The Facts: Lamb was working out in a Fort Lauderdale gym when he found out he had become the Cowboys’ No. 1 receiver. Lamb said he was caught by surprise March 12 when he saw on TV that the Cowboys had traded Amari Cooper to the Browns. “I was like, ‘Wow, that’s crazy,’” Lamb said on Mike Silver’s podcast, Open Mike. Lamb is ready to take on the new job title in 2022. “It kind of, in a sense, raised the standard,” Lamb said. “Obviously, I hold myself to a high standard already, but at this moment there’s nothing else you can really do but take it on. That’s the energy I have.” Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: In his second season, Lamb became the Cowboys’ leading receiver. That’s a big reason the team traded Cooper and his $20 million base salary in return for a fifth-round selection. Lamb had more catches (79) and more yards (1,102) than Cooper last season and scored six touchdowns. Lamb has thanked Cooper for taking him under his wing after the Cowboys drafted Lamb in the first round in 2020. “Just wanted to thank him for everything he had done for me in the first two years,” Lamb said. “Those are real important to me and my direction and trying to find a place in this league where there’s a lot of great receivers. A lot of guys can do a lot of things well in this position. Just giving him his roses for taking me under his wing. ...” Now, out from under that wing, Lamb moves into the ranks of top-10 fantasy wideouts.

The Facts: Watson's hearing before the NFL and NFLPA's jointly appointed disciplinary officer Sue L. Robinson is scheduled to begin Tuesday, league sources told ESPN. Reported by ESPN.com

Diehards Line: Robinson will listen as the NFL expects to push for a "lengthy" suspension for Watson while the NFLPA defends the Cleveland Browns quarterback who at one point faced 24 civil lawsuits that accused him of sexual assault and inappropriate conduct during massage sessions while with the Houston Texans. He has agreed to settle 20 of those suits. The NFL is likely to base its proposed discipline on only a fraction of those women's testimony, one source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, as the league was unable to speak with a portion of the women who interacted with Watson. Robinson has no track record of ruling on any cases involving NFL players, but one source believed a decision from her could come within a week but also might take up until training camp. The NFL hopes for clarity on this case before training camp begins in late July. Once Robinson rules, both sides have the option to appeal and commissioner Roger Goodell can either rule on the appeal or call on in an independent ruler on it.

The Facts: The 49ers were poised to trade quarterback Garoppolo until he surprised them with a decision to have surgery on his throwing shoulder. Soon, he’ll be cleared to throw again, following the March procedure. That’s the report from Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com. Garoppolo will be cleared within the next few weeks, and he’ll commence throwing. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: As PFT suggests, it’s an important, albeit expected, development in the awkward dance between the 49ers and the quarterback they don’t want to keep on the team. Once he’s cleared, he can be traded to a new team. That said, there’s no guarantee a new team will trade for him, especially with a $25 million non-guaranteed compensation package. Whoever wants him will want to pay less. Unless the 49ers will be paying some of the salary, Garoppolo will be expected to cut his salary. Whey would he do that? The 49ers can squat on him throughout training camp and the preseason, cutting him just before Week 1 and wiping out his salary. (He has a $7.5 million injury guarantee that will evaporate for 2022 once he’s cleared.) He’d then be forced to try to find a new team at a time when the various depth charts are set. In the interim, things could get even more awkward. The 49ers won’t want their injury-prone quarterback to end up on IR and, in turn, on the books for his full salary. But they can’t lock him out of training camp. If push comes to shove, they can’t keep him from getting practice reps and, in turn, risking a season-ending injury. For Garoppolo, the sooner he’s traded or released, the better. For the 49ers, time could create an opportunity to get a significant return, if a starting quarterback elsewhere suffers a season-ending injury before Week 1, like Teddy Bridgewater did in 2016. ... Stay tuned.

The Facts: Kamara‘s arrest on felony battery charges in Las Vegas in February is expected to result in a suspension under the league’s Personal Conduct Policy. PFT reported this week that Kamara is bracing for a six-game suspension and the prospect of a ban came up during GM Mickey Loomis’ appearance on the Dattitude podcast this week. With the case still making its way through the legal process, it’s unclear when a suspension would be handed down and Loomis said that means the team is going to have to prepare for all possible outcomes as they look ahead to the 2022 seaon. “We really just have to wait and see what happens,” Loomis said, via Jeff Duncan of NOLA.com. “For me, I always try to [determine] what’s the worst-case scenario and what’s the best-case scenario. We have to be prepared for anything. That’s really the way we approach anything and everything, is be prepared for anything that can happen.” Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: Stay tuned. ... A hearing in Kamara’s case is set for August 1 and any league discipline for Kamara could be pushed into 2023 if the league waits for the legal process to conclude before beginning their own disciplinary process. We'll follow up as needed.

The Facts: Herbert was a revelation during his rookie season and proved in Year 2 that he has the talent and staying power to be one of the next young faces of the NFL. With an Offensive Rookie of the Year award on his shelf and a trip to Pro Bowl in 2021, Herbert will soon enter the line of quarterbacks set to receive a massive extension. He becomes eligible for one next offseason. Herbert told CBS Sports' Jeff Kerr that he's not worried about that eventuality. "We haven't discussed anything but I've been so fortunate to play for the Chargers," he said. "Whatever happens, happens. I'm just so excited to be here and play football. This has been a great opportunity and I don't wish it went any other way." Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: The 24-year-old is scheduled to make $7.25 million this year and $8.46 million in 2023. The Chargers also hold the fifth-year option for 2024. With QB contracts continuing to rise and the likes of Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson still in line to get paid, Herbert's price should only increase. Herbert generated 5,014 passing yards (second in NFL) and 38 passing touchdowns (third) in 2021. He became the first QB of all time to pass for 30-plus TDs in each of his first two seasons. After netting 9,350 yards and 69 passing TDs in his first two seasons, Herbert needs 3,608 yards and 30 TDs to set the records for most in a player's first three seasons -- Andrew Luck (12,957 yards), Dan Marino (98 TDs). Even after a dominant first two seasons, Herbert continues to work on his craft this offseason. "A lot of it is footwork. I think I can continue to step up in the pocket, feel pressure and get the ball out," he said. "I think if you can remain calm in the pocket, go through all your reads, and find a tailback if all else fails. I think that's the huge part about playing quarterback and (Chargers quarterbacks coach) Shane Day and all the quarterbacks in our room have been working on that a bunch. ..." On a Chargers team that improved its defense this offseason, if Herbert continues to dominate in a rugged AFC West and carries L.A. to the playoffs, he'll be in contention for the NFL MVP. Of course, that would make those contract talks to come next offseason even more interesting.

The Facts: The Vikings hired HC Kevin O'Connell to bring life to the club's offense. The assumption is the Vikes will install a more pass-friendly scheme after being a run-first club under Mike Zimmer. The new offense doesn't change the mindset of Cook. "Wherever they want me to fit in," Cook told FOX 9 Sports' Hobie Artigue. "We got to run the football. That's a must. So, we've got to do a good job at that. However many touches I get, I'm going to take advantage of it. I'm just ready to win games. Wherever I fit in at, if it's an opportunity to help us win a game, 'Put me in there, coach.' That's my mindset." Reported by NFL.com

Diehards Line: Cook has made three straight Pro Bowls as the Vikings' bell-cow back. In 2021, he netted 249 carries for 1,159 rushing yards and six touchdowns in 13 games. His 36 scrimmage TDs since 2019 are tied for third-most in the NFL in that span, behind only Derrick Henry (45) and Aaron Jones (40). The 26-year-old's three straight seasons with 1,100-plus rushing yards is the longest active streak in the NFL. Entering a new era in Minnesota, Cook is expected to see an uptick in his usage in the passing game under O'Connell. But the dynamic back prides himself on being a workhorse runner. "I could get the ball 30 times, and you could give it to me 30 more times the next game," he said. "And then I could go out there and catch five or 10 passes. ... Being a bell-cow running back is what I pride myself on being. One of those old school, Warrick Dunn, you know, just being one of those guys." Injuries are the only thing that has slowed Cook down during his career. The back has missed multiple games in each of his five seasons, including four in 2021. Minnesota taking some of the pounding hits off Cook's plate and supplementing that production with pass targets could help the bell cow stay healthy for a full season.

The Facts: Per a league source, Kamara is bracing for a suspension of at least six weeks. The only question is when the suspension will be imposed. The league typically prefers to wait until the criminal legal process has ended before taking action. Kamara faces felony battery charges, with the next hearing set for August. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: The incident happened in Las Vegas, on Pro Bowl weekend. Kamara was questioned and arrested at Allegiant Stadium, after the Pro Bowl ended. The Personal Conduct Policy provides for a baseline six-game suspension in the event of felony battery. Aggravating factors include repeated striking. Kamara reportedly told police that he threw a “couple punches.” Kamara possibly could be placed on paid leave pending resolution of the criminal case, given that he faces a felony charge. He would still be subject to a potential unpaid suspension after the case is resolved -- something that might not happen until after the 2022 season.

The Facts: When Hopkins was suspended for violating the league’s performance-enhancing substance policy in May, he said he was “confused and shocked” by failing the test because he never knowingly took a banned substance. Hopkins vowed to investigate the test result and that investigation remains in progress. Hopkins told Cameron Cox of KPNX that he believes something he took was contaminated by Ostarine and that he’s still hopeful that the six-game suspension can be reduced before the season starts. Reported by Profootballtalk.com

Diehards Line: “We’re still doing some research right now,” Hopkins said. “Hopefully, before the season starts, maybe we can get the games down a little bit. But no, it wasn’t on me. I’m a natural. I’m pretty much a naturopathic kind of person. What it was, it’s called Ostarine. There was 0.1 percent of it found in my system and, if you know what that is, it’s contamination and not something directly taken. I don’t take any supplements, I’ve never taken supplements, I barely take vitamins. For something like that to happen to me, I was shocked, but my [group], we’re still trying to find out what’s going on. ...” As PFT notes, NFL rules are pretty clear about players being responsible for what goes into their bodies and suspensions are generally announced after any appeals process has played out. On top of that, Hopkins’ failed test came during the 2021 season so he’s had a long time to present exculpatory evidence and the lack of change to the suspension suggests he’ll be serving the full six-game ban to kick off next season.

The Facts: Wednesday afternoon brought another one involving the Seahawks and Mayfield. CBS Sports NFL reporter Josina Anderson tweeted Wednesday that she has been told that “the Seahawks still have a high-level of interest in acquiring’’ Mayfield and that “behind-the-scenes are open to contractually extending him, per league source.’’ She further tweeted that “I know that the process of collecting information and insights into Mayfield is still ongoing.’’ Reported by the Seattle Times

Diehards Line: As Times staffer Bob Condotta notes, in none of what Anderson tweeted contradicts anything that has been known for some time. Both HC Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider have said numerous times on the record in the last few months that the Seahawks will continue to consider all options at the quarterback position. Ergo, they are surely continuing to gather whatever information they can about Mayfield in case he becomes available. And Seattle undoubtedly would be open to extending Mayfield because the only way the Seahawks — or any other team — will take him on is with a contract other than the one he currently has, which is guaranteed for $18.8 million this season. The Seahawks aren’t going to pay that much for Mayfield this season under any circumstance — meaning, yes, he’d be under a different contract from Seattle than the one he currently has if acquired. That contract is the reason nothing has yet happened with Mayfield, who became expendable when the Browns traded for Deshaun Watson.

The Facts: The Bucs have been consistent in saying how well Godwin is doing in his recovery and rehab from ACL surgery, but they’ve also been careful not to say when they expect him back. The optimistic view would be that he’s back practicing during preseason and close enough to be on the initial 53-man roster. But the goal is to have him fully healthy when it matters most this season, so it wouldn’t be surprising if they took a slower approach and had him on the physically unable to perform list for the first six weeks of the season, leaning on Russell Gage as the No. 2 early in the year. Reported by The Athletic

Diehards Line: This according to The Athletic's Greg Auman, who notes that while there have been encouraging reports on Godwin’s progress, the Bucs have made a big investment in him long-term, so the priority will be getting him back to his old self rather than getting him back right away. Those first four games of the season — at Cowboys, at Saints, vs. Packers and vs.Chiefs — are daunting with or without Godwin. Tampa Bay will make sure he’s OK first.