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Another Sunday, another Fantasy Notebook. ... Say! Did you hear that the Cowboys released Terrell Owens on Wednesday? Did you hear the Bills signed him to a one-year contract on Saturday?

What's that? You did??

And you want to hear about something else -- if only for a brief moment or two?

Well. ... Then I have a little something for you.

We'll get the ball rolling this week in Denver. ... After a week of unrest and uncertainty it appears resolution between Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Jay Cutler could be coming.

"Josh and Jay will sit down and meet next week when Jay gets back from Nashville," Broncos spokesman Patrick Smyth announced last Tuesday.

And then Smyth, who said he was speaking on behalf of owner Pat Bowlen and McDaniels, made the following point of emphasis: "The Denver Broncos are not trading, Jay Cutler. Period."

McDaniels said the same (in fact, he pretty much followed Smyth's statement verbatim) in a conversation with NFL Network insider Adam Schefter a short time later.

The actual day of the meeting hasn't been announced, but that it's taking place at all is a positive.

All this comes after Cutler, who is preparing to learn the intricate Patriots-style offense after working in the West Coast system his first three years in the NFL, went immediately went public with his dismay when he learned that McDaniels entertained the notion of dealing him to another team.

"I'm upset. I mean, I'm really shocked at this point," Cutler told the Denver Post last Saturday. And he remained angry through the weekend. Cutler told ESPN insider Chris Mortensen late last Sunday that he had no interest in meeting with his coach.

"They want me to come in and talk to 'em but I'm not doing it right now; I'm going to lay low," Cutler told Mort late Sunday. "The [Broncos] deny everything. That's a problem. We know for a fact they tried to trade me."

Post staffer Mike Klis, citing a source close to Cutler, clarified the problem on Wednesday.

Apparently, Cutler was not upset because McDaniels tried to trade him. He's upset because he doesn't believe McDaniels' claim the trade proposal was initiated by other clubs.

What's the difference? When other teams seek Cutler, it means he's wanted. If the Broncos try to trade him, it means Cutler is unwanted.

The facts as we know them: A proposed trade last weekend would have sent Cutler from the Broncos to Tampa Bay in exchange for at least a first-round draft pick. The Broncos were to then trade Tampa Bay's pick to New England for quarterback Matt Cassel.

Cassel instead was dealt to the Kansas City Chiefs.

McDaniels was the offensive coordinator last year in New England, where he tutored Cassel, a career backup who led the Patriots to an 11-5 season after Tom Brady was injured in the opener.

"I understand the logic of why the Broncos wanted to make the move," Ron Jaworski, current ESPN analyst and former NFL quarterback, said in response to the ongoing drama. "McDaniels knows Cassel, won 11 games with him last season. Cassel knows McDaniels' system. He's a player the new coach feels completely comfortable with. With Cassel, they would have hit the ground running.

"If you're McDaniels, you almost have to kick the tires to see if you can get Cassel. With Cutler, no matter how talented he is, there is going to be a period of adjustment."

That period of adjustment clearly became trickier when word of the possible trade leaked.

As we've seen in past cases (think Brett Favre last offseason), hurt feelings have a tendency to cause problems -- problems the two sides in this case absolutely must get past.

The fact that Denver can no longer land Cassel greatly limits their options (other than Cutler) at the position. As SportingNews.com staffer Clifton Brown suggested Monday, at this point, both the Broncos and Cutler are better off together.

Strong-armed 25-year-old quarterbacks with Cutler's ability simply are not easy to find.

That said, I still contend Cutler's tendency to react rashly and publicly to the least provocation isn't an ideal trait when it comes to NFL quarterbacks. It certainly can't sit well with McDaniels, who comes from a team -- the Patriots -- where such behavior simply isn't tolerated.

Looking beyond his immediate reaction, I agree with Brown's contention that if Cutler thought he was untouchable, he was naive.

But if the report by SI.com insider Peter King that Cutler had requested a trade in January (after the Broncos allowed former offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, with whom the quarterback was close, to leave for USC) is accurate, Cutler is something much worse.

Remember: We're talking about a QB with 17-20 record and no playoff appearances since supplanting Jake Plummer as the starter late in the 2006 season. A player known for his petulant, moody personality in dealings with teammates and the media alike.

If we get further confirmation that he requested a trade only to throw a hissy fit when it came down, that reputation isn't going to get any better.

Bottom line: Cutler still has his starting job, still has his youth and still has his talent. But right now, the Broncos also need his leadership. As Brown summed up: "If you are a true franchise quarterback, sometimes you have to take a sack for the team, even when you feel you deserve better. This is Cutler's turn. ..."

Remember, the Broncos are also dealing with another major headache following Pro Bowl receiver Brandon Marshall's fourth arrest in three years. Marshall was arrested Sunday after getting into a fight with his new fiancé.

The disorderly conduct charge was quickly dropped in at Atlanta court when he and his fiancé refused to testify against each other, but Marshall still faces discipline from the NFL for repeated violations of the league's personal conduct code.

According to Schefter, when the league reduced Marshall's suspension from three games to one last year, the league did so with the warning that if he was involved in any more legal incidents, it would be grounds for a lengthy ban.

Schefter went on to advise readers those familiar with his case believe his next suspension will be longer -- quite possibly considerably longer -- than three games.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will review this latest incident. If he is found to be in violation of the NFL's Personal Conduct Policy, Marshall could be benched indefinitely.

"We will (still) look into it," league spokesman Greg Aiello told the Associated Press on Monday after the case against Marshall was dropped.

According to AP sports writer Arnie Stapleton, Marshall's latest arrest puts a crimp in his plans to seek a huge contract as one of the league's top receivers. He's due $2.2 million this season in the final year of a four-year contract he signed as a rookie.

Cutler and Marshall, fellow members of the Broncos' dazzling 2006 draft class, are the faces of the franchise and the two biggest talents McDaniels inherited.

And now, they're two of his biggest problems. ...

Also in Denver. ... Klis reports the Broncos have been shopping Tony Scheffler. Scheffler, 26, is considered one of the NFL's best receivers at tight end -- his average of 16.1 yards per catch led all players at his position with at least 40 receptions last year.

However, there is concern Scheffler might not fit in the New England offensive system McDaniels brought with him to Denver.

New England's offense usually lines up with three wide receivers and one tight end. The Broncos already have the prototype New England-style tight end in Daniel Graham, who played for the Patriots from 2002-06. Graham left New England for free agency in part because the Pats rarely use the tight end in their passing game.

According to Klis, the most logical destinations for Scheffler are teams that operate the West Coast offense, which often uses a second tight end in the game. The Eagles have the most prominent West Coast offense and a serious need for help at the position. ...

In Cincinnati. ... While the Bengals work to fill their needs on the offense through free agency and the draft, Cincinnati Enquirer staffer Joe Reedy reports that offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski continues to work on remaking the playbook for the upcoming season.

"It's going to be different," said Bratkowski. "It's not going to be substantially more changes. Some of the things might be going back and doing some of the things we had in there six years ago."

According to Reedy, after the offense finished last in the league for the first time, head coach Marvin Lewis, Bratkowski and the rest of the offensive staff went through every play from last year and evaluated what succeeded and what didn't.

From there they have started to rebuild the playbook, starting with pass protection schemes before moving to running plays and eventually all of the pass plays.

Throughout the process, Bratkowski and quarterback Carson Palmer have been in constant communication about what they would like to accomplish. Palmer is currently working out in California, but he has DVDs of the last six seasons. If Bratkowski wants him to look at something, Palmer can flip in the DVD and give his opinion about a play or scheme.

"In most of the cases I have been anticipating what he would say," Bratkowski said.

The one thing that Bratkowski struggled with was anticipating is what his lineup is going to be this fall -- something that became clearer this past week.

Palmer remained the absolute; Cedric Benson's return should stabilize the lead back role; Laveranues Coles will try to cover for the loss of T.J. Houshmandzadeh. ... But there are still questions at a couple of the offensive line positions.

The process, however, will continue regardless of personnel.

"We'll start putting in some of the new concepts during the offseason workouts. Some of the things are still up in the air because you want to match players and put them in the best position to succeed," Bratkowski said. "By the time we're done with the draft, we should know enough and start focusing a little more on things."

It should be noted that Lewis began focusing on the bigger picture shortly after the season ended. He discussed his concerns during the week of Super Bowl XLII.

Without naming names, Lewis put the onus on the players to improve their discipline and raise their level of play.

"Some of our better players have not played up to the standard they need to play to," Lewis told reporters. "When you have injuries and other stuff, guys have to rise up and play better. You can't play the same.

"You have to go out and play better, and that's what good teams do. I think we have fought through mediocrity. When mediocre players have mediocre success, then they feel like they have done more than they have really done."

While Lewis didn't specify who needed to step up their game specifically, it should come as no surprise to see the offense getting extra attention.

Remember: The Bengals ranked dead last in total offense (245.4 yards per game), also ranking last in scoring offense (12.8 points per game) as wide receiver Chad Ocho Cinco caught just 53 passes for 540 yards.

"We have to have a big change," Lewis said at the time. "Our style of run and passing game, we have to change because our players have changed and I think that's important that we continue to adjust with them some. We need to do a better job of pass protection, and you do that by being able to run the football more effectively.

"From blocking to finishing plays, to our wide receivers blocking and being at the right depth on routes. The discipline of guys playing those spots has to improve.

"They eroded, and that's what hurt us and got our quarterback hurt. ..."

It's safe to say Palmer's presence on the field will be a determining factor in any offensive turnaround. ...

One other note here -- for what it's worth. ... Long-time Dayton Daily News beat writer Chick Ludwig made the following prediction on Saturday: "Laveranues Coles will have more catches for more yards than Seattle's T.J. Houshmandzadeh in 2009. ..."

In Philadelphia. ... Agent Todd France told the Philadelphia Daily News last Monday that Brian Westbrook did indeed have a minor arthroscopic procedure on his left knee, more than a month ago. Asked if Westbrook would be fine for mini-camps, France said: "He's already fine. This was a long time ago. It was basically just a cleanup."

The Eagles never announced Westbrook's procedure. His left knee was a continuing irritation to him last season.

After leading the league in yards from scrimmage in 2007, his numbers fell off dramatically in '08.

"I think he's going to be fine," general manager Tom Heckert said in February -- long before the scope was made public. "He's been rehabbing. People have wondered whether he's done. Well, he was pretty damn good two years ago.

"One year of being banged up isn't enough reason to throw him off to the side. He's going to be fine."

Maybe so. ... But Westbrook will be 30 before the start of next season and has what the Sports Xchange has characterized as "a degenerative knee."

He also had the lowest rushing and receiving averages of his career last season and seldom was able to practice. He still has some tread left on his tires, but he can't be a 25-touch-a-game guy anymore.

Given that -- and the free-agent departure of Correll Buckhalter, who signed with the Broncos last week, the Eagles almost certainly are going to get help for Westbrook this offseason.

As Pro Football Weekly noted, with a banged-up offensive line, no true fullback and no real inside runner to complement him, the Eagles know they can't afford to expose him like that again.

One route could be to use one of the team's first-round draft picks in this area. It's a good year for backs, and there's a chance that a good one could slide in Round One because of the lack of teams needing backs that early. ...

In Atlanta. ... PFW's Dan Parr advised readers last week that the Falcons will be keeping a close watch on Michael Turner's workload after he led the league in carries last season with 376.

Turner is 27, which is an age when some running backs have begun to slow down, but having served as backup for the Chargers from 2004-07, Turner entered '08 fresh, with only 228 carries.

Still, the Falcons will look to split carries more evenly between Turner, Jerious Norwood, Jason Snelling and Thomas Brown next season.

"I think it's important to be cognizant of (Turner's number of carries)," said Falcons G.M. Thomas Dimitroff at the NFL Scouting Combine. "Michael's a very strong individual. He's strong physically all over. He can absorb the blows, and he hasn't had a lot of wear and tear on his body. He runs with passion, which we love. …

"I think going forward we'll continue to be creative (in how we use our backs) and you'll see some adjustment and some variation."

We'll see. I still have a hard time believing the Falcons are going to take the ball out of Turner's given his production. He certainly answered any questions about his ability to handle a workhorse role by running for almost 1,700 yards.

He held up under the heavy workload and showed his ability to grind it out and break the big play.

As the Xchange noted, Norwood showed signs of becoming a dependable third-down back and solid pass catcher out of the backfield. His durability was once again a factor as he was not the same after suffering a rib injury against Denver.

Snelling is a hard-charging runner whose playing time increased. He's real solid in pass protection and good on screen passes. Brown is a Darren Sproles-type who is a big-play threat. ...

In Indianapolis. ... The biggest question the Colts face in coming months is how they'll replace Marvin Harrison. As Indianapolis Star beat writer Mike Chappell noted last month, Harrison's diminishing productivity notwithstanding, the void his recent release leaves is huge -- especially considering who's left.

Reggie Wayne returns. He's coming off a third straight Pro Bowl appearance and already had supplanted Harrison as Peyton Manning's No. 1 option.

Anthony Gonzalez returns. He's coming off his second and best year in the NFL: 57 receptions, 664 yards, four touchdowns.

Dallas Clark returns. The tight end is routinely used as a third receiver when offensive coordinator Tom Moore spreads the field, but again, he's a tight end.

After that?

A scan of the Colts' receiving corps reveals nothing but youth and unproven commodities. Roy Hall and Pierre Garcon are the only other players with NFL catches, and they combine for five. Sam Giguere and Taj Smith were practice-squad players in 2008.

As Chappell kindly understated: "At this point it's difficult to see an every-game starter among those four."

Coaches like the potential of Garcon and, particularly, Hall, who has nice size at 6-3 and 240 pounds. But Hall has missed 25 of a possible 32 regular-season games because of shoulder and knee injuries.

A likely scenario involves the Colts seeking Harrison's replacement in the April 25-26 NFL draft.

The Colts own the 27th overall pick, and have used that bottom-of-the-first-round placement to stock Manning's shelf of options in the past: Wayne with the 30th pick in 2001, Clark with the 24th in '03 and Gonzalez with the 32nd in '07.

Even a month before Harrison's release, team president Bill Polian listed receiver at the top of his off-season priorities.

"Marvin's not going to play forever," he said in January. "We've got to be thinking about what's the future at that critical position.”

No doubt. ...

In a related note. ... King advised readers on Monday that he'll be surprised if Harrison plays again.

King explained: "[Harrison has] made more than $80 million in his 13-year career, including $23 million over the last three seasons. He was due to make $9 million this year. His knees are hurt and he doesn't love football enough at this point to play for something like $2 million plus incentives.

"In fact, I don't think he loves football much at all right now, feeling the way he feels. And he's not going to fake it. Might he go to someone's camp this summer? Only if he gets real money to do so. ..."

In Pittsburgh. ... The Steelers lost their first free agent when wide receiver Nate Washington agreed to terms with the Titans on Monday.

Although Washington was the team's No. 3 receiver behind Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward, his departure leaves a hole in the Super Bowl champions' offense.

"A big one," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians told Pittsburgh Tribune-Review staffer Mike Prisuta on Monday night. "The guy (Washington) became a heck of a player for us. He takes the top end off the coverage. We've got to bring a young guy along."

The Steelers will have options in their search for a replacement for Washington at No. 3 receiver -- including 2008 second-round draft pick Limas Sweed -- but none of them will be proven commodities.

"It'll be Limas, Martin Nance and whoever we draft, one of those cats," Arians said. "Limas has the ability to do it. He just has to continue to grow and be consistent.

"He's shown the ability to get behind people and that was the No. 1 thing Nate gave us, the ability to stretch coverage."

As Prisuta noted, the 6-3, 212-pound, Nance was a member of the Steelers' practice squad last year. A former teammate of quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's at Miami, Ohio, Nance caught four passes for 33 yards in one game with Minnesota in 2006.

Sweed, 6-4, 220, caught six passes for 64 yards in the regular season as a rookie and two for 20 yards in the postseason.

His most memorable play came in the AFC Championship Game against Baltimore, when he dropped what would have been a long touchdown pass and then faked an injury in the end zone, which forced the Steelers to waste a timeout.

"Early in his career (Washington) dropped some balls, as Limas has," Arians said. "Limas gives us a bigger, more physical guy to do some blocking and some in-the-middle catching.

"I've seen him catch enough balls in practice that I know he has good hands. I think he has some focus, eye-hand coordination things that have to be worked on. Then it's just a matter of trusting your hands."

Arians, of course, has seen much more of Sweed than the rest of us. And I would suggest Fantasy owners will want see more of the youngster, who dropped almost as many as he caught -- and did not even play in the first five games -- as a rookie before getting too excited. ...

In Tennessee. ... If you believe Vince Young's agent, the former first-round pick isn't happy watching from the sidelines on Sundays. And Young plans to do something about it.

In fact, agent Major Adams told Nashville Tennessean beat writer Jim Wyatt that when the Titans re-signed Kerry Collins -- essentially committing to him as the starting quarterback this fall -- it only made Young that much hungrier to win back his old job.

"That decision has no bearing on Vince's thinking," Adams said Wednesday. "He is just trying to get himself together, not worrying about what they are doing with Kerry. That doesn't matter to him.

"Vince is not upset. He is not asking for a trade or anything. He loves the organization, loves (Titans owner) Bud Adams, and he wants to be in Tennessee. But he still wants to play, and is approaching this offseason like he's going to."

The third-year pro started the opener, then played in only two other games as Collins led the Titans to a 13-3 finish and the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs.

Last week the Titans agreed to terms with Collins on a two-year, $14 million contract that's scheduled to pay him $8.5 million in bonus money and base salary in 2009.

All indications are Collins will be the starter again this fall, yet Adams said Young, who started 28 games over his first two seasons, thinks he can win back the job.

Young has been working out in Houston and San Diego and plans to return to Nashville for the start of the team's offseason conditioning program on March 16, Adams said.

Last offseason, Young attended classes at the University of Texas and traveled to Nashville on long weekends. He attended mini-camps but missed significant portions of the off-season program, which is not mandatory but which players are expected to attend.

The lost time set Young back with new offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger, who had replaced Norm Chow in January.

When asked recently what Young needs to do to win the starting job, head coach Jeff Fisher said: "Work to improve his fundamentals and do whatever any other player does."

What a concept!

And the former first-round pick might even understand it. This offseason, Adams said Young is committing himself 100 percent to football, working out and watching game film.

In other words, Young plans to do his job for a change. ...

In San Francisco. ... According to PFW's Dan Arkush, no matter how hard he tries to avoid it, head coach Mike Singletary is always going to come off as a bit intimidating. But at this year's Combine in Indianapolis, the Hall of Fame linebacker said he planned on being more of a father figure than a stern disciplinarian moving forward, with an emphasis on creating more of a family atmosphere among his players.

With that in mind, Arkush asked Singletary for an update on his relationship with Vernon Davis, whom he ordered off the field in his head-coaching debut last season after Davis was called for an ill-timed personal foul -- and then dared to question the new head coach's decision.

"Vernon is like my second son," Singletary told PFW. "I felt that way when we had the incident to begin with. I love Vernon Davis, and I wish I had more (players) like him. He is just raw emotionally, and what you see is what you get. What he's feeling, you're gonna hear, and I love that about Vernon.

"I think as he continues to mature, he will become more and more special. I'm excited about him going forward, and you're going to be excited, too, after you see what he does."

As a Fantasy owner dying to see somebody tap into Davis' full athletic potential I'd like to believe that will be the case. But the past two seasons have taught me to keep my expectations in check. ...

And finally this week, from the "Mother Knows Best?" file. ... There isn't much being said by the Chargers or representatives for LaDainian Tomlinson regarding the running back's contract renegotiation, a process that is well into its second week.

But San Diego Union-Tribune staffer Kevin Acee reported on Saturday that the back and forth is finished. It's is up to Tomlinson now. It's a matter of whether he wants to play for less money in San Diego.

According to Acee, Tomlinson has the Chargers' final offer.

While we don't know the details -- it's not clear whether the length of a new deal would be two or three years, or what form any new money might take (signing bonus, roster bonus, incentives) -- we do know it will be worth less than the $24 million he's currently scheduled to make by 2011.

We also know it's up to LT whether he wants to stay and play for less money.

And at least one person close to the situation isn't hopeful about a deal getting done. Tomlinson's mother, Loreane Tomlinson, expressed that sentiment on Thursday morning in a radio interview with San Diego's 1090 AM.

"I'll be honest with you, it doesn't look promising," she said.

"Then again, I hope I'm wrong. We want to finish with the team we started with. I hope they want him. After everything that's happened, this (renegotiation) is almost like a slap in the face. But I'm just a mom who wants what is best for her son."

This comes a day after Tomlinson discussed his uncertain status after being inducted into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in Waco, Texas.

"I am optimistic (a restructure) will happen," Tomlinson told the Fort-Worth Star Telegram on Wednesday. "But again, I'm realistic about certain things, and I understand it is a business. Sometimes business decisions are made that are out of our control.

"But my heart wants to stay in San Diego."

Even if Mom doesn't see it that way. ...

That's it for this week's Notebook. I'll check in again next Sunday. ... In the meantime, keep an eye on the News & Views section of this site for late-breaking news and other tidbits of interest. Watch the Headline News section for more in-depth reviews of current events -- including the Fantasy Notebook.