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Another Sunday, another Fantasy Notebook -- this one boasting a theme of sorts. With all the league's coaches in one place, at the NFL Owners meetings in Phoenix -- and with all of them required to spend some time chatting up the media, we suddenly have copius Fantasy-specific intelligence to begin perusing, parsing and assessing.

While the coaches addressed an array of issues, the running back-related chatter is what struck me as most interesting. So, this week's Notebook will focus on what seemed to be widespread talk about limiting the workload of some the league's top backs.

We'll get the ball rolling in Kansas City. ... Larry Johnson is currently in New Jersey, where Kansas City Star staffer Adam Teicher reports the star tailback is preparing for the aches and pains of another season of carrying the Chiefs' offense on his shoulders.

The Chiefs, however, are back at team headquarters trying to figure out ways to give him a break.

While Johnson and the power running game are still central to their plans, Teicher advised readers this week the Chiefs are hoping to diversify by giving more work to backup Michael Bennett and perhaps a third back they would add in next month's draft.

The idea is to reduce Johnson's workload before he breaks down. He carried an NFL-record 416 times in the regular season last year and another 13 times in the playoff loss to Indianapolis.

"You don't want to make one guy run the ball 400 times," head coach Herman Edwards told Teicher. "You won't see that anymore. You won't see it. We'll get Michael Bennett in the mix, and you might have to get another back. There might be three backs.

"You need three backs. (With two backs) as soon as you get one nicked, then you only have one. You're out of business all of a sudden. You have to change your offense."

Johnson -- wisely in my opinion -- is preparing as if nothing will change.

In fact, Teicher reports that Johnson is participating in a conditioning program designed by Joe Carini, a noted power lifter whose personal training clients have also included former Giants running back Tiki Barber.

Carini's regimen relies on heavy lifting with only brief periods of rest, something similar to Johnson's routine on Sundays in the fall.

"The Chiefs are going to be very surprised at the amount of size and strength LJ is acquiring," Carini told Teicher. "I'm really pushing the man. He was already a tremendous physical specimen. By doing this type of training, I really believe he's going to set a standard next season."

Johnson can't be blamed for thinking next season will be like the last.

Edwards felt much the same way about Johnson's workload at this time last year. And of course, the Chiefs proceeded to work the former first-round pick like no back ever before.

Bennett didn't join the Chiefs last year until training camp had started. But even then, he was injured as often as not. As a result, coaches ever became comfortable with exactly what Bennett could do.

He battled injuries all season and wound up carrying just 36 times.

For now, at least, the Chiefs at a minimum would like to triple Bennett's playing time. His speed and open-field running ability give the Chiefs more versatility.

"Michael Bennett is a guy we feel is a change-up hitter," Edwards said. "We've got to get him the ball some more and get him more involved in the offense."

Edwards also believes letting Johnson catch more passes would cut back on the wear and tear.

"I had Curtis Martin for five years (with the Jets). He ran the ball 325 times a season and he caught about 50 passes. That's what you want from Larry."

While Johnson can't possibly give the Chiefs more as a runner than he has in the year and a half since taking over for Priest Holmes, he hasn't become the receiver that Holmes was.

Johnson has 74 catches in the last two seasons. That matches Holmes' total from his best receiving season in 2003.

"He has to be more of a pass catcher," Edwards said. "We can get him the ball on the perimeter, in space, when he becomes a better pass receiver. It benefits our offense and him that he can catch the ball. He's got to work on his routes. He's got to run better routes so we can get him in space and in some (favorable) matchups.

"That's where you save (wear and tear on) the backs. That's what made Curtis Martin so good. He carried the ball 22, 25 times a game, and then he caught passes. When you get him outside the tackle box he's in open space. Then he's up against a linebacker, and that's what you want.

"That's what makes LaDainian Tomlinson so great. They get him in space and he catches the ball a lot, too. People lose sight of that."

It all sounds good, but it'll take more than Edwards talking about altering the rotation or limiting Johnson's workload to convince me. I suspect the coach will continue to do what it takes to win the game.

As Edwards so famously put it: "You play to win the game."

And if running Johnson into the ground is what it takes to win, that's how the Chiefs will play. ...

In a related note. ... Now that San Francisco has signed Frank Gore to a four-year, $28 million extension that includes $14 million in guaranteed money, NFL Network insider Adam Schefter suggested this week that Johnson is next in line for a new deal.

But it could be a while.

Even though the Chiefs and Johnson have been discussing a contract extension for weeks, if not months now, a person close to the talks told Schefter a deal might not be struck until the eve of training camp.

When it is done, Schefter expects Tomlinson's contract to be the measuring stick.

In 2004, Tomlinson signed a five-year, $36 million deal that included $21 million in guaranteed money. In the three years since then, the salary cap is up 36 percent, which could influence the final numbers in Johnson's contract.

And in 2005, LaMont Jordan signed a five-year, $27.5 million deal that included $11 million guaranteed with the Raiders.

It's safe to say Johnson's abilities are closer to Tomlinson's than Jordan's, and his contract is expected to be closer as well. ...

In Arizona. ... New head coach Ken Whisenhunt came off much like Edwards this week, as he emphasized the need to have Edgerrin James share carries this fall.

Last season, James had 337 of the Cards' 378 rushing attempts by running backs.

"I said, 'Edgerrin, if you run 1,000 plays in the course of a season and we are 55 or 58 percent run, that is 580 plays,'" Whisenhunt said. "I said, 'Edgerrin, you are not going to carry the ball 580 times. You're not going to do it.'

"He's a good back. But he's not going to get every carry."

That being the case, the obvious question is: Who does James share with?

According to more than a few draftniks, with ESPN's Todd McShay leading the way, if Oklahoma running back Adrian Peterson is still available when the Cards select fifth overall, they could grab the potential star, who could team with James like Reggie Bush did with Deuce McAllister in New Orleans.

According to East Valley Tribune beat writer Darren Urban, team officials have not ruled out such a scenario.

Otherwise, the pickings seem a bit slim with Marcel Shipp and J.J. Arrington the other options on the roster.

Last season, Shipp appeared in 15 games, carrying the ball 17 times for 41 yards and four touchdowns working in reserve of James. Shipp, who scored a career-high three rushing touchdowns against St. Louis on Dec. 3 despite carrying the ball only seven times in the game, could be a viable change-of-pace.

As Arizona Republic staffer Kent Somers suggested recently, Shipp provides the kind of tough, physical attitude that Whisenhunt wants.

The jury is still out on Arrington. ...

For what it's worth, Somers believes Whisenhunt would like to have four or five running backs by the time training camp starts, so the club will look to add a couple of more in the coming months. ...

Getting back to James. ... Sharing the workload won't be the only change he faces with Whisenhunt taking over for former head coach Dennis Green, the man chiefly responsible for bringing the former Colt to Arizona last offseason.

Whisenhunt said Wednesday during the NFC coaches media breakfast at the NFL Owners meetings that James -- who would rather spend most of his offseason working out in his home state of Florida -- is expected back in Arizona in two weeks.

That will bring James to Phoenix prior to Whisenhunt's first mini-camp, which is voluntary.

"He said, 'I am going to be there at some point,' and I said, 'Edgerrin, I need you here,'" Whisenhunt said. "He said, 'I'm gonna be there Coach, I've got my calendar.' I said, 'Bring it in and we'll talk about it.' And that's all I can ask for."

James also has to deal with Whisenhunt's plan to use a fullback.

James -- who has been in one-back sets most of his NFL career -- has said in the past he is not comfortable in such a scenario.

But Whisenhunt isn't concerned about that. He reiterated the Cardinals will not always be using a fullback, instead using two-tight-end sets and one back.

He also noted Duce Staley hadn't run behind a fullback much before coming to Pittsburgh under Whisenhunt's offense, and Staley ran for 830 yards in 10 games (and 4.3 yards a carry) before injuries struck in 2004.

James' new fullback, Terrelle Smith, has blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher in five of his six NFL seasons.

"I know (Edgerrin) can do it," Smith said. "It will take a little while (to mesh), but it always does. We'll be fine."

Urban agreed with Smith's assessment, stressing that no matter what, James will remain confident.

He gained 1,159 yards last season when the Cards' rushing game struggled much of the year and averaged 4.2 yards a carry the final seven games when the offensive line got straightened out.

According to Urban, that success is why James believes his off-season plan works -- and why he hates the idea that his appearance -- or nonappearance -- at voluntary off-season work raises a fuss.

"When the season is over, I'm not going to be here," James said last summer after taking part in some of the voluntary workouts. "Coaches don't have to worry about me. Worry about the other guys."

Fortunately, Whisenhunt said he is prepared to hear James out on every subject.

"Edgerrin is not shy about voicing his opinions," the new coach told Urban with a smile. We'll see if he's still smiling when off-season workouts begin in earnest. ...

In Minnesota. ... According to Minneapolis Star Tribune staffer Kevin Seifert, Brad Childress is singing the same tune as his counterparts Edwards and Whisenhunt. This after the coach reiterated on Tuesday his plans to reduce Chester Taylor's workload in 2007.

Last year, in his first season as a full-time starter, Taylor combined for 345 carries and receptions -- but only 42 in the season's final four games.

"It's no secret that as we went into December, for whatever reason, Chester got nicked a little bit," Childress said. "He was not as effective as he was in the first month of the season. We'd like to be able to identify another one or two guys [to help]."

Childress named Ciatrick Fason and Mewelde Moore as possibilities.

He said the same last week.

"I think that's the mode unless you have a guy like [Tomlinson] or Larry Johnson. ... I think it's hard on a defense when you have two different styles of guys who have fresh legs."

Asked where that would leave Moore, who was the No. 2 guy last season?

"I think that's probably up to Mewelde to be that guy," the coach said.

So, Moore, heading into the final year of his current contract, will get a chance to be that. As Childress pointed out: "You either create value in the place you're at or you create value on the market."

Hardly a rousing vote of confidence. Neither was Childress suggesting this week that he's also intrigued by fullback Naufahu Tahi.

"What you're trying to do is always change up on the defense," Childress said. "Chester is a 213-pound guy. [Tahi] is 254 pounds and can run it hard inside. ..."

Still, I wouldn't get too excited about Tahi, or Taylor's reduced workload. I expect Taylor to be as busy this year as he was last season (303 carries, 42 catches), even if it means taking a pounding again. ...

In Washington. ... Head coach Joe Gibbs told Washington Post staffer Mark Maske this week that while he expects Clinton Portis to remain the Redskins' starter at tailback next season, the workload probably will be divided more evenly between Portis and Ladell Betts than it has been in the past.

"A lot of times it will be kind of in [Portis'] hands, but down the stretch I don't know if anyone played better than Ladell," Gibbs said.

As Maske reminded readers, Betts thrived as the Redskins' primary ballcarrier in the late stages of last season with Portis hurt, and re-signed with the club before becoming a free agent.

And as previously noted, Portis' recovery from December shoulder surgery is on track.

"I don't have full range of motion yet -- it's too soon for that," Portis told Redskins.com staffer Gary Fitzgerald this week. "I have some range of motion back. I'm back to doing everything normal, where I can lift my own hand above my head and lift it out to the side. So it's going real well."

Portis underwent the surgery last December. His rehab was expected to be about six months.

He has targeted training camp for his return, but he hasn't ruled out being ready for mini-camp in June.

"[The goal] has always been to be back by training camp -- and I definitely know I'm on that schedule," he said. "If I can get ahead of schedule, I'll try to come back by mini-camp."

Portis said he is alternating his rehab between Redskins Park and his home in Florida.

"We're pleased with his progress," said Redskins director of sports medicine Bubba Tyer.

He suffered the shoulder injury in the Redskins' preseason opener on Aug. 13 at Cincinnati, an injury that lingered into the regular season and forced him to sit out the Week 2 game at Dallas. In Week 7 at Indianapolis, he suffered an ankle injury.

He suffered a fractured hand in Week 10 at Philadelphia. He had surgery on the hand and was placed on injured reserved a few days later.

Betts stepped up in Portis' absence and finished with 1,154 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Betts also caught 53 passes for 445 yards.

Assuming Portis' recovery remains on schedule, it will be interesting to see how the division of touches plays out through camp and pre-season play. Needless to say, we'll all be watching closely. ...

In New England. ... As Boston Herald staffer John Tomase first reported last Monday, Laurence Maroney underwent shoulder surgery after the team's AFC Championship Game loss to the Colts -- a procedure that Tomase, citing an unnamed league source, suggested revealed "fairly significant damage."

But Boston Globe beat man Mike Reiss subsequently reported that Maroney should be fully recovered for the 2007 season.

Maroney was in Miami this week with his mother, Terri Terrell, meeting with his financial adviser.

"I think he's in great spirits," Terrell told Reiss. "He's looking forward to the season. He's fine."

Terrell did not reveal specifics of the surgery -- or which shoulder was injured -- but noted that the procedure took place in the morning and Maroney was discharged from the hospital that afternoon, which she said reflected the fact that it was routine.

She said Maroney is not currently wearing a sling and is taking part in conditioning drills to stay in shape. He will be limited with certain weightlifting activities.

Nonetheless, the surgery is just the latest physical setback for the running back, who also suffered torn rib cartilage and a minor knee sprain during the season. With veteran Corey Dillon cut at the start of free agency, Maroney will enter the season as the lead back.

As Tomase explained, a hard-nosed runner out of Minnesota, the 5-11, 220-pounder appealed to the Patriots because of the way he combined speed with toughness. In college, Maroney was well schooled in the Walter Payton drill, a gauntlet created by the Gophers coaching staff that taught runners to lower their shoulder and gain extra yards rather than step out of bounds.

Maroney exhibited such fearlessness during the season -- at times to his detriment.

He hurt his knee in the next-to-last exhibition game and sat out the exhibition finale. He was ready to go for the season, however, and recorded his only 100-yard game in Week 4 against the Bengals.

Maroney remained healthy until Week 13 against the Lions, when he was injured in the first quarter of a 28-21 victory. He tore rib cartilage while absorbing a jarring hit from safety Terrence Holt.

He missed the next two games, but returned to rush 20 times for 121 yards in the final two games of the regular season, scoring two touchdowns. He rushed 175 times for 745 yards in the regular season.

However, he had just eight carries for 13 yards in the AFC Championship game loss to the Colts, all but two of those carries coming in the first half.

With Dillon no longer in the mix, the Patriots will rely on Kevin Faulk, who was effective over the final weeks of the season, Heath Evans, a solid blocker and showed the ability to catch passes out of the backfield, and former Dolphin Sammy Morris to provide depth behind Maroney this year.

Free-agent Patrick Pass, who spent most of last season on the shelf, has not been re-signed.

Though it's unlikely New England would spend one of its two first-round picks on a back when the draft gets under way one month from today, Providence Journal staffer Shalise Manza Young noted this week there will be players available and the Patriots haven't been afraid to trade picks to move up to get the man they want.

They have 10 picks in the draft, although the four compensatory picks they received on Monday cannot be traded. Among the possible candidates, Young included Rutgers' Brian Leonard and Arizona's Chris Henry. ...

In Tennessee. ... Yahoo! Sports national correspondent Charles Robinson, citing multiple sources, reported this week that LenDale White weighed in at over 260 pounds earlier this month while working out in the team's off-season program.

Robinson went on to advise readers that's believed to be the heaviest White has been since entering the NFL last season, and underscores the physical conditioning concerns many believe contributed to the former USC back slipping to the second round of the 2006 NFL draft.

Clearly it's concerning news for Tennessee, which has seen its backfield options dwindle with Travis Henry signing with the Broncos and Chris Brown still an unrestricted free agent looking for work.

Now the Titans are looking at candidates to fill out their backfield and push White, who apparently left the team in shape after last season but gained around 30 pounds before returning for the off-season program.

Assuming Robinson's sources are correct, the weight issue would go a long way towards explaining why head coach Jeff Fisher has yet to proclaim White as his starting tailback. In fact, Fisher is quick to admit the Titans still have "a lot of interest" in Brown.

"[LenDale] is no different than any other young player," said Fisher, who would not confirm White's reported weight gain. "He needs the competition. You don't hand the job to him. The job has not been handed to him.

"Hopefully we'll have somebody in there to compete with him."

Could that somebody be Michael Turner?

According to San Diego Union-Tribune staffer Kevin Acee, the Titans -- along with Buffalo, Dallas and the New York Jets -- are on the list of team's expressing interest in Tomlinson's backup.

Other options? Scout.com's Adam Caplan reports that Dillon is scheduled to visit Tennessee this week (Caplan also confirmed Saturday night the Jets interest in Turner ended when they landed Thomas Jones). San Francisco restricted free agent Maurice Hicks is another back mentioned in connection with the Titans.

Still, Robinson contends that Brown looks like the best option. Clearly, he's the only one who offers the Titans certainty in what they are getting for their money. As Robinson noted, not only is Brown familiar with the team and the offense, he's still young enough (he turns 26 in April) to see a rebound in production, a la Henry in 2006.

But more important for Tennessee, he's a player who could potentially step in and start challenging White right now -- while as Robinson suggested, there's still time to make progress in the off-season program.

It's worth noting that Scout.com began reporting Thursday that Brown is closing in on a deal. At this point, however, it's not clear whether that deal will be with Tennessee or Buffalo. Turner looks like a wild card in both situations. ...

Getting back to White. ... Fisher said he laid out his expectations to White at the end of last season, including an ideal weight for the running back.

"We've encouraged him to take advantage of [the off-season program] and he has," Fisher said. "He's been there every day thus far. He's stayed in Nashville. He's a very competitive, tough, talented young running back. I think he's got a chance to be very good."

But only a chance. Nothing is etched in stone. As another team official told Robinson when asked about White this week, "At some point, the light is going to have to go on."

He obviously wasn't referring to the refrigerator light. ...

In Jacksonville. ... According to Florida Times-Union beat man Michael C. Wright, as teammates arrived for the opening day of off-season conditioning on Monday, Maurice Jones-Drew appeared to be headed the other direction -- on his way out of the facilities at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium.

Preparing to catch a flight headed to California, Jones-Drew -- like running back Fred Taylor and quarterback Byron Leftwich -- won't be joining the rest of his teammates for the club's off-season program.

That's fine with head coach Jack Del Rio, Jones-Drew said.

They said just come back and perform like you did last year," Jones-Drew said of his conversation with Del Rio. "My whole thing is to get better. They trust me."

Since February, Jones-Drew has worked out twice a day for five days a week with his former high school trainer in California.

Jones-Drew said he visited the club's facilities on Monday to be weighed and to check in with the coaching staff. Having played last season weighing 210 pounds, Jones-Drew said he'd like to lose about five pounds to gain more quickness.

"My whole thing is when I come back, I've got to be in peak shape," Jones-Drew said. "Coming back in May, I've got to be that much better than I was last year so they understand that when [I'm] going out, [I'm] not going out to do any partying. I'm out there working out."

Taylor drew Del Rio's ire for skipping last season's conditioning program, yet returned in top shape. He ran for more than 1,000 yards for the sixth time in his nine-year career.

Taylor and Leftwich are skipping the club's program to train in South Florida with the same people Taylor worked with last year.

It might be worth noting that Orlando Sentinel reporter Alan Schmadtke advised readers this week that if a photo published in the Huntington (W.Va.) Herald-Dispatch last weekend is indicative, a slimmer-looking Leftwich already looks better than he has since joining the team.

It's also worth noting that Del Rio said Leftwich will take part in the team's post-draft passing camp, mandatory mini-camp and voluntary organized team activities. Jones-Drew said Monday he would do the same.

Taylor, though, has said he wants to do the same thing he did last year, which is to skip all but the mandatory mini-camp -- a decision that didn't seem to hurt him any last fall. ...

In Green Bay. ... With the loss of free agent Ahman Green earlier this month, it's common knowledge the Packers are going to pick up more running backs, either in the draft, via trade or through free agency.

But as PackersNews.com staffer Mike Vandermause noted Thursday, head coach Mike McCarthy said his go-to back in 2007 might be on the roster.

Vernand Morency, who was acquired in a trade for Samkon Gado in September, has the potential to be a star, McCarthy said Wednesday at the owners meetings.

"Do I think Mo can be a 1,000-yard rusher in this league?" McCarthy said. "Absolutely. But the thing he's going to have to prove to all of us is the durability of doing it for 16 games."

In 13 games with the Packers last season, Morency rushed 91 times for 421 yards.

He primarily served as the change-of-pace back to Green. He started two games, and had single-game totals of 101 yards against Arizona and 99 yards versus Philadelphia. He also missed two games in midseason with a back injury.

Morency is entering his third season and has yet to prove he can stand up to consistent pounding.

"I'm an optimist," McCarthy said. "I like what Mo brings to the table. He went down to Stillwater, (and) his whole time off, he's working on getting ready for the off-season program. I look at an individual that's preparing himself to take full advantage of his opportunity.

"I think the guy can be an every-down back for us. ..."

In New York. ... Jeremy Shockey and Plaxico Burress were again among the no-shows as the Giants opened their off-season workout program.

As New York Daily News staffer Ralph Vacchiano noted, both players have annually skipped the technically voluntary program to work out with personal trainers in Miami. New general manager Jerry Reese had said he hoped to talk the tight end and wide receiver into attending at least part of the program this year.

And quarterback Eli Manning said in January that he thought Burress "might be here a little bit more this offseason."

Of course, Manning has asked them to attend before and they have always said "No." There's no reason for Manning to believe they have changed their minds.

But it never hurts to ask, so he did.

"Yeah, I've talked to both of them," Manning said yesterday. "I said, 'Hey, I probably won't start throwing until mid-April. That's when I'd like you here. Right now if you want to be training someplace else, that's fine with me.' I'll talk to them as that gets closer and see what everybody is planning."

The off-season workout program is voluntary, but to their coaches and quarterback, the absence of Burress and Shockey has been a big deal.

With those two out, and with Amani Toomer still recovering from a torn ACL, Manning won't be able to throw to any of his top three targets until the Giants' lone mandatory mini-camp in mid-June.

In the meantime, don't expect Manning to travel to Miami just so he can work out with Shockey and Burress -- something his brother, Peyton Manning, suggested.

"No. I'm up here," Eli Manning said. "This is where I have to be. All the other players are here. It's my responsibility to be here with my teammates. This is where I work out. This is where I get my film and do everything. This is where our off-season program is. ..."

And finally this week, also in New York. ... Head coach Tom Coughlin won't be disciplined and his job is not in jeopardy after he was quoted saying he is almost as hated as Adolf Hitler.

As Daily News columnist Gary Myers reminded readers Thursday, the final two months of last season were filled with reports that Coughlin was coaching for his job. Columnists and commentators -- often with the use of players who were willing to bash their coach anonymously -- debated whether Coughlin should return for a fourth season.

His daughter would call and tell him he had to read what was being said about him.

So, asked at the NFC coaches breakfast whether he paid attention to what was being said at the time, Coughlin replied: "I hear some of it and I see it. You know (VP of communications Pat) Hanlon tells me about it, what's going on."

Then, he paused, and said, "Hitler and then me, in that order. Unfortunate, but it is."

Yikes. ... Even though it doesn't look like Coughlin will suffer any repercussions from his employers, the comment drew a sharp response from Abraham H. Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League.

"Coughlin appears to be ignorant of who Hitler was and what he did when he likens criticism he received for a losing football season to that against the man who caused World War II, murdered 6 million Jews in the Holocaust and millions of others," Foxman said in a statement.

"Using the comparison to Hitler in such a cavalier manner is insensitive and denigrates the memory of millions of Nazi victims. Coach Coughlin needs a reality check and some education."

Of course, in addition to being offensive, the comment was counterproductive.

It's safe to assume that playing the Hitler card all but guarantees Coughlin a 2007 season with even more intense media scrutiny -- and criticism -- than ever before.

Way to go coach. ...

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.