When Rosenthal or MDS write on a topic, I rarely chime in.  Primarily because they are damn good at what they do.

But I need to add some additional thoughts regarding the post from MDS pertaining to the lingering wish of Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer that the Bengals sign receiver Terrell Owens.

MDS correctly observes that Palmer's comments are likely aimed at placating receiver Chad Ochocinco.  And now that  I've had a chance to digest the situation a bit more, I think it's entirely about avoiding at all costs a repeat of Chad's 2008 "trade me anywhere but here" antics.

I like Chad, but at times he's erratic, unpredictable, and/or irrational.  At times, reasoning with him is roughly as easy as picking up a wet fish with rubber gloves coated in corn oil.  (I've never tried it, but I've got a feeling it would be hard to do.)  And you never quite know what will set Chad off, Twitter style. 

On Tuesday, he attacked ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd for supposedly lumping Chad in with athletes who get in trouble.  Eventually, Chad said that Cowherd looks "line an extra from the movie LORD OF THE RINGS," that he should "get [his] lisp fixed," that Cowherd's "girl is cheating on [him]," and that he should "try EXTENZE."    All that because Cowherd simply pointed out that Chad's current spending habits could cause him eventually to have no money, like so many other former pro athletes.

Then, Chad bristled at the suggestion from ESPN's Adam Schefter that a reality-TV, 85-woman dating tournament makes Ochocinco a "poor man's Wilt Chamberlain."  Chad thought he was being called poor, and so he pointed out "child please I'm Rich B%@#."  (Given the other language that appears from time to time on his Twitter page, we're confused as to why Chad wouldn't spell out the word "bitch.")

More recently, Chad has chastised ESPN's Eric Kuselias for "radio show negativity," and said to Kuselias "why don't you worry about your sexual harassment cases when at work!"  Chad also called out John Clayton on Friday, comparing his appearance to "that character from HANNIBAL that had those pigs," and instructing him to "STFU."

So, basically, getting on Chad's bad side has its consequences.  And so we think the Bengals need to feign ongoing interest in T.O., if for no reason other than to keep Chad from directing his periodic, random venom at the organization.

Meanwhile, does anyone really think the Bengals and Owens could hammer out a deal that the player deems acceptable after Antonio Bryant received a four-year contract with a $7 million annual average?  Barring an epiphany en route to Damascus, Owens will want at least $7 million on a one-year deal from the Bengals, because in T.O.'s mind Bryant can't carry Owens' popcorn.

Finally, are we the only ones troubled by the notion that Ochocinco -- a temporary employee of ABC via his upcoming stint on Dancing with the Stars -- would be taking such mean-spirited shots at employees of an ABC affiliate, especially in the wake of the two-week suspension that was imposed on Tony Kornheiser for doing essentially the same thing to Hannah Storm?

I'd try to explain that logic to Chad, but there's a wet fish on the floor.  And I'm gonna go try to pick it up with these rubber gloves I've coated in corn oil.

Brett Favre spoke Sunday about the possibility that he'll take a pounding (again) in New Orleans.

He seems to acknowledge that it's part of the game, and he doesn't seem to have a problem with it.

But don't take our word for it.  Just click play.

Last week, Jets coach Rex Ryan popped in on cornerback Darrelle Revis at his New Jersey-area residence.  Revis wasn't there.

The head coach successfully tracked his star defender down in Florida over the weekend, according to Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News.  Mehta says that Ryan and Revis discussed the contractual stalemate between player and team. 

It's unknown whether either of Revis' agents were present for the meeting, or whether they knew about or authorized a meeting to occur outside their presence. 

We've previously wondered whether Ryan has tried or would try to use some of his considerable political capital to persuade the Jets to give Revis what he wants.  If Ryan isn't merely trying to get Revis to cave, it could be that Ryan is trying to find out exactly what Revis would be willing to take in the hopes of then trying to get the team to give it to him.

After getting cut by the Seahawks and spurned by the Vikings and Bengals, free agent wide receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh is now looking at the Raiders and Redskins.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times reports that Houshmandzadeh has not returned messages since being released, but a source who had spoken to Houshmandzadeh said he appears to be narrowing down his destinations to either Oakland or Washington.

The 32-year-old Houshmandzadeh led the Seahawks in catches last year and has more than 900 receiving yards in each of the last five seasons.

O'Neill writes that Houshmandzadeh is likely to sign for the veteran minimum salary in 2010.

As NFL rosters continue to get juggled a week before the start of the regular season, the Houston Texans are interested in adding a couple of high-profile players.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle reports that the Texans still have interest in former Bills defensive end Aaron Schobel. Although Schobel says he's retired, the Texans may be hoping they can make him an offer to get him to reconsider.

McClain also reports, as we've noted previously, that the Texans are interested in free agent quarterback Matt Leinart. In Houston Leinart wouldn't have any chance of unseating starter Matt Schaub, but perhaps once he learns the offense he could move ahead of Dan Orlovsky as the No. 2.

Per McClain, the Texans would probably bring back John David Booty if they don't acquire Leinart.

The Buffalo Bills added two players and released two players Sunday.

Jay Skurski of the Buffalo News reports that the Bills signed free agent tight end David Martin, who was cut by the Dolphins Saturday. The Bills also claimed guard Kraig Urbik off waivers from the Steelers.

The Bills released tight end J.P. Foschi and defensive back Dominique Harris.

Finally, Buffalo signed Naaman Roosevelt, Rodney Ferguson, Jason Watkins and Joique Bell to the practice squad.

The Lions continued making roster moves Sunday evening, picking up a return specialist and releasing a linebacker.

Tom Kowalski of MLive.com reports that the Lions claimed receiver Stefan Logan off waivers from the Steelers and will use him to return punts and possibly kickoffs.

Kowalski also reports that the Lions have released linebacker Rocky Boiman. That could mean that Spencer Havner, who was claimed today, will move from tight end to linebacker, which he played in college.

The New York Jets have announced a series of day-after transactions, which claimed the roster spots of three guys who thought they had made the team.

As previously reported, gone are receiver David Clowney, running back Chauncey Washington, and fullback Tony Richardson.  In are three players claimed on waivers:  tackle Patrick Brown (from the Vikings), defensive tackle Marcus Dixon (from the Cowboys), and receiver Patrick Turner (from the Dolphins).

Regarding the departure of Richardson, G.M. Mike Tannenbaum had this to say:  "Each season, there are difficult choices when constructing the 53-man roster and this year is no exception.  We appreciate Tony's contributions and leadership over the past two seasons and have nothing but the highest respect for him as a person and as a player."

For now, then, the door isn't open to a post-Week One return.  After receiver Laveranues Coles was cut last week, coach Rex Ryan suggested that Coles could come back after the first game, at which time his base salary wouldn't be guaranteed.  The Jets could use the same device to bring back Richardson, but nothing Tannenbaum said suggests that they will.

To help build interest in the late rounds of every draft, the NFL points out that the Patriots found quarterback Tom Brady in round six.

In the future, the league probably shouldn't mention as each selection process approaches the fate of the fifth round of the 2009 draft.

Tipped off by a league source to the high rate of failure from round five a year ago, we pulled up the full list and checked the website of each team.  By our count, 18 of the fifth-round selections currently aren't on the 53-man roster or injured reserve list for the teams that picked them.

That leaves only 19 (including five supplemental picks) who are on either the roster or IR.

Gone from the rosters are Falcons defensive back William Middleton (No. 138 overall), Chiefs tackle Cody Brown (No. 139), Cowboys defensive back DeAngelo Smith (No. 143), Bills linebacker Nic Harris (No. 147), Ravens tight end Davon Drew (No. 149), Giants quarterback Rhett Bomar (No. 151), Eagles tight end Cornelius Ingram (No. 153), Bears linebacker Marcus Freeman (No. 154), Buccaneers tackle Xavier Fulton (No. 155), Eagles defensive back Macho Harris (No. 157), Redskins linebacker Cody Glenn (No. 158), Eagles tackle Fenuki Tupou (No. 159), Rams receiver Brooks Foster (No. 160), Packers tackle Jamon Meredith (No. 162), Cardinals guard Herman Johnson (No. 167), Steelers defensive back Joe Burnett (No. 168), Steelers running back Frank Summers (No. 169), and Patriots tackle George Bussey (No. 170).

In April 2009, the league buzzed about the pro prospects of former West Virginia quarterback Pat White.  Pegged as a potential second-round pick after a strong showing at the Senior Bowl, the Scouting Combine, and his Pro Day workout, White matched former WVU quarterback (and new A.D.) Oliver Luck as the highest-drafted quarterback in school history, at No. 44 overall.

White's career with the Dolphins ended with a thud on Saturday, waived by Miami before the start of his second NFL season.

Perhaps even more surprising is what didn't happen by noon on Sunday.  Per a league source, no one claimed White on waivers.

Given that he received a $1.538 million option bonus in 2010, White's base salary for 2009 had dropped to $395,000, the minimum salary for a second-year player.  Still, no one wanted him -- and he'll now become a free agent who can be signed only with a minimum salary of $395,000.

Though the rookie deal apparently included some back-end stuff based on team and individual incentives, a guy regarded as a second-round talent surely would have prompted someone to pick up his contract, even if they possibly would have been augmenting a minimum salary with some incentive payments.  Now, White will have to decide whether to scratch and claw for a minimum-salary NFL deal or to join the UFL (or the CFL) or to rediscover baseball, the sport about which he mused in the offseason, when it appeared that the Dolphins would ask him to move to a new position.

Throughout this year's installment of Hard Knocks, Jets coach Rex Ryan made it clear that veteran fullback Tony Richardson has a place on the roster.

If he does, he'll get it back after Week One; Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Richardson has been cut.

A 15-year veteran and three-time Pro Bowler, Richard spent two seasons with the Jets, which followed two seasons with the Vikings, which followed 11 with the Chiefs.  The Jets could be planning to re-sign Richardson after the first game, at which time the balance of his salary would not be guaranteed.

The most recent depth chart shows Richardson as the starting fullback, and rookie John Conner as the backup.