The Facts:
Following up on an ongoing story. ... Russell is on site and particpating in the Raiders’ offseason program, the club confirmed without any other comment. 

Diehards Line:
The Raiders have no plans to make Russell available to the media, so there won’t be any opportunity to see if the weight loss alluded to be director of player development Willie Brown is obvious to a casual observer. ESPN insider Adam Schefter, however, is comfirming the previously reported weight loss -- and a new throwing motion. ... Stay tuned.

The Facts:
Havner, who scored four touchdowns on only seven catches during the 2009 regular season -- and one touchdown on two catches in a playoff loss at Arizona -- recently was arrested for DUI in California after crashing a motorcycle. 

Diehards Line:
According to TheUnion.com, Havner lost control of a motorcycle, fracturing a scapula and suffering cuts to the back of his head and left arm. He was not wearing a helmet. ... As for the legal issues, Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that while Havner was arrested, the prosecutor will have to decide whether to pursue charges. ... More as the story plays out.

The Facts:
Following up on a previous item. ... Raiders director of squad development Willie Brown said on Comcast SportsNet Bay Area Monday that Russell has undergone a transformation in the offseason and wasn’t present at the first day of the offseason program tending to personal business. "He’ll be back in town today and ready to go (Tuesday),” Brown said. 

Diehards Line:
Brown went on to say the QB has been in Phoenix getting in shape, a long-running rumor neither the Raiders nor Russell’s agents would confirm. “You’ll be surprised when you see him,” Brown said. “It’s quite a bit of weight that he’s lost. ... I don’t want to pin it down and say how much he lost but it will be a significant difference when you see him compared to last year." Stay tuned.

The Facts:
Adam Schefter of ESPN tweeted, and PFT has separately confirmed, that Scaife signed his tender, giving him a one-year deal with the team for a guaranteed salary of $4,908,200. 

Diehards Line:
As a fifth-year player, Scaife is one of the free agents who would have been unrestricted in a normal year but were instead restricted in the uncapped 2010. That allowed the Titans to tender him at 110 percent of his 2009 salary, rather than the franchise level, which would have been $5.9 million. The Titans franchised Scaife last year, and he signed the tender. ... In 2009 Scaife played in 14 games, starting 10, and caught 45 passes for 440 yards.

The Facts:
Favre hasn't announced his intentions about playing in 2010, but we came across what appears to be a gigantic clue that he'll be back. That clue is this: A source familiar with the Vikings situation told Newsday's Bob Glauber that Favre was heavily involved in the recruitment process late last week for RB LaDainian Tomlinson.  

Diehards Line:
According to Glauber, it is believed that Favre spoke to Tomlinson by phone and while recruiting effort ultimately came up short, Profootballtalk.com's Michael David Smith correctly suggests if Favre is actively trying to recruit players for the Vikings' 2010 roster, that's a pretty big clue that Favre himself plans to be on the Vikings' 2010 roster. ... Not that we should expect an announcement or official confirmation any time soon.

The Facts:
Bulger’s future in St. Louis may be tenuous at best, but he remains under contract with the Rams. As such, he was among the Rams’ players on hand Monday for the start of the team’s off-season conditioning program. 

Diehards Line:
Per the Post-Dispatch, the turnout Monday was good. Among the notable absences was running back Steven Jackson, but he was at Rams Park all of last week. ... Getting back to Bulger, all indications are the veteran signal caller will be moving on. But it doesn't look like he's ready to do anything to force management's hand.

The Facts:
Martin, who has a background with Seahawks general manager John Schneider from three seasons with the Green Bay Packers from 2006-08, signed a one-year deal with the team. 

Diehards Line:
Martin, 27, played eight games for the St. Louis Rams in 2009 and caught six passes for 99 yards, including two for 60 yards against the Seahawks in a 27-17 Seattle win on Nov. 29. The 6-4, 220-pounder has 58 career receptions for 848 yards and six touchdowns in his NFL career. Martin's best season for Green Bay came as a rookie in 2006 when he pulled in 21 passes for 358 yards, including seven catches of 20 or more yards.

The Facts:
The Raiders kicked off offseason voluntary workouts today at team headquarters. No visible sign of Russell, though.Several players who have been at the facility for weeks said they have not seen the former No. 1 overall draft pick. When asked if he'll show today, one starter laughed and said "That's a horror show." Another starter said "don't hold your breath." 

Diehards Line:
Meanwhile, fellow QBs Charlie Frye showed up, saying he signed his original draft pick tender. Bruce Gradkowski has been there all along, rehabbing his knees and preparing to compete for the starting job. ... For what it's worth, Russell did show up for last year's off-season program a week after it started. And it should also be noted that the workouts are voluntary.

The Facts:
According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, Simms has been released. 

Diehards Line:
With Brady Quinn now under contract at a base salary of only $700,000, the Broncos were able to part ways with Simms, who was last season's primary backup. Simms was due to earn a base salary of $2.54 million in 2010. Last year, he earned $1.96 million. The move leaves the Broncos with three QBs under contract: Kyle Orton, Quinn, and Tom Brandstater. ... For what it's worth, ESPN insider Adam Schefter suggests that Brandstater might be the best long-term prospect of the group.

The Facts:
The Steelers started offseason workouts today and there is one notable absence. Roethlisberger is not working out with his teammates and is not at the Steelers' practice facility. 

Diehards Line:
Roethlisberger has stayed out of sight since getting accused of sexual assault in Milledgeville, Ga. It's not clear if the decision to stay away is exclusively Roethlisberger's. The QB has met with team officials, who are said to be very disappointed with the situations he finds himself in. It would't be terribly surprising to learn all involved are on board with the absence as part of an effort to avoid distraction.