Graham still a no show
Earnest Graham, RB TB
News: When the Bucs returned to the practice field for their fifth "voluntary" workout of the offseason Wednesday, RB Earnest Graham wasn't with them, reports the Tampa Tribune. Instead of showing up and participating in workouts the way QB Jeff Garcia -- who also wants a contract extension -- is, Graham has been advised to sit out in an effort to reduce the risk of injury, which could really cut into his bargaining power. When asked if he'll be around for the next round of workouts he said with a sigh, "I don't know, man." You get the feeling Graham would really like to be there but that he realizes he has to do what's best for him. And if that means sitting out, it looks like he'll continue to sit out. After all, this is his best chance yet to cash in on his talent.
Analysis: Coming off a season in which he fell just short of the 1,000-yard rushing mark while producing more than 1,000 total yards, Graham has obviously earned the right to seek a raise of the $605,000 he's slated to make in 2008. He also wants some security to go with that. Keep an eye on what develops and hope Graham's situation is settled prior to training camp. Graham is expected to be a No. 2 Fantasy option in 2008.
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Johnson adds bulk to prevent injury
Rudi Johnson, RB CIN
News: The Bengals' first offseason practice Tuesday had a familiar look with a full-sized Rudi Johnson back on the field. Johnson, the team's featured back who smashed his way to more than 2,900 rushing yards and 24 rushing touchdowns in 2004 and 2005, missed five games last season and finished with just 497 yards because of a hamstring injury. He had changed his diet and played, he said, at 212 pounds last season, and his running style changed, too. Johnson, a between-the-tackles bruiser, tried to dance. Now he's put on 12 to 13 pounds of muscle mass in his chest and shoulders and said he weighs in the neighborhood of 225 pounds - his desired playing weight, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Last year when I got hurt, it was definitely frustrating for me," said Johnson, who has worked with strength and conditioning coaches since the end of the 2007 season. "I wanted to come back stronger, more powerful than I've ever been."
Analysis: The Bengals are deep at tailback. In addition to Rudi Johnson and Chris Perry, they have Kenny Watson (whose 763 rushing yards and seven touchdowns led the team in 2007) and DeDe Dorsey (who had an 8.7-yard average on 21 attempts). Still, Johnson is the lead runner and should be considered the best Fantasy option. Consider him a low-end No. 2 Fantasy option in 2008.
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Winslow skips workout
Kellen Winslow, TE CLE
News: Browns TE Kellen Winslow did not attend the first day of organized team activities Tuesday and is not expected to be on hand Wednesday when the practice is open to the media, reports the Plain Dealer. It's unknown whether Winslow will participate in any of the 12 practices over the next three weeks, all of which are voluntary. The OTAs, which most players attend, lead up to the mandatory minicamp June 10-12. Winslow has been in San Diego rehabbing his surgically repaired knee, but it's still unclear whether his absence is health-related or has more to do with the fact he wants to re-do his contract. Winslow has not been seen for most of the offseason and declined a request to be interviewed. Not including bonuses, he's scheduled to make $4 million in 2008, $4.5 million in 2009 and $4.75 million in 2010. Browns GM Phil Savage has made it clear the Browns have treated Winslow well and that he's under contract for three more years.
Analysis: Browns coach Romeo Crennel said recently that Winslow's knee should be fine, so skipping the workouts is probably related to his contract. Last year, Winslow led the Browns with 82 catches and had 1,106 yards and five touchdowns. He comes into 2008 as one of the top tight ends in the NFL and should be one of the first players taken at the position along with Antonio Gates and Jason Witten.
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 Porter makes good first impression
Jerry Porter, WR JAC
News: New Jaguars WR Jerry Porter caught the symbolic first pass in 11-on-11 drills, the Florida Times-Union reported Tuesday. QB David Garrard threw early and often to Porter, who went up in the air to catch passes and also pulled in a couple off his shoe tops. Because Garrard signed a six-year, $60 million contract extension in the offseason, and Porter was lured from the Oakland Raiders by a six-year, $30 million deal to become the Jaguars' No. 1 receiver, this could be called the $90 million passing combination. "There's no question in my mind that Garrard-to-Porter is going to be a combination that will be very productive for us," Del Rio said. Said Porter: "It's a fresh start and a damn good team with high expectations. The team did well without me, and I want to come in and pull my weight and make sure I can help the team in some way."
Analysis: Porter caught 44 passes for 705 yards and six touchdowns last season in Oakland, but he has always had the potential to be a 1,000-yard receiver (his career high is 998 in 2004) and could deliver some nice totals playing in Jacksonville's system with a stable QB presence in Garrard. Go into 2008 with Porter as a No. 3 Fantasy option with plenty of upside with his new team.
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 Williams out with broken ankle
Roydell Williams, WR TEN
News: Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger knows what he wants out of his receivers, but right now he isn't sure which ones are right for him, reports the Tennessean. In recent minicamps, receivers Justin Gage and Justin McCareins worked mostly with the first-team unit. Gage led the team in receiving yards last season while McCareins is back with Heimerdinger after playing for him previously in Tennessee and New York with the Jets. Listening to Heimerdinger after practice Tuesday, it's evident he's high on both players. But so far Heimerdinger hasn't gotten a live look at WR Roydell Williams — still out while recovering from a broken ankle — and he knows it's still too early to sing the praises of veteran Mike Williams, who dropped more than 20 pounds earlier this offseason. Another WR, fourth-round draft pick Lavelle Hawkins, has hardly had a chance to make a case for himself.
Analysis: Last year, Williams had 55 catches for 719 yards and four touchdowns. He will enter this season with the chance to start alongside Gage, but he might be behind McCareins since he is slowed with the ankle injury. Hopefully he will be ready in time for training camp, but keep an eye on what develops. When healthy, Williams is a No. 4 Fantasy option.
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White says he's pain free
LenDale White, RB TEN
News: Titans running back LenDale White increased his workload during Tuesday's minicamp and said he's pain-free for the first time in awhile, reports the Tennessean. White had arthroscopic knee surgery in January and said he played the entire 2007 season with a torn meniscus after injuring it in the preseason. White rushed for 1,110 yards in 16 games last season but said the injury bothered him throughout the year. As for the competition at the running back spot, White said he's up for the challenge. The Titans used their first-round pick on RB Chris Johnson, and Chris Henry returns as well. "I don't view me giving up my spot anytime soon, and that's not a knock at anybody here, but I'm going to work hard. I think it's great that we've brought in a guy like him that can come in and change the pace up," White said. "He gives the defense a different look. He is zipper."
Analysis: This is a good sign for White, who could be a great rusher at 100 percent health. Keep an eye on what develops with the addition of Johnson, but for now consider White a low-end No. 2 option in 2008.
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Suggs officially franchised
Terrell Suggs, OLB BAL
News: The Ravens and LB Terrell Suggs avoided a grievance by essentially creating a new position, reports the Baltimore Sun. The sides reached an agreement on a one-year franchise tag tender worth close to $8.5 million, which will pay him as a hybrid defensive end-linebacker. It is believed that the NFL Players Association and the NFL management council are finalizing details to sign off on the compromise. The Ravens used the franchise tag on Suggs on Feb. 19, keeping him off the free-agent market with a one-year tender worth $8.065 million (the average of the five highest-paid linebackers in the NFL). But Suggs filed a grievance March 5, saying he should receive the one-year tag of $8.879 million for defensive ends because he played more than half his snaps at that position.
Analysis: In five NFL seasons, Suggs has recorded 45 sacks and has earned two Pro Bowl selections (2004 and 2006). Last season, he had a career-low five sacks but had a career-best 80 tackles. He surprised the team by showing up at new coach John Harbaugh's first minicamp in April. The next step is to see whether the Ravens can sign Suggs to an extension, keeping him with the team beyond this season. Go into the season with Suggs as a solid No. 2 Fantasy option in IDP leagues.
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Urlacher to skip workouts
Brian Urlacher, MLB CHI
News: Brian Urlacher says he will not attend organized team activities starting Monday and is leaning toward skipping the Bears' mandatory mini-camp May 30-June 1, but he insists talk of protesting his contract situation through training camp is premature, reports the Chicago Tribune. Urlacher wants more than the one-year extension the Bears have offered through 2012, a deal that is believed to include $5 million up front and up to $1 million added to his contract per year if he participates in 85 percent of the team's defensive snaps. He has four years left on the nine-year, $57 million contract he signed in 2003, which included $19 million in bonuses. The mini-camp is mandatory, meaning Urlacher could be fined up to a maximum of $8,000 for his absence.
Analysis: Urlacher had minor neck surgery and played last season with an arthritic condition in his back. He has been working out in Arizona and has dropped a couple of pounds from the end of last season, from 255 to 253. "I'm running, my neck is not an issue, my back is sweet," he said. "If I could bottle everything up right now and save it, that would be perfect." Keep an eye on what develops with Urlacher and hope he shows up to training camp. He is a No. 1 Fantasy LB in IDP leagues in 2008.
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Browns release Wright
Kenny Wright, DB CLE
News: The Cleveland Browns cut backup DB Kenny Wright, who was arrested last month on marijuana possession charges after trying to outrun police in Texas. The team released a statement Wednesday on Wright's release shortly after concluding their second day of organized team activities (OTAs). Wright was not present at the workout, and coach Romeo Crennel was asked afterward if the 30-year-old was still on the team. Wright faces misdemeanor charges of unlawful restraint, evading arrest and possession of marijuana. Police in Pearland, Texas, said officers were investigating a disturbance in the police station parking lot around 11:30 a.m. on April 3. When officers approached Wright, he took off running and was eventually caught in a nearby subdivision. Police said they found 1.875 ounces of marijuana in Wright's vehicle.
Analysis: Wright played in seven games last season, getting three tackles and one quarterback pressure. He has played in 133 NFL games for Minnesota, Houston, Jacksonville, Washington and Cleveland. As of now he has no Fantasy value heading into 2008.
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Kearse motivated with Titans
Jevon Kearse, DE TEN
News: Jevon Kearse, the player cut by Philadelphia in February, is determined to revive his career after a serious knee injury in 2006. It's with the same team in the Titans that took a chance on a player described as a tweener coming out of Florida back in 1999 - too small to play defensive end and too big for linebacker. Determined to prove doubters wrong, Kearse had 36 sacks in his first three seasons, was a two-time All Pro and won Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. That helped him earn an eight-year, $66 million contract with Philadelphia in 2004, when he was too costly for a Tennessee team forced to rebuild by salary cap woes. Now his motivation is proving that he is the defensive end who had four sacks in two games in 2006 before he tore multiple ligaments in his left knee during Philadelphia's overtime loss in Week 2 to the New York Giants. Kearse returned in 2007, but struggled with swelling in the knee. He had only four sacks in 14 games. Now, Kearse says he's feeling fine.
Analysis: Kearse should do well with the Titans, but he's no more than a No. 3 DL at this point in IDP leagues. Consider taking him in 2008 drafts with a late-round selection.
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Palmer missing Johnson, Housh
Carson Palmer, QB CIN
News: The Bengals might need to run more in 2008. Coach Marvin Lewis has said he wants to rely less on the passing game and more on the ground attack, reports the Cincinnati Enquirer. The Bengals had just four wide receivers - Antonio Chatman, Doug Gabriel, Glenn Holt and Marcus Maxwell - on the field at Tuesday's minicamp. Rookie players, including second- and third-round picks Jerome Simpson and Andre Caldwell - can't report for offseason practices until Friday. The Bengals will have two more practices without the rookies but a total of nine more beginning next week and continuing at a pace of three a week until June. Starters Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh did not attend the voluntary practice Tuesday. Johnson said he will not report, though he has four years remaining on his contract. Houshmandzadeh is doing his offseason training at home in California, which he did a year ago. "We're definitely missing valuable time," QB Carson Palmer said. "We'll get to work whenever they get here. ... The guys who are here are getting valuable experience."
Analysis: As expected, Johnson and Houshmandzadeh will remain absent, possibly until or including training camp. That will hurt Palmer heading into 2008, although not much. Still consider Palmer a No. 1 Fantasy option and one of the top quarterbacks this season. Housmandzadeh is a No. 1 WR, especially heading into a contract year. Johnson has slipped to a No. 2 option and could continue to slide if he is serious about being a holdout.
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Perry looks good in comeback
Chris Perry, RB CIN
News: The Bengals' first offseason practice Tuesday had a familiar look with a fleet-footed Chris Perry on the field. The Bengals' first-round draft pick in 2004, Perry had not stepped foot on a football field as an active player since fracturing and dislocating his right ankle in a November 2006 game at Cleveland. "You go through things for a reason," Perry said in the Cincinnati Enquirer. "It makes me more appreciative of a sport I am blessed to play as long as I can. Playing football - that's what I do. It's what I love, being out there with the guys."
Analysis: The Bengals are deep at tailback. In addition to Rudi Johnson and Perry, they have Kenny Watson (whose 763 rushing yards and seven touchdowns led the team in 2007) and DeDe Dorsey (who had an 8.7-yard average on 21 attempts). They, too, were on the field Tuesday. Perry will compete for playing time but has minimal Fantasy value at this time. Consider him a low-end Fantasy option in 2008 if he is guaranteed a few carries each week.
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Spicer skips workouts
Paul Spicer, DE JAC
News: Drew Rosenhaus, the agent for Jaguars defensive end Paul Spicer, said in March that he was trying to negotiate a new deal for his client, who's in the last year of his contract with a $2.5 million base salary. Rosenhaus wasn't able to land a new deal, so Spicer is skipping the OTAs, reports the Florida Times-Union. Because OTAs are voluntary, Spicer can't be fined for his absence. However, he can be fined if he skips the June 6-7 mandatory minicamp.
Analysis: led the team in sacks in 2007 with 7.5. He also added 34 tackles and three forced fumbles. Spicer matched his career-high for sacks set in 2005. Keep an eye on what develops heading into training camp but consider Spicer a No. 3 DL in IDP leagues in 2008.
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Taylor skips workout as usual
Fred Taylor, RB JAC
News: The Florida Times-Union reported Tuesday that Jaguars RB Fred Taylor skipped Monday's session. It was no surprise that Taylor was missing because he has trained in South Florida in recent years, although coach Jack Del Rio said the running back will stop in next week.
Analysis: Taylor, who rushed for 1,202 yards and five touchdowns and caught nine passes for 58 yards last year in a shared role with Maurice Jones-Drew, will be 32 in 2008. If he's able to hold off Father Time for one more year, he would be a great sleeper for Fantasy owners as a No. 3 option. But you have to figure age and wear and tear are going to catch up with Taylor at some point, so consider him a risky option heading into the season.
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McCareins working with starters
Justin McCareins, WR TEN
News: Titans offensive coordinator Mike Heimerdinger knows what he wants out of his receivers, but right now he isn't sure which ones are right for him, reports the Tennessean. In recent minicamps, receivers Justin Gage and Justin McCareins worked mostly with the first-team unit. Gage led the team in receiving yards last season while McCareins is back with Heimerdinger after playing for him previously in Tennessee and New York with the Jets. Listening to Heimerdinger after practice Tuesday, it's evident he's high on both players. But so far Heimerdinger hasn't gotten a live look at WR Roydell Williams — still out while recovering from a broken ankle — and he knows it's still too early to sing the praises of veteran Mike Williams, who dropped more than 20 pounds earlier this offseason. Another WR, fourth-round draft pick Lavelle Hawkins, has hardly had a chance to make a case for himself.
Analysis: Keep an eye on what develops with Williams heading into training camp and if he can make a full recovery by then. McCareins has been a huge disappointment in recent years, but he could regain some Fantasy value going back to the Titans. For now, don't plan on drafting McCareins in any leagues, but he might be a decent waiver wire addition in 2008 if he plays well.
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Raiders release Starks
Duane Starks, DB OAK
News: On Tuesday, the Raiders released veteran cornerback Duane Starks.
Analysis: Starks might catch on elsewhere, but for now he has no Fantasy value at this time.
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