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Gregg Williams' image rehabilitation took a couple steps forward this week, helping his case for eventual reinstatement from an indefinite bounty suspension.

The St. Louis Rams' would-be defensive coordinator reportedly helped out tornado victims early in the week. And even though audio tapes revealed him targeting specific San Francisco players for injuries before a playoff game last season, 49ers general manager Trent Baalke and cornerback Carlos Rogers offered public support for him Wednesday.

Over time, these sorts of developments make it easier to envision Williams rehabilitating his image sufficiently for the NFL to strongly consider giving him another chance. We're still early in that process, of course.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Baalke reached out to Williams, his former co-worker with the Washington Redskins. Baalke called Williams a friend and said, "I don't view him any differently today than I did 20 days ago."

Also from Barrows: Baalke cites Malcolm Gladwell in explaining why quick draft-related decisions often are the best ones. Of course, those quick decisions are made after years of research. They're not hunches.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers will poll players before deciding whether to remain on the road between games against Minnesota and the Jets.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle passes along coach Jim Harbaugh's comments on Randy Moss staying away from the team until April 30. The 49ers expect Moss to arrive in time for on-field work and football-related preparation. The team remains in the conditioning phase of its program.

Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune says the Bears have reached agreement with former 49ers guard Chilo Rachal, an unrestricted free agent. The 49ers had decided to move on from Rachal this offseason.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers insights into the Rams' 2012 schedule. Miklasz: "A huge factor in schedule being so front-loaded with home games is the availability of the Dome. Because of other events booked into the convention center/stadium, several dates in the second half of the season were unavailable for scheduling Rams' home games. That's an issue. I'm sure this will be a point of negotiations in the discussions for a new lease agreement. Not that anyone realistically expects the rebuilding Rams to contend for a playoff spot this season, but to have a fighting chance they'll have to rack some wins early, and take advantage of having three of four at home before traveling to London. Because the schedule turns against them pretty quickly."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the recently re-signed Kellen Clemens already knows the Rams' offense from his days with Brian Schottenheimer and the New York Jets.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com offers updates from Rams minicamps, with this info on the offensive line: "Jeff Fisher confirmed Wednesday that as it stands, Rodger Saffold will continue to work on the left side with Jason Smith on the right. For now, the open left guard job is being filled by a combination of Robert Turner and Bryan Mattison. Quinn Ojinnaka has been considered as well. Not that any of that means much of anything this early in the game. Much more will be known following the final veteran minicamp in June when the Rams have a full roster."

Also from Wagoner: Smith is back from his concussion.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals cleared room under their salary cap by restructuring their contract with veteran center Lyle Sendlein. Urban: "Sendlein’s cap number was supposed to be $3.25 million, and the move shrinks that number to $1.975 million. Fellow lineman Daryn Colledge did the same kind of thing earlier in the offseason. The Cards have been snug against the cap most of the offseason." Noted: The move means the cap number for Sendlein will rise for future seasons. The cap itself will not increase as much as once expected.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com rounds up various mock draft projections for Seattle, with the following thoughts from Nolan Nawrocki regarding cornerback Stephon Gilmore as one option: "Pete Carroll’s defense thrives on the size and physicality of its cornerbacks. Gilmore has the size desired to hem the line at a premium position of need, a prime reason why cornerbacks such as Gilmore and Alabama’s Dre Kirkpatrick could be drafted in the top 15."

A look at my all-NFC West picks for the 2011 season, beginning with the offense:

• San Francisco's Michael Crabtree had competition from Doug Baldwin and Brandon Lloyd for the second receiver spot behind Larry Fitzgerald. Baldwin was the best on third down. Lloyd made the most spectacular grabs. Crabtree was a starter within the division all season and an aggressive blocker. He also caught more passes. Baldwin would have made it if we had space for a slot receiver. But with Crabtree making a few big plays, including an outstanding grab for a 41-yard gain at Seattle with the NFC's second seed on the line, he had the edge.
• Arizona's Daryn Colledge edged out the 49ers' Mike Iupati at left guard. Colledge, as a seasoned veteran, was more consistent. Iupati was outstanding on his best plays. Colledge, signed from Green Bay in free agency, upped the standard for the position. I thought he was strong as a run blocker in particular.
• Seattle's Max Unger overcame a slow start to beat out Arizona's Lyle Sendlein and San Francisco's Jonathan Goodwin at center. Unger picked up his game beginning with the Seahawks' strong rushing performance at Dallas. He looks like a long-term starter.
• The right side of the offensive line won out by default. The 49ers' Anthony Davis was the only right tackle in the division to start all season. Seattle's Breno Giacomini finished the season strong and could remain the starter next season. St. Louis' Harvey Dahl was an easy choice at right guard even though he finished the season at right tackle.
• The NFC West produced four strong candidates at running back. Seattle's Marshawn Lynch was an easy choice after leading the league in rushing since Week 9. He was a threat after contact, as a receiver and even when opponents seemed to have him tackled. The Rams' Steven Jackson edged out the 49ers' Frank Gore for the other spot mostly because Gore's production diminished as the season progressed. I didn't like leaving off Gore, because I respect the way he plays, but he also dropped too many passes this season.
• Alex Smith was the easy choice at quarterback.

Those were the primary considerations. I'll be back with defense and special teams. The chart breaks down my all-division choices for offense since 2008.

The comments section is now open. As always, let's work through our differences with civility and restraint.
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NFL teams strive for continuity along their offensive lines.

Seattle Seahawks fans remember the five players largely responsible for their team's Super Bowl appearance following the 2005 season. Left tackle Walter Jones, left guard Steve Hutchinson, center Robbie Tobeck, right guard Chris Gray and right tackle Sean Locklear started every game.

When the Arizona Cardinals made it to the Super Bowl a few years later, the same five linemen started all season: left tackle Mike Gandy, left guard Reggie Wells, center Lyle Sendlein, right guard Deuce Lutui and right tackle Levi Brown.

Teams shuffling their lines during a season usually do so for negative reasons such as injuries or poor performance.

The chart ranks NFC West teams by percentage of offensive snaps played by the most frequently used combination of five offensive linemen this season. The Seahawks' leading five has played 26.2 percent, third-lowest in the NFL behind those for Indianapolis (19.6 percent) and Buffalo (24.1). Download full NFL rankings here.

The most frequently used five for Seattle featured left tackle Russell Okung, left guard Robert Gallery, center Max Unger, right guard John Moffitt and right tackle James Carpenter. They have played 183 snaps together. That is two more than than a group featuring the same five, but with Paul McQuistan instead of Gallery at left guard. The current group, this one featuring Gallery at left guard, McQuistan and right guard and Breno Giacomini at right tackle, has 130 snaps. Three others line combinations have at least 50 snaps.

The Houston Texans (98.9) and Denver Broncos (95.8) are the only teams to use the same five linemen on more than 85 percent of snaps, according to ESPN Stats & Information. They rank among the NFL's top three teams in rushing yardage, with Denver's totals including 455 yards from quarterback Tim Tebow.

The 49ers' most frequently used fivesome ranks 13th at 62.8 percent. The Cardinals' primary five ranks 16th at 53.1 percent. The Rams' five ranks 29th at 34.5 percent.

San Francisco has averaged 5.1 yards per carry with Adam Snyder at right guard (418 total plays) and 3.1 per carry with Chilo Rachal in that spot (201 plays). No other frequently used combinations in the division feature such disparities. Seattle has averaged 3.6 yards per carry with its current line, down from the 4.2 and 4.3 range with the lines it used most frequently earlier in the year. Sack percentage is also up slightly.

Imagine going to work and only later realizing someone had slipped a microphone into your clothing so they could hear everything you said throughout the day.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says that's what essentially happened to Cardinals center Lyle Sendlein. Somers: "League officials issued a memo earlier this month directing teams to have their starting center or starting guards wear microphones during games. The team has the option of which players wear the microphone, and only one mike is open at a time. The league and television networks want to enhance the sound during games, giving fans a better sense of the action on the field. ... Sendlein said he wasn't aware the microphone was in his pads the first time he wore it, against the Giants on Oct. 2. His brother told him later that Sendlein could be heard. The issue was approved by the players in the collective bargaining agreement." Noted: San Francisco 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh recently said he likes watching game broadcasts for the sounds that wouldn't be available watching coaches' video, which is shot from high above the field.

Also from Somers: Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb doesn't plan to get away much during the bye week. Also, the Cardinals are putting special emphasis on issues with their two-minute offense: "To correct the problem, coach Ken Whisenhunt changed the structure of practice. On Thursdays of game week, the two-minute session was usually done at less than full speed, so players could concentrate on assignments. Starting last week, that session became full speed. And it was carried out that way this week, with the first units working against each other."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times notes that Aaron Curry's departure from the Seahawks leaves the team with zero first-round draft choices from the Tim Ruskell era. O'Neil: "First, Seattle made no real effort to re-sign center Chris Spencer, who left for Chicago as a free agent. Then, the Seahawks traded cornerback Kelly Jennings to Cincinnati before the regular season began. Now, it is expected that Aaron Curry will be traded to the Oakland Raiders, a deal that hasn't quite been finalized, but is largely expected."

Jerry Brewer of the Seattle Times marvels at Curry's demise in relation to the obvious physical talent Curry possesses.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune offers thoughts on Curry's shortcomings: "The criticisms of Curry included his lack of instinctual play. In his first season, he was expected to be an edge pass rusher, but rarely came up with big plays. When he was asked to drop back into coverage, he appeared to lose track of receivers or drop potential interceptions. After Curry struggled in the second game this season against Pittsburgh, the staff gave Wright a chance to start in his place. Afterward, Curry said he was at peace with the demotion because of his strong faith, and that he would stay focused on improving as a player."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams quarterback Sam Bradford returned from his bye week refreshed and with renewed confidence in the team. Bradford: "The more I thought about things the more I realized that we've got the right people here. The right players; the right coaches. We've all just got to continue to work hard no matter what happens. Buy in and we'll get this thing figured out."

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Rams rookie tight end Lance Kendricks, who will be returning home to Wisconsin when the team visits Lambeau Field.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says veteran Rams cornerback Rod Hood spent his bye week huddling with secondary coach Clayton Lopez in an effort to learn the team's defense in time for the Green Bay game. Hood: "It’s unfortunate what happened to Fletch but it’s time for some guys to step up. I think that’s what they brought me in for. It’s time to get in the game plan as much as I can and be ready to go on Sunday. Once I got on the team I am definitely devoted to being here. To me, I have been off for two or three weeks not playing so I am ready now to play."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner is ranking the 49ers' Alex Smith among his top five at the position to this point in the season. Warner: "My big surprise: Alex Smith comes in at No. 4. A guy I probably didn't expect to make this list all year long, but he's got his team at 4-1 right now. He's playing as consistent as anybody. And what I've seen the last couple weeks is him making the big play, something that he hadn't done up to that point in the season."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers ordered and received new speakers, the better to simulate opposing teams' crowd noise. The team played songs from AC/DC, Guns 'n' Roses, Ram Jam and Eminem in preparation for Ford Field in Detroit.

Also from Barrows: The team wants to re-sign receiver Josh Morgan, who recently landed on injured reserve.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News passes along Harbaugh's thoughts on linebacker Patrick Willis: "I compare it to baseball in some ways. I mean, the five facets of being a great baseball player. Hitting for power, hitting for average, catch, run, throw, being able to do those five things at an elite level. Patrick as a linebacker, play downhill as a linebacker, No. 1, to be able to drop in coverage, be active and good in coverage, be able to tackle in open space, be able to blitz, strong, with tempo and timing, and also be able to run from sideline to sideline with the agility and the speed to do that and make plays. Those five things, he’s doing it at an elite level, where some ‘backers are great downhill linebackers, but they’re not as good in coverage. Some other ‘backers are really good in coverage but not so good when it comes to downhill and playing between the tackles. I think just like Willie Mays -- to me, five facets of baseball, Willie Mays is the greatest of all-time. And Patrick Willis has a chance to be one of the all-time great linebackers, if he’s able to play at this elite level in all five facets over a long period of time."

Five things I noticed while watching the Arizona Cardinals during their 13-10 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 3:

• Adrian Wilsons' arm: The Cardinals' four-time Pro Bowl safety wears a wrap around his injured right biceps tendon, but the injury does not appear to bother him. Wilson never seems to be protecting the arm. He extends his right arm and pulls himself up when teammates offer a hand. He swings his right arm hard when celebrating with a roundhouse low five. Wilson does not appear to be providing many of the violent tackles that have become a hallmark for him. That could reflect settling into a new defense. He has made plays against the pass and probably should have picked off one in this game after jumping a route early.
• Kolb can take a hit: Durability for new quarterback Kevin Kolb was a concern entering the season. He had suffered a concussion in Week 1 with Philadelphia last season, after all. Kolb continues to bounce back quickly from hard hits. Leroy Hill, one of the Seahawks' most violent tacklers, rocked him at the end of a scramble. Kolb handled the hit well. Durability concerns are subsiding after watching this game and the hit Kolb took after throwing that deep ball to Larry Fitzgerald for a touchdown against Washington. He does need to be wiser about getting rid of the football sometimes, as Kolb has acknowledged.
• Veteran linemen working out OK: I've questioned the Cardinals' aversion to drafting offensive linemen in recent seasons. Those criticisms are losing their edge after watching the Cardinals' line fare reasonably well in difficult road environments, all while division rivals with highly drafted young linemen struggle. Arizona's veteran interior featuring Rex Hadnot, Lyle Sendlein and Daryn Colledge looks pretty good. Colledge did enough against Red Bryant and Brandon Mebane on some of the plays I watched, including one when Kolb found Fitzgerald for a 28-yard reception. Most of the protection breakdowns on the inside appeared to stem from assignment errors, not getting beat physically. Hadnot's veteran savvy showed when he got away with what amounted to a horse-collar tackle against Alan Branch to avoid allowing a sack in the final seconds.
• Campbell's dominance: We've discussed Calais Campbell's dominance in finishing with 10 tackles, four quarterback hits and 2.5 sacks. The Cardinals' defensive end exploited his matchup with Paul McQuistan, the Seahawks' injury replacement at left guard. He also beat left tackle Russell Okung when making a tackle on a running play to set up a third-and-1 situation.
• A.J. Jefferson brings energy: The Cardinals have suffered through obvious issues in their secondary, especially at cornerback. Jefferson is a converted receiver finding his way in a new defensive system. I can see why coaches wanted him on the field, however. Jefferson supported the run aggressively in this game and wasn't afraid to cut down the Seahawks' power back, Marshawn Lynch, near the line of scrimmage. Jefferson also stood out a couple times on special teams.

There we go. Five observations for every team in the division from Week 3. Thanks for coming along.

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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Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch credits Mike Martz for helping the Rams achieve offensive greatness, lamenting only that the current Rams couldn't learn more about the Greatest Show on Turf days by attending Marshall Faulk's Hall of Fame proceedings in Canton. Faulk on Martz: "Listen, man, this is part of my (induction) speech and I'll share that with you. Eight, 10 years ago, (people were calling) Mike Martz crazy, just crazy for throwing the ball the way he did, right? But if you look at today's game, Green Bay just won the Super Bowl throwing it 50 times. Pittsburgh lost throwing it 45 times. Look what Tom Brady does now. Look how much Peyton Manning throws it. This league is doing what Mike Martz started, what he envisioned professional football offenses should look like."

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says first-round pick Robert Quinn resumed practicing in individual drills after sitting out with an injury.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says Mike Sims-Walker made an impact quickly in his first practice with the Rams. Wagoner: "On Mike Sims-Walker’s second practice snap as a member of the St. Louis Rams, he ran past his defender and glided down the sideline where quarterback Sam Bradford hit him in stride for a touchdown that covered roughly 50 yards. It was a play that in Sims-Walker’s mind had been a long time coming. Although many of the veteran free agents who signed with the Rams in the last week have been in St. Louis for a few days, Thursday provided their first opportunity to practice with their new team."

Jason LaCanfora of NFL.com expects veteran tight end Bo Scaife to visit the Rams.

Steve Giegerich of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch experiences Rams camp through the eyes of team interns.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com checks in with 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh regarding Taylor Mays' availability by trade. Harbaugh suggests other teams initiated trade talks and the 49ers are merely indulging them. Harbaugh: "Full disclosure, there have been inquiries about Taylor over the past eight days. Now it's to the point, let's check it out. That's where we are now." Why send out an email to the rest of the league announcing Mays' availability if other teams had already initiated talks? It doesn't really matter. Mays is available. That is the bottom line.

Also from Maiocco: Braylon Edwards' addition gives the 49ers two of the first three players chosen in the 2005 draft. Alex Smith is the other.

Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat passes along a transcript from Smith's interview session. Smith: "I want to come out, a new offense, new coaching staff, new day, absolutely. I was pretty anxious, pretty jacked up. It didn’t help having to watch for basically a week, you can sign but you can’t do anything, and then you’re just sitting here watching, chomping at the bit. So it’s great to finally get out there, we had a lot of fun. Obviously, we’ve got a long road ahead of us, but it felt like we took a step today and we’ll look at film and try to take another one tomorrow."

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Harbaugh wasn't interested in comparing quarterbacks.

Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News says nothing Smith does in practice matters as much any longer. The games are what matter.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle offers thoughts on the 49ers' revamped secondary. Branch: "Donte Whitner, 26, who reportedly signed a three-year contract worth $11.5 million, ranked fifth in the NFL with 140 tackles last year, the only season in his five-year career in which he's played 16 games. The deal signaled the end of free-agent safety Dashon Goldson's four-year tenure as the Niners' new regime continued to aggressively retool a defense which ranked 24th in the NFL against the pass last year."

Rod Mar of seahawks.com offers photos from the team's first practice with its 2011 free-agent class participating.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com provides notes from the Seahawks' practice Thursday. New tight end Zach Miller had this to say about new quarterback Tarvaris Jackson: "I was really impressed. Obviously, just seeing him play on film and on TV is a lot different than getting to play with the guy. I was really impressed. He had a ton of zip on the ball. He was hitting receivers out here and hitting the tight ends. I was really impressed with how accurate he was."

Also from Farnsworth: a quick run through the Seahawks' free-agent additions.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times has this to say about Jackson: "For the record, I thought Jackson looked like a competent quarterback who was practicing with this teammates for the first time. He made some nice throws, he looked natural in the instance I saw when he pulled down the ball and ran. He also admitted himself he missed Mike Williams on a go route, showing that he'll have to develop a better understanding of where his receivers like the ball. Jackson looks much more natural and fluid rolling out than Charlie Whitehurst has in his time here."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune offers thoughts via video regarding Jackson, singling out a couple plays that impressed.

Also from Boling: more thoughts on Jackson, this time in writing.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune files notes from practice, including this one: "Safety Kam Chancellor continues to shine, as he battles for the starting safety job next to Earl Thomas. Chancellor had his second interception in two days off a tipped ball by Aaron Curry intended to Carlson, Jackson’s only interception of the day."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says new Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb was working through issues associated with participating in practice for the first time following an extended layoff. Somers: "It was a unique practice because the number of players working increased from 66 to 90. It was the first workout for several expected starters such as Kolb, guard Daryn Colledge and tight ends Todd Heap and Jeff King. The only thing they learned from watching earlier practices is that standing in one place results in a sore back."

Also from Somers: "The Cardinals made no attempt to re-sign backup nose tackle Gabe Watson, who signed with the Giants on Tuesday. The team doesn't seem to be worried about replacing Watson, however. Veteran defensive ends Nick Eason and Vonnie Holliday can play there, said coach Ken Whisenhunt, and the hope is that David Carter, a sixth-round pick, can also give the team depth at nose tackle and end."

More from Somers: Newly signed linebacker Stewart Bradley is making a positive impression and will likely start at inside linebacker.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Kolb appeared comfortable in his first practice with the Cardinals. Center Lyle Sendlein: "I’m just amazed. Our plays have a lot of verbiage to it, a lot. I don’t think he screwed up calling one. That’s half the battle."

I'm heading over to Seattle Seahawks headquarters Tuesday afternoon before catching a flight to Arizona for Cardinals camp. In the meantime, a few NFC West-related notes and thoughts:

• Rams running backs: The St. Louis Rams are visiting with Atlanta Falcons free-agent running back Jerious Norwood. A deal could be in the works, Tony Softli notes. Cadillac Williams is another option. Finding a backup for Steven Jackson stands as a priority for the Rams this offseason. Norwood is 28 years old and played in only two games last season, but Rams general manager Billy Devaney knows him well. Devaney and Norwood were together on the Falcons. Devaney also knows what the Rams need behind Jackson. This could be a good fit. But not everyone is sold. Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. has been bold in saying Jackson has a lost a step and is declining. Given his thinking, Williamson thinks the Rams need more of a workhorse back in the No. 2 role. Williamson: "Norwood is not good enough. I don't think he is physical enough or reliable enough or durable enough to be Jackson's backup. Other than that, the Rams have done great in free agency. Maybe they could still get a Ronnie Brown or Ricky Williams. A big, physical back to lighten Jackson's load would be great, and you can get backs cheap now. I don't know why they would settle for Norwood. He's fast in a straight line and good in a dome, but he hasn't done anything in a long time."
• Seahawks defensive linemen. Free-agent defensive end Jimmy Wilkerson agreed to terms with Seattle, the team confirmed. Seattle fared well last offseason by signing Raheem Brock to one-year deal for a reasonable rate. Brock had 9.0 sacks, but at age 33, he wasn't going to get a long-term deal from a Seattle team looking to go young. Wilkerson, 30, will sign a one-year deal. Will Brock return? It's possible, but I'd be a little surprised. Also for Seattle: Former Rams fullback Mike Karney is visiting, Jim Thomas reports. Oakland tight end Zach Miller already visited. No word yet on his plans.
• Kevin Kolb signed his contract. The Cardinals made the announcement Wednesday. Kolb's deal runs through the 2016 season. The moves Arizona has made on its offensive line stand out as critical to giving Kolb a chance. Re-signing Lyle Sendlein and adding Daryn Colledge helped. Getting Deuce Lutui almost accidentally was a bonus. Lutui has more motivation to succeed after failing his physical in Cincinnati. The Cardinals would be nervous about Lutui's conditioning had they given him a big contract in free agency. Adding Floyd "Pork Chop" Womack as insurance rounded out the depth. Rex Hadnot is still there, too. Those things said, drafting a few linemen would help, too.
• The 49ers' plan in free agency. The 49ers are taking heat for doing little in free agency. Coach Jim Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke are new to their roles. They've been guarded about revealing their plans. I get that part of it, but they should and probably will become more adept at explaining their approach. There's no shame in laying low during free agency. Green Bay and Pittsburgh can attest to that. But if the 49ers are going to take that approach, they could help their fans by explaining why.

OK, time's running short. I'll check in as soon as the travel schedule allows.

Note: This item initially referred to Wednesday instead of Tuesday because I'm horrible at remembering days of the week. They run together.

Deuce Lutui's departure from the Arizona Cardinals to the Cincinnati Bengals deprives the NFC West of a colorful character -- and a pretty good guard, too.

The Cardinals won't miss Lutui's annual battles making weight (he once reported at 396 pounds), his demands for a new contract and his seeming resistance to motivational ploys. The evidence suggests Lutui had run his course in Arizona, with the Cardinals making little push to bring him back.

With center Lyle Sendlein re-signing, guard Daryn Colledge coming over from Green Bay and veterans Rex Hadnot and Jeremy Bridges already on the roster, Arizona can still field an experienced group on the interior.

But who will continually drive opponents batty with maddening on-field antics? Back in 2009, Lutui needed only a short while to push Chicago Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris over the edge. Lutui decked Harris twice in legal but not entirely necessary fashion. Harris responded with a punch to the head that drew an ejection. Lutui shrugged it off after the game.

If Lutui could be an aggravating player to face, his antics could be entertaining to watch. Lutui was also the player seen on ESPN speaking with quarterback Derek Anderson on the sideline during a tough defeat against San Francisco last season, creating the impression, perhaps unfairly, that Anderson wasn't taking the game seriously enough.

Lutui was always good for a joke, once even comparing himself to Lindsey Lohan for all the negative publicity his weight battles were generating. In the end, a little more seriousness from Lutui might have coaxed a better offer from the Cardinals.

Kevin Kolb's arrival from Philadelphia gives the Arizona Cardinals renewed hope at quarterback and clear direction following Kurt Warner's retirement.

It provides a fresh start after a forgettable 2010 transition season for Arizona.

So much has changed for the Cardinals since their Super Bowl appearance following the 2008 season. Other rosters around the league have turned over since then, of course, but not every team was coming off a Super Bowl appearance.

Quite a few teams have sought change. For the Cardinals, it just happened.

Warner's departure, while easily the biggest change, was far from the only one. Between five and eight starters from that Super Bowl game project as starters in 2011, depending upon how many of the team's unrestricted free agents re-sign.

When Steve Breaston left the Cardinals for Kansas City this week, drawing attention to the cumulative effect of Arizona's roster upheaval, a Seahawks fan drew parallels between Seattle's post-Super Bowl decline and the Cardinals' plight last season.

"Don't misunderstand," Ricky Frey wrote on my Facebook wall, "I'm a Hawks fan, but it seems eerily familiar to watch this happen and know what happened to Holmgren/Mora. Writing on the wall?"

Not if Kolb has anything to say about it. Acquiring a relatively young, potentially ascending quarterback puts Arizona in position to avoid the decline Seattle experienced as a Matt Hasselbeck struggled with injuries while the roster around him withered away. The NFC West remains in transition overall, and the Cardinals know it.

"It’s obviously winnable, but it’s funny to think that everybody thinks you can just step in and win it," Kolb told reporters Friday. "You’re talking about NFL football teams here. I know last year 7-9 is what won it, but it doesn’t matter. ... The door is open, we know, and we’ll be ready to kick it in when it’s time, but it’s not going to be an easy task."

Larry Fitzgerald, Levi Brown, Darnell Dockett, Adrian Wilson and the recently re-signed Lyle Sendlein started for Arizona in the Super Bowl and remain starters in 2011. Another starter from that Super Bowl game, Gerald Hayes, was released this week. Three more are becoming unrestricted free agents: Deuce Lutui, Bryan Robinson and Gabe Watson.

Six Arizona starters from that game are retired or did not play last season: Mike Gandy, Warner, Edgerrin James, Terrelle Smith, Chike Okeafor and Monty Beisel. Seven more play for other teams: Reggie Wells, Leonard Pope, Anquan Boldin, Antonio Smith, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and the recently traded Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Some were role players. Others were tougher to replace.

Breaston was a backup on that team, but he played extensively as the third receiver and finished the season with more than 1,000 yards.

Kolb's addition headlined a flurry of transactions the Cardinals announced Thursday and Friday.

Sendlein, safety Hamza Abdullah, cornerback Michael Adams, tackle D'Anthony Batiste, center Ben Claxton, punter Ben Graham, fullback Reagan Maui'a and tight end Stephen Spach re-signed.

Five draft choices have signed. Guard Daryn Colledge, defensive end Nick Eason, tight end Jeff King, receiver Chansi Stuckey and linebacker Stewart Bradley have signed as free agents from other teams.

Re-signing Sendlein while adding Kolb, Colledge and Bradley suggests the 2011 team is still coming together, not necessarily falling apart.

Thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals' trade for Kevin Kolb and contract agreement with veteran center Lyle Sendlein (thank you, ESPN's Adam Schefter).

More thoughts:

• Challenging perception: The Cardinals have taken criticism for what has been portrayed as unwillingness to pay Marc Bulger last offseason after reaching agreement with Derek Anderson. To review, the timing worked out poorly for Arizona. The team considered acquiring Charlie Whitehurst, then decided to sign Anderson while he remained available. Meanwhile, the St. Louis Rams were waiting to release Bulger, a player the Cardinals otherwise would have targeted. After adding Anderson, the Cardinals weren't going to pay similar money for Bulger, despite apparent pleas from coach Ken Whisenhunt. Whether or not the criticism was valid, the Cardinals aren't holding back now. Perhaps a 5-11 disaster season gave Whisenhunt the power he needed. Whatever the case, if the five-year, $63 million contract Kolb plans to sign does include more than $20 million in guarantees, as advertised, it's tougher to say the organization is afraid to spend on a quarterback, even an unproven one.
• Offensive focus: Arizona is transforming its offense. Third-round pick Rob Housler projects as a receiving tight end. Veteran Jeff King, who agreed to terms with Arizona recently after beginning his career in Carolina, projects as more of a blocker. Ryan Williams, a surprise pick in the second round, projects as a running back with big-play ability. The offense has evolved significantly. The team could use a speed receiver after Steve Breaston left for Kansas City, but San Diego's Malcolm Floyd apparently isn't on the radar, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic noted.
• Jump start?: After a quiet start to the negotiating period, the Cardinals appear to be operating with urgency as the signing period approaches Friday. Kolb's addition was a big step. Keeping Sendlein was a key for a line that needs to move forward, not take steps in the other direction. Sendlein has quietly become a consistent, solid contributor on the line. He and newcomer Daryn Colledge, formerly of Green Bay, should help the line develop more of an enduring identity. I still think the Cardinals could use help at tackle, but that doesn't appear to be a priority.

The Cardinals also reached agreement with former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive lineman Nick Eason. His ties to new defensive coordinator Ray Horton made this a natural fit. Eason, 31, has started five games in each of the past two seasons.

The latest NFC West chat flew by. Better post highlights before they become outdated. Full transcript here. New thoughts at the bottom.

Jeremy from Salt Lake City asks whether the San Francisco 49ers really have a shot at signing Nnamdi Asomugha?

Mike Sando: I'm not ruling out the 49ers. Remember when the generic "we" questioned their ability to close the deal with Jim Harbaugh? They got it done. I've been saying recently that signing Asomugha would make sense for the 49ers because they need help at the position and they're trying to generate goodwill for a new stadium. Making a bold play for the top free agent would relay, again, just how serious the 49ers are about getting things right. Jed York grew up around the 49ers when his uncle routinely spent for players such as Deion Sanders. I realize the 49rs want to take a long-term view, and they do not want to overspend in free agency as a rule, but this one would make some sense. I give the 49ers a chance. Chris Carr of the Ravens was a lower-profile cornerback I mentioned early in the week. He and 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio were together with the Ravens.

Matt from Minneapolis counts himself as a Vikings fan and a fan of Sidney Rice, but he thinks Seattle is paying too much for a player with one strong season and microfracture hip surgery in his recent past.

Mike Sando: Yeah, I'm with you on the price tag being high and this being a high risk-reward gamble. It's the price a team has to pay when trying to make up for past draft mistakes. Rice is so spectacular at his best, so it's easy to overlook the fact that he has really only produced for one season. Also, the Seahawks aren't exactly set up at quarterback in a manner allowing them to maximize their investments at receiver. I think this was a good gamble for Seattle given how much cap room the team has, and how young Rice remains, but your feelings are justified too.

Aaron from Phoenix wonders why the Cardinals haven't been more aggressive given how much salary-cap space they have this offseason. He likes adding guard Daryn Colledge, but he questions whether the team can protect its next quarterback, likely Kevin Kolb.

Mike Sando: The Cardinals need to focus on some of their own guys: Lyle Sendlein, for one. What position would you like to see them address right away? It all hinges on what happens at quarterback. They'll likely re-sign Sendlein and/or Deuce Lutui. Daryn Colledge further solidifies that group, should the other guys come back. Defensively, much hinges on Dan Williams' continued development, Calais Campbell's ability to build on a strong finish to last season, Darnell Dockett's return to health, Adrian Wilson bouncing back following surgery, Patrick Peterson developing quickly, O'Brien Schofield emerging now that his knee has had time to heal more fully. I think they could use help at linebacker, but how quickly is that market moving right now?

Michael from El Centro, Calif., asked about the Rams' free-agent options at running back, and whether Seahawks free-agent defensive tackle Brandon Mebane might cost more than the team wants to spend.

Mike Sando: Jim Thomas points to Snelling as the top choice and Harrison next. Sproles would be costlier. And I do think Mebane will be a little pricier than the Rams want to go for him. Mebane should have the most value in Seattle, I would think. The Seahawks did not draft a defensive tackle this year (Pep Levingston projects at defensive end). They know Mebane better than other teams know him. I'm not sure how serious the Rams were about Sidney Rice, but pulling Mebane away from Seattle after the Seahawks got Rice would help their cause within the division. Mebane does everything pretty well. He would give the Rams a highly promising front four while improving their run defense, which is a priority this offseason (Quintin Mikell's addition shows as much).

Sounds like the Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles are in the home stretch on the Kolb front. ESPN's John Clayton will have details soon. We've been waiting on this one for a while. We're still expecting Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to become part of this package. This move should satisfy Cardinals' fans demands for movement of some kind. Kolb isn't a sure bet, of course, so there will be questions and criticism. But at least the Cardinals have fresh direction at a position that doomed them to failure last season.

At least two and possibly three NFC West teams will have new starting centers in 2011.

Max Unger is replacing free agent Chris Spencer in Seattle. San Francisco has an opening after Eric Heitmann had surgery and his 2010 replacement, David Baas, agreed to terms with the New York Giants. Arizona's Lyle Sendlein remains without an agreement for 2011, joining Spencer among the higher-ranked centers available this offseason.

Casey Rabach's expected release from the Washington Redskins adds another candidate to a list featuring free agents Olin Kreutz (Chicago Bears), Jonathan Goodwin (New Orleans Saints), Seindlein, Spencer and Samson Satele (Oakland Raiders). Rabach, 33, has started all but one game over the past seven seasons, dating to his days with Baltimore.

Sendlein's situation in Arizona is of particular interest in the NFC West. Arizona likes Sendlein very much and wants him to return. At what price? Sendlein wasn't sure what to expect heading toward free agency. Would another team -- San Francisco, even -- pay more than the Cardinals would pay? Spencer has ties to 49ers line coach Mike Solari. The two were together in Seattle.

Losing Sendlein would destabilize a Cardinals line already in flux following Alan Faneca's retirement and Deuce Lutui's potential departure. Green Bay's Daryn Colledge could wind up replacing Faneca. Veteran Rex Hadnot is under contract and could start if needed. Centers don't get much acclaim, but how well they communicate with quarterbacks can matter a great deal. Centers are also well positioned to be leaders of a line.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

A look at the free-agent priorities for each NFC West team:

Arizona Cardinals

1. Sign or acquire a quarterback: You've heard all the potential names by now. Kevin Kolb, Kyle Orton, Carson Palmer, Marc Bulger and Matt Hasselbeck all could be available. The same goes for Donovan McNabb, but the Cardinals aren't interested in him. How much interest they have in the others remains less clear. They liked Bulger as an option last offseason, but the timing wasn't right. Kolb reportedly stands atop their wish list now, although price is a consideration. One way or another, the Cardinals will go into the 2011 season with fresh veteran blood at the position.

2. Firm up the offensive line: Left guard Alan Faneca retired. Center Lyle Sendlein and right guard Deuce Lutui have expiring contracts. Brandon Keith showed promise at right tackle, but he's coming off knee surgery. A better quarterback would help take pressure off the line, but Arizona isn't going to find another Kurt Warner. The team has loaded up at running back, adding second-round choice Ryan Williams to an already crowded backfield. The Cardinals need to re-sign Sendlein. Letting Lutui depart would put them in the market for veteran help. I've looked through the free-agent lists for guards already familiar to the Cardinals. Pittsburgh's Trai Essex, a starter in 21 games over the past two seasons, played for Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm with the Steelers.

3. Work toward a deal with Larry Fitzgerald: Ideally, the Cardinals would have landed their next quarterback in March, then spent the offseason working toward extending Fitzgerald's contract beyond the 2011 season. Fitzgerald is an NFL rarity. He's in line to sign three massive contracts during the course of his career. He signed the first one as the third player chosen in the 2004 draft. That deal ultimately became untenable for the Cardinals, giving Fitzgerald the leverage to get $40 million over four seasons, plus assurances Arizona would not name him its franchise player once the deal ended. Fitzgerald, still only 27, will cash in at least one more time.

Top five free agents: Sendlein, Lutui, receiver Steve Breaston, defensive lineman Alan Branch, defensive lineman Gabe Watson.

St. Louis Rams

1. Upgrade the run defense: The Rams could use another defensive tackle to take their promising defensive front to another level. Adding Fred Robbins in free agency last offseason was a good start. Barry Cofield (New York Giants) and Brandon Mebane (Seattle Seahawks) are scheduled to become free agents this offseason. Cofield played for Steve Spagnuolo and would transition to the Rams' system easily. The Rams could use an in-the-box safety, something they addressed later in the draft. They need to find one and possibly two starting outside linebackers. Chase Blackburn projects more as a backup, but he was also with Spagnuolo on the Giants. Blackburn has played all three linebacker positions. Minnesota's Ben Leber would make sense as well. Paul Ferraro, the Rams' linebackers coach, was with the Vikings previously.

2. Help out Steven Jackson: Adding a third-down back such as Darren Sproles would lighten the load for Jackson, who has played through several injuries in recent seasons. Jackson has 654 rushing attempts over the past two seasons despite missing one game and playing for a team that has often trailed its opponents. Only Chris Johnson (674) has more carries during that span. Sproles isn't the only viable potential option. Jason Snelling, DeAngelo Williams and Reggie Bush also could become available. Upgrading at right guard would also help out Jackson.

3. Figure out the situation at receiver. It's questionable whether the Rams will find any clear upgrades at receiver in free agency. That could lead them to stand pat at the position. They have quantity, but not enough high-end quality. Adding more quantity wouldn't solve much. Plaxico Burress gets mentioned as an option for his ties to Spagnuolo, but he's been out of the game and might not offer much. The Rams thought about claiming Randy Moss off waivers last season. Moss could make more sense for the Rams now that Josh McDaniels is offensive coordinator. He worked well with Moss in New England. Sidney Rice could also have appeal.

Top five free agents: receiver Mark Clayton, guard Adam Goldberg, defensive tackle Clifton Ryan and tight end Daniel Fells.

Seattle Seahawks

1. Sign or acquire a quarterback: Bringing back Hasselbeck remains an option. The team expressed interest in Kolb last offseason. The team could also add a lower-profile veteran to the mix -- perhaps a Matt Leinart type -- for an open competition with Charlie Whitehurst. That would not excite Seattle fans, of course. Getting a young quarterback to build around would be ideal, but the Seahawks are adamant they will not force the situation in the absence of viable options. They weren't going to do it in the draft, when they passed over Andy Dalton for tackle James Carpenter. They probably aren't going to do it in free agency, either.

2. Solidify the offensive line: Tom Cable's addition as assistant head coach/offensive line puts the Seahawks in position to court Oakland Raiders guard Robert Gallery in free agency. Gallery has said he's not returning to the Raiders. Seattle has drafted its starting tackles, starting center and starting right guard in the past few seasons. Max Unger and Russell Okung need better luck with injuries. Okung would also benefit from an experienced presence next to him at left guard. Gallery qualifies as such and he would fit the zone system Cable wants to run. Green Bay's Daryn Colledge could be available, too. He has ties to Seahawks general manager John Schneider. Former Seattle starters Chris Spencer, Sean Locklear, Chester Pitts and Ray Willis might not return.

3. Plug holes on defense. Mebane appears headed for free agency. The Seahawks want him back, but how badly? Mebane could fit better in a purer 4-3 defense. He also might command more money elsewhere. Injuries along the defensive front could also affect the Seahawks' needs. Red Bryant is coming off season-ending knee surgery. Injuries affected Colin Cole and Chris Clemons last season as well. Cornerback is another area to monitor once free agency opens. Does Marcus Trufant still fit at his relatively high price? The Cincinnati Bengals' Johnathan Joseph and other free-agent corners could appeal.

Top five free agents: Hasselbeck, Mebane, Locklear, linebacker Will Herring, defensive end Raheem Brock.

San Francisco 49ers

1. Re-sign Alex Smith: Smith and the 49ers renewed their vows informally this offseason. The official ceremony should come when free agency opens and Smith signs with the team. Smith's name continues to show up on free-agent lists in the interim, but there's no chance he'll sign elsewhere. He's given his word to the 49ers. The team, in turn, has entrusted him with its playbook. Smith even took the lead in teaching what he knew of the offense to teammates. Re-signing Smith takes pressure off rookie quarterback Colin Kaepernick. With a new coaching staff, a young prospect in Kaepernick and no access to players during a lockout, this wasn't the year for San Francisco to make a bold play for a veteran passer from another team.

2. Make a decision on Aubrayo Franklin. The 49ers' plans on defense remain a bit mysterious. Coordinator Vic Fangio did not distribute playbooks to players. The team's needs could change based on whether Franklin, a solid nose tackle, leaves in free agency. Franklin's status as a franchise player last season raised the stakes for a new contract. What does Fangio think of him? What specifically does Fangio want from his defensive linemen? How much will Fangio change to suit the 49ers' personnel? How much new personnel might he want? General manager Trent Baalke said the 49ers will not be aggressive in free agency. The team has shown restraint on that front in recent seasons. Losing Franklin would hurt.

3. Figure out the secondary: The pass defense was problematic last season. Personnel changes in the secondary are on the way. Veteran cornerback Nate Clements stands to earn more than $7 million in base salary in 2011. That price appears prohibitive. The team could release Clements or find a way to keep him at a lower rate. Free safety Dashon Goldson does not have a contract for 2011. How much is he worth? Baltimore's Chris Carr is one free-agent cornerback with ties to the 49ers' staff. He and Fangio were together in Baltimore.

Top five free agents: Smith, Franklin, outside linebacker Manny Lawson, center David Baas, linebacker Takeo Spikes.

» NFC: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South » Unrestricted FAs

Readiness factor: It's tough going this deep into an offseason without a starting quarterback. Any veteran the team acquires through trade or free agency will have relatively little time to learn the offense and adjust to his teammates. The Cardinals were so shaky at the position last season, however, that any significant upgrade behind center will energize the team. Moving quickly to land a quarterback will improve the Cardinals' readiness. But with key offensive linemen unsigned and a new defensive coordinator in place, the Cardinals face difficulties.

Biggest challenge: Ray Horton, the new defensive coordinator, will have relatively little time to establish the aggressive mentality he promised to instill when the Cardinals hired him. He'll also have an abbreviated window to install schematic changes and get players accustomed to his approach. Horton is the Cardinals' third defensive coordinator in four seasons, so continuity is an issue. Horton was already going to face challenges as a first-time coordinator. The lockout magnifies those challenges.

Who will Arizona target at quarterback? Reports strongly suggest Arizona will pursue Philadelphia's Kevin Kolb right away when the signing period opens. Speculation suggests a deal for Kolb was already in the works. What if it's not that simple? If the Eagles want too much in return and if acquiring another veteran such as Denver's Kyle Orton isn't a realistic option, then what? The Cardinals' prospects in 2011 rest on the team's ability to upgrade the position. Extending Larry Fitzgerald's contract will also be tougher without a viable quarterback.

Key players without contracts for 2011: Guard Deuce Lutui, defensive lineman Alan Branch, defensive lineman Gabe Watson, receiver Steve Breaston, center Lyle Sendlein.