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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says David Vobora could sue the manufacturer of a supplement containing the banned ingredient behind the linebacker's four-game suspension. Stull: "In fact, the NFLPA had appealed the initial result of the test -- and the source states Vobora had properly called the 'hot line' for players to check supplements and the product was cleared as not having any banned substance in its listed contents. A different source close to the situation shares there will likely be legal action taken on Vobora's behalf against the manufacturer -- as toxicology testing revealed the supplement did contain the banned substance, despite it not being included on the product label."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says during a chat that he thought the Rams would blitz more under coach Steve Spagnuolo. Thomas: "The most surprising thing to me so far, is the lack of blitzing. I realize there haven't always been ideal situations. The Rams haven't played with the lead much at all -- they've led for only 12 1/2 minutes (out of a possible 180!!) in the three games this season. They haven't had the opposition in a ton of predictable throwing situations -- third and long, etc. Still, I expected a more aggressive approach." Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers sometimes proved dangerous when the Rams blitzed. Will Witherspoon got immediate pressure on Rodgers midway through the first quarter. Rodgers recognized the situation and threw immediately to Donald Driver for a first down at the St. Louis 26. A few plays like that can serve as a strong deterrent.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says a potential uncapped year could give Patrick Willis and Vernon Davis incentive to bide their time before seeking long-term contract extensions. Davis' improvement stands as one of the 49ers' most important developments of the season, should he continue to improve.

Also from Maiocco: Frank Gore's injury gives the 49ers reason to lean more heavily on quarterback Shaun Hill. Coach Mike Singletary did acknowledge that Hill "took a step" with his latest performance. I still think the 49ers will remain resolute in their commitment to the run.

Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle checks in with 49ers defensive lineman Ray McDonald, whose father played receiver at Florida in the mid-1980s. That revelation makes me feel ancient.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers have no immediate plans to sign Kory Sheets from the practice squad, even with Gore sidelined. The thought of trusting a rookie in pass protection probably does not appeal.

Howard Mintz of the San Jose Mercury News updates the 49ers' efforts to secure funding for a new stadium in Santa Clara. Research for an environmental impact study is complete.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic offers reasons for Cardinals fans to have optimism -- and pessimism -- about the team following a 1-2 start. Somers: "The Cardinals haven't shown yet that they learned much from last season's playoff run. Through the first few weeks, players alluded to poor practices as part of the reason for losing the opener. Defensively, the Cardinals' attention to detail seems to come and go like the wind."

Also from Somers: Rookie Beanie Wells did not play much Sunday night because he isn't yet ready to handle all the duties associated with playing in the three- and four-receiver offense.

Mike Jurecki of XTRA910 says Wells needs to spend the bye week learning his assignments. Jurecki: "Hopefully Beanie Wells will use the bye week and some down time to get up to speed on learning his assignments on pass protection, otherwise it’s going to be tough for the coaching staff to trust him on game day. All the time he missed in Flagstaff is hurting him now."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the team could be interested in re-signing Monty Beisel, released by the Chiefs.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks need to target T.J. Houshmandzadeh more frequently in the passing game. Tight end John Carlson was also open several times against the Bears without getting the ball. There's a reason NFL teams prefer their quarterbacks to be taller than Seneca Wallace. Sometimes it seems as though Wallace doesn't see the field as well as a taller quarterback might. His accuracy suffered when he tried to throw over pressure up the middle.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team signed running back Louis Rankin to its practice squad, releasing running back Devin Moore and linebacker William Thomas.

John Morgan of Field Gulls says the Seahawks are a better team this season even though they have the same record through three games as in 2008. I agree. The current coaching staff has done a very good job preparing backups to perform at decent levels. David Hawthorne was dramatically better and more decisive against the Bears than he was against the 49ers, one reason the run defense didn't allow huge gains. The offensive line has weathered injuries much more effectively than when starters were sidelined in past seasons.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Seahawks Player Released on Cutdown Pos. Current Team Capacity Brian Russell DB Jaguars Active Roster Marquis Floyd DB Browns Active Roster Kevin Hobbs DB Lions Active Roster Devin Moore RB Seahawks Practice Squad Jamar Adams DB Seahawks Practice Squad Mike Hass WR Seahawks Practice Squad Logan Payne WR Seahawks Practice Squad Baraka Atkins DL -- -- Brian De La Puente OL -- -- Brandon Coutu K -- -- Dave Philistin LB -- -- Jeff Rowe QB -- -- David Kirtman RB -- -- Courtney Greene DB -- -- Nate Ness DB -- -- Na'Shan Goddard OL -- -- Andre Ramsey OL -- -- William Robinson OL -- -- Joe Newton TE -- -- Jordan Kent WR -- -- Courtney Taylor WR -- -- Cory Withrow OL -- -- D.D. Lewis LB -- --

The tough decisions teams face in reducing their rosters to 53 players sometimes aren't so tough.

They were arguably tougher for the Seahawks than for other teams in the division.

Three of the players Seattle released on its initial cutdown to 53 players have joined active rosters elsewhere in the league. Aaron Francisco, cut by the Cardinals, and Phil Trautwein, cut by the Rams, are the only other initial NFC West castoffs to join active rosters for other teams.

Seattle's Brian Russell (Jaguars), Marquis Floyd (Browns) and Kevin Hobbs (Lions) currently reside on active rosters. The Seahawks re-signed to their practice squad running back Devin Moore, safety Jamar Adams, receiver Mike Hass and receiver Logan Payne.

The apparent drama at receiver left Jordan Kent and Courtney Taylor on the outside. Kent reached an injury settlement following his release. Taylor remains available. Neither player has eligibility for the practice squad.

Defensive lineman Baraka Atkins and kicker Brandon Coutu appeared close to earning roster spots. The Seahawks once thought Coutu might have trade value. That wasn't the case in the end.

NFC West roster counts, including practice squads Pos. ARI SF STL SEA Avg. QB 3 3 3 3 3.0 RB 5 6 5 6 5.5 WR 8 8 5 7 7.0 TE 3 3 4 3 3.3 OL 10 10 10 11 10.0 DL 8 8 12 11 9.8 LB 8 9 8 7 8.0 DB 9 11 11 10 10.3 ST 3 3 3 3 3.0 Totals 57 61 61 61 60.0

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The seven players Seattle signed to its practice squad tell coaches, in general, how many players they'll have for practice at a given position.

Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo pointed to this often overlooked figure when asked about the Rams' lack of depth at receiver. The team has only four receivers on its 53-man roster. What mattered to Spagnuolo in the short term was how many receivers the Rams had available to practice. The number stands at five. The Rams would like six.

The chart shows positional roster counts for NFC West teams, including players signed to practice squads. The Cardinals have only four players on their practice squad. Their numbers in the secondary are relatively low.

None of the NFC West teams has signed a quarterback to its practice squad.

Also: Seattle's initial 53-man practice squad features receiver Mike Hass, receiver Logan Payne, safety Jamar Adams, running back Devin Moore and tackle Kyle Williams, all released during the reduction to 53 players. The team also signed center Blake Schlueter, formerly of the Broncos, and cornerback Roy Lewis, formerly of the Steelers.

Following up: Chart has been updated to relfect the 49ers' signing of Tony Pashos and placement of Diyral Briggs on the practice squad. Also, the Seahawks have signed linebacker Thomas Williams, formerly of the Jaguars, to fill out their practice squad.

Ex-Seahawks eligible for practice squad Pos. Jamar Adams DB Brandon Coutu K Brian De La Puente OL Marquis Floyd DB Na'Shan Goddard OL Courtney Greene DB Mike Hass WR Devin Moore RB Nate Ness DB Joe Newton TE Logan Payne WR Dave Philistin LB Andre Ramsey OL William Robinson OL Jeff Rowe QB

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

NFL teams can begin forming eight-man practice squads once released players clear waivers this afternoon.

The Seahawks faced tougher decisions on the reduction to 53 players because some of their young prospects, notably receivers Courtney Taylor and Jordan Kent, had no remaining eligibility for the practice squad following an injury-plagued 2008 season.

Defensive end Baraka Atkins, cornerback Kevin Hobbs and fullback David Kirtman are also among the recently released Seattle players without eligibility for the practice squad. Receiver Mike Hass also caught some fans' attention.

The chart shows recently released Seattle players who remain eligible. Safety Jamar Adams, kicker Brandon Coutu, safety Courtney Greene, receiver Logan Payne and tight end Joe Newton could be among the candidates.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Biggest surprise: Starting free safety Brian Russell, signed in 2007 after the Seahawks grew tired of assignment errors in the secondary, seemed to fend off a challenge from versatile backup Jordan Babineaux. That made Russell's release a surprise even though coach Jim Mora had said Babineaux would compete for the job in camp. The team went with Ben Obomanu as its fifth and final receiver, releasing Courtney Taylor and Jordan Kent. Rookie defensive linemen Nick Reed and Michael Bennett joined preseason surprise Derek Walker among 11 defensive linemen, prevailing at Baraka Atkins' expense -- a big surprise. Rookie seventh-rounder Cameron Morrah beat out Joe Newton as the third tight end. Veteran kicker Olindo Mare beat out second-year pro and 2008 draft choice Brandon Coutu in a close battle. The team cleared another spot by placing starting corner Marcus Trufant on the physically unable to perform list, helping corner Travis Fisher earn a spot among the initial roster. Keeping 11 defensive linemen meant keeping only six linebacker, costing versatile veteran D.D. Lewis a job.

No-brainers: The Seahawks also released safety Jamar Adams, guard Brian De La Puente, cornerback Marquis Floyd, tackle Na'Shan Goddard, safety Courtney Greene, receiver Mike Hass, cornerback Kevin Hobbs, fullback David Kirtman, running back Devin Moore, cornerback Nate Ness, tight end Joe Newton, receiver Logan Payne, linebacker Dave Philistin, tackle Andre Ramsey, tackle William Robinson, quarterback Jeff Rowe.

What's next: The Seahawks reduced to 52 players with these moves, but the team was expected to add veteran safety Lawyer Milloy for depth and experience.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando



Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers denied Deion Sanders' claim that two teams reached out to the 49ers about possibly acquiring Michael Crabtree. "Those conversations never took place," a team spokesman said. Sanders said the 49ers "desperately" need Crabtree, and apparently he was serious. The 49ers are installing a power running game. They weren't counting on big things from Crabtree as a rookie anyway, realizing he would need time to get acclimated after rehabbing a foot injury for several months this offseason. Maiocco: "The deadline to trade an unsigned draft pick has passed for the league year. Even if Crabtree were to sign with the 49ers, the club would be unable to trade him until March 1. The 49ers would retain his rights up to the 2010 NFL draft."

Also from Maiocco: 49ers receiver Jason Hill wanted more chances during the exhibition season. Hill said he thinks there's a "strong possibility" the 49ers will release him. Hill: "Maybe the coaches don't like me or something. I don't know. I just haven't been getting enough reps. When I get reps, I make plays. I showed it last year when I get reps. When I get in a game, I make plays. I'm proving it on the field every time." One thing about wide receivers: It always seems to be about them.

More from Maiocco: Have the 49ers improved?

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers coach Mike Singletary is "very thankful" the exhibition season has ended.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers' starters finished the exhibition season with one sack, a "dubious" one collected when JaMarcus Russell fell down.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says 49ers coach Mike Singletary wasn't interested in addressing Sanders' claims.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at what the Rams learned about themselves during the exhibition season. The defense did a good job forcing turnovers, but stopping the run appeared to remain a problem.

Also from Thomas: Adam Carriker's injured shoulder is not the same one he hurt previously. Thomas: "According to unofficial press box stats, Carriker had no tackles against the Chiefs in his preseason debut. Interestingly, Carriker wasn't re-inserted with the starting unit when he returned to practice in late August. (Gary) Gibson has continued starting in Carriker's spot at defensive tackle, and Carriker played with the second unit Thursday against KC."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Samkon Gado's uncertain injury status clouds the Rams' decisions at running back.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals could tweak their roster in the coming days. Somers: "(Leonard) Pope, due to make $1 million this season, fell out of favor with the coaching staff because he was not a strong blocker, and he had trouble grasping the nuances of the offense."

Also from Somers: Alan Branch fared well enough in spot duty at defensive end to stick on the roster.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com runs through the team's roster moves as the 53-man limit approached.

Also from Urban: The Cardinals were willing to keep only six defensive linemen because Branch gave them versatility.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune previews the Seahawks' cutdown decisions. Williams: "The team may decide to keep a fourth cornerback if Marcus Trufant (back) starts the season on the physically unable to perform list, which means he can’t return until the seventh game. If that’s the case, the Seahawks likely will make a decision between Kevin Hobbs and Travis Fisher."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with rookie running back Devin Moore. Farnsworth: "When given his most extensive stint of the preseason, the undersized Moore (5 feet 9, 191 pounds) came up big. He carried 22 times for 75 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown run, in the Seahawks’ 31-21 romp over the Oakland Raiders."

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks' decision to sign 31-year-old Edgerrin James and confer upon him "complementary" status behind "workhorse" Julius Jones showed what the team thought about its quality depth at running back: not a great deal.

The move upgraded the position, in my view, because James is better suited than was T.J. Duckett to step into the lineup on a full-time basis if needed.

But the Seahawks still might be chasing the rest of the NFC West at the position.

James' signing provides an opportunity to size up the position across the division.

I ranked each team's situation at running back in my mind before calling Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. to talk through each situation. He felt more strongly than I did about ranking the Rams' situation No. 1, ahead of the 49ers' situation. We agreed on ranking the Cardinals' running backs third, ahead of the Seahawks' backs.

Rankings and explanations follow:


1. St. Louis Rams


Current backs: Steven Jackson, Samkon Gado, Antonio Pittman, Kenneth Darby, Chris Ogbonnaya, Mike Karney (FB), Jerome Johnson (FB)


Williamson's take: "Adrian Peterson is the best back in the league and I would probably give the No. 2 honor to DeAngelo Williams right now, but then Steven Jackson is right there -- if healthy, of course. I think he'll get a ton of touches there. They are installing more of an Eagles-type offense. He'll be a bigger, badder version of Brian Westbrook and catch a lot of balls. He will also be the focus of every defense and there could be a greater chance of injury. Karney is a little more athletic than some of the pure straight-ahead hammer blockers. He has had injury problems, too."


My take: The 49ers' overall depth at running back appeals, but Jackson is unquestionably a special player athletically, more so than any back in the division. Special traits always appeal to the scout, which might explain why Williamson was quick to rank the Rams' running backs ahead of those in San Francisco. From my perspective, the Rams' situation at running back might be best in the division while it lasts. I question whether Jackson can hold up for a full season. The drop-off from Jackson to the next guy -- whoever it might be -- will be more dramatic than elsewhere in the division. That's another reason I'm a little nervous about ranking the Rams' running backs No. 1.


2. San Francisco 49ers



Current backs: Frank Gore, Glen Coffee, Michael Robinson, Kory Sheets, Moran Norris (FB), Bill Rentmeester (FB), Brit Miller (FB)


Williamson's take: "I like Gore as well. I would say he is more of the fifth- to 10th-best back in the league. I do not think his skills are as impressive as Jackson's skills. He is also going to be a jack-of-all-trades and get a ton of touches, but his job will be a little easier because I think their passing game will be more respectable than St. Louis' passing game. Of the fullbacks, I like Norris probably the best in the division. He will help Gore's cause. I don't think that is a determining factor one way or another, though."


My take: Gore has shown signs of wearing down late in seasons. He could be at additional risk as the team commits more fully to a run-oriented power scheme. But his toughness and running style earn him high marks. He's enjoying a sensational summer and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye has said Gore will matter more than the quarterback. All signs point to Gore revisiting the production level he enjoyed during the 2006 season. And with Coffee breaking out in the preseason, the 49ers appear better protected than the Rams if their starter gets hurt.


3. Arizona Cardinals



Current backs: Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells, Jason Wright, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Chris Vincent, Dan Kreider (FB), Tim Castille (FB), Reagan Maui'a (FB)


Williamson's take: "James is more proven than Hightower, but Hightower is cheaper. I don't think he is a special player at all. He has had a better preseason than I expected, but he does not bring any special quality to the table. He is not an extremely powerful player, he is not going to wear down defense, his pass-catching skills are ordinary, he is not a make-you-miss guy and he is not a speed player. Wells has the most talent of any back in Arizona or Seattle."


My take: Cutting James and adding Wells is like moving money from a savings account into something riskier. James was never going to pay off big at this stage of his career. Wells has the talent to complete an already productive offense, but it's tough to believe he'll be healthier in the NFL than he was in college. I know he didn't miss many games at Ohio State, but he's already missed a bunch of training camp. The burden of proof is on Wells at this point. Hightower has been more productive in the preseason because he has taken the opportunity seriously. He looks leaner and quicker than he was last season. The Cardinals can get more from this position by resisting the temptation to throw so frequently.


4. Seattle Seahawks


Current backs: Julius Jones, Edgerrin James, Justin Forsett, Devin Moore, Owen Schmitt (FB), Justin Griffith (FB), Dan Curran (FB), David Kirtman (FB)


Williamson's take: "I don't trust Jones to carry the load. I probably like him better than Hightower, though. I don't like him as a No. 1, but I don't know if either team has a No. 1 right now. Wells has the best chance. Jones is a complementary player, a gets-what-is-there kind of back. I don't think he is a great receiver or anything. He is not tremendously powerful or elusive. Justin Forsett is probably the most intriguing back between Arizona and Seattle. With Edgerrin James, I don't have a lot of faith in him. One thing people don't understand about his game, though, is that he is a great pass-protection back. He will be used more out of the backfield than he was the last couple years, especially with Seattle's offensive line being shaky. He can grind out some yards and could be good in the red zone."


My take: The Seahawks haven't targeted the position early in the draft recently and it shows. Paying Shaun Alexander all that money a few years ago set back the position. The team wasn't going to immediately invest as much in a replacement. Jones and James are both very good in pass protection, though, and I think that will help the offense more than the running stats will show. This looks like a pass-first team on paper. We'll find out whether the zone blocking scheme can manufacture production. Having the same five offensive linemen for more than a week or two would certainly help. Forsett has been the Seahawks' most impressive back this summer.

Seahawks eligible for practice squad Pos. Perceived Status Jamar Adams DB Bubble Marquis Floyd DB Likely cut Courtney Greene DB Likely cut Michael Bennett DL Bubble Nick Reed DL Bubble Derek Walker DL Likely cut Kevin Brown DL Likely cut Red Bryant DL Keeper Aaron Curry LB Keeper Dave Philistin LB Likely cut Shane Simmons LB Likely cut Max Unger OL Keeper Mansfield Wrotto OL Keeper Na'Shan Goddard OL Likely cut Andre Ramsey OL Likely cut William Robinson OL Likely cut Kyle Williams OL Bubble Jeff Rowe QB Likely cut Mike Teel QB Keeper Dan Curran RB Likely cut Devin Moore RB Likely cut Brandon Coutu ST Bubble Cameron Morrah TE Bubble Joe Newton TE Bubble John Tereshinski TE Likely cut Michael Bumpus WR Bubble Deon Butler WR Keeper Mike Hass WR Bubble Logan Payne WR Bubble

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The race among Seahawks receivers for the last couple roster spots features high stakes.

Contenders Jordan Kent, Ben Obomanu and Courtney Taylor are no longer eligible for the practice squad. One or two of them could be finished in Seattle, at least for now, if they fail to earn spots on the initial -- not even close to final -- 53-man roster.

Kent and Taylor each were active for at least nine games last season -- Obomanu was active for 12 in 2007 -- as the Seahawks worked through catastrophic injuries at the position. That made each receiver ineligible for future practice squads.

Deon Butler, Mike Hass, Logan Payne and Michael Bumpus are the current Seattle receivers with eligibility remaining. Butler is expected to emerge from camp as the fourth receiver behind T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch and Nate Burleson.

The chart shows all 29 current Seahawks players with eligibility, arranged by position.

NFL teams must reduce rosters from 80 to 75 players Sept. 1. They must reduce to 53 players Sept. 5. They can begin forming eight-man practice squads Sept. 6 at noon ET.

As the NFL puts it:

After 12 noon, New York time, clubs may establish a practice squad of eight players by signing free agents who do not have an accrued season of free-agency credit or who were on the 45-player active list for less than nine regular-season games during their only accrued season(s).
A player cannot participate on the practice squad for more than three seasons.

The situation at tight end remains quite competitive, with Joe Newton and Cameron Morrah likely competing for one roster spot behind John Carlson and John Owens.

The Seahawks face tough decisions on the defensive line, with Nick Reed and Michael Bennett fighting for spots on the 53-man roster. Baraka Atkins is not eligible for the practice squad after playing 12 games as a rookie in 2007 and nine more last season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seahawks have a few tough decisions to make before reducing their roster to 53 players in less than three weeks.

The final spot or two at receiver remain unsettled. I see at least 10 defensive linemen worth keeping, but perhaps no more than eight offensive linemen. The final spots at all three general positions on defense -- line, linebackers and secondary -- could spur debate.

• Earlier: Rams, Cardinals, 49ers
  

The Seahawks aren't even certain which kicker will earn a roster spot, opening possible trade scenarios for teams with needs at the position.

Seattle Seahawks Week 1 Roster Counts since 2003 QB RB WR TE OL DL LB DB ST Fewest 2 5 4 3 8 8 6 7 3 Most 3 6 7 4 9 10 8 8 4 Average 2.8 5.3 5.3 3.2 8.8 9.3 7.0 7.8 3.2 Currently on roster 4 8 10 5 14 13 9 13 4

The chart provides a framework for how many players the Seahawks might keep at each position heading into the regular-season opener against the Rams.

Here's a quick look at which Seahawks players I might keep on the cutdown to 53 players:

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

NFL teams are adding free agents to fill out their rosters. Seattle has signed the following players, according to the team:

• Michael Bennett, DE, Texas A&M
• Tony Fein, LB, Mississippi
• Devin Moore, RB, Wyoming
• Dave Philistin, LB, Maryland
• Andre Ramsey, T, Ball State
• Tyler Roehl, RB, North Dakota State

I'm sitting next to NFL Draft Scout analyst Rob Rang at the moment. Of the six, he singled out Bennett and Moore as players to watch.

Bennett's brother, Martellus, plays tight end for the Cowboys. Michael Bennett has the talent but hasn't always shown consistency, Rang said. Moore is a fast and versatile runner with better straight-line speed than current Seattle backup Justin Forsett, according to Rang.

I'll pass along information on other undrafted free-agent signings as I can confirm them.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Texas Tech receiver Michael Crabtree has come off as a prima donna during pre-draft interviews with teams. Thomas: "There are questions about Crabtree's foot and attitude. His diva attitude during pre-draft visits turned off the Rams and the Browns (who pick fifth overall) to the point where neither team is considering Crabtree for their first-round pick." Televised interviews with Crabtree have raised questions in my mind about how the Seahawks might view him as well. Would veteran receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch and Nate Burleson be able to mentor him effectively? Might the prima donna tendencies grow worse with money in Crabtree's pockets and people around him telling him how great he is?

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at ways the Rams and other NFL teams process draft-related information. Former Rams coach Dick Vermeil says it's harder for teams to mislead one another.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch expects action from Rams general manager Billy Devaney during the draft. Burwell: "Devaney has said that he'll be aggressive. He is not afraid to take chances, to make moves, to wheel and deal his way around the draft board. I'm still not sure he can pull off a trade to move down in the first round. The better bet is that Devaney will work hard once the draft begins to move up out of that second-round pick (No. 35 overall) into the lower half of the first round."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic outlines what the Cardinals want in a running back to pair with Tim Hightower. Somers: "Hightower would seem to fit the role of the inside pounder, the gainer of tough yards. He proved adept last season at picking up first downs and scoring touchdowns. He struggled some when he was the featured back and ended up with more runs for negative yards than coaches found acceptable. Luckily for the Cardinals, the upcoming draft is deep in running backs. And it's possible that one of the top three -- Georgia's Knowshon Moreno, Ohio State's Chris Wells and Connecticut's Donald Brown -- will be there when the Cardinals pick at No. 31."

Jim Wyatt of The Tennessean says nothing appears imminent between Tennessee and Arizona even though the Titans have inquired about Anquan Boldin. My take, lifted from our Thursday chat: "Knowing [Titans GM] Mike Reinfeldt, I'm questioning whether he would want to give up picks for a player, then meet that player's very high demands on a long-term agreement."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com also does not expect the Titans to move seriously for Boldin.

Also from Urban: Larry Fitzgerald is indeed sharing the cover on the 2010 version of John Madden's football video game.

More from Urban: Hightower has dropped 15 pounds and improved his conditioning. Scheduling issues had hurt his conditioning last offseason.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune describes Aaron Curry as the "safe pick [Seahawks general manager Tim] Ruskell covets" in the draft.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says no 2009 NFL draft prospect has made him waffle more than Crabtree. O'Neil: "Dude is a playmaker, flat-out. ... I've worried that the spread offense inflated his numbers, too much. That he might be a product of a system, but then you watch how the man runs after the catch and you imagine what he would do in the Seahawks' offense with the new emphasis on the play-action pass."

Clare Farnsworth of Seahawks.com says the Seahawks hope to put substance before hype in determining which players to draft. Farnsworth: "There has been talk, from Ruskell, among others, that this draft lacks the franchise-quality players who justify being selected -- and paid -- as Top 5 picks. It's a situation that has prompted the Seahawks to look at top of this draft class differently."

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle offers a first-round mock draft featuring the following NFC West selections: Jason Smith (Rams), Mark Sanchez (Seahawks), Knowshon Moreno (49ers) and Donald Brown (Cardinals). The Moreno pick would not shock me -- the 49ers would arguably be selecting the top back in the draft -- but it would probably shock Frank Gore.

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider takes a round-by-round look at draft prospects who might help the 49ers on offense.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat lists the 49ers' top five needs in this order: pass-rusher, offensive tackle, receiver, running back and quarterback.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee lists seven players as possibilities for the 49ers with the 10th overall choice in the draft: Crabtree, Aaron Curry, Tyson Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, Michael Oher, Brian Orakpo and B.J. Raji. Barrows: "No one knows for sure, but it's a safe bet the following players are gone before the 49ers are on the clock: quarterbacks Matt Stafford and Mark Sanchez, offensive tackles Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe and Andre Smith. (And, yes, A. Smith will be gone)."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 2009 draft could make or break Scot McCloughan's tenure as the 49ers' general manager.

Briandean of Niners Nation suggests which players the 49ers should draft in each round: Oher (1), Larry English (2), Ramses Barden (3), Coye Francies (4), James Davis (5), Devin Moore (5), Mike Reilly (6), Bear Pascoe (7) and Mich
ael Mitchell (7). 

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat explains why he thinks the 49ers might not select Mark Sanchez, if available, with the 10th overall choice. Maiocco: "The reason there is a question whether the 49ers would take Sanchez is because there is doubt whether he could be of any help this season. I think the 49ers would take a step backward if they were to draft a rookie QB in the first round. I'm not sure how much the decison-makers are thinking about this, but what if there's a work stoppage in 2011? That's about the first season that you could expect a QB selected this season to contribute. My best guess is that Shaun Hill will begin the season as the starter. He's done enough to win the job. As for a report that Smith didn't look good in minicamp, that -- in my opinion -- was a little off the mark. The guy was throwing his first live passes since early September. I thought the minicamp was a great success for Smith to get back on the field and start the process of knocking off the rust."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic illustrates why a proposed trade involving Anquan Boldin and two Ravens players wouldn't make sense from a salary-cap standpoint. As much as the Ravens might want to part with Willis McGahee, they would absorb a massive cap charge for trading him.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com checks in with Steve Breaston and others on Boldin's potential departure.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune polls draft analyst Rob Rang on running backs the Seahawks could consider drafting in each round. Candidates: Chris Wells, Donald Brown, Shonn Greene, Javon Ringer, James Davis, Arian Foster and Devin Moore. Rang on Wells: "The anti-Ruskell pick. Similar ability and inconsistency as Kansas City star Larry Johnson." On Wells: "Comparable build and versatility to Tiki Barber. Led nation with 2,083 rushing yards in 2008."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are considering four players with the No. 2 overall choice: Aaron Curry, Jason Smith, Eugene Monroe and Mark Sanchez. Drafting a quarterback with the second pick would surprise me quite a bit.

Also from Thomas: a look at the Rams' primary needs on defense.