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Arizona: Kevin Kolb's concussion symptoms have cleared, allowing him to resume practicing with the team Wednesday. Kolb told reporters he plans to take things slowly at first, adding reps each day before starting against Cleveland. This news was about as good as the Cardinals could have expected. The Cardinals are relatively healthy overall. Free safety Kerry Rhodes, recovered from a broken foot, is practicing without limitation. It's unclear how the Cardinals will work him back into the secondary rotation. Strong safety Adrian Wilson and the defense in general are playing better now than when Rhodes was injured. Several other players are working through nagging injuries, including Beanie Wells (knee) and Clark Haggans (hamstring).

St. Louis: Quarterback Sam Bradford played hurt Monday night and continues paying the price. He did not practice Wednesday and told reporters the situation had gotten worse. Bradford is back in a walking boot. The team placed fullback Brit Miller on injured reserve. Tackle Mark LeVoir, defensive end James Hall, defensive end Chris Long, cornerback Josh Gordy, safety Craig Dahl and defensive lineman Eugene Sims missed practice, as did Bradford and backup quarterback A.J. Feeley. Injuries are preventing a struggling team from competing for a full game. Defensive tackle Fred Robbins, sidelined by back trouble against Seattle, did return on a limited basis.

San Francisco: The 49ers do not play until Monday night, pushing back by one day the requirement for publishing an injury report. Left tackle Joe Staley (concussion) and linebacker Patrick Willis (hamstring) are the two most important players likely to appear on the injury report. Staley or backup left tackle Alex Boone will not have to face suspended Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker James Harrison. That will presumably help. Then again, the Steelers were 4-0 and had 13 sacks when Harrison missed four games earlier in the season. The team has not had more sacks in any four-game stretch. The season appears to be wearing on 49ers running back Frank Gore. His snaps were limited against Arizona and could be in the future.

Seattle: Linebacker Leroy Hill practiced fully Wednesday despite a neck injury, a good sign for Seattle given the team's depth issues at the position. Linebacker David Hawthorne rested his injured knee, no surprise. He's playing with an MCL injury that needs monitoring. Receiver Doug Baldwin (ankle), left guard Robert Gallery (hip), defensive end Raheem Brock (calf) and linebacker David Hawthorne (knee) did not practice. They were expected to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Quarterback Tarvaris Jackson remained a full participant in practice despite his pectoral injury. Jackson seems to be getting stronger.

Five things I noticed while watching the St. Louis Rams during their 31-21 victory over the New Orleans Saints in Week 8:

• Steven Jackson sets the tone. Jackson didn't wait, either. He caught a pass nine seconds into the game and barreled up the left sideline as if looking for someone to punish. Jackson caught the ball at the St. Louis 20-yard line, made a defender miss at the 29, lowered his shoulder into another defender at the 32 and fell forward to about the 40. One of his feet stepped out of bounds accidentally, but Jackson never sought the sideline even when it was clear he wasn't going to gain much more yardage. This type of play will shorten Jackson's career, but it's the only way he knows. Jackson arguably saved the game with a fumble recovery at the New Orleans 3-yard line late in the first half. Rookie receiver Greg Salas lost the ball as the Saints tackled him. Jackson beat two Saints players to the ball for the recovery. A turnover in that situation would have been crushing. Jackson scored on the next play.
• Steve Spagnuolo was aggressive, too. The Rams went for it on fourth-and-2 from the New Orleans 40 with 9:29 left in the second quarter of a scoreless game. Improved depth at wide receiver made this a more feasible decision. With Brandon Lloyd commanding attention, the Rams ran a pick play for the improving Salas. Feeley set up in the shotgun. Salas was past the first-down marker and wide open on the left. This wound up being a high-percentage play, but one the Rams would have had a hard time executing a few weeks ago. About that improved receiver depth. Lloyd made one of the better catches I've seen this season when the Rams were running their four-minute offense with a 24-14 lead. Lloyd was on the ground along the sideline when he caught the ball less than a foot off the ground to convert a third-and-5. Feeley delivered the ball from inside the right hash at the 21-yard line. Lloyd caught it at the St. Louis 46. Those plays win games.
• Chris Long affected the game beyond sacks. Saints right tackle Charles Brown struggled against the Rams' defensive end. Long collected three sacks overall, a career high, but those weren't his only impressive plays. Long beat Brown to the inside with a strong move late in the first quarter, forcing a dump pass to the fullback, which Chris Chamberlain smothered. Late in the first half, Long used a spin move to get pressure on a pass teammate Craig Dahl nearly intercepted. Long beat Brown to the outside for a sack on the next play. Long used a power move to beat Brown and deflect Brees' third-down pass on the next play. Rookie defensive end Robert Quinn blocked the ensuing punt. The Rams' defensive linemen were relentless.
• The Saints' longest play covered 25 yards. They rank sixth in the league with 30 pass plays of at least 20 yards, but had only two such plays Sunday, one of them in garbage time. The combination of a strong Rams pass rush and better-than-expected coverage was in play. Drew Brees had to be surprised by what he saw. These weren't the same Rams.
• The Rams mixed up the ground game. The Rams' two longest plays were runs. Jackson had a 32-yarder behind fullback Brit Miller. Later, Jackson gained 20 yards after the Rams motioned him into a previously empty backfield from the left side of the formation, then ran him to the right behind two tight ends. Billy Bajema locked up linebacker Scott Shanle, turning him to the inside on the 20-yarder. The Rams' tight ends were better in this game.

I made it through the game without too many notes on Adam Goldberg, who was filling in for Jason Smith at right tackle. That's good for the Rams. Goldberg seemed to fare pretty well in pass protection.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- The guy wearing tan slacks and a black dress shirt in the "M" lot outside MetLife Stadium -- me -- stood out more than the St. Louis Rams fan I was tracking down Monday night.

I kept scanning the crowd for a Sam Bradford jersey or blue-and-gold Rams face paint. No luck. A few glances at Ray Giasullo's Facebook profile provided helpful clues, and once I spotted a somewhat familiar visage, I approached the large group with some confidence.

"Ray?"

Yep, found him, as planned.

There was a Rams logo on the front of his T-shirt, but nothing on the back. The 19 Giants fans tailgating with him give him enough grief as it is without any over-the-top getup to incite them. They said Giants fans are friendlier than Eagles fans and generally not looking for a fight, but wearing too much enemy garb into any NFL stadium carries some risk.

Most impressive: Those 19 Giants fans, including season-ticket holders dating to the 1970s, knew quite a bit about their team's Week 2 opponent. These are knowledgeable fans. They rattled off names from the Rams' depth chart the way a fan at training camp in Earth City, Mo., might do: Danny Amendola, James Laurinaitis and, of course, the ex-Giants defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo brought over to the Rams, from Craig Dahl to Fred Robbins to James Butler, plus all the long-retired greats.

The Giants fans had great things to say about Spagnuolo, and not-so-great things to say about former Rams receiver Flipper Anderson, whose overtime touchdown catch at the old Giants Stadium knocked the Giants from the playoffs following the 1989 season. Anderson famously ran through the end zone and into the tunnel to the locker room, leaving Giants fans in agony.

Ray smiled at the memory. His friends, not so much. I was remiss in not writing down all their names. We were having too much fun talking football and enjoying the perfect weather.

I shot some video from the parking lot capturing the scene. It'll need some editing, though, as one of Ray's buddies got a little carried away with his commentary. I hope to post it at some point in the not-too-distant future.

Looking back on three things discussed here before the St. Louis Rams' 14-10 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday night:

1. Run defense. Teams playing with purpose during the exhibition season often look very good. The Rams, unhappy with their performance against Tennessee last week, resembled such a team early in this game. They allowed no rushes longer than 4 yards in the first half. They sent linebacker Ben Leber, safety Craig Dahl and safety Quintin Mikell on blitzes. Cornerbacks Bradley Fletcher and Ron Bartell were hitting hard, too. This was the sort of defensive performance the Rams were seeking from their starting unit, against the run and everything else. Leber at halftime, courtesy of the Rams: "The defense is looking good right now. We had the one sudden change and we responded great. Overall, we’ve been in some good situations, some tough situations, and we’ve responded. I think the defense is playing good right now."


2. Offensive consistency. The Rams opened with 12- and 10-play drives for touchdowns. They established running back Steven Jackson early. Jackson, a non-factor against the Titans last week, carried 15 times for 72 yards in a performance that should serve as a tune-up for the regular season. The Rams were determined to get him going. Although new coordinator Josh McDaniels generally prefers a one-back offense, the Rams used fullback Brit Miller extensively, and with positive results. Quarterback Sam Bradford used the running game to beat the Chiefs with play-action passes, including a 6-yard scoring pass to receiver Mike Sims-Walker. Bradford did throw an interception deep in Rams territory when he didn’t see Chiefs linebacker Derrick Johnson dropping into coverage. Bradford completed nine of 16 passes for 95 yards with two touchdowns and one pick. Jackson: "Overall, we look good. I think we’ve been able to execute in the running game and the passing game. Last week, we had some up and down possessions, but this week we wanted to re-establish ourselves."


3. Wide receiver competition. Sims-Walker made an impact with his 6-yard scoring reception. Rookie Greg Salas made a positive impression with a reception across the middle for a first down. We saw, again, just how much Lance Kendricks will figure into the passing game. The rookie tight end caught another touchdown pass, this one an 11-yarder. But the focus remains on the wide receiver race. Donnie Avery, Mardy Gilyard and Danario Alexander are the three receivers I’ve singled out as likely fighting for a spot if the team keeps six at the position. None seemed to get much separation in this game, either from defenders or from each other. Hall of Famer Marshall Faulk, providing commentary on the Rams’ broadcast, found fault with Alexander on two incomplete passes late in the first half. The way Faulk saw things, Alexander didn’t anticipate the ball well enough coming out of his break. Faulk thought Alexander rounded off another route, allowing the defensive back to make a play on the ball. Gilyard found little running room on punt returns and fielded one inside the 10, usually a no-no. The Chiefs picked off Rams backup A.J. Feeley on a pass intended for Avery. Faulk suspected Avery tipped off his route.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Adrian Wilson was back on the Cardinals' practice field in a limited capacity, his first on-field work since suffering an injured biceps tendon. Wilson still hopes to play in the regular-season opener. The injury news at quarterback wasn't so good for Arizona. John Skelton has a high-ankle sprain. Max Hall is out with a shoulder injury and has probably seen any chance of making a run for a roster spot disappear as a result. Wilson's toughness is pretty legendary. I have to think he'll be on the field for Week 1 if it's possible. But what happens when he extends his arms to deflect a pass or make a tackle? As tough as it is to envision Wilson missing the opener, it's just as tough to envision that biceps holding up for a full season.

Also from Somers: The Cardinals have options at inside linebacker. Somers on Stewart Bradley's talent relative to that of former inside linebacker Gerald Hayes: "Bradley's size and athleticism make him versatile. At 6-4, 258 pounds, Bradley gives the Cardinals a physical presence in the middle that they've lacked since Hayes was healthy. At his peak, Bradley is a better player than Hayes at his best. But Bradley can do more than take on offensive linemen. His speed makes him an asset in coverage and a capable blitzer."

More from Somers: O'Brien Schofield took to heart his demotion and criticisms from the Cardinals' coaching staff. Somers: "Schofield, a fourth-round pick in 2010 from Wisconsin, dedicated himself to studying last week. He made flash cards of formations and his responsibilities, and had Sam Acho and fellow linebacker Reggie Walker grilling him constantly. Schofield skipped pre-practice naps to study. He studied as he was receiving medical treatment and before he went to sleep. If other guys were joking during practice, he moved away from them to concentrate."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com links to video from Wilson's return.

Also from Urban: seeking continuity on the Cardinals' offensive line.

More from Urban: on receiver Stephen Williams' progress in Cardinals camp.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Darian Stewart is getting some work with the first-team defense ahead of Craig Dahl at strong safety. Thomas: "Stewart saw most of his action as a rookie on special teams. But late in the season he was worked in on defense, coming in on certain packages in passing situations. Stewart acknowledged that he was a bit overwhelmed at times during his rookie season. He was trying to learn both safety positions as well as his responsibilities on special teams." Dahl has a $1.6 million salary this season. Stewart's salary is $450,000.

Also from Coats: Mike Hoomanawanui could be out for a while, but Danario Alexander is practicing again.

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com says Week 3 of the preseason is when the Rams' offense needs to pick up the pace.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch explores football's harsh realities through the eyes of a few Rams players.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers thoughts on the Rams' roster during a recent chat.

Also from Thomas: The Rams are counting on Quintin Mikell. Thomas: "Mikell earned his spurs as a special teams player, twice being named the Eagles' special teams MVP. For most of those early years in Philly, Mikell bided his time at safety, backing up Pro Bowlers Brian Dawkins and Michael Lewis. As a young player, Mikell looked up to Dawkins in particular, watching everything he did."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says the coaching staff "loves" Stewart's potential at safety.

Also from Wagoner: an appreciation for former snapper Chris Massey. Wagoner: "He was an absolute beast in the weight room, regularly registering lifting records that placed him even with or above the biggest and strongest linemen. He was a diligent student in the classroom as he’d be off the practice field and in the film room watching that day’s practice within minutes of the end of the workout."

More from Wagoner: Alexander's fight for a roster spot.

More yet from Wagoner: Mikell's impact. Wagoner: "Mikell went to the Pro Bowl following the 2009 season after he posted 90 tackles, 13 passes defended and two interceptions. Oddly enough, he did not go last year despite bettering that performance with 111 tackles, 14 passes defended, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries. For his career, Mikell has 444 tackles, four sacks, 46 passes defended, 10 interceptions, seven forced fumble and seven fumble recoveries."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com reports from the team's annual closest-to-the-pin competition precipitating the Champions Tour event sponsored in part by the team. Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst, who recently defended his title in the Seahawks' annual home-run derby, defended his title in this event as well. But it wasn't quite good enough to beat professional Jay Don Blake. Farnsworth: "For the record, Blake’s winning shot was 2 feet, 4 inches from the pin, while Whitehurst was second at 8 feet, 4 inches. Mike Goodes, another Senior Tour golfer who’s also in town for the Champions Tour’s Boeing Classic at TPC Snoqualmie Ridge this weekend, was next at 12 feet, 3 inches. Seahawks wide receiver Golden Tate’s best effort was 15 feet, 4 inches."

Also from Farnsworth: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll acknowledges Whitehurst's progress while recommitting to Tarvaris Jackson as the team's starting quarterback.

More from Farnsworth: The Seahawks see David Vobora as a versatile backup with special-teams value. Farnsworth: "The coaches envision Vobora possibly filling the same role Will Herring did last season, when Herring was the backup at all three linebacker spots but capable of stepping in to start at any of them – and also a big contributor of special teams."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times updates the Seahawks' injury situation. Kam Chancellor missed practice.

Also from O'Neil: thoughts on Aaron Curry's new contract. O'Neil: "Seattle was not going to cut Curry. Not with the amount of money that was guaranteed under the terms of that contract both in 2011 and 2012. So why did this get done? Well, Curry was willing to give up the provision that his 2012 base salary was guaranteed in order to have the final two seasons of the contract removed. Seattle may have seen that like selling the sleeves off a vest as Curry was unlikely to remain on the team for the final two years of the contract as it was. But this kind of forces the issue with Curry's future and creates a clearer timeline that Curry may be able to find a new role -- likely with a different team -- after this season and certainly after 2012."

More from O'Neil: Brandon Browner and Josh Pinkard are making an impact in the Seahawks' secondary.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune offers updates from Seahawks practice. On the injury front, Ben Obomanu and Chris Clemons were back on the field.

Also from Williams: Whitehurst appears to have taken Jackson's promotion as a wake-up call.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee revisits Greg Cosell's scouting report on Taylor Mays to help explain why the safety didn't stick with the 49ers. Cosell now: "The NFL game is about lateral movement and change of direction, and he doesn't have that. ... I thought he was overall a big-time stiff, and I thought he was very lucky to be picked in the second round." Mays most likely would still be on the 49ers' roster if Mike Singletary were the team's head coach. But that would not have assured success for Mays over time. The hard feelings Mays expressed toward Carroll when the Seahawks selected Earl Thomas instead of Mays appeared misplaced at the time, and more now.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says injury issues have prevented Shawntae Spencer from tightening his grip on the starting job at right cornerback. Spencer: "There's no use in being frustrated because it's something you can't control. It's out of my control. All I can do is what Fergie [Jeff Ferguson, director of football operations and sports medicine] tells me to do every day and try to get back as soon as I can."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says coach Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers aren't making any bold proclamations about Alex Smith as their starting quarterback for the regular season. Inman: "Smith has started both exhibition games and is on target to secure the job ahead of rookie Colin Kaepernick and veteran Josh McCown. Smith started the first seven games last season and has a 19-31 record as a starter since being drafted first overall in 2005. Asked when he planned to announce his starting quarterback, Harbaugh replied: 'Before the first game.' That would be Sept. 11 against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park." Smith is the starter whether or not Harbaugh makes an announcement, based simply on the fact that he continues to start preseason games.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says rookie tight end Konrad Reuland is making a strong push for a roster spot. Harbaugh: "He's really having a great camp. I coached him in college and I've always had great respect for Konrad's game and he's elevated here ... He is doing real well, giving himself a great chance to be in the mix and potentially make the team."

Al Sarasevic of the San Francisco Chronicle passes along Carmen Policy's thoughts on recent violence at Candlestick Park.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Kevin Kolb will probably play a little longer than a starting quarterback usually would when the Arizona Cardinals open their exhibition season. Kolb wants to play, of course, but also realizes mistakes will be made after only six days of on-field preparation. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "It’s not like he’ll be wide-eyed. He’s been through this before." Protecting Kolb stands out as the biggest concern. Offensive lines have had little time to jell. The Cardinals have new starters in both guard spots.

Also from Urban: Whisenhunt details what held back the Cardinals' running backs in 2010, and what he wants from them this season. Whisenhunt: "On runs, it was not being able to make a single defender miss. In the NFL, that’s what you have to do. Make guys miss, because you can’t block everybody. There were a couple times we were in the open field and we had an opportunity to make a big play and we got brought down and that was unacceptable."

More from Urban: Rookie receiver DeMarco Sampson has impressed.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic updates Rashad Johnson's efforts to gain an expanded role within the Cardinals' defense. Adrian Wilson's injury cleared the way. Somers: "A third-round pick from Alabama in 2009, Johnson's inconsistency has kept him from more playing time, although he showed improvement from the first year to the next. Johnson set about to change his career course this offseason by first changing his body. He worked out for three months with Wilson and several other Cardinals defensive backs. He still weighs about the same, 204 pounds, but Johnson's body fat percentage decreased from 17 percent to 7.8 percent."

Also from Somers: Cardinals safety Hamza Abdullah is headed to the White House for a dinner celebrating the end of Ramadan. Somers: "Getting through the first preseason game in Oakland on Thursday will be a big relief for coaches, who are working with 51 new players on a 90-man roster. Of that 90, 24 just started practicing last week."

More from Somers: Larry Fitzgerald hurdles a spectator at camp, and former Vikings coach Brad Childress visits the Circle K where he worked after getting fired from a job at Northern Arizona University.

More yet from Somers: a look at Cardinals position battles. On nose tackle: "Dan Williams is listed as the starter, but coaches believe he's out of shape. Rookie David Carter has had a nice camp, and veteran Nick Eason can swing from end to tackle, too." Is reporting to work in good physical condition too much to ask from a young professional athlete?

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a chest injury is limiting Rams middle linebacker James Laurinaitis.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have signed rookie cornerback Jared McGee.

Also from Thomas: a chat transcript featuring his thoughts on whether the Rams' moves in free agency reflect short-term goals. Thomas: "Remember, 8 of the 11 free agents signed so far are one-year deals. So there's no guarantee how many of them will be back in 2012. Of the 11 outside veteran free agents, Zac Diles is 26, Mike Sims-Walker is 26, Quinn Ojinnaka is 27, Jerious Norwood just turned 28, Dan Muir is 28, Cadillac Williams is 29, Craig Dahl just turned 30, Quintin Mikell is 30, Brady Poppinga is 31, Justin Bannan is 32, and Al Harris is 36. So they're spread out kind of all over the spectrum. But I think your overall point is valid. But the sheer number of free agents signed shows the Rams are trying to get over the hump in terms of at least making the playoffs."

Also from Thomas: the Rams' situation at receiver remains muddled.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com offers 49ers practice notes, including one about rookie tight end Konrad Reuland making a push for a roster spot. Reuland appears to have strong hands. He made plays on the ball Tuesday. On one play, Reuland impressed even when unable to finish the catch. He dove for the ball and got both hands on it despite hard contact from a defender.

Also from Maiocco: a look at the 49ers' depth chart. Ted Ginn Jr. dropped a couple passes Tuesday, but otherwise has been one of the more impressive receivers in camp, Maiocco notes. Maiocco: "Ginn has put together the most-impressive camp of the widouts. Josh Morgan has been inconsistent, though he did have a nice leaping catch of 30 yards in a two-minute drill Monday. Braylon Edwards is not listed as a starter because he just arrived in town after signing a one-year, $1 million contract. Based on his practice Monday, Edwards looks ready to leap into a starting role. Michael Crabtree and Dominique Zeigler are not listed on the depth chart because they are ineligible to practice or play until being removed from the physically-unable-to-perform list."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says Patrick Willis is embracing a chance to rush the passer more frequently.

Also from Inman: Frank Gore offers thoughts on the 49ers' offense. Gore on Alex Smith: "You can tell the (offense's) energy is different. You can see it in Alex. He looks really confident. He's able to go. ... Alex is going to be really good in this offense."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers rookie Aldon Smith, despite showing flashes of athletic prowess, remains a work in progress while learning the team's system.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says rookie Byron Maxwell continues to impress. Coach Pete Carroll: "He’s been really special the last two or three days. He looks very competitive. He’s tough. He’s tackled well. He’s got a nose for the football. He’s really bright. He’s really picked things up. He’s right in the mix of this with the young cornerbacks."

Also from Farnsworth: a look at quarterback Josh Portis' winding path to the NFL.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times updates the Seahawks' cornerback situation. O'Neil: "Marcus Trufant and Walter Thurmond project as the team's starting cornerbacks currently. Thurmond has been out the past week, which has left Kelly Jennings playing with the first-unit defense. Then there are the rookies Maxwell and Richard Sherman, a fifth-round draft choice out of Stanford. At 6 feet 4, Brandon Browner is the tallest defensive back Seattle has in camp and someone Carroll has praised for the length he brings to his press coverage."

Also from O'Neil: a look at the positions where Seattle has had the most players start since 2006. Yes, Steve Hutchinson's name comes up.

More from O'Neil: Can Golden Tate bounce back from a disappointing rookie season? Carroll: "He's caught more balls than anyone on the practice field since camp started. He's highly competitive, and we're going to find a way to really have him help us. I think it's a different setting for him entirely."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with Seahawks rookie cornerback Richard Sherman, who has so far fared well using the bump-and-run tactics Seattle prefers.

Also from Williams: Tarvaris Jackson will start the exhibition opener Thursday night, but a toe injury will prevent receiver Mike Williams from playing.

More from Williams: The Seahawks plan to keep Portis around in some capacity.

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle says Red Bryant and Kris Durham will miss the Seahawks' exhibition opener. The team expects Bryant to return next week.

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis will not miss fewer padded practices. Willis on protections written into the new labor agreement: "Honestly, I'm glad they put that in there. At the end of the day, we're high-impact players. For us to go out there and hit each other twice a day and it's me against you and it's everything I've got against you, it takes a toll on your body."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com passes along a team-issued comment from Chargers general manager A.J. Smith regarding the team's contract agreement with Takeo Spikes. Smith: "He is an outstanding player. I love his competitiveness and instincts. I believe he will be an immediate contributor. To me, this is another Randall Godfrey type move for the Chargers."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers did not show interest in Spikes once the negotiating period opened.

Taylor Price of 49ers.com reports from team headquarters as players returned for work following the lockout. Price: "While 49ers players like Willis were extremely eager to begin the 2011 campaign, many of them had trouble finding their lockers first. The typical locker arrangement the players had come to expect was changed by head coach Jim Harbaugh. Now the locker room looks like a sporadic mix of players intertwined with various position groups."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers are adopting a long-term approach under team president Jed York.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune reflects on some of the moments that defined Matt Hasselbeck's legacy in Seattle. Boling: "Years ago at Arizona when Darrell Jackson fumbled the ball 20 yards downfield at a crucial point in the game, the Seahawk who made the recovery was Hasselbeck. He’d gone racing down the field to help and was there to dive into the pile and get the ball. Offensive coordinator Gil Haskell was mad at him after the game because it seemed so reckless for a quarterback, but then he admitted that he’d never seen another quarterback make that play, and that Matt was the 'toughest guy on the team.'"

John McGrath of the Tacoma News Tribune thinks the Seahawks should give Charlie Whitehurst a chance.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says now was the time for Hasselbeck and the Seahawks to part ways. Kelley: "He made himself into a Pro Bowler. He became one of the most respected athletes to play in Seattle and one of the classiest, most humble guys I've covered. But it was time for him to go. The Seahawks will go into this season with two rookies projected to start on the right side of the offensive line. Four of their starting linemen will have a combined total of 27 career starts. That's a prescription for disaster for Hasselbeck, who will turn 36 in September and has had injury and mobility problems the past few years. Truthfully, the end of the Hasselbeck era has been coming since former general manager Tim Ruskell hustled [Mike] Holmgren out the door."

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle says clues were there that Hasselbeck would not return. As coach Pete Carroll put it some time after declaring Hasselbeck's re-signing a top priority, "Well, we had a good dialogue started and we went up to the time frame that we had available so that's all we could do, and then it ended. We weren't able to get anything done at that time so when opportunities arise again where we can get going on it again, we'll be right after it again and see where it all fits. Some time has passed now and there could have been some things that have changed."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says former defensive lineman Richard Harris, 63, has died of a heart attack.

Also from Farnsworth: Seattle players return to work.

Art Thiel of Sports Press Northwest calls Tarvaris Jackson a placeholder while the Seahawks search for their next long-term quarterback.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are considering multiple options at quarterback. Hasselbeck was one of the options mentioned, but obviously not a serious one. Hasselbeck's agreement with Tennessee gives Arizona one fewer quarterback to consider as the Cardinals try to leverage a better deal with Philadelphia for Kevin Kolb. Somers: "Kolb is the Cardinals' top choice, and their efforts to get him were bolstered when the Seahawks agreed to terms Tuesday with former Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson."

Also from Somers: Jeff King and Ben Graham have agreed to deals with Arizona.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says team staffers were happy to see players back in the building following the lockout. Urban: "There are times when a player comes through the door and freezes, realizing a meeting was going on. Offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges was that guy this morning, until [team president Michael] Bidwill waved him through. As the affable Bridges walked down the side, the staff began to clap, bringing a smile to Bridges’ face. As he went to pass the main stage, he went to shake Bidwill’s hand -- and it turned into a welcome-back hug."

Also from Urban: More on players returning to work.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports from Rams headquarters as players returned to work following the lockout. Also: "Jim Lake has been promoted to equipment manager. He replaces Todd Hewitt, who was fired in January after 16 years in the position and 32 years as a Rams employee. Lake has worked in the club's equipment department for 20 years. In other staff additions, Adam Bailey has been hired as assistant strength coach, Lou Paolillo has been named a coaching assistant/special projects, and Jeremy McMillan becomes the team's nutritionist."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Quintin Mikell's addition to the Rams could spell the end for veteran James Butler. Thomas: "The Rams currently have only three safeties under contract in James Butler, Craig Dahl and Darian Stewart, but did draft two safeties in Ohio State's Jermale Hines and Oklahoma's Jonathan Nelson. The signing of Mikell could put Butler, who counts nearly $3.3 million against the salary, in jeopardy of being a cap casualty."

Arizona Cardinals

Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune goes behind the scenes at Larry Fitzgerald’s workouts in Minneapolis. "This is a nice outlet for guys to be able to come over here, get together, get some of the camaraderie that we're missing in the locker room," Fitzgerald said. "I think that's one of the things that I miss most about not being at work is just having an association with your teammates, seeing how their families [are], that type of stuff. So we get that out here."

San Francisco 49ers

Takeo Spikes weighed in on a variety of topics during a recent interview with Sporting News Radio.

Seattle Seahawks

Making a play for quarterback Kevin Kolb could be a risky proposition.

Golden Tate is ready for more playing time in 2011 and the higher expectations that go with it. Tate: "They say the biggest jump is from your first season to your second, so I just need to make sure I'm ready."

St. Louis Rams

Laurent Robinson and Craig Dahl are two Rams players working out with Fitzgerald in Minnesota.

Aaron Schatz's piece on defensive stop rates caught my attention for what it did not include, namely any mention of NFC West players among the highest- or lowest-ranked linebackers.

The San Francisco 49ers' Patrick Willis sets the standard at the position. The St. Louis Rams' James Laurinaitis has emerged as one of the better 4-3 middle linebackers. The Seattle Seahawks' Lofa Tatupu, slowed by injuries recently, also escaped mention.

Taking a closer look at the criteria allowed for a fuller understanding of the statistic. Stop rates reflect what percentage of a player's statistics produce successful outcomes against running plays. The stat defines successful outcomes as those when the opposing runner fails to gain certain percentages of the yards required for first downs. The percentage is 45 on first-down runs, 60 on second-down runs and 100 on third- or fourth-down runs.

So, if Willis tackled the opposing runner after a 4-yard gain on first-and-10, the tackle would qualify as a successful stop because the runner gained only 40 percent of the yards needed for a new set of downs. But if Willis tackled the opposing runner following a 4-yard gain on the ensuing second-and-5 play, his effort would count as a failure because the runner would have gained 80 percent of the yards needed for a first down.

The stat does not necessarily measure how well a specific defender plays the run, but it does paint a clearer picture of where defenders make their tackles in relation to the first-down marker. A player talented enough to make plays all over the field could have a lower stop rate than a player with less range. This likely explains Willis' relatively low stop rate (57 percent).

Schatz provided NFC West-specific information for the charts below. Each player had at least 25 tackles on running plays.

The stats for linebackers seem to penalize Willis in particular for his ability to make clean-up tackles anywhere.

The 49ers allowed 3.46 yards per rushing attempt, second only to the Pittsburgh Steelers (3.02) among NFL teams.

For defensive backs, note that strong safeties ranked higher than free safeties because they generally focus more on run support. Free safeties would be more apt to make tackles well downfield, whether or not they were primarily responsible for allowing the gains.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have a big hole at safety now that Oshiomogho Atogwe has agreed to terms with the Redskins. Thomas: "In the end, Atogwe chose a coach he is familiar with in Jim Haslett, but just as important is the fact that Haslett's system probably is a better match with Atogwe's skills. He didn't have as much freedom to roam the field and maximize his playmaking skills under Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, playing more in the box -- like a strong safety would -- and being used more as a blitzer." Craig Dahl, James Butler and Darian Stewart become the Rams' top three safeties minus Atogwe. The team clearly has a need at the position now.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says a lockout would hurt the Rams in particular. Miklasz: "Yes, all 32 teams have roster issues that can't be tackled right now. But how many have a second-year QB who must learn a new playbook, get on the same page with a new coordinator and connect with a new wide receiver? Things are awfully quiet at Rams Park. Some NFL teams have spent money this offseason by re-signing their own players or players released by other franchises. But the Rams haven't signed anyone. Just the opposite; they released fullback Mike Karney and made safety and team leader O.J. Atogwe a free agent by declining to pay an optional roster bonus. There's more work to do in St. Louis than most places."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com looks at how a lockout would hurt the 49ers. Maiocco: "There can be no player movement until there is a new CBA in place. Free agency will begin only when there's a labor agreement. The 49ers are prohibited from pursuing trades for a quarterback, such as Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb or Cincinnati's Carson Palmer, until there's a new CBA. It's possible the first opportunity the 49ers -- or any other team -- will have to add players will come April 28-30 during the NFL draft. The 49ers own 10 draft picks." It's looking more like labor talks could avert a lockout.

Sam Good of 49ers.com profiles former 49ers safety Eason Ramson, who has battled through substance abuse and other problems since retiring from football. Good: "The pain started when he was a little kid and was the driving force behind everything Ramson did. From becoming a star athlete in Sacramento, to earning his scholarship to Washington State, to becoming an NFL player, and even his drug addiction. It all stemmed from the pain. Ramson isn’t sure if his father ever loved him; he never heard him say it, and it’s a question that still lingers. If he did love his son, the elder Ramson never showed it. He was a provider – food, clothes, shelter – but that was it. No bonding, no hugs, not even an occasional pat on the back. Instead of fatherly advice, Ramson’s dad told his son, 'You’re never gonna be nothing.' "

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers have incentive to get a labor deal done.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat has this to say about a lockout in relation to the 49ers: "Consider that seven other teams also have new head coaches, but, unlike Harbaugh, those coaches were NFL head coaches or coordinators last year. In addition, those seven teams all have more stable quarterback situations than San Francisco, which only has journeyman David Carr under contract."

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider checks in with tackle Joe Staley for thoughts on the labor situation.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the recently released Chris Baker, 31, was the oldest of four tight ends on the Seahawks' roster. The team also released quarterback Nate Davis in a move that begs for some explanation. Davis was a project and it was unclear whether he would fit with the Seahawks' offense, but there was no obvious advantage to the timing of his release.

Brian McIntyre of Mac's Football Blog notes that Baker was due to receive a $500,000 bonus on the seventh day of the new league year. That helps explain why the Seahawks released Baker now. Baker finished the 2010 season on injured reserve. Fellow tight ends Cameron Morrah and John Carlson made key contributions in the playoffs.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle says Matt Hasselbeck will have suitors in free agency.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals players have honored safety Matt Ware with the Ed Block Courage Award after Ware continued playing following a diagnosis showing he has Type I diabetes. Note: "Ware's return to the football field in 2010 was remarkable on multiple fronts. He has overcome Type I Diabetes and arthroscopy on his right knee following the 2008 season. His 2009 season was shortened by a knee injury that ended December 16, 2009, when he sprained his right knee ACL and MCL ligaments. Ware was first diagnosed in March of 2009 with Type I Diabetes. He had suffered from fatigue, an increase in thirst and a 15-pound weight loss during a three-week period. It was during the rehabilitation phase of his knee injury he began to experience the diabetic symptoms that slowed his workouts. His appetite had increased and his thirst mechanism was insatiable. Matt was referred to an endocrinologist for screening."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com lists Arizona players with expiring contracts.

Also from Urban: Larry Fitzgerald discusses the Cardinals' quarterback situation with Mike & Mike on ESPN Radio. Fitzgerald on landing a veteran or drafting a quarterback: "You can see it on both sides. You see veteran guys having success, and then you see the Matt Ryans and guys like that who come right in, Mark Sanchez, guys who can do it. I’m just about winning. We want to have success, and I know my coaches and teammates feel the same way. Whatever the way it is, I am for it."

Bob Sanders has played in 48 regular-season games and missed 64 of them since entering the NFL with the Indianapolis Colts in 2004.

That explains why the Colts released him Friday.

The natural fan reaction -- how would the injury-prone 2007 NFL defensive player of the year fit on team such-and-such? -- should take into account injury and financial considerations.

Sanders played six games in 2008, two games in 2009 and one last season. From a health standpoint, he is 29 years old going on 40. That means Sanders will take a massive reduction from the $6 million in salary and bonus money he would have received from the Colts.

If Sanders is going to take a pay cut, and he is, why not do so in Indianapolis? We'll need to find out to what extent hurt feelings and pride could complicate a potential return.

In the NFC West, Arizona is set at strong safety with Adrian Wilson. The other teams in the division could benefit from at least inquiring about Sanders.

The San Francisco 49ers used a 2010 second-round choice for Taylor Mays. How does he project under a new staff? The Seattle Seahawks drafted Kam Chancellor and they could conceivably bring back Lawyer Milloy, who has missed only six games in 15 NFL seasons. The St. Louis Rams have Craig Dahl at strong safety, with James Butler and Michael Lewis scheduled for free agency.

The facts: The Rams fell to 6-7 with a 31-13 road defeat to the New Orleans Saints in Week 14.

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

• The Rams remain tied for first place in the NFC West.
• Steven Jackson surpassed 1,000 yards rushing for the season, the sixth season in a row he has accomplished the feat. He rushed for 96 yards and finished with 134 yards from scrimmage.
• Rookie quarterback Sam Bradford held up physically against some of the toughest hits he has taken this season. Concerns about Bradford's durability coming out of college no longer appear relevant. Bradford even scored on a rushing touchdown.
• Rams linebacker Chris Chamberlain forced a fumble on a second-quarter kickoff return. Safety Darian Stewart recovered for the Rams. Stewart also had a sack.
• Cornerback Bradley Fletcher picked off another pass. He has interceptions in consecutive games for the second time this season. Safety Craig Dahl also has interceptions in consecutive weeks. He had never picked off a pass in the NFL before the past two games.
• The Rams limited Drew Brees to 221 yards on 40 attempts. They picked him off twice and limited his rating to 81.4.
• Brandon Gibson and Laurent Robinson each had a reception for 32 yards. The Rams have been converting more 30-plus-yard pass plays in the past few weeks, a return to early-season form.

Looking ahead: The Rams face the Kansas City Chiefs at the Edward Jones Dome in Week 15.

Thoughts on the St. Louis Rams' 31-13 defeat at New Orleans in Week 14:

What it means: The Rams fell to 6-7, as expected, but they came out of the week OK. San Francisco's victory over Seattle leaves St. Louis and the Seahawks tied atop the NFC West, same as before games Sunday. The Rams largely control their ability to win the NFC West because they face San Francisco (in St. Louis) and Seattle (on the road) in the final two weeks of the regular season.

What I liked: The Rams continued to fight. They did not let the game get too far out of hand. Safety Craig Dahl picked off Drew Brees in the fourth quarter, setting up a touchdown drive featuring two fourth-down conversions, including one on fourth-and-18.

What I didn't like: The Saints beat up Rams quarterback Sam Bradford more than previous opponents managed to do. Bradford threw an interception in the red zone. The Saints returned it 96 yards for a game-changing touchdown. The Saints scored 14 points off Rams turnovers. Steven Jackson lost a fumble in the first quarter, his first lost fumble in 562 touches.

What's next: The Rams return home to face Kansas City in Week 15.

Arizona: A concussion continues to sideline veteran quarterback Derek Anderson. The team hasn't committed to him as its starter even if healthy enough to start. John Skelton figures to play one way or another. I have a hard time believing the Cardinals would send the newly signed Richard Bartel onto the field after one week of practices, but it wouldn't be the first time someone misread the quarterback situation in Arizona. On defense, Darnell Dockett (shoulder) and Greg Toler (foot) participated fully in practice Wedneday. Dockett looked healthier against St. Louis, a big boost for Arizona on defense. Receiver Steve Breaston (knee) was among six players limited Wednesday.

St. Louis: The Rams have generally done a good job working through manpower issues in their secondary, but the situation appears unfavorable heading into a game against Drew Brees and New Orleans. Free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe (shoulder) and cornerback Ron Bartell (neck) did not practice Wednesday. Safety Craig Dahl (knee), cornerback Justin King (shoulder) and cornerback Jerome Murphy (hamstring) were limited. Meanwhile, coach Steve Spagnuolo said quarterback Sam Bradford's sore ankle was no longer an issue. Bradford did not appear on the injury report. An ankle injury continues to sideline tight end Mike Hoomanwanui. His absence hurts.

San Francisco: The 49ers remain without left tackle Joe Staley and kicker Joe Nedney. Neither will play Sunday in the team's second full game since Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore landed on injured reserve with a fractured hip. Gore's primary replacement, Brian Westbrook, is getting extra rest as the team tries to keep his 31-year-old legs fresh. Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin (groin), linebacker Takeo Spikes (ankle) and tight end Delanie Walker did not practice Wednesday. Walker missed part of the Green Bay game last week after suffering the injury, but he was able to return. Gore's absence and quarterback Alex Smith's return to the lineup could facilitate more pass-oriented personnel groups. The 49ers will still want to test the Seahawks' run defense.

Seattle: Nose tackle Colin Cole and tight end John Carlson participated fully in practice Wednesday. An ankle injury has sidelined Cole for the Seahawks' last five games. The team needs his presence against the run. Carlson's value has leveled off a bit now that tight end Cameron Morrah is becoming a factor in the receiving game and fullback Michael Robinson is available. Carlson had taken some of the fullback reps when Robinson was out. Seattle remains cautiously optimistic that top receiver Mike Williams will play against the 49ers despite ankle and foot injuries. Williams did not practice Wednesday. Neither did guard Chester Pitts (ankle), receiver Ben Obomanu (hand), defensive end Chris Clemons (ankle), middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (knee) or linebacker Mike McCoy (head). Tatupu's injury is limiting him. He limps following some plays and lacks his usual explosiveness. Watching him play against Carolina, I wondered if how many more games he would last.

Multiple factors affect a team's sack totals over the course of a season.

For the St. Louis Rams, having a more competitive team overall has created more favorable situations to rush opposing quarterbacks. And the team has probably done a better job capitalizing on its opportunities.

St. Louis has also played four of its first six games at home, collecting 14 of its 17 sacks in those games.

Still, the gains have been impressive.

The Rams had 25.0 sacks while posting a 1-15 record last season. The team already has 17.0 sacks in six games this season after collecting seven against Philip Rivers and San Diego in Week 6. That puts the Rams on pace for 45.3 sacks this season, which would equate to an increase of 81.3 percent. The pace could be difficult to keep with only four home games remaining, but the 2009 Rams did collect 14 of their 25 sacks away from the Edward Jones Dome.

The chart shows sack totals and 2010 sack paces for every player with a sack for the Rams last season or this season. The NFL issues full sacks or half sacks; I did not round off projected totals for the 2010 season, even though it's impossible for a player to finish with, say, 5.3 sacks. I wanted the projected totals for each player to match the projected team total.

Fred Robbins and George Selvie were not with the Rams in 2009. Leonard Little and LaJuan Ramsey had sacks for the team last season, but neither returned.

Veteran James Hall is on pace for 16.0 sacks after collecting two more Sunday. He also blocked a field goal attempt during the Rams' 20-17 victory. Hall has collected five of his six sacks this season during home games.