ESPN NFL

There's more to the NFC West blog than uniform reviews, I'm happy to say.

We can thank Bernie Miklasz of 101ESPN St. Louis for interrupting the NFL's ongoing fashion show with some actual NFC West football talk.

Bernie and I discussed Torry Holt's Hall of Fame credentials, and also whether the St. Louis Rams should consider trading down again from the sixth pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

The case for Holt should emphasize the quality of his career, not just numbers accumulated over time. Holt's six consecutive seasons with at least 1,300 yards were an NFL record, matching the career total for Jerry Rice in 20 seasons.

Audio here.

Hall of Famer Jerry Rice passed 11,000 yards receiving in his 133rd game.

Torry Holt needed 131 games, making him the fastest to the milestone in NFL history. He set another NFL record by reaching 1,300 yards in six consecutive seasons.

The St. Louis Rams made note of those milestones while announcing plans to honor Holt during a ceremony Wednesday. Holt, who last played in the NFL for Jacksonville in 2009, will sign a one-day contract with the Rams, then formally retire with the team that selected him sixth overall in the 1999 draft.

After filing a Holt appreciation piece last week, I've put together a chart comparing Holt's career numbers to those for the Rams' current receivers.

Holt was prolific, and not just a compiler of numbers over time.

The pace Holt set in getting the first 11,000 of his 13,382 career yards bears revisiting.

Larry Fitzgerald has 9,615 yards in 124 games. He would have to gain 1,385 yards in his next seven games -- 197.8 yards per game -- to reach 11,000 as quickly as Holt.

Andre Johnson, with 9,656 yards in 122 games, would have to gain 1,344 yards in his next nine games -- 149.3 per game -- to match the feat.

The Rams have provided comments from Holt and chief operating officer Kevin Demoff in advance of the news conference:

Holt: "I loved everything about being a Ram, and I feel blessed that I’m able to formally finish my career with the organization that drafted me in 1999. The fans and the city of St. Louis have been so good to me. I feel very fortunate that I was able to come to St. Louis and be surrounded by so many outstanding players and coaches. This is where it all started, and it’s fitting that this is also where it ends."

Demoff: "Torry's career achievements define him as one of the franchise's most exciting players, and it's only appropriate that he complete his remarkable career in a Rams uniform. As a key figure in one of the greatest offenses in NFL history, Torry spent an entire decade thrilling St. Louis fans with his clutch catches. We're proud to celebrate this special day with Torry and to welcome him back home."

Note: I've updated this item to include the second chart, provided by the Rams via Elias Sports Bureau. The total for Rice, 133 games, is one more than I had counted initially.

NFL players won on the lifestyle front in their most recent labor negotiations.

They succeeded in pushing back an offseason that had encroached on their recovery time as teams sought competitive advantages through year-round preparation.

Those victories have come at a price in some situations, however. This would be a perfect time for St. Louis Rams quarterback Sam Bradford and other young quarterbacks to spend time with their coaching staffs, but rules prevent that from happening until deep into April. Even Bradford's rehab from an ankle injury became a solo endeavor at times.

Is that what is best for Bradford's career? Is that the path he would choose if given a choice in the matter? It's still only March 29, so perhaps Bradford and other young quarterbacks still have plenty of time. It just seems counter-productive for an outright ban to prevent players from getting in the work some of them would surely welcome.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Bradford recovered from his ankle injury about a month ago, according to coach Jeff Fisher. Fisher: "Now had it been during the season, they probably would've taken a different approach to the rehab. But they felt the best thing for him was to just shut it down. My understanding is that as part of his rehab, he has been doing his drops and sets, and throwing some balls. But we're not permitted to be a part of that."

Also from Thomas: The timing of the NFL's announcement regarding the bounty-related punishments put the Rams and Saints in a difficult spot, perhaps by design. Thomas: "Factor in also the date -- March 2 -- when the NFL released the findings of its investigation. League bylaws prohibit teams from seeking permission to interview a coach under contract with another team after March 1. ... As a result, if Fisher wants to hire a Williams replacement this season, it has to be someone currently out of the league, severely limiting the pool of potential candidates."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers thoughts on Rams owner Stan Kroenke's failed bid to purchase the Los Angeles Dodgers. Miklasz: "Kroenke can still try to move the Rams. Unless he can make a deal to extend the lease at the Edward Jones Dome, Stan the Businessman almost certainly will have an escape clause to leave St. Louis after the 2014 season. ... I'm still among the seven or eight people in St. Louis who believe Kroenke will stay. As one NFL owner told me recently, Kroenke still has one of the best lease arrangements in the NFL. So what's the problem? Kroenke is a cold guy, but he isn't a bad guy. Stan just can't help himself; tough negotiations, and the art of the deal, excite him. So he'll push hard to get the necessary stadium improvements here." Noted: Kroenke is most likely going to want a new stadium, not a refurbished Edward Jones Dome. That is the likely end game. The dome's design is outdated.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle looks into Brandon Jacobs' reputation as a soft runner. Jerry Rice: "I like Brandon Jacobs, but I feel like Brandon Jacobs is a little bit soft. He can’t get away from a defender. This guy is 265 and it upsets me when I see him get tackled by a guy that’s like 190 or 200 pounds."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Pro Football Weekly draft analyst Nolan Nawrocki thinks the 49ers can find a receiver after the first round. Nawrocki: "You can find them anywhere throughout this draft, so I don't know if they should reach for one that early."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with former center Blair Bush, now 55 and a financial analyst. Farnsworth: "Bush anchored the Seahawks’ line from 1983-88, starting 78 games on teams that averaged 9.5 victories, played in the AFC Championship game (1983), won the team’s first division title (1988) and advanced to the playoffs four times (1983, 1984, 1987 and 1988)."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times links to a photo gallery from the movie set where Marshawn Lynch is working this week. O'Neil: "Lee Majors is in it. So is Edward Furlong, aka the young John Conner from 'T2' who is not so young anymore. And then there's Lynch, whose role is detailed as 'Massive Goon.' He's a security guard for the bad guy, and while he does have a line, the script also calls for him to get aced during a bank robbery before he even gets in the building."

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle sees the Seahawks addressing linebacker and pass-rusher early in the draft. Huard: "Todd McShay's latest mock draft would be a dream scenario with a prototypical pass-rusher with the length and strength Carroll desires in UNC's Quinton Coples, and the rare burst and acceleration at linebacker with Cal's Mychal Kendricks. However, the mock draft script could be flipped with the draft's most dynamic and instinctive linebacker at No. 12 with Luke Kuechly going first, and at No. 43 a pass-rusher such as USC's Nick Perry or Marshall's Vinny Curry."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic quotes Ken Whisenhunt and analyst Daryl Johnston on the Cardinals' quarterback situation. Johnston on whether Kevin Kolb or John Skelton is the best choice: "Kevin Kolb. You have the financial commitment to him. The big thing that happened to Kevin last year is the fact that he didn’t have the offseason to work in, and it was a big change from his style of offense from Philadelphia to Arizona. So he struggled at times. You look at John Skelton did and you look at the record and you say, 'How can you pick Kevin Kolb? [Skelton] has a better win-loss record and football is all about winning.' They won with fewer points per game with a higher turnover ratio, so there are some other things that go there."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com checks in with Larry Fitzgerald, who is working with Anquan Boldin to fight the effects of drought and famine in Ethiopia. Fitzgerald: "There are so many needs here, basic ones to us back home. Just having clean drinking water or having water at all, (which is) something we never even think about at home. You turn the faucet on and you get clean drinkable water. (Here there is) no water for the livestock who plow the fields for vegetables and food. It’s an ugly cycle."

The San Francisco 49ers cannot be sure what they'll get from Randy Moss in 2012.

Expectations are naturally low after Moss, 35, produced sparingly for three teams in 2010 before sitting out the 2011 season.

But what does history tell us?

With an assist from Pro Football Reference, I've put together a list of 20 productive seasons from receivers age 35 or older, ranked by most receiving yardage.

Jerry Rice was 35 when he suffered a career-threatening knee injury early in the 1997 season. He returned to catch 82 passes for 1,157 yards and nine touchdowns the following season.

Rice shows up on the chart three times, most recently in 2002, when he had 92 receptions for 1,211 yards at age 40.

Rice is a special case, obviously. He was also less dependent than Moss on raw speed, which tends to be fleeting as players get older.

The odds are stacked against Moss, but other 35-and-up receivers have occasionally produced at a high level.

Jerry Rice's thoughts on Michael Crabtree, Peyton Manning and player safety are worth a read over at Cam Inman's blog.

My favorite quote from Rice concerned player safety. Asked about defensive backs taking shots at him, the NFL's all-time touchdown king offered a simple (for him) solution.

"The best way to shut them up was to drop six on them," he said.

Rice also said he thinks Crabtree would benefit from dropping weight. This comment reflects Rice's legendary work ethic and his feeling that Crabtree would have to make an extra commitment to become more explosive. Rice said Crabtree appears to have a hard time getting separation from defensive backs consistently.

"I don’t really know the guy so I can’t really comment on his work ethic," Rice said. "They feel there's potential there, but it'll be up to him to say, 'I want to be the best receiver I have to be and I’m going to have to sacrifice some things.' "

The 2012 season will be pivotal for Crabtree on that front. For the first time in his NFL career, a holdout or lockout or rehabilitation shouldn't interfere with his ability to become a full participant in minicamps and training camp. Will he seize the moment? Might his lingering foot issues recur? Does he have the right offense and quarterback to maximize his production?

Rice's thoughts on Manning were somewhat predictable. Rice, having played with Joe Montana and Steve Young, would like to see the 49ers go after one of the all-time great quarterbacks. But he also suggested Alex Smith might fare better with additional weapons.

Quarterback options for the Seattle Seahawks carried much of my latest discussion with Dave Grosby and Bob Stelton on 710ESPN Seattle.

We discussed Green Bay's Matt Flynn, plus the San Francisco 49ers' offense and Cortez Kennedy's chances for the Hall of Fame.

I thought the absence of obvious candidates such as Jerry Rice or Emmitt Smith from the 2012 class would open the door for some other deserving candidates to finally earn enshrinement. Four to seven members will be enshrined, with two spots for seniors candidates.

Here's the audio.

The San Francisco 49ers' resurgence this season recalls the team's greatest years.

How appropriate, then, that Eddie DeBartolo Jr. has emerged as a Pro Football Hall of Fame finalist for the first time. DeBartolo and former St. Louis/Arizona defensive back Aeneas Williams add NFC West flavor to the proceedings as first-time finalists for the Hall. I'll be among those casting votes when the selection committee gathers during Super Bowl week.

No more than five of the maximum 15 modern-era finalists can qualify for enshrinement in a given year. That makes handicapping a candidate's chances difficult. Worthy finalists miss the cut every year, in my view. They must wait their turn while other worthy finalists gain enshrinement.

Without slam-dunk candidates such as Emmitt Smith or Jerry Rice on the ballot this year, the door could open for some who have waited their turn recently. Cortez Kennedy, Charles Haley, Jerome Bettis, Chris Doleman and Kevin Greene are among the finalists with ties to franchises currently in the NFC West. Kennedy made the final 10 last year.

Also among the modern-era finalists: Tim Brown, Cris Carter, Dermontti Dawson, Curtis Martin, Bill Parcells, Andre Reed, Willie Roaf and Will Shields. Jack Butler and Dick Stanfel are eligible as seniors nominees. Their enshrinement would not come at the expense of the maximum five slots for modern-era finalists.

On the surface, the San Francisco 49ers's decision to sign Brett Swain over more established receivers doesn't make much sense.

Why not sign one of the veterans they brought in for a tryout? T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Chris Chambers and Brian Finneran have combined for 1,394 career receptions. Swain, meanwhile, has six receptions in only 22 games, with no touchdowns.

Signing Swain makes sense only in the context of special teams. He played extensively on the Green Bay Packers' special-teams units last season. Of the more accomplished veterans brought in for tryouts, only Finneran played on special teams last season, and only then in a limited role. He's 35 years old. Swain is 26. The fourth receiver on a game-day roster generally must contribute on special teams, particularly for an offense that keeps two tight ends on the field as frequently as the 49ers do.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers did not immediately announce the move to add Swain because the team was still deciding how to clear a roster spot. Noted: That suggests the team isn't ready to place Josh Morgan on injured reserve even though Morgan required surgery to repair the broken leg he suffered making a sideline reception during the final minutes of the 49ers' 48-3 victory over Tampa Bay.

Also from Maiocco: a player-by-player review of the 49ers' offense against the Bucs.

More from Maiocco: a look at the defensive players as well.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News checks in with Jerry Rice for thoughts on Alex Smith's improved play this season. Rice: "You can tell [Smith] is more relaxed. He's not holding on to the ball. His decision-making is so much better. The ball is out of his hands just like that. I think as long as they continue that, they're going to have success. All these guys, everybody pitched in -- Frank Gore. Carlos Rogers. Delanie Walker. Vernon Davis. The weight is not on Smith's shoulders, and I think that's why he's playing so well."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says Tom Cable, like the Seahawks' offensive line, is getting better these days. Cable recently underwent major back surgery. Cable: "It’s an old injury that all of a sudden got really bad. So the choice is either you lose the use of your left leg or you go get this done and now you can move forward. I feel great -- it obviously worked. The incision is a big one, so that’s the only real negative left … just letting that heal up."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says quarterback Charlie Whitehurst runs through the team's no-huddle offense in unconventional places, including when he's trying to fall asleep at the team hotel. Whitehurst: "I’ve often wondered if people can hear me through the walls."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with current Rams players with roots on the Packers' roster, notably Al Harris, who opened last season on the physically unable to perform list, then was released in November. Thomas: "Harris told the Journal Sentinel at the time that Packers coach Mike McCarthy and general manager Ted Thompson led him on, giving him the false impression that he still fit into the team's plans as he completed the PUP-list process. But that was then. With the season-ending knee injury to Bradley Fletcher during the Rams' bye week, Harris might start Sunday against his old team. So Harris is concentrating on the here and now, not a stroll down memory lane."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic explains the gap between public comments from Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb and coach Ken Whisenhunt regarding whether players are showing up for meetings on time. Somers: "According to sources, (Whisenhunt) told his players that too many details were being ignored, that the sloppiness wasn't going to be tolerated, that it was time to stop sliding into meetings seconds before they were scheduled to start. That speech prompted quarterback Kevin Kolb to tell reporters Sunday that his head coach 'hit the nail on the head. We have to get more detail-oriented. It starts with meetings, showing up to work on time, getting in early, getting your work done, and all the stuff a professional is supposed to do. Maybe it takes a game like this to figure out.'"

Also from Somers: a look at key areas where the Cardinals need to improve.

Football fans can appreciate it when the game becomes personal for players.

For fans who invest emotionally in a game, it can be tough seeing players socialize like best buddies on the field immediately following what was, by all accounts, a hard-fought game. Bad blood courses through the most compelling rivalries.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Cardinals revisits the animosity that once existed between current Cardinals teammates Joey Porter and Todd Heap. The two are on good enough terms now. They're teammates, after all. It wasn't always this way. Bickley: "Their relationship soured early in the 2004 season, after Heap injured his ankle near the end of the first half. He hobbled to the line of scrimmage, in no condition to play. The Ravens decided to spike the ball and stop the clock. Everyone seemed to acknowledge the concession, only Porter didn't play nice. On the snap, he pushed Heap backward, and the tight end toppled over in pain. He would be gone for many weeks after and played only six games that season." Noted: NFC West teams haven't kept their players together long enough or become consistently good enough to create similar rivalries. Here's hoping that changes over the next couple of years. Having Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh in the division helps. Perhaps the 49ers' Donte Whitner can get something going with Zach Miller.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com goes back 10 years to the morning Cardinals players and coaches awoke to the 2011 terrorist attacks.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says it's tough to predict which player will lead the Seahawks in receptions this season. Noted: Mike Williams, Sidney Rice and Zach Miller haven't been on the field together long enough for anyone to get a feel. The team could conceivably need Miller to help in protection more than anticipated.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks have absolutely followed their mantra to get younger, faster and stronger. Boling: "When the Hawks open Season 2 of the Carroll/Schneider era Sunday at San Francisco, there will be more rookies or first-year guys on this roster (12) than holdovers (10) from when they arrived." Noted: The Packers have managed to win big while maintaining one of the very youngest rosters in the league. Of course, having an elite quarterback makes everyone's plan appear more feasible.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says St. Louis appears better positioned to keep the Rams in town. Burwell: "While there is no chance any politician in his right or wrong mind on the state or local level will attempt to approve a new stadium for the Rams, there is some very smart talk about providing Kroenke with something that could be just as good to a billionaire real estate developer: land. Give a real estate developer land and let him determine what he wants to do with it. While the conventional wisdom has always been that the best piece of property to offer [Stan] Kroenke would be the vacant Chrysler factory off Interstate 44 in Fenton, a much smarter play being discussed involves real estate development right downtown adjacent to the Dome." Noted: Giving away land to a billionaire will not sit well with everyone. Catering to owners is part of the game for cities hoping to keep their professional sports franchises, however.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' opener against the Eagles is just about sold out.

Also from Thomas: thoughts on the Rams' decision to release receiver Donnie Avery. Thomas: "I was mildly surprised that Avery was released, even factoring in that he wanted to be traded. I think the Rams need his kind of speed at WR. I do think the fact that Austin Pettis was a Josh McDaniels pick and a third-round pick at that, helped keep him here. And I agree with the thought that in this lockout offseason, how can you pass judgement on a guy based on five weeks of practice and the preseason? No doubt, picking WRs seems to be a hole in Billy Devaney's game, but I was told that Avery was a Scott Linehan pick more than a Devaney pick." Noted: The Rams' drafted rookie receivers were going to earn roster spots unless they absolutely bombed in camp or otherwise demonstrated they would never make it in the NFL. Avery was a one-dimensional receiver playing for a coordinator who values versatility at receiver above just about everything else.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Jim Harbaugh's presence was the only reason Alex Smith re-signed with the 49ers. Smith never meshed with former coach Mike Singletary, making clear he would prefer a calmer sideline presence, for one.

Also from Maiocco: Michael Crabtree's availability for Week 1 remains in question, as do starting spots in the secondary.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News thinks David Garrard would help both NFL teams in the Bay Area.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Jerry Rice thought Smith would sign elsewhere this season, and that Smith will never elevate teammates' play around him.

Gwenn Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says some of Smith's best games have come against the Seahawks.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee expects more blitzes from the 49ers this season.

Braylon Edwards' guilty plea on a DUI charge will cost him as little as 2.3 percent of his projected salary for 2011.

Edwards, fined $50,000 by the NFL, will be available to the San Francisco 49ers in the regular-season opener, putting to rest concerns a suspension might keep him off the field. He can earn $2.1 million in salary and incentives on a one-year contract this season.

Edwards was the 49ers' most impressive receiver through training camp, in my view. He caught 53 passes for 904 yards and seven touchdowns with the New York Jets last season. Terrell Owens and Jerry Rice are the only 49ers receivers to reach those marks in a single season since 1991.

Edwards' off-field issues hurt his value. His on-field potential and relatively low salary make him one of the more intriguing free-agent additions in the NFC West this offseason. I'll be interested in seeing how his production stacks up against production for higher-priced receivers in the division, notably Seattle's Sidney Rice.

CANTON, Ohio -- When was the last time you heard the name Roland Williams?

What about Ernie Conwell or Ricky Proehl?

Even Mike Martz, who is under fire in Chicago, got some love during Marshall Faulk's Hall of Fame speech Saturday night at Fawcette Stadium. Faulk credited many people and former teammates. But the Rams of the late-1990s and early-2000s mostly defined Faulk's career.

Spending most of his career under the tutelage Martz and Dick Vermeil in St. Louis, Faulk (19,154 yards) finished fourth all-time in yards from scrimmage behind Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton.

Martz made Faulk into the secret weapon. Martz found ways to get Faulk the ball in the running game, out of the backfield and also lined up as a receiver. Faulk became the new gold standard for all-purpose backs.

"Before Aaron Rodgers threw the ball [39] times in the Super Bowl against a vaunted Steelers defense, and before his counterpart Ben Roethlisberger threw it [40 times]. ... we had Mike Martz," Faulk explained. "The 'Mad Scientist' is what they called him."

Faulk also thanked former Rams stars like Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce. They are among the cogs that made the "Greatest Show on Turf" great and well ahead of its time.

Today most offenses will throw 40 times in a game at some point during the season. But none of those teams have another Marshall Faulk.

ESPN's famous NFC West alumnus, Steve Young, calls the retiring Randy Moss one of the all-time greats ... but also someone who should have challenged Jerry Rice.

"Jerry got every ounce out of everything that he had, every day," Young said. "If we had gotten all of Randy Moss every year, all his whole career, I think he'd be knocking on the door of Jerry Rice."

Moss ranked second only to Rice in the 2008 piece we put together ranking the greatest receivers. Raymond Berry, Boyd Dowler, Mike Holmgren, Ken Houston, Warren Moon, Keyshawn Johnson and Ted Thompson were panelists.

The NFC West's dominance extends beyond fighter jets, croc files, athlete award eligibility, currency collection and retractable playing surfaces.

A look through the celebrity golf leaderboard from Lake Tahoe, Nev., shows Ken Whisenhunt, Jerry Rice and Marshall Faulk finishing among the top 20. Whisenhunt, who grew up around the game in Augusta, Ga., site of the Masters, was tied for 13th with 49 points in Stableford scoring, just ahead of Rice (15th) and Faulk (20th).

These guys need to get NFC West alumnus Trent Green out on the course a little more often. Green, former quarterback for the St. Louis Rams and three other teams, finished 80th in the 83-man field, barely beating the notoriously swing-challenged Charles Barkley.

Indeed, golf is a humbling game. It's tough to envision Barkley beating anyone after watching him swing a club. The retired NBA great did cruise past musician Jay DeMarcus (minus-83) and Sacramento Kings rookie Jimmer Fredette (minus-88).

Tony Romo, Chris Chandler, Mark Rypien, Billy Joe Tolliver and John Elway finished among the top 15 with at least 47 points. Fellow quarterbacks Joe Theismann, Trent Dilfer, Vinny Testaverde, Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, Jim McMahon and Steve Beuerlein put up respectable or semi-respectable scores.

All quarterbacks do not make for competitive golfers, however.

Green scored minus-65 points. Arizona Cardinals linebacker Joey Porter finished 78th at minus-61. Chiefs coach Todd Haley, the Cardinals' former offensive coordinator, tied with New England Patriots receiver Wes Welker for 64th at minus-9.

With any luck, it's about time to put away the clubs and tee up another kind of ball.

NFC West teams swept three of the top four spots on an unfortunate Insider list featuring 10 players whose NFL careers never justified their status as draft-day steals.

Matt Leinart ranked first, Andre Wadsworth ranked second and J.J. Stokes ranked fourth on a list covering the past 25 years.

Only Brady Quinn, who ranked third, prevented current NFC West teams from sweeping the top three spots. There is time.

Michael Crabtree, considered a steal when San Francisco drafted him 10th overall in 2009, still has much to prove. His career would have to flatline, however, to threaten Stokes' place on the list.

Crabtree's production last season -- 55 catches for 741 yards and six touchdowns -- lines up favorably with Stokes' very best seasons during a nine-year career. But their numbers through 27 career games are similar. The next couple seasons will determine whether Crabtree breaks out on another trajectory.

The chart shows 27-game receiving totals for four notable 49ers receivers, ranked by receptions and receiving yards. Each player listed walked into a different situation, affecting opportunities.

A few thoughts on Plaxico Burress' availability as NFC West teams consider potential options at wide receiver:

• By my count, six current NFL receivers are older than Burress, who turns 34 in August: Terrell Owens (37), Derrick Mason (37), Donald Driver (36), Brian Finneran (35), Hines Ward (35) and Brandon Stokley (35 in June);
• Thirty players have caught at least 50 passes in a season at age 34 or older, according to Pro Football Reference; Jerry Rice, Isaac Bruce and Bobby Engram accomplished the feat for current NFC West teams;
[+] Enlarge
Al Bello/Getty ImagesPlaxico Burress seems unlikely to end up in the NFC West.
• Burress caught 35 passes for 454 yards and four touchdowns over 10 games for the New York Giants in 2008, his last season before serving a jail term on a weapons charge; St. Louis Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo was the Giants' defensive coordinator that year, giving the NFC West one solid connection to Burress;
• Ken Whisenhunt, Russ Grimm and Ray Horton are among the Arizona Cardinals coaches who were with the Pittsburgh Steelers before Burress signed with the Giants in 2005, giving the NFC West another connection;
• These types of connections can sometimes explain why teams do not pursue players; they know the bad as well as the good;
• My initial feel is that Burress probably will not land in this division; Burress has played his entire career, from high school to the NFL, for teams in the East; I doubt he'll seek out a team in the West after spending two years away from his family;
• Burress wore a Philadephia Phillies hat upon his release Monday, and the Eagles were the team considered most likely to sign him in a survey of ESPN.com bloggers;
• The Rams' situation at receiver remains unsettled; bringing in Burress for a visit could make sense; the Cardinals' situation at receiver is more defined, and at least one Arizona-based reporter is saying there's no chance the Cardinals will sign him; I tend to agree and do not see the need, either;
• Burress is five years older than any receiver on the Rams' roster and nine years older than the team's receivers on average, a potential consideration as the team decides how Burress would fit into the equation;
• The Rams have previously resisted adding older receivers, passing on Owens and Moss over the last couple of seasons; Mark Clayton, who turns 29 in July, is the oldest receiver on the roster;
• Seattle has been aggressive in considering unlikely options, making low-risk bets on Mike Williams, Reggie Williams, LenDale White and others; the team would ideally like to go with younger players at this stage;
• Please let me know if you've seen anything, anywhere, suggesting the San Francisco 49ers would have interest; I do not see a great fit as the team establishes a new program under a first-year coach.

Would you want Burress on your favorite team?