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We're still a month away from NFL free agency, but with the Super Bowl behind us, we'll start sizing up players without contracts for 2012.

Expanding upon Brian McIntyre's lists, I've plugged in offensive and defensive snap-count numbers for NFC West free agents, courtesy of ESPN Stats & Information.

The charts below cover the Arizona Cardinals' free agents. The final column shows what each player's previous contract averaged annually.

Re-signing defensive end Calais Campbell will be a top priority. I don't see the Cardinals letting him get away. They moved on from Antonio Smith a few years ago, but they did so with Campbell ready to take over. They would have a hard time replacing Campbell.

Cornerback Richard Marshall proved valuable on a one-year deal. Early Doucet was a primary threat on third down.

Overall, though, the Cardinals have a relatively modest group of unrestricted free agents.

Safety Sean Considine played extensively on special teams. I've listed him with the offensive and defensive UFAs, however.

The Cardinals' key specialists are without contracts. The team has turned over those positions in recent seasons.

The Cardinals can keep their restricted free agents, listed below, by making one-year qualifying offers to them, then matching any outside offers.

Five things I noticed while watching the San Francisco 49ers during their most recent game, a 21-19 defeat at Arizona in Week 5:

• Great receiver blocking continues. Josh Morgan, now on injured reserve, has stood out for the 49ers in that area for years. Michael Crabtree has made a statement with his blocking this season. Braylon Edwards was the one violently shoving Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson twice during Frank Gore's 20-yard run late in the first quarter. Edwards was the only wide receiver on the field. He was one of the most effective blockers on the field for this play. This has been a tough season for Edwards. Those types of plays indicate effort is not the problem.
• So close with Ted Ginn Jr. The 49ers aren't quite as conservative as it sometimes seems on offense. They've come close to connecting on deep passes to Ginn. A questionable penalty for a chop block negated a 75-yard touchdown strike to Ginn at Baltimore. Ginn beat Cardinals cornerback A.J. Jefferson deep for what should have been a 51-yard touchdown Sunday. Ginn lost track of the ball and could not make the catch. Cardinals defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday ran past guard Mike Iupati to pressure and hit Alex Smith on the play, but the ball was gone when Holliday made contact. The ball almost hit Ginn. I would expect the 49ers to keep trying. They'll connect on one of these eventually.
• Red zone chances galore. The 49ers' No. 32 ranking in red zone touchdown percentage is well earned. It was tough to figure how they failed to find the end zone after getting first-and-goal from the 4 in the second quarter. Smith appeared to miss Edwards with a back-shoulder throw on first down, but upon replaying the sequence in slow motion, I think Jefferson tugged at Edwards' collar, delaying Edwards' pursuit of the ball. It was subtle and tough to see at full speed. Edwards didn't even complain about it. Perhaps it was inconsequential. The play just seemed too straightforward for Smith and Edwards to miss. A run went nowhere on second down. The 49ers went with 22 personnel on third down, with Edwards as the lone wideout. Smith could find no one open. Another wide receiver on the field wouldn't seem to hurt.
• 49ers nearly knocked out two QBs. Cardinals starter Kevin Kolb dropped back to pass twice in this game. The 49ers hit him both times. They knocked him out with a concussion on the second one. Backup John Skelton narrowly avoided a massive hit. Safety Dashon Goldson, one of the 49ers' hardest hitters, missed high by a few inches when Skelton slid with the ball at the last moment. Goldson smashed into teammate Aldon Smith instead, accidentally delivering a helmet-to-helmet hit that briefly shook Smith. Linebacker NaVorro Bowman had flushed Skelton from the pockety by bulling over running back Chester Taylor in pass protection. The 49ers can be so physical on defense. This play showed how.
• Alex Boone passes initial test. Backup tackle is an important position for the 49ers after their starter on the left side, Joe Staley, missed seven games in each of the last two seasons. Boone signed a contract extension last week, then stepped into the lineup Sunday when a concussion forced Staley from the game early. The 49ers' offensive line had lost of problems, but most seemed to stem from the interior. Boone held up well in pass protection, even in obvious passing situations. The 49ers' money appeared well spent.

Looking ahead, I'll be interested in seeing how the 49ers defend Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace. Unlike the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald, who hurt the 49ers from the slot, Wallace has lined up almost exclusively on the perimeter this season.

Five things I noticed while watching the Arizona Cardinals' most recent game, a 23-7 road defeat to the San Francisco 49ers:

• Beanie Wells at less than 40 percent. The percentage reflects how much Wells played in this game, a season-low 36.7 percent of the offensive snaps. The Cardinals possessed the ball for 15:44, their lowest total for a game since at least 1981. That meant their starting running back was hardly on the field. Wells played 18 snaps, nine fewer than veteran backup Chester Taylor. This was probably a good thing for Wells in retrospect. He's been dealing with a knee injury. The Cardinals weren't likely to get much going on the ground against San Francisco. They fell behind, anyway. Wells should be healthier against St. Louis this week.
• Dan Williams' bulk missed. The Cardinals' second-year nose tackle suffered a season-ending arm injury, leaving Nick Eason and David Carter as the remaining nose tackles. Williams, though not yet injured, was not on the field when the 49ers' Frank Gore broke his longest run of the game, a 14-yarder up the gut in the first quarter. Gore and fullback Bruce Miller lined up in the I-formation on first down. Delanie Walker and Justin Peelle were the tight ends. Michael Crabtree was the lone wideout. Formation and personnel said run, run, run. Miller blocked linebacker Daryl Washington. Center Jonathan Goodwin cleared out Eason. Guard Mike Iupati shoved aside Carter. The 49ers averaged only 3.3 yards per attempt overall, but they carried 49 times. This one was too easy.
• Stewart Bradley got more snaps. Of course, there were more to go around. The Cardinals' defense was on the field for 87 plays, most in the Ken Whisenhunt era. Bradley played about a third of them. He has played less than 20 percent of the defensive snaps this season despite signing a five-year, $30 million contract. Bradley wanted to escape the 4-3 scheme he ran previously in Philadelphia, but the transition to Arizona's 3-4 has been tough for him, particularly without the usual offseason work. Bradley would have fit better initially in St. Louis' scheme, although the Rams did not need a middle linebacker. Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo left Philadelphia before the Eagles drafted Bradley in 2007, but there would have been carryover.
• Cardinals hurt themselves, literally. The final play of the first quarter summed up the Cardinals' experience in this game. Quarterback John Skelton slipped. Skelton dropped the ball when bracing himself. Tackles Brandon Keith and Levi Brown knocked helmets when diving toward the ball in case Skelton could not make the recovery. Keith suffered a concussion on the play. Cameras then showed Cardinals' medical personnel tending to Skelton's finger. I couldn't see whether one of the 49ers' players stepped on the finger or if Skelton injured it on another play, but whatever the case, this play was packed with all-around Cardinals badness and misfortune.
• Cardinals hurt themselves again. Williams was pursuing 49ers running back Kendall Hunter toward the sideline late in the game when Bradley converged with him in an attempt to make the tackle. Williams stuck out his left arm to grab Hunter just as Bradley arrived. Bradley's helmet hit Williams' outstretched arm near the elbow. Microphones captured what sounded like a primal scream following the impact. The only breaks Arizona got in this game showed up on X-rays.

Arizona's defensive players kept hustling late in the game despite being on the field so long. Probably should have included that in the "silver linings" file earlier in the week.

The Arizona Cardinals have listed quarterback Kevin Kolb as questionable for the team's game at St. Louis in Week 12.

Kolb has missed the last three games while recovering from toe and foot injuries.

If Kolb does play, I'll be watching to see whether he can improve his rapport with receiver Andre Roberts in particular. The chart shows Kolb's stats lagging on throws to Roberts, the Cardinals' starter opposite Larry Fitzgerald. His NFL passer rating is best when throwing to tight end Jeff King. Backup quarterback John Skelton's rating when targeting Roberts (64.6) is about the same as when he targets other receivers (63.8).

Both Kolb and Skelton have fared well when throwing to Early Doucet. Skelton has completed 10 of 14 passes for 126 yards with one touchdown, one interception and a 93.2 rating on passes to Doucet. Kolb has a 103.4 rating when targeting Doucet.

Thanks to Hank Gargiulo of ESPN Stats & Information for running these breakdowns.

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Five things I noticed while watching the San Francisco 49ers during their 23-7 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11:

• Braylon Edwards playing hurt. The receiver underwent knee surgery earlier in the season, but it was the shoulder injury he suffered in Week 9 that seemed to bother him from the start of this game. Edwards kept his left arm tucked against his body following a reception in the first two minutes of the game. His left shoulder was slumped and his arm hung lower as Edwards returned to the huddle. He looked toward the ground and appeared to glance toward the sideline while gathering himself. Edwards dropped a couple of passes. When Edwards decked Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson, the block sent Johnson flying right into Frank Gore's path, allowing Johnson to make the tackle while on the ground. This just wasn't Edwards' day, though other blocks worked out better.
• Alex Smith showed patience in the pocket. The 49ers' quarterback was nearly eight yards behind the line of scrimmage when he set up in the pocket on an early third-and-10 play. The Cardinals rushed only four. Defensive ends Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett dropped into coverage six yards off the line of scrimmage. Smith held the ball, allowing Michael Crabtree to get deep. He showed patience in stepping forward three or four yards before throwing the pass. Smith moved effectively within the pocket several times.
• The long and short of it at QB. Smith has been more efficient on long throws and less efficient on short ones over the last two games. It might not mean much, but with Gore working through injuries and Smith coming off a strong game against the Giants, the 49ers might be looking to develop their downfield passing game. That could help them in the playoffs. From Weeks 1-9, Smith completed 7 of 16 passes (43.8 percent) for 227 yards (14.2 per attempt) on throws traveling more than 20 yards past the line of scrimmage. Since then, Smith has completed 3 of 4 such attempts for 86 yards (21.5 per attempt). His completion percentage on throws traveling no longer than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage has fallen from 69.1 percent over Weeks 1-9 to 55.3 percent over the last two weeks. His touchdown-to-interception ratio on these shorter throws has dropped from 5-0 over the first nine weeks to 2-2 over the last two. Ted Ginn Jr.'s dropped ball against the Giants led to one pick. Smith's obstructed-view interception in the end zone against Arizona came on a scramble -- outside the framework of the offense.
• Vernon Davis saved a man's life. OK, that's a little dramatic. But Davis' ability to leap over a kneeling cameraman following his touchdown reception was nearly as impressive as the touchdown itself. Davis got a free release off the line and was running near full speed when he caught Smith's pass over his shoulder near the goal line. Once he turned his head around forward, he had about three steps to do something or risk slamming a knee or some other body part into the cameraman. Davis hurdled the man and landed safely on the other side.
• Aldon Smith stays on his feet. Scouting reports on the 49ers' rookie first-round draft choice took note of Smith's sense of balance. That balance helped Smith collect a sack he had no business collecting against the Cardinals. Smith was too upright as he charged toward Cardinals tackle Levi Brown. Brown shoved Smith at the line. Running back Chester Taylor caught Smith off-guard and rocked him. Smith fell over backward, but his body never hit the ground. He planted his left hand on the ground behind him, pivoted and rose in one motion. Smith then sneaked under Brown to take down quarterback Rich Bartel. Brown tipped his head back after the play, projecting resignation.

I've been heavy on 49ers items lately, in part by design (they're 9-1) and in part because they're playing Thursday night. I'll move up the "you called it" predictions item by a day to beat Thanksgiving. Look for that a bit later Wednesday.

The facts: The Arizona Cardinals fell to 3-7 following a 23-7 road defeat to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11.

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

• The Cardinals held the 49ers to two touchdowns in six red zone possessions. This was Arizona's third consecutive game holding the opponent to 33 percent or worse in the red zone.
• Arizona allowed only 3.3 yards per rushing attempt.
• Calais Campbell and Patrick Peterson blocked field-goal attempts.
• The Cardinals' defense and special teams played well enough early for Arizona to trail only 9-0 at halftime despite getting no help from the offense.
• Daryl Washington's interception in the end zone gave Arizona at least one pick in four consecutive games.
• Larry Fitzgerald became the second-youngest receiver in NFL history to reach 9,000 career yards. Only Randy Moss was younger.
• Rich Bartel completed the first touchdown pass of his career, finding Fitzgerald over the middle. The play spared the Cardinals from being shut out for the first time since 2003.
• Chester Taylor's 34-yard run was the longest run against the 49ers this season.
• O'Brien Schofield, David Carter and Adrian Wilson had tackles for loss.
• Stewart Bradley made multiple impact tackles on special teams, including a memorable hit on 49ers returner Ted Ginn Jr.
• The Cardinals allowed only two sacks, including none to Justin Smith, who had three against them in one game last season.

Looking ahead: The Cardinals visit the St. Louis Rams in Week 12.

Injuries, opposing defenses and game situations influence receiving totals from week to week.

So do quarterback changes.

The chart shows reception and yardage totals for Arizona Cardinals players in each of their quarterback's past two games. John Skelton is coming off games against St. Louis and Philadelphia. Kevin Kolb played most recently against Pittsburgh and Baltimore.

Skelton faced easier competition and won both games, making clutch plays in fourth quarters. Toe and foot injuries continue to sideline Kolb. I would expect him to resume as the starter when healthy -- unless Skelton leads Arizona past 8-1 San Francisco in Week 11.

The numbers seem to confirm perceptions that Skelton appears more comfortable than Kolb to this point. He's been more proficient at getting the ball to Arizona's secondary wide receivers, especially Andre Roberts. My thought was that a quarterback more comfortable in the offense might stick with plays longer, allowing him to find secondary receivers. Kolb has bailed on some plays too early.

Facing lesser defenses also can make a quarterback more comfortable. Skelton hasn't had to worry about Terrell Suggs or Troy Polamalu coming after him.

I'm heading to San Francisco for the Cardinals' game against the 49ers. Skelton's performance in that game should answer questions about the position in Arizona. This will be Skelton's first start of the season against one of the better defenses in the league.

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The first time the Baltimore Ravens lost to an AFC South team (Tennessee) this season, they defeated an NFC West team (St. Louis) by 30 points the following week.

They lost to another AFC South team (Jacksonville) Monday night. They'll be looking to get right against another NFC West team (Arizona).

This was going to be a tough enough matchup on the road for the Cardinals without giving the Ravens reason to redouble their efforts following a brutal defeat. Baltimore will be looking to avoid consecutive defeats against teams that had lost their last five games.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals will head to Baltimore amid questions over Beanie Wells' availability. Somers: "If Wells can't play on Sunday in Baltimore, Alfonso Smith is likely to start, but LaRod Stephens-Howling and Chester Taylor likely would play there, too."

Also from Somers: The Cardinals haven't been making opponents pay for their mistakes. Somers: "Of all the corrections that need to be made, the most important is fixing what's wrong with Kevin Kolb. His passing statistics Sunday weren't awful - 18 of 34 for 272 yards, a touchdown and an interception - but they don't tell the entire story. Kolb badly missed two open receivers, Housler and Larry Fitzgerald, and because of the protection scheme called, it was his job to realize pressure was coming on the play that resulted in a safety. He looks uncomfortable in the pocket and has been inaccurate when he's on the move. On Monday, Whisenhunt reiterated that personnel changes are being contemplated throughout the lineup, but the coach appears more focused on fixing Kolb than replacing him." Noted: The Cardinals cannot realistically bench a quarterback they signed to a five-year, $63 million contract. They need to develop Kolb.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says offensive coordinator Mike Miller relocated to the sideline for the Pittsburgh game in an effort to improve communication with Kolb in particular.

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com says the Rams should hire a strong leader to run their organization, perhaps the way the Cleveland Browns have done with Mike Holmgren. Gordon: "The current leaders, Kevin Demoff, Billy Devaney and Spagnuolo, are all bright guys with varying degrees of previous success in lesser roles. They are stand-up men. They don’t make excuses or hide from their critics. They are trying to do the right things. Maybe they could all succeed if they worked for a strong leader capable of creating a new organizational culture. Or maybe each fills a role they can’t quite handle. A strong new leader could make that assessment, just as John Davidson made critical assessments as the hockey CEO with the Blues. Step by step, he turned the NHL’s worst team into a playoff contender with a bright future and solid resale value." Noted: I'd be surprised if owner Stan Kroenke didn't make some sort of structural change if the season continues on its current course.

Also from Gordon: A Rams report card with failing grades.

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' Jason Smith will consult a spine specialist following his injury Sunday.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers expect to have Braylon Edwards back on the practice field Tuesday. Maiocco: "Jim Harbaugh said he also hopes to see fullback Moran Norris (fibula), outside linebacker Parys Haralson (hamstring), right guard Adam Snyder (shoulder) and cornerback Tramaine Brock (hand) healthy enough to practice Tuesday." Noted: While every other NFC West team suffered a potentially significant injury to a starter in Week 7, the idle 49ers got healthier in key spots, notably wide receiver. Arizona lost Wells. Seattle lost starting corner Walter Thurmond. The Rams lost right tackle Jason Smith and possibly cornerback Justin King.

Also from Maiocco: Joe Staley and Mike Iupati are working together more efficiently.

More from Maiocco: Tarell Brown has exceeded expectations for the 49ers at cornerback.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News checks in with 49ers president Jed York, who tempers his excitement over the team's 5-1 start by noting it's still early in the season.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News explains why 49ers general manager Trent Baalke did not watch NFC West games over the weekend.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times offers thoughts on the Seahawks' 6-3 defeat to Cleveland, contending that it's now clear Charlie Whitehurst is nothing more than a backup. O'Neil: "Remember last year when there was a camp of fans adamant Whitehurst would be an improvement on Matt Hasselbeck. Then Whitehurst started a Week 9 game against the New York Giants, a game the Seahawks lost 41-7. Remember three weeks ago when there was a camp of fans adamant Whitehurst would be an improvement over Tarvaris Jackson? Well, Whitehurst started Sunday in Cleveland, completed 12 passes, just four of them to wide receivers and only one for more than 11 yards. The Seahawks have scored a total of 26 points in his three regular-season starts." Noted: I see no evidence to dispute the contention. At the same time, are three starts enough to make such a determination? The Seahawks also scored 26 points in Matt Hasselbeck's first three starts. Hasselbeck had no touchdown passes and three interceptions in those games. Fans chanted for his backup during the second of those three starts (the first at home). I'll break out something on this separately.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com updates injuries and other developments for the Seahawks.

Arizona Cardinals:
Depth at running back remains the biggest injury variable for the Cardinals heading into Week 4. Beanie Wells hopes to return from the hamstring injury that sidelined him against Seattle. Hamstring injuries are notoriously difficult to manage, however. Returning too soon can put a player at heightened risk for a setback with long-term ramifications. The extent to which Wells practices late in the week should be telling. He was limited Wednesday. Chester Taylor started against Seattle, but Alfonso Smith was the primary back. Fellow running back and return specialist LaRod Stephens-Howling, recovering from a hand injury, also missed the Seattle game. He has only two kickoff returns this season. After three games last season, he had 13 returns for 351 yards and a touchdown. The Cardinals also miss what he brought to the offense as a situational player. On defense, linebacker Daryl Washington returned from his calf injury against Seattle.

San Francisco 49ers:
Receiver Braylon Edwards and fullback Moran Norris remain out, hurting the offense. Edwards would have given the team a needed receiving threat heading into the 49ers' game against Philadelphia's talented secondary. More pressure falls on Michael Crabtree, who apparently made it through Week 3 without aggravating his foot injury. Running back Frank Gore was on the practice field Wednesday despite suffering an injured right ankle against Cincinnati. That injury could lead to more playing time for rookie Kendall Hunter. Injuries were already affecting the ground game. The 49ers miss Norris and their top blocking tight end, Nate Byham, who is on injured reserve. Safety Donte Whitner was expected to play this week despite a hip injury. Having fellow safety Dashon Goldson return from injury last week helped the team's depth at the position.

Seattle Seahawks:
The Seahawks' latest injury-related change to the offensive line will not affect the game-day rotation. Assistant head coach/offensive line Tom Cable underwent back surgery that will keep him from coaching for the short term. On the field, Seattle appears likely to start the same five linemen in the same spots in back-to-back weeks, something the team has not done this season. The line made strides overall against Arizona, but Paul McQuistan struggled through a tough matchup against Calais Campbell in his first game as Robert Gallery's injury replacement at left guard. Fullback Michael Robinson's absence since Week 1 has hurt the special-teams coverage units. He's back this week. Strong safety Kam Chancellor is expected to start despite resting a thigh injury Wednesday. Receiver Sidney Rice made it through his Seattle debut without aggravating his shoulder injury. His availability is big for the passing game.

St. Louis Rams:
Sam Bradford participated fully in practice despite his sprained toe. He was hurt scrambling against Baltimore. The fact that Bradford missed no practice time suggests the injury does not threaten his availability. What it means for his mobility will be harder to say. Running back Steven Jackson practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and appeared closer to full strength than at any time since suffering a quadriceps injury in Week 1, according to reports. He appears likely to play a more significant role against Washington this week. Receiver Danny Amendola appears on course to return from a dislocated elbow following the Rams' Week 5 bye. He participated in individual drills Wednesday, but it's an upset if the Rams hurry him back into the lineup with the bye so close. Tight end Michael Hoomanawanui continues to fight through injuries. He emerged from the Baltimore game with a back injury, but he practiced on a limited basis. With injury issues affecting the secondary, the Rams signed veteran cornerback Rod Hood, formerly of the Cardinals. The Rams released rookie safety Jermale Hines, who appeared headed for the practice squad.

A voice from the NFC North pours cold water on the Arizona Cardinals' contract agreement with veteran running back Chester Taylor.

Turns out Taylor's 2.38-yard average with the Chicago Bears last season was the worst since the 1970 NFL merger among running backs with at least 100 carries in a season.

Expanding the Pro Football Reference filter to include games since 1920 and players of any position, we see names such as Abner Haynes, Bob Monnett, Eddie Price and Davey O'Brien.

Taylor did have a 24-yard run last season, against Seattle in Week 6. His longest run the rest of the season covered 11 yards. Taylor, 31, had 95- and 84-yard touchdown runs while with Minnesota in the mid-2000s.

Greg Toler, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Nate Clements and Kelly Jennings were among the starting cornerbacks for NFC West teams in Week 17 last season.

Only Toler remains with his team from that group, and he's on injured reserve. Another Week 17 starter at corner, Shawntae Spencer, has missed extensive time to injury.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times checks in with one of the NFC West cornerback replacements, and an improbable one at that: 6-foot-4 CFL alum Brandon Browner, the favorite to start opposite Marcus Trufant when the Seattle Seahawks visit the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1. Kelley: "Watch him in practice or preseason this summer and you had to wonder how so many teams could have been so wrong about him. In a league where wide receivers are getting taller, Browner, at 6 feet 4, 225 pounds, seems like a natural. But in the past five years he had auditioned for Miami, Philadelphia, Minnesota and the Seahawks and never gotten a call back."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune provides an interview transcript from his meeting with Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Carroll on why he named Tarvaris Jackson the starting quarterback outright: "Our commitment to Tarvaris is really a commitment to the execution of a really good plan, and to put a team together in very short order. And because of the coaching shifts there are things that made that come to the surface. … I think it’s the best competitive thing we can do for our club to make him the quarterback right now, and not worry about an open competition and dividing reps and stuff. There’s just no time. … It wouldn’t be fair to the rest of the team or our fans -- everybody that’s following us. … And I love what Tarvaris can do. I think he’s a fantastic player. I’m just hoping that we can support him properly and play good around him so he can get rolling for us, and that hasn’t quite happened yet."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic profiles new Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb. Guard Rex Hadnot played with Kolb in college and had this to say: "I couldn't tell you what it is about him. His parents have instilled something in him for him to be able to come into a situation, adapt and achieve great success. When I heard about the acquisition, I was excited."

Also from Somers: The Cardinals are expected to announce Chester Taylor's addition Monday.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says veteran guard Hank Fraley is out after the Rams reached a contract agreement with Tony Wragge. Thomas: "Fraley, 33, was due to make $1 million in base salary this season. He appeared in seven games last season, mainly on special teams."

Also from Thomas: NFL teams made waiver claims on Rams castoffs, an indication the talent level is improving in St. Louis. The team hoped to sign quarterback Thaddeus Lewis to its practice squad, but former Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur knew about Lewis and claimed him for the Browns. Rams general manager Billy Devaney: "We were hoping he wasn't claimed, but we fully understood that he played good enough in the preseason where I know he opened some people's eyes. And Pat's certainly familiar with him in Cleveland."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the NFL has not decided whether to suspend 49ers receiver Braylon Edwards, who pleaded guilty to DUI.

Also from Maiocco: It's looking like the 49ers will sign inside linebacker Tavares Gooden, released by the Ravens. Gooden was a third-round choice in 2008. Would his coach with the Ravens, John Harbaugh, provide a scouting report to his brother, 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh?

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee highlights stark differences between current 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and former coach Mike Singletary. Singletary was all about the big picture. Harbaugh is all about the little things. The team hasn't even used the giant hill Singletary had built for conditioning drills. Noted: Head coaches set the tone, obviously, but details surely mattered to Singletary as well. He just didn't want to be the one in charge of them. There's a different feel and standard when the head coach is involved at the most detailed level.

Also from Barrows: updates the 49ers' practice squad signings.

Arizona has long sought to attract senior citizens from cold-weather states.

The state's NFL team has assembled quite a few NFL elders, including their newest running back, Chester Taylor. That wasn't the plan heading into training camp, but losing rookie running back Ryan Williams to knee surgery forced a change of plans upon the Cardinals.

Taylor, who turns 32 this month, averaged 2.4 yards per attempt with three touchdowns and 20 receptions in 2010, his lone season with the Chicago Bears. He spent four seasons previously with Minnesota and four with Baltimore. In 2006, his lone season as a full-time NFL starter, Taylor carried 303 times for 1,216 yards, easily career highs. He has missed only five games in nine seasons.

The Cardinals were already the NFL's second-oldest team on average when teams reduced to 53 players in accordance with the Saturday deadline. Most of their older players are concentrated on defense. Taylor joins tight end Todd Heap, 31, as the Cardinals' only offensive players in their 30s, pending other moves the team could be planning or in the process of making.

Taylor's career rushing average per attempt has fallen from 5.4 (2007) to 4.0 (2008) to 3.6 (2009) to 2.4 (2010) over the past four seasons. The Cardinals weren't going to find a young, ascending running back on the market at this time. They have added a back whose experience gives them something they didn't have at the position previously.