Get your free football picks againt the spread and live football odds from our friends at Doc's Sports.

We take a look at some of the headlines around pro football...

‘SKINS SUSPEND HAYNESWORTH
The $100 million headache that is Albert Haynewsorth was suspended without pay on Tuesday for conduct detrimental to the team and it's hard to imagine this relationship lasting into next season as the Redskins likely will seek to trade or release him in the offseason...MORE (ESPN.com)

BRONCOS TURN PAGE
The Denver Broncos fired head coach Josh McDaniels on Monday after a short, but controversial stint in the Mile High City. After winning his first six games a year ago, he watched his team drop 17 of their next 22 games…MORE (Denver Post)

FAVRE’S STREAK IN JEOPARDY?
Minnesota Vikings' interim coach Leslie Frazier indicated that Brett Favre will not practice on Wednesday, but will attempt to test his injured throwing shoulder during Thursday's practice. Frazier has gone on the record saying Favre will start if he is able to.  His NFL-record 297-game streak could be on the line...MORE (Minneapolis Star Tribune)

BIG BEN BEARING MASK
Despite breaking his nose in Sunday night's battle with the Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is set to start Sunday as the Bengals play a visit. He was already dealing with a foot injury and will now be sporting a clear, protective mask...MORE (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)

NECK NAGGING ADDAI
With the signing of free agent running back Dominic Rhodes yesterday it is becoming more apparent that the Colts are not going to get running back Joseph Addai back anytime soon. A neck/shoulder injury has sidelined him since October and will keep him out of action again this week...MORE (Indianapolis Star)

Fantasy Football, NFL albert haynesworth, josh mcdaniels, brett favre, ben roethlisberger, joseph addai

The NFL regular season is just days away and few teams have had a worse off-season than the Denver Broncos.

First there was the showdown between quarterback Jay Cutler and new head coach Josh McDaniels. That resulted in the franchise quarterback being shipped out of town.

Next was the drama on and off the field from star wideout Brandon Marshall as he positions himself for a new contract while trying to avoid the wrath of the law and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. How that scenario unfolds remain to be seen.

Now as the Broncos brace for their Week One opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals, there are injury questions surrounding the quarterback position.

The Denver Post reports that for the first time in a couple of weeks, the Broncos believe they will have two veteran quarterbacks ready to practice this week.

Chris Simms will go first. He got injured first, so he's had more time to heal from his sprained left ankle. He will be taking snaps today during the Broncos' light practice at Dove Valley.

Kyle Orton and his stitched-up finger will be held back until Tuesday, when the Broncos have their first lengthy practice of the week.

If the stitches on his finger and laces on the football can meld into consistent spirals, Orton will start the season opener next Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Simms would become the backup and Tom Brandstater, the rookie who just finished off a gratifying preseason, will become the No. 3 quarterback.

denver broncos, kyle orton, chris simms, tom brandstater, brandon marshall, josh mcdaniels

The Broncos parted ways with disgruntled quarterback Jay Cutler on Thursday, sending him to the Bears in excange for quarterback Kyle Orton and first-round picks in 2009 (18th overall) and 2010, along with a third-round pick (84th overall) in 2009 to do it.  Denver had to give back a fifth-round pick (140th overall) in 2009 to Chicago.

The Bears beat out the Redskins, Buccaneers, Lions, Titans and other teams to land the 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback. The Broncos had made it clear they were asking for at least two first-round choices, according to ESPN.com.

"I'm sure he's excited to move on and play in Chicago, and we're excited about the opportunity we have," Broncos' head coac Josh McDaniels told the Denver Post. 

McDaniels, the team's new rookie coach, is not getting off to the best start in the Mile High City. His mishandling of the situation from the beginning allowed it to escalate into the team parting ways with their franchise quarterback. Cutler is a top 10 passes, with top 5 potential, they don't grow on trees.

Still, Cutler deserves some of the blame too. Someone needs to tell him he plays professional sports. Just ask Donovan McNabb (booed by fans in draft and always seems to be on the trading block), who would have been a much better fit in the Windy City.

The Bears got a quarterback today that is as good as they've had in decades, but they gave a ton to get him. The team has many glarng holes and two year's of first rounders could have helped fill them.

As long as I can remember the Bears haven't had a quarterback. Sure Jim McMahon led them to a championship, but he may not have had such success without the tenacious '85 defense. Since his departure the team hasn't been able to get another a ring.

Take a look at the list of guys to lead Chicago in passing over the past 20 years and you will find names like Mike Tomczak, Jim Harbaugh (my personal favorite), Steve Walsh, Erik Kramer (had one amazing season), Dave Krieg, Shane Matthews, Cade McCown, Jim Miller, Chad Hutchinson, Kordell Stewart, Brian Griese, Rex Grossman, and Orton.

Orton will compete with Chris Simms for the starting job in Denver and the team may look at quarterback hard with of their first two picks.

The only winners in this trade could prove to be the Chargers, who now seem like an even bigger lock to win the AFC West this season.

NFL bears, broncos, jay cutler, kyle orton, josh mcdaniels

The Jay Cutler-Josh McDaniels drama is getting old in Denver. The two either need to kiss and make up or move on. Cutler is one of the best young quarterbacks in the game to say the least, but this whole thing is a bit childish.

Even worse is the fact that McDaniels is acting just as immature. If I am a Broncos' fan (and I am not), the team's new, young coach is on a very thin leash.

Cutler has not shown up for the team's voluntary workouts and McDaniels wants to meet without his agent.

According to the Denver Post, Cutler has been communicating with the coach via text message. I guess that is better than nothing, but still it's like two freakin' teenagers.

If something is going to shake down, it will before the draft.

Here are my picks for the best landing spots for Cutler should there be a trade...

1. NY Jets - Easily the team in biggest need.

2. Tampa Bay - OK, they could be worse off than the Jets. They could of have had in the 3-way trade for Matt Cassell to begin with.

3. Minnesota - Do you really think Sage Rosenfels is going to be the answer for the Vikings?

4. Detroit - They are sitting on the draft's top pick and desperate to win.

5. Chicago - Three words say it all...Kyle Freakin' Orton

MY TAKE: You don't trade a 25 year old franschise QB coming off a 4,500-yard Pro Bowl season under any circumstances, especially if he actually wants to play for your team as Cutler clearly had. While I think both deserve a fair share of the blame in the matter, I also think that owner Pat Bowlen deserves some criticism for his silence in the matter. He writes the check and at this point I think he needs to sit everyone down and work this out. Otherwise, Cutler is going to go all "T.O." on them.

NFL broncos, jay cutler, josh mcdaniels, pat bowlen, jets, bucs, buccaneers, vikings, lions, bears

Let's check out some of the latest news from around the league:

CUTLER ASKS FOR TRADE (Denver Post)
Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler has formally asked to be traded, a request he made Sunday through his agent, Bus Cook. For now, the Broncos are hoping to appease Cutler's concerns and reach an understanding so they do not have to trade him. Cutler and Cook issued the trade request a day after a meeting with head coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Brian Xanders did not go the way quarterback had hoped...MORE

PATS, PANTHERS TALKING PEPPERS (NFL.com)
The trade that sent Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel to the Kansas City Chiefs appears to be only the first phase of some major wheeling and dealing by the New England Patriots this offseason. The second phase, NFL sources say, is likely to involve a trade that would send Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers to the Patriots in exchange for the second-round pick (34th overall) they received from the Chiefs on Feb. 28...MORE

JAGS CUT TIES WITH JONES (Florida Times Union)
Wide receiver Matt Jones, a first round draft pick in 2005, was waived by the Jaguars on Monday after he served several days in jail last week for violating the terms of his probation on a drug charge. Jones led the team with 65 catches for 761 yards last year in the first 13 games

STALLWORTH INVOLVED IN FATAL ACCIDENT (Yahoo.com)
Browns' wideout Donte' Stallworth is expected to be charged for his involvement in an automobile crash that killed a pedestrian Saturday. The investigation is ongoing but DUI, vehicular manslaugher, and reckless driving are among the possible charges...MORE

LEVI ON THE BLOCK? (Chicago Sun-Times)
Despite already losing starting right tackle Stacey Andrews to Philadelphia in free agency and having limited depth at the position, the Bengals are actively working to trade starting left tackle Levi Jones. If they can't deal him, they'll probably cut him...MORE

RAVENS RELEASE ROLLE (Baltimore Sun)
The Ravens released Samari Rolle on Monday. The veteran cornerback asked to be cut so he could catch on with another team. The Ravens, who will have $6 million in cap space once Rolle's release becomes official, could look to sign wide receiver Torry Holt, who was recently released by the St. Louis Rams...MORE

NFL broncos, patriots, panthers, jaguars, browns, bengals, ravens, jay cutler, josh mcdaniels, julius peppers, matt jones, donte stallworth, levi jones, samari rolle, torry holt

San Diego Chargers' running back LaDanian Tomlinson finally got the deal he was looking for and will return to the team next season. The restructured deal will keep L.T. in San Diego through 2011 (assuming the team honors it). The deal, which concludes nearly two weeks of contract talks, will also allow Tomlinson to make the $6.725 million he was scheduled to earn this season, according to Yahoo Sports.

That is important, especially with team having already slapped the franchise tag on Darren Sporles. That move put L.T.'s backup amongst the top five paid runners in the league. It was pretty clear that was going to be too tough for Tomlinson to swallow.

"I love San Diego and being a part of this team with my teammates," Tomlinson said . "My No. 1 priority was to stay here in San Diego. I truly believe this is the place that gives me the best chance to be successful and win a championship. I want to finish the job we started when I got here eight years ago. My heart has always been in San Diego. I couldn’t imagine putting on another uniform."

Tomlinson was not himself last season and may never be again. Still I do not expect a Shaun Alexander-like drop. Sproles is going to have a bigger role in the offense next year, but if he stays healthy L.T. is still going to be productive.

While the drama looks to be winding down in San Diego, things are just getting started in the Mile High City. New Broncos' head coach Josh McDaniels and quarterback Jay Cutler are not on the same page. 

Cutler got a mad a couple of weeks ago when his name surfaced in trade talks surrounding the Broncos being interested in acquiring Matt Cassell. Things don't appear to be getting better. ESPN.com reports that things have "gone from bad to worse".  Reportedly there was a conference set up between Cutler and the Broncos' brass that was supposed be simply a meeting of the minds, but it not turn out that way. The conference call was "anything but genial and the two sides are now further apart than prior to it."

The team has said once again that Cutler will not be traded. He apparently is thinking otherwise. Cutler is a good young quarterback, but he's showing the same hot head here that he does on the field sometimes during this ordeal.

Either way it goes, this is not the start McDaniels was hoping for in Denver.

Fantasy Football, NFL broncos, chargers, ladainian tomlinson, darren sproles, josh mcdaniels, jay cutler

The Denver Broncos replaced Mike Shanahan, who tied Jeff Fisher as the NFL's longest tenured coach, with the fifth youngest coach in NFL history. The man filling the shoes and already being pegged as "the next Shanahan" by many talking heads is former Patriots' offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

McDaniels entered the NFL with the Patriots in 2001, and first served as a personnel assistant/coaching assistant. By 2006, he was calling plays as the team's offensive coordinator while also working with Patriots quarterbacks. He was widely praised for his work this season with Matt Cassel, who hadn't started a game since high school.

Within the last two weeks, McDaniels had interviewed for head coaching jobs with the Broncos, Browns, and Rams. The initial interview with the Broncos was held in Providence Jan. 4, while a second interview came this past Thursday.

McDaniels, who becomes the NFL's youngest head coach, was one of seven assistant coaches interviewed by the Broncos.

"This is an opportunity that doesn't come along often," the 32-year-old McDaniels said. "I'm coming to a place where winning is the most important thing. I've learned very quickly it is the most important thing to the (Denver) fans."

NFL broncos, josh mcdaniels, mike shanahan