ESPN NFL

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Steve from Lynnwood, Wash., writes: What will you be looking for on Sunday night regarding the Seahawks' passing game against Chucky's boys, with Seneca Wallace under center and his receiving corps still not 100%?

Mike Sando: I'll want to see how quickly and decisively Seneca Wallace throws the football. I'll want to see how well Wallace moves when pressure gets to him. Can he scramble? I definitely want to see if he can make plays down the field. He has a good arm. He throws a very good deep ball. Will he throw the deep ball with confidence? Will Mike Holmgren trust the offense enough to open up the playbook a little more? Or are Seattle fans resigned to watching a remedial offense for another week?

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Rob from Allentown, Pa., writes: Mike, Love the Blog, it makes it easy for me to read about the Cards through different channels than their website and the AZ newspapers.

I have been a HUGE Cardinals fan since I was 8 and the team moved to my (then) hometown of Phoenix. I see a lot of things this year that the team has never shown. Guys seem to show up every Sunday, Defense works really well together, Offense is darn near unstoppable when they are clicking.

My question is, what do you think has changed the attitude this year? They aren't that much different than last year's team, although they still haven't proven they can win on the road. If they win a couple of tough games, ie @ Carolina, @ Eagles, @ N.E, does that make them not just a playoff contender, but a Super Bowl contender? I've been waiting my whole life for the Cards to make a Super Bowl, could the wait be almost over?

Mike Sando: Thanks, Rob. Home playoff games can get a team to the Super Bowl. That's how Seattle got there. I wouldn't trust the Cardinals -- yet -- to win a road playoff game. But if they can somehow secure home-field advantage in the NFC, they would have a pretty good shot at the big game you mentioned. Beating the Panthers and Giants during the regular season would put the Cardinals in unexpectedly good shape that way.

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Jason from parts unknown writes: Hi Sando, great job on the blog, it's great getting commentary from a knowledgeable source in addition to the news every week.

I'm one of the many worried 49ers fans on your blog, but I have a slightly different question. I know last week was a disaster of a loss, and Martz should have his head checked after he stopped giving the ball to Gore, but what should we take from the middle 2 quarters of the game? That was some of the best football they've played in a long time. Do you think it was a fluke? Or is that the potential this team has if it can pull together?

Mike Sando: Thanks much. I don't think the 49ers' strong performance in the middle quarters was a fluke. We are seeing an inconsistent team. The 49ers are living through the highs and lows of an inexperienced quarterback facing high-level competition for the first time. J.T. O'Sullivan is hot and cold. That reflects the high-risk nature of the offense, too. The question we must ask is whether O'Sullivan has built-in limitations, and how much he can improve.

I still hope to break down that Eagles-49ers game in more detail. I broke down the Cardinals' game and the Rams' game (in advance of heading to St. Louis for the Cowboys-Rams game).

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Chris from Las Vegas writes: In response to your recent post about the whole west coast teams playing on the east coast at 10AM...

I have always wondered, often times there are east coast games that start at the 1:15 Pacific Time slot. Why does it seem as though west coast teams never get this shot to start their games at 4:45 Eastern time instead of 1:15 eastern time. It seems like it's always Dallas and New England that get these slots in order for the NFL to have what I would assume would be more intriguing match ups for the afternoon games.

Mike Sando: You're correct. TV dictates the start times for East Coast games played in the afternoons. We're talking about games that start at either 4 p.m. ET or 4:15 p.m. ET in most cases.

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Dtakj9 from Idaho writes: I don't understand why (how) the league can fine players and coaches for negative comments about officiating. Don't we live in the U.S.? Also, I can't find any way to send a message to the NFL to let them know my feelings.

Mike Sando: We do live in the U.S., but that doesn't mean employees can remain employees after criticizing their bosses. You can contact the NFL at 280 Park Avenue in New York, N.Y. Zip code is 10017.

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Matt from Scottsdale writes: Does anyone keep track of a total amount the NFL has fined players each year? Does it seem like there have been more fines so far this year compared to a few years ago? Where does all this money go?

Mike Sando: The money goes to charities. I will generally ask the league about a specific incident and whether a fine was levied in response. The league doesn't announce all fines.

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Jess from La Quinta, Calif., writes: Aside from the NFC East opponents coming up, I do see a huge upside to Seattle's season once Hasselbeck returns. Curiosity kills me that an injury prone Kurt Warner is just one good lick away from the rebirth of the Leinart era, which bodes well for us Hawk fans. I don't see SF emerging yet this year as a legit contender, but upon the return of Hasselbeck, don't you think that this ship still has hopes of again visiting the post-season? thanks and again, I love your blogs...

Mike Sando: Thanks, Jess. It's probably not a good sign when Seattle fans are partially banking on a rival team's quarterback getting injured. I also have questions about Warner being able to hold up all season. He took big shots in the Dallas game. I almost think he could use another bye week in four or five weeks.

As for Matt Hasselbeck restoring the offense, Seattle does have the talent, on paper, to make a late-season rally if the injury situations improves. I'll believe it when I see it. How healthy will Hasselbeck be? How comfortable will he be? Which receivers will be healthy at that time?

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RV from Spokane, Wash., writes: I have a simple question for you. What's the point in re-signing Marcus Trufant? Any respectable receiver can catch on this guy. He can't stop anyone, big deal that he had one pro bowl season on a contract year, what other year has he looked somewhat good in? DeAngelo Hall was available. Why not let the damn overrated Cougar go and pick Hall up when the chance was there. Needless to say, I don't like Trufant, he's a waste of money. I love the Hawks I take the good with the bad, but this resigning was a huge mistake in my book. Thanks.

Mike Sando: Wow, I think that's way, way too harsh. Trufant got beat deep by Greg Jennings. Join the club. It looked as though Trufant didn't jam Jennings at the line, and he paid for it. Trufant has been fine for the most part, in my view, and I think that's why Mike Holmgren keeps singling him out as one of the guys on defense having a great year. He isn't saying that about Lofa Tatupu or Patrick Kerney or just about anyone else on that side of the ball (though it's tough not to acknowledge Brandon Mebane' strong play).

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Joe from Davis, Calif., writes: Sando, I received an automated email from NFL.com saying that Pro Bowl balloting has opened today (10/17). Do you think this is too early to start voting? If not, at this point which players from the NFC West do you see as potentially Hawaii bound? Also, I am
still waiting for that All-NFC West team that you said you'd come up with a few Mailbags ago! Keep up the great work.

Mike Sando: The fan voting is only one component, so I wouldn't say it's necessarily too early. You definitely called me on the all-division team followup. The division doesn't seem to merit one right now. Try putting together the all-division offensive line. It's not going to be a great line. Overall, Frank Gore and Larry Fitzgerald are easy choices. I don't see others being obviously worthy.

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Chris from Denver writes: Mike, Do you know the rotation of the NFL schedule? I am wondering when/if the Cards are going to becoming to Denver anytime soon.

Mike Sando: The scheduling rotation covered 2002 through 2009. The Broncos' home opponents for 2009 include the AFC West rivals, plus Dallas, the Giants, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and an AFC East team.

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Arlan from parts unknown writes: hey mike thanks for all your work on the NFC west. you keep talking about the niners needing someone with credibility as their next head coach and i was wondering what the chances are of the niners getting someone like cohwer or schottenheimer?

Mike Sando: I think Bill Cowher will have his choice of franchises, so that one could be tougher than a Marty Schottenheimer-type hire.

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PiersMorgan4949 from the Bay Area writes: Hey Mike. I don't understand why you think/feel Alex Smith will be elsewhere. If the problem is Mike Nolan and the way he coaches, how come Smith has to go elsewhere?

Smith will not get a 9 mil contract, and I can't envision the other teams wanting a starter like him. I feel it's more beneficial for Smith to remain a 49er for there's no Nolan. Why must the 49ers axe both JTO and Smith and have to start 09 with Hill/Wright/drafted QB?

I know we need to get a QB in the draft, but Sando, come on, getting rid of Smith will further damage the 49ers and our drafted QB whomever it may be. Unless we get Garcia or Warner on the team from FA, expect same results. Address please, thks.

Mike Sando: Yes, Alex Smith could conceivably stay by taking a pay cut. The assumption to this point has been that Smith might not accept a cut, the 49ers would release him and Smith would continue his NFL life elsewhere. Some of that could depend on who is coaching the 49ers next season. I wouldn't rule out anything.C

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TK from Boston writes: You've probably already received many other responses to this question, but for the only team to put three WR's in the Pro Bowl the same year? It's the Houston Oilers in 1992 with Curtis Duncan, Haywood Jeffries, and Ernest Givens. And in yet another reminder of how it takes defense to win championships, with all that offensive firepower, the oilers never went to the Super Bowl.

Great blog btw Sando. Read as often as I get the chance. I agree with other readers that say it's so refreshing to read your articles because there's really no attacks or combativeness. Just good information, and honest answers to questions. Perhaps ESPN and others will get the hint someday and make more of the coverage in that same style. Call it the "no attack zone" just straight-up quality journalism.

Mike Sando: Hey, thanks on both fronts. Great information. We did have others asking about it. Here's a link to those 1992 Oilers on Pro Football Reference.

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Mike from Seattle writes: Mike - We've heard rumors of both the 49ers and Seahawks being interested in pursuing TJ Houzmendzadah (sp). Do you think either team has a legit shot at getting the veteran receiver, or is that just a pipe dream? Thanks as always, Mike

Mike Sando: The trade deadline has passed, so we're not going to see any moves along those lines this season.

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Well, we made it through another mailbag without any Rams-related questions. I just know we'll break through with Rams fans at some point. I'll be heading to the Edward Jones Dome for the Cowboys-Rams game. What is your experience with Rams fans? Do you know a lot of them?