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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the 49ers in 2012:

Dream scenario (14-2): The 49ers pick up where they left off last season. They continue to force turnovers and protect the football while dictating field position with their dominant special teams. This time, however, the offense has more firepower.

Receiver Michael Crabtree backs up coach Jim Harbaugh's comments suggesting Crabtree has all-time-great hands. A rejuvenated Randy Moss strikes fear into secondaries. Quarterback Alex Smith, armed with sufficient weapons, strikes for explosive plays more frequently. The offensive line, stabilized by Alex Boone's emergence as a top young guard, sustains drives on third downs and finishes them in the red zone.

Rookie receiver A.J. Jenkins hits stride in December as the 49ers clinch home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs heading into Week 17. Colin Kaepernick throws for 350 yards and four touchdowns in the regular-season finale as San Francisco eliminates division-rival Arizona from playoff contention. Sufficiently rested, the 49ers score a dominating victory over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, delivering San Francisco its first Super Bowl title since the 1994 season.

Nightmare scenario (6-10): The odds catch up to Smith when the Detroit Lions' Ndamukong Suh delivers a controversial hit at the knees in Week 2. Kaepernick isn't ready, Moss loses interest and the offense can't score enough points. Meanwhile, Peyton Manning has the Denver Broncos looking like contenders.

The 49ers realize they were fortunate to have Smith start 18 games the previous season despite taking 51 sacks. They realize how risky it was going into the season without a proven right guard. How hard would it have been to pay one of the veteran options the team considered in free agency? That's a question reporters keep asking, even though none of them said much before the season. The question stings now that Smith is done for the season and Kaepernick is running for his life.

Tough defense and special teams keep the 49ers reasonably competitive. The coaching staff does its best to stabilize the situation. The 49ers compete and steal victories from other teams with quarterback issues. In the end, however, they become the latest team to suffer a hard fall after posting a glittering record the previous season. Rock bottom arrives when Sando notes, again, that the 13 teams finishing 13-3 from 2004 to 2010 averaged 8.3 victories the following season.

Aldon Smith's 14-sack rookie season and Bruce Irvin's recent first-round selection have obscured another young NFC West pass-rusher with great potential.

Not for long, perhaps.

The St. Louis Rams' Robert Quinn, chosen 14th overall in 2011, showed up Monday among 12 second-year players to watch in 2012, according to Mel Kiper Jr.

"I fully expected Quinn to have a so-so rookie season after sitting out his entire final season at North Carolina," Kiper wrote. "But now comfortable, he could easily double the 5.0 sacks he notched last year. Too much talent to keep down."

Kiper's list features only players coming off less noteworthy rookie seasons.

Quinn had five sacks while playing 52 percent of the Rams' defensive snaps last season. He'll move from a situational role to the starting lineup, a transition signaled by James Hall's release from the team.

Quinn made more of an impact as his rookie season progressed, including on special teams, where his athleticism made Quinn a threat to block punts. Quinn was once the special-teams player of the week in the NFC and later the Rams' special-teams player of the year. He also ranked second on the team with 14 quarterback hits.

Quinn was the only NFC West player to make Kiper's short list. I've put together a few candidates from the rest of the division:

• Arizona Cardinals: Second-round choice Ryan Williams is the choice for now, with third-rounder Rob Housler also in the conversation. Both appear positioned to make significant strides. Williams, if healthy, will have additional chances to handle the ball. The Cardinals thought Williams was going to be a breakout player last season. A torn patella tendon ended his season. The team figured Housler would need a year of seasoning after making the transition from Florida Atlantic without the benefit of a regular NFL offseason.
• Seattle Seahawks: Receiver Kris Durham is one obvious candidate after missing all but three games last season with a torn labrum. He'll have a chance to earn a spot in the rotation this season. Four other 2011 picks became starters for Seattle (James Carpenter, John Moffitt, K.J. Wright and Richard Sherman). I removed them from consideration. That left Durham, Byron Maxwell, Pep Levingston and Malcolm Smith among choices still with the team.
• San Francisco 49ers: Daniel Kilgore's path to the starting job at right guard appeared clearer before tackle Alex Boone became a candidate for the spot. Kilgore, a fifth-round choice from Appalachian State, still might be the best candidate for a breakout season among the 49ers' choices (to the extent a guard can break out, that is). Second-round choice Colin Kaepernick would be a bolder projection. He likely will not play much unless Alex Smith struggles or suffers an injury. This assumes Chris Culliver, a regular contributor as a third-round choice, remains the third corner.

Enjoy your Monday night.

NFL rosters turn over quickly. It's no shock to see a team's draft class disperse after five or six years.

Sometimes it takes a special player to thrive through injuries, coaching changes, temptations and other issues that can send a promising career in the wrong direction.

Calais Campbell is looking like that type of player. He has stayed relatively healthy, succeeded despite multiple changes in coordinators and commanded a lucrative second contract from the Arizona Cardinals.

Campbell, still only 25, is the longest-tenured second-round draft choice remaining with his original NFC West team. That seems difficult to believe, but much has changed since the Cardinals made Campbell the 50th overall choice in the 2008 NFL draft. Every other team in the division has changed head coaches multiple times. Those changes negatively affected quite a few players.

The chart shows NFC West second-round choices since 2007, excluding the class selected last month. Shading indicates players no longer with their original teams.

Eight of the 10 drafted from 2009 to 2011 remain with their teams. Taylor Mays and Cody Brown are the exceptions. Campbell is the lone second-round survivor among seven taken during the 2007-2008 drafts.

I've singled out five second-rounders to watch in the division:

• Colin Kaepernick, 49ers: Alex Smith projects as the starter for this season, but his contract provides flexibility for the team. Kaepernick could get a chance this season if Smith struggles or fails to remain healthy enough to start all 16 games for a second consecutive season.
• Ryan Williams, Cardinals: Williams spent much of his offseason at team headquarters rehabbing a serious knee injury. The team remains cautiously optimistic that Williams can become a game-breaking back. Coaches and scouts loved what they saw from him before the injury.
• Golden Tate, Seahawks: Tate started five games and dropped no passes last season. The Seahawks think Tate might be turning a corner after a rough start to his career. This is a pivotal season for Tate.
• Rodger Saffold, Rams: Saffold quickly emerged as the Rams' starting left tackle, showing promise as a rookie. His second season wasn't as smooth. A pectoral injury suffered while lifting weights required surgery. Saffold looks like a long-term starter even if it means sliding to guard at some point in the future.
• Lance Kendricks, Rams: Former offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels was a big supporter in the Rams' decision to draft Kendricks. McDaniels is gone. Kendricks remains in the Rams' plans, by all appearances. He was inconsistent as a rookie and still must find his bearings.

St. Louis and Arizona each used five second-round choices from 2007 to 2011. Seattle used four. San Francisco used three and has gotten relatively little from those selections, pending Kaepernick's potential emergence as the starting quarterback at some point in the future.

The Rams have gotten 118 starts from their five second-round choices during the five years in question. The Seahawks have gotten 99 starts, the Cardinals 74 starts and the 49ers 44 starts. Teams with weaker rosters and/or additional second-round choices would generally have larger totals.

The chart shows starts made only for the teams that selected each player. Some players have made additional starts for other teams.

Greetings, and Happy Cinco de Mayo.

A look back at the most recent NFC West chat shows the concussion issue permeating what are usually football-related discussions. The issue was a significant one for the division last season as several players, notably Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb and St. Louis Rams tackle Jason Smith, missed extended periods after suffering head injuries.

Both men absorbed inadvertent knees to the head (as did the San Francisco 49ers' Delanie Walker, who suffered a broken jaw as a result). There was not much anyone could have done to prevent these injuries, but as ESPN's Merril Hoge said Friday, how teams and players respond can make all the difference.

NFC West teams seemed to respond appropriately in these cases. Walker said he did not suffer a concussion, only the jaw injury. Kolb and Smith missed extended periods following their concussions.

Brian from Arizona asks whether Kolb, who suffered a concussion playing for Philadelphia prior to suffering one last season, would have to consider retirement if he suffered one serious enough to sideline him for multiple games in 2012.

Mike Sando: Reasonably, yes, but we have evidence suggesting players will try to keep playing, and teams will keep giving them chances. I wonder if we're headed for a day when players must go through some sort of neurological or medical board to get a license to play in the NFL. Sort of the way boxing requires boxers to get a license. I mean, Brandon Stokley is playing in the NFL after suffering more than 10 significant concussions, by his count.

David from Maryland asks which wide receivers are most likely to stick on the Rams' initial 53-man roster.

Mike Sando: We need to know whether Steve Smith is going to be healthy. A scout for an NFL team told me he though the Rams would cut a receiver who would catch on with another team. Brian Quick makes it as a second-round choice. Danny Amendola makes it as a slot receiver. I suspect Greg Salas makes it. Chris Givens has a decent shot as a fourth-round pick. We haven't even mentioned Brandon Gibson, Austin Pettis or Danario Alexander. My feel is that injuries will make some of the decisions for the Rams. Smith and Alexander are two players to watch on that front. Can they hold up OK?

Boothe from parts unknown asks which is a more plausible hypothesis: The 49ers approached this draft with an eye on giving Alex Smith more weapons, or that they drafted these players to pair with Colin Kaepernick (in the near future) in a more dynamic, high-speed offense? "Or is neither exclusive of the other?" he asks.

Mike Sando: The 49ers were adding to their offense, period. If Alex Smith makes the most of those weapons, good for him. If not, on to the next guy. I'm sure they're thinking in the backs of their minds about a day when Colin Kaepernick, A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James are on the field together with Vernon Davis, etc. But for now, Alex Smith gets first crack.

Bernie from Burien, Wash., asks whether the Seattle Seahawks should consider converting Mike Williams to tight end, a position where the team needs additional depth.

Mike Sando: Mike Williams wouldn't offer enough as a blocker. Plus, he is 230 pounds, too light for a tight end, and he has had trouble staying healthy. The team needs to add a real tight end. Visanthe Shiancoe is the most logical candidate by far among veteran free agents. He is 32, but he has not missed games.

Enjoy your Saturday. I'll be ducking out to watch our youngest play baseball.

Moderately accomplished quarterbacks are more likely than great ones to mentor a young prospect, in my view.

They have less to lose.

The "Outside the Lines" video above provides fresh and archived interviews with NFC West alums Joe Montana, Steve Young and Trent Dilfer while taking a closer look at the dynamics. Montana wasn't interested in mentoring Young for obvious competitive reasons. Dilfer warmed to mentoring Matt Hasselbeck.

Young NFC West quarterbacks are largely without veteran mentors heading toward the 2012 season.

San Francisco 49ers starter Alex Smith might be the closest thing to a mentor in the division. He has the experience and personality to become a resource for second-year pro Colin Kaepernick. To what degree that has happened, I'm not sure. Smith returns as the starter, but the situation is competitive, too.

The St. Louis Rams have no veteran mentor for Sam Bradford. The Arizona Cardinals have none for Kevin Kolb or John Skelton. The Seattle Seahawks have none for new quarterback Matt Flynn, although Tarvaris Jackson is nearly 3 years older and does have 34 career regular-season starts.

Having a veteran backup as a resource makes sense in theory, especially when his presence isn't seen as an imminent threat to the young starter's job security.

Among NFC West teams, the Rams would seem to benefit the most from adding a veteran backup. They're the one team in the division with a young starter and no plans for competition at the position.

Current backup Kellen Clemens has only 12 career starts, but he does have considerable knowledge of the offensive system Bradford is learning for the first time.

The chart reflects Flynn's status as the expected starter. He has not yet won the job, however.

Former Arizona State quarterback Brock Osweiler says he's hoping to leave a "very respectful, cherished, loving legacy" during his time here on Planet Earth.

The tattoo on his right arm reminds him of this.

"Leave your legacy," it says.

Osweiler's left arm is less relevant to whatever success he enjoys in the NFL -- or in any English classes he might have taken as a political science major at Arizona State.

"Live life to it's fullest," reads the tattoo on that arm, complete with the unwelcome apostrophe.

Osweiler, speaking to ESPN's Jon Gruden in the continuing "QB Camp" draft series, says that tattoo dates to his high school days.

Perhaps most impressively, Osweiler has enough room on his long arms to fit those sentences, additional punctuation and all. At Gruden's prompting, Osweiler addressed the positives and negatives associated with his 6-foot-7 height and with his length overall.

The point Gruden made about taller quarterbacks -- how they use their eyes to mask their intentions becomes critical because defenders can see them easier -- stood out. Osweiler is two inches taller than any NFC West quarterback. Arizona's John Skelton and San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick are both 6-5.

The last time we considered Osweiler, he was at the combine and recovering from a foot injury. The Seattle Seahawks were looking for a quarterback, a search that led them to Matt Flynn in free agency. Osweiler subsequently worked out for scouts.

Analysts are projecting Osweiler for the second round or later.

I'm having a tougher time envisioning an NFC West team drafting him in that range now that Flynn is a starting candidate for Seattle. The Cardinals do not have a second-round choice, and they appear mostly set for 2012 with Kevin Kolb and Skelton. The San Francisco 49ers are set at quarterback for this season. The St. Louis Rams could use a veteran backup more than they could use a developmental player at the position.

Three-fourths of the NFC West wanted a shot at Peyton Manning this offseason.

The Seattle Seahawks' Pete Carroll and John Schneider flew to Denver in a failed attempt to catch Manning before the quarterback departed for Arizona.

The Cardinals met with Manning at their facility.

The San Francisco 49ers then emerged as a surprise finalist for Manning, with Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh flying to watch Manning work out in North Carolina.

Manning was a special case, to be sure, but those teams' interest also reflected on relatively weak quarterback situations in Seattle, Arizona and San Francisco. The position has stabilized within the division since Manning signed with Denver, providing an opportunity to bring in Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. for thoughts on where teams stand.

Mike Sando: Let's begin with the Seahawks, the only team in the division to bring in a new likely starter from the outside. Does Matt Flynn improve the situation?

Matt Williamson: Yes, and that is the best word. When free agency hit, I wasn't huge on Flynn. I thought people would be beating down his doors, and he worried me. I think he's good, not great. I would not use the term 'franchise quarterback' for him. But he improves them and I can't be critical of any team that gets better at QB.

Sando: What limits your enthusiasm on him?

Williamson: His overall talent, his ability to throw the football, his size and strength -- they're all just a little above average. He was a seventh-round draft choice for a reason. You have to keep him ahead of the chains, you need the running game. He doesn't take the team on its shoulders if things fall apart around him. If you manufacture offense, know what he is capable of doing, minimize turnovers, I think you can win a lot of games that way. In the end, he is an upgrade. And they did not spend a fortune for him.

I look at Seattle like the arrow is going up, they are getting better in all areas and they are young. This is a nice signing. Tarvaris Jackson played well and he was injured, and he exceeded my expectations, but that is as good as he is going to play. He is still a liability more than an asset. Flynn can get to a point where he can be more of an asset than a liability.

Sando: You said we've seen the best from Jackson. A lot of people think we've seen the best from the 49ers' Alex Smith as well.

Williamson: I agree. I really think it's going to be Colin Kaepernick's job not far down the line. They are going out and getting vertical guys, guys who can really run. That doesn't fit Alex Smith. Yes, it will open up room for Frank Gore and Vernon Davis, but after a while, people are going to realize they don't have to take away the deep ball. I think Harbaugh wants Kaepernick out there. He wants a guy to use the whole field.

Sando: The contract Smith signed was for three seasons and can max out at $33 million, but the 49ers can easily exit the deal after one or two years and a lot less money.

Williamson: Everyone realized that offense was easy to play against last year because they had no weapons on the outside to scare you deep. Harbaugh knew that, so he was really creative with his big-body personnel, using a lot of six-man line sets, double tights, heavy formations. They did a lot of odd things and had to coach up points. I think he wants more explosiveness for sure and more verticality, and Kaepernick has those traits much more than Smith. They traded up to get Kaepernick for a reason. You don’t use a second-round pick for a quarterback who is very toolsy without looking at him as the starter.

Sando: Smith did go 13-3 last season. He did make the winning plays against New Orleans in the wild-card round. Is the trajectory pointing up on him?

Williamson: Smith minimized the negative plays and will never be any better than he was doing that. He may get more confident, may make a few more throws, but what we saw in that one playoff game will be few and far between. He is an OK player, but has a real low ceiling.

Sando: Cardinals fans are hoping that comment doesn't apply to Kevin Kolb as well. Kolb had trouble staying on the field last season, missing extended period with toe and head injuries. He struggled when he was on the field as well.

Williamson: I look at Kolb like I look at the rookies last year. The lockout, those guys got thrown into the fire in an unfair manner. Any quarterback changing teams, especially a QB with limited experience, never got the minicamps or the things they needed. But man, I didn't like anything I saw from Kolb. I think their quarterback situation is the worst in the league right now, right there with the Browns and the Dolphins and a few other teams.

Sando: Arizona saw enough to pay a $7 million bonus to Kolb, keeping him on the roster. The alternative was heading toward the draft with John Skelton as the only starting prospect. That would have been rough. What about Kolb bothered you the most last season?

Williamson: I just didn’t see anything to get excited about. Didn’t see tools or the willingness to hang in the pocket. Maybe he was just uncomfortable. A couple guys who floundered last season could step up big after having a regular offseason. I just did not see anything. Kolb does not stand as firm in the pocket as I would like. I'd like to see him more willing to take hits to deliver the football.

Sando: Kolb did that well on a deep pass to Larry Fitzgerald at Washington early in the season, absorbing a crushing hit to complete a game-changing pass. But that play was an exception. Kolb did bail from pressure too frequently, and he could not stay on the field.

Williamson: Ken Whisenhunt was used to Ben Roethlisberger, who is the opposite. Kurt Warner is the opposite, too. He would take a hit, let it go at the absolute last second.

Sando: Any discussion about quarterbacks getting hit should include the St. Louis Rams' Sam Bradford. He took 36 sacks in 10 games last season. Bradford has a new offensive coordinator, Brian Schotteneheimer, and a new head coach promising to protect him.

Williamson: I am a Bradford guy who had no problem with their decision not to take Robert Griffin III. The Rams have had as good an offseason as anyone. The more I look at last season -- mix in Bradford's injuries, the bad line, having no weapons -- it was an impossible endeaver. Throw that away. Jeff Fisher is smart and has a history of bringing along guys slowly, of running Eddie George and playing defense. Schottenheimer did a ton of that with the Jets, maybe even too much, but he had to.

Sando: Right. Schottenheimer was trying to take off pressure from Mark Sanchez, at least until last season.

Williamson: Sanchez isn't close to Bradford. My concern with the Rams would be two years from now, if Bradford still does look like the first overall pick, will they take the reins off? Harnessing him back now, I have no problem with that. Win some games, lean on others. But will they allow him to be great when he is ready? They are conservative by nature.

Sando: Shorter term, the Rams haven't done anything to help Bradford in the playmaker department. They've actually gotten worse in that area after losing Brandon Lloyd to free agency.

Williamson: They will end up with Trent Richardson or Justin Blackmon in the draft, but it would have been nice to add some kind of veteran. Maybe Mario Manningham. At least a No. 2 type. They do have a lot of young guys from last year and maybe someone steps up, but it's not real exciting. I would not have paid what Pierre Garcon got, though. Robert Meachem got good money too. St. Louis is not the most attractive free-agent landing spot for a receiver right now. But the team is set up for the long term, at least. They will get a top-10-type stud wideout in the next year or two.

Sando: Thanks for the conversation, Matt. I'll be on the lookout for you next Football Today podcast, which posts right here each week. The next one goes live Monday.

High hopes for Sam Bradford and Kevin Kolb gave way to a largely unanticipated development in 2011: Alex Smith was the best quarterback in the NFC West.

How will Matt Flynn affect the division's quarterback dynamics in 2012?

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times profiles the Seahawks' recently signed prospect, revealing Flynn to be determined and possessing a strong work ethic. O'Neil: "For all the hope and expectation that has been bundled into his acquisition, Flynn has been a starting quarterback for exactly one of the previous nine seasons he has played football. At the age of 26, he has started just 16 games since high school, going 13-3 in those games." Noted: Former Seahawks starter Matt Hasselbeck followed a similar path. He was a backup heading into six of his eight previous seasons when Seattle acquired him in 2001.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle notes that an increasing number of mock drafts are sending linebacker Luke Kuechly to the Seahawks in the first round. Noted: Linebacker is a position of need, and Seattle will not have big money invested in the position, even if Leroy Hill and David Hawthorne re-sign.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says William Gay, signed by the Cardinals after Richard Marshall signed with Miami, could challenge for a starting job. Somers: "Marshall played a valuable role for the Cardinals last season as a part-time starter and as a cornerback and safety in nickel packages. Gay could make similar contributions and should challenge for a starting spot opposite Patrick Peterson. That position is open. Greg Toler and A.J. Jefferson are among other contenders." Noted: Peterson should take a fairly significant step forward. Gay adds welcome experience.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams re-signed one of their top special-teams players, Brit Miller, while losing another, Chris Chamberlain. Thomas: "In varying degrees, the Rams remain in conversation with several free agents who have visited Rams Park recently: offensive guards Chilo Rachal (San Francisco) and Robert Turner (New York Jets), offensive tackle Barry Richardson (Kansas City), outside linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar (New Orleans) and wide receiver Steve Smith (Philadelphia)." Noted: Richardson played every offensive snap for the Chiefs last season.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com offers this regarding 49ers quarterbacks Alex Smith, Colin Kaepernick and Josh Johnson: "I don't see the move to add Johnson as a sign that the 49ers are looking at demoting Smith or Kaepernick. I see it as a move designed to strengthen the position as a whole. The practice and play of the four quarterbacks will determine the order in which the depth chart is stacked at the beginning of the season." Noted: Johnson's ties to Harbaugh make him an intriguing candidate for more than the No. 3 role if Smith departs in another season or two, but those ties do not amount to a free pass. Johnson must prove he belongs.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee notes that the 49ers' Aldon Smith was sporting a bandaged left hand/wrist during a recent team function. No word yet on the severity of any injury.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle gets thoughts on Kaepernick and Johnson from one of their former coaches, Roger Theder. Theder: "I think what Jim is looking for is that work ethic, and I think Josh lost that a little bit at Tampa. He's got it back now because he knows what Harbaugh expects. And Colin’s always had that great work ethic. So I think that’s going to be the deciding factor as far as which guy is the better quarterback."

The San Francisco 49ers have options at quarterback over the next couple seasons.

Their new deal with Alex Smith could last one, two or three seasons. They could hand over the offense to Colin Kaepernick at any point along the way. Signing veteran Josh Johnson to a two-year deal Thursday gives the team depth behind Kaepernick if the team does transition away from Smith.

Johnson was not coveted in the market this offseason, but the fit with San Francisco should be a good one. He played for coach Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego, which means the 49ers know what they are getting. It also means Johnson will have a decent grasp of the offense, most likely.

Scott Tolzien is the fourth quarterback. He has eligibility for the practice squad.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Harbaugh and Johnson enjoy a special bond. Branch: "Harbaugh saw something in Johnson nearly a decade ago when nearly no on else did. At Oakland Tech, Johnson, then 5-9 and 160 pounds, spend most of his time handing off to his cousin, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. No matter, the day after Harbaugh was hired at USD, he visited Johnson. The only other school to recruit him was St. Mary’s, which has since dropped its football program. Nearly a decade later, after throwing for 113 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in college, Johnson finds himself in a similar spot. In a four-year NFL career, he’s made five starts, thrown five touchdowns and 10 interceptions and posted a 57.7 rating. But now he’s back with the coach of whom he’s said 'he makes your strengths become your greatness and makes your weaknesses become your strengths.' "

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have re-signed offensive lineman Quinn Ojinnaka. Thomas: "He probably will serve as the Rams' third tackle rather than as a starter, which means free-agent Adam Goldberg's six-year tenure with the team probably has ended. Ojinnaka, 6-5, 295, also can play guard. He spent four seasons with Atlanta, from his rookie season in 2006 through '09, so Rams general manager Les Snead and offensive line coach Paul Boudreau know him from their time with the Falcons' organization. In six NFL seasons, Ojinnaka has appeared in 58 games with 15 starts."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says re-signing D'Anthony Batiste makes sense because the Cardinals need depth at offensive tackle. Urban: "The Cards have a few representatives at Stanford’s pro day today -- including head coach Ken Whisenhunt -- and part of the Stanford attraction is projected first-round offensive linemen Jonathan Martin, a tackle, and David DeCastro, a guard. At this point, free agent tackle Demetrius Bell, who visited last week, has not signed anywhere. Multiple possibilities remain in play."

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle goes on camera to offer thoughts on the Seahawks' offseason to this point.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says Seahawks general manager John Schneider has demonstrated a strong feel for the draft. Kelley: "In the draft last year, they plugged two more offensive line holes, but they also found a starting linebacker, K.J. Wright, in the fourth round and a starting cornerback, Richard Sherman, in the fifth. They got starting corner Brandon Browner from the CFL, and signed undrafted free-agent receivers Doug Baldwin and Ricardo Lockett. They found players where other teams weren't looking."

The numbers for recent NFC West quarterback contracts are now available through various sources.

The San Francisco 49ers' Alex Smith signed a three-year deal that gives the team an easy escape after one or two seasons. He gets a $3 million roster bonus and $5 million salary in 2012. Another $1 million from his 2013 salary is also guaranteed. This would become a one-year, $9 million deal if the 49ers released Smith after the 2012 season.

Smith would earn $16.5 million over the first two seasons if the 49ers kept him on the roster. He would earn another $7.5 million in salary for the 2014 season if he played out his contract. Another $9 million is available in incentives.

Matt Flynn's new deal with the Seattle Seahawks includes a $6 million signing bonus and a $2 million base salary in 2012, plus another $2 million in first-year incentives. Those figures account for the widely reported $10 million in guaranteed money. Flynn will obviously be on the roster for the first year of the deal.

Flynn gets $5.25 million in base salary for 2013 and $6.25 million in base salary for 2014. He can earn an additional $5 million in incentives.

The numbers are available through rotoworld.com. Click on the "view contract details" links for Flynn and Smith. Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com has also done nice work putting Smith's numbers in perspective.

Update: The 49ers have agreed to terms with former Tampa Bay backup quarterback Josh Johnson on a two-year deal, according to the team. Johnson played for 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh at the University of San Diego. I would consider this a depth signing that does not change immediate plans for Smith or backup Colin Kaepernick.

A three-year deal for Alex Smith accomplishes two things for the San Francisco 49ers.

It brings back Smith for at least one more season as the starter. That was the most important thing. There was no sense messing up a good thing prematurely and unnecessarily.

Also, the relatively short contract length and anticipated $24 million value affirm the gap between coach Jim Harbaugh's characterization of Smith as "elite" and how the market actually valued Smith.

There should be no surprises.

There's no way Harbaugh thought Smith, 27, was elite the way Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady is elite. As we discussed during an NFC West chat four months ago:

"Harbaugh knows an elite quarterback when he sees one and there's no way he thinks Alex Smith is elite the way Aaron Rodgers is elite. When Harbaugh spoke of Eli Manning as an elite quarterback, he marveled at things such as arm talent, stature in the pocket, rare physical ability, etc.

"When he refers to Smith as elite, I think he's talking about Smith's ability to carry out his assignments at high level. Those assignments are not as challenging as the assignments truly elite quarterbacks carry out. We'll know pretty soon what Harbaugh really thinks of Smith. The next contract Smith signs will tell us where he stands compared to quarterbacks earning elite QB money."

That next contract has come. We do not know all the details, but we should know an elite quarterback contract even from a distance, and this contract does not fit the profile.

The franchise tag for quarterbacks was worth $14.4 million per season. Peyton Manning signed for $19 million annually Tuesday. Brady earns $18 million per year. Smith apparently will come in closer to $8 million a year, a healthy raise from last season, but not enough to prevent the team from moving forward with Colin Kaepernick in the not-too-distant future.

The frustrating part for a quarterback in Smith's position would be seeing the Arizona Cardinals pay more than $12 million per season for Kevin Kolb, who had hardly played. Seattle just paid more than $6 million per season to Matt Flynn, who owns two career starts.

Of course, Smith himself has benefited from the same backward system, having signed a six-year deal for nearly $50 million as a rookie.

Teams are willing to pay more for potential than for a player with known limits. Smith, although he improved last season and could continue to grow as a player, has a more clearly defined ceiling now than when he had not played. It's higher than it was one year ago, at least.

The contract won't mean as much as the 2012 season nears. Smith can proceed as the 49ers' starting quarterback. Harbaugh and Smith can put behind them any hard feelings that might linger from contract talks or the 49ers' pursuit of Manning.

Those hard feelings should not diminish what Smith helped the 49ers accomplish last season as the team went 13-3 and reached the NFC Championship Game. Nor should they stand in the way of future successes.

Time to move on.

Alex Smith and the San Francisco 49ers have little choice, in my view, but to reach agreement on a new contract.

The 49ers, having missed out on Peyton Manning, cannot plausibly go from an overtime defeat in the NFC Championship Game with Smith to a relative unknown behind center.

Smith cannot plausibly leave the 49ers for a situation far less favorable to his career.

Which side has the most leverage? The 49ers have to know Smith will return at a semi-reasonable price before he'll settle for what could be a backup job for comparable money elsewhere.

Smith is running out of elsewheres, anyway.

I think that explains why team CEO Jed York has rather flatly stated that a contract offer remains on the table and the next move belongs to Smith. That strikes me as a rather arrogant view, but it also reflects the situation quite accurately. The 49ers can afford to wait when they know the likely outcome.

Players can't dive back into preparations for the upcoming season until mid-April, so it's not like the 49ers are losing ground.

Getting Smith back will give the 49ers their best shot at winning given the absence of a viable alternative.

The chart compares the numbers for Smith to those for signed NFC West quarterbacks since Week 13 of the 2010 season, when Smith returned to the starting lineup with a strong showing against Seattle. The 49ers could do a lot worse than Smith, in other words.

The other quarterbacks: Rich Bartel, Kevin Kolb and John Skelton of Arizona; Colin Kaepernick and Scott Tolzien of San Francisco; Tarvaris Jackson, Josh Portis and Matt Flynn of Seattle; and Sam Bradford of St. Louis. Not all of them played in games during the period in question. Flynn played for Green Bay. Kolb played some of the games in question for Philadelphia.

Five considerations now that Peyton Manning has told the San Francisco 49ers and Tennessee Titans he plans to sign with the Denver Broncos:

• More On Manning

  Peyton Picks Broncos:
  You can call this The Drive Part III: John Elway's determination to get Peyton Manning makes the Broncos a contender again, Ashley Fox writes. Story

  Peyton Manning's decision to play for the Broncos is very bad news for the rest of the AFC West, John Clayton writes. Story

  Manning has a kindred spirit in his corner with Elway as his boss, a big reason why he picked the Broncos, Bill Williamson writes. Blog

  • How Manning fits
  • How good are Broncos?
  • NFL Nation: Bloggers react
  • Mike and Mike: Chris Mortensen
  

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  Tim Tebow Watch:
  Mel Kiper breaks down five teams that may be interested in Denver quarterback Tim Tebow, now that Peyton Manning looks to be the starting QB for the Broncos. Story

  • NFL Nation: Bloggers on Tebow's fate
  • Rumors: Who wants Tebow?
  • ESPN Boston: Tebow a fit for Pats?
  • Vote: Tebow's future in NFL?

  ---

  SportsNation:
  Peyton Manning's pick of a team set Twitter abuzz and drew reaction from several current and former NFL players. Not all (Deion Sanders) were fans of the move. Reaction

  • Vote: Peyton, Broncos a good fit?
  • Vote: Rank Broncos after move
  • Quiz: Broncos QBs since 2000

  More:
  • Fantasy: Broncos WRs gain value
  • Stats & Info: What Manning brings
  • Peyton Manning photo gallery

  Big sighs of relief: Arizona, Seattle and St. Louis no longer must worry about defending against a Manning-led 49ers offense. A healthy Manning would have made the 49ers even more formidable than they were while going 5-1 against the division last season. It's looking like the Seahawks will be the team in the division with the best shot at upgrading their quarterback situation.
• Harbaugh must take lead: The seemingly special bond between 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh and 2011 starter Alex Smith could need some repairing. That should not be too difficult if Harbaugh has been forthright with Smith throughout the process. The 49ers, like the Cardinals, will want to define their interest in Manning as a special case unrelated to their incumbent quarterback. Re-signing Smith should be a no-brainer now.
• Smith's only logical option. Smith has made it known he wants to continue playing for the 49ers. Hurt feelings suffered during negotiations and the Manning diversion should not be grounds for divorce. Unless Smith acts hastily out of anger, which seems unlikely given his temperament, the 49ers should now be able to re-sign Smith to a deal that gives them the flexibility to hand things over to Colin Kaepernick in the next couple years if Smith falters. The 49ers did lose some leverage, however, when Manning picked Denver over Tennessee. A deal with the Titans would have pushed Matt Hasselbeck onto the market.
• Forget about Tim Tebow. The Broncos wanted Manning not only because Manning is a great quarterback when healthy, but also because the organization was seeking a Tebow exit strategy. Manning's acquisition provides the perfect cover for Broncos executive John Elway, who has made clear his feelings that Tebow's playing style is not sustainable. I would not anticipate NFC West teams having interest in Tebow if the Broncos tried to trade him.
• Manning not on schedule. NFC West teams do not play the Broncos in 2012. They still face a lengthy list of talented quarterbacks, including Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Eli Manning, Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, Tony Romo and Jay Cutler. Every NFC West team does face the Miami Dolphins, who lost out on Manning, did not sign Flynn and could have a tougher time signing Smith now that the 49ers have lost out on Manning.

It's a relief to have the Manning situation resolved. I was looking forward to the possibility of having him in the division, however, whether with Arizona or San Francisco.

Wild, wild weekend around here.

Matt Flynn, Jason Jones, Kendall Langford and Mario Manningham found homes in the NFC West.

Brandon Lloyd landed with the Patriots in New England.

Alex Smith hit the road without knowing whether he would return.

Peyton Manning, having eliminated Arizona from consideration, kept San Francisco 49ers fans in suspense while a rookie cornerback shrugged dismissively.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News offers thoughts on the 49ers' thinking. Kawakami: "Jim Harbaugh loves the 'competition' mode in all aspects, including, in this case, negotiations for contracts and jobs. Smith is Harbaugh’s guy… up until the moment things get changed when a Hall of Famer enters the mix. It’s all competition. Maybe Smith understands it, maybe he doesn’t, but the NFL is a cold business and always has been. I also believe the team’s faith in back-up Colin Kaepernick is a part of this." Noted: How and whether negotiations between Smith and the 49ers relate to the Manning pursuit stands out as a telling detail. But we should also never mistake a coach's in-season praise for unconditional loyalty. The things Harbaugh and Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said about their 2011 starters has not stopped either from pursuing alternatives.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com runs through the options for Smith and for the 49ers. Smith signing with the Dolphins would additional pressure on the 49ers to prevail in the race to get Manning. Maiocco: "If Manning signs with the Titans, the 49ers can go after veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, whom they thought they were going to sign a year ago. Then, Hasselbeck and Colin Kaepernick would compete for the starting job. If Manning signs with the Broncos, the 49ers would likely sign Josh Johnson -- about the only quarterback left on the market. Then, Kaepernick and Johnson would compete for the job."

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle thinks Kaepernick could be ready to take over if needed. Ostler: "Could a second-year quarterback lead an NFL team to a Super Bowl championship? Ask Ben Roethlisberger or Tom Brady, they both did. Roethlisberger did it in the 2005 season, as a 23-year-old, although he also started as a rookie. Brady did it in the 2001 season, at age 24, after he inherited the starting job three games into the season."

Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News considers the possibilities for the 49ers and Smith. Purdy: "It's impossible to know Smith's true mindset. He is either ticked off at the 49ers and is ready to bolt for another team ... or is part on the biggest price-fixing scheme in NFL history to drive up the offers for both himself and Manning ... or is sincerely interested in moving to Miami for the state income tax advantages and the deep sea fishing. On the other hand, the 49ers' romance with Manning could simply be the team's own leverage ploy so that Smith will be more eager to accept the offer that's on the table -- three years, $24 million -- although it actually may not still be on the table at all. The offer may also not be as good as it sounds."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee sums up the improbability of San Francisco pursuing a quarterback other than Smith. Barrows: "When the 2011 season ended, Smith was considered a lock to sign a new, multi-year deal with the 49ers. He started all 18 games and finishing with the best statistics of his career, including a league low five interceptions. He had the strong backing of coach Jim Harbaugh, and both he and team officials suggested that hashing out a deal was a formality. Harbaugh and Smith carpooled to a pro-am golf tournament at Pebble Beach last month; Smith even served as Harbaugh's caddie for a day."

Mike Salk of 710ESPN Seattle has questions about Flynn's abilities and think the Seahawks needed to make a bolder play for a quarterback. Salk: "Andrew Luck wasn't a possibility, Manning wasn't interested in them, and they obviously didn't want to give up what it took to get Robert Griffin III. Flynn is not viewed in that same way. No one is offering him ownership stake because his value is not perceived to be that high. No one is cutting a future Hall of Famer for him. And no one is trading up the bounty that Washington gave up to acquire him. He signed for the type of contract that NFL teams hand out to quarterbacks who are in the middle of the pack."

Peter King of Sports Illustrated quotes Flynn as saying he chose Seattle over Miami partly because of a superior "vibe" in the Seahawks' building. Flynn: "The coaches, the staff -- they were fantastic." Noted: The Seahawks thought they could make a similar impression on Manning if given the opportunity.

Art Thiel of Sports Press Northwest asks whether Flynn will benefit from the patience quarterbacks often require.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch takes aim at Mike Holmgren's recent comments about the Rams-Redskins trade, landing blow after blow. Miklasz: "By whining to his team's fans, all Holmgren did was raise more questions over the Browns' failure to obtain the rights to Robert Griffin III. And by now proclaiming that the Browns wanted RG3, Holmgren also made it clear that they don't believe Colt McCoy is their long-term quarterback. Which is a rotten thing to do to McCoy, considering that the Browns may have no choice but to make him the starter again in 2012."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with former Rams cornerback Ron Bartell, who signed with Oakland. He also has details on Scott Wells' signing with the Rams. Bartell: "I get one unfortunate injury and all of a sudden I'm injury prone. So I just want to prove to everybody that I'm healthy. I heard a lot of people doubting me about coming back from my injury. I just want to be able to prove all my doubters wrong. Go out here and just play good football and help this team win."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic explains how the Cardinals could clear significant salary-cap room without taking away money from quarterback Kevin Kolb. Somers: "The Cardinals could easily create about $5 million of cap space with a simple restructuring of quarterback Kevin Kolb's contract. Kolb is due a $7 million bonus for being on the roster Saturday morning. Roster bonuses count toward the cap in the year they are paid, which brings Kolb's current cap figure to $10.5 million ($1 million salary, $2 million prorated signing bonus, $7 million roster, $500,000 workout bonus.) If Kolb agrees, the roster bonus could be converted to a type of bonus that is prorated over the term of the contract. So instead of all $7 million counting this year, only $1.75 million would. Kolb's cap number under that scenario would be $5.25 million."

Also from Somers: a letter to Kolb, written as though from the Cardinals.

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic says Kolb should not be lacking for motivation.

Thank you, Indianapolis Colts, for at least temporarily changing the subject from bounties to where Peyton Manning might play next.

Arizona and Seattle have quickly emerged as teams with interest in the soon-to-be-released Colts quarterback.

Both teams have quite a bit to offer.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Manning's health will be pivotal to the Cardinals' interest. The team has until March 17 to make a decision on Kevin Kolb. Somers: "Numerous people already are handicapping where Manning will play. I think Arizona makes more sense than the Jets, for instance, because I doubt Manning wants to play in the same area as his brother, Eli. The Redskins have a need, but coach Mike Shanahan has a firm belief in his offense. He likes to control every facet of the football operations. And anyone signing Manning will have to show flexibility in adapting to his desires and strengths. The Seahawks have a need, too, and a very good defense. But to whom will Manning throw?" Noted: I think Manning would have little trouble taking on his brother or anyone else, just based on his competitive nature. But that is just a guess. Sidney Rice, Zach Miller and possibly Reggie Wayne would be receiving options for Manning in Seattle. Doug Baldwin would be another option. He led the NFC West in yards per target last season (9.3) and ranked among the NFL leaders in third-down receptions for first downs.

Also from Somers: Darnell Dockett explains why he would welcome Manning to Arizona. Noted: There should be absolutely no offense taken by the Cardinals' other quarterbacks. Manning is one of the all-time greats. Any team without an established quarterback should at least consider him. Supporting Kevin Kolb or John Skelton over Manning would be borderline disingenuous, in my view, based on those players' résumés.

Brian Nemhauser of hawkblogger.com lays out potential risks associated with bringing Manning to Seattle. Nemhauser: "The Seahawks are onto something great with the patient approach to building a roster through the draft. Patience has not even been all that necessary given the amount of talent added in just two drafts. Going big on Manning feels like it could put the entire process at risk without enough reward to justify that risk."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times has this to say about the Seahawks while handicapping where Manning might land: "It's hard to come up with a reason why Seattle wouldn't be interested. The Seahawks' proliferation of close losses last season showed just how close they might be to contending, and they don't have a long-term investment currently in place at quarterback. Also, it's not like signing Manning would preclude the possibility of developing a younger quarterback behind him. The bigger question is whether Manning would want to come and play in the NFL's most isolated outpost in a stadium that's outdoors in a city known for precipitation."

Michael Simeona of 710ESPN Seattle links to a fun Marshawn Lynch video that made the rounds Tuesday. Noted: Those wondering how a newly signed running back spends his discretionary income might learn something here.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch expects the NFL to suspend Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams. Rams chief operating officer Kevin Demoff: "Coach Williams has shown contrition for his actions and continues to cooperate with the NFL in this investigation. Out of respect for the NFL's ongoing process, we will refrain from commenting until the league has come to a final decision on all aspects of this matter." Noted: Williams did show contrition in the statement he released. He is presumably doing the same while meeting with league officials. I'm not sure sustained public contrition is in his nature. How he handles these allegations over the long term will shape perceptions about him.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch raises questions about criticisms of Williams. Miklasz: "I suppose I'm confused. Here you had this outlaw, renegade, out of control coach setting up bounties and sharpening a goon squad to wipe out helpless QBs with dirty hits ... and where was the NFL? Did the NFL miss all of the dirty deeds? Wouldn't you expect more fines than this? Did the folks in the NFL office miss all of these tawdry, disgusting 'kill shots' on QBs? Makes no sense. There seems to be an obvious disconnect between the Williams' reputation and the reality." Noted: Looks like the NFL will punish Williams for a bounty system that allegedly encouraged dirty hits, independent of whether that system produced an unusual number of such hits.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News explains why he thinks the 49ers will show no interest in Manning. Kawakami: "The 49ers of Trent Baalke and Jim Harbaugh aren’t in this for headline-grabbing media circus shows. They’re the far, far opposite of that–they love the blue-collar, no-frills attitude, which keeps the locker room calm and happy and everybody feeling like they’re equal parts of the machine. In this construction, nobody’s bigger than anybody else–theoretically. Crazy big free-agent signings would mess up that balance. If you need a reminder, just flick back to last year’s free-agency period, when 49ers Nation was going nuts while Baalke let the first week or so of F/A go by with nary a splashy move."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers reject Dexter Manley's suggestion Bill Walsh's teams had a bounty out on him. Brown: "Craig Walsh said his father and Manley had a history but that 'it wasn't a vendetta.' He said Bill Walsh made a point of identifying the 49ers who would play pivotal roles in momentum-changing plays. And, on the eve of the game, Walsh would make those players stand up in front of the team and make them vow to fulfill their assignment. On Sept. 10, 1984, one of those key players was tight end Russ Francis, a top-notch blocker, whose crackback block on Manley would be crucial to opening up a running play for Wendell Tyler. ... Francis delivered as promised on "Monday Night Football" -- providing a crushing shot that Craig Walsh (who was on the sideline) said knocked Manley off his feet. The other 49ers players went nuts because they knew it was coming and because it was the key to the play -- just as the coach had drawn it up."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com thinks Saints receiver Robert Meachem could make sense for the 49ers.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee quotes Baalke as saying the team remains focused on re-signing Alex Smith and hasn't even discussed Manning internally. Baalke: "We haven't had Peyton in here nor are we even talking about those things internally right now. ... Is he going to play? I don't know. That's for the doctors to make the decision on and for him himself." Noted: Manning isn't even eligible to visit another team until the Colts release him. All signs point to the 49ers going with Smith and Kaepernick as their top two quarterbacks, but as long as Smith remains unsigned, other options have to be at least remotely in play. And the 49ers have presumably discussed those options internally.

The Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says attempts to block the 49ers' new stadium project met defeat in court.