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Drafting front-line NFL starters in the second round isn't always easy.

The Arizona Cardinals have had their share of successes (Calais Campbell, Daryl Washington, Karlos Dansby and Deuce Lutui) in recent years. They've also suffered some disappointments (Cody Brown, Alan Branch).

Retaining Campbell on a long-term deal was important for quite a few reasons, especially with Dansby playing well elsewhere, Branch enjoying success for a division rival and Lutui threatening to do the same.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic put Campbell's new five-year deal in perspective. Somers: "By removing the franchise tag from Campbell and restructuring his contract, the Cardinals freed up money to explore free-agency options and possibly re-sign some of their free agents, such as outside linebacker Clark Haggans and defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday. It should should help them sign some of their picks from last month's draft, including first-rounder Michael Floyd. Just as important, the signing means Campbell won't follow the footsteps of former Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby. Several attempts to sign him to a multi-year extension failed, and Dansby, one of the team's key contributors, left via free agency and signed with Miami."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com sees a pattern: "The last four players the Cardinals kept saying publicly they would soon be extending -- Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett, Larry Fitzgerald and now Campbell -- all got their extensions. Something to remember when analyzing what the team says about future players."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says Randy Moss and Michael Crabtree are becoming fast friends. Donte Whitner: "They have a great relationship. Whenever you're doing something where you need a partner, they're always together."

Also from Inman: Alex Smith consulted with a pitching coach this offseason.

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Moss could be the key to San Francisco's season.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Alex Boone is embracing a chance to play right guard.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com previews the 49ers' rookie camp. Maiocco: "LaMichael James will be ineligible to return to the work at the 49ers practice facility until after Oregon's graduation ceremony on June 15. Stanford, Northwestern and Wisconsin also have late graduations."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Bobby Wagner is the latest in a long line of second-round linebackers with a shot at starting for the team. The others: Lofa Tatupu, Dave Wyman, Keith Butler, Terry Beeson and Terry Wooden. Scout Eric Stokes: "First and foremost, he’s a big-time upgrade athletically. His speed and his range are going to be very impressive and you’re getting a guy that’s really physical. It’s going to be a natural adjustment to middle linebacker."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune offers first impressions after watching the Seahawks during a 45-minute workout. Boling: "The new No. 72 is the surprisingly svelte guard Deuce Lutui, whom you may recall from the days when he was stretching out Arizona Cardinals jerseys. Lutui failed the physical last year with Cincinnati and returned to Arizona as a backup. Although said to have been topping out in the 400-pound range, he’s listed at a believable 338 now, having slimmed down by adopting some vegan concepts in his diet. That’s good news for an offensive line that finished the season without three injured high draft picks -- Russell Okung, James Carpenter and John Moffitt. Okung and Moffitt have recovered well enough to be active in drills going against bags, while Carpenter is on the hoof but mostly watching."

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams fans shouldn't be too alarmed over the team's stadium lease situation. He says team owner Stan Kroenke has incentive to keep the requested stadium upgrades within a reasonable price range. Burwell: "The best way for Kroenke to maximize the G-4 loan is if the final Dome proposal mandates that his share of the financial burden for renovation not exceed $150 million and that the total cost of the project costs between $200 million and $400 million. ... The thing that works for everyone is making sure that the Rams stay right here. After seeing what it cost the good folks of Minneapolis to keep the Vikings, suddenly $400 million doesn't sound so bad."

The protocol becomes the same for nearly every freshly minted NFL draft choice, from first-round quarterbacks to seventh-round punters.

Not long after their selections, their new employers will connect them to local NFL reporters via conference call.

A surprise awaited the Arizona Cardinals after the team made Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd the 13th overall choice in the 2012 draft.

Floyd's college coach, Brian Kelly, made an unsolicited call to the Cardinals, availing himself to media questions regarding his former player.

Kelly has vouched for other players, including Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Harrison Smith. A college head coach certainly has a recruiting interest in getting his name out there in association with prominent draft choices.

But in publicly testifying for Floyd, whose draft file includes three three alcohol-related incidents and a resulting team suspension, Kelly extended himself to an extent that wasn't necessary. It was a notable early marker for the Cardinals, who have never drafted a player with such significant baggage since Ken Whisenhunt arrived as head coach in 2007.

Floyd could not have scripted Kelly's testimonial more favorably:

• On Floyd in general: "Well, a kid who got his degree in three-and-a-half years from Notre Dame. Probably in my 23 years now as a head coach, the best practice player that I've ever had. He just has a passion and a love for the football."
• On Floyd as a teammate: "Whether he is getting the football or not, he is a guy who has never complained. He certainly always wants the ball in critical situations. He has never been a diva, if you will, in terms of not getting his catches. If we're successful and we're making plays, he's on the other end making blocks. That's why it was such a pleasure to coach the kid."
• On what changed in Floyd following a suspension: "To have an opportunity to come back and play at Notre Dame and get a degree and be successful in the NFL, he had to make some choices. And he made some great choices. Now, you've got a young man who had been through some adversity, has handled it, has been humbled because of it and the best is in front of him now."

Authorities cited Floyd for underage drinking in 2009 and 2010. A DUI conviction last year made for three alcohol-related incidents in three years, raising obvious questions about judgment and the potential for a more serious problem.

College programs can become enablers for troubled star athletes. Handing millions to those troubled athletes usually doesn't help.

Those are generalities. Floyd's situation stands on its own. Whether he has a problem or carries a heightened risk cannot be known for certain.

The Cardinals' decision to draft Floyd was an organizational one, with team owner Michael Bidwill, a former federal prosecutor, participating directly in the vetting process.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the team asked tough questions, thought Floyd provided honest answers and felt Floyd made a positive statement by returning to Notre Dame for his senior season amid quarterback uncertainty that could have hurt Floyd's status.

"I just basically told them it was a bad decision," Floyd told reporters following his selection. "I learned from it and I moved on. I know I can't be like every other college student, just doing what a college student does, because the spotlight is on me. They wanted to see if I had improvements since that time, and I have."

There is less uncertainty over the Cardinals' on-field plans for Floyd. They anticipate him becoming their flanker opposite split end Larry Fitzgerald, who had been the most recent first-round wideout chosen by Arizona. With Floyd projecting as a starter, Andre Roberts becomes a candidate for additional playing time from the slot, where Early Doucet was already a factor for the team.

Fitzgerald and Floyd present matchup problems with their size alone. Both are nearly 6-foot-3. Floyd weighed 220 pounds at the scouting combine. Fitzgerald weighed 225 upon entering the league in 2004. He has preferred playing at a lighter weight recently.

Size matters for receivers in the NFC West, a division featuring punishing safeties and Pro Bowl credentials in the secondary. Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, Adrian Wilson, Patrick Peterson, Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, Cortland Finnegan and Quintin Mikell come to mind immediately.

"You could consider Mike to be still a raw receiver in that he can get better in all the technical elements in route running and things of that nature," Kelly said of Floyd. "He is certainly a guy that attacks the football and attacks defenders and blocking -- he is an outstanding blocker."

Any rookie open to input from veteran players stands to benefit from joining a team with strong leadership at the player's position. Fitzgerald sets an impeccable standard for the Cardinals' receivers and the team in general. From that standpoint, Floyd couldn't have found a better working environment.

The San Francisco 49ers need to identify a starting right guard.

Adam Snyder is out, having signed with Arizona. Chilo Rachal appears to be out, having reached free agency without the 49ers showing much interest in him. Daniel Kilgore remains, but he remains a developmental player entering his second NFL season.

What about swing tackle Alex Boone?

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers are expected to give Boone a shot at the job. Former NFL center LeCharles Bentley, who helps train Boone during the offseason, had this to say about the idea: "Honestly, in their scheme, guards are a dime a dozen. A good young offensive tackle is such a premium. It would be a waste of ability. .. But if he's one of the five best, yeah, get him on the field." Noted: The 49ers paid more than a dime for left guard Mike Iupati, a first-round choice in 2010, the year before Jim Harbaugh arrived as the 49ers' head coach. Boone could, in theory, remain a backup option at tackle even while playing guard. At 6-foot-8 and 300 pounds, however, Boone looks like a tackle, not a guard. Bentley thinks the team should move right tackle Anthony Davis to guard, but there are no indications the 49ers plan to head in that direction.

Also from Maiocco: lists players scheduled to attend the 49ers' pro day for local prospects.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers have shown interest in tight end Andre Hardy, a college basketball player.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers made little apparent effort to keep safety Madieu Williams, who reached agreement on a contract with the Washington Redskins. Noted: The 49ers signed Williams last offseason while Dashon Goldson remained a free agent. They then signed Goldson to a one-year deal. They had less need for Williams as an insurance policy with the franchise tag restricting Goldson this offseason.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch points during a recent chat to Jeff Fisher's history in suggesting the Rams probably will not select guard David DeCastro with the sixth overall choice. What if Matt Kalil were available? Thomas: "No. 6 is too high for DeCastro. Plus, I think it's been pretty well established that Fisher would rather not taken an offensive lineman in the first round. He didn't do it once in 16 full seasons with Houston/Tennessee. So it'll be very interesting if Kalil's there at No. 6, as was the case in the P-D's latest mock draft from last Sunday. Do the Rams take him or trade down?"

Also from Thomas: The Rams might need to draft a punter after watching Donnie Jones sign with the Houston Texans.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com shares what various mock drafts are projecting for Seattle in the first round this year. Luke Kuechly showed up four times and Quinton Coples twice. Nick Perry and Fletcher Cox each showed up once. Pat Kirwan of CBSSports.com: "The Seahawks could go in a few directions at this spot, but Kuechly makes the most sense to me to QB Pete Carroll’s defense. As Carroll said to me last week, linebackers in free agency moved off the board slowly because there are some very interesting linebackers in the draft."

Also from Farnsworth: Ricardo Lockette's speed overshadows other parts of the receiver's game.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times has this to say about new Seahawks guard Deuce Lutui: "Lutui was signed to a one-year deal. That's not a long-term investment. Rather, it's an opportunity for Lutui to play his way back into position to earn a longer-term contract, going to a team coached by a man he's familiar with. For Seattle, the upside is that if Lutui is motivated and in shape, the Seahawks are getting a former second-round draft pick who started for five seasons at a bargain of a price."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle passes along Adam Schefter's note about former 49ers and Saints nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin paying a free-agent visit to the Seahawks. Noted: Former 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan works for the Seahawks now, giving Seattle a feel for Franklin.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com has details on Adrian Wilson's cameo appearance on "Hawaii Five-O" Monday night. Wilson was a prison guard on the show. Urban: "The scene was shot while Wilson was in Hawaii recently, although his spot in the show was somewhat of a fluke. One of his publicists, Carrie Carnie, got to talking to one of the producers of the show on an airline flight. Turned out the producer was a fan of Wilson’s and the role was created. It's not exactly Wilson’s arena, though. While the actual scene was being shot, it was fun, he said. But mostly, 'there was a lot of time in between shots, just waiting around.' "

Also from Urban: Cardinals guard Chris Stewart put on hold his pursuit of a law degree to play in the NFL. Urban: "He got his bachelor’s degree in history and political science in just three years at Notre Dame, and after redshirting his freshman year on the football field, he ended up with two years of football eligibility left with every option open for classes. The first year he took grad school courses trying to find his life’s direction, including some law courses. The next year -- his senior year on the football field -- he decided to work out the logistics, take the LSAT, and enter Notre Dame’s law school."

Two high-profile NFC West athletes recently made headlines for the right reasons.

We touched upon San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith's participation in the search for a missing teenager. In Arizona, meanwhile, Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson recently donated $100,000 to Phoenix Children's Hospital.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com has the details. Urban also quotes Wilson on football matters: "Offense sells tickets. I guess that’s the goal of marketing, sell tickets, fill the stadium up. Defensively we’ll be fine. Our secondary, our defense, we were talking about it (Wednesday night), a bunch of us guys. It's our second year, we should be trending up. We shouldn't take a step back. Everyone understands what their role is and what we need to get done."

Also from Urban: The Cardinals appear to remain interested in signing free-agent offensive lineman Demetrius Bell. Urban: "As I have mentioned before, his number of visits while remaining unsigned usually points to a salary desire that’s higher than market value. There’s always a chance that could change. Bell has reportedly visited the Packers and Redskins besides the Cards, and he’s now in Pittsburgh and has a visit lined up with the Eagles, who lost stud starter Jason Peters to a ruptured Achilles tendon during an offseason workout. Demand is climbing, so Bell might have been smart to wait. He may not leave Pennsylvania."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals backup quarterback Rich Bartel attended Brock Osweiler's workout for scouts recently. Somers: "Bartel is a football junkie so he dropped by to watch. Bartel already spends his off-season coaching at camps, and he'll be a fine coach, scout, etc., whenever he's through playing."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks let Anthony Hargrove sign with the Packers because they considered Jason Jones an upgrade at defensive tackle. O'Neil on Hargrove: "He was a mainstay in Seattle's nickel package last year, he had three sacks and his most memorable play was the tackle for a loss he had, registering a safety in New York against the Giants."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says it's looking like David Hawthorne will re-sign with the Seahawks on a two- or three-year contract, according to ESPN's John Clayton. Clayton: "I think that Hawthorne is starting to realize that the market may not be there."

Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer says Seahawks coach Pete Carroll came away highly impressed after studying Cam Newton's rookie performance with the Carolina Panthers.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with former Rams punter Donnie Jones, who recently signed with the Houston Texans. Jones: "My whole thing is that you always want to go somewhere where they want you, they really want you to be a part of something. I guess in St. Louis they just didn't want that." Noted: It's rarely personal from the team's standpoint, especially when it comes to a punter, but it's almost always personal from the player's perspective.

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis looks at how the Rams' rookie pool will affect their salary cap outlook.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers plan to meet with Utah State running back Robert Turbin. Branch: "Turbin, who attended Irvington High School in Fremont, rushed for 2,813 yards, averaged 6.2 yards a carry and scored 41 total touchdowns in his final two college seasons. Turbin is also scheduled to visit the Chiefs, Eagles, Redskins and Jets."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers released receiver Dontavia Bogan one day after Bogan indicated he had been cleared medically to return from injury. Noted: That is fairly typical in these cases. Teams often allow players to rehab from injuries at team facilities. Then, once the player is healthy, the team can release the player without the additional financial considerations that go along with injury settlements.

Turns out there's plenty to like -- and some things to dislike -- about those allegedly underestimated Arizona Cardinals.

Some are obvious. Others could use elaboration.

Let's get right to 'em.

What to like

Best WR in the game: Larry Fitzgerald changes games, no matter the stage. Even casual fans should remember his 64-yard, go-ahead touchdown against Pittsburgh with 2:37 left in the Super Bowl. Fewer saw Fitzgerald take over the game and will the Cardinals to victory with little on the line against Seattle in Week 17 this past season. He is the best, in my view.

Multi-level defensive talent: The Cardinals have outstanding talent at all three levels of their defense, as RogueCardinal notes. Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell are bookends up front. Daryl Washington is 25 years old and coming off a season with five sacks, two interceptions, seven passes defensed and 16 tackles for loss. He can become a Pro Bowl-caliber player this year. Adrian Wilson borders on elite at safety. Patrick Peterson progressed at cornerback and should be ready to take a step forward in his second season.

Resiliency. How else to explain the Cardinals' ability to go from 1-6 to 8-8 last season? Their 7-2 record over the final nine games matched the San Francisco 49ers' record over the same period, as PaybackTony noted.

Dynamic returner. Peterson tied an NFL record with four touchdowns on punt returns last season. He's a threat every time he touches the ball and should affect games this coming season as well. Peterson is the only player in NFL history with four touchdowns on punt returns of at least 80 yards in the same season.

Two young pass-rushers. Sam Acho (seven sacks) and O'Brien Schofield (4.5) helped the Cardinals finish tied with the 49ers for most sacks in the NFC West. Neither is even 25 years old. Both should see their playing time increase, which should lead to increased production. Throw in Campbell, who has 21 sacks in 42 starts, and the pass-rush has strong potential.

Two young running backs. Beanie Wells became the first player in Cardinals history with at least 1,000 yards rushing and 10 rushing touchdowns in the same season. Getting 2011 second-round pick Ryan Williams back from injury gives the Cardinals a welcome alternative. The staff was over-the-top excited about Williams before the injury and that excitement has returned now that Williams is getting healthy.

Time on their side. Quarterback Kevin Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley seemed to suffer more than most from the lockout last season. Both faced significant adjustments from Philadelphia to Arizona. Both struggled to adapt. A full offseason will benefit both. Ray Horton, a first-year defensive coordinator in 2011, also gets the time he needs to prepare for a season. Horton will benefit from knowing his personnel, having game-day coordinating experience and working with players already familiar with his system. Finding ways to use Bradley's versatility figures to be one point of emphasis.

The Lott factor. John Lott, the Cardinals' acclaimed strength coach, gets a full offseason to work with young players, including one in particular -- nose tackle Dan Williams. Williams reported to camp overweight following the lockout. He was rounding into shape when a broken arm ended his season. Lott should have Williams in much better condition and ready to contribute at a higher level earlier in the season, a big key for the Cardinals' 3-4 scheme.

Depth at cornerback. The schedule serves up quite a few top quarterbacks this season. The Cardinals love their depth in the secondary even after losing Richard Marshall in free agency. They see Peterson, Greg Toler, William Gay and A.J. Jefferson as four corners with starting ability. Michael Adams has considerable nickel experience as well. Horton's background is in the secondary. He knows exactly what he wants from a personnel standpoint and should have the players to execute his scheme.

What not to like

QB question marks. The Cardinals didn't see enough from Kolb last season to inspire confidence in their decision to acquire him. Some fans point to John Skelton's 5-2 record as a starter, plus a victory over the 49ers after a first-quarter injury sidelined Kolb. But as powellofnazareth put it, there was an unsustainable, even "Tebowish" feel to some of those victories. Kolb heads into his second season with the team facing serious questions about his ability and durability.

The offensive line. Center Lyle Sendlein and left guard Daryn Colledge form a capable combination inside. The Cardinals are banking on tackle Levi Brown to continue the progress he showed late last season. They still need another tackle. Pass protection will remain a concern even if the Cardinals draft a tackle early. Their quarterbacks haven't shown the pocket awareness to avoid pressure.

No dominant pass-rusher. The Cardinals accumulated good sack numbers last season, but they lacked one player they could count on for pressure in critical situations. They're dependent upon Acho and Schofield continuing to develop. Drafting a pass-rusher in the first round and then letting him develop as a situational player -- think Aldon Smith in San Francisco last season -- would take this defense to another level.

Depth beyond Fitzgerald. Arizona lacks a defined No. 2 receiver. It's possible improved quarterback play would allow Andre Roberts to grow into that role. It's also possible Roberts and the other receivers do not have the ability to produce consistently. The burden of proof is on Roberts heading into this season.

Injury concerns in the backfield. Kolb, Wells and Williams had injury problems last season.

Footnote

Thanks, as always, for your contributions to the discussion. Ringlaterra, writing in the comments section of the item linked in the opening paragraph above, might have set a record with an 1,154-word dispatch. Love the passion.

St. Louis Rams owner Stan Kroenke will not have one foot in the Los Angeles market while negotiating for an improved stadium situation.

That was the net effect when Kroenke's bid to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers fell short Tuesday night. The group led by Lakers legend Magic Johnson prevailed with a bid for $2.15 billion. Kroenke had been one of three finalists.

Tony Jackson and Dave McMenamin of ESPNLosAngeles.com have the details. Noted: Owning the Rams and the Dodgers would have put Kroenke at odds with the NFL's policy on cross-ownership. While moving the Rams to Los Angeles would have averted any conflict, it's not likely Kroenke could have made such a move anytime soon. But perceptions matter, and having Kroenke own the Dodgers would only strengthen long-held fears the Rams might move back to California.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Kroenke "bristled" when asked how involved he was in the Edward Jones Dome lease situation. Kroenke: "I’m the owner of the team. Unless you haven’t noticed, I've been involved 20 years. I've put a lot of my life, not just my personal (finances) at risk for this enterprise. And that might be something good to mention sometimes."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says incumbent quarterback Tarvaris Jackson is looking forward to competing with newcomer Matt Flynn for the Seahawks' starting job. Fullback Michael Robinson: "He was excited. He said, 'Mike, you know, this always happens to me and I'm ready for it to bring the best out of me.' "

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with former right tackle Steve August, who has this to say about his favorite moment as a player: "It would have to be beating the Dolphins in Miami in 1983 (in a divisional playoff game). And then winning the week before in the Kingdome (against the Broncos) in the first-ever playoff game. That was pretty awesome. But coming back from Miami, the fan support at the airport was just unbelievable. So I’d say experiencing that first playoff run for the Seahawks."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times explains the Seahawks' thinking at linebacker: "I'm going to say given the results we've seen with the players this team has grabbed, whether it's K.J. Wright or Malcolm Smith (if he stays healthy), that LB might be a position where they can 'find' guys rather than pay a premium."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic takes a round-by-round look at the best draft choices in Cardinals history since the team came to Arizona for the 1988 season. Somers on the third round: "Cornerback Aeneas Williams (1991) -- Another easy one, even though the Cardinals have had some decent luck in this round. But Williams likely will be the first Hall of Famer in the team's Arizona history. Runner up -- Safety Adrian Wilson (2001). A fixture in the starting lineup since 2002, Wilson is coming off one of his best seasons. This was not an easy choice because end Darnell Dockett (2004) is pretty good, too. Linebacker Gerald Hayes (2003) and receiver Ricky Proehl (1990) had productive careers."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says restricted free agent Greg Toler is eager to bounce back from a knee injury. Toler recently signed his one-year qualifying offer.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' workout with former Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui was the latest indication San Francisco is looking for a low-cost fallback for second-year guard Daniel Kilgore. Maiocco: "Lutui, a second-round pick of the Cardinals in 2006, has appeared in 93 games with 72 career starts. In July, Lutui (listed at 6-foot-4, 338 pounds) signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as a free agent but did not pass the physical, reportedly showing up overweight. The Cardinals re-signed Lutui, who spent last season backing up right guard Rex Hadnot." Noted: Lutui is plenty talented. He can be a good starting guard. Lutui has not been consistent enough in his approach to stay in the lineup, however, and his relative lack of versatility makes him less valuable as a backup. That is why the Cardinals preferred to sign Adam Snyder from the 49ers.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says durability is a key for the 49ers' defense. Branch, upon discovering that the team's defensive starters missed a combined eight games last season: "It was the continuation of a trend. In 2010, the 49ers’ defensive starters missed two games due to injury. In 2009, they missed 11. In 2008, they missed three games. Yes, Justin Smith isn’t the defense’s only iron man. Nose guard Isaac Sopoaga, for example, has missed two games since 2005. Linebacker Parys Harlson has started 56 of the Niners’ past 57 games. Safety Dashon Goldson has started 46 of 48 games since 2009 and linebacker Patrick Willis started 75 of his first 76 career games prior to last year’s hamstring injury."

San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner reacted with a "wow" at the thought of Peyton Manning joining forces with Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss.

If that sounds like a personnel combination to fear, you must not be Richard Sherman. The precocious Seattle Seahawks cornerback said he's tired of people fearing players and actually hopes Manning goes to the 49ers.

"He will have at least 2 tough days a season," Sherman tweeted.

Sherman has never lacked for confidence. He called Cincinnati's A.J. Green "overrated" following a game last season.

It is quite possible Manning has never heard of Sherman. Manning obviously would not fear him. But with Manning coming off four neck surgeries, he could pick a division friendlier to quarterbacks than the NFC West.

Seattle's Kam Chancellor and Arizona's Adrian Wilson are the two biggest starting safeties in the NFL. Both have racked up fines for punishing opponents. Defenses in Seattle and Arizona proved formidable late last season, and the St. Louis Rams appear headed in that direction with Jeff Fisher and Gregg Williams in charge of their defense.

In signing with the 49ers, however, Manning would at least avoid matching up against the division's toughest defense -- outside practice situations, of course.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Alabama's Mark Barron, the top-rated safety in the 2012 NFL draft, will have to deal with stricter safety rules once he recovers from hernia surgery.

"I don't like them," Barron said flatly when asked about rules against dangerous hits.

The rules have opened the middle of the field for offenses by protecting receivers the NFL considers defenseless. The idea is to limit concussions and other serious injuries with long-range consequences for athletes. But some players factor those risks into the game and would prefer to play under the old rules.

"The way I have been taught to play the game, I hit and I hit hard," Barron said. "I guess I'll have to make some adjustments. Hopefully, I'll be able to make them. I'm not sure I will because that is how I was taught to play the game. I guess we'll see what happens with that."

Increasingly pass-happy offenses have put pressure on defenses to counter with better coverage players. NFC West teams have turned back the clock with some of the biggest, hardest-hitting safeties around. Seattle's Kam Chancellor and Arizona's Adrian Wilson are both 6-foot-3 and around 230 pounds. San Francisco's Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner joined Chancellor in repeatedly delivering heavy hits.

The league fined Chancellor $60,000 over a three-week period for hits last season. Wilson, heavily fined in past seasons, drew a $7,500 fine for roughing the quarterback against San Francisco late in the season. Whitner sent New Orleans Saints running back Pierre Thomas out of the game with a concussion during the playoffs. The $25,000 fine Goldson drew against Arizona was for fighting, not an illegal hit. He consistently put the hurt on opponents in 2011, once drawing a disputed penalty for a hit on Cleveland's Greg Little.

Barron, meanwhile, heads toward the draft as the only safety expected to challenge for first-round status. According to SI.com, Barron won Alabama's 5A state titles in the shot put and triple jump, plus third in the long jump. Barron said he threw the shot 59 feet, covered about 47 feet in the triple jump and 23 in the long jump.

The SI.com piece said Barron was playing youth football by age six (on the defensive line) and could dunk a basketball by eighth grade.

The shot put title seemed least likely given Barron's size. He measured 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds at the combine.

"That is something I take pride in," Barron said. "The shot put was always a lot of big guys, and I was always the smallest one. I used to go out there and beat all of them."

It's only fair to expand our recent San Francisco 49ers discussion to the rest of the NFC West.

As noted previously, the 49ers led the NFL in turnover differential during their 13-3 season. The question then became whether a natural evening out in that department might drag down the team's record in 2012 without improvements in other areas, notably on offense.

The chart expands the turnover-differential information to show all NFC West teams.

The Rams' minus-seven figure in fumble recovery differential stands out as something likely to change in the team's favor for 2012. St. Louis recovered 13 of its own 27 fumbles, but only six of its opponents' 24, an unusually low rate that should improve.

The 49ers' offense recovered only 35.7 percent of its own fumbles (5 of 14), also a somewhat low figure.

Arizona's defense recovered a division-high 60 percent (9 of 15), but a minus-13 differential on interceptions hurt. I would expect Patrick Peterson to pick off a few more passes in 2012. Adrian Wilson missed a few chances this season.

The San Francisco 49ers have become the hunted in the NFC West.

Having already take aim at their 2011 turnover differential, let us consider another reason for a potential 2012 regression from 13-3.

"Repeating the 2011 relative lack of injuries on the 49ers may be as hard as replicating the turnover ratio," Michael Rally contended via Twitter.

Injuries did slow and/or sideline some of the 49ers' most important players, including running back Frank Gore and linebacker Patrick Willis. Starting receiver Josh Morgan missed most of the season. A freak jaw injury sidelined tight end Delanie Walker late in the season. A hamstring injury slowed defensive end Ray McDonald.

But in looking at injured-reserve lists, the 49ers definitely fared better than their division rivals. They finished the regular season with five players on IR. The other three NFC West teams had a combined 39.

I've broken out the IR lists by team and position, based on where teams stood after Week 17. In some cases, teams released and/or reached injury settlements with players placed on IR previously. Teams usually keep on IR the players they value the most, however. The players listed below are the most relevant ones.

St. Louis Rams (16)

Fullback: Brit Miller

Receiver: Danny Amendola, Mark Clayton, Greg Salas

Tight end: Mike Hoomanawanui

Offensive line: guard Jacob Bell, Rodger Saffold, Jason Smith

Defensive line: Jermelle Cudjo

Linebacker: Josh Hull

Cornerback: Ron Bartell, Bradley Fletcher, Al Harris, Brian Jackson, Marquis Johnson, Jerome Murphy

Comment: Quarterback Sam Bradford was injured much of the year without landing on IR. The Rams ran through several unlisted cornerbacks as well. That position was hit hard. Losing both starting offensive tackles is never good, but Smith wasn't a huge positive factor on the right side. The team was arguably better off without him in the lineup.

Seattle Seahawks (15)

Receiver: Kris Durham, Mike Williams, Sidney Rice

Tight end: John Carlson

Offensive line: John Moffitt, James Carpenter, Russell Okung

Defensive line: Jimmy Wilkerson

Linebacker: Jameson Konz, Matt McCoy, David Vobora, Dexter Davis

Cornerback: Marcus Trufant, Walter Thurmond, Ron Parker

Comment: The Seahawks remained strong against the run largely because their line was healthier this season. Losing three-fifths of the starting offensive line could not stop Marshawn Lynch from producing at a high level. Rookie Richard Sherman capitalized on injuries at cornerback. Good, young depth helped Seattle weather injuries well.

Arizona Cardinals (8)

Quarterback: Max Hall

Running back: Ryan Williams

Offensive line: Brandon Keith, Floyd Womack

Defensive line: Dan Williams

Linebacker: Joey Porter

Cornerback: Crezdon Butler, Greg Toler

Comment: Ryan Williams' knee injury affected the team significantly. The injury situation was worse overall than the list would indicate. Quarterback Kevin Kolb missed seven starts with foot and concussion problems. Running back Beanie Wells played hurt much of the year and had a hard time producing late in the season. Adrian Wilson played through a torn biceps and got better as the season progressed.

San Francisco 49ers (5)

Receiver: Dontavia Bogan, Josh Morgan

Tight end: Nate Byham

Defensive line: Will Tukuafu

Cornerback: Curtis Holcomb

Comment: Byham was a solid blocking tight end. The team missed Morgan, especially late in the year. Gore's production diminished after he suffered an apparent knee injury in Week 10. Overall, though, the 49ers were healthy. They inflicted more injuries than they suffered, knocking out several opposing runners, including Felix Jones, LeGarrette Blount, Jahvid Best, Steven Jackson and Pierre Thomas.

It's a little easier to see how Adrian Wilson played through a torn biceps tendon this season after watching the Arizona Cardinals' strong safety in the video below.

He's put together.

Wilson was among the players I thought deserved consideration for the ESPN.com/ESPN The Magazine's NFL Any Era team.

If there's an Any Era Physique team, he should be on that one, too.

Let's just say Wilson would not be embarrassed to go "skins" in a pickup basketball game.

Also: Patrick Willis is in shape, too.

The NFC would have a hard time fielding a Pro Bowl secondary without its Western division.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com notes that the NFL has added Seattle's Kam Chancellor and Brandon Browner to the NFC squad after the San Francisco 49ers' Dashon Goldson and Carlos Rogers withdrew from the game, citing injuries. Chancellor and Browner were alternates. Arizona's Adrian Wilson is also one of the safeties, as is Seattle's Earl Thomas. This means three-fourths of the Seahawks' secondary is in the Pro Bowl even though arguably the team's best corner, Richard Sherman, did not make it. Noted: Goldson and Rogers both have expiring contracts. Playing in the Pro Bowl would have meant spending the week hanging out with Green Bay's coaching staff. The Packers haven't been big spenders in free agency, but the Pro Bowl is one of the few places rules allow players from one team to hang out with coaches from another.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' Brian Jennings has been added to the NFC roster as a "need" player. Jennings is arguably the best long-snapper in the NFL. Maiocco: "Jennings, a 12-year veteran, will make his second career appearance in the Pro Bowl. He becomes the ninth 49ers player to be selected to play in this year's game, which is takes place Sunday in Honolulu. The eight 49ers players previously selected to the NFC roster are defensive backs Dashon Goldson and Carlos Rogers, defensive lineman Justin Smith, linebacker Patrick Willis, running back Frank Gore, tackle Joe Staley, kicker David Akers and punter Andy Lee."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' need for wide receiver help is glaring after Michael Crabtree's single 3-yard reception accounted for all catches by San Francisco wideouts in the NFC title game. Kawakami: "The Giants’ three wide receivers combined to catch 16 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown Sunday, helping counterbalance the 49ers’ huge advantages in almost all other areas. It took two botched punt returns by Kyle Williams to set up the Giants for their game-deciding scores, but they would have been nowhere near the 49ers without their wide receivers. So as the 49ers hurtle into their offseason, upgrading their receiving corps has to be their central focus."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle did not notice the Giants going out of their way to inflict a concussion upon Williams.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Jim Harbaugh's refusal to discuss his feelings smacks of emotional immaturity.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic offers thoughts on the Cardinals' chances for landing Peyton Manning, should the Colts part with the future Hall of Fame quarterback. Somers: "Throwing to Larry Fitzgerald has to be an attractive prospect. With Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams, the Cardinals have two talented young running backs. There are questions on the offensive line, however. The Cardinals' defense was stout over the last half of the season. Under Ken Whisenhunt, the Cardinals have proven they are willing to throw the ball and to mold their offense around the strengths of an older quarterback." Noted: Manning has never needed a strong offensive line. He has long proven how much quarterback play matters for avoiding sacks.

Also from Somers: Jerry Sullivan was briefly a candidate to rejoin the Cardinals. Noted: Seems like Bruce Arians would be a natural fit in Arizona after the Steelers decided against offering a new contract to him.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com provides a timeline for scheduled bonus payments to Manning and the Cardinals' Kevin Kolb. Manning is scheduled to receive $28 million from the Colts on March 8. Kolb is scheduled to receive $7 million from the Cardinals on March 17. Urban also notes that Hue Jackson could be interviewing with the Cardinals, per Charley Casserly. Noted: With free agency beginning March 13, the gap between bonus payments to Manning and Kolb would give the Cardinals time to explore their options with Manning, should the Colts decline to pay the bonus.

Also from Urban: Calais Campbell would not complain if the Cardinals named him their franchise player.

The Cardinals' Beanie Wells suggests he's undergoing surgery, presumably on the knee that bothered him this past season. Noted: Ryan Williams is also coming off surgery.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch updates Rams coaching moves after the team reached agreement with Dave McGinnis to join the staff as assistant head coach. Thomas: "Several other staff additions appear to be in the works but have not been made official, including Paul Boudreau as offensive line coach, Mike Waufle as defensive line coach, Rob Boras as tight ends coach and Tim Walton for what could be a job as assistant defensive coordinator/passing game."

Referee Gene Steratore and crew oversaw a hotly contested Seattle-Arizona game featuring seven penalties for personal fouls.

Cameras showed Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch upset after Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson appeared to pull off Lynch's helmet at the end of a play.

Those fouls and the Lynch-Wilson incident led to no NFL fines this week, a mild surprise given the league's emphasis on punishing players for roughness and related acts.

Steratore and crew flagged Levi Brown, Early Doucet, Vonnie Holliday, Paris Lenon, Brandon Browner, Zach Miller and Richard Sherman for personal fouls during a game the Cardinals won in overtime, 23-20.

There were likewise no fines against St. Louis or San Francisco players for personal fouls called against Chris Culliver, Dashon Goldson and Quintin Mikell.

A look at my all-NFC West picks for the 2011 season, continuing with the defense:

• San Francisco 49ers rookie Aldon Smith defied categorization. I wasn't going to list him at the expense of every-down players at defensive end or linebacker. Neither was I going to leave him off the team after Smith collected 14 sacks. Smith commanded his own category as a situational pass-rusher. Consider that a compliment.
• Some St. Louis Rams fans I know will insist James Laurinaitis should show up among the linebackers. I wasn't going to list him above Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman or Daryl Washington. The Cardinals blocked Laurinaitis well while Beanie Wells set a franchise rushing record with 228 yards. The Rams ranked 32nd against the run most of the season, settling in at No. 31. Dallas' DeMarco Murray also set a franchise single-game rushing record against the Rams. Laurinaitis was not primarily to blame, obviously, but neither was he able to stem the bleeding. He remains a good player with a bright future, but this was not his year.
• The choices along the defensive line forced leaving off very good players such as Darnell Dockett, Ray McDonald and Red Bryant. Alan Branch also played well after leaving Arizona for Seattle. Chris Clemons' obvious strength as a pass-rusher and strong play against the run made him stand out. Insider subscribers might have noticed Clemons showing up third behind Jared Allen and Jason Babin on a list of most valuable sack artists. The piece ranked pass-rushers by the importance of their sacks relative to game situations.
• Seattle's Kam Chancellor was a narrow choice over Arizona's Adrian Wilson at strong safety. I had no problem with Wilson beating out Chancellor in Pro Bowl balloting. Wilson earned that recognition. He was a worthy choice. I do think Chancellor made a bigger impact from start to finish this season, and he did it for a defense that was far more consistent. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. agreed with me on that choice. An NFL scout I called for another opinion also gave Chancellor a slight edge. Both players were legitimate choices.
• The division has good, young prospects at cornerback. Arizona's Patrick Peterson will probably show up on this team next season. He was trending that way. The 49ers' Carlos Rogers was an easy choice. Seattle's Richard Sherman enjoyed a breakout rookie season and was even better, I thought, than teammate Brandon Browner, a first-alternate to the Pro Bowl.

The chart breaks down all-division choices from 2008-10, plus this season. Still to come: special teams. Let the discussions begin.

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The NFC West teams with head coaches have done a pretty fair job in hiring them.

The Arizona Cardinals have a Super Bowl appearance and only one losing record in five seasons under Ken Whisenhunt. They had posted losing records 20 times in the 22 seasons before hiring him.

The San Francisco 49ers went 13-3 and ended a decade-long playoff drought in their first season under Jim Harbaugh.

Seattle won a playoff game and has gone 7-9 twice under Pete Carroll after going 5-11 and 4-12 in the two seasons before Carroll arrived.

The St. Louis Rams are on the clock now. Owner Stan Kroenke's pursuit of Jeff Fisher is commanding our attention. Adding Fisher to a division featuring Whisenhunt, Harbaugh and Carroll would complete the NFC West's transformation into a rough-and-tumble division, in my view. Fisher's teams were known for their hard-nosed play during his years in Tennessee.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch sifts through various reports on the Rams' pursuit of Fisher. Miklasz: "Fisher would be a good choice for the Rams. Kroenke prefers a confident and experienced coach, much like he has in two of his personal favorites: George Karl and Arsene Wenger. Karl is the coach of Kroenke's NBA Denver Nuggets. Wenger is the acclaimed manager of Kroenke's Arsenal soccer club in the English Premier League. Fisher is an established leader and the star of the available coaches. Some in St. Louis are busy nitpicking his overall record (142-120) with the Tennessee Titans. I find that hilarious given that the Rams have had four winning seasons since 1990, and are 15-65 since 2007. And Fisher isn't worthy of the Rams' job? Please."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch suggests the Rams could interview Miami Dolphins assistant Todd Bowles for their coaching vacancy.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says 49ers owner Jed York has done a good job letting football people make the football decisions, including when the team was hiring Harbaugh. Barrows: "It was one year ago that 49ers owner Jed York, general manager Trent Baalke and then-Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh met at the home of a mutual friend and retired into the pool room. It was about noon. Sandwiches were waiting for them.York introduced himself to Harbaugh, said a few words about his vision for the 49ers -- he wanted a coach who knew how to handle quarterbacks -- then sat back and let Harbaugh and Baalke talk football until the sun went down. And that, said York's uncle, Eddie DeBartolo Jr., during a Wednesday phone call, is the most brilliant maneuver any owner can make."

Also from Barrows: Kyle Williams is cleared to practice.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers are focusing mostly on New Orleans because the percentages favor the Saints advancing to the divisional round.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News checks in with current and former 49ers, plus others, for a piece on what goes on under pileups while players fight for possession of the ball.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says Baalke is riding high while other GM types flounder.

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle names Justin Smith the 49ers' MVP this season.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle noticed some of the "extra stuff" Seahawks coach Pete Carroll referenced regarding the Cardinals' treatment of running back Marshawn Lynch in Week 17. Henderson: "One came in the first quarter after Lynch dragged a pile of defenders for several seconds. Darnell Dockett, one of two Cardinals to finally bring Lynch down, put his knee into his facemask while getting up. During the end of a tackle in the second quarter, Adrian Wilson pulled Lynch's helmet off and pushed it away from the pile. Lynch was visibly miffed while talking with Carroll on the sideline following that play."

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle breaks down Leon Washington's 48-yard run against Arizona.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team felt improved from 2010 despite having the same record. Farnsworth: "They upset the playoff-bound New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens, and also had two-point losses to the NFC West Champion San Francisco 49ers and playoff-bound Atlanta Falcons. They even had victories over the Philadelphia Eagles and Chicago Bears that helped derail their postseason aspirations. In 2010, they beat only one team that even came close to making the playoffs -- the Bears -- and were repeatedly abused while going 2-6 on the road."

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals players know they're in for a rough offseason workout program after the lockout prevented strength coach John Lott from working with them last offseason. McManaman: "If you don't know anything about Lott, let's just say when it comes to training the Cardinals, especially during the offseason, he's a cross between a demented drill sergeant and the male version of Cinderella's wicked stepmother. And considering that the NFL lockout prevented him from getting his clutches on Cardinals players this past offseason, he might even be worse on them this year. That figures to be especially true when it comes to the bevy of young players on the roster, including those who just wrapped up their rookie seasons like (Patrick) Peterson. Those players didn't have an offseason with Lott after being drafted last April. And oh, are they about to pay for it."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says rallying from a 1-6 start, as the Cardinals did in 2011, hasn't ensured success the following season for previous teams. A couple fared well, however. Urban: "The 1981 Redskins -- featuring current Cardinals assistant head coach Russ Grimm on the offensive line -- are going to be the team to point to for any team with a strong finishing kick. They went 1-6, got to 8-8, and then in 1982 (despite a strike-ravaged schedule) Washington rolled to an 8-1 regular-season record and won all four postseason games to capture a Super Bowl championship."