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Another Sunday, another Fantasy Notebook. ... And another busy week loaded with Fantasy-specific news, thanks in large part to ongoing "organized team activities" (OTAs), conditioning programs and a handful of voluntary mini-camps. That said, let's jump right in, eh?For the second week in a row, we'll get the ball rolling in Miami, where as Palm Beach Post staff writer Edgar Thompson put it Friday: "The Dolphins' list of concerns begins at the same place it did last season: Daunte Culpepper."
Thompson went on to explain how on a team with a first-year coach and uncertainty just about everywhere, the questionable health of a one-time Pro Bowl quarterback's left knee has taken center stage during this week's mini-camp.
Of course, the position has been in the spotlight since the free-agent signing period began. And it's likely to remain there until the April 28-29 draft -- and perhaps beyond.
Negotiations to land Kansas City's Trent Green drag on into their second month. This week, head coach Cam Cameron and general manager Randy Mueller met with the top two quarterbacks in the draft -- LSU's JaMarcus Russell and Notre Dame's Brady Quinn -- even though neither is likely to fall to Miami at the No. 9 pick.
Culpepper, due to make nearly $7 million this season, continues to rehabilitate an injury he suffered in October 2005 that required additional surgery last fall.
On Friday, Culpepper told reporters the knee surgery he had in November was more serious than former coach Nick Saban had indicated.
In fact, Culpepper said the procedure to remove a piece of cartilage required a rehabilitation period of four to six months. Saban said at the time that the surgery, which took place Nov. 30, wasn't a "serious thing."
"I don't know what you were told by the Dolphins, but I know what I was told from my doctor, and he told me this was a four- to six-month injury," said Culpepper, who wasn't put on injured reserve until Dec. 12.
"So I've got a month, month-and-a-half, to continue to rehab and work through it. But for the most part, I'm feeling the progress."
A six-month recovery would put Culpepper at near 100 percent May 30. However, both he and Cameron declined to place a timetable on Culpepper's return.
"I expect to be ready when I'm healthy and I feel 100 percent," Culpepper said. "We want to make sure that when I take the field, there's no looking back."
In addition to his rigorous weight-training regimen at team headquarters, Culpepper takes part in private hour-long yoga sessions three times a week at a local studio.
Last month, Cameron told reporters Culpepper was "progressing."
Friday, Cameron said Culpepper is "getting close." He termed the quarterback position, where Cleo Lemon and Gibran Hamdan were the only passers in this weekend's three-day camp, a "work in progress."
Lemon is currently running the first-team offense.
"With any football team, you want to know who your quarterback is," Cameron said. "But from the start we said it was going to be a process. It was going to be day-to-day."
Mueller was asked on ESPN Radio who the team's starter would be if Miami played this week.
"Probably Cleo Lemon," Mueller said. "He kind of finished last season as our guy, so it's nothing new for Cleo.
"We know this, that if Daunte's healthy, he's a really good player. We're trying to give that every opportunity to happen and he has got to be right for us to see that. We're in no rush because we don't play tomorrow."
According to Post staffer Greg A. Bedard, Culpepper's status won't stop the Dolphins' pursuit of help at the position either by trade, the draft or both. Culpepper said he's paying no attention to the rumors.
"Whenever I'm healthy, I expect to start," he said.
Culpepper's rehabilitation was progressing nicely until doctors told him about three weeks ago to cut back on his running because of "usual" soreness. Culpepper said there's nothing wrong with his knee.
"I just visited my doctor and my knee is stable," he said. "It's just not to the point that I can go out and go full speed yet. There's no doubt in my mind that I'm going to be ready to play.
"When is the only question."
Based on this latest development, I would suggest another question -- even the better question -- might be for whom?
In Atlanta. ... Head coach Bobby Petrino told reporters this week that three days of mini-camp gave him insight about players' strengths, work habits, aptitudes and attitudes.
But as Atlanta Journal-Constitution staffer Steve Wyche stressed Friday, it is way too early in his transition with these players -- and vice versa -- to come away with anything other than first impressions.
"We got a lot accomplished," Petrino said Thursday, the final day of his first series of practices. The coach then broke down his observations by position.
Petrino also praised newly signed backup Joey Harrington, who is staying extra hours to learn the system that starter Michael Vick and backups Chris Redman, D.J. Shockley and James Kilian have been reviewing for weeks.
Veteran Warrick Dunn did not do much team work because of a sore shoulder. Petrino reiterated the team's need to be bigger at tailback, which likely would come in the draft.
"Adam Jennings had a good camp," Petrino said. "He ran and caught the ball and showed his speed and his ability to run after the catch. He made some real nice plays."
"We're going to keep bringing Fells along," Petrino said. "He certainly has the ability to do it. I thought Dwayne Blakley had a good camp."
Of all the items Petrino brought up, the revelation of Crumpler's knee surgery might be the most worrisome. The star tight end has been forced to contend with swelling and pain in the left knee for the past two seasons.
The more important aspect is the procedure means, for the second time in two years, Crumpler has undergone off-season surgery that will force him to miss some time in the team's conditioning program.
ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli reminded readers that last summer Crumpler had off-season surgery on his left shoulder and Falcons officials came under fire when they did not divulge the procedure until just before training camp.
There is no timetable yet for his return to the field, but it is believed Crumpler will be recovered well in advance of training camp.
Still, the news has to be somewhat discouraging -- at least for Crumpler, who according to the Sporting News, planned to be moderately involved in the voluntary off-season program until the decision was made to have the knee scoped.
On March 25, TSN reported: "Crumpler wants to concentrate on being healthy when training camp rolls around. By returning fresher, Crumpler is hoping to add some extra zip and crispness to his routes while maintaining his power and aggressiveness to get away from linebackers and safeties."
While I doubt this procedure will have a huge impact on Crumpler's regular-season totals, it would be great to see what he could do going into a September with a full offseason of conditioning under his belt.
Remember, Crumpler has been named to the NFC Pro Bowl squad in each of the last four years and has led the Falcons in receptions for three straight seasons. The former North Carolina star, a second-round pick in 2001, had 56 catches for 780 yards and eight touchdowns in 2006, and is clearly the receiver Vick trusts the most.
In 94 career games, including 83 starts, Crumpler has 274 receptions for 3,768 yards and 30 touchdowns.
Given those accomplishments, it's hard to believe he's been slowed by injuries and at times forced to curtail his practice time. And as Pasquarelli pointed out, it's even harder to believe Crumpler has missed only two games in six seasons. ...
Catching up on a couple of other items in Atlanta. ... Wyche advised readers this past week that Horn's presence already seems to be having a significant impact on the team's receiving corps.
According to Wyche, the 35-year-old Horn has been "racing out of the huddle, rocketing through his routes, racing back and getting on teammates who don't follow suit during the three-day camp."
Wyche added: "Horn wasn't messing around when he said he was going to lead by example."
So far, things have gone well for the receivers, Petrino said, in part because of Horn's leadership, energy and playmaking.
But as Wyche correctly noted, the Falcons have been here before.
Jenkins and White, first-round draft picks in 2004 and 2005, have impressed in past off-season workouts only to struggle to find their way in the regular season.
Jenkins, a two-year starter, caught 39 passes for seven touchdowns last season. More was expected. White, who has yet to pair his physical gifts with consistently catching the ball, had 30 receptions for 506 yards and no touchdowns last season and lost his starting job to departed Ashley Lelie because of continued drops.
Under former coach Jim Mora, the Falcons led the NFL in rushing three straight years but routinely were among the worst passing teams in the league -- last year they were last of all 32 teams. Part of that dubious distinction was because Atlanta threw the ball a league-low 26 times per game in 2006.
Each drop was magnified because there were few chances to make amends, Jenkins said.
"We'll get a chance to get into a rhythm, get the ball early and settle in," he said. "There will be a lot more opportunities this season."
Petrino frequently uses three- and four-receiver sets, which could work well for White and Jenkins because Horn, at this stage, will occupy one of the starting spots.
Finneran, who missed last season after tearing knee ligaments in training camp, is penciled into the rotation. He hopes to participate in at least one of the two remaining mini-camps and that he should be healthy enough to take part in training camp.
"The knee feels strong and I feel pretty good with straight-ahead running," Finneran said. "It's just a matter of time and getting enough confidence back with running routes and breaking down."
The veteran wideout admits, however, he's likely to be limited early in camp.
"In training camp, I don't think I'll be doing too many double-day sessions," he said. "But I'll be able to go at least once a day. The new coaching staff has to see me. The evaluation has to start at some point. ..."
That's a fact. And the sooner they get to make the evaluation the sooner Fantasy owners will be able to figure out what kind of role Finneran might play in the team's new offense.
As for Dunn. ... The shifty veteran had arthroscopic surgery for a damaged shoulder that bothered him much of last season back in January. Reports at the time suggested he would need "several months" of rehabilitation before he's able to resume football workouts.
Dunn is expected to make a full recovery, but with Petrino continuing to suggest that another -- bigger -- back will be added to the mix, Atlanta's backfield will be worth watching as we move towards the summer. ...
In Arizona. ... Ken Whisenhunt took the practice field for the first time as an NFL head coach Friday, and according to the Associated Press, wasn't sure where to go.
"I don't know where to stand on the field," Whisenhunt said after directing the Cardinals through the first workout of their voluntary mini-camp.
Joking aside, the former Pittsburgh offensive coordinator and his staff plan to force-feed the team's new offense to the players during the three days of workouts.
"It's not so much trying to make them fail or make mistakes," Whisenhunt said, "but make them understand how much they have to study or how much they have to work on."
Edgerrin James went through a full practice and brushed aside any questions about minor arthroscopic surgery performed on his right knee in the offseason.
"A little scratch," he said. "I was in and out the same day and that night was hanging out in clubs and stuff. Everything's normal. I'm just out here doing what I'm supposed to do."
According to Arizona Republic staffer Kent Somers, James had some swelling in the knee after the season which prompted the procedure. And while Whisenhunt received regular reports on the injury since being hired by the Cardinals, the coach hadn't actually seen James until he reported on Friday.
That the star halfback, who has been rehabbing at home in Florida, showed up for the voluntary sessions was a plus; that he was able to work was even better. That Somers advised readers James looked quick is better still.
The new offense will be a change for James, who will have a fullback joining him in the backfield on most plays. Although he's been in a one-back system his entire NFL career, he said the switch is no big deal.
"I heard a lot of people saying that I'm just used to one back," he said, "but when I came out of college I had a fullback in front of me, so I had to adjust to being a one back. It's nothing, man. I can go out and play however we do it. As long as we're consistent with what we do, there's nothing to adjust to."
Whisenhunt believes James will have no difficulty moving to the new system.
"He's a talented running back. He has very good vision. I think that it's more of a timing issue with Edgerrin," Whisenhunt said. "Certainly there will be some one-back things that he's more accustomed to that he'll do. But he is a very good NFL running back, and I think that he will adjust fine."
Matt Leinart entered his second season as an NFL quarterback far more comfortable than he was a year ago and welcomed the opportunity to play for Whisenhunt, who replaced the fired Dennis Green.
"I think he's going to bring a different attitude to this football team," Leinart said, "an attitude that's been missing for a while. I think he's going to make us mentally tougher. We're going to compete, we're going to be fast, we're going to be scoring points, we're going to be sustaining long drives. We're going to be doing all the things we need to do to win football games."
Of course, optimism comes easy in April.
While James called the new coach "super-cool," he said he'd have to wait until the end of the season to compare this staff to the old one.
As often as Whisenhunt wants his team to run the ball, James will need some solid backup help. Right now, that spot will go to either Marcel Shipp or J.J. Arrington, but there has been speculation that Arizona might use its No. 5 pick in the draft to get Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson.
Still, James said he is looking forward to carrying the ball around 350 times this year and isn't bothered by the Peterson rumors.
"That's up to them," James said with a smile. "They don't need a running back, but when you have a lot of money and you want to buy something, you go buy it. ..."
A few final notes here. ... James is sporting a different look this year. Gone are the gold teeth that had long been part of his look.
"Hey," he reassured everyone, "I'm still Edge."
And while he had kind words for the new coach, James isn't ready to pass final judgment on Whisenhunt.
"As the season goes, we'll see how things shape up -- that's where the victory Mondays come in," said James, referring to Mondays off when the Cards win Sunday. "We didn't get many (last season). Imagine if we do well."
It's worth noting that Whisenhunt has instituted a ban on cell phones in the locker room, a first for the Cardinals. The new rule became apparent Friday, when about a dozen players sat outside after the morning practice having conversations.
"If it hadn't been for Edge's iPod dock, it would have been like a library in the locker room," guard Reggie Wells said. ...
And finally. ... A physical on Thursday detected possible fractures in one of receiver LeRon McCoy's fingers. According to Somers, McCoy was expected to see a hand specialist Friday. ...
In Detroit. ... Kevin Jones is back jogging and on pace to return for the start of training camp in July. But as Oakland Press staffer David Birkett suggested, judging by Day 1 of the Lions' voluntary mini-camp, two of his teammates will be long gone by then.
Receiver Mike Williams and backup quarterback Josh McCown were among the no-shows as the Lions began the organized team activity portion of their offseason Tuesday. The three-day camp concluded Thursday.
For Williams and McCown, their decision to not partake in mini-camp could signal an end to their days in Detroit. Both players have been at the center of trade rumors to Oakland, and both are believed to be unhappy with their role on the team.
Indeed, McCown's agent, Mike McCartney, said as much.
"We've got great respect for the Lions," McCartney said before adding: "Josh sees himself as a starter in this league, and I agree with him."
McCown caught two passes at receiver but did not play a snap at quarterback last year. He is in the final year of a two-year deal.
Williams, the 10th overall pick in the 2005 draft, battled weight issues each of his first two seasons and caught only eight passes last year.
Head coach Rod Marinelli declined to discuss either player Tuesday, saying repeatedly he only wanted to "talk about the people that are here."
"I owe that to the men that are here," Marinelli said. "That is the story, the guys that are here working."
But MLive.com beat man Tom Kowalski suggest that Williams' absence all but guarantees the former first-round pick will be released before the start of the regular season if he isn't traded. ...
Meanwhile, one of those working Tuesday was Jones, who did not participate in any drills but spent the early part of practice on the field with his teammates.
Coming off December surgery to repair a Lisfranc injury in his left foot, Jones said he spent 10 to 12 minutes jogging on a treadmill Monday for the first time since the procedure.
"I'm feeling good," he said. "My goal is to be back for camp. That's my goal right now and I'm on pace, a little ahead of pace I guess."
Jones said the original diagnosis called for him to resume running later this month. He said he will have a second surgery in "a couple weeks" to remove the screws from his foot.
"It looks like he's progressing well," Marinelli said. "I don't want to build false hopes to anybody, but what I do see is a guy that's hungry, he's out here working and doing all the things we're asking him to do. So I'm excited about that."
According to Birkett, Jones said he expects to be the team's feature back when he returns in the fall. The Lions traded for Tatum Bell and signed free agent T.J. Duckett as insurance this offseason.
Asked what he thought of the moves, Jones said, "That they brought them in."
"I see Tatum as an every-down back," he said. "I don't see Duckett as an every-down back. I guess they do need insurance. So were my feelings hurt? No, because when I'm healthy I'll be the guy. That's all that matters. ..."
In Tampa Bay. ... As Tampa Tribune beat writer Katherine Smith suggested this week, "If Jeff Garcia is to become the starting quarterback like many people have predicted, he'll have to take the job from Chris Simms."
During this past week's OTAs, Simms took snaps with the first team, while Garcia got most of his work with the second and third teams.
"I've been getting a good amount of first team reps," Simms said. "We're kind of a little bit all over the place. Quarterbacks are trying to get reps, linemen are in and out, running backs are in and out.
"As far as who's starting and who is not, I'm not worried about it. I'm really not."
Simms admitted he had a little rust due to the fact he hasn't played since he ruptured his spleen in the Sept. 24 game against Carolina, but he's experiencing no problems with his body.
"I took a few hits today. I took a few good ones," Simms said. "I'm not supposed to get hit, but I guess they wanted to test the spleen. They wanted to test the space where the spleen was."
While there are some similarities between Gruden's offense and other West Coast systems Garcia has played in, the veteran quarterback said there are enough differences that it will take a little while to get comfortable.
"He's definitely put his own stamp on it. He's created his own style. He's made it his," Garcia said. "So there are some things that I'm learning. ... I need to retrain my mind. I need to grow and learn again.
"I don't have a problem with that. It's just going to take time."
Gruden, who has been a fan of Garcia's for quite some time, seems to be willing to give the veteran signal caller the benefit of the doubt.
"Garcia is not your everyday veteran," the coach recently said. "This guy is a madman. He's like Mad Max in the huddle. I think some of our offensive players are in for a culture shock when they get a feel for Garcia. ..."
Also in Tampa. ... A day after proclaiming he was 100 percent, receiver Michael Clayton walked off the practice field Thursday with trainers. Clayton seemed to be favoring one of his legs, but a Bucs official said Clayton was walking around the facility afterward with no problem.
Clayton knows people doubt him. He knows he has some critics. None of them are as hard on Clayton as he is on himself. After back-to-back disappointing seasons, Clayton's looking to return to his rookie form where he led the team in receiving, broke several club records and was basically, the go-to guy.
According to Smith, Clayton's weight is down to about 210 pounds, which is where he feels most comfortable.
"I feel better than when I came into the league," said Clayton, who has struggled with knee injuries the past two seasons. "I'm stronger. I'm faster.
"There's absolutely no pain in either one of my knees. I just feel healthy, overall body-wise. I'm more toned and I'm just ready to go."
Smith went on to remind readers that Clayton had rededicated himself last year in the offseason when he signed a contract with Gruden promising to adhere to a better work ethic. But Clayton followed up that offseason with another disappointing regular season, where he was fifth on the team with 33 receptions for 356 yards and was placed on injured reserve on Dec. 5 with a knee injury.
While this latest setback appears to be minor, it's safe to say Clayton can't afford too many days off. ...
Also according to Smith, Carnell Williams got a good chuckle from the latest rumor involving the Bucs running back. In case you missed it, someone on a local talk radio show said they spotted Williams in a wheelchair at the airport.
So, to eliminate any possible confusion, Cadillac Williams is OK. He just completed three days of OTAs and feels healthy.
"I'm fine. I'm 100 percent," said Williams, who has missed four games the past two seasons with various injuries. "I've been participating in the OTAs and participating in the off-season workouts, so I feel good. ..."
In Houston. ... According to the AP, Andre Johnson and Matt Schaub stood on the practice field Tuesday chatting and laughing, smiles planted firmly on their faces. It didn't take long for the Texans' quiet Pro Bowl receiver to warm up to his new quarterback.
On the first day of Houston's voluntary off-season workouts, the two looked like old friends.
"Every time we see each other we're just talking, trying to learn things about each other," Johnson said.
Although Schaub has only been a Texan since Mar. 22, Johnson thinks he's already gained a feel for his new quarterback.
"Just from looking at the way he walks around the locker room and things like that, you can tell he's a leader," Johnson said. "That's something you want to have at the quarterback position."
It's one of the qualities Texans officials touted in Schaub, who has started just two games in his three-year career. He's serious about making Houston his team and has already begun work on becoming a leader.
"I think this is the time of the year to do it," he said. "It's hard to start that once the season gets going because everything comes so quick and you've got to prepare for the games. It's ... getting to know one another on the field and asserting that leadership in the offseason rather than waiting for the season."
Schaub feels lucky to be moving into his first starting role in an offense that features Johnson.
"It's fantastic," he said. "It's a quarterback's dream to have a guy like that on the outside that can make people miss, go up and catch the deep ball and is fast like him. He's just a great asset to have."
While Johnson, who made his second Pro Bowl last season after catching a career-high 103 passes for 1,147 yards, embraced his new quarterback, he also shared some thoughts about the old one.
He said it was disappointing that Carr, who was the first pick in the 2002 draft, wasn't able to succeed in Houston and offered an opinion why. Johnson was the third overall pick in 2003.
"From my first year here, I think it was the way he was coached," Johnson said. "My first couple of years here he was pretty much just told where to throw the ball at, and a lot of people didn't know that. He was never really taught to go through reads and things like that.
"Once coach [Gary] Kubiak came in, that was his big thing, teaching him how to go through reads. So it was like he was starting all over again."
The Texans hoped Carr would blossom under the tutelage of Kubiak, a former quarterback, but he again struggled and Houston went 6-10 for its fifth losing season.
It should be noted that Carr expressed some resentment Friday toward the Texans.
"You get to a point where you're in survival mode, which is hard for me," Carr said a week after agreeing on a two-year, $6.2 million deal to be the Panthers' No. 2 QB behind Jake Delhomme.
"Honestly in the last five years we haven't had much spark. If we were stuck in the forest it would be hard to light a fire with what we had going on. ..."
Hard to argue his point. ...
And finally, in Philadelphia. ... Comcast SportsNet has confirmed with the Eagles than an accounting error has resulted in the franchise overpaying Brian Westbrook $3 million.
Westbrook intends to pay back the money, but because he has yet to do so, the Eagles -- in order to avoid disciplinary action -- have reported the error to the league in the form of a grievance.
As part of the five-year extension Westbrook signed in 2005, he was guaranteed $9 million. He received $6 million shortly after signing the deal and was supposed to receive the other $3 million late last year.
The Eagles recently realized they had paid him another $6 million instead.
Had the Eagles not come forward, the league could have suspected that they were paying Westbrook under the table and penalized them by counting the overpayment against this year's salary cap.
Because they have yet to be repaid, the Eagles were required by league and the NFL Players Association to file a grievance.
It's safe to assume somebody in the payroll department has some 'splainin' to do. ...
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.