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INDIANAPOLIS -- Peyton Manning non-news has dominated the first couple days of Super Bowl week.

That should change as the big game approaches, but for now, the prospect of Manning leaving Indianapolis for another NFL venue is driving discussions throughout the league.

It's just so hard to envision Manning starting fresh on another team after building up so much equity with the Colts. Manning became more integral to the Colts' offensive operation than his own coaches. He was literally coaching the offense on the field during practices.

Instantly replicating elsewhere what Manning established over more than a decade seems impossible. But any team without an established quarterback would have to strongly consider adding Manning even at less than full health if the Colts parted with him.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times answers during his chat a question about whether he would go after Peyton Manning or Matt Flynn if given a chance to play general manager in Seattle. O'Neil: "Manning. I don't even have to think long about it. Here's what you know: Peyton Manning was one of the two greatest quarterbacks in his generation. He's 36 -- which is not prohibitively old for a quarterback -- and yes he has a frightening injury. One that could prevent him from ever playing again. But that injury is also the only reason you have any chance to get him. And that chance is worth what will likely be strictly a financial risk. You're not losing draft picks to acquire him. You're not ruling out the possibility of drafting a young quarterback to groom behind him. Here's what we know about Matt Flynn: He had a couple of really good games stepping in for Aaron Rodgers in an electric offense. I'm not against Matt Flynn, per se, but if you had an option on one or the other, I'm taking Peyton Manning."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with Hall of Famer Michael Irvin, who makes a strong push for former Cardinals and Rams defensive back Aeneas Williams as a candidate for Canton. Irving: "I've had those one-on-one battles, where it was just Aeneas and I. I've had those battles with all of those guys you call hall of famers, first-ballot hall of famers: Rod Woodson and Deion Sanders and all of that. I'm not putting any one of them above Aeneas. Not any one of them above Aeneas. No doubt in my mind." Note: Williams is a finalist this year. Somers will be presenting his case to the selectors during the Hall meeting Saturday. Williams' playmaking ability set him apart. He had a knack for the timely play and showed it when he did get a chance to play for winning teams in St. Louis.

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asks colleagues whether they see Rams owner Stan Kroenke keeping the team in St. Louis even though the team will likely have the ability to break its lease following the 2014 season. Jim Thomas: "In the end it comes down to how committed Stan Kroenke is to this market, and I don’t have the answer to that. Because there is, in fact, no realistic way that St. Louis can meet first-tier requirements, you might as well talk about building a new stadium for those kind of dollars. The other factor is how ready really is Los Angeles to build a new stadium for an NFL team?"

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch expands on the same subject, focusing on Kroenke: "You might not like him right now because he refuses to tell you what you want to hear. No comforting words are coming out of his mouth. I, on the other hand, prefer his silence to the feel-good lies that I have heard from too many other pro sports moguls who would rather play the disingenuous PR spin game in public, then do all sorts of mischief behind your back. We'll know soon enough what his intentions are. So in the meantime, let's be clear: He's not the bad guy, just the one with most of the leverage -- and he's not afraid to use it." Noted: Restraint does beat blatant lying, but Kroenke could also find a middle ground. He could at least project the general idea that he's very interested in keeping the team in St. Louis.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch updates the Rams' search for a general manager.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com offers thoughts on how the 49ers' defensive backs played in 2011. Maiocco: "The defensive backfield was expected to be a weak link of the 49ers. But this unit was sound throughout the season. The 49ers' defense surrendered 20 touchdown passes during the regular season while recording 23 interceptions. All but one of the 49ers' interceptions came from the secondary. The 49ers' pass defense was fifth-best in the NFL with an opponent passer rating of 73.6."

Also from Maiocco: thoughts on the 49ers in free agency. Maiocco: "The 49ers offered contract extensions to several of their players during the season. Tackle Alex Boone was the only player who accepted the deal. Talks continue with many of the team's other scheduled free agents. Typically, chief negotiator Paraag Marathe makes the trip to Indianapolis for the NFL scouting combine and meets with many of the agents who represent 49ers players." Noted: The 49ers showed last offseason they weren't going to panic and overpay in free agency. Their 13-3 record validated the approach.

The accolades keep flowing the San Francisco 49ers' way following their 5-1 start to the season.

Winning tends to validate every aspect of an operation.

Scott Ostler of the San Francisco Chronicle praises team president Jed York for naming Trent Baalke general manager and hiring Jim Harbaugh as head coach. Ostler: "The 49ers desperately needed a game-changer and Harbaugh was the only candidate who potentially fit that description. ... York snagged him. Maybe York got lucky. Maybe Harbaugh was ready to make the jump to the NFL and he saw the 49ers as the one team in which he instantly could seize near-complete control of the entire football operation. But give York credit. When he went into marathon discussions with candidate Harbaugh, some people on the outside (OK, I was one) thought that might be a deal-killer. What if Harbaugh chats with York and Paraag Marathe for several hours and realizes he is being recruited to head up some rich kid's Junior Achievement project? So yes, some of us underestimated York (and Baalke and Marathe)."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee lauds Harbaugh for succeeding in creating the family atmosphere that eluded the 49ers under former coach Mike Singletary. Players received an extra two days off for winning their final two games before the bye week. Practice-squad players travel on road trips. Barrows: "Long and tedious team meetings were common. Singletary often gave speeches -- sermons, really -- during the week. He wanted the 49ers to bond, but it was forced bonding. Jim Harbaugh also wants a family like atmosphere. But he is running the team in a different manner, like Patrick Swayze ran his household in 'The Outsiders.' Harbaugh is like the older brother who lets you drink out of the milk carton and who isn't beyond getting into scrapes of his own."

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat checks in with the 49ers' coordinators for an explanation on how West Coast offenses have evolved over the years. One key difference: Teams rarely use a split backfield, which was a staple under Bill Walsh. Noted: Mike Holmgren used split backs a fair amount of the time during his years with the Seahawks. Sometimes the team would shift from split backs into the I-formation and back to split backs. But it's uncommon to see split backs in the NFL today. I was watching the 1979 playoff game between the Rams and Cowboys recently. The Cowboys' use of split backs jumped out right away. Before that, teams used to have their receivers line up in sprinter's stances, which they never do any longer.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News profiles 49ers receiver Ted Ginn Jr.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams are bracing for a New Orleans team that has continued functioning at a high level despite coach Sean Payton's knee injury. Thomas: "Because of the surgery, Payton was less involved in game-planning for last Sunday's game against Indianapolis. On game day, Payton was upstairs in the coaches' booth, with offensive coordinator Pete Carmichael taking over the play-calling duties from Payton. The result was an amazing 62-7 victory over the Colts. It was the most lopsided victory in Saints history, and it matched the most points scored by an NFL team since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970. Payton may not have a leg to stand on, but he still has his team's ear."

Also from Thomas: Mark LeVoir is back with the team and says Rams Park looks the same, only four years older.

Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams could be close to getting cornerback Marquis Johnson back from injury.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals have lost their past 10 road games. Noted: They are one of eight teams in the NFL without a road victory this season. Carolina, St. Louis, Minnesota, Indianapolis, Jacksonville, Miami and the New York Jets are also without a victory away from home. Carolina was the only team without a road victory all last season. The Cardinals haven't won a road game outside the division since beating the Detroit Lions during the 2009 season.

Also from Somers: The Cardinals hope to fix Kevin Kolb's footwork.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Seahawks tight end Zach Miller has no hard feelings toward Giants safety Kenny Phillips for the illegal hit that sidelined Miller until this week. The league levied a $20,000 fine against Phillips. Miller: "It's part of the game. A few years ago, that hit would have been legal. You can't fault the defensive guys too much because they're trying to make plays on the ball. It's tough when you change rules when you try and adapt and play within the rules. I wish it wouldn't have happened, though." Noted: Those are the types of hits I think about every time a retired player experiences health problems at a relatively young age. I suspect absorbing a hit such as that one would be life-altering for the typical non-athlete. It's remarkable athletes bounce back so quickly, but the evidence increasingly suggests they pay in the long term.

Also from O'Neil: Red Bryant's transformation from average defensive tackle to formidable defensive end continues to serve the Seahawks well.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com notes that the team hasn't played a home game since Oct. 2, meaning nearly a month will have passed between games at CenturyLink Field.

Gideon Yu's hiring by the San Francisco 49ers brightens the team's prospects for building a new stadium and enjoying it upon completion.

That seems like a reasonable read on the situation given Yu's background.

Yu, hired Tuesday as chief strategy officer, owns one of the more impressive résumés in the NFL or anywhere. He has been chief financial officer for Facebook and YouTube, senior vice president and treasurer of Yahoo! and a general partner at Khosla Ventures. He owns degrees from Stanford and Harvard, and has also worked for Disney and Hilton.

So, why would someone of Yu's stature become chief strategy officer for an NFL franchise?

Nothing against chief strategy officers, but when you've brokered deals worth more than NFL franchise are worth, as Yu has done, this sort of job seems a little ordinary. Tim Kawakami raised questions along these lines Tuesday and wondered whether the move signaled desperation mode for the 49ers on the stadium front.

Answering that question cannot explain the hiring from Yu's perspective. He appears to be a football fan, which helps. He has obvious ties to the Bay Area. He earned an MBA from Harvard and graduated from Stanford, where 49ers chief operating officer Paraag Marathe earned an MBA. Yu has also known team president Jed York for some time. They serve together on the board for Tipping Point, a charity that fights poverty in the Bay Area. Note: I updated information on Yu's educational background.

According to the 49ers, Yu will be "responsible for maximizing the team’s strategic and business prospects, as well as developing new businesses and revenue streams." Yu will also oversee the 49ers' information technology and special-projects departments as well, an indication we should expect changes to the team website, approach to social networking, etc.

The 49ers said they expect Yu to play a leading role in the Santa Clara stadium project, and in making sure a new stadium has all the latest technological amenities.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Steve Keim, the team's director of player personnel, places narrow parameters on the type of quarterback a team would draft fifth overall. Keim: "If you take one (with the fifth pick), to me, you have to be convinced that is 'The Guy.' He is 'The Guy' for the next 10 years, and you have no questions or concerns on both the ability side as well as the character and passion for the game and fit and intangibles. He has to be that complete player." Quarterbacks with those credentials get drafted first overall, and even then, it's tough to know for certain whether the player will meet expectations. If teams are going to miss on players that early, they would prefer to miss on non-quarterbacks. The stakes are lower.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic identifies Texas A&M's Von Miller as his early favorite for the Cardinals with the fifth overall choice in the 2011 draft. He's not convinced the team will draft a quarterback at all, necessarily. The Cardinals would expose themselves to easy criticism if they ignored the position in the draft and acquired an underwhelming veteran. But if they did not value any of the available quarterbacks enough to draft them early, the criticism might be off-base.

Also from Somers: The Cardinals say they are having "ongoing" talks with Larry Fitzgerald regarding a new contract. Somers: "It would behoove the Cardinals to do it before the season starts. If Fitzgerald doesn't have a new deal by then, hitting the open market becomes an even more-attractive option for him."

More from Somers: Thoughts on the quarterback class and whether Arizona might draft one fifth overall. General manager Rod Graves: "One [question] is whether or not with that fifth pick, you can afford to have a player who won't make an immediate contribution to you."

More yet from Somers: Outside linebacker Joey Porter played more snaps than anticipated, making it tougher for the Cardinals to fault his individual contributions during a difficult season, coach Ken Whisenhunt said. That context is helpful in evaluating Porter, who would have benefited from playing on a better team.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says coach Pete Carroll expects more from receiver Mike Williams and running back Marshawn Lynch in particular. On Lynch: "He missed all the stuff and the principles and the foundation of how we put the thing together. He missed all of that missing camp. So there will be still a sense of newness for him. We’re excited about him coming back and we’re looking forward to it." Lynch mostly needs improved blocking. Seattle used 11 starting combinations on its offensive line last season, and the position was not very strong at its best.

Also from Farnsworth: big-picture thoughts from Carroll, including one about how the new offensive coaches, Darrell Bevell and Tom Cable, should experience a smooth transition. Carroll: "Even in terminology. There’s always some things you have to tweak. But the great majority of it, these guys absolutely know. They cross right over. Immediately, each guy can talk his offense and they know what the other is talking about. And it allows us to not have to change much. There’s a real continuity of thought in mind there to help our players move ahead. To wholesale shift and change everything, particularly in this year, it could be even harder."

More from Farnsworth: The Seahawks are looking for bigger offensive linemen this offseason now that Cable has replaced Alex Gibbs as offensive line coach. That's a better fit for the Seahawks' personnel department, which generally adheres to Ron Wolf's thinking about football being a big-man's game, particularly over the course of a season.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune passes along comments from Schneider at the combine, noting that he met with the agents for defensive tackle Brandon Mebane. Schneider on Mebane: "Brandon played well. I think Brandon’s a steady pro. Definitely, we hope we can have him back. We talked to his guys last night, and we’re having good discussions with them." Just a guess here, but Mebane is presumably hoping to get paid as though he's more than just a steady pro.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch profiles receiver Julio Jones, who could wind up catching passes from Sam Bradford after turning down a chance to play with him at Oklahoma. Thomas: "Some common themes at the combine are that the Rams are looking to add playmakers at every position; that there should be plenty of options -- particularly on the defensive line -- at No. 14 overall; and that they're willing to trade down. General manager Billy Devaney has said that there should be plenty of wide receiver options in the second round." The Rams have used first-round choices for offense in both seasons under coach Steve Spagnuolo. Adding a defensive lineman would certainly make sense, but passing over a potentially dynamic offensive playmaker would be tough. Building around Bradford is key.

Also from Thomas: Rams scout Luke Driscoll faces charges in Indianapolis after authorities allegedly found him intoxicated and urinating on a building at 3:20 a.m. Bars tend to be bustling with NFL types at night during the combine. Most of those bars have restrooms.

More from Thomas: Safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, released by the Rams, visited the Redskins and left without a contract offer. Thomas: "Buffalo may bring him in next week after the Bills return from the combine. Dallas and Denver are also interested but Dallas in particular isn't expected to bring in any free agents for visits until there is a new collective bargaining agreement."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com checks in with 49ers executive Paraag Marathe for thoughts on the team's contract negotiations, strategic planning, stadium outlook and Marathe's evolving role with the team. Marathe was recently named chief operating officer. Marathe: "Where I'm able to have leadership is on the business side: marketing, business development, ticket sales, sponsorships."

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider thinks 49ers coach, Jim Harbaugh likes quarterback Alex Smith more than the team's general manager, Trent Baalke, likes Smith. And that is logical, based on public comments from both men. The GM is going to take a bigger-picture view more of the time. And in the bigger picture, Smith isn't the answer. But in looking at the short-term options, a coach might see things differently. That is probably the case with Harbaugh.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat wonders whether LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson could be the 49ers' choice with the seventh overall pick. Branch: "The Niners faced six signal-callers who ranked among the NFL's top 12 in passer rating last year and the results weren't pretty. Those quarterbacks completed 67.2 percent of their passes with 14 touchdowns and three interceptions. Passer rating: 110.6, which, loosely translated, means astronomical. This brings us back to Peterson, a dazzling combination of size and speed who won the Bednarik Award given to the nation's top defensive player as a junior this past season."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers could suffer from a lockout more than most teams this offseason. Barrows: "The 49ers are in an awkward position. They also are one of the teams that promise to suffer the most if owners dig in and pressure the players with a lockout that lasts through the summer or longer. They have an almost entirely new coaching staff that, in a normal year, would spend the offseason implementing new schemes on offense and defense. They also are without a starting quarterback."

Also from Barrows: 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said the team is "searching" at outside linebacker. Barrows: "None of the four 49ers outside linebackers who took meaningful snaps last season finished with more than five sacks."

More from Barrows: "Lord Fangio" was what Stanford players called him last season.

Cross off former Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels from the list of potential fallback candidates for the San Francisco 49ers.

McDaniels is not interested, according to a source I spoke with Thursday.

The 49ers still hope to hire Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, but they reportedly reached out to McDaniels as a potential fallback while the Miami Dolphins became more active in pursuing Harbaugh, according to the San Jose Mercury News.

The 49ers have interviewed Harbaugh and Oakland Raiders offensive coordinator Hue Jackson. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and general manager Jeff Ireland led a contingent that flew from Miami to the San Francisco Bay Area to meet with Harbaugh beginning Thursday morning, ESPN Insider Chris Mortensen reported.

McDaniels, 34, is more likely to land as a coordinator than as a head coach this season. Questions about the 49ers' current leadership -- specifically whether the team has a winning mix with third-year president Jed York, first-year general manager Trent Baalke and executive vice president Paraag Marathe -- made the head coaching job there less appealing to McDaniels following a turbulent run with the Broncos, the source said.

For the 49ers, hiring McDaniels as head coach months after the NFL punished him for illegally videotaping a 49ers walk-through practice would seem stupefying, in my view. Of course, we do not know how serious the 49ers would have been about McDaniels, so I'm reluctant to judge them too harshly for merely reaching out. Might the 49ers have been more interested in McDaniels as a coordinator?

At the very least, it's revealing when a recently fired candidate has no interest in the 49ers. It says McDaniels remains confident he'll land a more appealing job once he repairs his image through a successful run as a coordinator. It also suggests high-profile candidates could elude the 49ers, as the case appeared to be during the team's search for a general manager.

Landing Harbaugh would change perceptions. If Harbaugh accepts a more lucrative offer from the Dolphins, however, the 49ers will look like a team that overplayed its hand and misled fans when York said money would be no object.

The 49ers might then have to settle for another tier of candidates. That would not necessarily prevent them from hiring a capable coach. None of us knows whether Harbaugh would fare better than Marty Mornhinweg, Brian Billick, Jackson or any other potential candidate.

We do know the 49ers wanted Harbaugh, however. Watching him take a job with the Dolphins or anyone else would sting.

Arlan from San Francisco writes: Hi Mike, I was wondering why Alex Smith wasnt wearing a wristband with plays on it sooner. I thought all teams quarterbacks wore one. It seems that with all the circumstances in the NFL -- limited time that headsets are active, time it takes to pick a play, length of the average play call, crowd noise, etc. -- common sense would dictate the QB wear a wristband with plays on it.

In fact, I don't see any reason why all players wouldn't wear one with the same plays and their individual assignments. Is this another example of the inexperience/inability to adapt to the times by this coaching staff? The prime example would obviously be our offensive philosophy, which belongs in the 1950s/1960s and lacks even a hint of creativity.

Mike Sando: This problem has everything to do with getting the play to Smith more quickly, not helping Smith process the information once he gets it. We can criticize Smith on several fronts, but his intelligence and memory aren't in question here. Smith might be the smartest person in the organization other than executive Paraag Marathe, who has an MBA from Stanford. Smith's ability to process basic play information isn't the culprit.

Teams running the digit system on offense generally suffer from more delay penalties because it takes longer for their coaches to communicate the plays. The 49ers, San Diego Chargers, Cincinnati Bengals and Oakland Raiders lead the NFL in quarterback delay penalties since 2005. All have run digit-system offenses some or most of the time since the 2005 season.

West Coast offenses can be more efficient this way. The Seattle Seahawks rarely had delay penalties under Mike Holmgren in part because the system required fewer words to communicate plays. Holmgren could call out basic play information, including the personnel group, and the quarterback would automatically know other aspects of the play. In San Francisco and other places where teams run digit systems, the play caller must spell out other aspects of the play (motions, protections, etc.).

It's more important for the 49ers and teams with similar offenses to communicate plays quickly and clearly. It's also important for the coach relaying the information from coordinator to quarterback to do so without requiring elaboration from the coordinator. One solution could be for the coordinator to communicate directly with the quarterback.

The 49ers are falling short in these areas and it's leaving Smith with less time on the play clock. Putting a wristband on his arm isn't going to fix the problem.

Update: I've had conversations with people in football since posting this item. One thought was that the wristband could help as long as the offensive coordinator, Jimmy Raye, located the play he wanted quickly enough to communicate it right away.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Stan Kroenke's bid to buy the Rams is gaining momentum after Saints owner Tom Benson said "everyone" wants Kroenke's bid to prevail. Thomas: "Benson is chairman of the league's finance committee, which must make a recommendation on Kroenke's bid before the full ownership votes on the issue. Although these league meetings don't officially begin until this morning, the finance committee did meet Monday afternoon with Kroenke answering questions from the committee members." According to Thomas, Kroenke is seeking a grace period to comply with cross-ownership rules. The league has granted grace periods previously, including for the Dolphins. This is another sign Kroenke is headed toward approval.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says former Giants defensive tackle Fred Robbins is eager to contribute in St. Louis. Coach Steve Spagnuolo says Robbins has "done a great job in the offseason as far as what he's doing with his body; he looks in good shape. He's a quality veteran and I think a guy that can come in ... and show the younger guys how to be a pro. And I'm not just talking about practicing. All the things that you do in between. That's as important as anything."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the NFL scheduled the 49ers for more prime-time games because the team finished strong last season and has a significant national following.

Also from Maiocco: a look at the 49ers' key power brokers, from Jed York on down. Maiocco on executive vice president Paraag Marathe: "If York is the most powerful man when it comes to the day-to-day operations, Marathe is No. 2. Actually, nobody in the organization impacts the 49ers in as many different ways as Marathe."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee checks in with 49ers running back Michael Robinson, who cites a busy schedule featuring charity work in explaining why he hasn't attended recent voluntary workouts.

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says third-string 49ers quarterback Nate Davis is focusing on mastering the playbook. Barber: "While (David) Carr clearly entered the offseason as the No. 2, Davis was encouraged to get some reps with the first and second offensive units at the OTAs. He's not looking for any guarantees from the 49ers. Just an opportunity to prove himself in the huddle."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says LenDale White is eager to get his career back on track after a disappointing 2009 season. White: "Sitting the bench for the whole year, dealing with that alone, it's a lot of stress. It's a life-changing thing. But I guess we go through that for a reason. I’m still here. Pete gave me another shot, and I’m looking forward to it."

Also from Farnsworth: a look at Golden Tate's transition from Notre Dame to an NFL offense. Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck: "When the ball is in the air, he goes up and gets it like it’s his. And that’s very important as a wide receiver." The Seahawks' receivers haven't made nearly enough plays on the ball in recent seasons.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks continue to churn their roster. Coach Pete Carroll: "In a new program, it's really important for us to do this. So we're going to keep doing it. So we're going to keep doing it. There's no deadline when we're going to stop and try to get everybody comfortable and settled. I don't think that's necessary here. Everybody knows that this is a very competitive environment and they're going to have to battle day in and day out and that's the whole idea."

Also from O'Neil: "Dexter Davis worked out with the linebackers during some of the position drills during Monday's voluntary practice. Davis, a seventh-round draft choice out of Arizona State, is a pass-rushing specialist considered to be sort of a 'Tweener in the NFL. The Seahawks are obviously looking for the variety of roles he may be able to fill because he could also seem time at the LEO position, the pass-rushing specialist where Chris Clemons is currently seen as the starter."

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says Tate made the play of the day Monday.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says a "terrific arm" was one of the reasons Seattle signed J.P. Losman as its third quarterback, Carroll said.

John Morgan of Field Gulls says Seahawks rookie Earl Thomas has the rare ability to play the ball, but is lacking as a tackler.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says newly hired scout Kyle Johnson replaces longtime scout Jerry Hardaway, whose contract was not renewed. Urban: "The team hired Johnson, a former fullback for the Denver Broncos, to scout players in the northeast region of the country as well as serve as the Cards’ representative with the National Football Scouting Service. Johnson, who played for the Broncos from 2002-2007, was a one-time college and pro teammate of Quentin Harris, who has been working in the Cardinals’ pro personnel office. Harris has earned a promotion himself, to assistant pro personnel director, as he works under director of pro personnel T.J. McCreight." Every team in the division has undergone some sort of change in the personnel department since the draft.

A few notes from 49ers president Jed York's conference call with reporters following Trent Baalke's promotion to vice president of player personnel:

• The 49ers complied with the Rooney Rule, though York would not say which minority candidates he interviewed;
• Joel Patten's hiring as college scouting director comes in conjunction with David McCloughan's departure from that post;
• Pro personnel director Tom Gamble will focus some on college personnel because York thinks it's important for guys on the pro side to have their own gut feel for college prospects, meaning they won't be entirely dependent on reading reports from guys on the college side;
• Baalke's power will be somewhat narrower than the powers of a general manager. He won't oversee areas relating to budgets or contract negotiations, for example. Baalke's experience is in personnel and his responsibilities reflect that focus;
• Mike Singletary will continue to hire and fire assistant coaches;
• Baalke, Singletary and executive vice president of business and football operations Paraag Marathe all report to York.

The structure seems to make sense on the surface. As noted previously, maintaining continuity in the short term had to be a top priority.

» NFC decision-makers: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

» Draft Watch: Biggest needs (2/17) | Busts/gems (2/24) | Schemes, themes (3/3) | Recent history (3/10) | Needs revisited (3/17) | Under-the-radar needs (3/26) | History in that spot (3/31) | Draft approach (4/7) | Decision-makers (4/14) | Dream scenario/Plan B (4/21)

Each Wednesday leading up to the NFL draft (April 22-24), the ESPN.com blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today’s topic: The decision-makers.

Arizona Cardinals

President Michael Bidwill and general manager Rod Graves are the highest-ranking personnel people, but the draft is clearly a collaborative effort in Arizona.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt has earned additional input after helping Arizona produce back-to-back division titles and a Super Bowl appearance. A stronger say in personnel was reportedly part of the understanding when Whisenhunt recently agreed to a contract extension through the 2013 season.

Director of player personnel Steve Keim plays a leading role in identifying talent at the college level. Keim and Graves have been together in Arizona since the late 1990s.

This appears to be a stable situation.

San Francisco 49ers

The situation in San Francisco appears far less stable than the one in Arizona.

Scot McCloughan's abrupt departure as general manager five weeks before the draft raised legitimate questions about how the power structure would shake out -- both in the long and short term.

Player personnel director Trent Baalke has taken over for McCloughan. It's clear the 49ers want Baalke to serve as a stabilizing force through the draft and probably longer.

It's still fair to wonder how draft day might go.

Coach Mike Singletary has stepped up his role in scouting. Team president Jed York and executive vice president Paraag Marathe remain influential. Their profiles are higher than they were a couple years ago.

What will it all mean when the 49ers are on the clock and various draft scenarios are playing out at full speed? That's a little tough to say at this point, though the 49ers appear determined to prove they'll proceed as usual.

Seattle Seahawks

Coach Pete Carroll is the highest-ranking football decision-maker in the organization and that's fine by GM John Schneider, whose role should be significant nonetheless.

Most head coaches with strong personnel power lean heavily on their GMs and scouting departments. Carroll's recent experience at the college level makes him more personally familiar with the talent in this draft, adding an important dynamic to the Seattle front office, particularly in this first draft under Carroll.

The Seahawks did maintain significant continuity in their personnel department. Will Lewis, Ruston Webster, Scott Fitterer and Mike Yowarsky remain in prominent roles. Each has been with the team for several years or longer.

St. Louis Rams

General manager Billy Devaney, executive vice president Kevin Demoff and coach Steve Spagnuolo are the primary decision-makers for a second consecutive draft.

One question in St. Louis is to what degree the pending ownership change might affect the team's thought process. There are no indications so far that the Rams will do anything other than proceed as they normally would.

Devaney, Demoff and Spagnuolo appear unified. They've been together for a couple of seasons and seem to have a good working relationship.

Late March is no time for an NFL team to hire a general manager.

The San Francisco 49ers have put off the decision until after the draft, but late April isn't a good time, either.

May, June or July might be worse. The more time passes, the harder it becomes to justify introducing a strong new voice into a team's meeting rooms.

Forget about hiring one during training camp or the regular season.

"I haven't decided on whether we're going to have a general manager," team president Jed York said during a recent conference call.

The comment raised suspicions that York and/or executive vice president Paraag Marathe might continue their ascents within the organization, turning their backs on a strong personnel presence. York guaranteed that neither he nor Marathe would become GM, but someone would have to fill the power void if the team proceeded without anyone formally named to the position.

Player personnel director Trent Baalke is taking over through the draft. After that, who knows?

The tumult surrounding Scot McCloughan's departure has shaken some fans' already tenuous trust in the team. The 49ers have earned our skepticism after seven consecutive seasons without a playoff appearance. But without knowing more -- specifically, to what degree McCloughan's demise was his own doing -- it's tough to make definitive judgments on the state of the franchise.

The team made progress last season in getting to 8-8, and the 49ers do have a promising young core of players. None of that has changed.

Questions linger. Let's find some answers.

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Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Colts owner Jim Irsay as saying Shahid Khan's bid to purchase the Rams could be headed for approval. Irsay: "I think indications are that (Khan's) strength of wealth is there. His background and those sort of things are really positive. It's not something that we've got our final reports on, but all indications are that it's trending in a positive direction for him." Thomas also checks in with part-owner Stan Kroenke, who isn't saying how he'll proceed. Thomas: "In reality, Kroenke probably has only two options: maintain his 40 percent share or sell it. Because in pretty strong language Monday, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated that the league wasn't inclined to bend its cross-ownership rules to allow Kroenke to match (Shahid) Khan's offer." Kroenke also owns the Denver Nuggets and Colorado Avalanche.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch estimates there's a 20 percent chance Marc Bulger could return to the Rams in 2010. Miklasz: "Unless something unexpected develops, the Rams will draft Sam Bradford and they have A.J. Feeley to serve as an interim QB while they get the rookie ready to play. And what would be the point of keeping Bulger -- who makes big money -- around as a highly expensive third quarterback? That doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense. If the Rams back away from Bradford AND decline to draft a QB in the 2nd or 3rd round -- a QB that figures in their short-term plans -- then I could see them revisiting the idea of keeping Bulger. But that is unlikely." I can't see Bulger returning.

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat provides a general Rams update, noting that the team did not work out Sam Bradford or give him a physical examination during a recent meeting with him in Florida.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times lists the Seahawks' additions and subtractions to this point in free agency. O'Neil on Cory Redding: "Redding lost his starting job after three games. He got his first sack in the 10th game. But when coach Pete Carroll was hired, Redding was one [of] the players he mentioned in radio interviews as a lineman the team was hoping to find an effective role for. And to be fair, Redding was one of the most impactful players on the defense over the final month of the season. Coincidence or contract? You be the judge on that one."

John Morgan of Field Gulls isn't expecting much from new Seahawks quarterback Charlie Whitehurst. Morgan: "A team can wager a lot or a little on a low-value asset. It can see Whitehurst for what he is, a backup quarterback with some warts and some potential not unlike Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson, or it can lock onto one player, forego negotiations and pay the sticker price for his services. Seattle did the latter." I think the Seahawks settled for Whitehurst after determining they did not like Seneca Wallace, could not get Kevin Kolb for a reasonable price and did not feel comfortable with the quarterbacks most likely to be available in the draft. That doesn't seem like the best way to find a quarterback. The question then becomes whether the Seahawks paid too much for what they're getting.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com isn't sure where the Cardinals go from here in free agency. He thinks Sean Morey wants to return to the team despite making a free-agent visit to Seattle. I think there's a decent chance Morey winds up with the Seahawks. It's looking like Arizona will be overhauling much of its receiving corps. Anquan Boldin and Jerheme Urban are already gone. Morey was more of a special-teamer, but he counted as a receiver on game days when the Cardinals configured their 45-man roster. Taking him out of the mix could give Arizona three new receivers on game days who weren't part of the regular rotation when the 2010 season opened. Early Doucet supplanted Urban during the season. Also from Urban: "Veterans who are waiting now for bigger potential deals probably aren’t going to get them, and historically it’s even harder to get a decent deal after the draft because teams have filled up their holes with new talent that can be home-grown. What happens to Mike Gandy or Chike Okeafor, for instance (other than that they won’t be in Arizona)?"

Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers need to hire another general manager after parting with Scot McCloughan. Knapp: "There are NFL teams that can afford to be creative and defy the standard structure of a front office. The 49ers are absolutely, categorically, definitively not one of them. They have a team president and head coach with less than three years' experience between them, a roster that has not been properly updated this offseason and a seven-year absence from the playoffs."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee provides an overview of Jed York's comments regarding Scot McCloughan's departure as general manager. Barrows: "York said that he has yet to decide on the structure of the team's front office moving forward, and that he wasn't sure whether he would have a general manager in the future. He said those decisions would be made after the draft. He was resolute, however, in stating that neither he nor his top lieutenant, Paraag Marathe, would become the team's general manager."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat passes along York's commitment to Alex Smith as the starting quarterback. York sounded a lot like McCloughan. York: "I think it's great this is the first time he's had continuity at the offensive coordinator. When you have some weapons around him with Crab (Michael Crabtree) with Vernon (Davis) with Frank (Gore), I think Alex is poised to have a good season for us. And (we're) more excited that Alex is our starting quarterback."

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says York's comments raised more questions. Cohn: "If the Niners don't have a GM what will they have?"

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says McCloughan would have kept his job absent personal issues, according to York.

49ers president Jed York announced a "mutual parting" with general manager Scot McCloughan, using the term "private personnel matter" to avoid discussing specifics. The sides obviously reached a settlement ending McCloughan's tenure as general manager.

Among the highlights, straight from York:

• McCloughan is prohibited from joining another team until after the draft.
• Unspecified personal reasons were behind McCloughan's downfall.
• York promised McCloughan that he would withhold public comment on the matter for five days, and that period ended Monday. York repeatedly said his integrity meant more than perceptions created by the organization's silence amid reports of McCloughan's ouster.
• York has not yet decided whether to hire another GM for the long term. Director of player personnel Trent Baalke will "take over" and run the draft. Baalke will have the "decision authority" through the draft. The team will then decide upon its structure.
• York and executive vice president Paraag Marathe will not become GM or fill the role effectively. "The one thing I will promise you is I will not be the GM and Paraag will not be the GM," York said. A different answer might have fueled perceptions that McCloughan's ouster was an inside job, independent of whatever personal issues McCloughan might be facing.
• The draft board is 90-95 percent set.
• McCloughan's brother, David, will remain college scouting director. "David is a professional and he has been great through this process and he will continue to be there through the draft" -- same as others in the front office.
• York initially refused to assess McCloughan's legacy, saying only, "You will have to ask him." I pressed him on this one and he said, "I think Scot has added a lot of good players. We haven't made the playoffs yet. We expect to make the playoffs this year. None of our legacies are set right now."
• McCloughan's departure will not affect Alex Smith's role as starting quarterback even though McCloughan was perceived to be the quarterback's strongest defender within the organization. "Alex is our guy," York said.

Those were the highlights of a conference call featuring York and reporters. More to come.

Dan Arkush of Pro Football Weekly says the 49ers have good intentions in their ouster of general manager Scot McCloughan, and that McCloughan's agent could be angling for a confidentiality agreement relating to the "personal issues" behind his demise. Arkush: "While the lack of any official word from the Niners' organization on what actually is transpiring at present is making it look unaccountable -- and, in the eyes of some critics, rather deceiving, with up-and-coming organizational power broker Paraag Marathe rumored by some to be at the forefront of a 'blindside' of McCloughan -- sources tell us the team's murky stance is as much due to its genuine desire to do good by McCloughan, who is genuinely well-liked in the industry and respected as an evaluator, as anything."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee explains why he thinks the 49ers haven't resolved the situation involving McCloughan. "If McCloughan were to resign, the 49ers wouldn't have to pay him. The 49ers believe McCloughan will do so because the 'personal reasons' that have been cited in conjunction to his estrangement would be embarrassing to him. McCloughan, however, is holding his ground, an indication that he doesn't feel the reasons for his ouster are as damaging as the 49ers believe them to be."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat sorts through the 49ers' current front-office situation and says Marathe could one day become general manager. Maiocco: "The Eagles in January made 34-year-old Howie Roseman their GM. Roseman's began with the Eagles as their lead figure in salary-cap matters. Some view the Eagles as a template for what the 49ers might ultimately consider with Marathe. Marathe is the 49ers' cap man and their lead negotiator. He also spends game days in the coaches' box, where he assists [head coach Mike] Singletary with game management, challenges and rules interpretations. It's not out of the question to think at some point Marathe could become 49ers general manager."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News thinks McCloughan's departure from the 49ers could diminish Alex Smith's future with the team. This was going to be Smith's make-or-break year, anyway. If they replace him before the season, they'd better have somebody demonstrably better. Otherwise they wasted the second half of the 2009 season and, arguably, the past five years.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Shahid Khan should know by May whether NFL owners will approve his plan to purchase the Rams. Thomas: "Khan has met on several occasions with Stan Kroenke, who owns 40 percent of the Rams. A league source familiar with the sale said Khan and Kroenke are getting to know each other." Kroenke has the option to keep his 40 percent, sell his 40 percent or move to purchase the remaining 60 percent. The first options appears most likely, but nothing is official yet. Thomas: "Khan must appear before the finance committee to answer any questions that it might have for him. But again, that can't happen until Kroenke declares and the final transaction agreement is in place. Kroenke's 60-day window to make a decision expires on or around April 12."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' affinity for Sam Bradford and the budding Khan-Kroenke relationship could set up the team for a brighter future. Miklasz: "The Rams are genuinely excited by the idea of making Bradford a centerpiece of their rebuilding. And by sending that signal along the NFL information pipeline, [general manager Billy] Devaney is letting it be known that he's dealing from a position of strength. If an NFL team wants to acquire that coveted No. 1 pick, they'll have to make a sweet offer."

John Morgan of Field Gulls offers five-year follow-ups on Seahawks draft classes. On the 2005 draft featuring Chris Spencer, Lofa Tatupu, Leroy Hill and Ray Willis: "It was not a perfect draft, but it certainly will not screw Pete Carroll and John Schneider quite like the 2003 and 2004 draft screwed Tim Ruskell. If Spencer develops, Hill and Tatupu regain their health, and [Alex] Gibbs helps turn Willis into a good right tackle, Carroll will be accredited the wins, but Ruskell found the talent."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com revisits a busy week for the team. Farnsworth: "None of the moves made by the Seahawks this week will impact what they might do in the draft -- where they now have the sixth, 14th and 60th picks overall. As (general manager John) Schneider said twice Thursday, during the news conference to announce the addition of Whitehurst, the arrival of the Chargers former backup does not rule out the possibility that the Seahawks will choose a quarterback with one of its two picks in the first round."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Joey Porter's signing should help the Cardinals' pass rush, and it has already helped in another area. Urban: "The fact his signing has clearly energized guys like (Darnell) Dockett and Larry Fitzgerald inside the locker room can’t be discounted either. They have to feel the team is making the effort to stay on top."

Tony Grossi of the Cleveland Plain Dealer says the Cardinals had interest in Browns outside linebacker Kamerion Wimbley. Grossi: "The big holdup with them, like other teams, was Wimbley's contract. Wimbley has voided the final year of his deal through performance incentives. There are buyback provisions built in, but as things stand, 2010 is his last year under contract. The fact he can be a free agent in one year hurt his marketability. Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt did not want to give up a high draft pick for Wimbley without a longer-term deal in place."

Joe Fortenbaugh of National Football Post wonders whether the Cardinals signed Porter only after Wimbley landed in Oakland. Wimbley would have been more appealing if under contract for years to come. That was one of the benefits of the Kerry Rhodes trade. Rhodes was under contract at a reasonable rate.

Scot McCloughan remains the 49ers' general manager in title, but his top personnel lieutenant, Trent Baalke, is expected to run the draft room this year.

That makes sense. McCloughan appears on his way out and it's unrealistic to bring in someone from the outside before the draft, which begins April 22. Baalke, as director of player personnel, ranks second to McCloughan in the 49ers' scouting department. He's the natural choice to head up the draft room this year.

That doesn't necessarily mean Baalke will be the primary decision maker. Coach Mike Singletary will play a role. President Jed York and executive vice president Paraag Marathe will presumably be involved. But I still wanted know about Baalke's background in personnel, leading to the latest item in my "GM profiling" series.

I've put together a chart showing how many players Baalke's teams have drafted by position and round. Another chart breaks out his teams' first-round choices. This file shows all 92 players his teams have drafted, breaking down the information from multiple angles. Baalke didn't necessarily directly influence or even agree with each of these decisions, but the information can still provide some perspective.

Baalke has been with the Jets (1998-2000), Redskins (2001-2004) and 49ers (2005-present). A few observations:

• Each of his teams has selected a quarterback in the first round (Chad Pennington, Patrick Ramsey and Alex Smith).
• Five of the seven players his teams have drafted among the first 13 overall choices have appeared in at least one Pro Bowl.
• None of his teams has selected a linebacker in the second through fourth rounds.
• His teams have never drafted a running back in the first round.
• His teams have never drafted quarterbacks in the second, third or sixth rounds.
• His teams have never drafted a punter or kicker.
• His teams have drafted 17 offensive linemen, but only one -- Joe Staley -- in the first round.

Note: This item was updated to reflect information from the 2008 and 2009 drafts. The overall trends held. Thanks to KenAdamsJr for noticing.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News offers thoughts and observations on outgoing 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan. Kawakami: "I think McCloughan’s a pretty good judge of talent. I think he’s loyal and probably was too loyal to Mike Nolan over their first three-plus years together. I think McCloughan was not totally on-board with the promoting of Mike Singletary as interim coach, but McCloughan made it work. (He wasn’t on-board with the hiring of Mike Martz as OC the year before, and that DIDN’T work.) ... I think McCloughan was learning on the job, and I think he definitely upgraded the talent level of the roster. But yes, there were things I’d wondered about–periods when McCloughan was not seen or heard from, at least publicly, which I always thought was strange for an NFL GM. I don’t know if that’s tied to what is forcing him out. I presume it is, but I could be wrong. Maybe Scot will explain it to us at some point."

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says McCloughan is on his way out. White: "According to multiple sources, the dismissal is strictly for personal reasons involving McCloughan and no one else. This move is not for football reasons and no crime was involved."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers locked out reporters from their facility and declined to comment on McCloughan's status, all while McCloughan watched an NCAA tournament game in San Jose. Barrows: "The only thing that is certain at the moment is that McCloughan is not taking part in the day-to-day operation of the team."

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Paraag Marathe, recently promoted to executive vice president of football and business operations, could assume more power on the football side. Also: "McCloughan did not report to the 49ers’ offices in Santa Clara on Thursday, and sources indicate his departure from the organization is imminent."

Also from Maiocco: 49ers coach Mike Singletary could influence the 49ers' draft board in the coming weeks.

Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com says the 49ers' draft will have McCloughan's fingerprints all over it even if the GM isn't involved on draft day. Rang: "While the perception is that draft boards are fluctuating every day with the improved workouts players are putting forth in Pro Days across the country, in reality, much of the hard work in preparing for the 2010 draft has already been done. Whether he's the one actually making the pick or not, the 49ers 2010 draft will have Scot McCloughan's fingerprints on it. Considering that the 49ers appear poised to take control of the NFC West -- largely based on players McCloughan drafted -- that's a good thing."

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers need a new general manager and one with gravitas. Cohn: "Who is that person? Please tell me. Is there anyone in the 49ers organization capable of identifying that man and persuading him to sign on? I don't see anyone like that. And let's face it, the departure of McCloughan so unexpectedly and at precisely the wrong time is a terrible indicator of the 49ers' present state and a horrible omen for the future."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the atmosphere was casual when the Seahawks introduced new quarterback Charlie Whitehurst and said he would challenge Matt Hasselbeck. Coach Pete Carroll: "We would not have done this if we didn't think we were bringing in a highly competitive player. We're counting on Matt to lead this thing, and Charlie is going to take his shot at it every turn."

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com explains why Carroll likes his new quarterback: "Carroll said Whitehurst fits what the Seahawks are looking for in their offensive system: a big, athletic quarterback with good mobility and a strong arm."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Seahawks general manager John Schneider has been sizing up Whitehurst for years. Williams: "Schneider said the first time he saw Whitehurst was as college quarterback at Clemson in 2005, where Whitehurst threw well in bad weather for a workout in front of NFL scouts. Schneider said Whithurst’s performance stuck with him, and he considered him a player with a lot of potential."

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks' new leadership hasn't earned full trust. Boling: "What they have going for them is that what’s been done in the recent past hasn’t worked. And starting over seems a reasonable approach."

John Morgan of Field Gulls sounds unimpressed by Chris Clemons, acquired by Seattle from Philadelphia.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says it's hardly a given that Neil Rackers will return to the Cardinals. Urban: "The things that make Rackers so valuable — his quirky ability to do crazy, effective onside kicks and his kamikaze willingness to tackle on kickoffs — are also the things (because of the mentality needed) that give pause when it comes to the end of games. Personally, I hope Rackers returns, because he is a weapon in so many facets. But that’s far from a lock right now."

Also from Urban: Matt Leinart says he's hungrier than ever heading toward the 2010 season as the Cardinals' starter. Leinart: "I know I can be a starter in this league, but when you have Kurt (Warner) in front of you , a veteran going to the Hall of Fame, you know your position and you have to prepare just having to be ready if the opportunity comes. Now, it’s a totally different mindset because this is my time, the opportunity I have wanted and it is here. I am more focused and hungrier than I have every been in my entire football career, college and pro."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams met with Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford in Florida.

Also from Thomas: Chris Massey gets a new contract. Willie Parker, Reggie Hayward, Jason McKie and Kevin Dockery visit the Rams, with Jimmy Wilkerson on the way.

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat breaks down the Rams' free agents and those the team has signed. Balzer: "James Hall was a leader in the locker room and a solid contributor. His age works against him, but there's not a lot of depth at the position. Hall visited New Orleans, but left without signing a contract."