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Good morning, NFC West, and welcome back from a s-s-s-low weekend in the division.

On the bright side, depending upon your perspective, we're only 76 days away from the Hall of Fame game between our own Arizona Cardinals and whichever New Orleans Saints employees remain in good standing with the NFL by Aug. 5.

While the Saints see rehab for their reputation, the Cardinals are focused on getting their running backs healthy.

Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams haven't played or practiced since undergoing knee surgeries. Wells underwent a less serious procedure, but his durability has been a concern dating to college. Williams is nine months into his rehab from a torn patella tendon; the one-year anniversary falls on Aug. 19.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals haven't done much to address the position, an indication both backs could be on track for 2012. Urban: "Williams, who is anxious to get back on the field right now, admits the team will likely not push him now, instead wanting to preserve him for camp. It wouldn’t be a surprise if the team takes the same tact with Beanie. He's made that work before. Last season, Beanie didn’t get any summer work -- no one did, because of the lockout -- and he still had a career-high 1,047 yards rushing, 10 touchdowns and a 4.3 per-carry average despite battling his knee injury most of the season." Noted: Wells has missed five games in two seasons. He had 228 yards against St. Louis in Week 12 and a combined 198 yards in four subsequent games to end the 2011 season.

Also from Urban: Undrafted rookie receiver Stanley Arukwe ran the 40-yard dash in a wind-aided 4.19 seconds this offseason.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Rams general manager Les Snead for thoughts on where the team has improved this offseason. Snead on the defensive line: "We've got two young ends (in Chris Long and Robert Quinn). We've added (Kendall) Langford. We've got Darell Scott coming back. Bam! You throw in (Michael) Brockers, and all of a sudden that unit gets strong. Now the DL becomes a dominant unit."

Also from Thomas: Joe Long, brother of Jake, clears his own path.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch calls for calm over the Rams' stadium situation. Miklasz: "Less than 20 years ago, this region put up a lot of money to attract the Rams and enhance the convention-hosting capability in downtown St. Louis. We may ultimately decide to reject the allocation of additional public money for the stadium/convention center. Before our initial investment is essentially thrown in the river, before we dismiss the possibility of Kroenke and the NFL stepping in as our financial partners in this endeavor, we should at least make a sincere effort to see if this investment makes sense. That will require calm, rational discussion."

Howard Balzer outlines salary details for recent Rams additions Mario Haggan and Barry Richardson.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has this to say about Jim Harbaugh's recent comments regarding Michael Crabtree's sure hands: "I was reminded of last offseason when Harbaugh said Alex Smith was a 'very accurate passer.' Or when he said Smith was an 'elite' quarterback. Or when he insisted Smith deserved a spot in the Pro Bowl. Not only does Harbaugh always back his players publicly, he pumps up the players that are in need of a little inflating. Last year that was Smith, who had been kicked around like no other 49er in the last quarter century but who responded with the best season of his career. This year Crabtree may be getting the same kind of treatment."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers still have only one proven return specialist: Ted Ginn Jr.

Also from Maiocco: big plays for a 49ers Hall of Fame.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News offers assorted 49ers notes, including this one: "Rather than report to the 49ers offseason conditioning program, franchise-tagged safety Dashon Goldson headed to South Florida and has hooked up with Bommarito Performance Systems. Among the 49ers who’ve previously worked with trainer Pete Bommarito are Frank Gore, Vernon Davis, Kendall Hunter, Ricky Jean Francois, Tavaris Gooden and rookie Cam Johnson."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team felt as though seventh-round draft choice Greg Scruggs was a bargain. A turf-toe injury slowed the defensive lineman at Louisville last season. Farnsworth: "Where Scruggs fits with the Seahawks remains to be seen, but for now he is working as a pass-rusher from the three-technique tackle spot as well as at the five-technique end position in the base defense -- a backup role that was filled last season by Anthony Hargrove, who signed with the Green Bay Packers in free agency."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times checks in with former Seahawks quarterback Jon Kitna, who is teaching math and coaching football at his high school alma mater. O'Neil: "It's not hard to imagine a former NFL quarterback filling his afternoons with football. It's tougher to imagine that same man -- a guy who was making $3 million last year -- arriving on campus at 7 a.m. and bringing breakfast for kids who need extra help, hosting a home room and then teaching two periods of algebra."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin remembers one game more than any other last season: the one against Cleveland, when Baldwin finished with no receptions during a 6-3 defeat.

This is going to be a fantastic week, probably the best for the NFC West since Arizona's Super Bowl appearance three years ago.

It could get a whole lot better with a San Francisco 49ers victory over the New York Giants in the NFC Championship Game.

Fans for other teams in the division will have a hard time pulling for a despised rival, of course. But if you think criticism of the division has too often overlooked NFC West postseason successes, another 49ers victory could provide additional relief.

A 49ers victory over the Giants would give all four current NFC West teams one Super Bowl appearance since February 2002, right before the league realigned into eight four-team divisions. The NFC South is the only other division with more than two during that time (Carolina, Tampa Bay and New Orleans).

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News thinks the 49ers would have had an easier time against Green Bay than against the Giants. Kawakami: "I think Eli Manning is a very scary playoff QB -- when he’s throwing it well (like now), and has confidence in his receivers (like now), he is very tough to beat. The Giants are red-hot right now and they showed in 2007 that when they get red-hot, they’re nearly impossible to beat. It seems odd to say this, but I think Manning is a tougher out in the playoffs than either Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers. Can’t exactly say why I think this, but I do." Noted: Manning's arm and size allow him to make throws other quarterbacks cannot make. I would expect the 49ers' defensive front to get much more pressure than Green Bay mounted, however.

Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers should be happy to play at home, but not necessarily against the Giants. Purdy: "This is going to be a fascinating reboot, with lots of coaching brain power involved. The Giants have the NFL's oldest coach, Tom Coughlin, who is known for the right calls at the right times. The 49ers have rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh, who has made almost no wrong moves over the past three months." Noted: The 49ers fooled the Giants with an onside kick when the teams played in Week 10. They caught the Giants' front line retreating a little too quickly.

Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat expects the Giants to double-cover Vernon Davis, load up against the run and find out whether the 49ers' wide receivers can do enough for San Francisco to win. Cohn: "Here’s some good news for the offense. Delanie Walker wrote on Twitter that he worked out Sunday and he’s ready to play next weekend. Alex Smith needs a secondary receiver to complement Davis and Walker can be that guy. Last time the Niners played the Giants, Walker led all Niners with six receptions for 69 yards."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com updates the 49ers' injury situation. Maiocco: "Ray McDonald was noticeably limping throughout the game with a right hamstring strain, which he sustained in the regular-season finale against the St. Louis Rams. Earlier this season, McDonald missed a game with a left hamstring strain. McDonald, who typically plays every down, played just 44 of the 49ers' 80 defensive snaps. Backup lineman Ricky Jean Francois played 36 snaps. However, McDonald was on the field for the 49ers' final 12 defensive plays of the game."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch assesses what Jeff Fisher's hiring means for the Rams under owner Stan Kroenke. Miklasz: "Kroenke is financially committed. Kroenke edged out another billionaire, Miami owner Steve Ross, in the tense competition for Fisher. When Fisher's contract is finalized, he'll be among the NFL's highest-paid coaches with an annual salary that should average at least $7 million. Fisher was also granted a generous budget for hiring assistant coaches. Kroenke undoubtedly agreed to bankroll other football-related hires made by Fisher. Kroenke is doing more than paying a head coach; he's funding a new football operation. That's a major investment."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch updates where the Rams stand after hiring Fisher. On the general manager search: "Dawson may look like the front-runner because he has worked with Fisher in Tennessee. But he has less experience than most on the Rams' candidate list, including another Tennessee personnel department exec, Ruston Webster. The Rams have yet to interview Webster, although they have received permission to do so from Tennessee. The same holds true for Steve Keim of Arizona, Joey Clinkscales of the New York Jets, Brian Gaine of Miami and Tom Telesco of Indianapolis."

Also from Thomas: Brian Schottenheimer is among the candidates to become offensive coordinator for the Rams. Noted: I'll have more on this one later Monday morning.

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch polls Rams players for thoughts on Fisher. One theme: That Fisher's background as a player helps him understand the physical demands of the game.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic updates the Todd Haley situation in relation to the Cardinals. He also serves up a couple other coaching-related tidbits. Somers: "As far as I know, line coach Russ Grimm and tight ends coach Freddie Kitchens have not re-signed with the Cardinals. They have been offered contracts. Grimm worked with Jaguars coach Mike Mularkey in Pittsburgh, so maybe Jacksonville is a possible landing spot for him. But will the Jags be willing to spent the $1.5 million or so to hire Grimm? That's what he makes in Arizona. With Kitchens, word is Rams coach Jeff Fisher thinks Kitchens is an excellent coach. Kitchens name has also been tied to openings at Alabama, his alma mater." Noted: The potential for Grimm's departure would have been big news in Arizona a couple years ago. Does it still have that feel?

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com checks in with Cardinals running back Ryan Williams, who is rehabilitating from the knee injury he suffered as a rookie during the 2011 preseason. Williams: "No injury is going to stop me, unless one of my legs is (cut) off somewhere and I only have one leg. I am too self-motivated to be the best player I can be. I want my career to last 10 to 14 years. Ten is the least for me. I won't stop. I want my career to be here … but if something happens where it isn’t, all 31 other teams will have to stand in front of me and tell me no for me not to be a football player and even then, I’d probably have to hear it again. That’s how much football means to me."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle passes along thoughts from former Seahawks quarterback Jon Kitna, who is entering into retirement. Sounds like Kitna will do some coaching at the high school level in the Tacoma area. Kitna: "Football was great, but as you get to the end of your career you kind of realize that it's more than just football. It's relationships that you form and things like that. So I consider myself awfully, awfully blessed to have played 16 years in this league. ... There's a lot of things that, for me, I'm excited about doing after football, and that would be teaching and coaching and pouring into the lives of inner-city kids here in Tacoma. So I'm definitely looking forward to that. ... I'm really excited about the next phase of life for me and my family."

Brock Huard of 710ESNP Seattle says the San Francisco 49ers' success is legitimate and stands as a long-term threat for coach Pete Carroll, general manager John Schneider and the Seattle Seahawks. Huard: "Jim Harbaugh has had success at every turn. He is building something very special in San Francisco. For Pete Carroll and John Schneider, this is not going to be the woeful NFC West that Mike Holmgren had for a decade. This is going to be a brutal, black-and-blue division for a long time." Noted: The Seahawks have won four division titles since 1999 without exceeding nine victories. The have won two additional division titles during that time without exceeding 10 victories. Only once since 1985 have the Seahawks exceeded 10 victories in a season. That was in 2005, when the team went 13-3 on its way to the Super Bowl.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com compares the Seahawks' current struggles and those experienced during Holmgren's early years with the team. Farnsworth: "After Holmgren was hired in 1999, the Seahawks backed into the playoffs and an AFC West title in his first season. Then, Holmgren decided to remake the roster. Twenty-five games into his tenure (including playoffs), Holmgren had an 11-14 record and was struggling to find a quarterback from a group that included Jon Kitna, Brock Huard and Glenn Foley. Holmgren’s QB quandary remained unsettled even after he made a trade with the Green Bay Packers to acquire Matt Hasselbeck and signed Trent Dilfer as a free agent in 2001. An injured and ineffective Hasselbeck struggled through the 2001 season. Dilfer was named the starter in 2002, only to be injured twice." Noted: There's a tendency to recast unplanned events as planned ones when things work out. The fact that Seattle eventually succeeded under Holmgren doesn't mean all the early failures were necessary ones. Holmgren seemed to have turned the page on Hasselbeck, who might not have gotten another chance with the team had Dilfer avoided injuries. But because Hasselbeck succeeded ultimately, it's as though Holmgren and the rest of us knew it would happen all along. We did not know that.

Also from Farnsworth: The team has allowed only two second-half touchdowns all season, the lowest figure in the league through Week 8. The Ravens (three), Browns (four) and Lions (four) are next.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says quarterback Kevin Kolb feels like a "weenie" for being sidelined by a turf-toe injury. Kolb: "I remember Deion Sanders was the first one I have ever saw that had 'turf toe,' and I was thinking the same thing as a fan: 'What? Why is (he) out for two weeks with a turf toe?' Then you get one and realize it's a little more painful than it comes across as." Somers: "Turf toe involves sprained or torn ligaments in the metatarsophalangeal joint, which indicates why the injury goes by a much shorter name. Kolb also has a mid-foot sprain in other ligaments and a bone bruise. It is not a lisfranc injury, which is more serious. Kolb has to be able to plant and drive off the foot to get full power on his throws."

Also from Somers: Fullback Reagan Maui'a says an alcohol problem led to his suspension earlier in the season.

More from Somers: Beanie Wells is not yet practicing, but he's expected to play Sunday.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com profiles the team's young outside linebackers Sam Acho and O'Brien Schofield. The two have divergent personalities, something Schofield has fun with. Schofield: "Everybody says Sam is the brain guy, so I’m like, 'Damn, so then I’m stupid?' "

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams quarterback Sam Bradford is inching closer to returning from a high-ankle sprain. Sounds like Bradford will not be ready this week, however. Thomas: "The silver lining to the injury is that Bradford has been able to talk with offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels on game day, not just when the Rams' defense is on the field but also when the Rams' offense is out there. It has allowed Bradford to get a better feel for McDaniels -- why he calls certain things at certain times, and what he's seeing during the ebb and flow of a game."

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says the team has until early next week to activate receiver Mark Clayton from the physically unable to perform list or lose him for the season. An Achilles problem has stunted Clayton's return from a knee injury.

Also from Wagoner: the latest on Bradford, and a note about how cornerback Marquis Johnson played well in his return from injury.

More from Wagoner: an update on Robert Quinn's development.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' Dashon Goldson isn't happy about being wrongly penalized for what officials called an illegal blow to the head against Cleveland. Goldson: "I'm good. I knew it was clean . . . If it was a blow to the head, I would've had a $15,000 or $20,000 fine in my locker right now. But I got penalized. That could've cost us the game."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says 49ers defensive end Justin Smith missed practice on a veteran's courtesy, not because of an injury. Smith has started 162 games in a row.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat sees 49ers quarterback Alex Smith pick up traits from coach Jim Harbaugh. How thick is the 49ers' playbook each week? State secrets.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers should be able to secure the No. 2 seed in the NFC. Kawakami: "Because of their walloping defense, the 49ers should realistically aim for the No. 2 seed, and a first-round bye. And because the 49ers offense remains less than dynamic (though effective), they should really want that No. 2 seed, so they can avoid the prospect of having to play a first-round shootout against a team such as Philadelphia or Atlanta. But to do that, the 49ers have to beat out the winners of the NFC East and South divisions -- it looks like a 12-4 record is the most realistic way for the 49ers to do that." Noted: The 49ers' offense has outscored the Falcons' offense 167-116 this season. The Eagles' offense has 173 points. More on this in a bit.

Cool note from ESPN Stats & Information: First-year San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is the last quarterback other than Peyton Manning to start a regular-season game for the Indianapolis Colts.

That will change when Kerry Collins replaces an injured Manning in the Colts' lineup for Week 1.

The first preseason game I covered as an NFL beat reporter featured Manning making his first start against the Seattle Seahawks in the Kingdome. His very first pass found Marvin Harrison for a 49-yard touchdown. Preseason games are generally without much meaning, but could there have been a more fitting beginning for Manning?

For a fuller appreciation of Manning's durability and consistency in starting 227 consecutive games, I went through Pro Football Reference counting how many quarterbacks had started for current NFC West teams since Manning made his regular-season debut. There have been 48. That figure includes 14 for the St. Louis Rams, 13 for the 49ers, 11 for the Arizona Cardinals and 10 for the Seahawks.

A few notes on the 48 players to start for current NFC West teams since 1998:

• There have been two Brocks (Berlin, Huard), two Charlies (Frye, Whitehurst), two named Chris (Chandler, Weinke), two Jeffs (Plummer, Martin), three Johns (Friesz, Navarre, Skelton), one Jon (Kitna), two Matts (Hasselbeck, Leinart), two Shauns (Hill, King), three Steves (Young, Bono, Stenstrom) and two Trents (Dilfer, Green).
• Two, Young and Warren Moon, have been enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame since Manning's streak began.
• Dilfer and Warner started for more than one current NFC West team since Manning's streak began. Warner started 57 games for Arizona and 50 for St. Louis. Dilfer started 12 for Seattle and six for San Francisco.
• Hasselbeck has the most total starts for current NFC West teams with 131, followed by Marc Bulger (95 for St. Louis), Jake Plummer (73 for the Cardinals) and Jeff Garcia (71 for the 49ers).
• Smith -- Alex, not Troy -- owns the most starts among current NFC West players with 50, all for San Francisco.
• Eight of the 48 were one-and-done as starters: Berlin, Scott Covington, Ty Detmer, Glenn Foley, Friesz, Frye, Navarre and Weinke. Nineteen have made at least 10 starts.

The NFC West will have two starters new to the division in Week 1: Tarvaris Jackson and Kevin Kolb.

The chart shows start totals by team for the 48. The NFC West changed membership with realignment in 2002. I'm going back to 1998 for the four teams currently in the division.

The late Don Smith never claimed his passer-rating formula was perfect.

Quite the opposite, in fact.

"Some people call it a quarterback rating system, but that really is not what it is," Smith told me during a 2002 interview. "It’s simply a passing statistic."

I've actually defended Smith's rating system because the quarterbacks with the highest ratings -- Tom Brady, Philip Rivers and Aaron Rodgers led the way last season -- usually are the best quarterbacks. But there's so much more to quarterbacking than passing stats for touchdowns, interceptions, attempts, completions and yardage.

Game situations should count for something, and now they do.

With input from football people, including ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer, our statistical analysts have developed a 100-point ratings scale for quarterbacks taking into account advanced stats, game situations and relevant non-passing stats, including fumbles and sacks, to evaluate quarterbacks far more thoroughly. The methodology is complex -- one of the formula's key algorithms spans some 10,000 lines -- but the resulting "Total Quarterback Rating" (QBR for short) beats the old passer rating in every conceivable fashion. The ratings scale will debut this season.

I've been bugging the Stats & Information team for a sneak peak ever since learning former NBA statistical analyst Dean Oliver had joined our production analytics unit and was playing a prominent role in QBR development. Oliver, a Caltech grad with a Ph.D. in statistical applications, revolutionized how NBA teams use advanced statistics. Menlo College professor Ben Alamar, who has consulted with the San Francisco 49ers, is also part of the team.

Our stats team has been using game video to track stats relating to pressure, personnel, formation, game situation and more since 2008. The QBR stat represents a significant leap in harnessing those statistics for something more.

The old formula Smith created treated stats the same regardless of circumstance. A touchdown pass thrown against a prevent defense during a blowout defeat equals one thrown against pressure to win the game. A 5-yard completion on third-and-4 counts the same as a 5-yarder on third-and-15. A critical quarterback scramble, sack or fumble doesn't even factor.

"There is no way to statistically say how effective a guy is under fire," Smith lamented during our 2002 conversation. "None of that can be put into something like this."

Now it can, along with a whole lot more.

The QBR formula takes into account down, distance, field position, time remaining, rushing, passing sacks, fumbles, interceptions, how far each pass travels in the air, from where on the field the ball was thrown, yards after the catch, dropped balls, defensed balls, whether the quarterback was hit, whether he threw away the ball to avoid a sack, whether the pass was thrown accurately, etc. Each play carries "clutch weight" based on its importance to game outcome, as determined by analyzing those 60,000 plays since 2008. The stats adjust for quarterbacks facing an unusually high number of these situations.

"If it is a running clock late in the game, maybe you only get a few yards here or there, that is the right football play to make," Jeff Bennett, senior director of ESPN's production analytics team, said Sunday. "We spent a month learning about ratings to make sure quarterbacks couldn’t game the system, so they're not afraid to throw that deep pass at the end of the first half and risk an interception."

I've seen an outline for the rating system breaking down 2010 quarterbacks into six general categories, from top tier to poor. Precise rating numbers were not yet available. The quarterbacks under consideration broke down as follows:

• Top tier: Brady, Peyton Manning, Matt Ryan, Michael Vick, Rodgers and Drew Brees.
• Well above average: Josh Freeman, Eli Manning and Philip Rivers.
• Above average: Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo, Joe Flacco, Matt Schaub, David Garrard and Kerry Collins.
• Around average: Matt Cassel, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer, Colt McCoy, Kyle Orton and Jon Kitna.
• Below average: Shaun Hill, Jason Campbell, Jay Cutler, Matt Hasselbeck, Chad Henne, Donovan McNabb, Sam Bradford and Alex Smith.
• Poor: Derek Anderson, Brett Favre and Jimmy Clausen.

ESPN plans to enlist several quarterbacks when introducing the stat during an hour-long "SportsCenter" special Friday at 8 p.m. ET. We'll be referencing the stat on the blogs and elsewhere. Bennett said he's allocating enough manpower to produce ratings on game days, a huge help for those of us analyzing player performances shortly after games.

"We want to reward a good football play," Bennett said.

The Seattle Seahawks will not ask Tarvaris Jackson to replace what Matt Hasselbeck has represented for the past 10 seasons.

That wouldn't be very logical.

If the Seahawks are smart, they'll ask Jackson to compete with Charlie Whitehurst (and others) as the organization searches for its next long-term starter behind center. And that will be the point: searching for the next quarterback.

Jackson, who reached agreement with the Seahawks on a contract that cannot be signed before Friday under league rules, may or may not succeed in the role. He's one option for a team that remains early in the process. Seattle could still draft or otherwise acquire its future quarterback in 2012, making Jackson only one part of this story.

The bottom line, of course, is that Hasselbeck should have finished his career in Seattle. I think he would have finished his career in Seattle if Mike Holmgren, the man responsible for acquiring Hasselbeck in 2001, had remained in a leadership position with the team. Holmgren is long gone, however, and the current leadership team is doing what Holmgren sought to do when he arrived in Seattle back in 1999: move on with an eye toward the horizon.

Back then, Holmgren turned his back on an aging Warren Moon even though Moon had tossed 36 touchdown passes with 24 interceptions while starting 24 of the 25 games he played in Dennis Erickson's final two seasons as head coach. Moon was 42 years old at the time and would start only one more regular-season game, with Kansas City.

Hasselbeck turns 36 in September and should have more of a future than Moon had way back when, but then as now, Seattle didn't have an obviously superior alternative lined up. The team simply wanted to move on.

Seattle did offer a contract to Hasselbeck, but the quarterback wanted a stronger commitment -- something that would give him more security beyond the 2011 season. It's questionable whether Hasselbeck will command such a deal elsewhere. He could wind up taking an underwhelming deal from another team. But if the Seahawks felt more strongly about wanting him back, they could have found a way.

Getting a deal done with Jackson days before the signing period opens tells us Seattle's interest was lukewarm. It's unlikely the rest of the league was lining up for a shot at Jackson.

Hasselbeck will leave Seattle as the arguably the best quarterback in franchise history. Dave Krieg matched Hasselbeck in Pro Bowls and won a higher percentage of his starts, but Hasselbeck helped lead Seattle to its first Super Bowl. Fans will remember him for playing a leading role in the most successful run in franchise history. He's a lock for the team's Ring of Honor and a Seattle sports icon.

Those things didn't guarantee him the starting job after a rough three-year run, of course. Hasselbeck started 35 games over the past three seasons. During that span, the team was 12-23 (.343) when he started and 4-9 (.308) without him in the lineup. He's one of 19 quarterbacks with at least 35 starts over the past three seasons. The other 18 had higher passer ratings during that stretch.

The Seahawks fell apart around Hasselbeck over the last three seasons, a big reason for his struggles. They went into full rebuilding mode with a new coach and new general manager last year. And yet they never took an extended look at Whitehurst even while Hasselbeck struggled through injuries and behind a constantly reconfigured offensive line. I thought that was the Seahawks' biggest failing last season, mitigated by the team's surprise showing in the playoffs and Hasselbeck's stellar performance in the wild-card round.

ESPN analyst Tim Hasselbeck, speaking about his brother on 710ESPN Seattle, said he expected the Seahawks to take criticism until the next quarterback proved to be a superior alternative.

"Strictly as an analyst, it's hard to say that they improved at the quarterback position by deciding to go in a different direction [with Jackson]," Tim Hasselbeck said. "If they signed Kevin Kolb, we are probably having a different conversation. But that is how I see it and how I think a lot of people will see it."

No doubt. Tim Hasselbeck said his brother appreciated hearing directly from coach Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider when the team told Matt Hasselbeck it was moving in another direction. He also said his brother was disappointed.

"The way it went down was, I had been talking with him throughout the day, trying to get some information to see what was happening," Tim Hasselbeck said. "Matthew has been talking to me about teams that had been contacting him throughout the day. There were a lot of teams. The Seahawks weren't one of those teams. A little before Danny O'Neil had reported it, the Seahawks, in a very classy move, Pete Carroll and John Schneider called Matthew and said, 'Listen, we appreciate what you have done for the organization, but we are going to go in a different direction and signing another quarterback.' "

Jackson is that quarterback, Tim Hasselbeck said, affirming John Clayton's expectations and a report from Dave Mahler of Sports Radio 950 KJR AM. I have since confirmed the Seahawks' agreement with Jackson through a source who said the former Minnesota Vikings quarterback was expected to sign with Seattle on Friday.

Jackson becomes what Jon Kitna was to Moon years ago -- one of the next guys, but not necessarily The Guy.

Jesse Reynolds, an Arizona Cardinals fan deadlocked in a debate over quarterbacks, turned this way for a resolution.

"I have searched everywhere but haven't been able to find the data that supports (or contradicts) my argument that the Cardinals were one of the most-blitzed teams last year because no one feared our quarterbacks," Jesse wrote to me via Facebook. "Could you help find the numbers? I'm sure other NFC West teams' fans would love to know their numbers, too."

Blitz numbers usually tell us which defenses were more aggressive. But if we flipped our perspective, as Jesse suggested, we could find out which quarterbacks commanded the most respect, at least by this measure. Where to turn? Keith Hawkins of ESPN Stats & Information put me in touch with colleague Jason Starrett, who came through with numbers for all 32 teams and for 40 individual quarterbacks.

Thanks to Jason, Jesse is going to win his argument by a knockout.

Opponents blitzed the Cardnials 37.2 percent of the time overall, the sixth-highest percentage in the league. Oakland (39.8), St. Louis (39.4), Chicago (38.4), Carolina (37.5) and Baltimore (37.5) faced blitzes more frequently.

We defined blitzes as plays when defenses rushed five or more defenders.

As the first chart shows, Max Hall, John Skelton, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford -- all rookies playing for losing teams season -- faced blitzes most frequently.

As the second chart shows, five highly experienced quarterbacks -- Peyton Manning, Jake Delhomme, Drew Brees, Matt Hasselbeck and Tom Brady -- faced blitzes least frequently.

Hall and Skelton combined to start seven games for Arizona. Teammate Derek Anderson ranked 17th among the 40 players listed in terms of being blitzed most frequently.

In looking at the charts, a few names showed up in surprising places.

The San Francisco 49ers' Smith ranked higher than expected on the list of quarterbacks facing blitzes less frequently. Was he really "commanding respect" the way Brady commanded respect? Of course not. Does he really qualify as a wily veteran such as Delhomme or Hasselbeck? The answer is "no" on that front as well.

Likewise, quarterbacks such as Hill and Henne wouldn't provide a strong deterrent to blitzing, would they? Why would Green Bay's Rodgers face blitzes more frequently than them?

Other variables come into play. Some teams blitz more frequently than others regardless of opponent. A quarterback facing these teams more frequently would see his numbers shift accordingly.

How well an offensive line picks up blitzes could influence how a defense attacks. How well receivers adjust to blitzes could matter, as could the confidence a defensive coordinator has in his secondary during a given week. A quarterback's running ability and ability to read defenses accurately could factor.

Overall, I'd say it's telling to see the Cardinals' Hall and Skelton blitzed so frequently, particularly relative to the numbers for the more experienced Anderson. It's also telling to see some highly experienced quarterbacks blitzed so infrequently by comparison.

Following up an earlier item, I've put together charts showing where NFL quarterbacks rate when throwing against eight-man boxes and loaded boxes (those where potential rushers outnumber blockers).

The first chart ranks the 12 quarterbacks with at least 20 attempts throwing against eight-man boxes. Most of these quarterbacks play for teams with top running backs.

Thanks to Allison Loucks of ESPN Stats & Information for providing the numbers.


The second chart shows where quarterbacks rate against loaded boxes (more potential rushers than blockers).

I expanded this chart to include quarterbacks with at least 15 attempts. This allowed the Arizona Cardinals' Derek Anderson and Max Hall to qualify for inclusion.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Seeing an Oakland Raiders fan sitting beside a Seattle Seahawks fan during my flight to Oakland -- there were no injuries, only some obligatory smack talk -- brought back memories from old AFC West battles between the teams.

Seattle's game at Oakland in Week 8 is the team's first road game against the Raiders since the 2002 opener, the Seahawks first game back in the AFC West. Oakland won that game, 31-17, during a Super Bowl season featuring MVP quarterback Rich Gannon throwing to Tim Brown and Jerry Rice. The Raiders finished that game with a 423-186 yardage advantage as Seattle committed 13 penalties and converted only once in 11 third-down chances.

Matt Hasselbeck is the only Seahawks player left from that 2002 game. Then as now, the Seahawks were playing without their starting left tackle. Floyd Womack started at left tackle in that game while Walter Jones held out for a new contract. This time, Tyler Polumbus starts at left tackle for Seattle while Russell Okung recovers from an ankle injury.

Seattle last won at Oakland when Jon Kitna overcame a rough start and three Jeff George touchdown passes for a 22-21 victory on Dec. 14, 1997.

The Raiders are favored Sunday. If you haven't graced us with your prediction for this and other NFC West games, please do so right here.

RENTON, Wash. -- A peek inside the Seattle Seahawks' locker room for the first full-squad media session since roster cuts:

• Visions of 2000 here. Back then, quarterback Jon Kitna stood in the locker room at the team's old facility and surveyed a locker room that had changed dramatically under Mike Holmgren's command. I figured Kitna didn't fit into the team's long-term plans and Kitna had to know it, too. Matt Hasselbeck is the holdover quarterback now. His contract expires after the season. The locker room feels nothing like it did when the Seahawks were good and players actually knew each other well. It looks nothing like it did last season or even last week. This is a team in transition, just as it was a decade ago.
• Stacy Andrews looks the part. No wonder the Seahawks think the newly acquired offensive lineman can help at right tackle. Andrews is the most physically impressive offensive lineman on the team. He's huge and he's not fat. Seattle generally has not had offensive linemen in that physical mold. Can Andrews play? The team will find out. Andrews figures to get on the field sooner rather than later.
• Hey, that's Deion Branch. Speculation about Branch's job security has made headlines for many months. It's pretty ironic that he would be one of a league-low 26 players remaining from Week 17 last season (counting players who were on injured reserve) after so much speculation.
• Leroy Hill is accounted for. The suspended linebacker cannot play in Week 1, but he's allowed to be around the facility during his suspension. He was in the locker room with teammates, but he cannot practice.
• Lounging around. Access changes allowed reporters into the locker room before practice as opposed to after practice. Some players used the opportunity to rest up for practice. That was Lofa Tatupu kicking back in a lounge chair with his hat pulled down.
• Catching up with Curry. Second-year linebacker Aaron Curry could spend more time playing over opposing tight ends this season. In Week 1, that could mean additional matchups against the San Francisco 49ers' Vernon Davis. Curry and Davis have been matching up since college. Curry said Davis has become a much smarter player since their early matchups. More from Curry in a bit.
• Surreal seeing Robinson. Former 49ers special-teams captain Michael Robinson held court with a large gathering of reporters as he prepared to face his former team. It's strange seeing him in Seattle's locker room.

Time to hit the road. Heading back to NFC West headquarters.

The Seattle-Detroit pipeline keeps pumping, albeit with less-than-spectacular results this time.

The latest move between the teams is particularly chuckle-worthy (surely there must be some reason these teams keep hooking up, but I can't find any hard ties). The Lions recently won a waiver-claim battle with Seattle over former Denver Broncos offensive lineman Tyler Polumbus. The Lions held Polumbus for a few days, then traded him to the Seahawks, presumably for something of minimal or even conditional value. Polumbus and Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates were with the Broncos in 2008.

The Seahawks and Lions have made multiple trades and shared multiple players spanning multiple coaching staffs and front offices in recent years.

Among the players to spend time on both rosters: Polumbus, Nate Burleson, Will Heller, Rob Sims, Lawrence Jackson, Maurice Morris, Julian Peterson, Trevor Canfield, Marquand Manuel, Kole Heckendorf, Kevin Hobbs, Logan Payne, Chuck Darby, Keary Colbert, Billy McMullen, Travis Fisher, Cory Redding, John Owens, Jon Kitna (OK, not recently in Seattle), Joel Filani, T.J. Duckett, Kevin Kasper, Ike Charlton (again, not recently in Seattle), Etric Pruitt, Mike Williams and probably a few others.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks should not acquire Brandon Marshall from the Broncos. Boling: "Aside from being a distracting malcontent with the Denver Broncos, Marshall’s history of arrests includes disorderly conduct, drunken driving, and, most alarmingly, a number of incidents of alleged domestic violence … with two different women. I don’t care how talented this guy is, or how badly the Seahawks need a receiver, or how many of the charges against him have been dropped, this much involvement with domestic-violence charges should be an absolute non-negotiable deal-breaker from the start." I'm guessing the Seahawks' division opponents also hope Seattle doesn't add Marshall, albeit for reasons limited only to on-field production.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Seattle traded more than a backup quarterback when dealing Seneca Wallace to the Browns. Farnsworth: "A gifted athlete, Wallace also was used sparingly last season as a situational runner, receiver and passer in a version of the Wildcat offense that was dubbed the SeneCat. He completed 78 of 120 passes for 700 yards, with three touchdowns and two interceptions; had 16 carries for 2 yards; and caught two passes for 29 yards."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times recalls Wallace's finest moment in Seattle. O'Neil: "As a Seahawk, Wallace will best be remembered for the 28-yard pass he caught at Qwest Field early in the NFC Championship Game four years ago. As a Brown, Wallace will have the chance to be part of a rebuilding process under (Mike) Holmgren, the coach who oversaw his development with the Seahawks."

Also from O'Neil: a partial list of NFL trades involving restricted and franchise free agents, including the one that sent Joey Galloway to the Cowboys for draft choices that became Shaun Alexander and Koren Robinson.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says the Seahawks could go in any number of directions at quarterback after trading Wallace. Johns: "It surely increases the likelihood of the team drafting a quarterback at some point this April. The Seahawks have lined up an individual workout with Florida quarterback Tim Tebow, but they'll have numerous options there or could pursue a veteran backup in free agency. Chad Pennington just re-signed with Miami, so the list of potentially available veterans include the likes of Kyle Boller, Rex Grossman, Jon Kitna and Chris Redman."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Kerry Rhodes is looking forward to a fresh start with the Cardinals. Meanwhile, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt downplayed concerns about the talent drain in Arizona so far this offseason. Whisenhunt: "This off-season or this free-agency period started just this past week. We still have five months ahead of us before we ever take the field in Flagstaff (for training camp). There are a lot of things that can happen between now and then. I think it's tough to make judgments this early on the preseason."

Also from Somers: Cardinals secondary coach Donnie Henderson shares the thoughts he had when the Jets drafted Rhodes. Henderson: "I can remember him being on the board, and I thought at one time he had the potential to be a first or second-round draft pick. We were excited to get him (in the fourth round). He started as a rookie in our scheme, either at the free or the strong. They were interchangeable at that time. We utilized him in different positions, brought him off the corner a lot blitzing, let him cover the tight end a lot, the third receiver sometimes, the back."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com passes along reports suggesting the Cardinals could visit with Rex Hadnot, Nick Eason and Wade Smith, plus Joey Porter and Larry Foote.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams signed defensive tackle Fred Robbins while two of their free-agent defensive ends, Leonard Little and James Hall, planned to visit the Saints. Thomas: "Little arrives in New Orleans on Wednesday and departs Thursday morning. Hall arrives Thursday, so he and Little may just miss each other in Louisiana. The Saints released defensive end Charles Grant, so they have at least one opening on their line. Joe Vitt, the Saints' linebackers coach and assistant head coach, knows Little well from spending the 2004 and '05 seasons on Mike Martz's staff in St. Louis."

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat says Robbins' connections with Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo played a significant role in the veteran defensive tackle's decision to sign with St. Louis. Robbins: "Throughout my career I played both nose tackle and three-technique. I played both the left side and right side and I think that’s the different options I can bring to the table. That’s what helped us when he was with us in New York. We had guys that could play multiple positions."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Shaun Hill's agent took the high road when asked about the 49ers' decision to sign David Carr. Barrows: "The truth is that Hill isn't holding any cards. He's under contract at a modest figure -- $1.5 million -- and the 49ers are under no obligation to release him. What likely will happen is that the 49ers will see if Hill has any trade value before letting him get to the open market. The 49ers have not said what they plan to do with Hill, perhaps because they have not officially signed David Carr yet. He's only agreed to terms on a two-year deal."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Hill plans to attend the 49ers' offseason conditioning program when it begins next week.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' pursuit of David Carr shows the team wasn't satisfied with its situation at quarterback.

Ray Ratto of the San Francisco Chronicle wasn't impressed when the 49ers added Carr. Ratto: "After a day of seemingly meaningless jousting, the 49ers and Carr agreed to a deal Sunday that dooms Shaun Hill but in no other way makes San Francisco materially better. Now that he's signed, Carr becomes nothing more than the new Hill, only Alex Smith is an easier hurdle to clear than Eli Manning was for Carr last year." I think perceptions would be significantly different if, all else being equal, Hill were once a No. 1 overall draft choice and Carr had entered the league as an undrafted free agent. Carr's failures are defined by expectations for him and not so much by how he has actually played.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch hails Torry Holt's professionalism after the Rams released the former Pro Bowl receiver. Holt often worked harder and more diligently than less established players.

The National Football Post says the Rams and Titans talked about a trade involving Holt, but the receiver wasn't interested in the suggested contract adjustment.

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com, in addressing Torry Holt's release from the Rams, says there's no room for sentimentality in the NFL.

Also from Gordon: The Rams' recent moves suggest the team is getting back to the basics of blocking and tackling.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch considers it "strange" that the Rams haven't re-signed versatile backup offensive lineman Adam Goldberg, who visited the Browns.

Turf Show Times' Tackle Box thinks the Rams need upgrades at cornerback even after re-signing Ron Bartell. Getting more from Tye Hill would certainly help.

Niners general manager Scot McCloughan says drafting a quarterback 10th overall "sure is" an option for the 49ers even with Alex Smith still on the roster. Not that a GM would want to publicly rule out any options in the draft.

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider says the 49ers might be more of a passing team than Mike Singletary's image suggests. I expect this to become a theme for the 49ers and the Seahawks at various points this offseason. Everyone assumes new Seattle coordinator Greg Knapp is going to run most of the time, but that will not always be true. Both teams want balance.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat breaks down the 49ers' scouting department while noting that the team relied on its area scout -- not McCloughan -- to monitor Andre Smith's recent workout.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee ponders a mock draft featuring Tennessee defensive end Robert Ayers as the 49ers' potential choice at No. 10.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com checks in with Jason Wright during the former Browns running back's visit to Cardinals headquarters. Wright would help on special teams in addition to providing depth at the position. Urban: "Again, if it happens, it's not a sexy signing. But sometimes the best signings are the ones no one notices."

Also from Urban: Tight end Stephen Spach says he expects to return from knee surgery at some point during training camp.

Revenge of the Birds' Hawkwind says Browns fans weren't always high on Wright.

Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says the Seahawks wanted to re-sign Floyd Womack, but probably as a backup. Womack went to the Browns instead. The Browns' line coach, George Warhop, was with Mike Nolan in San Francisco, so he might be familiar with Womack from playing against the Seahawks.

Also from Farnsworth: He confirms reports that Julian Peterson refused a pay cut and could become a salary-cap casualty.

John Morgan of Field Gulls compares Matt Hasselbeck's numbers to Jon Kitna's numbers over the 2005 through 2008 seasons. They are similar.

Chris Sullivan of Seahawk Addicts says he wouldn't see much value in the Seahawks swinging a trade for Lions defensive lineman Cory Redding. I don't think teams can have enough starting-caliber defensive linemen.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

The Seattle Seahawks never thought they would long for the days -- OK, the day -- when Glenn Foley was throwing passes to Fabien Bownes, Derrick Mayes, Sean Dawkins, Mike Pritchard and Itula Mili.

This was Sept. 19, 1999. Mike Holmgren was in his second game as the Seahawks' head coach. An injury had sidelined Jon Kitna, the quarterback Holmgren inherited from Dennis Erickson. Holmgren was only beginning to establish his offense in the Northwest.

Foley would be making his only start for Seattle as the Seahawks faced the Bears at Soldier Field. The journeyman quarterback completed 18 of 30 passes for 283 yards and two touchdowns, including the winning 49-yard strike to Bownes, a special-teams player who never started an NFL game. Seattle won the game, 14-13.

Nearly a decade later, Holmgren's offensive system is far more established. Injuries have again knocked out his preferred quarterback, but backup Seneca Wallace has extensive experience in the offense. The receivers aren't the ones Holmgren expected to have, but Bownes wasn't exactly a prominent member of the rotation back then.

In that context, it's puzzling how the Seattle passing game can remain so ineffective week after week. We should expect it to struggle given the injuries. But we should also see signs of improvement as Holmgren and the players work through their problems, particularly given the relative strength of the running game. Why aren't we seeing improvement?

(Read full post)

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Good action in the mailbag lately. I'll dip in for this initial offering, then come back for more.

Dan from Seattle writes: While coach Holmgren has been stating there are going to be changes, and after seeing the poor performance from the defense this past Sunday, what do you think needs to be done to shore up the d? Is John Marshall on the way out after this year? Thanks, Dan

Mike Sando: Staff changes were possible in 2009 even before the recent struggles. I expect Jim Mora to favor a more aggressive approach, and I won't be surprised if he makes additional changes to the staff. That's what new head coaches tend to do.

As for shoring up the defense, well, the best players are already playing. This is not an aging defense for the most part. The coaches have few choices personnel-wise.

The struggles might force the Seahawks to re-evaluate their talent on that side of the ball. They will probably part with Rocky Bernard in free agency. They miss a healthy Marcus Tubbs. I also think we're not seeing Lofa Tatupu at his best on a consistent basis. Whether it's injuries or something else, that needs to change.

(Read full post)