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Figuring out who makes the personnel decisions for the Arizona Cardinals isn't easy.

More than any team in the NFC West, the Cardinals seem to take a group approach involving general manager Rod Graves, coach Ken Whisenhunt, president Michael Bidwill, and vice president of player personnel Steve Keim.

All four have been together since 2007, when Whisenhunt became coach.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says Keim's role has grown, making him a logical candidate to succeed Graves in the GM role. Bickley: "Keim isn't a general manager by title. But he talks like one. He acts like one. He's not shy with his opinions. Recent draft classes reveal a franchise operating in sync, and a team enjoying a steady influx of young players. He knows what Ken Whisenhunt wants in a player, and over time, has earned the coach's trust." Noted: Sounds like an invitation to compare recent draft classes for NFC West teams. I'll take a look this week, although comparing one team's draft success against that of another can be tricky. For example, in recent seasons, the Cardinals have drafted later in the first round on average than any team in the division, about 19th overall since 2009. That compares to about eighth overall for St. Louis, 13th overall for Seattle and 15th overall for San Francisco.

Also from Bickley: The Cardinals have reason to consider legal action after losing 3,200 parking spots at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee runs through the San Francisco 49ers' undrafted free-agent class. Barrows: "Among the standouts are the three Stanford players, Chris Owusu, Matt Masifilo and Michael Thomas, and running back Jewel Hampton, whom I wrote about earlier in the week. Also of note is Clemson's Kourtnei Brown, who has Aldon Smith-like dimensions and who ran his 40-yard dash in the 4.6-second range."

Also from Barrows: Perrish Cox's legal troubles aren't finished. The cornerback, acquitted on criminal sexual assault charges, faces a civil suit stemming from the case.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the Pacific Northwest Football Hall of Fame welcomed Marcus Trufant and Jacob Green as members. Trufant: "This is a very cool deal. Just the whole organization in general is a good deal. There are a lot of important people here who have done a lot of good things in this area for a long time -- and they haven’t done it to make a lot of money, they’re doing it for the community and they’re doing it for the kids. So just to be mentioned in the same light as those people, it’s a big deal to me."

Also from Farnsworth: a look at the Seahawks' quarterback competition. Coach Pete Carroll: "There’s no timeline. The format is really just to do everything I can to organize it and orchestrate it so that they get a legit shot at showing what they can do with all the guys that are available. We’re going to have to mix and match it, and just make it a real cool process, and hopefully it will show itself somewhere down the road and we'll figure it out then."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says Carroll seems to be welcoming the quarterback competition in Seattle, counter to the way most coaches view uncertainty at the position.

Art Thiel of Sports Press Northwest says the Seahawks haven't had a quarterback competition like their current once since Matt Hasselbeck and Trent Dilfer were competing a decade ago.

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle passes along thoughts from Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill regarding the evolution of his game. Hill: "I wanted to hurt you and hit you harder than you hit me. That's how I played, and I think it caused a lot of injuries early on in my career. Now that I'm getting older, I'm more about making the tackle -- just get the man down. I want to play the way that I played, just in a more veteran way, you know?"

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle thinks Gus Bradley, the Seahawks' defensive coordinator, projects as a head coaching candidate. Noted: Not many coordinators keep their jobs when a team changes head coaches. Bradley did, remaining in the role after the switch from Jim Mora to Pete Carroll. Mora had planned to name Dan Quinn coordinator, but Bradley impressed him so much during his interview that Mora decided to make him coordinator instead.

Albert Breer of NFL Network runs through Rams GM Les Snead's priority list for St. Louis this offseason: "Snead, formerly personnel director for the Atlanta Falcons, was hired by the Rams in mid-February. His self-imposed directive since then has been to focus on four aspects of roster management. They were, in order, to assess the strengths and weaknesses of his new club; deal the second pick in the draft; prepare for and complete free agency; and then do the same with the draft. ... Snead can unpack and find a place to live now. His vision for the Rams, in this job he spent the better part of two decades preparing, is beginning to take shape."

Katie Felts of KDSK.com checks in with new Rams coach Jeff Fisher.

Jason Licht's return to the Arizona Cardinals as player personnel director should be good for the team and for the man he's replacing.

Licht, last with Arizona as a personnel assistant in 2008, has worked extensively for the Philadelphia Eagles and New England Patriots, two of the more successful organizations during his years with those teams. He was a finalist to become the Chicago Bears' general manager, a job that went to Phil Emery.

The Cardinals made room for Licht by promoting Steve Keim from player personnel director to vice president of player personnel. Keim has been with Arizona since 1999. He remains second in command to general manager Rod Graves, but we probably shouldn't get too caught up in the titles. Graves has never thrown around his power. The Cardinals seem to work collaboratively, with input from coach Ken Whisenhunt, president Michael Bidwill, Graves and Keim, primarily.

Licht is rejoining the team in a role more significant than the one he held in New England (director of pro personnel). He sought advancement with Chicago and found it with Arizona.

Licht has worked for the Miami Dolphins (1995-1996), National Football Scouting (1997), the Carolina Panthers (1998), the Patriots (1999-2003), the Eagles (2003-2007), the Cardinals (2008) and again for the Patriots (2009-2011).

"NFL scouts who worked with Licht in Philadelphia say his personnel reports are 'concise' and convincing," Jeff Dickerson wrote for ESPNChicago. "He was considered one of the rising stars in the Eagles organization before being pushed out in 2008."

With Licht, the Cardinals should have a good feel for New England's personnel when the teams play in Week 2. That won't necessarily make stopping Tom Brady much easier, of course. But any edge is welcome.

The protocol becomes the same for nearly every freshly minted NFL draft choice, from first-round quarterbacks to seventh-round punters.

Not long after their selections, their new employers will connect them to local NFL reporters via conference call.

A surprise awaited the Arizona Cardinals after the team made Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd the 13th overall choice in the 2012 draft.

Floyd's college coach, Brian Kelly, made an unsolicited call to the Cardinals, availing himself to media questions regarding his former player.

Kelly has vouched for other players, including Minnesota Vikings first-round pick Harrison Smith. A college head coach certainly has a recruiting interest in getting his name out there in association with prominent draft choices.

But in publicly testifying for Floyd, whose draft file includes three three alcohol-related incidents and a resulting team suspension, Kelly extended himself to an extent that wasn't necessary. It was a notable early marker for the Cardinals, who have never drafted a player with such significant baggage since Ken Whisenhunt arrived as head coach in 2007.

Floyd could not have scripted Kelly's testimonial more favorably:

• On Floyd in general: "Well, a kid who got his degree in three-and-a-half years from Notre Dame. Probably in my 23 years now as a head coach, the best practice player that I've ever had. He just has a passion and a love for the football."
• On Floyd as a teammate: "Whether he is getting the football or not, he is a guy who has never complained. He certainly always wants the ball in critical situations. He has never been a diva, if you will, in terms of not getting his catches. If we're successful and we're making plays, he's on the other end making blocks. That's why it was such a pleasure to coach the kid."
• On what changed in Floyd following a suspension: "To have an opportunity to come back and play at Notre Dame and get a degree and be successful in the NFL, he had to make some choices. And he made some great choices. Now, you've got a young man who had been through some adversity, has handled it, has been humbled because of it and the best is in front of him now."

Authorities cited Floyd for underage drinking in 2009 and 2010. A DUI conviction last year made for three alcohol-related incidents in three years, raising obvious questions about judgment and the potential for a more serious problem.

College programs can become enablers for troubled star athletes. Handing millions to those troubled athletes usually doesn't help.

Those are generalities. Floyd's situation stands on its own. Whether he has a problem or carries a heightened risk cannot be known for certain.

The Cardinals' decision to draft Floyd was an organizational one, with team owner Michael Bidwill, a former federal prosecutor, participating directly in the vetting process.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the team asked tough questions, thought Floyd provided honest answers and felt Floyd made a positive statement by returning to Notre Dame for his senior season amid quarterback uncertainty that could have hurt Floyd's status.

"I just basically told them it was a bad decision," Floyd told reporters following his selection. "I learned from it and I moved on. I know I can't be like every other college student, just doing what a college student does, because the spotlight is on me. They wanted to see if I had improvements since that time, and I have."

There is less uncertainty over the Cardinals' on-field plans for Floyd. They anticipate him becoming their flanker opposite split end Larry Fitzgerald, who had been the most recent first-round wideout chosen by Arizona. With Floyd projecting as a starter, Andre Roberts becomes a candidate for additional playing time from the slot, where Early Doucet was already a factor for the team.

Fitzgerald and Floyd present matchup problems with their size alone. Both are nearly 6-foot-3. Floyd weighed 220 pounds at the scouting combine. Fitzgerald weighed 225 upon entering the league in 2004. He has preferred playing at a lighter weight recently.

Size matters for receivers in the NFC West, a division featuring punishing safeties and Pro Bowl credentials in the secondary. Kam Chancellor, Earl Thomas, Brandon Browner, Richard Sherman, Adrian Wilson, Patrick Peterson, Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson, Donte Whitner, Cortland Finnegan and Quintin Mikell come to mind immediately.

"You could consider Mike to be still a raw receiver in that he can get better in all the technical elements in route running and things of that nature," Kelly said of Floyd. "He is certainly a guy that attacks the football and attacks defenders and blocking -- he is an outstanding blocker."

Any rookie open to input from veteran players stands to benefit from joining a team with strong leadership at the player's position. Fitzgerald sets an impeccable standard for the Cardinals' receivers and the team in general. From that standpoint, Floyd couldn't have found a better working environment.

NFL teams routinely fly their new draft choices to team headquarters for news conferences and initial meetings with team brass.

The Arizona Cardinals' upcoming flight plans include escorting former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev from Phoenix to New York.

Add this unusual arrangement to the list of notable flights featuring Cardinals president Michael Bidwill behind the controls.

Bidwill, a pilot, has previously used his plane to bring relief to hurricane-ravaged residents of Mexico, and to personally deliver former Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin from New Jersey back to Phoenix following a frightening injury against the New York Jets several years ago.

These aren't the sorts of stories that command our attention on draft day. Most fans would probably rather know in advance which players the Cardinals might be targeting in the seventh round. The glasnost Gorbachev brought to international relations hasn't made it to the NFL. Bidwill won't be escorting Gorbachev until after the draft, anyway.

The Seattle Seahawks owned the NFC West for years because their owner, Paul Allen, was so clearly superior to his peers in the division.

It was Allen who pushed through a stadium referendum precipitating his purchase of the team in the late 1990s. It was Allen's ownership that enabled the team to hire Mike Holmgren in 1999, another watershed moment for the franchise.

Those two owner-driven events set up the team for seven division titles during a 12-year period, including five in a row beginning in 2003.

Visions of Allen's Seahawks squirming while Peyton Manning visited the Arizona Cardinals over the weekend might not mean much if Manning signs outside the NFC West or agrees to visit Seattle after all. But with Arizona holding a clear edge over the Seahawks at this point in the process, the shrinking ownership gap in the division is worth our attention.

Allen hasn't necessarily slipped even though his fortune, once estimated to exceed $30 billion, has reportedly shrunk to less than half that amount. He remains the wealthiest NFL owner by a wide margin. He helped finance a state-of-the-art waterfront facility that opened in 2008. He gives football decision makers wide latitude and ample resources.

But with the Cardinals' Michael Bidwill and the San Francisco 49ers' Jed York securing new stadiums and winning division titles recently, the Seahawks' competitors have gained ground. Stan Kroenke's ascent in St. Louis has brightened the Rams' outlook as well.

For Arizona, getting Manning to visit was nice. Getting him to sign with the team would more emphatically validate the the Cardinals' progress as an organization.

Bidwill, like York, has a familial reputation to live down.

"(Bidwill) is hugely aware of our fan base and how his dad is viewed," a team source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen and Adam Schefter over the weekend. "He came to work with this team to get the stadium built. It took him a long time to get that done, but he did. He is a driven young owner that wants to totally change this franchise's image."

Winning back-to-back division titles while making a Super Bowl appearance affirmed Bidwill's long-held stance that stadium revenue would change how the team could operate. But the Cardinals' 13-19 record over the past two seasons has lent credence to the idea that the team basically lucked into Kurt Warner's career revival.

Beating out John Elway and others for Manning would be another game-changer, comparable to the day Seattle landed Holmgren and, to an extent, when the 49ers secured Jim Harbaugh. Holmgren and Harbaugh were the hottest coaching candidates at the time. Manning, though coming off neck surgeries that might still threaten his career, outranks both in NFL history.

The Cardinals need him. They bet big on Kevin Kolb last offseason, and are running a fat deficit on the investment, with few promising signs. John Clayton's recent report about the team losing confidence in Kolb sounded ominous. Coach Ken Whisenhunt might still need to win the bet on Kolb, but the cost of losing it would disappear if Manning signed with the team.

Finding a quarterback requires taking chances. Manning would be the safest bet in NFL history without the neck surgeries. He still appears to be a safer gamble than putting down another $7 million to continue the relationship with Kolb, a payment that comes due at week's end. Paying Kolb in the absence of Manning would not necessarily prevent John Skelton from winning the starting job.

A year ago, the Kolb experiment gave the Cardinals an opportunity to find out whether Whisenhunt could identify and develop quarterbacks. To what degree had he shaped Ben Roethlisberger in Pittsburgh and, later, Warner in Arizona? That question becomes far less relevant if the Cardinals can close a deal with Manning.

Bidwill's father made a run at Joe Montana in 1993. This time, the Cardinals appear to have a legitimate chance. Times have changed, but by how much? Manning's decision will provide one measure.

Coach Jim Harbaugh might be the best quarterback under contract to the San Francisco 49ers.

He'll be the one throwing to free-agent receiver Randy Moss during a tryout Monday.

"Former Colt Pro Bowl QB throwing for 49ers tomorrow," 49ers CEO Jed York tweeted Sunday night. "Just to clarify, Coach Harbaugh is turning into Capt. Comeback to throw to Randy Moss."

Harbaugh, 48, is 13 years older than Moss, but their playing careers overlapped from 1998 to 2000. Harbaugh did go to a Pro Bowl, in 1995.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee has this to say about the 49ers' potential interest in Moss: "The 6-4 veteran seems to fit a profile the 49ers are seeking. Last year in free agency, they went after big-bodied veterans Plaxico Burress and Braylon Edwards before signing Edwards to a one-year deal."

Also from Barrows: Re-signing receiver Josh Morgan appears to be a priority.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat asks former 49ers assistant Fred von Appen about the bounty-related accusations former Redskins pass-rusher Dexter Manley leveled against Bill Walsh. Von Appen strongly denied the allegations, offering an explanation: "Bill lined up Russ (Francis) on the outside. He brought Russ in motion. Joe (Montana) got the snap when Russ got to Manley. Manley would rush Joe and Russ got Manley from the outside. It was unexpected and it was brilliant. You see, Manley lined up over Keith Fahnhorst. Keith wasn’t big, and found it hard to manage Manley one on one. Bill's idea was to put a big, athletic, active man (Francis) on a big, athletic, active man (Manley). And it worked. Russ was a tremendous blocker. He could get a good piece of Manley, and he spun him a little bit -- and the ball's away. After a couple of cracks, Manley became paranoid and he slowed his rush down considerably. He didn’t know if the hit was coming from the inside or the outside. That's not a bounty. That’s a scheme. The intent was not to hurt Manley. It was to manage him."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says quarterback happenings around the NFL have limited Alex Smith's options in free agency. Noted: Smith appears to have only one intention, and that is to re-sign. I doubt he would seriously consider signing with another team.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Smith has a strong case for earning more than Mark Sanchez is getting on a new contract.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports from Arizona Cardinals headquarters following Peyton Manning's visit there. Somers: "Manning met with Cardinals coaches, management and a few players Sunday, but it's not believed he worked out for the team. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald spent a few hours with Manning in the morning before departing for an Australian vacation. Receiver Andre Roberts arrived at the facility shortly after Fitzgerald left. Team President Michael Bidwill arrived about an hour after Manning and received some advice from a fan who yelled, 'Michael, get it done!' "

Also from Somers: a tongue-in-cheek look at what Arizona (the state) can offer Manning. Somers: "If Manning buys in the Paradise Valley area, he could carpool with his coach, Ken Whisenhunt, or his top receiver, Fitzgerald. Even if Manning chooses to drive himself, he'll find Arizona is the perfect place for him. Here in the Phoenix Metro area, drivers have a tendency to switch lanes without notice, often without looking to see if anyone is in the way. How does that help Manning? Well, if his surgically repaired neck starts to act up, he won't have to twist his body to check his blind spot before shifting lanes. The rest of us don't."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Manning has not told the Seattle Seahawks they're out of the running for his services. Noted: The absence of a rejection does not indicate interest. Nor would the absence of an acceptance necessarily indicate rejection. At this point, however, there is simply no evidence Manning will seriously consider Seattle.

Art Thiel of Sports Press Northwest says Manning would represent an "impulse buy" for the Seahawks. Thiel: "The OL greenness was a good part of the reason they could let go a veteran QB, Matt Hasselbeck, who still had game in him, as his first season in Tennessee established. But now, the pursuit of Manning goes against the plan, because Manning is available about a year too soon for the OL to do right by him. There's a chance that all could come together at once to make the Seahawks a 12-4 team. But at 36 and a year out of football, Manning would be silly, as is often heard at the senior-special buffet line, to buy green bananas. Seattle’s interest feels like an impulse buy."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch gives new Rams general manager Les Snead credit for the trade St. Louis recently worked out with Washington. Miklasz: "There could also be a twist on the other end of the transaction. What happens if Rams quarterback Sam Bradford fails to reach his potential? The Rams doubled down on Bradford, and made this deal to put more talent around him. But if Griffin takes off and Bradford tails off, no one will backslap the Rams for making a brilliant trade. No, the pundits will shred the Rams silly for sticking with Bradford and skipping the chance to take RG3. No question, this deal puts more pressure on Sam."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch considers the Rams' options following the trade.

With the offseason in full swing, let’s take a look at one major question facing each NFC West team upon beginning preparations for the 2012 season:

ARIZONA CARDINALS

Why so much hedging over the quarterbacks?

Team president Michael Bidwill and general manager Rod Graves are both on record as hedging their bets about Kevin Kolb returning for a second season with the team. Coach Ken Whisenhunt has recently made it clear the team would not make Kolb its outright starter for 2012, instead forcing him to compete with John Skelton.

The money Kolb would earn if he did return will guarantee him riches, but not a starting job.

The approach is vintage Whisenhunt. Now entering his sixth season with the team, Whisenhunt has remained consistently averse to anointing starters. The approach reflects his own NFL playing career. Whisenhunt stuck with Atlanta as a 12th-round draft choice in 1985, starting 43 of the 74 games he played over seven seasons. Nothing was handed to him and nothing will be handed to his players now.

The Cardinals' relatively noncommittal approach with Kolb has left the impression Arizona could go after Peyton Manning. That could be a difficult decision to make strategically, however, because Manning might need time to get healthy. Letting Kolb hit the market without knowing whether Manning could hold up would leave the Cardinals with Skelton as their fallback option.

ST. LOUIS RAMS

How can the Rams help themselves in free agency?

This is a tough one. Very few of the Rams' own free agents qualify as players the team must re-sign.

Receiver Brandon Lloyd is arguably the only clear starting-caliber player on the list. He is 30 years old and, by all accounts, hoping to catch on with Josh McDaniels in New England.

Teams with new coaching staffs often sign players with connections to various assistants. The Rams could follow that path.

Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was in New Orleans, where cornerback Tracy Porter might be the most impressive defensive player scheduled to hit free agency.

Coach Jeff Fisher was with Tennessee when another potential free-agent corner, Cortland Finnegan, was building his reputation as one of the NFL's most hard-nosed defensive backs.

Offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer was with the New York Jets, but their list of offensive free agents features older players such as Mark Brunell, LaDainian Tomlinson and Plaxico Burress.

New general manager Les Snead has ties to the Atlanta Falcons' free agents, including 35-year-old center Todd McClure and 35-year-old outside linebacker Mike Peterson. Linebacker Curtis Lofton is only 25 and a productive player, but he has played the one linebacker position where the Rams are set, in the middle. Cornerback Brent Grimes is 28 and has a Pro Bowl on his résumé, giving the Rams a connection to another established corner.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

How much better can Alex Smith become?

The 49ers plan to re-sign Smith after the veteran quarterback finished the 2011 season with 17 touchdown passes, five interceptions, a career-best 90.7 NFL passer rating and a signature playoff victory over New Orleans.

It's easy to forget that rules governing free agents prevented Smith from participating in formal 49ers practices until Aug. 4, only five weeks before the regular-season opener. Smith nonetheless appeared in tune with new coach Jim Harbaugh and new coordinator Greg Roman. He did take too many sacks and, until the team's divisional playoff victory over New Orleans, became best known for avoiding turnovers.

Smith did seem to progress as the season went along. It'll be tough for him to match or improve upon his TD-to-INT ratio. Opponents will be better equipped to counter scheme advantages the 49ers enjoyed with a new staff fresh from the college ranks. Durability will be another concern if Smith takes another 44 sacks.

But logic also suggests Smith can continue to grow within the 49ers' offense. He proved skeptics wrong last season and appears positioned to do so again.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

What is the holdup with Marshawn Lynch's new contract?

Yes, the Seahawks want to bring back Lynch. His physical running style gives them an edge Seattle cannot realistically get from another back in 2012.

There have been no hard reasons to get a deal done quickly, however. Seattle can name Lynch its franchise player, an appealing alternative for teams wary of how long running backs will hold up physically. Lynch has until March 13 before becoming a free agent for the first time in his career. His next long-term deal could be his final one. He'll want to get more than what Seattle would pay him in guaranteed money as a franchise player over the next couple seasons.

Lynch is 25 years old and has 1,280 career touches. Steven Jackson (2,507), Frank Gore (1,940) and Maurice Jones-Drew (1,762) are among the prominent backs with considerably more touches. Seattle should be able to get three more productive seasons from Lynch, enough to justify doing a multiyear deal with him.

But the franchise tag provides a tantalizing fallback.

Connecting the dots became much easier Wednesday when the Arizona Cardinals announced Frank Reich's hiring to coach their wide receivers.

Reich coached quarterbacks and later wide receivers for the Indianapolis Colts in recent seasons, giving the Cardinals a direct link to Peyton Manning should Manning hit the market this offseason, as expected. Multiple reports have listed the Cardinals among teams likely to pursue the Colts' longtime quarterback.

The Cardinals had an opening for a quarterbacks coach, but they moved receivers coach John McNulty into that role, replacing Chris Miller, who was fired. Reich replaces McNulty.

Reich, a former NFL quarterback best known for leading Buffalo's historic playoff comeback against the Houston Oilers, made his NFL coaching debut as a Colts offensive assistant in 2008. He became their quarterbacks coach in 2009, then moved to coach receivers this past season.

The Cardinals previously prevented McNulty from interviewing to become offensive coordinator with Tampa Bay. Moving him to quarterbacks coach allowed them to address McNulty's contract, which likely resulted in a pay raise. Team president Michael Bidwill discussed that expected move during Super Bowl week. Bidwill also affirmed the team's intention to pay a $7 million bonus to incumbent quarterback Kevin Kolb, but his wording left open the possibility things could change. Bidwill cited rules against tampering in discussing Manning specifically.

On Kolb and the bonus, he said this: "You sort of cross bridges as you get there, you know, but I wouldn't say we are going to deviate from the plan at this stage."

Hiring Reich only strengthens perceptions the Cardinals will pursue Manning if given the chance. Lots of other teams will likely have interest as well. Whatever edge Reich might offer will belong to the Cardinals.

INDIANAPOLIS -- Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill, speaking at the Super Bowl's Radio Row, pointed to improved quarterback play as the team's No. 1 priority for 2012.

Bidwill would not comment on reports suggesting Arizona would have interest in Peyton Manning, citing tampering rules against discussing players under contract to other teams. Bidwill also took care when discussing incumbent Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb, inserting qualifiers when saying the team plans to pay a $7 million bonus March 17.

"You sort of cross bridges as you get there, you know, but I wouldn't say we are going to deviate from the plan at this stage," Bidwill said.

Kolb would become a free agent if the Cardinals did not pay the bonus. The Colts have until March 8 to pay a $28 million bonus to Manning. Many other issues remain unresolved, including the most basic ones: whether Manning will be available at all, whether he'll be healthy enough to play, whether he would want to sign with Arizona, whether the Cardinals would pursue him and whether they would meet his demands.

Whatever the Cardinals do at quarterback, assistant coach John McNulty appears likely to play a more prominent role in overseeing the position. The team recently blocked the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from pursuing McNulty for their job as offensive coordinator. That could result in additional responsibilities -- and pay -- for McNulty in Arizona. That could diffuse hard feelings.

"We're in discussions to move him over to quarterbacks coach and that will give us an opportunity to address some things with him," Bidwill said. "I don't want to speak for John, but I think we'll be OK."

If McNulty becomes quarterbacks coach, the team will have a vacancy for a receivers coach.

"It was universal that we were going to be a better team with John McNulty with us rather than not with us," Bidwill said in explaining why he prevented the Bucs from pursuing McNulty, "and we needed to make the best decision for the team."

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Mike Sims-Walker, ex-Rams WR: That did not take long. Sims-Walker went from key free-agent addition to dropping three passes against Washington to being named inactive to being released in a short period of time. Perhaps now we know why the Jacksonville Jaguars decided against bringing back Sims-Walker even though they lacked proven players at the position. Sims-Walker was the logical Rams receiver to go once the team acquired Brandon Lloyd from Denver. The team expects to welcome back veteran Mark Clayton from the physically unable to perform list at some point, too.

2. Lockout grace periods: It's tough for the San Francisco 49ers' division rivals -- and other teams -- to complain too loudly about the lockout setting them back. The 49ers have gotten to 5-1 despite changing over just about all of their coaching staff and installing new schemes. As Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill said following his team's 1-4 start, "A lot of guys are making mistakes. Can you say, 'Well, gee, that is lack of offseason?' We're now into October. We now should be able to clean up those things. These are professional athletes and they have to rise to the occasion. And none of the other 31 teams had an offseason, either. We shouldn't be at that much of a disadvantage where we've only won one game."

3. Shawntae Spencer, 49ers CB: Spencer was a starter last season and arguably the best cornerback on the team. He's not getting on the field at this point because Carlos Rogers, Tarell Brown and rookie Chris Culliver are ahead of him on the depth chart. The 49ers did a good job addressing the position in the offseason. Had they stood pat, Spencer would probably be starting. Injuries have also set back Spencer this season.

RISING

1. Aldon Smith, 49ers OLB: The player San Francisco drafted in the first round is quickly becoming a candidate for defensive rookie of the year, along with Ryan Kerrigan of the Washington Redskins. Smith has 5.5 sacks over the 49ers' last three games. He is playing well and benefiting from the talent around him. Opposing offenses must funnel additional resources toward defensive end Justin Smith in particular.

2. Vic Fangio, 49ers defensive coordinator. The 49ers' defensive performance on the road against the Detroit Lions was mostly dominant. The defense provided a safety and held the Lions to two third-down conversions in 15 opportunities. Fangio and the personnel department deserve much credit for putting together the right mix of players on defense. Drafting Smith seventh overall and Culliver in the third round helped the defense right away. Other moves that have worked out well: adding Rogers to replace Nate Clements, moving NaVorro Bowman into the lineup at the expense of Takeo Spikes, signing and moving into the lineup Ray McDonald and remaking the safety position without losing Dashon Goldson. The 49ers took some heat for not signing Nnamdi Asomugha, but no one is complaining now.

3. Delanie Walker, 49ers TE: Walker now has touchdown receptions in consecutive games. He has three for the season after catching none since 2008. Years ago, when Trent Dilfer was still playing for the 49ers, I remember him saying Walker was one of the most talented players on the team. Year after year, Walker seemed on the verge of becoming a bigger factor, but it would never happen to the extent anticipated. It's looking like the new coaching staff is finding ways to get more key plays from Walker. His game-winning touchdown reception in the final minutes Sunday stands as a career highlight, but perhaps not for long.

One day after Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill gave his assessment of the team, former quarterback Kurt Warner weighed in Thursday with Arizona Sports 620 radio.

Warner's basic take: The Cardinals are lacking in the playmaking department. He's right. Injuries and personnel changes have hurt Arizona in an area where the team was once quite strong, the ability to score touchdowns from just about anywhere on the field.

A hand injury and new rules governing kickoffs have largely silenced LaRod Stephens-Howling. Kerry Rhodes, who scored twice on returns last season, wasn't making plays before suffering a foot injury that will sideline him at least a month. Adrian Wilson has let a couple chances at interceptions get past him. Linebacker Daryl Washington, who scored on a return last season, has battled a calf injury.

Two other big-play threats in the past, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Steve Breaston, are gone. Others, such as Anquan Boldin and Antrel Rolle, are long gone. Andre Roberts, who flashed big-play ability last season, hasn't factored at all this season.

When new quarterback Kevin Kolb missed wide-open tight end Rob Housler for what should have been a touchdown at Minnesota in Week 5, the Cardinals had found a signature play for their dearth of playmaking during a 1-4 start.

"I've watched every play of every game and there are plays out there to be made that are not being made," Warner said. "Flat out, there are guys wide open. Last week, I know Kevin would love to have the one back down the middle of the field that he just overthrew. Just a little more touch on the football, that is a touchdown. It can change the complexion of the game."

Warner rode to coach Ken Whisenhunt's defense, blaming players for failing to capitalize on opportunities. His comment regarding the play Kolb missed wasn't part of a broader criticism of the quarterback. Warner did say he thought Kolb wasn't yet comfortable enough in the offense to trust his options and stay in the pocket longer. That will presumably change over time.

"What is going to define this team is, down the road, when they feel comfortable, are they going to make those plays then that they are not making now?" Warner said.

Asked about Kolb's comments regarding players' approach to their jobs, Warner said teams around the league experience the same issues. The winning culture Arizona established in its locker room a few years ago doesn't necessarily carry over given all the personnel changes.

This team must find its own way.

The Arizona Cardinals were riding high after adding Kevin Kolb, Daryn Colledge, Stewart Bradley, Todd Heap and others veteran players during the lockout-shortened offseason.

"We knew we wanted to step in and be very aggressive, and we weren’t going to let the market settle or anything like that," team president Michael Bidwill told reporters during training camp. "We just wanted to go out there and put our best foot forward, really go out there and take a shot at some of the best players across the league."

Opening the season with a 1-4 record wasn't what the team had in mind. Two months after Bidwill basked in the aggressive approach to the market, he's putting the pressure on coach Ken Whisenhunt to turn around the team.

"We certainly felt like we addressed all the issues we needed to address, not only in the draft, but in free agency, and even got better," Bidwill told Brad Cesmat of XTRA Sports 910 in Phoenix on Wednesday. "But I trust Ken Whisenhunt and I know that he has got laser focus on getting these issues fixed, getting the mental errors removed from the game."

Bidwill was shifting responsibility onto others, specifically Whisenhunt, when he said the organization had done enough in the draft and free agency for the team to succeed. The team's 34-10 loss at Minnesota was its fourth consecutive defeat.

"Having spent as much time with Ken since seeing him in the locker room after Minnesota and we spent a little bit of time later this afternoon on a better sense of where we are, there is no question in my mind Ken Whisenhunt will get this turned around," Bidwill said.

The Cardinals have now lost 13 of their past 16 games.

It's clear Bidwill feels as though the Cardinals gave Whisenhunt what he wanted during the offseason, from Kolb to defensive coordinator Ray Horton to Bradley and others. Comments Bidwill made about Kolb made it clear that the scouts and coaches, not ownership, are under pressure for how the quarterback pans out.

"You've got to have great quarterback play in this league to win and that is what the expectations are," Bidwill said. "He is not a guy who had a whole lot of game experience, but certainly our scouts and coaching staff felt like he was ready to take the next step. That is what I needed to feel good about signing him to the contract we signed him to."

Again, Bidwill drives home the point that the organization has done its part. Coaches and scouts vouched for Kolb, so Bidwill opened his wallet, handing over a five-year deal worth $63 million. That type of investment created expectations for immediate success.

"I think there has got to be a little bit of frustration at this point," Bidwill said of Kolb's performance, "but at the same time, he is still the same guy that we scouted. He has got great football intangibles. He is football smart. He has a great release, a great arm. He can do it. We just have to get him comfortable in the scheme that we are in and comfortable in the offense."

Former NFL executive Andrew Brandt of ESPN and National Football Post takes a detailed look at Larry Fitzgerald's new contract with the Arizona Cardinals.

Lots of good details in there for those who like poring over the numbers.

Fitzgerald gets $20 million in 2011 instead of the $7 million he was scheduled to earn under his old contract. The team must exercise a $15 million option bonus in March 2012 to keep Fitzgerald from hitting the market. Fitzgerald will have received $40.25 million over two years. That works out to a $16.5 million average for new money over a two-year period on a deal that, according to Brandt, maintains a $15 million average overall.

Teams often show more concern for cash flow than cap implications in the short term. That was the case here, according to Brandt: "The Cardinals resisted but eventually gave Fitzgerald what he wanted. [Agent Eugene] Parker and Fitzgerald worked with [team president] Michael Bidwill on the cash flow issue, not requiring the major upfront cash payments that some contracts have required. And ... they allowed the Cardinals the ability to not have to fund the guarantees at the outset."

Brandt takes care to outline the broader context for the Fitzgerald deal, indirectly related to a discussion we had on the NFC West blog in 2010.

Earlier: Eleven thoughts on No. 11.

Eleven thoughts after Arizona Cardinals president Michael Bidwill and Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald announced a new eight-year contract agreement for Fitzgerald:

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Mark J. Rebilas/US PresswireThe eight-year contract signed by Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald was a commitment made most significantly at the ownership level.
• Watershed moment: Fitzgerald's signing was a referendum on how the Cardinals are doing business. Not how they have done business in the past, but how they are doing business right now. The team made a statement by spending big for quarterback Kevin Kolb and a long list of free agents this offseason. If anything, the Cardinals have erred on the side of overpaying this offseason. I doubt Fitzgerald would have re-signed at this stage in the absence of those moves.
• A Bidwill production: Bidwill's profile has risen in recent years as he has taken more day-to-day control of the organization from his father. It was appropriate for him to be the one sitting alongside Fitzgerald at the news conference. This news conference was more about business than football. Everyone knows what the Cardinals' football people think of Fitzgerald. But when an organization commits as much as $120 million toward one of the most beloved players in franchise history, the commitment is made most significantly at the ownership level.
• Eight years is a long time: The Cardinals surely paid a premium to re-sign Fitzgerald before his contract expired and before he reached the market in the absence of any team option to trade him or name him its franchise player. Fitzgerald gave up something, as well. Signing for eight years prevents him reaching the market as the NFL negotiates new, potentially more lucrative TV contracts over the next several seasons. Those contracts will affect revenues and, by extension, player salary allotments.
• Incentives could be a factor: The fine print on Fitzgerald's new deal remains difficult to verify until the deal is on file with the league and NFL Players Association, at which point details figure to filter out. Initial reports suggest roughly $50 million of the $120 million comes with some measure of guarantee. I wonder to what degree incentives might influence how much Fitzgerald receives later in the deal. Did the Cardinals secure protections in case Fitzgerald's production declines significantly?
• Lawrence mention: Fitzgerald credited various people inside and outside the organization for helping get this deal done. Paul Lawrence was one of the people Fitzgerald mentioned by name. Lawrence, one of his agents, died unexpectedly while playing basketball back in February. He was close to Fitzgerald and Cardinals teammate Adrian Wilson, among others. "I just feel like the work that was put in behind the scenes was tireless, and I am appreciative of that," Fitzgerald said.
• Good news was welcome: The Fitzgerald contract agreement gave the Cardinals a welcome bounce after the team lost rookie running back Ryan Williams to a season-ending knee injury during its preseason game against Green Bay.
• New WR pecking order: Carolina's Steve Smith had been the NFL's highest-paid wide receiver by average per year. The deal he signed in 2007 averaged $10.9 million per year. Fitzgerald's previous deal averaged $10 million while allowing him to hit free agency earlier. Calculating averages for extensions can be trickier than doing so for new contracts. It's also tough to know for sure how much any player will wind up receiving; backloaded deals produce misleading averages because teams can release players without paying future salaries. It's possible Fitzgerald's average will exceed $15 million by some measures.
• Heavy lifting finished: The Cardinals have no more high-profile contracts requiring immediate attention. Their quarterback and star receiver are under contract for years to come. Their head coach and general manager are signed through 2013. By my count, 38 of the 89 players under contract have deals expiring after the 2011 season. The team holds rights to quite a few of them beyond 2011. Jay Feely and Deuce Lutui head a modest list of players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents.
• Boldin retrospective: The Cardinals traded longtime receiver Anquan Boldin last offseason in part because Boldin wasn't happy with his contract situation relative to the market Fitzgerald had set with his previous deal. Imagine how Boldin would have felt if the Cardinals had done this $120 million deal with Fitzgerald before they traded him.
• Whether Arizona overpaid: The price for Fitzgerald was only going up as his contract neared its completion. Arizona paid a premium, as noted. In general, it's OK to overpay for quarterbacks. I'd create another category for "franchise icons who remain in their primes" because losing Fitzgerald would have set back the organization significantly. The Cardinals had to re-sign Fitzgerald. They knew it. Fitzgerald knew it. What's a few million dollars extra among friends? Letting this situation drag into the season would have complicated efforts to get a deal done.
• It's about the money, sort of: Fitzgerald had plenty of money before signing this contract. For players in Fitzgerald's situation, it's often less about the money than it is about what the money represents. Making Fitzgerald the highest-paid wide receiver by a wide margin told Fitzgerald all he needed to know about where he stood in the organization's mind. Think back to Kurt Warner's situation a couple of years ago. The Cardinals wound up paying him handsomely, but they weren't willing to overpay for him. Warner took a somewhat undignified trip to San Francisco, visiting with 49ers brass in an effort to leverage a better deal. He wound up re-signing with the team, but I wonder, in retrospect, if he might have hung around for the final year of his deal if the Cardinals had made a stronger statement to him with a deal even more lucrative. It's a debatable point, but one worth considering, at least.

That's all for now. I'm boarding a flight from St. Louis to Seattle in a few hours and will likely check in from 30,000 feet, wireless permitting.

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The fans chanting Larry Fitzgerald's name as he approached on a Segway following practice Wednesday are not alone in their love for the Arizona Cardinals' receiver.

Team management might as well join in the chanting. President Michael Bidwill and general manager Rod Graves are not quite begging the Pro Bowl receiver to extend his contract beyond the 2011 season, but they're openly hoping. The ground beneath their feet appears more solid after Arizona moved aggressively in free agency and the trade market.

"I'm excited with the signings," Fitzgerald said Wednesday. "That is a step in the right direction. It's more active than we've been in the free-agent market during the eight years I've been here. That is really exciting, especially as bad as our division is. Any help is going to pay off big for us."

I thought the Cardinals would have won the division last season with even average play at quarterback. Their inability to compete for an NFC West title despite an easy finishing schedule precipitated recent moves to add quarterback Kevin Kolb, tight end Todd Heap, linebacker Stewart Bradley, guard Daryn Colledge and others. The team made those moves knowing Fitzgerald was watching to see whether or not the organization would create a situation he could embrace for the long term.

Fitzgerald holds the leverage. His contract features clauses preventing the team from trading him or naming him its franchise player. Arizona could not stop Fitzgerald from testing free agency if the receiver chose to go that route. But team president Michael Bidwill said he thinks the sides can reach agreement before the regular season.

"I’m optimistic," team president Michael Bidwill told reporters Tuesday. "I think Larry wants to get it done. We want to get it done. We’ve got the cap space. We’re looking forward to working with him."

Getting a deal with Fitzgerald before the season is the hope.

"I think you can get contracts done very quickly when two people are motivated," Bidwill said. "I think we’ve got a lot of motivation. I know Larry wants to get it done, too."