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No doubt about it, the St. Louis Rams are in good position to install their defense without suspended coordinator Gregg Williams.

Their head coach (Jeff Fisher), assistant head coach (Dave McGinnis) and secondary coach (Chuck Cecil) have all been coordinators.

ESPN's Adam Schefter offers thoughts along those lines in the video above.

Another consideration: What might be the impact on play-calling during games? Coordinators tend to have their own styles, tendencies, preferences, etc.

Williams was supremely confident in his approach and it showed in his aggressive play-calling. He blitzed with abandon and was entirely unapologetic about it. New Orleans sent five or more pass-rushers on more than 50 percent of opposing dropbacks when Williams was the Saints' coordinator in 2011, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Cecil was less established while coordinating under Fisher in Tennessee. He called games more conservatively. The Titans sent five-plus rushers on about 30 percent of dropbacks in 2010, when Cecil was their coordinator.

McGinnis was linebackers coach under Fisher in Tennessee. He was a primary play caller as Arizona's defensive coordinator under Vince Tobin from 1996-2000, and his approach was more conventional.

Fisher has not been a coordinator since 1994.

So, while the Rams should be fine without Williams this offseason, replicating his approach on game days could be unrealistic.

A few notes on NFC West coaching staffs after the St. Louis Rams announced theirs for 2012 in a news release Tuesday:

• The Rams are not listing suspended defensive coordinator Gregg Williams on their staff. They did not mention him in the news release. They did not list a defensive coordinator. Coach Jeff Fisher and assistant head coach Dave McGinnis will presumably take the lead. Secondary coach Chuck Cecil has also been a coordinator.
• Williams' son, Blake, coaches the Rams' linebackers.
• The Cardinals have 3-4 fewer assistants than the other teams in the division. I've noticed that to be the case in recent seasons. Staff sizes can vary. Arizona has one more than the NFL listed for New England heading into the most recent Super Bowl.
• Every team in the division has an assistant head coach. Two serve as offensive line coaches. Another coaches special teams. Assistant head coaches might earn more money than they otherwise would, but the title does not distinguish them from other assistants in relation to hiring protocol. The title affords no additional protections against losing an assistant to another team, in other words.
• Paul Boudreau is the Rams' offensive line coach. His son, also named Paul, is assistant special teams coach. They are not Paul Sr. and Paul Jr., however. It's not yet clear how the Rams intend to differentiate between the two. Middle initials?
• Niners offensive assistant Michael Christianson is also coordinator of football technology.

The chart lists full-time assistants, not interns or administrative assistants. Strength-and-conditioning coaches aren't involved in football strategy, but I have listed them.

Initial thoughts on the NFL's announcement regarding punishment for Sean Payton, Mickey Loomis, Gregg Williams, Joe Vitt and the New Orleans Saints stemming from their bounty scandal:

• What it means for the Rams: Williams, their new defensive coordinator, has been suspended for at least the 2012 season. Commissioner Roger Goodell will review Williams' case following the season. This is a significant setback for the Rams and one that calls into question Williams' future with the team. Head coach Jeff Fisher and assistant head coach Dave McGinnis do have experience as defensive coordinators. They'll take the lead on defense, presumably. Williams cooperated with the NFL's investigation. I suspect failure to cooperate might have led to stiffer punishment (a lifetime ban, perhaps?). Payton received a one-year suspension. Loomis got eight games and a $500,000 fine. The Saints drew a $500,000 fine while losing second-round choices in 2012 and 2013. Vitt drew a six-game suspension.
• Commissioner expands power: Teams will take Goodell more seriously when he issues warnings behind the scenes. Goodell had instructed the Saints to handle this issue. Any team faced with similar warnings in the future now must take them more seriously. Goodell has made his point. Defy the commissioner and you're going to pay.
• Statement to players: The league has yet to announce punishment for players involved in this case. It's safe to assume the Saints organization and leadership will pay the highest price. Those critical of Goodell for his unilaterally administered punishment of players must now acknowledge the commissioner will hold teams and coaches accountable, too. The talk about higher standards has more merit following this punishment.
• Players safety issue: Handing out such stiff penalties potentially improves the NFL's position when fighting lawsuits relating to alleged negligence on concussions. The league now has tangible evidence -- not just words -- demonstrating the seriousness with which it takes all matters related to player safety.
• What it means for Steve Spagnuolo: The Saints hired former Rams coach Spagnuolo as their defensive coordinator when Williams left for St. Louis. Spagnuolo would be a logical candidate to serve as interim head coach in New Orleans. He would stand to benefit from such an arrangement, perhaps putting himself in position to succeed Payton or land another head-coaching job in the near future.

Williams can apparently improve his chances for returning.

"Commissioner Goodell said he will give close attention to the extent to which Coach Williams cooperates with the NFL in any further proceedings," the NFL said in a news release.

Williams has every reason to cooperate. I would expect him to do so, and I would expect the NFL to reinstate him in return. Will the Rams still have interest in retaining Williams at that time? I would think they would be best off moving forward without him, but Williams' friendship with Fisher could work in his favor.

The Arizona Cardinals, aggressive in free agency one year ago, watched from the sideline Tuesday while other teams signed players.

They had fewer perceived needs, for one, but they also needed to know whether Peyton Manning planned to sign with them.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the team will remain in a holding pattern until the Manning situation gains clarity. Their approach to creating room under the salary cap hung in the balance. Somers: "If he picks the Cardinals, the team likely will let Kevin Kolb go, saving itself from paying the bonus [$7 million to Kolb by Friday]. If Manning chooses another team by then, the Cardinals probably will keep Kolb and pay the bonus. If Manning hasn't picked a team by then, the Cardinals have a difficult choice. Do they let Kolb go and gamble that they will get Manning? How confident would they be entering the season with John Skelton and Rich Bartel as the only quarterbacks on the roster? Or, do they keep Kolb and end their pursuit of Manning?" Noted: Kolb would obviously be out if the team signed Manning. But the bonus payment is large enough to raise questions independent of any decision Manning makes. Paying the bonus would be more difficult if the Cardinals werent' sure whether Kolb would be better than backup John Skelton, who is scheduled to earn $490,000 in salary for the 2012 season.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' needs transcend any one position. Also: "I don't think Gregg Williams' status will impact free agency. By now it seems obvious that the NFL will wallop Williams hard with a lengthy suspension. Even with the bounty-system scandal, Williams is popular, and will remain popular, among NFL defensive players that have worked for him. Sure, that could be a selling point. But it's not as if the Rams have a coaching staff of wallflowers out there. Fisher, Dave McGinnis and other assistants, including Chuck Cecil, are live wires. They'll have no problem creating the kind of jacked-up, tough-guy mindset that appeals to defensive players. And if McGinnis takes over as defensive coordinator, let's just remember that he's always been a respected and admired coach in the league. And we'll say it one more time: money tends to buy loyalty."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' were aggressive in landing Cortland Finnegan, but the situation at receiver remained unsettled. He says the Rams were trying to set up a visit with Robert Meachem before the free-agent wideout from New Orleans reached agreement with San Diego.

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com looks at recent Rams roster moves.

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis updates the Rams' outlook in free agency. Balzer: "The Rams are expecting a visit Thursday from Detroit quarterback Shaun Hill and possibly tackle Eric Winston, who was released Tuesday by the Houston Texans."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks' apparent interest in Chad Henne came as a surprise. O'Neil: "Henne, 26, is scheduled to visit Jacksonville before departing for Seattle, where he's expected to arrive Wednesday. Henne had a 13-18 record as the starting quarterback the past three seasons in Miami."

Also from O'Neil: What is David Hawthorne worth to Seattle? O'Neil: "Maybe the Seahawks plan to go young at that position. K.J. Wright -- a fourth-round pick last year -- is the only starting linebacker currently under contract for 2012, and then there's Malcolm Smith, a seventh-round pick who runs well, but has had trouble staying healthy. In two years, we've seen that Seattle is willing to tighten its belt and make changes, but we haven't seen what kind of linebackers the Seahawks want to invest in and keep around. In that regard, Hawthorne's free agency is something worth watching."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com offers a quick free-agency scorecard for the San Francisco 49ers. Maiocco: "The 49ers' defense appears to be set with the late push Tuesday night to re-sign cornerback Carlos Rogers. ... The only change to the lineup in 2012 is the anticipated promotion of outside linebacker Aldon Smith to take Parys Haralson's starting job at right outside linebacker. General manager Trent Baalke said the 49ers plan for Smith, a pass-rush specialist as a rookie in 2011, to take a full-time role."

Also from Maiocco: various 49ers notes, including one about special-teams ace Blake Costanzo, who signed with Chicago. Maiocco: "The 49ers want their special-teams players to be able to play defense, too, and the personnel department did not consider Costanzo as an option at inside linebacker, if he were needed behind Patrick Willis or NaVorro Bowman."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee runs through the 49ers' first day of free agency. Barrows: "Day One of free agency began and ended without a deal for quarterback Alex Smith, another player the team wants back. For the first time since the 49ers drafted him in 2005, Smith has no formal contract or deal in hand with them, although there is a three-year offer on the table. Team president Jed York on Monday seemed confident the two sides would reach a compromise but said the 'ball's in his court,' an indication the 49ers feel Smith and his representatives are the ones holding up a contract."

The NFC West weekend began with St. Louis Rams defensive coordinator Gregg Williams apologizing for his role in the New Orleans Saints' bounty scandal.

It ended with the NFL summoning Williams to New York amid lingering questions.

What could happen to Williams as evidence against him accumulates? John Clayton and I discussed the possibilities Saturday.

Albert Breer of NFL.com says the league would like to hand down punishment before its league meetings in late March, allowing affected teams to adjust accordingly. Noted: The Rams appear to be in strong position to carry on without Williams, should that be necessary. Their head coach, Jeff Fisher, and assistant head coach, Dave McGinnis, have both worked as defensive coordinators.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers Rams fans temporary relief from all things relating to bounties, sizing up the team's prospects for trading the second overall pick in the 2012 draft. Noted: This is a good piece and a subject I'll analyze on the blog later Monday. One question would be whether the Redskins might be the only team drafting among the top six with serious interest in Robert Griffin III.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com revisits hits the Saints put on Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner during a playoff game after the 2009 season. Urban: "There were other times in that game, though, when it did look like the Saints were going after Warner and specifically, his head (Warner had suffered through a concussion earlier that season.) Warner got hit a few times up high, but the Saints were only flagged for one personal foul, a roughing-the-passer by linebacker Scott Shanle. Warner at the time wasn’t thrilled about the hits, either. Warner said the (Bobby) McCray hit was clean, even if it didn’t feel that good."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the punishment New Orleans' defense unleashed on the 49ers' quarterbacks in the 2011 exhibition opener "makes a little more sense" in light of the bounty investigation. Maiocco: "The 49ers also faced the Saints twice in the regular season and one more time in the playoffs during the time frame in which the bounty system was in place. The 49ers sustained no known significant injuries due to any illegal hits. Coincidentally, 49ers safety Donte Whitner knocked running back Pierre Thomas from the game with a legal helmet-to-helmet hit that caused a fumble early in the 49ers' 36-32 victory in an NFC divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News offers thoughts on the Saints' bounties in relation to the 49ers, including this one: "Did the Saints’ bounties come at any 49ers’ expense? Obviously the most concerning injury among the 49ers this past postseason was to Ted Ginn Jr., who left their divisional playoff game with a knee injury, an injury that kept him out of the NFC final that saw the New York Giants capitalize on mistakes by Ginn’s replacement as the punt returner, Kyle Williams. Ginn, after aggravating an ankle injury, appeared to hurt his knee on a collision with a Saints player on a play in which Ginn drew a pass-interference penalty. Ginn tried lining up for the next play but went down and was done for the season. I have no reason to think his injury was a result of any Saints misconduct."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times does not expect the Seahawks to use the franchise tag for defensive end Red Bryant because the cost would be more than $10 million for one season. Noted: Bryant has played a big part in the Seahawks' run defense over the past couple seasons. He also showed an ability to block field goal attempts last season. Seattle values his presence in the locker room as well. Those things make Bryant valuable to Seattle. The role Seahawks coaches have created for Bryant makes him a better fit in Seattle than he would be elsewhere. Re-signing gives Bryant his best chance at sustained success. Seems like the sides should be able to work out something. Both sides should value one another more than they value the alternatives.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com revisits comments fullback Michael Robinson made regarding the newly re-signed Marshawn Lynch last season. Farnsworth: "During the season, and on several occasions, Pro Bowl fullback Michael Robinson marveled at what Lynch was able to accomplish – especially the way he accomplished it. At one point, Robinson said he never had seen a back generate as much power on one leg as Lynch – which explains his ability to emerge from piles of would-be tacklers and gain yards that just don’t seem to be there."

Also from Farnsworth: The Seahawks have a new FieldTurf Revolution Fiber playing surface. They're also replacing scoreboards.

A certain not-yet-available quarterback nearly overshadowed Super Bowl week. Overshadowing other subjects during the latest NFC West chat was easy by comparison. And predictable. And welcome, actually. Few subjects can compete with Peyton Manning potentially joining another team.

Kathy from San Antonio wonders why San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh seems so "fixated" on Alex Smith as the team's starting quarterback. She thinks Manning could put the 49ers over the top. "Harbaugh seems like a guy who wants to be considered in the same sentence as Bill Walsh," she wrote, "yet he will hurt his long-term future as head coach if he sticks with Smith."

Mike Sando: Peyton Manning's health is a key variable. The 49ers might not trust his ability to get and stay healthy. The team might feel as though it has a good thing going, and the rewards of adding a diminished, older Manning might not appeal to them coming off a season in which they were really a play or two away from the Super Bowl. It is also possible the 49ers will reevaluate if anything changes with Manning.

Matt from Syracuse asks whether Arizona or Seattle is a better fit for Peyton Manning.

Mike Sando: I lean toward Arizona because the Cardinals play indoors, they have an offensive coach (Frank Reich) with direct ties to Manning and they have Larry Fitzgerald. But if they pay the $7 million to Kevin Kolb, it would be tough to pay Manning as well. The Seahawks are in better position to add a big-money quarterback because they do not have a big-money incumbent QB.

Josh from Iowa asks why assistants Gregg Williams, Brian Schottenheimer and Dave McGinnis seemed to eager to join Jeff Fisher's staff in St. Louis.

Mike Sando: I listened to McGinnis on the conference call. His excitement was definitely palpable. The fact that Williams and McGinnis would jump at the change to reunite with Fisher reflects well on Fisher. Fisher seems to know what is important. He seems to be no-nonsense and without pretense. He seems real. He's not walking around trying to prove to everyone that he's a head coach. This shows up in the confidence Fisher projects. Assistants are also looking for stability, which tends to be elusive in the NFL. Fisher lasted 16-plus seasons as head coach in his last job. That track record is appealing.

The next chat will be in two weeks. I'm taking off next week before ramping up for the NFL scouting combine.

The San Francisco 49ers embraced Alex Smith as their starting quarterback one year ago, when most viewed Smith as a first-round draft bust.

Embracing him has only become easier after the team went 13-3 and reached the NFC Championship Game with Smith taking all the important snaps from center.

"We're all in lockstep as an organization that Alex Smith is our guy," coach Jim Harbaugh said. "It's well-documented. You saw the way he played this year. [He is a] tremendous leader on our football team.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the next step for Smith includes reducing the number of sacks he takes. Maiocco: "On Tuesday, Smith said on 'Chronicle Live' that in the coming weeks he will analyze where he needs to get better and be honest with himself. That's where I see Smith can get better -- a lot better. Perhaps with a full offseason to fully comprehend the offense, Smith will have a greater understanding of the angles he can exploit against certain defenses to get rid of the ball quicker and allow his receivers to make more plays."

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle offers thoughts on various 49ers other than Harbaugh coming up short for awards recently.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says it's way too early for anyone in Seattle to get excited about a Super Bowl coming to the Northwest. Williams: "The Seahawks aren’t the only northern city to show interest, as Washington, Denver, New England, Philadelphia, Chicago and Detroit are other northern markets that would likely want to be in the conversation for hosting a Super Bowl. Add to that group the fact San Francisco, San Diego and Minnesota are working on securing funding to build new or remodeled stadiums -- along with the NFL's recent tradition of offering Super Bowls to cities that build new stadiums -- and Seattle likely has an uphill climb of hosting a Super Bowl in the foreseeable future." Noted: The Seahawks have not submitted a formal bid for a Super Bowl. Seattle probably could have secured one years ago had the team's stadium, which opened in 2002, included a roof.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks would be wise to pursue Peyton Manning this offseason. Boling: "Risks? Sure, they’re numerous and obvious. But if there weren’t risks, he would never hit the market. And if he turns out to be even close to the Peyton Manning who was an 11-time Pro Bowl selection, it’s likely that no other single move could put the Seahawks in contention quicker than landing him."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with new Hall of Famer Cortez Kennedy, who visited Seahawks headquarters Wednesday and went to lunch with several reporters who covered him during his playing days. Kennedy: "It hit me that I’m a Hall of Famer, but you still can't believe it because of the magnitude of the situation being in the Hall of Fame. When you get a call from Steve Largent congratulating you; you get a call from John Randle saying congratulations; Michael Irvin; Marshall Faulk; guys that I played with. That was very special."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with the Cardinals' new quarterbacks coach, John McNulty. McNulty: "I don't think the job is to replace Kurt Warner any more. It's not to go win the game every week, but I think it's to be more productive, to certainly not lose the game, and to make sure every time they're on the field we're in tune with exactly what needs to be done, from play to play. We have to know what these QBs are in tune with and what they'll be able to handle, mentally and physically, and gear it toward them. In the end, they need to perform better, so that will fall on me, that will really fall on all of us. But it ultimately falls on them."

Also from Somers: Hiring former Indianapolis assistant Frank Reich as receivers coach reinforces the idea Arizona could pursue Manning this offseason. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "I hired Frank because he's a good coach."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the team was close to hiring Todd Haley, but the lack of an opening for an offensive coordinator was a complicating factor.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Dave McGinnis' hiring in St. Louis was inevitable once Jeff Fisher became head coach. McGinnis: "Coaches in this league want to work for Jeff Fisher. The environment that you work in is very, very conducive to doing good things. He's very professional, but you have fun doing it."

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com says Fisher must build a program, not just a team. Gordon: "The task will be daunting, but Fisher inspires confidence within the football industry. This is why top assistant coaches are lining up to join this project."

A few odds and ends from around the NFC West on the Wednesday following Super Bowl XLVI:

• Ray McDonald's arrest on an outstanding warrant gives the San Francisco 49ers two known arrests in less than two weeks, both related to cases involving allegations of driving under the influence. Neither McDonald nor Aldon Smith has been convicted. McDonald did not commit a new driving-related offense. He apparently failed to complete or prove that he completed a diversionary program.
• Dave McGinnis jumped at the chance to reunite with Jeff Fisher and Gregg Williams on the St. Louis Rams' staff. McGinnis, the Rams' new assistant head coach, spoke with enthusiasm when asked about the opportunity during a conference call Wednesday. Fisher was the first person McGinnis called for advice when becoming Arizona Cardinals coach in 2000. Their philosophical roots go back to Buddy Ryan and the Chicago Bears. McGinnis joined Fisher in Tennessee after the Cardinals fired him.
• The Rams will interview the Pittsburgh Steelers' Omar Khan for their general manager's opening, Jim Thomas reports. Khan interviewed for Seattle's GM opening two years ago.
• Seattle's Marshawn Lynch's agent of record has indeed changed with Mike Sullivan leaving Octagon Worldwide for the Denver Broncos. Octagon's Doug Hendrickson has been the point person in negotiations, and that is continuing. Lynch is among several high-profile backs without contracts. The new labor agreement has changed the dynamics. Teams can now name running backs franchise players at a cost of less than $8 million, down from about $9.5 million.
• That would be Peyton Manning appearing in a photo on the Arizona Cardinals' website. The accompanying story was not about Manning or where the Indianapolis Colts' quarterback might land this offseason. It was about John McNulty's move to quarterbacks coach and Frank Reich's hiring as receivers coach. Reich was Manning's position coach in Indianapolis, but he will replace McNulty as receivers coach.

Enjoy your Wednesday night.

The NFC would have a hard time fielding a Pro Bowl secondary without its Western division.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com notes that the NFL has added Seattle's Kam Chancellor and Brandon Browner to the NFC squad after the San Francisco 49ers' Dashon Goldson and Carlos Rogers withdrew from the game, citing injuries. Chancellor and Browner were alternates. Arizona's Adrian Wilson is also one of the safeties, as is Seattle's Earl Thomas. This means three-fourths of the Seahawks' secondary is in the Pro Bowl even though arguably the team's best corner, Richard Sherman, did not make it. Noted: Goldson and Rogers both have expiring contracts. Playing in the Pro Bowl would have meant spending the week hanging out with Green Bay's coaching staff. The Packers haven't been big spenders in free agency, but the Pro Bowl is one of the few places rules allow players from one team to hang out with coaches from another.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' Brian Jennings has been added to the NFC roster as a "need" player. Jennings is arguably the best long-snapper in the NFL. Maiocco: "Jennings, a 12-year veteran, will make his second career appearance in the Pro Bowl. He becomes the ninth 49ers player to be selected to play in this year's game, which is takes place Sunday in Honolulu. The eight 49ers players previously selected to the NFC roster are defensive backs Dashon Goldson and Carlos Rogers, defensive lineman Justin Smith, linebacker Patrick Willis, running back Frank Gore, tackle Joe Staley, kicker David Akers and punter Andy Lee."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' need for wide receiver help is glaring after Michael Crabtree's single 3-yard reception accounted for all catches by San Francisco wideouts in the NFC title game. Kawakami: "The Giants’ three wide receivers combined to catch 16 passes for 214 yards and a touchdown Sunday, helping counterbalance the 49ers’ huge advantages in almost all other areas. It took two botched punt returns by Kyle Williams to set up the Giants for their game-deciding scores, but they would have been nowhere near the 49ers without their wide receivers. So as the 49ers hurtle into their offseason, upgrading their receiving corps has to be their central focus."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle did not notice the Giants going out of their way to inflict a concussion upon Williams.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Jim Harbaugh's refusal to discuss his feelings smacks of emotional immaturity.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic offers thoughts on the Cardinals' chances for landing Peyton Manning, should the Colts part with the future Hall of Fame quarterback. Somers: "Throwing to Larry Fitzgerald has to be an attractive prospect. With Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams, the Cardinals have two talented young running backs. There are questions on the offensive line, however. The Cardinals' defense was stout over the last half of the season. Under Ken Whisenhunt, the Cardinals have proven they are willing to throw the ball and to mold their offense around the strengths of an older quarterback." Noted: Manning has never needed a strong offensive line. He has long proven how much quarterback play matters for avoiding sacks.

Also from Somers: Jerry Sullivan was briefly a candidate to rejoin the Cardinals. Noted: Seems like Bruce Arians would be a natural fit in Arizona after the Steelers decided against offering a new contract to him.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com provides a timeline for scheduled bonus payments to Manning and the Cardinals' Kevin Kolb. Manning is scheduled to receive $28 million from the Colts on March 8. Kolb is scheduled to receive $7 million from the Cardinals on March 17. Urban also notes that Hue Jackson could be interviewing with the Cardinals, per Charley Casserly. Noted: With free agency beginning March 13, the gap between bonus payments to Manning and Kolb would give the Cardinals time to explore their options with Manning, should the Colts decline to pay the bonus.

Also from Urban: Calais Campbell would not complain if the Cardinals named him their franchise player.

The Cardinals' Beanie Wells suggests he's undergoing surgery, presumably on the knee that bothered him this past season. Noted: Ryan Williams is also coming off surgery.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch updates Rams coaching moves after the team reached agreement with Dave McGinnis to join the staff as assistant head coach. Thomas: "Several other staff additions appear to be in the works but have not been made official, including Paul Boudreau as offensive line coach, Mike Waufle as defensive line coach, Rob Boras as tight ends coach and Tim Walton for what could be a job as assistant defensive coordinator/passing game."

The St. Louis Rams will not lose games in 2012 for a lack of experienced coaches.

Dave McGinnis' expected addition as assistant head coach gives the team another assistant with head coaching experience. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams is the other.

Both McGinnis, 60, and Williams, 53, have coached extensively under new Rams coach Jeff Fisher and in the NFL overall.

Fisher's defensive staff should fit together seamlessly.

The team announced the hiring of Williams and offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer. McGinnis coached linebackers for the Chicago Bears under Buddy Ryan after Fisher played for the team. He coached under Vince Tobin with Arizona before becoming the Cardinals' head coach from 2000-03, when the team posted a 17-40 record.

Hiring Fisher, a veteran of 16 full NFL seasons as a head coach, showed the Rams valued experience after struggling under first-time head coaches recently. Williams and McGinnis add more seasoning to the staff.

One thing about McGinnis: I've never heard anyone say anything negative about him as a person. To the contrary, people who have worked with him go out of their way to say how much they respect him. It happened again Monday when I spoke with a former Titans employee and McGinnis' expected hiring came up.

The Green Bay Packers drafted 30 of their current players since Mike McCarthy became head coach, a high number. The other Super Bowl team, Pittsburgh, has 23 players drafted under coach Mike Tomlin even though Tomlin inherited a championship team with fewer roster spots up for grabs.

The home-grown continuity those organizations enjoy became a reliable storyline during Super Bowl week.

Both teams got the quarterback position right, of course, and that makes everyone else look smarter. In general, however, the teams with organizational continuity should enjoy more solid footing during a potentially rocky offseason.

The chart shows draft-choice retention rates for NFC West teams. For example, the Arizona Cardinals feature 21 draft choices selected under coach Ken Whisehunt. They have four selected under previous coach Dennis Green and two -- Adrian Wilson and Gerald Hayes -- remaining from the Dave McGinnis era.

The numbers favor Arizona in part because every other team has changed head coaches since the Cardinals hired Ken Whisenhunt in 2007. But Whisenhunt says he isn't necessarily loyal to draft choices. The record proves he's right.

Last offseason, the Cardnials preferred gambling on less experienced quarterbacks to sticking with Matt Leinart on the basis of Leinart's status as a recent first-round draft choice. Whisenhunt has said he would rather admit failure than compromise principles when putting together a roster.

"It's great to keep your draft picks, but only if they are your best players," Whisenhunt told reporters recently at the NFL scouting combine. "We released our third-round pick (Buster Davis) our first year. ... We cut a (former) second-round pick (Cody Brown) last year because we felt we had better players."

I'll be back in a bit with a look at four recent NFC West draft choices, one per team and each highly drafted, facing questions heading toward the 2011 season.

.

The 2010 NFL draft helped coaches define their teams to their liking.

The Cardinals now have 32 of their own draft choices on their roster, counting unsigned restricted free agent Deuce Lutui. Three-fourths of those players entered the NFL under current coach Ken Whisenhunt.

The chart lists Cardinals draft choices still with the team, broken down by drafted round. The team now has as many draft choices who entered the league under former coach Dave McGinnis -- three -- as entered the league under Whisenhunt's Pittsburgh mentor, Bill Cowher.

This is definitely Whisenhunt's team, in other words. Matt Leinart, Larry Fitzgerald, Darnell Dockett, Gabe Watson and Lutui are the only remaining Cardinals drafted under Green. Two others -- Karlos Dansby and Antrel Rolle -- recently left in free agency.

Adrian Wilson, Gerald Hayes and Reggie Wells are remaining draft choices from the McGinnis era. One other -- receiver Anquan Boldin -- recently left via trade.

The latest in our periodic spins around the NFC West radio dials:

Rams

101ESPN St. Louis: guard Richie Incognito

101ESPN St. Louis: running back Steven Jackson

101ESPN St. Louis: Jim Haslett

101ESPN St. Louis: executive Kevin Demoff

101ESPN St. Louis: Chris Mortensen

49ers

710ESPN Seattle: reporter Matt Maiocco

KJR950 Seattle: receiver Jason Hill

KNBR680: Trent Dilfer

KNBR680: Ronnie Lott

KNBR680: Dwight Clark

KNBR680: reporter Matt Barrows

KNBR680: snapper Brian Jennings

KNBR680: Mike Singletary

Cardinals

XTRA910: defensive lineman Darnell Dockett

XTRA910: Dave McGinnis

XTRA910: safety Adrian Wilson

azcardinals.com: Cardinals Underground

Seahawks

710ESPN Seattle: Sando with John Clayton

101ESPN St. Louis: Steve Largent

KJR950 Seattle: draft analyst Rob Rang

KJR950 Seattle: Seahawks Round Table

KJR950 Seattle: reporter Dave Boling

KJR950 Seattle: cornerback Josh Wilson

If you find others, please pass along links.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times tells the story behind the tattoo on Josh Wilson's chest. Wilson, a second-year corner, had an image of his late father's football card etched into his skin during his freshman year at Maryland. Tim Wilson, formerly of the Oilers, died of a heart attack when Josh Wilson was 11 years old.

Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says veteran Seahawks linebacker D.D. Lewis is filling in nicely for the injured Lofa Tatupu. Leroy Hill calls Lewis the best backup in the league. Julian Peterson calls Lewis a cut about second string.

Also from Farnsworth: Jim Mora deflects questions about the coaching vacancy at the University of Washington.

Michael Steffes of Seahawk Addicts says the Seahawks' Seneca Wallace hasn't been nearly as effective as a runner in his current incarnation as a starter.

Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune says Tatupu has played well after missing practice, including when he picked off three passes against the Eagles last season.

Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald says the Eagles would thrive in the NFC West.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' defense hasn't faced a top-flight passing attack at full strength since a season-opening defeat at Philadelphia. That changes when Kurt Warner and the Cardinals visit Sunday.

Also from Thomas: Warner's returns triggers Warner nostalgia, not fun for Marc Bulger.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at the Rams' injury situation, from Steven Jackson to Leonard Little and Adam Carriker.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat checks in with Cardinals snapper Nathan Hodel, who grew up in the St. Louis area and has served as his own agent. Hodel has an MBA from Illinois.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says teammates respect 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, counter to outside perceptions.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers might have some dissenters, as evidenced when news of Mike Singletary's halftime antics surfaced.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News notes that Singletary was dropping his pants at about the same time the 49ers were honoring former linebacker Dan Bunz.

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider says quarterback Shaun Hill best fits the 49ers' personnel.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Cardinals linebacker Karlos Dansby has "no clue" what the future holds for him contract-wise. Dansby is earning $8 million this year as the team's franchise player.

Also from Urban: Moving Tim Hightower into the starting lineup might diminish the rookie's role on special teams.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic looks at the lives of interim coaches, from the Rams' Jim Haslett to former Cardinals coach Dave McGinnis.

Also from Somers: Steven Spach has been a quick study in Arizona because the Cardinals' offense is similar to the one he learned in New England.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Notes and perspective on Mike Nolan's firing as 49ers coach, courtesy of ESPN Research and Elias Sports Bureau:

• Nolan's winning percentage was .327 (18-37). That's the second-worst percentage among 49ers coaches with at least 10 games. Only Dennis Erickson had a lower percentage (.281, 9-23).
• Since 2005, when Nolan took over, the 49ers have the third-worst winning percentage in the NFL. Only the Raiders (.222) and Lions (.278) have been worse.
• The 49ers' opponents outscored Nolan's teams by 8.9 points per game on average (25.5 to 16.6). Dave McGinnis is the only other coach in NFL history to last 50 games while getting outscored by more points per game. Opponents outscored McGinnis' Cardinals teams by 10.1 points per game (25.4 to 15.3) over four seasons.
• Nolan is the third head coach to lose his job this season (Scott Linehan, Lane Kiffin). This marks the second time since 1989 that three or more teams have changed head coaches during a season. The Cardinals, Bengals, Lions and Redskins did it in 2000.
  
• This is the first time since 1976 that three teams have changed coaches in the first seven weeks of a season. That was the year Tommy Hudspeth replaced Rick Forzano in Detroit, Pat Peppler replaced Marion Campbell in Atlanta, Jim Ringo replaced Lou Saban in Buffalo and John McVay replaced Bill Arnsbarger as Giants coach.
  
• The last seven head coaches to lose their jobs during the regular season: Nolan, Kiffin, Linehan, Steve Mariucci (2005), Dan Reeves (2003), Vince Tobin (2000) and Norv Turner (2000).
  
• Mike Singletary becomes the fifth man to become an NFL head coach after being enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Otto Graham, Larry Wilson, Raymond Berry and Art Shell were the others. The first Hall of Fame class was enshrined in 1963.

Of all those notes, the one about being outscored by 8.9 points per game resonates most profoundly, in my view. That is an astounding average deficit in a game known for parity, particularly given the state of the NFC West during that time.