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Another Sunday, another Fantasy Notebook. ... And just like that it was over. Two days after Broncos owner Pat Bowlen said his team would make good on Jay Cutler's trade request, the disgruntled QB was shipped off to Chicago in exchange for Kyle Orton and a handful of draft picks (including two first rounders).

According to the National Football Posts' Mike Lombardi, the Redskins and Browns were both major players in the race to acquire Cutler until the end, ultimately losing out to the Bears. Worth noting is the way Jason Campbell has taken the Skins' interest in Cutler as a challenge as opposed to an insult.

I can't help but wonder what we would have spent all last month talking about had Cutler taken that same approach.

Anyhow. ... One soap opera down. What's next?

My guess is Michael Vick's return (or not) to the NFL will be next up on the agenda. But it appears we have some breathing room to enjoy the draft and perhaps even next month's mini-camps without any overriding dramas.

Ahhhh. Blessed relief (even if only temporary). ... That being the case, let's dig in.

We'll get the ball rolling this week in New England, where the Sports Xchange recently pointed out that pretty much everyone who voiced an opinion on Matt Cassel's overall value and football future -- including fans, analysts, ex-players, draftniks and even former NFL decision makers -- can pat themselves on the back.

Of course those same people also have to admit they were wrong.

The Xchange went on to explain that nearly everyone on the planet thought the backup-turned-franchise-QB would be traded after New England slapped Cassel with the franchise tag early in the process this February. That became reality Feb. 27 when the Patriots shipped Cassel, along with veteran starting outside linebacker Mike Vrabel, to Kansas City in exchange for the Chiefs second-round pick in April's draft, the 34th overall selection.

The deal brought the Patriots, a team that was right up against the $127 million salary cap heading into free agency to the point where Randy Moss tweaked his contract to give the team a little relief, nearly $18 million in instant cap space.

What it didn't bring was satisfaction to the bulk of Patriots Nation.

New England fans had heard and read for months that Cassel was the best quarterback available for a team looking for a young passer to build around. That he was a better, safer choice for teams than top draft prospects Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez.

That Cassel would bring at least a first-round pick in a trade, and more likely a deal for his services would involve more than a first-rounder.

It obviously didn't work out that way -- and as a result people began to question Bill Belichick.

Indeed, some observers were quick to suggest that Belichick in some way either got hoodwinked by his former understudy Scott Pioli or, worse, that the Patriots boss did a favor for his former underling.

Those feelings intensified when reports subsequently trickled out that other teams had interest in Cassel. Detroit was supposedly offering the 33rd pick in the draft, maybe more.

Denver, led by new head coach and former Patriots offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels, was looking to get its hands on Cassel and was willing to ship Cutler to another team in a three-way deal that would have potentially landed a first-round pick in New England, maybe even the Broncos No. 12 overall selection.

So why didn't Belichick further explore the possibilities?

Based on some of the speculation and opinion floated at the time, the notion that Belichick became a non-competitive idiot overnight and wouldn't accept better trade offers became a viable theory.

I still can't figure out why that would be a logical assumption. Yahoo! Sports columnist Dan Wetzel, however, subsequently nailed it.

"There are a lot of people around the NFL who speak with such certainty on subjects that they can make anything sound believable," Wetzel wrote. "Pull it off long enough and you can make a good buck doing it.

"Then there's logic, reason and common sense."

Wetzel went on to suggest that in this case you can believe one of two scenarios:

41. Someone's anonymous source alleging that Belichick, for inexplicable reasons, turned down superior deals. (It might be worth considering, Wetzel pointed out, someone's -- in this case ESPN insider Chris Mortensen's -- track record with anonymous sources when considering this scenario).

2. Belichick's decade-in-the-making reputation as the best personnel man in football.

Like Wetzel, I find scenario No. 2 to be much more realistic (if somewhat less exciting) than No. 1.

Remember: The market for Cassel was limited to begin with and shrunk when teams considered his likely asking price in a contract extension. So the reality, according to the Xchange, is that Belichick had two major factors in mind when shipping Cassel to K.C.

The coach wanted to get the deal done quickly and safely in order to get cap relief with which to continue into the offseason. He wanted to sign the likes of Fred Taylor and Chris Baker while also re-signing starting safety James Sanders and maybe even working on extensions for potential 2010 free agents Logan Mankins and Vince Wilfork.

He could do all that and get a valuable, very high second-round pick from Pioli and the Chiefs.

And according to the Xchange's sources, that's pretty much the only deal that was on the table when the league year opened. It was a good but not great deal, and Belichick took it.

By the time the other reported deals supposedly coming from the too-slow-to-the-game new coaching and front office regimes in Denver, Detroit and Tampa Bay got to New England the deal with the Chiefs was already done. Belichick couldn't and wouldn't pull out.

The "Belichick-got-conned" debate centers on the interest of those other teams, most notably Denver.

As mentioned above, Mortensen cited an unnamed source who said that the Broncos were willing to give up the 12th pick overall for Cassel. Turning it down, according to Mortensen, "defies logic" and suggests Belichick got played.

Anything's possible, but as Wetzel wrote: "It probably defies logic because the report isn't logical."

You don't need any sources to know that if that was a serious offer, then Belichick, perhaps the most competitive person in the NFL, would've taken it -- something the coach confirmed at last month's NFL Owners meetings.

Belichick addressed the chatter surrounding the trade by telling reporters there were a "number of teams" the Patriots spoke with after Cassel officially signed his franchise tender.

Belichick wasn't comfortable with the potential snags to a three-way deal and wanted to act quickly. He also claimed Denver did not offer a first- and third-round pick for Cassel, as was reported.

"They never made that offer to me," Belichick said.

He also called "ludicrous" the opinions that shipping Cassel and Vrabel to KC for a second-round pick was some sort of favor to Pioli.

"Look, I have all the respect in the world for Scott and what he's done," he said. "I work for the Patriots. I have no loyalty to anybody or any team other than the Patriots."

From where I sit, that last comment is the Bill Belichick I've come to know and love in covering the NFL since his days as Cleveland's head man.

Maybe Belichick could have gotten more had he waited longer. Maybe he couldn't have.

But the bottom line remains unchanged: Belichick knew had a sure-thing with the Chiefs that brought him a more than respectable second-round pick for a former seventh-round pick who was a nobody prior to opening day 2008.

It might not feel like a good deal for Patriots fans or even NFL analysts, but it did to Belichick. And that's all that mattered. ...

In a related note. ... Boston Globe staffer Mike Reiss reports that Belichick was asked about backup quarterback Kevin O'Connell during a Mar. 24 appearance on Sirius Radio and the coach noted that O'Connell played in a pass-oriented offense at San Diego State.

Belichick further noted that last year in New England, he got more work directly under center in a pro-style offense.

"He did a good job. He came along well," Belichick said, suggesting the youngster was helped by taking snaps as the No. 2 quarterback. ...

Also in New England. ... Yahoo! correspondent Charles Robinson advised readers this week that three years of injuries and indecisiveness at the line of scrimmage have corrupted New England's confidence in Laurence Maroney.

The signing of Taylor could be particularly ominous, meaning that the team is bracing for another year of limited production from a player who once looked like the team's future at running back.

Robinson went on to suggest Maroney has two years left on a relatively palatable deal, so he's not exactly playing for his career. But if he can't get himself back into a groove this year, he'll likely spend the remainder of his time with the team in Belichick's doghouse. ...

In Denver. ... As if the Cutler trade wasn't enough to cause Fantasy owners concern, we learned on Wednesday that the team will lose Brandon Marshall for the rest of the offseason after the star receiver underwent hip surgery Tuesday.

Marshall is expected back by training camp in late-July.

Positives? According to Denver Post staffer Mike Klis, the surgery was performed by Dr. Marc Phillipon, who has been dubbed "the hip doctor to the stars." Phillipon, who also performed hip surgeries in recent weeks on beleaguered baseball star Alex Rodriguez and Cardinals' quarterback Kurt Warner.

Marshall's hip started bothering him last season to the point he noticeably struggled to separate from defenders late in the season, relying instead on his 6-4, 230-pound frame to ward off cornerbacks.

He still earned his first Pro Bowl appearance by finishing with 104 catches for 1,265 yards -- his second consecutive season of at least 100 catches and 1,200 yards.

Marshall may have trouble reaching those milestones for a third consecutive season.

After all, Cutler is gone, Orton and Simms sit atop the team's QB depth chart and it's possible Marshall could be found in violation of the NFL's personal conduct policy after his arrest in March on a disorderly conduct charge.

Although charges were quickly dropped, Marshall has several prior off-field incidents that drew a one-game suspension last season. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters at last month's owners meetings that he was still considering possible punishment.

"As you know we spent a fair amount of time talking last summer," Goodell said of Marshall. "I mentioned to him before that he needs to stay out of the way of any legal issues and criminal issues. While there are no charges here, at least something occurred, and we'd like to understand (it)."

Marshall was arrested on March 1 after a quarrel with his fiancée. It's worth noting that a conviction is not necessary for a player to be found in violation of the league's conduct policy.

"Obviously it's a concern," McDaniels said. "I'm sure in due time the league will address that. Charges were dropped, and we'll see where it goes if there is anything more to it."

I strongly suspect there will be.

According to NFL Network insider Adam Schefter, when the NFL 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. ...

Also in Denver. ... Never mind the new set of running backs -- Correll Buckhalter, J.J. Arrington and LaMont Jordan -- the Broncos acquired through free agency. Klis believes the most significant change to the Broncos' offense this year will be the diminished role of the zone-blocking scheme that had been a Denver staple since the Mike Shanahan era began in 1995.

"That was really their bread-and-butter," McDaniels said. "We did more gap schemes in New England, where we're going to pull a guard. I can't give that up. That's kind of my baby. But you're going to see both."

The real question for Fantasy owners, of course, isn't so much the blocking scheme as the division of carries.

The team used seven different running backs last season -- but not by design. This year it might be.

Buckhalter, Arrington and Jordan, all situational-type backs last season and for most of their careers, were plucked from the market. Holdovers Peyton Hillis, Ryan Torain and Selvin Young will also be in the hunt for touches.

None, however, should expect a traditional workhorse-type role.

As Klis pointed out, during the Patriots' near-dynastic run, they went through a few No. 1 tailbacks. Antowain Smith, Corey Dillon, Maroney. ... The only constant in the Patriots' run was their swing guy, third-down specialist Kevin Faulk.

Indeed, the offense McDaniels brought with him from New England concentrates on the back end of a tailback committee, the role reserved for third down.

Or put another way, the down where drives are either killed or sustained. He doesn't pick up many yards -- only, it seems, the important ones. And many times what Faulk picks up is not yards but pass rushers.

"One of the most difficult positions to play in this league anymore is the third-down back because of all the crazy looks you get from the defense and the blitzing that goes on," McDaniels said at the owners meetings. "That's how you protect your quarterback against all these crazy looks that are going on, and they're just going to get crazier."

So, as McDaniels went about resetting the Broncos' backfield this season, Klis reports the new coach's priority was not to find the next Terrell Davis or Clinton Portis. ... It was finding the next Faulk.

And McDaniels apparently thinks he found him while watching Super Bowl XLIII between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals on Feb. 1.

"J.J. Arrington was the only back who played in the fourth quarter for the Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl," McDaniels said. "That tells you all you need to know. They were trailing.

"Obviously, Pittsburgh is a blitzing team and they trusted him enough to be the only guy to play in the fourth quarter because he had to pick up the blitz against good linebackers and he caught a couple passes. And he did that all year."

For what it's worth, Arrington had 187 yards rushing, 255 yards receiving and 923 yards in kickoff returns for the Cardinals last season. Faulk finished the 2008 season with 503 yards rushing, 486 yards receiving and six touchdowns. ...

In Cincinnati. ... Carson Palmer considers his throwing elbow fully healed as he begins offseason workouts with his Cincinnati Bengals teammates.

Palmer chose not to have reconstructive surgery for a partially torn ligament and tendon in his right elbow, which sidelined him for 12 games last season. Instead, he decided to see whether rest would heal the injury.

Before beginning voluntary workouts on Monday, Palmer said he is back to his usual throwing routine because the elbow is fine. The team plans to limit his throwing during preseason workouts as a precaution.

"I was timid at first," Palmer said of his decision to rest the elbow instead of having so-called "Tommy John" surgery. "I was kind of going against a bunch of doctors and relying on one and what he said, and it turned out he was right.

"It's 100 percent and I'm healthy and I'm happy. Had I gone the other way, I don't know when I'd be able to throw again, but it wouldn't be now."

Palmer has been throwing three times a week near his home in southern California. Several of the Bengals' young receivers have joined him for the sessions, including second-year men-to-be Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell.

Both spent a month working with Palmer.

"For them to be in the shape they're in and to be as mechanically sound as they are at this time of the year and this far away from the season is exciting," Palmer said. "It shows the dedication, work ethic and their desire to want to be great receivers.

"They're young, talented guys who have a very bright future if they do the right things and they've done the right things which is get in shape now and work on their games individually, which is what makes me excited as a quarterback."

The young wideouts were impressed, too.

"I saw that old Carson Palmer I used to look at when I was younger," Simpson said. "He has that strong arm, and he's just throwing the ball around and having fun. There was some zip on it. He overthrew me one time, and I hadn't seen that for a long time. I was surprised, but it showed me he's getting back to the old Carson now."

Palmer's next step is to get his timing back with a receiving corps that has undergone change. T.J. Houshmandzadeh left for Seattle as a free agent and was replaced by Laveranues Coles.

Receiver Chad Ocho Cinco was the only Bengals receiver who missed the voluntary workout on Monday.

Because he's not clamoring publicly for a trade, Ocho Cinco's absence is a bit confusing -- especially since the mercurial wideout said during Super Bowl week that he'd take part in all offseason activities.

"I'm not worried about him," Palmer said. "I'm worried about the guys we have here. ..."

While he may not be one of Palmer's primary targets with Ocho Cinco and Coles slated to start, Simpson is obviously working hard to become a bigger part of the offense. Simpson told Pro Football Weekly he has become "more of a technician in my routes," especially as it comes to getting out of his breaks more quickly.

Playing time was scarce for Simpson as a rookie. He was active for only eight games, played in only six and made just one start, but that was somewhat to be expected considering the presence of Houshmandzadeh and Ocho Cinco.

Simpson also missed three games with an ankle injury, but the injury is no longer an issue, he said.

How he will fit into the Bengals' offense remains to be seen. Caldwell, with whom Simpson has developed a friendship, received extended playing time down the stretch of his first season and also returned 13 kickoffs.

Because of that, Caldwell may have the edge to be the Bengals' No. 3 receiver entering the season.

Simpson, who earned a reputation as a vertical threat at Coastal Carolina, might be able to find a niche stretching the field as an outside receiver, especially with Palmer returning to the lineup. For now, Simpson is focused on getting better.

He relished learning from Ocho Cinco as well as the departed Houshmandzadeh, who signed with the Seahawks.

"I learned a lot from T.J.," Simpson said. "I learned a lot of patience, being detailed with your routes. I said I'm going to get with him in the offseason in the seasons to come. He's a great leader. He's always on time. He stays late."

With Houshmandzadeh no longer on board, Cincinnati Enquirer staffer Joe Reedy reports that Palmer is ready to pick up any slack in terms of leadership.

"I have no problem being the leader of this team if that's what I am called to do," Palmer said.

"I feel like I've got enough experience under my belt to be that guy and we've got a great locker room of guys with different types of leaders. I'll grab the bull by the horns and run with it. ..."

Meanwhile, a year after turning down a trade that could have netted two first-round picks Ocho Cinco, Yahoo! columnist Jason Cole believes owner Mike Brown could be laying the groundwork to trade his high-maintenance wideout for much less this year.

According to Cole, two sources who have spoken to Brown said he would be willing to deal Ocho Cinco – and two others said he won't.

Cole went on to explain the tide could turn for a number of reasons, not the least of which would be Ocho Cinco's desire to leave. Remember: He hasn't shown up for offseason workouts. That follows his decision to not have surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder, something the Bengals wanted him to do.

Cole went on to note that least two people who know Ocho Cinco have told the team that his competitive spirit to play for the Bengals has basically burned out. One source even told Palmer in March that a deal of Ocho Cinco could be coming before the draft. ...

In Green Bay. ... Greg Jennings remains convinced the Packers will do what it takes to keep him for the rest of his career. But if he first must play out the last year of his rookie contract to cement his status as an elite receiver -- in the eyes of the Packers and the rest of the NFL -- Jennings plans to be more than ready physically.

His No. 1 focus this offseason has been improving his body, and with help from a nutrition plan and his personal chef, he says he's getting significant results.

"I feel a lot better," Jennings said late last month.

"I did a body scan, and from last year this time to right now -- a lot more lean muscle, less body fat. So, I'm in a lot better shape right now going into the offseason program and training camp. I'm in a lot better shape than I was last year."

As Green Bay Press-Gazette staffer Tom Pelissero suggested, those words should worry opposing defenses, considering last year Jennings posted career highs in receptions (80) and receiving yards (1,292) while emerging as the favorite target for Aaron Rodgers.

Jennings also stayed healthy, playing in all 16 games for the first time in his three-year NFL career. But he wasn't comfortable with the way he looked -- "It's like, 'Aah, I gotta tighten up on some things,'" he said -- so he decided to reassess his food intake. The nutrition plan lays out all of Jennings' meals and snacks, with the chef preparing each dinner and the occasional lunch.

"I'm actually cutting down on quite a bit of things," said Jennings, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 198 pounds. "There's never been too much fast food in my diet anyway, but a lot of the added sugars, added salts, added sodiums, things like that."

Pelissero went on to remind readers this is an important offseason for Jennings, as he enters the last season of the four-year contract he signed as a second-round draft pick (No. 52 overall) out of Western Michigan in 2006. His base salary for 2009 is $535,000 -- a fraction of what he would command if he has another productive season and then hits the open market as an unrestricted free agent next winter.

The Packers almost certainly will not allow the latter to happen. If they can't sign Jennings to a multiyear deal, the Packers could give him their franchise tag, which this season was worth $9.884 million for receivers.

The Packers have plenty of 2009 salary-cap room -- about $28 million -- to strike a deal with Jennings. But he's only the headliner on the list of 17 Packers, including nine incumbent starters, who could become free agents in 2010.

Jennings doesn't sound especially worried, however.

"In my heart of hearts, honestly, I feel like I'm going to be a Green Bay Packer for my career," the talented youngster said.

If that's the case, Jennings and Rodgers will continue to emerge as a dangerous Fantasy duo. ...

In Tampa Bay. ... St. Petersburg Times beat writer Stephen F. Holder advised readers that new offensive coordinator Jeff Jagodzinski can tell you one thing about his offense after the team's three-day mini-camp: The tight ends are going to play a major role.

With newly-acquired Kellen Winslow, Jerramy Stevens and Alex Smith, Jagodzinski is intrigued by the possibilities.

"(Tight end) always has been a big part of this offense," he said. "Kellen, I think, does some things with matchups I think we can get that are really going to benefit us this year. We can put him in different spots and move him around to get the matchup that we want. He can get in and out of a cut like a receiver.

"He's good. I'm really looking forward to working with him. He's been great out at practice, asking a lot of questions. ... I came off the field (Monday) saying, ‘I think we have something good there with him.'"

By the way. ... When Jagodzinski mentioned Winslow was on the field asking questions, he left out one important point: Winslow wasn't actually practicing.

The good news?

While some feared the worst when Winslow, who has struggled with injuries throughout his career, didn't actually go through the workouts we learned later the former first-round draft pick opted out of the voluntary drills.

"This is a voluntary deal," new head coach Raheem Morris said when asked about Winslow. "Kellen didn't practice. He attended and was great. He bounced around was listening attentively. He did everything he needed to do. He came to the meeting. He's been great since he's been here and very positive. I'm just happy he's here.

"It has nothing to do with health."

And Winlsow's continuing good health will be vital given the team's plans at the position.

As Holder explained, there will be times when Jagodzinski gets Winslow and Stevens into receiving routes on the same play.

"Defenses are going to have to decide whether they're going to play you in regular personnel, are they going to play nickel," Jagodzinski said. "If they play regular, you have Kellen on a linebacker. If you play nickel, then you have the run. They're going to have to make a decision."

Another important point made by Jagodzinski was his take on evaluating his new players.

The team's initial workouts were the first time he had seen any of them up close and personal on a football field. He is being particularly careful to ignore players' reputations. For example, he said Michael Clayton is a player with possibilities not a guy with suspect hands. He sees Luke McCown as a player with a huge upside, not one who has made questionable decisions in the past.

"One of the things that I'm going to do is make sure I don't have any preconceived notions on what everybody else thinks," Jagodzinski said. "You get that question about, ‘They said. ...' Well, who is ‘they?' I'm more about what I see, what we can do with them, what we can do to put all these guys in the best possible positions to make a play.

"I think that's coaching. ..."

Also in Tampa. ... Carnell "Cadillac" Williams' recovery from a torn patellar tendon injury continues to go well.

Offering the first detailed report on his rehab, Williams told reporters on Thursday that his rehab is going extremely well compared to his last time going through this process.

"No doubt. It's a lot different," Williams explained. "(Last) time, at three months, I was basically still on crutches. Here am I am walking and I've started some straight-ahead running. This is a lot different."

In fact, three months after suffering the injury in the Dec. 28 season finale, Williams said he is well enough to sprint and to do some limited cutting. Asked how long it took to reach this stage after sustaining a similar injury in his opposite knee in September 2007, Williams said, "Hmmm. ... Seven, eight months."

The primary difference is in the severity of the damage. This time, Williams' left patellar tendon detached from the bone. In 2007, the right tendon actually ruptured. ... As for his outlook?

"Right now, I'm just taking it day by day," he said. "My whole objective is to be ready for training camp."

Camp begins in late July. ...

And finally this week, from our "Gentlemen, Start Your Checkbooks" file. ... The Redskins might have lost out on the Cutler sweepstakes, but that doesn't necessarily put an end to owner Daniel Snyder's desire to bring a little piece of Denver to Washington.

According to Profootballtalk.com's Mike Florio, there was a rumor of a January meeting between Snyder and former Shanahan. As Dallas Morning News beat writer Tim MacMahon pointed out, that's the same Shanahan considered the favorite to replace Wade Phillips when he gets fired (or Jerry Jones just declines to pick up his contract option for 2010).

As MacMahon asked, how much could Shanahan make if Jones and Snyder get into a bidding war for his services?

He'd have two of the richest, most competitive owners in league, who just happen to be division rivals, trying to one-up each other.

Talk about karmic payback.

Shanahan must have done something very good for somebody at some point in his life to clear the way for such a cosmic convergence of ego and cash. ...

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.