ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams visited with center LeCharles Bentley recently, but the sides did not agree to a contract. The Rams' depth on their offensive line took a hit when Mark Setterstrom and Brandon Gorin went on injured reserve. Center Brett Romberg is recovering from a broken hand. Injuries have prevented Bentley from playing since the 2005 season.

Peter King of SI.com predicts another playoff appearance for Mike Holmgren and the Seahawks. He also touches on the likelihood of Holmgren returning to the NFL as early as 2009, either as a coach or front-office person.

King also quotes 49ers coach Mike Nolan on J.T. O'Sullivan and the other quarterbacks this way: "Thus far, J.T.'s been better than the other two, and there hasn't really been much of a gray area. His play's been better at the position than what we've had at any point in the last three years."

Matt Maiocco of Instant 49ers says Nolan is denying the part about O'Sullivan's play being "better at the position than what what we've had at any point in the last three years." Nolan says he wasn't singling out O'Sullivan for praise with that remark. Nolan says the level of play at the position is higher than it's been. The original quote praises O'Sullivan at the expense of backup Alex Smith.

Dan Brown of 49ers Hot Read compares Smith's numbers against those of other struggling quarterbacks with at least 400 attempts over the last three seasons. Brown also tries to make sense of Nolan's latest comments, then thinks better of it.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee checks in with 49ers running back Frank Gore, who felt a "black cloud" hung over the 49ers last season.

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has not named Kurt Warner the starter. ESPN's Chris Mortensen said Warner was "expected to" be named the starter. Reading through the quotes from Whisenhunt, the coach denied that he had made a decision. He did not deny what the decision was expected to be.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Matt Leinart is proceeding as the Cardinals' starter, and that Whisenhunt has told Leinart the team has made no decision. Leinart on his struggles against the Raiders: "If it was mental, where I was completely lost and completely unprepared, then it would be something where I need to figure out what's going on. But that's not the case. You just move on; that's in the past."