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The San Francisco 49ers' Jim Harbaugh, known to walk past the first-class cabin to his seat in coach, should be relieved to have missed Forbes' list of 10 highest-paid coaches.

Harbaugh's three NFC West contemporaries made the list, with the St. Louis Rams' Jeff Fisher and the Seattle Seahawks' Pete Carroll earning a reported $7 million annually.

Coaches presumably do not make available their contracts or tax returns, so these listings qualify as unofficial. They are generally consistent with media reports, at least.

The Arizona Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt checks in at tied for eighth ($5.8 million).

Note that the listings include sports beyond football, but not including hockey. Five of the 10 highest-paid coaches have won championships: Bill Belichick, Mike Shanahan, Doc Rivers, Gregg Popovich and Mike Tomlin.

Harbaugh, who promoted a blue-collar culture complete with work shirts last season, reportedly earns $5 million per season. That would rank Harbaugh among the higher-paid coaches in the NFL, but with 14 regular-season and postseason victories last season, the price tag has been a bargain to this point.

Carroll and Fisher would have to produce 19.6 victories in a season to match the $357,142-per-victory average for Harbaugh. Whisenhunt would have to produce 16.2 victories.

The Washington Redskins look like an early favorite to acquire the second overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft from the St. Louis Rams.

Jim Thomas' update for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch covers quite a few angles.

Another came to mind while reading the piece. What if the Redskins were the only team drafting among the top six with serious interest in Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III?

Such a thought seemed improbable while Griffin was lighting up the NFL scouting combine recently, but a post-combine report from Fox Sports' John Czarnecki lingers in my mind.

According to Czarnecki, Browns president Mike Holmgren and the team's coaching staff aren't necessarily sold on Griffin.

Under this thinking, Holmgren would prefer a quarterback to fit his system, not the other way around. Griffin's winning personality and phenomenal athleticism might make him a great prospect, but would the Browns see him as an ideal fit for their system -- enough so to justify parting with significant draft capital to get him?

Holmgren is not the Browns' coach, but he is particular about his offense and quarterbacks. He hired Pat Shurmur as head coach in part because Shurmur shared his vision for offense. Then again, Shurmur worked under Andy Reid in Philadelphia. Reid has obviously adapted his offense for a range of quarterbacks, notably Michael Vick.

All of this might be over-thinking things. My AFC North colleague, Jamison Hensley, thinks the Browns have little choice but to make a strong play for Griffin. That would serve the Rams well.

But if the Browns aren't all in for Griffin, what team represents the Redskins' competition for the second pick?

Minnesota picks third and Tampa Bay picks fifth. Both teams have invested in quarterbacks recently. Jacksonville, which picks seventh, has publicly committed to Blaine Gabbert as its franchise quarterback. Miami picks eighth, and as Thomas notes, the Dolphins might not be interested in dealing with St. Louis after the teams battled over Jeff Fisher. Miami also has ties to free-agent quarterback Matt Flynn.

Carolina picks ninth and already has Cam Newton. Buffalo picks 10th and has already publicly ruled out trading up for Griffin. Kansas City holds the 11th choice and could have interest even though Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli has said Matt Cassel is the clear starter. Seattle (12th) and Arizona (13th) hold the next two picks, and both can forget about the Rams sending a franchise quarterback their way.

Griffin might be worth taking second overall. That doesn't necessarily mean the market will allow the Rams to maximize the value of that choice.

The Rams do not necessarily need to make a killing in a trade. Griffin isn't in their plans, so they could conceivably get the player they really wanted a little later, plus whatever comes their way by trade. That would still represent a net gain.

Things to consider while the Rams weigh their options.

A few thoughts on the San Diego Union-Tribune report connecting ESPN's Jon Gruden to the St. Louis Rams:

• 

  Gruden
  ESPN issued a statement saying Gruden remains committed to "Monday Night Football" for many years to come. Of course, people sometimes change their minds, particularly when vast sums of cash are involved. Stan Kroenke, the Rams' owner, has vast sums of cash to offer. He also has a young franchise quarterback and a power running back suited for the offense Gruden has run in the past.
• Landing Gruden would be a great get for the Rams. Critics will correctly note that Gruden won in Tampa Bay largely with Tony Dungy's players. The bottom line, though, is that he won. Gruden also won in Oakland, something no one had done since Art Shell's run as coach there. Gruden's track record would give the Rams welcome profile in St. Louis and beyond. His offense bears similarities to the one Sam Bradford and the Rams ran in 2010, so that would help in the short term.
• Gruden and Kevin Demoff, the Rams' executive vice president of football operations/chief operating officer, worked together in Tampa Bay from 2005-08. That gives Gruden a direct connection to the Rams' current power structure. Demoff's father, longtime agent Marvin Demoff, represents another potential coaching candidate, Jeff Fisher. There's another name to keep in mind if the Rams change coaches.
• There is no opening in St. Louis just yet. Steve Spagnuolo's run as head coach could be ending, but no decision has been announced. Kroenke has been called "Silent Stan" because he doesn't volunteer information freely. It is possible, perhaps even likely, that those informing reporters on these matters are connecting dots more than they are relaying hard facts.
• The Union-Tribune report suggests Chargers general manager A.J. Smith would land in the same capacity with the Rams, and that Smith would be the key to bringing Gruden to St. Louis. This paints Smith in a flattering light. It suggests the Chargers might want to think twice before letting such a power broker slip away. I am not sure what would make Smith the key to landing Gruden. Kevin Acee notes that Gruden and former Raiders/Bucs executive Bruce Allen are close friends.
• Smith has been a polarizing figure, especially with players. Does his personality lend itself to connecting with a rightfully skeptical fan base in St. Louis? It wouldn't really matter if Gruden were head coach. Gruden would be the face of the franchise in that case. His personality would set the tone for the organization. Smith would remain in the background. His track record in personnel is mixed. The Chargers have enjoyed a run of relative success in recent seasons, but they'll be watching their former quarterback, Drew Brees, in the upcoming playoffs.
• Acee's story mentioned Spagnuolo as a possible candidate to become defensive coordinator in Philadelphia if the Rams make a change. That makes sense on multiple levels. Spagnuolo has coached under Andy Reid previously and would, at least in theory, be a candidate to replace him at some point down the line.

That's it for now. I just finished discussing this and other NFC West matters with Bernie Miklasz on our weekly conversation via 101ESPN St. Louis. I'll post that audio in a bit.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 1:

Containing the Michael Vick experience: The St. Louis Rams have fielded one of the sounder defenses in the NFL. They allowed only five pass plays of 40-plus yards last season, one off the NFL low and 13 fewer than Houston's league-worst mark. The Rams will have to be at their best against a Philadelphia Eagles offense that has made the big play appear routine. With Vick at quarterback most of the way, the 2010 Eagles completed 15 pass plays covering at least 40 yards, most in the league. DeSean Jackson had eight of them and Jeremy Maclin had four.

World's tallest cornerback: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll emerged from the laboratory this offseason with something I cannot recall seeing at any level of football: a 6-foot-4 cornerback. Brandon Browner, late of the CFL, is expected to make his first NFL start against San Francisco. Seeing him lined up at corner takes some getting used to. Early in camp, teammates initially thought he was a safety and Carroll was testing out some weird new scheme. "When they said he was a corner, I thought maybe now they wanted to go with a 'created' player," receiver Ben Obomanu said. "I have a little cousin who plays NCAA and Madden football. He always creates these 6-7, 6-6 corners. I was like, 'Well, coach Carroll is trying something new.' But when I saw him play, I could see he has been playing corner a long time." Browner is a player to watch in Week 1.

Peterson, Washington and big returns: New rules for kickoffs will produce more touchbacks this season, but return specialists had to like what they saw in the regular-season opener between Green Bay and New Orleans on Thursday night. That game featured a 108-yard kickoff return and a 72-yard punt return, both for touchdowns. The NFC West has its share of big-play returners, with Cardinals rookie Patrick Peterson joining a group featuring Leon Washington, LaRod Stephens-Howling and Ted Ginn Jr. Those last three combined for six return touchdowns last season. Peterson returned an interception for a touchdown during preseason and nearly broke a long punt return.

Familiarity breeds contempt, or at least meaning: Turnover is such in the NFL that every game is a grudge match or extra meaningful for someone. Quintin Mikell's first game with St. Louis comes against his former team, Philadelphia. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, the Eagles' former defensive assistant, faces his old boss, Andy Reid, for the first time as a head coach. Derek Anderson's first game with Carolina, albeit as a backup, comes against his former team, Arizona. Cornerback Richard Marshall's first game with Arizona comes against his former team, Carolina. Same goes for new Cardinals tight end Jeff King. Surprising Seattle rookie receiver Doug Baldwin's first NFL game falls against his college coach, Jim Harbaugh, who did not sign him as an undrafted free agent. Bobby Engram's first game as an NFL assistant coach, for San Francisco, comes against his former team, Seattle. Oh, and I seem to recall hearing something about Carroll and Harbaugh facing off in college. Subplots proliferate. As Carroll noted, better have those boom mikes at the ready.

Bradford and the deep ball: The Rams intend to stress defenses with more downfield throws this season. They'll rely more on scheme and creativity than raw speed to set up these opportunities. Doubters will have to credit quarterback Sam Bradford and coordinator Josh McDaniels if the Rams can beat the Eagles' stacked secondary with downfield throws. Philadelphia gave up 54 pass plays of at least 20 yards last season, ninth-most in the league, but they've since added cornerbacks Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Rams managed only 36 such plays, third-fewest in the NFL.

Nine of 12 dentists recommend brushing with -- wait, wrong survey. Let's try this again.

Nine of 12 ESPN.com football reporters are picking the St. Louis Rams to win the NFC West this season. Three others are taking the Arizona Cardinals. And that is only a small sampling of results from our NFL predictions for the 2011 season.

NFL divisional bloggers joined John Clayton, Adam Schefter, Matt Williamson, Ashley Fox and Jeff Chadiha in voting for eight division winners, two wild-card teams per conference, AFC champion, NFC champ, Super Bowl champ, coach of the year, MVP, top offensive rookie and top defensive rookie.

A quick look at voting results:

• Super Bowl champ: Six of 12 votes, including mine, went for the New England Patriots. Chadiha and Seifert took Green Bay. Four other teams drew votes: New Orleans (Paul Kuharsky), San Diego (Dan Graziano), Pittsburgh (Fox) and the New York Jets (Bill Williamson).
• AFC champ: Nine votes for New England. One apiece for the Chargers, Steelers and Jets.
• NFC champ: Green Bay drew four votes, including mine. New Orleans and Philadelphia drew three votes apiece. Atlanta (Bill Williamson) and Dallas (Schefter) drew one apiece.
• NFC West: I was among nine picking the St. Louis Rams. Chadiha, Kevin Seifert joined Graziano in picking the Arizona Cardinals.
• NFC North: It was unanimous. Twelve votes for the Packers.
• NFC South: Six for New Orleans, six for Atlanta. I took the Falcons.
• NFC East: Eleven votes for the Eagles. Schefter took the Cowboys.
• NFC wild cards: The Saints and Cowboys were my picks, in part because Dallas plays the NFC West this season. There were six votes for Atlanta, five for New Orleans, four for Dallas, three for Detroit, three for Tampa Bay, one for Minnesota (Chadiha), one for Philadelphia (Schefter) and one for the New York Giants (Yasinskas).
• AFC West: Eleven votes for San Diego. Kuharsky took Kansas City.
• AFC North: Eight votes for Pittsburgh, including mine. Four for Baltimore.
• AFC South: Seven votes for Houston. Five votes for Indianapolis, including mine.
• AFC East: I was among 10 voting for the Patriots. Graziano and Bill Williamson picked the Jets.
• AFC wild cards: Baltimore and the Jets were my picks. There were eight votes for the Jets, five for the Ravens, four for the Steelers, three for the Colts, two for the Patriots, one for the Texans (Kuharsky) and one for the Chiefs (Bill Williamson).
• Coach of the year: Bill Belichick was my choice. There were three votes for Jim Schwartz, two for Jason Garrett, two for Belichick and one apiece for Steve Spagnuolo (Kuharsky), Sean Payton (James Walker), Mike McCarthy (Clayton), Andy Reid (Chadiha) and Gary Kubiak (Pat Yasinskas).
• MVP: I was among four voting for Aaron Rodgers. Philip Rivers drew three votes. Tom Brady and Michael Vick drew two apiece. Kuharsky cast the lone vote for Brees.
• Offensive rookie: I was among nine voting for Julio Jones. There were two votes for Mark Ingram (Clayton, Schefter) and one for Cam Newton (Bill Williamson).
• Defensive rookie: I was among nine voting for Von Miller. Adrian Clayborn (Kuharsky), Ryan Kerrigan (Graziano) and Jimmy Smith (Walker) drew one vote apiece.

Take these to the bank, but please do not try depositing them. I'm sure our perceptions will change -- "evolve" sounds better -- as these teams reveal more about themselves.

For me, the biggest challenge is following four teams so closely every day of the year, then trying to make sense of faraway teams that cross the radar screen far less frequently. I'm interested in your picks, too. Fire away.

The NFL lockout allowed teams to get a jump on familiarization with 2011 regular-season opponents.

The prep work was tougher for teams preparing to face opponents with new coaching staffs. That is why the Seattle Seahawks, scheduled to visit San Francisco in Week 1, have had added interest in the 49ers' preseason games this summer. Those games have provided at least some evidence as to what the 49ers might look like with Jim Harbaugh on the sideline.

"I’ve kept an eye on San Francisco because that’s a new team and all," Seahawks coach Pete Carroll told reporters Thursday. "They looked very good last week against the Raiders. I’ve looked at both sides of that game film and they executed very well on offense and on defense."

The 49ers aren't tipping their hand from a strategy standpoint during preseason games. But those games still create a visual for what the 49ers' personnel might look like running basic plays.

A few thoughts on how prepared each NFC West team should be for its Week 1 opponent:

• Seattle Seahawks: A year ago, the Seahawks were the team with the new coaching staff. They seemed to surprise the 49ers in the regular-season opener at Seattle. There should be fewer surprises when the teams face one another in the 2011 opener even though the 49ers do have a new staff. For one, the 49ers' key personnel is largely the same from last season. Two, Carroll coached against Harbaugh extensively while at the college level. He'll have a better feel than most for the way Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman like to call a game. He'll have a better feel than most for the way Harbaugh might want to use his personnel. The 49ers will surely have some surprises for Seattle, but the Seahawks should be well prepared under the circumstances.
• San Francisco 49ers: They'll have good feel for what Carroll likes to do defensively given Harbaugh's experience at the college level and limited staff carryover. Both San Francisco line coaches, Mike Solari and Jim Tomsula, were on the 49ers' staff last season. Also, 49ers receivers coach John Morton was on Carroll's staff at USC. Seattle does have a new offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, and new offensive line coach, Tom Cable. The 49ers will presumably study Bevell's history in Minnesota and Cable's approach to the running game. There should be no big surprises.
• Arizona Cardinals: They have to feel good about facing the Carolina Panthers at University of Phoenix Stadium in the opener. Yes, the Panthers have a new head coach in Ron Rivera, but the Cardinals faced Rivera's Chargers last season, so they've prepared for his defensive scheme. San Diego crushed Arizona in that matchup, but that had a lot to do with the personnel each team put on the field that day. Rivera did not get to bring Philip Rivers or Antonio Gates with him. The Panthers will have a good feel for the Cardinals' personnel. Their staff includes former 49ers assistants Ray Brown and Pete Hoener.
• St. Louis Rams: They would have been better served drawing an opponent less talented than Philadelphia, but if they were going to play the Eagles, they could not have picked a better time (Week 1) or place (at home). The Eagles are working through issues on their offensive line. One of their top threats on offense, Jeremy Maclin, has been ill. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo and Eagles coach Andy Reid know each others' schemes and tendencies. They coached together for years. Safety Quintin Mikell signed with the Rams after spending all of his career with Philadelphia. He'll have a great feel for Michael Vick and the Eagles' offense.

Not that any of us are looking forward to the regular season or anything.

My favorite part of the NFC West chat this week: Those in the comments section counting how many questions/comments I chose pertaining to each team.

Fabulous, fabulous attention to detail.

My favorite part of blogging in general: being held accountable relentlessly. No misdeed goes unpunished. It's great incentive to stay sharp and aim to please because everyone cares what others think of them, especially those who say they do not care.

Some chatting advice: As comments pile up and I sense one team is being overlooked, I'll enter search terms to single out questions pertaining to specific teams. Those terms are most commonly "hawk" for anything Seahawks related, "card" for anything Cardinals related, "9er" for anything regarding the 49ers and "ram" for anything Rams-related. This means you can optimize for search your questions. My thinking is that the term "hawk" will draw from all entries mentioning Seahawks or Hawks, while "9er" will touch upon anything with "49ers" or "9ers" in the body, etc.

All right, then. Let's advance some NFC West conversations. Instead of singling out one chat highlight per team and publishing them here, I've decided to choose one new question per team.

Brennan from California wants to know how I see the Seahawks' young depth in the secondary shaking out. He wonders whether Atari Bigby has a better chance given his ability to provide some seasoning.

Mike Sando: Undrafted free agent Jeron Johnson has caught the team's attention in a big way, potentially imperiling fifth-round draft choice Mark LeGree's chances at earning a roster spot. LeGree came into camp amid some fanfare as coach Pete Carroll envisioned him becoming a ball-hawking presence. So far, though, LeGree hasn't really stood out. Johnson has been better. Teams do not like cutting draft choices, but Seattle isn't one of those teams that holds onto them no matter what. It's a little early to know what to expect from Bigby in terms of his ability to hold up physically. As much as the team could use some seasoning at safety, seasoning for the sake of seasoning isn't enough.

Mau Mau from Los Angeles wants to know what's going on with the 49ers' center competition. The team singed a Super Bowl starter in Jonathan Goodwin, but Goodwin has yet to start a preseason game for the team. What is going on?

Mike Sando: I overrated Goodwin when the team signed him based on that very Super Bowl pedigree you referenced. My feeling was that Goodwin would represent an upgrade over David Baas, who signed with the New York Giants. So far, though, Adam Snyder has been the starter at center despite not being part of the conversation at center over the years. Center is an important position on the line and it had to be a little disappointing for the 49ers when the Giants offered so much money to Baas. Goodwin and Snyder are both have $2.1 million cap number this season, so there isn't tremendous separation between the two from a salary standpoint.

Matt from Wilmington, N.C., wonders what I think about the Rams' chances against Philadelphia in the regular-season opener at the Edward Jones Dome?

Mike Sando: Well, the Rams would be better off opening the season the way the Cardinals are opening the season, at home against Carolina. But if they have to play the Eagles, they might as well face them in Week 1, and at home. I give the Rams a good shot at winning the game. They'll have a good feel for the Eagles given Steve Spagnuolo's familiarity with Andy Reid's offense. Safety Quintin Mikell's feel for his former team means more because of the position he plays. Safeties tend to be thinkers. Mikell, having signed with the Rams from Philadelphia, will be well-prepared for this matchup. Jeremy Maclin's health issues also work in the Rams' favor given their depth issues in the secondary.

Phil from Connecticut wants to know whether I think Deuce Lutui will open the regular season as the starting right guard for the Cardinals.

Mike Sando: That has been my expectation. He's more talented than Rex Hadnot. I just haven't seen anything from Hadnot that makes me think he would be the obvious preference for Arizona. Lutui comes with baggage and flaws, of course. But he's been in the system for years and has played at a pretty good level most of the time. That is just me talking. I don't know what Russ Grimm and Ken Whisenhunt are thinking specifically about the right guard spot at this moment.

Thanks for listening.

Jeremy from Stuart, Fla., thinks the St. Louis Rams could lose seven of their first eight regular-season games thanks to a rough schedule. He wonders whether that opens the door for the San Francisco 49ers to win the NFC West.

Mike Sando: I thought the Seattle Seahawks' schedule was going to doom them early last season. They wound up starting 4-2, with victories over Chicago (road) and San Diego (home). It's easier to say which teams should win than which teams will win, particularly this far out.

The Rams face Philadelphia at home in Week 1. The Eagles are being anointed offseason champions after moving aggressively to upgrade their roster. I wouldn't be shocked to see the Rams win that game. They'll be at home. Their head coach, Steve Spagnuolo, will know every aspect of the Eagles' offense from his days coaching with Andy Reid.

My point: What looks like 1-7 now might not be so rough. I see two big keys for St. Louis this season:

• Become tougher at home. The Rams were 5-3 at home last season. That's not bad, but the Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers had the same home records. Getting to 6-2 at home would be huge for the Rams this season. They do face a rough schedule early, but three of their first four games are at the Edward Jones Dome. Winning at least two of those -- against Philadelphia, Baltimore and/or Washington -- will be critical to improving the home record. Every team that won at least six home games last season finished with a winning record (most of the 5-3 teams did too, but not in the NFC West).
• Have a winning record in the division. Eleven of the 12 playoff teams last season had winning records in their divisions. Oakland and San Francisco were the only non-playoff team in the league with winning records inside their divisions. The Rams went only 3-3 in the NFC West last season. They lost at home to Arizona in the regular-season opener. The Cardinals were a bad team. That was a bad loss for the Rams. Becoming a better team at home will probably require going 3-0 at home in the division. Seattle and Arizona visit the Rams in Weeks 11 and 12, respectively. The 49ers visit in Week 17. It's critical for the Rams to win those games, in my view. They have no division games until Week 9. They play four consecutive division games beginning in Week 11.

Every team in the division plays four games against the AFC North and four more against the NFC East. I think that's why we could see another year pass without a winning record for the division champ.

To put the Rams' schedule in better perspective, I'll republish the "complaint department" notes from the schedule analyses items that ran earlier this offseason:

• 49ers: "The 49ers play a Monday night game at home against the Steelers followed by a Saturday game against the Seahawks at Qwest Field. That's a tough turnaround, but there is more. The 49ers play a Sunday game at home against division-rival Arizona on Dec. 11, followed by a Thanksgiving game across the country in Baltimore -- a highly anticipated matchup pitting 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh against his brother, John. That's just brutal. On top of it all, the league again saddled the 49ers with more 10 a.m. PT kickoffs than any West Coast team should have to face. Five of the six potential early starts will indeed kick off in the 10 a.m. PT hour, matching the total for Seattle. That's 27 early kickoffs in 28 chances since 2007. Good luck, Jim."

• Rams: "The Rams play back-to-back divisional road games on the West Coast when they visit San Francisco and Seattle in December. That is rough, but other teams in the division had more to complain about. The Rams face both Super Bowl participants on the road, but we knew that well before Tuesday. Spagnuolo will probably welcome the tough schedule. He's been eager for the Rams to step up in class. And he does get a bye week before heading onto the road against Green Bay and Dallas. Facing Baltimore on a short week following the Monday night matchup against the Giants isn't easy, but at least the game is in St. Louis."

• Seahawks: "The Seahawks have five games kicking off in the 10 a.m. PT time slot, up from two last season. That puts Seattle at a disadvantage given how far the team must travel as the most isolated franchise in the league. The Seahawks follow their Week 1 visit to San Francisco with a trip to Pittsburgh. This is a tough schedule early with Pittsburgh, Atlanta and the New York Giants facing Seattle before the Seahawks' bye in Week 6."

• Cardinals: "The Cardinals have consecutive road games against the Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams in November. That's looking like a tough stretch. Playing the New York Giants, Pittsburgh and Baltimore Ravens during a four-game stretch is another toughie. The Cardinals have three games kicking off at 10 a.m. local time in Phoenix and three more kicking off at 11 a.m. local time. Ken Whisenhunt has lamented the early starts."

The Rams aren't the only NFC West team facing schedule-related challenges this season.

Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle asks whether the 49ers acted too hastily in publicly committing to Alex Smith as their veteran quarterback for 2011. But in looking through the list of alternatives, the 49ers' decision on Smith makes more sense, in my view. The team projects Colin Kaepernick as its longer-term quarterback. None of the quarterbacks likely to become available would have enough appeal for the 49ers to justify making an investment significant enough to displace Kaepernick. In the meantime, Smith was the perfect ambassador for new coach Jim Harbaugh, who needed someone to promote his offense while the lockout prevented the 49ers' staff from interacting directly with players.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Smith and 49ers players are planning another camp for this week. Maiocco: "The 49ers own the rights to 31 offensive players. That includes 26 players under contract and five unsigned draft picks. Twenty-two players were on hand for the first Camp Alex, which ran June 6-9. That total includes two unsigned veterans: Smith and center David Baas, who flew in from Florida for the final day of classroom and on-field activity."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Kaepernick will attend the team's next player-organized camp at the expense of the NFL Players Association's version of the annual rookie symposium. Barrows: "It's not yet known which 49ers rookies will be on hand this week. However, wide receiver Ronald Johnson and guard Mike Person were working out at San Jose State last week. So was first-round pick Aldon Smith. The defensive players may be more involved with this week's minicamp than they were the previous one, but because they do not have playbooks they will not be working on anything specific." Kaepernick appears more grounded and more mature than the typical rookie. He'll probably benefit more from the extra week getting a jump on the 49ers' playbook.

Also from Barrows: 49ers receiver Kevin Jurovich hopes his speed pays off.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News offers highlights from Joe Staley's recent appearance on Sirius radio. Staley on receiver Michael Crabtree: "Michael Crabtree, he’s a great teammate. … He has his own workout routine, (but) Crabtree isn’t the only one. He looked like he was in great shape when he was out here and he’s eager to learn."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says no team faces greater challenges than the Cardinals once the NFL reopens for business following the lockout. The quarterback situation is most important, but hardly alone among areas for concern. Somers: "They have to not only bolster an offensive line, they also need to assemble one. Two returning starters, center Lyle Sendlein and right guard Deuce Lutui, are not under contract. Alan Faneca, last season's starting left guard, retired in the offseason. One starting receiver, Steve Breaston, is not under contract for 2011, and the other, Larry Fitzgerald, is entering the last season of his deal." How the Cardinals address their immediate needs could affect their ability to bring back Fitzgerald. I also think this offseason will be pivotal for the Cardinals as they seek to maintain sellouts at University of Phoenix Stadium. The stakes are definitely high.

Craig Harris and Ginger Rough of the Arizona Republic say the Cardinals and other Arizona sports franchises have sought to improve their political standing by offering free tickets to lawmakers. Harris and Rough: "For the Cardinals, giving away free tickets was a way to go head-to-head with the Fiesta Bowl, which for years battled the NFL team over stadium issues. The Cardinals didn't have any bills before the Legislature during the time it gave out the gifts. Nonetheless, the team gave 35 lawmakers pairs of tickets to its home opener in 2006. It gave a pair of loft tickets 47 times to lawmakers or incoming legislators for a dozen different home games from 2007 to 2009, according to the team. Each loft ticket had a value ranging from $132.50 to $167.25. In most cases, however, the lawmakers attended only one game during the calendar year. That meant they were not obligated to reveal their acceptance of the gift on their annual financial disclosure forms, since the value fell under the $500 reporting threshold."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic doubts the Cardinals would part with cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in a deal for Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb. Somers: "He's been inconsistent in Arizona, and there's no question coaches' patience will run out if DRC doesn't mature and put in the necessary study time. But great cover corners -- and DRC has the potential to be great -- are hard to find. And it's not as if the Cardinals are deep at the position. Patrick Peterson, the fifth overall pick, is unproven. Behind him the Cardinals have Greg Toler. The next two corners are Michael Adams and Trumaine McBride. Neither is under contract. (EDIT: I forget to mention A.J. Jefferson in my original post. Coaches like his potential.)" Fair questions: To what degree would Kolb, as a quarterback with roots in Andy Reid's West Coast offense, fit the system in Arizona? And does the Cardinals' overall need for a quarterback prevent them from being picky on such things?

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com notes Fitzgerald's standing at No. 14 on NFL Network's list of best players in the league.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com reflects upon Peter McLoughlin's first nine months as the team's president. The team extended its stadium naming-rights deal by five years as part of the switch to CenturyLink Field. McLaughlin also negotiated a sponsorship deal with Anheuser-Busch, his former employer. McLaughlin: "To get the long-term deal on the stadium naming rights is huge. The financial stability that provides from a sponsorship standpoint is really, really important. You don’t want to be out in the market really looking for a new naming-rights deal in this economy." It's easy to forget that team budgets exist separately from whatever personal resources an owner might have available to him. On the other hand, sports franchise ownership is, at its purest, about much more than making money. It's about trying to win. There's often more to gain from selling a franchise than from operating one.

Kathleen Nelson and Robert Patrick of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch check in with Rams linebacker David Vobora after a court offered at least some vindication regarding the supplement Vobora unwittingly ingested in violation of NFL rules. This story broke shortly after I stepped away for vacation last week. I thought it was worth revisiting given the damage done to Vobora following his four-game suspension. The court ruling does not affect Vobora's standing in the NFL's eyes. He was ultimately responsible for taking the supplement, even if the manufacturer could have done a better job spelling out ingredients. Vobora: "Vindication. That's the single word I'll continue to use. From the get-go, my lawyers and I were on the same page about that. Compensation was secondary. The number one thing was to right the ship and restore my reputation."

The latest NFC West chat generated debate over how the Arizona Cardinals and other NFC West teams should value Kevin Kolb in a trade scenario relative to other quarterbacks, including rookies. A few highlights:

chris (mesa az): Hey, Mike, I was just wondering what's your take on a Cardinals-Eagles trade for Kevin Kolb? Do you really think he's worth a first-round pick and maybe a starter of ours? I just don't think he's done enough to show he's worth that much.

Mike Sando: It comes down to how much you value the quarterback situation itself, and how much you value the upgrade from the 2010 quarterback situation. The Cardinals were very bad at QB last season. Let's say Kolb is average to slightly above average. Let's say that is good enough to go from 5-11 last season to 8-8 or possibly 9-7 this season. Now, how much is that type of improvement worth? I agree with your general premise. There is no real evidence Kolb is worth a huge ransom. The Cardinals need to weigh other options, then decide what type of premium to pay for Kolb, should the price remain high.

Jeff (Tampa): The Rams got a lot (read: too much) of love for "surrounding Bradford with weapons" but it's classic misguided surface analysis. With Mark Clayton, Danny Amendola, Donnie Avery and Danario Alexander in place, the drafted three straight possession receivers, starting with tight end Lance Kendricks, followed by Austin Pettis and Greg Salas. It was overkill. Don't you think they should've/could've selected a complementary running back to Steven Jackson, plus gotten some more depth at offensive line and in the defensive front seven.

Mike Sando: I don't think we've gone overboard at all in saying the Rams have set up Sam Bradford with great weaponry. The very criticism you made -- that the team didn't really add players who will dramatically differentiate from what the team already had -- was part of the initial analysis. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. also had some concerns along those lines. Matt and I both understand the Rams' thinking. They could not realistically get a No. 1 wideout at No. 14, so they went defense early, then added quantity at receiver (counting Kendricks as a pass catcher) as they could. We need to see what the Rams have in store for free agency. Williamson thinks John Greco is vastly underrated and would do fine at guard if given a chance, by the way.

Taylor (CA): Mike, what type of offense does Darrell Bevell run and how is that having an impact on how the Seahawks are planning for the season? Again thank you for all you do Mike!!

Mike Sando: The first thing to understand is that this will be a collaboration on offense. Bevell is the coordinator, but Tom Cable is going to implement the running game. The team's overall offensive philosophy will reflect Carroll's desire to run the football. Bevell will install the passing game, which is quite similar to what the Seahawks ran previously under Mike Holmgren. That could make it easier to plug in Matt Hasselbeck for another season while continuing to build the roster. Kevin Kolb would also fit into the new offense well, I think, because of his background in Andy Reid's passing game.

Will (San Jose): Only one QB taken in the NFC West when there appeared to be three teams that needed one. Which direction do you like better: San Francisco taking Colin Kaepernick or Seattle and Arizona going after guys like Kevin Kolb and Josh Johnson in free agency?

Mike Sando: I liked the 49ers' approach best in the context of having a quarterback expert, if you will, as the head coach. In theory, the 49ers got the best of both worlds: an impact defensive player at No. 7, and a quarterback to groom a bit later. Now, there are questions about Aldon Smith's value, and it's premature to anoint Kaepernick as the answer. In theory, though, the 49ers' approach made sense. They did not have to give up a first-round choice for a quarterback with question marks. Kolb and Johnson, like Kaepernick, come with question marks.

The 49ers likely are not in the market for Kolb after drafting Kaepernick, but the answer I provided to Will from San Jose drew resistance from Mike in Arizona. The full chat transcript contains that portion of the discussion at the 1:55 p.m. ET mark.

Our Power Rankings for NFL head coaches are out and Tim Graham has the full breakdown on the AFC East blog.

General thoughts: These rankings were easier than the positional ones we've done. There are only 32 head coaches, for starters. Five have never coached an NFL game. Eight others have losing career records. Four with winning records have coached two or fewer seasons and only two of those, Rex Ryan and Jim Caldwell, have enjoyed postseason success. It became clear early that we were working from a relatively short list. Only 13 coaches received votes.

My top 10: Bill Belichick, Andy Reid, Tom Coughlin, Mike McCarthy, Sean Payton, Mike Tomlin, Rex Ryan, Ken Whisenhunt, Lovie Smith and Mike Shanahan.

What mattered to me: I favored coaches that had taken over losing teams, turned them around quickly and then enjoyed success over multiple seasons, including in the playoffs.

Why Tomlin was only sixth: No one else ranked him lower. As I told Graham, Tomlin took over a healthy operation and kept it going. He deserves credit for that, but not as much credit as if he had produced similar results after taking over a struggling franchise. We should view the success Bill Cowher enjoyed in a similar context. Both worked for an outstanding organization.

Why Mike Shanahan was on the list: Shanahan hasn't produced a winning record since 2006. His teams own one postseason victory since his 1998 Broncos defended their Super Bowl title. The way he misread Donovan McNabb worked against him, too. In the end, Shanahan's 152-108 regular-season record, 8-5 postseason record, nine winning seasons and two Super Bowl titles commanded recognition, albeit in the 10th spot.

Toughest call: Leaving off the Atlanta Falcons' Mike Smith hurt. He walked into a brutal situation and helped revive a flagging franchise. The Falcons have won 68.8 percent of their games under him without posting a losing record in any of his three seasons. Had Smith made my top 10, however, he would have been the only one without a postseason victory. The Falcons are 0-2 in the playoffs under Smith, with both defeats coming against teams that had inferior records during the regular season. That opened the door for others.

A vote for Whisenhunt: Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt ranked eighth on my ballot, 10th on three others and 12th among the 13 coaches receiving votes. His regular-season record dipped to 32-32 after a rough 2010 season. Overall, though, Whisenhunt gets credit for producing an immediate turnaround for a historically inept franchise. Kurt Warner had a 3-12 starting record for the Cardinals before Whisenhunt arrived. His record was 24-18 in the regular season and 4-2 in the postseason with Whisenhunt. Taking the Cardinals to a Super Bowl gave Whisenhunt the edge over some other candidates, including the Falcons' Smith.

The rest of the NFC West: Seattle's Pete Carroll produced a division title and playoff victory during a rebuilding season. He's on the rise if Seattle continues to improve. ... St. Louis' Steve Spagnuolo has a .250 overall winning percentage thanks to a 1-15 inaugural season with the Rams. He'll move into consideration if the Rams start winning division titles with Sam Bradford at quarterback. ... San Francisco's Jim Harbaugh inherits enough talent to compete in his first season as an NFL head coach, provided he finds even a serviceable quarterback.

SEATTLE -- The guest list for Jake Locker's pro day at the University of Washington offered up a few surprises.

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, in town on business, dropped by the Dempsey Indoor facility. Former NFL officiating czar Mike Pereira, in town for a meeting related to his role as interim head of Pac-10 officials, also attended.

Former Washington quarterbacks Warren Moon, Damon Huard, Brock Huard (working for ESPN), Hugh Millen, Cary Conklin and Sonny Sixkiller were there.

The quarterback-needy Tennessee Titans sent a large contingent featuring vice president of player personnel Ruston Webster, offensive coordinator Chris Palmer and pro scouting director Lake Dawson. Keith Gilbertson (Cleveland Browns), Randy Mueller (San Diego Chargers), Bob Ferguson (Indianapolis Colts) and Mike Sheppard (Jacksonville Jaguars) were among the former Seahawks staffers in attendance.

The Seahawks' current decision-makers and most of their coaches drove over from team headquarters, no surprise given the proximity and coach Pete Carroll's ties to Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian, his former USC assistant.

But if the Seahawks' division rivals have any interest in Locker, they hid that interest quite well. The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers did not send representatives, to my knowledge. They certainly did not have any high-profile staffers in attendance. That comes as a bit of a surprise given their obvious needs at quarterback and Locker's potential availability early in the second round, if he slips outside the first.

"I never read anything into which teams attend pro days," Locker's agent, David Dunn, said on the field following the workout. "I've had too many players selected by teams that weren't at pro days or didn't even visit with players."

Fair enough, but teams generally pay closer attention to quarterbacks. The 49ers sent Jim Harbaugh to Blaine Gabbert's pro day at Missouri. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt ran Auburn's Cam Newton through various throws at a recent workout.

"With quarterbacks, you want to be able to touch and feel and see how they are as people as well as athletes and players," Dunn said.

Locker was not the only Washington prospect performing for scouts, but he was the main draw. He did nothing obvious to damage his draft stock during the workout. He completed all but a couple of passes while showing fluidity in his drops and a short delivery, according to scouts who agreed to speak in general terms and not for attribution.

"I've never nitpicked a guy like I've nitpicked Locker," one of them said. "The guy is a winner, and at the end of the day that has to count for something."

Locker has been working with former NFL quarterback Ken O'Brien to bring his hand over the top more quickly when delivering the ball.

The controlled environment was set up to make him look good. No NFL coaches or personnel people asked Locker to perform unscripted throws. They watched Locker zip the ball with ample velocity and accuracy most of the time, save for a couple high throws that his overworked wide receiver, D'Andre Goodwin, snatched away from his body.

"I'm focusing on the fluidity of the drop, getting my feet in the right spot and just bringing the hand over the top as quickly as I could, rather than dragging my hand," Locker said afterward. "I have a tendency to do that sometimes. I want to bring my hand over the top and really point that finger at my target. I have been spinning the ball a lot better and it's been coming off my hand a lot better."

Locker's relatively low completion percentage at Washington and his inexperience running a pro-style offense have raised questions about his readiness for the NFL. Can he read defenses? Can he throw accurately and on time from the pocket? To what degree did a weak offensive line and receiving corps hamstring him in college?

I've heard differing opinions from scouts as to how well Locker would fit with the NFC West teams that need quarterbacks (Seattle, Arizona and San Francisco).

"A lot of people seem to have him pinpointed to Seattle at No. 25, but I don’t think that makes any sense at all," Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. "It works for people who do not know the X’s and O’s of it all. At 25, he has some value. He went to school in that area. It is easy to say that is a good fit, but I think Seattle is going more and more to a pure West Coast offense, and Locker doesn't fit the West Coast offense at all."

The Cardinals pick fifth and the 49ers pick seventh, earlier than Locker is expected to come off the board. Seattle is one of the few quarterback-needy teams picking later in the first round, when Locker figures to become a more likely selection.

"Jake seems to be an acquired taste," Dunn said. "The more you watch him on film, the more that you are around him, the more you like him."

How well Locker would fit with the Seahawks could hinge on the degree to which Williamson is right in his assessment of how Seattle's offense will evolve.

New coordinator Darrell Bevell comes from the Andy Reid/Mike Holmgren branch of the West Coast offense, a branch that relies more heavily on short, precise passes. Before Bevell replaced Jeremy Bates, the Seahawks had been running Mike Shanahan's version of the West Coast system featuring more quarterback movement, hard play-action fakes and deeper throws requiring greater arm strength.

Carroll, who attended the workout Wednesday, has said the Seahawks do not plan to significantly diverge from the system they ran last season. But it's plausible to think that Bevell's background could steer them away to some degree.

"You do have to be a precise passer in a Bill Walsh, traditional West Coast offense," Rob Rang, senior analyst for NFL Draft Scout, said from the Dempsey Indoor facility. "But I like any offense that is going to use Jake Locker's mobility as an asset rather than just keeping him pinned in that pocket. If you can use his legs as a weapon, that is where he has been his most accurate. He made significant improvements in his accuracy from the so-called pocket in this workout, but at the same time, his strength remains throwing on the move."

Rang said he would draft Locker in the first round as long as the team in question has a veteran starter in place.

I stood next to Moon, the retired Hall of Famer, throughout the workout. Moon said he sees the NFL game evolving to favor quarterbacks with mobility. Life for traditional pocket passers is getting tougher, in his view. Locker's athleticism and scrambling ability separate him from most prospects. He has run the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, a time that holds up against those posted by some wide receivers. But quarterbacks must also succeed as pocket passers to make it in the NFL.

"Locker is pretty accurate outside the pocket," Williamson said, "but as far as going 1-2-3 and getting it out, having good footwork, hitting a guy in stride, he is terrible. I don’t see that fit at all. I do not think he is going to be the precise passer Harbaugh is looking for, either. I can see someone like Arizona being really interested in him in Round 2. They might like a more 'toolsy' guy, like a Ben Roethlisberger."

Williamson sees Locker appealing to a coach such as Shanahan, who might see Locker as a cross between Jay Cutler and Jake Plummer, two quarterbacks Shanahan coached in Denver. That's the type of quarterback Seattle was seeking when Jeremy Bates was coordinating their offense. It's the type of quarterback the Seahawks might still value if Bevell installs the type of system Carroll has favored previously.

"I don't know in the NFL right now if people run different offenses," Sarkisian said. "It's so much of a copycat league and everybody runs so many things that are similar that it's hard to say that New England is different than Pittsburgh that is different than Seattle that is different from the Chargers. They all have their focal points, but at the end of the day, there are a lot of similarities. Things will be tailored for him [Locker], like they are for every quarterback, but I just think he fits in as an NFL quarterback."

NEW ORLEANS -- Sam Bradford and the St. Louis Rams will be learning their second offensive system in as many seasons together.

They will not want to make it three systems in three years, but what happens if a strong 2011 season launches new coordinator Josh McDaniels to another head-coaching job? The question, raised recently by regular blog commenter egravning, did not faze Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo over breakfast at the NFL owners meeting Tuesday.

"I guess I have to take over the offense," Spagnuolo joked.

The coach then turned a little more serious: "If that happens, that is probably a good thing for everybody. We'll just wait and see."

McDaniels became available to the Rams after the Denver Broncos fired him as head coach. Shaky personnel moves and McDaniels' handling of situations off the field contributed to his demise in Denver far more than his coaching. The Broncos put up impressive numbers on offense with Kyle Orton at quarterback. I would expect him to do the same, and rather quickly, with Bradford as long as the Rams continue upgrading their offense. If that happens and McDaniels projects himself well, he could have opportunities elsewhere.

Bradford showed during his rookie season an ability to learn a new system and play more consistently than most rookies.

Orton's success suggests McDaniels' system might offer even more opportunities for growth. But repeatedly changing systems would probably delay any quarterback's development. That's why I've said it's important for the Rams to develop a succession plan in case McDaniels does become a head-coaching candidate again. So far, though, the Rams have not hired a quarterbacks coach. McDaniels has largely joined the existing staff.

"As a head coach, I thought Andy [Reid] did a great job of having someone on staff ready to step in," Spagnuolo said. "We feel comfortable there. You are getting way ahead of me there."

The latest NFC West chat got off to a late start -- my fault there -- but lasted the full hour. Thanks to those who contributed. Transcript here. Highlights below:

Shaun Harper (Salt Lake City, UT ): I'm a big-time 49ers fan. Do they go QB first round? Wouldn't the best option be to try and sign McNabb or Kolb and then maybe still have a shot at getting Ryan Mallet as a back-up for a couple of years?? (Considering there is a 2011 NFL season)

Mike Sando: The market for Donovan McNabb is going to be very, very interesting now that two supposed offensive gurus -- Andy Reid and Mike Shanahan -- decided he was not the quarterback for them. If I'm the 49ers, I'm looking at those situations in Philadelphia and Washington pretty closely. And Jim Harbaugh should have a good feel given his background as a quarterback. Now, would McNabb be better than what the 49ers have had in the recent past? Yes, and that alone makes him a decent fallback option if the team doesn't find in the draft a quarterback to play right away. If you get Kevin Kolb, you're probably giving up draft-choice compensation, which makes it tougher to think of him as a bridge to the future. He sort of needs to be the future, then.

Jacob (Saint Louis): Thank you for all the work you do, Mike. If the two big wide receivers are off the board, do you see the Rams trading down? The Rams have a lot of holes to fill, and this seems to be a deep draft. A little over a week ago, Tim Kavanagh said that he could see the Steelers trading up. Would a trade with them even be possible?

Mike Sando: The Steelers trade draft choices less frequently than most teams trade them. When they do look to make a deal, watch out. They tend to have a good reason. The last time they traded up into that No. 14 range, they snagged Troy Polamalu at No. 16. The Rams need quality, too, so I wouldn't move back too far. And it's really unlikely, I think, that Pittsburgh would move up from No. 31 all the way to No. 14. That is a big jump and would be costly.

Shane (Los Angeles, CA): Who would you pick at #5 for the Cards? Assume that your pick is in play at No. 5. If PP7 [Patrick Peterson] is there and they don't want him, there would be NO shortage of teams looking to trade up (Eagles, Cowboys, maybe Pats for starters). What do you think about the Cards trading down?

Mike Sando: OK, I would go with Blaine Gabbert at No. 5 based on what I've heard about him (I do not pretend to have first-hand knowledge based on scouting!). If he were not there and Patrick Peterson were there, I would definitely consider moving back. The Cardinals already have Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. They do not need a stable of top cornerbacks to make that defense work. They need outside linebackers to amp up the pass rush. They also need additional picks. If they could get the pass-rusher and additional picks to help them address, say, their offensive line (a position that can be addressed successfully later in the draft), go for it.

Ben (Portland): John Schneider was one of only 2 GMs at Mallett's pro day and has scheduled a private workout with Locker. Can we expect a 1st-round QB on draft day or is Schneider just exploring all the options?

Mike Sando: The Seahawks have to seriously consider a quarterback in this draft based on their current situation at the position. I think their interest in re-signing Matt Hasselbeck has obvious limits, and those limits explain why Hasselbeck has not yet re-signed with the team. As far as whether Schneider attends specific workouts, I can tell you this: He is GM, but like his mentor, Ted Thompson, he is still a scout at heart. He likes to do the work. And so it makes sense for him to check out players with his own eyes.

One more thing: You're welcome, Jacob. Thanks for tuning in.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee wouldn't be surprised if the 49ers moved up from the second round to snag a quarterback. Barrows: "My sense is that the 49ers - who have the 13th pick in the second round - would be willing to move up in that round, or even climb into the bottom of Round 1, to get the quarterback they desire. In previous years, when the 49ers were in rebuilding mode, they cherished every one of their picks. Now, however, there is a feeling that the overall roster is strong, especially if they use their No. 7 pick on a pass rusher like Von Miller or Robert Quinn or on a cornerback like Patrick Peterson or Prince Amukamara. Furthermore, general manager Trent Baalke already has shown he's willing to trade up to get his man. He did so last year in order to land Rutgers offensive tackle Anthony Davis."

Also from Barrows: a potential setback in the 49ers' efforts to get a stadium built.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com addresses whether the 49ers could have a reason not to pursue a tampering case against the Eagles after learning that Andy Reid had been in contact with running back Brian Westbrook. Maiocco: "First, we don't know the 49ers are unwilling to pursue this matter. That's only speculation. But we might be onto something here. The 49ers are believed to be one of the teams interested in obtaining Eagles backup quarterback Kevin Kolb. So the 49ers might not want to create any acrimony between the two organizations. But, ultimately, it'll come down to which team offers the Eagles the best level of compensation for Kolb. And, of course, no trades can take place until the owners and players hammer out a new CBA. Teams are allowed to speak to each other during this time to gauge interest. I do not know if the 49ers and Eagles have spoken on this matter, but my guess is there has been some level of communication."

Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group checks in with Jerry Rice for thoughts on a potential lockout.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says instincts and production helped Lofa Tatupu earn a spot on the team's 35th anniversary squad. Chad Brown, Fredd Young and Rufus Porter were the other linebackers. Farnsworth on Tatupu: "His contributions have been across the board: 551 tackles in the regular season, including a career-high 123 in 2006; 66 tackles in the postseason, making him the franchise leader; 10 interceptions, including three in a 2007 game against the Philadelphia Eagles and two returned for touchdowns; 8.5 sacks, including four in his rookie season; 41 passes defensed; seven forced fumbles; three Pro Bowl selections, the most for a linebacker in club history."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald is everywhere these days, and his contract situation is what everyone is asking about. Somers: "Money won't be an obstacle for the Cardinals. Or at least it shouldn't be. Their payroll was near the lowest in the NFL in 2010, and management is smart enough to know that low-balling Fitz will alienate even avid fans. The biggest challenge will be opportunity. Like any elite receiver, Fitzgerald wants the ball. He won't complain publicly because he's sensitive about being labeled as a diva. And he has that right. Over the years, Fitzgerald has developed a work ethic that's hard to match. Last year, he was overthrown more than a Little League first baseman, yet never complained publicly."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Fitzgerald was speaking only about Tommie Harris and not his own situation when he said a change of scenery can help.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com passes along thoughts from ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. regarding the Rams' draft plans. Kiper: "If the top two receivers are gone then they could look defensive tackle because that’s the value. Outside linebacker, I don’t see anybody that would fit what they are doing defensively there if you are looking for a traditional outside linebacker. Maybe an interior offensive lineman they could look at. It’s a little early maybe for (Florida OL Mike) Pouncey, who I don’t think is as good as his brother Maurkice. That’s early. I wouldn’t take Mike Pouncey ahead of where Maurkice went because I don’t think they are similar players. I think Maurkice was a much better prospect."

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis sounds unconvinced about the Rams' potential interest in former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress.