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According to Miami Herald staff writer Jason Cole, incumbent No. 1 Chris Chambers "is almost giddy" about the arrival of David Boston, a move that gives the Dolphins their most accomplished receiving duo since the days of the Marks Brothers, Mark Duper and Mark Clayton.

While Chambers agreed that it's premature to put him and Boston in that class just yet, he seems to want that kind of brotherhood.

"I'm not an individual. To have him on our receiving corps is great," said Chambers, who also described himself as "definitely juiced up" about Boston's arrival. "I don't care about any of that stuff about who's No. 1 or anything. Nah, not at all. My thing is about team goals.

"I haven't played in a playoff game since I got here."

As a rookie in 2001, Chambers helped the Dolphins get to the playoffs. But he missed the first-round game against Baltimore that season with a severe ankle sprain.

Since then, the Dolphins passing game has struggled -- partly because of a lack of talent opposite Chambers. The team has tried a receiving patchwork of Derrius Thompson, James McKnight and Dedric Ward in recent years.

McKnight and Ward are gone. Thompson struggled last season; despite starting every game, he had 26 catches for 359 yards and no touchdowns.

And as Cole added: "Boston has done that in a month. He had 98 catches for 1,598 yards in 2001 on his way to his first Pro Bowl appearance. Although Boston has struggled with management and coaches in a series of off-field problems, there is little denying his talent."

"With all the threats we have on the field now, you'd like to see us take a few more chances," Chambers told Cole. "The biggest thing for my game is the deep ball. To get two or three balls down the field, that helps my game because I know if you give me that many chances, I'm going to get one of them.

"Having [Boston] on the other side only helps me get that chance because you know the defense is going to have to respect him."

Boston already has Chambers' respect. Although Chambers, 25, is actually a week older, Boston is two years ahead of Chambers at the pro level. Boston was a year ahead in high school and came out for the draft a year early.

"The thing about [Boston], he's already been where I want to go," Chambers said. "He's been to a Pro Bowl. He's had a 1,500-yard season. I see what he does and I want to learn from those things, see if I can pick up something. ..."

In a related note. ...

The Dolphins on Friday declined to confirm or deny a radio report that Boston has a degenerative heel condition.

WQAM talk show host and Dolphins radio analyst Jim Mandich said he received word of Boston's condition from a person he considers reliable.

"David Boston passed his physical, and that's all we're going to say about it," Dolphins spokesman Harvey Greene told the Herald.

Another unnamed team source told Herald staffer Barry Jackson the Dolphins discovered nothing alarming in his physical.

The former Ohio State star suffered a bruised heel during training camp last year and missed one regular-season game. Boston, 25, reportedly must remain on the active roster to collect $5.1 million of the $6.3 million due him over the next two seasons.

Chargers general manager A.J. Smith told the San Diego Union-Tribune, "There are a number of reasons David Boston is not with us. Medical is not one of them. ..."

Other Fantasy-specific news and notes from around the NFL. ...

In Arizona. ... Phoenix police are investigating an alleged domestic violence incident involving Cardinals running back Marcel Shipp, a police spokesman confirmed Friday.

Detective Tony Morales told Arizona Republic staff writer Andrew Bagnato that officers had responded to a call Thursday at an undisclosed north Phoenix location. He would not divulge details.

"[Shipp] has not been arrested," Morales said. "It's still under investigation. The investigation is really just beginning. That's all I can say at this point."

Shipp's attorney, Darrow Soll, told the Republic Saturday his client is "fully cooperating with police."

Soll wouldn't comment on the specifics of the case but did say "in our own personal opinion, this does not constitute domestic violence.

"I can't comment other than to say we're conducting our own parallel investigation and we're working closely with police."

Shipp, who signed with the Cardinals as a free agent in 2001, is expected to be the first-string running back under new head coach Dennis Green. ...

In Atlanta. ... The Falcons' courtship of unrestricted free agent quarterback Billy Volek ended Friday when team officials decided "enough is enough" after Volek and agent Ken Staninger countered an offer by his previous team, the Titans, that was believed to be far inferior to Atlanta's offer of two weeks ago.

According to Nashville Tennessean staffer Jeff Legwold, the Falcons had a three-year deal on the table that included a $3.5 million signing bonus. General manager Rich McKay, according to those who know him, had grown more frustrated over the last week that the Falcons had offered a deal that lucrative and Volek had not yet jumped at it.

For his part Volek said twice this past week "that there's just more to this decision than money, I just want to make sure I'm doing the right thing."

Also slowing Volek's decision in recent days was the fact the Buffalo Bills formally entered the bidding Wednesday. Bills quarterbacks coach Sam Wyche and general manager Tom Donahoe outlined the potential for far more playing time than Volek would likely see as the backup to either Steve McNair with the Titans or Michael Vick in Atlanta. But the Bills' offer was the lowest of the three teams.

Bills quarterback Drew Bledsoe, because of the bonus structure of his contract, is likely to be a free agent at the end of 2004 season.

The only way for the Bills to avoid that is to renegotiate the deal or pay Bledsoe a $7 million bonus in November. Given salary cap constraints, it is unlikely Bledsoe will see the bonus.

According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution beat man Matt Winkeljohn, the Falcons may wait to see if Cincinnati's Jon Kitna and/or Seattle's Trent Dilfer are cut before deciding on a backup. They are not interested in former Bear Kordell Stewart. ...

Also in Atlanta. ... The Falcons will crank up their offseason condition program Monday minus running back Warrick Dunn is not ready to go full strength after surgery to repair a ligament in his left foot. He was injured on Nov. 23.

"He's doing well, but I'm not even sure he'll go full-tilt when we start training camp," new head coach Jim Mora said. "There's no reason to push. We expect him to be 100 percent for the season. ..."

Former Georgia Tech wide receiver Dez White, an unrestricted free agent after spending four seasons with the Bears, visited Falcons headquarters last Wednesday before visiting the Chiefs. ...

In San Francisco. ... In an article published Friday, ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli suggested the 49ers would also be interested in Kitna and Dilfer should either become available.

The plan remains to go with Tim Rattay as the starter. But there is no experience behind Rattay, and it seems head coach Dennis Erickson would like to get a safety net of sorts in place, just in case he needs a steadying hand on and off the field.

Pasquarelli added: "There is no indication that Dilfer will be released, but Cincy has turned the starting job over to Carson Palmer, and the Bengals are gagging over the $3.5 million base salary Kitna is owed for 2004.

"Kitna's new agent, Mike Moye, has sent off a contract extension proposal to Bengals executives, but they haven't responded to it. ..."

In Cleveland. ... According to a published reports, there is talk the Browns are willing to shop running back William Green in a trade, with the idea Lee Suggs will be their starter.

But as SportsLine.com senior writer Pete Prisco wondered Thursday: "Who's going to trade for a runner coming off a suspension with a history of off-field troubles?"

In New Orleans. ... Saints general manager Mickey Loomis has attempted to bolster the fullback position by offering a four-year qualifying offer to restricted free agent Bryan Johnson of the Washington Redskins.

According to New Orleans Times-Picayune staff writer Brian Allee-Walsh, Johnson, 6 feet 1, 245 pounds, was offered a four-year contract Friday after a day-long visit. Redskins' officials have until Friday to match or reject the offer.

On Tuesday, the Saints signed 12-year veteran free agent fullback Sam Gash to a one-year contract. At the time, Loomis said he planned to upgrade the position.

The Redskins have offered Johnson the minimum one-year tender of $628,000 for a restricted free agent. Saints officials are hoping their offer will dissuade Redskins owner Daniel Snyder from matching.

Johnson has started 25 games the past two seasons. Last season, he caught 33 passes for 314 yards. He has fewer than 10 NFL carries, none last season, according to a Saints spokesman. ...

And finally, for you IDP aficionados. ... Seven-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Warren Sapp signed a seven-year, $36.6 million contract with the Oakland Raiders on Saturday, ending his nine-year relationship with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

"The bad news is I won't be back with the Bucs," Sapp told Associated Press sports writer Fred Goodall. "The good news is I'm a Raider."

The surprise move came only a day after Sapp's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said the one-time NFL defensive player of the year was close to signing a four-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Sapp leaves the only pro team he has played for two sacks shy of the franchise record of 78 1/2 held by Hall of Famer Lee Roy Selmon.