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The Arizona Cardinals' plans to open contract talks with defensive end Calais Campbell come as NFL teams gain new leverage in negotiations with top players.

Andrew Brandt of National Football Post recently explained how the new collective bargaining agreement will lower valuations for franchise players. Brandt: "The calculation for the tag is now no longer based on the average of the top five salaries for a player’s position for the preceding year, but the average of the top five salaries at a player’s position for the preceding FIVE years! Thus, for 2012, franchise tag calculations compute from the top five salaries at each position -- not from 2011 -- but from an average of the top five salaries at each position for 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011." Noted: Teams were already using the franchise tag without giving much thought to the salary-cap implications. Lowering the tag values will only make the tag easier to use.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Campbell's contract runs out after this season and he's a player the team needs to re-sign. Somers: "It's surprising the team has waited this long. Campbell is in the last year of his rookie contract, and he is four months away from unrestricted free agency. The Cardinals have no young players behind Campbell, and losing him would be a blow because they have other needs to address." Noted: The Cardinals had no trouble using the tag for Karlos Dansby, but Campbell's ability to rush the passer should make him more valuable. He should receive a long-term contract.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Darnell Dockett expects the organization to re-sign Campbell. Dockett: "We need to (re-sign him), and I trust Rod Graves and the organization, they’ll do right by Calais. He’s young and is a good leader. He’s only got upside. I don’t think he’s fully developed into his body, to be honest. Another 10 pounds, that dude will be walking around like a gorilla around here." Noted: Campbell, at 6-foot-8 and a lean 300-plus pounds, is one of the most physically impressive players in the NFL.

Also from Urban: Patrick Peterson's development at cornerback.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com explains why Red Bryant is the team's Ed Block Courage Award winner. Bryant: "Getting this honor means a lot, given the fact that I’m coming back from an injury that a lot of people didn’t feel like I would probably come back from -- because I had an ACL coming out of college on the same knee. So, to come back and play at a high level, it’s just a testament to the trainers and the hard work and the encouragement my teammates gave me."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks are happy with their towering cornerbacks.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas has continued to improve despite depressed interception numbers.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle saw good things from Seahawks left tackle Russell Okung, who fared well against Cowboys outside linebacker Demarcus Ware even when Seattle did not help Okung in protection. Up next: Baltimore's Terrell Suggs.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Rams rookie tight end Lance Kendricks, whose role in the offense was diminishing even before a mid-foot sprain sidelined him indefinitely. Thomas: "From Troy Drayton to Ernie Conwell, Roland Williams, Brandon Manumaleuna, Randy McMichael, Daniel Fells, and more, no Rams tight end has caught more than 47 passes for more than 458 yards in a season since the franchise moved to St. Louis in 1995. It looked like that was about to change with Kendricks on the scene. But Kendricks had trouble with drops in the early going, dropping what looked like sure TDs in Game 1 against Philadelphia and Game 4 against Washington."

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Sam Bradford's workload has increased. Coach Steve Spagnuolo: "Got more reps today than he did yesterday and certainly more than he had last Thrusday. And yet, we try not to give them all to him because the more you put on him, then you're going backwards a little bit. I think he's progressing pretty good. He's a tough guy."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says the team's ground game is gaining momentum.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com quotes 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman as saying the team's modest offensive stats reflect game situations. Roman: "When you're up, you're not going to throw as much, right? And, probably, your yards-per-carry aren't going to be as high because you're facing loaded defenses. And your defensive stats are probably going to be down because those teams are throwing it around. So the only stat that matters is winning. Everything else is statistical analysis and information gathering. So whatever we need to do to win, we'll do. And if it's throwing it or if it's running it, whatever that equation is on a week-to-week basis, we'll do. Everything else, really, is water cooler talk." Noted: The Green Bay Packers average 105.3 additional yards per game than the 49ers average. They have an 8-0 record and have obviously led their opponents a significant amount of the time. The 49ers are more conservative on offense by design, not just because they've been leading games.

Also from Maiocco: Ray McDonald takes another step in his return from a hamstring injury.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee is interested in seeing how the Giants combat the 49ers' ground game.

Also from Barrows: a look at the alley-oop play R.C. Owens helped make famous.

With training camps winding down, I've found time to update rosters and put together team-by-team reference material for unrestricted free agency.

The names below match official NFL counts.

These are for players with at least four accrued NFL seasons whose contracts expired following the 2010 season. I've added comments for each team.

Arizona Cardinals

Re-signed (8): Ben Graham, Matt Ware, Hamza Abdullah, Ben Claxton, Lyle Sendlein, D'Anthony Batiste, Deuce Lutui, Stephen Spach.

New to team (7): Chansi Stuckey, Richard Marshall, Daryn Colledge, Nick Eason, Stewart Bradley, Floyd Womack, Jeff King.

Still unsigned (3): Alan Faneca, Jason Wright, Bryan Robinson.

Signed elsewhere (5): Steve Breaston (Kansas City), Gabe Watson (New York Giants), Ben Patrick (Giants), Trumaine McBride (New Orleans), Alan Branch (Seattle).

Comment: Sendlein, Colledge and Bradley were the big signings. Marshall provides needed depth at cornerback. Faneca and Wright announced their retirements. The Cardinals weren't aggressive in trying to re-sign the players they lost to other teams. The biggest move Arizona made, acquiring Kevin Kolb from Philadelphia, did not involve a UFA.

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San Francisco 49ers

Re-signed (4): Ray McDonald, Tony Wragge, Dashon Goldson, Alex Smith.

New to team (5): Braylon Edwards, Jonathan Goodwin, Donte Whitner, Carlos Rogers, David Akers.

Still unsigned (5): Brian Westbrook, Troy Smith, Demetric Evans, William James, Barry Sims.

Signed elsewhere (6): David Baas (Giants), Travis LaBoy (San Diego), Jeff Reed (Seattle), Aubrayo Franklin (New Orleans), Takeo Spikes (San Diego), Manny Lawson (Cincinnati).

Comment: Re-signing McDonald signaled Franklin's departure. Getting Goldson back on the relative cheap was a victory. The 49ers wanted to keep Baas, but not at the price he commanded. The team thinks NaVorro Bowman has a bright future in Spikes' old spot at inside linebacker. Lawson wasn't strong enough as a pass-rusher to stick around. Safety depth is improved.

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Seattle Seahawks

Re-signed (7): Raheem Brock, Junior Siavii, Brandon Mebane, Leroy Hill, Matt McCoy, Michael Robinson, Kelly Jennings.

New to team (8): Branch, Zach Miller, Robert Gallery, Jimmy Wilkerson, Atari Bigby, Sidney Rice, Tarvaris Jackson, Reed.

Still unsigned (7): Jay Richardson, Craig Terrill, Chester Pitts, Brandon Stokley, Ruvell Martin, J.P. Losman, Lawyer Milloy.

Signed elsewhere (8): Will Herring (New Orleans), Olindo Mare (Carolina), Matt Hasselbeck (Tennessee), Chris Spencer (Chicago), Jordan Babineaux (Tennessee), Sean Locklear (Washington), Amon Gordon (Kansas City), Ray Willis (Washington).

Comment: Adding Jackson as the starting quarterback was the most significant move for the 2011 season. Mebane was the most important re-signing for the longer term. Hill was a bargain relative to how he's playing right now. Miller and Rice were the types of young, talented players who rarely change teams in free agency. The Seahawks were outbid for Herring and Mare. Can street free agent David Vobora fill some of the void Herring left?

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St. Louis Rams

Re-signed (2): Adam Goldberg, Gary Gibson.

New to team (9): Daniel Muir, Quinn Ojinnaka, Harvey Dahl, Ben Leber, Zac Diles, Jerious Norwood, Cadillac Williams, Quintin Mikell, Mike Sims-Walker.

Still unsigned (5): Chris Hovan, Michael Lewis, Darcy Johnson, Clifton Ryan, Mark Clayton.

Signed elsewhere (4): Daniel Fells (Denver), Laurent Robinson (San Diego), Derek Schouman (Washington), Kevin Dockery (Pittsburgh).

Comment: Dahl and Mikell were the big additions. Clayton could return if and when his surgically repaired knee allows. Sims-Walker is a wild card. The team didn't flinch when any of its own UFAs signed elsewhere. Most of the moves made on defense were designed to improve St. Louis against the run. Remember that newcomer Justin Bannan was not a UFA. Denver released him.
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Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the San Francisco 49ers could be without Michael Crabtree for four to six weeks while the receiver recovers from a foot injury suffered during player-organized workouts. Crabtree missed his rookie training camp during a contract dispute. An injury sidelined him quite a bit last summer. The lockout and this latest injury threaten to keep Crabtree off the field for yet another training camp, just as the 49ers are scrambling to install a new offense. So much for developing a rapport with the 49ers' quarterbacks. Barrows: "The exact nature of the injury is not known. The 49ers will place Crabtree on the physically-unable-to-perform list to begin training camp. Also to be placed on the PUP list are rookie fullback Bruce Miller and wideout Dominique Zeigler, who is recovering from an ACL tear suffered last year. Miller's injury is not known at this point."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says this has been a rough week for the 49ers. Maiocco: "I spoke with a source close to Nnamdi Asomugha early Friday and he said that Asomugha was still going through his options. There are some reports that the Cowboys are getting involved, too. If the 49ers do not sign Asomugha, they will be forced to turn to Plan B, which could include Richard Marshall (Carolina), Chris Carr (Baltimore), Carlos Rogers (Washington) and Antonio Cromartie (Jets). Also, if Clements remains on the market, the 49ers could bring him back. And, remember, the 49ers weren't completely satisfied with the play last season of the other starting cornerback, Shawntae Spencer, either."

Also from Maiocco: Joe Nedney plans to retire.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Crabtree's injury explains why the 49ers considered adding Chad Ochocinco.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News sees the 49ers as a fallback for Asomugha, with the Jets as front-runners.

Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says Colin Kaepernick is eager for camp.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle has advice for Charlie Whitehurst heading into Seahawks camp. Huard: "Whitehurst has a longer delivery which can be harder to repeat and cause inaccuracy when a pocket collapses on top of him. He can spin it and throw a beautiful deep ball, but to gain the trust of his coaches and his huddle he will have to refine his ball placement, critical in the timing/West Coast system Darrell Bevell is installing."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com offers highlights from Seahawks practice, including one about Red Bryant being back on the field following knee surgery.

Also from Farnsworth: Marcus Trufant is the longest-tenured current Seahawk. Farnsworth: "In fact, 33 of the players on the practice field Thursday were going through their initial workouts with the team."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times provides a Whitehurst interview transcript. On the offense: "Well, it's definitely new. We're just diving in the playbook now, but I like some of the things we do. We're going to try and run the football here, there's no doubt about it. We will be able to do that, play-action some drop-back, all that stuff. I think we're going to throw it short, throw it long, do a bunch of stuff. I'm confident that I can fit anything he asks me to do."

Also from O'Neil: a camp preview.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with receiver Mike Williams for thoughts on Whitehurst. Williams: "Just from last night when Coach [Tom] Cable got up and talked about the attitude he wanted from the offense, and I’m sure the same thing was said over in the other room. It was good to get out here today. Guys were running around, and you could tell guys been working. You could tell Charlie’s been working."

Also from Williams: Seattle receiver Ben Obomanu grew up with Tarvaris Jackson in Alabama. Obomanu: "We shared some of the same friends when he transferred to Alabama State. A lot of my good friends played on his team and were classmates of his. So he’s a good friend of mine, so I’m looking forward to him coming in and seeing what he can do in this offense."

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle says new Seahawks coordinator Darrell Bevell could be a better fit for the team's younger players. Williams: "We’re going to win new guys over. Different personalities, a lot different than coach [Jeremy] Bates -- with all respect to coach Bates -- it's just a different approach with coach [Darrell] Bevell and his staff. With the young group we have, they like this group better I can already tell. We’ll all learn it. We’ll make mistakes together and then minimize those mistakes as much as we can. But everyone is learning and that’s the exciting part."

Mike Salk of 710ESPN Seattle offers thoughts on the Seahawks, including this one: "Yes, the team filled major holes along their offensive line (Robert Gallery and maybe James Carpenter etc.), wide receiver (Sidney Rice) and defensive line (Alan Branch provides depth). But they still have holes in their defensive backfield and at linebacker. And oh yeah, they need a quarterback!"

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic looks at how the Cardinals are addressing their offensive line.

Also from Somers: a quick look at the Cardinals' activity to this point in the week.

More from Somers: questions and answers on Kevin Kolb's acquisition. Somers: "They clearly are going all in on Kolb. As former Packers' executive Andrew Brandt, now with ESPN, pointed out via twitter, it's a similar deal to the one Aaron Rodgers' signed in 2008. Like Kolb, Rodgers had seven starts when he signed it. The Packers, however, had watched Rodgers in practice and he knew their system. The Cardinals don't have that advantage."

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are betting big on Kolb. Boivin: "Management will take heat for spending this much, when in reality, it should be applauded. An organization that for decades was dinged for being cheap was anything but on Thursday. Team president Michael Bidwill supported the quest to fill the team's biggest hole and pulled out his checkbook to do so. If you want to find fault, it is with the team for putting itself in this situation. It shouldn't have been so desperate for a quarterback."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com has this to say about trading Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: "Losing Rodgers-Cromartie does weaken what looked like a very strong cornerback corps. First-round pick Patrick Peterson seems a lock to start now with Greg Toler; asked if the Cardinals would be acquiring a cornerback Whisenhunt just referenced the young corners already on the roster."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have been mostly quiet in free agency so far. Thomas: "The Rams have expressed some interest in Brandon Mebane of Seattle, but aren't considered a frontrunner for his services. Barry Cofield of the New York Giants seemed like a no-brainer at one time because of his past association with coach Steve Spagnuolo, but Cofield agreed to a contract in Washington worth a reported $36 million over six years."

Also from Thomas: Four Rams draft choices agree to terms.

More from Thomas: He counts Seattle among the teams with interest in Rams tight end Daniel Fells.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says Josh McDaniels and Sam Bradford are working hard to prepare for camp.

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis looks at the curious case of Rams rookie Robert Quinn, who might not have an agent.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

A look at the free-agent priorities for each NFC West team:

Arizona Cardinals

1. Sign or acquire a quarterback: You've heard all the potential names by now. Kevin Kolb, Kyle Orton, Carson Palmer, Marc Bulger and Matt Hasselbeck all could be available. The same goes for Donovan McNabb, but the Cardinals aren't interested in him. How much interest they have in the others remains less clear. They liked Bulger as an option last offseason, but the timing wasn't right. Kolb reportedly stands atop their wish list now, although price is a consideration. One way or another, the Cardinals will go into the 2011 season with fresh veteran blood at the position.

2. Firm up the offensive line: Left guard Alan Faneca retired. Center Lyle Sendlein and right guard Deuce Lutui have expiring contracts. Brandon Keith showed promise at right tackle, but he's coming off knee surgery. A better quarterback would help take pressure off the line, but Arizona isn't going to find another Kurt Warner. The team has loaded up at running back, adding second-round choice Ryan Williams to an already crowded backfield. The Cardinals need to re-sign Sendlein. Letting Lutui depart would put them in the market for veteran help. I've looked through the free-agent lists for guards already familiar to the Cardinals. Pittsburgh's Trai Essex, a starter in 21 games over the past two seasons, played for Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm with the Steelers.

3. Work toward a deal with Larry Fitzgerald: Ideally, the Cardinals would have landed their next quarterback in March, then spent the offseason working toward extending Fitzgerald's contract beyond the 2011 season. Fitzgerald is an NFL rarity. He's in line to sign three massive contracts during the course of his career. He signed the first one as the third player chosen in the 2004 draft. That deal ultimately became untenable for the Cardinals, giving Fitzgerald the leverage to get $40 million over four seasons, plus assurances Arizona would not name him its franchise player once the deal ended. Fitzgerald, still only 27, will cash in at least one more time.

Top five free agents: Sendlein, Lutui, receiver Steve Breaston, defensive lineman Alan Branch, defensive lineman Gabe Watson.

St. Louis Rams

1. Upgrade the run defense: The Rams could use another defensive tackle to take their promising defensive front to another level. Adding Fred Robbins in free agency last offseason was a good start. Barry Cofield (New York Giants) and Brandon Mebane (Seattle Seahawks) are scheduled to become free agents this offseason. Cofield played for Steve Spagnuolo and would transition to the Rams' system easily. The Rams could use an in-the-box safety, something they addressed later in the draft. They need to find one and possibly two starting outside linebackers. Chase Blackburn projects more as a backup, but he was also with Spagnuolo on the Giants. Blackburn has played all three linebacker positions. Minnesota's Ben Leber would make sense as well. Paul Ferraro, the Rams' linebackers coach, was with the Vikings previously.

2. Help out Steven Jackson: Adding a third-down back such as Darren Sproles would lighten the load for Jackson, who has played through several injuries in recent seasons. Jackson has 654 rushing attempts over the past two seasons despite missing one game and playing for a team that has often trailed its opponents. Only Chris Johnson (674) has more carries during that span. Sproles isn't the only viable potential option. Jason Snelling, DeAngelo Williams and Reggie Bush also could become available. Upgrading at right guard would also help out Jackson.

3. Figure out the situation at receiver. It's questionable whether the Rams will find any clear upgrades at receiver in free agency. That could lead them to stand pat at the position. They have quantity, but not enough high-end quality. Adding more quantity wouldn't solve much. Plaxico Burress gets mentioned as an option for his ties to Spagnuolo, but he's been out of the game and might not offer much. The Rams thought about claiming Randy Moss off waivers last season. Moss could make more sense for the Rams now that Josh McDaniels is offensive coordinator. He worked well with Moss in New England. Sidney Rice could also have appeal.

Top five free agents: receiver Mark Clayton, guard Adam Goldberg, defensive tackle Clifton Ryan and tight end Daniel Fells.

Seattle Seahawks

1. Sign or acquire a quarterback: Bringing back Hasselbeck remains an option. The team expressed interest in Kolb last offseason. The team could also add a lower-profile veteran to the mix -- perhaps a Matt Leinart type -- for an open competition with Charlie Whitehurst. That would not excite Seattle fans, of course. Getting a young quarterback to build around would be ideal, but the Seahawks are adamant they will not force the situation in the absence of viable options. They weren't going to do it in the draft, when they passed over Andy Dalton for tackle James Carpenter. They probably aren't going to do it in free agency, either.

2. Solidify the offensive line: Tom Cable's addition as assistant head coach/offensive line puts the Seahawks in position to court Oakland Raiders guard Robert Gallery in free agency. Gallery has said he's not returning to the Raiders. Seattle has drafted its starting tackles, starting center and starting right guard in the past few seasons. Max Unger and Russell Okung need better luck with injuries. Okung would also benefit from an experienced presence next to him at left guard. Gallery qualifies as such and he would fit the zone system Cable wants to run. Green Bay's Daryn Colledge could be available, too. He has ties to Seahawks general manager John Schneider. Former Seattle starters Chris Spencer, Sean Locklear, Chester Pitts and Ray Willis might not return.

3. Plug holes on defense. Mebane appears headed for free agency. The Seahawks want him back, but how badly? Mebane could fit better in a purer 4-3 defense. He also might command more money elsewhere. Injuries along the defensive front could also affect the Seahawks' needs. Red Bryant is coming off season-ending knee surgery. Injuries affected Colin Cole and Chris Clemons last season as well. Cornerback is another area to monitor once free agency opens. Does Marcus Trufant still fit at his relatively high price? The Cincinnati Bengals' Johnathan Joseph and other free-agent corners could appeal.

Top five free agents: Hasselbeck, Mebane, Locklear, linebacker Will Herring, defensive end Raheem Brock.

San Francisco 49ers

1. Re-sign Alex Smith: Smith and the 49ers renewed their vows informally this offseason. The official ceremony should come when free agency opens and Smith signs with the team. Smith's name continues to show up on free-agent lists in the interim, but there's no chance he'll sign elsewhere. He's given his word to the 49ers. The team, in turn, has entrusted him with its playbook. Smith even took the lead in teaching what he knew of the offense to teammates. Re-signing Smith takes pressure off rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick. With a new coaching staff, a young prospect in Kaepernick and no access to players during a lockout, this wasn't the year for San Francisco to make a bold play for a veteran passer from another team.

2. Make a decision on Aubrayo Franklin. The 49ers' plans on defense remain a bit mysterious. Coordinator Vic Fangio did not distribute playbooks to players. The team's needs could change based on whether Franklin, a solid nose tackle, leaves in free agency. Franklin's status as a franchise player last season raised the stakes for a new contract. What does Fangio think of him? What specifically does Fangio want from his defensive linemen? How much will Fangio change to suit the 49ers' personnel? How much new personnel might he want? General manager Trent Baalke said the 49ers will not be aggressive in free agency. The team has shown restraint on that front in recent seasons. Losing Franklin would hurt.

3. Figure out the secondary: The pass defense was problematic last season. Personnel changes in the secondary are on the way. Veteran cornerback Nate Clements stands to earn more than $7 million in base salary in 2011. That price appears prohibitive. The team could release Clements or find a way to keep him at a lower rate. Free safety Dashon Goldson does not have a contract for 2011. How much is he worth? Baltimore's Chris Carr is one free-agent cornerback with ties to the 49ers' staff. He and Fangio were together in Baltimore.

Top five free agents: Smith, Franklin, outside linebacker Manny Lawson, center David Baas, linebacker Takeo Spikes.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

Readiness factor: The Rams must acquire or develop starters at right guard, free safety, defensive tackle, outside linebacker, wide receiver and tight end. They need depth at running back. They've got work ahead, but most of the heavy lifting has been done. The Rams return their quarterback and most of their offensive line while enjoying continuity on defense through head coach Steve Spagnuolo and key players in the front seven. That gives St. Louis a head start on its division rivals even though the Rams will be breaking in a new offensive coordinator.

Biggest challenge: Pat Shurmur's surprise departure as offensive coordinator threw up a hurdle heading into the Rams' second season with Sam Bradford behind center. The lockout has prevented new coordinator Josh McDaniels from getting Bradford up to speed as quickly as the team would have liked. The situation at wide receiver remains unsettled. The most promising tight end on the team, Lance Kendricks, faces a learning curve as a rookie. Those factors create challenges as the Rams seek to build on Bradford's promising rookie season. There's no need to panic, however.

Ownership impact: The Rams still haven't gone through a free-agent signing period since Stan Kroenke became majority owner. There's no indication the Rams will become significantly more aggressive in free agency now that Kroenke has given them an owner with deeper pockets. They do have the wherewithal, however, and the Rams should have some flexibility from a salary-cap standpoint. None of the team's own free agents will command big money this offseason.

Key players without contracts for 2011: Receiver Mark Clayton, defensive tackle Clifton Ryan, tight end Daniel Fells, tight end Billy Bajema, guard Adam Goldberg, defensive tackle Gary Gibson, receiver Laurent Robinson.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams tight end Daniel Fells faces an uncertain future with the team thanks to the lockout and an expiring contract. Thomas on the Rams in general: "After practicing at Lindenwood University Monday through Wednesday, the venue was switched to Lutheran South High School, where former Rams strength coach Chuck Faucette is now head football coach. About three dozen Rams have participated in this week's practices at one time or another. But heavy rains canceled Thursday's session. Instead, quarterback Sam Bradford and about eight to 10 receivers spent 30 minutes doing classroom work and then worked for about 45 minutes in the gym at Lutheran South. Afterward, many of them stayed around and played a little basketball. Many Rams players will reconvene June 8 in the Phoenix area for another series of workouts organized by cornerback Ron Bartell, linebacker James Laurinaitis and Bradford." Bradford has been teaching the playbook to his offensive teammates. It'll be interesting to see once camp starts whether players retain the information and if Bradford knew enough to teach concepts the way new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels will teach them.

Casey Pearce of stlouisrams.com provides details from coach Steve Spagnuolo's recent practice involving members of the business staff as players. Pearce: "The day followed the same schedule Spagnuolo uses for OTAs. It started with a team meeting during which staffers were assigned positions. Special-teams coordinator Tom McMahon then turned on the video projector and taught the group two punt protection calls. Following the special teams meeting, the offense and defense went into separate meeting rooms and then individual position meetings. With the meetings in the books, the staff headed to the training room where head athletic trainer Reggie Scott and his staff taped each staff member’s ankles in preparation for the on-field portion of the day."

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis offers thoughts on the Rams' recently concluded player-organized workout sessions. Also: "Mardy Gilyard was a no-show. It is my understanding from a source he had a close friend pass away and decided to attend the services."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says some 49ers players downplay the significance of other teams drawing more players to their player-organized workouts. Maiocco: "The 49ers players had been getting together in relative obscurity. The group of 49ers keeps showing up to lift weights and condition for about two hours in the middle of the day, four days a week. Some of the veterans viewed the publicity generated by the Saints' workouts as a made-for-TV event -- nothing more than a public-relations tool."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says 49ers rookie Rashad Johnson is leaning on his more financially established teammates for air fare and a place to stay during player-organized workouts. Johnson, a sixth-round pick, stayed with safety Taylor Mays, a former teammate at USC. Quarterback Alex Smith paid for Johnson's flight. Barrows: "Johnson has a bit of an advantage on his rookie counterparts in that he is already familiar with the routes he will be asked to run. His college position coach, John Morton, has the same job with the 49ers. Indeed, Morton was the one who lobbied the 49ers to take Johnson with the 182nd overall pick. Johnson said the 49ers routes are similar to the ones he ran with the Trojans. But they're called different names and the overall concepts are a little different. And that's what he's trying to master every night while he and the rest of the rookies wait out the lockout."

Taylor Price of 49ers.com profiles 49ers assistant Geep Chryst, whose father coached against Jim Harbaugh's father in the Big Ten. Chryst worked for the Bears when Harbaugh played for them. Price: "Poise under pressure is what Chryst recalled most vividly of his current boss. Though he had held out of camp for a short period, Harbaugh came to the Chicago Bears full of confidence. Chryst recalls Harbaugh nearly crashing his moped into William 'The Refrigerator' Perry’s gold Mercedes. But the rookie quarterback made up for it when he displayed veteran moxie at the team’s rookie talent show. When his partner bowed out of their scheduled embarrassing performance, Harbaugh was left to entertain the veterans all by himself." Harbaugh went solo during a Blues Brothers routine.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the 2006 season ranks among the more disappointing in franchise history even though Seattle went 9-7 and won a third consecutive NFC West title. Farnsworth: "Injuries played a part, as Matt Hasselbeck missed four starts with a bruised knee and leading rusher Shaun Alexander sat out six because of a broken foot. So did ineffectiveness and inconsistency. Even more telling was the fact that the team’s best players who had their best seasons in the run to the Super Bowl in ’05 did not match those efforts. Not even close."

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic assesses where the Cardinals and other Phoenix-area professional sports franchises stand now compared to five years ago. Boivin: "Has the organization shown vision? Its struggles finding a quarterback after Kurt Warner's retirement shouldn't be ignored but considering where it was under Dennis Green's guidance in 2006, the team is definitely in a better place."

Our ongoing discussion on tight ends raised questions about which ones possess the best -- and worst -- hands.

"Any way you can add in 'thrown to' and 'drops' in this stat?" Furfanam asked in one comments section.

Consider it done.

Jason Vida of ESPN Stats & Information produced the information. I've broken it out in four charts. A few notes on the findings:

• Jason Witten, who edged Antonio Gates for the top spot in our rankings, dropped only two of the 126 passes thrown his way last season. That gave him easily the lowest drop rate -- 1.6 percent -- among tight ends with at least 50 receptions.
• Heath Miller had the most receptions (42) without a drop. Green Bay's Jermichael Finley (21), Jacksonville's Zach Miller (20) and Jim Kleinsasser (17) were next.
• Brandon Pettigrew, Dustin Keller and Kevin Boss had the most drops with nine apiece. Chris Cooley, Tony Gonzalez, Aaron Hernandez and Owen Daniels were next with six each.
• The St. Louis Rams' Daniel Fells ranked 13th in lowest drop percentage among players with at least 20 targets. Teammate Billy Bajema, with three drops in 21 targets, had the highest drop percentage in the same category.

The first chart ranks NFL tight ends by most receptions. It also shows number of targets, drops and drop percentage. Witten, Jacob Tamme and Gates were the only tight ends with at least 50 receptions and no more than two dropped passes.



The second chart shows lowest drop percentages among tight ends targeted at least 20 times last season. Miller's standing atop the list backs up James Walker's contention that the Pittsburgh Steelers tight end was underrated in our power rankings.



The third chart ranks NFL tight ends with at least 20 targets by the highest percentage of dropped passes.

ESPN Stats & Information's totals on Bajema matched my charting. I had Bajema dropping passes against Tennessee, Denver and Arizona.



The final chart focuses only on NFC West tight ends, ranking them by lowest percentage of dropped passes.

Our positional power rankings continue next week with tight ends.

The San Francisco 49ers' Vernon Davis will surely rank among our top 10, but how high should he rank on the list?

I'm inclined to rank him among the top five. These rankings aim to reflect not only past performance, but what we should expect from players in the coming season. Your thoughts?

Trent Baalke, the 49ers' general manager, had this to say during the NFL owners meeting about how Davis will fit in Jim Harbaugh's offense:

"The good part is, it was a tight end-driven offense that Stanford ran and a lot of the power game stuff that he ran, which is a lot of the things we did a year ago. We certainly feel good about the tight end position and the three guys that we have currently at that position. It'll be interesting how [Harbaugh] puts this all together with the combination of the tight ends, the fullbacks and the weapons we feel we have at the wide receiver position as well."

The chart, based on information from Pro Football Reference, ranks tight ends by touchdown receptions since 2008. I've listed the top five overall, plus the highest-ranked tight ends for NFC West teams during that time.

Among the top five, all but Davis have played with Pro Bowl quarterbacks. Davis has emerged as more of a receiving threat in recent seasons. He shined in pass protection at times when Mike Martz was coordinator, and he can be a good run-blocker as well. But it's his ability to strike with the big play that separates him from most tight ends in the passing game. I'll be interested in seeing how he evolves under Harbaugh.

Not all that long ago, the St. Louis Rams could match wide receivers with any team in the league.

They had Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt and a running back, Marshall Faulk, who could challenge defenses as a wideout.

Times have changed.

With a playoff berth on the line in Week 17 last season, quarterback Sam Bradford threw to a group featuring Danario Alexander, Laurent Robinson, Danny Amendola and Brandon Gibson. The Rams went quietly, scoring only six points. Running back Steven Jackson and tight end Daniel Fells led them in receiving yards with 39 apiece.

It's one reason selecting a wide receiver with the 14th overall choice could make sense for the Rams, provided one of the top two prospects remains available.

Georgia's A.J. Green, who works out for scouts Tuesday, could be gone among the top-five picks and almost certainly won't make it out of the top 10, according to scouts. Alabama's Julio Jones might also be gone by No. 14, but it's not such a sure thing.

Either one would provide a clear talent upgrade at the position for St. Louis.

"[Green or Jones'] ability to stretch the field would make it harder for teams to load up against Steven Jackson," Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. said. "It would also create space for the other receivers underneath, notably Amendola. The best-case scenario here is for the Rams' new offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, to get the vertical threat he had in New England with Randy Moss, allowing Amendola to play the role of Wes Welker underneath."

For additional perspective, I brought together Muench and NFLDraftScout.com's Rob Rang. They explained why Green outranks Jones in this draft and what the Rams, or any team, would be getting with each.

Sando: What separates Green from Jones in your evaluation?

Muench: While both players are big-play threats downfield and after the catch, Green is the crisper route runner, despite his superior height. He will have more success separating from man coverage until, or unless, Jones improves his footwork at the top of his stem. Green also has exceptional ball skills, while Jones lets the ball get to his frame a bit too much and is more likely to drop a pass he should catch.

Rang: A.J. Green is taller and has better playing speed. Even when he is covered, he is still open because the kid just makes catches. It's like Larry Fitzgerald, Sidney Rice, Randy Moss -- they go up in the air and they can soar over everyone else and catch the football. They win those one-on-one battles. That is what he does. He just has phenomenal hands.

Sando: Jones' combine workout turned heads. How much did it help him?

Muench: Jones created a lot of buzz running the 40-yard dash in 4.34 seconds and measuring 6-foot-3, 220 pounds. He was then diagnosed with a stress fracture in his left foot and had a pin inserted, but the injury is not considered serious and it's not what has prevented Jones from leapfrogging Green. Green may not have been as impressive in Indianapolis, but he certainly didn't flop. He measured close to an inch taller than Jones, carries his 211 pounds well and is more than fast enough (4.48 in the 40). Far, far more importantly, he is the better receiver on film -- and that's no knock on Jones.

Rang: When Jones ran that fast at the combine, you would think he should be able to get open or scare teams just a little bit more than he did in college.

Sando: That's an interesting twist on a great workout. Sometimes they can raise as many questions as they answer.

Rang: There were times when teams gave Julio Jones the deep ball and he couldn't get deep and really scare teams. His quarterback, Greg McElroy, doesn't have a huge arm, so some might say the defense just doesn’t respect McElroy’s deep ball. Still, there were times when good cover corners, at least capable collegiate cover corners, could stick with Julio Jones. They were breaking on his out routes. They were basically in his hip pocket. Was that a function of Julio Jones not having the explosiveness to get out of his routes and create some separation, or doesn't he have the straight-line speed to scare defenses? Or is it McElroy's inability to throw the football? That is why there is some nervousness.

Sando: That makes it easier to see why Jones could slip to the Rams at No. 14 and why they might consider taking, say, a defensive lineman with fewer question marks. Thanks for the insight, guys.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says this wouldn't be the first time Matt Hasselbeck's contract talks with the Seahawks went down to the wire. O'Neil: "The first time also resulted in a last-minute agreement when Hasselbeck signed a six-year, $49.6 million contract in February 2005, the deal announced the very day the team may have been forced to use the franchise tag on Hasselbeck without a long-term deal. Six years later, Hasselbeck and the Seahawks are nearing another deadline, only this time there are national implications. Without a new deal, the future becomes very uncertain. That statement is true for the league in general and for the Seahawks and Hasselbeck in particular. That means everyone will be watching what happens before the close of business Thursday."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune has this to say about Hasselbeck's status: "Seahawk management has conceded that the quarterback issue is absolutely fundamental to the franchise’s future. If there were conviction that Hasselbeck’s being retained is the best option, it seems that a deal would have been struck by now. But without a labor deal in place, no one will have a clue where the Hawks stand relative to the most important position on the field. At least for a while."

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle says during a video clip that "anything can happen" regarding Hasselbeck -- including a new deal before the labor situation ends -- and that the quarterback will ultimately decide whether he wants to stay in Seattle or not.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says Matt Leinart's fate with the Cardinals took a hit when the microphone a teammate was wearing captured the quarterbacks' rant against the team. Bickley: "During the last game of the preseason, the then-Cardinals quarterback was wandering the sideline when he approached a teammate who was wired to capture the sounds of an NFL game. The teammate asked Leinart about his future in Arizona, and according to whispers, Leinart let loose on the organization and the head coach. One problem: Leinart had no idea his teammate was wearing a hidden microphone. Did the audio outburst reach Ken Whisenhunt? Did it hasten or trigger Leinart's departure? The Cardinals say no, but clearly, it couldn't have helped."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com passes along a 2006 photo showing Prince Amukamara, then in high school, posing with Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald at the Cardinals' facility. Urban: "Amukamara has come a long way since then, going to the University of Nebraska, getting switched to cornerback and, obviously, filling out physically. Now he’s a first-round NFL draft pick-to-be, impressing a lot of people at the just-completed Scouting combine. He’s regarded as the second-best cornerback behind LSU’s Patrick Peterson."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams tendered contracts to their potential restricted free agents. Thomas: "Tight end Daniel Fells, defensive tackle Gary Gibson and offensive tackle Renardo Foster were tendered at a right of first refusal level. None of the three players were drafted, so the Rams have matching rights on any outside offers. But they would not get draft pick compensation if the players received a contract offer from another club and the Rams decided not to match that offer. Meanwhile, linebacker Chris Chamberlain, offensive guard John Greco, cornerback Justin King, wide receiver Laurent Robinson and linebacker David Vobora were tendered at their original draft position level." Fells, Gibson and Robinson would generally qualify as unrestricted free agents using previously established parameters. Quincy Butler, Kenneth Darby and Curtis Johnson did not receive tenders.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers appear uninterested in bringing back quarterback Troy Smith. Also from Barrows: "Many of you have asked via Twitter and other means whether the team will cut ties with cornerback Nate Clements before the league year ends as the Packers did today with linebacker A.J. Hawk. In Hawk's case, he was set to earn a $10.5 million bonus on the first day of the new league year. Clements also is scheduled for a huge salary in 2011, but unlike Hawk there is no trigger point -- aside from the start of the season -- that would prompt an early release."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh values accuracy in his quarterbacks, one reason Troy Smith probably isn't in the team's plans. Alex Smith isn't particularly accurate by starting quarterback standards, but he has completed a higher percentage of passes than Troy Smith.

Sean writes via Facebook: Mike, yesterday on 710ESPN here in Seattle, Brock and Salk had a guest talking about the number of free agents this year is around 500, which is more than double most years because of the amount of unrestricted free agents last offseason. Seattle has 27 going into this offseason. Is it a disadvantage or advantage with the free-agent pool as large as it is to have a lot of free agents this offseason? Also, how many does San Francisco have?

Mike Sando: There are a few key points to keep in mind here. One, there is no free agency without a new labor agreement. Two, the next labor agreement will define terms for free agents. About 500 players with four accrued seasons could become unrestricted under the previous system. Another roughly 100 players will have three accrued seasons.

Teams have had a long time to anticipate a work stoppage. It's never a good time to have a long list of good players without contracts. But in most cases, teams have already re-signed the players they think they absolutely have to keep. Some teams have a long list of free agents by design. I would put Seattle in that category.

The Seahawks promoted competition during the 2010 season by shortening contracts in a few cases. They re-signed a couple players they wanted to target, but overall, I think they feel just fine going into the labor period with unsigned players. The number you cited -- 27 -- is in the right ballpark. The totals are unofficial until the league releases its annual list.

The 49ers have a shorter projected list featuring five starters from last season: Takeo Spikes, Aubrayo Franklin, Manny Lawson, Alex Smith and Dashon Goldson.

I've put together an initial list of 25 projected NFC West free agents to watch. These are not necessarily ranked in order of abilities. A couple "name" players did not make the list, and I'm noting there are only two St. Louis Rams on there (could have considered Adam Goldberg, Billy Bajema, Gary Gibson, Daniel Fells, Laurent Robinson, Clifton Ryan, etc.).

I've spent the first day of 2011 accepting friend requests on Facebook. Not quite -- this was actually a chance to watch football on TV and play outside with my sons -- but thanks for responding to the NFC West personal ad from Friday. We've added a couple hundred more friends, and counting.

Dan, a Rams fan, wasn't too happy with the way I've described the St. Louis Rams as a team lacking offensive firepower. I thought Kansas City's victory in the Edward Jones Dome brought to light these shortcomings. Danario Alexander and others made a few big plays to help the Rams beat San Francisco, but the 49ers clearly had more dangerous weapons. They were missing the quarterback.

I'll share my conversation with Dan here and wrap it up with some closing thoughts. Another Facebook friend, Michael, joined the conversation partway through.

Dan: In an earlier post this week regarding Sam Bradford's primetime debut, you stated: "He doesn't necessarily have the offensive weapons to make it happen." What are you talking about? Steven Jackson, Danario Alexander, Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Laurent Robinson, Daniel Fells and Michael Hoomanawanui. You mean to tell me that those guys are not offensive weapons? Sam Bradford and Co. will prove you wrong, Mr. Seattle Native.

Mike Sando: Seattle native? Actually California native who grew up following the Rams in the 70s. Not that it matters, but the Rams do lack weapons. Watch how they approach the offseason for confirmation, or just look at Bradford's YPA this season. Hoomanawanui is good if healthy. And Seattle's D has been vulnerable anyway.

Michael: After Steven Jackson, nobody really strikes fear into opponents from St. Louis' offense. Amendola's 8.2 yards per reception don't necessarily require D coordinators to gameplan around him. If they could get a dude like A.J. Green in St. Louis so that Bradford can open up the offense, they will be a scary team to face down the road.

Dan: OK. I stand corrected on the Seattle comment. Your ESPN bio made you look like you were all about Seattle. Sorry about that. I have been following the Rams since the mid-80's and wished they moved back to LA.

Anywho, let's get back to the "weapons" discussion here. Jackson is solid at RB, although I wish we had a little speedster a la Darren Sproles or Felix Jones or Leon Washington to mix things up. At tight end, we have three decent players in Fells, Billy Bajema, and Hoomanawanui. So it comes down to the wide receiver corps. Coming into 2011, with a healthy Donnie Avery, Mark Clayton and Danario Alexander -- and throw in Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, and Mardy Gilyard for good measure -- where do you see a problem? I guess health issues, obviously.

Should they draft more receivers or trade for one? I think they should focus on strengthening their secondary and defense as a whole, and nab a solid running back to spell Jackson. I personally like the Rams receiving corps when healthy.

Michael: Obviously, you aren't talking to me, but don't mind if I pitch in, haha. I just think they need at least one big-play guy that defenses need to game-plan around. Obviously, it's possible to win without one (Tom Brady 2001-2004), but it would make Bradford's job easier, Jackson more effective and open holes for alot of the solid receivers you guys already have.

Dan: I must have been writing my rant while you were writing your comment so I missed yours. But here's your big play guy. The DX Missile. Avery, Clayton, Alexander, Amendola, Gibson, and Gilyard could provide a sold WR corps for Sam. But again, it comes down to, can they stay healthy?

Mike Sando: The "DX Missile" stuff is odd to me. He has played in seven games and has needed knee surgery once during that stretch. A little premature to count on him as a big-play threat. Avery and Clayton coming off IR. It's a bonus if they come back strong. Amendola good third-down WR. Gibson has improved. Gilyard probably will improve. He is a non-factor right now. They'll look to upgrade top-end talent at WR. They've done a nice job patching the position as best they could.

Closing thoughts: The Rams do have occasional big-play ability, but they lack a consistent big-play threat. This team has averaged a league-low 10.0 yards per completed pass through Week 16. That is not necessarily a horrible thing. Atlanta and New Orleans are tied with Carolina for the second-lowest average per reception (10.4 yards). But a little more firepower would open up the offense, including on the ground. The Rams are tied with Miami and Seattle for the second-lowest rushing average per carry even though they have a Pro Bowl running back.

My plan for the Rams' offense this offseason would include these priorities:

• Draft a running back with speed to provide a change of pace and provide another option on kickoff returns.
• Bring back Clayton and Avery, but do not count on either. At least one of them figures to come back strong in 2011. Clayton would be the favorite given Avery's injury history.
• Make sure Bradford and Hoomanawanui spend considerable time together this offseason. Hoomanawanui has been effective when healthy. He's had bad luck with ankle injuries -- similar to what Russell Okung has gone through in Seattle -- but he should be the starter next season.
• Draft a wide receiver in the first three rounds. Teams running the Rams' offense haven't needed to use early picks for the position. Two players that succeeded in this offense -- Antonio Freeman with Green Bay, Darrell Jackson with Seattle -- were third-round choices. But if the Rams are in position to draft a playmaking wideout in the first round, they need to consider it. This is what Indianapolis has done to maximize its investment in Peyton Manning.
• Consider signing a receiver in free agency, but think twice before giving up high draft choices for one. Teams giving up considerable draft capital for receivers haven't always gotten what they wanted in return. Randy Moss did not help Minnesota. Brandon Marshall upgraded the position for Miami, but the price was high (two second-round choices). The Rams need their early picks. They snagged left tackle Rodger Saffold in the second round, for example.

ST. LOUIS -- The San Francisco 49ers have legitimate weapons at wide receiver and tight end.

The St. Louis Rams do not.

The talent disparity largely explains why the 49ers hold a 14-12 lead against the Rams at halftime.

49ers quarterback Troy Smith, inefficient most of the time, found Vernon Davis for a 25-yard gain and Michael Crabtree for a 60-yard touchdown on one drive. Davis and Crabtree were once top 10 overall draft choices. Another top-10 pick, Ted Ginn Jr., has a 78-yard punt return for another 49ers touchdown.

The Rams, meanwhile, are trying to beat the 49ers with smoke and mirrors. They are trying to run the ball from four-receiver personnel groupings. Quarterback Sam Bradford is having trouble getting much going while throwing to Brandon Gibson, Danny Amendola, Laurent Robinson and Daniel Fells.

None of those players (other than Bradford) was an elite prospect coming out of college.

Quarterback Sam Bradford has owned third down for the St. Louis Rams this season. At least he did until he faced the Atlanta Falcons in Week 11.

The Rams converted only once in 10 third-down plays Sunday.

Bradford's third-down passer rating was 3.2 for the game, down from 99.1 previously (not counting stop-clocking spike passes).

A few thoughts on what happened after charting the Rams' personnel use against Atlanta:

• The Falcons blew up that shovel pass and came up with an interception on the play. Everything that could go wrong on this play seemed to go wrong for the Rams. The team needs to execute this play more crisply.
• Veteran Daniel Fells was the tight end on most of these third-down plays. The Rams will want to see rookie Mike Hoomanawanui develop into a go-to target in these situations as he gains experience. Hoomanawanui's overall performance against the Falcons was promising. He appears in position to finish the season strong. In this game, however, the more experienced Fells got the call in most no-huddle or two-minute situations.
• Receiver Danny Amendola caught two of the three passes thrown his way on third down. His 4-yard completion on third-and-2 in the fourth quarter accounted for the Rams' only third-down conversion in 10 tries against the Falcons. He also had an 18-yard reception on third-and-21.
• The Rams moved the ball well enough early in the game to avoid third-down situations altogether. They reached third down only once during 14 first-quarter plays. The team had four of its 10 third-down plays in the fourth quarter. Executing that shovel pass for a 2-yard touchdown would have pumped up Bradford's third-down rating from 3.2 to 90.0, in which case we might not be having this conversation.
• Bradford owned second down in this game, completing 12 of 14 passes for 112 yards, two touchdowns and a 139.6 rating. Bradford completed 4 of 4 second-down passes to Hoomanawanui for 46 yards and a touchdown. Second down should be a favorable down for Bradford because defenses still must account for Steven Jackson.

The chart, based on my charting, shows Bradford's third-down passing numbers for Weeks 1-10 and Week 11. I excluded stop-clocking spike passes.

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The weekly NFC West Penalty Watch is back with a twist.

This time, I've gone through the ESPN Stats & Information file to identify players committing penalties at a significantly different rate from last season. I excluded players whose totals changed through injuries (Sean Locklear, for example).

The first chart shows totals through Week 9 for last season and this season, focusing on changes of four or more penalties.

The second chart ranks NFC West players by 2010 penalty totals. The chart breaks out subtotals by quarter.

For example, the St. Louis Rams' Jason Brown has yet to commit a penalty in the first three quarters of games. He has five in fourth quarters. Eight of his nine penalties in two seasons with the Rams fell in fourth quarters, up from one of 18 committed with Baltimore from 2005 to 2008, counting playoffs. Odd, but interesting, at least to me.