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The San Francisco 49ers twice lost close games against New Orleans in the Superdome when the Saints were allegedly eavesdropping on visiting coaches from 2002-2004.

Coincidence? Evidence of malfeasance?

"There’s something missing here," said Bill Polian, the ESPN analyst and former longtime NFL executive. "I don’t know what kind of competitive advantage you can get."

The report by "Outside the Lines" cites people familiar with the Saints' game-day operations as saying Mickey Loomis, the Saints' general manager, had the ability to monitor opposing coaches from his private box during home games.

NFC West teams played three games at the Superdome during the period in question.

The 49ers suffered a 35-27 defeat at New Orleans in 2002 after the Saints outscored them 22-3 in the fourth quarter. They also suffered a 30-27 defeat there in 2004 after Aaron Brooks found Donte Stallworth for a 16-yard touchdown with 1:01 remaining. Also in 2004, the Seattle Seahawks claimed a 21-7 victory at New Orleans.

The NFL has already suspended Loomis, a former longtime Seahawks executive, for the first eight games of the 2012 season as punishment for his handling of the Saints' bounty situation.

The allegations against Loomis are damaging whether or not the Saints realized any in-game advantages.

"Mickey would have to know the verbiage of every other opposing team in order to translate it, and then he would have to do it instantly and find some way to communicate with his coaching staff and get it down to the field in time for it to be useful," Polian said. "That would be very difficult to do, in my opinion."

The Saints have strongly denied the allegations.

Steve Mariucci (2002) and Dennis Erickson (2004) were the 49ers' head coaches for the NFC West defeats in question. Erickson and Loomis worked together in Seattle years earlier.

Another NFC West alum, Jim Haslett, was the Saints' head coach at the time.

The NFL plans to announce its 2012 regular-season schedule Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.

A look at four regular-season openers fans could embrace:

• San Francisco at Green Bay. The Packers were supposed to stand between the 49ers and the Super Bowl last season. The New York Giants had other plans, eliminating Green Bay in the divisional round. With the Giants already set to open their regular season against the Dallas Cowboys, a Packers-49ers game at Candlestick Park makes perfect sense. The 49ers' dominant defense would face Aaron Rodgers, the MVP quarterback San Francisco passed over for Alex Smith in the 2005 draft. And a 49ers victory at Lambeau would send a strong message. By the way, Fox's Chris Myers hinted at this matchup for Week 1.
• Washington at St. Louis. The Rams and Redskins swung a blockbuster trade putting Washington in position to draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Why not pit the teams against one another, showcasing Griffin and 2010 No. 1 overall choice Sam Bradford? Former Rams coach Jim Haslett is the Redskins' defensive coordinator, another connection between the teams. From the Rams' standpoint, they would be opening the season at home against a rookie quarterback, giving them a good shot at claiming their first victory under coach Jeff Fisher.
• Seattle at Arizona. Consider this one a continuation of the Cardinals' overtime victory against the Seahawks in the final game last season. That was a bruising game featuring gritty play from Larry Fitzgerald and punishing running from Marshawn Lynch. We've debated this offseason whether the Seahawks or Cardinals should be considered in best position to challenge the 49ers for NFC West supremacy. Why not get some answers right away, in Week 1?

Any other openers you'd like to see more than these?

The New Orleans Saints are going to hear about their 0-4 road record in the playoffs. The record is misleading, but not necessarily irrelevant heading into their divisional-round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park.

A look back through those four defeats can provide some context:

• 2010: lost at Seattle, 41-36, in the divisional round. The Seahawks were easy to underestimate as a 7-9 division winner. Matt Hasselbeck and Marshawn Lynch turned in memorable performances. Drew Brees passed for 404 yards, but only two scoring passes. Seattle overcame a 17-7 deficit. The Saints ran out of running backs and became one-dimensional.
• 2006: lost at Chicago, 39-14, in the NFC title game. Brees passed for 354 yards and two touchdowns. The Bears' Rex Grossman completed only 11 of 26 passes for 144 yards, but Chicago suffered no turnovers. The Bears rushed 46 times for 196 yards and three touchdowns. This matchup resembles the Saints-49ers matchup in some ways. Those Bears were 13-3. They were stronger on defense and special teams than on offense. The current 49ers have done a much better job avoiding turnovers. Grossman had 20 picks in 2006, whereas Alex Smith has only five this season.
• 2000: lost at Minnesota, 34-16, in the divisional round. Those Vikings had Randy Moss (121 yards) and Cris Carter (120 yards) catching passes from a pre-injury Daunte Culpepper (302 yards). Jim Haslett was coaching the Saints. Aaron Brooks was their quarterback. Totally irrelevant to the matchup this week.
• 1990: lost at Chicago, 16-6, in the wild-card round. This one also lacks relevance unless the Saints bring John Fourcade out of retirement to replace Brees. Fourcade completed 5 of 18 passes for 79 yards as the Saints' quarterback. Jim Harbaugh was the Bears' primary starting quarterback that season, but he was hurt. Mike Tomczak started this game in his place.

The 0-4 road record sounds bad, and it is, but only two of those defeats came with Brees and coach Sean Payton on the New Orleans payroll. The Saints were much better offensively in 2011 than they were last season or in 2006. What will that mean Saturday?

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge about Week 4:

Assessing the 49ers' chances in Philly. The Eagles, losers of two in a row, haven't lost three games in succession since a 2007 stretch played mostly without their starting quarterback. The 49ers, winners at Cincinnati in Week 3, have not won games in successive weeks since the 2009 season (a bye interrupted their lone two-game winning streak last season). They have not won road games in successive weeks since beating Carolina and Indianapolis in Weeks 10-11 way back in 2001. Beating the Eagles in Philadelphia would open eyes to just how much change Jim Harbaugh has affected in a short period of time.

Yakety YAC, help the quarterback. Three NFC West teams rank among the NFL's bottom five in yards after the catch on a per-reception basis, according to ESPN Stats & Information. The Seahawks rank 31st at 3.7 yards. The 49ers and Rams are both in the 4.3-yard range. The 49ers have no receptions longer than 39 yards and none longer than 26 by a wide receiver. Michael Crabtree's longest catch this season covered 8 yards. The Arizona Cardinals are the exception within the division. They have five wide receivers and tight ends with at least five receptions and a 5.0 YAC average. Seattle's Doug Baldwin (8.0 YAC) is the only other non-running back in the division to meet that standard. The St. Louis Rams' Brandon Gibson has averaged eight-tenths of a yard after the catch.

Cardinals' pass defense in focus. Few teams push the ball down the field as aggressively as the Cardinals' Week 4 opponent. Giants quarterback Eli Manning ranks third behind Cam Newton and Ben Roethlisberger in how far past the line of scrimmage his passes travel on average. The Giants are one of five NFL teams averaging at least 8.8 yards per pass attempt. The Cardinals are one of eight teams allowing at least 8.0 yards per attempt. Manning, coming off a four-touchdown game at Philadelphia, tossed three scoring passes in his last visit to University of Phoenix Stadium (2008). He ranks tied for second in the NFL with eight completions on passes traveling more than 20 yards past the line of scrimmage.

Sam Bradford's long-term health. The Rams' quarterback has taken 11 sacks in three games, a total he did not reach until Week 5 last season. He's facing a Washington Redskins defense that ranks sixth in sacks per pass play. Anyone else think former Rams coach Jim Haslett, now the Redskins' defensive coordinator, wouldn't mind introducing Bradford to pass-rushers Brian Orakpo and Ryan Kerrigan? The pressure is on a not-quite-healthy Steven Jackson to give the Rams needed offensive balance.

Seahawks have choices on defense. Seattle was able to shut out the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald in the second half last week in part because Arizona's other weapons weren't all that threatening. Without Beanie Wells to worry about, Seahawks free safety Earl Thomas spent less time in the box and more time helping in coverage. Thomas would ideally provide similar support against Falcons receiver Roddy White this week, but doing so could carry additional risks against an Atlanta offense with more varied weapons. Falcons rookie Julio Jones caught six passes for 115 yards against Tampa Bay in Week 3, including a 49-yarder. On the positive side for Seattle, Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has taken 13 sacks, the same total he took into Week 10 last season. That 49-yard strike to Jones marked the first time in eight tries this season Ryan has completed a deep pass (defined as one traveling more than 20 yards past the line of scrimmage).

A few thoughts while wrapping up a frenetic but ultimately unsatisfying first day to the NFL free-agent negotiating period:

• ESPN's Adam Schefter caught my attention Tuesday night with a tweet regarding Minnesota Vikings receiver Sidney Rice and San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson. According to Schefter, Seattle and Minnesota are targeting Rice, while Oakland and San Francisco go after Goldson. There weren't many bidding wars on Tuesday, leading me to believe some of these situations could play out a little longer. Players cannot take free-agent visits until the signing period opens Friday, making it tougher for teams to know what opportunities actually exist for players. In the past, a player emerging from a visit without a contract would lose leverage. In the current climate, top agents such as Drew Rosenhaus, who represents Rice and Goldson, can negotiate without the usual checks and balances. It's high-stakes poker.
• Seattle's interest in Rice comes as no surprise. The team chased receiver Brandon Marshall in trade talks last offseason. Vincent Jackson was another big-name receiver under consideration. Rice would fit especially well in the Seahawks' offense now that former Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell is installing Seattle's passing game. Seattle also has ample salary-cap space to land Rice. Bevell's familiarity with Rice could help ease concerns over the hip problems that have bothered Rice in recent seasons.
• The 49ers want to bring back Goldson, but at what price? Goldson wasn't what was wrong with the 49ers' pass defense last season. Neither did he break through with a Pro Bowl-caliber season, as the 49ers had hoped. Still, San Francisco needs to keep together some of its defensive core. The 49ers could lose nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin. Linebacker Takeo Spikes agreed to terms with San Diego. Nate Clements' contract could precipitate his release. Keeping Goldson would help.
• The Arizona Cardinals appear in strong position as they consider options at quarterback. The way they sat back and projected patience Tuesday is looking like a smart approach. I can't think of another team likely to trade for Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb. The Cardinals should be in no rush. Teams cannot sign players or visit with free agents from other teams until Friday. Kolb could not practice with them until Aug. 4 if Arizona acquired him and signed him to a new contract. Even if Kolb is the Cardinals' top choice, the team might be wise to play up interest in other candidates. Why not seek permission to meet with Kyle Orton? Why not bring in Matt Hasselbeck? There's no reason for Arizona to overpay for Kolb unless another team emerges as a serious suitor.
• New York Giants defensive tackle Barry Cofield and Raiders guard Robert Gallery were free agents to watch in the NFC West as the negotiating period opened. It's looking like we can remove Cofield from consideration for the St. Louis Rams after he reached agreement with the Washington Redskins, according to a report by Schefter. Cofield's ties to St. Louis coach Steve Spagnuolo made him a natural fit for the Rams. Losing him to former Rams coach Jim Haslett won't sit well with fans who hoped Cofield would land in St. Louis. Gallery's ties to Seahawks assistant head coach/offensive line Tom Cable still make him a natural fit in Seattle. The team needs a starting left guard.
• Back in Seattle, meanwhile, the Seahawks are trying to re-sign defensive tackle Brandon Mebane. The money Cofield commands could help shape the market for Mebane and other defensive tackles. Removing Cofield from the market also leaves one fewer defensive tackle available for teams to sign.

Enjoy the rest of your Tuesday night. Wait, it's Wednesday already in the Eastern time zone. Must be free agency.

Jae from St. Louis thinks the Rams' need for a defensive tackle should lead them to Albert Haynesworth if the Washington Redskins cut their losses with the disgruntled defensive tackle. The Rams could get him at a discount salary and without trading anything for him, and Haynesworth would have the talent to put their line over the top.

Mike Sando: Haynesworth remains with the Redskins for now, but the NFC East's Dan Graziano was on the right track in reading Jim Haslett's comments as the latest indication Haynesworth does not figure into the team's long-term plans. Haslett, the Redskins' defensive coordinator and former Rams coach, described Haynesworth as obstinate and a general pain in the neck. Graziano has said the Redskins would jump at the chance to trade Haynesworth, but is anyone going to absorb that $5.4 million salary for 2011?

There is no way, under any circumstances, I would acquire that salary. Haynesworth took the payday from Washington and ran straight to the bank. His next NFL employer must sign him to different terms.

Two questions: Would the Redskins release him? Why would the Rams want such a player on their team?

The Redskins had every reason to release Haynesworth last season, but they did not. They have not looked to do any favors for him. Coach Mike Shanahan has used the Haynesworth situation to flex his muscle as the new head coach. He could always decide Haynesworth is no longer worth the trouble, but it seems like he has so far sought to "win" the battle with Haynesworth. No player is going to force his way out of town, in other words. Releasing Haynesworth might qualify as a victory for the player. That is one consideration.

There is no question Haynesworth would fit better in a 4-3 defense such as the one St. Louis is running. Steve Spagnuolo would have a better shot than most at getting more from such a player. He has a strong record as a defensive coach. I would have no problem with a team signing Haynesworth to a low-risk deal without a significant financial commitment. But I also think Haynesworth has proven no team can count on him. The baggage Haynesworth will carry to his next job is problematic. The issues that arose in Washington will arise again at some point in the future.

The Rams know what they want on defense. They have not taken big risks with the types of personalities they've added. Chris Long, Fred Robbins and James Laurinaitis have been steady players. Haynesworth does not fit the mold.

Frequent coaching turnover is part of life in the NFL.

The Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers have had 10 head coaches, interim or otherwise, since Arizona hired Ken Whisenhunt for the 2007 season.

Pete Carroll, Steve Spagnuolo and Jim Harbaugh remain from a group that has included Mike Holmgren, Jim Mora, Scott Linehan, Jim Haslett, Mike Nolan, Mike Singletary and Jim Tomsula. NFC West head coaches are set for 2011, but all four teams have staff openings.

As Qwest12thMan noted in the comments of an earlier item, the Seahawks are losing another high-profile assistant coach. Jerry Gray is leaving his job coaching the secondary to become assistant head coach and secondary coach at Texas, his alma mater.

Seattle has now lost offensive line coach Alex Gibbs, quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch, defensive line coach Dan Quinn and Gray from Carroll's inaugural Seattle staff. Gibbs' departure affected the Seahawks' commitment to the specific zone-blocking scheme he promoted. The team wants a more consistent approach from training camp through the season, and coaching continuity should allow that to happen.

St. Louis remains without an offensive coordinator after interviewing former Denver Broncos head coach Josh McDaniels for the role. The Rams' staff could face additional changes if the team hires a coordinator from the outside. NFL Network suggests McDaniels could be headed to the Rams.

The 49ers have multiple positions open.

Arizona remains without a defensive coordinator, an indication Whisenhunt could be waiting for a candidate to become available following the playoffs. Whisenhunt's history with the Steelers makes Pittsburgh a logical place for him to turn, but linebackers coach Keith Butler might be off-limits. Ray Horton coaches the Steeler's secondary. Their line coach, John Mitchell, is also assistant head coach.

ST. LOUIS -- Thoughts from St. Louis' victory over Seattle in the Edward Jones Dome.

What it means: The St. Louis Rams will be tied for the NFC West lead after four games if the San Diego Chargers defeat the Arizona Cardinals later Sunday. They ended a 17-game losing streak within the NFC West and a 10-game streak against Seattle. They are .500 or better for the first time since 2006 and they have, by all appearances, the best quarterback in the division. For Seattle, this outcome suggests the team isn't good enough to win road games and if that does not change, the Seahawks will struggle to reach .500.

Different this time: The Rams have won back-to-back games for the first time since the 2008 season. Then as now, there's a feeling in the Rams' locker room that the team is turning a corner. Back then, there was talk that St. Louis should remove the word "interim" from coach Jim Haslett's title. That team fell apart when Steven Jackson broke down physically. Jackson is playing hurt now, but this team has Sam Bradford, and that means everything. Bradford outplayed Matt Hasselbeck even though Seattle's Earl Thomas picked off the rookie in the end zone.

Big Revelation: The Rams outplayed the Seahawks on special teams, which was a big surprise. They contained Seattle returners Leon Washington and Golden Tate. They weren't fooled when the Seahawks attempted a fake field goal in the first half. This was a very good effort on special teams for the Rams, who are without some of their better special-teams players, including Chris Chamberlain and Dominique Curry.

Hero: Jackson barely practiced during the week and didn't do anything significant during warm-ups. His injured groin made it seem unlikely Jackson would factor into the plan significantly. Jackson started the game and made several big plays, including a 49-yard gain on a screen and a couple signature runs. Jackson was not full strength, but he was the best running back in this game. Something would have been wrong if Jackson couldn't have fully celebrated in this Rams victory.

Trending: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll admitted last week that he was a little casual in his game management when Seattle wasted a scoring opportunity before halftime against San Diego. Carroll used two replay challenges in the first half Sunday and his call for a fake field goal, though defensible, did not work.

Line issues: The Seahawks' issues on the offensive line finally caught up with them. Russell Okung started at left tackle, but left after aggravating his ankle injury. The team can use its bye week to settle on a more stable combination.

What's next: The Seahawks have their bye. The Rams visit Detroit, site of their only 2009 victory.

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

FALLING

1. Mike Singletary, 49ers coach. The "falling" list isn't long enough to single out every 49ers individual worthy of mention under the designation. We can start and end with the head coach. Mike Singletary's coaching future appears shakier with every defeat. His stock is falling. Singletary's most important decision as head coach -- hiring an offensive coordinator -- came unraveled with Jimmy Raye's firing after only three games this season.

2. Andre Roberts, Cardinals wide receiver. The Cardinals are desperate for help at receiver, but Roberts hasn't been ready. The team tried him at punt returner against Oakland and Roberts, a third-round choice, misplayed at least one of two punts that fell shorter than anticipated. The Raiders recovered both of them and nearly won the game as a result.

3. Tim Hightower, Cardinals running back. The running game perked up immediately with Beanie Wells making his 2010 debut. Hightower was on the "rising" list a week ago after his 80-yard touchdown run gave the Cardinals their only touchdown against Atlanta. There was not much he could do about Wells' return. He had 11 carries for 40 yards against the Raiders.

RISING

1. Leon Washington, Seahawks running back. Two kickoff returns for touchdowns allowed the Seahawks to beat San Diego even though Seattle squandered two clear scoring chances in the first half. The Seahawks' personnel people deserve some credit here, too. They're the ones who identified Washington as a low-risk, high-reward acquisition.

2. Steve Spagnuolo, Rams coach. Spagnuolo badly needed a boost after a disappointing performance at Oakland in Week 2. Beating a Washington Redskins team featuring defensive coordinator Jim Haslett and quarterback Donovan McNabb should carry extra meaning. Haslett coached the Rams previously, so losing to him would have looked bad on Spagnuolo's résumé. McNabb was familiar with the Rams' coaching staff from the time they shared in Philadelphia, and there was some thought St. Louis should have pursued McNabb during the offseason.

3. Beanie Wells, Cardinals running back. Wells had 14 carries for 75 yards against the Raiders. He ran with authority. The Cardinals might need to rely on him even more now that knee surgery will sideline No. 2 receiver Steve Breaston for the next couple of games, at least.

Washington Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett knows better than most what St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson can accomplish from three-receiver personnel on second-and-long.

Haslett was the Rams' interim head coach when Jackson gashed the Dallas Cowboys for an 18-yard gain under those circumstances two seasons ago. That game marked the Rams' most recent home victory -- until Jackson's 42-yard touchdown run on second-and-14 helped St. Louis defeat the Redskins 30-16 in Week 3.

The play showcased Jackson's ability and, if you looked closely enough, what it takes to turn a short or medium gain into a momentum altering big play.

Jackson had lost 4 yards on the previous play, so this was a likely passing situation. The Rams set up the touchdown with two wide receivers left, one right, Jackson nearly 8 yards deep in the backfield and Daniel Fells, the tight end, in a three-point stance next to right tackle Jason Smith. The Redskins countered with only six defenders in the box.

Jackson took the handoff and ran off tackle to the right. Fells turned Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo to the inside. Smith turned Redskins linebacker Rocky McIntosh to the outside. Mark Clayton, the wide receiver on the right side, impeded cornerback DeAngelo Hall near the line of scrimmage. Left guard Adam Goldberg let linebacker Andre Carter knife into the backfield, shoving Carter hard enough to prevent him from getting back into the play.

Jackson cut back to his left at the 35, making safety Kenny Moore miss. Moore had launched his body at Jackson instead of trying to wrap him up (Jackson's 245-pound frame poses an injury risk to defensive backs). Moore missed Jackson and chopped down teammate Vonnie Holliday back at the 37. Jackson was at the 33 by then. Receiver Brandon Gibson hustled from the far left side past the right hash, where he decked cornerback Phillip Buchanan.

Center Jason Brown and left guard Jacob Bell had shoved nose tackle Albert Haynesworth off the line, with Brown peeling off to prevent linebacker London Fletcher from making the tackle near the 30. Hayesworth had made his way back into the play near the 28, but left tackle Rodger Saffold was waiting for him. Buchanan, having been shoved by Gibson, flew into Haynesworth's legs just as Saffold arrived. Haynesworth stood no chance.

Receiver Danny Amendola, working from the left slot, hustled across the formation and back in search of someone to block. He wasn't needed in the end. Jackson outran safety LaRon Landry to the end zone.

Injury note: Jackson suffered a strained groin during the game. The Rams described his status as day-to-day.

Adam Carriker's trade from the Rams to the Redskins -- rumored for weeks and now a done deal, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter -- reflects what happens when teams change coaching staffs. The Rams and Redskins swapped fifth-round choices.


The move reunites Carriker with former Rams interim coach and defensive coordinator Jim Haslett, now with the Redskins. I never sensed the Rams' current leadership disliked Carriker, but neither was the leadership ever personally invested in Carriker's career. Haslett has a better feel for what Carriker can become. Perhaps Carriker will fit better at defensive end in the Redskins' 3-4 scheme than at defensive tackle in the Rams' 4-3. A shoulder injury prevented Carriker from playing last season, perhaps hastening his departure.

The Rams made Carriker the 13th player chosen in the 2007 draft. His departure leaves restricted free agent Clifton Ryan, a fifth-round choice, as the only 2007 Rams choice still with the team. The current leadership previously traded second-round choice Brian Leonard. Other members from that class -- Jonathan Wade, Dustin Fry, Ken Shackleford, Keith Jackson and Derek Stanley -- are also gone.

Victor Adeyanju and Mark Setterstrom are the Rams' only 2006 choices still with the team.

The dismantling continues in St. Louis.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says he hasn't heard anything about a potential trade sending Adam Carriker to the Redskins as a 3-4 defensive end in Jim Haslett's defense. Thomas: "I've done some checking, and I can't find any validity to these Carriker/Redskins trade rumors. But that doesn't necessarily mean he has a future here. For the most part, the current regime doesn't seem to be too fond of players who preceded them. Carriker didn't play at all last year and his been bugged by injuries his first two years, so I don't think he would bring much. A late-round pick maybe?"

Also from Thomas: Mark Setterstrom returns for a fifth season with the Rams after signing a one-year deal.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks reached into defensive coordinator Gus Bradley's past when they signed free-agent linebacker Matt McCoy.

Also from O'Neil: Former Seahawks coach Jim Mora says he will not be coaching at the high school level in 2010, contrary to what a high school coach said recently. O'Neil: "With four children, Mora has had a busy schedule attending all of their events and has volunteered working with lacrosse, baseball and basketball. He also may help with his 11-year-old son's youth football team, but that's more a matter of offering encouragement and equipment assistance."

More from O'Neil: Darryl Tapp says he's happy to have a job.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Tapp was "overjoyed" to be joining a team as good as the Eagles.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Joey Porter isn't the first potential Cardinals linebacker to visit the Redskins. Larry Foote also made the trip to Washington, only to sign with the Steelers. Urban: "What does that mean with Porter and the Cardinals? Well, I don’t pretend to know. The Cards and Porter haven’t agreed to a deal yet, and I find it hard to believe Porter will suddenly drop his price before going to Washington. The Skins, I suppose, will set the market."

Revenge of the Birds' Andrew602 says the Cardinals need help at linebacker. Andrew602: "The front office is making an attempt, but let's be honest with ourselves, the Cardinals linebacking group is not as good as it was eight weeks ago. In all fairness, free agency isn't over and Porter could be wearing a Cardinals jersey sometime soon. The draft is also next month and the Cardinals are undoubtedly going to draft a linebacker with their 1st round pick. When that time comes, maybe we can re-evaluate the group and see where they stand heading into next year."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers want to re-sign Barry Sims, and Sims wants to re-sign with the 49ers. But with the Redskins showing interest, Sims will find out what the market bears.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat explains how the 49ers view free-agent visitor Akin Ayodele. Maiocco: "The 49ers have been clear with Ayodele that they envision him as a backup to Takeo Spikes and Patrick Willis. Currently, the 49ers have veteran Matt Wilhelm and Scott McKillop, a fifth-round draft pick last year, as the backup inside linebackers."

Also from Maiocco: a free-agent scorecard for the 49ers. He expects Texans guard Chester Pitts to visit Thursday.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune passes along tidbits left over from his recent profile on Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, whose work with "A Better L.A." has been significant. Boling: "As I researched A Better LA, I saw an interesting name on the board of directors … Tim Leiweke, Tod’s brother. If we wondered why Carroll’s name came up so quickly as a candidate for the Seahawks, it would appear that’s an obvious connection." Tod Leiweke is the Seahawks' CEO. Another Seahawks executive, general counsel Lance Lopes, has a brother working in the USC athletic department. Those connections had to play significant roles in Carroll's hiring.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee passes along David Carr's comments regarding new 49ers teammate Patrick Willis after Willis apologized for criticizing the team for showing interest in Carr. Carr via TwitLonger: "Patrick called me almost as soon as he posted his thoughts. We had great talk, I admire his passion for his teammates, but I believe I can help this team. I'm sure Patrick is not the only player who will be thinking, 'What's this guy got?' I told him that's why I left NY, to prove to myself and the rest of the NFL, I Can Play at a High Level, I can be the difference for a team, I believe in my heart I'm ready, Patrick and I have one thing in common, we will do ALL that is needed to bring another Championship to the 49ers."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers will not hold a formal quarterback competition, but there are still no guarantees for Alex Smith now that Carr is on board.

Jason LaCanfora of NFL.com says the Redskins have interest in Rams defensive tackle Adam Carriker, who played for Redskins defensive coordinator Jim Haslett in St. Louis. LaCanfora: "Carriker, who missed all of last season because of a right shoulder injury, hasn't lived up to expectations after the Rams drafted him 13th overall in 2007, and he's someone whom other NFL teams believe would be available in a trade. Other teams also have inquired about Carriker, and a deal is possible before the draft next month." Carriker might be better suited to play defensive end in a 3-4 scheme. The Redskins are expected to run a 3-4 scheme. It's tough to envision the Rams getting much in return for Carriker based on Carriker's recent injuries and overall production to this point in his career.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Rams general manager Billy Devaney from Ndamukong Suh's pro day at Nebraska. Devaney: "You look at him out there today in 15 minutes on the field and you know what you see? 'Wow, he moves great!' Well, we already knew that. What we came here for is to drill down deep to make sure we have the right guy off the field, too. We do that with him, we did that with (Gerald) McCoy, and we'll do that with (Sam) Bradford, too. It's the first pick in the draft, it's a lot of money. You want to make sure it's the right guy. You want to be sure that the person that you see now will be the same person four or five months from now." No mention of Jimmy Clausen there. I know Clausen's name was initially included among the list of players the Rams were seriously considering with the first overall choice, but that seemed like a stretch based on conventional wisdom.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals' moves on the offensive line all but close the door on Mike Gandy returning. He expects Rex Hadnot to challenge for one of the starting guard spots. I agree that Herman Johnson should get a shot at tackle, but I also think the Cardinals could use another tackle with pass-protecting skills. That is debatable because Jeremy Bridges generally played well at left tackle once he replaced Gandy. But it's also fair to wonder how well Levi Brown will transition to the left side, should the Cardinals follow through with that move. The tackle situation bears watching this offseason.

ESPN's Adam Schefter says the 49ers will use the franchise tag on nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin if they cannot sign him to a long-term deal. Schefter: "Their newest long-term offer for Franklin is expected to come in this week. However, one league source highly doubted that any type of long-term agreement could be struck and the 49ers will franchise Franklin, who would have been one of the most desirable free agents had he been allowed to test the market." Franklin is the only 49ers free agent worthy of the franchise tag this offseason. I question how much the 49ers are interested in signing him to a lucrative long-term deal amid the current labor uncertainty. The franchise tag buys them time while giving Franklin an opportunity to prove he wasn't a one-year wonder in 2009.

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Franklin wants to stay with the 49ers, according to comments the nose tackle made after the season. Franklin: "I'd like to be back here, but me and my agent are going to sit down and talk and look at the possibilities of the franchise tag. We’ll figure out the possibilities ... I enjoy playing with these guys and I feel like we have a really good defense."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat points cites a Nov. 18 report as evidence that the 49ers have planned to franchise Franklin for the past several months.

Also from Maiocco: a look at the 49ers' outside linebackers and pass-rushers. Maiocco: "Currently, the 49ers have five of these hybrid outside linebacker/defensive ends on their roster. They will add another couple players via free agency and/or the draft. It's wide open whether they invest highly in this position (with a high draft pick) or they attempt to uncover a player who has slipped through the cracks. I doubt the 49ers will spend much money to sign a free agent, but they could add a minimum-salary-type player, such as they did a year ago with Marques Harris. One of the reasons I don't think they would be interested in signing a big name veteran guy (Julius Peppers or Joey Porter) is because that would take away from the development of the younger guys, and those are the players who figure into the short-term and long-term plans of the organization."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks see CFL star Ricky Foley as a situational pass-rusher. O'Neil: "After hearing Pete Carroll mention the "elephant" pass-rusher position as somewhere Darryl Tapp could fit, it would seem Foley would have the same tools to be that roving pass-rusher." Prototypical elephant rushers tend to be heavier than Foley's listed weight of 245 pounds. Brian Cushing is listed at 260. Tapp is listed at 270.

Also from O'Neil: The Packers used six of their last eight first-round choices for defense when new Seahawks general manager John Schneider was with the team.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Sun-Times says the Bears' firing of personnel man Brian DePaul has fueled speculation that GM Jerry Angelo plans to hire former Seahawks president Tim Ruskell. The fit would appear right. Ruskell and Angelo have been close friends over the years. They worked together in Tampa Bay.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com questions whether Jordan Babineaux's pay raise will lead Seattle to release the safety. A team with a billionaire owner and no salary cap would seem to have some flexibility on such matters.

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Redskins would have interest in Leonard Little if the Rams' veteran pass-rusher decides to return for another season. Little has 87.5 career sacks. The Rams would like him back if he decides to keep playing, but with Jim Haslett in Washington, the Rams could have competition for Little's services.

Ameet Sachdev of the Chicago Tribune looks at Shahid Khan's fight with the IRS over millions in disputed tax payments. Sachdev: "The IRS said in court papers that the Khans hired the Chicago-based BDO Seidman accounting firm and met with tax partner Robert Greisman. The Khans engaged in at least five questionable tax shelters, with names like Son-of-Boss and Dad, and paid BDO $8.5 million in fees, about 10 percent of the alleged tax savings, according to court documents. Yet when the revenue agency questioned Khan about his returns, he was unable to identify what services BDO provided, an IRS agent said in court documents."

Sportsradiointerviews.com offers a partial transcript and audio link to Russ Grimm's recent interview with XTRA910 radio in Phoenix. Grimm on earning a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame: "Over the past couple years, I’ve had several people tell me that I need to hire an advertising firm to send pamphlets out to all the voters and things like this. I didn’t play the game for that, I think it’s based on what I did. You look at the list every year and you see the guys that are on, and the guys that make the Finals, there’s a lot of great football players on that list -- all deserving to get in. So, it’s a process that I don’t really have a hand in, I can't control it. So, on one hand, you wish it comes through so everyone quits asking you every year, 'So, you think this year’s the year, are you going to make it?' And on the other hand, it's an honor obviously to be a part of that group."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo can exercise an opt-out clause in his contract if the Rams change ownership. A coach can step down at any time, of course. In this case, Spagnuolo could presumably take another job elsewhere. As Miklasz notes, however, such a scenario seems highly unlikely.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says new Seahawks coach Pete Carroll spoke uninterrupted for nearly 12 minutes to begin his first news conference as Seahawks coach. O'Neil: "This is the new voice of Seattle's franchise, and get ready. He talks fast and with a mix of passion and humor. This was Carroll's show Tuesday, something that now could be said about the franchise in general."

Also from O'Neil: Expect Jeremy Bates and Alex Gibbs to join Carroll's staff. Also, CEO Tod Leiweke apologizes to former coach Jim Mora. Leiweke: "While I apologized, it was also just one of those difficult awkward moments you find yourself in. Jim knew we were going to go have substantive discussions last week. We didn't know where those were going to come out. None of this was preordained. It was a fluid situation. The only thing preordained is we had to fix things here because what took place the last two years, to win nine games -- and with all due respect, four of those to the St. Louis Rams -- is simply not sustainable." Leiweke has repeatedly discounted victory totals by pointing out that some were against the Rams. That has to go over well in St. Louis.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Carroll's former players anticipate a smooth transition back to the NFL. Lawyer Milloy dates himself with this testimonial: "This is a guy who sat me down in his office and told me I was going to be the Tim McDonald in his defense. At the time, in my second year, I was like, 'Ah, what are you talking about?' "

Also from Farnsworth: Carroll's presence is palpable. Leiweke: "He's kind of the king of L.A."

More from Farnsworth: Carroll stresses competing. Carroll: "What you’ll hear a lot from us in this program, this program is about competition. We'll see in all aspects of the work that we do that we will be in a relentless pursuit of a competitive edge in everything we’re doing. We're going to compete like crazy. Maybe like you’ve never seen. And I hope that will be the theme that will rise to us and that will be the most important part of it, because we are in the most competitive world that you can be in in the NFL. I can’t wait to get this thing underway. I can’t wait to get it started."

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times liked what he saw from Carroll in the coach's first news conference as Seahawks coach. Brewer: "Carroll was honest, raw, introspective, real. During the 40 minutes he spoke, his genuine enthusiasm and self-deprecating candor became so captivating that it obstructed skepticism about his so-so NFL record. Of course, as soon as he was done talking, the skepticism resumed, but, hey, trust isn't built in a day."

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says it's tough to know how Carroll will fare. USC fans initially shunned him. Kelley: "When the rancor reached a crescendo, the school had to shut down the phones and turn off its e-mail. Protests against Carroll went viral. But at USC, the haters became lovers. Carroll was the unvarnished truth. He was the answer. He won two national championships, won at least a share of seven consecutive Pac-10 titles and finished 97-19 in nine seasons. He resurrected a ramshackle program. Now at a much higher level, he's being asked to do it again."

Greg Johnson of seattlepi.com sees more exclamation points in the Seahawks' immediate future.

John McGrath of the Tacoma News Tribune tried to keep pace with Carroll at the news conference. It wasn't easy. McGrath: "Pete Carroll talks almost as fast as he thinks, and he thinks so fast you can imagine him working the New York Times crossword with his right hand as he turns the pages of a Solzhenitsyn novel with his left hand -- something to occupy him as he’s preparing the braised sweetbreads with mushroom sauce on the stove while breaking down an opponent’s zone-blitz tendencies on the speaker phone."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks interviewed John Schneider and Marc Ross for their general manager's job.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are using their experience to their advantage. Quarterback Kurt Warner: "I think the biggest thing is to try to just be a bit of a calming presence in these kinds of situations. You understand things are going to happen, crazy scenarios, and you understand that the teams that you're playing are all good."

Also from Somers: Injured receiver Anquan Boldin hopes to practice this week. Also, Russ Grimm expects to interview with the Bills for their head coaching job. Somers: "The time of the interview has not been set. According to NFL rules, the Bills can interview Grimm this week, but with the Cardinals playing Saturday, time is an issue. The interview would have to be conducted at a place and time of convenience to the Cardinals. It could happen Wednesday or Thursday evening in Arizona, or on Sunday, the day after the divisional playoff."

More from Somers: Cardinals players have received $42,000 for their postseason efforts so far, including $21,000 for winning the NFC West and playing in the wild-card round. The other $21,000 is for beating the Packers.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says inside linebacker Gerald Hayes was wearing a walking boot Tuesday, although it was unclear whether the injury was serious.

Also from Urban: The Cardinals' secondary is seeking redemption after a rough outing against the Packers. Urban: "Michael Adams said the secondary as a group was angry when they first watched the video of the game, but he did note the group had a hand in helping sack Rodgers five times while the Cards’ defense also forced three key turnovers. And in an interesting twist, the secondary was not only part of the turnover on the first play of the game -- DRC’s pick -- but also a turnover on the last play of the game, when Adams recovered from a four-penalty day to force a fumble that led to the game-winning points."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says former Rams coach Jim Haslett is the new defensive coordinator for the Redskins. Thomas: "After three seasons in St. Louis, including the last 12 games of 2008 as the Rams’ interim head coach, Haslett spent this past season as head coach of the Florida Tuskers of the fledgling United Football League. The Tuskers went unbeaten in the regular season, but were upset by the Las Vegas Locomotives in the UFL title game. Haslett met with Washington team officials earlier this week. Haslett became the front runner for the job once Mike Zimmer agreed to stay in Cincinnati as Bengals defensive coordinator."

Also from Thomas: a chat transcript featuring his thoughts on the quarterback position. Thomas thinks the Rams would have a better chance landing Michael Vick than Donovan McNabb if they wanted to target an Eagles quarterback. Thomas: "Since Spags spent so many years with the Eagles, their roster also bears watching. I think there has been some discussion of Vick. I guess it's possible the Rams would give up picks for the right player, particularly if it's an uncapped year, meaning there are many more restricted free agents than usual."

Jim Rodenbush of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat lists 10 questions facing the Rams this offseason. Who will start at quarterback? Rodenbush: "In 2009, Rams quarterbacks combined to throw 12 touchdowns against 21 interceptions and completed 57.5 percent of their passes. Their TD total ranked 29th in the NFL and would have been worse if not for a 36-yard scoring pass from kicker Josh Brown to Daniel Fells during the team’s 17-10 win at Detroit on Nov. 1."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee thinks the 49ers still have plans for Glen Coffee despite a 2.7-yard average last season. Coffee was a preseason sensation. It's far too early to write him off.

Also from Barrows: The 49ers have signed fullback Jehuu Caulcrick to a future contract.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers have restructured the business side of their operation at the expense of Andy Dolich, team president Jed York announced to employees. Maiocco: "York will also assume the new title of chief executive officer. The new CMO will report directly to York, along with general manager Scot McCloughan, as well as chief financial officer Larry MacNeil, and executive vice president of football administration Lal Heneghan. During the transition, Dolich will remain as a senior advisor, York said. In Dolich's two years with the 49ers, he improved customer service for 49ers season-ticket holders, York said."

Also from Maiocco: an early look at how the 49ers might proceed in the draft. Maiocco on the 13th overall choice: "Like a year ago, the first thought is the 49ers will take their highest-rated offensive tackle. But the 49ers don't need to 'each' in this spot because they have another pick just a few slots later. If a cornerback, defensive lineman or linebacker falls to them, they're in the spot to choose one. One player who -- based on watching the BCS title game -- seems like a good fit would be Alabama linebacker Rolando McClain. He reportedly has great passion and football smarts. Takeo Spikes is entering his 13th season and the final year of his contract. The 49ers were smitten with USC linebacker Rey Maualuga last year and tempted to move up a few spots in the second round to get him. They also wanted Lance Briggs a couple years ago. So the 49ers would love to get another young impressive player to line up next to Patrick Willis."

Lisa Fernandez of the San Jose Mercury News has a 49ers stadium update.