So many wide receivers today need to conjure up a dance or a corny routine in order to garner media attention. Even after making a simple first down, the truly self-centered divas have become their own endorsement-seeking public relation firms. Gaudy numbers really don’t tell the full story, or properly measure the true worth of just a few wide receivers who go about doing their work while putting the goals of the team before their own.

Here are a few tidbits to monitor as we get ready for the seventh week of the fantasy season.

Fantasy owners could be without Lions WR Calvin Johnson the rest of the afternoon.

Take a look at the stories making their way Around the Web today, including Steelers veteran Hines Ward approaching 10,000 career receiving yards, Giants punter Jeff Feagles preparing for the Cowboys’ giant videoboard and a tired Chiefs defense looking for a breather.

If you watched Thursday night’s game between the Titans and Steelers, it was pretty evident that Willie Parker has lost a step — and some of his fantasy value.

Just when you think a game is just destined to play out a certain way … this game is headed to overtime, folks.

Steelers 7, Titans 7. Would you have it any other way? Not me.

The Steelers return 20 of 22 starters, which makes them strong contenders to repeat as Super Bowl champions. They still have Dick LeBeau running the defense, and his players call him “The Wizard,” which reflects the schemes and creativity he brings. The offense still has Ben Roethlisberger under center and returns RB Rashard Mendenhall after a season-ending shoulder injury last year.

After being knocked down, bloodied and bruised last season, the Bengals appear ready to get up off the canvas and fight back in 2009.

One of the perks of being a Super Bowl winner is getting some extra time off during training camp.

Between morning and afternoon practices, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger addressed his civil lawsuit by, well, not addressing it. Roethlisberger kept repeating that he is here for football. Focused on football.

Steelers WR Hines Ward had some interesting thoughts on the new rule that bears his name. NFL owners established the “Hines Ward Rule” this offseason in order to prevent a blocker from using his helmet, forearm or shoulder to hit a defender from behind or from the side.

The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Joe Reedy writes that a Week 7 play involving Pittsburgh WR Hines Ward and Bengals LB Keith Rivers is likely to come up this weekend as the NFL owners debate implementing a rule that would eliminate blind-side blocks to a defender’s head.

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette is reporting that Steelers WR Hines Ward had surgery on his shoulder and not his troublesome knee. Ward sprained the medial collateral ligament in his right knee during the AFC Championship Game last month, but will not require surgery for that injury.

Cardinals RB J.J. Arrington and DE Travis LaBoy are active and will play in Super Bowl XLIII. WR Hines Ward, as expected, is active and will start for the Steelers.