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SEATTLE -- The guest list for Jake Locker's pro day at the University of Washington offered up a few surprises.

Former Seattle Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, in town on business, dropped by the Dempsey Indoor facility. Former NFL officiating czar Mike Pereira, in town for a meeting related to his role as interim head of Pac-10 officials, also attended.

Former Washington quarterbacks Warren Moon, Damon Huard, Brock Huard (working for ESPN), Hugh Millen, Cary Conklin and Sonny Sixkiller were there.

The quarterback-needy Tennessee Titans sent a large contingent featuring vice president of player personnel Ruston Webster, offensive coordinator Chris Palmer and pro scouting director Lake Dawson. Keith Gilbertson (Cleveland Browns), Randy Mueller (San Diego Chargers), Bob Ferguson (Indianapolis Colts) and Mike Sheppard (Jacksonville Jaguars) were among the former Seahawks staffers in attendance.

The Seahawks' current decision-makers and most of their coaches drove over from team headquarters, no surprise given the proximity and coach Pete Carroll's ties to Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian, his former USC assistant.

But if the Seahawks' division rivals have any interest in Locker, they hid that interest quite well. The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers did not send representatives, to my knowledge. They certainly did not have any high-profile staffers in attendance. That comes as a bit of a surprise given their obvious needs at quarterback and Locker's potential availability early in the second round, if he slips outside the first.

"I never read anything into which teams attend pro days," Locker's agent, David Dunn, said on the field following the workout. "I've had too many players selected by teams that weren't at pro days or didn't even visit with players."

Fair enough, but teams generally pay closer attention to quarterbacks. The 49ers sent Jim Harbaugh to Blaine Gabbert's pro day at Missouri. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt ran Auburn's Cam Newton through various throws at a recent workout.

"With quarterbacks, you want to be able to touch and feel and see how they are as people as well as athletes and players," Dunn said.

Locker was not the only Washington prospect performing for scouts, but he was the main draw. He did nothing obvious to damage his draft stock during the workout. He completed all but a couple of passes while showing fluidity in his drops and a short delivery, according to scouts who agreed to speak in general terms and not for attribution.

"I've never nitpicked a guy like I've nitpicked Locker," one of them said. "The guy is a winner, and at the end of the day that has to count for something."

Locker has been working with former NFL quarterback Ken O'Brien to bring his hand over the top more quickly when delivering the ball.

The controlled environment was set up to make him look good. No NFL coaches or personnel people asked Locker to perform unscripted throws. They watched Locker zip the ball with ample velocity and accuracy most of the time, save for a couple high throws that his overworked wide receiver, D'Andre Goodwin, snatched away from his body.

"I'm focusing on the fluidity of the drop, getting my feet in the right spot and just bringing the hand over the top as quickly as I could, rather than dragging my hand," Locker said afterward. "I have a tendency to do that sometimes. I want to bring my hand over the top and really point that finger at my target. I have been spinning the ball a lot better and it's been coming off my hand a lot better."

Locker's relatively low completion percentage at Washington and his inexperience running a pro-style offense have raised questions about his readiness for the NFL. Can he read defenses? Can he throw accurately and on time from the pocket? To what degree did a weak offensive line and receiving corps hamstring him in college?

I've heard differing opinions from scouts as to how well Locker would fit with the NFC West teams that need quarterbacks (Seattle, Arizona and San Francisco).

"A lot of people seem to have him pinpointed to Seattle at No. 25, but I don’t think that makes any sense at all," Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. "It works for people who do not know the X’s and O’s of it all. At 25, he has some value. He went to school in that area. It is easy to say that is a good fit, but I think Seattle is going more and more to a pure West Coast offense, and Locker doesn't fit the West Coast offense at all."

The Cardinals pick fifth and the 49ers pick seventh, earlier than Locker is expected to come off the board. Seattle is one of the few quarterback-needy teams picking later in the first round, when Locker figures to become a more likely selection.

"Jake seems to be an acquired taste," Dunn said. "The more you watch him on film, the more that you are around him, the more you like him."

How well Locker would fit with the Seahawks could hinge on the degree to which Williamson is right in his assessment of how Seattle's offense will evolve.

New coordinator Darrell Bevell comes from the Andy Reid/Mike Holmgren branch of the West Coast offense, a branch that relies more heavily on short, precise passes. Before Bevell replaced Jeremy Bates, the Seahawks had been running Mike Shanahan's version of the West Coast system featuring more quarterback movement, hard play-action fakes and deeper throws requiring greater arm strength.

Carroll, who attended the workout Wednesday, has said the Seahawks do not plan to significantly diverge from the system they ran last season. But it's plausible to think that Bevell's background could steer them away to some degree.

"You do have to be a precise passer in a Bill Walsh, traditional West Coast offense," Rob Rang, senior analyst for NFL Draft Scout, said from the Dempsey Indoor facility. "But I like any offense that is going to use Jake Locker's mobility as an asset rather than just keeping him pinned in that pocket. If you can use his legs as a weapon, that is where he has been his most accurate. He made significant improvements in his accuracy from the so-called pocket in this workout, but at the same time, his strength remains throwing on the move."

Rang said he would draft Locker in the first round as long as the team in question has a veteran starter in place.

I stood next to Moon, the retired Hall of Famer, throughout the workout. Moon said he sees the NFL game evolving to favor quarterbacks with mobility. Life for traditional pocket passers is getting tougher, in his view. Locker's athleticism and scrambling ability separate him from most prospects. He has run the 40-yard dash in 4.52 seconds, a time that holds up against those posted by some wide receivers. But quarterbacks must also succeed as pocket passers to make it in the NFL.

"Locker is pretty accurate outside the pocket," Williamson said, "but as far as going 1-2-3 and getting it out, having good footwork, hitting a guy in stride, he is terrible. I don’t see that fit at all. I do not think he is going to be the precise passer Harbaugh is looking for, either. I can see someone like Arizona being really interested in him in Round 2. They might like a more 'toolsy' guy, like a Ben Roethlisberger."

Williamson sees Locker appealing to a coach such as Shanahan, who might see Locker as a cross between Jay Cutler and Jake Plummer, two quarterbacks Shanahan coached in Denver. That's the type of quarterback Seattle was seeking when Jeremy Bates was coordinating their offense. It's the type of quarterback the Seahawks might still value if Bevell installs the type of system Carroll has favored previously.

"I don't know in the NFL right now if people run different offenses," Sarkisian said. "It's so much of a copycat league and everybody runs so many things that are similar that it's hard to say that New England is different than Pittsburgh that is different than Seattle that is different from the Chargers. They all have their focal points, but at the end of the day, there are a lot of similarities. Things will be tailored for him [Locker], like they are for every quarterback, but I just think he fits in as an NFL quarterback."

RENTON, Wash. -- You aren't the only one biding your time til the NFL draft begins at 7:30 p.m. ET.

NFL people are waiting, too.

The Seahawks have set up their draft-day media center in a defensive meeting room. Peter King of Sports Illustrated is among those here to see how Seattle uses two of the top 14 choices in the draft (no other team has more than one pick that early). ESPN's Brock Huard is hosting a radio show for 101ESPN Seattle from a table nearby. Another former NFL and University of Washington quarterback, Hugh Millen, is here for 950KJR.

Former 49ers linebackers Ken Norton Jr. and Jeff Ulbrich walked past recently as part of a group featuring former Seahawks cornerback Kris Richard. All three are assistants under Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. They've got time to kill.

We're about an hour away from putting St. Louis on the clock.

Should be a fun night.

Update: ESPN's Shelley Smith is here also. She filed this report:

The buzz is starting to pick up at the Seahawks' facility. Just popped into Pete Carroll's corner office with an amazing view of Lake Washington and its own bathroom! He was on the phone talking to his son, Brennan, and then later walked down the hall into the cafeteria to grab a cookie.

A bunch of players were around this morning, working out, watching film. One was Mike Williams, the former USC wide receiver who just signed a one-year contract with the Seahawks. Another was former Oregon center Max Unger, who was headed home to see where his fellow Ducks would land.

Most of the coaches went home early last night and stayed away until lunchtime, some getting a quick workout in in the massive weight facility, which has garage-like doors that open onto the three outdoor practice fields and a hill strength coach Chris Carlisle uses for conditioning.

The draft room is around the corner from where we, the media, are hanging out drinking coffee. I'm told it will contain just a few people to keep it orderly and quiet. That said, I'm sure the noise factor will start to heat up as the first round nears.

The entertaining radio conversation featuring Seattle receivers Deion Branch, Nate Burleson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh featured lots of sound bites ripe for analysis.

One of them slipped through the cracks.

After an animated exchange involving the receivers and analyst Hugh Millen, Branch asked to be heard on the overall direction of the team under coach Jim Mora and CEO Tod Leiweke.

Branch: You listen to me and I’m telling you right now, this man, Coach Mora, [and] Tod Leiweke, for everybody who is talking bad about Mr. Leiweke, these guys have done a great job, they are going to turn this program around, this organization is going to go in the right direction and the direction it is supposed to be going in. It’s going to happen. True enough, we’re 5-10. We will finish the season 6-10, bottom line, going into the offseason. Next year, you won’t have to worry about that. These guys are going to get this organization going in the right direction and all this stuff won’t be talked about.

Branch is right about at least one thing: Winning does head off these sorts of conversations.

Jim Moore of seattlepi.com checks in with Seahawks coach Jim Mora, who says players have not quit. Mora: "I feel pretty certain. No one's quitting. It's a violent sport. If you go out and quit, you're taking a humongous risk with your health. And a lot of these guys have overcome obstacles. If these guys were quitters, they never would have gotten to this point. At points in games, we have a tendency to go: 'Here we go again.' It's discouragement. But quit? No. It's not part of their mental makeup." The story repeats an oft-cited stat suggesting Mora's teams have never won a game they trailed after three quarters. Someone asked me about the stat last week. I thought it sounded unlikely. The first close game I checked -- San Diego at Atlanta on Oct. 17, 2004 -- showed the Falcons rallying for a 21-20 victory after trailing 17-7 after three quarters.

Ryan Divish of the Tacoma News Tribune follows up with T.J. Houshmandzadeh regarding the recent radio conversation featuring Seattle receivers and analyst Hugh Millen. Houshmandzadeh and Millen spoke at length after practice. Houshmandzadeh: "We were just talking about certain plays in the game. And I saw his point, and told him my point, period. I don’t dislike him because I don’t know him to dislike him. But he told me what he saw with his points and I told him why I did what I did."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks need to score 13 points Sunday to avoid their lowest-scoring season since the historically inept 1992 offense. O'Neil: "Four of the team's interceptions these past two weeks came in the second half with Seattle trailing by more than 20 points. At that point, the Seahawks offense has been reduced to heaving the ball deep downfield in hopes someone will make a play. Instead, it has often been a defensive back making the play."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with guard Trevor Canfield, signed off the Cardinals' practice squad.

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals will worry about the Packers -- and scoreboards from other games -- in Week 17. McManaman: "If the Vikings win, however, it's pretty much a moot point. Of the eight possible playoff scenarios involving the NFC West champion Cardinals, six include them having to turn around and face the Packers again at home in the NFC wild-card round. Should that be the case, the Cardinals probably would save some of their best game-planning for a rematch, and they might even consider resting some regulars, including Warner."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with Packers coach Mike McCarthy, who played junior college ball in Scottsdale and might be revisiting the area over the next couple of weekends.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com sizes up an improved Arizona running game. Larry Fitzgerald: "I was 2 minutes and 40 seconds away from being a Super Bowl champion last year. Whatever it would take to get back there and hoist that trophy, I could care less if we run it 50 times a game."

Also from Urban: The Cardinals expect to play the Packers again in the wild-card round. How should they approach the Week 17 game between the teams?

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers receiver Isaac Bruce wasn't expecting coach Mike Singletary to let him play against the Rams in what will be his final game. The other receivers lobbied Singletary to make Bruce active. Bruce: "I was kind of surprised, but if it had been me, I don't think I would have done it. I'm a football player. I believe in players earning the right to play. I believe that if one player is better than another, the best player should play." Tell me that isn't refreshing. Singletary: "I had asked him earlier what his thoughts were on playing in the game. He said probably not. Then when I told him about his teammates asking me, I think it shocked him to hear. It was a matter of these guys he mentored, about what it is to be a pro. That group of guys made it known that they would like to see him play."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Josh Morgan offered his starting spot to Bruce against the Rams.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Alex Smith can remove doubts with a strong performance against the Rams. Singletary: "It's just going to be a matter of him continuing to mature and at some point in time, hopefully it’s this Sunday, he’s going to know, and everybody else will know, that he’s the guy that can take us where we need to go. He has done enough for me at this point to say that, going forward, I don’t see why I would doubt it."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says about 8,000 tickets to the 49ers-Rams game remained unsold early in the week, making it likely Bruce's final game will not be shown locally in St. Louis. Bruce says he is 75 percent sure about retiring.

Also from Thomas: Bruce is excited about returning to St. Louis. Bruce: "I'm always excited to go back to St. Louis. To go back to the dome. Be on that turf again. The fans. And see the employees that work for the Rams right now, that run that building. Just being in that atmosphere again. Seeing the banners that hang from the rafters, that's always exciting to me."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Kyle Boller would like to return to the Rams in 2010. Boller: "Any time you have an injury or an illness and you’re taken out of the position, somebody else has an opportunity to get in there. It’s unfortunate that that happened to me. I’m going to have to deal with that, and hopefully work my way back."

Also from Coats: Jason Smith's return to practice Wednesday came as a surprise. Smith finally passed concussion-related testing. Smith: "It was a great relief to, No. 1, pass the best and then to be able to be around the team, be at practice and be able to do something. We took the test a couple of days ago, and I was able to pass it. We started taking it one day at a time from there, doing light workouts and seeing how the head reacts."

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat offers comments from Leonard Little, among others, regarding Bruce's return to the Edward Jone Dome. This might also be Little's final game with the Rams. Little: "He was the ultimate competitor. He always prepared like it was the last game of his career. Always. That's the way he is. He was a great teammate and an inspiration to young guys. He was an inspiration to me when I was young. He takes young guys under his wing and tries to teach them the best way he can to be a pro and do things the right way. He will go down as one of the greatest receivers of all time. He’s a Hall-of-Fame player. He’s proven that over the years. If this is his last game, he deserves the chance to be around the fans who were with him most of his career."

Also from Balzer: Steven Jackson says he hopes to play in the Pro Bowl, but he will not put himself at undue risk.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are scaling back their workload as the playoffs approach. Somers: "Ken Whisenhunt couldn't follow this plan with last year's team. Those Cardinals were immature, given to wild swings of mood and performance. Over the holidays last year, Whisenhunt put his team through padded practices because he felt the players had relaxed in their preparation."

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals need to re-sign strength and conditioning coach John Lott. Bickley: "In these dizzying times, there are five main reasons for the Cardinals' stunning transformation. They are (1) Kurt Warner; (2) great skill players; (3) Ken Whisenhunt; (4) a weak division; and (5) the new stadium in Glendale. But don't underestimate the contributions of Lott, a galvanizing, motivating personality who is partly responsible for the noted increase in this team's stamina, swagger and strength." The Cardinals would hear about it if they let Lott get away. Whisenhunt has consistently credited Lott for helping the Cardinals stay healthier than some teams.

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals hope their four Pro Bowl selections aren't available for the all-star game.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com sizes up the team's Pro Bowl selections, passing along this comment from Whisenhunt regarding Darnell Dockett: "One thing that has shown up is you don’t see as many penalties on Darnell. I think he has gotten some of his emotions under control and now he is letting his play speak for himself and I have no doubt that is one of the reasons he is on the team as a starter."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Pro Bowl voters could not ignore Steven Jackson even though the Rams are suffering through a horrible season. Jackson last week: "You work all offseason really hard to hopefully be in the Pro Bowl. And to have a Pro Bowl year that means you're one of the best at your position. So it means a great deal."

Also from Thomas: a chat transcript featuring low marks for the Rams' cornerbacks. Thomas: "I know there are injuries, and the pass rush has been spotty at best, but they'd get a 'D' or an 'F' from me. Ron Bartell has been hurt, but he hasn't been the player he was last season. Bradley Fletcher was coming on before he got hurt. Jonathan Wade in the doghouse. Justin King hasn't been very good, although he tackled better Sunday. Danny Gorrer got schooled big-time by the Cardinals and then dropped a sure INT for a TD. And not one INT from this group the entire season!!!! Unbelievable. Is it the coaching? Is it the talent level? Or a little of both? I don't know."

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat says Jackson is buying watches for offensive teammates after earning a Pro Bowl berth. Balzer: "With one game remaining in the season, Jackson ranks second in the NFL in rushing yards with 1,353 and is fourth in combined yards from scrimmage with 1,675. He has rushed for at least 1,000 yards for a franchise-best five consecutive seasons."

Jim Rodenbush of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat expects Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo to remain noncommittal about the team's starting quarterback for Week 17.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee checks in with Vernon Davis after players and coaches throughout the NFL helped the 49ers' tight end become a Pro Bowl starter. Davis: "It means a lot to me because that shows a lot of these players -- they respect me and they acknowledge my ability. They know the type of things I can do to a defense."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers think Patrick Willis can still improve quite a bit, even after three Pro Bowl berths in three NFL seasons. Coach Mike Singletary: "Pat has a ways to go before he gets all of it. I don't know how good he can be. But I know he's not there yet. He knows it as well. There is so much more that he can do better. It is amazing to me that a guy could have that much ability as a linebacker. This offseason, I am really excited about some of the things and some of the goals he has this offseason of trying to take that next step. I am excited to see where it goes, but he is exceptional."

Also from Maiocco: 49ers punter Andy Lee is back in the Pro Bowl.

Jerry McDonald of Bay Area News Group says Davis did not expect to be recognized as a Pro Bowl starter because of the big names he was competing against.

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says Davis credits Singletary for helping to turn around his career. Davis: "Coach Singletary has really helped me out. Sending me to the locker room really woke me up and made me realize how important the game is. It's not just about you, it's about the team. It did motivate me. It helped me to put my team first and realize the penalties can hurt the team."

Also from Crumpacker: Willis correctly downplays tackles as a meaningful stat.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says former president and general manager Tim Ruskell deserves more blame than coach Jim Mora for the Seahawks' current problems. Kelley on the next team president/GM: "If he keeps Mora, he should ask him to make major changes with his offensive coaching staff. And the new president should turn over as much as one third of the team's roster. I don't think Jim Mora will be fired. I think Ruskell's replacement will see that Mora has had success before as a head coach in Atlanta. He'll probably give Mora another year and a better team. I don't know if keeping Mora is the right or wrong call. I do know that, either way, we'll all know the answer to that question a year from today." Ruskell was riding high after the draft, and rightfully so. He did seem to make the right moves. There's plenty of blame to go around when an organization falls this hard. I'm with Kelley in not being 100 percent sure how the Seahawks should proceed with Mora. But if the team makes a move after only one season, Mora's replacement had better come with some legitimate credentials.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times compares the Seattle receivers' attack on Hugh Millen to something out of pro wrestling. O'Neil: "When KJR tracked Millen down via phone and patched him through, it felt like a professional wrestler being invited to Roddy Piper's Pit only to get clocked from behind by a steel chair as they debated the film-room minutiae of coverage schemes."

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says Seahawks receiver Deion Branch is offering advice to fans. Branch, after taking a supportive call during his radio show from a fan named Jack: "These are the people we play for. If it's 70,000 Jack fans who show up Sunday, that's who we want in the stadium. We don't want the other 15,000 who are straddling the fence, one week we win, the next week we lose. Stay at home. If you're not with us, stay at home. Please stay at home. Deion Branch said that. If you're not with us, stay at home." Criticizing fans generally is not productive.

Coach Jim Mora has questioned the Seahawks' toughness on a football field.

No one can question their toughness on the radio after receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson and Deion Branch roughed up retired NFL quarterback Hugh Millen, a Seattle radio personality, during a combative exchange on the radio. I'm surprised an NFL referee didn't flag them for roughing the former passer.

KJR has the audio here. Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times transcribed much of it.

The predicament Millen found himself speaks to the difficulties associated with analyzing coverages. If the quarterbacks on the field misread coverages -- and they do -- how can the rest of us ever know precisely what was happening? Millen would know better than most because he played quarterback in the NFL and Mora happens to be his close friend and former college roommate, but Seattle's top three receivers weren't hearing any of it.

Branch went on to make some comments about the Super Bowl rings he won with New England.

"Hey, I've been a part of two Super Bowls," Branch said. "Nobody on this football team has been a part of it, period. No coach. Nobody. I have. I've won two of them. The bottom line is are we winning? No. Do we have a good team, yes? To Hugh Millen and Ian Furness. We have a good football team. Are we talented? Yes. Are we playing good? No. We're not playing good football, no we're not. We're not executing plays."

The "no coach" comment caught my attention. These are frustrating times for the Seahawks. I can't fault players for taking criticism personally sometimes and wanting to fire back.

In the end, though, the Seahawks are still a 5-10 football team without much reason for optimism right now. You know it's a lost season when a spat with Hugh Millen on the radio proves more entertaining than the product on the field.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

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

Rams

101ESPN St. Louis: general manager Billy Devaney

101ESPN St. Louis: former linebacker Will Witherspoon

101ESPN St. Louis: reporter Jim Thomas

101ESPN St. Louis: La'Roi Glover

1070 The Fan Indianapolis: me

49ers

KNBR680: defensive coordinator Greg Manusky

KNBR680: Mike Singletary

Cardinals

XTRA910: safety Adrian Wilson

KTAR620: coach Ken Whisenhunt

azcardinals.com: Whisenhunt

Seahawks

710ESPN Seattle: Jim Mora news conference

710ESPN Seattle: analyst Steve Raible

KJR950 Seattle: receivers Nate Burleson and Deion Branch

KJR950 Seattle: analyst Hugh Millen

If you find others, please pass along links.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

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

Rams

101ESPN St. Louis: reporter Jim Thomas

101ESPN St. Louis: La'Roi Glover

101ESPN St. Louis: coach Steve Spagnuolo

101ESPN St. Louis: executive Kevin Demoff, part one

101ESPN St. Louis: Demoff, part two

101ESPN St. Louis: Steven Jackson

49ers

KNBR680: reporter Matt Maiocco

KNBR680: coach Mike Singletary

XTRA910: columnist Ray Ratto

Cardinals

azcardinals.com: Cardinals Underground

Seahawks

KJR950 Seattle: analyst Hugh Millen

KJR950 Seattle: receivers Deion Branch and Nate Burleson

KJR950 Seattle: reporter Eric Williams

KJR950 Seattle: cornerback Ken Lucas

If you find others, please pass along links.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Aric from Tempe writes: This is a multi-part question. One, does the NFL have a minimum average occupancy/ticket sales that a team must be below for a new owner to move a team? Two, if son, the Rams' offseason seems like the movie "Major League" where the owner signed a bunch of nobodies and did everthing he could to make them fail. Maybe I'm wrong, but why havent the Rams made any attempt to get at least one decent receiver? Three, are they tight on cap room? Why cut Torry Holt instead of trading him? I am a huge Rams fan, I have been a season-ticket holder since they came to St. Louis and I keep my season tickets even though I live in Arizona. Please help me understand what is oing on.

Mike Sando: I see the Rams as a rebuilding team that decided to go young at most positions when feasible. Saving money might have been partly behind some moves. However, the team spent big on free-agent center Jason Brown. The team held onto the second overall choice in the draft and then paid a slight premium to Jason Smith in an effort to get him into camp on time. The Rams re-signed cornerback Ron Bartell and committed more than $6 million to Oshiomogho Atogwe as a franchise player.

To answer your questions, relocation rules require three-fourths of owners to approve a move, but the Raiders succeeded in relocating without such approval. Also, the Rams have been relatively tight on cap room for some time.

---

Dave from 49er Country writes: Mike, I, like many of my 49er faithful brothers and sisters, are riding quite a 'high' so far this season. We are one very close play from being 3-0 (gotta give Brett Favre his props ... the man can still rip the ball) and now the Rams come to Frisco all banged up and probably expecting, deep down, to lose this game. What are they putting in the water in Santa Clara these days? The roster is not that much different than last year's team. Is Mike 'win or or else' Singletary willing the talent from these guys or was Mike Nolan just a bad head coach?

Mike Sando: Singletary has the 49ers playing more intelligently. The team is no longer trying to run a Kurt Warner offense with J.T. O'Sullivan at quarterback. That is the No. 1 difference on the field. You no longer see the 49ers blowing games. Some are getting a little impatient with the conservative approach, but it's clear to me Singletary wants to prevent losing while this team is learning how to win. Shaun Hill has continued to provide stability at quarterback, also. And then the defense is playing a more straightforward style.

---

Jason from Morongo Valley, Calif., writes: I predict the Niners going 10-6, winning their division and making the playoffs. I also think that they could be dangerous once in the playoffs because of their motivation and toughness. I know the Niners have been bad for a long time, but do you think this is reasonable to suggest?

Mike Sando: I think it's possible for the 49ers to get to that level. I do not think the team is currently at that level offensively. Most playoff teams would be able to outscore the 49ers, I suspect. The toughness and motivation are helpful, but other playoff teams would possess those traits as well.

---

Terry from Seattle writes: Did the NFL really contact the Seahawks and openly admit the Matt Forte fumble/review was called wrong by the officiating crew?

Mike Sando: Hugh Millen said so on KJR radio in Seattle. He played with Jim Mora at the University of Washington. The two were roommates. They remain close friends. Just a guess, but Millen would probably be able to verify that information.

I do not think it's a big deal. Teams complain about calls all the time. The league promises to review the plays in question. Sometimes the league acknowledges an error. Sometimes the league says the official made the right call. These sorts of things happen regularly. It's not like the league would have made a special call to the Seahawks, apologizing for horrible misdeeds. They probably said a mistake was made. It's not like it changes anything.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

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

49ers

KNBR680: president Jed York

KNBR680: coach Mike Singletary

KNBR680: blogger Kevin Lynch

KNBR680: snapper Brian Jennings

KNBR680: reporter Matt Maiocco

Cardinals

XTRA910: safety Adrian Wilson

KTAR620: coach Ken Whisenhunt

Seahawks

710ESPN Seattle: me

710ESPN Seattle: analyzing Jim Mora's comments

710ESPN Seattle: Jim Mora's news conference

950KJR Seattle: former offensive coordinator Gil Haskell

950KJR Seattle: Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, Seneca Wallace

950KJR Seattle: analyst Hugh Millen

950KJR Seattle: Millen continued

950KJR Seattle: tight end John Carlson

Rams

101ESPN St. Louis: reporter Jim Thomas

As always, please leave links to additional audio in the comments section, if possible (comments feature has had some issues). I'll add items as needed.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

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

Cardinals

XTRA910: Coach Ken Whisenhunt via sportsradiointerviews.com

Seahawks

ESPN710 Seattle: Linebacker Aaron Curry

KJR950: Former NFL quarterback Hugh Millen

ESPN Radio: Coach Jim Mora with Colin Cowherd

49ers

KNBR680: Reporter Matt Maiocco

KNBR680: Coach Mike Singletary

KNBR680: Chief operating officer Andy Dolich

Rams

ESPN101 St. Louis: Tight end Joe Klopfenstein

The interview with Klopfenstein was interesting in that he alluded to a wrist injury that bothered him early in camp. He said he's been catching the ball better lately.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- I'll be heading out to the 49ers' morning practice shortly.

First, I wanted to pass along an audio link to my conversation with Brock Huard and Mike Salk of 710ESPN Seattle from 49ers camp Monday.

Also:

• Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee joins KNBR to talk 49ers.
• Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley joins 710ESPN Seattle.
• Seahawks coach Jim Mora joins Mitch Levy and Hugh Millen on KJR radio in Seattle, while offensive coordinator Greg Knapp visited with Elise Woodward later in the day.
• Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks Rams with teammate Bernie Miklasz of 101ESPN St. Louis.
• Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt goes "In the Red Zone" on the Cardinals' official podcast Monday.
  

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Mike Reiss of Reiss' Pieces revisits the Seahawks-Patriots trade involving receiver Deion Branch. The move might have kept the Patriots from a Super Bowl. The Seahawks, meanwhile, have realized little return on a substantial investment.

Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says Maurice Morris will start at running back for the Seahawks against New England. Coach Mike Holmgren says he'll "sprinkle in" Julius Jones and T.J. Duckett.

Frank Hughes of the Tacoma News Tribune quotes Jim Mora's friend and former college roommate, Hugh Millen, as saying there's no chance Mora will become the next head coach at the University of Washington. Nothing has changed, in other words.

Chrissy Mauck of 49ers.com takes a look at the Jets in advancing the 49ers' upcoming opponent. The Jets could make Frank Gore work for every yard.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the Dolphins claimed former 49ers receiver Chris Hannon off waivers.

Also from Maiocco: highlights from Mike Singletary's midweek news conference, including an update on the return game.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers are petitioning the NFL to transfer a half-sack from Justin Smith to Roderick Green.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com thinks Kurt Warner needs a big game at New England to revive his candidacy for league MVP.

Also from Urban: Tim Hightower is looking to reestablish the Cardinals' ground game.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals added Adrian Wilson (shoulder) and Anquan Boldin (back) to the injury report. Both practiced.

Also from Somers: The Cardinals held a physical practice session after a few days of rest. Cornerback Rod Hood was back from injury, a big help for the secondary.

Andrew from Revenge of the Birds downloads our Pro Bowl spreadsheet and makes the case for Karlos Dansby. The issue always becomes: who gets left off. Brian Urlacher? Patrick Willis? Antonio Pierce?

Bill Coats of Around the Horns says Chris Draft could be back in the Rams' lineup at linebacker in Week 14. Also, rookie Chris Chamberlain is getting work with the starters on the strong side. The fact that coach Jim Haslett is turning to young players suggests he's keeping the Rams' long-term future in mind. Perhaps he feels the Rams will make him part of it.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says Warner sees little extra significance in a chance to clinch the NFC West title against the Rams.

Judd Zulgad of Access Vikings says Minnesota has signed former Rams defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy as a stopgap.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Sam from Calabasas, Calif., writes: Mike, looking over your all NFC West team, I was surprised to see [Rams TE Randy] McMichael listed over Vernon Davis. Last year, Davis had more catches, more yards and more TDs playing with four different QBs on one of the worst offenses the NFL has seen in years.

Now that the 49ers have a seemingly more accurate QB and a proven offensive system I can only see his numbers (yards and TDs specifically, perhaps not catches) going up. Do you think McMichael will outperform Davis this year because you cant rank him ahead of Davis based on last year?

Mike Sando: Let's not read too much into last season when making this comparison. The Rams' offense used 18 combinations on the offensive line, and Marc Bulger suffered injured ribs early in the season. Both teams were a mess offensively.

I'm going a little old school on this one, Sam. I'm going to make Vernon Davis earn it. Davis averaged 9.8 yards per reception last season, tied for 210th in the NFL. Granted, as you said, that reflects the offense, not just Davis. And I've already said we shouldn't read too much into last season, when McMichael averaged 11.0 yards per catch.

If we temper last season, we're left to compare Davis' potential against McMichael's steady production over six seasons. Davis has 72 career catches. McMichael has 332 career receptions without missing a game. Both players could be productive this season. I'm curious to see how the 49ers use Delanie Walker as well.

We'll revisit this as the season progresses, and I won't be surprised if and when Davis emerges as the choice for the all-division team. Keep an eye out for Seattle's John Carlson, too. He might play enough to get some consideration.

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Tom FitzGerald of the San Francisco Chronicle takes a closer look at 49ers quarterback J.T. O'Sullivan, a huge "Lost" fan whose favorite movies include "The Big Lebowski" and "North Shore" (a 1987 surfer film). This is the best story I've read about O'Sullivan.

Also from FitzGerald: says the 49ers haven't announced a starting receiver opposite Isaac Bruce. He lists Bryant Johnson and Arnaz Battle as likely candidates.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic wonders if Plaxico Burress' new deal with the Giants becomes a blueprint for what Boldin might get from the Cardinals. Both players have the same agent. Burress had three years remaining on his existing deal, as does Boldin.

Also from Somers: Arizona readies itself to face O'Sullivan, and Watson might need a couple weeks of practice before returning.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are focusing on Eagles running back Brian Westbrook. Defensive back Ron Bartell called Westbrook one of the top three backs in the league. Last season, Westbrook joined former Ram Marshall Faulk and current Ram Steven Jackson as the only players in NFL history with 1,300 yards rushing and 750 yards receiving in the same season.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat reports the Rams' Jackson says he'll have no trouble carrying a heavy load against the Eagles. Has a running back ever said he didn't want the ball?

(Read full post)