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In an article published last weekend, the Sports Xchange advised readers that the Jaguars are finally publicly coming to grips with the possibility that Fred Taylor "may not be able to play when the season starts and could miss most, if not all, of the season."

FOXSports.com reported it like this on Monday: "The outlook for running back Fred Taylor continues to dim."

Taylor missed the last two games of the regular season after injuring his knee last Dec. 19 in Green Bay.

The Xchange went on to note that team officials have been downplaying it ever since but new offensive coordinator Carl Smith sounds ready to deal with the possibility that Taylor won't be able to play.

When he was asked how good the offense can be without Taylor, he said, "If you take Fred out, it's a big hit. He's a terrific player and one of the joys of this process since I got here was watching him play on tape. It was exciting just watching that tape here by myself, so anytime you lose a terrific player, it's going to hurt you. But we won't use that as an excuse if he's not available."

This is the first time a Jaguar official -- or Taylor -- has talked about the possibility that Taylor may not play. The party line up until this time has been that Taylor won't be ready until June but would be ready to start training camp.

Not surprisingly, head coach Jack Del Rio continued to toe the company line as recently as Tuesday, when he told reporters: "We ask guys to suck it up and play through things and what-not during the season. This is not the time for that. Fred is being very diligent, being here working hard and doing all the things he needs to do."

But as Florida Times-Union staff writer Vito Stellino suggested, Del Rio has been overoptimistic about Taylor's condition in the past. The day after Taylor suffered the injury in Green Bay, he only said Taylor had "some soreness" in the knee.

After Taylor didn't play against Houston, Del Rio said he "anticipated" Taylor would play in the season finale in Oakland, but he didn't.

According to the FOXSports report, details from Taylor's camp have been sketchy, but teammates say Taylor has told them his knee surgery in January was much more extensive than the club initially let on.

Taylor now has damage to both the MCL and PCL in his left knee, and his availability for the start of training camp and perhaps the opening of the regular season appears to be in question. Taylor hasn't participated in any of the offseason programs that involve team drills, and the Jaguars are actively looking for a veteran.

Eddie George isn't a viable option, but Buffalo's Travis Henry seems to be a strong trade possibility, despite denials by James Harris, the team's vice president of player personnel, who says the team has made no overtures towards the Bills.

Meanwhile, except for the drafting of Alvin Pearman on the fourth round, the Jaguars hadn't upgraded that position and Smith has installed LaBrandon Toefield as the de facto No. 1 for purposes of the team's off-season work.

The way the Jaguars are lining up for the 14 organized team activities, Toefield is the running back, Greg Jones is the fullback and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala is backing up both while fighting for a starting spot.

And as Stellino pointed out, Smith needed no introduction to Toefield. "I watched him at LSU because my son went there and worked in the video department," the coach explained.

And Smith likes what he's seen of the 5-foot-11, 232-pound Toefield.

"I loved him [when Toefield was at LSU] and I still do," Smith said. "He's got quickness and he's got toughness. He's got size.

"He looks like a smaller back. But he's not. He was sitting there at 230 in college and, on the tape, when he gets hit, he's still coming. He's going to get that next couple of yards. He's got terrific hands. Catching the ball is not a problem for Toe. And he'll pick up a blitzer and he'll go hit him in the face."

Since Taylor started the first 30 games of Toefield's career with the Jaguars, Toefield made his mark mostly as a third-down receiver and special-teams player. He caught 14 passes as a rookie and 28 last year. He ran 53 times as a rookie and 51 last year.

Toefield wants to show what he can do in that offense if Taylor can't go.

"He taught me a lot about the game and about just being a pro," Toefield said, "I look at myself imitating him every day."

Following up on last week's biggest story. ... In an article published Saturday, St. Paul Pioneer Press beat man Don Seeholzer wrote: "Among the many questions swirling around Vikings running back Onterrio Smith as he awaits an expected one-year suspension for a third violation of the NFL's substance-abuse policy are these:

"Could the Vikings release him, and would they?"

Vikings vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski told Seeholzer the answers to those questions are, respectively, yes and no.

"Yes, we could release him now," Brzezinski said Friday. "But why?"

In other words, the Vikings have no immediate plans to release Smith, who would forfeit his $380,000 salary if he is suspended but couldn't be released until after the suspension.

"You can't release a player, in general, because he was suspended," Brzezinski said. "Under the terms of the collective bargaining agreement, you can't release a player as a punitive measure or a disciplinary measure because of a violation of league policy."

According to a person familiar with the situation, the NFL has notified Smith that he faces a one-year suspension, reportedly for missing a league-administered drug test. By NFL rules, Smith has five days to appeal any suspension, but neither he nor his agents could be reached for comment Friday.

The Vikings announced Thursday that Smith is excused from the rest of the team's offseason program. Smith was competing with Michael Bennett for the starting job, although head coach Mike Tice said Smith was a distant second in that race.

Which pretty much reflects the competition as reported here back in March.

Asked specifically if anyone has an edge in the looming three-way battle, Tice told Minneapolis Star Tribune staff writer Kevin Seifert, he was already leaning towards Bennett.

"He had a great preseason last year before getting hurt," the coach said. "I thought he was ready to take it the next level. ..."

Tice also said he's "praying" that Bennett stays healthy to at least give him a fair chance to win the job.

Bennett, of course, has been plagued by injuries during his four-year NFL career and some wonder if the man next in line -- with Smith no longer in the picture, Mewelde Moore, has the body type to handle an every-down role.

According to Star Tribune beat man Mark Craig, rookie Ciatrick Fason, the team's fourth-round draft pick this year, is likely to become No. 3 ahead of Butchie Wallace. Veteran Moe Williams is the third-down and short-yardage back.

Brzezinski told Seeholzer that the team is in no hurry to add a sixth running back.

"Not at this point," he said. "We're monitoring the running backs that are out there, but there's nothing on the horizon. We've been doing that for a while. ..."

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

In Indianapolis. ... Edgerrin James was a no-show, as expected, when the Colts opened their mandatory three-day mini-camp Friday. That left it to others to address the AWOL running back.

Asked why his close friend/teammate decided to remain in South Florida and skip mini-camp, wide receiver Reggie Wayne replied, "You have to ask him that.

"The only thing I can tell you is he has been preparing himself to be here. He's working hard."

According to Indianapolis Star News staffer Mike Chappell, James told head coach Tony Dungy his reason for missing mini-camp and subjecting himself to a $1,000 per-day fine during a telephone conversation, but Dungy declined to share what James said.

"It's probably better coming from him," Dungy said.

Chappell went on to remind readers that this marks the second time in his career James has failed to participate in a mandatory team function. He also skipped mini-camp in 2002 so he could concentrate on rehabilitating his surgically repaired left knee in Miami.

"But he's always come in (for training camp)," Wayne said. "This is how it goes. Whenever he gets here, he'll quiet everything up."

The next mandatory function is the start of training camp. Players report on July 27.

"We certainly expect him to be here when training camp and the regular season come around," quarterback Peyton Manning said.

Added Dungy: "We expect everybody to be here (for camp), just like we expect them to be here today. I guess there's no guarantees in life, but we will work with the guys who are here. ..."

In Baltimore. ... When the Ravens began their first offseason mini-camp last, Jamal Lewis was a notable absence.

But according to Baltimore Sun staff writer Jamison Hensley, that doesn't mean he's fallen out of the Ravens' tight-knit circle.

Team officials have kept close contact with Lewis throughout his four-month prison sentence in Pensacola, Fla., which included a recent visit by owner Steve Bisciotti. Lewis entered Federal Prison Camp on Feb. 4 after pleading guilty to using a cell phone more than four years ago to arrange a drug deal.

All of the reports have been positive, according to head coach Brian Billick.

Billick told reporters that Lewis is progressing on schedule from ankle surgery and weighs about 240 pounds, which is great shape for a player who has been known to balloon in the offseason.

"This sounds terrible, but he's in a great, regimented environment," the coach explained. "There's not a lot else for him to do but to stay focused."

After Lewis finishes the remaining weeks of his prison term, he will spend two months in a halfway house and perform 500 hours of community service.

Indications have been made to team officials that Lewis could serve his house arrest in Baltimore. If Lewis is at the Ravens' training complex in June, Billick said he's unsure how much the running back would participate in those mini-camps.

"The next hurdle for him is to get the conditioning level up because it's been so focused on the rehab," Billick said.

Asked if the ankle could hinder Lewis for training camp in August, Billick said, "I don't think that's an issue. ..."

Also according to Hensley, besides tight end Todd Heap (sidelined because of shoulder surgery), running back Musa Smith is the only other player expected to be limited because of injury. Smith broke his leg last November. ...

In Denver. ... Contrary to the popular notion competition for the starting tailback position is a two-man race between front-runner Tatum Bell and newcomer Maurice Clarett, Mike Anderson insists he's the man for the job.

"Of course I feel that way, I always feel that way," Anderson said. "I feel that way today, and I'll feel that way tomorrow when I wake up."

But as Denver Post staff writer Patrick Saunders suggested, Anderson has a tough fight ahead of him. He turns 32 in September and is the oldest running back on the roster. He also is coming back from a groin injury suffered during a preseason game last summer.

Anderson said he's in great shape and his groin was healed by Christmas. Plus, he insists he's got plenty of magic left in his body. During his rookie season in 2000, when injuries sidelined Terrell Davis and Olandis Gary, Anderson rushed for 1,487 yards and was named the NFL offensive rookie of the year.

"I've still got that in me," Anderson said. "For me to have a season like that, I have to go out and compete my tail off."

In addition to Bell and Clarett, Anderson also faces competition from former Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne and Quentin Griffin, who is coming back from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

As for Clarett, Saunders reports that head coach Mike Shanahan was impressed with the rookie.

"He looked pretty good out there," Shanahan said of the third-round pick. "I watched him today and it looked like things came pretty natural to him. He's got great hands, and it was a good first day for him."

Maybe so, but Fantasy owners should keep their focus on Bell, last year's second-round draft pick, who excelled late last season -- while playing through a painful shoulder injury -- and positioned himself as the favorite to be the 2005 starter. ...

Also in Denver. ... The Rocky Mountain News reports that an invitation to have Jerry Rice join the team has been formally extended. All that remains is Rice's RSVP.

According to News staffer Lee Rasizer, Rice will take the weekend to consider the offer before informing the Broncos of his decision early next week. "He's just considering whether it's the right thing to do," Rice's agent, Jim Steiner, said Friday.

Rasizer went on to remind readers that the Broncos are high on Darius Watts as their No. 3 receiver and made sure Rice wasn't under the impression he was guaranteed a spot in the regular rotation simply by his reputation.

"There's no promises of him being the third receiver, fourth receiver, fifth receiver," Shanahan said. "If he does come here, we'll give him a chance to compete with the other receivers. ..."

In Cleveland. ... Reuben Droughns has returned to town and is working out with the team again.

"Right now, I'm not worrying about the business side of it," he told Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter Mary Kay Cabot Monday night by phone. "All I'm concerned about is learning the system and getting in shape for the season."

Droughns, acquired in a trade with Denver, walked out of the Browns' off-season conditioning program in April and said he was prepared to hold out for a bigger deal.

He's under contract for $950,000 this season and $1.15 million in 2006. Asked whether he's prepared to play under his current contract: "I'm not ready to comment on that."

He said it wasn't like him to be away from his teammates and not preparing for the season.

"I definitely feel I'll be around for the quarterback school [starting May 23] and the mini-camp [June 13-15]," he said. "I'm committed to doing everything I can to get ready to play."

The Browns have declined to say whether they would be willing to redo his deal, but Droughns' return might have been prompted be recent reports hinting at a change of the backfield's off-season pecking order.

According to Canton Repository beat man Steve Doerschuk, Lee Suggs currently projects as the No. 1 running back and William Green has worked his way back into the picture.

"Will Green has done a nice job,' head coach Romeo Crennel said on Monday. "He's shown up every day. He's worked extremely hard. He's in better condition. He's stronger. So hopefully that will continue and we'll have a good player.'

Asked by Doerschuk to share his impressions of Green from watching film, Crennel said:

"I thought that sometimes he was up and down as a player. He's had some good games, some games that were not so good. But I think that he needs direction. (Running backs coach) Dave Atkins and (coordinator) Maurice Carthon, I think, will do a good job with William and make him a better player. ...'

And finally, in Miami. ... As Palm Beach Post staffer Greg A. Bedard reported it Saturday morning: "The agent for Ricky Williams said Friday the retired running back 'absolutely' will report to Dolphins training camp in July.

"'Ricky's made the decision he wants to play again,' Leigh Steinberg said.

"Asked when Williams can be expected to make a final decision about returning to the Dolphins, Steinberg said: 'He has. He's expressed his desire to play this year.'"

However, SI.com insider Michael Silver offered readers this tidbit on Friday:

"In an instant-messaging session with Williams on Wednesday, I asked the former All-Pro halfback whether he planned to play football again, and his answer was, 'I honestly do not know.'"

Always interesting to find out just accurate an agent's understanding of a client's stance really is -- or in this case isn't.

In all fairness to Steinberg, Williams by no means ruled out a return.

"I've still got 4,000 yards left in me," he told Silver, meaning a pair of 2,000-yard rushing seasons. "Who is gonna turn that down?"

For what it's worth. ... Silver's report also said Williams weighs 195 pounds -- about 30 pounds lighter than he weighed in his last season with the Dolphins. Steinberg didn't dispute the player's reported weight.

"He just returned from a respected yoga teaching center in India," said Steinberg, who added that Williams is now a certified yoga instructor. "That is a very strenuous physical discipline which fortunately allowed him to keep in shape. ..."

Pardon my ignorance here; being unfamiliar with the discipline myself, I'm not sure how being in "yoga shape" compares to being in "football shape." But I will go out on a limb and suggest Williams will need a fair amount of work to get himself ready for NFL action.

In case you missed it. ... If he returns, Williams would have to wait until July to un-retire. Otherwise, he would face a one-year suspension for his violations of the NFL's substance-abuse program. He'll owe the league a four-game suspension if he returns to the game in July.