The Facts:
Moss injured his left hamstring while running down an overthrown flea-flicker pass at practice on Wednesday. He returned to the field after icing the hamstring to have a chat with HC Bill Belichick. After the talk Moss returned to the sideline, picked up his helmet and walked off the practice field to miss the last half hour of practice. 

Diehards Line:
According to Boston Globe staffer Mike Reiss, Tom Brady came over to check on Moss and the two knocked fists after a short conversation. Moss was in the midst of another solid practice, making several nice catches. ... We'll obviously have more on this as further details are released and we'll advise you not to panic until we know more. That said, Profootballtalk.com notes that even though there's plenty of time for a pulled hamstring to heal before the start of the regular season, the injury will limit Moss' ability to develop the proper chemistry with Brady if it costs him significant time. Stay tuned.

The Facts:
The Lions and top draft pick Johnson appear to have narrowed the gap on financial aspects of a contract for the wide receiver, but still must negotiate on the structure and language related to the proposed deal. Johnson was absent from training camp again Wednesday. It was the seventh day of practice he has missed. 

Diehards Line:
According to News staffer Mike O'Hara, The Lions and Johnson's agent have been talking about a six-year contract. It reportedly would be close to the contract signed last year by Saints running back Reggie Bush, who was drafted second overall. Bush got more than $26 million in guaranteed money. There have been unconfirmed reports that the Lions' offer to Johnson included as much as $30 million in guarantees. ... Stay tuned.

The Facts:
According to ESPN, Parker will not play in Sunday's Hall of Fame game against the Saints due to a sore knee. 

Diehards Line:
Interesting in light of Parker's stated goal of being an every-down back. ... It's also worth noting the Steelers and Parker weren't exactly forthcoming about why he didn't practice Tuesday afternoon. Parker told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, "Sometimes you need to take a break," but he added that he won't practice again today. Asked if he had hurt his knee, he referred reporters to HC Mike Tomlin, who said Parker didn't practice Tuesday afternoon because he needed a break. Tomlin said Parker doesn't have an issue with his knee. ... Hmmmm. Even if the knee isn't an ongoing issue, Tomlin's handling of the information might be. Stay tuned.

The Facts:
Owens didn't take part in the Dallas Cowboys' first practice session Wednesday, a day after getting a break to rest his sore hamstring. 

Diehards Line:
As a result, the Cowboys were without their top two receivers in practice Wednesday. Terry Glenn was back in Dallas for arthroscopic surgery on his right knee that will keep him out for about two weeks. ... The good news? HC Wade Phillips said Owens was sore -- not injured. "He doesn't have a hamstring problem," Phillips said. It wasn't clear if Owens would participate in the scheduled afternoon practice Wednesday. ... More as developments warrant.

The Facts:
Gore's broken right hand, although not a big deal as far as injuries go, probably will keep the running back out of the 49ers' first three exhibition games. "I'd like to see him at least in the last week," HC Mike Nolan said. "I don't want to downgrade the importance of the preseason. It's important. It's to get your timing down. You have to get the feel of things." 

Diehards Line:
As previously noted, Gore broke a bone in the hand in a non-contact drill Monday morning. He will have a cast put on the hand this coming Monday to allow him to practice. He will not practice until then (although his conditioning work continues). In his stead, the 49ers will take a long look at Maurice Hicks, Michael Robinson and rookie Thomas Clayton. The club will probably keep two of three once final cuts are made.

The Facts:
Following up on a previous item. ... Portis will be working on his conditioning and strengthening the area around his swollen right knee for the time being. It would be very surprising if he were to practice anytime before next Monday and Bubba Tyer, director of sports medicine, laughed when someone suggested Clinton might participate in the scrimmage Saturday in Baltimore. 

Diehards Line:
According to Post staffer Jason La Canfora, it's a setback, but, the Redskins say, a minor setback and something not uncommon for a football player trying to get back into full playing shape after a lengthy absence due to tendinitis. Once Portis started cutting and turning and exposing the knee to contact, the knee was aggravated and discomfort set in. There is no set timetable for a return, but Tyer told La Canfora he expects it will be a matter of "days" for Portis to get back, and not "weeks. ..." Stay tuned.

The Facts:
Exactly how undecided is the starting split end position left vacant by Darrell Jackson's departure? After the first day of training camp, HC Mike Holmgren labeled Hackett the favorite. On the second day of camp, Holmgren bristled at a question about Hackett assuming the starting duties. "That was yesterday," he said bluntly, clearly not happy with what he saw out of Hackett's effort. 

Diehards Line:
And on the third day? Holmgren couldn't say much about Hackett's prospects, because the receiver left midway through the morning practice to be with his wife, who was giving birth to the couple's first child. Hackett never made it back for the afternoon practice. And Nate Burleson put together yet another solid practice in Hackett's absence, effectively making himself a viable candidate for that vacant slot. "It's very much open," WRs coach Nolan Cromwell said of the No. 2 spot. ... We still like Hackett, but he clearly needs to pick up the pace. Stay tuned.

The Facts:
Moss is being watched ever so closely. There is some concern about lingering groin/hip problems and his workload is being curtailed a bit. Redskins director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer said that Moss has been experiencing discomfort in his groin, based on him compensating. "He feels like he's compensating a little bit on his leg, so he's got a soreness in his groin instead of the hip flexor/abdominal area (which he hurt this offseason)," Tyer said. 

Diehards Line:
As Post staffer Jason La Canfora reminded readers, Moss missed much of the offseason with the groin/hip problem. It's definitely a situation that bears watching in coming weeks. Given the very positive reports about Jason Campbell's off-season progress, a healthy Moss could re-emerge as a more legitimate threat for the Skins and Fantasy owners alike.

The Facts:
The Kansas City Chiefs still have not submitted a new written contract proposal to Johnson since June 1. Johnson is frustrated and disappointed, and relegated to missing the preseason, if not much of the regular season. 

Diehards Line:
According to NFL Network insider Adam Schefter, the Chiefs feel as if their backfield is in good standing, even without Johnson. The team is counting on Priest Holmes as a third-down back. They believe former first-round pick Michael Bennett is a capable every-down back. And the Chiefs are excited about the emergence of fifth-round pick Kolby Smith, who has been one of the off-season surprises. And meanwhile, there are no signs of Johnson -- nor according to Schefter, will there be for weeks at a minimum. ... Stay tuned.

The Facts:
Parker backed up his 1,202-yard season in 2005 with 1,494 yards last season. He did so by carrying the ball 337 times, fourth most in Steelers history. Now Parker does not want to leave the playing field this year; he wants to not only be their starting halfback, he wants to stick around for third downs as well. "I want to do it all," Parker said. "I want to do all the situations." 

Diehards Line:
The coaching staff is apparently inclined to let him do it, too. According to Post-Gazette staffer Ed Bouchette, new OC Bruce Arians believes in running his best players until their tongues hang out, and Parker might be the odds-on favorite to take over the role as third-down back.