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I've taken the NFL's official free-agent list and worked it into a useful Excel file for your tracking and projecting pleasure.

This lets you slice, dice and sort information by team, player, classification, position and more.

The chart lists street free agents (FA), franchise players, restricted free agents (RFA), players who negotiated rights of first refusal (Kevin Curtis is the only one) and unrestricted free agents (UFA).

I was expecting to see more franchise players listed. Phil Dawson, Tamba Hali, Logan Mankins and Vincent Jackson were the only franchise players listed in the official league release. This is a fluid situation with lots of surprises. I'll seek answers and report back when I get them.

Non-rookies without contracts for 2011 cannot practice until Aug. 4, even if they sign before then. Teams with lots of roster spots to fill will have a harder time practicing effectively before then.

ESPN.com’s NFL writers rank the top 10 linebackers in the league today. Next week: Top 10 cornerbacks.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis beat out a strong and diverse field for top billing in ESPN.com's latest positional power rankings.

All eight panelists ranked Willis among their top three, elevating the 26-year-old perennial Pro Bowler above James Harrison and DeMarcus Ware as our No. 1 linebacker in the NFL.

Even 12-time Pro Bowler Ray Lewis, the dominant linebacker of his era, pointed to Willis as a worthy successor to his undisputed reign. Not that Lewis is finished just yet. He placed fifth in the rankings behind Willis, Harrison, Ware and the Green Bay Packers' Clay Matthews. But there was no more complete linebacker than Willis.

"Nobody in the NFL plays their position better than Patrick Willis, and that is saying a lot," said Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc., whose insights helped shape my ballot. "He is as good a linebacker as Peyton Manning is a quarterback, as Andre Johnson is a receiver, as Adrian Peterson is a running back. He has no weaknesses."

Willis, a three-time Associated Press All-Pro first-team selection, is the first 49ers player since Ronnie Lott to earn Pro Bowl honors in each of his first four seasons. Joe Thomas and Peterson are the only other 2007 draft choices with four Pro Bowls.

Apples and oranges: Comparing linebackers from 3-4 schemes to their 4-3 counterparts proved problematic for some panelists. AFC East blogger Tim Graham ranked Ware first among pass-rushers three weeks ago, but only ninth among linebackers.

"Patrick Willis, Brian Urlacher and Ray Lewis would be great linebackers in a 3-4 or a 4-3," Graham explained. "DeMarcus Ware and Cameron Wake might not even be linebackers if they played in Indianapolis, Tennessee or Minnesota. At some point, I had to value elite pass-rushing abilities on my list even though those players aren't universal-type linebackers."

There was room for differing views. ESPN.com's John Clayton and AFC North blogger James Walker ranked Ware first among linebackers and first among pass-rushers. AFC South blogger Paul Kuharsky ranked Ware first among linebackers and second among pass-rushers.

"Separating Ware, Willis and Harrison is like splitting hairs, because it really depends on what you want in a linebacker," said Walker, who went with Ware, Willis and Harrison atop his ballot. "Ware is a slightly better pass-rusher than Harrison, and Willis is a future Hall of Famer in his prime. Age also has to be a consideration if you’re building a defense, and Harrison will be 33 in May. But they're all great."

First things first: Graham and NFC North blogger Kevin Seifert joined me in ranking Willis first. AFC West blogger Bill Williamson had Willis second only to Harrison.

"When I think of linebacker play in the current day, James Harrison pops out," Bill Williamson said. "I think he’s the gold standard of complete linebacker play. Look at his signature play in the Super Bowl against Arizona. That play will forever be part of NFL lore. Patrick Willis, who is also a great player, doesn’t have that play on his résumé. Plus, Harrison is an ornery cuss on the field. The man was born to be a 'backer."

Willis can't match Harrison in Super Bowl memories -- he could use a quarterback, for starters -- but he's not hurting for signature plays:

• There was the time, as a rookie in 2007, when Willis tracked down and tackled Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Sean Morey 62 yards downfield, in overtime, to save the game.
• There was the time in 2008, when Willis picked off Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and weaved his way 86 yards to the tying third-quarter touchdown -- the longest interception return by a linebacker since Willis entered the league.
• There was Willis' crushing hit against the New York Jets' Brad Smith in 2008, the hit that left Hasselbeck with a broken rib in 2009 and the two-game stretch last season when Willis collected 28 tackles despite wearing a cast following in-season hand surgery.

Lewis pointed to Willis when ESPN's Dana Jacobson recently asked him which young linebacker reminded Lewis of himself.

"I just love the way he plays the game," Lewis said. "He plays the game with a fire. He reminds me of myself -- a lot, a lot, a lot."

Unanimous decisions: The top five finishers received votes from all eight panelists. The gaps between highest and lowest votes fell between four and seven places for all but Willis, who ranked no lower than third.

Seifert ranked Lewis third. I had Lewis 10th and feared I might be measuring him against himself. No list of top linebackers would be complete without him, I thought, but a younger generation is taking over.

Hugs for Suggs: Lewis' teammate, Terrell Suggs, finished just out of our top 10 despite getting a No. 5 ranking from Kuharsky.

"I unabashedly love Suggs, and frankly would have placed him higher if I thought there was any way he needed help to crack the top 10," Kuharsky said. "To me, there is a great deal of subjectivity in ranking this position when mixing guys from 4-3s and 3-4s, so I did a lot of know-them-when-I-see-them ranking. Suggs is absolutely a top-10 guy to me."

Clayton, Seifert, Graham and I did not list Suggs on our ballots while searching for the right mix of 3-4 and 4-3 talent.

Fit to be tied: The players tied for ninth on our list illustrate the varied criteria for the position. Kansas City's Tamba Hali is a pure pass-rusher in the Chiefs' 3-4 defense. Carolina's Jon Beason is a traditional 4-3 linebacker with the versatility to play multiple spots. He changed positions twice in 2010.

Beason peaked at No. 5 on my ballot. NFC South blogger Pat Yasinskas had Beason sixth and considered ranking him higher.

"There was a time when I would have ranked Beason in the same echelon as Willis," Yasinskas said. "I think he has a chance to re-emerge if Carolina can put a better team on the field, particularly by getting better at defensive tackle and keeping blockers off Beason. If that happens, I think Beason can be as good as any linebacker in the league."

Youth on his side: New England's Jerod Mayo appeared on six of eight ballots, ranking sixth overall between Lewis and Urlacher. At 25, Mayo was one of two linebackers younger than Willis to earn a spot among the top 10. Matthews, 24, was the other. Graham ranked Mayo third.

"Nose tackle Vince Wilfork might be the anchor of the Patriots' defense, but Mayo is the one who ties their defense together," Graham said. "Mayo is a tackling machine who compensates for shortcomings at outside linebacker and injuries along the defensive line. He would be a star in any system."

On an island: Four linebackers received a single vote. That list featured Brian Orakpo (Clayton), Lance Briggs (Seifert), London Fletcher (Walker) and Wake (Graham).

Best doesn't mean most valuable: Matt Williamson called linebacker the toughest position to evaluate. I'll close by passing along a few of his thoughts:

• "Willis is so exceptional it would be a coin flip with Ware. Willis has no weaknesses, but if I were a general manager, I would take Ware because pass-rushers are so hard to find. You can get away with a C-level middle linebacker and still have a good defense. You can have a two-down run-stopper and pull him out in nickel."
• "Ray Lewis would not be in my top five at this point. For his age, he is still exceptional and a borderline Pro Bowler, but he doesn't run like he did. I remember when I was with the Browns, I looked at every report the team had written since 1999 and Lewis had the highest grade ever given out. He was nearly perfect."
• "Hali is a one-trick pony, a pass-rusher, but he is great at it -- as good as any pass-rusher in the league."
• "Beason is like Patrick Willis, but he is 95 percent of him. He can play outside, inside, he's smart -- but there is so little around him that people don't realize how good he is."
• "Pass rushing is Clay Matthews' greatest gift, but he is the prototypical outside linebacker. He's a great technician and way more explosive and athletic than people realize. He's good in coverage, not great, but they line him up all over."
• "London Fletcher is underrated, but not in this conversation. How Beason is to Willis, Fletcher is to Lewis. He is smaller and slower than Lewis, good among older guys."
• "Brian Urlacher is still a really good player, but the top 10 might be a stretch. I would take him ahead of Lewis, behind Beason and Willis among 'Mike' 'backers. He is good in coverage. People forget that he was a safety at New Mexico. He doesn't run like he used to and is just not as dynamic as he was in the day."
• "The Steelers have the best linebackers in the league. LaMarr Woodley is very strong and in that conversation too. Definitely top 15. Harrison is great against the run, extremely strong and one of the few linebackers in the league that is a difference-maker from an attitude standpoint. He brings attitude to the table like a Jack Lambert or a Dick Butkus or a Ray Lewis type. He is feared. He is one of the best leverage players in the league, great in pursuit, tenacious as hell. The other guy to know about is Lawrence Timmons. He will be spectacular."

Chris Long's increased sack production and overall strong play last season moved him into the periphery of discussions about the NFL's best pass-rushers.

Long was the lone NFC West player to draw a vote in ESPN.com's recently posted power rankings for pass-rushers. Tim Graham of the AFC East ranked Long 10th on his ballot, a reflection of the progress Long continues to make.

"He was always around the ball and led the NFL in quarterback hurries, according to Football Outsiders," Graham said. "He was tied for sixth in quarterback hits. He didn't have the best sack total, but sacks aren't everything."

I agree. Long came close to cracking my top 10, but the players I ranked had generally produced at a higher level over the course of multiple seasons. Projecting their future production seemed more reliable, although Long's current trajectory suggests he'll gain traction in the discussion.

A quick look at my top 10:

1. DeMarcus Ware, Dallas Cowboys. He was first on seven of our eight ballots.
2. Dwight Freeney, Indianapolis Colts. The Colts' offense and indoor stadium sometimes give Freeney a huge edge.
3. Tamba Hali, Kansas City Chiefs. Hali was the most physically dominant pass-rusher I saw last season. He had 14.5 sacks to prove it.
4. Clay Matthews, Green Bay Packers. Made a case for league MVP last season, particularly early.
5. James Harrison, Pittsburgh Steelers. Bad intentions add to the fear factor.
6. Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings. My perception is he has become less consistently dominant, but the bar was set high.
7. LaMarr Woodley, Pittsburgh Steelers. Thirty-five sacks and six forced fumbles over the last three seasons.
8. Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears. Peppers would rank higher on a list of best defensive ends. He was probably undervalued here.
9. John Abraham, Atlanta Falcons. Collected 13 sacks at age 32.
10. Trent Cole, Philadelphia Eagles. Produces consistently and almost never misses games.

Back to the NFC West: Chris Clemons, Raheem Brock, Justin Smith and James Hall joined Long in causing problems for opposing offenses last season.

Smith had 8.5 sacks, a high number for a 3-4 defensive end.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' responded appropriately when the team brought members of the armed forces to their facility for practice and lunch on Veteran's Day. Center Jason Brown lost his older brother in Iraq. Brown: "He was killed September 20, 2003. He was based out of Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. A mortar shell hit their tent at night. The mortar shell hit a table in front of him about waist high, and he took most of the impact and shrapnel, which meant there were several of his comrades behind him. ... He saved many of their lives. He was 27 at the time, the same age I am now."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams quarterback Sam Bradford has had success against the blitz.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Bradford has reached rookie milestones. Thomas: "For one, he has a 4-1 record at home, and that's something no quarterback taken No. 1 overall has accomplished as a rookie since the first year of the common (AFL-NFL) draft in 1967."

Also from Thomas: Former 49ers safety Michael Lewis offers tips as the Rams prepare for his former team. The bitterness Lewis feels toward the 49ers apparently makes him feel good about sharing secrets. Lewis: "The coaching staff, they've done a great job of doing their homework on the 49ers. And that's pretty much all I'll say."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' rookies are trying to avoid hitting a wall in the second half of the season. Left tackle Rodger Saffold: "One thing I've learned is that you don't just get better in the offseason; you get better during the season. A lot of people think, 'I'm not doing too well this year. Next year I'll be able to have time to work on this, work on that.' Actually, you have to continue to get better during the season. That means doing the little things on and off the field, as well as doing the extra. I do an extra 10 or 15 minutes of just getting the hands right, feet right, things like that."

Brian Stull of 101ESPN St. Louis says Saffold missed practice Thursday.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals' Clark Haggans expects to return from injury against Seattle, but Beanie Wells missed practice again, an indication Tim Hightower could get more playing time. Hightower ran more effectively than Wells when the Cardinals last played Seattle, but fumbling problems diminished his effectiveness.

Also from Somers: The Cardinals need more from Adrian Wilson, whose play has dropped off since a strong showing in Week 1. Somers: "This has not been a strong season for the three-time Pro Bowler, who has been exposed in coverage. Despite having many veterans, this defense needs some leadership and not via the spoken word. The group has enough guys who can talk. It needs someone to make a play in crunch time. Through most of his 10 year career, Wilson has been that kind of guy. But after coming up with big plays in the opening-day victory over the Rams, Wilson has been noticed more for his poor plays. At this time of year, stars have to play like it."

More from Somers: The Cardinals' defense has lacked consistency.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says coach Ken Whisenhunt expects all injured players to practice Friday. Whisenhunt: "It’s pretty fortunate this time of year."

Also from Urban: LaRod Stephens-Howling has come up big for the Cardinals despite standing barely taller than 5-foot-6. Larry Fitzgerald: "I have a tremendous amount of respect for small guys like (cornerback) Michael Adams, LaRod, because ever since they were small they were looked at as the small guy. They continued to fight and battle and persevere."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com examines the relationship between Seahawks cornerback Marcus Trufant and Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald: "He’s definitely a technician. He’s probably got the best transition of any cornerback in the league -- getting out of his (back) pedal, man, he really breaks on the ball tremendously well. He’s playing the football well and, when he’s healthy, he’s one of the premier guys in the NFL. And I love to tell him, when I step it up with him, I’ve got to be at my best."

Also from Farnsworth: Matt Hasselbeck is excited about returning from a concussion.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Hasselbeck has learned to deal with constantly changing combinations on his offensive line. Hasselbeck: "I think that’s just become normal for us. So, it’s like we don’t really talk about it. It’s just almost expected. We’ve just had the injury bug there a little bit, and that’s just normal. It seems like it’s been different every week. We practice that way. Everybody plays every position. It’s very different from the years where we knew who the five were (going to be), every single play, every single practice -- it’s not that. We’re mixing and matching and just doing what we can."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times offers an updated Seahawks injury report. Lofa Tatupu missed practice again.

Liz Mathews of 710ESPN Seattle says Seahawks offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates wants more continuity on the offensive line.

John Boyle of the Everett Herald says Seattle held Fitzgerald to 30 yards receiving last month largely because of the Cardinals' issues at quarterback.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers' improved health gives offensive coordinator Mike Johnson additional options. Maiocco: "One wrinkle Johnson unveiled against the Broncos was '13' personnel, consisting of one running back and three tight ends. Normally, used in short-yardage formations, the 49ers used three tight ends on two running plays on first-and-10 from the middle of the field in the first quarter." By my count, the 49ers used that personnel grouping against Houston and Atlanta last season, both times on first down. They used it more extensively under Mike Martz during the 2008 season.

Also from Maiocco: a chat transcript in which Maiocco says he thinks the 49ers would wait til the end of the season before making a coaching change.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee looks at how the 49ers plan to use new linebacker Thaddeus Gibson.

Also from Barrows: The 49ers are shuffling their secondary to prevent big plays.

Taylor Price of 49ers.com says defensive end Justin Smith thinks opposing quarterbacks are getting rid of the ball more quickly to avoid hits. Price: "Perhaps no player highlights the trend better than Rams quarterback Sam Bradford who has a league-low average of 5.7 yards per completion of all quarterbacks who average 14 pass attempts per game."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News offers thoughts on what contingency plans the 49ers should have in place.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' coaches have lots to learn about their own quarterback, Troy Smith.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle checks in with the 49ers' rookie offensive linemen, Mike Iupati and Anthony Davis. White: "Davis has given up six quarterback sacks and committed six false starts, tying him for second-most in the NFL in both categories. No one will say who allowed the sack that left Alex Smith with a separated left shoulder at Carolina, but it came through Davis' side."

Also from White: Joe Staley says he's enjoying his finest season despite some unfavorable reviews. Staley: "I'm grading out the highest I have my whole career. I know everybody doesn't think that. Everyone thinks I'm struggling for some reason. I just kind of laugh." Staley has set a high standard. Those standards have risen further since the 49ers rewarded Staley with a lucrative long-term deal. Expectations might be higher and that could be affecting perceptions. My notes show Seattle's Chris Clemons and Kansas City's Tamba Hali getting pressure through Staley early in the season. I saw Staley appear to hold more than usual in games against Atlanta and Philadelphia. I thought Staley appeared to injure his left leg against the Falcons, perhaps affecting him. But I also think Staley is telling the truth about his performance reviews, and those reviews ultimately carry more weight than outside perceptions. He's a good player being held to a higher standard.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat wonders to what degree Taylor Mays' struggles might be contributing to the team's decision to give more snaps to Reggie Smith. The team would not take Mays off the field if Mays provided a better alternative in their eyes.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals want more consistency this season. Coach Ken Whisenhunt: "For us to become a respected team that can make a run at the playoffs every year, we have to have that consistency week in and week out. We can't have those games where we give up so many points and lose by so many points. You know, where we get blown out. That's the big thing."

Also from Somers: the front office is key in the Cardinals becoming successful.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic relates anecdotes involving Whisenhunt and Kurt Warner while saying both are leading the Cardinals franchise.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com doesn't expect Walter Jones or Chris Spencer to be available for "at least several more weeks" as both recover from injuries. Jones would seem to have a chance to beat that timetable, although the Seahawks haven't updated his status following arthroscopic knee surgery.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times ranks the Seahawks' roster surprises, putting D.D. Lewis' release ahead of Brian Russell's release. Will Herring's strong play apparently made him more than just a special-teams linebacker in the Seahawks' eyes. O'Neil: "When Seattle re-signed Lewis last year, he was considered Seattle's top reserve linebacker, someone capable of playing all three spots among the linebackers. He started for Lofa Tatupu at middle linebacker for a game and later replaced Leroy Hill at the weakside linebacker after Hill was injured. The decision to let Lewis go reflects on the development of Will Herring and David Hawthorne, but Herring specifically."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune offers comments for each position on the Seahawks' roster. Williams on the situation at running back: "Overall playmaking ability might be a concern here, but I think the team has enough depth to get them through the year, and I expect Julius Jones to rush for 1,000 yards this season if he stays healthy."

John Morgan of Field Gulls thinks Derek Walker could become a Cory Redding type for the Seahawks.

Rod Mar of seahawks.com updates his photo blog with shots from the team's final game of the 2009 exhibition season.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com goes over the team's roster moves while acknowledging the team isn't done yet.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams rookie Jason Smith appears ready to break into the starting lineup in time for the regular season. Thomas: "Smith might not be totally ready for the right tackle position in the NFL, but it's not like he embarrassed himself in the preseason, either. Sure he's had a few rough plays, including one early in the Kansas City game when Tamba Hali beat him around the edge for a pressure on quarterback Kyle Boller. But he hasn't given up a sack this preseason and has steadily improved over the course of exhibition play." I thought Smith improved after a rough outing against the Falcons. The transition from Baylor requires significant technique adjustments.

Also from Thomas: Youth prevailed for the Rams in the No. 3 quarterback spot and at receiver.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says first-year Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo has made a positive impression to this point.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams offensive lineman John Greco will miss time following wrist surgery.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat sizes up the Rams' situation at running back after the team released Antonio Pittman.



Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers wanted to run the ball 60 percent of the time when Mike Nolan took over in 2005. I'm guessing the 49ers' new offensive coordinator, Jimmy Raye, will come closer to hitting that mark.

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle looks into the cult of personality -- Mike Singletary's personality -- as it pervades the 49ers. Crumpacker: "Singletary doesn't necessarily like the attention but he understands that at least for now, he is the face and voice of the 49ers franchise."

Matt Maiocco of the San Francisco Chronicle runs a transcript with Singletary's comments following the 49ers' roster cuts. Singletary on Micheal Spurlock winning a spot (for now): "All offseason, I think Spurlock continued to show up. He's a versatile guy. He can help you in special teams areas and continue to better as a receiver and run better routes. And he works at it. It's important for us. Felt it was a good opportunity and a good fit."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers kept linebacker Diyral Briggs on their roster because they like his "raw" talent and want to work with him.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers cut tight end Bear Pascoe because he didn't catch up to the speed of the NFL game.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Thoughts and observations from the Rams' exhibition game Thursday night against the Chiefs:

• Two tight. The Rams used two tight ends on eight of their first 10 offensive plays, pairing Randy McMichael and Daniel Fells. The personnel packages should even out if fullback Mike Karney and No. 1 receiver Donnie Avery return to full health. But without a deep stable of receivers, the Rams could use two tight ends quite a bit. McMichael, Fells and Billy Bajema played extensively.
• Protection issues. The Rams had problems protecting Kyle Boller early in the game. Left guard Jacob Bell, returning from a concussion, blocked no one when the Chiefs blitzed successfully early in the game. Tamba Hali beat right tackle Jason Smith around the corner on the next play. Protection issues will be critical when the Rams open the season with three of their first four games on the road and Marc Bulger returning from a broken finger.
• Carter fades. Veteran receiver Tim Carter didn't affirm the Rams' earlier optimism over his prospects. Carter failed to secure two passes when the Chiefs hit him hard. The Rams took a long look at him in the first half, when my unofficial count had Carter playing 24 snaps, tied with Bajema for most among the Rams' non-quarterbacks (Brock Berlin played 26).
• Avery should be ready. The Rams' No. 1 receiver played nine of the first 11 snaps, his first game action since suffering a broken bone in his left foot. That seems like a strong indication Avery will be ready to contribute in Week 1.
• Secondary pretty good. With Leonard Little sitting out, the Rams generated little pass rush early in the game. Their cornerbacks seemed to hold up well anyway. The Chiefs have significant problems on offense, so it might have been telling if the Rams' corners struggled.
• Jackson needed badly. Steven Jackson watched from the sideline as the Rams smartly protected him from suffering an injury in a game with little meaning for a Pro Bowl player. The Rams without Jackson aren't a pretty sight offensively, particularly with Bulger out and Avery limited. Backup running back Samkon Gado appears adequate in short relief. He's willing in pass protection, but potentially unreliable as a receiver. He also suffered injured ribs and did not return.
• One in the box. Defensive coordinator Ken Flajole moved from the sideline to the coaches' booth midway through the exhibition season. Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur remains on the sideline. Coaches change vantage points for a variety of reasons. The chaotic sideline atmosphere isn't for everyone. Having Flajole upstairs and defensive-minded head coach Steve Spagnuolo on the sideline could create a balance.

We're down to one remaining NFC West exhibition game, with the 49ers closing out their preseason schedule against San Diego.