MADIERA BEACH, Fla. - The search for two NFL players and a third man missing in the Gulf of Mexico was scaled back Thursday, but charter boat operators said they still hoped to recover the men's remains.

Charter captains planned to keep an eye out when they take customers out to fish, but there wasn't the dedicated effort of Wednesday, when around a dozen boats combed the Gulf off Florida for signs of the missing men.

"At this point it appears to be a recovery effort, and where that would be, is pretty much a needle in a haystack," said Marti Heath, a board member of the Merchant Marine Captains Association, which is organizing much of the private search, said. "So what we're trying to do is have the people out there so at least there can be some closure" for the families.

The Coast Guard called off its search Tuesday for Oakland Raiders linebacker Marquis Cooper, free-agent NFL defensive lineman Corey Smith, who played for the Detroit Lions last season, and former South Florida player William Bleakley.

Denver signs QB

ENGLEWOOD, Colo. - The Denver Broncos' offseason spending spree continued as the team brought in a backup quarterback, agreeing to a deal with Chris Simms on Thursday.

The Broncos have been the most active team throughout free agency, adding 12 seasoned veterans or career backups since the signing period began a week ago.

Simms will likely step in for Patrick Ramsey, who served as Jay Cutler's backup for the last two seasons.

Jets order furloughs

NEW YORK - The New York Jets told employees on the business side of the team's operations Thursday that they must take two weeks of unpaid leave this offseason in an effort to withstand the sagging economy.

Rather than cut jobs, as several other teams and the league office have done in recent weeks, owner Woody Johnson approved a plan that requires approximately 50 employees to take furloughs during a four-week period in late-June and early July, Matt Higgins, the team's executive vice president of business operations, told The Associated Press.

The departments affected include marketing, media relations, finance and business operations. Employees on the football side, such as general manager Mike Tannenbaum and coach Rex Ryan, aren't included in the plan because those departments are making reductions to their operating expenses.