Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray remains on track in his recovery from last December's season-ending ankle injury.  "It's coming along well," Murray said. "I just started running last week and we have a great rehabilitation staff at the Cowboys' facility, so I'm doing good." It's still unclear whether or not he'll participate in OTAs, but Murray should be a full-go for training camp this summer.

Steelers insider Ed Bouchette hears that the team is willing to let WR Mike Wallace test the open market.  Already about $10 million over the cap, Pittsburgh can't afford to slap Wallace with a $9.6 million franchise tag.  Instead, they'll give him a 1st-round restricted free-agent tender -- worth $2.7 million -- and leave him susceptible to offers from other teams.  "And if indeed he signs a contract and they deem it too high, they'll take a first-round draft choice in return," Bouchette writes.  If Wallace does leave the Steelers, the big winner would be WR Emmanuel Sanders, a talented pass-catcher who would move into Pittsburgh's starting lineup.  We'll continue to track this situation over the next month.

Add Seattle to the list of cities where QB Peyton Manning could end up.  The National Football Post's Dan Pompei writes that the "buzz around the league" is that the Seahawks are the "early front-runner" for the future Hall-of-Famer.  The 'Hawks certainly need a QB, and they do have an underrated group of skill-position players.  Manning may not like the dreary Seattle weather though.  We've now heard the Redskins, Dolphins, Cardinals, Texans, and Seahawks linked to Manning.

Steelers WR Mike Wallace is a restricted free-agent this offseason.  The team can do 3 things with him: sign him to a long-term deal, slap him with the franchise tag, or give him a 1st-round tender.  The former 2 options seem too expensive for a team that is currently about $11 million over the salary cap.  But if the Steelers only tender Wallace, they'd leave themselves susceptible to losing him.  Any other team could make Wallace a big offer that Pittsburgh may not be able to match.  We'd bet on the Steelers doing whatever it takes to keep their #1 WR, but it'll be something to monitor over the next month.

Vikings RB Adrian Peterson is scheduled to begin running again on February 28th -- a little over 2 months since tearing his ACL.  AP says he's getting the flexibiity back in his left knee, although there's still some pain and swelling.  “I’m definitely making improvement. I’m starting to get my muscle tone and strength back into the legs,” he said. “I’m happy with the progress I’ve made so far. I’m extremely happy.”  Peterson and the Vikings seem to be targeting a Week 1 return.  That still seems optimistic to us, but he's definitely headed in the right direction.

Cardinals HC Ken Whisenhunt made it clear that QBs Kevin Kolb and John Skelton will be in an open competition for the starting job this summer.  "We're always opening it up to let other guys compete for spots, and the best players are going to play," Whiz said.  "We've got two guys that we feel can play. They've shown at times that they can do things very well. They've shown at times, they're knuckleheads."  Kolb's numbers were a bit better this past year, but he won just 2 of 8 games, while Skelton went 6-2.  Kolb's massive contract gives him the edge heading into training camp, and we'd be a bit surprised if he didn't open the 2012 season as Arizona's starter.  Neither guy looks like more than a low-end QB2 though.

WR Randy Moss caught just 6 balls for 80 yards in his 8 games with the Titans last year.  Team sources tell NFL.com's Albert Breer that Moss' supreme athleticism is gone, but that he still has elite skills.  "The athlete part is diminished, but the hands are there, the smoothness is there," the Titans employee said. "And I'll tell you this: He is a smart football player."  The source added that Moss' effort level wasn't always where it needed to be.  "He'd lose interest, he'd dog it sometimes... He gets frustrated with double teams; when he gets bracketed, he'll shut it down."  On the positive side, Moss was reportedly a good soldier in practice and in the locker room.  "He was great,. He was a great personality, he brought an energy to practice... As a guy, he was good here."  Moss is the ultimate risk/reward free-agent on the market this offseason.  He'll also be a risk/reward pick in 2012 fantasy drafts.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman says RB Adrian Peterson is doing "very good" as he rehabs his December ACL tear.  While Spielman refused to give a specific timetable, he did say that AP will be "extremely close" to being ready for Week 1.  Peterson is a freak of an athlete who could very well return quicker than normal.  We'd still bet against him playing in the season-opener, but we'll continue to track his progress this offseason.

Titans WR Kenny Britt confirmed that he's ahead of schedule in his rehab from last September's torn ACL.  Doctors have told him that he'll be ready for training camp, and Britt is even hoping to get some work in during OTAs.  "Right now I'm doing everything except for cutting," he said.  "I'm jogging around, running on the treadmill.  Tomorrow I'll get to go on the field, see how that goes for me."  Britt added that he's right at his playing weight, which is important for a guy who's had work ethic issues.  We've heard nothing but positive news on Britt's rehab.  Barring some sort of setback, he'll certainly be worth gambling on in 2012 fantasy drafts.  Britt racked up 171 yards and 3 TDs in his 2 full games last year.

Cardinals GM Rod Graves told a radio audience Thursday that "Calais will be with us, rest assured." DE Calais Campbell is on the verge of unrestricted free agency but apparently won't get a shot to experience the free market. If there's no new deal before March, expect the franchise tag. As long as Campbell doesn't get too comfy with his new riches, also expect him to remain a strong IDP contributor.

Sports Xchange's Len Pasquarelli reports that Falcons MLB Curtis Lofton could be spending less time on the field in 2012. Pasquarelli wrote that 1 priority for new DC Mike Nolan is to get Lofton out of pass-defense sub packages. This would basically render Lofton a 2-down player. There have been murmurs the past couple years about taking such a step, which would obviously limit Lofton's IDP upside. Less time on the field will mean fewer tackles. OLB Sean Weatherspoon would remain a 3-down guy and easily the defense's top fantasy factor.

After being released by the Redskins last February, RB Clinton Portis failed to land a job on the open market.  He's not ready to retire just yet though.  "I'm ready to go back, ready to work things out and I'm open to the idea of going out to prove that I can still play," Portis said. "I just turned 30 and with nine years in the NFL and six 1,000-yard seasons that's enough right there to show what I can do. I'm just ready to go prove to whatever team that's ready and willing to open the doors to go out and prove it."  Portis didn't actually "just" turn 30 -- he'll be 31 in September.  And he's missed 19 games with a 4.1 yards-per-carry average over his past 2 seasons.  He should get a shot in training camp, but Portis is nowhere near a lock to make a roster this fall.  And he's an even bigger long shot to have a fantasy impact.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman wouldn't rule out drafting a QB this April if one is "too good to pass up."  That could mean a guy like Baylor's Robert Griffin in the 1st-round, or a lesser prospect like Arizona's Nick Foles or Michigan State's Kirk Cousins in the middle rounds.  But we're filing this away in the "smokescreen" folder.  Minnesota just spent a 1st-round pick last year on QB Christian Ponder, who Spielman says he's "very, very confident" in.  The Vikes are likely trying to drum up some trade interest in the 3rd-overall pick this April.  Ponder is the heavy favorite to open the 2012 season as Minnesota's starting QB.

Broncos QB Tim Tebow has been working on his throwing mechanics for a few hours per day with UCLA OC Noel Mazzone.  "He just came out here to throw and work on a few things and see if we can just become a little more efficient in what he's doing," Mazzone said. "Throwing motion, footwork, everything I work on with all my quarterbacks."  Tebow has worked with Mazzone the past 2 offseasons.  While we love the dedication to his craft, Tebow might be wise to find a new throwing coach.  His 46.5% completion rate this past season would suggest that Mazzone's tutelage isn't helping much.

The Broncos have signed free-agent WR Jason Hill.  We were surprised to see Hill pop up on so many "sleeper" lists this past summer.  He ended up recording just 367 yards and 3 TDs for the Jaguars before being released in November.  Despite intriguing measurables (6'0, 202 pounds, 4.3 speed), Hill has never produced at the NFL level.  He's not a threat to WR Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker's starting jobs.

Sports Illustrated's Don Banks has learned from sources that QB Peyton Manning actually underwent 4 neck surgeries in a 19-month span.  It was originally believed to be 3.  The new procedure reportedly took place sometime between the May 23rd and September 9th operations, while the NFL was still in its lockout.  Banks also hears that the Colts believe Manning will eventually need to go under the knife again to remove bone spurs that have developed in his neck.  There's also concern that there is a "genetic aspect" to Manning's condition.  Peyton's older brother Cooper's football career ended when he was diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal.  It's clear that whoever ends up signing Peyton will be taking a massive risk.

QB David Garrard missed the entire 2011 season after undergoing surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back this past October.  He's expected to be fully recovered by early April, though, and wants to return to the league.  "He is open to all teams and any situation that makes sense for him and the team," Garrard's agent said.  That's good, because Garrard isn't going to land a starting job.  The 34-year-old is a long shot to be a fantasy factor in 2012 -- or ever again.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger revealed that he sustained a right (throwing) shoulder injury during the 2011 season.  That'd be in addition to the ankle, foot, and thumb problems he dealt with.  Big Ben didn't disclose when the shoulder injury occurred or how serious it was.  "I'm just waiting on my shoulder, it's the only thing left to get healed up," he said. "That's the last thing."  It's not stopping him from working out though.  "I've already been working out with [Garrett Giemont], our strength coach, already," Roethlisberger said.  "I've never worked out this early. It's not like high-intensity, out killing myself, but I'm working out, I want to come to camp lighter than I've ever come, in better shape."  We like the improved dedication -- Ben has looked a little plump in recent years.

Patriots insider Tom Curran confirms that QB Tom Brady aggravated his injured shoulder on a 3rd-quarter sack by Giants DE Justin Tuck in the Super Bowl.  It was obvious to anyone watching the game that Brady was in some pain after the hit.  After that play, he completed just 7 of 16 passes for 75 yards and 1 INT, although a few of those balls were dropped.  Brady originally injured the shoulder in Week 16.  He missed some practice time but no games.  Curran reports that Brady's offseason work will not be impacted by the injury.  It won't be an issue in fantasy drafts this summer.

Colts owner Jim Irsay says that he’s willing to keep QB Peyton Manning in Indianapolis if he’ll agree to a restructured contract. "We want him back,” Irsay said in what feels like a PR move to deflect the blame towards Manning for the impending divorce. “We can work out the contract if he wants to work it out. It's going to be Peyton's call. I want him to be able to make the choice. We would love to have him back here if he can get healthy and we can look at doing a contract that reflects the uncertainty of the… healing process with the regeneration of the nerve.” Manning and Irsay are expected to meet within the next week, and it sounds like the Colts will ask their future Hall-of-Famer to take a massive pay cut. Beyond the $28 million bonus, Manning is due $35.6 million over the next 4 seasons. The most likely scenario remains that the Colts opt against paying Manning the bonus, and that Manning ends up donning a new uniform in 2012.