ESPN NFL

Free agency has slowed considerably now that the quarterback market has settled out, save for Alex Smith's unresolved status in San Francisco.

I've put together a chart showing what happened to free agents known to have visited NFC West teams since the signing period opened one week ago.

Demetrius Bell showed promise at left tackle for Buffalo last season and would seem to make sense for Arizona.

New Orleans Saints free-agent corner Tracy Porter is not listed, but he remains one of the few young starting-caliber players at the position, and he has ties to the St. Louis Rams' coaching staff.

I've ordered the chart by how many starts each player made in 2011, an attempt to add a qualitative element to the listings.

Note: The 49ers brought in a long list of players for tryouts recently. I've focused on unrestricted free agents making visits. I have added Jacob Tamme, Corey Graham and Visanthe Shiancoe to the list. All three visited the Seahawks recently.

Filippo from Windsor, Canada, thinks Alex Smith, not Kyle Williams, was the 49ers' biggest problem in the NFC Championship Game. He wondered whether the team could trade for Peyton Manning this offseason.

Mike Sando: There will almost certainly be no trade for Manning. The Colts could not trade Manning without first paying a $28 million bonus to him. Failing to pay that bonus by March 8 would make Manning a free agent when the trading period opened five days later.

My early take on Manning was that the Colts would keep him as long as he were healthy. Sweeping changes in the organization have created the impression Indianapolis anticipates making a clean break at the position. Indianapolis appears increasingly likely to part with Manning unless the sides adjust that bonus to buy time. Manning will not want to do that, most likely, if he knows the Colts are going to draft his replacement, Andrew Luck.

This has become a perfect storm. Manning's injury was worse than anticipated. He missed the entire season, longer than expected. The Colts were worse than anticipated without him, so bad they secured the top pick. Manning's health did not improve as anticipated. One of the brightest college quarterback prospects in years happened to be available in the next draft. And then Manning had that $28 million lever in his contract.

Those are all extreme circumstances. Throw them together and it's tough to envision the Colts keeping Manning. That $28 million price tag is too high amid questions about Manning's health.

We're in a holding pattern until the March 8 bonus date. Perceptions could change by then. If Manning does become a free agent, his health will remain the key variable. It's too early to know where he might land.

I suspect the 49ers will re-sign Alex Smith before or around the March 13 start to free agency. Arizona has until March 17 to pay a $7 million bonus to keep Kevin Kolb. The gap could give the Cardinals a chance to at least consider Manning. Lots of other teams would have interest as well.

Manning's recent comments to Bob Kravitz were illuminating. Manning said he felt as though sweeping changes in the Colts' organization had left people there "walking on eggshells." But Manning is the one with reason to feel that way. He's no longer in control of his immediate future.

---

Dan from Portland asks why few people seem to be connecting Manning to the Seattle Seahawks. He thinks Kolb should get another chance in Arizona. He thinks Alex Smith should be the starter in San Francisco. And he sees Sam Bradford as the quarterback in St. Louis. Doesn't that leave Seattle as the most logical destination among NFC West teams?

Mike Sando: Yeah, I've wondered why Arizona has been mentioned in so many of the reports. It is possible people close to Manning are pushing Arizona as a possible destination because, one, Manning might see that as an appealing place to land and, two, the Cardinals do have that $7 million decision to make on Kolb. I see no reason for the Cardinals to push the Manning angle in the news, unless they hope to pressure Kolb into an adjusted contract.

I agree with you on Seattle making the most sense from a quarterback-need perspective. The fit from a system standpoint would take some adjusting. I also wonder how much the Seahawks would want to commit financially to such a high-profile player with clear health concerns. Would they see this as a risky two-year rental, or as a chance to become a championship contender quickly?

Manning's health is the No. 1 variable. If he hits the market in good physical condition, lots of teams will be interested.

---

Jeremiah from Germany thinks 49ers fans should be clamoring for Dwayne Bowe, not Marques Colston, in free agency this offseason.

Mike Sando: It's tough for me to envision the Chiefs letting Bowe get away. Smart teams re-sign their best players, especially when those players are young. I would also favor Bowe over Colston, all else being equal. But I also think the 49ers would be more likely to address the position in the draft and with a lower-priced free agent. That is how they believe in putting their team together. They have been averse to overpaying for players other teams have let hit the market. That was the case last offseason when the 49ers showed no interest in Nnamdi Asomugha and other top free agents.

---

Scott from Epsom, N.H., thinks I've failed to pay the New York Giants their proper respects and have instead sought to diminish their victory by branding them as concussion-inflicting cheaters. "Grow up," he writes. "It's a game."

Mike Sando: The stories about the Giants trying to inflict a concussion upon Kyle Williams originated in the Newark Star-Ledger and New York Magazine. I simply linked to them, which was pretty much a no-brainer from an NFC West perspective. These were direct quotes from Giants players speaking on the record in well-established publications.

On the game itself, the 49ers blew a prime opportunity to reach the Super Bowl, giving up 10 points on uncharacteristic special-teams turnovers. That was my focus from a 49ers/NFC West standpoint coming out of the game. There's no shortage of favorable Giants coverage out there. I just thought the 49ers did more to lose the game than their opponent did to win it. This being the NFC West blog, the 49ers were going to be my focus.

---

Adam from El Paso noticed that the last quarterbacks drafted in first rounds tend to struggle. He pointed to Patrick Ramsey (2002), Rex Grossman (2003), J.P. Losman (2004), Jason Campbell (2005), Jay Cutler (2006) and Brady Quinn (2007) as examples. He pointed to Joe Flacco (2008) and possibly Cutler as exceptions, but wondered if there was something to it.

Mike Sando: Interesting observation. There is nothing dooming these players. Overall, though, the quarterbacks with the most obvious skills tend to get drafted earlier. If you've reached the late first round and are thinking about a quarterback, you're probably gambling more than teams selecting them earlier. Perhaps you're more apt to be reaching for a prospect because you need one and fear missing out.

---

Joe from Phoenix sees Jeff Fisher delivering credible coordinators and asks whether we should expect him to land top free agents as well. He points to Cortland Finnegan as a possibility and wants to know if there are others with ties to Fisher or the current Rams coordinators.

Mike Sando: Yes, we should expect the Rams to have interest in free-agent players Fisher and his coordinators coached in the past. Finnegan is one of them.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer spent the last six seasons with New York, but the Jets do not have many potential offensive free agents of note. The list includes quarterback Mark Brunell, receiver Plaxico Burress, tight end Matthew Mulligan, quarterback Kevin O'Connell, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tackle Robert Turner.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams spent the last three seasons with New Orleans.

The Saints' potential defensive free agents include linebacker Jonathan Casillas, defensive end Jeff Charleston, linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, linebacker Ramon Humber, defensive end Turk McBride, cornerback Tracy Porter, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers and cornerback Leigh Torrance.

Williams was also with 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers, another potential free agent, years ago in Washington.

Fisher's roots as head coach in Tennessee provide additional connections. The Titans' potential free agents include snapper Ken Amato, safety Jordan Babineaux, linebacker Patrick Bailey, defensive end Dave Ball, Finnegan, safety Michael Griffin, running back Ahmard Hall, receiver Lavelle Hawkins, defensive end William Hayes, safety Chris Hope, defensive end/tackle Jason Jones, tackle Mike Otto, guard Jake Scott, linebacker Tim Shaw and safety Anthony Smith.

Looking back on three things discussed here before the Arizona Cardinals' preseason game against the Denver Broncos on Thursday night:

1. Patrick Peterson's impact: Peterson was in the lineup opposite A.J. Jefferson after the Cardinals lost incumbent starting corner Greg Toler to a season-ending knee injury. That was no shock. Peterson was the fifth overall choice in the draft, after all. If he wasn't going to start after the team traded Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and lost Toler for the season, what would it take? Of course, Peterson is going t play extensively this season whether or not he starts right away. He gained 10 yards on a punt return against the Broncos and nearly had more, but this game wouldn't feature another big play from him. Peterson had returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown in the team's previous exhibition game. He didn't register a stat in this one.

2. Quarterback depth: Kevin Kolb, Rich Bartel and Brodie Croyle played for the Cardinals. The offensive line kept them well protected for the most part. Kolb attempted only two passes, getting out of the game early. Bartel completed 12 of 16 passes for 216 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. His passer rating was 130.2. This was a positive step for Bartel, a candidate to open the season as the Cardinals' No. 2 quarterback, ahead of John Skelton. Skelton missed this game with an ankle injury. Bartel has played well enough in Skelton's absence to merit strong consideration for the No. 2 role, but Kolb is the only quarterback on the team whose place on the depth chart is entirely secure.

3. Young pass-rushers: Will Davis got pressure a few times. Sam Acho had three tackles. I was looking to see whether or not O'Brien Schofield would make an impact. This was pretty much a throwaway game, however. Brady Quinn started at quarterback for the Broncos, completing 4 of 12 passes with a 2.2-yard average per attempt. The Cardinals were leading 26-0 midway through the fourth quarter when I decided to publish this item rather than wait through the remainder of the game. Bring on the regular season, please.

Keith Hawkins of ESPN Stats & Information passes along this: Ten of the 11 quarterbacks drafted in 2007 have changed teams now that Kevin Kolb is heading to Arizona.

This doesn't reflect poorly on Kolb, who has sat behind quarterbacks with multiple Pro Bowls on their resumes, so much as it does on that quarterback class in general.

JaMarcus Russell and Brady Quinn were the only first-round quarterbacks that year. Kolb, chosen 36th overall and with the fourth pick of the second round, was the third quarterback drafted. John Beck and Drew Stanton joined Kolb as second-rounders that year. Stanton is the only one still with his original team, provided he re-signs, as expected.

A few other notes from Hawkins:

• None of the 11 quarterbacks from the 2007 class has a winning record as a starter.
• Trent Edwards is the only one with to hit double figures in victories as a starter (14-19 record).
• Stanton (2-2) and Troy Smith (4-4) are the only ones without losing records as a starter. Kolb is 3-4.
• Eight of the 11 have started at least one game. Isaiah Stanback, Jeff Rowe and Jordan Palmer have not.
• Among those with starts, Beck is the only one without a victory as a starter (0-4).
• Russell (7-18) and Quinn (3-9) have a combined 10-27 record as starters.

Check out the full list if you've got a strong stomach.

As the Cardinals pointed out in their news release Thursday, Kolb is the only quarterback in Eagles history to pass for at least 300 yards in each of his first two starts. He has been named offensive player of the week in the NFC and has an 81.2 career rating.

John Clayton's take on whether the Philadelphia Eagles should trade Kevin Kolb describes as "good" the chances of an NFC West team acquiring the quarterback.

"While it seems unlikely the Eagles can get a first-round pick in 2011 because the time is running out to get a CBA done before the draft, a first-round pick in 2012 still works," Clayton wrote.

For trading purposes, a first-round pick in 2012 would be worth less than a first-round choice in the current year. Teams interested in trading for Kolb could benefit if a lockout extended past the draft because the Eagles wouldn't be able to command a 2011 draft choice in return.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. previously said he would part with the 25th overall choice for Kolb if he were the Seattle Seahawks.

OK, but what about using that choice for a quarterback in the draft?

Teams selecting quarterbacks in that range have struggled to find good ones. Aaron Rodgers (24th in 2005) and Dan Marino (27th in 1983) stand out as exceptions. The last 10 quarterbacks selected in the 20s: Tim Tebow, Brady Quinn, Rodgers, Jason Campbell, J.P. Losman, Rex Grossman, Jim Druckenmiller, Tommy Maddox, Todd Marinovich and current San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh.

Ken Whisenhunt is right when he says Levi Brown takes more criticism as a high draft choice than he would take as someone selected later in the process.

That's the way it works. The highest picks in a draft class should outperform their peers.

The Arizona Cardinals don't need anyone to remind them that they selected Brown over some All-Pro performers, including Adrian Peterson and Patrick Willis. But it's not as though Brown, a player with 56 consecutive regular-season starts, qualifies as a flat-out bust, either. He moved to left tackle from the right side last season and will stay there.

"He improved last year," Whisenhunt said this week from the NFL owners meeting in New Orleans. "As a left tackle, it's not an easy position to move from right tackle. He will continue to get better. He is a talented football player. The biggest thing he has struggled with is the consistency of his play. But a lot of times you are under the microscope more because you were the fifth pick in the draft."

I would rank Brown, chosen fifth overall in 2007, somewhere around 20th out of 32 first-round picks that year.

Brown has obviously or arguably outperformed the following first-round selections from 2007: JaMarcus Russell, Jamaal Anderson, Ted Ginn Jr., Amobi Okoye, Adam Carriker, Justin Harrell, Jarvis Moss, Aaron Ross, Reggie Nelson, Brady Quinn, Anthony Gonzalez and Craig Davis. Gaines Adams, chosen fourth that year, passed away after Tampa Bay traded him to Chicago.

The following first-rounders from 2007 have obviously or arguably outperformed Brown: Calvin Johnson, Joe Thomas, LaRon Landry, Adrian Peterson, Patrick Willis, Marshawn Lynch, Darrelle Revis, Lawrence Timmons, Leon Hall, Michael Griffin, Dwayne Bowe, Brandon Meriweather, Jon Beason, Anthony Spencer, Robert Meachem, Joe Staley, Ben Grubbs and Greg Olsen.

"The reason we drafted Levi where we did was because we had him rated high enough to go in that position, but we also felt like we had to develop our offensive line and defensive line at that point, because that is where the most critical component of your team," Whisenhunt said. "That is the only way you are going to have a chance to compete. Levi has been a good player. He is often criticized, but I think that comes with being the fifth pick, and I don't understand how you evaluate offensive linemen, because they are not catching passes or running touchdowns in."

Whisenhunt said he thought Brown can and will become an "outstanding" player.

"Any time an offensive lineman gets drafted that high, especially in a fantasy football world where people want you to get dynamic playmakers, you are going to face some kind of criticism," Whisenhunt said. "I have to give Levi some credit. As tough as it's been, he hasn't let it affect him. He has continued to work and get better and I think this will be a big year for him. This is a chance for him to show that he can play this position very well."

Clinching the NFC West title and winning a playoff game has dropped the Seattle Seahawks from eighth to 25th in the 2011 NFL draft order.

The slide will continue with every additional Seattle victory.

Beating St. Louis and New Orleans over the last two weeks has not filled draft needs, of course. Seattle still needs to identify its long-term quarterback. With that in mind, I've put together two charts showing quarterbacks drafted around where Seattle could have and currently would select.

The first chart shows every quarterback since 1990 drafted between the fifth and 15th overall choices, including six selected between fifth and seventh. Seattle would have been drafting in this general range if St. Louis had won the NFC West.

Arizona (fifth) and San Francisco (seventh) hold picks in this range, so the chart adds context for their choices as well.

Five of the 11 quarterbacks drafted fifth to 15th since 1990 have earned Pro Bowl honors. The three with plus signs next to their career start totals appear likely to start considerably more games in the future.

As the second chart shows, one of the nine quarterbacks drafted 20th through 30th since 1990 has earned Pro Bowl honors. One other, Tim Tebow, remains early enough in his career to qualify as a potential candidate for such honors down the road. Again, plus signs highlight totals likely to increase substantially over time.

Aaron Rodgers, the lone Pro Bowl choice from this group so far, was an exception as the 24th player chosen in the 2005 draft.

NFL teams have drafted 22 quarterbacks among the top four choices since 1990. I'll list them below by overall draft spot.

First overall: Sam Bradford, Matthew Stafford, JaMarcus Russell, Alex Smith, Eli Manning, Carson Palmer, David Carr, Michael Vick, Tim Couch, Peyton Manning, Drew Bledsoe, Jeff George.

Second overall: Donovan McNabb, Ryan Leaf, Rick Mirer.

Third overall: Matt Ryan, Vince Young, Joey Harrington, Akili Smith, Steve McNair, Heath Shuler.

Fourth overall: Philip Rivers.

The first regular-season NFC West chat of 2010 has come and gone. Transcript here. Highlights below:

Todd (Phoenix,AZ): Mike, what's your true gut feeling about our starting QB Derek Anderson? Do you think coach Chris Miller is gonna put the "touch" in D.A.'s touchdowns?

Mike Sando: My gut feeling is that Anderson will have some issues with consistency, but he'll provide some leadership from the position and hit some throws downfield, allowing Larry Fitzgerald to improve his yards per catch from last season. Anderson was in a weird situation in Cleveland where the team needed to look at Brady Quinn. There were some personnel issues as well. Those factors mitigate, to a degree, the shaky numbers Anderson put up following his one strong season. I do not think he will suddenly become a highly accurate quarterback. Guys can practice fundamentals, but it's harder to stick with those fundamentals under pressure.

Justin (San Francisco): Mike, I love your blog and have followed you for more than a decade as a diehard Seahawks fan. I have two questions for you. First, what do you think of the unconventional approach the Seahawks have used with picking up new players a week before the season starts. Second, what are the odds that Hasselbeck is actually able to walk away from this game with no left side of his offensive line going against a very tough, physical 49ers team? Thanks!

Mike Sando: Thanks, Justin. Dumping T.J. Houshmandzadeh despite $7 million in guaranteed salary was unconventional. Most of the other moves involved players along the fringes of the roster. It reflects poorly on the state of the roster. It also shows that the new leadership has the freedom to shake up things. The Seahawks were a bad team the last couple seasons, so changes should be expected. The issues on the offensive line, compounded by Russell Okung's injury, make me think we could see some bad offense early in the season. Unless the line situation changes, Hasselbeck will probably have to deal with injuries again this season.

James (Tel Aviv, Israel ): Hey Sando, love the blog and follow it religiously. As a die-hard Niner fan who is excited for the upcoming season, I have a question about the Niners bringing in Troy Smith. I loved him as a college QB and I thought he could surprise as a pro. Are the Niners looking at him as a possible long-term solution for the QB position? I mean, if Alex struggles, do you see Coach Singletary testing Troy Smith to see what he's got?

Mike Sando: Yeah, the 49ers do hope Troy Smith can give them a fall-back option should Alex Smith struggle. I could certainly see them giving Troy a chance at that point. David Carr is the No. 2, so he would probably get first crack at it, but if Troy Smith shows Singletary something, I could see Singletary letting him play under the circumstances you described. Alex Smith is the undisputed starter right now, however.

Brent (LA): Hey Mike. I'm a Niner fan, but I think the Rams could actually get second in the division fairly easily. They have an easy schedule and things are exciting in St. Louis with Sam Bradford giving the players around him a reason for hope. They have a better O-line than Seattle, arguably the best RB in the division and compared to Arizona a much better QB situation (I'd take Bradford over Derek Anderson any day.) Bradford strikes me as a player who finds whoever is open and doesn't necessarily need a star wideout. If him and Steven Jackson can put up 21 points a game for at least 12 of 16 games, I think they win 6 or 7. Am I crazy?

Mike Sando: Crazy? I would not go that far. The Rams do have an easier home schedule this season, and I think they'll win a few games as a result. I would put third place within the Rams' reach if things fall right for them and Bradford outperforms rookie expectations.

We had more Rams questions than usual during this chat. I'll take that as a sign of renewed hope.

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- This NFL stuff is all new for Sam Bradford.

Looking through the St. Louis Rams' roster, however, I noticed a long list of teammates with experience breaking in highly drafted quarterbacks.

They offered insights into their experiences and shared their thoughts on Bradford, the first player chosen in the 2010 NFL draft.

A sampling:

Jacob Bell, Rams guard

Played with: Vince Young and the 2006 Tennessee Titans

Background: Young started 13 games as a rookie. The team finished 8-8 overall. Young completed 51 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns, 13 interceptions and a 66.7 rating

Bell's take: "We were 8-8 that year. We relied on just minimizing mistakes. Vince is a different type guy than Bradford, though. Vince has a lot of, I don't know how you would say it, potential to be this great quarterback. I think Bradford is more developed as far as knowing the game at the quarterback position. But Vince has a lot of things Bradford doesn't have. Bradford has things that he doesn't have.

"In the huddle, they are different. Vince would come in and be a little bit more nervous. He couldn't recite the plays as well. We would have to finish his sentences for him sometimes, whereas Bradford comes in and he's Joe Cool. He controls the huddle, real serious, real calm, knows the play verbatim. Vince might come in a little looser. He might be joking around, laughing. Two totally different guys.

"At the end of the day, they are both winners who came from winning programs. It's our job to keep him cool. You can tell when quarterbacks get hit and they get flustered, they are not the same guy. They are not cool, calm and collected. They are not joking around. They are just different people. That is a big thing for young quarterbacks, knowing they are protected, knowing that they don't have to carry the game, that we have a running back in Steven Jackson and in Tennessee we had Travis Henry, Chris Brown -- solid running backs and a good defense."

---

Billy Bajema, Rams tight end

Played with: Alex Smith and the 2005 San Francisco 49ers

Background: Smith started seven games as a rookie. The team finished 4-12 overall. Smith completed 50.9 percent of his passes with one touchdown, 11 interceptions and a 40.8 rating

Bajema's take: "Sometimes those things are so hard to put a finger on. Alex was smart and threw the ball well. I just think as an offense we struggled and it took us a while to get it going. To put a finger on why, it's tough to do. The most important thing is, as a team, rallying behind those guys, giving them the support. Every quarterback coming in faces a little bit of a learning curve. Some guys pick it up faster than others and are successful faster than others. Offensively, for the first couple years I was there, we were just kind of getting going.

"[Bradford] is going to be very good. Everybody is real excited about him. He puts it on the money, he is smart, he is a guy that everybody feels like is going to be a really good player. He's not a guy that is real loud and in people's faces, but he does a good job taking command when he is in the huddle, establishing who is in charge of the huddle. Everybody respects him and I think that is what is important, to just take command. He does a good job of that."

---

Jason Brown, Rams center

Played with: Joe Flacco and the 2008 Baltimore Ravens

Background: Flacco started all 16 games as a rookie. The team finished 11-5 overall. Flacco completed 60 percent of his passes with 14 touchdowns, 12 interceptions and an 80.3 rating

Brown's take: "When we were in Baltimore with Flacco, they kept the starters in every preseason game in 2008 for three quarters, even the last one, when you expect, 'Oh, yeah, the starters, you go out there for a series.' No. We were out there for three quarters to make sure that young quarterback gets the quality reps and the protection he deserves so he can develop. You cannot get enough quality reps because when the season comes, there is no slowing down. That season, opening kickoff, is going to be there before you know it. That is our main focus now, making sure we get Sam some quality reps, same thing we did in Baltimore.

"The main thing I see in Joe, the same thing I see in Sam, it's just the poise that they bring. Of course, there is the great expectations for these highly drafted young quarterbacks coming out. There is a lot of pressure on them to get in early and compete. But yet I have seen both of them handle it in stride. Sam is a very, very, very mature young man. Very mature. The only thing I had to get on Sam about, and I kind of didn't want to tell him about it because I knew he would eventually break it, the first time, earlier this summer, when we were getting under center, I knew that Sam was nervous. You couldn't see it on his face, but I knew he was nervous because when he got under center and put his hand underneath my rear end, his hand was shaking. It was quivering. It was shaking. And of course, I didn't say anything, but it's a very awkward feeling for me as well when someone has their hand shaking underneath your rear end. It's funny, I'm telling you this, but I still haven't told it to Sam. But of course that was just like some of the first day, welcome to the NFL jitters. He hasn't done that for quite some time. He's human. He definitely is human.

"And us as offensive linemen, teammates, friends, the only thing we can do, the best thing we can do is to do our jobs the best that we can to make sure that he is comfortable back in the pocket and allowing him to develop as a young quarterback properly. That is the same pressure we put on us in Baltimore."

---

James Hall, Rams defensive end

Played with: Joey Harrington and the 2002 Detroit Lions

Background: Harrington started 12 games as a rookie. The team finished 3-13 overall. Harrington completed 50.1 percent of his passes with 12 touchdowns, 16 interceptions and a 59.9 rating

Hall's take: "Relative to Harrington, I think Sam probably has better God-given tools than Joey. Joey is a great guy, very professional. Sam is a great guy, very professional. From what I've heard about Sam, he has a little bit of a killer instinct. He is a competitor. He has come along real well in training camp. The sky is the limit for him. He has an accurate arm and a strong arm and so far has been making smart decisions. The guy is very confident, especially for a young guy. He seems very poised, doesn't seem rattled by anything, shaken, and that is always a great sign."

---

Hank Fraley, Rams backup center

Played with: Brady Quinn and the 2007 Cleveland Browns

Background: Quinn started no games as a rookie. The team finished 10-6 overall. Quinn completed 3 of 8 passes for 45 yards and a 56.8 rating

Fraley's take: "Sam, I know he is doing everything right. He is preparing himself, studying, he is poised in the huddle, he is doing it the right way. That is all you can ask. He is making the right reads. I think he is going to be a very good quarterback for a long time in this league based on what I have seen.

"He just comes out and works hard, he gets in his playbook, he is doing the film study, he gets with A.J. [Feeley], he gets with his coaches. He may have a good day today, but he wants to make sure he proves it tomorrow. He wants to stay consistent and that is how you become a better player. Just working with him, being in there at center with him, looking at blitzes and stuff like that, he wants to understand why they are blitzing that way or why they are lined up like that and what they can do out of it. Those are things he has asked me."

---

Fred Robbins, Rams defensive tackle

Played with: Eli Manning and the 2004 New York Giants

Background: Manning started seven games as a rookie. The team finished 6-10 overall. Manning completed 48.2 percent of his passes with six touchdowns, nine interceptions and a 55.4 rating

Robbins' take: "Sam is doing some good things, stepping right in, making good throws -- things you do not expect from a rookie. He’s got a lot of eyes on him, but he stepped in and did some good things. What surprised me was just how quick he is picking up to the NFL tempo, the NFL speed and everything that way. He’s stepping in and doing a good job and the things he does on the practice field make it seem like he is not a rookie. We have a veteran [in Feeley] and one of the best running backs in the game in Steven Jackson. That allows him to take a little pressure off himself. He has shown [in practice] he really can play. Once he gets that game speed against another team and gets that feel for it, he’s going to do just fine."

ESPN.com NFL Power Ranking (pre-camp): 32

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The quivering hand pressed against Jason Brown's backside belonged to the first player chosen in the 2010 NFL draft.

Alas, the week before St. Louis Rams training camp was tough on quarterback Sam Bradford's nerves.

The No. 1 overall draft choice could not be sure when his agent and the team would reach a contract agreement, and by the time Bradford finally arrived, the other quarterbacks had a couple days' head start on him. All eyes were on the franchise savior from Oklahoma when Bradford lowered himself under center for the first time during camp.

Bradford might have appeared cool and in command from afar, but one veteran teammate had a better, uh, feel for the situation.

"You couldn't see it on his face, but I knew he was nervous because when he got under center and put his hand underneath my rear end, his hand was shaking -- it was quivering," Brown said. "And of course, I didn't say anything, but it's a very awkward feeling for me as well when someone has their hand shaking underneath your rear end."

Brown didn't say anything to Bradford because he figured the quarterback would settle down quickly. Bradford did, and he appears well on his way to earning the starting job heading into the regular season.

In fact, if anyone has reason to quiver at this point in camp, it's the defensive backs trying to defend passes they sometimes do not see coming -- as when Bradford laced one between Oshiomogho Atogwe and Craig Dahl before the safeties even turned around. It's not Bradford's accuracy or timing that have caught defensive backs' attention so much as the combination of those all-important quarterback traits. Early indications suggest the Rams could have the best quarterback in the division sooner rather than later.

"You see a lot of greatness in him -- what he brings, his skill set, very talented, very intelligent," Atogwe said.

Several of Bradford's teammates have experience breaking in first-round quarterbacks elsewhere. Brown (Joe Flacco), tight end Billy Bajema (Alex Smith), center Hank Fraley (Brady Quinn), defensive end James Hall (Joey Harrington), defensive tackle Fred Robbins (Eli Manning) and guard Jacob Bell (Vince Young) pointed to Bradford's maturity, intelligence, competitiveness, demeanor and accuracy.

The way they freely praised Bradford suggested genuine excitement, not the obligatory kind.

"I played with Steve McNair [in Tennessee] and with Ben Roethlisberger [at Miami (Ohio)]," Bell said, "and I thought, 'This guy, the way he throws the ball, man, I haven't seen anybody in person like that on the practice field, ever.' "

THREE HOT ISSUES

1. When will Bradford become the starter? It's an upset if Bradford isn't the No. 1 quarterback from the beginning of the regular season even though veteran A.J. Feeley remains the starter for now. Feeley and Bradford are sharing first- and second-team reps in practice. The team doesn't want to rush Bradford, but all signs point to the rookie grasping the offense quickly. The Rams think he's mature enough to handle what figures to be a rough rookie season. Why delay the inevitable if Bradford is looking good?

2. Can this team defend the pass? The Rams appeared to beef up the middle of their defense by adding Robbins, but the NFL is a passing league and the Rams could struggle to get pressure consistently. They have two pass-rushers -- Chris Long and Hall -- and their secondary has battled injuries throughout camp. Long should continue his improvement. Hall's sacks fell off to 4.5 last season as he transitioned from backup to starter. He is 33 years old. Kevin Dockery has exceeded expectations at cornerback, where rookie Jerome Murphy has also shown promise. But with Atogwe still rounding into form following injury, the secondary is a bit of a question mark.

3. What happens if Steven Jackson gets hurt again? The Rams do not have a proven running threat behind Jackson, even though 2009 seventh-round draft pick Chris Ogbonnaya performed well against the Arizona Cardinals late last season. Ogbonnaya might be a good third-down back because he protects the passer well and can catch the ball, but the Rams could be in trouble if they needed a starter to replace Jackson for a few games. Jackson appears fully healthy so far, but he's coming off back surgery. Brian Westbrook's decision to sign with the 49ers hurt, but the Rams saw him mostly as a third-down back at this stage of his career, anyway. Expect the Rams to monitor the waiver wire for running backs as teams reduce to 53 players on Sept. 4.

BIGGEST SURPRISE

Danny Amendola. There's enough uncertainty at receiver for this position to qualify under the "Hottest Questions" heading, but Amendola appears to have found a home as the slot receiver in the Rams' personnel groupings with more than two wideouts. Injuries forced Amendola to play multiple positions last season. Camp practices have convinced me -- and the Rams -- that Amendola's quickness can make him a threat. Said Feeley: "He has polished his game. Some of these guys discover themselves after a year of playing and realizing what they can do. The guy is a special player. The guy is going to make plays and have a lot of catches this year ... a poor man's Wes Welker trying to establish himself. He fits that mold right now. The guy is cat quick."

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

Offensive line continuity. The way the Rams' line struggled during the exhibition opener against Minnesota was deceiving. Rookie Rodger Saffold was making his first start at left tackle (against Jared Allen, no less). Right tackle Jason Smith had only recently returned from injury and the team knew he might wear down as the game progressed. Brown was filling in at right guard. These mitigating factors point to a broader problem: continuity. Only this week have the Rams gotten their projected starting five linemen on the field together. That must change as the Bradford era gets under way.

OBSERVATION DECK

• Multiple fights broke out during a recent Rams practice and that has to be a welcome sign for a team without enforcer types. The Rams have spent the past couple of years putting into place building-block players with apparently solid character. Long, Smith and James Laurinaitis qualify as "safe" draft choices along those lines. The team has now added some veteran seasoning -- think Robbins, Feeley, Na'il Diggs and Fraley -- but there's still something missing. The next step for St. Louis could be to add some players with a few rough edges. The best teams tend to have a few good players teammates fear. The Rams need more of them.
• Jackson rehabbed from back surgery with a vengeance and he's looking strong as ever. Jackson also sounds happy. He clearly appreciates coach Steve Spagnuolo's evolving approach to training camp. Spagnuolo polled coaches and players anonymously for ideas after last season. Some complained that a tough 2009 training camp featuring live tackling left the team with weary legs heading into Week 1. Spagnuolo listened, putting limits on some of the contact and giving players more time between practices. Longer term, Spagnuolo wants to reach a point where young players know how to practice without the staff having to manufacture intensity.
• Looks like the Rams might find a role in their offense for rookie tight end Fendi Onobun. Considered a project coming out of college, Onobun has shown he's further along than the Rams anticipated. The leaping end-zone grab he made in practice this week wasn't out of the ordinary for Onobun. Rookies often must contribute on special teams to earn spots on the 45-man game-day roster. Onobun made a positive impression as a gunner in the exhibition opener.
• Rookie receiver Mardy Gilyard will bring needed swagger if his body holds up. Gilyard has his own style and doesn't seem to worry about what others think. He practices wearing abbreviated gym shorts over bicycle shorts for a distinctive 1980s look. Gilyard has stepped up his production in practice this week. An arm injury remains a potential concern.
• Long appears more comfortable with himself and his status on the team. As a rookie and even last season, I sensed Long felt the pressure of being a No. 2 overall draft choice, to the point that he sometimes sounded apologetic about it while finding his way as a pro. Long showed obvious improvement late last season, however, and he appears to be asserting himself more readily. He played a prominent role in recent camp fights and called out Bajema for chipping him unexpectedly.
• After last season, the Rams were thinking receiver Brandon Gibson might develop into an important part of their offense. They can't be so sure at this point because Gibson has missed an extended period with a hamstring injury. The Rams need Gibson to get on the field and produce during preseason. The team is cautiously optimistic about some of its prospects at receiver, but injuries were a concern last season. Donnie Avery, who bulked up this offseason to become more durable, took a hard shot in practice and came back strong the next play. Rookie free agent Dominique Curry has great size (6-foot-2, 224 pounds) and stood out at times. But I sense the Rams' fingers are crossed at this position. "If they play to their ability, we'll be OK," general manager Billy Devaney said.
• Atogwe dropped multiple interception chances in practice, which is unusual for him. He's among the team's more conscientious players, though. Atogwe stayed after every practice I watched to work on catching passes. He was the last guy out there.
• The Rams hoped to get something from linebacker Bobby Carpenter after acquiring him from Dallas in the Alex Barron trade. That's a tough sell at this point. Carpenter isn't working with the starters. The first time I noticed Carpenter in practice was when someone knocked him on his back.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill struck a deal with prosecutors that could allow him to escape domestic-violence charges. O'Neil: "According Lynn Moberly, the prosecutor in this case, Hill will be on court probation for the next 18 months. He must complete a one-year state-certified domestic-violence treatment program. He is to have no law violations and possess no weapons over the next 18 months." The next question: whether the NFL will impose additional punishment based on the agreement. The league already suspended Hill for the regular-season opener.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Seahawks rookie Golden Tate is working to master the nuances of route running, and it's not easy. One question I have is whether quarterback Matt Hasselbeck will trust an imprecise route runner during real games. Hasselbeck likes to know exactly where his receivers will be. Any hesitation or uncertainty could make it tougher for him to trust a receiver.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune sees similarities between Seahawks rookie Walter Thurmond and a young Marcus Trufant. Coach Pete Carroll: "He’s just an active, physical kid and he continues to make things happen. So that’s a great sign for us, and is just another great pickup for us, I hope, if he can continue to do that stuff."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says former 49ers linebacker Larry Grant is making welcome contributions to the Rams. Grant, Na'il Diggs and James Laurinaitis are the starting linebackers. Laurinaitis: "Larry has an unbelievable amount of talent. He's very skilled. It's always just been little things here and there -- little mental lapses here and there. I'm just trying to stay on him more to make sure those mental lapses don't happen."

Also from the Post-Dispatch: a look at surprise players.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the NFL needs to approve Stan Kroenke as the next majority owner of the Rams.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams rookie receiver Mardy Gilyard has high expectations for himself.

Taylor Price of 49ers.com says quarterback Alex Smith took charge during practice, rallying teammates after a rough stretch. Smith: "We were definitely flat to start the day. We weren’t competitive enough and we weren’t getting it done. I just brought them all up and said we have to have pride in what we’re doing."

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle calls 49ers kicker Joe Nedney "decade-to-decade" with a groin injury that has bothered him since childhood. Nedney: "When I was 17, I tore it learning how to kick the football," Nedney said after kicking live for the first time in training camp. "And, like a dumb kid, just kicked right through it, right through it, and it never healed. My body ended up calcifying the wound so now I've got a bone basically right in the middle of the muscle and I can't take it out."

Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle says former 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia is continuing his career with the UFL. Garcia: "I am so ready and excited. I know that the state of Nebraska has a great passion for football and I can already see that the people of Omaha have fully embraced the Nighthawks. I still have the drive, commitment, and ability to play this game at the highest level and one thing that I definitely share with the people of Omaha is a passion for the game."

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat provides a photo showing one of the 49ers' practice fields without a 30-yard line.

Also from Barber: The 49ers' defense prevailed during 2-minute work.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com casts the 49ers' decision to release receiver Brandon Jones as the latest setback for former general manager Scot McCloughan. New leadership tends to bring change. In this case, Jones couldn't stay healthy and the team didn't need him as much after drafting Michael Crabtree.

Also from Maiocco: Brian Westbrook got some second-team reps in practice.

More from Maiocco: Expect third-stringers Nate Davis and Anthony Dixon to get more work as the exhibition season progresses.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee quotes 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye as saying receiver Dominique Zeigler is enjoying a strong camp once again. An injury derailed Zeigler last summer.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic sizes up Cardinals backup quarterback Derek Anderson. Somers: "What the Cardinals don't know is if Anderson can push Matt Leinart for the starting job, or successfully replace him if the need arises. Anderson's career path charts like a tech stock, reaching amazing highs and stunning lows. In four seasons with the Browns, he went from savior to stiff in the judgment of fans. In 2007, he started 15 games, helping the Browns to a 10-6 record and making it to the Pro Bowl, due in part to injuries to other quarterbacks. The following year, however, he was replaced by Brady Quinn, a first-round pick, and the two jostled for the position through 2009."

Also from Somers: The Cardinals broke the monotony of camp with a trip to the movies.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says free-agent receiver Max Komar shined during the Cardinals' final night practice of training camp.

Also from Urban: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt waved off a 42-yard touchdown pass in practice just to see how Matt Leinart would react. Whisenhunt: "I liked what I saw."

More from Urban: Cardinals notes, including one about the team wearing its alternative black jerseys against Washington during the preseason.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' leadership has been too conservative in rebuilding the team, and that must change in the 2010 draft. Miklasz: "At this rate the rebuilding project will be completed in time for the 2029 season. This safety-first philosophy is so pronounced at Rams Park, I wouldn't be surprised to see general manager Billy Devaney and head coach Steve Spagnuolo wearing biohazard suits the next time they step forward to announce a personnel move." Miklasz thinks the team should draft Sam Bradford.

Howard Balzer and Jim Rodenbush of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat advocate Bradford and Ndamukong Suh, respectively, as the Rams' choice at No. 1. Balzer: "Balance it. A great defensive tackle, or a great quarterback. Simply stated, the great quarterback will help win more games. Heck, if it’s a balance between a great defensive tackle or a very good quarterback, the quarterback is still more important. That’s why, when Devaney polled his scouts and coaches Wednesday, asking who they would take No. 1, it was virtually unanimous. That’s why the name called at about 6:40 Thursday night will be Sam Bradford."

Also from Balzer: a mock draft showing what he thinks teams should do, not what they are likely to do.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are expecting a more stressful draft given the new format. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "It will be more nerve-racking, especially if you ... have your eye on a particular player and you have to wait all through the night and the next day before you know what is going to happen."

Also from Somers: The Cardinals are expected to unveil an alternate jersey to be worn once during the exhibition season and twice during the regular season.

More from Somers: a look at risks associated with any pursuit of Ben Roethlisberger.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says it's tough to know which players will be available to Arizona at No. 26.

Also from Urban (PDF): He sends linebacker Daryl Washington to Arizona with the 26th overall choice.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers theories on reports suggesting the 49ers have interest in Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Barrows: "If the 49ers felt that Jimmy Clausen was a starter-caliber quarterback, they should take him at pick No. 13. The scouts/analysts I've talked to have Clausen rated highly, and they say there are fewer questions about him than with (Brady) Quinn and (Aaron) Rodgers. What we don't know, of course, is how the 49ers have Clausen rated."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat considers offensive options for the 49ers in the draft. He thinks Maurkice Pouncey could make more sense than Mike Iupati. Maiocco: "While the 49ers must come away with a starter at right tackle, it's not as if they can't use help at the other positions on the offensive line, too. Iupati is a guard. Perhaps, he could transition to right tackle. But that would not be a Year 1 development. That would be far down the road. Pouncey, likewise, would start out at guard. He would transition in 2011 or 2012 to center to take the place of Eric Heitmann. The more I think of this scenario, the more I think the 49ers could easily select Pouncey. (And my final-final mock draft for tomorrow's newspaper is likely to reflect that.)"

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News has this to say about Clausen: "Talking with multiple NFL sources, it looks like the 49ers and Seahawks could be the two key players in Clausen’s final destination. Both teams have two 1st-round picks, neither seems totally desperate for a QB (Seattle has Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst, the 49ers have Alex Smith and David Carr), but both do have a need to find a QB at some point. They’re in the same division, you might have realized. I’ve heard Pete Carroll is a Clausen fan, as Peter King has said. The Seahawks are at 6 and 14. The 49ers are at 13 and 17. I’ve heard many smart people say that if Clausen is there at 13, the 49ers will take somebody else and wait to take Clausen at 17 if he lasts that long."

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers should trade down to add picks, then collect building blocks, not showpieces. Cohn: "There is talk the 49ers will use (waste) one of their first-round picks on Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen if he’s available. Nuts to that. The 49ers need to embrace the basics of team building, and that means getting grunts who get down and dirty. They took Michael Crabtree last year and had to endure his ridiculous holdout and still they couldn’t make the playoffs. They have to build a team the right way."

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says Carroll's pre-draft tweeting reflects a different kind of coach. Brewer: "the person who has the most to lose seems to be the loosest. Seahawks fans have been talking about this draft since last October, when it became obvious early last season that the franchise would be drafting high. The Seahawks earned the No. 6 pick by virtue of their 5-11 record in 2009, and they also have Denver's first-round selection, which is No. 14 overall. With those two picks, Seattle has a chance to own Thursday night. Or fail dramatically."

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com expects the Seahawks to make trades during the draft because it's in their best interests and it's consistent with how general manager John Schneider likes to operate. Johns: "It's a debate of quantity vs. quality at times, but Schneider firmly believes if a team scouts well and understands the draft board and who will be available in later picks, it is well worth the risk of giving up higher choices in exchange for adding more options later."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune predicts which players the Seahawks might draft by round. Russell Okung and Taylor Mays are his top two choices, with Seattle potentially trading down before drafting the latter.

Also from Williams: Draft analyst Rob Rang says the Seahawks would be more likely to take Bryan Bulaga at No. 14 than No. 6 based on the tackle's athletic ability.

John Morgan of Field Gulls gives the Seahawks Eric Berry and C.J. Spiller in his latest Seattle-centric mock draft.

Where Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen lands in the 2010 NFL draft could affect how well the Seahawks and 49ers protect their quarterbacks for years to come.

A couple draft-day scenarios came to mind after Washington acquired Donovan McNabb from Philadelphia in what I would consider the most significant move of this NFL offseason.

Both scenarios affected Seattle and San Francisco.

Scenario No. 1

Let's say the Redskins, having addressed their quarterback situation with McNabb, draft a tackle at No. 4. The Chiefs, having addressed their quarterback situation with Matt Cassel, draft a tackle at No. 5.

Seattle might then have to decide between taking the third-best tackle and the highest-rated player at another position. Taking the tackle becomes tougher to do under that scenario, particularly for a team that values offensive linemen differently (see the Rob Sims trade and how Alex Gibbs' teams have drafted at the position).

Scenario No. 2

Clausen falls past the Redskins at No. 4 and way, way down into the bottom third of the first round.

He becomes the next Brady Quinn, who went 22nd to Cleveland in 2007 even though some thought the Notre Dame quarterback might be a top-5 choice, mostly because he was a quarterback and teams value quarterbacks.

Under this scenario, let's say the Redskins take a tackle fourth, the Chiefs take one fifth, Oakland takes one at No. 8 and Buffalo takes one at No. 9. Let's also say Seattle takes safety Eric Berry or someone other than a tackle at No. 6.

Four tackles would be gone before the 49ers picked at No. 13.

If the 49ers drafted one anyway, they might be overvaluing a right tackle to fill a need. But with another choice at No. 17, they could still get value in the first round.

Five tackles would be off the board when Seattle chose at No. 14, and the Seahawks still would not have addressed their offensive line.

I wonder if Seattle might then trade back from No. 14, taking a tackle later in the first round while adding a second-round choice. Seattle could then draft for value in the second round while still having ammunition to consider making a trade for Broncos receiver Brandon Marshall.

Which is another discussion entirely.

NFL offseasons offer hope, one reason fans follow free agency and the draft with so much interest. Teams are hoping right along with them.

That was the common thread running through the three newest items in the NFC West mailbag even though the subjects differed.

Dan from California writes: Hi Mike, I'm wondering why the Seahawks had/have so little interest in the two Browns QBs but they are going after an unproven guy like Charlie Whitehurst. Derek Anderson would just cost money. Brady Quinn went for a seventh-round pick (the same as Seneca Wallace -- why didn't they swap), while Whitehurst will cost a third-round pick! I know you'll say they like Whitehurst better than Anderson or Quinn, but why? What are they seeing that the rest of us aren't?

Mike Sando: The Seahawks have shown interest in Anderson and they do not even have a third-round choice to offer for Whitehurst, but those are not the points I want to focus upon here. I think the Seahawks like Whitehurst precisely because he has not played. The slate appears blank. There's no evidence against him. Teams see hope in the unknown.

---

Colton from Friendsville, Pa., writes: I was wondering why nobody seems to make a move in the RFA market. You would think the investment of picks into more proven commodities would be appealing. I suppose you could make the case that they require an almost immediate contract negotiation, but then again, the same would apply to a rookie.

Mike Sando: Those unused draft choices offer more hope. Teams value those picks for what they might become. The upside appears unlimited before a draft. Teams see the limitations when they look at the "proven commodities" you mentioned. They also figure -- correctly in some cases -- that drafting a player affords more return on the dollar for a player's prime years.

---

Drew from Seattle writes: Can you give me any possible or logical reasoning for thinking either Alex Smith or David Carr could be successful? There is a reason Carr is still trying to find a team to start for -- he is no good. Smith has already proven he doesn't have the skills to be a reliable starter.

Not only are they wasting time, there is nothing to look foward to in the future because they continue to try and band-aid the situation and now it's just getting worse. You could argue that Alex Smith is a worse pick than Ryan Leaf was given that they have refused to cut ties and move on. He is still a thorn in the offense five years later.

Mike Sando: The 49ers traded Shaun Hill because they thought they had already seen all he could offer, and it wasn't good enough for them. They added David Carr because they think Carr, a No. 1 overall draft choice, hasn't showed all he can offer (even though Carr has played far more extensively than Hill). It's the allure of the unknown -- what a highly drafted player might do if the circumstances are right -- that gets the 49ers' excited.

Same thing goes for Smith. He was a No. 1 overall choice and he hasn't started a full season in the offensive system he ran the previous year. Might he finally break through if given that chance? The 49ers have enough hope to give him another try. In Smith's case, though, the 49ers do know and acknowledge his limitations. That is why they haven't extended his contract past 2010 and why they'll probably move on to the next quarterback without hesitation if Smith doesn't seize the opportunity this season.

In the meantime, they can hope Smith or Carr finally breaks through.

There's a reason Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt hasn't fully committed to Matt Leinart as the team's starter for 2009.

Leinart hasn't yet earned the endorsement.

Whisenhunt, speaking Tuesday on XTRA910 radio in Phoenix, said the Cardinals would sign a quarterback to compete with Leinart. Not to back up Leinart, but to fight for the job. Whisenhunt said he has a "great deal" of confidence in Leinart, but he also told Leinart the team would bring in competition.

The Cardinals would hand the job to Leinart, Whisenhunt said, when "Matt goes to three Pro Bowls" and the Super Bowl, as predecessor Kurt Warner did.

Whisenhunt promotes competition throughout the roster.

Some coaches insist upon clarity at quarterback. That was always important to Mike Holmgren, who reiterated the philosophy at the NFL combine when explaining one reason the Browns would not keep both Brady Quinn and Derek Anderson.

Whisenhunt's approach has served the Cardinals well. Even Warner had to earn the starting job heading into the 2008 season. Whisenhunt's insistence upon placing conditions on the job was helpful, I thought, in convincing the previously freewheeling Warner to do a better job protecting the football.

I'm not sure how well the approach is suited for younger quarterbacks trying to find their way. Some might benefit from a stronger endorsement. That was my thinking on the 49ers' handling of Alex Smith a few years ago.