Giants DE Michael Strahan might go to the Pro Bowl, because teammate Osi Umenyiora might head home with what a league spokesman called “a bad, bad case of the flu.”

Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo, the highest-paid defensive coordinator in the league, might want to remember that the two highest-paid defensive coordinators last year, Miami’s Dom Capers and Washington’s Gregg Williams, both lost their jobs this offseason.

Patriots CB Asante Samuel says there’s a good chance he’ll return:  “The organization loves me and, hopefully, we can work it out.”  [Editor’s note:  Samuel might want to get confirmation on that emotion in light of the interception he dropped one play before the Shawshank Reception.]

Patriots LB Mike Vrabel says coach Bill Belichick did nothing wrong in leaving the field early:  “I think Bill did what any coach would do.  He graciously gave them the victory.”  [Editor’s note:  And then he abandoned his team while there was still one more snap to be taken.]

Cris Collinsworth said he was surprised by HBO’s decision to axe Inside the NFL, which he learned of the day before the final taping.

U.S. Senator Charles Schumer had a chat with Bills owner Ralph Wilson about keeping the team in Upstate New York, rather than relocating to Toronto.  [Editor’s note:  Tim Russert also was in on the call, and he said that fears a move by the franchise to Florida Florida Florida.]

The Dolphins’ coaching staff will spend time evaluating personnel before deciding whether the base defense will be a 3-4 or a 4-3.

Says Ravens RB Willis McGahee of playing in the Pro Bowl, “It’s very nice, but my next goal is winning the Super Bowl.  I think we can make a quick turnaround.  We’re much better than 5-11.”

The Browns have four offensive players in this year’s Pro Bowl; they had a grand total of one offensive player in the last 19 Pro Bowls.

Agent Drew Rosenhaus says of Broncos unrestricted free agent DE Ebenezer Ekuban, “The Broncos want him back and we hope something works out.”

Cowboys LB DeMarcus Ware is disappointed that his position coach, Paul Pasqualoni, has left for Miami.

Says Eagles TE L.J. Smith of getting the franchise tag, “I definitely would have preferred a long-term deal.”

Should the Bears be nervous about the health of Brian Urlacher, who recently had neck surgery?

The Lions have promoted Sam Gash from assistant special teams coach to running backs coach.

Former Packers G.M. Ron Wolf thinks current Packers G.M. Ted Thompson has done a stellar job.

Says Vikings coach Brad Childress of third-string RB Mewelde Moore, who becomes a free agent at the end of the month, “Moore had a good year for us last year and did some good things.  He’d like to play more, and I can’t begrudge a guy an opportunity to do that.”

Falcons RB Warrick Dunn is scheduled to count $6.2 million against the team’s salary cap in 2008.

Panthers LB Dan Morgan and QB David Carr both could get cut in the coming weeks.

The Buccaneers have hired former Rams offensive coordinator Greg Olson as their new quarterbacks coach.

The agent for Cardinals QB Kurt Warner would like the team to round up in determining Warner’s bonus money; he had a passer rating of 89.9 and his contract calls for a $500,000 bonus if he had a passer rating of 90.0.

Cardinals G.M. Rod Graves says the enormous salary owed WR Larry Fitzgerald is handcuffing the team: “I think a lot will depend on Larry Fitzgerald’s deal, whether or not we can get something in place that will allow us some flexibility.  If not, we could very well be faced with some very tough decisions.”

The 49ers have raised ticket prices.