If it weren't for lists the internet would simply collapse in on itself.

So, doing my part to ensure it does not, I spent four days (pockmarked by heavy procrastinating) compiling this list of the 10 Best Moves of the Offseason. And, never wanting to seem too congratulatory, I provided a companion 10 Worst Moves.

Read 'em all here.

One of the fascinating quarterback duels shaping up in this offseason is out in San Francisco where Alex Smith, the No. 1 overall pick in 2005, tries to realize the potential the Niners thought he had when they drafted him. Ahead of him by a hair? Shaun Hill.

Tuesday, on the final day of mini-camp, Niners coach Mike Singletary said in comments distributed by the team, "I think the playing field is level now. I think before the offseason really started, I wasn't really sure where Alex was. He's been through a lot in four years. I think in order for he and Shaun to compete on level ground, he had to get healthy. I think he had to get his mind focused. I think he had to let go of some of the bitterness that's happened to him, some of the bad things and get the bad taste out of his mouth and be ready to go. I think that's happened. Very excited about that. So, he and Shaun, when we come back, it will be a great competition."

When the Niners media contingent pressed Singletary on whether Hill had been passed by Smith, Singletary said, "I don't think anyone's leading the competition right now. I've never heard anybody say that Shaun was leading the competition."

When it was pointed out that Hill was said by Singletary to be ahead of Smith, Singletary said, "Yeah, in principal I'm saying that, OK. But, as far as the competition is concerned, I just want to see both of those guys continue to compete. So, from that standpoint, you can say, technically, Shaun is the guy until proved different."

A couple of hours ago, we linked to TV reporter Josina Anderson's report that had Broncos owner Pat Bowlen trying to accomodate Brandon Marshall's trade request.

Well, Broncos coach Josh McDaniels isn't just on a different page than his owner, he's in a different library.

Via The Florio at Pro Football Talk, McDaniels told The Denver Post, "We look forward to having Brandon at training camp."

Let the territory peeing begin.

And tomorrow, we'll provide an exhaustive list of all NFL wideouts not embroiled in some kind of agitation with their teams.

The agent for Broncos wide receiver Brandon Marshall said that Marshall did request a trade during his meeting last week with Broncos owner Pat Bowlen.

And Bowlen told Marshall he would do everything in his "power to accomodate his wishes," according to agent Kennard McGuire. 

Josina Anderson, a reporter for KDVR's Fox 31has blogged and tweeted this news saying that McGuire told her, "Yes, there was a meeting between Brandon and Mr. Bowlen. There was a request for a trade. Mr. Bowlen has said that ownership will do everything in its power to accomodate his wishes."

It's worth noting that McGuire and, by extension, Bowlen, used the word "ownership" as opposed to "team".

This could allow Bowlen to say that he was overruled on this football matter by the coaching staff and didn't see fit to emasculate them further in this offseason from hell.

Either way the Broncos are heading into dangerous and uncharted waters here.

Has any team ever acquiesced to the trade demands of their two best offensive players in an offseason? And what is the fallout if they do? Do more players make a run for the lifeboats? What do you do if Champ Bailey says next that he's ready to move on?

Marshall is underpaid relative to his onfield production (set to make $2.2 million this season). He is the best young receiver in the game. He is also prone to getting in trouble with the police, has a history of violence against women and doesn't really seem an ideal teammate or locker room guy.

How do you set the value on a guy like that who, given that he seems to have no qualms about being a distraction, may eventually force your hand if you don't deal him?

Somebody will take Brandon Marshall off the Broncos hands. And Denver will be able to say that he - like Jay Cutler - is somebody else's headache. But the price of having a distraction-free locker room is getting unprecedentedly high.

Ever wonder why Julius Peppers' standoff with the Panthers gets so little play? I have, many times.

What, for instance, is his exact gripe with Carolina? Who on the team, coaching staff or front office peed in his Wheaties? Don't know.

Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer wrote a column about the reluctant Panther that expresses the same confusion about what motivates Peppers and his desire to play somewhere else. A good read.

The basic facts in Peppers' situation are pretty clear. He can either play defensive end for the Panthers in 2009 and be paid $17 million or he can stay home and A) hope for a trade or B) wear out his Netflix account.

And while the choice would be simple for 100 percent of the Regular Joes and Janes to make, for an enigmatic person who does not sweat his longterm financial security, predicting what Peppers will do is a lot harder.

Having contributed somewhere between 75,000 and 100,000 mouse clicks to Mike Florio's Pro Football Talk since finding it in about 2003 (and yes, I did the math), I feel uniquely qualified to react to the news that he's now partnered up with NBCSports.com.

My reaction? Tre. Men. Dous.

I have no idea if I was one of the first NFL beat writers to find PFT back when I covered the Patriots for the Providence Journal, but I do know I was one of the first to be proudly out of the closet about reading it. How do I know this? I'd be checking PFT before, during or after games in the press box and other writers would sniff about how they never read it and never would.  

Now? You simply cannot cover the NFL adequately without doing so. And nobody would ever admit to not reading. They may sneeringly say they "check it every couple days" but everybody's reading it.  

The reason? As reporters, you find the spot from where the information flows. And more information - first-hand stuff generated by Florio and second-hand info culled from scads of media sources around the country - is generated on a daily basis by Florio than anyone. Or at least it seems that way.

If I write a story that's got some bite or an angle, I send Mike the link to it. He gets what I like to call "walk-up traffic" so if he pops it out there, the story is more widely read. But also, I want to see his take on it. And Florio's take is what makes PFT more than just a clearinghouse for stories.

So, Mike, let me say welcome to you and your millions of twisted minions to the site. As always, please use coasters and if the toilet keeps running, just jiggle the handle a little.

FOXBORO - Another good nap day in the Boston area - temperature around 55 and a steady rain falling. But the Patriots are currently going through their final OTA of this offseason before tomorrow's mini-camp and they are out on the field in the wet.

What makes this detail noteworthy is that Patriots quarterback Tom Brady is participating fully in this practice just months after his reconstructive knee surgery.

The fact that he is (and it's been raining since mid-morning so the field's not completely saturated) shows how strong he believes the knee feels. It also shows the team feels he can take reps without limitations.

And while I don't normally tend to Chicken Little on what can go wrong when a football player (gasp!) plays football, you have to wonder how prudent it is to allow him to be out there in May with a recently reconstructed knee  since there will dozens of "weather days" on which he can test how it feels on a slick track.

Speaking on Boston's WEEI this morning, Patriots nose tackle Vince Wilfork said he skipped last week's OTA practices because of dissatisfaction but added that he's "going to give 100 percent" adding "I'll be ready to play this season.

Wilfork is entering the final year of the six-year deal he signed as a rookie. He's due to make $2.2 million in salary this year. His value as one of the NFL's premier 3-4 nose tackles is much higher, however.

Wilfork wants to get it done with the Patriots.

"I could care less about what people think...I don't want to leave," he said. "We're doing everything in our power to get (a contract) done. I try not to talk about it, I'm trying to stay positive. I want to be a Patriot, but there's a business part of it."

NBC's two newest analysts, Rodney Harrison and Tony Dungy, jousted about Peyton Manning during a conference call introducing their hiring for Football Night in America.

Dungy also was strong in his opinions on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler.

He said that Chicago made "a risky move but one that was made to beat one team which was the Green Bay Packers."

On Cutler, Dungy said, "He's a very talented guy who can throw the ball really  well. But the quarterback position is so much about leadership, so much about performing (under) pressure. We'll see about his maturity level. That's been a question and some of the things that led to him leaving Denver (raised that concern)."

Two other quotes of note. 

On Vince Young, Harrison said, "Will this guy ever start again? I think he will. But he's in a critical time. If he's not a starter again in the next two years, you'll find him as a career backup."

Dungy, who visited quarterback Michael Vick in jail, said Vick, "Paid for his (mistakes) and deserves second chance. He'll have a great story to tell if he does come back (to young people) that one mistake doesn't doom you."

Patriots safety Rodney Harrison, who announced his retirement during a conference call this morning, is joining NBC's Football Night in America team.  

Harrison and former Colts coach Tony Dungy will be announced as the latest additions to the FNIA crew during a noon press conference.

Harrison, a 36-year-old, two-time All-Pro made his reputation as one of the hardest-hitting and most passionate players in the league. His style of playing up to (and through) the whistle also earned him a reputation as one of the league's nastiest players.

Asked how if he can bring similar verbal aggression to his analysis, Harrison said this morning, "My goal is just being tough and honest and telling it like it is. When you're honest, sometimes people may not like it, but they also knowyou won't fabricate anything. I am a fan of the game and I respect the game and the players in it. But I will always tell the truth and I think people will appreciate that."

Harrison worked for NBC during February's Super Bowl pregame and spent time this offseason on the NFL Network.  

Stepping into his new role, "gives you an opportunity to stay close to the game and forces you to watch film - which has never been a problem for me."

The lure, Harrison said is, "Being able to watch games and create an overall picture for fans  about what goes on inside and outside the locker room. 'Why did a guy get burned?' 'How can a Patriots defense be exploited or a Cleveland offense?' It about explaining to both the regular Joe who sits for 10 hours watching games on Sunday or the mom who walks in Sunday night and watches for two minutes why things happen."