The biggest rumor on Wednesday was that Falcons owner Arthur Blank wants Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson and is prepared to trade his team's top four picks in the draft to the Lions for the right to draft Johnson should the Raiders select LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell with the first overall selection.

Detroit owns the second overall selection on Saturday and has been desperately attempting to trade down in hopes of acquiring more picks. A possible deal with Atlanta would give the Lions the eighth overall pick in the first round, one acquired from Houston in the Matt Schaub trade. The Lions would also receive the Falcons' two second-round picks, 39th and 44th overall in the draft, plus a third-rounder, 75th overall.

By moving down, the Lions would miss out on coveted pass rusher Gaines Adams and Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas, but could end up with LSU safety LaRon Landry, Arkansas defensive end Jamaal Anderson or Louisville defensive tackle Amobi Okoye.

The word in Oakland is that rookie head coach Lane Kiffin prefers Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn to Russell, meaning that Johnson could end up being a settlement-like choice between the young coach and owner Al Davis.

LJ wants big $$$

The main reason there has been talk of the Chiefs trading Pro Bowl running back Larry Johnson is the fact that he wants a new contract - his deal expires at the end of the 2007 season - and that he wants more money than LaDainian Tomlinson. The Chiefs have been talking contract with LJ, but aren't close to making a long-term deal.

The way Kansas City operated their salary cap, they could be looking at simply placing the franchise tag on Johnson in 2008, knowing that he may have a rocky season in 2007 while playing behind a patched-up offensive line and probably Brodie Croyle at quarterback.

Johnson doesn't like to workout in the off-season and many teams are afraid (reluctant?) to give him a huge contract, believing he could become self-satisfied and not play as hard as he has in the recent past. Johnson has rushed for 3,539 yards and 37 touchdowns in the last two seasons and scored 240 points, or 32.7 percent of the total KC offense.