Update: The New York Times is reporting that the NFL will adjust the new rule that has moved the umpire from the middle of the defense to 14 to 17 yards behind the offense. The rule was adjusted to 12 yards after the Hall of Fame Game, so that the ball could be spotted quicker. The latest tweaks include requiring the umpire to only be standing behind the deepest member of the offense, and that quarterbacks can look at officials near the sideline to get the go-ahead to snap the ball, rather than turn around and look for the umpire’s signal.

Fantasy Impact: This was a major concern to fans of all teams, and it needed to be addressed. Two-minute drives and no-huddle offenses are a huge component of the game we all love, and flagging a quarterback just because an official is too old and out of shape to keep up with the offense would be detrimental to the game and make it lose a lot of fans. Fortunately, when there is an issue with play and officiating that needs to be corrected, the NFL usually takes care of it. It didn’t become the greatest league in professional sports by chance. I would expect officials to be very lenient with this rule, as per the desire of the league and its fans. If so much as one game is adversely affected by an “illegal snap” call during a crucial drive, the league will have plenty of unhappy people to answer to.

Update: The New York Times is reporting that the NFL will adjust the new rule that has moved the umpire from the middle of the defense to 14 to 17 yards behind the offense. The rule was adjusted to 12 yards after the Hall of Fame Game, so that the ball could be spotted quicker. The latest tweaks include requiring the umpire to only be standing behind the deepest member of the offense, and that quarterbacks can look at officials near the sideline to get the go-ahead to snap the ball, rather than turn around and look for the umpire’s signal.

Fantasy Impact: This was a major concern to fans of all teams, and it needed to be addressed. Two-minute drives and no-huddle offenses are a huge component of the game we all love, and flagging a quarterback just because an official is too old and out of shape to keep up with the offense would be detrimental to the game and make it lose a lot of fans. Fortunately, when there is an issue with play and officiating that needs to be corrected, the NFL usually takes care of it. It didn’t become the greatest league in professional sports by chance. I would expect officials to be very lenient with this rule, as per the desire of the league and its fans. If so much as one game is adversely affected by an “illegal snap” call during a crucial drive, the league will have plenty of unhappy people to answer to.

Update: Startribune.com is reporting that Vikings rookie cornerback Chris Cook is expected to be out at least two weeks with a torn meniscus in his right knee that he suffered Saturday against the Seahawks. This means that Cook will definitely miss the season opener September 9 in New Orleans.

Fantasy Impact: This is very bad news for a Vikings secondary that is thin and riddled with age issues. Cook had been having a very good camp and preseason, and following an impressive performance Saturday night, was the leading candidate to start opposite Antoine Winfield. Following the recent trade of Benny Sapp to the Dolphins, the organization will either turn to veteran Lito Sheppard, who had an underwhelming season last year with the Jets, or second-year corner Asher Allen, who only has started one game in the NFL. Cook could, very possibly, be back for Week 2, but September 9, in the Superdome, with Drew Brees at quarterback, it could be a long night for the Vikes’ defense.

Update: Thepewterplank.com is reporting that Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib will be suspended for Week 1 of the regular season. The suspension is for violating the league’s personal conduct policy, following an incident last year when Talib allegedly hit a cab driver. Talib entered a diversion program that included anger management classes. Rookie Myron Lewis will likely start in Talib’s place.

Fantasy Impact: Given that it is for just one game and Tampa Bay’s opponent is the Browns, this shouldn’t be too devastating for the Bucs. This will boost the Week 1 value for Jake Delhomme and a receiver like Mohammed Massaquoi, however, and therefore that of running backs Jerome Harrison and Montario Hardesty. Whatever fantasy value the Buccaneers defense had is reduced, but as for the game as a whole, with Raheem Morris’ game-planning and home field advantage, I think the Bucs defense can handle the marginally talented Browns offense.

Update: STLtoday.com is reporting that the St. Louis Rams have cut OT Phil Trautwein to reach the 75-man roster limit. Trautwein tore his MCL last week in practice and will need six to eight weeks to recover. Teams must reduce their roster to 53 by Saturday.

Fantasy Impact: This move makes sense seeing as Trautwein wouldn't be able to perform anyway, however this hurts the Rams because they need all the help they can get on the offensive line. Their o-line played horrible in the first week of the preseason and have gotten better little by little since then. The real question is whether or not they will be able to perform up to par in order to protect their rookie franchise quarterback and number one overall pick, Sam Bradford.

Update: NFL.com is reporting that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have released RB Derrick Ward. Ward only played one season in Tampa, even though he signed a four-year $17 million deal. He was one of three roster cuts.

Fantasy Impact: Ward has not lived up to standards this preseason, and Head Coach Raheem Morris even gave him a warning saying Ward didn't show up in shape. Ward has hit the dreaded age 30, the point in which most running backs start to decline in production. He may be picked up by another team, but it looks like his best is behind him.

Update: NFL.com is reporting that Jacksonville Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew will not undergo surgery on his knee. An Internet blog said that he had surgery on his left knee, but Head Coach Jack Del Rio squashed the rumor. Del Rio said MJD is working and rehabbing in order to stengthen up for the regular season.

Fantasy Impact: This is good news for fantasy owners hoping that MJD can carry the load for their team. MJD hasn't done much this preseason carrying only six balls for negative two yards. However, he should be ready to go by the time the regular season comes around, in which he will hopefully get back to his Pro Bowl form.

Update: ESPN.com is reporting that the Cleveland Browns expect the NFL to review the play in which Detroit Lions rookie DT Ndamukong Suh grabbed the facemask of Browns QB Jake Delhomme and slammed him to the ground. Suh was given a 15-yard facemask penalty on the play.

Fantasy Impact: The number two overall pick in this year's draft may learn quickly just how much the NFL is trying to protect it's quarterbacks in the form of a fine. Although Browns Head Coach Eric Mangini said that he doesn't believe Suh had malicious intent to hurt Delhomme, he would not comment on whether or not he felt that Suh should have been ejected from the game. Suh said that he was just going after the ball and that he had no idea that Delhomme had already gotten rid of it. Click here to view the play.

Update: If Reggie Bush is stripped of his 2005 Heisman trophy, Texas Head Coach Mack Brown believes it should be given to Vince Young. Young placed second in Heisman voting behind Bush by 933 votes.

Fantasy Impact: Bush has not yet been officially stripped of his Heisman, although USC had to return it's copy of Bush's trophy to the Heisman committee. If Bush is forced to return his award, it's only fitting that it be given to Young. Young finished that season with a thrilling upset beating Bush, Matt Leinart, and the rest of a stacked USC squad in the 2006 BCS National Championship.

Update: The team’s official website is reporting that the Ravens have placed linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. By being placed on the PUP list, Ayanbadejo is required to miss the first six weekends of the regular season. Ayanbadejo had his 2009 season cut short as well, suffering a quadriceps injury in Week 4, after solidifying himself as one of the team’s top coverage linebackers.

Fantasy Impact: With the way their cornerbacks have been ravaged by injuries this offseason, with Ed Reed recovering from hip surgery and in a rift with the organization, and with Ray Lewis being 35 and merely a two-down player at this point in his career, the Ravens need every defensive playmaker and every effective player in coverage that they can get. They no longer have Rex Ryan coming up with creative ways of pressuring opposing quarterbacks, guys like Kelly Gregg and Trevor Pryce are getting long in the tooth, and even Terrell Suggs isn’t the double-digit sackmaster that he was earlier in his career. I was already skeptical about the Ravens defense and this latest setback only strengthens my conviction.

Update: The team’s official website is reporting that the Ravens have placed linebacker Brendon Ayanbadejo on the physically unable to perform list Tuesday. By being placed on the PUP list, Ayanbadejo is required to miss the first six weekends of the regular season. Ayanbadejo had his 2009 season cut short as well, suffering a quadriceps injury in Week 4, after solidifying himself as one of the team’s top coverage linebackers.

Fantasy Impact: With the way their cornerbacks have been ravaged by injuries this offseason, with Ed Reed recovering from hip surgery and in a rift with the organization, and with Ray Lewis being 35 and merely a two-down player at this point in his career, the Ravens need every defensive playmaker and every effective player in coverage that they can get. They no longer have Rex Ryan coming up with creative ways of pressuring opposing quarterbacks, guys like Kelly Gregg and Trevor Pryce are getting long in the tooth, and even Terrell Suggs isn’t the double-digit sackmaster that he was earlier in his career. I was already skeptical about the Ravens defense and this latest setback only strengthens my conviction.

Update: Brian Galliford of the buffalorumblings.com is reporting that the Buffalo Bills running backs Fred Jackson and Marshawn Lynch have returned to practice. Jackson was running with the first team offense.

Fantasy Impact: It's a three way split for carries between Lynch, Jackson, and rookie C.J. Spiller. Jackson appears to be the starting RB. All 3 guys are only going to have a limited fantasy impact because they will steal carries from each other. They could all become frustrating to own so avoid if possible.

Update: NFL.com is reporting that Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman had the soft cast on his fractured right thumb removed Monday, and expects to return to practice next week and be ready for the season opener September 12 against the Browns. “I’m making progress,” Freeman told the Tampa Tribune. “I’m just in a splint now and everything’s right on schedule. We’ve got it immobilized and it’s definitely healing. I’d like to be back on the practice field starting with our preparations for the Cleveland game.” Said head coach Raheem Morris: “I trust him enough to let him go out on the field this week. Everything’s going the right way for him- everything’s on schedule. I’m not supposed to say this, but Josh was out there gripping a ball the other day.”

Fantasy Impact: For a team coming off a 3-13 season in a tough division, playing a team like the Browns Week 1, but having a tough schedule for the rest of the season, getting a win to open the season is imperative to any chance the Bucs have of contending in 2010. Given the 0-7 record Tampa put up with a quarterback not named Freeman in the lineup in 2009 and their 3-6 record with Freeman starting as a mere rookie, the only way they can win consistently this season is with #5 in the lineup. I see the Bucs being very cautious with their young quarterback over the next couple weeks, but he will be ready for Week 1, and unless you have an elite top 5, top 8 quarterback on your team, take advantage of the favorable matchup Freeman has in a home game Week 1 and start him.

Update: Kcchiefsblog.com is reporting that the Kansas City Chiefs have released WR Lance Long. Long caught 20 passes for 178 yards in 2009. The Chiefs are now at the 75-man roster limit.

Fantasy Impact: Long was only a back up WR and was not expected to be fantasy relevant.