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The Seattle Seahawks wanted to keep Red Bryant, but they weren't going to name the big defensive end their franchise player.

The decision carried risk as Bryant headed toward free agency, but it all worked out in the end. The team reached agreement with Bryant on a five-year deal worth $35 million, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Bryant would have received $10.6 million for one season as a franchise player, setting an inflated average for any long-term deal.

Seattle has now re-signed its top free-agent defensive lineman in back-to-back offseasons. Brandon Mebane re-signed with the team a year ago.

The Seahawks and Bryant, 27, were the best fit for one another. Coach Pete Carroll and defensive coordinator Gus Bradley created a role for Bryant with the former defensive tackle's specific skills in mind. Bryant lined up over the tight end as a five-technique lineman, anchoring a Seattle run defense that ranked 15th in total rushing yards allowed and fourth in yards per carry allowed. Bryant played about two-thirds of the defensive snaps.

Seattle has now re-signed its top two free agents. Marshawn Lynch was the other. Finding pass-rush help remains a priority, but the Seahawks were not among the teams linked to Mario Williams as the signing period opened.

The Seahawks valued Bryant not only for his strength against the run, but also for his affable personality in the locker room.

» AFC Free-Agency Primer: East | West | North | South » NFC: East | West | North | South

Free agency begins Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET

Arizona Cardinals

Key free agents: DE Calais Campbell (franchise tag), CB Richard Marshall, OLB Clark Haggans, WR Early Doucet, T Brandon Keith, G Deuce Lutui, K Jay Feely.

Where they stand: A strong finish to the 2011 season on defense gives the Cardinals a glass-half-full feel heading into free agency. Going from 1-6 to 8-8 was an impressive achievement. Arizona does have serious concerns on its offensive line. The situation at tackle is particularly questionable even if Levi Brown returns (and maybe especially if he returns, depending on your view). The line concerns might actually dissipate some if the team lands Peyton Manning, a quarterback with the ability to beat pressure with quick throws. But tackle is still an area that needs addressing for the long term. Injuries throughout the offensive backfield raise questions about that area as well. Kevin Kolb (concussion), Beanie Wells (knee), Ryan Williams (knee) and Anthony Sherman (ankle) missed extensive time or played at a diminished level for stretches.

What to expect: The Cardinals are one of the teams chasing Manning. That pursuit could consume them for the short term. Landing Manning would signal the end for Kolb in Arizona. The Cardinals have until March 17 to exercise a $7 million option on Kolb, the quarterback they acquired from Philadelphia for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a fat contract. I'm expecting a resolution to Manning's situation before the Kolb bonus comes due simply because interest in Manning should be high enough to accelerate the process. The Cardinals had about $3 million in salary-cap space entering the week, according to ESPN's John Clayton. That figure could increase substantially once the team releases Brown or reworks his contract. Arizona still has strong coaching ties to Pittsburgh on both sides of the ball, but it's an upset if the Cardinals seriously pursue any of the aging veterans recently released by the Steelers. Developing young talent is the priority now. Re-signing Marshall, who fared well at corner, should be a priority. Does free-agent linebacker Stewart Bradley still factor prominently into the team's plans, particularly at such a high price?

St. Louis Rams

Key free agents: WR Brandon Lloyd, G Jacob Bell, CB Justin King, OL Adam Goldberg, LB Chris Chamberlain, G Tony Wragge, TE Billy Bajema, WR Mark Clayton, DT Gary Gibson, P Donnie Jones.

Where they stand: The Rams have no interest in staying the course from a personnel standpoint after going 15-65 over the past five seasons. They will seek fresh talent almost across the board as Jeff Fisher's new coaching staff seeks players for its schemes. The Rams are seeking playmakers in particular, starting at wide receiver. The offensive line needs addressing, although the Rams might try to minimize the turnover at offensive tackle for the short term, figuring they cannot afford to create new needs. But former starting center Jason Brown, benched last season, appears unlikely to return. The team also needs two starting outside linebackers, starting defensive tackles and perhaps two starting cornerbacks on defense.

What to expect: Mass roster turnover. I could see the team retaining as few as one or two players from its list of 21 projected unrestricted free agents. The Rams have a disproportionate amount of their salary cap tied up in recent high draft choices Sam Bradford, Chris Long and Jason Smith. The rookie wage scale will provide them cap relief even if the team remains among the teams picking very high in the 2012 draft. Bradford and Long are cornerstones. Smith could stick around at a reduced rate. The team still has hope for him under new offensive line coach Paul Boudreau. Cornerback Cortland Finnegan and defensive lineman Jason Jones, both free agents from Tennessee, have ties to Fisher and could make sense for the Rams. Despite the need for playmakers on offense, the Rams did not use the franchise tag on Lloyd, their most talented receiver. Questions persist about how effective Lloyd might be outside Josh McDaniels' offense.

San Francisco 49ers

Key free agents: QB Alex Smith, CB Carlos Rogers, FS Dashon Goldson (franchise tag), G Adam Snyder, WR Ted Ginn Jr., WR Josh Morgan, G Chilo Rachal, FB Moran Norris, LB Blake Costanzo.

Where they stand: Coach Jim Harbaugh has said it's a bit unsettling heading through the offseason with his starting quarterback unsigned. Smith and the 49ers are expected to reach agreement eventually. This relationship will almost certainly continue even if Smith does reach free agency without a deal in place. Smith would not fit nearly as well anywhere else. Harbaugh likes to use the word "equity" when describing players he wants to keep. The 49ers would rather bring back Smith than invite the disruption that Manning would bring, were they able to land him. The team needs help at wide receiver and possibly cornerback, depending upon what happens with Rogers. Getting Goldson at the relatively reasonable franchise rate ($6.2 million) was a plus for the 49ers' continuity in the secondary.

What to expect: Not a whole lot, most likely. The 49ers were a good team last season after taking a low-keyed approach to the free-agent market. They will presumably show interest in Vincent Jackson, Mike Wallace and any high-profile, productive receiver with the talent to upgrade their offense. It's a small upset if the 49ers land one of them, however, because their philosophy is built on a measured approach resistant to overpaying. They will have to address the receiver position in free agency one way or another, however. Re-signing Morgan would help. Pierre Garcon, Marques Colston, Mario Manningham, Plaxico Burress and Robert Meachem are among the other options in free agency. An upgrade at right guard would help the line, but the 49ers might be apt to develop 2011 draft choice Daniel Kilgore after investing first-round choices in their left tackle (Joe Staley), left guard (Mike Iupati) and right tackle (Anthony Davis).

Seattle Seahawks

Key free agents: DE Red Bryant, LB David Hawthorne, LB Leroy Hill, OL Paul McQuistan, DE Raheem Brock, DL Tony Hargrove, FB Michael Robinson, RB Justin Forsett, QB Charlie Whitehurst, LB Matt McCoy, TE John Carlson, LB Heath Farwell.

Where they stand: The Seahawks' long-term quarterback situation hangs over them as they head toward the 2012 draft with only the 12th overall choice. The team has built up the rest of its roster to a point where sticking with Tarvaris Jackson as the primary starter could hold back the team to a degree it did not through much of last season. Upgrading the pass rush is another priority for the Seahawks. With defensive end Raheem Brock publicly stumping for Seattle to land Manning, his former teammate, I couldn't help but wonder which one of them had a better shot at earning a roster spot with the team in 2012. It might be Manning, even if the Seahawks are relative long shots for his services. Brock failed to provide the pass-rush push Seattle needed opposite Chris Clemons. Linebacker is another position the Seahawks need to address, whether or not Hawthorne and Hill return.

What to expect: The Seahawks have roughly $30 million in cap space, according to Clayton, and will make every effort to land Manning. They feel they've got a shot as long as they can persuade him to get on a plane and check out what they have to offer in terms of the roster, coaching, facilities, ownership and more. If Manning goes elsewhere, I would expect the Seahawks to consider Green Bay quarterback Matt Flynn. Securing him at a price lower than what Arizona paid for Kolb would be the goal. As badly as the Seahawks want to upgrade the position, they have said they will not panic. Overpaying for Flynn could represent panic in their eyes. On the pass-rush front, I'm increasingly skeptical the team will shell out for Mario Williams. The price could be too high for a player Houston has decided to let hit the market. Re-signing Bryant is a priority, but using the franchise tag for him was never an option given the $10.6 million price. A deal slightly north of the one teammate Brandon Mebane signed seems likelier if Bryant returns.

The Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals reached out to Peyton Manning's representatives Wednesday in the hours after Indianapolis released the four-time MVP.

Both teams received prominent mention from ESPN's Chris Mortensen in the story appearing on the site overnight.

We know Seattle and Arizona are both interested in Manning. We do not yet know which teams Manning might prefer. And we do not yet know whether Manning will be healthy enough for any of it to matter.

But with free agency set to begin March 13, teams will want clarity sooner rather than later.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks, with Tarvaris Jackson and Josh Portis under contract at the position, have little choice but to consider Manning. Brewer: "There's no need to overthink it. It's this simple: The Seahawks don't have a quarterback good enough to make them true title contenders, and Manning, even if he returns at 80 percent of his greatness, makes almost any team an instant contender. Most enticing is that, with Manning, the Seahawks could continue their rebuilding and win, too. Signing the quarterback won't dramatically alter any of general manager John Schneider's long-term plans." Noted: There would be some scheme adjustments, but probably not a complete overhaul. Manning could quickly learn the offense. The Seahawks could focus on the portions that Manning likes the most.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle thinks the Seahawks should appeal to Manning, his former teammate.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com waves goodbye to longtime Seattle cornerback Marcus Trufant.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says Manning is the quarterback to finish what Kurt Warner started in Arizona. Warner: "As long as he's healthy, I don't think there's any question that Peyton can play at the highest level, do the things he's always done. The question for Arizona is: Are they willing to pull the trigger after what's happened at the quarterback position over the last two years? Are they willing to spend the money it's going to take?" Noted: Another question could be whether the Cardinals can find out enough about Manning's health to make an informed decision before Kevin Kolb is scheduled to earn a $7 million bonus March 17.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with Warner, who vouches for Ken Whisenhunt's flexibility on offense. Warner: "I think it’s very rare. People get to a certain place or certain level because they do things their way. It's tough to put that aside and go, 'OK, I'm willing to put my job on the line for somebody else's stuff."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Manning's situation is likely to affect the Rams. Miklasz: "If Manning goes to Washington, then the Rams almost certainly would lose a potential trade partner. (The Redskins draft 6th overall.) If Manning signs in Miami (8th overall), you can remove them from the list of candidates for the No. 2 slot. On the other hand, if the Redskins can't sign Manning, it seemingly would make the franchise more desperate to trade up for QB Robert Griffin III. Same with Miami or any other team that loses out in the Manning derby."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers have offered a contract to Alex Smith, and they are not interested in Manning.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers should pursue Manning. Cohn: "They have a championship-caliber defense but their offense is not championship-caliber. They need an offense to complement the defense. It's more than that -- they owe their defense a worthy offense. Smith is holding back the 49ers' offense -- he is their lack and their limit. They need a better quarterback. They have a chance to get a better quarterback. Get Manning."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News quotes Tony Dungy on Manning and the 49ers. Dungy: "You put Peyton Manning in that offense and people are going to be scared to play them. There are other teams that fit that same feel, but San Francisco comes to the top of my mind."

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers have good reason for staying out of the Manning race. Lynch: "Smith is a healthy, ascending quarterback, while the 36-year-old Manning is an injured, descending player. The team can’t sign both and the decision to sign Smith just makes much more sense. Yes, Manning is a Hall of Fame player but after spending 14 years in the same offense, Manning would have to adjust to a West Coast system, which is not an easy transition for any player. Additionally, no one knows what kind of player Manning is after three neck surgeries."

Khaled Elsayed of Pro Football Focus lists Seattle's Brandon Mebane and San Francisco's Isaac Sopoaga among the better defenders against the run last season.

A few considerations after the NFL's 2012 deadline for naming franchise players passed Monday:

• Two tagged: San Francisco's Dashon Goldson and Arizona's Calais Campbell were the only NFC West players to receive the tag. That was no surprise after the Seahawks re-signed running back Marshawn Lynch. Brandon Lloyd was the only Rams player worth considering for the tag. The Rams badly need receivers. There was some uncertainty over how well Lloyd might produce outside Josh McDaniels' offense.
• No tag for Bryant: A four-year deal with Lynch gave Seattle other options for the tag. The team decided to pass. This was understandable. Seattle values Red Bryant on the field and in the locker room. He's a great fit. But using the franchise tag on him would have required the team to pay about twice the annual rate defensive tackle Brandon Mebane received a year ago. Mebane got $5 million per season. Bryant, as a defensive end, would have commanded an estimated $10.6 million for one year at the franchise price. We'll now find out how much Bryant values the fit he has enjoyed in Seattle.
• Alex Smith update: The San Francisco 49ers still have a week to strike a long-term deal with their quarterback. The franchise tag would have set Smith's annual value at an estimated $14.4 million, perhaps around $5 million more than Smith might receive annually on a multi-year deal. There should be enough good faith between Smith and coach Jim Harbaugh for the 49ers to reach a resolution without much worry. Smith is better off with the 49ers than elsewhere, in my view, and he has to know this.
• Matt Flynn's status: The Packers decided to let their backup quarterback head toward free agency unrestricted by the tag. I had a hard time picturing by-the-book Green Bay general manager Ted Thompson essentially gaming the system by tagging Flynn. Thompson might have realized the trade market for Flynn could be soft if the $14.4 million value set the baseline for any contract another team might sign with the quarterback. No tag means more teams figure to have interest. Would Seattle have interest? Still haven't heard anything substantive along those lines. The assumption here is that Miami will pay a higher price.
• Mario Williams free: The deadline passed without Houston using the tag for outside linebacker Mario Williams. The Seahawks need a pass-rusher. Williams would probably fit best in the "Leo" role Chris Clemons currently fills. Seattle badly wants to upgrade its pass rush, but I haven't sensed the Seahawks will go after Williams at any price. The Texans knew him best and decided against making every effort to keep him.
• Receiver market: Vincent Jackson and Marques Colston were two of the bigger-name receivers to escape the tag. Dwayne Bowe isn't going anywhere after Kansas City franchised him. Pierre Garcon, Robert Meachem and Mario Manningham are three middle-tier wideouts with a shot at free agency. Most NFC West teams could use help at the position. Seattle and St. Louis had some interest in Jackson when he was a franchise player previously. The Rams have changed leadership since then. The receiver pool could dry up further if players get deals done before free agency opens March 13. Teams interested in Pittsburgh restricted free agent Mike Wallace would have to part with a 2012 first-round pick if the Steelers did not match an offer. I'm skeptical the 49ers would go that route.
• Corners of note: The 49ers' Carlos Rogers remains without a deal and could hit the market. Tennessee has no plans to bring back Cortland Finnegan, who has ties to Rams coach Jeff Fisher. Those will be two corners to watch.

The chart shows which players received franchise tags Monday. The NFL has yet to announce the associated values. Franchise players rarely change teams. Drew Brees, as a non-exclusive franchise player, cannot negotiate with other teams. Most franchise players are free to negotiate, but their current teams would receive two first-round draft choices in return if they decided against matching a formal offer.

INDIANAPOLIS — Devon Still played multiple spots on the defensive line at Penn State.

A first-round prospect in the 2012 NFL draft, Still's versatility could make him appealing for the Seattle Seahawks in particular. Their success in converting Red Bryant from traditional defensive tackle to five-technique end could focus their attention on players with Still's versatility.

"[Bryant] has totally transformed his role on our football team and even to the point where we look for players to play like him as we look through our roster because he's 335 pounds — that's when he's trimmed down and in shape — and he's a monster playing on the tight-end side," coach Pete Carroll said from the NFL scouting combine.

Still lacks Bryant's girth. He appeared sturdy and athletic during his media appearance Saturday, affirmed by impressive combine measurements: 302 pounds on a 6-foot-5 frame. Still's neck appeared even bigger with silver Beats by Dr. Dre headphones around it and a black knit cap from Bommarito training centers on his head. The Big Ten's defensive player of the year called himself "hands down" the best defensive tackle in the draft.

Draft analyst Rob Rang has projected Still as a candidate for Seattle at No. 12, even projecting him as the Seahawks' pick in that spot during recent mock drafts.

"Many expect the Seahawks to consider a quarterback," Rang wrote, "but in beating the New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens last year, and matching up well with division champion San Francisco, the club may not be willing to reach to fill a perceived need. ... Still could help inside at defensive tackle, as well as provide flexibility at the five-technique defensive end position should Bryant be heavily pursued in free agency."

Bryant's situation will be resolved before the draft. Still could be a consideration for Denver or Kansas City, as well. The Chiefs pick 11th, just ahead of Seattle, after winning a coin flip to break a tie in draft order.

The Seahawks aren't the only NFC West team that could use a versatile defensive tackle.

The St. Louis Rams definitely need help at tackle. They hold the second overall choice and figure to remain near the top five even if they trade back, but Still would not fill their obvious need for playmaking help.

The St. Louis Rams have more games played than offensive touchdowns this season. Their record in recent seasons would easily justify sweeping changes to the team's leadership once the regular season ends Sunday.

Any case for staying the course must ignore a 10-37 record over the past three seasons.

It's admittedly a tough sell, but if Steve Spagnuolo is the right man for the job, or if the Rams cannot find anyone better, then they need to keep him — no matter the public fallout.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch outlines a case for coaching continuity. Burwell: "Of all the attributes an NFL head coach should have, the single most important quality he must bring to the job is the ability to convince a room full of Type-A personality football players to follow him over the hill into battle despite the odds. That is a rare quality in the NFL coaching business and to anyone who actually bothers to investigate, Spagnuolo possesses that quality. An NFL locker room might be the most demanding room to work in American sports. In this testosterone-overloaded environment, lack of leadership is easily sniffed out." Noted: Burwell points to Dick Vermeil, who led the Rams to glory after posting 5-11 and 4-12 seasons. That is an interesting comparison. The case against Spagnuolo is simple. Just point to the record. Keeping him in spite of that record would require confident leadership from owner Stan Kroenke. Would it be the right move? That depends upon who Kroenke could get as a replacement.

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis says a decision on Spagnuolo could be complicated by a long list of mitigating factors.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch stands up for Rams running back Steven Jackson.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch expects Rams receiver Brandon Lloyd to follow offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels in 2012.

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com passes along thoughts from the 49ers' Alex Smith regarding Sam Bradford. Smith: "No one understands that at the quarterback position you rely on so many people just to have a chance to do your job. Just from an outside perspective looking in, obviously he had a really big rookie year. I think he did a lot of good things and then the expectations just continue to rise and a new system, the lockout, all of the injuries the Rams have had this year especially on the offensive side of the ball at the receiver position and offensive line, things like that . . . No one wants to talk about that or hear that. A lot of times so many people just look at your stats and all of that stuff can be deceiving. So for him I still think just continue to work to get better every day. You’re going to get through this."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio hopes to have linebacker Patrick Willis back in the lineup Sunday. Noted: Caution would seem advisable, but the message would be unmistakeable if the team did allow Willis to play for the first time since suffering a hamstring injury against the Rams nearly one month ago.

Also from Barrows: Smith was initially "shocked" to see Braylon Edwards released.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News lays out keys to the 49ers' turnaround this season. One of them: "Instead of using their first-round draft pick on a quarterback, they took Missouri pass-rusher Aldon Smith, whose 14 sacks are one away from a league record for rookies. Cornerback Chris Culliver, running back Kendall Hunter and fullback Bruce Miller all have made key contributions."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Brett Swain could be one of the 49ers' starting receivers Sunday.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says receiver Larry Fitzgerald has been at his best in fourth quarters this season. Urban: "In the fourth quarter this season overall, Fitzgerald has 27 catches for 578 yards -- the latter total second in the NFL to the 628 of the Giants’ Victor Cruz -- and no one has more receptions of more than 20 yards in the final quarter than Fitzgerald’s 12. Many of those catches have meant something. It helps that the Cardinals have played in an NFL-most 12 games this season decided by seven points or less, because fourth quarters have mostly been about more than just running out the clock." Noted: John Skelton's improved play in fourth quarters stands out as one obvious factor for Fitzgerald's late-game production. His production earlier in games would be better, in my view, if Skelton had played better in first quarters especially.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says a Week 17 victory would do the Cardinals good.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Beanie Wells proved his toughness by playing through a knee injury this season. Wells: "I missed a few runs and had I been a little bit healthier, I would have been out there full time. But one day, I tell you one day, I'm going to be healthy and I'm going to unleash hell on this league."

Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona profiles Cardinals tackle Levi Brown. Morgan: "Brown earned a B.A. in Labor and Industrial Relations from Penn State in three and a half years, then earned a second degree in psychology because he only needed three more psych classes to complete the major, so he figured, 'Why leave it hanging out there when you can finish?' While the rest of the Cardinals were wondering about the future of the NFL this spring, Brown was balancing his workouts with plans for the future."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks are prepared to keep Tarvaris Jackson, who remains under contract through the 2012 season. Coach Pete Carroll: "That's where we are. That doesn't mean that we're not going to look at the draft really hard and all of the opportunities. We'll always do that at every position. But (for) T-Jack, understanding what this season has been like for him is really important."

Also from O'Neil: The franchise tag could help the Seahawks get a deal done with Marshawn Lynch. Noted: This should be a relatively straightforward negotiation. The Seahawks need Lynch. Lynch is only 25 years old. The team is in position to pay him.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com notes that Seattle's Brandon Mebane is racking up the tackles this season.

Also from Farnsworth: Tom Cable's impact on the Seahawks' offensive line.

The St. Louis Rams managed only 157 yards Sunday, their lowest total since the final game of the 2009 season, when the team finished with a 1-15 record.

The team is now averaging less than one offensive touchdown per game.

Losing backup quarterback A.J. Feeley isn't going to suddenly derail something special, in other words. Still, news that Feeley suffered a broken thumb as Sam Bradford's replacement during a 26-0 defeat at San Francisco carried a what-could-possibly-happen-next feel.

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis says the team isn't sure what the injury means for Feeley, or whether Bradford will return from his ankle injury in time to start at Seattle in Week 14. Coach Steve Spagnuolo: "We'll probably proceed the same way we did last week. When we get to Wednesday we'll decide just how much exertion we want to put on the ankle because the less you put on it, the better off he is when you get down to a game-type decision. That's how these high ankle sprains operate. We'll probably tread lightly Wednesday, the same on Thursday. I don't know, we'll see how Sam feels."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says there's a chance Tom Brandstater could be active and/or start for the Rams at Seattle. Noted: That would be rough. Then again, the team's scoring would not decline from last week.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers thoughts on various Rams subjects, including the team's owner. Miklasz: "So let me see if I understand this correctly: Rams owner Stan Kroenke shows up for the game in San Francisco, visits the locker room after the game, shakes a few hands, says hello to a couple of reporters ... and now we're supposed to make him St. Louis Man of the Year? How about we nominate him for a Nobel Prize? Really, it's come to this? Praising the owner because he appears at his team's game? Moreover, Kroenke's visits to the locker room aren't unusual. I don't see what the big deal is. Maybe I missed something. I guess you had to be there."

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams could be without starting left guard Jacob Bell for the remainder of the season.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers expect linebacker Patrick Willis to miss the upcoming game against Arizona, most likely. Maiocco: "Willis will not require any kind of surgery -- just rest, the source said. The 49ers will have their first practice of the week on Wednesday to begin preparations to face the Cardinals. After Sunday's game, the 49ers will next play Monday, Dec. 19, against the Pittsburgh Steelers."

Also from Maiocco: Jim Tomsula's thoughts on the 49ers' success in the context of what came before.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News offers thoughts from 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh on multiple topics. Harbaugh says the team ought to construct a statue honoring Frank Gore.

Also from Inman: Joe Staley asks 49ers fans to cease with the wave.

Keith Goldner of Advance NFL Stats takes a closer look at the 49ers' defense and says, "That's what happens when you have a matchup between the league's worst offense and the second-best defense."

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic says Kevin Kolb played well for the Cardinals when they needed him Sunday. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "He got a better feel for the game as it went on. It was nice for him to make those strides. That will give us confidence moving forward, especially if we can continue to run the football."

Also from McManaman: The Cardinals' defense keeps improving. McManaman: "Some critics may contend that it's simply been more a byproduct of the competition. True, two of the wins have come against the 2-10 St. Louis Rams. But two of them also came against the often explosive offenses of the Eagles and Cowboys. And this week, the defense gets a chance to make a serious statement against a 10-2 49ers team whose offense will never be confused with the Packers or the Saints."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune profiles Seahawks defensive tackle Brandon Mebane.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times has this to say about the NFL assigning Bill Leavy as referee for the Seahawks' game against St. Louis in Week 14: "Sure, he was the referee of Seattle's Super Bowl loss to Pittsburgh, which featured several calls that were scrutinized. Leavy admitted last year to making mistakes that he had a hard time living with. But he's officiated Seattle games since then. None when Mike Holmgren was the coach, mind you, but he was the referee for Seattle's game at San Francisco in Week 2 of 2010, he refereed the Seahawks' exhibition game in Denver and he was even the official of Seattle's game at Pittsburgh in Week 2. So the fact that he will be officiating a game in Seattle for the first time since the Super Bowl should be the next step in putting those officiating mistakes in the past, right?"

Five things I noticed while watching the Seattle Seahawks' most recent game, a 23-17 home defeat to the Washington Redskins:

• About those young safeties. The Redskins enjoyed early success against Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor when Rex Grossman found Fred Davis for a 31-yard gain to the 2-yard line on Washington's first drive. Thomas blitzed and got into the backfield quickly, only to chase a ghost. Grossman faked a handoff inside, then faked one to Jabar Gaffney on an end-around. Thomas followed Gaffney long enough for Grossman to find Davis. Chancellor, having already leveled Santana Moss earlier in the drive, whiffed on Davis when trying to hit him instead of wrapping up. These were errors of aggression.
• Competitive battles on the lines. The Seahawks' left tackle, Russell Okung, continues to play better as his ankle injuries fade from memory. He faced difficult matchups against the Redskins' Stephen Bowen and Brian Orakpo. All parties made positive plays. Okung stood out early when the Seahawks got the Redskins' front flowing to the offensive right, setting up Marshawn Lynch's cutback for a big gain. Okung drove Bowen across the formation and landed on him. Okung took an awkward hit from teammate Breno Giacomini late in the game and was limping. Trent Williams, the Redskins' left tackle, was jabbering at various Seahawks throughout the game. He was the aggressor and seemed to get the better of his matchups. Two young Seattle linemen, center Max Unger and defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, looked good.
• Guards were hustling. Robert Gallery and Paul McQuistan made excellent blocks well downfield to spring Lynch's 20-yard scoring reception.
• Redskins' trippy field-goal team. Red Bryant's power was part of the story behind the field-goal attempt he blocked in the second quarter. The Seahawks bunched defenders over the right side of the Redskins' protection. A twist left the Redskins' Will Montgomery trying to block two players at once, including Bryant. He had no chance. The tighter splits linemen use when blocking for field goals prevents them from moving backward freely without tripping over teammates' legs. Montgomery tumbled over backward as Bryant rushed through.
• Sprinting through the whistle can help. The Seahawks allowed their first rushing touchdown since Week 4 when Roy Helu sprinted around the left side for a critical 28-yard run with 9:57 left in the fourth quarter. It's unrealistic to expect every player on defense to run his absolute hardest throughout every moment of every play. The Seahawks would have been better off her if Leroy Hill had done that on this play, however. Hill let up when Chancellor appeared likely to make a tackle near the line of scrimmage (after Helu hurdled Roy Lewis). Hill accelerated when Helu broke free, but he let up again when Helu reached the 10-yard line. Hill was a couple yards behind and to the inside. He wasn't going to catch Helu, most likely. This was the signature play in a poor tackling game for Seattle.

That's it for now. I'm heading to Qwest Field early for the Thursday night game.

The facts: The Seattle Seahawks fell to 4-7 with a 23-17 home defeat to the Washington Redskins.

The upside: Even the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot or two.

• Marshawn Lynch reached 100 yards rushing for the third time in his last four games.
• Starting cornerbacks Richard Sherman and Brandon Browner picked off passes.
• Strong safety Kam Chancellor delivered a big hit early in the game, an indication recent fines have not diminished his aggressiveness.
• Lynch and second-year receiver Golden Tate caught touchdown passes.
• Seattle's offensive line generally played well, helping to limit the Redskins' Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan to a half-sack between them.
• Leon Washington had 51- and 35-yard kickoff returns.
• Seattle held the Redskins to 30 percent conversions on third down and one touchdown in three red zone possessions.
• Red Bryant blocked a field goal attempt and an extra point attempt.
• Seattle did not fumble and won the turnover battle.
• The Seahawks, though held to one sack, finished the game with nine quarterback hits, two apiece from Brandon Mebane and Clinton McDonald.

Looking ahead: The Seahawks face the Philadelphia Eagles at home on Thursday night.

The Seattle Seahawks' last two opponents, Baltimore and St. Louis, abandoned their running games.

Those teams' strategies reflected game situations only to a degree. Both also realized they weren't going to push around a powerful Seahawks front featuring Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane, Alan Branch and Chris Clemons.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times summed up Seattle's performance at St. Louis this way: "The Seahawks won exactly the way they're built to win, resting their forearm on the opponent's neck and flashing a sadistic smile all the while. This rugged, oversized yet agile, young defense turned boorish against the offensively challenged Rams. The result was a 24-7 victory and a clear understanding that though the Seahawks are far from a juggernaut, they're a different kind of bad than the Rams are."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Clemons realized in watching game video that Rams quarterback Sam Bradford held the ball too low, particularly after leaving the pocket.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com passes along Clemons' stat line -- three sacks, three additional quarterback hits, two forced fumbles and a tipped pass -- in addition to this quote from Bryant: "I feel like we brought our big-boy pads today."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune thought Seattle's backup right tackle, Breno Giacomini, fared well against the Rams' Chris Long, part of an effort by the line that generally exceeded expectations.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks gave little ground to Rams running back Steven Jackson.

Also from Williams: Seattle has its first two-game winning streak of the season.

Dave Wyman of 710ESPN Seattle says Bryant made two spectacular, pivotal plays against the Rams. Wyman: "The fact that he beat a double team and dropped Rams quarterback Sam Bradford for a 9-yard sack was enough. But the way he did it is what makes him such an exciting player to watch. With offensive tackle Adam Goldberg pushing him past the pocket, Bryant stuck one of his 45-pound "mitts" out and swatted Bradford so hard across the chest it spun Bradford around 180 degrees."

Five things I noticed while watching the Seattle Seahawks' most recent game, a 23-13 defeat to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9:

• Fullback hurt Seattle's defense. Teams cannot always justify playing time for a fullback. The Cowboys did not use one to start the game, but once Tony Fiammetta came onto the field, he was a difference maker. The Seahawks' linebackers had a hard time with him. Murray gained 32 yards on a play resembling the one he broke for 91 yards against St. Louis. Guard Montrae Holland occupied linebacker David Hawthorne. Fiammetta eliminated Malcolm Smith. I'll be interested in seeing how Seattle handles Baltimore's two-back offense. The Ravens' Ray Rice has 111 carries for 444 yards and six touchdowns with fullback Vonta Leach on the field, according to ESPN Stats & Information.
• Okung's progress continuing. The Seahawks had to like what they saw from left tackle Russell Okung. When Okung plays with confidence, he makes the extra shove. I saw that from him early in the game. Okung pushed Demarcus Ware legally but unnecessarily as a play was ending. The whistle had not yet blown, but Ware wasn't a factor on the play. Ware walked toward Okung after the play and said something in his ear, but Okung didn't seem to care. Okung generally fared well when matched up with Ware. He showed good awareness and hustle in retreating to help with Ware on the play Tarvaris Jackson saved with a penalty-drawing throw for Mike Williams.
• Two problems with 39-yarder to Bryant. Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo made his 39-yard pass to Dez Bryant up the left sideline appear routine. He had help from the Seahawks. Cornerback Brandon Browner was pressing Bryant at the line of scrimmage, but he gave Bryant a clean release. There was no jam. The Seahawks sent free safety Earl Thomas on a blitz, but Thomas appeared to run into a wall. The Cowboys absorbed him. Blitzing without getting pressure was bad enough. Playing press coverage without getting a jam made it worse.
• Where Robert Gallery stands. At times this season, the Seahawks' veteran left guard and free-agent addition from Oakland has reminded me of another AFC West alumnus in a Seattle uniform. Back in the late 1990s, the team signed Brian Habib from Denver for veteran leadership on the line. Habib started 32 games over two seasons, but he played hurt a fair amount of the time and struggled. Gallery was playing hurt early this season. Ware made him look bad on one play Sunday, but overall, this game represented a step forward. Football Outsiders' Ben Muth, a former Stanford lineman, had some more technical observations on Gallery.
• Strong goal-to-go defense. The Seahawks have gotten quite a bit bigger on defense. This could account for their success in goal-to-go situations. Their big cornerbacks have less ground to cover, so they can play aggressively without giving up the deep ball. They have big, strong players along the line, from Alan Branch to Red Bryant to Brandon Mebane. The Cowboys scored no touchdowns on two goal-to-go possessions. The Seahawks lead the NFL is lowest TD percentage allowed in goal-to-go situations at 38.5 percent. The league average is 66.4 percent.

I'm heading for the airport in a few hours. Hoping to post similar files for the San Francisco and St. Louis games. Already hit Arizona earlier in the week.

The facts: The Seattle Seahawks fell to 2-6 with a 23-13 road defeat to the Dallas Cowboys.

The upside: Even the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot or two.

• Marshawn Lynch rushed for 135 yards, his highest total since Seattle acquired him last season. Lynch scored a rushing touchdown in the fourth consecutive game he has played, becoming the first Seattle player to accomplish that feat since Shaun Alexander in 2005.
• The Seahawks allowed no sacks to the Cowboys' DeMarcus Ware, who entered the game with 12 sacks this season, including four a week earlier.
• Kennard Cox's tackle during a Cowboys punt return forced Dallas to begin its second drive at its own 2-yard line.
• The Seahawks did not fumble.
• Seattle's league-leading goal-to-go defense allowed no touchdowns in two such situations Sunday. Brandon Mebane blew up one running play. Atari Bigby nearly sacked Tony Romo on another, forcing an incomplete pass.
• The Seahawks won time of possession.
• Free safety Earl Thomas and linebacker David Hawthorne had tackles for loss.
• Strong safety Kam Chancellor continued delivering huge hits, including one that rocked DeMarco Murray at the line of scrimmage on a second-and-4 play in the second quarter. On-field microphones picked up the jarring sound from the collision, followed by crowd reaction.
• Cornerback Richard Sherman forced Dez Bryant to fumble with a big hit near the goal line. Roy Lewis recovered for Seattle.

Looking ahead: The Seahawks return home to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 10.

The Seattle Seahawks have the youngest starters in the NFL heading into Week 7. The Cleveland Browns have the second-youngest starters.

The NFL's oldest starters belong to the Arizona Cardinals' opponent Sunday: Pittsburgh.

Those were among the revelations as I updated NFL teams' rosters this weekend to make available for download the latest ones for the NFC West. These feature 26 columns of information for every current player in the division, plus former players from the past few seasons.

With the post-Mike Holmgren Seahawks visiting the Holmgren-built Browns this week, much has been made about how few players remain in Seattle from his 1999-2008 run with the team. I count five Holmgren-era draft choices on the 53-man roster: Justin Forsett, Brandon Mebane, Ben Obomanu, Red Bryant and Leroy Hill. All were drafted when Tim Ruskell was running the Seahawks' personnel department beginning in 2005.

The chart below shows how many of its own draft choices each NFC West team has on its 53-man roster, broken down by coach.

NFC West teams went 0-3 last season against the teams they face in Week 5.

They lost those games by a combined 99-31 score.

Much has changed since then. Let's take a look:

Cardinals at Vikings

Score last season: Vikings 27, Cardinals 24 (OT)

Key play: Brett Favre's 25-yard touchdown pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe in the final minute of regulation tied the game, forcing overtime after the Cardinals had built a 24-10 fourth-quarter lead. Favre threw for a career-high 446 yards in the game.

Biggest change: Both teams have new quarterbacks, Kevin Kolb for Derek Anderson in Arizona, and Donovan McNabb for Favre in Minnesota. Also, the Vikings have a new head coach (Leslie Frazier) while the Cardinals have a new defensive coordinator (Ray Horton).

Storyline: McNabb keeps a home in Arizona and was available to the Cardinals when their quarterback situation was in flux, but the team showed no interest in him. He is now trying to hold off a change to rookie Christian Ponder.

Lineup changes for Arizona (12): Beanie Wells for Tim Hightower at running back, Kolb for Anderson at quarterback, Daryn Colledge for Alan Faneca at left guard, Rex Hadnot for Deuce Lutui at right guard, Todd Heap for Ben Patrick at tight end, Andre Roberts for Steve Breaston at receiver, Anthony Sherman for Reagan Maui'a at fullback (although the team opened its 2010 game at Minnesota without a fullback), Dan Williams for Bryan Robinson at nose tackle, Daryl Washington for Gerald Hayes at linebacker, Clark Haggans for Will Davis at linebacker, A.J. Jefferson for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie at cornerback, Patrick Peterson for Greg Toler at cornerback.

49ers vs. Buccaneers

Score last season: Buccaneers 21, 49ers 0

Key play: Josh Freeman's 1-yard scoring pass to tackle Donald Penn midway through the fourth quarter put an exclamation point on the 49ers' first home shutout since 1977.

Biggest change: Jim Harbaugh has replaced Mike Singletary as the 49ers' head coach.

Storyline: Alex Smith gets a shot at Tampa Bay after watching Troy Smith struggle against the Bucs as the 49ers' starting quarterback last season. Troy Smith's approach centered around striking for big plays. The Bucs took away the big plays. Alex Smith gives the 49ers a chance to be more efficient.

Lineup changes for San Francisco (12): Alex Smith for Troy Smith at quarterback, Joe Staley for Barry Sims at left tackle, Adam Snyder for Chilo Rachal at right guard, Bruce Miller for Moran Norris at fullback, Isaac Sopoaga for Aubrayo Franklin at nose tackle, Ray McDonald for Sopoaga at defensive end, Ahmad Brooks for Manny Lawson at outside linebacker, NaVorro Bowman for Takeo Spikes at inside linebacker, Carlos Rogers for Nate Clements at cornerback, Tarell Brown for Shawntae Spencer at cornerback, Donte Whitner for Reggie Smith at strong safety.

Seahawks at Giants

Score last season: Giants 41, Seahawks 7

Key play: With Seattle already down 14-0 in the first quarter, the Giants returned Leon Washington's fumbled kickoff return to the Seattle 4, setting up Ahmad Bradshaw's touchdown run on the next play.

Biggest change: Tarvaris Jackson is the starting quarterback for Seattle. Charlie Whitehurst was a fill-in starter for Matt Hasselbeck when the teams played last season.

Storyline: The Seahawks' so-far-unproductive ground game faces a Giants run defense that has struggled. Seattle's young line improved in pass protection last week. Can it take a step forward in run blocking this week?

Lineup changes for Seattle (16): Sidney Rice for Deon Butler at receiver, Jackson for Whitehurst at quarterback, Russell Okung for Chester Pitts at left tackle, Paul McQuistan for Mike Gibson at left guard, Max Unger for Chris Spencer at center, John Moffitt for Stacy Andrews at right guard, James Carpenter for Sean Locklear at right tackle, Zach Miller for John Carlson at tight end, Brandon Mebane for Junior Siavii at defensive tackle, Alan Branch for Craig Terrill at defensive tackle, Red Bryant for Kentwan Balmer at defensive end, K.J. Wright for Aaron Curry at linebacker, David Hawthorne for Lofa Tatupu at linebacker, Leroy Hill for Hawthorne at linebacker, Brandon Browner for Kelly Jennings at right cornerback, Kam Chancellor or Atari Bigby for Lawyer Milloy, depending on Chancellor's availability.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc., like just about every other football analyst, pulled no punches in assessing the Seattle Seahawks' chances with Tarvaris Jackson as their quarterback.

Back in August, he called Jackson the NFL's worst starting quarterback.

"I still think Tarvaris Jackson is terrible," Williamson said this week after Jackson and the Seahawks claimed their first victory of the 2011 regular season.

But focusing disproportionately on what Jackson offers the team right now should not obscure a fuller analysis. The contracts Seattle has committed to Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst tell us the organization isn't banking on either player for more than what a placeholder would provide -- short-term stability until the team finds a brighter prospect, most likely in the 2012 draft. There is much more going on in Seattle than what is happening at quarterback.

"I like just about everything else," Williamson said. "They have set themselves up big-picture to bring up Andrew Luck or Matt Barkley and make a pretty comfortable transition."

A few additional thoughts from Williamson on the Seahawks coming out of Week 3:

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  Charles LeClaire/US PresswireThe Seahawks appear set for the future at the safety position with Earl Thomas, left, and Kam Chancellor.
  On the defense: "Their front seven is dynamite. That defensive line with Chris Clemons, Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant and that crew is good. They have a lot of pieces in place on defense. Earl Thomas is the real deal -- explosive, fast. He is not Ed Reed, but that is the comparison, a true free safety who covers a ton of ground. Kam Chancellor is almost a linebacker. He's a playmaker, a hitter, an Adrian Wilson type. The two of them complement each other well. They have had a revolving door at linebacker with injuries and the Aaron Curry situation, but they will get that worked out. David Hawthorne is a very good player once he gets healthy. They are a No. 1 corner away on defense."
• On offensive skill positions: "I like what they did getting the big pass-catchers. I'm a big Sidney Rice fan. My only concern is just team speed. There are no fast guys. That is not the end of the world. Larry Fitzgerald is not the fastest guy, but he is still a deep threat. Sidney Rice can be that type of guy to go over a defensive back and get a 60-yarder. Zach Miller runs well for a tight end. Justin Forsett and especially Leon Washington are really good pass-catchers who can be like a Reggie Bush on the perimeter. Marshawn Lynch is fine. I'm not a real believer. He has not done anything in three years except the one game everyone saw in playoffs. Eventually, you have to upgrade, but that is the easiest position to upgrade. That might be a third-round pick next year."
• On the offensive line: "It stinks right now, but I tend to think it won’t. Offensive lines take a long time to gain continuity. It is so young. They had no minicamps this year. It is almost unfair to look at the line and expect it to be even average. They are well coached. Russell Okung can be a star, though he has not proved it this year, either. He has taken a ton of penalties, but he can be a franchise left tackle. Robert Gallery will come back. It’s just going to take time."
• On the quarterbacks: "The position is a mess, but if the guys they have are their second and third guys in the future, that is not so bad. Get a rookie you have something for the long haul."

Back in a bit with Williamson's thoughts on the St. Louis Rams.