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.