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Another week, another Notebook chock full of Fantasy-specific fun. In addition to some newer items, we'll also be revisiting and updating a handful of items touched upon in previous Notebooks and Headline News articles. ... Let's roll.

Starting in Dallas. ... It would appear the "family environment" new head coach Wade Phillips wants to instill started last Saturday with a call from wide receiver Terrell Owens.

"I told him it meant a lot to me," Phillips said. "It was a good talk."

After Phillips was hired last Thursday, reporters repeatedly asked how he would handle Owens. Phillips said he would treat the receiver as a member of his family.

According to Dallas Morning News beat man Calvin Watkins, Owens tracked down Phillips' cell phone number and called him.

"I think it's funny, but I'm good friends with Jim Farris [who played for Phillips in Atlanta in 2003] and he said, 'Dude, you will love Wade Phillips,'" Owens told Watkins. "He's a players' coach, and he's been there before. I guess from an offensive standpoint Wade is a kind of guy who wants to get his playmakers the ball."

And Owens clearly was one of the Cowboys' playmakers last season.

He led the team in catches (85), yards (1,180) and touchdowns (13). But he also led the league in dropped passes (18) and had numerous off-the-field issues, including being fined for arriving late to practice and arguing with then-passing game coordinator Todd Haley.

Owens also wanted to be more involved in the offense, so it will be up to Jason Garrett to get him the ball. Garrett, hired last month, is expected to become the offensive coordinator.

"He brings a lot to the table," Owens said of Garrett. "It's good to work with offensive-minded guys. For them, it's like playing a video game. You draw a play and want everybody to execute. It's going to be exciting."

If everybody involved is still a Cowboy this fall. And by everybody, I mean Owens.

As Associated Press sports writer Stephen Hawkins first reported on Friday, Jerry Jones "expects" Owens to still be with the Cowboys this season, but the team owner stopped short of guaranteeing that Thursday night.

Jones did say he was enthusiastic about Owens' phone call to Phillips.

"I am, of course I am," Jones said. "We've got some decisions to make, but still, I'm enthusiastic about it."

Decisions?

Owens is due a $3 million roster bonus in June, then a $5 million salary this season. Cutting him before then would save a lot of money.

Jones was asked to clarify if there was still a decision to be made about Owens returning.

"He's part of our team, that's what I'm saying," Jones said. "I don't want the play on the words to look one way or another. We are evaluating everybody, but still, my plans are for him to be back."

While Phillips' background is in defense, the new coach proudly notes that tight end Shannon Sharpe and wide receiver Eric Moulds flourished when he was their head coach.

Jones believes that could be the case with the Dallas receivers as well.

"We've got a chance to take players like Terry Glenn, who [new receivers coach Ray] Sherman coached, take a player like Terrell Owens, and really work to maximize their individual skills," Jones said. "I know that's Wade's philosophy in general about players, don't let the scheme keep you from using the player and let him do what he does the best.

"There's no question that last year, by having Terrell come in and having been with San Francisco and then with Philadelphia, in those West Coast-type offenses, we changed the game up for him a little bit."

A major issue for Owens, however, is a scheduled March 1 surgery to reattach a tendon to the tip of the right ring finger that will allow him to bend the tip. It's the second such surgery on the finger.

Owens will be in a cast for a month and will be unable to catch a pass until late May.

Despite this, Owens said he doesn't expect to miss any off-season workouts -- although he'll focus on conditioning during those sessions.

He also plans to work out longer at his summer home in Atlanta with personal trainer Buddy Primm, who he rehired.

Primm was fired by Owens last September for comments made about the receiver's personal life.

"I was upset with him," Owens said. "How do you pass judgment without knowing what was going on? I've known Buddy for a long time, and I know he didn't do it intentionally. ..."

One last note on Owens. ... Although the team ultimately wound up with Sherman as their receivers coach, Phillips tried to hire George Stewart for that role, but Stewart signed with the Minnesota Vikings for the same position.

Stewart has a close relationship with Owens.

Owens had numerous problems with previous receivers coach Todd Haley, who left to become the offensive coordinator with the Arizona. Looks like another case of Phillips making every effort to create that family atmosphere. ...

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

In Washington. ... As Redskins.com staffer Gary Fitzgerald noted this week, there's no denying that Ladell Betts had a breakthrough season in 2006. But he also knows that he must improve one aspect of his game: Fumbles.

Betts had six fumbles last season, losing three. All three turnovers proved to be pivotal plays.

The Giants' Tiki Barber, now retired from the NFL, was plagued with fumblitis in the 2002-03 seasons. Barber turned the ball over 12 times in two years, prompting him to reevaluate how he holds the ball. In subsequent years, he started to hold the football tighter to his chest, and his fumbling problems ceased.

Betts has just started to establish himself as a top-flight runner, so he is not eager to change anything about his running style right now.

Instead, Betts says that avoiding fumbles is a matter of focus.

"When you change your style, it causes you to think about how you run instead of [fumbling]," Betts said. "In my own opinion, I just need to pay more attention to holding on to the ball. That's what I think is the biggest thing."

Of course, those three lost fumbles were the only negative in a stellar season for the fifth-year running back out of Iowa. He finished with a career-high 1,154 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 245 carries. He also caught 53 passes for 445 yards.

That's nearly 300 touches.

Betts signed a contract extension with the team in early December, locking him up long-term with the team that drafted him in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft.

Now, as Fitzgerald put it, "Betts enters the 2007 season partnered with Clinton Portis" in the Redskins' backfield. Portis, who did not fumble at all in eight games last year, struggled through an injury-plagued season.

Portis finished with 523 yards and seven touchdowns on 127 carries and he also logged 17 receptions for 170 yards.

Portis underwent shoulder surgery last December. He is also rehabbing a fractured right hand suffered in Week 9 at Philadelphia.

Fitzgerald went on to stress the Redskins have no qualms about the Portis-Betts partnership in the backfield heading into 2007.

"Clinton went down and he's our starting back, but Ladell came in and showed everyone that he can go out there and do a great job also," left tackle Chris Samuels said. "When we get both of those guys back, it's going to be tough to defend them. ..."

It's also going to make things a little more difficult for Fantasy owners come draft day. ...

In Pittsburgh. ... After watching Willie Parker on tape, new head coach Mike Tomlin's opinion of his starting halfback changed.

"I think initially coming in, I had a perception of him as a perimeter runner. But it was obvious the more tape I watched that he's capable of hurting you in a variety of ways. I'm developing a great deal of respect for what he's capable of doing as a ballcarrier in all facets of the game."

Nonetheless, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette staffer Ed Bouchette reports that Tomlin still believes the Steelers need to find a second back to complement Parker, and that back could be on their roster.

"We have potential men identified. ... I think just having the ability to be multiple, having the ability to attack defenses in different ways. If you look at New Orleans, Deuce McAllister is a power man, Reggie Bush is speed. If you look at New England, Corey Dillon is power, the rookie Laurence Maroney is speed.

"You have to have the ability to have a change of pace offense, to attack people in different ways. Central, from a perimeter standpoint, having the ability to play both in the game at the same time and go two-back or one-back.

"It just gives the defense more things to work on. I think it's just part of today's NFL. ..."

In Tennessee. ... Drew Bennett is set to hit the open market when the NFL calendar year starts on March 2. New general manager Mike Reinfeldt and the Titans need to determine if they want to make a play for Bennett or any of the team's other free agents to-be before then.

With the salary cap up to $109 million per team and 19 teams expected to have more than $20 million in space under the cap, many players will want to get a full sense of their value around the league.

"It would take something strong for me to not test the market," Bennett said Wednesday. "That's not saying we can't get anything done before March 2. But yeah, it would take a very strong effort on their part for me after three years not to wait the next two weeks."

Bennett could be an attractive option for some teams. Sports Illustrated recently included him on a list of the top 20 potential free agents.

The Titans initially signed Bennett as an undrafted free agent in 2001. He signed a three-year deal in 2004 worth roughly $6 million with guaranteed bonuses totaling $2.55 million.

But as Nashville Tennessean staffer Paul Kuharsky noted this week, there's been considerable debate about whether Bennett a No. 1 receiver. On the other hand, offensive coordinator Norm Chow claims he doesn't need one receiver designated as the primary threat.

Bennett led the Titans with 46 receptions for 737 yards last season as veteran free-agent addition David Givens dealt with injuries and missed all but five games. Bennett was the veteran leader of a young group that struggled to be consistent as rookie quarterback Vince Young settled in.

Givens is unlikely to be ready to return from knee surgery for the start of the regular season. With or without Bennett, the Titans are expected to add receivers through the draft, free agency or both.

Meanwhile, Travis Henry isn't among the Titans scheduled to become unrestricted free agents on March 2, but Tennessean beat man Jim Wyatt advised readers this week the veteran halfback is probably a top priority for Reinfeldt.

"They want to re-do his deal and they want Travis back," Henry's agent, Hadley Engelhard, said after talking to team officials late last week. "We talked about philosophies and Travis' interest in staying there and length of deals and other types of deals for players that have been recent free agents.

"It was a great conversation. I look forward to talking to Reinfeldt in the near future."

Henry, who rushed for 1,211 yards and seven touchdowns last season, is under contract through 2009. But in March he's scheduled to collect an $8.3 million roster bonus that was created when Henry reached an incentive. ...

In Philadelphia. ... During an episode of "The Best Damn Sports Show" taped earlier this week, receiver Donte' Stallworth reiterated that he hopes to return to the Eagles but also elaborated on some possible destinations in free agency.

As Philadelphia Daily News beat man Les Bowen noted, Stallworth came to the Eagles in a trade for linebacker Mark Simoneau and a fourth-round draft pick that becomes a third if the Eagles sign him before free agency starts March 2.

For that reason, the team is unlikely to sign Stallworth before his contract expires.

They have expressed interest in bringing him back, but have said he might command more money than they can afford to spend in a free-agent market that is light on talent.

"I love the Eagles and I love being there, and I'm hoping that we can get things worked out," Stallworth said. "There are some other interesting situations that I have on the table, but as far as being with the one team, I definitely want to be with the Eagles."

Asked about other situations, Stallworth said: "There's New England, obviously being able to play in an organization like that, similar to the Eagles, who have definitely won a lot of games in the past. San Francisco, young and upcoming team, has a good young quarterback [Alex Smith], and Norv Turner is still the offensive coordinator there, that helps. ...

"And Miami, the GM there was a guy who drafted me in New Orleans, Randy Mueller, and we've always had a real good relationship. But as far as actually picking a team, Philly is definitely No. 1 right now."

As Bowen noted, in addition to the Mueller tie, Stallworth's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, historically has enjoyed a close relationship with the Dolphins. ...

In New Orleans. ... Drew Brees made it through 18 games fully healthy in 2006, but he couldn't get past the Pro Bowl. Brees dislocated his left, non-throwing elbow in the game and will need an estimated six to eight weeks to recover.

The injury is not too serious, and he'll have plenty of time to recover.

Still, as New Orleans Times-Picayune staffer Mike Triplett noted, it's a bummer for the quarterback who spent all of last offseason rehabbing from major shoulder surgery.

On a more positive note. ... The injury won't keep the Saints from paying Brees the $12 million roster bonus he's due this spring. The split signing bonus was a sort of insurance policy for the Saints if Brees struggled to recover from his shoulder injury.

Obviously, he recovered just fine, so Triplett suggests signing that check will be the easiest decision the team makes all year. ...

And following up on some previously reported items. ...

In Houston. ... When general manager Rick Smith disclosed Tuesday that teams have inquired about the availability of David Carr, he was quick to point out that Carr is still the Texans' starting quarterback.

While refusing to disclose which teams have called and what was discussed, Smith told Houston Chronicle staffer John McClain that Carr, like just about every Texans player, is available if the GM and head coach Gary Kubiak believe it will improve the franchise.

"I want to keep any discussions I have with other general managers confidential," Smith said. "But my goal is to improve our team in any way possible.

"I want to repeat what we said after the season: that David's our starting quarterback. But we're trying to improve the team, and I've fielded some calls about some of our players, including a couple of inquiries asking whether David might be available.

"If I believe improving our team involves a player on our team, a player on another team, a free agent or a draft choice, then I'll absolutely entertain (doing) it."

As noted in last week's Notebook, there has been speculation about a possible Carr trade since the second half of last season. In his five years, the Texans are 23-53 in games in which Carr has played.

Although the Texans have never admitted it, if they trade Carr, they'll have to acquire another veteran to compete with Sage Rosenfels for the starting job. They also are expected to draft a quarterback who fits Kubiak's system and give him time to develop.

The most likely candidate to replace Carr is Denver's Jake Plummer.

Plummer, who turns 33 this year, had the three best seasons of his career when Kubiak was the Broncos' offensive coordinator.

As Chronicle columnist Richard Justice conceded, it's impossible to make the case that Plummer is a great player. About all he has done consistently since getting to Denver is win. Plummer had a 32-11 record as a starter when he played for Kubiak.

In other words, Plummer has shown he can win if he's placed in the right circumstances. And as Justice summed up, that's something Carr never did. ...

In Indianapolis. ... Dominic Rhodes is set to become an unrestricted free agent when free agency begins and there's a good chance that an integral part of the Colts offense this season could be missing from the well-oiled machine next season when free agency hits.

Rhodes brings a lot to the table. He's a solid runner, who plays bigger than his size would indicate, a good receiver out of the backfield, and a special-teams standout.

And as noted in a previous article, There is no question that the Colts organization would like to retain Rhodes, but there are a number of teams who are likely to come calling.

According to Dayton Daily News staffer Carlos Holmes, one team to keep an eye on is the Bengals, who will be in the market for a change-of-pace back because Kenny Watson is an unrestricted free agent himself.

Rhodes would be a considerable upgrade, but won't come at a bargain price.

Other possibilities?

With the uncertainty surrounding the return of Kevin Jones for the 2007 season, the Detroit Lions are another team that could have an interest. Rhodes would be a good for the Lions offense due to his shiftiness and ability to catch the football.

A team source told Holmes the Rams expect Marshall Faulk to call it quits and that the team will be in the market for a backup running back like Rhodes in free agency and the draft.

The Rams are looking for a running back combination similar to Jacksonville's, a potent one-two punch with Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew carrying the rock.

Steven Jackson and Rhodes would make for a nice pair in the Rams' backfield. So add the Rams to the list of teams who will have their eyes on back.

The Colts will make every effort to re-sign Rhodes because he is that valuable to the team. However, the club won't get into a bidding war to try and keep the running back in Indy.

In Atlanta. ... Michael Vick may be the team's most recognizable and highly paid player but the new coaching staff, led by head coach Bobby Petrino, could care less.

"There will be no coddling of Michael Vick," offensive coordinator Hue Jackson told Atlanta Journal-Constitution beat man Steve Wyche in an exclusive interview Monday. "We have an expectation of him and I think he'll be the first to tell you that I'm not afraid to say anything to him and I'm not afraid to say anything to anyone on this offense.

"There is an expectation and that's what we're going to get. I don't care what the position is. That's the way we see it and that's the way we're going to deal with it."

Jackson, hired from Cincinnati, where he was the Bengals' wide receivers coach, said he speaks with Vick every two days and the quarterback is eager to start learning the new offensive system.

As noted in a previous Notebook, Petrino and Jackson said Vick will be allowed to audible at the line of scrimmage and that the quarterback is excited about the change. Vick was not allowed to alter a run play to a pass or a pass to a run under the previous coaching staff.

According to SI.com insider Peter King, if Petrino and Jackson are planning to give Vick the same kind of freedom Peyton Manning has at the line of scrimmage, the coach better be sure that Vick has the nose-to-the-playbook grindstone this winter and spring.

If Vick studies the way Petrino demands, King believes it's a good strategy by the rookie coach.

As King framed it: "Challenge the franchise quarterback, and if he comes through, you're all winners. If he doesn't, then you know you might have to go in a different direction in 2008. ..."

Which brings up another point. ... In a Thursday interview with Associated Press sports writer Charles Odum, owner Arthur Blank stressed the team wants to hand onto backup Mat Schaub.

Schaub is a restricted free agent who could be viewed as a potential starter for another team.

"We'd love to keep him as part of the Falcons," Blank said. "We always have to look at options and we'll certainly consider options as we look toward our roster for 2007."

In Seattle. ... Seahawks president of football operations Tim Ruskell said the team is pleased with the progress Matt Hasselbeck is making from shoulder surgery, first discussed here (and also here) last month.

After the Jan. 18 surgery that successfully reattached the torn labrum cartilage in Hasselbeck's left, non-throwing shoulder, Ruskell said he didn't expect Hasselbeck to miss the entire offseason.

"We are very happy with Matt's rehabilitation," Ruskell said Monday, between scouting meetings at team headquarters.

Ruskell would not elaborate on what exactly that rehabilitation currently entails or when Hasselbeck will be back on the field throwing. Hasselbeck was in Miami for Super Bowl week earlier this month for promotional appearances while wearing a brace on his left arm.

Immediately after the surgery, the Seahawks said Hasselbeck "should be ready for training camp at worst, if not before" July.

"We're happy with his rehabilitation -- I'll leave it at that," Ruskell said Monday.

In Green Bay. ... As first reported by PackersNews.com staffer Pete Dougherty, Brett Favre will return to Green Bay sometime in the next couple weeks to undergo surgery to remove bone spurs in his left ankle that have been bothering him for several years.

Favre was originally scheduled to have the procedure in January.

Of course, he has postponed the surgery for at least five years and played through the discomfort, but this year he's decided to undergo the procedure to give him some relief and perhaps help his mobility.

General manager Ted Thompson confirmed Tuesday that Favre is having the spurs removed this offseason by team physician Pat McKenzie.

The surgery shouldn't sideline Favre for more than several weeks. Unless there are unexpected complications, he presumably will be ready to participate in the Packers' post-draft mini-camp in early May.

"I wouldn't think (he'd be out long)," Thompson said. "There'd be some normal down time, but I haven't gone through that with our medical people yet."

In Denver. ... When the Broncos signed Javon Walker to a six-year contract last spring, the team had protection if the standout receiver didn't recover sufficiently from a 2005 knee injury while with Green Bay.

However, as Denver Post staffer Bill Williamson noted on Friday, Walker, who was the team's most productive offensive player in 2006, proved his surgically repaired knee was fully recovered, justifying Denver's decision to trade a second-round pick for him last April.

It was Walker's impressive first season that caused the Broncos to trigger the final five years of his contract. In recent days, Denver exercised the option bonus that was due Thursday.

Had Denver not exercised the option, Walker would have become a free agent when the NFL league year begins March 2.

As part of his $43 million deal, Walker was due $10.7 million this offseason with the majority due Thursday. Another portion is due next year. Once Walker proved he was healthy, the Broncos were certain to exercise the option with the aim of keeping him for the long term. He had 69 catches for 1,084 yards and eight TDs last season.

Friends say Walker's spirits have improved in recent weeks following the shooting death of teammate Darrent Williams on Jan. 1.

As noted last week, Walker was sitting next to Williams in a limousine at the time. ...

In Oakland. ... NFL.com insider Pat Kirwan -- stressing his piece was for the sake of this discussion only and not intended to suggest either man is actually on the trading block -- reviewed the status Randy Moss and Jerry Porter earlier this week.

Kirwan went on to explain that Oakland should have about $6 million of cap space if they stand pat with the roster.

Moss is scheduled to count for $11.7 million on the 2007 cap. His salary is going to be $9.75 million and if he were traded, the Raiders would get back the $9.75 million of space minus any outstanding potential accelerations.

Moss' accelerations are only $2 million, so the net of trading Moss for the Raiders would be a salary-cap gain of $7.7 million.

The question in this transaction will be more about the club who might have interest because they are not going to want to pay a $9.75 million salary and they may not want to spread his money out for an extended period of time.

A team like the Packers -- a team previously mentioned as a possible trading partner, with $24 million of projected space, could absorb the contract. That said, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel beat writer Bob McGinn reported this week there has been almost no internal discussion of Moss by the Packers.

Kirwan also pointed out that compensation back to the Raiders is a whole other story, and at this point a first-round pick seems a little high to most GMs he as discussed Moss with.

Meanwhile, Porter presents a different set of problems.

He's scheduled to make $1 million in salary in 2007, which is appealing to a number of teams. But according to Kirwan, his potential accelerations add up to $4.3 million and that means if the Raiders trade him, they will actually take a salary-cap hit of $3.3 million.

Bottom line? With $6 million of space the Raiders could handle the trade, but from a business sense Kirwan believes they might be better off trading both receivers if the compensation was fair.

Moss creates $7.7 millions of cap space and Porter costs $3.3 millions, so in the end Oakland could realize $4.4 million of space and a couple of decent draft picks or players by moving both. ...

In a related note. ... Pro Football Weekly reports it's still not clear whether new head coach Lane Kiffin has any intentions of bringing back both Aaron Brooks and Andrew Walter, regardless of what the team does in the draft, but it's clear that Brooks will need to restructure a contract that calls for a $5 million roster bonus in March if he wants a shot at the starting job next summer.

PFW went on to suggest that one issue the team may have with Brooks, besides a lack of production, is his penchant for pointing blame elsewhere. ...

And finally. ... It's obviously been a tough two weeks for Bears quarterback Rex Grossman. He loses one Super Bowl and there's a movement to run him out of Chicago.

But as Post staff writer Jim Armstrong asked this week, "What part of 'it takes time for quarterbacks' don't they get?"

Armstrong went on to note that Grossman has played in 24 regular-season games. In those 24, he has completed 54.4 percent of his throws for 27 touchdowns and 26 interceptions. Armstrong went on to remind readers of another quarterback who lost a Super Bowl in his fourth NFL season.

And how did John Elway fare in his first 24 games? Try 52.8, 24 and 24. ...

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.