The Facts:
Bowe, the Chiefs first-round draft pick, has reached a contract agreement with the team and is expected to arrive at training camp this evening, Bowe’s representatives told The Star Sunday. Bowe has agreed to a five-year deal. No other details were immediately available. 

Diehards Line:
Bowe was the 23rd overall pick in last spring’s draft. Some speculated that his contract negotiations were slowed because high-profile quarterback Brady Quinn, who was drafted one spot ahead of him at No. 22, was asking for so much money from the Browns. ... Whatever the case, don't be surprised if HC Herman Edwards' desire to retool with younger talent results in Bowe moving up the depth chart in short order this summer.

The Facts:
Adrian Peterson took virtually all of the reps with the first offense in place of Cedric Benson. Benson has put the ball on the ground a few more times than coaches would like but there was no evidence of sending any sort of message to the No. 1 tailback. "Once you go through a week or so, most of the skill players can use a day off," HC Lovie Smith said. 

Diehards Line:
But as Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio suggests, if this is merely a case of giving Benson a day off, then the Bears should have given him the day off. Florio added: "Having him dressed and present but not part of the first-team offense can be interpreted as a message -- to Benson and to the rest of us." Hard to argue that point.

The Facts:
Dillon had left the window open, ever so slightly. Six months ago, he said he was planning to retire, barring an unexpected itch to play come football season. There have been no itches. "Now the window is closed, there is no doubt in my mind," Dillon said last week. "I haven't announced it publicly, but I will not play football again." 

Diehards Line:
As Globe staffer Mike Reiss noted, Dillon is leaving the game, in many ways, on his own terms. After 10 hard-charging seasons, he believes he still has something left in his tank. "If I really wanted to, I think I could run for 800, 900 yards. I'd share carries, or take the load if needed," he said. "But for me, the risk is way greater than the reward. I don't feel as if there is anything else for me to do. ..." Dillon's 11,241 rushing yards rank 14th all time. The player just ahead of him on that list, John Riggins, is in the Hall of Fame. So, too, is the player right behind him, O.J. Simpson.

The Facts:
Smith suffered a minor setback in his bid to return to live practice after spring sports hernia surgery, HC Andy Reid said. "He had a little soreness a couple days ago, so we backed up and started again," Reid said. "It looked like he did all right (Saturday)." 

Diehards Line:
Smith has been participating in some non-contact and individual drills but hasn't done any live practicing. As noted in a previous update, all indications were he was running and cutting without much difficulty. ... Stay tuned. We'll bring you more as developments warrant.

The Facts:
HC Joe Gibbs said that a recent MRI exam of Portis' right knee showed only the previously diagnosed tendinitis, and that he could have played Saturday had the Redskins been involved in a regular season game rather than scrimmaging with Baltimore. 

Diehards Line:
Portis will continue to focus on strengthening and conditioning his knee this week -- there is no set timetable for his return to full practice -- but Gibbs said he feels good about Portis' progress. Gibbs said that both team doctor Ray Thal and noted orthopedic surgeon James Andrews read Portis's MRI exam and came to the same conclusion. Gibbs said Portis will be monitored daily, and did not entirely rule him out of participating in Saturday's preseason opener at Tennessee. "We'd like to get that taken care of now," Gibbs said of the tendinitis.

The Facts:
Peterson returned to action Saturday after missing Thursday and Friday’s practices because of a hip pointer. The Vikings are holding joint practices with Kansas City. 

Diehards Line:
Several players, including Vikings FB Tony Richardson and Chiefs RB Priest Holmes, talked to Peterson about playing through pain. "You learn when you're hurt and when you're injured," HC Brad Childress said. ... Given last year's collarbone injury, we suspect Peterson already knows the difference.

The Facts:
The Broncos had a bit of a scare Saturday when Henry had to sit out most of the morning drills. The RB took a sharp hit to his hip, stretched out and came back for three plays, before retiring to the sideline for the rest of the morning. 

Diehards Line:
Henry was banged up Friday with the hip problem, but finished out the day. He wasn't as fortunate Saturday. "I had a little hip pointer yesterday," Henry said. "I kind of re-aggravated it today but I'm cool. I nicked it up again and didn't feel like I could go the way I wanted today. ..." Henry stretched out and went back into the scrimmage for a couple of plays before going to the sidelines. He said he'll get it treated and should be ready for practice Monday.

The Facts:
Fitzgerald has had a standout first week of camp, catching virtually everything thrown to him and working hard at improving the details of his game, HC Ken Whisenhunt said. 

Diehards Line:
A good sign -- especially considering the new coaching staff plans to go out of their way to make Fitzgerald a focal point of the offense. Their desire to get the former first-round pick on track early is understandable. If coaches can get a healthy Fitzgerald to raise his game -- and he has already been Pro Bowl-caliber player -- the Cards' offense could be scary.

The Facts:
The fairest way to assess Shiancoe's first few months with the Vikings, during spring drills and now through 10 days of training camp, is that his adjustment is a work in progress. He dropped more than his share of passes during the spring, perhaps distracted by the installation of a new offense, and did not appear as fast as advertised during the early days of training camp. 

Diehards Line:
A strained quadriceps was the likely culprit, according to HC Brad Childress, and Shiancoe flashed later in the week by outrunning speedy LB Dontarrious Thomas for a pass. ... Childress compares Shiancoe to Chester Taylor, a career backup before the Vikings signed him last year. Taylor nearly doubled his career rushing totals in 2006, and the Vikings believe Shiancoe — who has turned in a mixed performance in training camp, apparently because of a strained quadriceps — can do the same. We're not sold just yet.

The Facts:
Muhammad missed a fourth straight practice Saturday for what HC Lovie Smith called a "leg injury." 

Diehards Line:
With Bernard Berrian and Mark Bradley capable deep threats, Muhammad, whos had nine straight seasons with 50 or more catches, is expected to focus on shorter routes this year -- a role that could result in decent totals once again. Still, he's not the player he was a few years ago and should be viewed as a late round gamble at best -- if fully healthy.