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Training Camp Notes - Beast Mode Holding Out

• Ray Rice is suspended for the first two games of the season. All you need to do is check out Twitter to see the outrage over this suspension. There is video evidence of Rice hitting his fiancee and knocking her out, yet the NFL feels smoking some Mary Jane is more offensive. The true fantasy takeaway is that Bernard Pierce will only have a two-game audition as the prime running back against the Steelers and Bengals. How the carries are distributed after those two games remains to be seen.

• Trent Richardson played with a chipped collarbone and a separated AC joint last season. Richardson has been a huge disappointment since coming into the league, but his stock has fallen enough that he could end up being a value this season. Coach Chuck Pagano said he wants a workhorse at running back but isn't opposed to a committee. Talk about a confusing statement. Vick Ballard and Ahmad Bradshaw are waiting in the wings should Richardson continue to be a bust.

• Now and for the rest of the season the Cleveland Browns won't be short of news. Johnny Manziel will need to learn the playbook (which won't be easy), and Josh Gordon will report to camp despite recently checking into a rehab facility. Gordon will have his appeal heard Aug. 1 to reduce his season-long sentence. His recent DUI will hurt his chances of getting his sentence reduced, and he's become a late-round lottery ticket until there's something definitive on him playing at some point this season.

• Marshawn Lynch is holding out. Don't expect this to last too long as the Seahawks likely wil pony up some extra money and extend his contract. Still, word is his workload will likely be reduced this season, and Robert Turbin and Christine Michael will see more work. If Lynch's holdout last into the season, Turbin and Michael would share the job.

• Josh McCown is the starter (at this point) ahead of Mike Glennon. This shouldn't become as a surprise as the Bucs appear to be in "win now" mode. In my opinion, this is a huge mistake as McCown is on the wrong side of 35, and watching film from his days in Chicago shows he was lucky not to have several passes intercepted. I don't trust him and can see Glennon under center by midseason.

• It appears Geno Smith is ahead of Michael Vick for the starting quarterback job in New York. This has been the word all along, and at this point Smith offers a little more upside than Vick given the age difference. Expect Smith to be under center Week 1 and offer some value in leagues that start two quarterbacks.

• Rob Gronkowski participated in practice Thursday. This is very encouraging news after having surgery January for the Patriot's top red-zone target. I have taken Gronk in the fourth round and expect him to move to the third round in leagues that start one tight end. In standard 10- or 12-team leagues Gronk (thinking he plays eight to 12 games) plus a replacement tight end should net you a nice value.

• Justin Blackmon was arrested for possession of marijuana in Oklahoma. Blackmon appears to be headed toward the Titus Young career path and isn't expected to see the field this season. In keeper leagues, he's worth a late-round pick as he could still make his way back to being a top-20 wide receiver. Just don't expect that anytime soon as he is suspended indefinitely.

• Tony Romo will be a full participant at the start of camp. He could become a fantasy monster as the Cowboys are expected to put a bottom-five defense on the field. This could make for a lot of shootouts in Big D with Romo throwing 40-50 times a game. If you miss out on the top quarterback options, he's a great guy to grab in the mid to late rounds.