News & Info/Headlines

If it's Sunday morning, it must be time for another edition of the Fantasy Notebook. And once again, we'll use the Notebook to further examine some of the recent free-agent moves and what kind of impact the changes might have on some key Fantasy prospects and the offenses they'll be playing for.

We'll start out this week in Denver, where Travis Henry arrived in Denver with some lofty ambitions in mind.

As Associated Press sports writer Pat Graham reported, the newly signed tailback prefers to keep his rushing goals private, but he did drop a pretty solid hint.

"I'll let it out soon," Henry said with a smile. "I want to put up numbers like [Terrell Davis] did when he was here."

Henry, who agreed to a five-year deal with Denver on March 5 with $12 million in guaranteed bonuses, is setting the bar high. Davis rushed for 1,538 yards in 1996, 1,750 in '97 and 2,008 in '98.

He's probably in the right place.

In fact, the former Titan and Bill still can't believe he's in Denver, where the Broncos have produced a 1,000-yard running back in 11 of the 12 seasons that head coach Mike Shanahan has been in charge.

"Chill bumps went all through my body," Henry said when he discovered Denver's interest in him. "I just knew I wanted to be a part of it."

And now that he is a part of it, the objective is clear.

"My main thing is coming in ready to tote the load and keep the legacy going," Henry said. "It's a challenge knowing that every back that they've had has gone over 1,000 yards."

Henry was in Denver with newly-acquired tight end Daniel Graham for their official introductions Monday afternoon. Graham agreed to a five-year deal that includes $15 million in guaranteed money.

Henry would love nothing more than to help Denver get back into the postseason, a place he's never been in six seasons. Graham, on the other hand, has made the playoffs four of the last five seasons with New England, winning two Super Bowl titles.

Both players cited Denver's winning tradition as reasons why they signed with the Broncos.

"Denver is a team that every year is a contender," said Henry, who rushed for 1,211 yards last season for Tennessee. "That's one thing I looked at."

General manager Ted Sundquist said the reason the Broncos were drawn to Henry was his ability to explode through a hole.

"He runs with authority, a guy that can bring. ... Authority back to our running game," Sundquist said. "Travis is a proven rusher in this league."

Henry said Denver's one-cut and go system is made for him.

"I break a lot of tackles," he said. "I run up in there and can get out of certain things that most backs can't. I just run hard the whole game. With this scheme, it's going to fit well."

As Denver Post staff writer Bill Williamson put it, "the Broncos want their running backs to close out games. They want their running backs to matter when it counts."

Henry's response?

"That's my forte," he said.

When the Broncos began their off-season search for a running back, the focal point was finding a player capable of getting the tough yards. Henry promises he can deliver.

"I feel like I get better as my touches go up," Henry said. "I play big. I can take the pounding. Games are won in the fourth quarter when a running back can gain tough yards. That's why I am here. That's what I can do."

It might be worth noting at this point Henry told reporters his playing weight is 220 pounds -- on a 5-foot-9 frame.

As Post columnist Jim Armstrong suggested: "Don't worry about this dude being able to withstand the pounding. He's built much more like Mike Anderson than Tatum Bell. ..."

Armstrong it right. Hard running and an ability to break tackles have been the hallmarks of Henry's six-season NFL career. He said he can enhance his reputation as a tough, to-the-whistle runner in Denver.

For what it's worth, Henry said he has left off-field issues behind him.

He was suspended for four games in 2005, his first season with the Titans, for marijuana use. If he tests positive again in the next six months, he will face a one-year suspension. Henry can rotate out of the NFL's substance abuse program this season by staying clean.

"I've had my problems," he said, "but I'm walking a straight line now."

Henry's arrival has the Broncos excited. Even Mike Bell, who rushed for 677 yards last season, his rookie year, said he is thrilled to have Henry in the backfield.

"That guy is good, man," Bell said. "He is really going to help us. I am not giving up. I will compete with him, but I am excited to learn from him. He's been around awhile and he fits what we do. He's another weapon and we can use him."

And as Williamson suggested, the Broncos plan to use Henry all four quarters. ...

In a related note. ... Henry said he would pay Bell, who wore No. 20 as a rookie last season, $10,000 to give up the jersey. Henry has worn the number throughout his career. Monday, he had a medallion around his neck that featured the number.

Bell's biggest issue is not financial reimbursement.

"I just want to get a good number," said Bell, who said he may ask to wear No. 30, which his hero, Davis, wore while Davis starred for the Broncos. "That's all I care about is getting a good number. ..."

Meanwhile, Graham just wanted to come home. He played high school football in Denver and starred at the University of Colorado. Graham's father, Tom, was a linebacker with Denver from 1972-74.

Graham said he was frustrated with his role in New England, but accepted it for the good of the team. He had 120 catches in five seasons with the Patriots, but was considered a blocking tight end.

"I'm looking forward to extending my role more," Graham said.

As Rocky Mountain News staffer Lee Rasizer noted this week, Graham's reputation as a devastating in-line blocker from his position, with a nasty streak and ability to play angles, preceded him.

But his hands and ability to contribute in the passing game were question marks because New England used him primarily as a red-zone target. Yet Denver has promised to let Graham be more of a weapon out in the pattern in the intermediate passing game in all areas of the field.

Rasizer went on to suggest the Broncos will frequently employ two-tight end sets with Graham and Tony Scheffler. ...

Also according to Rasizer, the arrival of Patrick Ramsey, who signed on with Denver last week, is the latest clue that the Broncos will move away from the bootleg passing game that typified their offense with Jake Plummer at quarterback.

Jay Cutler is more of a pocket passer, and Denver is trying to get bigger up front to protect him there. As Rasizer pointed out, Ramsey's arm strength is the perfect complement to Cutler while Ramsey's lack of mobility shouldn't be an issue with the team's philosophical shift. ...

In New York. ... It's starting to look like the Giants plan to replace the retired Tiki Barber with at least two running backs. At least that's what they have told newcomer Reuben Droughns, who was acquired last week in a trade with Cleveland for receiver Tim Carter.

"They said it's definitely going to be a 1-2 punch," Droughns told reporters in a conference call on Monday, shortly after he passed a physical and officially joined the Giants, where he will pair up with Brandon Jacobs.

"Brandon and me will be kind of a pound-it-out running style, so we'll try to wear down the defenses and work together," Droughns said.

As AP Sports writer Tom Canavan pointed out, the two Super Bowl teams both alternated halfbacks last season. Indianapolis used Dominic Rhodes and Joseph Addai, while Chicago used Thomas Jones and Cedric Benson.

With Jacobs and Droughns, head coach Tom Coughlin is going to have a pair of big bodies to run behind fullback Jim Finn. Droughns is 5-11 and 220, small compared to Jacobs, 6-4 and 264.

The two met for the first time on Monday and Droughns, who rushed for more than 1,200 yards in both 2004 and 2005 and 750 last season, was impressed.

"Oh, yeah. He's a big young fella," the seven-year veteran said.

Droughns took the blame for his drop in production last season, but he noted that the Browns' offensive line was ravaged by injuries. Coming to the Giants, he said was a fresh start.

So much so, he clearly wasn't interested in making waves with Jacobs, the third-year running back who rushed 96 times for 423 yards (4.4 yard average) and nine touchdowns.

"It's not my job," Droughns said when asked if he considered the starting halfback job open. "It's Brandon's, because he was the guy who's here. Brandon's next in line. It's his job to lose, but I'm sure he doesn't want to lose it. It's going to be a good competition in training camp."

Not that Droughns is actually conceding anything. "The best man is going to win," he said.

Not surprisingly, Jacobs believes the best man already has.

"I think I've earned the opportunity to be the main guy," Jacobs told New York Daily News staffer Ralph Vacchiano after the trade for Droughns was announced. "I can be just as good as anybody else in the league. I can be just as good as your top Pro Bowl guy. That's not even a concern to me.

"I think I'm most definitely going to get my opportunity to carry 20-25 times per game. I can't wait."

Vacchiano went on confirm Jacobs likely will get at least that next season, with team officials privately suggested the plan is to let Droughns get 10-15 carries per game -- possibly including some short-yardage -- to keep Jacobs healthy and to give him an occasional break.

Jacobs welcomed the deal for Droughns, whom he called "a small, powerful-type guy," and said, "It's going to be a pleasure to play with him."

Yet Jacobs made it clear he expects to be "the man" in the Giants' backfield. He's ready to shed the short-yardage role which led to only 96 carries (and 423 yards) last season.

It's probably worth noting that Jacobs has been working hard in the offseason with Barber's old trainer, Joe Carini, to make sure he's ready for the increased load.

The big man's willingness to go the extra mile in terms of getting ready for the featured role is definitely a good sign.

But as Bergen County Record beat writer Vinny DiTrani noted, the question remains: Who will be No. 3 -- as in the third down specialist?

No matter how effective the 1-2 punch of Jacobs and Droughns might be, there will certainly be times where a third-down back will be needed.

Droughns says he will do whatever the coaches desire. While he has shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield (98 receptions the past three seasons), he never has handled the third-down role.

So, according to DiTrani, that third-down back could well come from the draft, where players such as Notre Dame's Darius Walker and Florida State's Lorenzo Booker should be available in the third- and fourth-round area.

DiTrani added that both have the versatility Barber demonstrated coming out of Virginia and honed during his 10-year NFL career. ...

In Dallas. ... You would think $10 million would be enough to persuade Terrell Owens to learn the Cowboys' playbook from cover to cover. But according to Dallas Morning News staff writer Jean-Jacques Taylor, it wasn't.

Then again, we're talking about a player who admittedly slept through meetings and usually left his playbook in his locker when he went home for the night.

Still, Owens disputes the notion he wasn't up to speed on the scheme.

"I knew my plays," he advised Taylor via text message. "I put everything I love on that."

To which Taylor noted: "The way his mind works, he probably thinks he did know his plays."

Taylor went on to advise readers that in training camp, the Cowboys asked him not to focus on a segment of the playbook because he was having a difficult time grasping it. Nor, Taylor contends, did Owens put in the effort necessary to grasp it.

All year.

That's why several times Tony Romo had to tell him what to do after the Cowboys broke the huddle during their playoff loss to Seattle.

According to Taylor, Owens' lack of familiarity with the playbook wasn't a secret within the organization. Players knew. Coaches knew. Front-office personnel knew. After all, Romo and others had to tell him the plays during practice, on occasion, so it surprised few when he wasn't sure what to do during games.

Taylor admits it didn't happen every play. Or even every series. But he was quick to add it happened way too often for a player who considers himself one of the game's elite receivers.

Owens caught 85 passes for 1,180 yards and a league-leading 13 touchdowns last season, but there were too many dropped passes and too many routes that existed only in his mind.

So, Taylor suggests, as Jerry Jones prepares to hand Owens a $3 million roster bonus -- the deadline is June 3 0 -- that will entitle the mercurial receiver to a $5 million salary this season, he should demand Owens know the entire offense and fine him for conduct detrimental to the club every time someone has to tell him what to do after he leaves the huddle.

Then, as Taylor summed up: "Perhaps, T.O. will stop snoozing in meetings and prepare more seriously. ..."

But team officials tell Taylor things will be different this year.

Owens will have a better relationship with new receivers coach Ray Sherman than he ever did with Todd Haley, with whom he bickered much of the season. They say he'll perform better for a players' coach like Wade Phillips than a taskmaster like Bill Parcells.

And they say his second year in this offense - offensive coordinator Jason Garrett is supposed to keep much of the terminology the same - will give T.O. a better understanding of the offense than he had last year.

It certainly sounds like we'll find out.

According to Fort Worth Star-Telegram beat writer Clarence Hill Jr., Jones reiterated on Wednesday that Owens remains a big part of the team's plans for next year.

Owens will certainly have plenty of time to study. Doctors say he probably won't be ready to catch passes until training camp after having a second surgery to repair a torn tendon in his finger.

But Jones stressed the importance of Owens participating in the off-season program so he can learn the offense and be in peak condition for training camp to avoid the hamstring injuries of a year ago.

We'll how that works out. ...

In Tampa Bay. ... The Buccaneers traded a seventh-round pick in 2008 for the rights to Plummer, who made it clear to head coach Jon Gruden, general manager Bruce Allen and anyone else who bothered to ask that he would rather walk away from the game than play for the Bucs.

This prompted St. Petersburg Times staffer Rick Stroud to write: "Never has a team been in such a hurry to trade for a retiring player -- and carry $5.3-million on its salary cap on the off chance the 32-year-old former Broncos quarterback shows up in July. ..."

Stroud noted, however, it's not hard to figure out why Gruden wants to stock up on quarterbacks for 2007. Last season, the Bucs were 4-12 while Chris Simms, Bruce Gradkowski and Tim Rattay combined for a rating of 66.2. Simms went 0-3 with one touchdown and seven interceptions before rupturing his spleen.

Gruden thought so little of Rattay, he started Gradkowski, his 2006 sixth-round pick out of Toledo, in 11 games.

Stroud went on to explain this is a very big year for Gruden, who is 27-37 since winning the Super Bowl, and the coach isn't going to be thin on experience under center.

In fact, after signing (the same day they officially landed Plummer) Jeff Garcia, the Bucs have about $15-million sunk into three veteran passers.

Considering the team's other needs, that's a big investment.

Gruden knows it will take more than one to get through the season. The last quarterback to start all 16 games in Tampa Bay was Brad Johnson in 2003.

The Bucs insist they didn't trade for Plummer with the idea of dealing him. But that might prove to be their best option. If Plummer remains retired, it doesn't cost them much. If he elects to play with another team, the Bucs might fetch more than they paid for him.

The most far-fetched scenario is the one Gruden and Allen say they are hoping for: Plummer shows up at team headquarters this summer and competes with Garcia and Simms.

But that's exactly what Allen believes.

"I still believe he will play," the GM said Friday. "'In fact, I'm looking forward to talking to him again soon."

Does Allen expect Plummer to play in Tampa Bay?

"Yes, that's why we traded for him, to play here," he said. ...

For what it's worth, Philadelphia Daily News staffer Paul Domowitch reports the Bucs, Texans and Raiders all wanted to sign Garcia.

All three offered him a chance to compete for the starting quarterback job this summer, and all three offered him about the same amount of money.

He essentially signed with the Bucs because he thinks they have the best chance of the three for a reversal of fortune next season. As noted above, the Bucs were 4-12 in '06. The Texans went 6-10 and the Raiders 2-14. ...

In New England. ... According to Boston Herald staff writer Albert Breer, there's only one thing that no one, and that means no one, denies: During their year together at the University of Tennessee, new Patriots receivers Donte' Stallworth (signed last Sunday) and Kelley Washington (signed a day later) were not best of friends.

Far from it, in fact.

Stallworth was, as one source told Breer, a "program guy" and very much a college kid. Washington, on the other hand, was business-like and stoic, hardened by four years of minor league baseball and intent on parlaying his stay into NFL riches.

People around Knoxville uniformly agree on that.

Breer went on to note, however, what happened in January 2002, when Stallworth (a junior) and Washington (a freshman) were contemplating going pro remains a bit cloudy. But it went something like this:

On a Monday, Stallworth indicated that he was leaning toward staying. On that Tuesday, a Nashville Tennessean report said Washington was leaving. The next night, Stallworth flew to Memphis, rented a car and dined on the dime of agent Jimmy Sexton before announcing he was leaving the next morning. But that Friday, Washington reversed field to say he was staying.

From there, Stallworth tried to return to school, even paying back the costs Sexton incurred, but still would've faced a lengthy NCAA suspension.

So he left Tennessee, and reports flew that Stallworth was incensed with Washington's actions.

"Kelley was telling Donte', 'Let's both come out and see,'" Onterrio Smith, the troubled running back who grew up with Stallworth in California and attended Tennessee before transferring to Oregon, told the Tennessean that fall. "It was like a dare to see who would go higher. But Kelley pulled out and forced my man into the draft. He knew Donte' would blow him away in the testing sessions."

The other motivation, reportedly, was that Washington wanted the spotlight at UT all to himself.

But as Breer pointed out, that plan, if there ever was one, fell apart when Washington suffered knee and neck injuries as a sophomore, and plummeted to the third round of the draft.

It's worth noting that Stallworth helped recruit quarterback Casey Clausen, another California product, to Tennessee. The year after Stallworth left, Clausen roomed with Washington. Clausen, who told Breer he was "tight" with both of them, conceded the two receivers weren't close and did compete with each other, but emphasized he never sensed bad blood.

Clausen added that he was with Patriots backup quarterback Matt Cassel the other day and said, "Shoot, you guys get both Donte' and Kelley, you're gonna like both of them."

As Breer summed up, whether they like each other or not may be a different story.

But neither man seems to be willing to let any hard feelings -- if there ever were any -- get in the way of succeeding in New England. According to Washington, "You'll see when we get there, we're just dedicated to winning and being the best professionals we can be. ..."

In Detroit. ... According to Booth Newspapers and MLive.com beat writer Tom Kowalski, the majority of Detroit's running duties this fall will be handled by Kevin Jones and Bell, who was recently acquired in a trade with the Denver Broncos.

But Kowalski adds that T.J. Duckett, who agreed to join the team last week, will play a significant role. The Lions have been terrible in converting short-yardage situations on the ground and the 6-foot, 260-pound Duckett will be featured in that role.

Along with serving as additional insurance should Jones' recovery from Lisfranc surgery take longer than hoped, Duckett will also be used as a change-of-pace back during games when the Lions want to go to a power running attack. Jones and Bell will still handle the majority of the carries, but neither is a power type runner between the tackles.

Jones can be a punishing runner on the perimeter but is less effective inside.

Duckett scored only two touchdowns in limited playing time with the Redskins last year, but he showed his power during his four-year stay with the Atlanta Falcons. After scoring four touchdowns as a rookie, Duckett totaled 27 touchdowns over the next three seasons.

It will certainly be worth watching Duckett and the Lions in mini-camp workouts, training camp and pre-season play to see if such a role actually materializes. If so, Duckett will be of interest come draft day. ...

In Atlanta. ... The Falcons apparently didn't give 35-year-old Joe Horn $7.5 million in guaranteed money to come off the bench in the twilight of his career. According to Atlanta Journal-Constitution staffer D. Orlando Ledbetter, team officials expecting the former Saint to step in immediately and help out their much maligned wide receiver group.

Horn, who'll likely start opposite Michael Jenkins, replaces the departed Ashley Lelie and moves ahead of the inconsistent Roddy White.

The Falcons also have Brian Finneran, a dependable possession receiver, coming back from knee surgery.

Ledbetter went on to remind readers that Horn will have to return to form after being bothered by groin and hamstring injuries the past two seasons.

Ledbetter contends that when healthy, Horn has one of the best takeoffs from the line of scrimmage in the game. He runs precise routes and comes out of his break explosively. He has a reputation for dependable hands, something the Falcons have been lacking.

Bottom line? The four-time Pro Bowler is expected to make an impact on the field and in the meeting room. ...

In Indianapolis. ... Rhodes' signing with Oakland as a free agent leaves a hole in the backfield and presents a question to the coaching staff: Replace him with another veteran and continue the tag-team approach with Addai, which was instrumental in winning Super Bowl XLI, or require Addai to carry a heavier load in '07?

According to Indianapolis Star beat man Mike Chappell, the most likely scenario is finding a new sidekick for Addai.

Addai, the team's 2006 first-round draft pick, never was an every-down back at LSU and rotated with Rhodes as a rookie. He's at his best when he's fresh.

Chappell went on to suggest DeDe Dorsey might be given the first opportunity at succeeding Rhodes. He was on the active roster throughout his rookie season but never got on the field with the offense. Dorsey showed good burst and receiving skills in practice but must be able to elevate his game.

At this point, there's no guarantee he's ready to do that. ...

In Minnesota. ... According to St. Paul Pioneer Press beat writer Sean Jensen, after undergoing a battery of vision testing at Nike headquarters last week, receiver Troy Williamson learned about some non-surgical procedures that could improve his ability to see and catch the ball.

During his rookie season, Williamson dropped just two of the 52 passes intended for him. But things didn't go so well last season -- especially on long passes.

As Jensen noted, on several occasions, Williamson had at least a step on his defender, showcasing his outstanding speed, only to misjudge the trajectory of the ball or incorrectly time when to put his hands up. For the season, Williamson had just one reception of 40 or more yards.

He was benched in late November and resurfaced in a limited role in mid-December. In a 26-13 loss to the New York Jets on Dec. 17, Williamson and rookie quarterback Tarvaris Jackson flashed some chemistry on three passes that netted 46 yards.

Despite that late rally, Williamson finished last season tied for third in the NFL with 11 drops, according to STATS, Inc.

So, Williamson, head coach Brad Childress, Vikings trainers and an eye specialist at the Nike world headquarters developed a program and the receiver underwent extensive testing over several days last week, agent David Canter said.

As Jensen put it: "What they found was, well, eye-opening."

Among the things Nike tested: Williamson's hand-eye coordination, whether one eye was stronger than the other, how well he saw things in different lighting, and how he tracked balls coming at him from a variety of angles.

"Troy said it was very helpful, and he was really excited," Canter said. "But he was surprised, at the same time."

To underline his excitement, Williamson plans to attend the Vikings' entire offseason conditioning program, Canter said.

"We're really excited about the expectations that Troy has placed on himself and things that this could uncover and could rectify," Canter told Jensen. "Am I expecting Troy to have 100 catches and 1,500 yards? No. But he's young, and he's been through two offensive coordinators, two different head coaches, and how many different quarterbacks.

"It's not all Troy Williamson's fault. But at the same time, there's something that's not 100 percent copasetic between how his eyes and hands work together. ..."

Meanwhile, the Vikings likely will have to find a No. 1 receiver in the April 28-29 NFL draft or from among a group of second-tier free agents that includes Antonio Bryant, Andre' Davis, Bobby Engram, Keenan McCardell, Eric Moulds and Brandon Stokley.

The team added Bobby Wade, signing the former Titan and Bear to a five-year, $15 million contract last week, but Kevin Curtis reportedly would have stepped in as the No. 1 receiver with the Vikings, had he not signed with Philadelphia. ...

In Jacksonville. ... According to Florida Times-Union reporter Michael C. Wright, Byron Leftwich has spent most of the offseason in South Florida working out with the same trainer that Fred Taylor used last season.

Taylor returned to the team last season in the best shape of his life and missed just one game because of injury.

Leftwich, recently confirmed as Jacksonville's starter moving forward, hasn't logged more than 14 starts in a season and hopes better physical conditioning leads to less injury and more time on the field. ...

And finally, in Miami. ... When it appeared certain that fullback Cory Schlesinger was going to sign with the Dolphins, Kowalski reports that Lions assistant equipment manager John Brown made a quick call to Miami with some advice: Order more facemasks.

During his 12-year career with the Lions, Schlesinger broke more than 200 facemasks, an average of about one a game.

"There was a game in Chicago against Brian Urlacher where it had to be replaced at halftime. So I broke two in that game," said Schlesinger, who took great pride in crushing his opponents -- and his own faceguard -- with equal force.

For what it's worth, SI.com insider Peter King suggested on Monday that Schlesinger will become "the Zach Thomas of the offense" in no time flat. King added: "Quiet leader, smart guy, totally unselfish."

And Schlesinger may be the only NFL player who teaches wood shop in the offseason. ...

That's it for this week's Notebook. We'll do it 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.