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Another Sunday, another Fantasy Notebook. ... Free agency rolls on -- albeit at a much slower pace in recent days than we saw late last week and over the first weekend of the signing period. Then again, much of the focus this week has been on Green Bay.What's that? Just coming out of a coma? Just back from Antarctica?
Well, you might not have heard then: Brett Favre retired this week.
Of course, anybody who's come within 100 yards of a television box the last five days probably knows more about Favre, his retirement, his NFL career (on a game-by-game basis), personal life, peccadilloes, tragedies and crises, college career, high-school days, childhood, etc. than they do about their best friend (through sheer osmosis).
I should probably qualify that statement by adding that anybody who's come within 100 yards of a television box tuned to the NFL Network this week might now believe Favre actually is their best friend.
If not, feel free to pick up tomorrow's 84-page, special edition Sports Illustrated commemorating Favre's career for further indoctrination.
Seriously now. ... I'm a Favre fan. But enough is enough. Anybody else ready to move forward?
For those answering in the affirmative, we'll get the ball rolling this week in Green Bay where Aaron Rodgers obviously faces a most unenviable task -- one that suddenly makes him of great interest to Fantasy owners.
As a result, we'll all be spending the next few months trying to determine how valuable Rodgers might be come draft day.
And even though we'll all want to take in the full course of off-season workouts, mini-camps, training camp and the exhibition season before making our final determination, now is the time to begin building a baseline of information necessary to set expectations.
(Oh, by the way. ... Those not yet ready to move past Favre should feel free to skip down to the next item at this point.)
As Green Bay Press Gazette staffer Rob Demovsky suggested this past week, there's no telling whether Rodgers will be the Steve Young to Joe Montana or the Brian Griese to John Elway. Young followed Montana with the San Francisco 49ers and forged a Hall of Fame career, while Griese lasted just four seasons as Elway's replacement with the Broncos.
But the Packers -- specifically general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy -- are clearly much more comfortable with Rodgers than they were at this time a year ago.
At the Super Bowl, McCarthy left no doubt that Rodgers will be the first new starting quarterback in Green Bay since Favre replaced Don Majkowski in Week 4 of 1992.
"He is the future of the Green Bay Packers whenever that future arrives as far as Brett's decision," McCarthy said. "I have great confidence in Aaron Rodgers. He's really at the point of his career where he needs to play."
Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements has worked with Rodgers the previous two offseasons and has spent more time with him than anyone on the coaching staff. He'll be a key component in the transition from Favre to Rodgers.
"I think it will be an easier transition because Aaron's been here," Clements told Demovsky on Wednesday. "This is his fourth year, and he's been in the system and grown up in his professional life with the Green Bay Packers. He's comfortable with the coaches, and the coaches are comfortable with him.
"He's good with the players, so from that standpoint, it will be a smooth transition."
McCarthy told reporters on Friday he expects the offense to adjust, as in any other year but doesn't anticipate significant changes with a new quarterback. The key for Rodgers, McCarthy said, is "just to play the quarterback position the way Aaron Rodgers knows how to, not try to do too much.
"It's a common mistake younger quarterbacks make," McCarthy said. "I think it really has helped Aaron that he's had three years to prepare himself for this situation."
A quick review might be in order here. ... Rodgers has been used quite sparingly in his first three seasons as a pro. In fact, the 24th pick in the 2005 draft played only 36 snaps as a rookie, 36 snaps in 2006 and 49 snaps in '07 for a total of 121.
Rodgers' regular-season passer rating is 73.3, his exhibition-season passer rating is 86.6 and his combined passer rating is 82.5.
In all, he has completed 114 of 193 passes (59.1 percent) for 1,206 yards, eight touchdowns and four interceptions.
Despite the lack of playing time, coaches have been impressed with his progress.
"I think Aaron really matured a lot in the time I've been with him," McCarthy said. "He's a lot more athletic than I was aware of coming out of college. He has a very strong arm and a complete understanding of our offense."
And he was able to demonstrate those qualities last November in Dallas.
Working in relief of Favre (who left in the second quarter with elbow and shoulder injuries) -- in one of the biggest games of the season, Rodgers inherited a 27-10 deficit and helped the Packers run off 14 straight points to pull within a field goal.
Though the Packers lost 37-27, Rodgers completed 18-of-26 passes for 201 yards and a touchdown without an interception and posted a passer rating of 104.8. He also showed a knack for making plays with his feet, rushing five times for 30 yards.
However, in the first practice after the Cowboys game, Rodgers pulled a hamstring and was relegated to the No. 3 quarterback role for the next four games. And that highlights what has to be the biggest question: Can Rodgers avoid injury?
While Favre was able to return the next week, Rodgers obviously wouldn't have been ready to go if needed. In 2006, he played in two of the first 10 games but in his second appearance of the season, when he came in late in the first half against the Patriots, he sustained a broken foot that landed him on season-ending injured reserve.
So, as Demovsky suggests, considering Rodgers also sustained a major knee injury in college (a torn anterior cruciate ligament), there's reason to be concerned about his injury history, especially considering he'll be replacing the most durable quarterback in NFL history.
That said, of 50 games over the last three seasons, Rodgers wasn't available for six because of the broken foot and four because of the pulled hamstring. Certainly not a Favresque record but labeling Rodgers as injury prone at this point in time seems a bit premature.
Meanwhile, in an article published Tuesday, Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel staffer Bob McGinn reported that two executives in personnel for other National Football League teams told him the Packers stand a fighting chance with Rodgers.
The unnamed NFC personnel man told McGinn he would take Rodgers over other young quarterbacks such as Cleveland's Derek Anderson, San Francisco's Alex Smith, Arizona's Matt Leinart, Minnesota's Tarvaris Jackson, Buffalo's Trent Edwards and J.P. Losman, the New York Jets' Kellen Clemens, Miami's John Beck and Chicago's Rex Grossman.
The scout said he'd take Denver's Jay Cutler and Tennessee's Vince Young over Rodgers.
"He's probably a top-20 guy," the personnel man said. "Why would they be worried about Rodgers? When he's healthy, he's performed in excellent fashion. The problem is he hasn't played to say he's the guy."
However, a personnel man for an unidentified NFC North team predicted that the Packers would slip from 13-3 to something below 10-6. An AFC executive told McGinn that 10-6 would be a major accomplishment with a first-year starter.
"It's still a big unknown," the AFC scout explained. "But when he came into the Dallas game he did some nice things. And he played better in the pre-season. But part of the reason he didn't get recruited out of high school was he was so small."
The AFC scout told McGinn he'd take Rodgers over Grossman, Jackson and Beck, and that he'd take Anderson, Edwards, Clemens, Cutler, Leinart, Young and Houston's Matt Schaub over Rodgers.
Once again, far from Favresque reviews, but positive enough given the circumstances.
"It's going to be hard (to replace Favre), but [Rodgers] can do it," former Packers GM Ron Wolf told Demovsky. "He's gifted. The only time I think I've ever seen him was that Dallas game, and you can't be put in a bigger pressure cooker than he was in, and he came out and did a heck of a job."
Or as Yahoo! Sports correspondent Charles Robinson put it: "The worst part about all of this is that Rodgers is now in a no-win situation because the perception is that the Packers are good enough and young enough to win right away.
"If Rodgers falters, he's going to not only hear it from the Favre-o-philes, but he's going to hear it from the small segment of fans who thought Favre was done."
The good news? Rodgers seems to have a solid understanding of his new circumstances.
"I'm not Brett Favre," he said on Saturday. "And if they're wanting me to be the next Brett Favre, I'm not going to be him. I'm Aaron Rodgers. That's who I am.
"I'm going to be the best quarterback I can be," said Rodgers, who was in Green Bay for the Packers' annual fan fest. "He did it his way, I'm going to do it my way. And hopefully, I can be successful. ..."
He'll get a reasonable chance to achieve that objective.
As Demovsky suggested, unless the Packers renegotiate Rodgers' contract, he'll essentially have a two-year tryout as the starter. His original five-year deal expires after the 2009 season. ...
In a related note. ... Favre's retirement and Rodgers' promotion creates the need for a legitimate No. 2. Veteran Craig Nall isn't it. "They've got to get a veteran guy behind him, obviously," one of McGinn's scouts said. "In most of the league, starting 16 games probably doesn't happen."
According to Press Gazette staffer Pete Dougherty, team officials could go for several types of players available.
Among the other free agents the Packers might consider is Aaron Brooks, who was a starter for McCarthy when both were with New Orleans from 2000 to 2004. The erratic Brooks, who had his best seasons playing for McCarthy, was out of football after his play became undisciplined in recent years. However, his history with McCarthy makes him at least a possibility.
According to Demovsky, if the Packers decide to trade, Houston's Sage Rosenfels, 29, might be the most attractive candidate.
Such a move probably would cost a second-to-fourth round pick.
Demovsky went on to point out that Chad Pennington, 31, has lost arm strength after two operations on his right shoulder but wants out of New York. So does Losman, 26, who is behind Edwards.
This year's incoming rookie class features Boston College's Matt Ryan, Louisville's Brian Brohm, Delaware's Joe Flacco, Michigan's Chad Henne and Tennessee's Erik Ainge. Ryan is widely considered the top prospect. ...
In San Diego. ... According to North County Times staff writer Mike Sullivan, six weeks after undergoing reconstructive surgery, Philip Rivers is "rehabilitating his knee like a madman," intent on recovering by the time training camp begins in late July.
That means Rivers plans to return to the football field just more than six months after a torn ACL suffered in the Chargers' playoff victory over the Indianapolis Colts on Jan. 13. And he doesn't expect to be there only in spirit.
"I would be totally shocked if I'm not ready for training camp," Rivers said. "Obviously, I'm going to be wearing a brace on that knee all year long. Other than the brace, if you come to watch practice the first day of training camp, this is my opinion: I'd be shocked if you could say, 'Aw, he looks a little off, he looks a little different.'
"So I expect to be rolling by training camp."
According to Sullivan, Rivers will soon start doing exercises in a swimming pool and could receive the go-ahead to begin running by the end of this month. He has been doing a variety of exercises to regain strength in the knee and the muscles in other areas of the leg.
The rehabilitation routine includes riding a bike along with leg presses, calf raises and hamstring curls. Rivers said a major emphasis is being placed on balance-type exercises.
The Chargers re-signed backup quarterback Billy Volek last week, but Sullivan stressed the urgency to retain Volek wasn't because the club has concerns over the recovery of Rivers' knee.
"Medically, I'm told it's fine and that he's going to be OK," general manager A.J. Smith said. "I'm very pleased with what they're telling me."
Looking back, Rivers said he learned a lot from his second campaign as an NFL starter. He was turnover-prone early in the season as the Chargers struggled out of the gate before playing much better over the season's second half.
"I think I learned a lot about myself," said Rivers, who threw 21 touchdown passes to go with 15 interceptions and six lost fumbles. "I had a false sense of what it's like to be a quarterback in this league from the previous year. We had some highs and lows. I didn't play great all the time, but we were 14-2.
"It was kind of like, 'Oh, he's a first-year starter,' so nothing I did was really my fault even though I had some poor plays and poor games.
"I think this year it was a little different. I think I grew a lot and I appreciate going through that, I really do. ..."
The other rehab of interest in San Diego is that of Antonio Gates, who underwent surgery to repair the dislocated left big toe that slowed him during the playoffs.
The timing of the surgery should allow Gates to be ready for the start of the season. But according to San Diego Union-Tribune staffer Kevin Acee, the star tight end will likely be limited in training camp.
It's also worth noting that Gates acknowledged the rehab could even last into the season. ...
Meanwhile, Pro Football Weekly, conceding it may sound incredulous considering they have the league's best running back in LaDainian Tomlinson, but those close to the team expect the offense to feature more spread formations in 2008.
According to PFW, the decision is rooted more in head coach Norv Turner's desire to maximize his offensive personnel, rather than a philosophical change.
As the Sports Xchange recently pointed out, Chris Chambers came at a steep price -- a second-round pick to Miami -- in a midseason trade but he was what was needed to stretch defenses and open up running room for Tomlinson and the intermediate routes for Gates.
Chambers was stellar during the playoffs and ended up -- when including his Miami totals -- with 66 catches for 970 yards and four touchdowns, just missing the second 1,000-yard season of his career. Vincent Jackson blossomed, especially late when he had some clutch catches in the playoffs.
The team also has high expectations for Craig Davis after a relatively pedestrian rookie campaign.
Perhaps the most telling indication that the Chargers are looking to put more stock into the passing game is the decision to keep Eric Parker around.
Parker, who spent all of 2007 on injured reserve with a toe injury, is a solid but unspectacular receiver who likely would be earning his paycheck elsewhere in 2008 if the Bolts were to be a ground-oriented offense. ...
Moving on to other Fantasy-specific news and notes from around the league. ...
In Miami. ... Palm Beach Post staffer Tim Graham noted on Saturday the Dolphins have been coy about their plans for Ricky Williams.
Do they want the eccentric running back? Will they trade him? Football operations chief Bill Parcells, general manager Jeff Ireland and head coach Tony Sparano all have been asked about Williams. All have been noncommittal publicly.
Williams, however, is under the impression that he'll be a factor in the Dolphins' backfield.
Parcells told him after last season "he wanted me and that he really believed in me," Williams said on Dan Patrick's satellite-radio show.
Williams still is recovering from a torn pectoral muscle that sidelined him six carries into his first game back from a suspension. He was hurt Nov. 26 at Pittsburgh.
Agent Leigh Steinberg told Graham on Friday that the injury is healing nicely and Williams will be ready well before training camp. He is working out at the Dolphins' practice facility. "Everything's looking upbeat," Steinberg said. "He's had his interactions with Bill Parcells that have been encouraging."
Williams, 30, was admittedly apprehensive about his future with the Dolphins when Parcells took over. But Williams said those concerns were allayed after they met face-to-face.
"Earlier in the day, we were in a meeting with the whole team, and he was going through his spiel of what he wants, what he's looking for," Williams said.
"He said, 'I don't want any punks. I don't want any troublemakers. I don't want any of these things.' And I'm sitting there thinking, 'Oops, well, I guess I'm not going to be here.'
"A couple hours later, he called me into his office and told me that he wanted me and that he really believed in me. He's been really positive about keeping me involved and inspiring me to really want to contribute this year."
The Dolphins followed through by picking up the option on his contract, which will pay a base salary of $730,000.
Still, it was uncertain whether the Dolphins wanted to keep Williams or merely had retained an asset for trade. Steinberg contends there is substantial value in keeping Williams.
"He's highly motivated and his contract is very attractive and cap-friendly," the agent told Graham. "His football age is younger than his chronological age because he's missed time, and he's always been a fanatic in terms of staying in top physical shape."
Williams and Ronnie Brown would form a potent backfield combination. One would provide security for the other, with Brown recovering from a season-ending knee injury he suffered in Week 7.
Brown, who underwent reconstructive surgery on Oct. 21, began running in a straight line in January and all indications are he'll be ready to go when training camp opens in July. ...
One last note here. ... When Patrick asked about marijuana usage, Williams claimed he hasn't gotten high in "at least a year. ..."
In New Orleans. ... Reggie Bush spoke with local media for the first time since the season ended when he hosted a charity event during the recent NBA All-Star weekend in The Big Easy.
According to PFW, in what some considered a sign of maturity, Bush appeared humbled by a trying sophomore season, in which he missed the final four games because of a knee injury and averaged just 3.7 yards per carry and 5.7 per catch.
PFW went on to advise readers that Bush wants to spend more time in New Orleans this offseason than he did last year, which could help his relationship with teammates.
Some Saints players were apparently less than sympathetic when Bush struggled in his second season out of USC.
This after Bush spent a lot of time away from the team last offseason, working out with a private trainer. Other good news for the Saints was the fact Bush didn't need surgery to repair the torn posterior cruciate ligament in his left knee. ...
Meanwhile, asked about Deuce McAllister's future with the club, head coach Sean Payton told reporters last month, "Our plans are full-speed ahead right now (with McAllister). He's rehabbing, and we fully intend for him to be a guy that we look at and have a chance to evaluate how he's come off his injuries. I saw him just the other day. He's doing well."
According to New Orleans Times-Picayune staffer Mike Triplett, McAllister's roster spot should be secure at least through the summer, despite the fact that he has suffered two major knee injuries in the past three years.
McAllister's salary this year is manageable ($3.6 million, plus $1.1 million in bonuses), and he is one of the most respected players on the roster. ...
In Houston. ... Ahman Green claims he's ready for a fresh start. In fact, Green told Houston Chronicle staffer Megan Manful last weekend that it appears as if he will be full strength when the Texans off-season workout program starts at the end of March.
Green suffered a serious knee injury in the first game last season. As Manfull reminded readers, the veteran tailback tried to play through it, but the knee got worse each time he got hit. He was never able to play in a complete game last season and eventually landed on the injured reserve.
The injury wasn't one that required surgery though. It mostly needed just rest.
Green sounded optimistic last week and said he is looking forward to joining his teammates soon.
"It's going good," Green said. "I've been working out for almost two months and then I'm going to take a little break before we start as a team come March 31st. It'll be a needed break. I've been going hard at it. Take a little couple of weeks off and get back to it."
Green said once he joins the off-season workouts, he will no longer in the rehabilitation stages.
"I just needed the rest," he said. "I never put it in my mind that once the offseason training starts that I will be rehabbing. I've already done that. I feel I'll be in the big group running and doing everything. When mini-camp comes around, I'll be ready for that as well."
We shall see. ... It's worth noting the Texans are on the list of teams interested in Warrick Dunn.
If they sign him, Dunn will be reunited with Alex Gibbs, the new assistant head coach/offense for the Texans. In three of Dunn's six seasons with the Falcons, he played for Gibbs, who is installing the same zone blocking scheme he used at Atlanta.
For what it's worth, Chronicle NFL writer John McClain suggest that because the Texans have Green, Darius Walker and Chris Taylor, their interest in Dunn means they're not expected to re-sign Ron Dayne, their leading rusher the past two seasons who's an unrestricted free agent. ...
Also in Houston. ... Head coach Gary Kubiak indicated during last month's NFL Scouting Combine that his personal experience and the presence of Gibbs were a couple of the factors in his decision to name Kyle Shanahan, 28, offensive coordinator.
Kubiak recounted his time as Mike Shanahan's offensive coordinator in Denver.
"Mike threw me in a room at a very early age with Alex peeking over my shoulder every day, making sure I did things the right way," Kubiak said. "I think it's an opportunity for Kyle to grow up the same way. I think it's a combination of the two and the fact that (Kyle is) mature beyond his years from a coaching standpoint."
As long-time Sports Illustrated NFL writer Peter King recently suggested, "I think I've never seen a son follow in the footsteps of his coaching father quite like Kyle Shanahan with his dad, Mike."
According to King, it's likely Kubiak will still call the plays on offense, and Gibbs, who has coached offensive line play in the league for 23 years, will orchestrate the running game. King added: "It's a brilliant way to work Shanahan into a lead role in the offense over time, with two tutors he knows from his years being around his father.
"Smart move by Kubiak. Plus, the quarterbacks trust Shanahan and know he doesn't have his job just because he's Mike's son. ..."
In Detroit. ... Kevin Jones, recovering from ACL surgery to his right knee, is two weeks ahead of his rehab schedule and will begin running next week. Jones has been going through his rehab workouts in Arizona, but the team wants him to return to Detroit so they can supervise his progress.
According to Booth Newspapers beat writer Tom Kowalski, Jones is expected to be back in town next week.
Kowalski went on to not that Jones isn't bitter about the Lions' pursuing other running backs, either through free agency or the draft. Jones believes that once he gets healthy, he'll win the competition -- like he did last year with Tatum Bell.
And at this point, Bell might be the only competition this year. T.J. Duckett has moved on to Seattle -- as has Julius Jones, the highest-profile back to visit the Lions as a free agent.
The Lions have also expressed interest in Dunn but there hasn't been much movement on that front this past week. ...
In San Francisco. ... After officially putting his name to the 49ers' dotted line Tuesday, receiver Isaac Bruce acknowledged that he has no idea which quarterback will be throwing him the ball in 2008.
According to San Jose Mercury News staffer Daniel Brown, Bruce didn't seem to mind that the candidates -- Smith and Shaun Hill -- have a mere 24 career touchdown passes between them, nor did he seem fazed that the 49ers are coming off a wretched offensive season.
Bruce, the longtime St. Louis Rams star who signed a two-year deal worth $6 million, recalled the similar uncertainty surrounding Kurt Warner (before he won two MVP awards) and Marc Bulger (before he made two Pro Bowls).
Such is Bruce's faith in his old coach Mike Martz, the 49ers' new offensive coordinator and the man whose presence played no small role in his decision to sign with San Francisco.
"There are no ifs, ands or buts when it comes to this offense and the guy that is coaching it," Bruce said during his introductory conference call with Bay Area reporters. "He expects a lot out of you. He is going to expect you to raise your level and from that level go to the next level and maintain that."
Bruce said he is eager to help the 49ers' offensive players acclimate to Martz' system, a playbook he understands so well that he no longer considers it complex.
Certainly, the system worked for him during their previous partnership. Bruce racked up four Pro Bowl appearances in 14 seasons with the Rams and comes to the 49ers ranked third all-time on the receiving-yardage list, behind Jerry Rice and Tim Brown.
According to San Francisco Chronicle staffer John Crumpacker, Bruce projects as a starter opposite Darrell Jackson, relegating Arnaz Battle to a third-receiver role, unless Martz decides to play forgotten man Ashley Lelie in his place.
General manager Scot McCloughan suggested this week that Bruce also will be a coach in the locker room, as far as helping the other receivers learn the offense.
And McCloughan added, he considers Bruce the team's No. 1 receiver -- which doesn't speak highly of Jackson.
In fact, in an item published last Saturday, PFW advised readers there have been rumblings in the Bay Area that the Niners might consider bringing back troubled wideout Antonio Bryant, whose off-the-field issues resulted in a short stay after having been signed as a free agent a few seasons ago.
PFW went on to suggest, however, that not only would Bryant have to show he can mentally handle being in the league again; he also would have to mend fences with Smith. Team sources told PFW the two of them were like oil and water. ...
And finally this week, following up on a story that first made news two years ago. ... Cleveland defensive lineman Shaun Smith, a former Bengals backup and member of the 2005 AFC North Division champion Bengals, confirmed earlier this week that Bengals receiver Chad Johnson punched head coach Marvin Lewis at halftime of the Bengals' 31-17 wild-card playoff loss to the Steelers Jan. 8, 2006.
For those who might have had lingering doubts about the veracity of the initial reports, Smith laid it all out. Although a video of Smith's assertion on YouTube is no longer available, a transcript floating around the web reads as follows:
"He swung on Marvin. (Johnson) shattered the training room glass. He swung on Marvin (and) hit Marvin in the eye. Then he tried to swing on wide receivers coach Hue Jackson, who's now in Baltimore."
While the events (including Johnson's initial denials) have been pretty well documented (see here and here), Smith is the first to go on the record with an eyewitness account.
Ahhh. ... Nothing like a little gossip -- even if it's old gossip -- to close things out.
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.