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The word "concussion" came up zero times during the most recent NFC West chat. There was one "bounty" question, but I didn't get around to answering it during the chat.

"Do you think Kurt Warner would have come back for another year if he wouldn't have been smashed by the Saints after his interception in Bounty Gate?" Tony from Richmond, Calif., wanted to know.

Warner was headed toward retirement regardless, in my view. The Cardinals might have gotten him to reconsider had they offered a dramatic in crease in pay, but that is purely speculative. Warner was ready for retirement.

Full chat transcript here. Highlights below:

SeniorSwick from Montclair, N.J. asks whether any NFL teams take as many chances as the Seahawks when it comes to creativity, scheme and personnel. He points to the team's decision to convert new draft choice J.R. Sweezy from defense to offense.

Mike Sando: The 49ers converted Bruce Miller from college defensive end to fullback and got good play from him last season. Miller had not played offense since high school. Sweezy, like Miller, was a later-round pick. Teams have greater freedom to experiment with later-round choices. The key is to be creative without over-thinking things. More broadly, the concern in building around specialized or somewhat unique players -- think Red Bryant for Seattle -- is that specialized players can be tough to replace if injured. However, that is where staff flexibility can make up the difference. The Seahawks seem to have a good defensive staff and approach. Another potential concern relative to Sweezy is what the move represents: a clear push by an assistant coach to get a player he liked. Tom Cable also drove the selection of James Carpenter a year ago. Drafting players to fit the staff is important, but we should also watch to see if assistants have too much sway.

Ken from Anaheim, Calif., seeks a heads up on any Rams rookies who might become starters. All the early draft choices should be considered. I focused on undrafted players when putting together an answer.

Mike Sando: Watch the linebackers in general, Ken. That was a position of great need that the Rams didn't address sufficiently in the draft. As a result, the better free-agent linebackers were eager to consider the Rams; those players knew their chances would be better in St. Louis than elsewhere. Derrick Choice from Stephen F. Austin, Alex Hoffman-Ellis from Washington State and Noah Keller from Ohio State were the undrafted free-agent linebackers St. Louis signed recently. Seventh-round pick Aaron Brown is also new to the team.

Brandon Cards Fan from Arizona asks whether the offensive linemen the Cardinals drafted from the fourth through seventh rounds might see the starting rotation or play extensively as rookies.

Mike Sando: Yes, I think fourth-round choice Bobby Massie figures to get some starts at right tackle this season -- either out of necessity or because he wins the job. Jeremy Bridges would be the veteran fallback at right tackle. Moving right guard Adam Snyder into that spot would be another option, but that could weaken two positions. I could see Bridges opening the season as the starter at right tackle, with Massie taking over during the season.

The fun continues. I'm tentatively scheduled to join NFL Live some time after 3:30 p.m. ET for additional thoughts on Ben Roethlisberger's comments regarding the 49ers.

Draft theorizing carried the NFC West chat Wednesday. Potential scenarios are virtually endless in quantity. We considered a few of them and expanded the conversation.

Full chat transcript here. A few highlights below:

Adam from Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif., enjoyed the mock draft comparison, but he's not so sure the San Francisco 49ers will seriously consider a guard in the first round. He thinks adding to the defensive line or finding a speed player at receiver would carry move value.

Mike Sando: Thanks, Adam. I understand what the mock drafters are thinking. They are going with perceived needs because it's tougher to figure out value differentials for players drafted later in the first round. It's easy to give the 49ers a guard at that point in the draft. I agree with the thinking that a team should be able to develop a guard chosen later in the draft. It's OK to take a guard early if you're getting a special one, but harder to justify in other cases. The 49ers have a great defense already, but if they could find someone to project as an eventual Justin Smith successor, that would help the team. Bucky Brooks had that thought in mind in putting together his mock, which I linked to from the item you referenced.

D from Valley of the Sun thinks value would compel the Arizona Cardinals to select David DeCastro in the first round, if available. The team could move Adam Snyder to tackle, then draft a tackle in the third round, a pass-rusher in the fourth (think Sam Acho last year) and a receiver after that. Emphasizing the ground game would help Kevin Kolb this season, in his view.

Mike Sando: You've thought through the scenario well, I would say. That is a less-than-ideal scenario, however. The team already spent big for left guard Daryn Colledge in free agency. Investing a first-round choice in a right guard just doesn't seem like the preferred path philosophically. Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams need to stay healthy, first and foremost. Wells had 1,000 yards last season despite not being healthy much of the time. The thought of Snyder at right tackle isn't appealing, either. Jeremy Bridges might be a better starting option there.

Corey from Washington, D.C., proposes the following scenario: Ryan Tannehill slips past Cleveland at No. 4; Seattle trades up with Miami to take Quinton Coples at No. 8; and the Dolphins select Tannehill at No. 12, a position Corey deemed "more respectable" for the Texas A&M quarterback. "For the record, I have a hard time buying Kansas City passingon Luke Kuechly to get a raw QB, which I factored in," he added.

Mike Sando: I question whether the Dolphins would have the patience to try such a move. They're likely desperate for a quarterback. Can they really afford to get cute if they think Tannehill is their guy? I don't see how they could do that, given the risk of losing the player.

Roland from Winnipeg notes that three of the 14 mock drafts cited had the St. Louis Rams passing on Justin Blackmon for Fletcher Cox. He likes the thinking because he sees quality receivers available later, but he wonders whether the Rams have a great enough need at defensive tackle to justify the decision.

Mike Sando: The Rams are starting over in a lot of areas, but especially at defensive tackle. They flushed out Fred Robbins and are starting almost from scratch there. The thinking on Fletcher Cox would reflect Jeff Fisher's general belief that you build with a strong running game and strong defense. Yes, you need playmakers too, but the first priority is to take pressure off the QB by running the ball, perhaps diminishing the need to build right away with a receiver taken sixth overall, especially if that receiver isn't as appealing as some of the other receivers taken very early in drafts. Cox would then be a value selection.

Thanks for keeping the conversation going. The NFC West chat will return to its usual Thursday schedule next week.

Enjoy your Wednesday night.

Jason Peters' injury hurt the Philadelphia Eagles and did no favors for the Arizona Cardinals.

The Pro Bowl left tackle was earning $12.8 million per year, a reflection of his obvious value to the Eagles. His injury thrust Philadelphia into the market for a free-agent tackle, leading the Eagles to reach agreement with the previously misnamed Demetress Bell, a player the Cardinals had targeted early in free agency.

Arizona is heading toward the draft with an obvious need at tackle. The Cardinals hold the 13th overall choice, but no pick in the second round. They re-signed veteran tackle Levi Brown, but the position remains unsettled.

Moving Brown back to right tackle would require finding a better prospect for the left side. That appears unlikely in the short term, even if the Cardinals use their first-round choice for a tackle. It's looking like Brown will man the left side heading into the season.

Who starts opposite Brown? Perhaps it's a draft choice. Former starter Brandon Keith has had injury problems and is unsigned. Jeremy Bridges is nearly 32 years old and appears most valuable as a spot starter, not a long-term answer. The team re-signed D'Anthony Batiste, a 30-year-old backup with 22 appearances and four starts in six seasons with six teams.

Bell, formerly of the Buffalo Bills, was the most promising young tackle available in free agency. The Cardinals were among several teams to meet with him this offseason. Bell, 27, was not a sure bet, however. A shoulder injury slowed him last season. Bell played in seven games, starting six. He has 30 starts over the last three seasons.

Brandon from Winston Salem, N.C., thinks the San Francisco 49ers should consider trading Michael Crabtree after the team's wide receivers failed to produce much during the playoffs. He says Crabtree has questioned Alex Smith's validity as the starter in the past and notes that the current staff would have little invested in Crabtree, anyway.

Mike Sando: Mixed feelings here. Crabtree was the best wide receiver on the team once Josh Morgan suffered a season-ending injury. He was sometimes an outstanding blocker, too. And when the team needed him to make a clutch catch at Seattle in Week 16, Crabtree delivered. Subtracting him from the roster would make the team worse at the position.

But I also sense a disconnect. The trust between Smith and Crabtree doesn't appear to be as strong as it should be. That could be because Crabtree has spent almost no time practicing with the team during minicamps and training camps. That should finally change this offseason. Is now really the time to bail on what could still become a productive relationship? It could be, but ...

The 49ers would not get a great deal in return for Crabtree, in my view. I would recommend trading Crabtree only if the new coaching staff had witnessed things behind the scenes indicating Crabtree was unwilling to buy in or put in the necessary work.

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Greg from Seattle thinks Tom Brady was a stretch for inclusion on the Any Era team in part because the league changed rules to protect quarterbacks after Brady suffered a knee injury. He doesn't think Brady would hold up physically the way football was played in previous eras, without all the extra safety measures.

Mike Sando: That's an interesting point. However, Brady won three Super Bowls before suffering that knee injury. I also love the way he makes a point to rise from the ground before the man who hit him. I also think his extraordinarily strong fundamentals would translate to any era.

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Mick from Brooklyn thinks the Seattle Seahawks could still have interest in Matt Flynn even though they made no effort to acquire the Green Bay quarterback before ultimately acquiring Charlie Whitehurst from San Diego. He thinks Seahawks general manager John Schneider simply might have realized the Packers weren't going to trade Flynn at that point.

Mike Sando: That is possible, but I've still never heard any rumblings suggesting Seattle has interest in Flynn.

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Kelphelper from Anchorage sees five positives for the Seahawks in the 49ers' defeat to the New York Giants in the NFC title game:

• Seattle, having defeated Baltimore and nearly defeated San Francisco, has now defeated a Super Bowl team thanks to its victory over New York;
• It's always good for Seattle fans when the 49ers lose a big game they should have won;
• The manner in which the 49ers lost could diminish the impact of their otherwise successful season;
• Two weeks of 49ers Super Bowl hype is out the window;
• The NFC West blog will finally have more content relevant to the Seahawks.

Mike Sando: I'm a big believer in positive thinking, but usually not at the expense of another. Getting the 49ers in the Super Bowl would have been great for NFC West perceptions. All four teams in the division would have been to a Super Bowl since the 2001 season. The tough part for the 49ers is know just how hard it is to get back into a position where they only needed a home victory to reach the Super Bowl.

The Seahawks have a lot going for them independent of the 49ers' fate. The Week 16 game at Seattle should have affirmed for the 49ers' coaches and personnel people how close behind Seattle could be in the NFC West. Both teams have promising young talent. The 49ers were ahead of the Seahawks in their development and in their talent procurement. But I think everyone watching NFC West games closely over the second half of the season saw signs the 49ers will have their hands full in 2012.

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Abel from Mesa, Ariz., wants to know what 2012 pick Arizona acquired from Washington in the Tim Hightower trade.

Mike Sando: Arizona will receive a sixth-round pick in return. The pick would have upgraded to a fifth-rounder if Hightower had played at least 60.41 percent of the Redskins' offensive snaps, according to an item Kent Somers published back in October, before a knee injury sidelined Hightower for the season.

Hightower wound up playing about 20 percent of the Redskins' offensive snaps.

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Jim from Tucson wants to know which areas the Cardinals need to upgrade most this offseason. He points to offensive tackle, wide receiver and outside linebacker.

Mike Sando: The receiver situation is OK as long as Larry Fitzgerald is there. Yes, the team should try to improve the position, but I would not point to receiver as a big problem for the team. Offensive tackle is rightly atop your list. The Cardinals could really use two new tackles. Brandon Keith has injury concerns. Jeremy Bridges is as good as he's ever going to be. Levi Brown isn't really the answer, and his contract will need addressing anyway.

On defense, I would want to continue upgrading the speed at linebacker. Paris Lenon deserves all of our respect for bucking the odds and remaining a starter at age 34, but should he really be the best option at this point? Perhaps Stewart Bradley figures out things in his second year with the team.

All of this assumes the Cardinals re-sign Calais Campbell or use the franchise tag on him. They cannot let him get away.

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Eugene from Los Angeles disputes the notion that the Rams' community-building efforts in St. Louis indicate the team isn't acting as though it plans to leave the region. The way Eugene sees things, "business people make business decisions, and the sooner the yokels in St. Louis realize this, the less devastated they'll be if the team moves. Will the team move? I have no idea, but I want ONE person in St. Louis to articulate how, for Stan Kroenke, staying in St. Louis long term is preferable to moving to Los Angeles."

Mike Sando: Only the city of St. Louis can make it preferable. Right now, Los Angeles is like an impressive college prospect -- appealing for its potential. I'll pose the challenge here. Why should Kroenke prefer St. Louis over Los Angeles for the long term?

Mel Kiper's first mock draft for 2012 provides the foundation for discussing how NFC West teams might proceed this offseason.

I'll continue with a look at Kiper's plans for the Arizona Cardinals, who hold the 13th choice.

13. Arizona Cardinals: Jonathan Martin, OT, Stanford

Kiper's give: The Cardinals need to mend the offensive line -- they haven't drafted an offensive lineman before the fifth round since 2007 -- and Martin is an athletic, powerful left tackle who can help upgrade this unit immediately.

Sando's take: Left tackle Levi Brown could return at a reduced rate, but the Cardinals still need young depth on their offensive line. They have had the oldest backup offensive linemen in the league recently. That has advantages; experienced players such as Jeremy Bridges and Deuce Lutui can come off the bench without compromising the line in any way. Coaches don't have to sweat over developing young players, which takes a significant time commitment. The trade-off, however, is that the line has very little potential to grow into anything better than it is right now. Using a first-round pick for a tackle would make sense for the Cardinals. I would also endorse using the choice for pass-rush help.

Arizona: Quarterback Kevin Kolb practiced on a limited basis while continuing his return from a concussion. Coach Ken Whisenhunt remained noncommittal on a starter for Saturday's game at Cincinnati. Kolb has suffered significant injuries in two of his past three starts, missing games following each one. Kolb appears unlikely to start if his reps do not increase Thursday. The team has won enough with backup John Skelton to consider giving Kolb additional recovery time. Right tackle Brandon Keith (ankle) did not practice Wednesday. Jeremy Bridges' presence gives the team insurance. Beanie Wells remained limited while dealing with a knee injury likely to bother him the rest of the season. Wells' production has fallen off as a result. The team's decision to place outside linebacker Joey Porter on injured reserve changes nothing. The team has gone with younger alternatives, and Porter wasn't playing.

St. Louis: The Rams remained without quarterbacks Sam Bradford (ankle) and A.J. Feeley (thumb). Bradford has shed the walking boot he wore last week, but it's unclear whether he'll return this week. Kellen Clemens could start again. The Rams were also without cornerbacks Justin King (shoulder) and Josh Gordy (abdominal) in practice Wednesday. Depth at the position is pretty much tapped out, a huge concern heading into a matchup against Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Mike Wallace. Gordy appears more likely than King to play. Earlier injuries at wide receiver became more significant Wednesday when the NFL levied a four-game suspension against rookie receiver Austin Pettis for using performance-enhancing drugs. The team's best receiver, Brandon Lloyd, did practice fully. He had been ill.

San Francisco: Receiver Ted Ginn Jr. (ankle) and linebacker Patrick Willis (hamstring) missed practice. Ginn's injury is new. Willis remains on course to return at an unstated point in the future. As much as the 49ers want Willis back on the field right now, they need to make sure he's ready for the postseason. Hamstring injuries tend to recur, so the team might be erring on the side of caution. Left tackle Joe Staley did not finish the game Monday night after suffering a bruised leg. The 49ers did not list him on their injury report Wednesday. The team listed receiver Braylon Edwards as limited with a knee injury. He was inactive for performance-related reasons Monday night, but with Ginn's status unclear, the team needs numbers at the position. Ginn's absence would leave the 49ers with a less dynamic and experienced return specialist, a concern heading to Seattle.

Seattle: An ankle injury limited receiver Doug Baldwin in practice Wednesday. Having Baldwin ready is crucial now that Mike Williams has joined Sidney Rice on the Seahawks' injured reserve list. Baldwin is the team's best option on third down. The Seahawks figure to need their tight ends in protection against the 49ers' formidable defensive front seven. Linebacker David Hawthorne's full participation in practice despite a knee injury comes as a positive sign. The team has been resting Hawthorne during the week recently. Getting Hawthorne healthier is important because the team's depth at linebacker has run low in recent weeks. The 49ers favor heavier personnel groupings, so a full contingent of linebackers would have greater value this week than in some others.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Pete Carroll, Seattle Seahawks coach. Coaches lose credibility with their players over time when they risk defeat with imprudent decisions. Carroll handled the quarterback situation questionably against Cincinnati on Sunday. He clearly botched the sequence when the first-half clock ran out, preventing the Seahawks from getting points. He did not stop the team from calling another option running play for quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, even though Jackson was still playing with an injury stemming from the last time Seattle called such a play. Making mistakes is bad enough. Refusing to correct them is worse. Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times recently ran through some of the other questionable decisions from Carroll. The Seahawks deserve better for their $35 million investment.

2. Russ Grimm, Arizona Cardinals assistant head coach/offensive line. Grimm's Hall of Fame pedigree and long-established reputation as a top offensive line coach have largely buffered him from criticism. That should change given where the Cardinals' line stands five seasons into Grimm's tenure with Arizona. Grimm hasn't been able to turn a top-five draft choice, Levi Brown, into even an average starting NFL tackle. Quarterback Kevin Kolb, though largely to blame for holding the ball too long, nonetheless needs better protection than the Cardinals' line has afforded him.

3. Charlie Whitehurst, Seahawks QB. Carroll's patience with Whitehurst finally ran out against the Bengals. Whitehurst is likely finished in Seattle unless an injury forces him into the lineup and he suddenly performs at a high level for an extended stretch. The team needed to find out about Whitehurst this season. Carroll made it clear he's seen enough when he benched Whitehurst after only seven pass attempts Sunday. Whitehurst took two sacks during his brief time on the field. He appeared unsettled by the rush and unsure what to do.

RISING

1. Steven Jackson, Rams RB. Jackson is the Rams' emotional leader, but that leadership had its limits when a quadriceps injury was preventing Jackson from performing at a high level. Jackson has shown over the past two games an ability to run with abandon. Jackson carried 25 times for 159 yards and two touchdowns in the Rams' 31-21 upset of New Orleans. He now has 28 career 100-yard rushing performances with the Rams, one more than Marshall Faulk. Only Eric Dickerson (38) has more in franchise history. Jackson's four receptions tied him with Elroy "Crazy Legs" Hirsch for sixth on the Rams' career list (343 catches). Jackson also moved past Faulk for third on the Rams' list for most yards from scrimmage.

2. Chris Long, Rams DE. Long's three-sack performance against Drew Brees and the Saints came after a quiet week for Long and the Rams' defense at Dallas. This was a breakout game in every way. Long had one sack in each of the Rams' first three games this season. He then went three games without one before breaking through against Saints right tackle Charles Brown. Long next faces an Arizona team that has juggled personnel at right tackle, switching between Brandon Keith and Jeremy Bridges. Long's rise could continue.

3. Robert Quinn, Rams DE. A few unestablished young players in the division qualified for consideration in this spot. Richard Sherman, Greg Salas, Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield come to mind. Patrick Peterson was another consideration, but his punt return for a touchdown wasn't his first of the season, and the Cardinals ultimately lost. The San Francisco 49ers' collective stock has already surged, making it tough to pinpoint one player from that team following a routine victory over Cleveland. I went with Quinn because his stock had sagged quite a bit early in the season. He wasn't even active for the opener. But with a sack and blocked punt against New Orleans, the rookie first-round draft choice played an important role in the Rams' first victory of the season.

Arizona: The Week 6 bye should serve the Cardinals well on the health front. A hamstring injury continues to sideline veteran tight end Todd Heap. Depth at tight end has been a strength for the Cardinals since the team added Heap, Jeff King and rookie Rob Housler. A fourth tight end, Jim Dray, returned to practice this week after recovering from a pectoral injury. The bye gave left guard Daryn Colledge (concussion) and right tackle Brandon Keith (knee) additional down time. Jeremy Bridges started the most recent game at right tackle. Joey Porter was limited in practice, presumably because the Cardinals want to keep him as fresh as possible. Porter has played nearly 80 percent of the defensive snaps this season.

St. Louis: Sam Bradford's high-ankle sprain is the big story for the Rams. ESPN's Adam Schefter expects Bradford to start against Dallas. Bradford is not likely to practice before Friday. He's wearing a walking boot. The team plans to make a final determination on Bradford after watching him practice Friday. The team is anxious to get Bradford onto the field with newly acquired receiver Brandon Lloyd. The question for the Rams will be whether or not letting Bradford play will put him at additional risk for injury in the short term. Bradford will likely have to battle this injury to some extent for the rest of the season. With less mobility, he'll need to get rid of the football more quickly, a point of emphasis anyway. There were some concerns Sunday that left tackle Rodger Saffold might not be ready, but the injury turned out to be a contusion on the fibula, not so much a sprained ankle. Saffold practiced Wednesday and will start Sunday barring a setback. The Rams also could welcome back cornerback Marquis Johnson from the physically unable to perform list. He's practicing, and the team does need depth at the position. The Rams have not yet activated Johnson, however.

San Francisco: The 49ers could welcome back receiver Braylon Edwards following the Week 7 bye. The team has weathered depth issues at receiver pretty well in part because tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker provide additional options in the passing game. They have combined for four touchdowns over the past two games. Edwards should become a difference-maker once he returns. The landscape has changed for some of the other 49ers players getting closer to returning from injuries. Tramaine Brock will face an uphill fight bumping rookie Chris Culliver out of the rotation at cornerback. Moran Norris could return at fullback, where Bruce Miller has shown considerable improvement.

Seattle: Charlie Whitehurst is preparing to start at quarterback while Tarvaris Jackson continues to recover from a pectoral injury. Coach Pete Carroll was vaguer than vague in describing the situation Wednesday, other than to say Whitehurst will get the meaningful practice reps. The dropoff from Jackson to Whitehurst is either small or does not exist, depending on your view. The Seahawks want to evaluate both quarterbacks this season. Why not give Jackson time to make a fuller recovery while taking a look at Whitehurst? The Seahawks also like Portis quite a bit. I could see them preparing Portis for the No. 2 role this week and even finding a way to get him on the field if an opportunity presented itself. Carroll has every incentive to keep the Browns guessing. The Seahawks plan to welcome back left guard Robert Gallery following groin surgery. This will mark a quick recovery. Gallery was struggling before undergoing the surgery. If the procedure frees him to regain past form, the offensive line could take a step forward. With cornerback Marcus Trufant going on injured reserve, Walter Thurmond takes over the starting job. There should be little or no dropoff in the immediate term. Another corner, Roy Lewis, is eligible to come off the physically unable to perform list. The Seahawks could use the depth with Trufant out. Left tackle Russell Okung has yet to regain form since coming back from ankle injuries, in my view. But there's no question about his availability. Update: Tight end Zach Miller (neck) and center Max Unger (foot) did not practice Wednesday. Missing one or both would complicate matters relating to protection and the run game, particularly on the road.

The Arizona Cardinals had no chance against the Minnesota Vikings in part because they couldn't count on the players they've paid the most.

Receiver Larry Fitzgerald dropped a pass on the first play of the game, his first drop of the season. Quarterback Kevin Kolb was "uneven" once again, to borrow the term coach Ken Whisenhunt used to describe Kolb against Seattle a few weeks back.

Everyone knew or should have known the Cardinals' defense would struggle. But there was every expectation to see an improved product on offense given how far the team had fallen on that side of the ball in 2010.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals' performance during their 34-10 defeat at Minnesota had coach Ken Whisenhunt fuming afterward. And there's little reason for short-term optimism. Somers: "A week ago, it looked like playing in the NFC West might be the one thing the Cardinals had going for them. But the complexion of the division has changed. The 49ers beat the Buccaneers to go 4-1. The Seahawks beat the Giants on the road to go 2-3. The 49ers now have a three-game lead over the Cardinals. It's early, but the Cardinals have shown no indication of being a contender. They've shown little toughness, and accountability seems lacking. And maybe they just have less talent than many thought. They sure haven't done anything to contradict that line of thinking."

Also from Somers: postgame thoughts, including one about Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb. Somers: "One question I didn't get from fans during the game is why the Cardinals were never interested in Donovan McNabb. As one of my old bosses used to say, he spent the afternoon throwing infield practice. A lot of grounders."

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic sees a Cardinals team with issues. Serious issues. Whisenhunt: "I was angry starting out and I am still angry, but I do believe that we have some good players on this football team. I have not lost any confidence in our players or our team. We are going to look at what we are doing, and we are going to put them in the best situations to not make those mistakes, and we are going to get it fixed."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com offers postgame thoughts, including this one: "Early Doucet was the go-to guy Sunday. He had a career-high eight receptions for 92 yards, and the Cards targeted him 16 times. Doucet, by the way, already has a career-high in yards with 309, and if he hadn’t lost a touchdown catch because of a Jeremy Bridges penalty, he would have had his second 100-yard game of the season. Technically, Andre Roberts is the other starting receiver, but clearly Doucet is the No. 2."

Also from Urban: The Cardinals needed to enter their bye week on a higher note.

Jim Harbaugh's day-after game news conference Monday left plenty of room for interpretation.

The San Francisco 49ers' coach, responding to questions about his makeup, at one point used the phrase "moody and complicated" to describe himself. Pretty funny.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News draws on years of covering Harbaugh, first at Stanford and now with the 49ers, in getting a read on the coach: "Everything he does -- and many times it’s all instinctive -- is to put himself and his team in the best position to beat the other guys, by as much as possible, as often as possible. Then he wants to repeat it to infinity, then go for two after he gets to infinity. Then get a raise for doing all of that. It’s not always nice. It doesn’t make him popular. It can make him look arrogant, and be arrogant. It gets bumpy along the way. But I respect the clarity of purpose, the singular cunning, and the disdain for pretty-ing up the process for public consumption."

Victor Contreras of the Sacramento Bee runs through memorable 49ers comebacks, including a 1989 Joe Montana classic against the Eagles: "With Philadelphia ahead 21-10 to start the fourth quarter, Montana bounced back from eight sacks and numerous knockdowns to throw for four touchdowns -- three in the final six minutes -- to give the 49ers a 38-28 victory."

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle says former Seahawks coach Jim Mora criticized Harbaugh's decision-making late in the first half against Philadelphia.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee runs through five key plays from the 49ers' victory over the Eagles.

Dan Caesar of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' struggles have produced lower TV ratings. Caesar: "The Nielsen Co. reports that 18.9 percent of homes in the St. Louis market tuned in to KTVI (Channel 2) Sunday for the Rams’ 17-10 loss to Washington, marking the second week in a row their game rated lower than any of their contests last season. The week before, the rating was 18.0 for a blowout loss to Baltimore, in which they trailed 27-0 at halftime. The worst rating in 2010 was 19.8, for a 38-point loss at Detroit. Through four games, the Rams are being seen in an average of 20.8 percent of area homes, down 17 percent from the 25.1 rating at the same point last season." Noted: St. Louis is a baseball town first and the Rams are doing their part to make sure it stays that way.

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com wants to see more public fire from Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reviews the sacks Kevin Kolb took against the New York Giants and offers some conclusions. Somers: "Levi Brown gave up a sack to one of the game's best defensive ends. That's going to happen. Brandon Keith gives up a sack because he crumpled to the ground. He left the game after that and Jeremy Bridges played the rest of the way. Keith is wearing a brace on his right knee, but wasn't on the injury report last week. Bridges appeared to hold up well the rest of the game. The other two sacks are on Kolb, and he would admit that. He needs to do a better job of moving around in the pocket, no question. He has mobility, but learning how to use it is a skill he hasn't mastered. To be fair, there were other plays on Sunday in which his mobility saved the Cardinals. He moved around, rolled out of the pocket and threw the ball away."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times offers thoughts on what he learned about the Seahawks during their 30-28 defeat to the Atlanta Falcons. O'Neil: "While Seattle didn't complete its comeback from a 20-point deficit, the fact the Seahawks came as close as they did counts as progress. Over the previous two seasons, Seattle faced 14 halftime deficits of 10 or more points. The Seahawks lost 13 of those games by double digits. In the previous two seasons, Seattle won just once after trailing by double digits at halftime, and that was last year's comeback against Carolina. The Panthers led 14-3 at halftime, but Seattle came back and won 31-14."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team will miss linebacker Matt McCoy, who suffered a knee sprain that will sideline him indefinitely. Coach Pete Carroll: "Matt has carved out a really nice role here. He’s jumped into the nickel group … so that, in addition to all the special teams work that he’s done, was really helping us because it was allowing other guys to rest and share the special teams duty." Noted: The agent for former Rams linebacker David Vobora tweeted that the Seahawks plan to re-sign Vobora, who was with Seattle briefly earlier in the season.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals' 31-27 home defeat against the New York Giants in Week 4:

What it means: The Cardinals blew a chance at claiming a key home victory outside the division, dropping them to 1-3 heading into a road game against the Minnesota Vikings. Arizona needed to win this game after NFC West rival San Francisco upped its record to 3-1 with an upset road victory against the Philadelphia Eagles. Had the Cardinals won, a breakout performance from running back Beanie Wells and timely turnover production by the Arizona defense would have removed the focus from another mostly shaky showing by Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb.

What I liked: Larry Fitzgerald made another spectacular leaping grab for a spot in the Cardinals' record book. This time, his 47-yard grab deep in Giants territory moved Fitzgerald past Roy Green for the top spot on the franchise list for receiving yardage. Last week, his touchdown grab at Seattle moved him past Green for most scoring receptions. Wells provided the physical running presence Arizona missed against Seattle, topping 100 yards on the ground. This was his second career game with more than one rushing touchdown in a game. On defense, Calais Campbell and David Carter forced fumbles leading to 10 points for Arizona. Darnell Dockett was a force, disrupting plays.

What I didn't like: Kolb continued to struggle, losing a fumble and tossing an interception. He took too many sacks, seemed affected by pressure and lacked awareness when taking a grounding penalty. The Cardinals mismanaged a sequence right before halftime, setting up the Giants for one last drive in the quarter. Wells fumbled on the Cardinals' first possession of the second half. Penalties hurt Arizona on both sides of the ball; the Cardinals had 10 of them before reaching the fourth quarter. Strong safety Adrian Wilson let a potential interception slip through his grasp for the second week in a row. He is consistently getting chances for interceptions and should have more than the one he collected at Washington. Cornerback A.J. Jefferson had trouble finishing tackles.

Injuries of note: The Cardinals lost right tackle Brandon Keith to an apparent knee injury. Jeremy Bridges replaced him. Fitzgerald briefly left the game with what appeared to be a calf injury. Wells rode a stationary bike on the sideline to keep his injured hamstring loose. Arizona benefited when the Giants lost center David Baas to injury. Carter beat Baas' replacement for the fumble-forcing play on Manning. The Cardinals lost cornerback Richard Marshall to a quadriceps injury in the fourth quarter. Jefferson was shaken up late in the game, leaving Michael Adams as the primary corner opposite Patrick Peterson.

Upon further review: Referee Jerome Boger overturned on replay Manning's scoring pass to tight end Jake Ballard. Brandon Jacobs scored from the 1 on the next play, pulling the Giants within 20-17 early in the fourth quarter. Before Sunday, referees had overturned 13 of 20 touchdowns when reviewing whether a runner had broken the plane of the goal line.

Controversial call: The Cardinals, leading 27-24 late in the game, thought they had produced a turnover when the Giants' Victor Cruz set down the ball before a defender touched him during the Giants' go-ahead scoring drive. I thought Boger was correct in ruling that Cruz had given himself up on the play and was therefore down. However, former NFL officiating director Mike Pereira said he thought Cruz stumbled on the play, and that this should have been ruled a fumble. Should be some good debate on this one.

What's next: The Cardinals visit Minnesota in Week 5.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune passes along notes from Seahawks practice Sunday. He says veteran cornerback Marcus Trufant is enjoying a strong camp to this point. Also: "All three quarterbacks looked good, but Charlie Whitehurst had another very strong practice when he passed with improved confidence. He gunned one into a small window to Pat Williams, and also was accurate on a couple short passes to the backs that he had missed on occasionally earlier in camp."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune checks in with Seahawks defensive lineman Jimmy Wilkerson.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com was there when Whitehurst defended his title in the team's second annual home-run derby. Farnsworth: "Whitehurst hit three balls over the fence that separates the practices fields from the berm at Virginia Mason Athletic Center on five swings. Rookie free agent punter John Gold was second with two. ... Last year, Whitehurst had to hit 13 homers in 17 swings to outlast defensive end Ricky Foley in a slug-off to win the inaugural event."

Also from Farnsworth: Seahawks notes, including one about 6-foot-3 rookie cornerback Richard Sherman enjoying a strong camp.

More from Farnsworth: The Seahawks have been pleased with Tyler Polumbus' play in relief of Russell Okung. General manager John Schneider on how Polumbus performed against San Francisco in the 2010 opener: "In that first game, Tyler stepped in and played against Greg Manusky’s group. Those guys were playing 140 mph and Tyler played well."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times offers notes from Seahawks practice, including one about Brandon Browner getting work at first-team cornerback. Also: Receiver Patrick Williams shined in practice.

Also from O'Neil: He thinks Leroy Hill appears poised for a bounce-back season that could make Hill one of the bargains of free agency.

More from O'Neil: Whitehurst has gained momentum recently, but Tarvaris Jackson remains the Seahawks' starting quarterback.

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle details Golden Tate's mindset coming off a disappointing rookie season.

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic profiles new Cardinals linebacker Stewart Bradley, whose interests include architecture, the arts, speaking French and paying a mean inside linebacker (when healthy). Defensive coordinator Ray Horton: "Ohhhhh, watch out downhill. He's going to come downhill and hit you. He's a very smart player and aggressive. And he's a lot better in coverage than I really thought he was."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic analyzes the Cardinals' preseason game against Oakland. Somers: "Beanie Wells run hard and made some nice cuts. I thought he also missed a couple of opportunities. On replay, it appeared he had a chance to out-run the safety on his 15-yard run. I'd rather see him try to out-run the safety and then lower the shoulder if he has to nearly the goal line. Instead, Wells cut it back and was tackled at the 8. His pad level on the goal line series was way too high. If he gets lower, he scores. It was the first game and those are things he can easily improve upon."

Also from Somers: The Cardinals' tight ends are contributing.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com gets Hamza Abdullah's thoughts on spending an evening at the White House with the president. Abdullah: "Once-in-a-lifetime. It was just so humbling. And I continue to say that because it’s something money can’t buy you. You’re not famous, it’s just something where, you are chosen. You feel blessed. The man has a million different things on his plate, but he’s relating to you."

Also from Urban: Horton's plans for pressuring quarterbacks.

More from Urban: Where Dan Williams stands as the Cardinals push their second-year nose tackle to improve his conditioning.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reflects on Robert Quinn's long-awaited NFL debut. Coats: "Because of NCAA sanctions handed down after his sophomore season at the University of North Carolina, the Rams' first-round draft choice hadn't suited up for a football game since December 2009."

Also from Coats: Ron Bartell, James Laurinaitis and James Hall are among the injured Rams players expected back on the practice field this week.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' work is only beginning despite a solid showing in the first preseason game. Thomas: "From a St. Louis perspective, if there are any clouds in an otherwise sunny picture, it's at wide receiver and cornerback, positions where injuries have cropped up."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch thinks the Rams' aggressive mindset, on display against Indianapolis in the first preseason game, will serve them well. Miklasz: "They were surprisingly sharp and in the mood to attack. Head coach Steve Spagnuolo and assistants obviously have ratcheted up the urgency, which is the right approach for the shortened period of preparation. This isn't a normal preseason. This year it doesn't make sense to take the customary, casual approach to these rehearsals."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com looks back on the team's victory over the Colts.

Also from Wagoner: Josh Brown's long-range ability on field goals.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com describes the 49ers' attempts to recreate the drive leading to "The Catch" for fans watching practice at Candlestick Park. Maiocco: "Rookie outside linebacker Aldon Smith deflected Alex Smith's pass at the line of scrimmage on third-and-goal from the 2, which prevented what should've been an easy touchdown pass to tight end Vernon Davis. He also batted down an earlier pass on first-and-goal from the 10."

Also from Maiocco: Alex Smith is not taking the starting quarterback's job for granted.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has this to say about Daunte Culpepper's scheduled workout with the 49ers: "He started for the UFL's Sacramento Mountain Lions last year. "It's an opportunity to look at a veteran quarterback, put a third guy on the roster who's been there before and has game experience," [Jim] Harbaugh said. "So, see where he's at physically, see where he's at mentally, emotionally and having a workout. Looking forward to a good workout."

Taylor Price of 49ers.com says the team worked on picking up blitzes during practice Sunday after a rough outing in that area Friday night.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat joins fans in mocking Smith as Joe Montana in recreating the famous 1982 drive. Cohn: "Harbaugh is trying to sell the organization and himself on Smith. He can’t fool the Faithful." I think Harbaugh hopes to get through one season with Smith as one of his quarterbacks and likely the starter while Colin Kaepernick develops. The commitment is for one season.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News offers transcripts from interviews with Harbaugh and Smith. Smith is wearing a new face mask this season, one offering greater vision now that the quarterback isn't scrambling as much.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Braylon Edwards impressed fans on Sunday with a one-handed catch.

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis will not miss fewer padded practices. Willis on protections written into the new labor agreement: "Honestly, I'm glad they put that in there. At the end of the day, we're high-impact players. For us to go out there and hit each other twice a day and it's me against you and it's everything I've got against you, it takes a toll on your body."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com passes along a team-issued comment from Chargers general manager A.J. Smith regarding the team's contract agreement with Takeo Spikes. Smith: "He is an outstanding player. I love his competitiveness and instincts. I believe he will be an immediate contributor. To me, this is another Randall Godfrey type move for the Chargers."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers did not show interest in Spikes once the negotiating period opened.

Taylor Price of 49ers.com reports from team headquarters as players returned for work following the lockout. Price: "While 49ers players like Willis were extremely eager to begin the 2011 campaign, many of them had trouble finding their lockers first. The typical locker arrangement the players had come to expect was changed by head coach Jim Harbaugh. Now the locker room looks like a sporadic mix of players intertwined with various position groups."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers are adopting a long-term approach under team president Jed York.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune reflects on some of the moments that defined Matt Hasselbeck's legacy in Seattle. Boling: "Years ago at Arizona when Darrell Jackson fumbled the ball 20 yards downfield at a crucial point in the game, the Seahawk who made the recovery was Hasselbeck. He’d gone racing down the field to help and was there to dive into the pile and get the ball. Offensive coordinator Gil Haskell was mad at him after the game because it seemed so reckless for a quarterback, but then he admitted that he’d never seen another quarterback make that play, and that Matt was the 'toughest guy on the team.'"

John McGrath of the Tacoma News Tribune thinks the Seahawks should give Charlie Whitehurst a chance.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says now was the time for Hasselbeck and the Seahawks to part ways. Kelley: "He made himself into a Pro Bowler. He became one of the most respected athletes to play in Seattle and one of the classiest, most humble guys I've covered. But it was time for him to go. The Seahawks will go into this season with two rookies projected to start on the right side of the offensive line. Four of their starting linemen will have a combined total of 27 career starts. That's a prescription for disaster for Hasselbeck, who will turn 36 in September and has had injury and mobility problems the past few years. Truthfully, the end of the Hasselbeck era has been coming since former general manager Tim Ruskell hustled [Mike] Holmgren out the door."

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle says clues were there that Hasselbeck would not return. As coach Pete Carroll put it some time after declaring Hasselbeck's re-signing a top priority, "Well, we had a good dialogue started and we went up to the time frame that we had available so that's all we could do, and then it ended. We weren't able to get anything done at that time so when opportunities arise again where we can get going on it again, we'll be right after it again and see where it all fits. Some time has passed now and there could have been some things that have changed."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says former defensive lineman Richard Harris, 63, has died of a heart attack.

Also from Farnsworth: Seattle players return to work.

Art Thiel of Sports Press Northwest calls Tarvaris Jackson a placeholder while the Seahawks search for their next long-term quarterback.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are considering multiple options at quarterback. Hasselbeck was one of the options mentioned, but obviously not a serious one. Hasselbeck's agreement with Tennessee gives Arizona one fewer quarterback to consider as the Cardinals try to leverage a better deal with Philadelphia for Kevin Kolb. Somers: "Kolb is the Cardinals' top choice, and their efforts to get him were bolstered when the Seahawks agreed to terms Tuesday with former Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson."

Also from Somers: Jeff King and Ben Graham have agreed to deals with Arizona.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says team staffers were happy to see players back in the building following the lockout. Urban: "There are times when a player comes through the door and freezes, realizing a meeting was going on. Offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges was that guy this morning, until [team president Michael] Bidwill waved him through. As the affable Bridges walked down the side, the staff began to clap, bringing a smile to Bridges’ face. As he went to pass the main stage, he went to shake Bidwill’s hand -- and it turned into a welcome-back hug."

Also from Urban: More on players returning to work.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports from Rams headquarters as players returned to work following the lockout. Also: "Jim Lake has been promoted to equipment manager. He replaces Todd Hewitt, who was fired in January after 16 years in the position and 32 years as a Rams employee. Lake has worked in the club's equipment department for 20 years. In other staff additions, Adam Bailey has been hired as assistant strength coach, Lou Paolillo has been named a coaching assistant/special projects, and Jeremy McMillan becomes the team's nutritionist."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Quintin Mikell's addition to the Rams could spell the end for veteran James Butler. Thomas: "The Rams currently have only three safeties under contract in James Butler, Craig Dahl and Darian Stewart, but did draft two safeties in Ohio State's Jermale Hines and Oklahoma's Jonathan Nelson. The signing of Mikell could put Butler, who counts nearly $3.3 million against the salary, in jeopardy of being a cap casualty."

Alan Faneca is retiring as the starting left guard for an offensive line coached by Hall of Famer Russ Grimm.

There are worse ways to go out.

Faneca, 34, started all 16 regular-season games over his final nine seasons, including in 2010, his lone season with the Arizona Cardinals.

The lockout will prevent the Cardinals and Faneca's previous teams, the New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers, from making a fuss over his announcement. Isn't that how every self-respecting offensive lineman would want it?

The time will come for Faneca, a nine-time Pro Bowl choice, to receive his due. He'll be a strong candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame when eligible five years from now. Faneca was exceedingly durable, dependable and skilled over the course of his career.

A statement from Faneca laid out his thoughts as follows:

"After a lot of thought, I am announcing my retirement from professional football. Playing in the NFL has been a childhood dream come true. Thirteen years later, I have decided that it is time to move on. From the dog days of training camp to winning a Super Bowl, the memories are endless. The greatest memory that I will leave the game with is all of the lifelong friendships I have made.

"I want to specifically thank the Steelers, Jets and Cardinals. Each and every teammate, coach and front office employee has made a lasting impact on my life. It was a pleasure playing for first-class organizations who surrounded me with incredibly dedicated individuals. I want to thank each of the beat writers that covered me throughout my career. These guys work hard and always treated me with respect. I want to also thank the fans. The roar of the crowd kept me going more than the fans will ever know.

"It is time to move on to the next chapter in my life. I can't wait to spend more time with my family. Playing in this league for as long as I did takes sacrifice, not only by me, but by each of them. I want to thank Julie, Annabelle and Burton for allowing me to fulfill all of my boyhood dreams. I couldn't have done it without you."

The Cardinals knew Faneca was leaning toward retirement. They continued to bypass offensive linemen in the draft, joining the Tennessee Titans as the only teams that have not selected one in the first three rounds of the past four drafts.

Rex Hadnot and Jeremy Bridges provide veteran depth, but center Lyle Sendlein and right guard Deuce Lutui do not have contracts for 2011.

The NFL will miss Faneca. The Cardinals might, too.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are most likely to select a defensive player at No. 14. Thomas: "The Steve Spagnuolo template for defense seems pretty well established. He likes defensive linemen -- lots of 'em. To wit, the Rams had 10 defensive linemen on their season-opening roster last season. In other words nearly one-fifth of the roster. And he especially likes defensive linemen that can rush the passer. That in part explains why C.J. Ah You is a Ram, and Victor Adeyanju is not. Spagnuolo likes strong middle linebacker play. (See: James Laurinaitis.) And big corners with long arms, who can play press coverage." Those types of generalizations are helpful when sketching in the sorts of players a team will favor on draft day.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams Park remained relatively quiet following the lockout. Coats: "Linebacker James Laurinaitis was spotted at Rams Park shortly after noon, but it could not be determined whether he actually entered the building. Apparently no other players arrived at the facility in Earth City."

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have options at No. 14. Burwell: "The only reason you don't draft Julio Jones if he's still on the board is if A.J. Green is there, too. But I wonder if the Rams feel this way. Seriously. This is where the intrigue is starting to build. There are enough smoke screens, misdirections and outright lies floating around the closer we get to Thursday night that it is often impossible to find someone telling the truth. But the one thing that I've learned in observing the way things work with Devaney and his crew is that if you listen closely, at some point in the long build-up to the draft, someone will randomly drop in the truth amidst the ocean of misdirection and prevarications."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com throws Ricky Stanzi's name into consideration for the 49ers after speaking with NFL Films analyst Greg Cosell. Cosell: "Ricky Stanzi played in a pro offense in college. I think he's very efficient off play-action, off the boot-action pass game. He's pretty calm and poised and understands checkdowns. He also showed he can handle a lot of responsibility at the line of scrimmage. I watched five games, and I think he's very similar to Matt Schuab when he came out of Virginia."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee wonders whether Missouri's Blaine Gabbert fits the Alex Smith profile coming out of college. Barrows: "Like Smith, Gabbert is entering the draft as a junior. Gabbert, too, played in a college spread offense, and he also aced his Wonderlic intelligence test. They're represented by the same agent, Tom Condon, and they both wear No. 11 jerseys."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says Gideon Yu's hiring by the 49ers looks like the start of something. Kawakami: "The 49ers got the Santa Clara vote last year. But they have to fund the dang thing and that certainly isn’t getting any easier with the lockout shenanigans, the economy, and the non-playoff run. Yu could help all of that, or he could be the guy who looks at everything and tells Jed York once and for all that they’ve tried everything (and York will believe they did try everything) and it isn’t going to work."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic thinks the Cardinals are unlikely to select a quarterback with the fifth overall choice. Somers: "The Cardinals are in the market for a quarterback, but it seems doubtful they will take one with the fifth overall pick. Coach Ken Whisenhunt has said he doesn't see a franchise quarterback on the level of the Rams' Sam Bradford or the Falcons' Matt Ryan in this draft. Bradford, Whisenhunt pointed out, started all four years at Oklahoma."

Also from Somers: Kerry Rhodes and four other Cardinals players showed up at team headquarters Tuesday, but they didn't have much to do once they arrived. Somers: "Cardinals player representative Jay Feely has kept in touch with his teammates and texted Rhodes Monday night, telling him he could show up if he was in town. Offensive linemen Levi Brown, Rex Hadnot and Jeremy Bridges were at the team's Tempe facility earlier in the day, as was long snapper Mike Leach. All have significant workout bonuses in their contracts. Brown's is for $250,000. Hadnot and Bridges can earn $150,000 and Leach can make $25,000." Rhodes' workout bonus is for $500,000.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals and other teams can benefit when others overvalue quarterbacks in the draft. General manager Rod Graves: "I do recognize the fact it tends to happen in the results of the draft. Sometimes quarterbacks go a little bit higher … but it has the effect of pushing other very good football players down and sometimes that can be beneficial to you."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says coach Pete Carroll reiterated his point that the Seattle offense will not change much from a philosophical standpoint under new coordinator Darrell Bevell and assistant head coach/offensive line Tom Cable. Carroll: "Philosophy doesn’t change, it really doesn’t. What we’ve been able to do by getting Tom and Darrell to come in here is really, I think, point toward the philosophy that we’ve been trying to create. We didn’t get there fully last year. We wanted to run the ball better than we did and we wanted to be more effective up front." Carroll wants to run the ball. He wants to run a zone scheme. He wants bigger linemen than former line coach Alex Gibbs wanted. How much does the terminology and playbook change?

Also from Farnsworth: General manager John Schneider suspects the team will wind up selecting at No. 25 even though trading back has great appeal. Schneider: "It’s a goal. But it’s much harder to move back than it is to go up. You have to find a partner. There’s a certain trust level involved. And it has to happen quick. And somebody has to really want somebody."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says during a chat he thinks the Seahawks would have a hard time passing up cornerback Jimmy Smith if available at No. 25.

Also from O'Neil: Seahawks players indicate they can't get into team headquarters even though a judge struck down the lockout. O'Neil: "Wide receiver Deon Butler arrived at the team's facility Tuesday along with a teammate. Butler said he was allowed inside the security gate for the players' parking lot, but not into the building. Butler spoke with a member of Seahawks security, and was told there was no access to the weight room or to the trainers for any treatment or rehabilitation. He left without entering the building. Same for cornerback Roy Lewis, who also went to the facility but didn't get inside."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune passes along a quote from Schneider regarding the possibility of the team trading out of the first round entirely. Schneider: "Somebody said to me the other day in the marketing department, ‘Hey we’ve got 5.000 people showing up for the draft party.’ And I said, 'That’s on Friday, right?' "

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says the Seahawks want more from receiver Golden Tate, a player they said they said carried a first-round grade in the 2010 draft.