general managers at USC on April 2. He has already had a private workout for the Titans, whose offensive coordinator is Norm Chow, who coached Leinart until his senior season at USC.

The Jets also want to see Leinart for a private workout, Steinberg said.

While a reunion with Chow would have some appeal, the Jets and Leinart appear to be headed toward each other. Leinart relished the star treatment he received as quarterback at USC and has hired Creative Artists Agency, a top Hollywood talent agency, to handle his marketing. The Jets, who have unhappy defensive end John Abraham to dangle as trade bait, would have a quarterback that could match the Giants' Eli Manning for back-page buzz.

``As a celebrity-making machine, New York has the capacity to build athletes into something larger than life,'' Steinberg said of the media and advertising capital of the country. ``Matt's already experienced some of that in L.A., but New York affords athletes opportunities that no other city in the country can.''

While Steinberg said he advises any rookie quarterback to focus on football his first year, he said another of his clients, Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, made $4.5 million in endorsements as a rookie.

As for the pressure that comes with playing in New York, Steinberg said: ``It takes a certain intestinal fortitude to play there. It's a much tougher city than L.A. is, but there's not a single player better prepared for that kind of pressure than Matt Leinart.''

Quarterbacks weren't the only ones on the move Tuesday. Two of the NFL's most voluble receivers, Philadelphia's Terrell Owens and Dallas' Keyshawn Johnson, were released the day before they were owed roster bonuses.

Owens, whose release was expected since he was suspended by the Eagles last November, is expected to draw interest from Kansas City, Denver and Dallas. After his escapades in Philadelphia, it is hard to imagine anyone paying Owens the $7.5 million bonus the Eagles would have owed him, especially if Buffalo receiver Eric Moulds is granted his release and hits the market.

Billy Witz, [phone]

billy.witz(at)dailynews.com

(1 -- color) no caption (Drew Brees)

(2 -- color) no caption (Daunte Culpepper)

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QUARTERBACK SCRAMBLE

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