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According to Baltimore Sun staff writer Jeff Barker, the drug conspiracy case of Jamal Lewis, which once appeared headed to trial in August, now seems likely to slip into the Ravens' regular season or beyond, said the running back's attorney.

"It certainly seems unlikely it'll be August," lawyer Donald Samuel said Wednesday.

Samuel said he expects to make a request -- either in writing or informally during a pre-trial conference -- to the judge to delay the trial until after the season.

The Ravens' regular season begins Sept. 12 and ends Jan. 2. Players report to training camp next Thursday.

Ravens officials said they would adapt to Lewis' schedule as much as possible and according to Barker, have considered approaching the situation in a similar fashion to what the Los Angeles Lakers did with Kobe Bryant. Bryant stayed in the starting lineup during the NBA regular season and playoffs by flying back and forth to Colorado to attend court sessions in his sexual assault case.

In early June, attorneys in the case had forecast a trial by September. But the case is still firmly in the "discovery" phase, in which lawyers for both sides exchange information. The magistrate has not indicated when she will rule on a variety of pre-trial motions, and a conference to discuss a trial date with parties in the case has yet to be scheduled.

"We have no idea when the judge will tell us to show up," Samuel told Barker via e-mail. "We'll be ready; but as of now, she may call us and tell us to be here in three weeks, or she may say that she thinks it is reasonable to wait until February."

Lewis was indicted five months ago and charged with helping broker a cocaine deal for a hometown friend. He is also charged with using a cell phone in the commission of a drug crime.

The running back could face a career-halting, mandatory prison term of at least 10 years if he is convicted and the alleged conspiracy is found to involve at least 5 kilograms of cocaine.

I'll continue to follow this story closely and pass along further news and developments warrant. ...

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

In San Francisco. ... It appears Tim Rattay's recovery is going well. In fact, San Francisco Chronicle staffer Jim Lynch advised readers this morning, "The team's starting quarterback should not only be ready by the start of the regular season, Rattay should return from his torn groin muscle injury a few weeks into training camp, which begins July 30."

At the time of the injury, in May, the 49ers said it was possible Rattay could miss as many as three regular season games. Rattay, after researching the injury with 49ers trainers, maintained he would be ready in 12 weeks, just in time for training camp.

With patience and hard work, Rattay has nearly accomplished his goal.

"It feels good," Rattay told Lynch. "I've been jogging the last two weeks."

He began sprinting this week and is performing his quarterback drops at full speed.

Nevertheless, the 49ers are going slowly with him. Rattay would like to play in the 49ers' exhibition opener Aug. 14 against the visiting Raiders, but realizes the game a week later in Chicago is more realistic.

"I don't need to rush it and play in that first preseason game," Rattay said. "Even if I do, as the starter, it might only be one series. There's no need to be crazy and rush back."

He tore the groin May 7, on the 49ers' first day of mini-camp practice, while rolling to his right and throwing a pass away. The torn abductor tendon, which is part of the groin muscle, was surgically re-attached within the week.

Rattay believes eventually he'll be even stronger than he was before the injury. He has been strengthening his lower abdominal muscles for the last several weeks at a physical therapy clinic in San Francisco. Rattay told Lynch he would continue to do these "core" exercises throughout the season.

Lynch added: "Going slowly with Rattay, besides following the 49ers' tradition of being cautious with injuries, allows the coaches to get a prolonged training camp look at second-year player Ken Dorsey."

Dorsey received most of the plays with the first team throughout mini-camps and will continue to do so at the start of camp.

The 49ers might even consider delaying Rattay's first start until the Aug. 27 game in Minnesota to make sure he's fully recovered and to get Dorsey more work.

When he does return, Rattay will have to adjust to what amounts to a new scheme in fairly short order. However, head coach Dennis Erickson said at the team's last mini-camp in June that his major concern was with Rattay's physical readiness.

"Tim is smart enough and has been around long enough to pick all that stuff up," Erickson said.

Erickson said that Rattay will start no matter when he returns. ...

In Arizona. ... Bryant Johnson, one of the Cardinals' three starting receivers, is recovering from a stress fracture in his right foot and is questionable for the start of training camp.

According to Arizona Republic beat man Ken Somers, Bryant experienced pain shortly after the team's voluntary practices ended in June, he said. Surgery wasn't required, but he's wearing a boot to immobilize the foot.

Bryant isn't sure if he will be ready to practice when training camp opens Aug. 1 in Flagstaff.

He hopes to know more about his condition after a medical examination later this week, he said.

In the meantime, head coach Dennis Green has decided to use a three-receiver set as his base offensive package. That includes Johnson, Anquan Boldin and this year's first-round pick, Larry Fitzgerald.

Somers went on to suggest that losing Johnson for a significant amount of time would be a blow to those plans, because he is expected to be the team's main deep threat. ...

In Tennessee. ... With Eddie George no longer in the picture, the Titans agreed to terms on a one-year contract with Antowain Smith.

According to Nashville Tennessean staff writer Jim Wyatt, Smith, who visited team Tuesday, agreed to a deal for the veteran minimum of $660,000. He'll receive a signing bonus of roughly $25,000, but he'll have a chance to earn additional money through various incentives.

Agent Kennard McGuire told Wyatt that Smith was traveling last night and needed to give the deal his final nod. The agreement could be announced by the Titans as early as today.

The 6-foot-2, 232-pound Smith, 32, is regarded as the best free-agent running back available. He visited the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last month and also drew interest from some other teams.

Last season Smith rushed for 642 yards on 182 carries while playing in 13 games for the Patriots.

In Tampa Bay. ... As Tampa Tribune staffer Katherine Smith noted this morning, "Throughout the offseason, the Bucs have been showing off first- round draft pick Michael Clayton all over town, beaming with pride about their rookie."

And now -- as soon as today, the Bucs could begin bragging about their signed wide receiver after the two parties agreed in principle to a contract Wednesday.

Minor details have to be worked out, but the deal should become official soon, making Clayton, the 15th overall selection, the highest pick from this year's draft class to agree to terms.

The deal is reportedly for six years and voidable after five.

With the Bucs' No. 1 returning receiver, Keenan McCardell, threatening to hold out for a new contract, Clayton's role in head coach Jon Gruden's offense could increase.

McCardell has said he will not report to training camp, which opens July 30, unless the Bucs increase his salary to reflect his status as the team's primary receiver.

Smith went on to remind readers that while McCardell skipped the Bucs' offseason workouts and mandatory mini-camp, Clayton impressed coaches with his quick grasp of the offense.

Clayton left LSU with a school-record 21 touchdowns in three seasons. Last year, in helping lead the Tigers to a co-national championship, Clayton put up his best numbers with 78 receptions for 1,079 yards. ...

In St. Louis. ... Head coach Mike Martz advised those who expect first-round draft pick Steven Jackson to immediately step in as the top backup to Marshall Faulk to think again.

"To think that any back is going to come in and alternate with a guy who's been an MVP and is headed for the Hall of Fame. ... Without ever doing anything, is just insane," Martz said Wednesday. "He missed all of spring, and then he was supposed to be here this (past) weekend and didn't show up. So, we're just going to move on."

Jackson, a 6-foot-3, 233-pound Oregon State product, remains unsigned and as St. Louis Post-Dispatch staff writer Bill Coats put it, "clearly not on Martz's good side at the moment."

Jackson attended the team's rookie camp, but under NFL rules had to skip the three-day full-squad session in May because Oregon State's senior class had yet to graduate. According to Coats, Martz didn't elaborate on why Jackson was expected at Rams Park last weekend.

Jackson's status is significant because Faulk, 31, has endured a succession of knee problems. There even has been speculation that if his knee doesn't respond fully after another offseason operation, a frustrated Faulk might consider retirement. While Martz acknowledged that he was "a little bit" concerned about Faulk's health, he was quick to put his apprehension in perspective.

"I'm less concerned probably this year than I was the last two years," said Martz. "I know that he's come in the last two years probably about 70 percent. Last year, his knee was awful, and we tried to kind of get by. ...

"He's much further along physically than he has been the last few seasons, and yet he's not 100 percent by any stretch. He's probably 85 to 90 percent. Over the next month or so, we're going to try to get him as close to (100 percent) as possible."

Asked whether Faulk might never again be at full capacity, Martz said: "I suppose that's possible. But Marshall at 95 percent is probably better than anybody else in the league."

As for Jackson, the question now becomes how long it takes him to pick up the Rams' offense. Martz isn't optimistic that it will be any time soon.

Coats went on to note that Jackson is currently listed behind Faulk, Lamar Gordon and even Arlen Harris, who is being moved to fullback, on the depth chart.

"He's going to come in as the fourth back," Martz said. "And if he's better than our third back, then he'll move up. If he's better than No. 2, he'll move up there. ...

"He's so far behind right now, whatever he can do is a bonus," the coach added. "If he can catch up, God bless him. ... All that glitz and glamour of being the No. 1 guy, he's going to have to shake that off and go to work. Whatever he does on this football team, he's doing to earn every inch of it. Nothing's going to be given to him. ..."

And finally, in Washington. ... The Redskins signed journeyman tight end Sean Brewer on Wednesday. Brewer, at 6-4 and 255 pounds, spent the 2003 season with the Atlanta Falcons, serving mostly in a reserve capacity, on special teams and in goal-line situations.

In Washington, Brewer is reunited with Redskins tight ends coach Rennie Simmons, who served as Brewer's position coach in Atlanta as well. Brewer was third on the depth chart in Atlanta behind 2004 Pro Bowler Alge Crumpler and current Redskins teammate Brian Kozlowski.

Brewer joins a very crowded field in Washington, where he'll compete with Walter Rasby, Fred Baxter, Mike Sellers, Robert Royal, rookie Chris Cooley and Kozlowski for snaps at tight end and H-back.