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Filippo from Windsor, Canada, thinks Alex Smith, not Kyle Williams, was the 49ers' biggest problem in the NFC Championship Game. He wondered whether the team could trade for Peyton Manning this offseason.

Mike Sando: There will almost certainly be no trade for Manning. The Colts could not trade Manning without first paying a $28 million bonus to him. Failing to pay that bonus by March 8 would make Manning a free agent when the trading period opened five days later.

My early take on Manning was that the Colts would keep him as long as he were healthy. Sweeping changes in the organization have created the impression Indianapolis anticipates making a clean break at the position. Indianapolis appears increasingly likely to part with Manning unless the sides adjust that bonus to buy time. Manning will not want to do that, most likely, if he knows the Colts are going to draft his replacement, Andrew Luck.

This has become a perfect storm. Manning's injury was worse than anticipated. He missed the entire season, longer than expected. The Colts were worse than anticipated without him, so bad they secured the top pick. Manning's health did not improve as anticipated. One of the brightest college quarterback prospects in years happened to be available in the next draft. And then Manning had that $28 million lever in his contract.

Those are all extreme circumstances. Throw them together and it's tough to envision the Colts keeping Manning. That $28 million price tag is too high amid questions about Manning's health.

We're in a holding pattern until the March 8 bonus date. Perceptions could change by then. If Manning does become a free agent, his health will remain the key variable. It's too early to know where he might land.

I suspect the 49ers will re-sign Alex Smith before or around the March 13 start to free agency. Arizona has until March 17 to pay a $7 million bonus to keep Kevin Kolb. The gap could give the Cardinals a chance to at least consider Manning. Lots of other teams would have interest as well.

Manning's recent comments to Bob Kravitz were illuminating. Manning said he felt as though sweeping changes in the Colts' organization had left people there "walking on eggshells." But Manning is the one with reason to feel that way. He's no longer in control of his immediate future.

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Dan from Portland asks why few people seem to be connecting Manning to the Seattle Seahawks. He thinks Kolb should get another chance in Arizona. He thinks Alex Smith should be the starter in San Francisco. And he sees Sam Bradford as the quarterback in St. Louis. Doesn't that leave Seattle as the most logical destination among NFC West teams?

Mike Sando: Yeah, I've wondered why Arizona has been mentioned in so many of the reports. It is possible people close to Manning are pushing Arizona as a possible destination because, one, Manning might see that as an appealing place to land and, two, the Cardinals do have that $7 million decision to make on Kolb. I see no reason for the Cardinals to push the Manning angle in the news, unless they hope to pressure Kolb into an adjusted contract.

I agree with you on Seattle making the most sense from a quarterback-need perspective. The fit from a system standpoint would take some adjusting. I also wonder how much the Seahawks would want to commit financially to such a high-profile player with clear health concerns. Would they see this as a risky two-year rental, or as a chance to become a championship contender quickly?

Manning's health is the No. 1 variable. If he hits the market in good physical condition, lots of teams will be interested.

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Jeremiah from Germany thinks 49ers fans should be clamoring for Dwayne Bowe, not Marques Colston, in free agency this offseason.

Mike Sando: It's tough for me to envision the Chiefs letting Bowe get away. Smart teams re-sign their best players, especially when those players are young. I would also favor Bowe over Colston, all else being equal. But I also think the 49ers would be more likely to address the position in the draft and with a lower-priced free agent. That is how they believe in putting their team together. They have been averse to overpaying for players other teams have let hit the market. That was the case last offseason when the 49ers showed no interest in Nnamdi Asomugha and other top free agents.

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Scott from Epsom, N.H., thinks I've failed to pay the New York Giants their proper respects and have instead sought to diminish their victory by branding them as concussion-inflicting cheaters. "Grow up," he writes. "It's a game."

Mike Sando: The stories about the Giants trying to inflict a concussion upon Kyle Williams originated in the Newark Star-Ledger and New York Magazine. I simply linked to them, which was pretty much a no-brainer from an NFC West perspective. These were direct quotes from Giants players speaking on the record in well-established publications.

On the game itself, the 49ers blew a prime opportunity to reach the Super Bowl, giving up 10 points on uncharacteristic special-teams turnovers. That was my focus from a 49ers/NFC West standpoint coming out of the game. There's no shortage of favorable Giants coverage out there. I just thought the 49ers did more to lose the game than their opponent did to win it. This being the NFC West blog, the 49ers were going to be my focus.

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Adam from El Paso noticed that the last quarterbacks drafted in first rounds tend to struggle. He pointed to Patrick Ramsey (2002), Rex Grossman (2003), J.P. Losman (2004), Jason Campbell (2005), Jay Cutler (2006) and Brady Quinn (2007) as examples. He pointed to Joe Flacco (2008) and possibly Cutler as exceptions, but wondered if there was something to it.

Mike Sando: Interesting observation. There is nothing dooming these players. Overall, though, the quarterbacks with the most obvious skills tend to get drafted earlier. If you've reached the late first round and are thinking about a quarterback, you're probably gambling more than teams selecting them earlier. Perhaps you're more apt to be reaching for a prospect because you need one and fear missing out.

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Joe from Phoenix sees Jeff Fisher delivering credible coordinators and asks whether we should expect him to land top free agents as well. He points to Cortland Finnegan as a possibility and wants to know if there are others with ties to Fisher or the current Rams coordinators.

Mike Sando: Yes, we should expect the Rams to have interest in free-agent players Fisher and his coordinators coached in the past. Finnegan is one of them.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer spent the last six seasons with New York, but the Jets do not have many potential offensive free agents of note. The list includes quarterback Mark Brunell, receiver Plaxico Burress, tight end Matthew Mulligan, quarterback Kevin O'Connell, running back LaDainian Tomlinson and tackle Robert Turner.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams spent the last three seasons with New Orleans.

The Saints' potential defensive free agents include linebacker Jonathan Casillas, defensive end Jeff Charleston, linebacker Jo-Lonn Dunbar, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, linebacker Ramon Humber, defensive end Turk McBride, cornerback Tracy Porter, defensive tackle Shaun Rogers and cornerback Leigh Torrance.

Williams was also with 49ers cornerback Carlos Rogers, another potential free agent, years ago in Washington.

Fisher's roots as head coach in Tennessee provide additional connections. The Titans' potential free agents include snapper Ken Amato, safety Jordan Babineaux, linebacker Patrick Bailey, defensive end Dave Ball, Finnegan, safety Michael Griffin, running back Ahmard Hall, receiver Lavelle Hawkins, defensive end William Hayes, safety Chris Hope, defensive end/tackle Jason Jones, tackle Mike Otto, guard Jake Scott, linebacker Tim Shaw and safety Anthony Smith.

We've gone from wondering whether Arizona would win another game to having one NFC West chat participant asking whether the Cardinals might suffer a letdown against Cleveland.

The Browns-Cardinals game could become a Backup Bowl after both teams' starting quarterbacks suffered concussions in Week 14.

Thankfully, we had much more to discuss. A few notes:

Jordan from Boise thinks the St. Louis Rams' coaches have made too many mistakes of game management and too few effective in-game adjustments to avoid a coaching change.

Mike Sando: Changes are likely. Is there enough evidence for Stan Kroenke to know for sure he has the right head coach and general manager? I doubt it. If Steve Spagnuolo were watching the current Rams as an assistant for another team, he would be right if he thought, "Hey, I realize they've had some bad breaks, but it's been three years. The record is what it is. Give someone else a try." And it would be very hard to argue with that thinking.

9er Fan East asks whether a poor showing from Alex Smith in the playoffs could lead the team to move forward with Colin Kaepernick next season.

Mike Sando: I see Alex Smith returning. He should return. He fits well with the team and would, at the very least, serve as a good bridge quarterback. I've been thinking about how quickly perceptions change. The 49ers have lost two of three. If they were to lose a couple more and then lose in the wild-card round with Smith playing poorly, then it's pretty easy for the team to consider other options at the position. But all parties must know San Francisco is the best fit for Alex Smith, whether or not Smith projects as a starter.

Amro from Arizona thinks defensive improvement is about all the Cardinals will have to show for this season, with the quarterback situation remaining unresolved.

Mike Sando: Beanie Wells made strides. Daryn Colledge was a good pickup. The run blocking was pretty good overall. Those would be some positive things to take away from this season. I'm with you on the QB front. They probably have to pay the $7 million bonus to Kolb in March, get him up to speed during the offseason and give him the best possible chance to succeed in 2012. They do not know enough right now, most likely.

James from Seattle questions whether using an early draft choice for a pass-rushing defensive end would make sense for the Seattle Seahawks. He suggests a pass-rushing linebacker to replace Leroy Hill might work better because a defensive end would take away plyaing time from Red Bryant.

Mike Sando: I remember when Leroy Hill was going to be a pass-rush force at one point. Going young on defense seemed to make it tougher for the Seahawks to dial up some of the DB pressures that worked well with Lawyer Milloy and Jordan Babineaux around. Seattle needs to improve in that area. Red Bryant has played about 65 percent of the snaps. I think this team could justify using a high pick on a pass-rushing defensive end type. They would have insurance for Chris Clemons and a possible replacement for him, plus someone to pair with him on passing downs.

On Kolb, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic gets the feeling John Skelton will start Sunday even though Kolb is doing more in practice. Kolb has attempted 26 passes in games over the past six weeks.

Well, this will stir up some dust.

Scouts Inc.'s 2011 season projections, available to Insider subscribers, call for the St. Louis Rams to win the NFC West with a 9-7 record.

I'll run through their projections, revisit mine and single out two aspects of the Scouts Inc. analysis, one I like ("Amen, Scouts Inc.") and one I think needs clarification (Picking nits).

St. Louis Rams

Scouts Inc. projection: 9-7

My post-camp win range: 8

Amen, Scouts Inc.: They recognize the Rams will try to be more aggressive with their downfield throws even though the team's wide receivers aren't burners overall.

Picking nits: The outside linebackers did give up too many plays last season, but the team will have two new starters in those positions for 2011.

Seattle Seahawks

Scouts Inc. projection: 7-9

My post-camp win range: 5-7

Amen, Scouts Inc.: I agree that we'll see Charlie Whitehurst at quarterback before long unless the Seahawks' new offensive coordinator, Darrell Bevell, sees something in Tarvaris Jackson that others do not see. There's also a good chance for a quarterback change by injury unless Seattle tightens up its pass protection considerably.

Picking nits: How the pass defense performed last season might not mean much for 2011. The team traded away Kelly Jennings, lost Jordan Babineaux and did not re-sign Lawyer Milloy. Walter Thurmond looks completely different athletically in his second season back from knee surgery. The secondary is younger and bigger overall.

Arizona Cardinals

Scouts Inc. projection: 7-9

My post-camp win range: 7-8

Amen, Scouts Inc.: I've focused more on questions regarding the Cardinals' pass-rush, but Scouts Inc. raises legitimate concerns about the run defense. The team's aging outside linebackers were "too slow to execute as playmakers" last season. Now, they're a year older. The team clearly needs some of its younger players to emerge.

Picking nits: While Patrick Peterson's skills should eventually help the Cardinals play more aggressively, the first-round draft choice has so far eased into the role. He has not yet been named a starter.

San Francisco 49ers

Scouts Inc. projection: 6-10

My post-camp win range: 6-7

Amen, Scouts Inc.: The run defense should indeed remain strong even though the 49ers changed some of their personnel up the middle. I went to 49ers camp questioning the defensive changes and came away with a better understanding of what the team was thinking.

Picking nits: There weren't any nits to be found here, at least from my perspective. I had not considered the Scouts Inc. observation regarding the 49ers' rush offense, which read, "We'll see a run-first power attack with a FB and a lot of two-TE sets. Although the new coach wants his backs to be one-cut guys to set up play-action, Gore tends to be more of a patient runner."

With training camps winding down, I've found time to update rosters and put together team-by-team reference material for unrestricted free agency.

The names below match official NFL counts.

These are for players with at least four accrued NFL seasons whose contracts expired following the 2010 season. I've added comments for each team.

Arizona Cardinals

Re-signed (8): Ben Graham, Matt Ware, Hamza Abdullah, Ben Claxton, Lyle Sendlein, D'Anthony Batiste, Deuce Lutui, Stephen Spach.

New to team (7): Chansi Stuckey, Richard Marshall, Daryn Colledge, Nick Eason, Stewart Bradley, Floyd Womack, Jeff King.

Still unsigned (3): Alan Faneca, Jason Wright, Bryan Robinson.

Signed elsewhere (5): Steve Breaston (Kansas City), Gabe Watson (New York Giants), Ben Patrick (Giants), Trumaine McBride (New Orleans), Alan Branch (Seattle).

Comment: Sendlein, Colledge and Bradley were the big signings. Marshall provides needed depth at cornerback. Faneca and Wright announced their retirements. The Cardinals weren't aggressive in trying to re-sign the players they lost to other teams. The biggest move Arizona made, acquiring Kevin Kolb from Philadelphia, did not involve a UFA.

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San Francisco 49ers

Re-signed (4): Ray McDonald, Tony Wragge, Dashon Goldson, Alex Smith.

New to team (5): Braylon Edwards, Jonathan Goodwin, Donte Whitner, Carlos Rogers, David Akers.

Still unsigned (5): Brian Westbrook, Troy Smith, Demetric Evans, William James, Barry Sims.

Signed elsewhere (6): David Baas (Giants), Travis LaBoy (San Diego), Jeff Reed (Seattle), Aubrayo Franklin (New Orleans), Takeo Spikes (San Diego), Manny Lawson (Cincinnati).

Comment: Re-signing McDonald signaled Franklin's departure. Getting Goldson back on the relative cheap was a victory. The 49ers wanted to keep Baas, but not at the price he commanded. The team thinks NaVorro Bowman has a bright future in Spikes' old spot at inside linebacker. Lawson wasn't strong enough as a pass-rusher to stick around. Safety depth is improved.

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Seattle Seahawks

Re-signed (7): Raheem Brock, Junior Siavii, Brandon Mebane, Leroy Hill, Matt McCoy, Michael Robinson, Kelly Jennings.

New to team (8): Branch, Zach Miller, Robert Gallery, Jimmy Wilkerson, Atari Bigby, Sidney Rice, Tarvaris Jackson, Reed.

Still unsigned (7): Jay Richardson, Craig Terrill, Chester Pitts, Brandon Stokley, Ruvell Martin, J.P. Losman, Lawyer Milloy.

Signed elsewhere (8): Will Herring (New Orleans), Olindo Mare (Carolina), Matt Hasselbeck (Tennessee), Chris Spencer (Chicago), Jordan Babineaux (Tennessee), Sean Locklear (Washington), Amon Gordon (Kansas City), Ray Willis (Washington).

Comment: Adding Jackson as the starting quarterback was the most significant move for the 2011 season. Mebane was the most important re-signing for the longer term. Hill was a bargain relative to how he's playing right now. Miller and Rice were the types of young, talented players who rarely change teams in free agency. The Seahawks were outbid for Herring and Mare. Can street free agent David Vobora fill some of the void Herring left?

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St. Louis Rams

Re-signed (2): Adam Goldberg, Gary Gibson.

New to team (9): Daniel Muir, Quinn Ojinnaka, Harvey Dahl, Ben Leber, Zac Diles, Jerious Norwood, Cadillac Williams, Quintin Mikell, Mike Sims-Walker.

Still unsigned (5): Chris Hovan, Michael Lewis, Darcy Johnson, Clifton Ryan, Mark Clayton.

Signed elsewhere (4): Daniel Fells (Denver), Laurent Robinson (San Diego), Derek Schouman (Washington), Kevin Dockery (Pittsburgh).

Comment: Dahl and Mikell were the big additions. Clayton could return if and when his surgically repaired knee allows. Sims-Walker is a wild card. The team didn't flinch when any of its own UFAs signed elsewhere. Most of the moves made on defense were designed to improve St. Louis against the run. Remember that newcomer Justin Bannan was not a UFA. Denver released him.
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Regular ESPN.com contributor K.C. Joyner has shared a few NFC West notes from his 2011 fantasy football guide, including this one for the Seattle Seahawks:

Joyner: "The Seahawks posted 37 sacks last year, a total that ranked a respectable 13th in the league, but there is a strong reason to think they will improve on that mark in 2011. The guide looks at how many sacks each team’s opponents allowed in the previous season, the idea being that a high total here is an indicator that a team will have lots of favorable pass rush opportunities. The Seahawks' opponents allowed 624 sacks last year, a total that was the most of any team in the NFL. Getting the sack total over 40 should be the low-end goal for this defense."

My thoughts: Seattle surprisingly collected 22 of its 37 sacks last season away from home. That included six against the Mike Martz-coordinated Chicago Bears, five against the quarterback-challenged Arizona Cardinals and four against St. Louis Rams rookie Sam Bradford. The Seahawks need to crank up their sack production at home while replacing the 5.5 sacks they got from veteran defensive backs Lawyer Milloy (4.0) and Jordan Babineaux (1.5). Side note: Seven of the Seahawks' 16 games come against teams with new head coaches and/or new starting quarterbacks. This includes games against San Francisco (twice), Arizona (twice), Denver, Oakland and Carolina.

Atari Bigby's signing in Seattle gives the Seahawks experienced, hard-nosed depth at strong safety with one giant "if" to consider.

Bigby has missed 24 games to injury over the past three seasons. He has value only if he can get and stay healthy.

The former Green Bay Packers starter tuns 30 next month, making him considerably younger than unsigned 2010 starter Lawyer Milloy. Milloy, 37, has missed only six games since 1996. He has played all 16 games in a season 13 times.

Why not just bring back Milloy, one of the toughest players of his generation?

There's a tradeoff in re-signing such a durable, competitive player amid a youth movement. Milloy returned to the Seahawks last season only after coach Pete Carroll promised to restore him as the starter. Milloy had not been happy as a backup in 2009. Any leadership he might have provided would have been muted from the bench in 2011.

Kam Chancellor is going to start at strong safety for the Seahawks this season. He's having a strong training camp. The team envisions pairing him with free safety Earl Thomas for years to come. Seattle considered bringing back veteran safety/cornerback Jordan Babineaux for veteran depth, but the Tennessee Titans signed him.

Back to Bigby. Ankle, groin and hamstring injuries limited him to four games with Green Bay last season. NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert put it this way in a November item entitled, "Another setback for Atari Bigby":

The Packers had envisioned Bigby as a long-term starter but he has slowly slid off their radar because of injuries and contract disputes. They opened the season with rookie Morgan Burnett as their starter, and Charlie Peprah took over after Burnett suffered a season-ending knee injury. We're a long way from next season, but you would have to consider Peprah and Burnett to be in much higher standing from an organizational perspective.

Seahawks general manager John Schneider was with the Packers when Bigby started 11 games for the team in 2009. Bigby comes to Seattle without the lucrative deal he once coveted, and with much to prove.

It is possible, even likely, that the NFL and its players will continue their staring contest through the 2011 draft -- even with a ruling from U.S. District Judge Susan Nelson.

The appeals process could take weeks or longer, during which time it's unlikely the league would open for business. We're probably doomed to status quo, in other words.

But if ESPN legal analyst Lester Munson is correct, Judge Nelson will most likely end the lockout, leading to an immediate appeal -- a scenario I think would lead, eventually, to the league opening for business under 2010 rules while the sides continued their battle in the courts.

Those 2010 rules set the bar high for free agency. Only players with six accrued seasons would qualify for the unrestricted market. Starters such as Arizona's Steve Breaston, San Francisco's Dashon Goldson and Seattle's Brandon Mebane would lose leverage and most likely return to their teams under relatively modest one-year deals.

The players listed in the chart -- those with at least six accrued seasons and no contracts for 2011 -- would be free to explore opportunities elsewhere.

Options and implications for this type of free agency in the NFC West:

Arizona Cardinals

Overview: The Cardinals suffered more personnel losses than they could weather last offseason. They would benefit from a return to 2010 rules, however, because the restrictions would keep multiple starters off the market. Their list of potential free agents with six-plus seasons features no front-line players. The Cardinals would be better off focusing on a new deal with Larry Fitzgerald, who is entering the final year of his contract.

Top priority: Finding a veteran quarterback. Derek Anderson isn't expected back. Marc Bulger's name is heard most frequently in connection with the Cardinals. He turned 34 this week and did not attempt a pass in a regular-season game while with Baltimore last season. Bulger struggled during his final seasons with the Rams, but the team was falling apart around him. He last finished an NFL season with more touchdowns than interceptions in 2006. The down year has surely helped him get healthy.

Players in flux: Breaston, starting guard Deuce Lutui and starting center Lyle Sendlein wouldn't have enough accrued seasons to become unrestricted under 2010 rules. The situation is particularly difficult for Breaston, who has battled through knee problems without getting a long-term deal.

Veteran variable: Starting left guard Alan Faneca has considered retirement. The Cardinals invested in veteran guard Rex Hadnot for depth last offseason. The team lacks young depth on the line, but if Lutui and Sendlein return, the Cardinals have some flexibility.

Name to keep in mind: Ike Taylor, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers. The Cardinals are hoping Greg Toler can build upon an up-and-down 2010 season. Taylor would give the team options. He played under new Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton.

St. Louis Rams

Overview: The Rams' most important players tend to be younger starters under contract for the long term (Chris Long, James Laurinaitis, Rodger Saffold, Sam Bradford, Jason Smith). Most of their top veterans are also under contract (Steven Jackson, Fred Robbins, James Hall). Free safety Oshiomogho Atogwe is out of the picture after signing with the Washington Redskins following his salary-related release.

Top priority: The Rams could use a veteran guard with some nastiness. The team has invested heavily in its line, but this group could use more of an edge. Bringing back receiver Mark Clayton should be another consideration even though Clayton is coming off a serious knee injury. The rapport Clayton had with Bradford was strong.

Players in flux: Defensive tackles Gary Gibson and Clifton Ryan would remain property of the Rams under 2010 rules, as would cornerback Kevin Dockery and receiver Laurent Robinson. Gibson was the only full-time starter of the group last season. The Rams are expected to seek an upgrade at that position even with Gibson coming back.

Veteran variable: Adam Goldberg started all 16 games on the offensive line last season. The Rams could stand to upgrade, but I see value in bringing back Goldberg as a backup. He can play every position on the line but center. Goldberg has also taken an interest in mentoring younger players. His value off the field is a consideration.

Name to keep in mind: Daniel Graham, TE, Denver Broncos. Graham could make sense for the Rams in free agency. He played under the Rams' new offensive coordinator, Josh McDaniels, and could help upgrade the run blocking. Seattle has connections to Graham as well.

San Francisco 49ers

Overview: The 49ers signed some of their better young players to long-term contracts well before labor pains became so severe. Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis and Joe Staley come to mind. The lockout has made it tougher for the 49ers' new coaches to get a feel for players. The 49ers like their talent overall and haven't been big players in free agency over the past couple of seasons. That isn't likely to change.

Top priority: Finding a starting quarterback trumps everything else. Alex Smith can become a free agent. Backups David Carr and Troy Smith are not expected back. The 49ers aren't expected to use the seventh overall choice to select or acquire a quarterback. Coach Jim Harbaugh prides himself in coaching up quarterbacks, but he needs quarterbacks to coach.

Players in flux: Goldson, outside linebacker Manny Lawson and defensive lineman Ray McDonald are among the 49ers players that would fall short of the six-season requirement for unrestricted free agency.

Veteran variable: Nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin played last season under a one-year franchise deal. The price tag for re-franchising Franklin appears prohibitive. The 49ers took a wait-and-see approach with Franklin because they hadn't seen him perform at a high level over the long term. They'll need a new nose tackle if Franklin departs.

Name to keep in mind: The 49ers' staff is coming mostly from the college ranks, so there aren't obvious connections to players from other NFL rosters. I expect the 49ers to focus more on re-signing some of their own players, from Spikes to David Baas and beyond.

Seattle Seahawks

Overview: The Seahawks have a long list of players without contracts for 2011. That was mostly be design. The team would like to continue turning over its roster without investing too much in older players such as Matt Hasselbeck, Raheem Brock and Olindo Mare.

Top priority: Figuring out the quarterback situation. Hasselbeck is headed for free agency and could leave if another team gives him some of the longer-term assurances Seattle has resisted. The Seahawks have shown some interest in Philadelphia Eagles backup Kevin Kolb, a player they inquired about last offseason. They still have Charlie Whitehurst. They could draft a quarterback early.

Players in flux: Defensive tackle Mebane heads the list of Seattle players who would not reach free agency under the rules used in 2010. General manager John Schneider called Mebane a "steady pro" when asked about him at the combine. That sounded like faint praise and an indication the Seahawks are not yet prepared to pay top dollar for Mebane if, and when, he hits the market.

Veteran variable: The Seahawks have a few of them, including Mare and Brock. But let's focus on offensive linemen Sean Locklear and Chris Spencer. They combined for 31 starts, but neither appears to be a priority for re-signing. Stacy Andrews is a candidate to step in for Locklear at right tackle. Max Unger could replace Spencer. Coach Pete Carroll thinks the team has upgraded its young depth on the line.

Name to keep in mind: Robert Gallery, guard, Oakland Raiders. Tom Cable's addition as offensive line coach makes Seattle a logical destination for Gallery, who has declared his intention to leave the Raiders.

Quarterback: Matt Hasselbeck is poised to become a free agent. Of course, he isn’t the long-term answer, but because the Seahawks were in the playoff hunt in the terrible NFC West, they never really got a great opportunity to see what they have in Charlie Whitehurst, for whom they paid a premium a year ago. This is a predicament for the Seahawks, who can’t possibly consider themselves as true Super Bowl contenders. But bringing Hasselbeck back for one more season does make some sense, as they can re-evaluate this situation a year from now -- hopefully with more playing time by Whitehurst to evaluate. In the meantime, using a second- or third-round pick on a guy with long-term upside would be wise while they improve the quarterbacks’ supporting cast overall.

Secondary: On the surface, many would think that Marcus Trufant is the one player in this defensive backfield who Seattle could count on. That simply is not the case. For two seasons running now, Trufant has not been an upper-tier cover man. Although still inconsistent, free safety Earl Thomas appears to be a find for the Seahawks. But his highlight tape is more impressive than watching him on a down-by-down basis. The Seahawks could lose Kelly Jennings, Lawyer Milloy and Jordan Babineaux via free agency. Change is needed here, but Jennings and Babineaux were serviceable. Trading Josh Wilson to Baltimore was a big mistake.

The run game: He was great in one playoff game, but for the most part, Marshawn Lynch has been very ordinary. Justin Forsett is an underrated runner who deserves many more touches, but he also isn’t the type of back who can make a ton of yardage without at least adequate blocking. The run blocking for this offense just wasn’t close to being good enough. I believe Seattle has a future Pro Bowler in left tackle Russell Okung, but right tackle Sean Locklear and center/guard Chris Spencer are up for free agency. Line depth is a problem as well. Dynamic part-time running back Leon Washington could also depart. Improvement all around is required.

Scouts Inc. watches games, breaks down film and studies football from all angles for ESPN.com.

CHICAGO -- The Seattle Seahawks are gathering on the field near their sideline for some pregame mosh-pit action before their stretching session.

I've done a quick sleeve count to see which players have given in to the cold.

Eight Seattle players -- Mike Williams, J.P. Losman, Jordan Babineaux, Clint Gresham, William Robinson, Stacy Andrews, Jon Ryan and Olindo Mare -- are wearing long sleeves for Seattle. A couple defensive backs are wearing forearm pads.

Eight Bears players are also wearing sleeves: Brad Maynard, Jay Cutler, Caleb Hanie, Todd Collins, Greg Olsen, Corey Graham, Devin Hester and Patrick Mannelly.

We're up to 22 degrees from 16 degrees a few hours ago.

The facts: The Seahawks fell to 6-8 with a 34-18 home defeat to the Atlanta Falcons in Week 15.

The upside: Even the worst defeats tend to feature a bright spot or two.

• The Seahawks control their playoff destiny. They'll win the NFC West if they win their final two games.
• Marshawn Lynch carried 12 times for 60 yards as Seattle fielded the more impressive ground game. Seattle had 21 carries for 91 yards and two touchdowns, including quarterback Charlie Whitehurst's 1-yard scramble.
• Receiver Mike Williams caught eight passes in his first game back from foot and ankle injuries.
• Seattle held Falcons running back Michael Turner to 82 yards and a 3.3-yard average.
• Safety Jordan Babineaux picked off Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
• Seattle held the Falcons to a season-low 266 yards.
• The Seahawks scored touchdowns on both red zone possessions.
• Raheem Brock collected his sixth sack of the season, his most since getting 6.5 in 2005.

Looking ahead: The Seahawks face the Tampa Bay Bucs on the road in Week 16.

PHOENIX -- Good morning from Arizona.

I'll be heading over to University of Phoenix Stadium to catch the San Francisco 49ers' game against Green Bay on TV before the St. Louis Rams and Arizona Cardinals kick off at 4:15 p.m. ET.

Should be a fun Week 13.

And now, let's dive into the mailbag, as promised ...

Dylan from Phoenix writes: Hi Sando. I have heard quite a few reasons for the Cardinals' free fall. However, I was wondering if you believed the Bidwills' seemingly tight pockets have a played a bigger role than many have thought in the Cardinals' demise? Thanks.

Mike Sando: That subject demands some elaboration. Kurt Warner walking away from an eight-figure salary has hurt the Cardinals more than any other move has hurt them since last season. That move had nothing to do with anyone being cheap. The team also opened its wallet for safety Adrian Wilson (2009) and defensive lineman Darnell Dockett (2010).

The Cardinals did reduce their payroll this season. If I were to blame some of their struggles on tight pockets, I would take a longer-range view. For example, the Cardinals will tell you their offers for Antrel Rolle and Karlos Dansby were very competitive. That might be true, but Rolle hit the market only because the Cardinals backloaded his contract, as was their custom. You could say they backloaded deals to save up-front money.

The same thing happened, but more spectacularly, when Larry Fitzgerald's previous contract hit a crossroads for similar reasons. The Cardinals valued Fitzgerald more than they valued Rolle -- enough to meet his contract demands. Fitzgerald leveraged that situation into $40 million on a four-year deal. Paying $10 million per year to Fitzgerald complicated Anquan Boldin's situation, contributing to his departure from the team.

The way the Cardinals structured contracts for Fitzgerald and Rolle, two high draft choices, played a role in their struggles this season. But if Warner had decided to play out his contract, the team would probably find itself in the thick of the NFC West race anyway.

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Doug from Washington, D.C., writes: Hey Mike, big fan of the blog and huge fan of the Seahawks. Watching them this year has definitely given me more hope than the past two seasons, but I'm pretty concerned about the future of this team. I want to say the team is rebuilding, but I feel like the team is too old to expect consistent improvement.

What kind of moves do you expect John Schneider and Pete Carroll to make in the offseason in terms of shipping out veterans for draft picks, etc? Will the end of their season ultimately govern this decision? Thanks!

Mike Sando: Thanks, Doug. Great question. How the team finishes will influence decisions.

I expect another busy offseason for the Seahawks in terms of overhauling the roster. The Seahawks made lots of changes, but they didn't become a young team through the roster. I expect them to get younger before next season.

You should expect additional sweeping changes across the offensive line. Some of the more familiar names up front -- Chris Spencer and Sean Locklear come to mind -- do not have contracts beyond this season. Veteran guards Ben Hamilton and Chester Pitts do not have contracts beyond this season. They were stopgap players this season.

Additional players without contracts beyond this season include Matt Hasselbeck, Mike Williams, Ray Willis, Olindo Mare, Leroy Hill, Jordan Babineaux, Lawyer Milloy, Brandon Stokley, Raheem Brock, Michael Robinson, Matt McCoy, Junior Siavii, Craig Terrill and Brandon Mebane.

I would expect Seattle to re-sign Hasselbeck this offseason, but even that decision could hinge on what happens over the remaining games. Williams and Mebane look like obvious keepers. Some of the others have proven they have value, but their futures are less clear.

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Sam from St. Louis writes: Sando, do you notice Chris Long being held a lot and the opposing offensive linemen not getting called for it? Seems like he's constantly being held, but it's almost like it happens on so many plays that the refs just stop noticing it or looking for it? I remember earlier in the year when he drew two consecutive holding calls and it almost seemed like the refs were too embarrassed to keep calling it or something. Long gets better the later the game goes on and many times it just seems like all the opposing offense can do to stop him is just hold him and hope the refs don't notice. He's gotten James Hall and Fred Robbins a handful of sacks this year.

Mike Sando: Looking at my notes, I saw the Seahawks' Locklear hold Long on a second-and-10 play in the fourth quarter back in Week 4. Long and Geoge Selvie got to the quarterback anyway, but there was no holding call.

Overall, yes, I have noticed Long getting held a few times without officials throwing flags. That's more a reflection of Long than a reflection of officiating. Good defensive ends get held. Long is now a good defensive end.

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Jon from New York writes: I know it's easy to play the hindsight game with the draft, but I can't help myself.

In the last two years, the 49ers have taken two offensive linemen and a wide receiver in the first round. How much better would they be if they had taken Michael Oher instead of Michael Crabtree last year and then picked up Dez Bryant instead of Anthony Davis this year?

It seems like they would have been able to, and I heard that they were going to take Oher anyway until Crabtree fell to them.

Mike Sando: No doubt, it's tempting to entertain those thoughts. There is no way we can criticize the selection of Crabtree based on what might have been available to the team receiver-wise the next year. The 49ers made a value decision on Crabtree. I understood the decision and thought it was the right decision.

Moving up a couple spots to get Davis seemed unnecessary. Bryant is more of a big-play threat than Crabtree. He would have helped the return game. But if you look at their overall numbers this season, Crabtree and Bryant are pretty similar. Crabtree has 38 catches for 509 yards and five touchdowns. Bryant has an additional six receptions, 38 yards and one touchdown. Both have gone through multiple quarterbacks.

Crabtree is actually averaging an additional yard per reception this season (13.4 to 12.4). Both have three touchdowns in their last four games.

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Dimitri from Boston writes: Sando, great blog. So, I played with the playoff calculator. If the Niners/Seahawks/Rams all end up 7-9 and if you assume the Niners lose at Green Bay and at San Diego, but win against the Seahawks, Rams and Cardinals, the 49ers win the division.

With that being said, wouldn't you put the Niners as the favorite to win the division? Niners may not be consistent or reliable and they are without Frank Gore, but relatively, it is hard to argue that any team in West can beat them (Niners are 7-2 in division dating back to 2009)? And if you look back on the season, their "best" games were against better teams (Saints, Eagles, Falcons).

Therefore, if football luck balances out (Nate Clements holds onto a pick, Alex Smith doesn't fumble against the Eagles, deflected balls hit the ground and are not picked) and the Niners steal a win in Green Bay or San Diego, the Niners should win this division?

Mike Sando: Fun stuff.

On the luck front, remember that the 49ers were losing to the Eagles by a touchdown when Alex Smith lost that fumble. The fumble itself triggered a series of actions that laid the foundation for the subsequent rally. No fumble might have meant no rally.

I do not trust the 49ers to win at St. Louis. They barely beat the Rams at Candlestick even though the Rams' defense gave up far more big plays than they typically give up in a game. I think the Rams' pass rush will be a bigger factor in the Edward Jones Dome. And if luck evens out, the Rams won't suffer an interference penalty along the lines of the one Oshiomogho Atogwe drew while covering Delanie Walker late in the 49ers' overtime victory.

Circle that St. Louis game. I think it's hugely pivotal for the 49ers.

Counting ways the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals have changed since their most recent meeting at University of Phoenix Stadium one year ago (Nov. 15, 2009):

• T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Anquan Boldin had 100-yard receiving games that day. They are now teammates in Baltimore.
• Jim Mora's role as Seahawks coach last season required him to meet with Dick Stockton, Charles Davis and the rest of the Fox broadcast team assigned to the Seahawks-Cardinals game at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mora now works in the same Fox booth featuring Stockton and Davis.
• Patrick Kerney, Lawrence Jackson, Leroy Hill, Josh Wilson, Deon Grant, Colin Cole and Jordan Babineaux started on defense for the Seahawks that day. None will start Sunday. Cole and Hill are the only injury scratches, although it's not clear whether Hill would have remained a starter if healthy.
• The Cardinals and Seahawks each amassed more than 460 yards last time. Neither has exceeded 396 in a game this season. They have combined for 11 games with no more than 271 yards.
• Kurt Warner passed for 340 yards with a 120.5 rating last time. Arizona has failed to finish with 340 net yards -- overall, not just through the air -- in six of its eight games since Warner retired.
• Antrel Rolle, Karlos Dansby and Bryant McFadden were the Cardinals' leading tacklers last time. All play elsewhere.

Not that the NFL landscape changes much in a calendar year.

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times sums up the Seahawks' 23-20 victory over the Bears this way: "This was a glimpse of the kind of style (Pete) Carroll wants to play. The formula isn't complicated, but it can be unstoppable. Power running game. Efficient quarterback play. Dogged defense. Solid special teams. Infectious energy and spirit. With just a few exceptions, the Seahawks were that team. And if they play this way, they can compete with anyone, anywhere. It'll be a while before the team is consistent, and clearly the Bears, despite a 4-2 record, have some problems. But you should know by now that Seattle road victories are too rare to dismiss." The Seahawks deserve much credit for outperforming reasonable expectations. This victory felt more sustainable than some.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks played a complete game on both sides of the ball in beating the Bears for their first road victory of the season. Also: Russell Okung's strong push on Justin Forsett's 9-yard touchdown run stood out as one of several statements Seattle made Sunday.

Also from O'Neil: The Bears had allowed a league-high 21 sacks entering Week 6, but the Seahawks generated their pressure differently.

More from O'Neil: Mike Williams finished with 10 receptions for 123 yards in the Seahawks' first game since trading Deion Branch. Also: Jon Ryan planned to punt the ball out of bounds, only to come up short, allowing Devin Hester to return the ball 89 yards for a touchdown.

More still from O'Neil: Jordan Babineaux finished the game with 1.5 sacks and a safety.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says feeding the ball to Williams was the Seahawks' plan Sunday. Williams: "Carroll said the pieces are finally coming together with the way he wants his offense to function, similar to how his offense executed when he was with the Trojans -- a power running game with a big receiver on the outside guided by an experienced quarterback who limits turnovers and earns new downs."

Also from Williams: Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett provided a one-two punch reminiscent of their college days together at Cal. Also: "Offensive lineman Russell Okung faced the daunting task of stopping Chicago defensive lineman Julius Peppers from getting to the quarterback. The rookie from Oklahoma State received some help, but played well overall as the Seahawks held Chicago’s formidable defensive front to no sacks."

More from Williams: The Seattle defense set an emotional tone for the rest of the team, quarterback Matt Hasselbeck says. The Seahawks' decision to bring back Lawyer Milloy under an expanded role stands as one of the better low-profile moves of the offseason for Seattle. Milloy brings toughness, hard hitting and strong pass-rush instincts as a blitzer.

SEATTLE -- Leon Washington is back. So is the "12th Man" at Qwest Field.

The Seattle Seahawks are back, too -- not all the way or even most of the way, but enough of the way to win home games and contend for the NFC West title in a flawed division that nonetheless went 3-1 Sunday.

The hard part after the Seahawks' 27-20 victory over the San Diego Chargers was finding players in the winning locker room with enough roster tenure to remember what it was like the last time this team was good enough to make its crowd a decisive factor.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck remembers. He was there when Seattle was going 7-1 at home in 2007 and 8-0 there in 2005. Those teams were better, but this team doesn't need to be as good.

"For years we have dominated at home and people hated to come up here," Hasselbeck said after Washington's two return touchdowns helped deliver Seattle's second victory in three games this season. "Because we weren't a very good team for two years, we sort of lost that. It's going to be real important to get that back."

It might be back already.

The Seahawks have beaten two division favorites in two home games thus far in 2010. The San Francisco 49ers fell first, committing delay penalties and generally imploding on offense amid the noise. The Chargers succumbed Sunday, their offense jumping early and failing to beat the play clock in critical situations.

"I heard all kinds of glowing comments about what it's like to play here," first-year Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said. "Then I was surprised on the first time out against the Niners. This game goes beyond expectation."

Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers takes more delay penalties than any quarterback in the league. The one he took on third-and-10 from the Seattle 12-yard line with 21 seconds left diminished the Chargers' chances. San Diego's previous drive ended with a fourth-and-15 incomplete pass after officials flagged right tackle Jeromey Clary and left tackle Brandyn Dombrowski for a false-start penalties on consecutive plays.

"That is good to see," said Seahawks safety Jordan Babineaux, who has been with the team since 2004.

Babineaux didn't need his Southern Arkansas University education to do the math.

"You sweep home, you could split on the road and that is a 12-4 season," he said. "That's a good year. The biggest challenge for us now is playing the way we play at home on the road. We have to."

Not necessarily. Not in this division.

The preseason favorite 49ers are 0-3 heading into a Week 4 game against Atlanta, their third road trip in four games this season. The Arizona Cardinals are tied with Seattle atop the division, but they barely beat St. Louis and Oakland in getting to 2-1. And in listening to the Cardinals-Raiders broadcast Sunday, there were times when fans supporting the Raiders seemed to make the most noise.

Hasselbeck complained of seeing Chargers jerseys in the stands Sunday.

"Our fans are still amazing," he said. "It's probably that stupid ticket-exchange commercial."

If San Diego fans made any noise of consequence, I couldn't hear it. While Hasselbeck's voice resonated during his postgame news conference, Rivers sounded hoarse.

"Most of the screaming is in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage because it's' definitely loud," he said. "It's like most road games."

Like most road games, times two. Seattle opponents had committed 96 false-start penalties at Qwest Field since 2005. Minnesota's Metrodome was second at 86, followed by stadiums in Tennessee (78) and Chicago (70).

Babineaux was at least partly right when he said the Seahawks need to figure out a way to win on the road. Beating the 1-2 St. Louis Rams at the Edward Jones Dome in Week 4 would give Seattle one of the precious road victories it might need to post a winning season for the first time since 2007.

Crowds cannot win games by themselves. The home crowd matters again in Seattle because the Seahawks have improved almost across the board. Their draft-day trade with the New York Jets for Washington paid for itself, and then some, when Washington returned kickoffs 101 and 99 yards against the Chargers. He nearly had another return touchdown, but he slipped while trying to elude the last defender.

Washington's team-record two kickoff returns for touchdowns were the difference. Those returns left Seattle's defense on the field and the Chargers finished with 518 yards, but with rookie safety Earl Thomas picking off two passes, including one at the Seattle 5 with 6 seconds remaining, it felt like old times at Qwest Field.

"When you have a returner that has faith in the guys in front of him, he can hit it hard and fast and like I did in New York," Washington said.

A player from another NFL team asked Hasselbeck about Washington during the week.

"I talked about how great he's been and how we love him and he's going to break out here," Hasselbeck said. "I don't think anyone imagined that it could have been like that."

Washington now has six kickoff returns for touchdowns during his career, tied for second in league history with Ollie Matson, Gale Sayers, Travis Williams, Mel Gray and Dante Hall. Only Josh Cribbs has more, with eight. Washington's 101- and 99-yarders rank first and second in Seahawks history.

Seattle turned over its roster more than any team during the 2010 offseason.

The changes produced questions. We're starting to get some answers.

The Seahawks' special-teams units are hitting harder than they have in my memory covering the team (since 1998). That reflects improved personnel. Rookie fifth-round choice Kam Chancellor forced a fumble during a Chargers return. Rookie seventh-rounder Dexter Davis recovered. Rookie second-rounder Golden Tate, chosen 60th overall with a pick acquired from San Diego, had a 31-yard punt return and caught all four passes thrown his way.

Most improbably to me, the Seahawks are playing well enough on their offensive line to give Hasselbeck a chance -- even with rookie first-round left tackle Russell Okung sidelined by injury for the first three games.

The offense remains in its formative stages, sometimes appearing lost. But Seattle was very close to scoring at least two more touchdowns. The Chargers forced Deion Branch to fumble at the 1 after a 41-yard gain. The Seahawks inexplicably let the game clock expire after driving to the San Diego 2 right before halftime.

"I'm not going to overlook that," Carroll said of how close Seattle came to a first-half rout.

There can be no more overlooking the Seahawks at Qwest, either. Their remaining home opponents -- Arizona, the New York Giants, Kansas City, Carolina, Atlanta and St. Louis -- will have a hard time winning here.

That's what we've learned about Seattle in the first three weeks.

Jason from Phoenix writes: Hey Sando, big fan of the blog. I was wondering what the chances are of the Cardinals possibly trading for Kevin Kolb might be? Obviously, Derek Anderson is not the answer and I don't think any of the the QBs coming out next year look like franchise QBs, so making a trade for a potential starting QB seems to make sense to me. I don't know if the Eagles would take a Charlie Whitehurst-type of package. I think it might take more to land Kolb.

Mike Sando: The structure of Kolb's contract would facilitate a trade; his salary this season is $715,000. I just don't see that happening. The Eagles gave Kolb a $10.7 million signing bonus and I do no think it's in their best interests to give up on him just because Michael Vick looks like the best option for now. Vick hasn't proved reliable for the long term.

We could see Max Hall get some work at quarterback for the Cardinals this season. It's a little early to give up on Anderson. He has jumped into an offense in transition. The Cardinals have played both their games on the road. Larry Fitzgerald was not full strength in the opener. Beanie Wells has not played. Let's watch the next few games to see if Anderson makes strides. He might not be the answer, but do you feel good enough about Kolb to give up something for him in a trade?

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Aaron from Tacoma writes: Hey Mike, I'm a loyal Seahawks fan and have been my whole life. I just wanted to ask you a question about the team on both sides of the ball.

On offense, why isn't Golden Tate starting/getting more playing time at wide receiver? Why don't the Seahawks run more three- and four-receiver sets?

On defense, why does Lawyer Milloy start? I would much rather have Jordan Babineaux or Kam Chancellor play more snaps. When it's third down, how come the Hawks don't blitz more like we did in Week 1 against San Fransico?

Last question: Why isn't Dexter Davis getting in on passing downs with distances between 3-7 yards and more? He's shown flashes of being the passrusher the Seahawks desire. Thanks, Mike.

Mike Sando: No problem, Aaron. The Seahawks are running lots of three-receiver stuff and Matt Hasselbeck has been most effective from this grouping. The team has run three-receiver personnel more than any other grouping -- about 44 percent of snaps -- in part because that's what Seattle used so much after falling behind at Denver.

The Seahawks have run only two snaps of four-receiver personnel. There's little sense in removing the running back or the tight end if those players offer more than the fourth receiver. Leaving the tight end and the back on the field makes the run game a factor.

Milloy starts because he is tough, reliable and a leader. Babineaux is also getting quite a few snaps.

Davis played only a handful of snaps against Denver. It might be easier working him into the game when the Seahawks are winning. Davis did get more snaps against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1.

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Greg from Seattle writes: You said that Alex Smith was effective in his final drive largely because the Saints were worried about Frank Gore. Were they really? With just over two minutes and no timeouts, was there really much chance that Gore would get the ball more than once or twice? Sure, there was enough time that the threat was theoretically still there. But I think it was pretty clear that if the Niners were going to get down the field, Smith would have to do it for them.

Mike Sando: I meant that Smith was effective overall, not just on the last drive, because of that running game. But Gore still was a factor on that last drive. He scored the 7-yard touchdown on a run right up the middle. The threat of the pass might have set up that one, though.

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Tony from Sonora writes: Hey Mike, love the blog. Why is it that everyone is always raging on the NFC West? The NFC West has had one less Super Bowl team than the AFC East has had in the last 10 years. All we hear about is regular-season wins. It sucks to go 14-2 and then to lose in the first round of the playoffs (the Chargers come to mind). Maybe I am wrong, but I think I would rather go 9-7 and go to the Super Bowl than go 16-0 and lose my first playoff game.

Mike Sando: Yes, I would rather be a 9-7 team in the Super Bowl than a 14-2 team that went one and done. The critics are looking at the overall mediocrity and sub-mediocrity of the division, not the occasional exception. I'll defend the division to the extent it deserves to be defended. I just don't think the Super Bowl berths make this division stronger on the whole than some of the others.

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Travis from parts unknown writes: Nice comments about the Rams' Mark Clayton, but look how many drops he has. If catches three balls during the Cardinals game, the Rams might have been able to sustain some drives.

Mike Sando: No doubt. If he catches even one of those passes, the outcome might have been different. There was one in particular -- a pass Clayton singled out as Sam Bradford's best that day -- that might have produced a touchdown. Clayton did have 10 catches in that game, so I give him some slack.

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Mike from Scottsdale, Ariz., writes: Mike, I really enjoy your NFC West blog. I was reading your analysis of the players drafted in 2010 and found it very interesting. However, I noticed that you said nothing about players who were undrafted but still made their respective teams. Are you going to do a status update on them as well? I know that the Cardinals have three undrafted rookies who made the team. Two of them are higher on the depth chart than rookies who actually got drafted. Not to mention that all three undrafted rookies have seen playing time.

Mike Sando: Yes, I noticed that for Arizona. Seattle seemingly would have been a candidate to have more undrafted rookies sneak through, but that was not the case. The Rams' Dominique Curry has made a very positive impression as an undrafted receiver. He has special-teams value as well. The Cardinals were the team that had the most significant ones -- a reflection, somewhat, of the turnover Arizona has undergone since last season. The decision to go with an undrafted rookie quarterback in the No. 2 role was unusual.