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Roster turnover is a leading topic for discussion in Seattle following the release of T.J. Houshmandzadeh in particular.

I've addressed the subject in depth across the division -- first May 26 and again July 30 -- and it's worth another look now that teams have reduced to 53 players for the regular season.

This time, I'm going to break down the changes by position, listing players no longer on the active roster at each main position group (with new players in parenthesis). Departures outnumber replacements because some players finished last season on injured reserve, meaning they were not part of the 53-man roster.

Some players no longer on the active roster remain with the team (they could be suspended, deemed physically unable to perform or part of the practice squad).

St. Louis Rams (34 off roster)

Defensive back: Eric Bassey, Quincy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Clinton Hart, Cordelius Parks, David Roach, Jonathan Wade (added Kevin Dockery, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart)

Defensive line: Victor Adeyanju, Adam Carriker, Leger Douzable, Leonard Little, LaJuan Ramsey, James Wyche (added Jermelle Cudjo, Fred Robbins, George Selvie, Eugene Sims)

Linebacker: K.C. Asiodu, Paris Lenon (added Na'il Diggs, Josh Hull)

Offensive line: Roger Allen, Alex Barron, Ryan McKee, Mark Setterstrom, Phillip Trautwein, Eric Young (added Renardo Foster, Hank Fraley, Rodger Saffold)

Quarterback: Kyle Boller, Marc Bulger, Keith Null, Mike Reilly (added Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley, Thaddeus Lewis)

Running back: Samkon Gado, Chris Ogbonnaya (added Keith Toston)

Special teams: Ryan Neill

Tight end: Randy McMichael (added Mike Hoomanawanui, Fendi Onobun)

Wide receiver: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jordan Kent, Ruvell Martin (added Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry, Mardy Gilyard)

---

Seattle Seahawks (33 off roster)

Defensive back: Jamar Adams, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson (added Kam Chancellor, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness, Earl Thomas, Walter Thurmond)

Defensive line: Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, Nick Reed, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill (added Kentwan Balmer, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, Junior Siavii, E.J. Wilson)

Linebacker: Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis (added Matt McCoy; note that Hill is suspended for the first regular-season game)

Offensive line: Trevor Canfield, Brandon Frye, Walter Jones, Damion McIntosh, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto (added Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ben Hamilton, Russell Okung, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus)

Quarterback: Mike Teel, Seneca Wallace (added Charlie Whitehurst)

Running back: Justin Griffith, Louis Rankin, Tyler Roehl, Owen Schmitt (added Quinton Ganther, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington)

Special teams: Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson (added Clint Gresham)

Tight end: John Owens (added Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy)

Wide receiver: Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (added Golden Tate, Mike Williams)

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Arizona Cardinals (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Ralph Brown, Bryant McFadden, Antrel Rolle (added A.J. Jefferson, Trumaine McBride, Brandon McDonald, Kerry Rhodes)

Defensive line: Jason Banks (added Dan Williams)

Linebacker: Monty Beisel, Bertrand Berry, Cody Brown, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Chike Okeafor, Pago Togafau (added Paris Lenon, Cyril Obiozor, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington; Hayes can return from the physically unable to perform list after six games)

Offensive line: Mike Gandy, Herman Johnson, Reggie Wells (added Alan Faneca, Rex Hadnot)

Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Kurt Warner (added Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton)

Running back: Justin Green, Dan Kreider (added Jerome Johnson)

Special teams: Neil Rackers (added Jay Feely)

Tight end: Anthony Becht (added Jim Dray)

Wide receiver: Anquan Boldin, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban (added Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams)

---

San Francisco 49ers (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Dre' Bly, Walt Harris, Marcus Hudson, Mark Roman (added Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock, William James, Taylor Mays)

Defensive line: Kentwan Balmer, Derek Walker

Linebacker: Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich, Matt Wilhelm (added NaVorro Bowman, Travis LaBoy)

Offensive line: Tony Pashos, Chris Patrick, Cody Wallace (added Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati)

Quarterback: Nate Davis, Shaun Hill (added David Carr, Troy Smith)

Running back: Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Brit Miller, Michael Robinson (added Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook)

Special teams: Shane Andrus, Ricky Schmitt

Wide receiver: Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Brandon Jones (added Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Zeigler)

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The first chart shows how many players are back -- at least for now -- from Week 17 rosters and injured reserve lists. Seattle has the fewest number back with 26.

The second chart shows how many players each team has shed since Week 17 last season. This counts players who were on injured reserve. Teams with lots of players on injured reserve had more players to lose.

» NFC On the Radar: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A player, coach or issue that should be on your radar as training camp approaches.

A sore hip bothered Kurt Warner at Arizona Cardinals camp last summer. It wasn't a big deal.

Two summers ago, the Seattle Seahawks downplayed Matt Hasselbeck's bad back because they didn't know the full extent of the problem. That one turned out to be more serious than expected.

Having the right feel for each injury situation can be tough. I'm sure a surprise injury or two will become a story after NFC West teams report for training camps in late July.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (knee), St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (back), Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee) and Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (pectoral) are among the high-profile NFC West players coming off surgery rehabs. Their situations will bear monitoring.

The following players ended last season on injured reserve (some are no longer with NFC West teams):

Arizona Cardinals

Matt Ware, Mike Gandy, Justin Green, Cody Brown

San Francisco 49ers

Tony Pashos, Ricky Schmitt, Thomas Clayton, Jeff Ulbrich, Walt Harris, Kentwan Balmer, Curtis Taylor

Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Roehl, Walter Jones, Kevin Houser, Brandon Frye, Tatupu, Mike Hass

St. Louis Rams

Marc Bulger, Adam Carriker, Oshiomogho Atogwe, Eric Bassey, C.J. Ah You, Brooks Foster, Gary Gibson, Jacob Bell, Daniel Fells, Chris Massey, Bradley Fletcher, Laurent Robinson, Keenan Burton

Bad teams aren't the only ones churning their rosters during the offseason.

The defending NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals have parted with 15 of the 53 players on their Week 17 roster from last season. Only the rebuilding Seahawks have parted with more -- 16 -- among division teams this offseason. The Rams have parted with 11. The 49ers, seeking continuity as they try to build on an 8-8 season, have parted with only three.

The first chart shows how many Week 17 starters and backups have returned to each NFC West team.

The second chart shows how many Week 17 starters and backups have left each NFC West team.

I'll first list the players by team.

Seattle (16): receiver Nate Burleson, quarterback Seneca Wallace, linebacker Lance Laury, defensive end Cory Redding, guard Trevor Canfield, quarterback Mike Teel, tackle Damion McIntosh, linebacker D.D. Lewis, snapper Jeff Robinson, fullback Justin Griffith, cornerback Ken Lucas, safety Deon Grant, defensive end Darryl Tapp, guard Rob Sims, tight end John Owens and defensive end Patrick Kerney.

Arizona (15): linebacker Pago Togafau, safety Antrel Rolle, receiver Jerheme Urban, receiver Sean Morey, kicker Neil Rackers, linebacker Bertrand Berry, fullback Dan Kreider, cornerback Ralph Brown, quarterback Brian St. Pierre, defensive end Jason Banks, receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Karlos Dansby, quarterback Kurt Warner, cornerback Bryant McFadden and linebacker Chike Okeafor. Note that Rolle did not start in Week 17.

St. Louis (11): defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, cornerback Jonathan Wade, receiver Ruvell Martin, quarterback Mike Reilly, defensive end Leonard Little, safety Clinton Hart, snapper Ryan Neill, running back Samkon Gado, linebacker Paris Lenon, tackle Alex Barron and tight end Randy McMichael.

San Francisco (5): receiver Arnaz Battle, cornerback Marcus Hudson, quarterback Shaun Hill, safety Mark Roman and cornerback Dre Bly.

The third chart shows what happened to players who were on injured reserve in Week 17.

I'll first list by team the players who were on IR but are no longer with their teams.

San Francisco (5): tackle Tony Pashos, punter Ricky Schmitt, linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, cornerback Walt Harris and running back Thomas Clayton.

Seattle (4): running back Tyler Roehl, tackle Walter Jones, snapper Kevin Houser and tackle Brandon Frye.

St. Louis (3): quarterback Marc Bulger, defensive tackle Adam Carriker and safety Eric Bassey.

Arizona (2): tackle Mike Gandy and fullback Justin Green.

The Cardinals lost Antrel Rolle, the Rams could lose Oshiomogho Atogwe and the 49ers might need to replace Michael Lewis. The Cardinals could also lose backup safety Matt Ware, who could draw interest from the Rams.

The Seahawks aren't exactly set for life at safety, either.

What to do?

I've gone through the list of available safeties -- NFC West fan favorites Brian Russell and Mark Roman are out there -- and come up with a few fallback options, listed with their 2009 teams:

• Ryan Clark, Steelers. The 30-year-old longtime starter couldn't work out a long-term deal with Pittsburgh. The Cardinals are running their defense in the Pittsburgh mold. Clark could fit.
• Brodney Pool, Browns. Teams generally do not sever ties with productive 25-year-old starters, but the Browns decided against tendering Pool as a restricted free agent after he suffered a series of head injuries last season. Pool picked off four passes in 11 games last season, making 10 starts before his season was ended.
• Darren Sharper, Saints. The 34-year-old Pro Bowl choice would upgrade every secondary in the NFC West, but at what price? Sharper is probably most valuable to the Saints.
• Jermaine Phillips, Bucs. Injuries have severely limited Phillips' contributions recently. It's probably not a great sign that Tampa thought about moving him to linebacker. Still, Phillips is 30 years old, hardly ancient by safety standards, and he has 74 starts.

Other safeties who are unrestricted free agents: Ware, Russell, Roman, Nick Ferguson, Sean Jones, Will Allen, Todd Johnson, Clinton Hart, Roy Williams, Vernon Fox, Marquand Manuel, Mike Brown, Tyrone Carter and Lawyer Milloy.

Other safeties who are free agents (but technically not UFAs): John Busing, Hamza Abdullah, Aaron Francisco, Kennard Cox, Eric Bassey, Jamaal Fudge and Quinton Teal.

Also: ESPN's John Clayton notes that Jets safety Kerry Rhodes could be an option for Arizona via trade.

The Rams have tendered their restricted free agents as follows:

• Oshiomogho Atogwe, FS, right of first refusal. The team must upgrade its $1.226 million offer to nearly $7 million guaranteed in June if Atogwe is unsigned and the Rams want to retain his rights.
• Clifton Ryan, DE, second round.
• Alex Barron, OT, second round.
• Victor Adeyanju, DE, original round (fourth).
• Craig Dahl, S, right of first refusal.

The Rams can match any offers these players receive. All but Atogwe and Dahl would return a draft choice as compensation if the Rams decided against matching.

Eight players will become unrestricted free agents after the Rams declined to make RFA offers: safety Eric Bassey, long snapper Ryan Neill, cornerback Jonathan Wade, running back Samkon Gado, wide receiver Ruvell Martin, guard Mark Setterstrom, tight end Daniel Fells and defensive tackle Gary Gibson.

The minimum RFA offers exceed $1 million. Some of those eight players could conceivably return for less.

The team also retained rights to defensive end C.J. Ah You, cornerback Quincy Butler, running back Kenneth Darby, linebacker Larry Grant, wide receiver Jordan Kent, tackle Ryan McKee, safety David Roach and linebacker David Vobora.

Arizona Cardinals

Unrestricted free agents: TE Anthony Becht, LB Monty Beisel, LB Bertrand Berry (retired), LT Jeremy Bridges, CB Ralph Brown, LB Karlos Dansby, LT Mike Gandy, FB Dan Kreider, WR Sean Morey, LB Chike Okeafor, K Neil Rackers, NT Bryan Robinson, QB Brian St. Pierre, S Matt Ware.

Restricted free agents: SS Hamza Abdullah, WR Steve Breaston, G Ben Claxton, FB Justin Green, LG Deuce Lutui, TE Ben Patrick, C Lyle Sendlein, TE Stephen Spach, WR Jerheme Urban, NT Gabe Watson.

Franchise player: none

What to expect: The Cardinals generally do not pursue marquee free agents from other teams. That trend figures to continue. The Cardinals have too many of their own free agents to re-sign for them to worry about chasing other teams' castoffs. We might see Arizona plug the roster with a few lower-tier free agents. They had success doing that last offseason, particularly with Becht at tight end. Dansby leads the list of 2009 starters expected to depart. Arizona is reportedly interested in quarterback David Carr.

St. Louis Rams

Unrestricted free agents: QB Kyle Boller, DE James Hall, SS Clinton Hart, LB Paris Lenon, DE Leonard Little, LS Chris Massey, TE Randy McMichael.

Restricted free agents: S Eric Bassey, S Craig Dahl, TE Daniel Fells, LS Ryan Neill, DT Clifton Ryan, CB Jonathan Wade, DE Victory Adeyanju, FS Oshiomogho Atogwe, T Alex Barron, RB Sam Gado, DT Gary Gibson, WR Ruvell Martin, G Mark Setterstrom.

Franchise player: none

What to expect: The Rams could be in the market for a veteran quarterback such as Chad Pennington. Beyond quarterback, coach Steve Spagnuolo said the Rams could use a little more seasoning in the form of veteran role players. The Rams will remain a young team, but they could add some experience. The team parted with players fitting that profile last offseason, but most had inflated salaries. The ones St. Louis adds this year figure to carry lower price tags in most cases. The Rams have said they want Little and Hall back. McMichael figures to be gone.

Seattle Seahawks

Unrestricted free agents: WR Nate Burleson, FB Justin Griffith, LS Kevin Houser, LB D.D. Lewis, CB Ken Lucas, T Damion McIntosh, S Lawyer Milloy, DE Cory Redding, LS Jeff Robinson.

Restricted free agents: T Brandon Frye, WR Ben Obomanu, LB Lance Laury, G Rob Sims, G Chris Spencer, DE Darryl Tapp.

Franchise player: K Olindo Mare

What to expect: The Seahawks are a little difficult to figure. Their owner has the money to bankroll aggressive spending if Seattle chooses to go that route. Coach Pete Carroll surely realizes the team could use talent upgrades. The new general manager, John Schneider, comes from the Ted Thompson school of personnel. Thompson's aversion for free agency is well established, although Schneider has characterized himself as slightly more aggressive. The problem, of course, is finding good players on the market. Burleson will hit the market. He could return if the price is right. Carroll has said nice things about Redding, who should be affordable.

San Francisco 49ers

Unrestricted free agents: WR Arnaz Battle, CB Dre Bly, CB Walt Harris, T Tony Pashos, FS Mark Roman, T Barry Sims, LB Jeff Ulbrich (retired), LB Matt Wilhelm.

Restricted free agents: LG David Baas, LB Ahmad Brooks, CB Marcus Hudson.

Franchise player: NT Aubrayo Franklin

What to expect: The 49ers have largely turned their back on free agency now that they feel better about their roster. I would expect the team to lay low again when the signing period begins late Thursday night on the West Coast.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com sizes up the practice matchups between Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald and second-year cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Urban: "Every pass in their direction becomes a mini-war, because they know it matters not only to them but to all the teammates that wait for the outcome as well as the fans." One battle turned into a brief confrontation, with Fitzgerald taking a stand. Fitzgerald: "I had to slam him down on his head. I am still chief when I am going against him. I didn't want him to think he was getting the best of me." 

Also from Urban: Kurt Warner doesn't expect to play much in the exhibition season, mainly because that has been the approach under Ken Whisenhunt. The team's decision to give Brian St. Pierre a chance to challenge Matt Leinart for the No. 2 job gives the Cardinals reason to dedicate more reps to that competition.

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals' move to draft Beanie Wells has brought out the best in Tim Hightower. Warner: "I've been very impressed. He's still got strength and still runs hard, but I've seen a burst a lot less hesitation in the way he plays this year. I'm really excited about where Tim's at and to complement with Beanie when he gets back, I think we're going to have a good one-two punch."

Also from McManaman: The Cardinals' injuries are not yet a major concern.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic peers into the Cardinals' offensive playbook. Coach Ken Whisenhunt says he's come up with plays during church.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com looks at the Rams' options without injured receiver Donnie Avery. Wagoner: "For now, the task of stepping into Avery's role will likely fall to the trio of Keenan Burton, Laurent Robinson and Tim Carter. In seven-on-seven drills on Monday morning, Spagnuolo used that group in three receiver sets, working Carter into the slot."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo singled out running back Samkon Gado for praise, stressing his versatility and value on special teams. Sounds like Gado has a very good chance at earning a 53-man roster spot if he keeps this up.

Also from Coats: Billy Bajema and James Butler were surprise combatants in the first fight of Rams training camp.

More from Coats: Mark Rubin gets a second chance with the Rams after Eric Bassey's injury. Also, Shaun Smith agreed to terms with the Lions after visiting the Rams.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams receiver Laurent Robinson has a chip on his shoulder after a disappointing run with the Falcons. Robinson: "Yeah, I've got a little chip on my shoulder. I want to show everybody I can still play, and I've still got it. And I've got a great opportunity here." 

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says Spagnuolo's attention to detail extends to practicing kneel-down plays.

Also from Korte: James Hall seems to have the versatility Spagnuolo wants from a defensive lineman.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says he thought Nick Reed would vanish once the Seahawks put on pads. That did not happen, a credit to Reed.

John Morgan of Field Gulls offers notes from a recent Seahawks practice. Morgan: "What separates Justin Forsett from the typical undersized rusher is his ability and willingness to run inside. Teammates often looked a little concerned after he was tackled, but Force never looked worse for wear. He showed good hands and improved redirect on runs after catch. Forsett is going to play a big part in this year's team. It underlines just how foolish it was to let him go last season."

Also from Morgan: He finds tight end John Carlson to be "remarkable" during a recent practice.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times checks in with Seahawks fullback Justin Griffith, a throwback player who doesn't like the label.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times takes a position-by-position look at the Seahawks' roster on offense.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Mike Singletary is considering waiting until after the third exhibition game before naming a starting quarterback. Also, Frank Gore will not play much in the exhibition opener against Denver.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the "smart money" is on Shaun Hill to work with the first-team offense in the exhibition opener.

Also from Maiocco: Alex Smith must watch practice from the 49ers' training hill as punishment for throwing an interception.

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle quotes Singletary as saying the 49ers were worse off than any NFL franchise in the last 20 or 30 years when Mike Nolan took over.

The 49ers' Web site carries a transcript from Singletary's news conference. Singletary on what he wants from Thomas Clayton: "I think it is just a matter of knowing his responsibilities -- getting consistency with blitz pickups, hitting the hole, not dancing as much, all those little things like that. He is certainly going to give you everything he has every play. It is just a matter of having it down in terms of where I need to be, my protection area, my protection responsibilities and those sort of things."

49ers.com asks Damon Huard a series of off-beat questions. Here's Huard on the best training camp brawl he's seen: "It was when I was with the Kansas City Chiefs and we scrimmaged the Minnesota Vikings in August of '04. Shaun Hill was there, he caused all of the trouble ... just kidding. It was actually started by Brock Lesnar, the mixed martial arts fighter. He hyperextended my elbow when he wasn't supposed to hit the other team's quarterback. Next thing I knew, both teams break out into a big fight. We had to actually cancel practice. I think the next day, we left early. After that, we didn't scrimmage anymore -- '04 was just crazy. You talk about brawls. It was a melee!"

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Singletary will welcome Mike Nolan to Candlestick Park. Singletary: "The most important thing that I learned from Coach Nolan was mental toughness and character and work ethic." Seems as though Singletary was pretty well established in those areas on his own.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

EARTH CITY, Mo. -- The Rams appear content moving forward with their current receivers after learning Donnie Avery suffered a broken fourth metatarsal bone. They added safety Mark Rubin to replace the injured Eric Bassey.

I arrived at Rams camp in time to watch most of their afternoon practice. This was a non-contact practice without pads. I did not see pass-rush drills and did not see enough from the healthy receivers to get an initial feel for them. Nate Jones and Sean Walker caught deep passes. Friday will provide a much better opportunity to get a feel for the Rams.

Running back Kenneth Darby and quarterback Keith Null botched a handoff exchange. Running back Antonio Pittman dropped a short pass from Kyle Boller. Rubin picked off a pass from Null after a teammate whose identity eluded me batted it near the line of scrimmage.

Adam Goldberg was still working with the starters at right tackle, ahead of No. 2 overall choice Jason Smith. Smith won't get a break in this camp as long as Leonard Little is healthy. That's a difficult matchup for the best veteran tackles, let alone a rookie. I'll be watching Smith very closely in the Rams' exhibition opener against the Jets.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat quotes Chris Long as saying the Rams' pass rush could be "dominant" this season. Long says he's getting better working against Alex Barron.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Giants, with Steve Spagnuolo as defensive coordinator, ranked sixth in sacks last season even without Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. Thomas: "In recent seasons, the Rams have hardly been breathing fire at opposing quarterbacks, so Spagnuolo and his defensive coaching staff have their work cut out for them. As a team, the Rams finished tied for 16th in sacks last season [30] and tied for 21st in 2007 [31]."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says Spagnuolo made an extra effort to spend time with the offense during the Rams' recent scrimmage. Also, Spagnuolo is focusing on situations, including fourth down and short yardage.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says safety Eric Bassey's knee injury could be season-ending. The team has not made an announcement, however.

John Boyle of the Everett Herald says contract length was the most important factor in getting a deal with Seahawks first-round choice Aaron Curry, according to general manager Tim Ruskell. Ruskell: "We were adamant on the length of the deal, and that isn't the way the other deals have been going, so once that was accepted I think that was the turning point. These deals are so big, so we just wanted to get as much time as we can, have him be a Seahawk for a long time."

Mike Parker of Seahawk Addicts provides notes from practice Saturday. Parker: "Courtney Taylor stole the show, making a spectacular one-handed catch in the back of the end zone during the first part of 11-on-11 sessions. He also seemed much improved on making catches under heavy coverage from the first-team defense."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Taylor is enjoying a strong camp for the Seahawks so far. We'll see if that continues through the exhibition season or if Taylor becomes just another receiver to start quickly. Also, Chris Spencer's ankle injury does not appear very serious. The center was walking without a significant limp Saturday, one day after a dramatic departure from the field on a motorized cart.

Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks plan to move Curry into the starting lineup quickly.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says 49ers rookie Bear Pascoe has taken a beating during camp so far. Barrows: "Bear Pascoe looks as if he tumbled down the side of a mountain in a metal garbage can."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says 49ers quarterbacks coach Michael Johnson runs players through 34 exercises designed to reinforce fundamentals.

Also from Maiocco: Alex Smith threw the ball well on short routes while completing 20 consecutive passes during practice. Also: "Frank Gore absolutely flattened Kentwan Balmer with a chip block on his way out of the backfield. Balmer was working against Joe Staley, when Gore knocked Balmer off his feet. Smith completed the pass to Micheal Spurlock."

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says Gore is "tearing up" camp with renewed purpose thanks in part to Jimmy Raye's offense.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News quotes Gore as saying it's time for Vernon Davis to "be a man" and not be the one getting into scuffles and the like.

Also from Brown: Human sound bite Mike Singletary has become an ad man for the 49ers.

Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News lists 49ers president Jed York as the most influential sports power broker in the Bay Area. Purdy: "Over the past 12 months, York supervised and signed off on the firing of former head coach Mike Nolan and the hiring of his replacement, Mike Singletary. York also steered the organization's negotiations with Santa Clara that resulted in the team signing a term sheet with the city regarding a new stadium."

Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' leverage against Michael Crabtree in contract negotiations hinges on how well the team's other receivers play during the exhibition season.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says 10,000 to 12,000 people showed up for the Cardinals' practice and autograph session. Somers: "Fans witnessed one of the hardest-hitting practices of camp and also the first fight, between tight end Stephen Spach and outside linebacker Will Davis, among other defenders. The ensuing scrum was quickly broken up by coaches." On the down side, backup tackle Elliot Vallejo suffered a dislocated kneecap.

Also from Somers: a look at how Cardinals players are using Twitter.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals are anxious to prove last season was not a fluke.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

A few injury-related notes from around the NFC West on a Friday night, summarized from a few of the Twitter accounts I follow:

• @OneRamsWay: Rams safety Eric Bassey and defensive tackle Adam Carriker suffered injuries during the scrimmage session Friday night. Bassey has a sprained right knee and will be evaluated Saturday. Carriker has a sprained left ankle.
• @BrockandSalk: Seahawks receiver Deion Branch returned to practice and looked good running routes. Soreness in his surgically repaired knee had sidelined him.

The Carriker injury must be a frustrating one for the Rams. Left ankle problems slowed him last season, as did shoulder injuries.

St. Louis Rams Defensive Back Pos. Age Status Jason Craft CB 33 UFA Fakhir Brown CB 31 UFA Todd Johnson SS 30 Signed Ricky Manning CB 28 UFA Oshiomogho Atogwe FS 27 Franchised Quincy Butler CB 27 Signed Ron Bartell CB 27 Signed Tye Hill CB 26 Signed James Butler SS 26 Agreed Eric Bassey S 26 Signed Jonathan Wade CB 24 Signed David Roach FS 23 Signed Justin King CB 21 Signed

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Rams' contract agreement with Giants free agent James Butler, confirmed by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, came together amid a tough market for strong safeties.

The Rams had already invested in franchise free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe and cornerback Ron Bartell. The softening market presumably made it easier to justify adding Butler. The Rams certainly had a need at the position -- even before they released Corey Chavous.

We can now envision a Rams secondary featuring Bartell, Butler and Atogwe as starters. Butler started 26 games for the Giants over the last two seasons.

Scouts Inc.'s profile on Butler described him as a player with "upside" and one with good on-field communication skills:

He is an interchangeable player who moves downhill quickly off pre-snap reads. He has good size and range, but is still raw in coverage. He is a competitive player with toughness, but does have some space limitations in deep zones. He shows good transitional skills, but does have some tightness in his hip rotation off speed turns. Butler looks to be more natural in short zones than deep zones. Even though he does have some straight-line range in deep zones, he has average quickness and burst when closing. He has above-average anticipation and downfield awareness.

He does have some ball skills and knows how to use his size and long arms to make plays. He shows a good knack for timing up blitzes off zone fires. As a run defender, he is reckless with his body when he attacks downhill. He is a willing insert player who plays with balance and control in run support. He displays the speed to attack alleys while maintaining leverage on the ball carrier. However, he does have a tendency to play out of control at times. Overall, Butler is an intriguing young player who should eventually move to the next level as he continues to develop.

Rams DB Pos. Age Status Jason Craft CB 33 UFA Fakhir Brown CB 31 UFA Todd Johnson SS 30 Signed Ricky Manning CB 28 UFA Oshiomogho Atogwe FS 27 Franchised Quincy Butler CB 27 Signed Ron Bartell CB 27 Signed Tye Hill CB 26 Signed Eric Bassey S 26 Signed Jonathan Wade CB 24 Signed David Roach S 23 Signed Justin King CB 21 Signed

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Rams' contract agreement with cornerback Ron Bartell ends a suspenseful few days for both parties. The Rams wanted to keep Bartell without overpaying. Bartell wanted to maximize his value as an ascending young player.

The four-year, $28 million agreement allows Bartell to claim a $7 million average, while the Rams get to keep their best young corner.

The Rams legitimately feared the cornerback market might sweep up Bartell and leave the team with few promising prospects at the position. That's why the team must be happy with this outcome.

The chart breaks down the Rams' current defensive backs, with unrestricted free agents in lighter font. The Rams still could use a strong safety to replace Corey Chavous. They have spoke with James Butler. A handful of other strong safeties remain unsigned.

With significant money invested in Bartell and franchise player Oshiomogho Atogwe, the Rams might become more selective in filling out their secondary.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The premise: 'Tis the season when disappointed NFL fans call for their teams to take a longer look at young talent on the roster.

The reality: Teams generally do not have a long list of promising players sitting on their benches.

The Rams: We take a quick look at the 20 youngest players on the Rams' roster. Nine started in Week 13.

1. David Vobora, LB, 22: Made his first NFL start in Week 13 and fared better than expected.
2. Antonio Pittman, RB, 22: Injuries forced him into the lineup, but Pittman was effective only sporadically.
3. Quinton Culberson, LB, 23: Opened the season as the starter, lost his job and then got it back through injury.
4. Chris Chamberlain, LB, 23: Contributing on special teams.
5. Derek Stanley, WR, 23: The Rams are playing him in the return game. Stanley had an 80-yard touchdown grab against the Cardinals, one of five receptions this season.
6. Chris Long, DE, 23: Starting and making strides as the season progresses. Already a quality player.
   
7. John Greco, OL, 23: Played extensively at right guard in Week 13 and held up better in pass protection than run blocking.
   
8. Larry Grant, LB, 23: Signed from the 49ers' practice squad as insurance.
9. Keenan Burton, WR, 24: Has nine receptions for 124 yards and projects as a potential starter in 2009.
10. Donnie Avery, WR, 24: Has 35 catches for 499 yards and projects as a likely starter for 2009 and beyond.
    
11. Adam Carriker, DT, 24: Starting and could use another big body next to him on the interior defensive line.
    
12. Jonathan Wade, CB, 24: The Rams are still waiting for him to develop.
13. Roy Schuening, G, 24: The rookie is strictly a backup at this point.
14. Clifton Ryan, DT, 24: High-effort tackle has started nine games but might be better as part of a rotation.
    
15. Joe Klopfenstein, TE, 25: Underachieving tight end hasn't justified draft status.
    
16. Daniel Fells, TE, 25: Signed on an emergency basis after the Rams lost Randy McMichael to a season-ending injury.
17. Steven Jackson, RB, 25: Productive when he plays, the franchise running back has had trouble staying healthy.
    
18. Richie Incognito, OL, 25: Hot-headed starter has incurred the wrath of referees and fans, but Incognito remains a starter.
19. Eric Bassey, DB, 25: Projects as a special-teams player.
20. Victor Adeyanju, DL, 25: The Rams like what he brings to the defense, particularly against the run.

Fourteen of the Rams' youngest 28 players are starting. If you're looking for the Rams to play more of the young guys, you're essentially talking about Greco, Bassey, Grant, Chamberlain and Schuening from the above list. The others are playing, for better or worse.

Previously: 49ers, Seahawks.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat sums up the Rams' futility in one mind-bending notebook. Coach Jim Haslett rips one of his players for making a "dumb" decision on a fake punt. Safety Eric Bassey blames the referee for not calling holding on the play. And fan-ripping guard Richie Incognito denies cupping his hand to his ear as he ran off the field to boos.

Also from Korte: Haslett blames the Rams' latest defeat on factors beyond the control of coaches. It's every man for himself at Rams Park.

More Korte: A Rams report card featuring five "F" grades.

Norm Sanders of the Belleville News-Democrat says Haslett couldn't resist taking a shot at Marc Bulger's critics after backup Trent Green tossed four interceptions. Haslett: "Anybody else want another quarterback?"

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch points to the Rams' talent as the problem and suggests Haslett and de facto general manager Billy Devaney can turn around the team if given time.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have become so bad that Haslett has stopped trying to defend them.

Also from Thomas: Referee Terry McAulay explains why officials picked up a flag against the Bears on the fake punt.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Haslett is losing credibility by failing to acknowledge that his team has quit.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says fans pushing for a quarterback change in St. Louis got their wish -- twice. But Edwards and Brock Berlin weren't the answer, either.