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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.

The 1990 NFL draft class featured Pro Football Hall of Famers Cortez Kennedy and Emmitt Smith.

Sadly, that class also included Jeff Alm, who committed suicide following a traffic accident that killed his best friend, and Anthony Smith, who would be charged with murder in 2011.

No one could have anticipated fifth overall choice Junior Seau, 43, joining that second tragic list before taking his rightful place among Kennedy and Smith as Hall of Famers from that draft class.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com grew up in San Diego and covered the AFC West during Seau's prime years with the San Diego Chargers. Farnsworth: "I knew of Seau before I ever saw him play. In the fall of 1973, I was working for a newspaper in Oceanside, Calif., and covering the high school football team. Seau played at Oceanside High before becoming an All-American at USC. Just the mention of his name would create a silence of reverence in the locker room, especially from the players of Samoan decent. Whenever coach Herb Meyer needed an example while discussing a current player, he would evoke memories of Seau. Unfortunately, that’s all any of us are left with -- our memories of Tiaina Baul Seau, Jr."

Also from Farnsworth: Michael Robinson's plan to build on a Pro Bowl season.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle thinks Visanthe Shiancoe would be an appealing option for the Seahawks at tight end.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic offers thoughts on the Cardinals' front-office changes involving Steve Keim and Jason Licht. Somers: "It's interesting, and I would think encouraging for the Cardinals, that both Keim and Licht were considered for general managers' jobs in the off-season. Keim interviewed in St. Louis, and Licht in Chicago. T.J. McCreight, one of the unsung workhorses in the organization, moved from pro personnel director to a job in the Colts' front office."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that former Rams kicker Josh Brown has signed with the New York Jets. Thomas: "Brown, 33, was deemed expendable in St. Louis after the Rams drafted Missouri Western State kicker Greg Zuerlein in the sixth round of the NFL draft Saturday. Fisher informed Brown he was being released later Saturday. With the Jets, Brown is expected to compete with Nick Folk for the kicking job."

Also from Thomas: a chat transcript with thoughts on the offensive line, and more. Thomas: "They did add Scott Wells at center, a former Pro Bowler, in free agency from Green Bay. They added G/T Quinn Ojinnaka and C/G Robert Turner in free agency. And they drafted Rokevious "Rock" (or he might spell it "Rok" _ I'll have to find out ) Watkins in the fifth round. Line coach Paul Boudreau is known for being able to develop talent. The belief is he'll get Saffold back up to par at left tackle and can straighten out Jason Smith's technique. For now, Ojinnaka, Turner, Watkins, and returning squad member Bryan Mattison will all be thrown in the mix competing for the left guard line."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com offers thoughts on the 49ers' crowded offensive backfield. Maiocco: "As Frank Gore begins his eighth NFL season and has 1,653 regular-season rush attempts, the 49ers finally have some quality depth behind him. It seems likely that Gore's play time will decrease this season with more players capable of filling in. ... Anthony Dixon played just 52 snaps of offense last season. Dixon must convince the 49ers' coaching staff that he's as serious about his football career as the other running backs on the roster. As the offseason begins, Dixon clearly has the most ground to make up in the battle to win a roster spot."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News offers thoughts from current and former 49ers on Seau's passing.

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.

NFL general managers put their reputations on the line come draft day.

Some fare better than others.

The chart shows how many Pro Bowl players current NFC West GMs have drafted or helped draft over the past 10 years.

The numbers are not definitive. Current GMs from the division weren't always primary decision makers during the period in question. They do not deserve all the credit (or blame) for the players their teams drafted.

In some cases -- think first-team All-Pro choice NaVorro Bowman in San Francisco, for example -- very good players have not yet achieved Pro Bowl acclaim. In other cases, a single decision -- say, drafting Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay -- improved an organization's trajectory enough to launch other players to the Pro Bowl.

What we have, basically, is a starting point for discussion heading into the 2012 draft. Here's a look at each current NFC West GM and the associated 2002-2011 draft choices with Pro Bowls on their résumés:

• John Schneider, Seattle Seahawks (10): Schneider is entering his third draft as a GM after joining the Seahawks from Green Bay, where he worked under Ted Thompson. Seattle safeties Earl Thomas and Kam Chancellor went to the Pro Bowl after last season. Schneider was in Green Bay when the Packers drafted eventual Pro Bowl choices B.J. Raji, Javon Walker, Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Nick Collins, Greg Jennings, Aaron Kampman and Scott Wells. Three notable non-Pro Bowl picks: Jermichael Finley, Richard Sherman, Matt Flynn.
• Trent Baalke, San Francisco 49ers (8): Baalke was with the Washington Redskins when they selected Sean Taylor and Chris Cooley. He was with the 49ers in a sub-GM role when San Francisco selected Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis, Joe Staley, Frank Gore, Dashon Goldson and Michael Robinson. Three notable non-Pro Bowl picks: Bowman, Aldon Smith, Ray McDonald.
• Rod Graves, Arizona Cardinals (7): Graves has been the Cardinals' GM for the entire period in question, although personnel director Steve Keim is ultimately responsible for setting the draft board. Draft choices Larry Fitzgerald, Patrick Peterson, Antrel Rolle, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Anquan Boldin, Darnell Dockett and Antonio Smith achieved Pro Bowl status. Smith went to the Pro Bowl with Houston last season. That counts for the purposes of our discussion. Three notable non-Pro Bowl picks: Calais Campbell, Karlos Dansby, Daryl Washington.
• Les Snead, St. Louis Rams (4): Snead enters his first draft as a GM after a long run with Atlanta. The Falcons selected eventual Pro Bowl choices Matt Ryan, DeAngelo Hall, Roddy White and Matt Schaub when Snead was with the team. Again, the period in question covers only the last 10 drafts, excluding from consideration other players (Michael Vick comes to mind among Snead-era Falcons choices). Three notable non-Pro Bowl picks: Curtis Lofton, Thomas DeCoud, Laurent Robinson.

Whoa, the NFC West chat is getting under way now. Gotta run.

Los Angeles Rams fans with long memories will recall when their team moved its games from the Coliseum to Anaheim in 1980.

The San Francisco 49ers' move to Santa Clara, celebrated with a stadium groundbreaking Thursday night, feels much different.

Both the Rams and 49ers were running from stadium problems, but the 49ers have a stadium solution.

Securing a new 49ers stadium to keep the team in the Bay Area stands as a defining achievement for CEO Jed York and the organization, and for Silicon Valley.

The groundbreaking ceremony was a victorious moment for corporate and civic types. This was their day to rejoice, but there's not much in a groundbreaking ceremony for fans to get excited about. The ones I know would rather discuss linebacker depth than what steps builders are taking to comply with environmental regulations.

Besides, those holding tickets to games at Candlestick Park will continue watching games there for the next couple seasons, some knowing they won't be able to afford seats in the new place. Fans nearer Santa Clara have nothing yet to show for the groundbreaking at this early stage. Their time will come once the stadium is completed.

Team headquarters have been in Santa Clara for years. Players and employees tend to live in that area, some 40 miles south of San Francisco down U.S. Highway 101. Relocating two exhibition games, eight regular-season games and home playoff games to Santa Clara will be great for them, even as the organization loses a tangible link to San Francisco.

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle calls the groundbreaking a bittersweet moment for the 49ers. Lynch: "The timing for staying in San Francisco was never right. If Jed York was the head of the 49ers when the team was negotiating with the City for a new stadium, maybe something would have been done. However, his father was at the helm then, and several sources said John York was incapable of moving forward because of the risks involved in such an immense project. So is the ground-breaking to be celebrated? Yes, but in muted fashion because the 49ers will soon have a state of the art facility that should keep the team competitive and even though saying 'San Francisco 49ers' will be somewhat of a falsehood when the team moves South, at least it’s better than saying 'Los Angeles 49ers'."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee outlines the 49ers' vision for the stadium, with an emphasis on environmental considerations. Barrows: "One of the problems Jack Hill, the project executive for the 49ers' new $1.2 billion stadium, currently is facing is how to transport 2,000 tons of dirt and top soil 150 feet in the air. ... The dirt is intended for what the 49ers are hoping will be the signature feature of the venue, a 27,000 square-foot green roof that will support a garden of native plants, which in turn will soak up rainwater and provide insulation for the tower of luxury suites it sits atop."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams hope tackle Jason Smith can adjust his approach to become more consistent. Line coach Paul Boudreau: "He's so intense in everything he does. He does everything in a hurry. I'm trying to show him some patience. And trying to get him to use his hands more than leaning into blocks. Just trying to slow him down. Trying to make the game slower by using good technique as opposed to going out and killing every guy you play. Because when he goes out there, if he hits (the defender), he hits him. But if he misses, it's a dead shot on the quarterback. So we're trying to get him to think a little bit more about his balance and his base, and where he is at the collision point."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals' decision to draft Ryan Williams in the second round last year was one example of going with value over need. Urban: "The Cardinals’ greatest need remains offensive tackle, but as with the Williams pick a year ago, the Cards have been careful not to lock themselves into needs. Early in the draft, when difference-makers can be found more often than not, chasing need can hamstring a team. There has been plenty of speculation whether or not a tackle like Iowa’s Riley Reiff will be there at 13, but for all the middle-of-the-road comments made Thursday, Whisenhunt made clear the Cards weren’t going to held hostage to an offensive line vacancy."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic passes along an anecdote from Cardinals general manager Rod Graves regarding running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, a player Graves might not have selected without their assurances from coach Ken Whisenhunt and personnel director Steve Keim that Stephens-Howling could make an impact despite standing 5-foot-7.

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle identifies five Seahawks players needing strong offseasons. On Golden Tate: "The emergence of Doug Baldwin and most assuredly a draft pick at wide receiver next week, an enhanced look at last year's fourth-rounder Kris Durham and super-freak Ricardo Lockette means it's sink or swim time for Tate (and possibly Mike Williams). Tate has as much if not more explosion and dynamic ability as any receiver on the roster not named Ricardo. Now, he has to prove to Pete Carroll, the offensive staff and his new quarterback that the commitment and 'want-to' will consistently align with his talent."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times updates injury situations for Seahawks tackle James Carpenter, cornerback Walter Thurmond, receiver Sidney Rice and others. GM John Schneider on Rice: "This is the healthiest he's going to be since he's been a professional."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com quotes Schneider on the potentially trading back from the 12th overall choice. Schneider: "Now we’re in a position, especially at 12 -- I look at 12 like at 11, 12, 13 there’s a little bit of a ledge there, there’s a little bit of different players -- so if we want to stay and pick, I think it’s a really cool place to pick. If somebody does something that's really attractive, then we feel comfortable with the way we’ve prepared that we can go back, too. We feel like we’ve covered some things so we can go ahead and just take the good players that come to us."

A quick look at front-office happenings around the NFC West:

• Seattle: Longtime Seahawks personnel evaluator Will Lewis is no longer with the team, Adam Schefter reports. Lewis had been vice president of football operations following a long stint as pro personnel director. He stayed with the team when John Schneider arrived as general manager, and the fit seemed good because the two had worked together in Green Bay. The team's flow chart became a bit top-heavy, in retrospect, when former San Francisco 49ers general manager Scot McCloughan joined the team as senior personnel executive in June 2010.
• San Francisco: Trent Baalke's three-year contract extension through 2016 seemed like a matter of when, not if, following the teams' 13-3 record. Just about every move the 49ers made contributed to their deep playoff run. Baalke's top lieutenant, Tom Gamble, has interviewed for the GM job in St. Louis. The 49ers do not want to lose him, but with Baalke signed for the long term, the front-office dynamic should remain similar either way.
• Arizona: Steve Keim, the Cardinals' director of player personnel, has also interviewed for the Rams' GM job. He has been with Arizona since 1999, an unusually long run with one organization. Rod Graves is the general manager, but Keim carries a significant part of the personnel load. The team lists director of pro personnel T.J. McCreight, director of football administration Reggie Terry and assistant pro personnel director Quentin Harris next on its football operations list. They joined the Cardinals in 2009 (McCreight), 2007 (Terry) and 2008 (Harris).
• St. Louis: The latest report from St. Louis suggests the 49ers and Cardinals need not worry about losing top execs to a division rival this offseason. Minnesota's George Paton and Atlanta's Les Snead have emerged as finalists for the GM job, with Paton as the most likely choice, Jim Thomas reports. Check out Paton's profile here.

Enjoy your Saturday.

Aaron Levine's report about the Seattle Seahawks hoping to bring a Super Bowl to the Northwest sent me back through notes to a 2002 interview with team owner Paul Allen.

The Seahawks were about to open their new stadium at the time, so it was natural to ask Allen whether the organization could bring a Super Bowl to Seattle.

"It is certainly do-able," Allen said at the time. "The league, there hasn’t been one in a northern city for some time. There is some talk of New York and Washington. Certainly, our hat is in the ring if they decide to look beyond cities like that."

The recent positive Super Bowl experience in Indianapolis would seem to help.

"I think probably it will be in another Northern city first," Allen said during that 2002 interview, "and if it’s a positive experience, hopefully some momentum will build."

CenturyLink Field is an open-air facility, however, and that could be a problem. The NFL sent the Super Bowl to Indianapolis knowing Lucas Oil Stadium would shield fans and players from inclement weather. Indianapolis is also a major-league destination for conventions. Skywalks connect downtown hotels.

Steve Rudman of Sports Press Northwest looks at Shaun Alexander's Hall of Fame credentials following Cortez Kennedy's induction. He compares Alexander's production to that for Curtis Martin, something I'll break out later on the blog.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com breaks out pertinent NFL dates and makes this notation about the Cardinals regarding free agency: "The Cards have four restricted free agents (guys who could leave, but the Cards, if they tender an offer, have right of first refusal): running back LaRod Stephens-Howling, linebacker Reggie Walker, safety Rashad Johnson and cornerback Greg Toler." Note: Re-signing unrestricted free agent Calais Campbell has to be the top priority as far as addressing players already on the roster.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch updates the Rams' search for a general manager. The 49ers' Tom Gamble is next up, with Minnesota's George Paton up for a second interview. Thomas: "Gamble will be the ninth candidate to interview for the job. The others: Paton; Joey Clinkscales, vice president of college for the New York Jets; Lake Dawson, vice president of player personnel for Tennessee; Brian Gaine, director of player personnel for Miami; Ryan Grigson, director of player personnel for Philadelphia; Ron Hill, vice president of football operations for the NFL; Steve Keim, director of player personnel for Arizona; and Les Snead, director of player personnel for Atlanta. Grigson has since been hired as general manager by Indianapolis."

Howard Balzer of 101ESPN St. Louis says the Rams have signed an offensive lineman from the CFL.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com takes a look at how the 49ers' receivers performed in 2011. On Josh Morgan: "Morgan's rehab is ahead of schedule, and he should be able to participate in the entire offseason program. He is scheduled to be a free agent, and it would seem to make sense for the sides to agree on a contract for next season. In five games, Morgan caught 15 passes for 220 yards and a touchdown."

Eric Branch of the San Francisco 49ers looks at which draft choices the 49ers hold for 2012.

News that the St. Louis Rams are considering San Francisco's Tom Gamble and, earlier, Arizona's Steve Keim as general manager candidates makes sense from at least one perspective.

Both men would give new coach Jeff Fisher direct, inside knowledge of teams the Rams must beat to become competitive again. St. Louis went 0-6 in the NFC West this past season. Fisher was not in the NFL last season. He was previously in the AFC South. He'll have a full offseason to study the Rams' division rivals, but Gamble and Keim would bring institutional knowledge an NFC West outsider would not.

The 49ers have focused on re-signing their own players and avoiding big free-agent purchases in recent seasons. Gamble would presumably bring to St. Louis the same mindset -- one Fisher was familiar with while working with GM Mike Reinfeldt in Tennessee.

Minnesota's George Paton is also among those under consideration, having received a second interview. From Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "Paton is highly regarded within the Vikings organization, and his responsibilities are expected to expand should he stay in Minnesota. Paton played a large role in the trade for defensive end Jared Allen in 2008."

Finding a GM with the personality and people skills to work well with Fisher stands as a leading consideration for the Rams.

The Rams moved to St. Louis for the 1995 season. Their future beyond 2014 is coming into focus as local authorities draft plans to possibly upgrade the Edward Jones Dome.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch notes that the St. Louis Convention and Visitors Commission is scheduled to make a proposal Wednesday of next week. Burwell quotes Webster University sports economist and Forbes columnist Patrick Rishe on the approach owner Stan Kroenke has taken: "All these things are creating doubt and a little fear. From a pure business perspective, I'd say this is good business for him to play his cards the way he's playing his cards. I'd say 'job well done.' Someone asked me the other day if he had a moral obligation to St. Louis football fans. I said absolutely not. His moral obligation is to do what is best for the best financial return of the owners. And if I was him, I can't say I wouldn't be doing the same things he's doing."

Ray Ratto of CSNBayArea.com says Kroenke's bid for the Los Angeles Dodgers, if successful, could foreshadow a Rams move to Los Angeles in accordance with cross-ownership rules, instantly rekindling an in-state rivalry for the 49ers. Ratto: "The NFL prohibits owners of a team in one city from owning a team in another city in another league. For instance, and as an example with momentary historical validity, Jed York could not run the 49ers and the Pittsburgh Penguins." Noted: Cross-ownership rules can be a bit confusing. In this case, Kroenke could own the Dodgers without moving the Rams because there is no NFL team in Los Angeles. Cross-ownership rules would prevent Kroenke from owning a non-NFL team in a market that already has the NFL. This explains how Seattle's Paul Allen owns the Seahawks and the Portland Trail Blazers. There is no NFL team in Portland.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com sizes up quarterback options for the 49ers. Peyton Manning's name is mentioned.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle looks at the 49ers' situation at wide receiver.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams have a scaled-down presence at the Senior Bowl because their coaching staff and personnel department remain in flux, and there is no general manager. Thomas: "The GM interview process resumes this weekend when Arizona director of player personnel Steve Keim visits the Rams. The interview may not take place Saturday as originally reported; it may be Sunday. New York Jets vice president of college scouting Joey Clinkscales; Miami director of player personnel Brian Gaine; and Indianapolis director of player personnel Tom Telesco could be interviewed next week."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Earl Thomas' selection to the Pro Bowl as an NFC starter was especially gratifying because Thomas picked off only two passes this past season. Thomas: "A lot of people just look at stats, stats, stats, and they really don’t look at the big picture of what a player is doing. So it just feels good to get recognized for doing some of the dirty work. I’m just excited to be here, and hopefully I can keep coming back."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times calls Peyton Manning-to-Seattle a long shot.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Greg Shiano's hiring as head coach in Tampa Bay could affect the Cardinals' staff. Somers: "Cardinals receivers coach John McNulty coached under Schiano at Rutgers from 2004-2008, and the two are friends. McNulty started at Rutgers as receivers coach and eventually became offensive coordinator. Schiano is expected to try and hire McNulty in Tampa Bay. The Cardinals can prevent that from happening because McNulty is under contract. The Cardinals can deny permission for him to interview, even for a coordinator's position."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com compares Arizona's defensive stats from the first half of the season to the second. The Cardinals ranked among the NFL's top three in third-down defense, red zone defense, touchdowns allowed, sacks and yards per pass attempt from Weeks 9-17. Urban: "Over the final nine games, 64 percent of the drives by Cards’ opponents (76 of 118) were five plays or less and 59 percent (70) covered 25 yards or less. Of the 12 touchdowns the Cards allowed, four came on drives that began on the Cards’ side of the 50-yard line."

A couple weeks ago, Paul Kuharsky of the AFC South blog mentioned Ruston Webster and Randy Mueller as potential general manager candidates with coach Jeff Fisher in St. Louis.

Webster is off-limits after the Tennessee Titans made him GM.

Mueller remains in a front-office role with San Diego. Kuharsky mentioned Mueller in connection with Fisher because the Titans had interest in him before they ultimately hired Mike Reinfeldt in 2008, back when Fisher was Tennessee's head coach. Mueller, then with Miami, was not allowed to interview.

Fisher and the Titans met with Webster, Reggie McKenzie, Ron Hill, Mike Ackerley and Charles Bailey before hiring Reinfeldt. Webster and McKenzie are GMs, making them off-limits. Hill works for the NFL. Ackerley is with the Houston Texans. Bailey worked for the Jaguars and is out of the league.

The Rams could in head another direction entirely. These are some names with known connections to Fisher.

Before hiring Fisher, St. Louis interviewed the Atlanta Falcons' Les Snead as a GM candidate. The Rams also interviewed Ryan Grigson, subsequently hired by Indianapolis. Arizona's Steve Keim has also been under consideration, although his candidacy appeared more natural when the Cardinals' Ray Horton was a candidate to become head coach.

Conventional wisdom says the San Francisco 49ers need to score touchdowns, not field goals, to defeat the New Orleans Saints in the divisional playoffs Saturday.

But if the 49ers play the game their way, on their terms, they'll win with David Akers hitting at least a couple field goals — perhaps even the game-winner. After all, Akers set a 49ers franchise record for scoring on his way to the Pro Bowl this season.

ESPN's Rick Reilly explains why that would be a fitting scenario after all the Akers family has been through over the last year. Just one year ago, doctors discovered that Akers' 6-year-old daughter had a cancerous tumor. Akers himself had lost most of his career earnings to a fraudulent investor. He missed two field-goal attempts during the Eagles' 21-16 playoff defeat and soon found himself out of work. Reilly: "So there it was, the trifecta — nearly broke, a sick kid at home and silently dumped by the team he'd given 12 terrific years. Akers is a guy who's insecure about his footing in the NFL anyway. He'd been a waiter at a Longhorn Steakhouse in Atlanta, a substitute teacher and a kicker for NFL Europe in Berlin, where he nearly died during a one-month hospital stay for salmonella. The man who saved him from that life was then-Philadelphia special teams coach John Harbaugh, who called him up for a tryout in 1998. Akers stuck. And he's been terribly fond of Harbaughs ever since."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News goes back in time with 49ers legends as they reminisce on the 30th anniversary of Dwight Clark's winning catch from Joe Montana in the NFC title game against Dallas.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says Clark sees parallels between that 1981 team and the current one. Clark: "It's way similar. We shocked everybody that year and this team has shocked everybody. I see similarities between Bill Walsh and Jim Harbaugh. Bill was a genius. Harbaugh comes up with some schematic thing on the field and I shake my head and say, 'Where the hell did he come up with that?' They have a similar way of creating plays."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch updates the Rams' search for a coach and general manager. Tennessee's Lake Dawson interviewed for the GM job, Atlanta's Les Snead was on his way to do so and Arizona's Steve Keim was also expected to interview. Thomas: "Meanwhile, the Rams expressed interest in Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jay Gruden, but Gruden quickly let it be known that he's staying put with the Bengals and would not interview for any head-coaching jobs." Noted: Keim would fit best if the Rams hired Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton as head coach. Dawson would fit best if the Rams hired Jeff Fisher.

Also from Thomas: a chat transcript with a different take on how much money the Rams will save now that Josh McDaniels is working for New England. Thomas: "As I wrote about today, McDaniels will receive $1.5 million from the Rams next season. But whatever the Patriots are paying him gets subtracted from that total. Say the Patriots are paying him $1 million, then the Rams are on the hook for only $500,000 and they get $1 million freed up to hire the new coaching staff. Also, whatever McDaniels gets paid for the rest of this season with New England gets subtracted from McDaniels' $1.5 million he earned from the Rams this season." Noted: I thought that would have been the case if the Rams fired McDaniels, and that the Patriots would assume the full salary given that St. Louis never did fire him. I'll follow up on this.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams should hire an offensive-minded head coach if they fail to land Fisher. Miklasz: "If the Rams hire a defensive coordinator, what kind of staff would he be able to put together on offense? Again, it's imperative for the Rams to expedite Bradford's progress, ratchet up this offense, and join the NFL's modern age. An offense-oriented HC would have the necessary acumen to supervise the development of the QB and the offense. He would have a better feel (and a better chance) for putting together a quality staff on offense. NFL people will tell you that it's easier to find a defensive coordinator than an offensive coordinator."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the team knows it must improve on offense. Urban: "The Cardinals’ first drive of the season went for a touchdown, starting at the Cards’ own 46-yard line and ending with Beanie Wells’ seven-yard run for a score. The next week, a first-quarter interception set up a short (37 yards) drive for another early touchdown. But the Cardinals didn’t score a first-quarter touchdown after than until the final game of the season against Seattle, far too long a drought. The Cards only scored 36 first-quarter points all season, putting them in a near constant hole. The flip side, of course, was the often strong finishes, especially once the defense became stout. In the fourth quarter and overtime, the Cards outscored opponents by 54 points. The big plays would pop up — 22 total on the season of more than 40 yards — and the Cards did gain 4.2 yards per rush attempt, but it didn’t happen enough. During the Cards’ 7-2 closing kick to the season, the most points they scored in a game was 23."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says NFL analyst and former quarterback Rich Gannon does not expect improvement from Tarvaris Jackson. Gannon: "I think what you see is what you get. I don't know if it's going to get a whole lot better with Tarvaris Jackson, and that's really my concern. Is he a good player? Certainly. Is he ever going to be a dominant player at his position? Is he ever going to be one of the elite players? Is he going to be a Pro Bowl player? I don't think so." Noted: Gannon might be right. That was the sort of thing people thought about Gannon years ago. Gannon went from Chiefs backup and sometimes starter to league MVP with Oakland. That path is obviously unlikely for Jackson, but it seemed unlikely for Gannon as well.

Defensive coordinator Ray Horton isn't the only Arizona Cardinals employee expected to interview with the St. Louis Rams this offseason. Steve Keim, director of player personnel, has surfaced as a candidate on the general manager front, according to Mike Jurecki of XTRA Sports 910 in Phoenix.

This is good strategy by the Rams even if they're still focusing primarily on hiring Jeff Fisher as head coach and a Fisher-vetted candidate for GM. The team gets a chance to learn more about its rivals in the division -- rivals that went 6-0 against St. Louis this season and 20-4 against the Rams since 2007.

Keim's name has surfaced previously in media speculation surrounding jobs in the division. That was the case back before the Seattle Seahawks hired John Schneider as general manager. Keim never interviewed with Seattle. His standing took a hit when the Cardinals went 5-11 last season and 1-6 to open 2011. But with the Cardinals rallying to 8-8, the overall success Arizona has enjoyed since 2007 comes back into focus.

The Rams would be wise to check out other candidates in the division as well. San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman and Seattle Seahawks defensive coordinator Gus Bradley are two assistants I would investigate. Both have overseen units that have gone young over the last few seasons. The 49ers' overall success under Jim Harbaugh should make Roman appealing. Seattle's defensive improvement has been striking.

The fact that current Seahawks coach Pete Carroll retained Bradley from Jim Mora's staff and kept him in place as coordinator also speaks well of Bradley. How many defensive-minded head coaches retain the defensive coordinators they inherit from previous regimes? That is highly unusual.

Seattle's assistant head coach/offensive line Tom Cable also stands out as a candidate to consider. Cable's history with Oakland included some controversial moments, but the Rams would have to like the way Seattle's ground game kept getting strong production despite suffering injuries similar to the ones that undermined the Rams' offense.

The Seahawks' ability to identify and acquire young talent through the draft and off the street should make members of their personnel department appealing to the Rams. Vice president of football operations Will Lewis and senior personnel executive Scot McCloughan are the most experienced high-ranking members of Schneider's staff. Both were with the Green Bay Packers with Ron Wolf and Ted Thompson in the 1990s; McCloughan helped to acquire much of the 49ers' current talent while serving in senior positions with the team.

The 49ers' more recent success in the draft and free agency reflects well on Tom Gamble, the team's director of player personnel.

Adam Schein of Sirius NFL Radio and FoxSports.com is back with his third annual NFL organizational rankings.

The Seattle Seahawks have overtaken the Arizona Cardinals for the top spot in the division based on ownership, quarterback, coach, front office, coaching staff and intangibles. Schein values each of those categories the same for the purposes of his evaluation, scoring teams on a 10-point scale and allowing, in some cases, for expected moves to influence rankings.

I had fun breaking down his second annual rankings a year ago.

The division has welcomed one new owner since last offseason. Quarterback situations remain unsettled. The Seahawks' playoff success lent credibility to coach Pete Carroll even though the team finished with a 7-9 record during the regular season. The lockout has subsequently made it tougher for teams to help themselves. Some of these grades could change based on how teams proceed during free agency, particularly in relation to the quarterback position.

A look at Schein's rankings and comments for NFC West teams, followed by my own thoughts:

12. Seattle Seahawks (37.5 of 60 points)

Schein: The facilities are state of the art. The home-field advantage with the '12th man' is significant. Coach Pete Carroll and GM John Schneider inherited a total mess. They were super-active last season, bringing in different combinations of players, leading to a street free-agent gem like Mike Williams. Hiring Tom Cable to coach the offensive line was a great move. Seattle, finally, has a good structure in place.

Sando's thoughts: The Seahawks' ability to resolve the quarterback situation will determine whether they remain on an upward trajectory. Paul Allen is an owner with plenty of resources. He stays out of the way on football decisions. The team would benefit if Allen were more involved at the league level, but that is not his style. Qwest Field provides one of the strongest home-field advantages in sports when there's something to cheer about. Schneider seems to work well with Carroll, creating a positive front-office culture. They fared well in patching holes with Chris Clemons, Raheem Brock and Leon Washington, among others. Replacing the retired Alex Gibbs with Cable stands out as a strong recovery.

16. Arizona Cardinals (36 of 60 points)

Schein: The Cards cut pay for employees across the board during the lockout. That smells of the Cardinals in the past. But Arizona’s track record of churning out excellent drafts under Rod Graves and Steve Keim is sensational. Ken Whisenhunt is the perfect coach for the Cardinals. The stadium is beautiful. The Arizona public relations staff knows how to promote the product and is regarded as top-notch. I give the Cards only a 4 at quarterback because right now Kevin Kolb is a very educated guess. If it wasn’t for that potential, it would be a minus-4.

Sando's thoughts: Ken Whisenhunt scored eight points from Schein, more than any other coach in the division commanded. That is fair based upon the Cardinals' playoff success alone. The Cardinals have a beautiful stadium, but they're in a market heavy on transplants, making it tougher to develop the loyalty other teams enjoy. Schein's nine-point score for the Cardinals' front office reflects his high opinion of the team's recent draft classes. There have been successes, no question, but the grade appears generous. Seven of the nine players Arizona drafted in the first three rounds from 2007-09 have arguably failed to meet expectations (Beanie Wells, Cody Brown, Rashad Johnson, Early Doucet, Levi Brown, Alan Branch and Buster Davis). Other teams in the division haven't fared appreciably better, but nine points on a 10-point scale seems high under the circumstances.

19. St. Louis Rams (33.5 of 60 points)

Schein: Finally, optimism! Coach Steve Spagnuolo and QB Sam Bradford changed the culture in St. Louis. The ownership issue has become a back-burner topic.

Sando's thoughts: The Rams scored only three points from Schein for ownership. I would give the Rams the benefit of the doubt in that category based on Stan Kroenke's record as a franchise owner in other sports. Kroenke gives the Rams an experienced billionaire owner with a long history in the NFL. The other NFL owners were quick to welcome Kroenke as majority owner, a positive sign for the Rams. The front office scored only five points from Schein, but it's looking like that ranking will rise in the future. Bradford, Chris Long, James Laurinaitis and Rodger Saffold have become impact players as high draft choices. The team scored big in free agency with Fred Robbins last season. Long-term stadium questions persist and the Rams need to maintain their recent improvement to climb the rankings.

24. San Francisco 49ers (28 of 60 points)

Schein: It appears that the Niners have cleared redevelopment hurdles in preparation of their move to Santa Clara in 2015. And not a moment too soon. Jim Harbaugh, Jed York and Bob Lange are major upgrades for head coach, owner and PR director in recent years. The Niners have done a nice job this year with social media. Mike Singletary was a train wreck, more punchline than coach, and Harbaugh will live up to the hype.

Sando's thoughts: The 49ers scored only one point for quarterback and four for their front office in this survey. That is a bit surprising on the quarterback front given the hope San Francisco holds for rookie Colin Kaepernick. In courting Alex Smith, the 49ers might be betting too heavily on Harbaugh's coaching powers. The improvement from Singletary to Harbaugh in dealing with quarterbacks and establishing a modern offensive philosophy has to pay off. Schein gave five points to York for ownership. That score will hinge on whether York was right about Harbaugh and whether the team secures a new stadium as desired. Silicon Valley player Gideon Yu's addition to the front office seemed like an enterprising move.

Five things I noticed when watching the Arizona Cardinals' latest offseason video production, which focuses on the 2011 NFL draft:

• The team was proud of the fact that "all five picks from non-Division I-A colleges from 2007 to 2009 were starters" last season. Those players were: cornerback Greg Toler, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, running back Tim Hightower, tackle Brandon Keith and tight end Ben Patrick.
• A look at one of the team's draft boards showed late-round linebackers in good enough focus to decipher names. Central Florida's Bruce Miller was listed in the box above Iowa's Jeff Tarpinian, among other details sure to shake up draft rooms across the league (or not). Cheta Ozougwu's name is visible in another column.
• General manager Rod Graves described the "winner" and "ability" grades the team assigns separately. Graves formulates the "winners" list based on players' effort levels, smarts, physical nature and football character.
• The team included video showing Missouri quarterback Blaine Gabbert, among others, meeting with coach Ken Whisenhunt and scouts. That was Texas A&M pass-rusher Von Miller wearing the "LB19" jersey and barreling around a blocking dummy at the combine.
• Player personnel director Steve Keim is featured prominently. His name came up informally for GM jobs not long ago. The Cardinals' struggles last season lowered his profile, but bounce-back seasons from some of the team's younger players -- Toler, Rodgers-Cromartie, Calais Campbell and others -- would help his cause. Getting something from Beanie Wells would, too. It all starts with finding a quarterback, of course. Success at that position can launch careers throughout a building.

OK, back to breaking down that brief video clip of the draft board at the 4:18 mark.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic puts into perspective information about the Cardinals receiving trade inquiries regarding the fifth overall choice. General manager Rod Graves says the conversations have been nothing out of the ordinary. Graves: "There are going to be some excellent football players there in the top 10. Many of those guys will be deemed as franchise-type players. So there will be interest to get up in there, and I wouldn't be surprised that we will get more calls as we get closer to the draft and even on draft day."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com passes along thoughts from Cardinals personnel director Steve Keim regarding draft strategy. Keim: "There is a difference between ‘now’ and building an organization correctly the long-term way, and the only way to do it correctly long-term is to go in with the mindset of the best available. There are need-based thoughts to that process, but we can’t get consumed with the aspect of need. It’s something you fight every year. That’s just natural. But if you stay focused on long-term goals it keeps you safe."

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch joins colleagues in explaining why Alabama receiver Julio Jones should appeal to the Rams. Burwell: "Jones is a play maker, fast, strong, amazing athleticism and an outstanding downfield blocker. He has everything it takes to be a No.1 receiver. But allow me to ponder what might happen with that No. 14 pick because Jones will not be there. Would the Rams be tempted to go with Florida offensive lineman Mike Pouncey or Boston College G/T Anthony Castonzo to tighten up the interior offensive line? Just throwing out other possibilities for draftniks to mull over." Ideally, any offensive lineman drafted 14th overall would project at tackle, a position the Rams have covered in recent drafts.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com assesses the Rams' cornerback situation heading into the draft. Wagoner: "As injuries and inconsistencies mounted in the nickel position last year, the Rams rifled through a number of options without ever truly settling on one. At various times, the Rams tried Kevin Dockery, Justin King, rookie Jerome Murphy and Quincy Butler in the nickel role. None ever staked a full claim to the job, leaving it as a potential question mark heading into next season. Of that group, 2010 third-round pick Murphy might have the most potential. Murphy proved to be unafraid of the moment in his opportunities last season and is just scratching the surface on his potential as a strong press corner."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says 49ers general manager Trent Baalke downplayed the team's ability to land a quarterback with experience in the West Coast offense. Also: "One more point about Jim Harbaugh's praise of Alex Smith, which has been interpreted by some as evidence that Harbaugh absolutely adores Smith. Harbaugh told me the other day that he's gone over every NFL snap that Smith has taken. And as we all know, there are more than a few uglies in that group. Harbaugh knows very well that Smith isn't the second coming of Joe Montana. His effusive words are calculated. Harbaugh not only has to convince Smith to return to a town that boos him at every incompletion. He also is trying to pump Smith up if indeed he is Harbaugh's starting quarterback on Sept. 11."

Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider offers thoughts on Harbaugh and what he'll need from the 49ers to succeed. Lynch: "Recently, I've talked to a few people who have spent time observing Harbaugh at Stanford and here's what they say. First, Harbaugh's greatest attributes are his ability to motivate and his reputation as a quarterback whisperer. Harbaugh believes he could coach an Oompa Loompa into spinning NFL-quality spirals, and that's why he wants Alex Smith to stay so badly. Harbaugh believes he can unleash Smith's first-pick talent. But interestingly, Harbaugh is not a great X's and O's man. In fact, Stanford really took off after Harbaugh hired Greg Roman on offense and Vic Fangio on defense. Offensively, Roman, now the 49ers offensive coordinator, was known as the brains of the operation with his use of motion and emphasis on the run. Roman also had the luxury of an extremely bright quarterback in Andrew Luck who sometimes called three plays in the huddle and then chose the best one at the line of scrimmage."

Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com checks in with former Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell for thoughts on how Chicago's draft process has chanced since Ruskell and Bears general manager Jerry Angelo joined forces again. Ruskell: "A lot of the things I incorporated in Seattle are things Jerry and I worked on in Tampa and maybe he got away from. I've taken them and went further with them, and some of them are things we re-instituted, things Jerry is familiar with in terms of the draft boards. There are no earth-shattering changes, but we've talked, and the best of both worlds is what it's felt like. It's felt good to the scouts, it's felt good to the coaches in terms of the way we went about our business. Everyone got their say and the work was thorough. No matter how you get to that point, that's the goal."

The Almanac Online says Seahawks owner Paul Allen plans to discuss his new book Monday at the Computer History Museum in Menlo Park, Calif. The admission price -- $32 for one person and $40 for two -- includes a copy of the book.