ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers' tampering charges against the Jets were a strategic move designed to limit Michael Crabtree's options by effectively removing the Jets from consideration as a possible trading partner. Barrows: "The 49ers might not win their tampering case. But they've put the Jets in a position where they can't acquire him. To do so at this point would be to hang a big 'guilty' sign around their necks. Filing the tampering charges is designed to force Crabtree deeper into a corner from which his only recourse is to join the 49ers -- precisely what the 49ers have wanted all along." That makes sense on one level. On another level, I would think the 49ers would want as many options as possible available to them. Removing the Jets as a possible trading partner takes away one potential option.

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider takes a closer look at Frank Gore's 80-yard touchdown run against the Seahawks.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams released Derek Stanley and filled his roster spot with Danny Amendola. General manager Billy Devaney: "We’re just trying to get some juice in the return game."

Also from Coats: Will Packers fans pack the Edward Jones Dome for the Rams' regular-season home opener? Coats: "Selling tickets wasn't always a problem. The team's first 100 games -- regular season and playoffs -- after moving to St. Louis from Los Angeles in 1995 were sold out. But at the end of the 2006 season, as the Rams were finishing up their third straight year without a winning record, the team failed to fill the house for a Christmas Eve contest against the Washington Redskins. Since then, five other games haven't sold out, almost a third of the last 16 games at the 66,000-seat dome. Corporate ticket buy-ups prevented several others from being blacked out."

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' 0-2 record this season feels better than 0-2 records in seasons' past. Burwell: "Three weeks ago when you looked at the early part of the Rams schedule, the toughest and seemingly most unwinnable game appeared to be Sunday's home opener against the Packers. The Pack were being touted as one of the rising teams in the NFC. Now they are a struggling 1-1 team that suddenly looks vulnerable, even to a team like the Rams, who are on a 12-game losing streak."

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says the move to sign Amendola gives the Rams flexibility with Kenneth Darby.

Turf Show Times' VanRam revisits Donnie Avery's struggles early this season.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner. Somers: "Warner doesn't make as much of the highs and lows as others. But it's as if he just can't play poorly without there being an underlying reason. Maybe his hip was sore. Maybe the stinger in his shoulder affected him. Maybe he can't move like he used to, although even at 28 he never caused anyone's ankles to buckle with his shiftiness."

Also from Somers: additional thoughts on the Cardinals after rewatching their game against the Jaguars. Somers: "The corners, Bryant McFadden and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, played well. McFadden was physical (although he could have been called for a PI before the blocked field goal) and DRC did a nice job causing a fumble."

ESPN.com's Paul Kuharsky points to the non-call against McFadden as a turning point in the Cardinals' victory. Kuharsky: "With the pass interference call, a team with little margin for error would have been in position for a touchdown to pull even at 10-10. The field goal would have made it 10-6. The block and return make it 17-3 and the Jags are never closer than 14 points again." I rewatched the play several times Tuesday and thought there was little question as to whether McFadden violated rules. He clearly made contact with the receiver before the ball arrived. The receiver still got his hands on the ball, but he couldn't extend fully.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com looks into how the Cardinals are handling Beanie Wells' recent fumbling issues. Urban: "Coach Ken Whisenhunt did say Monday that he was going to have Wells tote a ball around all week after he fumbled twice in Jacksonville."

Revenge of the Birds' Hawkwind says fumbling isn't a new problem for Wells, citing an old scouting report from CBS: "Taking the ball up the gut, Wells will usually run with the ball secure. His problems happen when he tries to get too fancy bouncing outside, as he does not distribute the ball much and leaves it a bit exposed taking off for long distances. His fumbling was so bad in 2006 that the coaches greatly reduced his playing time until injuries hit the running corps. Eight of his 10 career fumbles have been recovered by the opposition."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the injury situation for Seattle is different from last season. O'Neil: "These are not season-ending injuries. [Lofa] Tatupu is going to be back, same for [Matt] Hasselbeck. Walter Jones will be playing, too. Obviously, the status of Marcus Trufant and Leroy Hill are still TBA, but this isn't the same thing as last year when you had so many receivers who were done for the year."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks' pass defense faces a stiffer test against the Bears in Week 3. Williams: "Through two games, Seattle has given up two plays of 20 yards or more through the air, best in the league. But that could change in the next few weeks, with the Seahawks facing strong-armed quarterback Jay Cutler and Chicago on Sunday then traveling to Indianapolis to take on the high-powered Colts’ offense in two weeks and a home date against Arizona looming Oct. 18."

Chris Sullivan of Seahawk Addicts looks at the good, the bad and the ugly from the Seahawks' performance at San Francisco. Sullivan: "The Seahawks' two-minute offense is among the best in the league. Do we ever go into the 2MO without scoring? I can't think of a time, even when our QB breaks a rib in the middle of it. Could we see the Seahawks enter the no-huddle more often? Not likely, but if we ever get down by two scores late, I'd expect it."

John Morgan of Field Gulls says Darryl Tapp deserves credit for setting up Craig Terrill's sack against the 49ers.