Michigan  tight end Chris Barnett has left the team, the third player this week to depart from the Wolverines.Big Ten BlogESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg and Brian Bennett write about all things Big Ten in the conference blog.• Blog network: College Football NationThe 6-foot-5, 250-pound freshman from Hurst, Texas, was a highly regarded player in coach Brady Hoke's first recruiting class.Barnett was ranked No. 20 among all tight ends by ESPNU 150 for the class of 2011. He was projected as a future starter because No. 1 tight end Kevin Koger is a senior.Fellow freshman Tony Posada, an offensive lineman, and junior receiver Je'Ron Stokes, who had three career receptions for 27 yards, also left the program this week. [Read the full article]

Cam Newton has the potential to become the face of the Carolina Panthers franchise. So before the team drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick, owner Jerry Richardson wanted answers to some questions -- including the quarterback's physical appearance.Kreidler: Stop Spilling Ink over NewtonPanthers owner Jerry Richardson isn't going to fire his new starting quarterback over some spilled ink, Mark Kreidler writes. StoryIn a recent interview on "The Charlie Rose Show" on PBS, the 75-year-old Richardson recounted a conversation he had with the 22-year-old Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback on April 4 in which he asked Newton if he had any tattoos or piercings.When Newton replied "No sir, I don't have any," Richardson told Rose he told the quarterback: "Good. [Read the full article]

Coach Mike Munchak says the Tennessee Titans haven't talked about trading Chris Johnson and the answer would be no if the star running back asked for such a move."We would figure he's under contract for two years, he's going to be a Titan and we would hope a longer term than that," Munchak said Thursday. "But I don't think that's anything we would even give any consideration to. He's with us one way or another, and hopefully it ends up being on the field."I'm Just Saying...Chris Johnson wants to be paid more than what a top running back gets paid, but last season he didn't rank in the top three in any major individual rushing category.Johnson and his agent met with Tennessee general manager Mike Reinfeldt in Nashville on Wednesday and then the running back to Orlando. [Read the full article]