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The Arizona Cardinals won seven of their final nine games last season.

They scored a significant victory Thursday by reaching agreement on a five-year deal with defensive end Calais Campbell.

Re-signing Campbell became the team's top offseason priority after Arizona's unsuccessful run at free-agent quarterback Peyton Manning.

Campbell's status as the Cardinals' franchise player removed urgency from the negotiations. Getting a deal done anyway shows both parties made a good-faith effort. That's refreshing, given how frequently the franchise tag drives a wedge between player and organization. The parties could have waited out one another, in which case Campbell might have slipped away in the future.

Campbell, 25, is a rarity in the NFL for his ability to rush the passer (14 sacks over the past two seasons) as a 3-4 defensive end. His 6-foot-8 frame lets him clog passing lanes. It also makes him a threat to block field-goal attempts.

Arizona now has both its defensive ends under long-term deals. Darnell Dockett re-signed in 2010 and remains under contract through 2015. Campbell, Dockett and 2010 first-round nose tackle Dan Williams combine to give Arizona great potential up front. Williams is the key variable now.

The Cardinals have scheduled a news conference Friday to announce Campbell's deal.

The word "concussion" came up zero times during the most recent NFC West chat. There was one "bounty" question, but I didn't get around to answering it during the chat.

"Do you think Kurt Warner would have come back for another year if he wouldn't have been smashed by the Saints after his interception in Bounty Gate?" Tony from Richmond, Calif., wanted to know.

Warner was headed toward retirement regardless, in my view. The Cardinals might have gotten him to reconsider had they offered a dramatic in crease in pay, but that is purely speculative. Warner was ready for retirement.

Full chat transcript here. Highlights below:

SeniorSwick from Montclair, N.J. asks whether any NFL teams take as many chances as the Seahawks when it comes to creativity, scheme and personnel. He points to the team's decision to convert new draft choice J.R. Sweezy from defense to offense.

Mike Sando: The 49ers converted Bruce Miller from college defensive end to fullback and got good play from him last season. Miller had not played offense since high school. Sweezy, like Miller, was a later-round pick. Teams have greater freedom to experiment with later-round choices. The key is to be creative without over-thinking things. More broadly, the concern in building around specialized or somewhat unique players -- think Red Bryant for Seattle -- is that specialized players can be tough to replace if injured. However, that is where staff flexibility can make up the difference. The Seahawks seem to have a good defensive staff and approach. Another potential concern relative to Sweezy is what the move represents: a clear push by an assistant coach to get a player he liked. Tom Cable also drove the selection of James Carpenter a year ago. Drafting players to fit the staff is important, but we should also watch to see if assistants have too much sway.

Ken from Anaheim, Calif., seeks a heads up on any Rams rookies who might become starters. All the early draft choices should be considered. I focused on undrafted players when putting together an answer.

Mike Sando: Watch the linebackers in general, Ken. That was a position of great need that the Rams didn't address sufficiently in the draft. As a result, the better free-agent linebackers were eager to consider the Rams; those players knew their chances would be better in St. Louis than elsewhere. Derrick Choice from Stephen F. Austin, Alex Hoffman-Ellis from Washington State and Noah Keller from Ohio State were the undrafted free-agent linebackers St. Louis signed recently. Seventh-round pick Aaron Brown is also new to the team.

Brandon Cards Fan from Arizona asks whether the offensive linemen the Cardinals drafted from the fourth through seventh rounds might see the starting rotation or play extensively as rookies.

Mike Sando: Yes, I think fourth-round choice Bobby Massie figures to get some starts at right tackle this season -- either out of necessity or because he wins the job. Jeremy Bridges would be the veteran fallback at right tackle. Moving right guard Adam Snyder into that spot would be another option, but that could weaken two positions. I could see Bridges opening the season as the starter at right tackle, with Massie taking over during the season.

The fun continues. I'm tentatively scheduled to join NFL Live some time after 3:30 p.m. ET for additional thoughts on Ben Roethlisberger's comments regarding the 49ers.

NFC West teams might think twice before handing their top defensive ends contract extensions worth $49 million over four years.

Signing those players for $17 million over two years would be more palatable.

They could, in theory, do both of the above. That is what the Miami Dolphins did with Cameron Wake, handing him a deal that could range in value from $17 million to $49 million.

The details, laid out Thursday by the Palm Beach Post, carry interest in the NFC West as defensive ends Chris Long, Chris Clemons and Calais Campbell enter contract years.

"Wake's contract, originally reported as a four-year extension worth $49 million and $20 million guaranteed, is really a two-year extension that will pay him $17 million," Ben Volin writes. "He received a $7 million signing bonus, and his base salaries -- $615,000 in 2012, $3.6 million in 2013 and $5.8 million in 2014 -- are fully guaranteed."

Scouts Inc. ranked Clemons 37th and Wake 47th among current NFL players in the Top 50 piece Matt Williamson put together during the 2011 season (NFC West angle here). Campbell fell into the "others of note" category. Long earned "up-and-comer" status.

I circled back with Williamson this week for his updated thoughts on where those players stand. He upgraded Wake based on pass-rushing skills.

"Campbell is certainly different than the other three because he is a bigger five-technique 3-4 defensive end," Williamson said. "But I think Wake is the best player out of Wake, Long and Clemons. In fact, I would rank those guys in that order right now.

"But Long is the youngest and just coming into his own. I would expect Long to get even more than Wake (because of his age) and Clemons to get a notch below what Miami gave Wake. Wake is a big-time pass-rusher."

The relative youth of Long and Campbell put them in better position to command longer-term deals.

Lots going on with the St. Louis Rams.

First, thanks to @Gofastleft for pointing out a story suggesting the team has asked for a retractable roof as part of its proposed renovations to the Edward Jones Dome.

Charles Jaco of Fox2now.com says experts generally suggest a price tag between $200 million and $300 million for retrofitting a stadium with such a roof. Jaco: "The Rams lease at the dome says the team is free to leave St. Louis in January 2015 if the dome is not among the top facilities in the National Football League. The Rams rejected an offer from the Convention and Visitor’s Commission to spend $124 million to upgrade the dome, half from taxpayers, half from the team. And this is their counter-offer. If the CVC rejects this proposal, which is pretty likely, then both sides go to arbitration June 15." Noted: Details for the various proposals become public Monday.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch details changes in the Rams' scouting department. Thomas: "The process is well under way, with general manager Les Snead bringing two Atlanta Falcons scouts into directors' positions in the front office. Falcons pro scout Ran Carthon is joining the Rams as director of pro personnel; Falcons area scout Taylor Morton is coming to St. Louis as director of college scouting. The Rams didn't have anyone with the title of director of pro personnel last season, so technically, Carthon isn't replacing anyone. John Mancini, who has been the Rams' director of college scouting for the past two years, is being retained with the title of assistant director of college scouting."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com offers thoughts on Michael Crabtree's development through three seasons. Maiocco: "While fans expect 1,000-yard seasons from a player chosen with the No. 10 overall draft pick, the 49ers' offense is not one that features the outside receivers. Some view Crabtree as a bust. I am certainly not in that camp."

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle looks at how rookie LaMichael James could change the 49ers' offense. Lynch: "At Oregon, he played in a spread and most of his carries came from a shotgun quarterback. That could continue with the 49ers. With the additions of Randy Moss, Mario Manningham and rookie A.J. Jenkins the team is showing signs of opening up the offense. Going into the shotgun frequently, could put James on the field more often. But for that to be the case, James will have to prove he’s more of a Darren Sproles than a Dexter McCluster. The revelation of just whom James will be, will start this Friday at the team's rookie minicamp."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee looks at the sorry recent history of the No. 81 jersey in San Francisco, asking whether there's been a T.O. curse.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com explains how receiver Larry Fitzgerald pushes teammates to work harder. Fitzgerald: "I'm just an extremely self-motivated person, that's all. Every day I am trying to run faster, jump higher, lift more. I have always been that way. Especially young guys like (Ryan Williams) … yesterday Patrick Peterson, we had a squat competition. I do it with (receivers) DeMarco Sampson, Jaymar (Johnson). I am into that. I love the competition, no matter if it is on the field, the basketball gym, the bowling alley, competition always makes the cream rise to the top. So I love to compete."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with offensive line coach Tom Cable for thoughts on why the team drafted defensive lineman J.R. Sweezy with an eye toward converting Sweezy to offense. Cable: "It was his demeanor, first and foremost. His intelligence. His toughness. And how he played on defense."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Red Bryant is determined to fulfill expectations after signing a $35 million contract this offseason. Bryant: "A lot of guys get big contracts and they kind of go in the tank because you get comfortable. I feel like not so much to justify it, but I have bigger expectations than just a contract. You hear that all the time, but I definitely want to be a guy that when my playing days are over with and they think about the Seahawks, they think about big Red Bryant."

710ESPN Seattle passes along comments from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll regarding Russell Wilson's arm strength.

Good morning. We're back on the usual Thursday chat schedule this week. Here's the link.

A running joke on the blog is that we haven't had enough Deuce Lutui items lately, so if you've got any questions about, say, his offseason approach to nutrition, by all means, fire away. This could be a rare opportunity to discuss a subject that simply hasn't gotten enough play.

See you there at 1 p.m. ET.

Brandon from St. Paul, Minn., wants to know how contracts work for undrafted free agents.

"I could be mistaken," he writes, "but I can't imagine many receive multi-year deals. What happens when someone like Doug Baldwin proves to be a huge asset?"

Mike Sando: Baldwin became the first undrafted rookie free agent since Bill Groman in 1960 to lead his ream in receptions and receiving yardage.

That was great for Baldwin, but arguably even better for the Seattle Seahawks.

The collective bargaining agreement requires undrafted rookies to sign three-year deals. Baldwin received a $17,500 signing bonus on a deal averaging about $470,000 per year. That's great money in the real world, but not for an NFL player leading his team in key statistical categories.

Baldwin is pretty much stuck. The Seahawks hold his rights for the next two seasons. At that point, they can tender him as a restricted free agent, discouraging other teams from making offers. The team could seek an extension at any time, but I see little reason for the Seahawks to do that at this point.

Brandon's question is a good one as teams hold camps for drafted and undrafted free agents. All four NFC West teams have rookie camps beginning Friday. The undrafted free agents will sign three-year deals. Quite a few others will participate in camps on a tryout basis, with three-year deals potentially awaiting them.

Securing mandatory three-year deals for undrafted free agents stood as a small victory for NFL owners in labor negotiations. Teams can terminate those contracts at any time without paying future salaries, but players have no realistic recourse if they perform well enough to stick around. Holding out wouldn't make any sense.

Baldwin wasn't the only undrafted rookie to make an impact in the NFC West last season. The 49ers were happy with defensive linemen Demarcus Dobbs and Ian Williams. They'll have left guard Mike Iupati's younger brother, Andrew, in camp on a tryout basis this weekend, Matt Barrows reports.

Seattle's Brandon Browner was undrafted and new to the NFL last season, but he had played professionally in Canada.

Deuce Lutui, a newcomer to the Seattle Seahawks after six seasons with the Arizona Cardinals, brings more to the table than fork and spoon.

The longest-tenured guard in the NFC West is an Eagle Scout and a former finalist for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award.

He owns 72 regular-season starts and four more in the playoffs, including one in a Super Bowl. His college teammates once voted him most inspirational player.

Prodigious girth has nonetheless defined Lutui's career, to the point that visions of him adopting a vegan diet seemed farcical. They were accurate more in spirit than in fact.

Incorporating vegan principles into his diet has indeed helped Lutui reach his playing weight (340 pounds) months earlier than usual. But he has not stopped eating animal products entirely. Lutui, in consultation with a nutritionist, still eats fish and chicken to maximize his protein intake. Protein shakes after workouts are also allowed.

Red meats and dairy products are on the do-not-eat list.

"A lot of people wouldn’t call it vegan, but as the vegan concept goes, it is something I eat pretty much vegan throughout the week," Lutui said over the phone Tuesday."I've been at this for four months, and so I've lost tremendous weight."

Breakfasts are heavy on fruit. Giant salads loaded up with beans, tomatoes and avocado often carry meals later in the day. Brown rice is another staple.

Lutui was born in Tonga, where size matters ("Sometimes, I just think my background being Tongan, I’m a thick person," he said). Lutui said he weighed 396 pounds upon reporting to USC, where his line coach, Tim Davis, encouraged personal growth with a saying Lutui ate up: "Mass moves ass." Lutui sometimes played at 370 pounds in college, dropping into the 330s for the scouting combine.

Now, at age 29, NFL teams are convinced Lutui must cut weight to remain productive.

"It has always been a part of me to play big," Lutui said. "I had to humble myself to see what coaches are seeing out there."

Lutui started four-plus seasons for Arizona before becoming a free agent one year ago. He declined to discuss the circumstances surrounding his near-signing with Cincinnati last offseason.

"There has been some stuff, I'd really rather not say," he said.

The Bengals reportedly backed out of the deal over weight concerns. Lutui returned to the Cardinals on a one-year deal as teams and players scrambled following the lockout. Arizona had also grown weary of the constant weight battles. The team signed former San Francisco 49ers guard Adam Snyder this offseason.

"My strength on the field speaks for itself, but being born 13 pounds, coming from an ancestry of big men, it is definitely -- I have changed my whole life," Lutui said. "I come from the land of kings that eat like kings. The first king of Tonga was a 7-footer."

King George Tupou I attended no scouting combines in his day, making it tough to verify his measurables. But cultural and physiological factors are certainly at play with Lutui. He carries 340 pounds the way another lineman might carry 300 or 315.

"My best game weight is 340 and that is still big for a lineman, but for a Tongan, it’s pretty small," Lutui said. "You check out my other brothers on the field, Haloti Ngata and these guys. They are playing at 350-plus and they’re pretty good."

Lutui expects to compete at right guard, the position he played for Arizona. That is where the Seahawks' John Moffitt started before suffering a knee injury last season. Seattle would seem to have a more clearly defined opening at left guard after releasing 2011 starter Robert Gallery. But it's early. Lutui still must re-establish himself after the first zero-start season of his career.

Wherever he winds up on the line, Lutui figures to be in a better place. Getting back together with Pete Carroll, his old college coach, has made for a comfortable transition.

"He is the only coach in the NFL who really knows who Deuce Lutui is," Lutui said. "I came at him at 396 (in college), but he has really honored me for my strengths and I’m going to honor him by playing at a weight that is under the radar.

"I am stepping into my prime. I haven't even yet scratched he surface of that. I am so optimistic about this year as far as my training has been. I can’t wait to prove to this organization who I am and who they are getting."

The Arizona Cardinals addressed primary needs at receiver and offensive tackle in the NFL draft last month.

They did not address every need, however. Arizona was the only team not to use at least one draft choice for a defensive lineman or linebacker, one reason Vonnie Holliday and Clark Haggans are expected to return for another season.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says there's no rush to bring back either player. Somers: "Haggans, 35, started all 16 games last season but, if he returns, it will be as a backup. Holliday, 36, backed up Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett last season. He played in all 16 games and finished with 16 tackles, 15 of them solo. The coaches were pleased with his production and think he could provide a similar level of play this season." Noted: Re-signing Haggans in particular would buy time for the Cardinals at outside linebacker, a position where the team has promising young players, but few established options.

Also from Somers: catching up with Matt Ware.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com revisits defensive coordinator Ray Horton's philosophy on cornerbacks. Horton: "Covering is the main job, but you want the physicality, get guys out of their game and let them know they will get it every play. As a defense, you have to have the tough guy mentality regardless. We don’t want an offense pushing us around, and if they get some calls, we have to live with that sometimes."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com sizes up the team's wide receivers and says competition is running high. Farnsworth: "In fact, Ben Obomanu, Doug Baldwin and Ricardo Lockette were so hungry during the players’ extended break following the season that they traveled to Alabama to work out with Tarvaris Jackson."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune takes a position-by-position look at the Seahawks' roster and has this to say about letting linebacker David Hawthorne leave in free agency: "Even with a nasty front that does a nice job of keeping the linebackers clean, someone has to scrape, fill the right gap and make the tackles. Along with doing that the past three seasons, Hawthorne was considered one of the more cerebral players on the team. And he also made game-changing plays, evidenced by his seven interceptions and six sacks in three years as a starter. Second-round draft choice Bobby Wagner has some big shoes to fill." Noted: Hawthorne's health had to be a key variable. The injury he played through last season affected his ability to move effectively.

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asks colleagues what Rams coach Jeff Fisher will be watching most closely during the upcoming rookie camp. Jim Thomas: "About two-thirds of the players on the field will be undrafted rookies, but Fisher obviously will have his eyes on the 10 draft picks, particularly cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson. Are both capable of competing for a starting job right away? That seems to be the expectation. Ditto for wide receivers Brian Quick and Chris Givens. The sooner they get the playbook down, the sooner they help QB Sam Bradford. This will be their first taste of NFL football, albeit in a minicamp setting."

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch supports Kurt Warner's recent comments about player safety.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Frank Gore is anxious to see new 49ers running back LaMichael James in action. Maiocco on Gore: "Gore, who turns 29 on Monday, enters his eighth professional season. He has 7,625 rushing yards -- the most for any 49ers player since the club became a member of the NFL in 1950. And he is just 33 rushing attempts behind the club's all-time leader Roger Craig."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee checks in with 49ers archivist Jerry Walker, who is collecting memorabilia for display in the team's Hall of Fame, set to open at the new stadium in Santa Clara. Barrows: "The hall of fame will be at least 15,000 square feet, and the team wants items from ticket stubs all the way up to big-ticket items like a trolley car or even perhaps a portion of the 'Niner Liner' aircraft that flew Montana and teammates to their first Super Bowl in Pontiac, Mich. The hall of fame is sure to be popular on game days. But, like recent hall of fames built in Green Bay, Foxboro, Ma. and elsewhere, the intent is to make a year-round destination, especially one for school field trips."

Taylor Price of 49ers.com says safety Donte Whitner expects the defense to play faster this season. Whitner: "This year you can expect guys to fly around a lot faster without hesitation and really understand what the scheme is and what we’re trying to do to offensive football teams. And I believe that we’re going to be the No. 1 defense in the National Football League this year. The guys believe it and we just have to go out there, work and prove it."

Monte Poole of Bay Area News Group says Alex Smith and the 49ers' offense are trying to close the gap with the team's defense.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle takes a closer look at 49ers first-round draft choice A.J. Jenkins. Branch: "Jenkins had 90 catches as a senior. The Illini’s second-leading receiver had 26. The disparity had something to do with the trust quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase had in Jenkins, an exacting route-runner."

The St. Louis Rams tapped into an SEC power when they selected defensive tackle Michael Brockers from LSU in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft.

They targeted quite a few players from less notable conferences throughout the remainder of the draft, selecting talent from the Southern, Gulf South, Big Sky, Mid-America, Mountain West and Lone Star conferences (along with the Big East, ACC and SEC, again).

Brian Quick from Appalachian State was one such player. The receiver, selected in the second round, wasn't widely mentioned as a player the Rams would consider early.

"Many will use the small-school component of Quick’s resume to suggest he will have a much larger learning curve to adjust to the NFL," NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell wrote. "Again, another myth tossed around as if it's gospel. Watch any college wide receiver, especially one that played in a spread, and you will see limited routes."

That would include Oklahoma State's Justin Blackmon, the player linked most strongly to the Rams before the draft.

"In fact, studying both extensively on film, you can make the argument that Quick, who’s significantly bigger than Blackmon, is more naturally athletic," Cosell continued. "Quick is a very fluid and smooth athlete with excellent lateral quickness and deceptive vertical speed due to stride length. It’s not a stretch at all, when you analyze Quick’s physical and athletic attributes, to understand why the Rams selected him early."

Cosell's NFC West review touches on several early choices from the division. He explains why he thinks each selection made sense for the various teams, and why criticism is premature. He seemed to like the selections, although he did not project Seattle's Bruce Irvin or San Francisco's A.J. Jenkins as first-round selections in his mock draft, which listed Rams second-round choice Janoris Jenkins as a top-five talent.

Apologies, up front, for forgetting who passed along the link for Cosell's review. I'm counting on reading a reminder in the comments section. Thanks much.

Arizona Cardinals receiver Michael Floyd was fifth and Seattle Seahawks pass-rusher Bruce Irvin sixth on John Clayton's list of 10 new draft choices likely to make the greatest immediate impact.

"Floyd's presence may force defenses into more zone coverages, because it will be hard to double Larry Fitzgerald and match up man-to-man against Floyd," Clayton theorized. "Irvin is probably the draft's best pass-rusher and should put up double-digit sack numbers early in his career."

Let's consider that a launching point for a discussion EDTGO jump-started from his luxury box in the comments section of an earlier item on Arizona's draft thinking.

"Floyd will be starting and will have the best position of the rookies to get stats," he wrote.

Rookie receivers making at least 10 starts from 2009 through last season averaged 46 receptions for 721 yards and five touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. Cincinnati's A.J. Green and Tampa Bay's Mike Williams had the most receptions of the group (65 apiece). Green, Williams and Julio Jones each topped 900 yards. Those three joined Torrey Smith as the only ones with more than six touchdown receptions.

We shouldn't forget about St. Louis Rams second-round receiver Brian Quick. He has a good chance at starting. The Rams thought Quick reminded them of Terrell Owens from a physical standpoint. Owens had 35 catches for 520 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie, making 10 starts.

The status for San Francisco 49ers first-round receiver A.J. Jenkins could be tougher to define initially. He could wind up starting if the Randy Moss experiment does not work out. He could also ease into the role, getting fewer opportunities as the 49ers run their offense through other players primarily.

Double-digit sacks from Irvin might be enough to eclipse for impact the projected receiving numbers from Floyd, Quick or Jenkins.

Five rookies since 2009 have collected at least 10 sacks. San Francisco's Aldon Smith, with 14 sacks last season, was the only one to do so as a backup. Von Miller, Brian Orakpo, Clay Matthews and Ndamukong Suh -- all first-round choices, as were Smith and Irvin -- reached double digits in sacks while starting at least 13 games.

Carlos Dunlap had 9.5 sacks in 12 games, none of them starts, for Cincinnati in 2010.

Irvin should benefit from the Seahawks' very specific plans for him. The team got nine sacks in zero starts from Raheem Brock in 2010. Irvin will play a similar role and a similar percentage of the snaps, giving him a very good chance to eclipse Brock's total -- if he's talented enough to produce those numbers. Brock played about 50 percent of the snaps for Seattle in each of the last two seasons.

Who else deserves our consideration?

"Janoris Jenkins has a shot ... assuming he can keep his head on straight," ramm428a wrote.

"Yep," randdles wrote, "Jenkins will get to face five of the top QBs this year, he could make a big impact."

Matthew Stafford, Robert Griffin III, Jay Cutler, Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady are among the high-profile quarterbacks Jenkins, a second-round cornerback with first-round talent, will face in his initial season with the Rams. Jenkins will face those quarterbacks by Week 8, giving him a chance to shape perceptions early.

Devin McCourty and Joe Haden are the only drafted cornerbacks to exceed five interceptions as rookies over the past three seasons.

"Michael Brockers could have a huge impact," JohnnyP3180 wrote of the Rams' first-round choice. "Not flashy, but he could make the biggest difference for his team."

That might be true, but as a run stuffer, Brockers probably won't accumulate the stats players often need to draw acclaim. We'll be sure to monitor Brockers' contributions closely regardless.

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Justin from Phoenix thinks the Arizona Cardinals can't win with critics.

"The Cardinals have caught grief over the last few years for not drafting offensive lineman, so this year they go out and draft three," he writes. "Now, they are catching grief for not addressing the outside linebacker position. Why can't this team ever do anything right?"

Mike Sando: I don't know whether the Cardinals are taking significant grief for failing to select an outside linebacker. Let's assume they are, and then let's weigh their perceived needs against known opportunities.

The Cardinals used the 13th overall choice for receiver Michael Floyd when they could have selected Melvin Ingram, who went 18th to San Diego. Whitney Mercilus (26th to Houston) and Nick Perry (28th to Green Bay) were the other projected outside linebackers drafted in the first round by teams running 3-4 defenses. Time will tell whether the Cardinals might have fared better selecting one of those players over Floyd.

Having no second-round choice limited the Cardinals' options in this draft, but drafting an outside linebacker in that round might have been a stretch. Courtney Upshaw, chosen 35th overall by Baltimore, was the only 3-4 outside linebacker chosen in the second round (Miami used a third-round choice, 72nd overall, for Olivier Vernon).

That suggests Arizona, which sent the 51st overall pick to Philadelphia in the Kevin Kolb trade, did not necessarily miss out on pass-rush help in that round.

Vernon was the only 3-4 outside linebacker selected in the third round. Arizona, picking eight spots later, took cornerback Jamell Fleming.

The fourth round did provide an opportunity for the Cardinals to select help at outside linebacker. Arizona was picking 112th overall. Dallas took outside linebacker Kyle Wilber with the 113th pick. Washington took Keenan Robinson at No. 119.

Offensive tackle was clearly the No. 1 need for Arizona, however. The Cardinals' decision to use the 112th choice for tackle Bobby Massie seemed reasonable and almost imperative because the team had not taken an offensive lineman to that point in the draft.

Perhaps things would have been different for Arizona in the fourth round if the team had held onto the 51st overall choice. Tackle Mike Adams, selected 56th overall by Pittsburgh, would have been an option for the Cardinals.

Arizona used its fifth-round choice (151st overall) for another offensive lineman, Senio Kelemete. This again appeared reasonable, although teams did take 3-4 outside linebackers among the next 14 picks.

The Cardinals already have young pass-rushing prospects in Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield. If they were going to select an outside linebacker, they arguably needed to get a true difference maker. Ingram, Mercilus and Perry would have been the options, but drafting one of them would have meant passing on Floyd.

Life changed for Tarvaris Jackson when the Seattle Seahawks signed Matt Flynn and drafted Russell Wilson.

It's an upset, in my view, if Jackson remains with the team beyond his current contract, which runs through 2012. But it's also a little premature to suggest the team's offseason moves at the position will force out Jackson before the season. First the team needs to see what it has in Flynn and Wilson.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times thinks Jackson will remain with the team this season. O'Neil: "Seattle has not settled its quarterback situation. Not by a long shot. What the Seahawks have done is expand -- and hopefully improve -- the array of options they have with the immediate goal of improved quarterback play in 2012 and a long-term starter down the road. Maybe it is Flynn, who has passed for more yards in his first two NFL regular-season starts than all but one player in NFL history. Or perhaps it's Wilson, an incredible athlete who started for two different colleges in the previous two years in addition to playing professional baseball. And maybe -- just maybe -- it comes from Jackson who is recovered from the strained pectoral muscle that limited him the final 10 games of last season. Maybe he comes in for his second season in Seattle, cuts it loose and starts making plays in the fourth quarter." Noted: Josh Portis has practice-squad eligibility. Going with Flynn as the starter, Jackson as the backup and Wilson as the developmental third quarterback would seem to make the most sense. Wilson would seemingly have to make a big jump for a rookie to project in the No. 2 role right away.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team and eight of its draft choices saw benefits in reaching contract agreements sooner rather than later. Seahawks contract negotiator John Idzik: "It’s mutually beneficial. Obviously, we get our draft choices signed. But, from their end, they’re protected under their contract. They don’t have to concern themselves with these lengthy negotiations we’ve had in the past. Now, it’s just all about ball."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle passes along thoughts from Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley regarding the team's secondary. Bradley: "Some guys have said, 'Well, they went to the Pro Bowl, and how is that going to affect them?' I know I got a text from Earl Thomas the other night, on Tuesday about 9:45 at night. He was trying to get the code for the DB room, to [watch] film. So right there that shows you their mentality. They'll sneak in here to try to get on the JUGS machine in the indoor practice facility at night. They're just driven that way. I think that's why we're so excited about this group."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals haven't gotten enough from their 2009 draft class. Somers: "What stands out to me is that three of the eight players have never played a down in the NFL. Cody Brown was the biggest bust, a second-round pick who couldn't get on the field. And he played a position, outside linebacker, where the Cardinals needed help desperately. The Cardinals released him after one season, and Brown bounced around the league for a couple of years. He couldn't get on the field for anyone else, either. The Lions released him last February."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com thought outside linebacker was a primary need for the Cardinals in the draft. Urban: "It’s not like the Cards didn’t sack opposing quarterbacks last year. As a team, they had 42, tied for seventh in the NFL. The Cards had an NFL-best nine different guys with at least two sacks. The way defensive coordinator Ray Horton does things, pressure by committee works and is much harder for which to handle. But developing those linebackers, especially the rushers on the outside, is one of the keys to any 3-4 scheme. After passing in the draft, development will be one of the things to watch at the position."

Also from Urban: 2011 second-round pick Ryan Williams feels good about his return from a knee injury.

Matthew Hathaway of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch has details on plans to release proposals between the Rams and the local stadium authority. Hathaway: "The CVC maintains that -- as a party to the Rams' lease -- it legally is forbidden from making public any documents considered by the Rams to be confidential. If it does so, according the CVC, the Rams could use the disclosure as grounds to seek an immediate termination of the lease. In the lease, the state is considered a 'sponsor" of the Dome, along with the governments of St. Louis and St. Louis County. Every year since 2005, the three entities together pay off a $24 million chunk of the Dome's $720 million construction debt. Each of the governments also appoints commissioners to the CVC board." Noted: I didn't think the Rams were the ones insisting upon confidentiality.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Alex Smith spent time this offseason to work on his mechanics. Smith: "I saw a mechanics guru, or specialist down in L.A. I went there to kind of clean some things up with my motion. I'm really focused on getting my fundamentals better. Really didn't have time last offseason to do it."

Also from Maiocco: Rookie receiver A.J. Jenkins will arrive for the 49ers' camp this weekend with plans to stay in the area.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says Jenkins will skip Illinois' commencement to attend the 49ers' rookie camp.

Turns out Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll wasn't joking Friday.

Deuce Lutui, the team's new guard with longstanding weight issues, has indeed embraced a vegan diet as part of a renewed effort to improve his health and performance.

"The commitment that he made to himself and his family revolved around not only being the best player," agent Ken Harris said Monday, "but being with them for many years to come and not having to worry as much about weight-related issues that can cause down-the-line health concerns."

This should be welcome news to those who care about Lutui personally and for Seattle fans hoping Lutui, after six seasons and 72 regular-season starts for Arizona, can upgrade their offensive line.

The Seahawks are listing the 6-foot-4 Lutui at 338 pounds. That is the weight on file for Lutui, as listed on NFL.com. That figure is more consistent with Lutui's measured weight at the 2006 scouting combine (334) than a reflection of his typical weight in the NFL.

Lutui reported to camp at 396 pounds in 2010 and failed a physical examination after agreeing to terms with Cincinnati last offseason. Lutui then returned to the Cardinals, where he served as a backup following four-plus years as a starter.

"Some things happened last year and in the last year and a half," Harris said. "He wanted to commit to himself and to his family that he would do everything to take care of himself and take care of them and be the best player he could be. As part of that, he met a nutritionist who suggested a vegan diet to him."

Vegans avoid eating animal products.

"He started to see real changes he had not seen previously," Harris said. "Before he knew it, he was slim and trim like a ballerina."

Carroll joked that Lutui had reported at 208 pounds. He was serious when he said Lutui's conditioning was improved, and that he valued the spirit Lutui -- sometimes ferocious on the field, but usually affable in the locker room -- brings to the team.

Seattle sought veteran depth at guard after releasing Robert Gallery. Lutui played for Carroll at USC and has obvious starting ability if his conditioning is right.

"When you stand next to him, his bone structure is very, very broad and very thick," Harris said. "For him to be 300-anything is much different than me being 300-anything.

"When I talked to NFL teams in the past about him, they would say, 'We know his weight, because of his bone structure, we would allow it to be a little heavier than someone that didn’t have the same kind of bone structure.' But they still wanted the weight to be in check."

Alex Smith had a sturdier look to him upon reporting for San Francisco 49ers training camp last season.

That was my first impression while watching Smith walk toward an interview podium between practices.

One of the quarterback's best friends on the team, left tackle Joe Staley, was standing nearby. I mentioned something about Smith's guns and Staley, ever the jokester, used the opportunity to tease Smith, striking body-building poses from a distance while Smith answered questions at a podium.

It's tough to say whether Smith was actually sturdier, but he did start all 16 games in a regular season for the first time since 2006. He started two playoff games as well. Smith's body held up through 18 starts, 51 sacks and 59 rushing attempts.

Other NFC West quarterbacks weren't as fortunate.

With Dan Graziano taking a closer look at Michael Vick's injuries, I decided to revisit the ones affecting NFC West passers in 2011, with special attention toward whether they could have been avoided.

• Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams: Bradford suffered a season-altering high-ankle sprain on the Rams' final offensive play during a 24-3 defeat at Green Bay. Why would the Rams risk injury by having Bradford drop back to pass on fourth-and-12 during the final minutes of a blowout defeat? This was a fair question at the time. We could use this injury to argue that coaches need to protect their indispensable players when a game is out of reach. However, the Rams' offense was moving the ball effectively that day, finishing with 424 yards. Bradford had played every snap of every game the previous season, answering questions about durability. The Rams took possession near midfield with 5:37 remaining. It was too early to give up.
• Tarvaris Jackson, Seattle Seahawks: Jackson suffered a season-altering torn pectoral injury during an 11-yard scramble against the New York Giants in Week 5. Designed quarterback runs can keep a defense off-balance. Smith and the 49ers proved a well-timed keeper can change field position and swing momentum in the postseason. We could argue that Jackson should have done more to protect himself during the run against the Giants, but I thought the Seahawks' coaching staff took an undue risk in this situation. The Seattle offense had come to life against Atlanta the previous week, but with Jackson ailing, the Seahawks lost their next three games, failing to exceed 13 points in any of them. That stretch might have cost Seattle a winning record.
• Kevin Kolb, Arizona Cardinals: Kolb suffered a turf-toe injury during a Week 8 game at Baltimore. He stayed in the game, making it unclear exactly when he suffered the injury. Kolb was under pressure frequently, however. Pass protection was a problem. Kolb eventually returned, only to suffer a concussion during a Week 14 game against San Francisco. Kolb took an inadvertent knee to the helmet. These could have been fluke injuries. In general, though, Kolb would benefit from improved pass protection and better pocket instincts.

Jackson and Kolb have competition for their jobs this year.

New Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn hasn't played enough to demonstrate durability one way or another. His ratio of pass attempts (115) to sacks (12) over the last two seasons was about 9.6 to one, between those for Kolb (8.4) and Smith (10.1) last season.

Kolb's competition, John Skelton, appears durable. He's the biggest starting quarterback candidate in the division at 6-foot-6 and 244 pounds.

Under criticism from ESPN's Merril Hoge and others, Kurt Warner has clarified his stance on concussions with a reasoned response that advances the conversation with civility.

Should we have expected anything less from the former St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals quarterback?

Warner disagrees with Hoge's contention that treatment for head trauma is the problem, more than the trauma itself. He personalizes the issue by noting that his own child has suffered effects from brain injury. He agrees with Hoge on the need for better treatment. He diffuses Hoge's contention that Warner should "get involved" with his kids' football programs to better ensure safety, pointing out how his 12-year-old son's Pop Warner league conducts baseline neurological testing.

Warner directly counters Hoge's contention that Warner was "uneducated" and "uninformed" on the subject matter. Drawing from his own experience as a player, Warner describes the pressure players feel to get back on the field. He points to the situation in Cleveland with Colt McCoy last season as evidence the NFL is still finding its way on the concussion issue.

Warner also differentiated between his approach as a player and his feelings as a parent.

"As a football player and a fan of the game, I want my kids to play the game that I am so passionate about," he wrote. "They currently play football, and there are few things that bring me more joy than watching them play and getting excited about the game I love. But, at the same time I am constantly concerned about my kids and the violence of the game of football. I worry about them suffering head trauma and developing any long-term issues as a result of that injury."

This was a nearly perfect followup to the less measured comments Warner made last week.