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Thanks to our David Yudkin for gathering these stories today. Here you go.

Joe

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

1. BAL: RB Jamal Lewis Court Update: Trial Hangs on Dubious Testimony

Clipped from: Bill Rankin, Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A key witness in the drug case against NFL star Jamal Lewis has stolen cars and identities, forged her mother's name and used her FBI connections to avoid prosecution for her most audacious con game, authorities say. Court and police records allege Tomeka Richard, 29, has swindled victims from Texas to Georgia. She committed fraud while working as a government witness, then continued her crime spree after finishing her work for the FBI, authorities say. She has fraud-related convictions in Texas and in Fulton and Cobb counties.

In a tape-recorded conversation after Richard allegedly had defrauded a Texas car dealer, even the FBI agent who was supervising her expressed doubt about her honesty. In Lewis' upcoming trial, expected this summer, prosecutors will have to convince jurors that Richard is not pulling a con on them. That may be difficult, said Baltimore attorney Larry Nathans, who has followed the case.

For those Jamal Lewis owners, it's starting to look like he might escape serious repercussions from his legal woes-at least as of today. After rushing for over 2,000 yards last season, our staff of FBG experts has him as our #6 RB at this point in the preseason.

2. NYJ: Oak QB Rich Gannon to the Jets

Clipped from: Rich Cimini, New York Daily News

Keep an eye on the Rich Gannon situation in Oakland. If Gannon winds up being released, the Jets, still without an experienced backup, could be tempted to make a play for the former MVP. GM Terry Bradway and offensive coordinator Paul Hackett, who coached Gannon in Kansas City, are huge admirers. The feeling is mutual. The Jets say they're happy with Brooks Bollinger and Ricky Ray as their backups - no joke - but it would be hard for them to ignore Gannon.

This is more conjecture than fact, and I think we're a long way from Gannon throwing in the towel and settling for a reserve role somewhere. For now, Gannon is still the first option in Oakland (and possibly in Tampa Bay as well). Still, I wouldn't be too secure in having Gannon as my QB1 on my fantasy roster right now.

3. CAR: Contract Extension Close For QB Jake Delhomme

Clipped from: Darin Gantt, The Herald

All indications are the Panthers are close to finishing a contract extension for Jake Delhomme, and something could be announced soon. Word around Bank of America Stadium last week was that much of the heavy lifting was done on the deal for the starting quarterback, which would keep him here for at least five years.

According to sources, most of the major points have been ironed out, with some smaller -- yet important -- details remaining. Agent Rick Smith said progress had been made, but didn't want to go so far as to say the deal was about to be signed. This is one both sides want to finish soon, meaning it will get done.

QB Jake Delhomme was a pleasant surprise last year in fantasy circles. In case you were abducted by space aliens and recently returned to Earth, Delhomme led the Panthers all the way to the Super Bowl and came within minutes of winning. We have him ranked as our #19 QB, which might be a little on the low side considering he ranked as the #15 QB last year.

4. TB: Bucs Glad To Have RB Mike Alstott Back

Clipped from: Katherine Smith, Tampa Tribune

Brad Johnson watched Mike Alstott ram his head into the practice sled again and again and again, and the memories flooded in. "It's like old times," Johnson said. Alstott is among his Bucs teammates again. The six-time Pro Bowl fullback missed them almost as much as they missed him. When a neck injury sidelined Alstott for the season after the Oct. 6 Indianapolis game, several aspects of the Bucs' offense were sidelined as well.

"You don't realize what a guy means to the team until you miss him, not one or two games, but for a long period of time," Johnson said. "There were plays that he would have made that somebody else didn't. It was converting on third-and-one, finishing a game out in the fourth quarter, breaking that extra tackle for the first down to kill a game.

"And we missed his presence in the locker room, let alone in the huddle."

Alstott missed three quarters of the season last year, and he has become little more than an afterthought this offseason. He might be worth a late pick as a potential sleeper with upside, even in Tampa Bay's crowded backfield. Alstott will likely pick up some red zone scores and should still get his share of receptions. He's had a high of 11 TD and 65 receptions before, but we'll have to see how he may be used this season before coming up with a better prediction of his projected performance.

5. NE: RB Corey Dillon Happy to Be on Winning Team

Clipped from: Jimmy Golen, AP

Corey Dillon came to the New England Patriots to be surrounded by the trappings of success. When his teammates collect their Super Bowl rings, though, he won't be there.

He wants to earn an invitation first. "Why would I go?" he said Friday. "That's something for them."

Maybe next year Dillon will be able to claim a ring of his own, but for now he's doing what he can to earn one. The first step was to come to the defending Super Bowl champions in a trade he helped force by making himself unwelcome with his old team. The Cincinnati Bengals traded Dillon -- on Patriots Day -- to New England for a second-round pick. He was able to convince the Patriots' brass that he wasn't a malcontent. He was just unhappy playing for a team that hadn't made the playoffs or even posted a winning record since 1990, despite adding the record-breaking running back in 1997.

"Seven years of not winning is a long time," Dillon said at minicamp this week. "(The Patriots) got to know me. They figured out that I'm legit and a good guy. ... I just wanted to be part of an organization that thrives on winning, and winning is everything. And I'm here, and I'm in a good situation and I like it."

Dillon is in a great position to return to form and post Top 10 numbers. He is currently ranked as our #16 RB but will likely inch higher as the season approaches. Up until now, all systems are "go" for Dillon being an integral part of the Super Bowl champs' attack this season.

6. SEA: QB Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks Filled with Optimism

Clipped from: Vic Carucci, NFL.com

As quarterback questions swirl around the rest of the NFL, Matt Hasselbeck enjoys a fairly tranquil and highly encouraging offseason with the Seattle Seahawks. He has rock-solid status as the Seahawks' starter after ranking among the league's top 10 passers in 2003. He is part of a team that has legitimate aspirations of advancing deep into the playoffs after the 2004 season. A number of other NFL quarterbacks and their clubs would love to feel as good as Hasselbeck and the Seahawks do right now.

Let's see: At least one of Seattle's NFC West neighbors, San Francisco, will have a new starting quarterback while another, Arizona, will entrust the job to a youngster still learning on the job. We could see as many as three new starters in the NFC East and more on-the-job training with half of the quarterback spots in the NFC North, and even more pockets of uncertainty in several AFC teams as well.

Hasselbeck had a breakout season last year and was named to the Pro Bowl. Currently ranked as our #4 QB, he looks to improve on his 3,844-yard, 26 TD performance from last season. The Seahawks are loaded on offense and could very well improve this year.

7. SD: Rookie Offensive Linemen Getting Loads Of Work

Clipped from: Tom Shanahan, Chargers.com

While the fans may not be cheering them or even noticing them, it is in the trenches that the most competition is taking place. With many veterans out with injuries and contract problems, three rookies lineman (Shane Olivia, Nick Hardwick and Carlos Joseph) are getting a lot more repetitions than anticipated.

If the Chargers can get even decent offensive line play, RB LaDainian Tomlinson's numbers could go through the roof. LT had a 5.3 ypc behind what was generally considered a poor OL, and he amassed over 1,600 yards on the ground and hauled in 100 passes for another 700 yards through the air. If he can stay healthy, he should easily rank in the Top 5 at year's end, even with what is shaping up to be very little support from anyone else on the offensive side of the ball.

8. SD: WR David Patten or J.J. Stokes to the Bolts? . . . QB Philip Rivers to Sit?

Clipped from: Michael Smith, Boston Globe

If David Patten and/or J.J. Stokes doesn't make the Patriots, they could receive interest from the Chargers, who remain in the market for a veteran receiver. A Chargers source said general manager A.J. Smith had his eye on Brown's situation, in case he were cut because of what had been a large cap number. Who will be throwing to San Diego's receivers is still in question, as the Chargers don't seem committed to starting top pick Philip Rivers from Day 1, even though he supposedly was the most-prepared QB prospect in the draft.

Currently, Kevin Dyson looks to be the #1 WR in San Diego heading into camp. That can't be good news for the Bolts. Patten could probably regain some fantasy value if he signed with the Chargers, as he has sort of become the forgotten man in the Patriots WRBC approach. It's somewhat surprising that Rivers may start the year on the bench and that Brees or Flutie might get another shot at starting. The future of San Diego does not lie with either of those two.

9. PIT: QB Tommy Maddox Hoping to See Both WR Burress and Ward at Camp

Clipped from: Karen Price, Tribune-Review

The Steelers have some unhappy wide receivers on their roster right now, but quarterback Tommy Maddox isn't worried yet about having someone to throw to. He hopes that Hines Ward and Plaxico Burress will be on the field when training camp opens July 30.

"I think so, and more importantly, I hope so," Maddox said Friday after a rain-shortened round of golf at the Mellon Mario Lemieux Celebrity Invitational. "I think that for us to have the success that we need to have this year, they both need to be there, and both need to be excited about the season and ready to go play. That's all I can probably do at this point is hope that they'll be there and hope that they'll be ready to go."

Both Burress, who doesn't have a contract beyond this season and has not reported for any of the Steelers offseason workouts, and Ward, who is signed through 2005, are seeking contract extensions. The Steelers have a long-standing policy of not renegotiating with players who have more than a year remaining on their contracts.

If you are looking for a late round QB to add to your team that could still be productive and be a solid QB2, then Maddox could be your man. He got his new contract, and it looks like the Steelers are not in a rush to bring in rookie QB Ben Roethlisberger. Maddox ranked as the #17 QB last year and would have ranked in the Top 15 in 2002 had he played a full season, yet we only have him ranked as the #25 quarterback.

10. BUF: LB Takeo Spikes Already in Midseason Form

Clipped from: AP/Sports Illustrated

It may only be June, but Buffalo Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes has already worked himself into a regular-season lather. Bam! Back snaps the head of offensive tackle Marques Sullivan, stood up by a fierce Spikes' hit during a recent minicamp session.

Ka-thump! Down goes the big lineman, knocked to the ground with the linebacker on top of him. They wrestle briefly before Spikes gets up and jogs to the sideline, where he is greeted by a chorus of barking teammates. "I don't care, man, you know what I'm saying?" Spikes said later, when asked about the hit. "I'm going to do whatever it takes to win. If one guy's slacking, I'm going to do whatever it takes to pick him up."

The Bills defense flew under the radar last year and could do so again this year. 2003 Pro Bowler Spikes is currently our 24th ranked linebacker and Buffalo is our #10 ranked team defense. The Bills' defense ranked in the Top 5 in points allowed and passing last season and Top 10 in rushing. We may have both ranked too low heading into the season.

11. DEN: Offensive Line Prepared for Continuing Running Trend

Clipped from: Casper Star Tribune

For eight of the past nine seasons, the offensive line of the Denver Broncos has produced 1,000-yard rushers. There is no reason to expect anything different despite changes in its own personnel and a new running back.

"Right now it's a progression," Denver right guard Dan Neil said Friday. "We've moved some guys up front, Matt Lepsis and George Foster switched spots and we've had some changes in the backfield, but in time we'll be where we want to be."

Lepsis and Foster flip-flopped tackle positions with Lepsis going to the left side. Running back Clinton Portis was traded to Washington after consecutive 1,000-yard seasons and leaving a wide open race for the starting job.

None of that appears to concern offensive linemen. "It takes a little while to come together," Neil said. "It's not simple, but we've got a good system."

The string of 1,000-yard runners began in 1995 with Terrell Davis and was interrupted by a 701-yard performance by Davis in 2001. The following year Portis resumed the trend with 1,508 yards. Shanahan has yet to name a starting running back. Training camp opens July 27.

There's an ongoing joke here at FBG that our RB rankings need a slot for "Denver Starting RB." The last line above tells the story: Shanahan has yet to name a starting running back. Whoever that turns out to be should be in for a solid season. The highest ranked Denver RB on our board is currently rookie Tatum Bell at #31.

12. PHI: Coach Andy Reid: I'll Wear Tights if Owens gets 15 TDs

Clipped from: Les Bowen, Phillynews.com

There was alarming news out of the final day of Eagles minicamp. Never mind the lengthy list of injuries for a non contact camp, which included a "sore shoulder" for quarterback Donovan McNabb and minor surgeries for backup quarterback Koy Detmer (knee) and 2003 first-round draft choice Jerome McDougle (shoulder). The really disturbing part came when coach Andy Reid not only confirmed that he has agreed to let wide receiver Terrell Owens wear tights without shorts in practice if Owens scores 15 touchdowns this season, but also upped the ante. If T.O. scores 15 touchdowns, "I told him I'd wear the tights," Reid said.

This seemed to be news to Owens and not entirely welcome news, as one might expect. Told of Reid's jest, T.O. shook his head and smiled. He agreed with a reporter's assertion that this was something one would not yearn to see. The good news is, we have plenty of time to prepare ourselves. We're nowhere near seeing Owens' first Eagles touchdown, let alone his 15th. The end of the spring's final minicamp means the Eagles now adjourn until training camp, which starts July 28 for rookies, July 30 for veterans. The first exhibition game is still 2 months away, the first regular-season game is nearly 3 months distant.

And ending on a light note, the thought of Coach Reid in tights is not a pleasant one. Owens has only eclipsed 15 TD once in his career, so we may not ever get to see this train wreck of a photograph. In our first set of player projections posted last week, we have Owens down for 10 receiving TD.

Now that we've left you with that visual image of Andy Reid in form fitting green tights, we'll let you go. Have a great one and we'll see you tomorrow with the update.

Joe