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Gregg Williams isn't getting much sympathy these days.

That isn't going to change following the release of an audio tape featuring the former New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator imploring his players to injure specific San Francisco 49ers -- with cash from Williams as the reward in at least one instance.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch provides balance to the criticism by challenging the Saints' suggestion that Williams, now defensive coordinator for the St. Louis Rams, acted as a "rogue" coach during his days with New Orleans. Burwell: "How can this tape be the thing that forces Roger Goodell to heap a lifetime ban on Williams? Unless I'm missing something, didn't the tape simply confirm every crime that Goodell already said he already knew Williams had perpetrated? The tape adds no new revelations, only additional confirmation. The only thing the tape does is conveniently provide the Saints coaches and general manager with an excuse to throw Williams under the bus as they attempt to receive some leniency from Goodell in their appeals hearing." Noted: The audio tape provides emphatic confirmation. It amplifies and corroborates in a manner that further damages/cements Williams' reputation. Also, the NFL's bounty announcement referred to other games and other opponents, but not this game against the 49ers. It also demonstrated that the Saints continued the bounty program shortly after learning that the NFL had reopened its investigation.

Ray Ratto of CSNBayArea.com says the NFL never would have punished the Saints to this degree had New Orleans defeated San Francisco and won the Super Bowl. Ratto: "Sean Payton would have skated again, because the league would never tolerate a two-time Super Bowl winner and supergenius being publicly rebuked for something they were trying to keep on the down-low. In short, the 49ers did the league a huge favor. Alex Smith is owed a huge solid, and here’s hoping now that he’s been given the back of the business’ hand in his latest contract that someone sees fit to take care of him. Those two late scores took out New Orleans, freeing Roger Goodell to muster enough owner support to drop a bag of hammers on Tom Benson and his perpetually defiant football staff."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News thinks Williams is finished as an NFL coach, but he offers this: "I understand the public outrage over this tape, but folks, did you think Williams (or any intense defensive coordinator) regularly tells his players to be nice out there? No, this is an incredibly violent sport. And usually the more violent team, if it stays within the rules, is the one that wins. By the way, the 49ers were the more violent team on the field in the playoff game. THEY WON THE GAME."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News passes along comments from 49ers safety Donte Whitner describing Williams' pregame directives as "really disgusting."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers' next draft class faces an uphill fight in some cases.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says James Sanders' signing to a one-year contract gives the Cardinals depth at safety behind starters Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes. Somers: "Sean Considine left for the Ravens, and Hamza Abdullah is not under contract. Rashad Johnson, a restricted free agent, has not yet signed his tender offer of $1.26 million."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com has this to say about Sanders: "This is a veteran who should serve well in the locker room. A scouting report from someone who covered Sanders acknowledged his age -- he doesn’t run as well as he used to -- but that the veteran is a good person, good with teammates and is intelligent, the kind of player who makes sure everyone is on the same page defensively. In some ways, it sure sounds a lot like Richard Marshall (and like Marshall, Stewart is from Fresno State. He’s actually a one-time college teammate of Marshall’s.)"

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team held its annual workout for locally produced college talent. Farnsworth: "At best, the Seahawks can find a player or two from the group -- as was the case last year with Jesse Hoffman, a defensive back from Eastern Washington University and Shorecrest High School; and Dorson Boyce, a fullback from the University of Washington. Each was invited to training camp and Hoffman was signed to a future contract for this year in January. Last year’s group also included two players who were drafted by other teams –- UW quarterback Jake Locker, the eighth pick overall by the Titans; and Shiloh Keo, a defensive back from the University of Idaho and Woodinville High School who went to the Texans in the fifth round."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune passes along Evan Silva's contention that John Carlson, formerly of the Seahawks, was the most overpaid player in free agency this offseason.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle dismisses the notion of Kam Chancellor moving to outside linebacker for the Seahawks.

The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers showed interest in former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck last offseason.

What might happen if Hasselbeck hits the market again in 2012?

The question comes to mind while Tennessee Titans owner Bud Adams makes a strong push for quarterback Peyton Manning.

Adams' interest, expressed emphatically over the weekend, initially seemed like bluster. But with Manning and the Titans meeting Wednesday, there's at least a chance. Manning would get to face his former team, Indianapolis, and the happy-with-Matt Schaub Houston Texans two times apiece per season.

If Manning lands in Tennessee, the Titans would proceed with 2011 first-round choice Jake Locker as their backup and projected future starter. Hasselbeck would be out.

The Cardinals could make room for Hasselbeck by declining to pay a $7 million bonus due to Kevin Kolb by Friday. We're dealing in the hypothetical at this point, but so are the teams. As much as the Cardinals want Manning, they must prepare alternate strategies. They could have a choice between Kolb and Hasselbeck if Manning landed in Tennessee. Hasselbeck would upgrade the position on the field, in my view, while giving the Cardinals a veteran mentor for Skelton.

Hasselbeck ranked about the same as Kolb in NFL passer rating last season, but much higher in Total QBR. Hasselbeck suffered from losing top receiver Kenny Britt to a season-ending injury. The Cardinals would presumably welcome his ability to make quick decisions, a problem area for Arizona last season.

Quite a few NFC West watchers have also asked whether Kolb might land in Seattle if the Cardinals released him. My sense is that Seattle could be in the market for a range of quarterbacks at sub-starter prices. Matt Flynn and Chad Henne are visiting this week. Kolb would present another option if the Cardinals parted with him.

Manning would be the only available quarterback Seattle would pay starting money this offseason, in my view. Previous reports have suggested the Seahawks were not in contention. The latest news story from ESPN's Chris Mortensen offers at last some hope even though Seattle does not appear to be under consideration at this time.

"Manning has not eliminated any of the teams with which he has previously met -- the Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, or Miami Dolphins, nor has he closed the door on possibly meeting with other teams," the story says.

As for the 49ers, they appear most likely to re-sign Alex Smith. Hasselbeck would be an obvious alternative for them if he became available and Smith's situation with the 49ers changed.

INDIANAPOLIS -- That was former Seattle Seahawks executive Ruston Webster lauding former Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck on Thursday.

"His ability to work with the receivers and really his ability to command an offense and manage a game and get the ball to the right people without zeroing in on one guy, I think was huge," Webster, now the Tennessee Titans' general manager, said of Hasselbeck, now the Titans' quarterback, from the scouting combine.

Webster was particularly impressed with how Hasselbeck handled losing top receiver Kenny Britt to injury.

"As you know, he's the master at the line of scrimmage and changing plays and doing all those kinds of things, and so he just, I felt like, gave us a chance even without our top playmaker in there," Webster said.

The Titans plan for Hasselbeck to compete with Jake Locker for the starting job in 2012.

We've long since moved past debating whether Seattle should have held onto Hasselbeck. That discussion has played out. I'm passing along Webster's comments merely as an update regarding a couple guys with NFC West ties.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Greg Roman, the San Francisco 49ers' offensive coordinator, naturally wasn't going to disrespect an opponent heading into a playoff game.

Sure, the New Orleans Saints' opponents have averaged 5.0 yards per rushing attempt this season, the 29th-worst figure in the NFL, but there was an explanation.

"Those guys do a really good job against the run; I think statistics are misleading," Roman said Wednesday. "A lot of people have popped runs on them down by 30. What does that do? It inflates the stats. When they had to run, I didn't see those 30-yard runs."

Roman was correct in a sense. Indianapolis did break runs covering 42 and 24 yards when trailing the Saints by at least 30 points. Those runs were pretty much meaningless.

But the Saints' opponents also broke runs covering 42, 41, 39, 34 and 29 yards when the scoring margin was eight or fewer points either way, what we would consider to be one-score differentials. Opponents had 16 runs of 15 yards or longer in these situations.

The 49ers, by comparison, gave up no runs longer than 34 yards and only four longer than 18 yards. They were leading by 23 when Arizona broke a 34-yarder in Week 11. They were up by 13 when the Rams broke a 27-yarder in Week 17. The trailed Philadelphia by seven and led Pittsburgh by six when those teams broke runs for 24 and 21 yards, respectively.

The first chart shows all runs against the Saints by score differential. The second chart shows each run against the Saints covering 15-plus yards. There were 27 of them. The Saints led by six points on average at the time of those runs. The 49ers gave up 10 such runs by comparison. They led by three points on average during those runs.

Thanks to Hank Gargiulo of ESPN Stats & Information for his assistance.
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Five things to know about the San Francisco 49ers, straight from our newly published 2011 preview:

1. The clock starts anew: As frustrating as the past decade has been for 49ers fans and the organization as a whole, none of that serves as a relevant reference point for Jim Harbaugh. This will be a season of discovery for him. If the team reaches the playoffs, great. But the Harbaugh era is only beginning and there is much to figure out, starting at quarterback.

2. Patience is the name of the game: The 49ers could have drafted Jake Locker, Blaine Gabbert or Christian Ponder with the seventh overall choice. All three quarterbacks went in the five slots immediately after the 49ers made outside linebacker Aldon Smith the seventh overall choice. After the draft, the 49ers could have engaged Arizona in a bidding war for Kevin Kolb. They passed. Harbaugh was content grabbing Colin Kaepernick in the second round and bringing back Alex Smith for a seventh season with the team. The 49ers showed patience again during free agency, reaching into the bargain bin while letting some of their own starters sign elsewhere uncontested. They appear to be in no rush.

3. The running game is king: The 49ers' lack of urgency at quarterback could at least partially reflect their desire to lean hard on the ground game. In that respect, the philosophy hasn't changed much from Mike Singletary to Harbaugh. San Francisco will continue to emphasize a power scheme on offense. Harbaugh brings many more variations within the running game. He's installing a short-passing game that will give Smith bailout options should he find no one open on vertical routes. But running the football will remain the top priority. Frank Gore has a new contract and should be happy about his role in the offense. He's going to get the ball plenty this season.

4. Braylon Edwards is an X factor: The one-handed, diving grab Edwards made for a 32-yard gain during preseason trumped any catch I can recall a 49ers wideout making in recent seasons. It was the sort of play the 49ers badly need their receivers to make. Smith isn't an elite quarterback. He isn't going to elevate the play of those around him. He needs playmakers to make him look better. Edwards has shown he has the ability to do that. His addition gives the team another big target with the physical traits to stretch a defense. Tight end Vernon Davis had been the only 49ers player with that ability

5. The defense is surprisingly new: Nate Clements, Aubrayo Franklin, Manny Lawson, Travis LaBoy, Takeo Spikes and Taylor Mays figured prominently into the 49ers' defensive plans at various points last season. None remains with the team. The middle of the defense has a fresh look with Isaac Sopoaga moving to nose tackle, NaVorro Bowman replacing Spikes at inside linebacker and the 49ers making a concerted effort to build depth at safety. Most changes were designed to upgrade the pass defense. Opposing quarterbacks Tony Romo, Michael Vick, Josh Freeman and Matthew Stafford will put those changes to the test before the 49ers hit their bye in Week 7.

Twenty-one 2011 first-round draft picks have started at least one preseason game this summer.

Seattle's James Carpenter is the only one from the NFC West to start so far. He has struggled in pass protection while showing promise in the running game. Like some other rookie offensive linemen -- Green Bay's Derek Sherrod comes to mind -- Carpenter is facing growing pains in his transition to the NFL.

Arizona's Patrick Peterson is the only player drafted among the top six overall picks without a start. He returned an interception 34 yards for a touchdown Saturday night. The Cardinals like their depth at cornerback. Coach Ken Whisenhunt also tends to make rookies earn their starting spots. Greg Toler's injury could lead to increased snaps for Peterson.

The two first-round NFC West pass-rushers, Aldon Smith (San Francisco) and Robert Quinn (St. Louis), are easing into their roles. Smith has at times looked like a favorite to start right away, but he continues working with the backups. The Rams have no plans to push Quinn into the starting lineup right away. They're set at defensive end. Quinn could use seasoning after missing the 2010 season.

Three of the 11 first-rounders without starts this summer have been sidelined by injuries: Nick Fairley (Detroit), Prince Amukamara (New York Giants) and Jon Baldwin (Kansas City).

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Where each NFC West team should expect improvement following preseason openers:

Arizona Cardinals

Area of focus: The secondary is still taking shape. Adrian Wilson's injury creates an opening for Rashad Johnson and Matt Ware. Johnson broke down in coverage against Oakland, allowing a long pass completion. At cornerback, the Cardinals are pleased with A.J. Jefferson on the left side, but first-round draft choice Patrick Peterson is going to get more playing time as the regular season approaches. The Cardinals are taking things slowly with Peterson.

Reasonable expectation next week: Improved play from Wilson's replacement(s) and increased playing time for Peterson.

Upcoming opponent note: The Cardinals travel to face a Green Bay team that has occasionally hammered opponents during preseason. The Packers memorably put up 48 points against Seattle in 2007 and 44 against Arizona last summer.

San Francisco 49ers

Area of focus: The pass protection against New Orleans was worse than anticipated even though the 49ers faced well-known challenges breaking in a new offense. This was a painful reminder that San Francisco remains in the very early stages of its offensive overhaul. In retrospect, the 49ers could have used a tamer opponent for their first game under Jim Harbaugh. The Saints exploited the 49ers' early shortcomings to maximum effect.

Reasonable expectation next week: Better coordination between offensive linemen, tight ends, running backs and quarterbacks against pressure.

Upcoming opponent note: The 49ers play at home against the Oakland Raiders. Alex Smith completed 9 of 15 passes for 113 yards and one touchdown against the Raiders last summer. The 49ers did not allow a sack in that game. Oakland has a new defensive coordinator this year. The Raiders did occasionally bring pressure against Arizona in their preseason opener.

Seattle Seahawks

Area of focus: The first-team offense lacked rhythm against San Diego. Tarvaris Jackson was without his top three wide receivers. Seattle lost its left tackle to injury early in the game. Jackson faced too much pressure and relied on his mobility to buy time. Jackson enters his second week of practices with the team seeking to build a rapport with his top targets. He completed 3 of 5 passes for 13 yards against the Chargers.

Reasonable expectation next week: A few timing passes to receiver Sidney Rice and tight end Zach Miller would stand as something for the offense to build around.

Upcoming opponent note: The Seahawks are home against Minnesota. The game carries added interest for Jackson, Rice and former Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. The Vikings scored three points, collected only one sack and allowed a 45-yard touchdown pass to Tennessee Titans rookie Jake Locker during their opener.

St. Louis Rams

Area of focus: The Rams were easily the most efficient NFC West team during their preseason opener. They committed only one penalty, picked off three passes, held Indianapolis to a 42.8 passer rating, got encouraging contributions from rookie tight end Lance Kendricks and generally impressed. But they didn't get much from their wide receivers beyond a couple contributions and near-contributions from Danario Alexander. Injuries kept Mike Sims-Walker from playing much. Other receivers, including Donnie Avery, did not play at all.

Reasonable expectation for next week: A few more connections between Sam Bradford and his wide receivers would help the Rams make better sense of the position as the regular season approaches. The receiver position has yet to define itself clearly.

Upcoming opponent note: The Rams are home against the Titans in their next preseason game. Rams fans might recall Tennessee rushing for 340 yards against a bare-bones St. Louis defense during the 2008 preseason. They do not have to fear a repeat.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times catches up with former Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who opens up about his thoughts on leaving Seattle. Hasselbeck: "The most disappointing thing for me is that last year was so hard holding it together, with all of the adversity that we faced, and it was really, really important to me that we won our division. And it was really important to Pete (Carroll). That was great. It was a big part of the reason that I loved playing for Pete. That was my only fear at all, ever, with the changes, is that people wouldn't be trying to win as hard as they could. But I never really felt that. ... So I just felt like it was a big foundation for what was to come. And then -- bam! -- I don't get to be a part of it. So, that's hard."

Also from Brewer: Hasselbeck, Jake Locker and the Titans' plan. Hasselbeck: "This has been, like, a wholesale change. The change from Holmgren to Knapp was like moving from Boston to South Carolina. And then to Bates was like moving to Southern California. But now all of a sudden, I'm in France."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says coach Pete Carroll isn't sure what to expect from his team Thursday night. Carroll: "We have no idea what’s going to happen. Fortunately, it’s preseason. So we have a chance to figure it out. That’s most important right now."

Also from Farnsworth: Rookie guard John Moffitt is scrambling to get caught up.

Christian Caple of seattlepi.com offers five things to watch when the Seahawks face the Chargers.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune expects third-string quarterback Josh Portis to play extensively against the Chargers.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune profiles new Seahawks quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. Teammate Ben Obomanu played against Jackson in high school and had this to say about the experience: "The funniest thing is I played DB, too, and I had a couple interceptions off him. Our coaches said that Tarvaris had such a strong arm that his receivers couldn’t always catch it and it would bounce off their chests. So coaches told us to wait for the ricochet."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals aren't expecting a pretty performance against Oakland in their exhibition opener. Somers: "On offense, only five starters from last year are in their same positions. A handful of new starters, including quarterback Kevin Kolb, tight end Todd Heap and guard Daryn Colledge have a week's experience in the system. There is a lot to sort out before the regular season starts Sept. 11 at home against Carolina."

Also from Somers: Five things to watch when Arizona visits Oakland.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com will be watching linebacker Stewart Bradley, among others, when the Cardinals face the Raiders. Urban: "So far, it’s hard not to be excited seeing what Bradley does in the middle there. Hopefully he can stay healthy. With so much vague with the outside linebacker spots, a trio of Bradley, Daryl Washington and Paris Lenon wouldn’t be bad."

Also from Urban: The exhibition season is particularly valuable for Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals this season.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says signing Justin Bannan to help beef up the defensive interior was a priority for the Rams this summer. Bannan: "The fact that they wanted me, they really went out of their way to let me know that, and to me that goes a long way. In my view, you want to go where you're wanted. The coaches did a great job of reaching out to me early in the week (following the end of the lockout), and getting this thing going."

Also from Thomas: an updated look at the Rams' receiving situation. Thomas: "Mardy Gilyard rounds out the top eight. After a disappointing first year, he has gotten off to a good start in this camp. He was working with the starting unit as the slot receiver during the period in which Amendola -- as a veteran signing a new contract -- couldn't practice. But Gilyard couldn't finish Tuesday, being helped off by head athletic trainer Reggie Scott near the end of practice."

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com says the Rams count on Danny Amendola.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says James Laurinaitis' chest injury is not serious. Wagoner: "He has a strained pectoral muscle but it’s not serious and he is listed as day to day. He did not practice on Wednesday but he’s expected to be just fine."

Also from Wagoner: Rookie Lance Kendricks is catching on.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com passes along highlights from Jim Harbaugh's post-practice interview session Wednesday. Harbaugh on re-signing Dashon Goldson: "We were really excited when Dashon decided to come back. We told him that we needed him. And he wanted to be here, and that adds a lot to our depth and experience, a guy who's been a starting safety in this league -- a physical mindset. It adds to the competition back there. Another guy who's game-tested, battle-tested."

Also from Maiocco: Rookie Colin Kaepernick will see extensive playing time against New Orleans in the 49ers' exhibition opener.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says 49ers linebacker Larry Grant credits time spent with St. Louis for helping him learn the defense in San Francisco. Grant: "The best thing that could have happened to me leaving San Francisco as a rookie was going to the defensive scheme in St. Louis. It's one of the hardest systems in the league. Coming back here, it's not an easy system to learn, but I've adapted to digging deeper into defenses."

Also from Barrows: a look at how Harbaugh runs training camp.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle looks at Michigan connections between Harbaugh and Braylon Edwards. Edwards: "I know (Harbaugh's) mind-set, where he's come from and what has been embedded in him in college by his father, Bo Schembechler and the Michigan players and program. So, that was definitely a factor in why I came here. I saw the potential for change in this organization if people bought into the way he thinks and the way he coaches."

The lockout prevents the Philadelphia Eagles and Arizona Cardinals from formally discussing a trade for quarterback Kevin Kolb or anyone else.

Nothing is stopping them from communicating through the news media.

News that the Cardinals were prepared to offer cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for Kolb wasn't going to pass quietly.

Now comes word that the Eagles wouldn't bite on such an offer.

"The Eagles, though, will want to get as much as possible in return," Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote. "And right now Rodgers-Cromartie, who XTRA 910 Sports radio in Phoenix reported the Cardinals were prepared to offer, is not enough, a league source said."

McLane points to Seattle, Tennessee and Miami as potential destinations for Kolb. A quick look at those teams' viability:

• Seattle: The Seahawks have a need and they showed interest in Kolb last offseason. Unlike the Cardinals, they haven't been making regular public promises to address the quarterback situation right away when free agency opens. They haven't given up on Charlie Whitehurst and they could still bring back Matt Hasselbeck. They could offer a cornerback as part of a trade package, but if Rodgers-Cromartie weren't enough for the Eagles to move, Seattle would have to offer much more than cornerback Marcus Trufant. I sense more urgency from Arizona than from Seattle to quickly close a deal on a quarterback. Kolb is not the only option.
• Tennessee: The Titans would not extend a lucrative long-term offer to Kolb after using a first-round choice for quarterback Jake Locker. I'd remove the Titans from serious consideration. Signing Hasselbeck as a free agent would make more sense than committing to Kolb on a longer-term deal.
• Miami: The Dolphins could use quarterback help. In May, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald said the team wasn't sold enough on Kolb to part with a first-round draft choice, according to a team official. There hasn't been much Kolb-to-the-Dolphins buzz since. Tim Graham of the AFC East blog is officially and jokingly (in the spirit of his chats) giving the Dolphins a "12 percent" chance of acquiring Kolb this offseason. Such precision.

Seattle and Miami could be playing coy, but as the Kolb-related speculation builds, the price for Kolb doesn't necessarily increase. The Eagles will try to draw in as many potential suitors as possible to drive up the price. Will the Seahawks and other teams play along, or are those teams sincerely interested in Kolb as well?

Highlights and interpretations from Tim Hasselbeck's appearance Tuesday with Brock Huard and Mike Salk on 710ESPN Seattle:

• This discussion focused on Matt Hasselbeck's future with the Seattle Seahawks or elsewhere, with a long look at Kevin Kolb's prospects as a franchise quarterback. Tim Hasselbeck endorsed Kolb as a prospect more likely to become a "very good starter" than to fail. He had no doubt an NFL team could win with Kolb. But he also thought Arizona, not Seattle, would be more likely to invest heavily in Kolb as the future of its franchise. I tend to agree. There's less urgency in Seattle for several reasons, including the fact that coach Pete Carroll is entering only his second season. The team is rebuilding.
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Otto Greule Jr./Getty ImagesQuarterback Matt Hasselbeck's future with the Seahawks remains up in the air.
• Salk has said it's tough to know whether the Seahawks value Kolb highly enough to part with a first-round draft choice (or more) in a trade. That type of commitment would also require rewarding Kolb with a lucrative long-term deal. If Seattle did view Kolb as that type of player, I suspect the team's conversations with Philadelphia would have gained more momentum last offseason.
• This was a fairly dispassionate conversation until Charlie Whitehurst's name came up. "Guys don't have press conferences unless they are expected to be the starter," Tim Hasselbeck said. Press conferences? What was this about? Tim Hasselbeck pointed to the long-forgotten (by most of us) news conference Seattle held announcing Whitehurst's acquisition as evidence the team would not invest heavily in another quarterback, Kolb in particular. Seattle played the news conference more as a means to prove all jobs were open to competition, but it naturally felt more personal to the Hasselbeck camp. I don't get the sense the Seahawks' commitment to Whitehurst is great enough to preclude them from seeking an upgrade. The team did not bet its future on Whitehurst. I'm also not convinced Seattle sees clear upgrades available.
• While Tim Hasselbeck had generally positive things to say about Kolb, he discounted Carson Palmer's level of play and bristled at the idea Seattle would offer Matt Hasselbeck anywhere close to the one-year, $5 million deal Alex Smith is expected to sign with San Francisco. I get it. Matt Hasselbeck is far more accomplished than Smith. He's been to three Pro Bowls and a Super Bowl. Smith has better stats and a better starting record over the past two seasons, however. Hasselbeck should get more -- he was outstanding during the playoffs last season -- but he hasn't been challenging for Pro Bowls recently, either.
• Tim Hasselbeck expressed respect for Kyle Orton while questioning whether Orton would fit well with the offensive scheme Seattle will run under new coordinator Darrell Bevell. Tim Hasselbeck also acknowledged that Matt Hasselbeck would have to learn new terminology if he signed with Tennessee, a team with interest in a veteran bridge to rookie Jake Locker. I don't think the Titans will offer substantially more than Seattle ultimately offers Hasselbeck.
• Matt Hasselbeck has said he wants to re-sign with Seattle. Tim Hasselbeck affirmed that thinking. Matt Hasselbeck has reportedly sought a deal offering security beyond one season. I doubt he could get such a deal from Tennessee given Locker's presence. Minnesota likely wouldn't offer longer-term security with Christian Ponder in the picture. What is the market for Hasselbeck outside Seattle?

Expectations for a new labor deal include the potential for a three-day window during which teams could try to sign their own free agents. Such a window could prove critical in making sure there's time to let cooler heads prevail should negotiations become emotional.

I have a hard time envisioning Hasselbeck relocating his family at this stage of his career as long as the Seahawks make an honest offer while treating Hasselbeck with the respect he has earned over the past decade.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com offers more thoughts on Steve Largent and Walter Jones in asking fans to name the best player in franchise history. Both were highly consistent and among the very best at their positions. Both had longevity. I would give the tiebreaker to Jones based on superior talent. He was frighteningly athletic. Not that Largent would be a bad choice. Will Lewis on Largent: "The crazy thing about it, he could come off the line and be looking one way, but the body is going the other way. The body control was just amazing. And then he had those strong ankles. He could just stick his foot in the ground and then be gone. You’d be breaking one way and he’d be breaking the other way, because he could make his cuts at full speed. It was enlightening. And I had a chance to see him every day for two years because I was always the nickel or dime corner with the first defense, so the No. 1 offense was always going against the young guys in practice. So we saw plenty of Steve Largent."

Also from Farnsworth: a look back at the 1980 Seahawks.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune takes a closer look at Seahawks rookie cornerback Byron Maxwell, a sixth-round selection. Williams: "There’s no denying that Maxwell has the physical ability to play in the NFL. At 6-foot-1 and 207 pounds, he bench pressed 225 pounds 24 times, ran a 4.46 40-yard dash and broad jumped 10 feet, 4 inches, all marks that placed him among the top 10 corners at February’s NFL scouting combine. Maxwell, 21, is a hard hitter and was a valuable special teams player at Clemson, finishing with 45 career special-teams tackles. But what Maxwell will have to prove is that he has fluid enough hip movement and route anticipation to remain a corner for Seattle, where he will receive some intense competition for a spot on the final roster with players who already have some experience in defensive coordinator Gus Bradley’s system."

Monte Poole of Bay Area News Group says Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch is making an effort at self-improvement.

ESPN's John Clayton sounds skeptical when asked whether Matt Hasselbeck would want to play for the Titans. I agree, particularly if he's seeking job security beyond one season. Jake Locker projects as the Titans' likely starter in 2012. The situation in Seattle appears less settled for the long term unless the Seahawks make a bold move for another veteran quarterback this offseason.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals and other NFL teams will be slammed once a new labor agreement is in place. Urban: "It’s going to be even more work than normal too, since many reports say the teams will have 90 on the roster instead of 80 for camp, a little more leeway for injuries and such in this uncertain season. You have to figure resolving the QB situation will be at the top of the to-do list, but then which way does it go? Are the Cards able to keep guys like Lyle Sendlein, Steve Breaston and Deuce Lutui? How many undrafted free agents are going to be targeted? More important, which veteran free agents will the team chase? And where does Larry Fitzgerald’s extension fit in?"

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers would sign about 30 players if the next labor agreement included 90-man rosters for the 2011 season. About half of those 30 players would be undrafted college free agents, he estimates. Maiocco on the 49ers: "They can be expected to make an offer to Louisville quarterback and Santa Rosa native Adam Froman, who might also consider the Miami Dolphins as a landing spot. Stanford offensive linemen Chase Beeler and Derek Hall also are possible 49ers targets."

Also from Maiocco: why moving Nate Clements to safety would make no sense for the 49ers or Clements. Cornerbacks do sometimes move to safety later in their careers, but financial and personnel-related realities diminish the likelihood for such a conversion involving Clements in San Francisco heading into the 2011 season.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee looks at one potential NFL calendar from a 49ers perspective.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Bruce Miller faces a significant transition in his move from playmaking defender in college to fullback with the 49ers. Miller: "Everything is so different on the other side of the ball. There are all brand-new terms. There are things that are common knowledge for offensive players and fullbacks that I'm just picking up. Learning these things -- the terminology -- is going to be the hardest part."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com confirms reports saying the Rams will hold training camp at their St. Louis-area headquarters for a third time in three seasons under coach Steve Spagnuolo. Wagoner: "Times and dates for this year’s camp will be announced at a later date. As has been the case the past couple of years, the Rams will have open practices for fans to attend throughout camp. Those specific days will also be announced later on." The Rams' headquarters are convenient to the airport. Fans can enjoy clear sight lines to the practice fields. On the downside, hot and humid weather often make camp less enjoyable than if the Rams secured another venue. And the setting within a business park cannot compete with what the Rams would likely encounter if they held camp at a college or university.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com sizes up the team's wide receivers. Who will start opposite Larry Fitzgerald? It might not be Steve Breaston. Urban: "That’s because Breaston is likely to end up as a free agent, and his return is cloudy. It could well depend on the level of interest Breaston has should he hit the open market. Breaston started last season as a top key target for the Cards, especially with Fitzgerald coming back from a knee injury. Then Breaston had minor knee surgery himself, and by the end of the season, his role was cut into by rookie Andre Roberts." Fitzgerald's future is obviously critical for the position. The extended lockout has prevented the team from adding a quarterback and laying the groundwork for a deal with Fitzgerald. There is still time. Getting a deal done before the season would be ideal.

Mike Rosenberg of the San Jose Mercury News updates the 49ers' efforts to sell tickets for their proposed Santa Clara stadium. Rosenberg: "The Santa Clara City Council late Tuesday unanimously approved a contract with New Jersey-based Legends Hospitality to sell season tickets for the $987 million stadium next to Great America. Legends said it plans to hire sales reps later this year and will start selling seats in January. They plan to launch a long-term marketing campaign, as the building is not slated to open until 2015."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle checks in with Bucs quarterback Josh Johnson, who could become a veteran option for the 49ers based on his background with coach Jim Harbaugh. Branch: "Johnson, who has one year remaining on his contract, acknowledged Thursday his desire to reunite with Harbaugh. But his primary message at Epic Roasthouse in San Francisco was to spread the word regarding the Fam 1st Family Foundation he's created with his cousin, Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers are scheduled to open training camp July 28, provided the lockout ends in time. Harbaugh recently withdrew from a golf tournament scheduled for this week, just in case a labor agreement comes together quickly.

Also from Maiocco: Rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick and first-year coach Jim Harbaugh were together for a banquet in Carson City, Nev. Kaepernick: "I'm just going to lay it all on the line. It's up to Coach Harbaugh and his staff but I'm going to do all I can to get that starting spot."

Bob Padecky of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Harbaugh's handling of the quarterback competition between Kaepernick and Alex Smith will prove telling. Padecky: "Here’s hoping Harbaugh keeps his word about the quarterback battle and leaves politics out of it. Harbaugh will go a long way in defining himself by how he treats the Smith-Kaepernick situation. And if he hasn’t felt the heavy weight of politics on his shoulders yet, Harbaugh will. He’s head coach of the 49ers. Politics is part of the job description." Harbaugh has put the focus on Smith this offseason. There are no real expectations for Kaepernick right away. That puts Kaepernick in a good position heading toward camp.

The 49ers' website details plans to commemorate the team's first Super Bowl championship with a screening of Super Bowl XVI at team headquarters July 23.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com asks fans to name the best player in franchise history. Walter Jones would probably get my vote.

Also from Farnsworth: a look at Tom Catlin's impact as the Seahawks' defensive coordinator in 1990.

More from Farnsworth: Jones was an easy choice at left tackle on the Seahawks' 35th anniversary team.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Kerry Collins' retirement from the Titans makes Tennessee a more natural landing spot for Matt Hasselbeck if the veteran quarterback does not re-sign with Seattle. Our own Paul Kuharsky thinks Hasselbeck will top the Titans' list of veteran options at the position. Hasselbeck's strong connections to the Titans' front office make the fit appealing on some levels even though it's hard to imagine Hasselbeck wanting to relocate his family to Tennessee at this stage of his career. Would the Titans offer substantially more money and security? Jake Locker projects as their starter for 2012.

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams plan to hold training camp at their headquarters near St. Louis, although the team has not yet made an announcement. The Rams had considered multiple venues this offseason. The held camp at their headquarters last year. The team's facility offers easy access for fans, but hot and humid weather can make practices hard on players. Coach Steve Spagnuolo seemed to take that into account last year, drawing praise from some veteran players, notably running back Steven Jackson.

Four recent NFC West draft choices are heading to Los Angeles for the 2011 NFL Players Rookie Premiere beginning Thursday.

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick and running back Kendall Hunter from the San Francisco 49ers, receiver Austin Pettis from the St. Louis Rams and running back Ryan Williams from the Arizona Cardinals were among 36 rookies scheduled to appear, according to an NFL Players Association list distributed Wednesday.

The flag-football game is scheduled for Friday at UCLA's North Athletic Field. It begins at 5 p.m. PT and features current and former players in addition to the rookies. It is open to the public.

The object of the game: avoid injuries.

First-round selections Cam Newton, Von Miller, Marcell Dareus, A.J. Green, Jake Locker, Mark Ingram, Andy Dalton, Blaine Gabbert and Julio Jones were also listed.

The event, sponsored by the NFLPA's licensing and marketing wing, features community-service events, sports-card photo shoots, a flag-football game and billiards tournament.

Twenty-six teams have at least one rookie scheduled to attend. The New England Patriots have three. The 49ers were among eight teams with two.

Players are scheduled to visit students at a local elementary school and veterans at the West Los Angeles Medical Center.

"Can't wait to get down there," Kaepernick tweeted.

Once the Arizona Cardinals selected LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson fifth overall in the 2011 NFL draft, there was less chance, in my view, of the team selecting a quarterback this year.

My thinking: If the team could not get a franchise quarterback, why invest a choice in a player unlikely to alter the depth chart in a meaningful way?

The Cardinals apparently agreed. They did not draft a quarterback, instead coming away with a cornerback, running back, fullback, tight end, defensive end, receiver and two linebackers.

"It's a little unrealistic to think that you could address every need in the draft," coach Ken Whisenhunt told reporters Saturday. "The thing that kind of really stood out to me was we had three, that I know of, what we considered the best players at their positions in the draft, and we got them. That’s kind of unusual."

Those players: Peterson, second-round running back Ryan Williams and fifth-round fullback Anthony Sherman. Kansas City traded into the 135th spot to draft quarterback Ricky Stanzi right before the Cardinals chose Sherman at No. 136.

Teams selected five quarterbacks between the Cardinals first and second selections, including two -- Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick -- within three spots of where Arizona landed Williams.

"If you look at our roster now, we have a lot of young, talented football players," Whisenhunt said. "And when we put this together, when our guys get it, we’re going to be a pretty good football team and that’s really exciting. We’re definitely going to have a chance to make some plays."

The chart shows the players Arizona drafted in relation to where other teams drafted quarterbacks.

» NFC draft analysis: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

With Sam Bradford in place, the St. Louis Rams could sit back during the 2011 NFL draft and watch at least a dozen teams sweat over the available quarterbacks.

Counter to conventional wisdom, the rest of the division followed suit -- despite obvious, immediate and critical needs at the position.

The San Francisco 49ers were the only team in the division to target a potential starting quarterback, but they waited until the second round. Even then, Colin Kaepernick was only the sixth quarterback taken. The 49ers chose Missouri outside linebacker Aldon Smith seventh overall when Jake Locker (eighth to Tennessee), Blaine Gabbert (10th to Jacksonville), Christian Ponder (12th to Minnesota) and Andy Dalton (35th to Cincinnati) were available.

The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks turned their backs on available quarterbacks round after round. The Cardinals took a running back in the second round, a pick no one saw coming. The Seahawks traded out of the second round entirely.

Hey, who needs a quarterback prospect when John Skelton and Charlie Whitehurst are under contract?

Of course, Skelton and Whitehurst might be better than the quarterbacks other teams drafted.

The Cardinals and Seahawks had too many needs to draft sketchy quarterbacks just because they needed players at the position. Everyone knows drafting quarterbacks is a risky proposition. Everyone also knows it's tough to develop a top quarterback without risking an early selection on one, at some point.

The Cardinals, Seahawks and 49ers will take their chances in free agency and/or through the trade market. San Francisco has a longer-term option in Kaepernick. The quarterbacks Arizona and Seattle passed up will have a fair amount to say about whether those teams come out looking good in the end.

BEST MOVE

The Cardinals didn't get cute when they were on the clock at No. 5 and LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson was staring at them.

Arizona needed a quarterback and could have taken any of the three passers who came off the board between the eighth and 12th picks. They could have gotten cute and tried to trade back, adding picks to help patch holes elsewhere in the roster.

But in selecting Peterson, the Cardinals landed the player some analysts ranked as the most talented in the draft. Peterson will start right away at cornerback. He should liven up the return game as well. He is the type of prospect teams should select early without reservation.

Arizona's division rivals didn't do much, if anything, to improve immediately at quarterback. They did not add dynamic receivers in the early rounds. The Cardinals should be in position to control opposing passing games to a greater degree. Peterson gives them the potential to field one of the better secondaries in the league, provided Adrian Wilson returns to health and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie bounces back from a down season.

Seattle's big receiver, Mike Williams, caught 22 passes for 232 yards and a touchdown in two victories against Arizona last season. It's a big upset if a secondary featuring Peterson and Rodgers-Cromartie allows that kind of production in the near future.

RISKIEST MOVE

The 49ers passed over the available quarterbacks at No. 7 and selected pass-rush help instead.

Smith might become a good player, but if the available quarterbacks become significantly better than Kaepernick, the 49ers will be vulnerable to criticism.

The 49ers weren't blind to their need at quarterback. They traded up nine spots to select Kaepernick with the 36th overall selection. Second-round quarterbacks have a rough track record in recent seasons. Kaepernick faces a transition period as he adapts from a pistol scheme that doesn't resemble NFL offenses.

The selection of Kaepernick wasn't careless or ill-advised. Far from it. It's just that all quarterbacks carry heightened risk, and the 49ers passed over quarterbacks other teams saw as top-10 values.

The 49ers selected Kaepernick early enough to make him the heir apparent to whichever veteran they acquire, most likely. Kaepernick has the talent to reward the 49ers for the selection, particularly if coach Jim Harbaugh delivers on expectations that he can develop quarterbacks.

MOST SURPRISING MOVE

The Cardinals ran away with this one when they used a second-round choice for Virginia Tech running back Ryan Williams.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the Cardinals had Williams ranked 15th on their draft board. They drafted him with the 38th pick.

Taking a cornerback in the first round and a running back in the second meant the Cardinals would not use early choices to target primary needs at quarterback and outside linebacker. Selecting Peterson was easy, but taking a running back in the second round went against expectations.

Arizona already has a crowded backfield with Beanie Wells, Tim Hightower and LaRod Stephens-Howling. Wells has not yet met expectations. Hightower's contract status is in question pending a new labor agreement. Stephens-Howling has emerged as a player Whisenhunt likes to use more and more.

Where will Williams fit?

"I think basically when you talk about [Williams] versus a pass-rusher or other perceived needs, what are you basically talking about?" Whisenhunt said. "Are you talking about getting a very good football player that a lot of people had ranked very high, as opposed to a player that maybe is not as good of a football player? We're looking for players that can help make an impact. That’s what is important to us, and we feel like that’s what Ryan is."

FILE IT AWAY

The 49ers, Seahawks and Rams have all invested heavily in their offensive lines over the last few seasons.

The Cardinals, meanwhile, haven't used higher than a fifth-round pick for an offensive lineman over the last four drafts. Left guard Alan Faneca is nearing the end and could retire. Right guard Deuce Lutui is without a contract for 2011. Right tackle Brandon Keith is coming off a season-ending injury and still must prove himself as a long-term starter.

Arizona had the oldest offensive line in the NFL last season, including backups.

Meanwhile, the Rams have young bookend tackles in Rodger Saffold and Jason Smith. The 49ers have used first-round picks for left tackle Joe Staley, left guard Mike Iupati and right tackle Anthony Davis. The Seahawks have first-round tackles Russell Okung and James Carpenter, both acquired since Pete Carroll became head coach in 2010.