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The San Francisco 49ers' largely inarticulated plan for NFL free agency has gained some definition over the last couple days.

Jonathan Goodwin, 32-year-old starting center for the New Orleans Saints, reached agreement on a three-year deal with San Francisco, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Wednesday. Washington Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers signed with the 49ers on Tuesday.

Goodwin has started all 32 games over the last two seasons. He has started 60 of the 133 games in which he has played.

The 49ers' problems at center appear solved for the short term. Eric Heitmann's injury and David Baas' signing with the New York Giants left the 49ers short-handed at the position. Goodwin and Rogers arguably represent upgrades over Baas and Clements, respectively.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says 49ers center Eric Heitmann suffered his career-threatening neck injury while competing in the "nutcracker" drills former coach Mike Singletary preferred. Barrows: "Despite the controversy around the drill, Singletary revised what he insisted was a safer version last year. Still, at least two players, linebacker Derek Walker and Heitmann, were injured in it. At the time, the 49ers referred to Heitmann's injury as a 'stinger' -- a nerve injury caused by trauma to the head, neck or shoulder. Shortly thereafter Heitmann suffered a broken leg. He recovered from the fracture but could not shake the neck problems and was placed on injured reserve on Nov. 2. Singletary insisted on the nutcracker because he said it taught players the importance of leverage, and it was iconic drill of the coach's tough-guy approach. In 2009 Singletary said he didn't think the drill would cause injuries because the two players facing off didn't take running starts."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Singletary refused to comment on the nutcracker story. Singletary: "I have no response to that. I don't really know what Eric's prior situation was, so I'm not going to respond to that." Singletary and the 49ers should have known about "prior situations" regarding injuries. Heitmann had been with the team for years. If he were susceptible to such an injury, why expose him to the obvious heightened risks associated with such drills? A question worth asking if, as Singletary suggests, he did not know Heitmann's prior injury situation.

Also from Maiocco: The 49ers' skill players have shown up in strong numbers for the most recent player-organized workouts.

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider says Michael Crabtree didn't make time for interviews Thursday. Lynch: "The only mystery surrounding him is how hurt he is. Tight end Vernon Davis, in Crabtree's absence, answered the question saying the foot injury [Crabtree] sustained June 9 in Camp Alex No. 1 is far more than just a case of a sore foot brought on by the pinch of new cleats. However, Davis said he should be ready should training camp start on time."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' offense is tight end-friendly, according to Davis. Davis: "This offense is going to be pretty good for the tight end. We don’t just have one way to go. That’s good. We’ve never had that since I’ve been here." Was Davis alluding to the use of more option routes? That appears to be the case. Davis followed up by saying he'll have the flexibility to run through zones instead of simply settling into them.

Ellen Sherberg of the St. Louis Business Journal updates the business dealings of former Rams tackle Orlando Pace. Sherberg: "Mr. Pace has partnered with GO Marketing LLC, formed by [KFNS radio owner] Dave Greene and James Oelklaus, founders of Grand Slam Sports that includes KFNS among other holdings, to launch TheTicketBlock.com, a new ticket brokerage."

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis expects Sam Bradford to take a significant step forward in 2011. Softli: "The NFL lockout is the only thing delaying the progress of this young quarterback with a new offensive coordinator in Josh McDaniels. When I looked back at the 2010 Rams season, Bradford set the stage for the immediate future and sent a message to all the NFL that the young gun from St. Louis is for real and won't take any prisoners along the way. It's about winning the division, the NFC conference and eventually lifting the Lombardi Trophy."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says first-round draft choice Patrick Peterson spent about 30 minutes speaking with strength-and-conditioning coach John Lott when teams were allowed contact with players during the draft. That meeting could help explain why Peterson decided to drop about 10 pounds. Urban: "Lott famously tells most players when he first gets them in Arizona they should drop a few pounds. Everyone has done it, from Larry Fitzgerald to Kurt Warner to Beanie Wells (pretty much every incoming rookie gets the speech). Peterson figured to be no different." Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie might be one exception to the drop-a-few-pounds mantra. He didn't have any extra weight to lose.

Cecilia Chan of the Arizona Republic says Glendale is supporting efforts to bring another Super Bowl to University of Phoenix Stadium. Chan: "In return for the prestige of hosting the National Football League game at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale must guarantee services such as public safety and sanitation for free and exempt game-day tickets from sales tax for the NFL. When Glendale hosted its first Super Bowl in 2008, it saw $1.2 million boost in sales-tax revenue. But a city-commissioned study showed it cost the city $2.6 million in services. The City Council on a 5-2 vote Tuesday approved the resolution." Good for business, bad for city budgets?

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says Johnathan Joseph could be an attractive free-agent addition for the Seahawks. Henderson: "Clayton thinks the Seahawks could get Joseph for around $8 million a season, which makes him a much cheaper alternative to Nnamdi Asomugha."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com revisits Steve Largent's final game with the team. An elbow injury suffered on the notorious playing surface in Philadelphia that season left Largent feeling frustrated. Largent: "Dave [Krieg] threw me a post route that I should have been able to catch up to. But I had to dive for that ball. I dove where second base would have been. They had it covered with turf, but there was still a little mound there. I fell and it busted my elbow. That’s what I remember about my last year."

The neck surgery center Eric Heitmann underwent makes it tough to envision the longtime starter returning to the San Francisco 49ers.

Without it, though, the odds against him were longer.

"The symptoms were not changing and the doctor said, 'This was what you need to do,' " agent Kenny Zuckerman said by phone Wednesday.

Heitmann was experiencing tingling and shooting pains down his lower back and extremities. The neck issues prevented him from returning last season even after Heitmann recovered from a broken fibula. The 49ers placed him on injured reserve in early November.

The procedure, performed about four weeks ago by Dr. Robert Watkins, entailed going into the neck, pushing aside the throat and larynx and fusing together vertebrae. It's the sort of procedure players undergo as a last resort.

"You don’t just say, 'Oh, you are having pain? Let’s operate on it,' " ESPN injury expert Stephania Bell said. "It used to be that when guys had fusions, they did not come back. But Max Starks had one and the Steelers put him on IR."

Heitmann is heading into the final year of his contract and most likely will have gone two full seasons without playing by the time he's healthy enough to consider playing. Recovery time is six months.

David Baas took over for Heitmann last season and fared well enough to project as the starter for 2011. The team also addressed its offensive line in the draft, selecting Appalachian State's Daniel Kilgore in the fifth round.

The lockout prevented Heitmann from having surgery under terms of standard player medical insurance policies. He was insured through one of the COBRA policies available to him during the lockout.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times offers thoughts on Peter King's recent tweets suggesting Matt Hasselbeck will not return to the Seahawks in 2011. King spent the weekend in Seattle and even tweeted a photo of Seahawks general manager John Schneider from the U2 concert at Qwest Field. His tweets about Hasselbeck followed not long after. Were these events completely unrelated? Hard to say. King tweets about all sorts of NFL subjects without running into general managers at concerts. We can safely assume Schneider did not leave King with the impression Hasselbeck would be returning. My read earlier this offseason said the Seahawks might have an easier time making a break with their past if the lockout dragged on for an extended period, because big-picture planning could have additional time to harden in decision makers' minds. Of course, the longer the lockout lasts, the less time Seattle would have to coach up another quarterback. Hasselbeck knows the team's new offense.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle offers thoughts on King's tweets, plus a link to an interview with King. I agree with Huard's take that Seattle wants Hasselbeck, but not at any cost. Re-signing Hasselbeck to a shorter-term deal becomes easier, in theory, if there's a perception the team is ready to move forward without Hasselbeck.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with the Blades brothers, Brian and Bennie, who became teammates in Seattle for the 1997 season. Brian: "Bennie was trying to get me to come to Detroit after my first contract was up. But I told him, ‘No, I’m going to stay put, because I like it out here.’ Once it got to the point where he was unwelcome in Detroit, it was a blessing that we had the opportunity to play at least one year together."

Also from Farnsworth: Brian Blades, now 45, earns a spot on the Seahawks' 35th anniversary team. Farnsworth: "In five of the six seasons when Blades started at least 14 games, he caught at least 70 passes and led the team in receptions. But he also had seasons when he started five, six, seven and nine games because of injuries. That’s because Blades made many of his catches the hard way -- by going over the middle, and taking the hits that followed."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic passes along stats from Pro Football Focus affirming perceptions that Cardinals left tackle Levi Brown struggles in pass protection.

Also from Somers: another look at Football Outsiders stats, these for broken tackles. They have the Cardinals' Adrian Wilson with 16 of them, second-most in the league, after having only two in 2009. Somers: "Some perspective is needed, however, when evaluating the Cardinals defense. Its performance was terrible, no question. But it should be noted, too, that the Cardinals were better on offense in 2009 and possessed the ball an average of about four minutes longer per game than they did in 2010. This defense spent too much time on the field and was often in poor situations because of the anemic offense. Second, Wilson has some pretty good company on the list, including Bucs corner Ronde Barber, Titans linebacker Stephen Tulloch and Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs. Corners, safeties and linebackers often play in 'space', so it's understandable they will have move missed tackles than defensive linemen."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com offers thoughts on Larry Fitzgerald's latest comments about wanting to stay in Arizona. Urban: "In this scenario, it’s the quarterback/offense that needs to be upgraded. I think that will happen, and I still think Fitz will remain a Cardinal. But until things are tweaked (and that can’t happen until the labor situation sorts itself out) Fitz’s future remains relatively vague regardless of his interviews."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree need one another. I would say Smith needs Crabtree more at this point, given that Smith does not project as a long-term starter for the 49ers.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Adam Snyder continues to practice at center for the 49ers this offseason. Barrows: "Snyder said he's been the de facto center all offseason and has spent a lot of time snapping the ball to Alex Smith. The 49ers, of course, are light on centers at the moment. 2011 starter Davis Baas and Tony Wragge are unrestricted free agents. Eric Heitmann is rehabilitating a neck injury at Stanford, his alma mater. Two other possibilities, Daniel Kilgore and Mike Person, are rookies who didn't play the position in college."

Also from Barrows: more on the 49ers' offensive line.

Taylor Price of 49ers.com profiles new 49ers assistant coach Bobby Engram. Price: "Jim Harbaugh’s West Coast offensive system aligns nicely with the concepts Engram learned as a player in Seattle. His experience and knowledge of the scheme allow him to be a great resource for the offensive staff."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says 49ers rookie receiver Ronald Johnson eats, drinks and sleeps football figuratively, while sleeping with a football literally. Teammate Josh Morgan: "Ronald just wants it so bad. That’s probably the best thing I could say about him. He’s so eager to get everything right now. When you’re that eager to learn, and that eager to get it in you so you can get out there and play, you’re always going to have some positive results."

Also from Branch: Anthony Dixon wants to be a better all-around back.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News offers thoughts on Crabtree and Smith. Kawakami: "It’s early June, there’s a lockout, there are no coaches in sight, and things are decidedly informal this week at San Jose State during the Smith-directed player workouts and offensive classroom sessions. But whether it’s intentional or merely grindingly passive-aggressive, while everything else is going smoothly, every day there’s a new twist to the Smith-Crabtree saga. No, they’re not Joe and Jerry. Or even Jeff and T.O."

Mike Rosenberg of the San Jose Mercury News suggests the 49ers are no closer to getting a stadium built in Santa Clara. Rosenberg cites the lockout, rising construction costs and questions about funding in this piece, while the 49ers say their plans remain on track.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News checks in with Dixon, who faces additional competition at the position.

Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle passes along thoughts from the 49ers' offensive linemen. Veterans are helping younger players with the 49ers' new playbook.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com profiles Rams draft choice Lance Kendricks, who projects as a key weapon within Josh McDaniels' new offense. Wagoner: "At 6-2, 241 pounds, Kendricks has the size of a tight end, but his athleticism is comparable to some of the best receivers in this year’s draft. Kendricks was clocked at 4.47 seconds in the 40-yard dash coming out of high school and has recorded a 36-inch vertical jump." Most NFL tight ends are bigger than 6-2 and 241, but very few possess Kendricks' athleticism. The NFC West now has quite a few athletic tight ends (Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker, Rob Housler, John Carlson, Kendricks and Mike Hoomanawanui). Kendricks: "I take a lot of pride in being able to do things such as blocking and doing some iso-blocks and splitting, lining up in the slot in single side, and lining up as a true tight end, and I definitely do take a lot of pride in that."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with former longtime Rams equipment manager Todd Hewitt, who claims coach Steve Spagnuolo fired him for no good reason. Hewitt: "He is a hard person to deal with. He's just very hands-on. Controlling. It's an everything-has-to-go-through-him kind of deal." Spagnuolo declined comment, but this move looks like yet another example of the Rams' leadership replacing the old guard with its own people. Was the move justified? That is difficult to know without hearing from the Rams. Disgruntled former employees generally aren't going to tell the full story. On the surface, however, Hewitt was a longtime employee who loved his job and seemed to be well-liked. Thomas: "The day he was fired, Hewitt said offensive guard Jacob Bell and linebackers James Laurinaitis and David Vobora asked him to come to Mexico with them on a trip -- they'd pick up the tab. Hewitt was grateful but declined the offer. He has heard from all kinds of players -- past and present -- from Kurt Warner and Marshall Faulk, to Roman Gabriel and Jack Youngblood, to Jackson and Chris Long, since he was fired."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com addresses whether Kevin Kolb or Carson Palmer is more likely to be under center for the 49ers next season. Maiocco: "There is a better chance that Kolb, rather than Palmer, will be the 49ers' quarterback in 2011. After all, Philadelphia is entertaining offers for Kolb, while stubborn Bengals president Mike Brown appears unlikely to cave into Palmer's trade demand. How the organization addresses the quarterback position during the draft will determine the team's approach to adding a veteran to the mix when there is a new collective bargaining agreement." The 49ers would not give up their first-round choice for Kolb, in my view.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat looks at the 49ers' best late-round draft choices since 2000. On Eric Johnson: "Johnson played in just 71 games over seven seasons due to a variety of injuries, but he was productive when upright. In 2004, he led the Niners with 82 catches, the most by a tight end in franchise history. Of the 13 tight ends selected in the 2001 draft, Johnson (240 catches, 2,178 yards) ranks third in career catches and yards behind the first two taken -- first-rounder Todd Heap and second-rounder Alge Crumpler. By the way, the next two tight ends drafted after Heap and Crumpler were third-rounders Sean Brewer and Shad Meier. Or is it Sean Meier and Shad Brewer?"

Also from Branch: the second part of his installment on the 49ers' best late-round choices since 2000. On Eric Heitmann: "The reliable and consistent Heitmann became the first 49ers rookie offensive lineman to start a game in 15 years when he debuted in 2002 and has since become a three-time winner of the Bobb McKittrick Award, the top honor given to a Niners offensive lineman. His future appears uncertain after a broken leg and neck injury wiped out his 2010 season, but he’s already logged 114 starts. That’s a nice investment on the 239th player selected in a draft."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with Cortez Kennedy for his latest piece on the 35th anniversary team. Farnsworth explains how Kennedy came to be known as "Big Dawg" among teammates. As former teammate Jeff Bryant put it: "When you go hunting, you want to take the big dog. That’s Tez. He’s our ‘Big Dawg.’"

Also from Farnsworth: Dennis Erickson and others speak to Kennedy's dominance. Erickson: "Cortez might’ve been as dominant a defensive tackle that’s ever played. He was dominant when I had him in Seattle in the four years I was there, and he was dominant before I got there. I don’t know if you can see a defensive tackle who dominated a game like he did when he was with the Seahawks."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt left Wednesday to attend workouts at Clemson and North Carolina. That explains why Whisenhunt wasn't in attendance at Jake Locker's pro day.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Buffalo could be the key team in determining whether the Cardinals get a crack at Texas A&M pass-rusher Von Miller. Urban: "Buffalo could use a QB, but Chan Gailey seems to want defense, so Miller has been a popular possibility for a team that uses the 3-4 and needs a pass rush. If the Cards want Miller, it seems the Bills will be the key. The Bengals figure to go offense, whether a QB or WR. The Cards, who have hinted many times they aren’t necessarily looking QB early, still don’t seem to make sense with a pick like that. Here’s the question, assuming Miller is gone: Could you make Da'Quan Bowers work in your defense? Is Patrick Peterson good enough?"

Also from Urban: a chat transcript in which he sizes up veteran quarterbacks Marc Bulger and Kyle Orton as possibilities for Arizona. Urban: "I think Bulger does fit this offense, and he wouldn't cost a draft pick like Orton would. I don't know exactly how they feel about Orton, although I am sure that possibility has been considered."

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider evaluates Jed York as the San Francisco 49ers' president, outlining the good and bad during York's tenure. Lynch on one of the positives: "York held the line against draft-slot busting contract demands of wide receiver Michael Crabtree. Drafted with the 10th selection in the 2009 draft, Crabtree held out until October for top-seven money. York and then general manager Scot McCloughan never buckled, which won York some admiration from his older owner brethren." Hiring Mike Singletary as head coach goes down as probably the biggest mark against York to this point. Hiring Jim Harbaugh appears to protect the 49ers against some of Singletary's primary limitations, notably when it comes to overseeing an offense in general and quarterbacks in particular.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat rounds up 49ers-related notes from around the Web, including this comment from Ravens coach John Harbaugh about facing his brother, Jim, when Baltimore takes on San Francisco: "Like I’ve already told a bunch of guys on the team, we’ve got Pittsburgh; that’s a must-win. We’ve got a bunch of must-wins, but the San Francisco game is going to be a must, must-win. There’s no doubt the motivation for that one is going to be there."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com checks in with former Rams executive Tony Softli for thoughts on the 49ers' draft options at quarterback. Softli thinks Blaine Gabbert's recent workout helped the Missouri quarterback's cause. He thinks Cam Newton will not get past Washington at No. 10, and he thinks Jake Locker will be taken among the top 18 choices.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers thoughts on Alex Marvez's report noting that the 49ers had interest in Kevin Mawae following Eric Heitmann's injury. Barrows: "Heitmann has since been bothered by a neck/upper back injury that has clouded his 2011 availability while both (David) Baas and (Tony) Wragge are impending unrestricted free agents. My guess is that Baas is the 49ers' top priority when it comes to re-signing their own free agents."

Cam Inman of Bay Area News Group updates the 49ers' search for a quarterback in the draft.

Carly Gillis of the Huffington Post says former Seahawks running back T.J. Duckett has re-evaluated his life and become more charitably inclined since Seattle released him. Duckett: "I lost a sense of who I was. But once I started to get rid of myself, I began to get a sense of self-worth. With football, and I think with any job, you get caught up in it and it starts to run your life -- consumes it. When it was taken away from me, I had to think, 'Now what am I about?' " According to the report, Duckett did not shave his beard during the two years since the Seahawks released him. He'll be having it shaved off as part of a charity benefit in Michigan this week.

Joe Conroy of insidenova.com says Seahawks receiver Deon Butler was back at his high school recently to honor an injured Marine.

Jamison Hensley of the Baltimore Sun has this to say regarding Kurt Warner's recent comments suggesting Marc Bulger could be a good fit for the Cardinals: "It is believed Bulger chose being a backup for the Ravens last season over being a starter in Arizona because the Ravens’ offer ($3.8 million) was more. Bulger didn’t take a snap backing up Joe Flacco in 2010. It’s been reported that Bulger would prefer to stay close to St. Louis, where his wife is a doctor. Tennessee and Cincinnati could be other options for Bulger." Last offseason, the Cardinals felt as though they could not wait for the Rams to release Bulger. They needed to address the quarterback position quicker. The timing was never right. The lockout is preventing anyone from addressing anything at this point. Bulger did sign only a one-year deal with the Ravens last offseason, so the Cardinals know he'll hit the market whenever the league does re-open for business.

Gil Brandt of NFL.com says Rams receivers coach Nolan Cromwell participated in working out Maryland receiver Torrey Smith at the school's recent pro day. Brandt: "Smith was one of 15 NFL hopefuls looking to increase their stock in front of representatives from 28 teams at Maryland pro day on March 16. Smith, a 6-foot-1, 208-pound wideout, stood on everything he did at the combine, but went through positional workouts indoors on AstroTurf. Smith worked out with St. Louis Rams wide receivers coach Nolan Cromwell and Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers coach James Urban. He’s had three private workouts to date. Smith figures to be a bottom of the first or top of the second round draft choice next month."

FORT WORTH, Texas -- The Pittsburgh Steelers appeared loose and comfortable during their first Super Bowl 45 media session.

They've been in big games before, and frequently, thanks largely to shrewd drafting.

This is the Steelers' third Super Bowl appearance in the last six seasons.

The team made available James Farrior, Flozell Adams, Hines Ward, Brett Keisel, Ben Roethlisberger and LaMarr Woodley during its initial media session Monday -- just the opportunity I needed to produce an item corresponding to the one titled, "Draft hindsight: Aaron Rodgers and beyond".

The idea: to examine a Super Bowl team's featured players -- in this case, the ones made available Monday -- with an emphasis on draft status and the decisions NFC West teams made in the same rounds. Not every team held a choice in every featured round.

The Arizona Cardinals had a shot at Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but they came out OK.

Here goes ...

1997 Draft: James Farrior, LB, Virginia

Round: First (eighth overall, by the New York Jets)

NFC West spin: Farrior is a two-time Pro Bowl choice, but the NFC West offers no apologies for passing over him. Orlando Pace and Walter Jones became perennial Pro Bowl tackles. Jones became the best player in Seahawks history, in my view. Shawn Springs made one Pro Bowl trip and picked off 33 passes during a 13-year career. The Cardinals had no shot at Farrior. They chose Tommy Knight one pick later. He started 54 games in six NFL seasons. Rumor says the 49ers selected a quarterback in the first round of this draft.

First-round selections in the division:

• Rams (first overall): Pace, T, Ohio State
• Seahawks (third overall): Springs, CB, Ohio State
• Seahawks (sixth overall): Jones, T, Florida State
• Cardinals (ninth overall): Knight, CB, Iowa
• 49ers (26th overall): Jim Druckenmiller, QB, Virginia Tech

1998 Draft: Flozell Adams, T, Michigan State

Round: Second (38th overall, by Dallas)

NFC West spin: Adams became a five-time Pro Bowl choice with Dallas. His career appeared finished, or close to it, until injuries led the Steelers to call on him this season. Arizona passed on Adams twice. Safety Corey Chavous, chosen five spots before Adams, went to a Pro Bowl with Minnesota. He was a productive player for roughly a decade. Tackle Anthony Clement, chosen two spots before Adams, started more than 100 games for three teams.

Second-round selections in the division:

• Cardinals (33rd overall): Corey Chavous, SS, Vanderbilt
• Cardinals (36th overall): Anthony Clement, T, Louisiana-Lafayette
• Rams (37th overall): Robert Holcombe, FB, Illinois
• Seahawks (47th overall): Todd Weiner, T, Kansas State
• 49ers (58th overall): Jeremy Newberry, C, California

1998 Draft: Hines Ward, WR, Georgia

Round: Third (92nd overall, by Pittsburgh)

NFC West spin: The Rams and Seahawks found Pro Bowl-caliber players when they passed over Ward in the third round. Seattle gave up on Ahman Green prematurely, however, after coach Mike Holmgren grew weary of early fumble problems. The 49ers missed on tackle Chris Ruhman three choices before Ward went to Pittsburgh. Ruhman played in six games with the 49ers, starting none. He played in 11 NFL games with two starts overall. The 49ers passed on Ward even though Jerry Rice had suffered a devastating knee injury in the 1997 opener.

Third-round selections in the division:

• Rams (65th overall): Leonard Little, DE, Tennessee
• Seahawks (76th overall): Ahman Green, RB, Nebraska
• 49ers (89th overall): Chris Ruhman, T, Texas A&M

2002 Draft: Brett Keisel, DE, BYU

Round: Seventh (242nd overall, by Pittsburgh)

NFC West spin: The 49ers drafted longtime starting guard and center Eric Heitmann three spots before the Steelers found Keisel. Pittsburgh could use Heitmann this week after the Steelers' starting center, Maurkice Pouncey, suffered a severely sprained ankle during the AFC Championship Game. Keisel became a Pro Bowl choice for the first time this season, distinguishing him from 2002 NFC West seventh-rounders. The Rams found their mainstay snapper in this draft. Keisel was gone when the 49ers found guard Kyle Kosier, who started 29 games for them and remains a starter with Dallas.

Seventh-round selections in the division:

• Cardinals (223rd overall): Mike Banks, TE, Iowa State
• Seahawks (232nd overall): Jeff Kelly, QB, Southern Mississippi
• 49ers (239th overall): Heitmann, C, Stanford
• Rams (243rd overall): Chris Massey, LS, Marshall
• 49ers (248th overall): Kyle Kosier, G, Arizona State
• 49ers (256th overall): Teddy Gaines, DB, Tennessee

2004 Draft: Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Miami of Ohio

Round: First (11th overall, by Pittsburgh)

NFC West spin: The Cardinals passed over Roethlisberger and came away with a potential Hall of Fame receiver. No complaints there, even though quarterbacks are more valuable than receivers. None of the other NFC West teams had a shot at Roethlisberger. Seattle and St. Louis were set at quarterback, anyway.

First-round selections in the division:

• Cardinals (third overall): Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Pittsburgh
• Seahawks (23rd overall): Marcus Tubbs, DT, Texas
• Rams (24th overall): Steven Jackson, RB, Oregon State
• 49ers (31st overall): Rashaun Woods, WR, Oklahoma State

2007 Draft: LaMarr Woodley, OLB, Michigan

Round: Second (46th overall, by Pittsburgh)

NFC West spin: The Cardinals could certainly use Woodley now, and badly, but they had already invested millions in the position heading into the 2007 draft. Free-agent additions Chike Okeafor and Bertrand Berry had combined for 14.5 sacks during the 2006 season. Unfortunately for the Cardinals, they haven't gotten enough from their second-round investment in Alan Branch.

Second-round selections in the division:

• Cardinals (33rd overall): Branch, DL, Michigan
• Rams (52nd overall): Brian Leonard, FB, Rutgers
• Seahawks (55th overall): Josh Wilson, CB, Maryland

OK, all done, and just in time. ESPN.com teammates Mike Reiss, Kevin Seifert and I are heading out to the Packers' media session next. Seifert is driving and he doesn't wait for anyone. Gotta jam.

A look at my all-NFC West picks for the 2010 season, beginning with the offense:

• There was no clear-cut choice at receiver after Larry Fitzgerald. The St. Louis Rams' Danny Amendola was more consistent than Seattle's Mike Williams or San Francisco's Michael Crabtree. Amendola ranked ninth in the NFL with 85 receptions. He had 29 catches for 298 yards and two touchdowns on third down. Only Atlanta's Roddy White and Buffalo's Steve Johnson had more third-down catches this season. Williams had 25. Amendola also carried seven times for 81 yards.
• The 49ers' Mike Iupati was my choice at left guard. Iupati's raw power and improvement made him the choice. The Arizona Cardinals' Alan Faneca was better than advertised. The 49ers had the better offense and ground game. The Rams' Jacob Bell played well enough to factor as well. At his best, though, Iupati stood out.
• Not much to choose from at right guard in this division. The right side in general wasn't very strong. I went with the Rams' Jason Smith for his run blocking. Was he worth the second overall choice? That isn't the relevant question here. Smith was the best right tackle in the division, I thought.
• The Rams' Rodger Saffold will have competition from Seattle's Russell Okung at left tackle for years to come. Okung missed six games to injury this season. Otherwise, he might have been the choice.
• Sam Bradford was the choice at quarterback. He was more consistent than the other quarterbacks and the only one to play every offensive snap (or even close to every snap). Matt Hasselbeck's strong finish made him a consideration.
• Teams did not use fullbacks frequently enough for me to consider one. I went with the two best running backs, an easy choice even though Frank Gore missed the final five games. Gore had 853 yards and a 4.2-yard average. He averaged a career-high 9.8 yards per reception on 46 catches.

I'll be back with defense and special teams in a bit. The chart breaks down all-division choices from 2008 and 2009, plus this season.

Thoughts?

ST. LOUIS -- The St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers offered no surprises Sunday when they named players inactive 90 minutes prior to kickoff at the Edward Jones Dome.

Defensive end Chris Long (thigh) and right tackle Jason Smith (ankle) are both active and expected to start for the Rams despite their injuries. Tight end Mike Hoomanawanui, given only an outside shot at returning this week, was among the Rams' inactive players.

Also inactive for the Rams: safety Michael Lewis, cornerback Justin King, linebacker David Nixon, linebacker Curtis Johnson, guard John Greco, receiver Mardy Gilyard and defensive tackle Jermelle Cudjo.

The 49ers will play without third tight end Nate Byham (heel), who was named inactive along with cornerback Tramaine Brock, cornerback William James, safety Chris Maragos, defensive tackle Will Tukuafu, tackle Joe Staley and tackle Alex Boone. David Carr is the third quarterback.

Staley made the trip, as did former starting center Eric Heitmann, who is on injured reserve. They were walking laps around the field during early warm-ups. The 49ers could get Staley back from a broken fibula as early as Week 17. Barry Sims will start in his place again Sunday.

The NFL rosters I maintain for every team in the league had fallen out of date recently.

I finally had time to update them Saturday night.

One revelation: The Atlanta Falcons left for their road trip in Seattle with a 53-man roster featuring a league-high 43 players back from last season. The Seahawks went into the weekend with a league-low 22 such players. The rest of the league averaged 33.3.

The counts reflect players currently on 53-man rosters who spent Week 17 last season on active rosters or injured reserve. Seattle has had the lowest figure all season, a reflection of their efforts to remake the roster under a new head coach.

Detroit and Washington have 25. Seattle is the only team with fewer.

Counts for the rest of the NFC West heading into the weekend: St. Louis (32), Arizona (31) and San Francisco (30). The 49ers' numbers dwindled later in the season after the team placed Joe Nedney, Frank Gore and Eric Heitmann on injured reserve.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says he respects the Rams' decision to pass on Randy Moss even though he thinks the team should have taken a chance. Miklasz: "I spoke to (coach Steve) Spagnuolo for a few minutes Wednesday, and while he did not wish to be quoted, I can tell you that he agonized over this. Spagnuolo deliberated over the Moss verdict for a couple of days, and many hours. The coach and other key members of the Rams organization performed due diligence by making calls, getting reports on Moss, finding out all that they could. Earlier this week, Spagnuolo told me that he believed his locker room was strong enough to handle Moss. That includes the coaching staff. Spagnuolo believes the team's infrastructure could withstand the Moss temper, the pouting, the loafing on select plays. But still, the Rams decided to play their final eight games without Moss."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com offers notes as the Rams headed into their bye week. Quarterback Sam Bradford is headed home to Oklahoma City, but not without a laptop loaded with game video.

Sam Good of 49ers.com checks in with center David Baas, who made the transition from guard following Eric Heitmann's injury.

Also from 49ers.com: an interview transcript featuring linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Brooks on Bradford: "He’s turned that whole organization around and he’s been doing a lot for them. We just have to key in on him and pretty much prepare for what he does well. It’s all about game-planning. For a rookie quarterback, he’s changed their offense for the better."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says 49ers coach Mike Singletary seems to have changed his view on quarterback Alex Smith.

Sal Pizarro of the San Jose Mercury News says Patrick Willis and Alex Smith borrowed from Larry Fitzgerald in coming up with an idea for charity.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic explains why the Cardinals are starting Derek Anderson against the Vikings in Week 9. Somers: "First, (coach Ken) Whisenhunt thought the offense showed signs of life under Anderson the past two weeks. Looking back at Sunday's loss to the Bucs, coaches thought Anderson made only one really bad pass: the interception near the end of the game. The previous interception, they determined, was not his fault. Second, and don't underestimate this,Whisenhunt thinks a veteran gives the Cardinals a better chance to win in Minneapolis this Sunday and in Kansas City on Nov. 21. Those are tough places to play, and Max Hall had not shown he was capable of handling it. Whisenhunt didn't want to do more damage to Hall's confidence by starting him in Minneapolis."

Also from Somers: Anderson's thoughts.

More from Somers, with Bob McManaman: a Cardinals injury update.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says it's important how teams handle drama. Urban: "Since coach Ken Whisenhunt has arrived, such situations have been kept to a minimum. Anquan Boldin caused a stir when he opened training camp in 2008 complaining about his contract, but that faded by the time the season started. Boldin’s outburst during the NFC championship game made ripples, but that was lost in the euphoria of a Super Bowl trip. The quarterback rotation this season, including the release of Matt Leinart, also has created a little bit of a side story, but nothing that has hampered the locker room. Quarterback Derek Anderson, who went through plenty of drama in Cleveland when he was battling Brady Quinn for the starting job, intentionally stayed low-key recently when he was benched for rookie Max Hall."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says a sore neck sidelined center Chris Spencer in practice Wednesday. Mike Gibson took over at center. Allen Barbre played left guard. Chester Pitts played left tackle. The injury situation on the line must improve by Sunday or the Seahawks will have a hard time functioning on offense, in my view.

Also from Farnsworth: a look at Chester Pitts' recovery from a devastating knee injury. Pitts suffered: an MCL torn off the bone; a femur and tibia plateau that collided so hard they "exploded"; a torn meniscus; and a rim fracture of the tibial plateau.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times runs through the Seahawks' injury list.

Also from O'Neil: Ten doctors told Pitts he would never play again. One told him he could. The fact that Pitts made it back is remarkable. The challenge after coming back is staying back. How long can Pitts hold up?

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times says Seahawks coach Pete Carroll faces his biggest challenge as Seahawks coach Sunday. Brewer: "Oh, and the opponent is the New York Giants, who are tied for third in the NFL with 24 sacks and have sent five of the seven starting quarterbacks they've faced to the locker room early. As Giants quarterback Eli Manning mentioned, their quarterback-crunching success rate is 71.4 percent. And Matt Hasselbeck is getting over a concussion."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks could use their fifth starting combination of the season on the offensive line.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks will find out about their depth Sunday. Boling: "Working with the offensive front Wednesday were Chester Pitts and Mike Gibson, guys who had been cut and resigned this season, and Allen Barbre, who was picked up in late September and has been inactive since then. In addition, they brought in a new guy as a backup center/guard named Chris White. Didn’t he used to be Chris Gray?"

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle takes a position-by-position look at how injuries are affecting the Seahawks.

Injury trends are following a familiar pattern in the NFC West.

Whether by luck or superior training or whatever the reason might be, the Arizona Cardinals continue to suffer fewer season-ending injuries than other NFC West teams.

Arizona finished the 2008 season with three players on IR. The number was four last season. The team has a division-low two players on IR heading into Week 9 this season. That's nine players in two-plus seasons.

The Seattle Seahawks have eight already this season, including three offensive linemen. The number is seven for the St. Louis Rams, including three wide receivers.

Seattle placed defensive end Red Bryant and left guard Ben Hamilton, both starters, on IR this week.

The first chart shows NFC West IR counts after the 2008 and 2009 seasons, and heading into Week 9 this season. The 2008 totals reflect numbers heading into the divisional playoffs following that season. The 2009 totals reflect numbers when the regular season ended. Teams sometimes remove players from IR through injury settlements and other means.

The second chart breaks down 2010 IR counts by position heading into Week 9.

The third chart takes a team-by-team, player-by-player look at NFC West IR lists heading into Week 9. Asterisks identify projected, potential or actual starters.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch expects Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo to speak with Vikings coach Brad Childress, his good friend, before deciding whether to place a waiver claim on Randy Moss. Thomas: "Spagnuolo has spent a year and a half trying to build team chemistry and develop a team personality that involves hard work and a 'team first' attitude. Those are two attributes generally not attributed to Moss, who has been deemed expendable by two clubs, New England and Minnesota, in the past month. Reports of Moss' tirade over the quality of food brought in for Vikings players on Friday by a caterer certainly don't cast Moss in a favorable light, either. But with three wide receivers already on the injured reserve list, and a fourth -- Danario Alexander -- currently out following knee surgery, the Rams might be desperate enough for help at the position to roll the dice on Moss."

Also from Thomas: a chat transcript in which Thomas says rookies Sam Bradford and Rodger Saffold are coming through for the Rams.

More from Thomas: a midseason report on the Rams. Thomas: "Coach Steve Spagnuolo has done an excellent job when it comes to motivating this team and getting it prepared for games. He is relentless in his approach while able to maintain something of a personal touch with the players. They are buying in, and it shows on game day. Spagnuolo's game management and clock management still need work, but he's learning."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers are hoping Troy Smith can become more than a one-game phenomenon. Maiocco: "What became clear during (coach Mike) Singletary's press conference is that he was not seeing the kind of leadership from Alex Smith that he desires."

Also from Maiocco: The 49ers placed veteran center Eric Heitmann on injured reserve. Heitmann's agent: "He saw a specialist who told him he's not going to need surgery and he'll be ready to play some time after this season. By no means is this a career-ending injury. He'll be ready in the offseason."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers will not be submitting a waiver claim for Moss. Barrows: "The 49ers also are not believed to be interested in another high-profile player on the waiver wire, linebacker Shawne Merriman, who was released by the Chargers Tuesday. The 49ers already have four outside linebackers on the roster and claimed a fifth, rookie Thaddeus Gibson, on Monday. Singletary on Tuesday lauded starter Manny Lawson, who had his best game of the season Sunday against the Broncos, an outing that included three big hits on Denver quarterback Kyle Orton and a critical forced fumble late in the game."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News expects Troy Smith to get another start.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the Giants committed 24 penalties over their last two games at Qwest Field.

Also from Farnsworth: Chester Pitts' return from knee surgery comes just as the Seahawks need him.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times isn't expecting the Seahawks to claim Randy Moss or Shawne Merriman off waivers. Also, getting Michael Robinson and Kelly Jennings back from injuries meant the team no longer needed Quinton Ganther or Nate Ness on its 53-man roster.

John Morgan of Field Gulls thinks the Seahawks' run defense will not necessarily suffer without Red Bryant. Morgan: "Frank Okam seems like the obvious replacement. He is huge and long-limbed, but plays upright for a tackle and loses leverage. So, Red Bryant. He's not as quick as Bryant, but I'm not sure we'll see that difference."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Beanie Wells knows he needs to run lower, particularly when finishing runs. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "I think every running back misses some runs. I think as Beanie gets more carries -- he hasn’t had a tremendous amount of carries -- he’ll be all right."

Also from Urban: Steve Breaston's value.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals' combination at running back isn't living up to expectations. Somers: "There are other factors in Wells' lack of production. Whisenhunt has been criticized for not making a stronger commitment to the ground game. There have been breakdowns in blocking, both by linemen as well as tight ends and receivers. And with the Cardinals' problems at quarterback, defenses are concentrating on stopping the run. But opportunities also come when teams crowd the line of scrimmage with defenders."

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic checks in with Cardinals guard Alan Faneca, who has this to say about being diagnosed with epilepsy at age 15: "It was a surprise, but I was very bullheaded about it and very determined to not let it stop me from being who I was before. I put my head down and attacked it aggressively as far as education and learning what I could and couldn't do - and kind of pushing the limits on doing what people were cautioning me about doing. Football was not even one of those. My doctor was so quick in saying I could play football, I had to double-check and make sure he knew what football was."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are outscoring opponents 34-3 in first quarters this season after getting outscored 87-16 in first quarters last season. Sam Bradford's addition accounts for some of the difference, obviously. The Rams are also playing better defense. Their schedule is also more favorable. Last season, the Rams' home schedule featured games against Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Kurt Warner and Matt Schaub. Those quarterbacks were going to score points against just about anyone. Thomas: "The 34 points scored in the first quarter is sixth best in the NFL this season. The Rams' three points allowed is second best in the league, trailing only the New York Jets, who have yet to allow a first-quarter point. And the Rams' point differential of plus-31 in the opening quarter is third best in the league, exceeded only by New Orleans (plus-40) and Green Bay (plus-34)."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are getting better overall production from receiver Brandon Gibson.

Also from Coats: Danario Alexander's knee felt OK after practice.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch looks at some of Bradford's more impressive stats, but also notes that opponents have sacked the rookie five times in the red zone.

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Bradford's former Oklahoma teammate, Gerald McCoy, will be gunning for the quarterback when the Rams visit Tampa Bay. Bradford and McCoy remain friends. They spoke by phone this week. McCoy: "I'm going to kill him. If I can get to him, I'm going to kill him. We are definitely cool off the field. But on the field, I do not know him. He is No. 8 for the Rams, and that's all I know." The Bucs have only four sacks all season, three fewer than the Rams had against San Diego in Week 6.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says Chris Long is the Rams' first defensive lineman since Bryce Fisher in 2004 to be named the NFC's defensive player of the week.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says Long and James Hall have formed effective bookends for St. Louis.

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis quotes Hall on Long: "I'm happy for him because he's been working so hard this year and you can see him progressing week in and week out. And he's been so close to the quarterback--so to see him go out there and have two sacks, I was excited."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com expects 49ers center Eric Heitmann to miss at least four weeks with a neck injury. Maiocco: "If Heitmann's condition does not improve, the 49ers have the option of placing him on injured reserve to open a roster spot. Veteran Tony Wragge is the backup behind starting center David Baas. Prior to this season, Heitmann had missed just two games, due to a broken leg in 2006, since the 2004 season. Baas was an excused absence from today's practice because of a personal matter. The 49ers said Baas is expected back at practice Thursday, and it should not have an impact on his availability for Sunday's game."

Also from Maiocco: Patrick Willis plans to play the way he has always played, without adjusting for harsher discipline from the NFL for illegal hits.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee checks in with 49ers defenders. They're not excited about the new emphasis on stopping illegal hits. Willis: "I don't know, it's just crazy that somebody could cut your legs out like that in the open field and intentionally blow your knee out and you're done for the season (and) a concussion is what, two weeks, maybe three, yet they don't get fined for that or get in trouble for that."

Also from Barrows: 49ers president Jed York cannot guarantee a completion date for the team's proposed new stadium. Barrows: "Financing the stadium depends on a loan from the league and that the loan is contingent on a new collective bargaining agreement."

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Willis realizes he hasn't made as many big plays this season. Willis: "The first five weeks, I kind of let it get to me. Last week, I said, 'I'm just going to play.' The rest of the season, whatever happens -- big play or no play -- I just want to win and do everything I can to help my teammates win. You turn on the film, you see me going all out. To me, as long as I can put my head down at nighttime and know that I gave 100 percent, I'll be all right with that -- big play or no big play."

Also from Branch: Count Ted Ginn Jr. among those against increased fines for illegal hits.

More from Branch: Willis' thoughts on the increased fines. Willis: "It’s crazy. I mean, $75,000 for going out and hitting the guy? I thought that’s what you’re supposed to do, I thought as a defensive guy you’re supposed to hit and as an offensive guy you’re supposed to avoid and if your quarterback leads you right where the defender is, then you should take that up with the quarterback. If it’s ugly, just straight hands down leading with your head, that’s one thing. Or head butting or anything like that, but when you’re going for the tackle and, I don’t know, y’all saw it, so you make your own decision, but I’m just going to play football."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com passes along high praise for Larry Fitzgerald from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Carroll: "He has incredible catching ability. I don’t know if anybody can catch the ball better than him -- if anybody ever has. He has an incredible catching range. It doesn’t matter whether he almost sees the ball. The ball comes out of nowhere and he snatches it and he’s going. ... He’ll factor in and just break your heart. You can cover him and he still makes the play. You can double him and they’ll still go to him and he still makes the play. So we’ll show him due respect."

Also from Farnsworth: Lawyer Milloy takes pride in his NFL legacy.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times checks in with Seahawks running backs Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett, who met as incoming freshmen at Cal six years ago. O'Neil: "Lynch is from the Bay Area with dreadlocks that drape down almost to his shoulders and a running style that he refers to as Beast Mode. Forsett is from Florida by way of Texas, his hair cropped close. He's so religious that he operates closer to priest mode, posting a nightly scripture verse via his Twitter account. Lynch has a Technicolor personality. Forsett is so quiet there are times you don't know he's in the room. Yet they share a friendship that is strengthened by those differences."

Also from O'Neil: Cornerback Josh Pinkard is practicing for the first time this season.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks expect to see an aggressive Cardinals team visiting Seattle in Week 7.

Also from Williams: Even some offensive players don't like the NFL's harsher punishment for helmet-to-helmet hits. Tackle Sean Locklear: "It sucks. I mean, honestly, it’s almost a lose-lose situation for guys -– like, what do you do? I don’t think somebody’s out there intentionally trying to hit somebody in the head to try and hurt them. It’s part of football. It happens. But if you start fining guys that significant amount for the first time, that’s a lot of change (money). And that’s a big amount for a hit."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says Milloy can barely walk for two days after games, but the 36-year-old safety doesn't let his teammates see him that way. Boling: "He will turn 37 on Nov. 14, the day the Seahawks play at Arizona. For a kid who grew up in tough circumstances in Tacoma, Milloy has fashioned an amazing career and built a strong personal reputation."

John Boyle of the Everett Herald links to the South Park episode featuring (briefly) a cartoon character resembling Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals had their full squad practicing coming out of the bye week. It's looking like inside linebacker Gerald Hayes will not play extensively, however. Somers: "Hayes is expected to make a gradual transition into the lineup. If he plays in Seattle on Sunday, it will be on a limited basis. Eventually, he could move back into his old job, starting strong inside linebacker. That would allow the Cardinals to move Paris Lenon to the weak position, and rookie Daryl Washington would become a reserve and situational player."

Also from Somers: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt says quarterbacks have it easier than tight ends when playing in noisy stadiums. Spoken like a former tight end.

More from Somers: Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter isn't happy about the NFL's new emphasis on punishment. Porter: "You are going to see a lot more points, a lot more guys scared to pull the trigger to make the big play. A lot of guys will start losing their jobs because now you're not making the tackles you're supposed to make. It's just going to get crazy, man. I expect something different happening this Sunday."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Fitzgerald loves playing at Qwest Field more than just about anywhere. Fitzgerald: "You definitely have that you-against-the-world feeling when you go on the field. You see the ‘No. 1’ (jersey-wearing) guy and the crazy guy above the tunnel calling your name. It’s a great atmosphere. It’s the 11 men in the huddle and no one else in the building is supporting you. I love that feeling."

Also from Urban: Hayes doesn't know how much he'll contribute to the Cardinals' defense Sunday. Hayes: "I know what I do and what I do well. I have to leave a lot of stuff up to the coaches. I’m going to continue to work on the things I need to work on so when I do get in there, I will know what I am doing and play at a high level."

Arizona: The Cardinals should be much healthier coming out of their bye week. Receivers Steve Breaston and Early Doucet are expected back. Their presence would very much help rookie quarterback Max Hall. The margin for error shrinks on the road. Breaston and Doucet have big-game experience. Breaston in particular can make downfield plays. Seattle could be without starting cornerback Kelly Jennings. Having more receivers healthy gives Arizona a better chance to exploit matchups. It's tough to know what veteran inside linebacker Gerald Hayes might provide, but the Cardinals need all the help they can get against the run. They've allowed 401 yards rushing in their past two road games. Hayes is returning from the physically unable to perform (PUP) list. How much he practices Thursday and Friday could reveal whether he's ready to contribute significantly.

San Francisco: Frank Gore remains healthy and productive, but coach Mike Singletary told reporters Wednesday he hopes to get more carries for Brian Westbrook and Anthony Dixon in an effort to keep Gore from breaking down. I'll believe it when I see it, though. The 49ers have understandably had trouble removing Gore from the field. Westbrook and Dixon have fared well in limited reps, however. Veteran receiver Ted Ginn Jr. will continue handling both punt and kickoff return duties while rookie Kyle Williams recovers from a finger injury. Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis was limited in practice, but his knee injury is not expected to limit him Sunday. Of the other players on the injury report, only Delanie Walker (ankle) and Eric Heitmann (neck) are expected to be unavailable. Neither has played recently.

St. Louis: The Rams are hurting in the secondary. Cornerbacks Ron Bartell (thigh) and Justin King (hamstring) did not participate Wednesday. Hamstring injuries have slowed cornerbacks Jerome Murphy and Kevin Dockery. St. Louis has dealt with injuries in the secondary quite admirably this season. The Rams have yet to face a top quarterback on the road and that will not change against Tampa Bay in Week 7. That might give St. Louis a better chance if their corners are limited. Defensive tackle Clifton Ryan's migraine problems sidelined him again Wednesday, but the Rams have generally been solid up front thanks to Fred Robbins. The special teams should benefit as Chris Chamberlain regains form following a serious turf-toe injury. But with fellow special-teamer David Vobora limited by a hamstring injury, the coverage units might not be full strength. The Bucs have not been strong on returns this season, however.

Seattle: Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane (calf) and cornerback Kelly Jennings (hamstring) did not practice Wednesday. Mebane missed the Chicago game. Jennings did not return after suffering the injury. Seattle's defense fared well with Kentwan Balmer replacing Mebane. Balmer should be in better position to succeed if called upon again this week because crowd noise could make it tougher for the Cardinals' offensive linemen to get off the ball on time. Jennings' absence would hurt the depth at corner just as Arizona is getting healthy at receiver. Having Marcus Trufant healthy against Arizona should help, however. A back injury sidelined Trufant for the first game between the teams last season. He wasn't right physically upon his return. Seattle will not miss former Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin, either. Boldin had 14 catches for 159 yards against Seattle last season and 13 for 186 yards at Seattle in 2008.