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Yes, the start of training camps is two months away, but it’s never too early to consider the coming season. A look at the best-case and worst-case scenarios for Seattle in 2012:

Dream scenario (12-4): Matt Flynn's fourth-quarter comeback victory over Green Bay in Week 3 serves notice in prime time that Seattle made the right move in signing the Packers' former backup. Sure, Russell Wilson lit up opponents during the preseason, but everyone figured coach Pete Carroll would go with Flynn heading into the season. Seattle hadn't been able to finish games on offense previously, but the vibe is completely different now. Flynn isn't perfect, of course, and he doesn't have to be. He has the NFL's most physical running back in Marshawn Lynch, two viable tight ends, a healthy Sidney Rice and a downright nasty offensive line.

Finally healthy, left tackle Russell Okung joins fellow 2010 draftees Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor in the Pro Bowl. Second-rounder Golden Tate won't be making the trip, but preseason rumors of a potential breakout season weren't far off.

With the defense allowing only 16 points per game, Flynn doesn't have to be a hero most weeks. By midseason, it's all Carroll can do to refrain from gloating over the team's then-controversial decision to draft Bruce Irvin in the first round. Irvin's two-sack game at San Francisco on Thursday night in Week 7 gives him 5.5 for the season, matching what the 49ers' Aldon Smith had at the same point in 2011. Irvin doesn't quite equal the 14-sack total Smith posted as a rookie, but he's not far behind. The national pundits learn the hard way what should have been evident already: Carroll and the Seahawks' personnel department know what they want on defense.

A trip to Green Bay for the NFC Championship Game leaves the Seahawks thinking big.

Nightmare scenario (6-10): Flynn isn't the answer, Wilson isn't ready and Carroll pays a high price for failing to seriously address the quarterback position until his third season with the team. It's hard for some to believe the Seahawks would miss Tarvaris Jackson, but that is the case as Flynn predictably struggles in his first full season as an NFL starter. No one cares about the division title Carroll won a couple years ago. Critics cite his 7-9, 7-9 and 6-10 records in building a case for his dismissal. They also gloat over the growing pains Irvin experienced while transitioning from West Virginia to the NFL.

Lynch's diminished production makes him an easy target for those suggesting a big contract led to complacency. Some recall Shaun Alexander's post-contract demise. But there are other reasons. Another injury-plagued season on the offensive line becomes a primary culprit. Okung, James Carpenter and John Moffitt were coming off season-ending surgeries. Rice, the team's most talented receiver, had procedures on both shoulders. Banking on so many injured offensive players was understandable after the Tom Cable-coached line worked near-miracles in 2011. But every staff has its limits. Giving some of fullback Michael Robinson's snaps to new tight end Kellen Winslow also might have affected the ground game.

The defense does enough for Carroll to keep his job, but the team heads toward the 2013 draft needing to find its next quarterback -- or else.

Alex Smith's commitment to improving his throwing mechanics promises to turn analysts into amateur position coaches during the upcoming NFL season.

Every touchdown pass or interception will invite questions about whether Smith's shoulders were square or whether his front knee was bent sufficiently at delivery.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com explains the changes Smith has made to his mechanics by incorporating more of his body into the throw. Maiocco: "The most noticeable difference is that Smith also has greater flex in his left knee. ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski, speaking in December, repeated what he has said since 2007: Smith's knee lock was a major issue."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Smith's work with pitching coach Tom House also addressed the psychological aspect of the game. Branch: "Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who recommended the pitching coach to Smith, credits his meeting with House after the 2003 season for transforming his previous nice-guy style of leadership."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Dashon Goldson played well last season with minimal offseason preparation, something to keep in mind as Goldson remains unsigned this year. Barrows: "Furthermore, Goldson's absence gives the younger players more exposure. As of now, C.J. Spillman is filling in at free safety when the first-team defense takes the field. The 49ers signed Spillman to a three-year extension this offseason. Spillman may be the most physically gifted of all of the team's safeties -- he's certainly one of the more aggressive -- but he lacks experience. Newcomers Mark LeGree and Trenton Robinson, a sixth-round draft pick, also get a bit more action with Goldson's absence."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the team's emphasis on speed in the draft should help the special teams, which were already pretty good. Farnsworth: "Red Bryant set franchise records by blocking two field goals in a game and four kicks during the season. Jon Ryan led the NFL and tied a club record with 34 punts downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line, broke his club single-season records for average (46.6 yards) and net average (39.3) and also got off the longest punt (77 yards) in franchise history. Steven Hauschka tied club records by kicking five field goals in the upset victory over the Ravens and converting at least one three-pointer in 12 consecutive games. Doug Baldwin blocked a punt that Michael Robinson returned for a touchdown, while Farwell also had a blocked punt to set up a TD."

Also from Farnsworth: Why Jeremy Lane appealed to Seattle in the draft.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Seahawks owner Paul Allen has denied rumors his sports empire could be for sale.

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says no one is quite sure why Marshawn Lynch calls teammate Matt Flynn by the name "Antonio" -- that's just Lynch.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Landon Cohen's addition to the Cardinals' roster gives the team 90 players. Somers: "The Cardinals had one spot open on the roster and obviously needed some depth at defensive end. Signing Cohen doesn't preclude them from reaching agreement with defensive end Vonnie Holliday or outside linebacker Clark Haggans. Whenever that happens, the club will make a corresponding roster move."

Tony Softli of 101ESPN St. Louis offers thoughts on the Rams' proposed stadium upgrades. Softli: "While there may seem to be a short-term downside, there is also a huge potential for economic growth that all Missourians can be very proud of once a top-flight facility is built. The bottom line is that this current stadium needs a major facelift, or else another one needs to be built, because this community can’t afford to lose another NFL team and millions of dollars in future revenue."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with new Rams linebacker Mario Haggan, the oldest player on the team at 32. Haggan: "Fresh start for me. Fresh opportunity. This is a young team with an established quarterback. I've heard so many good things about Coach [Jeff] Fisher; you talk to guys across the league and they all wish they could play for him. And it's close to home. Maybe my family can come see me play more in St. Louis."

Also from Thomas: a report from Fisher's first full-squad practice as Rams coach. Fisher: "We added a bunch of things today. We've got a lot of 'base' in, we've got third down, and red zone. Friday, we'll probably do some 2-minute. So we're throwing a lot at 'em. But they've responded very well and they're practicing well together."

A look at the Seattle Seahawks' offseason to this point ...

What went right: The Seahawks signed quarterback Matt Flynn in free agency without paying an exorbitant price. That made it easier to justify using a third-round choice for quarterback Russell Wilson. ... Re-signing Marshawn Lynch before free agency and Red Bryant during free agency was critical. Lynch is the focal point of the offense. His running style became inseparable from the Seahawks' identity on offense. Bryant was the most important defensive player against the run and a leader in the locker room. ... Highly valued offensive line coach Tom Cable returned to the team after some speculation that a college program such as UCLA might consider him as head coach. ... Free-agent defensive tackle Jason Jones chose Seattle over St. Louis at a reasonable price, making it easier for the Seahawks to part with Anthony Hargrove, who subsequently incurred an eight-game suspension. ... The linebacker market was soft enough for Seattle to bring back Leroy Hill without overpaying.

What went wrong: The Seahawks tried and failed to get Peyton Manning's attention this offseason. ... Tight end John Carlson was determined to leave in free agency and able to find a lucrative contract in Minnesota. That combination made keeping Carlson unrealistic for Seattle, creating a need where none existed previously. Seattle might be left to wait out former Vikings starter Visanthe Shiancoe in free agency as the team seeks a viable partner for Zach Miller in its two-tight end personnel groupings. ... Middle linebacker David Hawthorne wasn't willing to return for the contract Seattle was offering, putting more immediate pressure on the team to draft and develop a player at the position. ... The injury rehabs for tackle James Carpenter and cornerback Walter Thurmond raise questions about whether either will be ready for the upcoming season. ... Steve Hutchinson found a richer deal in Tennessee after initially appearing likely to sign with Seattle on the relative cheap.

The bottom line: The quarterback situation is different. There is more promise at the position. The status quo wasn't very appealing. From that standpoint, the offseason represented a step forward.

Your turn: Any significant omissions here?

MoJo from Tucson, Ariz., asks a fairly open-ended question regarding the Arizona Cardinals' leading rusher.

"How much respect did defenses show to Beanie Wells last season?" he asks.

Mike Sando: An answer would be difficult to quantify with information available to me.

We can say with some certainty that opposing defenses were not loading up against Wells relative to other running backs. The opposite appears to be true.

Wells ranked 18th out of 19 qualifying backs in percentage of first- and second-down rushes against "loaded" fronts, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Loaded fronts are those featuring more defenders in the box than the offense has blockers to account for them. The list featured backs with 200-plus carries on first and down.

The percentages would not account for plays when teams passed the ball, perhaps as a response to those loaded fronts. In the Cardinals' case, it's plausible to think opponents would make Larry Fitzgerald the focus of their game plans, limiting how frequently they felt comfortable dedicating additional resources to stop a running back.

However, it's also clear Wells didn't fare well enough against those loaded fronts to force adjustments from defenses. He averaged 4.53 yards per carry against unloaded fronts and only 1.46 yards per carry against loaded ones. That differential, displayed in the second chart, exceeded three yards per attempt, the largest gap among the 19 qualifying backs.

For example, Frank Gore and Steven Jackson both averaged about .74 fewer yards per carry against loaded fronts. Marshawn Lynch averaged 0.5 fewer yards per carry. Pittsburgh's Rashard Mendhenhall, Baltimore's Ray Rice and Jacksonville's Maurice Jones-Drew averaged at least 1.6 additional yards per carry against loaded fronts.

But with a relatively small percentage of carries coming against loaded fronts, one long run could skew the averages.

Lynch had 40- and 29-yard runs against loaded fronts. Gore had two 14-yard runs against loaded fronts. Jackson had 13- and 10-yard runs against them. Wells' longest run against a loaded front covered six yards. He also lost six yards on such a run.

Blocking is another factor to consider. Perhaps the Cardinals did not block these runs as well as other teams blocked them.

That leads me back to the original point. It's tough to quantify a respect factor even though some evidence suggests Wells wasn't commanding as much as other backs commanded.

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Jeff from Las Vegas asks what happens when a player such as Terrell Suggs suffers a serious injury before the season.

"Does he still get paid in full, or at some reduced rate?" Jeff asks. "Does it matter if he was working out or doing some activity not related to football? Do most players have insurance to cover their salary?"

Mike Sando: The collective bargaining agreement does allow teams to withhold salary from players suffering non-football injuries.

Suggs has built up considerable equity with the organization during his career, however, and it's not like he was jumping a Harley-Davidson over the fountains at Caesars Palace. Players routinely work out on their own. Sometimes, they get hurt.

Suggs' coach, John Harbaugh, recently said Suggs will remain a team leader while rehabbing. Withholding Suggs' salary would be inconsistent with those comments.

Suggs' contract calls for him to earn $4.9 million in base salary for 2012. His deal runs through the 2014 season. The team would have the right to place Suggs on the "non-football injury" list and withhold salary while Suggs' contract continued to run.

Players placed on the non-football injury list while in the final year or option year of their contracts can have their contracts tolled, or frozen.

"However, if the player is physically able to perform his football services on or before the sixth regular season game, the club must pay the player his negotiated Paragraph 5 Salary (pro rata) for the balance of the season in order to toll such player's contract," the labor agreement reads. "If such player is taken off N-F/I during the period when such action is allowed by League rules, his contract will not be tolled."

Those are the contractual considerations. Some of them do not apply to Suggs because he's not in the final year of his deal. Again, I wouldn't expect the Ravens to play hardball with someone they value so much.

As for players purchasing insurance against such injuries, I doubt it's very common.

Costs would seem prohibitive for lower-profile players earning less money. The payoff wouldn't seem sufficient for players having already earned millions. However, I do not know how many players have such policies.

NCAA players sometimes purchase such insurance, but very few have ever collected, according to the Los Angeles Times.

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Jason from Madison, Wisc., viewed Merril Hoge's recent comments in response to Kurt Warner as evidence there's no room on ESPN for views "that are not full-bore in support of a sport." He says Hoge wouldn't know to what extent repetitive blows to the head have contributed to issues observed in boxers and, perhaps increasingly, in football players.

"If the possible outcome is permanent brain damage," Jason writes, "and you do not know exactly what level of contact causes it, are you really being the less reasonable person if you say, 'I am not sure if I would let my kids participate' instead of blindly following along with the pack trying to find way to rationalize what they have done and are doing?

"You are coming off as nothing but an NFL cheerleader and as such it is apparent that your content is not worth reading."

Mike Sando: Don't shoot the messenger, Jason. The item presented both views fairly. Warner's comments were reproduced in full and presented first. I thought Warner's response was understandable, and said so. I also thought it was clear Hoge had thought through the issue to a greater degree.

My oldest son plays tackle football and loves it. I would not let him keep playing if he suffered a serious concussion. That is a reasonable stance to me. I also think it's reasonable for Warner to have reservations about letting his sons play. There's room for more than one view on this subject. The way I presented the piece Friday demonstrates as much, in my view.

Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. singled out the San Francisco 49ers' passing game as one of the NFC's three most improved units this offseason.

Randy Moss, Mario Manningham, A.J. Jenkins and LaMichael James are among the newcomers he expects to upgrade that area.

A look at the areas where the 49ers' competitors have the greatest potential for improvement, in my estimation:

• Arizona Cardinals: wide receiver. Michael Floyd's addition as a potential strong No. 2 wideout could upgrade two receiving spots by casting Andre Roberts into more of a slot role, which could suit him better. Floyd projects as the flanker, with Larry Fitzgerald remaining at split end most of the time. We should also mention the Cardinals' offensive line, simply because the team now has a few young players to develop. I'm just not sure how much Adam Snyder and rookie Bobby Massie will upgrade the right side initially.
• Seattle Seahawks: quarterback. Adding Matt Flynn in free agency and Russell Wilson through the draft dramatically changes the outlook for the position in Seattle. We cannot know what Flynn or Wilson will become, and that is the point. The team will not go through another season with Tarvaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst as the only viable options. That is progress. The Seahawks' pass rush deserves mention, too. Adding Bruce Irvin and Jason Jones changes the dynamic. A healthy Dexter Davis could be a factor, too.
• St. Louis Rams: defensive line. The Rams also addressed their secondary, which was going to improve simply through better health. But with defensive tackles Kendall Langford and Michael Brockers joining the rotation, St. Louis now has four young starters on its line. Chris Long and 2011 first-round choice Robert Quinn are the others. The team still needs help at linebacker, but the brightened outlook at defensive tackle provides the foundation for improved run defense. That's important in a division featuring Marshawn Lynch, Frank Gore, Beanie Wells and others.

That's how I see it, anyway. Now it's your turn.

NFL teams selected 14 wide receivers and running backs in the first two rounds of the 2012 NFL draft, an average number since the league expanded to 32 teams for the 2002 season.

Five of the 14 landed in the NFC West, three more than the total for any other division.

The emphasis began with the Arizona Cardinals, who used the 13th overall choice for Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd.

The San Francisco 49ers went with a first-round receiver (A.J. Jenkins) and a second-round running back (LaMichael James). The St. Louis Rams used second-round choices for a receiver (Brian Quick) and a running back (Isaiah Pead).

The Seattle Seahawks, having used free agency (Sidney Rice) and trades (Marshawn Lynch, Leon Washington) to address those positions in recent seasons, were among the majority in this draft. They joined 21 other teams in targeting players at other positions in the first two rounds.

Floyd projects as a likely starter in Arizona. The others might need additional time, with James and Pead looking more like change-of-pace backs than the ones typically asked to start games and carry the ball on early downs.

The Cardinals, Rams and 49ers are among eight teams over the past three drafts to have used multiple picks in the first two rounds for receivers and runners. Detroit leads the way with four. Cleveland has three. The others have two.

I'll be interested in seeing how these new additions affect scoring. The Rams ranked last in that category for 2011. The Cardinals were 24th and the 49ers were 11th.

The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers used early draft choices for players they hope will make big plays on offense.

Both teams have offensive-minded head coaches.

The Seattle Seahawks and St. Louis Rams used early draft choices for players they hope will fortify their defenses.

Both teams have defensive-minded head coaches.

Coincidence? Perhaps, but whatever the reason for the differing approaches, the tack these teams took continues to generate discussion.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks' emphasis on defense comes as teams with the best offenses win games. Kelley: "The Green Bay Packers had the worst defense in the league. They lost once. The New England Patriots were the second-worst defense. They went to the Super Bowl. With the exception of the Baltimore Ravens, who have decided they don't need wide receivers to win division titles, the teams with the most productive, most dynamic, most dizzying offenses won the most games." Noted: Seattle has made offense more of a focus in free agency. The team signed quarterback Matt Flynn from Green Bay. A year earlier, the Seahawks signed receiver Sidney Rice and tight end Zach Miller to lucrative contracts. The year before that, Seattle acquired running back Marshawn Lynch from Buffalo. Also, the Seahawks used an NFL-high 80 percent of their first-, second- and third-round draft choices for offensive players over the 2010 and 2011 drafts, the first two under coach Pete Carroll.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals went with a wide receiver in the first round largely because they wanted more game-changing plays on offense. Somers: "The Cardinals' selections also reflected their views on how the NFL game has changed. They selected Floyd in the first round because they think he has the ability to make big plays. That's more important in today's game, coach Ken Whisenhunt said, because moving the kickoff up last year resulted in more touchbacks. Being able to quickly flip field position is important. Floyd is expected to help do that." Noted: The Cardinals, like the Seahawks, will be relying heavily on a veteran quarterback acquired from another team. Kevin Kolb showed a few signs of promise early in the season, including when he took a huge hit at Washington while delivering a deep pass to Larry Fitzgerald. As far as the draft, Arizona had used three of its previous four first-round choices for defense, selecting Patrick Peterson (2011), Dan Williams (2010) and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (2008).

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch took note of the trend in St. Louis, where the Rams used early picks for a defensive lineman (Michael Brockers) and a cornerback (Janoris Jenkins). Miklasz: "On the surface, [GM Les] Snead and [coach Jeff] Fisher have done little so far to secure immediate, impact help for quarterback Sam Bradford. With five of the first 65 selections overall, the Rams addressed the offense by drafting a small-college wide receiver (Brian Quick) from Appalachian State and a third-down back (Isaiah Pead) from Cincinnati. That's it. Only one probable but relatively unpolished offensive starter (Quick), and no offensive linemen to protect the quarterback. Of their five selections in the first three rounds, three were spent on defense. The Rams took a less urgent approach in attaching an IV to a sickly offense that's averaged an embarrassing 14.4 points over the past five seasons in going 15-65. Wow."

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers' decision to draft a receiver (A.J. Jenkins) and running back (LaMichael James) in the first two rounds shows the team wants to close some of the gap between its so-so offense and dominating defense. Cohn: "In free agency, the Niners got two speedy receivers to stretch the field -- Randy (Is He in the Mood to Play?) Moss and Mario Manningham. They already had two swift, strong intermediate route runners -- Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker. And they drafted two players to go underneath the coverage. They would be wideout A.J. Jenkins, a strange first-round choice until you realize the Niners brought him in to give Smith an option on third down. Jenkins loves the underneath crossing route, and he presumably can stretch the field, too. In the second round, they took fast, elusive, Oregon running back LaMichael James, who may be better at catching passes coming out of the backfield than actually running -- he’s small for the NFL. And they already have Frank Gore and they got free-agent Brandon Jacobs as a big short-yardage back. In the third round, they even took Joe Looney, a guard, to upgrade Smith’s protection."

RENTON, Wash. -- The Seattle Seahawks could not run their offense last season when a back injury sidelined Marshawn Lynch shortly before kickoff at Cleveland.

The team was determined to find a power back as insurance for Lynch.

Utah State's Robert Turbin, selected 106th overall in the 2012 NFL draft Saturday, becomes the leading candidate to fill that role. Turbin, 5-foot-10 and 222 pounds, has run high 4.4s in the 40-yard dash. He's got massive biceps that jump off the page.

Turbin became the ninth running back selected in this draft and the second one chosen in the fourth round, after Lamar Miller, who went to the Miami Dolphins.

Meanwhile, the San Francisco 49ers keep trading back and adding picks, including a couple sixth-rounders in 2013.

The NFL trend toward a state of (pass) happiness has not swept over the NFC West.

Go ahead and blame the quarterbacks, but realize, too, that the St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers have sought run-oriented identities through their current head coaches.



The Rams' decision to draft defensive tackle Michael Brockers in the first round, understandable based on need alone, makes even more sense in a divisional context. The NFC West schedule delivers the Rams six games against Marshawn Lynch, Frank Gore and Beanie Wells -- three physical backs coming off 1,000-yard seasons. The 49ers also added 260-pound Brandon Jacobs to their backfield.

The Rams ranked 31st in rushing yards allowed last season. They allowed 5.7 yards per carry on runs up the middle, including 3.2 before contact. Those figures were worst in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Brockers is 6-foot-5 and 322 pounds. Scouts Inc. rated him as exceptional or above average in every area except pass-rush ability, where his grade was average. Brockers' grades were exceptional for run defense and durability.

"He's what you want in a defensive tackle, especially in our division with the downhill runs and things like that," Rams general manager Les Snead told reporters Thursday night. "One person I know that’s smiling right now is (middle linebacker) James Laurinaitis."

The NFC West received only a belated dishonorable mention when Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. listed teams set up poorly for the 2012 NFL draft.

Atlanta, New Orleans, Oakland and the New York Giants made the list. Williamson generally likes where NFC West teams stand, and I would agree, but here are potential concerns for each team in the division:

• St. Louis Rams: The Rams are set up beautifully for the long term after acquiring additional first-round picks in 2013 and 2014. They could use a true difference-maker at wide receiver, a clear No. 1 to stand out from a group with pretty good depth. Drafting a wide receiver at No. 6 would make sense, but what if the Rams aren't comfortable with taking Justin Blackmon or Michael Floyd that early? Could they feel pressure to reach? I think they'll have the long term in mind. Coach Jeff Fisher and general manager Les Snead are just starting out. Sure, their team needs playmakers, but time is on their side. Having an additional second-round choice puts the Rams in even stronger position for this draft.


• Seattle Seahawks: The team has no fifth-round pick thanks to the Marshawn Lynch trade. But after signing quarterback Matt Flynn and helping the pass rush with Jason Jones' addition, the Seahawks should face little pressure to draft for need in the first round. The Seahawks would ideally move back from the 12th overall slot, adding picks -- perhaps a fifth-rounder to make up for the one Seattle sent to Buffalo. The team could use a starting middle linebacker. There's good depth at that position in this draft, meaning the Seahawks can come out OK even if Luke Kuechly is not available. Seattle found starting linebacker K.J. Wright in the fourth round of the 2011 draft, which had less depth at the position.


• Arizona Cardinals: Teams prefer to enter a draft with at least one pick in every round and no glaring needs. The Cardinals have no second-round choice. They also have a clear need for an offensive tackle. That combination could put pressure on the Cardinals to select a tackle in the first round. What if there are no tackles worthy of the 13th overall selection? Arizona has done a good job favoring value over need in multiple instances over recent drafts. Taking running back Ryan Williams in the second round last year comes to mind as one example. Ideally, the Cardinals would move back in this draft, pick up a second-round choice and still find a tackle to further solidify their line. They might have to move back into the early 20s to get a second-rounder, unless they were comfortable giving up later-round picks as part of a deal.


• San Francisco 49ers: The 49ers have one pick in every round, and no glaring needs. Picking 30th overall isn't very exciting, but neither are the 49ers' needs. They could use an interior offensive lineman (yawn). They could find room for the right receiver, cornerback or safety. Depth for the front seven could be nice. What about running back? Oh, and if tight end Coby Fleener is there, he could make sense too. The 49ers could go in just about any direction, a good thing for a team coming off a 13-3 season. The only complaint is picking so late, but that's a small price to pay for winning.

Any other concerns for these teams? These are the ones that come to mind for me.

The NFL plans to announce its 2012 regular-season schedule Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET.

A look at four regular-season openers fans could embrace:

• San Francisco at Green Bay. The Packers were supposed to stand between the 49ers and the Super Bowl last season. The New York Giants had other plans, eliminating Green Bay in the divisional round. With the Giants already set to open their regular season against the Dallas Cowboys, a Packers-49ers game at Candlestick Park makes perfect sense. The 49ers' dominant defense would face Aaron Rodgers, the MVP quarterback San Francisco passed over for Alex Smith in the 2005 draft. And a 49ers victory at Lambeau would send a strong message. By the way, Fox's Chris Myers hinted at this matchup for Week 1.
• Washington at St. Louis. The Rams and Redskins swung a blockbuster trade putting Washington in position to draft Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III. Why not pit the teams against one another, showcasing Griffin and 2010 No. 1 overall choice Sam Bradford? Former Rams coach Jim Haslett is the Redskins' defensive coordinator, another connection between the teams. From the Rams' standpoint, they would be opening the season at home against a rookie quarterback, giving them a good shot at claiming their first victory under coach Jeff Fisher.
• Seattle at Arizona. Consider this one a continuation of the Cardinals' overtime victory against the Seahawks in the final game last season. That was a bruising game featuring gritty play from Larry Fitzgerald and punishing running from Marshawn Lynch. We've debated this offseason whether the Seahawks or Cardinals should be considered in best position to challenge the 49ers for NFC West supremacy. Why not get some answers right away, in Week 1?

Any other openers you'd like to see more than these?

Good morning and welcome to the final full week before the 2012 NFL draft.

This past weekend was a slow one around the NFL, but two stories resonated in the NFC West. Both involved top executives from teams in the division: Seattle Seahawks general manager John Schneider and San Francisco 49ers CEO Jed York.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times spoke with Schneider and Schneider's wife, Traci, regarding the fund they're establishing to help other families raising autistic children. Their 10-year-old son, Ben, has benefited from extensive treatment. John Schneider: "We never knew if Ben would ever tell us that he loved us back. It's a strange feeling when you say, 'good night' to your son and he doesn't say 'good night' back. But we were blessed to be in a position where we could get the right help. Other families don't have access to the same resources." Noted: According to the Seahawks, a benefit event scheduled for Thursday includes a long list of celebrity waiters featuring Doug Baldwin, Brandon Browner, Tom Cable, Pete Carroll, Kam Chancellor, Chris Clemons, Jacob Green, Brock Huard, Tarvaris Jackson, Marshawn Lynch, Russell Okung, Sidney Rice, Brian Russell, Craig Terrell, Earl Thomas, Robbie Tobeck and Manu Tuiasosopo.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle explains why he thinks the Seahawks would consider Ryan Tannehill if the Texas A&M quarterback were available to them in the draft.

Mike Rosenberg of the San Jose Mercury News spoke with York recently for a question-and-answer session on the 49ers' next stadium. Diverse dining options and the latest technology will be stadium hallmarks, according to York. Also, fans will be able to visit the Great America amusement park before games. York on differences from Candlestick Park: "Is everything too broad of an answer? You're almost doubling the amount of space for the same amount of people. You don't want to blast Candlestick for being an older building, because there have been a lot of great moments there, but the new building is going to be a completely different experience. Instead of just making a nice hot dog, you can do 20 to 30 different items. It'll probably be a 50 percent quicker exit than what you see at Candlestick. You can't compete with that, being able to park easily and get to your car and out onto the freeway quicker or take public transit."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers plan to bid on a Super Bowl at their new stadium. Barrows: "Teams are required to play two full seasons in their new venues before hosting a Super Bowl. The 49ers are increasingly confident that the yet-to-be-named stadium in Santa Clara will be ready for the start of the 2014 season."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic notes that the Cardinals are opening their offseason conditioning program Monday amid new limits on what teams and coaches can ask of players. Somers: "Teams must film all three phases and keep a copy until 30 days after the start of the regular season. Acting on a complaint, NFL officials can request to look at that film. Coaches are subject to fines of up to $100,000 for the first violation and $250,000 for the second. Those cannot be reimbursed by the club. Teams are subject to fines of $250,000 for the first violation and $500,000 for the second. Half of the fine amounts goes to the Gene Upshaw Players Assistance Trust and half to the Player Care Foundation. If a team commits a violation, it will lose a week of OTAs. A second violation will cost the club a fourth-round pick in the next draft."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says defensive end Calais Campbell will not attend the voluntary program while remaining unsigned as the team's franchise player.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch offers this on the Rams' search for a backup quarterback: "The Rams remain interested in free-agent quarterback Dennis Dixon (Pittsburgh), who worked out for the team last week, but probably won't make a decision until after the draft. Baltimore and Denver are also showing interest."

NFLDraftScout.com looks at five players the Rams could consider in the draft. On running back Doug Martin: "Steven Jackson will be 29 this summer, and at some point the Rams have to add in a significant way a player that can be his backup and potentially take over the position. Martin is gaining a lot of traction in the run-up to the draft, with some predicting he could be selected in the first round. If that doesn't happen, the Rams could be tempted to spend one of their second-round picks on a runner."

The Seattle Seahawks' recent moves and the San Francisco 49ers' signing of Brandon Jacobs were among the subjects Dave Grosby, Bob Stelton and I discussed Tuesday on 710ESPN Seattle.

And when Dave asked which NFC West team had done the best job adding new players and re-signing its own in free agency, my vote went to the Seattle Seahawks, with strong consideration to the 49ers.

San Francisco could not have done a better job re-signing key players on defense. Seattle played the market perfectly in securing quarterback Matt Flynn at a low price. The Seahawks also kept Red Bryant, their top priority in free agency after re-signing Marshawn Lynch before the signing period.

The bottom line, of course, is that both teams have fared well during free agency. Both could be worthy choices in the attached poll. The potential impact for a quarterback signed from another team was one factor I weighed when considering Seattle.

The St. Louis Rams weren't interested in re-signing most of their own free agents, so there wasn't much to consider on that front. The Rams added key players in free agency and set up their future through acquiring draft choices. They still need to add playmakers.

Arizona has remained mostly on the sideline this offseason, aside from an aggressive but ultimately unsuccessful play for Peyton Manning.

710ESPN has posted the audio.

Earlier: Grading NFC West offseasons.

The San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks get high marks from Gary Horton of Scouts Inc. for their offseason moves and overall plan for the future.

Horton also ranks in order what he sees as the top six needs for each NFC West team heading toward the 2012 NFL draft.

Most of his needs line up with my perceptions, but one ranking jumped off the page: Horton ranks receiver as only the No. 6 need for the 49ers, behind guard, defensive line depth, cornerback depth, linebacker depth and tight end depth.

"While this position also looks deep, there are some question marks," Horton writes. "The 49ers have added Randy Moss (un-retired) and Mario Manningham (Giants) to the mix with Michael Crabtree and Ted Ginn Jr. (re-signed), but how much does Moss have left? In a perfect world, Ginn would have a bigger role in the return game than at WR. This could be a luxury draft pick."

We might quibble with where receiver ranks among the 49ers' needs, but I would consider Horton's ranking yet another sign of the team's flexibility heading into the draft. Receiver is a need, but perhaps not a glaring one.

This is a nearly 2,000-word file from Horton covering lots of ground. I've singled out one note from each NFC West team for additional consideration. We've covered the 49ers at receiver. On to the other teams.

Arizona Cardinals

Horton on the receivers: "After Larry Fitzgerald, there isn't a lot to like about this position group for Arizona. The other potential starter is untested Andre Roberts, and Early Doucet fits best as a No. 3 WR. The Cardinals desperately need a true No. 2 to team with Fitzgerald because right now this is an easy pass offense to defend."

My take: I've offered a counterpoint, suggesting the Cardinals need better quarterback play to make fuller use of their offensive weapons. The points are not necessarily exclusive. Arizona definitely needs better quarterback play. We do not know whether Roberts can become a solid No. 2 receiver. Horton ranks offensive tackle as the bigger need for Arizona, and I would agree. It'll be tough to justify drafting a receiver 13th overall without having a second-round choice available to address the offensive line. That is a concern as long as the Cardinals are without a second-round choice.

Seattle Seahawks

Horton on the running backs: Re-signing Marshawn Lynch was a huge help for this run game, but the depth behind him needs to be upgraded. Veteran Leon Washington is the only legitimate backup and he is primarily a third-down back, although the Seahawks did re-sign the underrated Michael Robinson. Lynch is a violent runner, and that means he takes a lot of big hits, so a solid backup who could share some of his carries would help.

My take: This is a position to watch in the draft. Seattle did sign Kregg Lumpkin, a running back with good size, as a potential backup to Lynch. That signing doesn't necessarily settle the position, however. The Seahawks could not run their desired offense last season when Lynch wasn't available. That was because both backups, Washington and the unsigned Justin Forsett, fit the change-of-pace mold. Identifying a power runner for the No. 2 role would give the Seahawks needed insurance.

St. Louis Rams

Horton on the cornerbacks: The acquisition of UFA Cortland Finnegan from Tennessee was a huge move because this secondary was arguably the weakest unit in the NFL in 2011. Injuries devastated this group, and the unit they were forced to send out onto the field each week was embarrassing. Finnegan can match up against No. 1 WRs, but the Rams really need more quality CBs.

My take: Horton listed cornerback as only the Rams' fifth need. That was understandable because the Rams have so many needs throughout their roster. The team will have a dilemma if cornerback Morris Claiborne is the highest-rated player on their board when St. Louis is on the clock with the sixth overall choice. Adding Claiborne would dramatically upgrade the talent in the Rams' secondary, but it would not address the team's primary need for offensive weaponry. Coach Jeff Fisher's Tennessee Titans drafted a corner, Pacman Jones, with a sixth overall choice. General manager Les Snead was with Atlanta when the Falcons made cornerback DeAngelo Hall the eighth player chosen.

Passing along: Patrick Willis' recent SportsCenter interview reflecting on the San Francisco 49ers' 2011 season, specifically the "family atmosphere" around the team and Willis' characterization of Jim Harbaugh as "the true definition of a players' coach."

Willis also discussed his status as a No. 11 seed in the "Madden 13" and why he's worthy of appearing on the cover in the tradition of Ray Lewis.

Finally, Willis singled out Marshawn Lynch and Steven Jackson as the two toughest guys to tackle in the NFL. Can you think of anyone tougher to bring down?