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In an article published Wednesday, Akron Beacon Journal staff writer Marla Ridenour advised readers: "When it comes to the relationship with his receivers, Jeff Garcia is a changed man."

Gone are the days Garcia of keeping his mouth shut, content to lead by example. Five years in San Francisco, which ended with very public criticism from star receiver Terrell Owens and a lack of on-field communication, have convinced Garcia he needs to be more assertive.

And according to Ridenour, this revamped approach has already begun as he's spent the past three weeks in Cleveland's offseason program throwing to projected starters Quincy Morgan and Andre Davis.

"One of the things this opportunity brings to me is that I have become more vocal with my new teammates," Garcia said Tuesday. "At times in San Francisco I stood back and tried to lead through example, through working hard on the practice field and in the weight room; doing the necessary things I felt could lead to wins.

"Not only am I doing those things here now, but I've also learned that I need to speak up when I feel it's needed. To talk to Andre, to talk to Quincy and to make sure we're on the same page is only going to be better for us."

Garcia told Ridenour he was frustrated during 49ers games last season, because he and his receiving corps, which included Owens, Tai Streets, Brandon Lloyd and Cedrick Wilson, said nothing to each other.

"The communication between the receivers and the quarterback was non-existent," he explained. "It was amazing. We would come off the field in between series and have no communication whatsoever.

"That pained me. I'm not that type of guy. I want to find out what the receivers are seeing, how the defensive backs are playing them, what we can do to overcome that, how can we have success? That didn't happen there and I'm going to make sure it happens here."

Even if Morgan speaks his mind as he has been known to do, Ridenour doesn't believe their relationship has the potential to become as volatile as that of Garcia and Owens. Owens took repeated shots at Garcia before being traded to Philadelphia.

In January, Owens said on his Web site he would return to the 49ers "if the Niners can get a quarterback to match my skills as a receiver!"

Garcia preferred to look at the good things he and Owens accomplished in the past five years, when Owens caught 421 passes for 5,872 yards and 54 touchdowns.

Asked about Owens' criticism, Garcia said: "I look at myself being a better person in the sense that I don't need to respond to some of the critical things or the comments he has said. The way I look at it is I had five tremendous years playing with Terrell Owens. We accomplished so much as a duo.

"I think only Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison were able to throw more touchdown passes over a five-year span. If he can't look at the big picture and see all the positives that came about during that time, I don't know what to say. ..."

In a related item. ... Head coach Butch Davis met Monday with Miami (Ohio) quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Davis also has reached out to a few other first-round candidates, including Robert Gallery.

Garcia believes the Browns are "extremely interested in" the Iowa left tackle, but he told Canton Repository staffer Steve Doerschuk that there's more than enough room on Cleveland's roster for both him and Roethlisberger if team officials decide to go that way.

"If the Browns feel it's best to draft a quarterback because they don't know whether I have two years left, or maybe one. ... I'm working within myself to prove that wrong," Garcia said. "If the best pick at No. 7 is one of those good young quarterbacks, then the team has to do what it has to do."

Garcia also is aware of the Browns' interest in Miami (Fla.) tight end Kellen Winslow Jr.

"He's a guy who could step in and play right away," Garcia said. "That's not taking anything away from the tight ends already here. I've never seen a group as big and as athletic as these tight ends. My tight ends in San Francisco weren't quite on the same level."

The veteran signal caller went on to say: "If Kellen Winslow were available, and the team decided to take him. He's going to be an impact player. ..."

Also in Cleveland. ... Beacon Journal staffer Patrick McManamon advised readers this morning that the Dennis Northcutt to Denver Broncos rumors are apparently more rumor than fact. There is nothing imminent on the Northcutt trade front. ...

Also according to McManamon, talks between the Green Bay Packers and Browns about quarterback Tim Couch continue, but the key step that must be completed is for Green Bay to agree on a new contract with Couch.

The Packers and Browns apparently are talking about a fifth-round draft choice for Couch, which could improve if his playing time increases. ...

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

In Denver. ... As Shannon Sharpe's self-imposed deadline to decide his future approaches, Rocky Mountain News staff writer Lynn DeBruin advised readers to count teammate Rod Smith among those expecting the veteran tight end to return.

"I just think he sees some of the moves the coaches have made to try to make us a better football team, and he's definitely the type that wants to be a part of that," Smith said Tuesday after an offseason workout. "He wants to win."

Head coach Mike Shanahan has asked that Sharpe make his decision before the April 24-25 draft.

Smith said he got a good feeling after talking with Sharpe a few days ago.

Smith stressed to Sharpe how all the defensive moves will mean more opportunities for the offense, and how improved he expects quarterback Jake Plummer to be.

"Overall, I feel really good, and having Shannon back, getting his 700-800 (yards) definitely helps," Smith said. "It will help take us to the next level like we used to be, not a team working to get in the playoffs but one there, knowing destiny is in our hands. I think he really wants to be a part of that."

Smith said he hoped to hear personally from Sharpe soon, but otherwise would go to Shanahan. "Hopefully, he'll just smile and won't say anything," Smith said, referring to good news. "Then I'll be happy."

Sharpe has reportedly been working out hard enough to be shape should he decide to come back.

"Our team needs him because of what he brings to the table, his experience, leadership and top-notch play," Smith said. "I'm sure [Shanahan] will do everything he can to make sure it's a (smooth) transition for him to just come back in here like he never left, that everything is going to be fine and all the retirement talk. ...

"They can talk about it next year. ..."

In Arizona. ... The Maricopa County Attorney's Office has declined to pursue charges against Cardinals running back Marcel Shipp in connection with an alleged domestic violence incident last month.

According to the Arizona Republic, spokesman Bill FitzGerald confirmed the decision Wednesday and said the woman involved would not be charged either.

Shipp was never arrested.

"We are appreciative of the Phoenix Police Department's thoroughness and the low-profile manner in which they and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office conducted the investigation," Shipp's lawyer, Darrow Soll, told the Republic. "Marcel is excited about the new season and will continue to be a productive member of the Arizona Cardinals and our community."

Shipp, 25, has led the Cardinals in rushing the past two seasons and is expected to start this year. ...

In Detroit. ... Artose Pinner is expecting company in the Lions' backfield. Or as Detroit Free Press beat man Curt Sylvester put it: "Even more company than he already has."

Three weeks into off-season workouts, Pinner is one of four tailbacks on the roster. Shawn Bryson, Olandis Gary and Avon Cobourne are the others.

But as Sylvester noted, by the time they get to training camp July 30, their competition will be expanded by at least one. Possibly a very significant one.

The Lions finished last in the NFL in rushing last season, averaging 83.6 yards a game, and there have been hints that president Matt Millen and head coach Steve Mariucci will seek help in the draft.

They could draft a running back as early as the first round if they take a strong liking to Steven Jackson of Oregon State or Kevin Jones of Virginia Tech. If they wait until the second or third round, the Lions might still be able to land Chris Perry of Michigan, Greg Jones of Florida State or Maurice Clarett of Ohio State were available.

Whatever happens, Pinner expects to play an expanded role in an improved running game. He said he is "at least 98 percent" recovered from the leg injury that cost him the first 13 games of his rookie season.

According to Sylvester, Pinner took only a couple of weeks off after the end of the season, then went to work with a trainer and massage therapist in Atlanta to complete his recovery from the broken left ankle and ligament damage he suffered at the Senior Bowl a year ago.

Despite Mariucci's longstanding reliance on a committee approach when it comes to his running backs, Pinner isn't convinced the system will last indefinitely.

"I think what the coaching staff is looking for, their initial thought is for a two-man rotation, but I think they're looking for someone to emerge among the group, to be that go-to back, to be the every-down back," he said.

"In the NFL, I know it's kind of hard to have just one back go through the whole season, and the rotation does keep the legs fresh for the whole season. But I think they're probably looking for somebody to emerge."

Pinner already has set goals for his second season: "At least 900 yards and probably like 200 to 300 receiving yards. Twelve-hundred all-purpose yards."

Okay. ... Seems like a bit of reach, but we'll take his projections under advisement.

But as Sylvester suggested, those totals would represent a tremendous increase in production for Pinner, who played only the final three games last season, carrying 39 times for 99 yards and catching five passes for 40 yards. ...

In Cincinnati. ... The Bengals re-signed wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh to a one-year contract Wednesday.

The Bengals drafted Houshmandzadeh in the seventh round in 2001 out of Oregon State. He played in only two games last season while spending most of the year recovering from a severe hamstring pull.

But Houshmandzadeh claims the injury won't be a factor this year.

"My leg is fine," he said Wednesday. "I trained it harder than I ever have. I had a power yoga instructor in (Los Angeles)."

In his first two seasons with the Bengals, Houshmandzadeh had 62 catches for 720 yards with one touchdown, 23 kickoff returns for a 20.6-yard average and 36 punt returns for a 7.8-yard average.

According to Cincinnati Enquirer staffer Mark Curnutte, the 49ers tried to trade for Houshmandzadeh last month but were told the Bengals were going to keep him.

Rookie Kelley Washington was the third receiver in 2003 behind Chad Johnson and Peter Warrick. And as Curnutte noted, there will be more competition at wideout this summer after the Bengals signed speedster Patrick Johnson as an unrestricted free agent. ...

In Dallas. ... The Cowboys signed restricted free-agent running back Aveion Cason on Wednesday.

Cason had surgery Dec. 9 to repair torn ligaments in his right knee. He is expected to be ready for training camp.