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Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle asks whether the 49ers acted too hastily in publicly committing to Alex Smith as their veteran quarterback for 2011. But in looking through the list of alternatives, the 49ers' decision on Smith makes more sense, in my view. The team projects Colin Kaepernick as its longer-term quarterback. None of the quarterbacks likely to become available would have enough appeal for the 49ers to justify making an investment significant enough to displace Kaepernick. In the meantime, Smith was the perfect ambassador for new coach Jim Harbaugh, who needed someone to promote his offense while the lockout prevented the 49ers' staff from interacting directly with players.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says Smith and 49ers players are planning another camp for this week. Maiocco: "The 49ers own the rights to 31 offensive players. That includes 26 players under contract and five unsigned draft picks. Twenty-two players were on hand for the first Camp Alex, which ran June 6-9. That total includes two unsigned veterans: Smith and center David Baas, who flew in from Florida for the final day of classroom and on-field activity."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Kaepernick will attend the team's next player-organized camp at the expense of the NFL Players Association's version of the annual rookie symposium. Barrows: "It's not yet known which 49ers rookies will be on hand this week. However, wide receiver Ronald Johnson and guard Mike Person were working out at San Jose State last week. So was first-round pick Aldon Smith. The defensive players may be more involved with this week's minicamp than they were the previous one, but because they do not have playbooks they will not be working on anything specific." Kaepernick appears more grounded and more mature than the typical rookie. He'll probably benefit more from the extra week getting a jump on the 49ers' playbook.

Also from Barrows: 49ers receiver Kevin Jurovich hopes his speed pays off.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News offers highlights from Joe Staley's recent appearance on Sirius radio. Staley on receiver Michael Crabtree: "Michael Crabtree, he’s a great teammate. … He has his own workout routine, (but) Crabtree isn’t the only one. He looked like he was in great shape when he was out here and he’s eager to learn."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says no team faces greater challenges than the Cardinals once the NFL reopens for business following the lockout. The quarterback situation is most important, but hardly alone among areas for concern. Somers: "They have to not only bolster an offensive line, they also need to assemble one. Two returning starters, center Lyle Sendlein and right guard Deuce Lutui, are not under contract. Alan Faneca, last season's starting left guard, retired in the offseason. One starting receiver, Steve Breaston, is not under contract for 2011, and the other, Larry Fitzgerald, is entering the last season of his deal." How the Cardinals address their immediate needs could affect their ability to bring back Fitzgerald. I also think this offseason will be pivotal for the Cardinals as they seek to maintain sellouts at University of Phoenix Stadium. The stakes are definitely high.

Craig Harris and Ginger Rough of the Arizona Republic say the Cardinals and other Arizona sports franchises have sought to improve their political standing by offering free tickets to lawmakers. Harris and Rough: "For the Cardinals, giving away free tickets was a way to go head-to-head with the Fiesta Bowl, which for years battled the NFL team over stadium issues. The Cardinals didn't have any bills before the Legislature during the time it gave out the gifts. Nonetheless, the team gave 35 lawmakers pairs of tickets to its home opener in 2006. It gave a pair of loft tickets 47 times to lawmakers or incoming legislators for a dozen different home games from 2007 to 2009, according to the team. Each loft ticket had a value ranging from $132.50 to $167.25. In most cases, however, the lawmakers attended only one game during the calendar year. That meant they were not obligated to reveal their acceptance of the gift on their annual financial disclosure forms, since the value fell under the $500 reporting threshold."

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic doubts the Cardinals would part with cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in a deal for Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb. Somers: "He's been inconsistent in Arizona, and there's no question coaches' patience will run out if DRC doesn't mature and put in the necessary study time. But great cover corners -- and DRC has the potential to be great -- are hard to find. And it's not as if the Cardinals are deep at the position. Patrick Peterson, the fifth overall pick, is unproven. Behind him the Cardinals have Greg Toler. The next two corners are Michael Adams and Trumaine McBride. Neither is under contract. (EDIT: I forget to mention A.J. Jefferson in my original post. Coaches like his potential.)" Fair questions: To what degree would Kolb, as a quarterback with roots in Andy Reid's West Coast offense, fit the system in Arizona? And does the Cardinals' overall need for a quarterback prevent them from being picky on such things?

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com notes Fitzgerald's standing at No. 14 on NFL Network's list of best players in the league.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com reflects upon Peter McLoughlin's first nine months as the team's president. The team extended its stadium naming-rights deal by five years as part of the switch to CenturyLink Field. McLaughlin also negotiated a sponsorship deal with Anheuser-Busch, his former employer. McLaughlin: "To get the long-term deal on the stadium naming rights is huge. The financial stability that provides from a sponsorship standpoint is really, really important. You don’t want to be out in the market really looking for a new naming-rights deal in this economy." It's easy to forget that team budgets exist separately from whatever personal resources an owner might have available to him. On the other hand, sports franchise ownership is, at its purest, about much more than making money. It's about trying to win. There's often more to gain from selling a franchise than from operating one.

Kathleen Nelson and Robert Patrick of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch check in with Rams linebacker David Vobora after a court offered at least some vindication regarding the supplement Vobora unwittingly ingested in violation of NFL rules. This story broke shortly after I stepped away for vacation last week. I thought it was worth revisiting given the damage done to Vobora following his four-game suspension. The court ruling does not affect Vobora's standing in the NFL's eyes. He was ultimately responsible for taking the supplement, even if the manufacturer could have done a better job spelling out ingredients. Vobora: "Vindication. That's the single word I'll continue to use. From the get-go, my lawyers and I were on the same page about that. Compensation was secondary. The number one thing was to right the ship and restore my reputation."

Quick thoughts from NFC West players via Twitter regarding whether the Chicago Bears' Jay Cutler should have played through a knee injury in the NFC Championship Game:

• Darnell Dockett, Arizona Cardinals defensive lineman: "If I'm on chicago team jay cutler has to wait till me and the team shower get dressed and leave before he comes in the locker room!"
• Aaron Curry, Seattle Seahawks linebacker: "You dont not play in the NFC championship game cuz your knee hurt, only way I'd come out is if my knee is jus shattered"
• Curry again: "Dear Cutler, you need to finish this game!! If ur knee hurt, take it to the locker room #carpediem"
• Kerry Rhodes, Arizona Cardinals safety: "Cmon cutler u have to come back. This is the NFC championship if u didn't know!"
• Raheem Brock, Seahawks defensive end: "Cutler u little siSsy...how does it feel that ur back up's backup is the only 1that can put pts on the board!I bet cutler comes back now!"
• Brock again: "Cutler...wut a sissy! This is the NFC Championship game! Guaranteed if it was brett farve..he would still be in the game!"
• Michael Robinson, Seahawks fullback: "Hanie...great job. Great heart..they should have given you the reps during the week"
• Hamza Abdullah, Cardinals safety: "If Jay Cutler came back In the game would fans (and you) boo him or applaud? Honestly, I don't know what I would do."
• Trumaine McBride, Cardinals cornerback: "Cutler better get back in the game because Chicago fans are ruthless!"

Questioning an athlete's toughness without knowing details about his injury strikes me as unfair. The St. Louis Rams' Steven Jackson might agree.

Said Jackson via Twitter when asked about his restraint: "yeah, somethings you shouldn't comment on. (let's that what I believe)"

Seeing Cutler warm up on a stationary bike, stand on the sideline and even open the second half under center created powerful visuals -- particularly with Philip Rivers having played a postseason game despite a torn ACL, among other examples of NFL players fighting through injuries.

Also: Cutler's teammate, Brian Urlacher, defended his quarterback.

Thoughts on the Arizona Cardinals' game at Kansas City in Week 11:

What it means: The Cardinals are a bad team. They have lost five in a row. They last won 42 days ago. They are 3-7 and last in the NFC West. Arizona still has time to right its season. The Cardinals play one of the NFL's easiest schedules. They play their next three at home against San Francisco, St. Louis and Denver, followed by a trip to struggling Carolina. The NFC West division leaders will likely remain within reach. None of that will matter if the Cardinals don't play better. Their margin for error is about gone. There's little evidence to suggest this team has the offensive firepower to get a winning streak going.

What I liked: Arizona again scored on its opening drive. The Cardinals played pretty well on both sides of the ball early in the game. Coach Ken Whisenhunt played and won the field-position game when opting to punt on fourth-and-1 while trailing 14-3 late in the first half, but the Chiefs managed to run out the clock anyway. On defense, the Cardinals seemed to do a better job putting strong safety Adrian Wilson in position to play his style of game.

What I didn't like: The Cardinals hurt themselves with penalties. They were not a very poised team. They had a legitimate beef when officials failed to call the Chiefs for grabbing linebacker Gerald Hayes by the face mask following a reception. After all, officials had flagged Arizona's Beanie Wells for a face mask penalty in Week 3. Having a legitimate beef doesn't make retaliation a smart decision, however. The penalty Hayes drew for retaliating sustained a first-half touchdown drive for Kansas City. Center Lyle Sendlein committed a personal-foul penalty. Even quarterback Derek Anderson committed one, for throwing the football in frustration. The Cardinals had to know this wasn't their day when officials flagged guard Alan Faneca for holding -- the first holding call against Faneca this season and only the seventh against him since 2001, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Tomorrow's Talker: The quarterback situation, of course. Anderson regularly threw the ball too high, hanging out his receivers. Early Doucet and Larry Fitzgerald took unnecessary punishment as a result. Former Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart took criticism from some, including Fitzgerald ally Cris Carter, for allegedly exposing Fitzgerald to injury with a high throw against Houston during the exhibition season. Anderson seems to make such throws more frequently. He also overthrew open receivers, including Steve Breaston on a deep ball in the third quarter. He missed Fitzgerald wide right on a short third-down pass in the second half. Anderson has generally done better in avoiding interceptions over the past few weeks, but he doesn't make enough positive plays. He isn't accurate enough.

Missing the Hyphen: The Cardinals missed injured running back LaRod Stephens-Howling when they tried to down Ben Graham's early punt at the Kansas City 1-yard line. Stephens-Howling probably would have made that play. Instead, the Chiefs took over at their own 20. The change in field position helped Kansas City pin the Cardinals at their own 8. The Chiefs got the ball back at the Arizona 38 on their next possession. They used the short field to score a touchdown and take a 7-3 lead. Trumaine McBride did down another punt at the 1 shortly before halftime. Arizona trailed 14-3 by that time, however.

What's next: The Cardinals return home to face the San Francisco 49ers on "Monday Night Football" in Week 12.

SEATTLE -- The weather forecast calling for rain at Qwest Field has proved more accurate than reports suggesting Steve Breaston would likely return from injury to start for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 7.

Breaston was named among the Cardinals' inactive players minutes ago. Rookie Andre Roberts starts in his place. Receiver Stephen Williams is also inactive. He has a back injury. Arizona's active receivers include Larry Fitzgerald, Max Komar, Early Doucet and Onrea Jones.

Also inactive for Arizona: safety Hamza Abdullah, cornerback Trumaine McBride, center Ben Claxton, linebacker Alex Hall and nose tackle Gabe Watson. John Skelton is the third quarterback.

Doucet's return from injury should help Arizona deal with Breaston's continuing absence. Breaston did provide a deep threat, however, and the Cardinals could miss his ability to strike downfield. Seattle has one fewer top-flight target to worry about defending, welcome news for the Seahawks as they play without starting corner Kelly Jennings.

Roster turnover is a leading topic for discussion in Seattle following the release of T.J. Houshmandzadeh in particular.

I've addressed the subject in depth across the division -- first May 26 and again July 30 -- and it's worth another look now that teams have reduced to 53 players for the regular season.

This time, I'm going to break down the changes by position, listing players no longer on the active roster at each main position group (with new players in parenthesis). Departures outnumber replacements because some players finished last season on injured reserve, meaning they were not part of the 53-man roster.

Some players no longer on the active roster remain with the team (they could be suspended, deemed physically unable to perform or part of the practice squad).

St. Louis Rams (34 off roster)

Defensive back: Eric Bassey, Quincy Butler, Danny Gorrer, Clinton Hart, Cordelius Parks, David Roach, Jonathan Wade (added Kevin Dockery, Jerome Murphy, Darian Stewart)

Defensive line: Victor Adeyanju, Adam Carriker, Leger Douzable, Leonard Little, LaJuan Ramsey, James Wyche (added Jermelle Cudjo, Fred Robbins, George Selvie, Eugene Sims)

Linebacker: K.C. Asiodu, Paris Lenon (added Na'il Diggs, Josh Hull)

Offensive line: Roger Allen, Alex Barron, Ryan McKee, Mark Setterstrom, Phillip Trautwein, Eric Young (added Renardo Foster, Hank Fraley, Rodger Saffold)

Quarterback: Kyle Boller, Marc Bulger, Keith Null, Mike Reilly (added Sam Bradford, A.J. Feeley, Thaddeus Lewis)

Running back: Samkon Gado, Chris Ogbonnaya (added Keith Toston)

Special teams: Ryan Neill

Tight end: Randy McMichael (added Mike Hoomanawanui, Fendi Onobun)

Wide receiver: Donnie Avery, Keenan Burton, Brooks Foster, Jordan Kent, Ruvell Martin (added Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry, Mardy Gilyard)

---

Seattle Seahawks (33 off roster)

Defensive back: Jamar Adams, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Josh Wilson (added Kam Chancellor, Kennard Cox, Nate Ness, Earl Thomas, Walter Thurmond)

Defensive line: Lawrence Jackson, Patrick Kerney, Cory Redding, Nick Reed, Darryl Tapp, Craig Terrill (added Kentwan Balmer, Raheem Brock, Chris Clemons, Dexter Davis, Junior Siavii, E.J. Wilson)

Linebacker: Leroy Hill, Lance Laury, D.D. Lewis (added Matt McCoy; note that Hill is suspended for the first regular-season game)

Offensive line: Trevor Canfield, Brandon Frye, Walter Jones, Damion McIntosh, Rob Sims, Steve Vallos, Ray Willis, Mansfield Wrotto (added Stacy Andrews, Evan Dietrich-Smith, Ben Hamilton, Russell Okung, Chester Pitts, Tyler Polumbus)

Quarterback: Mike Teel, Seneca Wallace (added Charlie Whitehurst)

Running back: Justin Griffith, Louis Rankin, Tyler Roehl, Owen Schmitt (added Quinton Ganther, Michael Robinson, Leon Washington)

Special teams: Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson (added Clint Gresham)

Tight end: John Owens (added Chris Baker, Anthony McCoy)

Wide receiver: Nate Burleson, T.J. Houshmandzadeh (added Golden Tate, Mike Williams)

---

Arizona Cardinals (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Ralph Brown, Bryant McFadden, Antrel Rolle (added A.J. Jefferson, Trumaine McBride, Brandon McDonald, Kerry Rhodes)

Defensive line: Jason Banks (added Dan Williams)

Linebacker: Monty Beisel, Bertrand Berry, Cody Brown, Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, Chike Okeafor, Pago Togafau (added Paris Lenon, Cyril Obiozor, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington; Hayes can return from the physically unable to perform list after six games)

Offensive line: Mike Gandy, Herman Johnson, Reggie Wells (added Alan Faneca, Rex Hadnot)

Quarterback: Matt Leinart, Brian St. Pierre, Kurt Warner (added Derek Anderson, Max Hall, John Skelton)

Running back: Justin Green, Dan Kreider (added Jerome Johnson)

Special teams: Neil Rackers (added Jay Feely)

Tight end: Anthony Becht (added Jim Dray)

Wide receiver: Anquan Boldin, Sean Morey, Jerheme Urban (added Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams)

---

San Francisco 49ers (24 off roster)

Defensive backs: Dre' Bly, Walt Harris, Marcus Hudson, Mark Roman (added Phillip Adams, Tramaine Brock, William James, Taylor Mays)

Defensive line: Kentwan Balmer, Derek Walker

Linebacker: Scott McKillop, Jeff Ulbrich, Matt Wilhelm (added NaVorro Bowman, Travis LaBoy)

Offensive line: Tony Pashos, Chris Patrick, Cody Wallace (added Alex Boone, Anthony Davis, Mike Iupati)

Quarterback: Nate Davis, Shaun Hill (added David Carr, Troy Smith)

Running back: Thomas Clayton, Glen Coffee, Brit Miller, Michael Robinson (added Anthony Dixon, Brian Westbrook)

Special teams: Shane Andrus, Ricky Schmitt

Wide receiver: Arnaz Battle, Isaac Bruce, Jason Hill, Brandon Jones (added Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams, Dominique Zeigler)

---

The first chart shows how many players are back -- at least for now -- from Week 17 rosters and injured reserve lists. Seattle has the fewest number back with 26.

The second chart shows how many players each team has shed since Week 17 last season. This counts players who were on injured reserve. Teams with lots of players on injured reserve had more players to lose.

Matt Leinart apparently has no idea where he stands with the Arizona Cardinals. That makes it tough for the rest of us to predict exactly what might happen.

Will Leinart start at quarterback for the Cardinals in Week 1? Will he serve as the backup? Will the Cardinals release him? Might they trade him?

The next week to 10 days should provide answers. NFL teams have until Saturday to reduce their rosters to 53-man limits, with the 75-man deadline passing Tuesday.

After looking at the Seahawks' roster earlier Monday, here's a quick run through the Cardinals:

Quarterbacks (4)

Average number kept since 2003: 3.0

Keepers: Derek Anderson

Looking safe: Max Hall

On the bubble: Leinart, John Skelton

Comment: Coach Ken Whisenhunt's handling of Leinart suggests there's more than tough love at work here. It's fair to question whether Leinart fits into the team's plans at all this season. The smart move, it seems, would be to keep Anderson, Leinart and the winner of the Hall-Skelton competition. But it's clear Whisenhunt isn't convinced Leinart has what it takes to be a starting quarterback.

Running backs (8)

Average number kept since 2003: 5.3

Keepers: Tim Hightower, Beanie Wells, LaRod Stephens-Howling, Jason Wright

On the bubble: Reagan Maui'a, Charles Scott

Also: Alfonso Smith, Nehemiah Broughton

Comment: Scott arrived via trade this week after Broughton suffered a season-ending knee injury. Maui'a could be the choice heading into the regular season. Scott provides depth for the final exhibition game, but it's unlikely he would be refined enough as a blocker to factor into the offense in a meaningful way. Smith's speed caught my attention early in camp.

Wide receivers (11)

Average number kept since 2003: 6.1

Keepers: Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, Early Doucet

Looking safe: Andre Roberts, Stephen Williams

On the bubble: Onrea Jones, Max Komar

Also: Isaiah Williams, Darren Mougey, Mike Jones, Ed Gant

Comment: Gant serves a suspension to open the season. Roberts will make the team as a third-round pick. Williams pretty much wrapped up a spot with his latest strong performance (at Chicago). Jones and Komar could be competing for a sixth and final spot at the position.

Tight ends (4)

Average number kept since 2003: 3.1

Keepers: Ben Patrick, Anthony Becht, Stephen Spach

Also: Jim Dray

Comment: The team released Dominique Byrd on Monday. The top three appear set. Not much drama here. Dray looks like practice-squad material.

Offensive linemen (12)

Average number kept since 2003: 8.9

Keepers: Lyle Sendlein, Alan Faneca, Brandon Keith, Reggie Wells, Levi Brown, Deuce Lutui, Rex Hadnot, Jeremy Bridges

Looking safe: Herman Johnson

Also: Ben Claxton, Tom Pestock, Jonathan Palmer

Comment: Lutui could be trending toward a spot back in the starting lineup despite reporting to camp overweight. Johnson also reported overweight. He isn't a starter, and that's why I listed him separately from the keepers (even though it's an upset, most likely, if Johnson does not stick).

Defensive line (9)

Average number kept since 2003: 7.4

Keepers: Darnell Dockett, Calais Campbell, Dan Williams, Bryan Robinson

Looking safe: Alan Branch, Gabe Watson, Kenny Iwebema

Also: John Fletcher, Jeremy Clark

Comment: This position appears pretty much set. I would expect seven to earn roster spots.

Linebackers (14)

Average number kept since 2003: 7.1

Keepers: Gerald Hayes, Paris Lenon, Clark Haggans, Joey Porter, Daryl Washington

Looking safe: Will Davis, Cody Brown

Bubble: Monty Beisel, Reggie Walker

Also: O'Brien Schofield, Steve Baggs, Mark Washington, Chris Johnson, Pago Togafau

Comment: Hayes and Schofield could open the season on reserve/physically unable to perform, opening two roster spots. Beisel and Walker could be competing for the final spot at this position.

Defensive backs (13)

Average number kept since 2003: 8.9

Keepers: Adrian Wilson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Kerry Rhodes, Greg Toler, Trumaine McBride, Matt Ware

Looking safe: Michael Adams, Hamza Abdullah, Rashad Johnson

On the bubble: Marshay Green

Also: A.J. Jefferson, Trevor Ford, Justin Miller

Comment: Toler could be passing McBride on the depth chart as the starting right cornerback, fulfilling expectations. Johnson appeared more physical early in camp. Haven't heard much about him lately, though.

Specialists (3)

Average number kept since 2003: 2.9

Keepers: Jay Feely, Ben Graham, Mike Leach

Comment: Arizona has three on the roster and that's how many the team will keep. Simple enough.

Coach Ken Whisenhunt and the Arizona Cardinals gave quarterback Matt Leinart little help Monday night during a 24-10 loss. The Tennessee Titans did Leinart no favors by blitzing against an offensive line that wasn't game-planning, this being preseason.

The Cardinals needed to see Leinart persevere anyway, or at least provide a spark, and it did not happen -- again. Three three-and-out possessions against the Tennessee Titans was not good enough given how much Leinart still must prove.

By my count, Arizona has scored two touchdowns -- wait, make that one -- in 39 possessions with Leinart at quarterback since the 2009 regular-season opener. That figure counts playoff games last season and two exhibition games this summer. Both Arizona touchdowns came during Leinart's only 2009 regular-season start, a game the Cardinals nearly won at Tennessee (and one was on a kickoff return). Some of those 39 possessions fell during clock-killing situations when the Cardinals weren't even trying to score, so the number is misleading without the right context.

Still, Leinart hasn't really earned the right to say it's only preseason -- exactly what he told ESPN's Michele Tafoya on the sideline -- even though this really is only preseason.

More on Leinart to come. Let's jump into seven observations before the Titans dial up another blitz:

1. Leinart has a big target on his back. Fortunately for him, backup Derek Anderson hasn't shown the accuracy to hit it. Anderson brings some swagger to the Cardinals' offense. The team perked up once Anderson entered the huddle. Leinart managed no first downs in his only three drives. Anderson converted one on his first play. Watching Anderson badly miss Steve Breaston wide open in the end zone had to make Whisenhunt cringe, however. Leinart has a better grasp of the offense, too.

2. Whisenhunt could have helped Leinart more. Whisenhunt could have shown some confidence in Leinart by going for it on fourth-and-1 from his own 41 on the opening drive. He opted for a punt instead -- an easy call if the game had counted, but a missed opportunity under the circumstances. Leinart needed help. The Cardinals' pass protection struggled against the Titans' blitzes, typical for preseason. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald wasn't playing and at least one other receiver, rookie Stephen Williams, seemed to surprise Leinart with the route he ran on a third-and-1 play. Leinart gets the benefit of the doubt on that one. He knows the offense. Williams is an undrafted free agent.

3. The defense brings an attitude. Joey Porter drilled Titans running back Chris Johnson early. Clark Haggans brought down Johnson hard. Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell tagged Titans quarterback Vince Young to force an incompletion. These were some early signs that Arizona can play with attitude on defense. On the periphery, Stevie Baggs might have helped himself.

4. Trumaine McBride had a rough night. The race between McBride and Greg Toler to start at right cornerback should end with Toler winning the job. That was the expectation entering camp, anyway. McBride didn't help himself Monday night. He gave up one play over the middle, got away with interference after getting beat deep, then gave up a third-down reception. McBride even hit teammate Adrian Wilson while trying to make a tackle well downfield. I didn't see Toler as much, so it'll be interesting to hear Whisenhunt's take once the staff breaks down the game.

5. Arizona might have the divison's best special-teamer. LaRod Stephens-Howling plays special teams at a Pro Bowl level. He was bouncing off defenders during an early return. The MNF crew replayed some of Stephens-Howling's efforts against the Titans during the 2009 regular season, another reminder that Stephens-Howling dominates in coverage. The San Francisco 49ers' Michael Robinson is terrific on special teams, too -- check out his brutal block during the opening kickoff Sunday night -- but Stephens-Howling is right up there among the best.

6. Beanie Wells has to earn his place. What was Wells doing in the game well into the second half? He was doing what backups do. Yes, Wells is still a backup. Whisenhunt isn't going to hand starting status job to him. Makes sense on one level, but if Wells had suffered an injury carrying the ball with less than 5 minutes remaining in the third quarter? He didn't, so all is well.

7. It's not too late for Leinart. A strong showing from Leinart in the third exhibition game could make the Cardinals feel better about their offense in the post-Warner era. The 49ers' Alex Smith stepped up Sunday night despite playing without Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree or Vernon Davis. The Seattle Seahawks' Matt Hasselbeck made a positive statement Saturday night. The St. Louis Rams' Sam Bradford will try to do so Thursday night. There's still time for Leinart. Remember, he completed 24 of 38 passes for 346 yards and three touchdowns against Green Bay in the third exhibition game last season.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says the 49ers know training camp is about to get much tougher after a non-contact session Sunday. Linebacker Takeo Spikes: "It gets 200 percent tougher times 200. We know that. No video games tonight. No extra-long conversations with the old lady on Skype." Also, nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin has yet to report for practice. He remains unsigned.

Taylor Price of 49ers.com checks in from practice and makes this observation: "Three of the 49ers main free agent acquisitions all found themselves involved on one play on Monday, as cornerback Karl Paymah made a nice pass breakup on backup quarterback David Carr’s deep ball down the left sideline intended for wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr."

Also from 49ers.com: a transcript from coach Mike Singletary's interview.

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers are not worried about Franklin's conditioning because the veteran nose tackle has set a high standard on that front.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee noticed Taylor Mays working with the second-team defense in 49ers camp, a jump in status for the second-round choice. This is the time to find out how ready Mays might be to step into a more prominent role. Also from Barrows: "A couple of injured players made their returns. Receiver Brandon Jones got a lot of work at receiver as well as punt returner. Cornerback Will James, meanwhile, made his 49ers debut. He played in the third-team defense opposite rookie Phillip Adams. The first four cornerbacks were Nate Clements, Shawntae Spencer, Karl Paymah and Tarell Brown. The 49ers opened camp with zero injuries."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers eased into training camp. That's no surprise given that the team wasn't originally planning to practice until Monday. The session Sunday sounded like a prelude. Brown: "Even the mighty nutcracker drill was rendered toothless. Offensive-line coach Mike Solari explained the drill in epic detail -- it took 14 minutes -- before players walked away without so much as a shoulder bump. Such was the nature of the first day of training camp — a dress rehearsal on grass. The Sunday session was not on the original schedule. Coach Mike Singletary added it recently after deciding the team needed one final chance to review things in slow motion."

Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News expects big things from 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says there's lots of competition among the Cardinals' offensive linemen.

Also from Somers: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie dominated in practice Sunday even though he said he wasn't 100 percent physically. Larry Fitzgerald: "DRC likes to mix it up. Our goal is to motivate each other and to push each other."

More from Somers: Greg Toler will have to earn the starting job at cornerback opposite Rodgers-Cromartie. Somers: "Trumaine McBride continues to run with the first team at right cornerback, ahead of Greg Toler. McBride's edge right now is experience. He's played in 33 NFL games, while Toler played in 13 last season. In athletic ability, coaches compare Toler to DRC. They are similar in other ways, too. Like DRC, Toler needs to learn what it takes to be a successful pro, said coordinator Bill Davis. That means developing consistent study habits and focusing on every single play. Like DRC, Toler's concentration tends to come and go. That's not unusual for a young player, and it doesn't seem as if coaches are down on Toler, a fourth-round pick in 2009. But they do think he has great ability and will be disappointed if he doesn't show it this season."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Arizona is taking things slowly with rookie linebacker Daryl Washington. Urban: "Rookies have to earn their playing time, however, especially with this coaching staff. When (Karlos) Dansby and Darnell Dockett were drafted back in 2004, then-coach Dennis Green immediately dropped them into the starting lineup. Both eventually proved to be very good players, but they never had to prove themselves worthy. Washington does. So he sits as a third-stringer for now, even though the Cardinals are trying to figure out exactly what they are going to do at inside linebacker. On the outside, they are set, with veterans Joey Porter and Clark Haggans entrenched."

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says the Seahawks held out Aaron Curry from practice after the second-year linebacker suffered from headaches following a collision Sunday. Coach Pete Carroll: "He got dinged a little bit yesterday. We just wanted to make sure he's OK. He should be fine. It's nothing serious, but he had some headaches today so we just wanted to rest him."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Leroy Hill isn't working with the Seahawks' starting defense. O'Neil: "Maybe Seattle is preparing itself for the reality that it will face in the season opener as Hill has already been suspended for that game for violating the league's policy on substance abuse. But maybe, it's also a sign Hill is an afterthought for the Seahawks at this point just one year after the team designated him their franchise player and then subsequently signed him to a long-term contract. Is Hill part of Seattle's plan for the future? His absence for most of this offseason and his place on the depth chart make it a legitimate question." There's a good chance 2010 will be Hill's final season in Seattle.

Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune offers a few thoughts on the Seahawks as they open training camp.

John Morgan of Field Gulls expects Golden Tate to continue returning punts for the Seahawks, a role Tate has handled in practices so far. On offense, the Seahawks put Tate in motion.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Jacob Bell and Chris Long scuffled during a physical Rams practice that also featured a huge hit. Thomas: "Larry Grant, who has opened camp as a starting outside linebacker, leveled fullback Mike Karney during a live tackling drill, with Karney losing his helmet in the process. (It may have been a little payback because Karney had been throwing bodies around up to that point as a blocker.)"

Also from Thomas: Rams general manager Billy Devaney sounds optimistic. Devaney: "The only way I can say it is the players are (ticked) off still from last year. You want to say forget last year, and last year's over. But let me tell you, this isn't any fun. I know it isn't any fun for our players or anybody in this building to hear all the time: worst team in the NFL, 1-15, lowly St. Louis Rams. If that doesn't (tick) you off, or get you motivated in the offseason, then we have the wrong kind of guy. There's a lot of motivated people here to get this thing going and start winning football games."

Also from Thomas: Sam Bradford's next challenge is living up to a contract that could pay him $86 million.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Danny Amendola and Mardy Gilyard are competing to return punts for the Rams. Amendola was very good in that role last season. Coats: "The 5-foot-11, 186-pound Amendola was signed off Philadelphia's practice squad in Week 3 last season. He wound up leading the NFL in kickoff returns (66), kickoff-return yardage (1,618 yards) and total return yards (1,978). All three of those marks were franchise records, as was his combined kick and punt returns (97). Overall, Amendola averaged 24.5 yards per kickoff return and 11.6 yards per punt return."

Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times says former Rams and 49ers receiver Isaac Bruce has worked closely with the Bears' Devin Hester.

Also from Jensen: Bruce is working with the Bears as a minority coaching intern under Mike Martz, his former coach in St. Louis and San Francisco.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News Democrat says Rams defensive end James Hall remains diligent at age 33, showing up 2 hours early for practice Sunday.

The question in the headline seems misplaced given popular perceptions about the team that subtracted Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Karlos Dansby, Antrel Rolle and others.

But all is not lost for the two-time defending NFC West champion Cardinals.

It'll take a team effort for Arizona to pull off another division title, just as it took one to complete this blog entry -- the fourth and final one in our series asking whether NFC West teams have improved this offseason. Facebook friend Barrett came through with the portion of our analysis focusing on offense. Branden, a Facebook friend I've tailgated with before Cardinals games, joined fellow Cardinals fans Jack and Jacob in filling out the remaining categories. I'm pleased by the final result and hope you find it thought-provoking.

Thanks to all the others who answered the call. My only regret was not being able to use them all.

Quarterback

Barrett: It's Matt Leinart's time to prove capable of leading an NFL team from behind center. If he falters, Derek Anderson will be waiting to show that he can return to his Pro Bowl form from 2007 -- when he had targets such as Kellen Winslow Jr. and Braylon Edwards. Fifth-round rookie John Skelton may have the physical attributes Ken Whisenhunt looks for in a quarterback, but he remains a project. Verdict: worse.

Sando: Max Hall is another rookie quarterback to watch on the Cardinals' roster. I hear they like what they've seen so far. I also think Leinart can outperform the low expectations his critics have set for him. But there's no getting around the obvious here. The Cardinals were better at quarterback when they had Warner.

Running back

Barrett: In a pass-oriented offense, Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower combined to rush for 1,391 yards and 15 touchdowns, but they also fumbled the ball nine times and lost six of those. Both backs are looking to get even more carries this season, with Jason Wright and LaRod Stephens-Howling perhaps having an increased opportunity to get touches over last season (combined nine attempts for 32 yards last season). Verdict: same.

Sando: This group should only improve as Wells gets more seasoning and the Cardinals give him more opportunities. The knock on him coming out of college was that he was soft. Cardinals players challenged Wells to prove doubters wrong. Wells responded by running tough and running hard. The prime-time game against the New York Giants comes to mind. I think Wells can take it to another level.

Wide receiver

Barrett: Even with Boldin being traded away to the Ravens, Larry Fitzgerald will still be a top receiver. Steve Breaston is no stranger to lining up as the No. 2 in Boldin's absence. Early Doucet showed what he is capable of during last season's playoff run. Now, let's see if he can produce similarly over the course of a full season. Andre Roberts is an excellent draft pick for depth to compete with Onrea Jones at the No. 4 spot and I expect him to spell Breaston for punt-return duties. However formidable this receiving corps still seems, the Cardinals will miss what No. 81 brought as a player, competitor, teammate and leader. Verdict: worse.

Sando: The Cardinals somehow won a higher percentage of games recently when Boldin did not play. I agree they'll miss the toughness he brought. Boldin might have helped an inexperienced quarterback such as Leinart more than he helped Warner. Breaston brings more speed to the offense. Depth is certainly worse without Boldin, but it was also apparent Boldin might be declining some. I'll agree with your general assessment.

Tight end

Barrett: Anthony Becht, Ben Patrick and Stephen Spach are all back from last season, plus Dominique Byrd. Tight ends caught a whopping 23 passes for the Cardinals last season. It seems their primary function in Whisenhunt's offense is to offer run blocking and an occasional check-down. However, this may change ever so slightly as the focus shifts to a more balanced attack. Verdict: same.

Sando: If there's an upgrade, it comes from having Patrick for a full 16 games. He missed the first four last season while serving an NFL suspension. Once Patrick returned, the Cardinals felt more comfortable using two tight ends. Wells had good success running from some of these double-tight personnel groupings. I think we could see more of those now that Warner is gone and the team has fewer front-line options at wide receiver.

Offensive line

Barrett: With the free-agent additions of Alan Faneca and Rex Hadnot, starting quality and depth are already improved on a unit that has seen more postseason action in the past two seasons than any other offensive line in the NFL. This lessens any blow the line might take if an overweight Deuce Lutui does not return. There's also a second-year man by the name of Herman Johnson who just might be big enough to take over his spot. Verdict: better.

Sando: Faneca is a huge name and I think he's got something to prove after the New York Jets dumped him. The word among NFL people is that Faneca has fallen off significantly and he could be a liability. The leadership and toughness he brings will have value, but how well can he play at this stage? I do not know. The Cardinals have in recent seasons stressed the importance of continuity on the offensive line. They'll have new people in three or four of the five starting spots, so the continuity is gone. Throw in a new starting quarterback and there's a lot of work to do. This group is better on paper based on the additions, but I'm not sure it'll be more effective (although the shift to more of a power running game could play to the strength of these linemen, something to keep in mind).

Offense overall

Barrett: Whisenhunt has always geared his offenses to the players' strengths. With key losses in Warner and Boldin and the acquisition of Faneca, it sure looks like the Cardinals are shifting toward a more balanced attack. But one thing is for certain, and that is the quarterback cannot be expected to produce the way Warner did. Verdict: worse.

Sando: You're right about Whisenhunt and his staff. They'll rise to the challenge and give the Cardinals their best chance to succeed on offense. The running game should be strong. They'll play to Leinart's strengths as well. But the points will be harder to come by and that'll make it tougher for the Cardinals to win games. The offense will be different and less prolific.

Defensive line

Branden: The line up front starts and ends with the performance of Darnell Dockett. He has become more of a leader this offseason and his play on the field already speaks for itself. Calais Campbell has made many lists as one of the breakout players in the league. Whisenhunt has brought many of his rookies along slowly, so Bryan Robinson will most likely start at nose tackle, but rookie Dan Williams should get plenty of time and I expect him to take over the starting role by midseason. Depth-wise, Alan Branch and Gabe Watson are in make-or-break seasons, and while Branch showed more ability and versatility last year in his time at defensive end, they will have to step up to strengthen depth at the position. Kenny Iwebema is a serviceable backup and special-teamer. Verdict: better.

Sando: It'll take a while for Williams to hit stride, but his addition can only improve what was already a pretty good situation for Arizona. Having the pressure on Watson and Branch can only help. It's tough for 3-4 defensive ends to get much notice, but Arizona has two of them worth our praise.

Outside linebackers

Branden: There has been talk about the age of Clark Haggans and Joey Porter. Both are 33. While they will start, expect to see plenty of others in special situations -- including Will Davis, who played well last year as a rookie until suffering a knee injury. Cody Brown is practically a rookie and needs to contribute to help this position. Others at the position include Mark Washington and CFL star Stevie "Shakespeare" Baggs. Are they better as a unit than last year? Questionable. Bertrand Berry and Chike Okeafor performed average last year, and I'm not sure how much Porter has left. Verdict: same, but young guys need to step up.

Sando: Someone pointed out to me that Porter and Haggans are younger than Berry, but it's small consolation for Arizona. You're right about the young guys needing to step forward. I could see Porter getting close to double-digit sacks even though Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. thinks Porter has declined dramatically. Others have said Porter collected "cheap" sacks in recent seasons. Cheap ones are better than none at all. This group probably isn't going to decline dramatically. It wasn't all that great last season. Okeafor is out of the league, after all, and Berry retired.

Inside linebacker

Branden: Losing Karlos Dansby will be difficult to overcome because he was a jack of all trades. However, I'm not as high on him as many others were -- Dansby had no Pro Bowls -- and I'm glad the Cardinals did not overpay for him. The addition of Paris Lenon as a stopgap and the drafting of Daryl Washington should help somewhat, but the injury to Gerald Hayes is a major issue. This group is thin and I believe the Cardinals will look to add a veteran when cuts are made. Verdict: worse.

Sando: There's little getting around the problems Arizona faces at this position. We can talk about the defensive line being strong enough to cover somewhat, and that might be the case once Williams develops at nose tackle, but we're not fooling anyone in the meantime. The Cardinals tried to sign Keith Bulluck, but they lost him to the New York Giants. They also claimed Alex Hall off waivers, but the Giants beat them to the punch on that one, too, thanks to a higher waiver priority. Expect Arizona to keep monitoring the waiver wire here.

Cornerback

Branden: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is a Pro Bowler, so that helps with one side of the field. Bryant McFadden, traded back to Pittsburgh this offseason, was not much help on the other side last year, but he fared well in run situations. Greg Toler has the physical tools to be a good corner, but he is raw and needs to show his ability this preseason. Michael Adams is a special-teamer and the others, including Trumaine McBride, are OK backups. The Cardinals generally bring multiple safeties on the field in passing situations, so depth isn't a huge concern, but it's a valid question. The performance of this group hinges on DRC's ability to stay healthy and Toler's performance. Verdict: same or better if Toler steps up.

Sando: The Cardinals aren't afraid to make changes, that's for sure. They could have stuck with McFadden, but his contract was a little steep for what they were getting in return. Whisenhunt seemed quite strong in his praise for Toler and he generally isn't wrong on these things. There's potential for this group to drop off, though. At least McFadden was a known quantity. The Cardinals take pride in developing young players and they'll need to be right on Toler to justify their decisions at the position.

Safety

Branden: Adrian Wilson is one of the five best safeties in the league, and it is a shame more people don't realize that. I think Kerry Rhodes will actually be an upgrade over Rolle as he knows where he is supposed to be, while Rolle was just learning the free safety position. I think Rolle has the potential to be better in the long run, but the starting tandem should be fine. Second-year man Rashad Johnson needs to step up and perform to the high praise from college coach Nick Saban. He just seemed lost last year. Matt Ware is a solid backup and plays well in passing situations. Hamza Abdullah is also a decent backup. Verdict: same, with the ability to be better in passing situations.

Sando: I've found informed fans to be a bit overly critical of safeties. I'm not saying that's the case with Branden, but there's definitely a feeling among some Arizona fans that Rolle was overrated and Rhodes will actually provide an upgrade. I don't really see it athletically or for the long term, but acquiring Rhodes showed the Cardinals had a plan once Rolle's contract forced their hand. The Cardinals seem encouraged by what they're seeing from Johnson recently. I heard nothing positive about him last season. Re-signing Ware stood out as an underrated move. He's had some value as one of the first defensive backs off the bench.

Defense overall

Branden: The Cardinals had more than 40 sacks last season and I think they can achieve that number again this year with their defensive line and some contribution from the outside linebacker position. I'm concerned about their inside linebackers' ability to stop the run, but again, I think much of that hinges on their ability to penetrate up front. The secondary has a chance to be very good, but I'm not sold. This was not a spectacular unit last year as evidenced by their giving up 90 points in two playoff games. They are more acquainted with the scheme and I think Billy Davis is a good defensive coordinator, but he will have to get creative again this year. The offense will not be scoring 50-plus points this year, so this unit will have to perform well for ...

Sando: Branden's evaluation cut off there for some reason, but that's OK. We've got a deep roster of contributors and I'll lean on them for the rest of this exercise. The last point Branden raised was the one I wanted to touch upon in this space. It'll be tougher getting to 40 sacks again with fewer points on the board. It'll be easier, in theory, for the other team to stick with its running game. That appears problematic for Arizona given the issues at inside linebacker. But if Hayes can return in September, perhaps the Cardinals can stabilize the middle of their defense. They're fortunate to have such a terrific box safety in Wilson. I'll now turn to Cardinals fan Jack for the section on special teams.

Special teams

Jack: I'm very excited about the special teams of the Cardinals, actually. Stephens-Howling performed quite well as a rookie returning kicks, and he should do even better this year now that he has his feet wet. Breaston didn't do well returning punts last season, so the Cardinals need to make a change, particularly with Breaston as the No. 2 receiver. I hope Andre Roberts gets a shot. As for the kickers, I hope that Jay Feely will be more consistent than Neil Rackers. Ben Graham was great last season, and I expect the same from him this year. Verdict: better.

Sando: Rackers did some great things during his tenure in Arizona, but seeing him line up in the clutch was enough to make even non-fans nervous for him. Kicker is one position where teams can plug in free agents pretty easily, so Arizona could be fine with Feely. Stephens-Howling is already one of the best special-teams players in the league. He deserves Pro Bowl consideration. Cards fan Jacob is on deck with a look at the coaching.

Coaching

Jacob: What more can be done by Whisenhunt? He is a proven winner and has taken this Cardinals franchise to heights never before imagined. Russ Grimm is widely considered one of the best head-coaching candidates. People will bang on the fact that the cardinals play in the NFC West and have been inconsistent at times throughout the year. However, they are 4-2 in the playoffs under Whisenhunt with both losses to the Super Bowl champions. Winning in the playoffs comes down to game plans, managing the emotions of the game and players -- and that is where Whisenhunt excels. His best coaching job will be showcased this year if the Cardinals can capture another division title. Verdict: same or better.

Sando: I'm sure Whisenhunt is relishing the challenge. The Cardinals are being counted out prematurely. Whisenhunt will probably get the most from them. The coaching staff will deserve high praise if Leinart develops into a winning quarterback. Whisenhunt's Arizona legacy is largely established. He can only help it this season. With that, we go back to Jack for the final two sections.

Schedule

Jack: I'd love to see the Cardinals take advantage of playing the AFC West this season. They still do have some tough games, though, most notably against Dallas, San Diego, Minnesota and New Orleans. Still, if they don't get eight or nine victories out of this schedule, it will be a disappointment.

Sando: Three of the first four games are on the road. The fifth game is at home -- against the Super Bowl-champion New Orleans Saints. Welcome back to the lineup, Matt Leinart. Finishing the season against Dallas and San Francisco gives the Cardinals an opportunity to gain ground in the NFC, but neither game will be easy.

Final thoughts

Jack: I want so badly to say the Cardinals are better than the 49ers. They can be, but they'll have to prove it. Perhaps the Cardinals' best chance is to take advantage of an easy schedule and snag a wild-card spot. I believe they'll get eight or nine victories, though. I hope for more.

Sando: The Cardinals won 10 games last season with more talent. It's reasonable to expect them to slip back into the 8-8 range. That's where I see the Cardinals finishing and it'll be no shock if they fail to reach .500 for the first time under Whisenhunt. This is a transition year. They'll find out whether Leinart is their quarterback and if they win more than eight games along the way, or even if they avoid a losing season, I'd consider 2010 a success.

Insider subscribers can check out Mel Kiper's look at where NFC West teams have helped themselves, where they still need help and which player could help them in the 2011 NFL draft.

I'll focus on Kiper's thoughts regarding the Cardinals. He thinks first-round choice Dan Williams will help Darnell Dockett become even better, but Kiper wonders whether the Cardinals should have done more at cornerback. The team is showing faith in second-year pro Greg Toler after his strong showing in relief against New Orleans in the playoffs. Michael Adams is also a factor at the position.

The Cardinals' track record in developing younger players such as Calais Campbell has earned them the benefit of the doubt in some cases. I see Kiper's point and question whether the Cardinals have enough quality depth at the position. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is coming off a Pro Bowl season and knee surgery. He's the only cornerback on the team to start a regular-season game last season. An injury to Rodgers-Cromartie, Toler or Adams would seemingly put Arizona in a tough spot.

Steve Wyche of NFL.com quotes Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo as being "very, very hopeful" about re-signing safety Oshiomogho Atogwe. It's pretty clear Atogwe has few options beyond the Rams. Spagnuolo's comments suggest something should get done to keep Atogwe in St. Louis. Wyche: "Atogwe isn't seeking an outrageous salary or guaranteed bonuses, according to a league source, but his desired take still could be too high for teams –- including the Rams -- that are reluctant to pay amid labor uncertainty and a troublesome economic climate."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams minority owner Stan Kroenke has indicated his son, former Missouri basketball player Josh Kroenke, could take over ownership of the Denver Nuggets as the elder Kroenke complies with NFL cross-ownership rules.

Also from Coats: Receivers Dominique Curry and Brandon McRae are trying to earn roster spots at receiver as undrafted free agents.

More from Coats: The toe injury Jason Smith suffered in practice was apparently minor.

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat says Kroenke's comments suggest the Rams' minority owner expects the NFL to approve his plans to transfer ownership of his Denver teams to family members.

Brad Biggs of National Football Post says defensive tackle Chris Hovan has agreed to terms with the Rams. Hovan has started 149 games over the last 10 seasons, including all 16 for Tampa Bay last season. This looks like a good depth signing by the Rams. They've now added Hovan and Fred Robbins after deciding to draft Sam Bradford instead of Ndamukong Suh or Gerald McCoy atop the first round.

The Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters shows the 49ers' stadium measure gaining approval with 59.61 percent support. The registrar shows 11,231 votes in favor and 7,609 opposed with all 58 precincts reporting. The results are probably even better than the 49ers expected, although support seemed strong throughout.

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers appear confident about getting a stadium built in Santa Clara even though approval of Measure J assures nothing. Maiocco: "The term sheet that voters approved is non-binding. If Santa Clara and the 49ers do not reach agreement on key terms, negotiations can be terminated without penalty to either side. But the overwhelming support of the stadium by the voters of Santa Clara might signal a strong commitment from the city's side."

Also from Maiocco: Brandon Jones is frustrated by a lack of opportunities during offseason practices. Jones: "But if I show I can make plays, they can't hold me out for too long."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Alex Smith's rapport with Vernon Davis was on display at 49ers practice Tuesday.

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat offers notes from 49ers practice, including one about newly signed offensive lineman Matt Kopa.

Also from Barber: Travis LaBoy got more reps in practice Tuesday.

John Wildermuth of the San Francisco Chronicle offers a report on the 49ers' stadium situation. Wildermuth: "San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has argued that Santa Clara's stadium election does not guarantee that the 49ers will leave the city, which will move ahead with plans for a new stadium site as part of the Hunters Point Shipyard redevelopment project. The numbers don't work for a Santa Clara stadium, Newsom said, and when the 49ers realize that, San Francisco's plan will look better and better."

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says Michael Crabtree is benefiting from a full offseason in the 49ers' program.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui plans to sign the one-year offer Arizona made to him as a restricted free agent. Lutui has no realistic alternatives. Somers: "Lutui is not alone in his disappointment. As of this week, 35 restricted free agents remained unsigned. Lutui is gambling that he will be able to regain his starting spot. The Cardinals acquired two veteran guards this off-season, Alan Faneca and Rex Hadnot. Faneca and Reggie Wells have been starting at the guard positions this spring. Coach Ken Whisenhunt declined comment Tuesday on Lutui's situation." Lutui has only hurt his standing by staying away this offseason.

Also from Somers: The Cardinals are experimenting with combinations in their secondary. Michael Adams, Greg Toler and Trumaine McBride have worked at right cornerback with the starters. Toler was the player Whisenhunt singled out previously as a leading candidate to start.

More from Somers: a pick-by-pick look at the Cardinals' draft choices. On linebacker Daryl Washington: "As billed, he's an excellent athlete who can really run. His challenge is learning the defense and dealing with the complexity of NFL offense. An early guess: Washington plays in pass situations to start the season. If he develops, he'll become the regular starter. That's the way the Cardinals have handled other rookies, including cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and running back Beanie Wells."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says the Seahawks are looking for ways for rookie Dexter Davis to contribute beyond his initial role as a backup "Leo" linebacker. Defensive coordinator Gus Bradley: "He has shown some flashes, and we know he can rush. So if he can play that (strong-side) linebacker spot for us – he’s athletic enough – that would give him another role in addition to being a nickel rusher."

Also from Farnsworth: Seahawks coach Pete Carroll has no immediate plans to declare a starting running back.

Agent Marc Lillibridge says the Seahawks have signed defensive end Will Tukuafu.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says running back Leon Washington has switched jersey numbers to 33, an indication former fullback Justin Griffith will not return.

TMZ.com offers audio from the 911 call related to Golden Tate's implication in a doughnut-shop incident. The woman making the call identifies herself as one of the night bakers. She was not amused by Tate's antics.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Carroll sounded amused by the doughnut caper. Carroll: "I’m not disappointed in the guy being at a doughnut shop when they’ve got maple bars like Top Pot has. However, under the circumstances I think they were closed, or something like that, or they were trying to close or whatever. So that’s definitely wrong, and we’ve talked about it and addressed it. And he’s most remorseful and all of that. But I do understand the allure of the maple bars."

Also from Williams: Quinton Ganther appeals to the Seahawks as a fullback with some running ability. Ganther played for Seahawks assistant Sherman Smith with the Redskins. Ganther: "I’m one of those guys that will do things that the other guys don’t want to do. You tell me to run down on kickoffs and hit the wedge, and I’ll do it. You tell me to get in there at fullback, that’s what I’ll do because I’m a team player, not a me player."

John Boyle of the Everett Herald quotes Carroll as saying linebacker Leroy Hill has fallen behind by missing offseason practices (at the Seahawks' request). Carroll: "Practice is hugely important. There’s a new system, there’s a whole new approach to doing things. This certainly hinders his opportunity without question. The other guys have rocketed ahead with their chances and taken advantage of that, and that’s just part of the competition. You do what you can with your opportunities. So he’s going to have to battle back if we can get him back out here. We’ll see when the time comes."

Albert Breer of the Boston Globe visits Seahawks headquarters as part of a piece looking at what went wrong for Pete Carroll in New England, with an eye toward what might be different this time. Breer: "Everyone who was in New England and with the Patriots from 1997-99 remembers the back stairs. That’s where veterans retreated when they didn’t like what their coaches were telling them. That’s the route you took to the offices of the owners and Bobby Grier’s personnel department to air grievances over the coach’s head. That’s the place where Carroll’s juice in the Patriots organization went to die." Carroll: "It was horrible. That’s not leadership. But that existed, yeah. That was there and [the front office] thought it was kind of cool. They liked it like that. I think the ownership, they wanted information and they thought that was the way to get it. And really, in all fairness to the Krafts, they didn’t know yet how to do it, they were just figuring it out." Carroll's obviously close relationship with Seahawks general manager John Schneider should remove a lot of the stress from his current coaching efforts.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic had this to say after watching Adrian Wilson pick off Matt Leinart during a red-zone play: "The team continued to work on its red zone package today. It's hard to judge because a good play by the defense can mean just the opposite by the offense. For instance: QB Matt Leinart forced one pass to Larry Fitzgerald, and strong safety Adrian Wilson picked it off. Nice play by a Pro Bowl safety. A learning experience for a quarterback. As someone once said, we're talking about practice."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com provides a photo of Cardinals center Lyle Sendlein connecting on a field-goal try to bail out the offense from running. Sendlein was the only one of 10 non-kickers to connect. Urban: "Guys like Matt Leinart, Adrian Wilson and Calais Campbell need to work on their form, I think."

Also from Urban: Cornerbacks Justin Miller and Trumaine McBride are trying to revive their careers with Arizona. Urban: "Miller signed after trying out with the team during minicamp. McBride was signed back in January, with the team already knowing it would need cornerback depth. That need has only increased, with veteran Ralph Brown not returning and starter Bryant McFadden dealt in a draft-weekend trade."

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Craig Dahl, the safety most likely to start if the Rams do not re-sign Oshiomogho Atogwe. Coats: "The 6-foot-1, 209-pound Dahl, 24, originally signed with the New York Giants in 2007 -- Steve Spagnuolo's first of two seasons there as defensive coordinator -- as an undrafted rookie out of North Dakota State. He played in nine games and started twice that year until tearing a ligament in his left knee near the end of the season. A torn ligament in his right knee in the subsequent preseason kept him from playing in 2008. The Rams picked him up as a free agent in March 2009. Then Dahl missed the first two games last year with a pulled hamstring. He suited up on Week 3 and found himself at strong safety after James Butler went down with a knee injury on the second play against Green Bay."

Howard Balzer of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat says LenDale White's recent release from the Seahawks shows why the Rams shouldn't be pursuing players with questionable motives. Balzer: "Say what you will about this process of rebuilding, but general manager Billy Devaney and coach Steve Spagnuolo are trying to accomplish it with quality people, in addition to having football ability. It's clear that teams can win without the LenDale Whites of the world."

Jim Rodenbush of the St. Louis Globe-Democrat offers comments from Spagnuolo regarding Dahl and Atogwe. Spagnuolo on the former: "(Dahl) is experienced in the system, and he really is good that way. He works his butt off physically, takes a lot of pride in his body, and he works well with James Butler. They’ve been together in the whole thing, so there’s some cohesiveness there. That helps. There’s some confidence there. They’re used to the system, so all of that kind of mends well for the defense."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers added South Carolina State cornerback Phillip Adams despite grainy college game tape. Maiocco: "On the low-quality film distributed to NFL teams, Adams showed his aggressiveness in run support, as well as an ability to break on the ball and jump routes. But he could struggle against NFL-quality receivers who can set up a young cornerback."

Also from Maiocco: The 49ers aren't pursuing Atogwe. Maiocco: "The 49ers invested a second-round draft pick in safety Taylor Mays, which appeared to signal the organization was not interested in paying big money for a free-agent safety. If the 49ers were to spend money on a veteran safety, they would likely prefer to sign Dashon Goldson to a contract extension. Atogwe turns 29 this month. Goldson, who turns 26 in September, showed major improvement late in the season after a rough beginning to his first year as the starting free safety."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee shows where 49ers players rank in terms of NFL jersey sales. Patrick Willis ranks No. 19, with the Rams' Sam Bradford at No. 6 and the Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald at No. 13. Tim Tebow is at No. 1.

Phil Barber of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers' lack of interest in Atogwe shows faith in Goldson.

Also from Barber: a look at players new to the 49ers since this time last year. Barber: "Five years ago, Dre Bly and Walt Harris would have formed one of the best corner tandems in the league. Those days are gone, though, and the addition of at least five viable cover men seems to have made the unit deeper."