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September can be an exciting, gratifying time for those NFL players deemed significant enough to earn "captain" status, usually by vote of their peers.

Enjoy it while you can, gentlemen.

Take a look at the St. Louis Rams' captains from 2008: Marc Bulger, Tory Holt, Will Witherspoon, Corey Chavous and Todd Johnson.

Gone, gone, gone, gone, gone.

The Arizona Cardinals' captains two seasons ago? Kurt Warner, Reggie Wells, Karlos Dansby, Sean Morey and Aaron Francisco. Gone, all of them.

The Seattle Seahawks (Matt Hasselbeck, Lofa Tatupu) and San Francisco 49ers (Patrick Willis, Eric Heitmann) each still employ two of their captains from 2008. But Seattle has parted with four others: Walter Jones, Deon Grant, D.D. Lewis and Lance Laury. The 49ers have waved goodbye to 2008 captains Michael Robinson (now a Seahawk) and Walt Harris.

How many of the 2010 team captains, listed below, will remain with their teams in two seasons?

Arizona Cardinals

Offense: Larry Fitzgerald, Lyle Sendlein

Defense: Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett

Special teams: Ben Graham, Jason Wright

St. Louis Rams

Offense: Steven Jackson

Defense: Oshiomogho Atogwe

Week 1 at-large: Chris Massey, James Hall

San Francisco 49ers

Offense: Eric Heitmann, Vernon Davis, Alex Smith

Defense: Patrick Willis, Takeo Spikes, Justin Smith

Note: Coach Mike Singletary names captains for the 49ers. He added Alex Smith to the list this year and said the quarterback had earned the distinction.

Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks have not yet voted on captains.

Update: Matt Hasselbeck (offense), Lofa Tatupu (defense) and Roy Lewis (special teams) are 2010 captains for Seattle.

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.

SEASIDE, Calif. -- Observed while watching the San Francisco 49ers conduct practice on a cool, breezy Thursday under cloudy skies at California State University-Monterey Bay:

• The offense is so much more competitive than it used to be. Practices are more fun to watch as a result. This session featured competitive physical battles and frequent jaw-jacking between tight end Vernon Davis and the defensive secondary. Davis repeatedly beat linebackers in coverage, but when cornerback Nate Clements helped break up a pass play, all parties had something to discuss. Davis said something unintelligible from afar. Clements said something about how he was only doing his job. Davis pointed out how he'd been killing the defense throughout camp. It was all in good fun and all part of a healthy competitive atmosphere. Though Davis made several long gains on receptions, he finished practice by dropping an easy pass over the middle. He heard about it, too.
• Ted Ginn Jr. does bring a noticeable speed element to the offense. He made a twisting reception over cornerback Tarell Brown for a long gain up the right sideline. He beat Brown again to catch another deep ball. Cornerback Will James was Ginn's victim another time. Speed puts pressure on cornerbacks in coverage. James didn't track the ball very well on the reception he allowed. It's tougher for defensive backs to worry about the ball when they're worried about a receiver's speed. After watching Ginn in practice and speaking to him at length afterward, I'm more receptive to the idea that he can add something valuable to the 49ers' offense. Let's see how Ginn fares over time. A fresh start appears to be helping him for the time being, at least.
• James, the corner San Francisco signed after not bringing back Dre Bly or Walt Harris, showed his physical side when he removed Dominique Zeigler from a play by driving the receiver out of bounds during the early stages of a sideline route.
• Strong safety Michael Lewis isn't worried about the three concussions he suffered last season. He punishes offensive players during practice, as when fullback Brit Miller ran through the offensive line. The play was pretty much over and Lewis easily could have let Miller drift past him. Instead, the veteran safety popped Miller with enough force to reverse the 243-pound fullback's momentum.
• It seems as though the 49ers are making it a priority to coach rookie safety Taylor Mays after just about every play. When Davis beat a linebacker to make a reception in the deep middle, Mays hesitated and Davis ran past him. Head coach Mike Singletary and secondary coach Johnnie Lynn were watching from deep in the secondary and they pulled Mays aside. Later, Singletary said they wanted Mays to know he needs to provide coverage in that situation whether or not its his responsibility.
• Veteran pass-rusher Travis LaBoy left practice with what Singletary called a mild concussion. This might stand as a significant development because LaBoy has struggled with injuries in general and concussions in particular. The 49ers are not counting on LaBoy, but they signed him in hopes that he would give them another pass-rush threat.
• Undrafted rookie tight end Tony Curtis dropped a pass and didn't stay with the play once he realized the ball had slipped through his hands. Ugly play.
• Defensive coordinator Greg Manusky was known as a tough player during his days as an NFL linebacker. He's still tough. Manusky runs around the field even though he's still limping following hip-replacement surgery this offseason.
• Linebacker Diyral Briggs made a positive impression in the pass-rush drills I saw (I missed some of the rushes while focusing on Ginn and the offense).
• The mild concussion that is keeping left guard David Baas off the field as a precaution should only help rookie Mike Iupati earn the starting job. I could see Singletary reinstating Baas to the first unit out of respect for the veteran once doctors clear Baas, but it'll be a surprise to me if Iupati does not start beginning in Week 1. Iupati looks the part and it just sounds different when he launches into defenders. He locked onto Pro Bowl middle linebacker Patrick Willis on one running play. Iupati did not lose that battle.
• Rookie right tackle Anthony Davis is someone I'll watch more closely in the coming days. Briggs beat him to the outside in one pass-rush drill. Davis locked down Briggs when the linebacker rushed right at him on the next play.
• Chilo Rachal was back at practice and working at his usual right guard spot two days after suffering from dehydration.
• All parties laughed on one play when cornerback Karl Paymah grabbed receiver Josh Morgan by the collar after Morgan beat him deep. The alternative was allowing a touchdown.

Those are some initial thoughts. Up next: a 60- to 90-minute drive back to Santa Clara. I'm anxious to go through notes and process interviews. The 49ers will not practice this afternoon. They have two scheduled for Friday, with the afternoon practice for special teams.

Arizona Cardinals

Climbing Camelback Mountain is part of the Cardinals' offseason training program conducted by John Lott.

According to a report from Mike Jurecki of XTRA 910 AM in Phoenix, Deuce Lutui has tipped the scales at 396 pounds.

San Francisco 49ers

Former 49ers cornerback Walt Harris has agreed to terms on a contract with the Baltimore Ravens.

Matt Barrows offers an assessment of some of the 49ers' rookies now that offseason workouts are complete.

Seattle Seahawks

Pete Carroll is excited about the position change that has moved Red Bryant to defensive end.

Danny O'Neil examines all of the changes that have taken place in the organization over the past six months.

St. Louis Rams

Bryan Burwell says quarterback Marc Bulger never got the credit he deserved while he was with the Rams.

Now that his new contract is in place, Oshiomogho Atogwe proclaimed himself "very healthy."

» NFC On the Radar: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

A player, coach or issue that should be on your radar as training camp approaches.

A sore hip bothered Kurt Warner at Arizona Cardinals camp last summer. It wasn't a big deal.

Two summers ago, the Seattle Seahawks downplayed Matt Hasselbeck's bad back because they didn't know the full extent of the problem. That one turned out to be more serious than expected.

Having the right feel for each injury situation can be tough. I'm sure a surprise injury or two will become a story after NFC West teams report for training camps in late July.

San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis (knee), St. Louis Rams running back Steven Jackson (back), Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (knee) and Seattle Seahawks middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu (pectoral) are among the high-profile NFC West players coming off surgery rehabs. Their situations will bear monitoring.

The following players ended last season on injured reserve (some are no longer with NFC West teams):

Arizona Cardinals

Matt Ware, Mike Gandy, Justin Green, Cody Brown

San Francisco 49ers

Tony Pashos, Ricky Schmitt, Thomas Clayton, Jeff Ulbrich, Walt Harris, Kentwan Balmer, Curtis Taylor

Seattle Seahawks

Tyler Roehl, Walter Jones, Kevin Houser, Brandon Frye, Tatupu, Mike Hass

St. Louis Rams

Marc Bulger, Adam Carriker, Oshiomogho Atogwe, Eric Bassey, C.J. Ah You, Brooks Foster, Gary Gibson, Jacob Bell, Daniel Fells, Chris Massey, Bradley Fletcher, Laurent Robinson, Keenan Burton

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Some things I feel comfortable writing after watching the San Francisco 49ers run around in shorts during two days of organized team activities ending Tuesday:

• [+] Enlarge
  AP Photo/Matt SlocumWill Alex Smith and the 49ers' offense finally have a breakout season?
  The prevailing 49ers storyline this offseason is a legitimate one. It's all about quarterback Alex Smith and the rest of the offense benefiting from a second season in the same system. There are clear signs of progress on this front and I'll analyze them in greater detail for a piece Wednesday. One big question is whether greater familiarity will translate into Smith becoming a more instinctive quarterback. Much more Wednesday.
• The 49ers want to have their starting offensive line in place by the first or second exhibition game. First-round picks Anthony Davis and Mike Iupati continue to work with the backups, but the 49ers expect both to start as rookies. Teams generally keep seven offensive linemen active on game days. It's a huge benefit when the sixth and seventh linemen have enough versatility to play multiple positions. That explains why veteran linemen such as Adam Snyder, Tony Wragge and David Baas are getting work at multiple positions. Snyder, the right tackle, has even worked some at center.
• The 49ers do not necessarily need Ted Ginn Jr. to become an integral part of their offense. What they could use, however, is the threat of his speed. Having a speed threat on one side of the field could allow the 49ers to line up Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree on the other side. If defenses had to respect Ginn deep, the result could be more favorable coverages for Davis and Crabtree.
• Travis LaBoy's foot is in better shape than the 49ers had reason to expect, but it's fair to wonder whether the veteran pass-rusher can do some of the other things, notably in coverage, that the 49ers ask of their linebackers.
• It's easy to forget that Crabtree is going through organized team activities and minicamps for the first time. He looks like a seasoned pro on the field and even on the sideline. Crabtree fit right in Tuesday as part of an extended sideline conversation with Davis, Frank Gore and Josh Morgan. He is a natural in every way. I spoke with Crabtree and will share more on him at another time.
• Patrick Willis is taking a smart approach to his recovery from knee surgery by staying on the sideline for the team portion of practices. Willis said he learned a hard lesson rushing back from an injury in college. He obviously wants to be out there. That's why some teammates and coaches appear comfortable ribbing him about missing practice.
• The 49ers had to be relieved to learn that cornerback Tarell Brown suffered only a bruised shin and not something more serious while defending a pass in the end zone. The team lost then-starting cornerback Walt Harris to a season- and possibly career-ending injury at about this time last year.
• Unlike last offseason, players have a better idea what to expect from coach Mike Singletary. Also unlike last offseason, Singletary isn't trying to establish himself as a head coach. I think that at least partly explains why these practices might seem a little less physical than they can sometimes be (as in Baltimore, where the Ravens incurred league sanctions for running practices that were too intense). I'll be interested to see if the pattern holds at all for training camp. The 49ers were quite physical when they put on the pads last summer. Seems to me they should find a balance.
• Offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye made a good point Tuesday when asked about Singletary's recent comments suggesting third-string quarterback Nate Davis might not be coming along as quickly as coaches would like. Davis is getting fewer reps this offseason because the team needs new No. 2 quarterback David Carr to get comfortable. In that sense, Davis was a loser when the 49ers traded Shaun Hill and brought in a No. 2 quarterback unfamiliar with their offense.
• The 49ers have more progress to make on offense than on defense. That's why I read little into decisions by some defensive players -- Nate Clements, Shawntae Spencer, etc. -- to train on their own. Offensive players have made attendance a priority and that is significant given the stakes for Smith and the offense.

I'm traveling Tuesday night, but still hope to keep up with the 49ers' stadium measure as Santa Clara voters go to the polls. Raye was among those wearing an "I Voted" sticker on his shirt Tuesday. I'll assume he voted "yes" on Measure J, which could have the 49ers playing in a new stadium by 2014.

The earlier item quantifying NFL roster turnover since last season ranks the Seattle Seahawks and Arizona Cardinals among the three teams with the most changes.

Some of the research used for that project shows up in the latest version of the anabolically enhanced rosters found here periodically. Specifically, the 26th and final column shows which players were starters, backups or on injured reserve for NFC West teams in Week 17 last season.

Download the rosters here.

The column showing player ages makes it easy to see how roster attrition affects older players. I'll list below the players currently 30 or older who have been released, traded, announced their retirements or were not re-signed as unrestricted free agents since last season:

Seattle Seahawks (9)

Patrick Kerney, Walter Jones, John Owens, Deon Grant, Ken Lucas, Kevin Houser, Jeff Robinson, D.D. Lewis, Damion McIntosh

Note: The team added 30-plus vets Sean Morey, Ben Hamilton and Chris Baker.

Arizona Cardinals (9)

Kurt Warner, Chike Okeafor, Mike Gandy, Bertrand Berry, Neil Rackers, Morey, Brian St. Pierre, Ralph Brown, Dan Kreider,

Note: The team added 30-plus vets Jay Feely, Paris Lenon, Joey Porter and Alan Faneca.

San Francisco 49ers (6)

Shaun Hill, Arnaz Battle, Mark Roman, Walt Harris, Dre' Bly, Jeff Ulbrich

Note: The team added 30-plus vets David Carr and William James. In looking at the chart, note that receiver Isaac Bruce, 37, is still on the 49ers' roster for the time being.

St. Louis Rams (5)

Leonard Little, Marc Bulger, Lenon, Clinton Hart, Randy McMichael

Note: The team added 30-plus vets A.J. Feeley, Na'il Diggs, Hank Fraley and Fred Robbins.

Bad teams tend to change coaches and overhaul their rosters.

It should come as little surprise, then, to see the Seattle Seahawks retain a league-low 66.1 percent of their players from last season. It should likewise make sense to see the NFC North champion Minnesota Vikings retain a league-high 94.4 percent over the same period.

But when the two-time defending NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals rank right behind Seattle and the Detroit Lions with a 70.2 percent retention rate, third-lowest in the league, we gain context for the magnitude of change in the desert. Anquan Boldin, Kurt Warner, Antrel Rolle, Karlos Dansby, Bryant McFadden, Mike Gandy, Chike Okeafor and Bertrand Berry combined to start 107 games for the Cardinals last season. All are gone.

Not that change is always bad, even for good teams.

The Indianapolis Colts (73.0 percent retained) and Philadelphia Eagles (74.6 percent) made quite a few changes this offseason. The Colts annually field one of the NFL's youngest teams while funneling massive amounts of cash toward their star players. The Eagles sought to get younger.

Rosters throughout the league will change significantly again as teams comply with 53-man limits in September.

The chart shows how many Week 17 starters, backups and players from injured reserve remain with their 2009 teams. The retention rate divides those totals by the sum of 53 plus all players who were on IR lists in Week 17. The starter totals can be somewhat misleading for teams that rested key players before the playoffs, but the retention rates apply equally. Every team had 53 players on its roster in Week 17.

In double-checking totals, I noticed that teams have parted with 107 of the 294 players listed on IR in Week 17. That works out to 63.6 percent retention for players who were on IR, compared to 82.1 percent retention for players who were on 53-man rosters. The total retention rate -- 79.4 percent -- reflects both sets of players.

The chart breaks down totals based on rosters I have updated through moves made Thursday. I also accounted for the Denver Broncos' reported release of quarterback Tom Brandstater, who was with the team in Week 17. I'm counting unsigned franchise players (Aubrayo Franklin) and unsigned restricted free agents as still being with their 2009 teams, based on the fact that their teams hold rights to them.

Update: I adjusted the San Diego Chargers' total and the Tampa Bay Bucs' total after accounting for trades involving Tim Dobbins and Byron Leftwich, respectively. San Diego dropped two spots. Tampa Bay dropped one spot. The overall retention rate fell slightly.

NFC West thoughts

San Francisco (.833): The 49ers like their team and they have been proactive in re-signing younger players. Continuity has been a top priority and that shows in the totals. The 49ers' retention rate fell because the team has not brought back five of the seven players it listed on IR in Week 17 (Thomas Clayton, Walt Harris, Tony Pashos, Ricky Schmitt and Jeff Ulbrich).

St. Louis (.773): It's a little surprising, on the surface, to see the rebuilding Rams rank second only to the 49ers in retention rate within the division. The Rams made massive overhauls last offseason, however, so there were fewer moves to make in recent months. Only the Lions and Baltimore Ravens brought back more players from IR, a total that could grow if Oshiomogho Atogwe re-signs. How well some of those players recover and hold up will be important for the Rams.

Arizona (.702): The turnover in Arizona has been documented thoroughly. Only Seattle has fewer players back from Week 17.

Seattle (.661): New coach plus new general manager plus a mandate for change leaves the Seahawks with only 39 players on their roster from Week 17 (counting those listed on IR). Every other team in the league has more. The league average is 49.4 players back.

Unrestricted free agency has come and gone for the NFL in 2010 after no teams made qualifying offers to the more than 100 unsigned UFAs by June 1.

The following former UFAs from NFC West teams remain free agents able to sign with any team that will have them, but none will factor into the formula used for awarding compensatory draft choices:

Arizona: left tackle Mike Gandy, outside linebacker Chike Okeafor, outside linebacker Bertrand Berry (retiring), cornerback Ralph Brown, fullback Dan Kreider, quarterback Brian St. Pierre

Seattle: fullback Justin Griffith, linebacker D.D. Lewis, cornerback Ken Lucas, tackle Damion McIntosh, snapper Jeff Robinson, snapper Kevin Houser

San Francisco: safety Mark Roman, cornerback Dre Bly, cornerback Walt Harris, linebacker Jeff Ulbrich (retiring)

St. Louis : defensive end Leonard Little, tight end Randy McMichael, safety Clinton Hart

The chart breaks down the players by team and 2009 starts.

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."

Bad teams aren't the only ones churning their rosters during the offseason.

The defending NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals have parted with 15 of the 53 players on their Week 17 roster from last season. Only the rebuilding Seahawks have parted with more -- 16 -- among division teams this offseason. The Rams have parted with 11. The 49ers, seeking continuity as they try to build on an 8-8 season, have parted with only three.

The first chart shows how many Week 17 starters and backups have returned to each NFC West team.

The second chart shows how many Week 17 starters and backups have left each NFC West team.

I'll first list the players by team.

Seattle (16): receiver Nate Burleson, quarterback Seneca Wallace, linebacker Lance Laury, defensive end Cory Redding, guard Trevor Canfield, quarterback Mike Teel, tackle Damion McIntosh, linebacker D.D. Lewis, snapper Jeff Robinson, fullback Justin Griffith, cornerback Ken Lucas, safety Deon Grant, defensive end Darryl Tapp, guard Rob Sims, tight end John Owens and defensive end Patrick Kerney.

Arizona (15): linebacker Pago Togafau, safety Antrel Rolle, receiver Jerheme Urban, receiver Sean Morey, kicker Neil Rackers, linebacker Bertrand Berry, fullback Dan Kreider, cornerback Ralph Brown, quarterback Brian St. Pierre, defensive end Jason Banks, receiver Anquan Boldin, linebacker Karlos Dansby, quarterback Kurt Warner, cornerback Bryant McFadden and linebacker Chike Okeafor. Note that Rolle did not start in Week 17.

St. Louis (11): defensive tackle LaJuan Ramsey, cornerback Jonathan Wade, receiver Ruvell Martin, quarterback Mike Reilly, defensive end Leonard Little, safety Clinton Hart, snapper Ryan Neill, running back Samkon Gado, linebacker Paris Lenon, tackle Alex Barron and tight end Randy McMichael.

San Francisco (5): receiver Arnaz Battle, cornerback Marcus Hudson, quarterback Shaun Hill, safety Mark Roman and cornerback Dre Bly.

The third chart shows what happened to players who were on injured reserve in Week 17.

I'll first list by team the players who were on IR but are no longer with their teams.

San Francisco (5): tackle Tony Pashos, punter Ricky Schmitt, linebacker Jeff Ulbrich, cornerback Walt Harris and running back Thomas Clayton.

Seattle (4): running back Tyler Roehl, tackle Walter Jones, snapper Kevin Houser and tackle Brandon Frye.

St. Louis (3): quarterback Marc Bulger, defensive tackle Adam Carriker and safety Eric Bassey.

Arizona (2): tackle Mike Gandy and fullback Justin Green.

Cardinals nose tackle Gabe Watson once seriously injured a knee falling off a treadmill.

It is possible, then, for NFL players to suffer freak injuries off the field.

But with so much focus on which defensive players chose not to attend the 49ers' voluntary organized team activities Monday -- cornerbacks Nate Clements and Shawntae Spencer led the way -- let's remember what happened when one seasoned vet graced the team with his presence last offseason.

Walt Harris, who didn't need May practice reps, suffered a knee injury that ended his season and possibly his career. Defensive end Kentwan Balmer and receiver Jason Hill also suffered injuries during voluntary practices last May.

Having veteran incumbent starters on the field in August and especially September means much more than having them on the field in May.

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Falling

Veteran cornerbacks. The 49ers appear to be moving on without 35-year-old Walt Harris and 32-year-old Dre' Bly. Their newest corner, William James, is younger (30) and has far fewer games on his odometer. The Seahawks have not re-signed 31-year-old corner Ken Lucas, who started six games for them last season and 106 games in eight previous NFL seasons. Lucas visited the Titans this offseason, but Tennessee signed 27-year-old Rams and Falcons castoff Tye Hill. Seattle drafted cornerback Walter Thurmond, 22. The Cardinals went younger at corner this offseason by trading Bryant McFadden, 28, while hoping Greg Toler, 25, takes over for him in the lineup. The Rams got younger at the position by parting with Jonathan Wade, 26, and drafting Jerome Murphy, 23.

Rising

NFC West storylines. The banter between Cardinals defensive lineman Darnell Dockett and 49ers tight end Vernon Davis indulged fans of both teams. Division rivalries are fun, anyway, and this is definitely a rivalry. Some 49ers fans like to point to the team's storied past while dismissing the Cardinals as a long-floundering franchise. That thinking is fine if we're on a field trip to the Pro Football Hall of Fame. It's outdated in this context. The Cardinals have won the last two division titles. They swept the 49ers in 2008. The 49ers swept the Cardinals last season. Both teams have ascending Pro Bowl-caliber players -- Dockett and Davis among them. Both have young first-round quarterbacks trying to salvage their careers. Good stuff.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com says Chris Clemons projects as a stand-up defensive end for Seattle. Farnsworth: "Clemons is a ’tweener player who has been playing a hybrid position for the Seahawks since they acquired him in a March trade with the Philadelphia Eagles. There are others in line at the defensive end spot coach Pete Carroll brought with him from the University of Southern California -- Nick Reed, Ricky Foley and Dexter Davis. But the line forms behind Clemons."

Also from Farnsworth: quick bios on the aforementioned players.

Nate Davis of USA Today puts ex-Seahawks Walter Jones and Steve Hutchinson on his NFL all-decade team, but Torry Holt and Orlando Pace miss the cut among NFC West notables. Says ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer: "Walt and Steve were the best left guard-left tackle tandem for a few years that the league's ever seen. What we did with those two was mind-boggling. I saw Walt get beat one time in four years. My opinion -- greatest offensive lineman to ever play the game."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times has this to say about Seattle quarterbacks Matt Hasselbeck and Charlie Whitehurst: "It was very clear there was a difference in the way starter Matt Hasselbeck went through his progressions, came off his first read, and the way Whitehurst did. Whitehurst had many more instances in which he ended up throwing the ball away, neither finding nor forcing a spot to throw the ball. Hasselbeck is getting the majority of the repetitions during the practices, but Whitehurst is getting a healthy chunk, too. Mike Teel isn't seeing much time at all during the 11-on-11 team drills."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com recounts 49ers-Cardinals games from the last decade or so, noting that the 49ers once went 2-14, with both victories over Arizona. Urban: "Now that both teams have been revived to the level of division title contenders -- and given the dichotomy of the Cards’ 10-6 division-winning record if a year ago compared to the Niners’ sweep of Arizona despite a .500 record -- this season’s matchups may be the most anticipated since the two moved in together in the NFC West."

Revenge of the Birds' Andrew602 says the Cardinals are enjoying one of their better situations at running back, at least in recent years.

Brian Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' pending sale is preventing the team from making offseason moves that would add salary. Burwell: "No matter how much general manager Billy Devaney and team president Kevin Demoff swear that they have not been hamstrung by the ownership being in limbo, we have to know better. Our own Jim Thomas has said that he's had several conversations with agents who have been told by Rams officials that they can't get business done on the free agent marketplace because they don't have the cash to make deals. No matter how much Rosenbloom says that he hasn't put the clamps down on spending, think about it. If you were selling a house, how much would you be willing to spend beyond the most superficial improvements?"

Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com says this about the Rams' status: "As I’ve noted in this corner of cyberspace, the Sam Bradford contract could become a big dilemma. If I represented Bradford, I wouldn’t finalize any deal until the ownership is resolved. Demoff has similar concerns from the Rams side, since the next owner will write the big checks on this massive contract. How much can he get done with ownership in limbo? Moving forward through the spring and summer, the Rams will need to make additional changes. Fans applaud Devaney for shedding failures like Alex Barron, but they fret about the remaining holes."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com looks at 49ers players with contracts expiring after the 2010 or 20100 seasons. Maiocco on center Eric Heitmann, whose deal runs through 2011: "He is getting up there in service and slowing down. This is the reason several people I spoke with before the draft believed the 49ers should’ve taken guard/center Maurkice Pouncey instead of Mike Iupati with the No. 17 overall pick. After Heitmann’s deal expires, the 49ers can think about him on a year-to-year basis."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers' announcement on William James' signing shows where Dre Bly and Walt Harris stand with the team -- on the outside.

The 49ers gained size at cornerback by reaching an agreement with veteran William James, the former Lions, Eagles and Giants defensive back once known as Will Peterson.

James, 30, started 14 games for the Lions last season. He was an unrestricted free agent, meaning James could factor into the equation for compensatory draft choices depending on his role with the 49ers.

Two of the 49ers' own cornerbacks, Dre Bly and Walt Harris, remain unrestricted free agents. James' agreement with the 49ers suggests the team could be moving forward without them.

Harris missed last season after suffering a serious knee injury. Bly, signed to replace Harris, picked off three passes, but he also drew a harsh reaction from coach Mike Singletary for showboating during a return against the Falcons.

The NFL lists Peterson at 6-feet tall and 200 pounds (Bly is listed at 5-10 and 188).