The Facts:
Former Titans QB McNair has been killed. Police said McNair suffered a fatal gunshot wound to the head in downtown Nashville.  Reported by newschannel5.com

Diehards Line:
Police told the television station it looked like a double homicide. A female victim was also found dead. ... Stay tuned. We'll be watching for more, but certainly sad news if true.
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And the evidence continues to point overwhelmingly to Favre eventually (or sooner) joining forces with the Vikings. The most recent nugget is buried in a July 3 interview of Dr. James Andrews, courtesy of the Clarion-Ledger. "I did [Favre's] shoulder a few weeks ago. I visited him in Hattiesburg two weeks ago. He wants to play and he wants to play for the Minnesota Vikings."  Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line:
Nothing new here; or at least nothing Favre didn't say for himself during an appearance on HBO's "Joe Buck Live" last month. Andrews did, however, add a bit to the story when he told the paper the Favre "wants to end his career on a high note and I hope he can. He's a tough guy, a great guy. I'm pulling for him. He wants to play. He just wants to make sure his shoulder and arm are healthy enough. ..." As noted in this space Friday, the reports that Favre is currently house hunting in Minnesota are a pretty good indication that the arm is indeed getting healthier. ... Stay tuned.
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As NFL observers continue to wait for the seemingly inevitable announcement that Brett Favre will be donning a purple jersey and helmet in 2009, we're hearing that some members of what would be his third team in three seasons aren't thrilled with the idea that a new signal-caller will be getting the keys to a recently underachieving passing game. And they don't want Sage Rosenfels, either. Per a league source, some Vikings believe that Jackson should be the starter, based on Jackson's performance during offseason workouts.  Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line:
As PFT's Mike Florio stressed, however, Jackson also drew high praise last year for his work in the underwear practices. Once the season began, Jackson played poorly and he quickly was benched for Gus Frerotte. Jackson returned later in the year and played well down the stretch, finishing the season with a passer rating of 95.4. ... All of which is moot once Favre returns and is immediately installed as the starter.
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The evidence that Favre will end his retirement to play for the Vikings in 2009 is overwhelming. There have been reports that Favre already has a contract in place with the Vikings and both Favre and the Vikings have made it clear in public comments that there is great interest on both sides. And then there is this latest nugget: Favre is in the process of attempting to secure a residence in the Twin Cities.  Reported by the Minneapolis Star Tribune

Diehards Line:
This is the second week that rumors about Favre house hunting in the Vikings' neighborhood have been floated adding fuel to the Favre-will-return fire. But as Star-Tribune staffer Judd Zulgad suggests, the only real only surprise will be if the QB decides his surgically-repaired right biceps tendon has not healed sufficiently enough for him to return to the NFL. That being the case, the fact that Favre is looking for housing could certainly be taken as an indication he's encouraged by how the arm is feeling. ... Stay tuned.
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Marshall's ongoing desire to leave Denver is rooted in two concerns. First, he doesn't like the manner in which the team's physicians handled a hip injury that ultimately required surgery. Second, he wants a new contract. The more accurate description as to the latter factor could be that he needs a new contract.  Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line:
According to PFT's Mike Florio, there's talk in league circles that Marshall has run out of money. If that's true, at least one league source isn't surprised. "Why does a guy who was a fourth-round draft pick live in three different places?" the source told Florio regarding Marshall's residences in Denver, Atlanta, and Orlando. ... Remember: This story isn't fact. But a financial shortfall would at explain -- at least in part -- Marshall's desire to get the new, high-end contract that would almost certainly come with a trade. Then again, the $2.198 million he's due to make from Denver isn't chicken feed. ... Stay tuned.
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Speaking on Total Access, NFL Network insider Jason LaCanfora said that talent evaluators around the league believe that Harrison "may be done." They are rating other free agent receivers like Amani Toomer and Joe Horn higher than Harrison.  Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line:
LaCanfora went on to advise viewers that Toomer has fielded calls from a few teams and is high on several teams' "emergency list. ..." A recent report suggesting Harrison might be of interest to the Vikings doesn't seem to have legs -- perhaps in large part because their interest was in a low-end deal. Harrison is believed to be looking for a more favorable deal. It's still not clear he'll get it.
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The Facts:
Though the word on the street continues to be that the Broncos will not be trading Marshall, Adam Schefter points out in via his Twitter account that, while the Broncos won't be making calls, they will taking calls. Schefter also believes that the Broncos would take a first-round pick for Marshall. And that's a surprise, given that the current market for a No. 1 wideout is a first-round pick and a third-round pick.  Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line:
As PFT's Mike Florio notes, it's not clear whether this is a new attitude on the part of the team, and specifically whether it comes in the wake of the disclosure that Marshall told police in October 2007, "I hate this f--king city. ..." Florio went on to speculate on the possibility that Marshall's camp leaked the 20-month-old comment, in the hopes of stoking a fan and media outcry that could force the team to take the best offer they could get. An interesting theory. Adding to Marshall's already enormous pile of baggage (including recent hip surgery and multiple off-field issues) seems like a risky move -- but that again, how much further can his image be tainted?
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It may not rival his obsessive quest for revenge against the Packers as the leading factor driving his likely return to the NFL, but don't overlook the motivating role money is playing on both sides of the Favre-Vikings courtship. Indeed, a league source told SI.com's Don Banks that while Favre has long enjoyed his reputation as a guy who plays for "the love of the game," money has always been one sure way to get Favre's attention. "His coming back and playing every year is not all about his love of competition," the source said.  Reported by SI.com

Diehards Line:
Or as a prominent Wisconsin-based Favre observer recently told Banks: "Brett likes his money now. Don't underestimate how hard it would be for him to ever leave $8 million to $10 million -- or whatever the Vikings wind up offering him -- on the table. He talks about staying home and riding his lawn mower around, but he likes to get paid. ..." While the Packers were willing to pay Favre similar coin to retire, Banks notes that signing with Minnesota allows the QB to both have his cake and eat it, too. As Banks summed up: "What could be better than a scenario in which he gets paid in the process of trying to make the Packers pay for their mistake?" Stay tuned. We're waiting for an official announcement.
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The Facts:
After fatally striking a pedestrian on the MacArthur Causeway in a March drunk driving accident, Stallworth also tested positive for marijuana use, law enforcement sources say.  Reported by the Miami Herald

Diehards Line:
Stallworth is serving one month in jail after pleading guilty last month to DUI manslaughter and he's been suspended indefinitely by commissioner Roger Goodell. This latest bit of news obviously won't weigh in Stallworth's favor when Goodell revisits that "indefinite" time frame. ... Meanwhile, rookies Brian Robiskie and Mohamed Massaquoi are said to be the early favorites in the competition to fill the opening opposite Braylon Edwards. Joshua Cribbs and veteran addition Mike Furrey are other possibilities, but those who follow the team closely expect one of the two rookies -- most likely Robiskie -- to win Stallworth's job.
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The Facts:
Marshall said he wanted to be traded more than 18 months ago and said he "hated Denver," according to documents obtained by the CALL7 Investigators. Marshall was arrested for driving under the influence on Oct. 22, 2007, and according to the police report, he started verbally attacking the city of Denver and saying he wanted to leave the Broncos.  Reported by TheDenverChannel.com

Diehards Line:
"I hate Denver. I hope I get traded. I hate this f******* city," an officer wrote in the police report. Nice! Marshall, who has a long history of run-ins with the law, also berated police for stopping him and not finding the killer of fellow Bronco Darrent Williams. "Why aren't you guys out looking for Williams' killer?" the report says. ... Hmmm. Old news but obviously interesting given Marshall's more recent trade request -- one made to team officials instead of the local constabulary. Assuming the team's current stance -- that Marshall isn't going anywhere -- remains unchanged, it could make fan interaction worth watching.
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