Dallas' Dez Bryant may return this week

Rookie wideout cleared to play

Dallas Cowboys rookie wide receiver Dez Bryant is cleared to play in the team's final preseason game this week, but the team isn't sure whether he'll suit up or not.

Cowboys being careful with Bryant

"I don't know," Cowboys owner Jerry Jones told reporters. "He'll be able to play. He'll be ready to go. It's a question of is it worth some of the risk.

"If we end up playing our regulars, then that might make a difference. We typically have not played a full set of our players, so that might be something we might consider since we've got a chance to have our starters out there."

Bryant has been out of action since the end of July with an ankle injury and it was originally thought he would miss the entire preseason - if not longer.

The Dallas Cowboys drafted Bryant 24th overall in the 2010 draft.

McNabb out for Friday, Week 1 status in question

Donovan McNabb still limping

The Washington Redskins have ruled Donovan McNabb out for Friday's preseason finale againt the New York Jets, but that game is the least of their worries at this point. They just want to make sure he's ready for Week 1. That isn't a sure thing, either.

McNabb's sprained left ankle has him watching from the sidelines with his foot wrapped these days. He has been able to work out, but the timeline is getting short if he's going to be ready for Week 1.

McNabb trying to stay positive

"Obviously, you want to continue playing with the guys, with the [starters], and continue to work your timing in game situations," McNabb told reporters.

"Obviously, due to this injury, there is a minor setback. . . . I don't think it's a [major] setback in any way. Instead of it being a physical thing, you have to make sure mentally you continue to stay involved in what's at stake and what we're doing."

Bengals eat $8 million to release Bryant

Antonio Bryant cut by Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals cut ties with veteran receiver Antonio Bryant, forking over the $8 million he was owed in guaranteed in the four-year, $28-million contract they signed him to in March.

Bryant never appeared completely healthy since joining the Bengals. He had some ligament issues before signing with the Bengals, but they didn't think it was anything that would hold him back. Obviously, they couldn't have been more wrong.

Bryant doesn't play a single snap

Antonio Bryant didn't impress anyone on the practice field and didn't even play a snap of the team's four preseason games. Cincinnati originally chose Bryant over Terrell Owens when the club was looking for another wideout, but ultimately, the Owens signing last month made Bryant expendable.

Bryant is now free to sign with any other team, but interest is expected to be limited.

Favre set to start Sunday against 49ers

Vikings get veteran back on the field

Brett Favre will start tonight against the San Francisco 49ers and should play a series or two and about 10 plays. From there he'll turn it over to backup quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

Oddsmakers dog Favre in his return

Most sportsbooks have the Vikings set as 2.5-point underdogs with the game's total at 37 points.

It has been a bit of a busy week for the Vikings. The publicity of the whole Favre saga was a lot to deal with, even if the veteran quarterback did his best to reassure the team.

"I did feel -- more so than last year, believe it or not -- I needed them to know I'm all in," Favre told reporters. "Not that they didn't know. I think they did just from me being there. And that was kind of the mantra from all of those guys: 'We knew if we got you here, we were going to get you and you'd be all in. It was getting your [butt] here that is the problem.'

"The hardest part for me is leaving Hattiesburg and the tranquility and that stuff, leaving that. But when I left it, I knew it was nose to the grindstone for five months now."

Cardinals suffer big loss - Larry Fitzgerald out

Larry Fitzgerald is out... but for how long?

The Arizona Cardinals saw superstar wideout go down in a pile during Saturday's 19-16 loss to the Houston Texas and collectively held their breath. The news is better than it could have been. Fitzgerald suffered a sprained MCL but there was no ligament tear, meaning it's possible he'll be ready for Week 1.

"They say they want to be careful with it so it doesn't linger and … I'm ready to go for Week 1 at St. Louis," Fitzgerald said. "It's frustrating, because I was having my best camp as a pro."

Fantasy owners left in limbo

Word is that no matter how well Fitzgerald may be feeling, he's likely done for preseason, meaning that fantasy football players are going to be left wondering what to do with their drafts... I know I am already.

Last season Fitzgerald caught a career-high 13 touchdown passes and could have seen even more targets this year after Anquan Boldin moved on to Baltimore.

Westbrook signs with 49ers

Niners ink backup RB for Frank Gore

Running back Brian Westbrook is heading to San Francisco to play second-fiddle to starter Frank Gore. The longtime member of the Philadelphia Eagles signed a one-year deal worth between $1.25-2.5 million depending on undisclosed incentives.

The 49ers jumped into the Westbrook sweepstakes after running back Glen Coffee surprised the team by retiring at 23 eyars old.

Looking for a second chance

Westbrook was limited to seven starts last season, recording 271 rushing yards and 181 receiving yards, but he was one of the most electric backs in the league not all that long ago. He led the league in yards from scrimmage in 2007 and went to the Pro Bowl twice.

Now he'll get a chance to be a part of a young team on its way up and if Frank Gore goes down, he may end up being a lot bigger piece of San Francisco's team than expected.

Shawne Merriman reports to Chargers camp

Merriman shows up two weeks late

Some might say better late than never, but we'll have to see if that hold true for Shawne Merriman and the San Diego Chargers.

Merriman finally arrived to training camp on Friday to a tentative response from Chargers fans and their reaction is understandable. After leading the league with 39 1/2 sacks from 2005-07 but hasn't been much of a factor since as he battled various knee and foot injuries.

“I didn’t lose anything (by not being in camp),” Merriman said. “But … these guys have been out here working every single day and I have to work myself like they worked themselves the first couple weeks while I wasn’t here. And I’m prepared to do that.”

“I have a lot to prove,” Merriman added. “I’m willing to work. I’m not going to talk about what I’m going to do … I know what the expectations are.”

Money is motivation

Merriman is in the final year of his contract with San Diego and the Chargers haven't expressed any interest in signing him to a long-term deal, so he needs to get back on the field to showcase himself. Now we just have to wait and see if he still has the skills.

McNabb leads Redskins to a good start

Donovan McNabb impressive in first start with Redskins

So far, so good for Donovan McNabb and his new Washington Redskins teammates. McNabb played two series against the Buffalo Bills on Friday night, completing five of his eight pass attempts for 58 yards and a touchdown in a 42-17 rout.

"When you play your first game, obviously, with a new ballclub, it takes you back to the first game you played," McNabb said. "Your adrenaline is high, and you have to settle down a little bit. The second time we went out, after our first drive, it led to us putting up some points."

Haynesworth gets on the field

The Redskins were also happy to get nose tackle Albert Haynesworth into some action as well. Haynesworth played two series with the second string and reported no problems after experiencing some knee problems during camp while he tried to complete the team's mandatory fitness test.

Coach Mike Shanahan says Haynesworth will continue to play with the second unit until he earns his starting spot back.

Contract update: Jets and Revis not close

Darrelle Revis situation looks worse

For all you Jets supporters out there thinking that the team would make sure shutdown corner Darrelle Revis' contract dispute would be short-lived, you'd better grab a seat. Reports out of Jets camp indicate the team and its star cornerback are about $40 million apart in negotiations. Revis is holding out to have his rookie contract reworked and expects to be the highest paid corner in the league.

Word has it that the team has had a 10-year $120 million deal on the table for at least a few months, but Revis' camp is looking for about $160 million, plus incentives and whatever guaranteed money the two sides agree on - which is huge.

Revis out for the year?

For the players in these situations, the guaranteed money and incentives are what they always end up fighting for. It's what they can fall back on if they do end up like so many others - done after a career-ending injury.

This one could take a while.

Report: Favre Tells Vikings He's Done

Ankle injury holds Favre back

The Associated Press reports that Brett Favre has informed the Minnesota Vikings that he won't return to the team this season. Of course, this is Brett Favre we're talking about, so I'm trying to bite my tongue for a while to get concrete confirmation. He could just as easily swing by Vikings camp three weeks from now and let Brad Childress know he's ready to suit up again.

Annonymous source, few details

According to the source, Favre contacted Childress Monday night and said that his surgically-repaired ankle wasn't improving as quickly as he had hoped, which led to his decision. If all this does turn out to be true and Favre really does retire for a THIRD time, the Vikings are going to have to switch gears in a hurry.

Sure, they've been practicing without him and going through the motions, but the thought was always there that Favre would be ready for Week 1. Now the team may have to hope that some time on the bench did Tarvaris Jackson some good. He has a lot of talent, but didn't look ready for the pro game in his last stint as starter. If not Jackson, it may be up to Sage Rosenfels. Yikes.

Haynesworth Cuts Conditioning Test Short ... Again

Haynesworth fails second test

At this rate, it might be October before big Albert Haynesworth gets on the field to practice with his Washington Redskin teammates. After failing to finish his first conditioning test last week (which he has to pass before he practices) Haynesworth couldn't make it though the sprints again today.

Shanahan gives support

There was some tension in the air when the big DT couldn't get through the workout last week, but today was different. Haynesworth only made it through about the first half of the workout's first section before pulling up with irritation in his left knee.

"That's one of the reasons he's not out there practicing with the team," coach Mike Shanahan said. "You've got to be in certain shape to go through a practice, and that knee after three sprints back and forth couldn't go any further."

"Hopefully with treatment it gets better and he gets in football shape," the Redskins coach added. "And he's out there ready to play with his teammates."

Revis Not in a New York State Mind Yet

Star corner still holding out

The New York Jets aren't playing around this year, looking to strike while the iron's hot and take a run at the Super Bowl. They have a stable of young bucks on offense and a defense that can get after the quarterback - provided they can shut down outside recieving threats.

Therein lies the problem. Darrelle Revis, considered by most as the absolute best corner back in the NFL, is still at home as he goes through a contract dispute. The All-Pro corner is in the fourth year of a six-year contract that will pay him $ 1 million. Revis wants to be the highest paid corner in the league after Oakland inked Nnamdi Asomugha to a $45.3 million three-year deal.

Revis may not report for a while

Right now, in the opening days of camp, this isn't the biggest deal in the world. But what has Jets brass concerned is that the situation doesn't seem any closer to being resolved.

Tebow Signs on the Dotted Line

Denver Broncos sign first round pick

Broncos backers, the wait is over. Whether you like it or not, the Broncos have inked former Florida Gators QB Tim Tebow to a five-year deal worth $33 million with $8.7 million guaranteed.

Tebow starts behind Kyle Orton

Tebow missed the team's first three practices in camp, but is expected to be on the field Friday. Now the real fun begins. Denver has already named Kyle Orton as its starting quarterback, which shouldn't be much of a surprise considering Tebow's diverse skill set.

He isn't exactly your prototypical NFL quarterback, even after all of the work he put into his throwing motion.

But that doesn't mean Tebow's going to be riding the pine all season. The Broncos plan to use him in a lot of Wildcat formations and he'll definitely get some looks in the red zone.

Albert Haynesworth Fails Conditioning Test

Haynesworth catching heat again

Albert Haynesworth said this season was going to be different, that he was going to show up for camp in great shape and prove everyone wrong. Then, according to reports from Fox Sports, he couldn't make it through Thursday's conditioning test held at Redskins camp even though he has apparently dropped 30 pounds off of last season's frame. To say it's a major disappointment for everyone involved would be a huge understatement.

Haynesworth is getting dangerously close to being considered as just another one of Washington's failed signings and this is just another stain on his recent record.

He didn't report to the team's voluntary OTA workouts and has been very critical of the teams switching to Mike Shanahan's 3-4 defense.

Where all of this goes from here is anyone's guess. Haynesworth met with Redskins brass on Wednesday and insisted he was ready to take part in the opening day of training camp. Now, speculation is that the team my force him to watch from the sidelines.

Stay tuned, friends. The saga continues.

There Goes the Neighborhood: TO Joins Ocho in Cincy

Terrell Owens finds a home

Don't look now, but Terrell Owens signed a one-year deal with none other than the Cincinnati Bengals. Of course. It's a match made in heaven. TO's deal is reportedly worth $2 million with the chance to earn another two mil through incentives.

At least one person is happy to see him

You have to wonder what Carson Palmer thinks about this now that he has two of the NFL's biggest sideshows split out wide for him.

I mean, isn't this just adding grease to a grease fire? These two guys have been buddies for a while and now they'll be sharing the field together, but I can't see them sharing the limelight nearly as easily.

Ocho's going to be whining if he isn't getting his looks and we all know how Owens reacts when things aren't going his way. I guess it's a decent signing at this price for Cincy, but I'm not sure it's going to be worth the turmoil. For the record, Owens had 829 receiving yards with five TDs last year with Buffalo.

Ed Reed's Status Up in the Air

Ed Reed out until Week 7?

Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl safety Ed Reed probably won't be playing in the team's opener, but won't go as far as verifying reports that he'll be placed on the PUP list.

Reed finished last year with 50 tackles, three picks, and three forced fumbles despite missing four games in Decemeber. He had the labrum in his hip replaced in the offseason.

Recent reports erroneous

The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Reed said he'd be out until at least Week 7 (after he would be eligible to come of the PUP list), but Reed and Co. deny those claims.

"We have no idea when he's ready to return," Brad Davis, Reed's personal advisor, told reporters. "Anyone who is saying he will miss six weeks, that's just not true. We don't know at this point.

"He could be back before or after. We just don't know. It's too soon to say. He could be back Week 1 or he could miss the entire season. I seriously doubt he would miss the entire year, but the reality is it's all still up in the air right now."

Benson to Meet With Goodell Thursday

Benson could learn his fate this week

No matter what Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis thinks, his starting running back could be in some hot water when he heads to the NFL's version of the principal's office on Thursday to meet with commissioner Roger Goodell.

Benson was involved in another late-night altercation at a popular night spot in Austin, Texas.

"I don't know why we're even talking about Cedric being suspended a game," Lewis told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "... To me, it's unbelievable. It wouldn't be brought up in 31 other cities in the country I think.

"The truth about (the case) is that Cedric got sucker-punched in a bar," Lewis added. "That's the thing. And only because it was Cedric Benson does it become news."

Just the latest on Cincy's rap sheet

It doesn't help matters that the Bengals are viewed as the league's bad boys club in this case and I can't imagine Benson being completely innocent in this matter. Maybe that's unfair, but it's hard to ignore Benson's track record at this point. He'll be lucky if he just gets away with a stern talking-to.

Vikings Coach Visits Favre

One more time, with feeling

This is becoming a yearly pilgramage for Brad Childress. The Vikings head coach has been spotted in Southern Mississippi again, which just happens to be where his quarterback Brett Favre has been working out with some high school kids. A local TV station reported Favre and Childress were seen chatting together on Monday at the University of Southern Mississippi's football camp.

Childress wouldn't come right out and say why he made the trip but said "you can fill in the blanks" when a local TV station questioned him about it.

Favre gives Men's Journal magazine a decent quote (kind of)

When asked if he was concerned about his long-term health after having ankle surgery in the offseason he replied "playing another year probably isn't going to make a difference. The damage has already been done."

Minnesota's training camp is set to get underway in 10 days.

NFL Suspends Jolley for 2010 Season

Packers defensive end pays for 2008 arrest

Johnny Jolly won't be playing this season and he may have trouble getting reinstated after that. The suspension is for violating the league's substance abuse policy in 2008 when he was arrested outside a nightclub in possession of 200 grams of codeine.

Green Bay moves on

"If this stuff doesn't cause you to change, what will?" Jolly's teammate Ryan Pickett told NFL.com. "All this stuff he's going through -- you're missing practice, you can't be around your teammates, that'll make you feel isolated from the team. So if this stuff doesn't change, then that's an issue. I'm expecting him to be changed by this experience, definitely."
That's if he even gets the chance. Jolly could also be facing up to 20 years in the slammer.

"There's a lot going on, and he needs to focus and make sure he has everything in line," Packers coach Mike McCarthy said last month. "These decisions that are going to be made legally will affect every aspect of his life, most importantly his personal life and then his professional life."

The Gunslinger Speaks

Favre wants to play again

Brett Favre made it pretty clear at Wednesday's ESPY awards that he wants to play for the Minnesota Vikings this season. The only thing that's keeping doubts in his head now is his surgically-repaired left ankle.

"I still have a little bit of time, and believe it or not, [I'm] not completely healthy," Favre told reporters after the show. "I guess at 40 I may never be. I'm not getting any younger, but I am working hard trying to feel as best I can. Last year, I felt great. My arm was totally different than it was the year before [in 2008 with the Jets] and that made my decision a little bit easier. But we'll see."

Vikings hold their breath

That "we'll see" part has to be killing the Vikings right now. If Favre doesn't come back, their quarterback depth chart is a complete crapshoot.

"It starts with the ankle," he said. "This coming Friday will be eight weeks [since the surgery], and I had hoped it would be a little bit better at this point. I can walk fine, but you don't walk in football.

"Then it kind of works from there up. If you wake up in the morning and your feet hurt, it kind of makes the rest of your body hurt, and if you've been sacked 700 times, that usually adds to it."

The Brett Favre Report: Gunslinger Chucking to High School Kids

Still no official word

One of the major factors in whether or not Brett Favre would return to the NFL for another season as the Minnesota Vikings’ quarterback was the ankle surgery he underwent in May. Right now at least, Favre looks as though he is preparing to throw the pigskin around a bit again this fall.

Favre working out with local high school team

He’s been practicing with the Oak Grove High team in Hattiesburg, Miss., for the past few weeks and his ankle looked just fine as he ran off the field and hopped in his pickup truck to avoid talking to media on Monday. Reports indicate Favre was working out on the field for about an hour.

The 40-year-old hasn’t gone on record with any new information yet with his 20th NFL season creeping up on him.

Ochocinco Strikes Again

Cincy wideout makes another bold claim

Chad Ochocinco has a reputation of being a great interview and he gets such a reputation by making comments like he did the other day on the Dan Patrick Show.

When asked about whether he expected to wear a Super Bowl ring or a wedding ring first Ochocinco replied "A Super Bowl ring. I believe that Super Bowl ring will be this year."

When one is not enough

And as for that other ring?

“I just talked to Pat Riley,” Ochocinco announced. “When I see the ends, I’ll be coming off the bench for the Heat. I can average 10 points per game. I might be the first player to get two rings in one year.”

Ochocinco had some pretty solid numbers last season, piling up more than 1000 receiving yards and nine TDs for Cincinnati.

Terrell Owens Blames the Media. Of Course He Does.

Little interest in free agent wideout

Free agent wide receiver Terrell Owens doesn't have a place to hang his helmet these days and has a pretty good idea who's at fault.

"People have listened to a lot of the commentaries throughout a lot of the media outlets, mainly ESPN, that has my character in question as far as things that have happened in the past," Owens told 104.5 The Zone, a Nashville radio station.

"I may do 99 good things right and if I do one thing wrong, ESPN and the people on there ... make it out to be the worst thing ever."

"I think with the years that I've had, the last three to four years, I feel like I've tried to turn over a new leaf," Owens said. "But still they won't let go of what I did in the past."

The numbers don't lie

Ah yes, it's the media to blame. Remember when T.O. invited all kinds of the devilish media to his house to watch him do curls and sit-ups in his driveway? He certainly didn't seem to mind the attention then. Maybe, just maybe, it has more to do with his 829-yard, five-touchdown season last year with the Bills, in which he cracked 85 receiving yards in only three games.

JaMarcus Russell's Downward Spiral Knows No End

Free agent quarterback arrested

Just when it looked like JaMarcus Russell might - just might - have a chance of signing on with the New York Jets, reality got the best of him. And right now, that's some nasty reality.

Russell, who was cut loose by the Oakland Raiders this offseason, was arrested at his home on Monday and charged with the possession of a controlled substance - codeine syrup, which can be mixed with soda to produce "purple drank."The arrest was a result of an investigation that's been going on for a few months and more charges could be on the way. Russell posted bond and was released shortly after.

A summer to forget

Not surprisingly, the New York Jets have decided Russell won't be a part of their future plans. They had made a few calls to see if the former No.1 draft pick might be a good fit to back up starter Mark Sanchez. Needless to say, their search continues.

Chargers: Vincent Jackson not on the block

Rumors, rumors, and more rumors

Last week the word on the street was that the San Diego Chargers were looking to deal their No. 1 wideout, Vincent Jackson. That's despite the fact that Jackson hasn't signed his tender yet and could be facing a three-game ban for violating the league's personal conduct policy following a DUI charge in the offseason. Some think Jackson may even sit out if San Diego doesn't re-work his contract. So, there's a lot to digest here.

Chargers prepared to play without Jackson

"We lost a couple of great players ... and it hurts," Chargers GM A.J. Smith told the San Diego Union-Tribune last month. "We are trying to build a championship team, and losing the services of both Vincent and Marcus [McNeil] just made that more difficult -- but not impossible. In due time, Coach [Norv] Turner will name two new starters. We will rally as a team, compete and try to win as many games as we can."

Even with Antonio Gates going over the middle to haul in everything in his time zone, playing without Jackson for the year would be really rough for the Chargers, who are counting on Josh Reed (of all people) to fill the void.

Eagles Deny Vick Will Be Released

Virginia Beach police investigation ongoing

For right now, the Philadelphia Eagles say Mike Vick isn't in hot water following a shooting that happened at his birthday party and released the following statement:

"Following the incident that occurred in Virginia on the morning of June 25, Michael and his representatives promptly contacted law enforcement agencies, the Philadelphia Eagles and the National Football League. The Eagles were provided with very detailed information during that discussion as to what took place at the event. Those details have not changed in any way over the course of the last week. Our investigation to this point has confirmed and has been consistent with the information that was originally communicated to us.

"Furthermore, any report or speculation that suggests the Eagles are considering releasing Vick are not true. We will continue to gather information and monitor the situation and we will not have any further comment until that process is complete."

Investigation details still fuzzy

There's no reason for the Eagles to jump the gun (er, sorry) about all of this, but you have to wonder about the specifics of the case. Somebody gets shot just minutes after Vick leaves the party? And the victim was tied to the dog ring fiasco? Could be a crazy coincidence, but it just seems fishy.

Getting Caught Up: Your Latest Headlines

LaDainian Tomlinson hops on the guarantee train

LT is tired of all the talk that he's too slow, too worn, too old to make a difference any more. After signing with the Jets this offseason, Tomlinson recently told reporters that New York will "absolutely" win a Super Bowl within the next two years. Don't worry about the fact that he's probably the No. 2 back in the depth chart. And if that wasn't enough, he already got himself a New York Jets tattoo.

Mark Brunell owes HOW much?

Somehow, Mark Brunell has filed for bankruptcy and owes $24.7 million. He picked up a cool $1.55 million with the New Orleans Saints last year. Looks like some awful real estate investments are the major issue.

Drew Brees figures Brett Favre will be back

For what it's worth, reigning Super Bowl champ Drew Brees is expecting to see the ol' gunslinger lining up under centre when the Saints host the Vikes in their season opener on Sept. 9.

"I don't think there's any doubt that Brett Favre is coming back, and he's going to be as good as he's ever been," Brees said Monday in an interview with FanHouse. "We're going to need our best game to beat him, I know that. They're a good team. A very good team."

Surprise! Cedric Benson busted

More trouble for the Bengals

Just when you think the Cincinnati Bengals are making strides to shrug off their bad-boy image, you give your head a shake and see that the world is still indeed round.

Cedric Benson, who has finally showed a bit of maturity since joining the Bengals after a terrible tenure with the Chicago Bears, put his name on Cincy's long rap sheet following an incident in a Texas bar late last month.

The dirty details

Benson was arrested and charged with assault after allegedly punching one of the bar's employees in the face during an altercation. It all sounds like your run-of-the-mill bar fight. Benson was apparently involved in one fight when the staff tried to throw him out of the bar when another altercation started up. He reported spit blood at one of his combatants, among other things.

Benson has had problems with alcohol in the past, having been arrested twice in 2008 for booze-related offences. Last year the 27-year-old rolled out about 1,250 yards on the ground for the Bungles.

NFL Betting Odds: Vacation Time!

Thanks for reading and check back soon

NFL Betting Odds is taking a well-deserved vacation for the next couple of weeks, so we won't be able to keep you up-to-date on the wild world of sports. Check back later in the month and we'll be right back at it.

NFL News and Notes: Welker's Healing Quickly

Wes Welker way ahead of schedule

If the rest of the NFL somehow didn't realize how tough New England wide receiver Wes Welker is already, he's proving a point in the preseason. Welker was back on the field Wednesday at practice, running some routes and making cuts just four months after ACL surgery on his knee. He was originally considered a lock to start the season on the PUP list, but he's obviously feeling pretty good already. Big news for the Pats.

Redskins make Westbrook an offer

After persuading Donovan McNabb to come on over from Philly, the Redskins are at it again, this time offering former-Eagle Brian Westbrook a deal. No terms have been released, but it's interesting that Westbrook's younger brother Byron also plays corner for Washington. The elder Westbrook is now 30 and coming off a tough year in which two concussions limited him to only eight games.

"We want him to sign with us," 'Skin coach Mike Shanahan told reporters. "Like I said, it could be some great competition. I really like Brian, what he's done and how he's handled himself. I'm sure he's weighing some options. It's not too far away from home. Any more I can do?"

Ronnie Brown Plays the Waiting Game

Dolphins running back weighs his options

They say patience is a virtue, but it isn't often seen in the cash-crazy NFL these days. Ronnie Brown is a different story all together though. He hasn't signed a $3.7 million tender yet because he's holding out for a multi-year contract and it doesn't look like he's going to waver on this. Problem is, it seems unlikely that the Dolphins are going to budge either, especially for a running back who has had problems staying healthy.

What's Ronnie Brown worth these days anyway?

He definitely has flashes of top-notch talent, when he's feeling well enough to drop the shoulder on opposing linebackers and put it in another gear to race by DBs. Last year he only played in nine games and still managed to roll out 648 yards and eight touchdowns, so there's no question he can play. But, he is 28 years old, approaching that dreaded 30.

"I can't worry about it too much. I can't sign myself," he told reporters. "If I start to worry about it, is it going to change it? If I start to talk about it, is it going to change it? Is [my contract situation] going to become a positive or a negative?"

Oddsmakers have the Dolphins set at +2500 to win the 2011 Super Bowl.

Randy Moss: You Can Go Your Own Way!

Moss ain't finished yet

Randy Moss has always had a great talent for speaking his mind at every turn, often saying the worst possible thing at the worst possible moment. But to his defense, he's his own man and always will be. And today, he's a little upset about persisting rumors that he's going to be hanging up the cleats anytime soon. He also canned his agent recently and he'll be an unrestricted free agent after this season. So he has a lot going on.

"The way it was brought to my attention was that it seemed like I'm retiring soon," Moss said. "I have no intention of retiring soon. What I did with firing an agent was, I thought time had run out. There were some things that couldn't be done that needed to be done."

Uncertain future

"Those things" probably have a lot to do with somebody finding him one more big payday and it's hard to knock his production - Oakland years aside, of course. Moss, now 33, has cracked 1,000 yards and pulled in 47 touchdowns over the last three years.

Oddsmakers have the Patriots set at +1200 to win the 2011 Super Bowl.

NFL Weekend Notes: LenDale White, Patrick Crayton

Seahawks show LenDale White the door

LenDale White barely had a chance to get comfy in Seahawk green before the team waived him only 35 days after they picked him up through a trade on draft day. The team had little to say as to why White was released, but rumor has it that the big running back is facing a four-game suspension related to a possible breach of the league's drug policy. Seattle was hoping that White would regain his swagger with coach Pete Carroll -White's coach at USC - behind the bench. Evidently, that hasn't happened, even though there was talk that the big back had cut his weight to 220 pounds this year. White scored 24 touchdowns over four years with the Tennessee Titans.

Patrick Crayton wants out of Big D

Patrick Crayton found out the Dallas Cowboys may have been looking to trade him this offseason and now he wants the team to release him.

"If I'm going to be with another team, I need to get used to another city, another franchise, a new coach, a new quarterback, a new coordinator, everything," Crayton told Dallasnews.com. "Just a whole new environment. My wife and kids got to get settled in, got to get in schools and everything. I would love to have the opportunity to be able to compete with another team versus come here and come here for a numbers thing where they're like, 'Oh, we're not going to pay you that to be our fourth or fifth guy,' or whatever the situation is and you kept me the whole training camp because you need camp bodies. To me, you're messing with people's careers and people's lives."

Welcome back, Big Ben... sort of.

Ben Roethlisberger back at practice

Big Ben Roethlisberger took a step out of the doghouse today as the NFL lifted its ban partially, allowing the Steelers' quarterback to work out with the team. However, that doesn't necessarily mean that this is the first move in cutting his six-game suspension.

"The commissioner will continue to monitor Roethlisberger's progress as he begins the next phase of his recommended plan, and (Goodell) will meet with Roethlisberger again at an appropriate time," an official statement from the NFL said.

Much ado about nothing?

Now, Roethlisberger may be a dope and he definitely needs to get his act together. But a six-game suspension for what? For an accusation, that's what. I know the NFL is trying to get its image together, but come on guys.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are set at +1200 to win the 2011 Super Bowl.

Report: Saints TE Shockey Hospitalized

Shockey in stable condition

Jeremy Shockey had an interesting day on Thursday. Reports out of New Orleans claim the New Orleans tight end collapsed in the weight room at the Saints' complex. New Orleans teammate Darren Sharper told media that Shockey suffered a seizure in the weight room and was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. He is expected to stay overnight at least while undergoing more tests.

Who Dat?

Fortunately, it seems like Shockey's feeling a lot better, even though the entire incident has to be pretty concerning. Apparently, he tweeted "Who Dat?" from his hospital bed, so maybe things are looking up.

The Saints are set at +900 to win the 2011 Super Bowl.

NFL News and Notes: NYC Super Bowl and Dancing With the Stars

The Super Bowl is coming to the Big Apple

Bring on a Snow Bowl in 2014! For the first time ever, the NFL's Super Bowl will be hosted by a city that usually sees sub-50 degree weather in February. It was thought that New York's bid would be little more than a lay-up, but it took four rounds of voting to bring in the final decision.

This is just so overdue. Football's played in all sorts of elements all year long, so to settle it all without weather being a factor was a corporate joke. I'm actually a little surprised the bigwigs didn't drag their collective heels a little longer on this on.

Watch that first step, Ocho

Cincinnati Bengals WR Chad Ochocinco has been swooning all the ladies on Dancing With the Stars for the last little while, but reportedly sat out the series finale following a workout injury. Ocho tweeted that he didn't stretch before trying a 420-pound squat. Sounds like a whole lotta La Bamba, to me.

The Bengals are set at +4000 to win the 2011 Super Bowl.

The Brett Favre Retirement Watch: No News is Good News?

Brett Favre leaving Vikings in limbo

The Minnesota Vikings have no idea who their quarterback is going to be in Week 1 (does this sound familiar?) and according to recent reports, they don't even know if or when the ol' gunslinger is going to have surgery on that ankle that was giving him problems.



Apparently, this surgery (IF Favre decided to have it) would be a minor procedure, but that doesn't do much to set anybody in the Vikings organization at ease considering teams are opening minicamps this week.

Retirement?

Favre hasn't given any indication whether he's going to play another year or not, so for now, we wait. We wait for Favre to buckle that chin strap again, or usher in the next wave of Vikings quarterbacks - that means you, Tavaris Jackson/Sage Rosenfels/Marc Bulger/Kerry Collins. I'm not sure what would be worse.

Oddsmakers have the Minnesota Vikings set at +1500 to win the Super Bowl.

Is Darrelle Revis Worth $20 Million?

Darrelle Revis Looking to Get Paid

There’s no denying Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis had one heck of a year in 2009-2010, but should he really be one of the NFL’s highest-paid players? Seems as though that’s what he’s after.

The New York Jets had a terrible time getting his name on his rookie contract three years ago (he’s due $1 million this year) and now nobody would be surprised if he held out for the big money. Huge money, actually.

The $20 Million Club

The New York Post reports he’s looking for $20 million per season, which would put him in the same ballpark as Eli Manning, Philip Rivers, and Jay Cutler – the only three players in the league who crack the 20-million mark annually.

Then again, cornerback Dunta Robinson signed a $57-million, six-year deal with the Falcons this offseason, so Revis just might get what he wants from New York. And if the Jets won’t give it to him, somebody else will. Revis recorded 54 tackles, six interceptions, and 31 passes defended last season and made the Pro Bowl for the second time in his third year in the league.

The JaMarcus Russell Watch

Now what?

The most inept organization in the National Football League made a step in the right direction by cutting ties with former No. 1 overall pick, JaMarcus Russell. Since then, Russell hasn't attracted much interested around the league, which is understandable considering his fitness and commitment issues. The Raiders threw away about $40 million over the last three years on this guy and it looks as though the rest of the league is hesitant to give him another shot right away.

Bengals say "thanks, but no thanks"

There were rumours circulating late last week about a possible fit with (who else?) the Cincinnati Bengals. Chad Ochocinco dropped a tweet about seeing Russell at minicamp, but the Bengals have backed off since then. Right now, it looks as though Russell's best option might be to play in the CFL. That's half a world away from his playboy days in Oakland.

Update: Ben Roethlisberger's Suspension

Big Ben takes first baby step

Ben Roethlisberger, suspended six games by the NFL late last month for violating the league’s code of conduct policy, has completed the first round of a series of mandated evaluations in an attempt to get back on the field with his teammates.

Don’t hold your breath though, Steelers fans.

NFL commissioner Roger Godell is going to take his time with this one, waiting for more information (and possibly more tests) before he allows Roethlisberger to take part in any team activities. It may seem like a hard stand, considering Roethlisberger hasn’t been convicted of anything, but it’s the right decision. Roethlisberger has had a reputation of dragging the NFL brand through the mud for a while now, so maybe this is what he needs to get on the straight-and-narrow.
NFL players can’t control what’s reported about them, but they can control their actions and who they’re associating with. Goodell has this one right.
Let Big Ben sit in the corner for a while until he learns how to act like an adult.

Sleeping With The Enemy: Another Eagle Eyes DC

First Donovan McNabb, now...

Of all people, Brian Westbrook visited with the Washington Redskins today, but left Redskins park without a contract. That doesn't necessarily mean the 'Skins are out of the hunt, but Westbrook was on his way to meet with the Denver Broncos, while St. Louis is also said to be interested in his services.
It shouldn't be surprising to see a few teams throw their hats in the ring for the Westbrook sweepstakes. The former Pro-Bowler had a terrible season last year as he battled through injuries (which are still a concern), but even with the early best-before date on NFL running backs, he's still only 30 years old. You need a stable of strong running backs to win in the NFL these days and Westbrook can definitely give a team a boost.

Say "No" to drugs... right?

UPDATE: Just to follow up on the Brian Cushing story from the other day. The Associated Press held a revote on the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award after Cushing tested positive for a performance-enhancing substance. Verdict: Cushing keeps the hardware. He received 18 first place votes this time around, compared to 39 first place votes in the initial poll.

Unbelievable. Yet another great message for the kiddies.

NFL News and Notes: Rookie of the Year Tests Positive

The Unfortunate Case of Brian Cushing

It's tough to break into the NFL as a rookie. Everything's so much faster, so much more violent, so much more professional - well, in some ways, anyway - that it isn't all that surprising that last season's Defensive Rookie of the Year, Brian Cushing, was busted for using some sort of performance-enhancing substance.

Of course, he says it's all a big mistake, that he never took steroids. The reality is the NFL isn't going to buy it and the Associated Press is holding another Defensive Rookie of the Year vote. Can't see him coming out on top this time, despite the 134 tackles, five sacks, and four picks for the Houston Texans.

ROY Steroid History

So now Cushing is just another name on the list of Defensive Rookies of the Year who also tested positive in recent memory. Two others? Chicago's big get of the offseason, Julius Peppers, and San Diego's Shawne Merriman.

I guess if you're want to look at the bright side, those two guys turned out all right, but this is a tough fall from grace for the 23-year-old Cushing.