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The Nike literature regarding the new "Elite 51" uniforms made available to NFL teams Tuesday includes the following terms: technology, Thermoregulation, hydrophobic, aircraft-grade, zonal, articulated and Hyperfuse.

Nike chairman Phil Knight's writers could have been describing spacesuits instead of football uniforms, except there's a lot more money to be made from the latter.

Nike saved some of its most descriptive writing for the Seattle Seahawks' total uniform redesign, which has so far trumped subtler styling tweaks for the other 31 teams.

"The new uniform colors are rooted in Seattle's own environmental hues -- the deep blue of the ocean water that tucks into the harbor near downtown and the Seahawks' stadium," Nike proclaims. "The new color addition called Action Green represents the green of the ubiquitous trees, ferns and moss literally covering the Pacific Northwest landscape."

While the Seahawks underwent the most dramatic uniform overhaul, including 12 markings on the pants and collar to honor the 12th Man, all teams' uniforms are functionally identical (check them out via Nike for Seattle, Arizona, San Francisco and St. Louis).

"The uniform is completely engineered from the inside out, focusing on creating a system where the baselayer, padding, jersey and pant work in concert," Nike said. "A few of the new innovations include increasing sleeve articulation for better range of motion and integrating new four-way stretch fabrication to provide a streamlined shrink-wrap fit."

The numbers on the jersey also stretch, according to Nike.

The 49ers made available a shot of their white away jersey. It looks similar to the ones we've seen the 49ers wear previously. While this shot of QB Alex Smith makes him look like a bad dude, the Seahawks are the ones calling their threads "the new look of intimidation," according to their website.

The comments section on our previous item shows a range of opinions on the Seattle redesign. I asked those leaving comments to disclose their ages, figuring younger fans might be more apt to welcome what Nike obviously considers to be a cutting-edge concept.

A sampling, with listed ages:

• dizzog22 (age 24): "LOVE them. Gives the hawks a tougher look... Much better than the shiny blue... That was ridiculous."
• luckier_12thman (no age listed): "I love these jerseys! The Hawks and Nike are just setting the tone, everyone outside the NW will hate the hawks look as always, but all the more reason to love them."
• J3ffro19 (31): "I think they all look pretty good, the blue on blue or white on white especially."
• Willy2535 (22): "LOVE THEM!!!!!!!"
• nwdave (28): "At first I was like 'ugh,' then I was like 'meh,' and now they're growing on me. I like the gray alternates, and I like the helmet design. The overall look is pretty busy, though."
• shorne25 (29): "Why do I think Arena Football League?"
• SirDro (26): "I'm in the minority, but these look like MLS uniforms circa 1996. To each their own, I guess. Just glad my Niners aren't wearing anything like that."
• NickMinnott (24): "Horrible, just awful. I'm embarrassed."
• linemanmax64 (22): "I'm really digging the away and alternate jerseys. The home might take a bit more getting used to; I feel like it'll look good in the sunlight."
• usceahawk (29): "Initially a little shocked, I think I like them."
• bkbailey76 (36): "I had bigger hopes for the unis. I'm glad the Seahawks are doing something different, but not sure if this was the way to go."
• Stormballa1986 (25): "We are in an ever changing world. NASCAR couldn't use 1934 Ford Coupes forever. Point is, the new uniforms are going to be something that when they change them again in 10 years, I am going to be the one saying, 'They were fine the way they were' about these new ones. They have to change, we can't wear the same uniforms we wore in 1992. Whether you like it or not, it is going to happen. Might as well be optimistic about how much of a beast Money Lynch looks in them."
• crus9041 (no age): "Awesome of them to remember the 12th Man!"
• Flynnsane in the Membrane (23): "I would have liked the home one more, if it wasn't for the neon green patch on the shoulder. I did like the grey ones the best. Might be getting a kam or lynch grey jersey."
• ser4ph1m (26): "I completely agree, the neon green patch is distracting."
• daveb_dc (32): "I think it'll take a while to get used to the new 'Nike' look, rather than the classic NFL look. I like the gray as the alternate, and I like the all whites. I hate the name across the back."
• BaneDaBakBreakah (30): "These are the ugliest uniforms in the history of the NFL. The Nike logo is on the uniform more times that our own. If the jersey didn't have the actual word 'Seahawks' on it, then I wouldn't be able to discern it from a generic high school jersey. I think I'll save my money and skip buying a Matt Flynn jersey and stick with my retro Jim Zorn one."
• Charbonneau85 (18): "Seahawks are so close to having perfect uniforms. The helmet is absolutely beautiful. The green should be darker, but otherwise the design is fantastic."
• Battles 4 Seattle (26): "The helmet exceeded my expectations. Think it looks so sleek and yet very cool. The uniforms did not meet my expectations. I dislike the green and some of the other detail pieces."
• SFC_12thMan (32): "At first I was bothered, but then I remembered that they were showing three uniforms, and not just one. The new dark jerseys look AWFUL when worn with the new dark pants, but are actually kinda cool with the gray or white pants. I LOVE the all-gray look. The helmets were the best change by far!!"
• cubicalhabitation (no age): "So if the Seahawks are joining the XFL, who is going to replace them in the NFC West?"

Thanks for sharing. We haven't heard the last on this subject, I'm sure. Most of the reviews I read seemed positive.

The San Francisco 49ers haven't been big spenders in free agency recently.

None of the unrestricted free agents they added from other teams during the 2011 offseason received a deal exceeding three years in length or $4.25 million in average compensation.

One player in particular has stood out as a bargain.

Rogers' aggressive play at cornerback has given the 49ers a needed edge in their secondary. It's tough to say any other corner in the NFC West has made as positive an impact through Week 5. Rogers' 31-yard interception return for a touchdown against Tampa Bay was the latest in a string of impact plays from him for San Francisco.

Sometimes a change of address frees a veteran player to reach more of his potential. That seems to be the case with Rogers, a seventh-year veteran known during his six-year run with Washington for letting would-be interceptions slip through his hands. Rogers' three picks through five games exceed by one his single-season career high. He now has 11 for his career.

I was among several reporters gathered around Rogers in the 49ers' locker room Monday. A few highlights:

• On matching up with Detroit's Calvin Johnson: "He present a lot. A big, strong guy that can run. Then you got a quarterback who gets him the ball no matter if he is covered or not. We’re going to have to have something special for him, roll some coverages to him. They’ve been rolling, he’s been outjumping everybody, scoring touchdowns, catching balls in many different places. You see him all over ESPN and what they are doing."

Carlos Rogers
#22 CB
San Francisco 49ers
2011 STATS
• Tot13
• Solo12
• Ast1
• FF0
• Sack0.0
• Int3
• On his time with the Redskins: "I had coach (Joe) Gibbs, he basically ran our team. I had coach Gregg Williams as a defensive coordinator that everyone would die to play for. After that, it was coach (Jim) Zorn, and he didn’t really run our team. Guys were able to run over him and get things they wanted by just going to the ownership. After that, coach (Mike) Shanahan is a good coach, but my mindset by the time he came in, I was just ready to leave."
• On what bothered him about the Redskins: "We only re-signed Chris Samuels and Chris Cooley, which they deserve it, but everybody else was new guys they had brought in. It wasn’t guys who were drafted that we re-signed. I’m thinking once it comes to my turn, I’m not going to be here anyway. My whole mindset was like, 'Just get out of Washington, get a fresh start.' I’m always compared to what Shawn Springs do, what Fred Smoot do, what DeAngelo Hall do. I just couldn’t be Carlos. ... As a player, you get tired of that. You want something fresh. With this team, they just let me be me. They just let me play. I think right now I’m just playing at a level I know I can play at. I think back and it’s just like college. I’m back to my Auburn days, having fun."
• On the 49ers' 4-1 start: "We got a long way to go. I was with coach Zorn and we went 6-2 into our bye. The next eight games, we was 2-6. It’s a long season. We have a long way to go. Right now, (Jim Harbaugh) is just leading us in the right direction, keeping our mind strong on what we’ve got to do, and the right mindset of thinking throughout this whole process. It’s better than people thought. I tell people, we was supposed to be sorry. We’re surprising everybody. But we don’t want all the credit now. We want it at the end of the season when we get to our ultimate goal."

The chart shows basic contract information for Rogers and the other unrestricted free agents added during the offseason. Manny Lawson, Takeo Spikes, Aubrayo Franklin, Jeff Reed, Travis LaBoy and David Baas were the UFAs leaving the 49ers for other teams.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals fullback Jason Wright is retiring. Somers: "Wright was productive as a situational player on offense and was an excellent special-teams player. He missed one game last season due to a concussion. Wright was admitted to the Booth School of Business at the University of Chicago, and he and wife Tiffany have already moved to the Chicago area. Wright played collegiately at Northwestern." The backfield became even more crowded in Arizona this offseason when the team used a second-round draft choice for Ryan Williams. LaRod Stephens-Howling has also factored more heavily into the offense recently.

Also from Somers: a big-picture look at the Cardinals. Somers: "Both impending doom and great opportunity await the Cardinals when the lockout ends. The team needs a starting quarterback. Its three interior offensive linemen are un-signed as is starting receiver Steve Breaston. Most of the 'star' defensive players are coming off disappointing seasons, a factor in Ken Whisenhunt’s decision to hire Ray Horton as his third defensive coordinator in five seasons. Horton, a disciple of Steelers’ coordinator Dick LeBeau, will bring that high-pressure philosophy to the Cardinals. But that effort has been hampered by the lockout."

More from Somers: New rules for training camps wouldn't affect the Cardinals much because Whisenhunt doesn't ask players to hit much in consecutive practices.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says there is "no doubt" the team will address the quarterback situation quickly in free agency, according to team president Michael Bidwill.

Also from Urban: He calls Wright one of the "anchors of the locker room" for Arizona. Urban: "Wright was the perfect fit as a fourth running back with Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells and LaRod Stephens-Howling. He was a mentor, a sounding board, a voice of reason for the backs and the entire team. (He was also a go-to quote in the locker room, able to speak eloquently on any subject). Wright did miss some time with a concussion last season, and for any player that can give pause, not to mention someone as brilliant as Wright. But he insisted his choice had nothing to do with concussions or bodily harm."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Kenny Easley was an easy choice as the strong safety on Seattle's 35th anniversary team. Jim Zorn: "I remember Kenny describing how he inflicted pain on people catching the ball in front of him. To get the guy thinking about him the next time, he would hold his thumbs in his fists and jam his knuckles into the guy’s rib cage. I thought, 'All right, nice technique.'" Easley's kidneys were failing during the latter portion of his career, affecting his play. Before that, he was one of the very best defensive players in the league, someone opponents considered to be as good or even better than Ronnie Lott. Easley, Lott and Lawrence Taylor came along at a time when some of the best athletes were showing up on defense, forcing offenses to make significant adjustments.

Also from Farnsworth: Career length is the primary reason Easley doesn't get more recognition as a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune takes a closer rook at Seahawks rookie safety Mark LeGree. Coach Pete Carroll: "He’s able to play strong safety and free safety. Right now, it’s just a matter of just learning the system and getting him going. Eventually, I think he’ll be able to play nickel free safety, and it helps him to learn the free safety spot first."

Dan Pompei of National Football Post sheds light on the Seahawks' plans for linebacker Aaron Curry. Pompei: "Seahawks coaches want to tweak the way they use linebacker Curry. They want to have him drop less, especially in space. When Curry does drop in the future, it likely will mostly be on hooks to the flat. The fourth pick in the 2009 draft is a more effective defender on the line with his hands on the tight end. That way, he can use his strength and length to his advantage, and he doesn’t have to think as much. Curry is a strong point-of-attack player who also could be an effective pass rusher. It’s possible he will get more chances to chase the QB as well." Curry could have more chances to rush the passer if the team does not re-sign Raheem Brock.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says the Giants' Osi Umenyiora could be a consideration for the Seahawks, according to ESPN.com's John Clayton. Clayton: "Seattle is one of the teams he's interested in. That could be the type of player at defensive end, as long as it doesn't cost a first-round pick, that maybe there'd be some interest." Chris Clemons provides a cheaper alternative. Clemons had 11 sacks last season despite playing through injury. Umenyiora had 11.5 sacks and also played hurt.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee offers thoughts on the HBO special focusing on 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh, Ravens coach John Harbaugh and the Harbaugh family. Jack Harbaugh, father of Jim and John, breaks down game tape and offers feedback to his sons. Jack Harbaugh: "I'll tell you exactly what time the tape comes. The tape comes at 10 o'clock. I'm standing with the door open in the dead of winter waiting for that UPS truck to make the turn and stop at the door. Then it's down to the basement we go to put them in -- just for that feeling again to be involved with football." Jack Harbaugh coached for 45 years.

Also from Barrows: a 49ers preview for the Sporting News. Barrows: "The 49ers appear poised to head into yet another season with Smith as the starting quarterback. The difference this year is that he has an offensive-minded coach at the helm. The hope in San Francisco is that Harbaugh can play to Smith’s strengths and help mask his weaknesses. San Francisco has a strong offensive roster and a potentially good defensive one, too -- especially if Aldon Smith develops. How quickly the team can adjust to Harbaugh’s and Fangio’s new schemes will determine whether it can capture a division title in the weak NFC West."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, writing for the Sporting News, says a tough schedule could hold back the Rams this season. Thomas: "It’s possible St. Louis could play better in 2011, yet have the same record as it did in 2010. That’s because the schedule, particularly the first seven weeks of the season, could be crushing (Eagles, at Giants, Ravens, Redskins, at Packers, at Cowboys, Saints). In order to succeed, the Rams’ run blocking must improve and the receivers have to step up their play. To truly be a playoff contender, the Rams need to be about a touchdown per game better on offense. And that’s asking a lot."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports on Alex Smith's situation with the San Francisco 49ers after the veteran quarterback spent more than four hours at informal workouts for players Wednesday. Barrows: "Smith, who seemed unwilling to return to the 49ers when the 2010 season ended, said he's been impressed with Jim Harbaugh, with whom he met regularly before the lockout began. Smith has never had an offensive-minded head coach in San Francisco, and he said it is clear that Harbaugh knows how to handle quarterbacks. Smith also is familiar with – and well-liked by – 49ers players who live in the San Jose area. He's been working out regularly with them since February. ... Top receiver Michael Crabtree has not been part of that group. He has been working out in the Dallas area." Smith and Crabtree seemed to click right away when Crabtree was a rookie, but they haven't built on the early rapport.

Also from Barrows: Nothing much happening on the Nate Clements front. Of course, with the lockout, nothing can happen yet.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News calls Harbaugh's interest in bringing back Smith an "incredible leap of faith" given Smith's history. I would call it a convenient one-year stopgap.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com points to three factors in the 49ers' decision to pursue Smith. One of them: "There is nowhere Smith can go in the NFL that gives him a better opportunity than the 49ers to be a starting quarterback in 2011. Harbaugh has given no indication veteran David Carr fits into the team's plan. The 49ers added Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round, but it's unreasonable to expect the rookie to be ready to play early in the upcoming season. Smith might not face a whole lot of competition, either."

Also from Maiocco: The 49ers requested and received permission for Harbaugh to visit Smith and family to offer congratulations on the birth of their child.

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider points to the 2007 draft as the 49ers' best under former personnel chief Scot McCloughan.

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis assesses the quarterback situation in the NFC West. Softli on Seattle: "While the Seahawks took a page out of Bill Walsh's draft philosophy and secured two offensive linemen with their first two picks, the reigning NFC West champions are going about their business to develop a ball-control offense by establishing the run first, and hiring Tom Cable as the offensive line coach is the cherry on top. With that said they are still in desperate need for a quarterback. Charlie Whitehurst did a great job managing the team when defeating the Rams in the season finale to bring the NFC West crown back to the Pacific Northwest, but he is not the future for the Seahawks."

Liz Mathews of 710 ESPN Seattle says Matt Hasselbeck and John Carlson are consulting with former players for advice on dealing with the labor situation. A group recently gathered at a Seattle-area hotel. Hasselbeck: "Some of these guys have gone through work stoppages before and it's good to hear their side of it -- what they did to stay in shape, how they kept their teammates together, communicating and those kinds of things. The reason that we are here is that I think it would just be wonderful for new guys as they come to town if they had guys that have sort of been there and done that. So I just told them how when I was struggling here as a player in Seattle, all the former quarterbacks in this area -- whether it be Warren Moon or Jim Zorn or Jeff Kemp or Tom Flick -- guys that just played, they were just there as a resource. 'Hey man, I get it.' "

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with Chad Brown, who earned a spot on 35th anniversary team and misses the game despite staying busy. Farnsworth: "He still lives in the Denver area, where he runs Pro Exotics and Ship Your Reptiles, which breed, sell and ship non-venomous snakes and reptiles; has coached his daughter (Amani) in basketball, is coaching his son (Aram) in football and also doing private coaching for players in high school and at the University of Colorado, his alma mater; and has a weekend gig on a Denver sports talk radio station. But while Brown is out of football, and has been for the past three seasons, that doesn’t mean football is out of Brown."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says it's tough to get a feel for the dynamics at cornerback without Patrick Peterson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Greg Toler at the team's facility. Urban: "One thing is guaranteed, and that’s the confidence both DRC and Peterson own. Perfect for their position, and necessary. As has been noted many times, whomever plays cornerback will need a steady pass rush to achieve high-profile status. But if DRC can take his 2009 season and ratchet it up, and Peterson becomes the player everyone keeps saying he should be, high expectations should be the bar the two are able to reach."

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic checks in from the Cardinals' informal workouts. Boivin: "Approximately 30 players participated in the practice, including quarterbacks John Skelton and Max Hall, who were leading passing drills; wide receiver Steve Breaston; and an assortment of peripheral players such as 49ers receiver Kyle Williams, who went to ASU; free agent quarterback Shane Boyd, who has spent time with five NFL teams, including the Cardinals in 2006; and Sun Devils wide receiver Aaron Pflugrad, who said he was just trying to get in extra work. Players who have appeared at past workouts included the Ravens' Todd Heap, Terrell Suggs and Joe Flacco."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coaches spent part of their Wednesday assisting tornado victims in the St. Louis area. Coats: "The coaches took on a number of chores, including cutting up and removing downed trees, and cleaning up assorted debris." This would normally be about when rules permitted most rookies to join their teams for offseason workouts and minicamps. The lockout continues to prevent that from happening.

Seth Rubinroit of the Daily Trojan checks in with former Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, who says his NFL career has been a "roller coaster" to this point. Leinart seemed to have fallen off the map since signing with the Texans as their third quarterback. His contract ran through the 2010 season. Leinart: "Houston helped me get my confidence back, being around great coaches and a great team. It has jumpstarted me this offseason. ... I am not going to give up. I am not going to say it has been unfair, but I am just hoping for the opportunity to come. ... You can either give in to all of the criticism, or you can use it as fuel and motivation. I know what I can do. I am just waiting for the opportunity to go show it. ... I have had a lot of learning experiences and ups and downs, but I know that I have grown as a player and as a person, on and off the football field. I am totally ready to take advantage of the next opportunity I get."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com introduces the Cardinals' latest video in their "All In" series. The video shows the Cardinals meeting with Blaine Gabbert and others at the combine.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com looks back at the team's inaugural season. Jim Zorn: "We only won two games that first year, but you would have thought we almost went to the playoffs. That’s how enthusiastic not only we were, but the fans were. Everybody was excited."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times lays out draft expectations for the Seahawks during his latest chat. O'Neil: "Well, if Seahawks are on the clock at No. 25 and Mark Ingram is still there, the Seahawks would have to look long and hard at that one, and it would be tough to justify passing up a young back with that power and that talent just because you have Marshawn Lynch signed for another year. Remember back in 2006 when a quarterback went tumbling down the draft order, and Green Bay -- with John Schneider in that front office -- didn't have a pronounced need at quarterback. But they took Aaron Rodgers. I think the evidence points to the fact that say all you want about drafting to fit the team, but if you've got a player who is seen as a significant value at an important position, they're going to draft him." O'Neil thinks Seattle is most likely to select a defensive end.

Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune thinks the Seahawks should address their defensive line in the first round. Williams: "I would take Corey Liuget if he is on the board at No. 25 if I was Seattle. He will be an impact player, and with all the injuries they had along the defensive line last year, with Brandon Mebane, Red Bryant and Colin Cole missing a combineed 19 games, I think he makes some sense. Both Pete Carroll and John Schneider said getting more physical up front on both sides of the ball is the team's top priority."

John Clayton tells 710ESPN Seattle he thinks there's a good chance Matt Hasselbeck will not re-sign with the Seahawks. Clayton: "I'm not optimistic now. I'm starting to think that it may not happen. It seems like they did put a good effort in, but they didn't come to the right number. And now it's put the Seahawks in a position where I think what'll happen is, if free agency would start -- and we all don't know when -- I think they'll let him test the market. And that could be dangerous because he could go someplace else. But at this stage I'd say the odds are now slipping away that Matt's going to be here (in Seattle)."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch previews visits the Rams have set up with draft prospects. Thomas: "Heading the list of scheduled visitors is Alabama wide receiver Julio Jones, but several other potential Rams selections at No. 14 overall are scheduled to visit Rams Park today and Wednesday. Among them are Missouri defensive end Aldon Smith, Illinois defensive tackle Corey Liuget, North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn and California defensive end Cameron Jordan. At least four scheduled visitors are running backs, a sign that the Rams may mean business this year in finding a bona fide backup to Steven Jackson."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com looks at receiver options for the Rams in the draft. Wagoner: "Should A.J. Green or Julio Jones somehow fall into the Rams’ range, though, they would both almost certainly draw serious consideration for the pick. More likely, should the Rams opt to land a pass catcher; it will have to come after the first round barring a trade down in the first round. There are some intriguing options after Green and Jones. Boise State’s Titus Young, Maryland’s Torrey Smith, Kentucky’ Randall Cobb and Indiana’s Tandon Doss figure to land somewhere in the second round or early in the third."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com revisits Gary Plummer's dismissal as the 49ers' radio color commentator. Maiocco: "Plummer certainly did not sugarcoat what he witnessed. There were two separate episodes last season in which Plummer's words on the broadcasts angered many in the organization. In games against Seattle and Philadelphia, Plummer stated flatly that receiver Michael Crabtree and guard Chilo Rachal should be benched. The organization, which controls the broadcasts on flagship station KNBR, does not deny there was friction over those isolated occurrences. But the man in charge of the move is adamant Plummer was not fired because he criticized the team. He says Plummer was given freedom to criticize as he saw fit."

Also from Maiocco: a look at how fans envision the first seven picks of the draft unfolding.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says ex-49ers quarterback Gio Carmazzi decline to participate in an ESPN piece looking at the six quarterbacks drafted ahead of Tom Brady in 2000. Barrows: "The second quarterback taken that year was Hofstra's Gio Carmazzi, who was selected by the 49ers in the third round. The 49ers were so jazzed about Carmazzi that one of the offensive coaches at the time -- I will spare him the embarrassment and not identify him -- stood up on a table during a draft meeting and passionately extolled Carmazzi's virtues. He was the 49ers' quarterback of the future, the heir to Joe Montana and Steve Young. Carmazzi, as any decade-long suffering 49ers fan knows too well, never threw a regular-season pass for the 49ers. (And if you saw his preseason passes, you know why). The Boston Herald, which had a sneak preview of the 50-minute feature, writes that 'Carmozzi (sic) is now a yoga-obsessed farmer who has five goats. He was the only one who did not agree to an interview.' "

Also from Barrows: Two running backs are scheduled to visit the 49ers.

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider says Cam Newton's ability to lead comebacks at Auburn reminds him of Joe Montana's comeback efforts at Notre Dame.

Thoughts upon hearing a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter regarding Seattle quarterbacks coach Jedd Fisch leaving to become offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at the University of Miami:

• Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck likes working with Fisch. He mentions Fisch and coordinator Jeremy Bates by name when he would not have to do so.
• Seattle has run through quarterbacks coaches since Jim Zorn left following the 2007 season. Bill Lazor and Fisch stayed for relatively short stints.
• We're seeing more NFL assistants taking college jobs, it seems, and that could reflect concerns over a potential lockout. Seattle defensive line coach Dan Quinn is also headed for the college ranks, having accepted a job as defensive coordinator at Florida.
• Pete Carroll's inaugural Seahawks staff is suffering some key losses. Alex Gibbs, Quinn and Fisch are either gone or leaving.
• Carroll's background on defense makes losses on the offensive side potentially more damaging. It's more important for a defensive-minded head coach to hire the right assistants on the offensive side.
• Fisch and Quinn will continue coaching with the Seahawks until the team is finished playing this season.

Speaking of Zorn, who now coaches with Baltimore, some have suggested to me that he would fit well as offensive coordinator in St. Louis if the Rams lost Pat Shurmur to the Browns? The team could keep the same basic offensive system, and Zorn could coach quarterback Sam Bradford, too. Not a bad thought.

Ryan from Lakeport, Calif., writes: Hi Sando, love the blog. All this talk about stripping people of their achievements -- namely Lawrence Taylor and Brian Cushing -- got me thinking. If they do make Jairus Byrd the rookie of the year, what about Lofa Tatupu? Does anyone remember how Shawne Merriman got busted for steroids? Lofa should be handed that honor. Granted, it's been five years, but this Seahawk fan wants something from 2005 to not get cheated from us.

Mike Sando: Good memory, Ryan. Merriman beat out Tatupu for defensive rookie honors after both turned in Pro Bowl rookie seasons in 2005. Merriman then served a four-game suspension during the 2006 season. If they strip Brian Cushing of top rookie honors after his positive test, why not strip Merriman? Sounds reasonable to me, although the timing of Merriman's positive test could be an important factor to consider. The San Diego Union-Tribune said the initial positive test was during 2006.

Note: This answer was updated to reflect the timing of Merriman's suspension, which was served from Weeks 8-11 of the 2006 season, not the first four games. News of the suspension broke in October 2006. As former player Eric Allen put it for ESPN.com at the time, "The Rookie of the Year award and Pro Bowl honors we all thought Merriman earned ... have now been sullied completely by his imminent suspension."

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Mark from Clinton, Utah, writes: Mr. Sando, First off let me say that you coverage is something I look forward to as a Rams fan and it helps me pass through the downtime while deployed out here in Afghanistan. My question is this: I recently read a post that there hasn't been a successful lefty QB since Steve Young. While there have been 'lefty' flashes of brilliance, I do consider this to be pretty valid. The post also went on to say that this is a league for right-handers. Do you think that this is due to so much emphasis going to the left (blind) side of the line? If not, why the left-handed QB drought?

Mike Sando: Thanks, Mark. There have never been very many left-handed quarterbacks in the NFL to begin with, so the sample size is probably too small for us to make sweeping proclamations about these players' professional fates. It's possibly coincidental that some of the best ones -- Steve Young, Mark Brunell and Boomer Esiason -- played in the same general era.

Current NFC West teams found room for some of the better ones, from Young to Jim Zorn to Frankie Albert. Young is the only left-handed quarterback in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. This analysis posted on the Rutgers University website includes stats for left-handed quarterbacks. Todd Marinovich and Cade McNown didn't help the cause as left-handed first-round draft picks during the 1990s.

Your initial thought could be on the right track. Football is traditionally a right-handed game. Offenses are set up to go that way. Left-handed quarterbacks could be at a disadvantage even at the lowest levels of the game, and this could influence how many of them eventually make it in the NFL. Meanwhile, baseball puts a premium on left-handed throwers, so talented lefties are probably funneled toward baseball and away from football as they come up through the ranks.

I like the subject matter. It's something I'd like to ask Matt Leinart about at some point. Anyone have any theories?

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Zachary from San Francisco writes: Are the 49ers mishandling Alex Smith's contract situation? What if he has a breakout season? Even if Alex has a "breakout" season, I can't imagine the 49ers being in a position to place the franchise tag on him this offseason. Have the 49ers burned bridges with Alex? They've kept him on an awfully short leash and signed Davis Carr this offseason while telling him, 'No. It's still your job, Alex.'

Wouldn't Alex rather go and start for Minnesota in 2011? What if Kevin Kolb doesn't work out? Maybe he lands a job in Philadelphia. If Alex succeeds this season, he'll have the 49ers on a short leash.

Mike Sando: Smith made it clear he wanted to stay in San Francisco. He could have gone after more money as a free agent if he had refused to rework his rookie deal. The people most responsible for mishandling Smith early in his career no longer work for the 49ers. If Smith plays well this season, yes, the 49ers will have to step up. But they would welcome such a problem. I also think Smith will have more value to the 49ers than he will to other teams, based on his familiarity with the system.

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Neil from Jackson, Miss., writes: Sando, your article on the best QB in the NFC West considered Matt Leinart but not Derek Anderson. Anderson could easily end up the Cardinal's starter and, for that matter, the best QB in the division. Not at all saying I think he will, but with the QB situation so weak across the division, he deserves to be considered a contender.

Mike Sando: You're right in that we should at least allow for the possibility. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. addressed the Anderson signing in Arizona for a recent Insider piece. He thought the Cardinals could have done better than Anderson even in looking only for a backup. I'm interested to see what happens with Charlie Whitehurst in Seattle given that Arizona was also trying to acquire him from the Chargers. Which player delivers more value -- Whitehurst or Anderson -- could impact the division this year or next.

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

Rams

101ESPN St. Louis: Todd McShay

101ESPN St. Louis: quarterback Sam Bradford

101ESPN St. Louis: offensive lineman Rodger Saffold

101ESPN St. Louis: receiver Mardy Gilyard

101ESPN St. Louis: general manager Billy Devaney

49ers

KNBR680: coach Mike Singletary

KNBR680: linebacker Patrick Willis

KNBR680: running back Michael Robinson

KNBR680: former running back Roger Craig

FoxSportsRadio: safety Taylor Mays (via sportsradiointerviews.com)

Cardinals

XTRA910 Phoenix: defensive end Calais Campbell

XTRA910 Phoenix: defensive end Darnell Dockett

XTRA910 Phoenix: guard Alan Faneca

KTAR620 Phoenix: coach Ken Whisenhunt

Seahawks

710ESPN Seattle: John Clayton (at 1:40 mark)

KJR950 Seattle: former coach Mike Holmgren

KJR950 Seattle: former guard Chris Gray

KJR950 Seattle: former tackle Walter Jones

KJR950 Seattle: safety Jordan Babineaux

KJR950 Seattle: former quarterback/assistant coach Jim Zorn

FoxSportsRadio: running back LenDale White

Trent Dilfer's interview with 101ESPN St. Louis is worth a listen for those interested in a different take on quarterbacks.

Dilfer thinks the Rams would be best off taking defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh first overall, then trading up from the 33rd pick to select Colt McCoy as their quarterback. He thinks Jimmy Clausen is by far the best college quarterback right now. He thinks Sam Bradford faces a tough transition. He sees McCoy as the player most likely to develop into the best quarterback from this draft.

What does Dilfer know? Well, he's played the position and studied the players. Dilfer said he has watched every 2009 snap from all three quarterbacks -- two and three times in some cases -- using a template he developed with input from Mike Holmgren, Brian Billick, Jim Zorn and others.

"This is my passion," Dilfer said during the interview.

Dilfer attributes Bradford's perceived rise to hype and misinformation from personnel people with agendas.

"In my opinion," Dilfer said of Bradford, "he is not even close to the best player in this draft."

Dilfer sees Bradford as extremely raw and a player who hasn't performed in a system even remotely close to the ones preferred by NFL teams. He thinks Bradford's accuracy falls off as the Oklahoma quarterback goes through his reads.

Further, drafting Bradford could be a "catastrophic mistake" for the Rams if they did not handle him properly.

"Bradford is a talented guy," Dilfer said. "I understand why the perception has become what it is -- because he looks good in shorts. But that is the way he has played football, too. He has played in a 7-on-7 environment, not an 11-on-11 environment."

McCoy's competitiveness, leadership and athletic ability to extend plays will set him apart over time, Dilfer predicted.

I'll be saving the link from this item for future reference.

Note: As Lori indicates via Facebook and as Dilfer mentioned in the interview, he has worked out with McCoy. They share the same agent, David Dunn.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says during a chat that he thinks the Rams are "seriously considering" making a play for Michael Vick this offseason. Vick would already know the Rams' offense, which Rams offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur brought from Philadelphia. Vick would sell tickets, a challenge for any team coming off a 1-15 record and lacking star power. Shurmur's relationship with Eagles coach Andy Reid could give the Rams access to more reliable information as to how Vick would fit into a new team. Vick would probably be better than any other quarterback on the Rams' roster. General manager Billy Devaney knows Vick from when both were with the Falcons. Those are all reasons for the Rams to consider Vick if the Eagles make the quarterback available.

Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com says former Rams and 49ers coach Mike Martz could be losing interest in coordinating the Bears' offense after the team has reached out to lots of candidates, but not him. Martz: "It sounds like there's something they want to do. I just want to move on. I just worry about Lovie (Smith). I just want to see him do well. That was the reason for my interest."

Neil Hayes of the Chicago Sun-Times says the Bears will hear about it if their offense struggles with someone other than Martz as coordinator. Hayes: "Maybe (Jay) Cutler is nixing Martz because Martz was critical of Cutler's demeanor during a news conference earlier this season. Should the quarterback be making this call? Former Lions coach and current Bears assistant Rod Marinelli butted heads with Martz when they both were in Detroit. Are the Bears going to let their defensive line coach scuttle this hire?"

ESPN's Adam Schefter says former NFC West assistants Al Saunders and Jim Zorn are candidates to interview with the Ravens.

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says former 49ers punter Tom Wittum, who passed away recently, still followed the team and attended games periodically.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee passes along comments from 49ers president Jed York. York on playing the Broncos in London: "It's a tough trip, and hopefully we'll be able to have an East Coast road game the week before and be able to cut that trip in half and have a 6-hour flight to London as opposed to a 12-hour flight from San Francisco, which I think the San Diego Chargers did a few years ago."

Scott Kegley of 49ers.com checks in with linebacker Patrick Willis and punter Andy Lee as both arrived at the Pro Bowl.

Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel checks in with new Seahawks general manager John Schneider, focusing on how the Packers will adjust without him. Ted Thompson, Reggie McKenzie and John Dorsey will pick up the slack. However, the Packers were admittedly a bit top-heavy after replacing former coach Mike Sherman, who had doubled as GM. Bedard: "McKenzie will become more involved with college scouting leading up to the draft, while Dorsey will be asked to contribute more to pro personnel during the season. Dorsey will deal more with agents, which was a major component of Schneider's duties. Also, Thompson will become more personally involved in trade talks. He often left McKenzie and Schneider to find deals and bring them to his attention."

John Morgan of Field Gulls links to an item with background information on new Seahawks strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle says former Seahawks offensive coordinator Greg Knapp is the new quarterbacks coach for the Texans. McClain: "Knapp and new offensive coordinator Rick Dennison are replacing Kyle Shanahan. He was offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach. Shanahan’s contract expired, and he went to Washington to become the offensive coordinator under his father, new Redskins coach Mike Shanahan."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times checks in with new Seahawks linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr., who wanted to coach in Seattle or San Francisco if he couldn't remain at USC. He is reunited with Lofa Tatupu. Norton: "Lofa has always been a very special guy to my heart. He was a guy I coached at USC, one of my first years at coaching. It was unfortunate to see him go down last year with the injury, but I'm expecting him to get this defense back to where it was before."

Cardinals safety Antrel Rolle says he thinks Kurt Warner will retire. Rolle: "Judging from conversations that I've had with him I think he understands that he's had a great, Hall of Fame career. I think football has taken its course. But he's the best teammate I've ever had. He's been a leader on and off the field." Warner has said he wants to feel good about retiring. Can he walk away and feel good about it? That is the key question.

Revenge of the Birds' Andrew602 passes along thoughts from Cardinals safety Hamza Abdullah, who played extensively in the divisional-round playoff game after Arizona lost Rolle to injury. Playing with Adrian Wilson was a highlight for Abdullah. Abdullah: "Oh, man, did I learn anything? I could talk to you about two or three hours just strictly on that. Adrian Wilson is a great safety, obviously. ... It's just a privilege. I really believe that God has blessed me to not only be with a great organization but to learn from a veteran like Adrian Wilson. To be honest with you, it doesn't get better than Adrian Wilson."

Ben Malcolmson of usctrojans.com says Chris Carlisle is leaving USC to become strength and conditioning coach for the Seahawks. Mike Clark had held the position for Seattle since January 2004. The Seahawks suffered lots of injuries in recent seasons, leading some fans to ask about the work Clark and his staff were doing. It was pretty much impossible to know whether the team should have done anything different. Carlisle: "I want people to know that I'm walking away, not running. There's not a reason for me to leave except that this is a great opportunity for me to continue my career and take a step in my evolution as a strength coach. Also, this is an opportunity to work with Pete Carroll, which is a heck of an opportunity and one that's very difficult to turn down. Lane Kiffin and the USC administration wanted me to stay and I really appreciate that."

Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette says Packers assistant strength and conditioning coach Mondray Gee will join the Seahawks in a similar role. Dougherty: "Gee, 33, worked seven years as a strength and conditioning assistant for the Detroit Lions before the Packers hired him in 2008. New Seahawks coach Pete Carroll hired Gee presumably on the recommendation of John Schneider, Seattle's new general manager and a high-level personnel executive for the Packers from 2002 until last week."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times checks in with new Seahawks coach Pete Carroll from Mobile, Ala., site of the Senior Bowl practices. O'Neil: "Carroll didn't have to look very far for one idea Monday afternoon when USC safety Taylor Mays had the most ooh-inspiring hit of the South team's practice. Mays kept Citadel receiver Andre Roberts from coming down with the ball. Carroll coached Mays in college. Could Seattle bring Mays back to Seattle, where he attended O'Dea or will Seattle find that bedrock of a left tackle, a quarterback, or an offensive player who's a home-run threat in the open field? Those are the questions Carroll, [general manager John] Schneider and Seattle will be asking in three months of draft preparation that began in earnest on Monday in the opposite corner of the country."

Also from O'Neil: Former Seahawks quarterback and assistant coach Jim Zorn hopes to coach somewhere in 2010.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic takes an in-depth look at the Cardinals' situation at linebacker. Karlos Dansby could leave in free agency. Clark Haggans probably exceeded expectations in 2009. Chike Okeafor probably will not be back. Somers: "The Cardinals likely will replace him with a younger player, perhaps Will Davis or Cody Brown, rookies in 2009. Brown, a second-round pick, suffered a dislocated wrist in training camp and was on injured reserve all year. That basically made his rookie season a wasted one. He is making the transition from defensive end in college, so it's going to take for him to develop. Davis, a sixth-round pick, is further ahead. By mid-season, he was starting to show some pass-rush skills and was taking snaps away from veteran Bertrand Berry, who retired at the end of the season. A knee injury delayed Davis' progress, but he showed signs of being a real steal in the draft."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says longtime Rams trainer Jim Anderson isn't sure why coach Steve Spagnuolo fired him. Anderson: "What did I not do that was expected? Or what can I do differently if I have a situation in the future where I want to be an athletic trainer? Like I said, (Spagnuolo) didn't feel at the time that he had any response to that. He just felt the organization would be better off with a change." That's the way it works in the NFL. It's not always personal. A new coach often wants his own medical people or trainers or strength coaches, etc. Thomas: "Longtime employees at Rams Park are on eggshells again, as their numbers continue to dwindle. The massive organizational shakeup means very few employees are left who moved with the team to St. Louis from California in 1995."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers could use a return specialist with the ability to add punch on offense. Percy Harvin and Reggie Bush stand out as examples. Barrows: "After selecting Michael Crabtree last year with the 10th pick, the 49ers likely will pass on wide receivers this season. But a running back who could complement the between-the-tackles running style of Frank Gore could be a nice fit."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers were neither elite at quarterback or on defense this season, an indication they've got a ways to go before challenging the best teams in the NFC. Coach Mike Singletary also has questions to answer. Maiocco: "Singletary has some incredible traits as a coach. He is tough, demanding and he listens to the needs and wants of those who work for him. Singletary is a self-described 'big-picture guy.' That might be fine, but only if there are extraordinary people taking care of the small details for him. And that's where I have my biggest doubts about whether the 49ers are ready to take that next step." A coach without a strong background as a coordinator will always be more reliant on his staff. That was one of the issues raised when the team hired Singletary over Greg Manusky and others.

John Cote of the San Francisco Chronicle updates the 49ers' efforts to build a new stadium in Santa Clara.

Gary from Phoenix writes: How about Anquan Boldin to the Patriots for Matt Light? Supposedly, Sebastian Vollmer is the future at left tackle for the Pats, and with Wes Welker unlikely to be ready at season's start, they could use a good veteran inside receiver. If I recall correctly, both Light and Boldin have one year left on their contracts at similar salaries. Seems like this trade would help both teams at areas of need. Thanks.

Mike Sando: This one looks better on paper than it might look in reality. The Patriots would be fortunate to make such a move. Light appears to be on his way down, as you surmised. His salary is $4.5 million, compared to $3 million for Boldin. That salary difference isn't a huge deal, but I just don't think the Cardinals would be getting good enough value in return. When I think of Light, I see Ravens pass-rusher Terrell Suggs beating him to sack Tom Brady and forcing a fumble in the wild-card round. I don't see an upgrade, particularly given the price.

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Ty from Washington, D.C., writes: Mike, the problem with overtime rules starts with kicking. When the first sudden-death game was played in 1958, kickers were making about 47 percent of their field-goal attempts. Even when the overtime rules were expanded in 1974 to include the regular season, kickers were averaging less than 61 percent on all field-goal attempts and less than 40 percent beyond 40 yards. Those percentages have been trending upward ever since. Even in a supposed down year in 2009, kickers made 73 percent of their attempts from 40-49 yards and 53 percent from beyond 50.

With percentages like that, all a team needs in overtime is a good kick return and one or two first downs to have a nearly three-in-four chance of winning. The obvious, though most controversial solution to sudden death is to eliminate a victory by field goal. It can either be eliminated from scoring altogether, or a hybrid version of overtime can be created, in which a touchdown or safety is sudden death but a field goal allows the opponent another possession to respond. Thoughts?

Mike Sando: I like the last option. Kick a field goal and be prepared to let the other team have the ball. Score a touchdown and the game ends in your favor. Makes some sense. Outlawing field goals changes the game more dramatically. A team facing, say, fourth-and-20 at the 38 should still have a field goal as an option. Thanks for weighing in. I'll put together another mailbag-type item focusing on this issue in greater depth.

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Dan from Scottsdale, Ariz., writes: Mike, I would like nothing more than to have Mike Vick as our QB for the next five years here in Arizona. However, you have to remember a few things. This is the state that really doesn't like trouble, as was obvious when we gave away Jason Kidd (domestic), Stephon Marbury (DUI, although he stinks anyways), forced Mike Tyson to move to Las Vegas (my favorite athlete), put Charles Barkley in jail, etc. It's just always been a state where the people didn't like athletes with checkered histories. The Bidwill family is huge on this as well. I can't see it happening. However, Donovan McNabb lives here and I can see that happening.

Mike Sando: I might have said the Cardinals could do worse than having Vick and Matt Leinart compete if Warner retired. That is presumably what prompted your line of thinking here. McNabb would make lots of sense in Arizona if the Eagles were willing to part with him. I've been a little skeptical on that happening, though.

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CowboyP893 from Dallas writes: In past years, teams have released many players in the week just prior to the start of Free agency, at the end of February, with the term "cap casualty" often used. But with the uncapped year of 2010, won't teams just keep these players, at least until the draft (and likely longer), as their is no reason to cut these players that early, without a salary cap.

Mike Sando: That makes some sense. Organizations will need to protect themselves from having these players suffer injuries. Sometimes you see teams release players before the first minicamps. That could happen. Injured players can sometimes command all or part of their scheduled salaries.

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Nate from Danville, Va., writes: Needing both a change of pace back and help in the return game, do you think the 49ers should target Leon Washington. I know he will probably end up a RFA, however with the emegrence of Shonn Greene the Jets may let him walk.

Mike Sando: Washington was with Jimmy Raye for a bit, too. On the other hand, Washington's production in the return game has diminished substantially since his breakout season of 2007, and now he is coming off a broken leg.

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Allen from Phoenix writes: Hey, Sando, I heard something I found rather interesting on local sports talk radio the other day. They were saying that the departure of Kurt Warner (retirement), Antrel Rolle and Karlos Dansby (free agency) would be the equivalent of about $35 million freed up next year and that some of that could be used to sign Darnell Dockett long term and bring in some big-time free agents in need areas. I've heard something about the top eight teams not being able to go after some unrestricted free agents. Can you tell me more about this and how it would affect the Cards and your thoughts on extra money the Cards might have should Warner, Rolle and Dansby all depart?

Mike Sando: Teams that lost in the divisional round can sign one unrestricted free agent for $5.5 million or more in the first year of the deal, plus however many of their own UFAs sign elsewhere. These teams can also sign any UFAs for less than $3.7 million in the first year of the deal, with limitations on the annual increases, according to an NFL primer on the situation. "In the case of all final eight teams," the primer said, "the first year salary of UFAs they sign to replace those lost cannot exceed the first year salary of the player lost with limitations on the per-year increases."

On Dockett, there are no guarantees the Cardinals will move quickly. Dockett has two years left on his deal.

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Colton from Friendsville, Pa., writes: Someone mentioned the possibility of moving Levi Brown over to the left side of the Cardinals' line and it brought up some old thoughts. I remember OTAs and training camp the year Brown was drafted. The coaching staff made the point of moving him over to the right side so he could be groomed as a blindside protector. To be more precise, Matt Leinart's blindside protector. Of course, we all know the story of who eventually won the Arizona starting QB gig.

Moving further back in time, when Leinart was drafted I was under the impression (and still am to some degree) that he would need a system revolving around him and his left-handedness in order to succeed. So, two questions for you: How much does a quarterback's throwing arm truly affect the offense? And ... do you think if and when Kurt Warner retires do you think a guy like Jim Zorn could fill the long-vacant offensive coordinator's job in Arizona?

Mike Sando: Yes, the Cardinals did think Matt Leinart would be their starter, and Brown would protect his blind side. NFL offenses are traditionally "right-handed" because most quarterbacks throw with their right hands. That is where quarterbacks have traditionally been more comfortable throwing. The right side is the side of the field they see the best. A great quarterback probably transcends such things. Leinart is not a great quarterback, so it's possible the offense could become more left-handed.

As for Zorn, he would probably be a good quarterbacks coach for Leinart. I'm not so sure about being a coordinator in that system, though, given that Zorn is so closely associated with the West Coast principles he learned from Mike Holmgren. Plus, Ken Whisenhunt likes to call the plays, and has had success doing so.

Matt Hasselbeck's interview with 710ESPN Seattle is worth a listen for Seahawks fans.

He was either taking the high road or was genuine in his support for the team's coaching staff after a 5-11 season. Sometimes it takes a while for players to do things to a new staff's liking, he said. Hasselbeck said some of the same things happened when he came from Green Bay to Seattle and initially resisted how the Seahawks approached specific plays, to cite one example.

The audio is here. I'll provide an excerpt below as transcribed by sportsradiointerviews.com:

"I do like our coaching staff, I like them a lot. I don’t think that…they’re human, I’m sure there are some things that they will be hard on themselves about; critique themselves; self-scout as they call it. But for me, I really don't think that that was our problem at all. I think we’ve got a great group of guys, an experienced group of guys that yet at the same time, have got energy and all that kind of stuff. And I really think each guy in the locker room would say, if asked, 'Hey, do you respect your coach?' 'Yes, I respect my coach.' Was it easy or fun to play for your coach this year? 'Well, not really, he rode me pretty hard and made it uncomfortable for me.' And that’s OK. As long as you respect your coach and are learning from your coach, and he makes it uncomfortable, then that’s OK. And I see all of those things and also I think we’re starting to get it. We’re starting to get it and really grow with them, so it would be unfortunate if anything changed."

The Seahawks have yet to make any staff changes. Those could happen at any time, particularly once the team settles on a general manager. I wondered if the suddenly available Jim Zorn might fit in some capacity. Conventional wisdom says Zorn will end up with Mike Holmgren in Cleveland, but his Seattle roots run deep.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

DiLune2 asks: Mike Holmgren's name has been mentioned in connection with the Washington job. Do you think watching Jim Zorn's experience there has pretty much shut that door as far as he's concerned?

Mike Sando: No. I think Holmgren realizes he cannot rule out any teams. Quite a few other high-profile coaches could be looking for work as well. Holmgren will not be able to hand-pick what job he wants, most likely. It's also possible Holmgren could want only a front-office job, although finishing 4-12 in 2008, his final season as Seahawks coach, increases the likelihood he'll consider coaching, I think.

Listening to the Holmgren interview on KJR, I found it instructive to hear Holmgren talk about the importance of having powers spelled out clearly in contracts. If he could do over again in Seattle, Holmgren probably would have pressed to more clearly define then-president Bob Whitsitt's role in the organization.

If Holmgren took a coaching job with the Redskins, he would surely insist upon a certain level of autonomy and he would make sure owner Daniel Snyder put it in writing. Holmgren's credibility as a head coach would also help him define the relationship with Snyder on terms more favorable than the ones binding Zorn.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Do not write off Walter Jones just yet. His former coach, Mike Holmgren, thinks the Seahawks' left tackle will recover well enough physically to continue his career in 2010.

Jones

Holmgren

"It will be up to him," Holmgren told KJR radio Wednesday. "It won’t be because physically he can’t play. I think he will be able to play physically. But he has been through the wars a long time, his family is getting older, he has been really good with his money, all those things. Whether he wants to, that’s the big thing at that age."

Jones subsequently told reporters he plans to continue his career.

"It would have been a stretch for him to come back this year, I always felt that," Holmgren told KJR. "He had a number of surgeries and then when they have to go in and do another one after you report to camp and things like that, that never sounds very good, at least in my experience. But I do think this: I think Walter will eventually heal up. I think he will eventually heal up."

The Seahawks cannot count on Jones, of course. They need to protect themselves at the position, something they did not do well enough this season, in my view. If Jones did come back, the offensive line would improve significantly.

Audio: Full Holmgren interview here.

Holmgren also reflected on the Redskins' decision to strip play-calling duties from Jim Zorn: "I was thinking about how I would handle that and it wouldn't be pretty, that is for sure. That is the first thing. The second thing is, you hired me to do something, let me do it."