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Seattle Seahawks fans know their team once avoided at almost any cost NFL draft prospects with known issues reflecting poorly on the players' character.

That was the emphasis of former general manager Tim Ruskell, who drove home the message in a letter he sent to players following his 2005 hiring.

"We must be held accountable for our own actions, year round," the letter read.

A study conducted by a Hamilton College economics student shows Ruskell backed up his words. The study covered 2005-09, the years Ruskell worked for Seattle, and it identified the Seahawks as the only team to draft no players with known off-field issues (suspensions, arrests, etc.).

The NFC West-rival Arizona Cardinals used a league-high 27 percent of their draft choices on such players during the period in question, the study found. The San Francisco 49ers ranked tied for third at 20 percent.

Turns out the Cardinals and 49ers might have had the right idea. Players with known off-field issues were drafted lower than prospects with otherwise similar credentials, but some were more productive in the NFL, on average.

Cornerback Janoris Jenkins and receiver Michael Floyd are among the high-profile 2012 draft prospects with off-field baggage from their college days.

The study, though interesting, doesn't necessarily apply direction to current NFC West teams. Every team in the division has turned over its coaching staff since 2005.

Teams are best off using their judgment on a case-by-case basis, in my view. Ruling out all players with off-field incidents in their past would diminish the talent pool unnecessarily.

Tight end John Carlson's five-year contract agreement with the Minnesota Vikings leaves Seattle with three remaining draft choices from the Mike Holmgren era.

Red Bryant, Brandon Mebane and Ben Obomanu are the survivors.

The NFC North now outranks the NFC West in players entering the NFL as draft choices under Holmgren: Rob Sims and Lawrence Jackson in Detroit, Mansfield Wrotto and Chris Spencer in Chicago, and now Carlson in Minnesota.

Seattle drafted all of those players when Tim Ruskell was making the Seahawks' personnel decisions as the general manager. Carlson was the one Holmgren was most responsible for drafting. He pushed hard for Carlson because he badly wanted a versatile tight end for his offense.

Carlson set a franchise single-season receiving record with 55 catches as a rookie in 2008. Injuries, quarterback issues, roster atrophy and coaching turnover affected Carlson and the offense in subsequent seasons.

The Seahawks' current leadership was not opposed to bringing back Carlson, but the team's decision to pay $6.8 million per season to Zach Miller last offseason redefined where Carlson stood on the roster. There was less room for Carlson to become the player Holmgren envisioned when Seattle made Carlson a second-round draft choice.

The news conference introducing Jeff Fisher as the St. Louis Rams' head coach, scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. ET, should provide answers regarding organizational structure.

We should expect Fisher to control the roster and have say over who becomes general manager. We should also expect Fisher's contract to give him at least as much power as the GM.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Fisher will not have a title beyond head coach, but Fisher will have significant say over personnel to go along with a $7 million annual salary. Thomas: "After 17 years working for tightwad owner Bud Adams in Houston and Tennessee, Fisher wanted to make sure he had the resources to put together a strong coaching staff, be active in free agency and have a strong personnel department. Contrary to speculation, it looks like Fisher's only title will be head coach. He's not expected to have 'vice president' or 'executive vice president' attached to his name in St. Louis."

Also from Thomas: Gregg Williams and Brian Schottenheimer are expected to become Fisher's coordinators, although ESPN's Chris Mortensen says former Raiders coach Hue Jackson will interview on the offensive side.

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch shields Schottenheimer from some of the blame over what went wrong with Mark Sanchez and the Jets this past season. Miklasz: "If we are to blame Schottenheimer for the stalled development of a young QB, then it's fair to give the OC just a nod of praise for what Sanchez did in the 2009-10 postseasons. In six games, with the Jets winning four, Sanchez completed 60.5 percent with 9 TDs and 3 INTs. He played very well in road wins at San Diego, Indianapolis and New England. He also played a good game in last season's AFC championship, completing 61 percent for 2 TDs and no picks in the loss at Pittsburgh."

Also from Miklasz: Rams owner Stan Kroenke hasn't done enough to allay fears of a future franchise relocation.

Andy Cordan of WKRN-TV Nashville says Fisher was recently first on the scene to a traffic accident that left two teenagers injured. Cordan: "Authorities said the 17-year-old driver of a Nissan Altima lost control, ran off the road, hit a pole and overturned. A 13-year-old passenger was thrown from the car and rushed to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital with critical wounds. Fisher didn't want to go on camera but spoke with Nashville's News 2 over the phone. He said he was on his way home when he saw the wreck and stopped. Knowing the teens were hurt, Fisher said he rendered aid the best he could, and stayed with them until medical personnel arrived."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh is embracing the magnitude of the moment as the 49ers prepare to play for a Super Bowl berth.

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News says 49ers general manager Trent Baalke is extremely happy for quarterback Alex Smith. Baalke: "Like I told him after the game, I don’t know if I’ve ever been happier for an individual than I was for Alex to come through in those moments like he did and to have the type of game he had. And to just see the joy on his face. If anyone deserved it, Alex deserved it. (I’m) very appreciative that he was able to do that."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com notes that former 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo Jr. will serve as honorary captain for the NFC Championship Game.

Also from Maiocco: Center Jonathan Goodwin has won the 49ers' annual Bobb McKittrick Award as top offensive lineman.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Delanie Walker, if cleared to return, would give the 49ers a big boost on offense.

Alex Espinoza of 49ers.com runs through which 49ers earned spots on the annual all-NFL selections published by Pro Football Weekly and the Pro Football Writers of America. General manager Trent Baalke was top executive.

Eric Branch of the San Francisco Chronicle says Harbaugh thought the Giants played harder than the Packers on Sunday.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says physical evidence from Jim Harbaugh's playing days, including a manged finger, connect the coach with his players. Cohn: "He is scarred because he was a player and he relates to his own players because he once did battle as they now do battle. It is a reality they share with each other, and even in retirement he is the real deal."

Keith Goldner of Advanced NFL Stats revisits comparisons between Smith and Trent Dilfer.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with former Cardinals and Rams defensive back Aeneas Williams, who is grateful to be a candidate for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Williams: "We didn't win a whole lot of games, but I can say this, I had just as much enjoyment playing the game with the Cardinals as I did with the Rams. I'll never forget being around that team with Jake Plummer and those guys and finally breaking through, making the playoffs and winning in Dallas." Noted: Williams is definitely worthy of strong consideration. He came through in the clutch and was a playmaker for an extended period.

Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times says the Bears should consider the Seattle Seahawks' Will Lewis as a candidate to succeed Jerry Angelo as general manager. Jensen: "In the last 14 years, Lewis has worked alongside people such as Ron Wolf, new Oakland Raiders GM Reggie McKenzie, Packers GM Ted Thompson, Seahawks GM John Schneider and Tim Ruskell. Lewis is on the short list of GM candidates the Fritz Pollard Alliance -- an organization that helps to diversify the NFL -- is recommending to teams with vacancies, and he interviewed in 2010 to become the GM of the Cleveland Browns. And while the Packers are the 'it' team, the Seahawks quickly have overhauled their roster since Schneider took over. In 2010, they traded a fourth-round pick and a conditional selection to the Buffalo Bills for former first-round pick Marshawn Lynch. The transaction proved wise, as Lynch set career highs with 1,204 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns this season."

Paul Kuharsky's take on former Tennessee Titans coach Jeff Fisher should help better inform St. Louis Rams fans.

The most interesting part, to me, centers around possible candidates for general manager if Fisher became the Rams' next head coach.

Kuharsky mentions two names, both familiar to NFC West followers:

• Ruston Webster: Webster is the Titans' vice president of player personnel under former Seahawks executive Mike Reinfeldt. While with Seattle, Webster seemed to get along well with everyone on both sides of the Tim Ruskell-Mike Holmgren. The fact that he arrived in Seattle with Ruskell and left to join Reinfeldt's staff attests to that (Reinfeldt was Holmgren's top confidant in Seattle). Webster would work well with Fisher.
• Randy Mueller: Mueller has been a senior executive with the San Diego Chargers since 2008. He predated Holmgren in Seattle and worked well with Holmgren before leaving to serve as general manager in New Orleans. Kuharsky mentions Mueller because the Titans tried to interview Mueller during the process that culminated with Reinfeldt's hiring. Rams fans might know that Mueller was instrumental in bringing Jim Haslett to New Orleans as Saints coach.

Webster would be an obvious candidate because he has worked with Fisher recently. Kuharsky also mentioned Fishers' relationships with Bill Polian and Rich McKay from their days together on the NFL's competition committee. McKay hasn't worked directly in personnel recently. He and Webster were together in Tampa Bay previously.

Fisher also worked in Tennessee with current Titans vice president of football operations Lake Dawson. Dawson, the team's former pro personnel director, worked with Reinfeldt and Webster in Seattle.

The Seattle Seahawks have the youngest starters in the NFL heading into Week 7. The Cleveland Browns have the second-youngest starters.

The NFL's oldest starters belong to the Arizona Cardinals' opponent Sunday: Pittsburgh.

Those were among the revelations as I updated NFL teams' rosters this weekend to make available for download the latest ones for the NFC West. These feature 26 columns of information for every current player in the division, plus former players from the past few seasons.

With the post-Mike Holmgren Seahawks visiting the Holmgren-built Browns this week, much has been made about how few players remain in Seattle from his 1999-2008 run with the team. I count five Holmgren-era draft choices on the 53-man roster: Justin Forsett, Brandon Mebane, Ben Obomanu, Red Bryant and Leroy Hill. All were drafted when Tim Ruskell was running the Seahawks' personnel department beginning in 2005.

The chart below shows how many of its own draft choices each NFC West team has on its 53-man roster, broken down by coach.

The Seattle Seahawks once carried two kickers on their 53-man roster because their general manager (Tim Ruskell) and head coach (Mike Holmgren) could not agree on which one to keep.

Ruskell, as a personnel evaluator, valued the potential associated with the young prospect. Holmgren, as the man responsible for winning games often decided by narrow margins, valued the veteran's experience and track record.

The Seahawks will not keep two kickers on their roster this season, but they'll be able to choose between youth and experience after signing veteran Jeff Reed, as ESPN's Adam Schefter reported they did Wednesday.

Reed's weight was an issue when the veteran kicker was filling in for an injured Joe Nedney in San Francisco last season. Reed, best know for his years with the Pittsburgh Steelers, showed up in better condition when the Seahawks brought him to their headquarters for a workout this week. The 32-year-old Reed joins a roster that has featured inexperienced kickers Brandon Coutu and Wes Byrum to this point in camp.

Reed made nine of his 10 field goal attempts for the 49ers last season. He ranked 33rd out of 35 kickers in average kickoff distance among players with at least 20 kickoffs during the regular season. David Akers, the 49ers' kicker this season, and Olindo Mare averaged an additional 5 yards per kickoff.

Leg strength on kickoffs will not matter as much now that the NFL has moved kickoffs from the 30- to 35-yard line.

Kevin Lynch of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis will not miss fewer padded practices. Willis on protections written into the new labor agreement: "Honestly, I'm glad they put that in there. At the end of the day, we're high-impact players. For us to go out there and hit each other twice a day and it's me against you and it's everything I've got against you, it takes a toll on your body."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com passes along a team-issued comment from Chargers general manager A.J. Smith regarding the team's contract agreement with Takeo Spikes. Smith: "He is an outstanding player. I love his competitiveness and instincts. I believe he will be an immediate contributor. To me, this is another Randall Godfrey type move for the Chargers."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers did not show interest in Spikes once the negotiating period opened.

Taylor Price of 49ers.com reports from team headquarters as players returned for work following the lockout. Price: "While 49ers players like Willis were extremely eager to begin the 2011 campaign, many of them had trouble finding their lockers first. The typical locker arrangement the players had come to expect was changed by head coach Jim Harbaugh. Now the locker room looks like a sporadic mix of players intertwined with various position groups."

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers are adopting a long-term approach under team president Jed York.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune reflects on some of the moments that defined Matt Hasselbeck's legacy in Seattle. Boling: "Years ago at Arizona when Darrell Jackson fumbled the ball 20 yards downfield at a crucial point in the game, the Seahawk who made the recovery was Hasselbeck. He’d gone racing down the field to help and was there to dive into the pile and get the ball. Offensive coordinator Gil Haskell was mad at him after the game because it seemed so reckless for a quarterback, but then he admitted that he’d never seen another quarterback make that play, and that Matt was the 'toughest guy on the team.'"

John McGrath of the Tacoma News Tribune thinks the Seahawks should give Charlie Whitehurst a chance.

Steve Kelley of the Seattle Times says now was the time for Hasselbeck and the Seahawks to part ways. Kelley: "He made himself into a Pro Bowler. He became one of the most respected athletes to play in Seattle and one of the classiest, most humble guys I've covered. But it was time for him to go. The Seahawks will go into this season with two rookies projected to start on the right side of the offensive line. Four of their starting linemen will have a combined total of 27 career starts. That's a prescription for disaster for Hasselbeck, who will turn 36 in September and has had injury and mobility problems the past few years. Truthfully, the end of the Hasselbeck era has been coming since former general manager Tim Ruskell hustled [Mike] Holmgren out the door."

Brock Huard of 710ESPN Seattle says clues were there that Hasselbeck would not return. As coach Pete Carroll put it some time after declaring Hasselbeck's re-signing a top priority, "Well, we had a good dialogue started and we went up to the time frame that we had available so that's all we could do, and then it ended. We weren't able to get anything done at that time so when opportunities arise again where we can get going on it again, we'll be right after it again and see where it all fits. Some time has passed now and there could have been some things that have changed."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says former defensive lineman Richard Harris, 63, has died of a heart attack.

Also from Farnsworth: Seattle players return to work.

Art Thiel of Sports Press Northwest calls Tarvaris Jackson a placeholder while the Seahawks search for their next long-term quarterback.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals are considering multiple options at quarterback. Hasselbeck was one of the options mentioned, but obviously not a serious one. Hasselbeck's agreement with Tennessee gives Arizona one fewer quarterback to consider as the Cardinals try to leverage a better deal with Philadelphia for Kevin Kolb. Somers: "Kolb is the Cardinals' top choice, and their efforts to get him were bolstered when the Seahawks agreed to terms Tuesday with former Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson."

Also from Somers: Jeff King and Ben Graham have agreed to deals with Arizona.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says team staffers were happy to see players back in the building following the lockout. Urban: "There are times when a player comes through the door and freezes, realizing a meeting was going on. Offensive lineman Jeremy Bridges was that guy this morning, until [team president Michael] Bidwill waved him through. As the affable Bridges walked down the side, the staff began to clap, bringing a smile to Bridges’ face. As he went to pass the main stage, he went to shake Bidwill’s hand -- and it turned into a welcome-back hug."

Also from Urban: More on players returning to work.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports from Rams headquarters as players returned to work following the lockout. Also: "Jim Lake has been promoted to equipment manager. He replaces Todd Hewitt, who was fired in January after 16 years in the position and 32 years as a Rams employee. Lake has worked in the club's equipment department for 20 years. In other staff additions, Adam Bailey has been hired as assistant strength coach, Lou Paolillo has been named a coaching assistant/special projects, and Jeremy McMillan becomes the team's nutritionist."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Quintin Mikell's addition to the Rams could spell the end for veteran James Butler. Thomas: "The Rams currently have only three safeties under contract in James Butler, Craig Dahl and Darian Stewart, but did draft two safeties in Ohio State's Jermale Hines and Oklahoma's Jonathan Nelson. The signing of Mikell could put Butler, who counts nearly $3.3 million against the salary, in jeopardy of being a cap casualty."

Those clamoring for news on the NFL free agency front will have to settle for projections until the lockout finally does end.

There's been no shortage of them on ESPN.com regarding Brandon Mebane.

The Seattle Seahawks' defensive tackle would make sense for the St. Louis Rams, in my view. Colleague Pat Yasinskas sees Mebane fitting well with the Carolina Panthers. But those teams could face competition from the Chicago Bears, Kevin Seifert posits.

The Seahawks also remain in play, but Mebane has gone through this offseason feeling as though a departure from Seattle was likely.

"I feel like I wasn’t in their plans," Mebane told Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune two months ago. "And I feel like I have that right to think that because I got a third-round tender. If they really wanted me, they had plenty of time to do what they had to do. Me personally, from my experience, I don’t think I was in their plans. I would love to come back here, but I don’t know what their plans are."

Mebane, 26, has been a starter in each of his four NFL seasons. The next collective bargaining agreement is expected to make him an unrestricted free agent.

The Bears do make for an intriguing potential suitor given their strong connections to him. Former Seahawks president Tim Ruskell, who made Mebane a third-round draft pick in 2007, works for the Bears now. New Bears defensive line coach Mike Phair also worked for the Seahawks.

Other former Seattle assistants have also surfaced around the league. Jerry Gray became the Tennessee Titans' defensive coordinator. Several members of the Titans' front office, including longtime Ruskell associate Ruston Webster, were with Seattle when the Seahawks drafted Mebane. Such connections often come into play when teams identify which free agents to target, although there are no indications Tennessee, amid suggestions that it could incorporate some 3-4 principles, plans on targeting Mebane.

Mebane recently ranked seventh on Matt Williamson's list of top 15 players in the NFC West.

"Mebane isn’t a slouch against the run, but he is much better suited for a 4-3 where he can use his array of abilities, including a quick get-off," Williamson wrote. "Mebane doesn’t get the publicity that he deserves, but he does everything asked of him well. Carolina or Denver would love to have him."

Williamson has also mentioned Mebane as a player who would help the Indianapolis Colts.

In short, Mebane could make sense for any team running a 4-3 defense and needing help at defensive tackle.

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.

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

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: decision-makers.

Arizona Cardinals

The Cardinals' leadership team remains basically unchanged for a fifth consecutive offseason.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt is the face of the organization, even during the draft, in part because general manager Rod Graves keeps a low profile. Both earned contract extensions last offseason. Whisenhunt was coming off back-to-back division titles and had been to a Super Bowl at that point, so his profile within the organization was growing. One losing season hasn't changed that.

Whisenhunt, Graves, team president Michael Bidwill and player personnel director Steve Keim are the primary decision-makers. Whisenhunt appears most prominent among them.

San Francisco 49ers

The 49ers pulled a surprise of sorts when they named Trent Baalke general manager and made him the No. 1 personnel decision-maker in the building.

The feeling previously had been that the 49ers might have to hand over personnel power to their next head coach if they were serious about landing Jim Harbaugh or another top candidate. That did not happen. Baalke, whose profile became more prominent following Scot McCloughan's departure from the organization one year ago, will make the call during the draft.

The rapport between Baalke and Harbaugh appears much stronger, by all accounts, than the relationship between Baalke and former coach Mike Singletary. That is natural because Baalke played a leading role in hiring Harbaugh; he wasn't part of the process when the team promoted Singletary.

Seattle Seahawks

Coach Pete Carroll has the final say on personnel matters. It's in his contract, but not something he flaunts. Carroll played a role in hiring John Schneider as general manager last offseason. Their personalities mesh and the two worked together well in making multiple draft-day moves in 2010.

This is the Seahawks' most comfortable front-office arrangement in recent memory, largely because Carroll and Schneider were brought in together. Each is invested in the other to a degree that did not exist when Mike Holmgren was working with Bob Whitsitt, Bob Ferguson and Tim Ruskell over the years.

The Seahawks' decision-making process has more clarity heading into this draft now that Alex Gibbs has retired as offensive line coach. Gibbs' strong preference for a very specific type of offensive lineman affected how the team approached personnel decisions, especially at guard. His retirement has freed the team to more comfortably pursue the bigger guards its personnel department preferred.

St. Louis Rams

The Rams have new ownership with Stan Kroenke purchasing a majority stake, but the day-to-day decision-makers remain in place for a third consecutive offseason.

General manager Billy Devaney takes the lead in personnel matters with input from coach Steve Spagnuolo and executive vice president/chief operating officer Kevin Demoff.

Kroenke hasn't said whether the team will eventually hire a president. It doesn't matter heading into this draft.

The organization is coming off a transforming 2010 draft in which it landed quarterback Sam Bradford and left tackle Rodger Saffold with its first two choices. Two other recent high picks, Chris Long and James Laurinaitis, are also working out well.

That has to work in Devaney's favor as Kroenke assesses where the organization stands.

John from Gansevoort, N.Y., has no problem with the NFL Players Association encouraging college prospects to skip the televised draft proceedings during a lockout. He says those affiliated with ESPN who expressed views to the contrary are toeing the company line in the interests of enhanced television ratings.

Mike Sando: There's room for multiple views on this one, inside and outside ESPN. Most of the feedback I've heard from the outside lines up with the viewpoint I expressed. Several others used the mailbag to raise questions such as yours.

ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd supported the NFLPA on this issue during his show Tuesday morning. I was on the show and told him I had no issue with any college prospect deciding on his own to skip the event on principle. The NFLPA would seem petty, in my view, if it pressured prospects to stay away.

My general thought was that the draft should be bigger than a labor dispute. That seems reasonable.

The NFLPA has subsequently clarified its intentions, suggesting it could hold an alternate event for players after NFL teams make their selections. Let's see what they have in store.

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Gregory from San Jose, Calif., thinks the NFL draft could be just fine without the top prospects in attendance. He could see them greeting their new teammates someplace off site. After all, he says, the players are the game, not the owners or the commissioner. Who cares about Rodger Goodell welcoming Cam Newton and posing for pictures?

Mike Sando: I'd enjoy watching draft prospects interact with their new teammates right away.

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Alex from Philadelphia wants to know how much pressure I feel to "toe the company line" and he wonders whether I would be reluctant to express a viewpoint that "went directly against the fiduciary interests" of ESPN.

Mike Sando: I have felt no pressure, ever. I have never even thought of these issues in relation to what they might mean for ESPN. In retrospect, it stands to reason that the networks might favor an 18-game regular-season schedule and the opportunity to generate additional revenue. I'm completely against the 18-game schedule because I think it would dilute the product and put players -- quarterbacks in particular -- at additional risk.

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Tom from Winnipeg thinks NFL owners are doing far more than the NFLPA to hurt players by attempting to extend the schedule, impose a rookie wage scale and skim additional revenue. He thinks there's nothing "petty" about the NFLPA "merely recommending" players skip the draft.

Mike Sando: I was advocating on behalf of the fans and the players because I thought the draft experience for both would suffer if college prospects skipped the draft.

This doesn't mean the NFLPA is wrong on other issues.

As I noted, "The NFLPA naturally wants to make life tougher for the league in big and small ways during the lockout. That is understandable, but urging players to avoid such a quintessential fan-friendly event would come off as yet another slap in the face for the people paying the bills."

This subject has dominated the mailbag in the last 24 hours or so, but there's room to discuss a football-related question. Here goes ...

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John from Walla Walla, Wash., thinks the Seattle Seahawks have too many needs to stand pat in the draft. He thinks they need to trade down for more picks and he wonders about potential trading partners.

Mike Sando: The Seahawks hold the 25th overall choice. They have shown they're willing to deal with just about anyone. Take a look at the seven teams picking right after Seattle in the first round and you'll see the possibilities:

• No. 26: Baltimore. The Seahawks and Ravens swung a trade involving Josh Wilson last season.
• No. 27: Atlanta. Seahawks executive John Idzik worked with Falcons executive Rich McKay in Tampa Bay. Neither makes the personnel decisions, but at least there's a connection.
• No. 28: New England. The Patriots and Seahawks made the Deion Branch trade last season.
• No. 29: Chicago. Former Seahawks president Tim Ruskell works for the Bears now. He worked some current members of Seattle's personnel team.
• No. 30: New York Jets. The Seahawks and Jets made the Leon Washington trade during the 2010 draft.
• No. 31: Green Bay. Seahawks general manager John Schneider worked under Packers general manager Ted Thompson for years. They are close friends.
• No. 32: Pittsburgh. No obvious connections stand out.

The Seahawks' front office has multiple ties to other teams around the league, from Tennessee to San Francisco to Cleveland and beyond.

We know Schneider and coach Pete Carroll aren't afraid to wheel and deal, but it's difficult to project what might happen. How the draft unfolds often dictates the urgency teams feel to move up. Without knowing how the draft will unfold, we cannot know how those pressures will affect trades.

In theory, yes, the Seahawks could use additional picks as they look to upgrade their roster. They are without a third-round choice. They have a long list of potential unrestricted free agents. They have much work to do, in other words, and the lockout could force them to rely more heavily on the draft in getting that work done.

I tend to think we'll have free agency at some point before the season, however.

Deion Branch thought he might have a chance to rejoin the New England Patriots last season.

Now, a couple months after selling his Boston-area condo, Branch is back in New England. The Seattle Seahawks traded him to the Patriots for a 2011 fourth-round draft choice Monday.

Branch, addressing reporters Tuesday, once thought Tim Ruskell's resignation as Seahawks president last season might foreshadow the end of Branch's time in Seattle.

"I thought were probably going to start making changes and I actually thought I was going to be one of the guys," Branch told reporters covering the Patriots. "I wasn’t. Stayed there and everything was cool."

Branch indicated he could be amenable to adjusting his contract for the Patriots. He expressed interest in rejoining the Patriots as early as February and put it this way when speaking with the Boston Herald at that time:

I still love coach (Bill) Belichick, and if the opportunity presents itself to come back, I would love to be there. I still talk to Tom [Brady] to this day, and the crazy part is, you never lose that relationship with guys, especially when you do something special, which is what we did in my first four years in New England. I still talk with half of the team. To this day, I still talk with half of the guys that were on the team with me. It’s a special bond. For us to reunite, I don’t know. I would probably be crying at the press conference, if it happens."

No one is crying after this deal. The Seahawks improbably picked up a fourth-round choice in return. Branch got the big-money contract New England refused to give him in 2006 without permanently severing ties with the Patriots. And the Patriots picked up low-maintenance receiver help after trading Randy Moss.

The Seattle Seahawks do not miss linebacker Leroy Hill when he cannot play because they do not count on him in the first place.

Hill, who already took a pay reduction as part of an agreement letting him hit the market after the 2010 season, faces more bad news on the suspension front. Hill is already sidelined indefinitely by a heel injury. The team moved on without him during the offseason, instructing Hill to stay away while his domestic-violence court case ran its course.

At this point, it's increasingly difficult to envision Hill wearing a Seahawks jersey beyond the 2010 season. A once-promising talent, Hill's career has run aground through injuries and off-field issues. The off-field issues carry some irony because Hill, a third-round draft choice in 2005, was part of former team president Tim Ruskell's push toward acquiring "high-character" players.

Ruston Webster's departure from the Seahawks to the Titans makes sense for all parties even though Webster fit well with Seattle's new front office.

Webster and Titans general manager Mike Reinfeldt worked together in Seattle for the 2006 season. Lake Dawson, who heads up the Titans' pro personnel department, was also with Seattle at that time. Reinfeldt did not hire a director of player personnel in Tennessee upon taking the GM job there.

"I wanted the right person to fill that role and wanted to see how the organization would function in the various departments before making this hire," Reinfeldt said Friday in a Titans news release. "I have a great deal of respect for Ruston as a football guy and as a person. He will focus on the college draft, but will assist in the other areas of the personnel department as well."

Webster was well-liked in Seattle and his low-keyed, personable style was appreciated when the organization was navigating through a tumultuous few months after Tim Ruskell resigned as president and general manager. The move to Tennessee should suit Webster, who grew up in Mississippi and has worked primarily in the southeast.

With Webster leaving, the Seahawks promoted western region college scouting director Scott Fitterer to college scouting director, with area scout Eric Stokes, a former Seahawks safety, becoming assistant director of college scouting. Both have been with the Seahawks through most or all of the 2000s.

The personnel flow chart in Seattle now begins with coach Pete Carroll and continues with general manager John Schneider, vice president of football operations Will Lewis, Fitterer and pro personnel director Tag Ribary. Trent Kirchner serves as the assistant pro director, with Stokes handling similar duties on the college side.

RENTON, Wash. -- Thoughts and observations after watching the Seahawks' first post-draft minicamp practice Friday:

• Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh underwent hernia surgery recently. He's expected back in a couple of weeks.
• Former 49ers Roderick Green and Joe Toledo are participating in Seahawks camp on a tryout basis.
• Former Seahawks general manager Tim Ruskell told reporters covering the Bears that he had no plans to bring along any Seattle personnel people to his new job as personnel director in Chicago. The Bears' situation appears less stable and by extension less appealing than the situation in Seattle right now.
• First-round choice Earl Thomas will be a coverage safety for the Seahawks, basically playing center field. That makes sense because Thomas looks like a cornerback out there. He is listed at 5-foot-10 and 202 pounds. Starting corner Marcus Trufant goes 5-11 and 197.
• Speaking of Trufant, he made a statement with two impressive interception returns, jumping routes on passes from Matt Hasselbeck to Deon Butler. Trufant had trouble recovering from back issues last season. He appeared flexible and nimble Friday.
• Receiver Deion Branch is sidelined after having surgery to clean out a knee. The surgery was considered minor, but any lingering knee issues are a concern for Branch.
• Rookie second-round choice Golden Tate was one of the stars of practice. He made a leaping grab down the middle between Trufant and safety Jordan Babineaux, then followed up by getting behind cornerback Josh Wilson for a catch up the left sideline. Tate later used his body to shield Wilson from the ball, making another grab. Tate dropped one pass.
• The offensive staff crammed far more plays into the team session than might be typical. Coach Pete Carroll keeps score, too, periodically announcing whether the offense or defense is leading.
• With most of the 101 signed or tryout players participating, competition was the No. 1 theme.
• First-round choice Russell Okung made a positive impression in run-blocking drills. He crouches low to the ground, helping with leverage.
• Second-year linebacker Aaron Curry was offside a couple times, but I didn't necessarily take that as a bad sign for the team. Curry appeared very active. That's a good idea as long as linebackers coach Ken Norton Jr. is out there. Norton is one of the more vocal coaches on the staff and he's not afraid to let players know how they are performing.
• Newly acquired running back LenDale White appears slimmer than I would have expected. White said he weighs 225 pounds. Carroll thought White's weight was closer to 217. Either way, White appears to be in shape.
• Safety Lawyer Milloy said he signed in time for the post-draft camp because he thinks he'll have a better chance to play this year in a role more suited to his skills. Players sound optimistic about the new staff's ability to use personnel. That was supposed to be a theme last season, but the results weren't there.

Players wore helmets but no pads for this practice. It's important to remember how much things change once players put on the pads. A week or two into training camp is when it becomes easier to tell which players are truly on their way to making an impact.