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Russell Wilson served notice over the weekend that he'll factor into the Seattle Seahawks' quarterback competition right away.

That was easily the No. 1 development from NFC West rookie camps.

"He showed us enough," coach Pete Carroll told reporters Sunday. "He's in the competition. That is going to tax us, as we know, and it was already going to be taxing with two. But he’s showed us enough that we need to see where he fits in with these guys."

Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson are the other candidates to start. The contract Flynn signed makes him the early favorite. Wilson, as a third-round draft choice this year, was going to factor into the equation. While there was very little chance Carroll was going to rule out anyone as a candidate so early in the process, Wilson did show enough during the rookie camp to justify inclusion. Carroll wasn't blowing smoke, in other words.

Wilson demonstrated during this camp an ability to throw open receivers by anticipating with his passes. That was not a strength for Jackson, the starter last season. Jackson was more apt to see a receiver open and then use his strong arm to rifle the ball to the target. Wilson also appears to have a strong arm (Carroll used the word "terrific" to describe it).

Some coaches prefer a quick resolution to a quarterback competition. I would expect Carroll to keep alive this one well into the summer.

"It's going to take us a long time to do this," he said. "It's going to be frustrating for you guys. You’re going tokeep asking and wanting to know and I’m just going to be more patient than you can imagine as we go through this process and we’ll just figure it out when we do."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com offers highlights from the Seahawks' three-day camp.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks' 2011 injury problems on the offensive line could put them in position to have greater depth this season. Line coach Tom Cable: "We know we have a group, top to bottom, where your eighth or ninth guy can go in and win for you. So our depth got taken to a new level."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic offers notes on some of the players participating in Cardinals rookie camp on a tryout basis. Former Rams receiver Keenan Burton was one of them. Somers: "The Cardinals' positional needs, as well as a player's talent, will factor into the decisions to sign any of the tryout players. The Cardinals, for instance, might need an extra running back in organized-team activities because starter Beanie Wells is coming off a postseason arthroscopic knee surgery, and backup Ryan Williams isn't expected to participate much as he rehabilitates from a torn patellar tendon. So that helps the chances for tryout running backs such as Javarris James and Keola Antolin, a rookie from Arizona."

Also from Somers: Cornerback Jamell Fleming made an immediate positive impression on Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Horton: "I don't remember (Fleming) making a mental mistake, which was great. We're going to start throwing more things at him, but he has the demeanor of an NFL guy. He reminds me of Patrick (Peterson). He came in and said, 'OK, this is what I am. I'm a pro football player.'"

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com looks at the Cardinals' approach to developmental quarterback Ryan Lindley. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "After a couple of years ago, I hope we’ve learned you can never have enough at that position."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams rookie linebacker Sammy Brown, signed as a free agent, is hoping to prove critics wrong after going undrafted. Questions about the consistency of Brown's effort hurt his stock. Brown on watching the draft: "When it got to the sixth and seventh round, I just said, 'Man, I don't even want to watch it no more.' I was mad. I see other people going. I see them picking punters, kickers. Am I that sorry? What have I got to do?"

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers his take on the Rams' willingness to take chances on some players. Burwell: "If this plan works, the reward will be so much greater than the risk. Better yet, if it turns out these high-risk, high-reward guys can really play -- and if the plan of Jeff Fisher and Les Snead plan keeps most of them on the right path -- no one in St. Louis will care about anything else. The coach and the GM are smart enough and bold enough to know that."

Barry Bolton of cougfan.com says former Washington State head coach Paul Wulff has joined the San Francisco 49ers as an offensive assistant. Noted: Wulff competed against Jim Harbaugh and several 49ers assistants in the Pac-10 Conference. Wulff and 49ers assistant Michael Christianson both worked under Mike Kramer at Big Sky programs. Kramer worked on Wulff's staff in 2010.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee updates scouting changes involving the 49ers. Barrows: "The 49ers parted ways with Todd Brunner, their Northeast Area scout who had been with the team for 12 years, and he promptly was hired by his former boss, Scot McCloughan, with the Seahawks. Brunner handled most of the area scouting on the east coast and was the point man on recent picks like Anthony Davis and Cam Johnson."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle examines why Cameron Johnson fell to the seventh round, where the 49ers selected him, after analysts suggested the outside linebacker would be chosen much earlier.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com offers thoughts on the 49ers' receiver situation and rookie A.J. Jenkins in particular. Conditioning was a concern initially. Maiocco: "But in the afternoon, Jenkins rebounded nicely and put together a pretty solid showing."

Larry Fitzgerald's arrival with the Arizona Cardinals via the 2004 NFL draft serves as the starting point for the latest item looking at recent NFC West choices.

Fitzgerald already has 613 receptions, far more than any other NFC West receiver over the last seven seasons.

In fact, the wide receivers with the most receptions for the Cardinals' division rivals during the same time period -- Torry Holt (St. Louis), Bobby Engram (Seattle) and Arnaz Battle (San Francisco) -- have long since moved on. I ran across Engram in the 49ers' main lobby Wednesday; he's a quality control coach with the team.

History tells us receivers carry more risk than some other positions. For every Fitzgerald, there seems to be a Koren Robinson, David Terrell or Troy Williamson -- high picks that never came close to realizing their potential. Mike Williams' revival with Seattle last season was an exception.

The charts break down every receiver NFC West teams have drafted since 2004. Will the St. Louis Rams add Julio Jones to their list of drafted wideouts?

As in the past, I'll preface each chart with thoughts from the teams' perspectives.

Immediate needs don't matter so much when front-line talent is available ...

Time to start finding replacements for veterans who might not fit into our plans (Terrell Owens for the 49ers, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt for the Rams) ...

These guys might not start, but every team needs secondary options in the passing game ...

We're getting late enough in the draft to consider grabbing a receiver while a few with decent potential remain on the board ...

Time to fill out the roster and hope we find depth for special teams ...

The St. Louis Rams needed more offensive firepower last season, particularly at wide receiver.

That was obvious at critical moments.

Left unsaid: The Rams have addressed the position. Since 2008, the team has used three draft choices in the first four rounds to select wideouts, tied with six other teams for second-most in the league. But Donnie Avery (2008 second round), Keenan Burton (2008 fourth round) and Mardy Gilyard (2010 fourth round) combined for six receptions last season.

Avery is doing much better following reconstructive knee surgery. Burton is off the roster and has not played in a regular-season NFL game since suffering a torn patella against New Orleans in 2009. Gilyard is recovering from wrist surgery after playing little and failing to catch a pass in the Rams' final 10 games.

The chart shows how many skill-position players NFL teams have drafted in the first four rounds since 2008. I excluded tight ends because some project more as blockers.

I'll break them out by NFC West team:

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Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesSam Bradford is coming off a record-breaking rookie season in which he threw for over 3,500 yards.
• St. Louis Rams (4): Quarterback Sam Bradford (2010 first round) is coming off a record-setting rookie season. He could use some help from Avery and Gilyard.
• Arizona Cardinals (3): Receiver Andre Roberts (2010 third round), running back Beanie Wells (2009 first round) and receiver Early Doucet (2008 third round) remain prominent in the Cardinals' plans. The 2011 season will be a big one for Wells, who looked better as a rookie than he did last season. The knee injury Wells suffered during the exhibition season required surgery. That presumably affected his play.
• San Francisco 49ers (2): Receiver Michael Crabtree (2009 first) had 55 catches last season, including six for touchdowns. His season was a bit underwhelming, however, as the 49ers' quarterback and coordinator instability continued. Running back Glen Coffee (2009 third round) became a bust when he retired after only one season, citing a lack of love for the game.
• Seattle Seahawks (2): Receiver Golden Tate (2010 second round) made an immediate impact during minicamps last offseason, only to justify the usual disclaimers about rookie receivers often struggling when the games start counting. Tate's game needs refinement, by his own admission. He has the athletic ability to make plays on the ball and gain big chunks after the catch. Meanwhile, Deon Butler (2009 third round) is ahead of schedule in his recovery from a career-threatening leg injury, coach Pete Carroll said. Butler's on-field future remains in question, however.

I singled out the first four rounds because those choices are more valuable.

NFC West teams have found some bargains at the skill positions in the later rounds since 2008, including: Tim Hightower, LaRod Stephens-Howling and possibly John Skelton in Arizona; Josh Morgan and Anthony Dixon in San Francisco and Justin Forsett in Seattle.

The Rams' late-round selections -- Keith Null, Chris Obgonnaya and Brooks Foster -- no longer play for the team.

Those responsible for making sure fans had Super Bowl seats weren't responsible for maintaining seats on airplanes leaving Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport.

I'm home, in other words.

Ten thoughts relating at least tangentially to the NFC West following the Green Bay Packers' 31-25 victory against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl:

• Packers general manager Ted Thompson was doing a good job whether or not Green Bay beat the Steelers. The victory only bolsters his credibility as a primary architect for Super Bowl teams with multiple franchises. Thompson played a role in the Packers' two Super Bowl appearances of the 1990s. He played a bigger role in putting together the Seattle team that appeared in the Super Bowl following the 2005 season. More recently, he won a championship after replacing a successful head coach (Mike Sherman) and legendary quarterback (Brett Favre).
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Kevin C. Cox/Getty ImagesPittsburgh's Bryant McFadden, 20, had a rough day against Jordy Nelson and the Packers.
• Cornerback Bryant McFadden, traded from Arizona back to Pittsburgh before the 2010 season, had a tough game. After recovering from an abdominal injury to start the Super Bowl, McFadden suffered a hip injury that forced him to leave the Super Bowl. The Packers had already completed a couple passes against him to that point. With McFadden out, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers beat McFadden's replacement, William Gay, for a touchdown. McFadden returned and the Packers continued to have success through the air.
• Former San Francisco 49ers linebackers Diyral Briggs and Matt Wilhelm won Super Bowl rings with Green Bay. The 49ers released Briggs early in the 2010 season. They parted with Wilhelm on the reduction to 53 players even though the move seemed to leave them a little thin, at least at the time. Wilhelm made one special-teams tackle Sunday, after an 18-yard kickoff return. Briggs made one assisted special-teams tackle, after a 2-yard punt return.
• Lots of things would have changed had the 49ers drafted Rodgers first overall in 2005. Around here, we generally approach the subject in terms of what Rodgers might have meant to the 49ers. The Packers would obviously be vastly different, too. Perhaps they wouldn't have drafted a quarterback in the first round. Would they have kept Brett Favre?
• NFC West teams loaded up on pass catchers in the 2008 draft. Donnie Avery, John Carlson, Early Doucet, Keenan Burton and Josh Morgan come to mind. The Packers drafted Jordy Nelson, who caught nine passes for 140 yards and a touchdown against the Steelers. Avery went 33rd overall. Nelson went three spots later.
• The punt Green Bay muffed early in the game did not cost the Packers because they recovered. A turnover there might have changed the game. At the time, I thought of Steelers special-teams coach Al Everest, who was fired by Mike Singletary following the 2009 season.
• The Cardinals plan to again pursue one or more members of the Steelers' defensive staff about possibly becoming defensive coordinator in Arizona. That makes sense. Pittsburgh has been very good on defense overall. The Steelers' pass defense has had problems in the team's past two Super Bowls, however. Rodgers and Kurt Warner combined for 681 yards passing and six touchdowns with one interception in those games.
• On second thought, those passing numbers against the Steelers' defense don't look so bad. Arizona allowed 664 yards passing and seven touchdowns with one interception in its last two playoff games, both after the 2009 season. Rodgers and the New Orleans Saints' Drew Brees did the damage.
• Former 49ers receiver Arnaz Battle played in the game for Pittsburgh, but he did not register a statistic.
• Former Rams defensive tackle Ryan Pickett -- chosen right before Reggie Wayne, Todd Heap and Drew Brees in the 2001 draft -- started at left defensive end for the Packers. He made tackles following runs of 1 and 3 yards.

By the way, thanks to those who offered ideas for the blog via Facebook. Nicely done.

Update: Another thanks goes to those who pointed out ex-Seahawk Howard Green's role in pressuring Roethlisberger into an interception.

Roster turnover is a leading topic for discussion in Seattle following the release of T.J. Houshmandzadeh in particular.

I've addressed the subject in depth across the division -- first May 26 and again July 30 -- and it's worth another look now that teams have reduced to 53 players for the regular season.

This time, I'm going to break down the changes by position, listing players no longer on the active roster at each main position group (with new players in parenthesis). Departures outnumber replacements because some players finished last season on injured reserve, meaning they were not part of the 53-man roster.

Some players no longer on the active roster remain with the team (they could be suspended, deemed physically unable to perform or part of the practice squad).

St. Louis Rams (34 off roster)

Defensive back: Eric Bassey, Quincy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Clinton Hart, Cordelius Parks, David Roach, Jonathan Wade (added Kevin Dockery, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart)

Defensive line: Victor Adeyanju, Adam Carriker, Leger Douzable, Leonard Little, LaJuan Ramsey, James Wyche (added Jermelle Cudjo, Fred Robbins, George Selvie, Eugene Sims)

Linebacker: K.C. Asiodu, Paris Lenon (added Na'il Diggs, Josh Hull)

Offensive line: Roger Allen, Alex Barron, Ryan McKee, Mark Setterstrom, Phillip Trautwein, Eric Young (added Renardo Foster, Hank Fraley, Rodger Saffold)

Quarterback: Kyle Boller, Marc Bulger, Keith Null, Mike Reilly (added Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley, Thaddeus Lewis)

Running back: Samkon Gado, Chris Ogbonnaya (added Keith Toston)

Special teams: Ryan Neill

Tight end: Randy McMichael (added Mike Hoomanawanui, Fendi Onobun)

Wide receiver: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jordan Kent, Ruvell Martin (added Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry, Mardy Gilyard)

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Seattle Seahawks (33 off roster)

Defensive back: Jamar Adams, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson (added Kam Chancellor, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness, Earl Thomas, Walter Thurmond)

Defensive line: Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, Nick Reed, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill (added Kentwan Balmer, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, Junior Siavii, E.J. Wilson)

Linebacker: Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis (added Matt McCoy; note that Hill is suspended for the first regular-season game)

Offensive line: Trevor Canfield, Brandon Frye, Walter Jones, Damion McIntosh, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto (added Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ben Hamilton, Russell Okung, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus)

Quarterback: Mike Teel, Seneca Wallace (added Charlie Whitehurst)

Running back: Justin Griffith, Louis Rankin, Tyler Roehl, Owen Schmitt (added Quinton Ganther, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington)

Special teams: Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson (added Clint Gresham)

Tight end: John Owens (added Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy)

Wide receiver: Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (added Golden Tate, Mike Williams)

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Arizona Cardinals (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Ralph Brown, Bryant McFadden, Antrel Rolle (added A.J. Jefferson, Trumaine McBride, Brandon McDonald, Kerry Rhodes)

Defensive line: Jason Banks (added Dan Williams)

Linebacker: Monty Beisel, Bertrand Berry, Cody Brown, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Chike Okeafor, Pago Togafau (added Paris Lenon, Cyril Obiozor, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington; Hayes can return from the physically unable to perform list after six games)

Offensive line: Mike Gandy, Herman Johnson, Reggie Wells (added Alan Faneca, Rex Hadnot)

Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Kurt Warner (added Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton)

Running back: Justin Green, Dan Kreider (added Jerome Johnson)

Special teams: Neil Rackers (added Jay Feely)

Tight end: Anthony Becht (added Jim Dray)

Wide receiver: Anquan Boldin, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban (added Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams)

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San Francisco 49ers (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Dre' Bly, Walt Harris, Marcus Hudson, Mark Roman (added Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock, William James, Taylor Mays)

Defensive line: Kentwan Balmer, Derek Walker

Linebacker: Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich, Matt Wilhelm (added NaVorro Bowman, Travis LaBoy)

Offensive line: Tony Pashos, Chris Patrick, Cody Wallace (added Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati)

Quarterback: Nate Davis, Shaun Hill (added David Carr, Troy Smith)

Running back: Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Brit Miller, Michael Robinson (added Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook)

Special teams: Shane Andrus, Ricky Schmitt

Wide receiver: Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Brandon Jones (added Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Zeigler)

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The first chart shows how many players are back -- at least for now -- from Week 17 rosters and injured reserve lists. Seattle has the fewest number back with 26.

The second chart shows how many players each team has shed since Week 17 last season. This counts players who were on injured reserve. Teams with lots of players on injured reserve had more players to lose.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic checks in with Tom Pestock, an offensive lineman trying to earn a roster spot with Arizona. Pestock landed on the practice squad and strong safety Adrian Wilson said he wouldn't want to tangle with the little-known lineman. Why? Bickley: "Pestock is 6 feet 6 and listed at 318 pounds. He played college football at Division II Northwest Missouri State. He is a three-time Golden Gloves champion, and a former Jiu-Jitsu champion. He trains at the Lion's Den in Scottsdale as a mixed martial arts fighter and has jumped in the ring for a few unsanctioned fights."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Deuce Lutui is back in the Cardinals' starting lineup despite weight concerns. Somers: "In training camp, Lutui joked that he was the Cardinals' Lindsay Lohan of the summer because of all the bad publicity he received. A restricted free agent, Lutui chose to wait until mid-June to sign his one-year tender of $1.76 million, which didn't please coach Ken Whisenhunt and team management. They feared that Lutui would gain weight, which he did, and made it clear Lutui's job was not secure. The club signed two guards in free agency this year, Alan Faneca and Rex Hadnot, and Lutui spent the preseason playing behind Reggie Wells. But it was also clear from the beginning of camp that Lutui was better than Wells, and that it would be hard for coaches to keep Lutui out of the lineup."

Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic passes along a question-and-answer session with Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says rookie Daryl Washington will start at linebacker for Arizona in Week 1. The team has a shortage at linebacker and surplus at cornerback. Urban: "The Cards are clearly still looking to find the right combination in the secondary, which is why they have kept six cornerbacks right now. A.J. Jefferson has upside -- I doubt he’ll be active on game days at first -- and they aren’t sure yet what they have in Brandon McDonald, the newcomer from Cleveland. I am also guessing there will be a lot of nickel and dime looks, like strong safety Adrian Wilson playing in/near the box. That’s one way to not worry about needing too many linebackers." The Cardinals will probably need Wilson near the line of scrimmage against Steven Jackson and the Rams.

Also from Urban: Larry Fitzgerald hopes to ditch his knee brace Sunday, but he might have to wear it.

Ben Malcolmson of seahawks.com lists daily themes installed by new coach Pete Carroll, from "tell the truth Monday" to game day.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com checks in with new defensive lineman Junior Siavii, who has this to say about Seahawks practices: "I tell you, they practice hard here. We were really going out there."

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks are making too many moves right before the regular-season opener.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times compares the Seahawks' roster to past versions, noting that there are 27 new players. Indeed, according to my rosters, Seattle has a league-low 26 players returning from Week 17 last season (counting players who were on injured reserve at that time).

John Morgan of Field Gulls sizes up Siavii and says the newly signed defensive lineman isn't a two-gapping Colin Cole type. Morgan: "I am not happy about losing (Kevin) Vickerson, and do not think Siavii replaces Vickerson, but I do think Siavii is a good player and can contribute."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are expecting contributions from their rookies, and not just from quarterback Sam Bradford.

Also from Thomas: The Rams' regular-season opener is not yet sold out even though Bradford is making his first career start.

More from Thomas: Keenan Burton was the odd man out after the Rams acquired Mark Gibson. The Rams liked Burton but did not value him as one of the six best wide receivers on the team.

More yet from Thomas: a chat transcript featuring this thought on whether the Rams already have the best quarterback in the NFC West: "Very interesting question. And I think the fact that the QB situations in SF and Ariz. are still relatively unsettled means the Rams could make a quick advancement in the standings if Bradford comes along and if the front office continues to build a better supporting cast. Let's face it, there are still more than a couple holes on this team. I still have a lot of respect for (Matt) Hasselbeck in Seattle although it looks like he's nearing the end."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers hope to re-sign Nate Davis to their practice squad. Also, Troy Smith will compete with David Carr for the No. 2 job. Singletary on KNBR radio: "Absolutely. I think that's a very safe thing to say. We're always working to get better and I want our guys to know that now that the season's started we're still on the progression of competing. And the toughest competition should be right here, and that's the push to get better each day." Smith's addition affected more than Davis, in other words. It also signaled uncertainty with what Carr might be able to do in relief.

49ers scout Ethan Waugh explains what the start of the season means to him. Waugh: "I am currently headed to my first game of the season. I’ll be watching West Texas A&M play at Grand Valley State in Allendale, Mich. I have done some background work on Grand Valley State but have not yet seen them live. It should be a competitive game because both teams are powerhouses in Division II and have a number of quality players. We are always looking for diamonds in the rough and hopefully we can find one at the game."

Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News compares the 2010 49ers to the 1985 Chicago Bears. Gary Fencik sees similarities but says, "Now I just hope they have a quarterback who can provide as much leadership and as many intangibles as Jim McMahon did for us."

Matt Hasselbeck called the Seattle Seahawks' flurry of roster moves an avalanche.

As in, the avalanche that swept away his good friend and teammate, the recently released Craig Terrill.

It's that time of year. NFL teams slash their rosters. Some slash more than others and the Seahawks have slashed more than most.

Terrill's departure from Seattle leaves right tackle Sean Locklear as the only member of the team's 2004 draft class, and his status is in question (Locklear and newly acquired right tackle Stacy Andrews are each scheduled to earn more than $5 million this season).

I've sifted through what's left and put together updated the 26-column roided-out rosters, available for download. These reflect the latest moves, including:

• the St. Louis Rams' release of Keenan Burton (to make room on the roster for Mark Clayton);
• the San Francisco 49ers' release of Nate Davis (to make room for Troy Smith);
• the Seahawks release of Terrill (to make room for the re-signed Jordan Babineaux);
• and all the practice-squad moves through Monday (Davis could return to the 49ers in that capacity).

The chart shows positional counts for each team in the division. The Rams and Arizona Cardinals appear lighter than usual on the offensive line. The Seahawks and 49ers are a bit bloated at that position. Seattle appears light at linebacker, although defensive end Dexter Davis might provide flexibility at that position. The 49ers are light at running back, but third tight end Nate Byham could help out at fullback.

The St. Louis Rams hold the No. 1 priority for waiver claims and they'll probably put that status to work following the mandatory reduction to 53 players Saturday.

With that in mind, let's take a position-by-position look at the Rams' roster heading into their second season under coach Steve Spagnuolo (current roster counts listed in parentheses):

Quarterbacks (4)

Average number kept since 2003: 2.9

Keepers: Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley

Looking safe: Keith Null

On the bubble: Thaddeus Lewis

Comment: Lewis has played well enough to intrigue the Rams, but probably not well enough for another team to claim him off waivers. That makes Lewis a natural choice for the practice squad.

Running backs (5)

Average number kept since 2003: 5.3

Keepers: Steven Jackson, Mike Karney

Looking safe: Kenneth Darby

Not sure what to think: Keith Toston, Chris Ogbonnaya

Comment: The Rams are carrying as many running backs as teams typically keep, but multiple spots could be up for grabs depending on which running backs become available via waivers. I'd rather list Toston, Ogbonnaya and Darby in one group until it becomes clear which backs -- and which types of backs -- hit the waiver wire. Ogbonnaya showed potential last season and looked good early in camp, but his performance hasn't carried over to exhibition games and that could cost him. Perhaps expectations were too high. Darby's toughness and special-teams contributions could help him. Toston runs hard and could land on the practice squad.

Wide receivers (9)

Average number kept since 2003: 5.3

Keepers: Laurent Robinson, Mardy Gilyard, Danny Amendola, Brandon Gibson, Keenan Burton

On the bubble: Dominique Curry

Also: Brandon McRae, Jordan Kent, Danario Alexander

Comment: Curry stood out as an undrafted steal during camp. He has excellent size and has showed good ability on special teams. Burton's durability should remain a concern, but that's the case with Robinson and even Gibson at this point. Gibson's value rises with Donnie Avery on injured reserve.

Tight ends (6)

Average number kept since 2003: 3.0

Keepers: Billy Bajema, Mike Hoomanawanui

Looking safe: Fendi Onobun

Not sure what to think: Daniel Fells, Darcy Johnson

Also: Dennis Morris

Comment: But wait, Fells is the incumbent starter, right? Yes, but he hasn't been durable and there's so much to like about the rookies Onobun and Hoomanawanui. Bajema is an obvious keeper for his blocking and all-around game (he has caught the ball well on limited chances). Johnson has shown toughness and blocking ability, so he could be an option if the team wants to move on from Fells. Perhaps I'm over thinking things here, but the emergence of Onobun and Hoomanawanui during camp creates dilemmas.

Offensive linemen (13)

Average number kept since 2003: 9.3

Keepers: Jason Brown, Jacob Bell, Rodger Saffold, Jason Smith, Adam Goldberg, Hank Fraley

Looking safe: John Greco, Roger Allen III

Also: Eric Young, Drew Miller, Ryan McKee, Renardo Foster, Tim Mattran

Comment: It's tough finding nine keepers here, so the Rams could be active in the waiver-claim game. Greco's versatility works in his favor. Are the Rams still high on Allen's prospects? I know they liked him last season, but that was before reconstructive knee surgery. Trading Alex Barron made sense in the big picture, but the Rams would have better depth here if Barron were still around.

Defensive line (12)

Average number kept since 2003: 8.6

Keepers: Chris Long, Fred Robbins, Clifton Ryan, James Hall, Gary Gibson, Darell Scott

Looking safe: George Selvie

On the bubble: Victor Adeyanju, C.J. Ah You, Jermelle Cudjo

Also: Ernest Reid, Eugene Sims

Comment: Durability concerns could cost Ah You. Adeyanju also could be on the bubble depending on what options the Rams have beyond their own roster. Cudjo has made a positive impression during camp and preseason. Same goes for Selvie, although an injury sidelined him part of the time.

Linebackers (9)

Average number kept since 2003: 6.3

Keepers: James Laurinaitis, Larry Grant, Na'il Diggs, Chris Chamberlain

Looking safe: Bobby Carpenter

On the bubble: David Vobora, Josh Hull

Also: Devin Bishop, Cardia Jackson

Comment: Carpenter has gotten some work at defensive end. Perhaps his presence in an emergency capacity at that position could allow the Rams to keep one fewer defensive lineman, at least early. Chamberlain is probably the best special-teams position player on the Rams, enhancing his value. Hull could provide depth behind Laurinaitis because he's a true middle linebacker, whereas Vobora can back up every position. That could be a close call.

Defensive backs (14)

Average number kept since 2003: 9.7

Keepers: Oshiomogho Atogwe, Ron Bartell, Justin King, Bradley Fletcher, James Butler, Kevin Payne, Craig Dahl, Jerome Murphy, Kevin Dockery

Looking safe: Quincy Butler

On the bubble: Darian Stewart

Also: Brett Johnson, Marquis Johnson, Antoine Thompson

Comment: James Butler's knee injury probably makes keeping Payne a higher priority. Stewart could be a candidate for the practice squad.

Specialists (3)

Average number kept since 2003: 2.7

Keepers: Josh Brown, Donnie Jones, Chris Massey

Comment: Strong group here.

Donnie Avery's season-ending knee injury will prevent him from working with Sam Bradford and the rest of the St. Louis Rams' starters in the final exhibition game this season.

That one sentence summed up the major news from Rams camp Friday: Yes, Avery's injury was as bad as feared (a torn ACL), and Bradford will indeed make a second consecutive start at quarterback (although coach Steve Spagnuolo has not yet named Bradford the regular-season starter).

The injury to Avery is a tough one for the Rams, as reflected in general manager Billy Devaney's answer, delivered during training camp, when I asked him which position concerned him most.

"I just want the receivers -- if they play to their ability, we'll be OK," Devaney said. "If we have injuries there ..."

The Rams have better depth at wide receiver this season, but it's not proven depth. Avery was arguably the most proven receiver on the roster.

It's more important now for Laurent Robinson to stay healthy, something he could not do last season. Rookie Mardy Gilyard should make an immediate impact. Slot receiver Danny Amendola enjoyed a strong training camp. Brandon Gibson caught a touchdown pass Thursday night after missing much of camp with an injury. Dominique Curry has excellent size and has impressed as a rookie free agent. Keenan Burton, Brandon McRae, Jordan Kent and the recently signed Danario Alexander are also competing.

The quarterback situation appears straightforward. I'm not sure Bradford could play poorly enough in the final exhibition game to justify leaving him on the bench heading into the regular season.

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

Rams

101ESPN St. Louis: receiver Keenan Burton

101ESPN St. Louis: executive Kevin Demoff

101ESPN St. Louis: receiver Laurent Robinson

101ESPN St. Louis: reporter John Clayton

101ESPN St. Louis: coach Steve Spagnuolo

101ESPN St. Louis: defensive end Chris Long

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49ersKNBR680 San Francisco: coach Mike Singletary

KNBR680 San Francisco: reporter Matt Barrows

KNBR680 San Francisco: reporter Matt Maiocco

KNBR680 San Francisco: former receiver Dwight Clark

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CardinalsXTRA910 Phoenix: nose tackle Gabe Watson

XTRA910 Phoenix: kicker Jay Feely

XTRA910 Phoenix: receiver Max Komar

XTRA910 Phoenix: safety Adrian Wilson

XTRA910 Phoenix: cornerback Greg Toler

XTRA910 Phoenix: linebacker Clark Haggans

XTRA910 Phoenix: running back Tim Hightower

azcardinals.com: quarterback Matt Leinart (video)

azcardinals.com: coach Ken Whisenhunt (video)

azcardinals.com: In the Red Zone with Whisenhunt

KTAR620 Phoenix: Whisenhunt

KTAR620 Phoenix: general manager Rod Graves

KTAR620 Phoenix: defensive coordinator Bill Davis

KTAR620 Phoenix: special-teams coach Kevin Spencer

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Seahawks

KJR950 Seattle: receiver Mike Williams

KJR950 Seattle: former defensive end Bryce Fisher

KJR950 Seattle: cornerback Kelly Jennings

KJR950 Seattle: reporter Danny O'Neil

KJR950 Seattle: linebacker David Hawthorne

KJR950 Seattle: quarterback J.P. Losman

KJR950 Seattle: safety Earl Thomas

KJR950 Seattle: quarterback Matt Hasselbeck

KJR950 Seattle: safety Lawyer Milloy

KJR950 Seattle: running back Leon Washington

This is the first file with audio links of the 2010 season. As a result, some of these interviews are several days old. Remember to put on those headphones if you're at work.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says former Rams coach Dick Vermeil would welcome a chance to work for the team under pending owner Stan Kroenke. Vermeil: "Oh yeah, I’d listen. There’s nobody in the United States more prepared to be an owner as Stan Kroenke. It’d be a crime for him not to end up with this football team." How could Kroenke say no? Vermeil would be perfect for the Rams in some sort of advisory role. At age 73, he wouldn't be a direct threat to the current coaching staff, but it would be important for him to temper his comments sometimes.

Also from Thomas: a chat transcript says the Rams haven't signed a veteran backup running back in part because they like Chris Ogbonnaya. Thomas: "Right or wrong, the Rams think Ogbonnaya has what it takes to be a good NFL third-down back. And they like Keith Toston, the undrafted rookie from Oklahoma State although they're not necessarily adverstising it. Yes, once again, I'll say it is puzzling that they didn't bring in a veteran with some tread left to back up Steven Jackson." This affirms what I saw from Ogbonnaya in rewatching Rams games this offseason.

More from Thomas: Oshiomogho Atogwe is on the comeback trail following an injury-shortened 2009 season. Atogwe: "It was tough. I've been playing football all my life. Never missed a game. Never missed any time. So to be completely away from it for so long was hard on me. But during that time I used it to improve myself, and just continue to develop as a man and develop as a person. So that when I did come back to the game, I'd be better off."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Keenan Burton faces a tough fight for a roster spot. Coats: "Ten wide receivers are competing for five or six roster spots, and only Donnie Avery, Laurent Robinson and probably rookie Mardy Gilyard appear to be safe bets to make the team." I'd be surprised if Brandon Gibson did not make the cut. Also, boxing promoter Don King was at Rams practice. No joke -- or trickeration.

Also from Coats: Quincy Butler replaced Ron Bartell with the first-team defense after Bartell suffered what appeared to be a significant ankle injury.

The Associated Press checks in with Rams defensive end Chris Long, who made strides last season. Long: "I was just kind of letting things go; not worrying about it so much and just playing. I think that's just me getting better. I don't think it's a flash in the pan thing. I hope not."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams owner Chip Rosenbloom expects NFL owners to vote on Stan Kroenke's bid during an Aug. 25 meeting. Rosenbloom: "We're optimistic that the transaction will be supported by the owners and the league. Our relationship with Stan has been and continues to be excellent. We're finalizing documents and expect it to be voted on Aug. 25." All signs point to approval for Kroenke, the Rams' current minority owner.

Also from Thomas: Free-agent wide receiver Danario Alexander passed a physical exam with the Rams, but left without a contract. Alexander planned to meet with the Seahawks as well.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says hot conditions are affecting the Rams at training camp. Coach Steve Spagnuolo: "I don't think you want to [practice in the heat] all the time. Then you get a weak team and a team coming out of training camp that's just beat up and burnt. We don't want to do that. But it's early right now, so the heat's good … to get the team acclimated to this particular environment. We're going to play some games in some warm weather, especially early in the season."

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams camp is different with Sam Bradford onboard. Burwell: "That nothing bad or crazy or weird or goofy or tragic or just plain stupid cropped up at the 11th hour to keep Bradford from reporting on time might not seem like a miracle to anyone who doesn't follow the Rams closely. But to long-suffering Rams loyalists who have spent an eternity hoping for the best but always, always expecting the worst, this was a refreshing change of pace."

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com says Bradford offers a start, but nothing more. Gordon: "Aside from Bradford, running back Steven Jackson and perhaps rookie wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, how many skill position Rams would interest other teams? Their most polished receiver, Laurent Robinson, has just 55 career receptions. He runs crisp routes but can’t stay healthy. Speedy Donnie Avery has 100 catches in two seasons, but he looks more like a No. 3 receiver than a true No. 1. The obscure supporting cast behind these two includes Keenan Burton, Brandon Gibson, Danny Amendola, Brooks Foster and Jordan Kent."

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat quotes former Rams coach Dick Vermeil this way on Bradford's new contract: "I wouldn't advise him to turn it down. I think if you give the money to the right kind of people, it doesn't change anything. It adds a sense of responsibility to meet that commitment that the organization has made to him. Obviously they would have invested that kind of money if they didn't feel he was mature enough to handle it, and keep it in the proper perspective. From what everybody says, he is the kind of guy who will want to prove he is worth every dollar.''

Also from Korte: Linebacker James Laurinaitis is more comfortable in his second NFL season.

NFL teams are starting to declare players "physically unable to perform" as they convene for training camps.

Wes Welker of the New England Patriots recently became a high-profile addition to a PUP list. We'll see NFC West teams take advantage of PUP lists as well, making this a good time to lay out exactly what PUP status means for players.

Players who do not pass physical examinations before training camp cannot practice. Teams place these players on their PUP lists. The players remain on the active roster and count against 80-man limits. They can come off the PUP list and begin practicing as soon as they pass physical examinations.

Players remaining on PUP lists at the Sept. 4 mandatory reduction to 53 players are not eligible to play until after the first six games. They continue to receive their salaries in full.

The chart shows current NFC West players who finished the 2009 season on NFC West injured reserve lists. Some could be candidates for PUP lists as camps open. Their ages are rounded down to the nearest tenth, making it easy to see, for example, that Rams long snapper Chris Massey is much closer to 31 than he is to 30.

Some players not shown in the chart could be candidates for PUP lists.

The Arizona Cardinals Gerald Hayes is one obvious candidate. The St. Louis Rams have said they expect Steven Jackson to be recovered from back surgery in time for camp. The Seattle Seahawks' T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Deion Branch and Leon Washington have missed time recovering from surgeries this offseason.

There's not necessarily reason for panic when a team places a high-profile player on its PUP list to open camp. Sometimes the player misses only a short time.

The Cincinnati Bengals, apparently suspecting Terrell Owens might be using the St. Louis Rams for leverage, called the free-agent receiver's bluff earlier Monday.

Now the Rams have made it clear they won't be used, either.

As Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports, the Rams have decided not to pursue Owens after discussing the matter in recent days.

This is probably a wise move even though Owens would have become the best receiver on the team. Current Rams receivers include Brandon Gibson, Keenan Burton, Dominique Curry, Danny Amendola, Donnie Avery, Laurent Robinson, Brandon McRae, Mardy Gilyard, Jordan Kent and Brooks Foster.

Earlier: Pros, cons of adding Owens to the Rams.

» NFC On the Radar: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A player, coach or issue that should be on your radar as training camp approaches.

A sore hip bothered Kurt Warner at Arizona Cardinals camp last summer. It wasn't a big deal.

Two summers ago, the Seattle Seahawks downplayed Matt Hasselbeck's bad back because they didn't know the full extent of the problem. That one turned out to be more serious than expected.

Having the right feel for each injury situation can be tough. I'm sure a surprise injury or two will become a story after NFC West teams report for training camps in late July.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (knee), St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (back), Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee) and Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (pectoral) are among the high-profile NFC West players coming off surgery rehabs. Their situations will bear monitoring.

The following players ended last season on injured reserve (some are no longer with NFC West teams):

Arizona Cardinals

Matt Ware, Mike Gandy, Justin Green, Cody Brown

San Francisco 49ers

Tony Pashos, Ricky Schmitt, Thomas Clayton, Jeff Ulbrich, Walt Harris, Kentwan Balmer, Curtis Taylor

Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Roehl, Walter Jones, Kevin Houser, Brandon Frye, Tatupu, Mike Hass

St. Louis Rams

Marc Bulger, Adam Carriker, Oshiomogho Atogwe, Eric Bassey, C.J. Ah You, Brooks Foster, Gary Gibson, Jacob Bell, Daniel Fells, Chris Massey, Bradley Fletcher, Laurent Robinson, Keenan Burton