Michael Lombardi told “NFL Total Access” that Carson Palmer has been in direct contact with Bengals owner Mike Brown, but those phone calls “have proven to be fruitless.”

Colts QB Peyton Manning underwent neck surgery earlier in the week, but the procedure shouldn’t affect his immense value in fantasy land.

Bengals owner MIke Brown won’t trade Carson Palmer, leaving the value of several of the team’s top fantasy wideouts in a state of decline.

To the surprise of few, Bengals owner Mike Brown refuses to back off his stance that he won’t trade QB Carson Palmer. Brown hasn’t wavered since Palmer’s request to be traded, and few expect him to do so.

Most league observers agree that Bengals owner Mike Brown won’t budge off his stance that he won’t trade QB Carson Palmer, who has threatened retirement if he doesn’t get a ticket out of Cincinnati.

Based on the current state of things around the NFL, it’s tough to find any news that has major fantasy significance (sigh). So when several coaches and other organizational leaders discussed the state of their teams during the annual Owners Meetings, you can only imagine how quickly I jumped on the information.

Terrell Owens didn’t leave much to the imagination Friday on “NFL Total Access” when discussing what was behind the problems that plagued the Bengals during a forgettable 2010 season that fell short of expectations.

These are some uneasy times in Cincinnati. Will Carson Palmer be back? Will he really walk away into retirement if Bengals owner Mike Brown doesn’t adhere to his quarterback’s trade demand?

Carson Palmer wants out of Cincinnati. Bengals owner Mike Brown says he won’t make a trade. So will Brown budge? NFL Network information man Michael Lombardi doesn’t see it happening. “I stress this strongly: Mike Brown is a man of his word,” Lombardi said. “When he says he’s not going to do something, he won’t do it.” But let’s just suppose … if Palmer did leave, where could he end up? Lombardi suggests the 49ers, who have several members of the front office represented by agent David Dunn, who also represents Palmer.

A look at some of the notable nuggets from Week 11 with the help of the NFL Network research desk, including Ronde Barber and Ray Lewis reaching some historic milestones.

Opinions on Michael Vick‘s future are varied, with some coaches and executives even suggesting the UFL as the best immediate option, though others are adamant that he’s worthy of a quarterback spot in the NFL if/when he is cleared to return by the league and rounds into shape.

Bears WR Devin Hester told the Chicago Tribune that he was tired of hearing all of the negative comments about his new QB Jay Cutler.

The Bears have two big holes to fill, the Chicago Tribune reports, because veteran safety Mike Brown has been released and right tackle John Tait is expected to retire.

The Chicago Bears lost starters QB Kyle Orton and S Mike Brown to injuries on Sunday and neither returned to the game against the Lions.