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CANTON, Ohio -- When was the last time you heard the name Roland Williams?

What about Ernie Conwell or Ricky Proehl?

Even Mike Martz, who is under fire in Chicago, got some love during Marshall Faulk's Hall of Fame speech Saturday night at Fawcette Stadium. Faulk credited many people and former teammates. But the Rams of the late-1990s and early-2000s mostly defined Faulk's career.

Spending most of his career under the tutelage Martz and Dick Vermeil in St. Louis, Faulk (19,154 yards) finished fourth all-time in yards from scrimmage behind Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith and Walter Payton.

Martz made Faulk into the secret weapon. Martz found ways to get Faulk the ball in the running game, out of the backfield and also lined up as a receiver. Faulk became the new gold standard for all-purpose backs.

"Before Aaron Rodgers threw the ball [39] times in the Super Bowl against a vaunted Steelers defense, and before his counterpart Ben Roethlisberger threw it [40 times]. ... we had Mike Martz," Faulk explained. "The 'Mad Scientist' is what they called him."

Faulk also thanked former Rams stars like Kurt Warner and Isaac Bruce. They are among the cogs that made the "Greatest Show on Turf" great and well ahead of its time.

Today most offenses will throw 40 times in a game at some point during the season. But none of those teams have another Marshall Faulk.

Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch points to running back Marshall Faulk as the key figure on the Rams' Greatest Show on Turf offenses. Burwell: "I am sure that some folks would love to have me put all sorts of qualifiers behind this comment that Faulk was the hands-down most valuable player of the Rams championship era. But I feel no need to break up the sentence with words like 'arguably.' This is a flat-out, dead-on, simple as can be fact of football life."

Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Faulk had no equal as an all-around running back. Miklasz: "Of the 27 modern-era backs to reach Canton before Faulk, only six rushed for more yards: Emmitt Smith, Walter Payton, Barry Sanders, Eric Dickerson, Tony Dorsett and Jim Brown. But among the 27 modern-day backs, only Smith and Payton had more yards from scrimmage than Faulk (12,279.) And this is what separates Faulk from the others: He has the most receptions (767) and the most receiving yards (6,587) of any Hall of Fame running back. Faulk, in fact, has more catches than 17 Hall of Fame wide receivers."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch assesses how Cadillac Williams' addition will affect the Rams. Thomas: "The search for a backup to Pro Bowler Steven Jackson has been an ongoing saga for three offseasons. Because of the lockout, it spilled into training camp this year. But the addition of Williams, plus the arrival of Atlanta free agent Jerious Norwood on Tuesday, gives the Rams sudden depth and flexibility in the backfield."

Also from Thomas: Rams executive Kevin Demoff negotiates rookie salaries that are palindromes, according to Mac's Football Blog. Demoff has been doing this for at least a couple years, toying with the system.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com looks at how the team's free-agent additions will fit. On Justin Bannan: "In hopes of getting better against the run, the Rams brought in this big body to help occupy blockers. Bannan will probably be plugged right into the starting lineup as well, holding down the position next to Fred Robbins on first and second down."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com has this to say about newly signed center Jonathan Goodwin: "Goodwin (6-foot-3, 318) is expected to start at center for the 49ers this season. The club appeared satisfied with the play of Adam Snyder at center through the first week of camp after David Baas left the organization to sign a lucrative free-agent contract with the New York Giants. The 49ers signed Goodwin, in part, because of his familiarity with the scheme and the same blocking techniques. Now, the versatile Snyder can serve as a backup at each of the team's offensive line positions."

Taylor Price of 49ers.com says rookie Aldon Smith is making a positive impression. Price: "In his first week of practices with the 49ers, Smith’s work in one-on-one pass rushing drills has been impressive so far. There, he’s flashed pass-rushing moves that utilize his propeller-like, 83 and 7/8-inch wingspan. Smith also spends time in seven-on-seven periods covering tight ends in passing routes sometimes 20 yards down the field."

Grant Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat passes along a transcript from 49ers offensive coordinator Greg Roman's interview session. Roman on working with Vernon Davis: "Tight ends are something I hold near and dear to my heart and I just love giving them tips, and we talk through things and Vernon is a very, very professionally minded guy, very impressive work ethic and loves to pick up little tidbits. It’s just something else he can add to his game, so we throw things back and forth and work on drills and we just spend a little extra time refining things. He’s a real pleasure to work with, real pleasure to work with."

Cam Inman of the San Jose Mercury News has this to say about the 49ers' stadium plans: "To refresh your browser in terms of the 49ers’ stadium, it offers a C-shape bowl with a west-side suite tower, in a relatively tight space. To drop the bowl lower to the field, there are no club-level suites, per the request of 49ers owner John York at the project’s onset. That is intended to create a college-stadium atmosphere (although Lambeau Field’s redesign offers that, too)."

Scott Bordow of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals deserve credit for spending wisely in free agency.

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals hope guard Deuce Lutui will do a better job controlling his weight after meeting an unfriendly fate during free agency. Somers: "For the second consecutive year, Lutui has cost himself millions by failing to control his weight. It's the main reason the Cardinals didn't sign him to a multiyear deal last year. It's the reason the Bengals cut him this week after agreeing to terms on a two-year, $8 million deal. So Lutui, who is from Mesa, returned home to the team that drafted him, signing a one-year deal worth far less than the $5 million he would have made this year in Cincinnati."

Also from Somers: Veteran safety Adrian Wilson likes what he sees from rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson. Wilson: "I love the kid, honestly. His confidence level makes me confident. He knows the playbook. He knows the things we want him to do. He doesn't talk back, which is great. You can tell he's very well-rounded and he wants to be great."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com passes along a story from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette detailing a generous move by defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Horton sold for $20 a prized vehicle.

Also from Urban: Veteran defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday shares his mindset heading into his 14th season in the NFL.

More from Urban: Will Beanie Wells bounce back from a down season? Coach Ken Whisenhunt, alluding to Wells' draft status: "You have to understand Beanie’s makeup. That was tough for Beanie. Quite frankly, he didn’t handle it as well as he probably could have, and that’s part of maturity. He’s a different player from that standpoint this year. I don’t question Beanie’s toughness. I have seen Beanie do things when he was nicked up. What Beanie has had to learn is you have to adapt to whatever you are faced with."

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com looks at changes to the team's roster. There have been many.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times runs through a few roster moves for Seattle. The Seahwks signed Kelly Jennings, Michael Johnson, Zach Miller, Jeff Reed, Chase Reynolds and Jimmy Wilkerson. The team released Ladi Ajiboye, Wes Byrum, Michael Huey, Zac Lee and Blake Sorensen.

Also from O'Neil: a look at the Seahawks in free agency. O'Neil: "Seattle had 22 players entering unrestricted free agency, tied for second-most in the league. Seven of those free agents have been re-signed, but only defensive tackle Brandon Mebane came with what could be considered a sizeable deal."

More from O'Neil: Former Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has hit the ground running in Tennessee. O'Neil: "Hasselbeck was off to Nashville without getting a chance to really say goodbye. The Seahawks took out a half-page newspaper ad on Sunday, thanking Hasselbeck, his wife Sarah and their children Annabelle, Mallory and Henry for their contributions to the community. Hasselbeck said he appreciated the gesture. During his trip east, he wrote a letter summarizing his feelings to the man who shared so many of his experiences -- both the successes and failures -- during Hasselbeck's decade with the team. That's how Hasselbeck wound up emailing Seahawks owner Paul Allen for the first time. He got a response, too."

Brady Henderson of 710ESPN Seattle says the Seahawks have interest in Viking linebacker Ben Leber, according to John Clayton.

The Seattle Seahawks and Chicago Bears needed 130 offensive plays, 18 punts and more than three hours to decide their Week 6 matchup at Soldier Field.

Sizing up their impending divisional-round playoff rematch shouldn't require so much trouble.

"I think Seattle is going to get killed," Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. said. "I’m not a believer at all."

Uh, oh. This could get ugly.

"Matt Williamson is the perfect person to offer counterbalance on the Seahawks," NFC West blog regular fundadfor2 wrote. "He couldn't think less of our team or players. Heck, he did a list showing the top 15 or 20 rookies this season, and Earl Thomas wasn't to be found. Neither was Russell Okung. Matt seems to have an axe and is looking for a grinding wheel."

Not quite.

Williamson once ranked the Seahawks 11th when our 11 other panelists had them 17th to 27th. He did single out both Thomas and Okung for praise during various installments of his weekly rookie watch. It's possible Williamson is basing his thoughts on what he saw from Seattle during its nine double-digit defeats this season.

Of course, the Seahawks did win at Chicago 23-20 in that Week 6 game. And they did just shock the New Orleans Saints 41-36 in the wild-card round, with Matt Hasselbeck outdueling Drew Brees.

"Chicago had best hope that this doesn't come down to the QB position," fundadfor2 wrote. "Matt Hasselbeck has been very good in the playoffs, and Jay Cutler -- well, I do believe this is his first sniff of the postseason. The game is different. The pressure is different. ... Cutler is up and down, and I don't expect him to have one of his better days."

This conversation began on the NFC West blog Monday when I threw open the subject for discussion. I also reached out to Williamson and ESPN college football analyst Brock Huard, the former Seahawks quarterback and current co-host on 710ESPN Seattle. Huard outlined four keys to the game from Seattle's perspective:

• Can the makeshift Seahawks offensive line handle the Bears' front four? Huard: "Lovie Smith would love to hit and pressure with their defensive line so Matt Hasselbeck can't take advantage of one-on-one mismatches outside or beat the blitz with his quick decision-making."
• Can Jay Cutler take care of the football and Mike Martz be patient in his play calling? Huard: "With Colin Cole back in the middle of Seattle's defensive line and Brandon Mebane playing the best ball of his career, will the Hawks be able to win in early run-down situations as they did in Week 6? If so, Martz's patience will be tested."
• Can Seattle corners Marcus Trufant and Kelly Jennings make a play on the ball? Huard: "They have one interception each all season and Cutler will give his receivers a chance downfield."
• Can the Seahawks' front seven get off the ball without the half-step advantage Qwest Field creates? Huard: "With a projected high temperature of 10 to 13 degrees, the field will slow down the game at the line of scrimmage, and a 10 a.m. PT kickoff has been a Seattle stumbling block."

The early kickoff didn't seem to hurt Seattle much against Chicago in Week 6. I don't think it's a big factor for the playoffs. Seattle is arriving Friday, just in case.

And in a surprise, Seattle has collected 22 of its 37 sacks on the road this season, including a season-high six against the Bears. Defensive backs collected 4.5 of those six sacks, however, and Seattle has become more reliant on its defensive ends to pressure quarterbacks lately.

"The Bears win because of their running game and defense," adambballn wrote. "The Saints didn't have the ability to take advantage of the Seahawks' bad run defense due to the amount of injuries they suffered at running back."

No doubt, New Orleans ran out of options at running back with Pierre Thomas and Chris Ivory on injured reserve. The Saints lacked balance. Drew Brees attempted 60 passes. That played into the Seahawks' strengths in a loud environment. Brees was good, but not good enough to match one of Hasselbeck's most impressive efforts.

"The answer is simple," jogan13 wrote. "Stop Cutler, make him make bad decisions and you will win. The Bears don't play well from behind, especially if they are throwing a lot. Keep the pressure on Cutler, throw in some zone blitzes. In the end, the Seahawks will win by 14 or more."

Sounds optimistic. Cutler actually has much better passing numbers when trailing. He has seven touchdowns and eight picks when leading, but 13 touchdowns and eight picks when trailing. Elias Sports Bureau has all the situational numbers here.

One question I have is whether Martz's pass-happy instincts will prevail under pressure.

"Too many Bears fans ignore the Martz factor," DiLune2 wrote. "NFC West teams/fans are very familiar with him. He will lose his mind in big games. He will absolutely forget he has a running back because he wants to prove how smart he is. I don't see why people expect a different result from him this weekend."

Lovie Smith hit the override button on Martz near midseason. The Bears have become much more of a running team since carrying only 14 times against Seattle. Cutler passed for seven touchdowns, two interceptions and a 107.6 rating on play-action attempts this season. That reflects a running threat.

Running back Matt Forte joined Walter Payton as the only players in Bears history with at least 1,000 yards rushing and 500 yards receiving in the same season.

"Martz has changed everything he believes in and is playing in a wintry town," Williamson said. "Cutler has been very good and the line, though still a weakness, is starting to sort of jell. The defense is top three in the league behind Green Bay and Pittsburgh. They rush four, Julius Peppers is an animal, their defensive line is good, they are good at all levels, they are great tacklers, they are exceptional at causing turnovers and even though Seattle's special teams are fantastic, Chicago is the only one I have ahead of them, mostly because of Devin Hester.

"Simply put," Williamson added,"I think the Bears are a good football team."

OK, but the Seahawks just beat one of those. Hasselbeck burned the Saints' gambling defense for four touchdown passes. Marshawn Lynch rushed for 131 yards. Brees had better success against the "Bandit" packages that gave Cutler so much trouble in Week 6, but Brees is better than Cutler, so that wasn't such a shock.

"Lynch will need to have another big game," Hawkfannumber1 wrote. "Hasselbeck will need to be more concerned with turnovers against the Bears' defense, but he also won't need to score as much. I don't think either team will score more that 24 points. The defense will need a different game plan. The Bears will be ready for the 'Bandit' package this time. They will still need to get a ton of pressure on Cutler to get the defense off the field. If Cutler has time, he will play much better. Lastly, don't kick it to Hester."

We should probably mention Leon Washington in here somewhere, too. Opponents have contained Seattle's return specialist in recent weeks. He had a 42-yard kickoff return against the Bears.

That was nearly three months ago. Much has changed.

The Bears were without Pro Bowl linebacker Lance Briggs then. Seattle was without Brandon Mebane, one of the team's best defensive linemen. Okung was making his second NFL start after coming back from ankle problems that have continued to bother him all season. His ability to match up against Peppers proved critical in Week 6.

"I think this game hinges on a few things, but the absolute key hinge is Russell Okung," Trynfadethis wrote. "If he can't win his matchup against Julius Peppers, then the Bears dominate. We can assume the Bears will stop the run. That's fine. The question is, if Hasselbeck has time, can they stop Mike Williams, Brandon Stokely, Ben Obomanu, Cameron Morrah and a rediscovered John Carlson? I think it's pretty simple. If the Bears don't change up bigtime on defense, then Seattle will score 24-plus points unless Hasselbeck really just tanks. So then it's on Cutler to score more."

The Bears have scored at least 31 points in two of their past three home games. All three were against playoff teams. They scored 31 against Philadelphia, 38 against the New York Jets and seven against New England.

Cutler did throw six picks over the final four games, though.

"An inexperienced playoff QB (Cutler) with a history of being a head case -- not a good combination," jeff0621 wrote.

"An old QB who hurts himself running five yards with no contact whatsoever -- not a good combination," Les_ Grossman_ countered, alluding to Hasselbeck's ill-fated touchdown run at Tampa Bay in Week 16.

Bears fans and Seahawks fans -- a good combination. Let's bring in a self-described Green Bay fan. Take it away, ZTA.

"With a couple of exceptions, the Bears have been playing solid defense," ZTAclerk wrote. "It's hard to stop the Patriots, as we've seen, and the Jets can be feast-or-famine. Seattle played a really good, balanced game against the Saints and was definitely assisted by the 12th man. If the Seahawks can put together a solid offensive gameplan around a quick Bears defense and keep the special teams from giving the Bears short field, the game can be close. If the special teams fail or the offense lets the Bears' defense dictate the game, I can't see them winning on the road."

ESPN's Trent Dilfer said he thought the Bears would probably hold Seattle to between 13 and 17 points (see video below), putting little pressure on Cutler to do anything out of the ordinary.

The score was 23-20 last time, but Seattle's Jon Ryan punted a season-high 10 times in that game. The 18 combined punts marked a single-game season high for both teams.

Hasselbeck did find Williams for 10 receptions and 123 yards. The temperature was 61 degrees that day, however, and Hasselbeck was rested coming off a bye week. His left wrist had yet to be broken and his hip, which now requires periodic draining, was healthy.

Hasselbeck has thrown 35 interceptions over the past two seasons, counting playoffs. He was hot last week, but consistency has been a problem. Hasselbeck has put together strong performances in back-to-back weeks only once in 2010, and that was after sitting out Week 9. That's why his brilliant performance against the Saints came as such a pleasant surprise for Seattle fans.

"I think what everyone is overlooking is that the Saints' defense completely collapsed in the wild-card game," goldfngr_77 wrote. "How much of that performance was a great offensive outing by the Seahawks (Lynch's eye-popping run not withstanding) and how much was the Saints' defense laying an egg? When you look at the makeup of this Bears defense, they have a lot of playoff experience and many with Super Bowl experience. I don't think you will see them implode at home the way the Saints did on the road, and that will be the difference in the game."

Sounds logical.

Of course, if the wild-card round proved anything, it's that logic doesn't always apply.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says injuries and illness have slowed the early development of Rams rookie Mardy Gilyard. Clayton's injury could give Gilyard additional opportunities. The Rams love the aggressive, borderline cocky attitude Gilyard brings to the game. Gilyard: "Through misfortunes, it's my turn now. And I do not want to let any of these guys down. I do not want to let James Hall down, I do not want to let Chris Long down, I do not want to let Steven Jackson down, I don't want to let Sam (Bradford) down, I don't want to let Brandon Gibson down, Donnie Avery, Mark Clayton, Dominique Curry. I don't want to let any of those guys down, because I feel like I owe them everything. Especially the vets, who've just put their arm on my shoulder and haven't treated me like a bonehead rook." Count that quote as evidence the Rams have a good thing going on the team chemistry front.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams' Steven Jackson is closing in on Eric Dickerson in the team's record book. Thomas: "In his seventh season with the Rams, Jackson needs 141 yards rushing to surpass Dickerson's career record. Dickerson, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, rushed for 7,245 yards in just five seasons with the Rams. Jackson is at 7,105 -- and counting."

Also from Thomas: The Rams' sponsors have bought enough tickets to the team's game against San Diego to avoid a local television blackout. Failing to sell out games hurts, but sponsors' willingness to scoop up tickets reflects strong TV ratings and, perhaps, confidence in the longer-term direction of the team.

More from Thomas: Brandon Gibson needs to pick up his game following Mark Clayton's season-ending injury.

Nick Wagoner of stlouisrams.com says the team hopes to get a boost from its returning tight ends.

Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui is improving while his weight continues to drop. Lutui is one of the more hilarious people I've encountered in an NFL locker room. Bickley got Lutui going on his Tongan roots. Lutui: "The history of Tongan people, we were warriors! We were the Vikings of the South Pacific, the pearl of Polynesia. I come from the Kingdom of Tonga! That means, when I'm Tongan to the 'T,' I'm Tongan to the death! I'm a Lutui, and I come from a tiny nation, a dot in the middle of the map. Even if you look, you might miss it."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com thinks rookie Andre Roberts will be the Cardinals' fourth receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston and Early Doucet once all the team's wideouts are healthy. That would leave coaches to choose between Stephen Williams and Max Komar for the final roster spot at receiver on game days. Seems like Williams needs to be part of the mix. He has worked ahead of Roberts in the rotation previously.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com offers highlights from practice Thursday, plus this quote from Matt Hasselbeck about Julius Peppers: "Julius Peppers is a great, great player. When he was in Carolina, they were playing him at wide receiver. It’s not often that a guy’s playing defensive end and wide receiver who’s not like in the sixth grade. It’s amazing that he’s doing it in the NFL." The play Peppers made in picking off Kurt Warner at University of Phoenix Stadium last season stands out as one of his more memorable ones.

Also from Farnsworth: Hasselbeck's presnap battle with Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher should be a good one. Hasselbeck: "Urlacher does a great job of audibling as a middle linebacker. He’s a great player and he’s well-coached. He’s been playing in this scheme a long time and you’ll see when an offense checks – a quarterback checks – he’ll check. Or, if he gets the sense that you’re pretending to check, then he’ll call it off. It’s one of those things where you make eye contact with him, you’re making a check, and he’s like, 'No. No. No. Let’s just leave this one on.' Or other times, he’ll be like, 'Yeah, let’s check.' And so he’s a great player."

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times checks in with Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch, who is eagerly anticipating his Seattle debut.

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says Chester Pitts missed practice to rest a sore knee Thursday. Pitts has had a tough time putting together back-to-back full practices on his surgically repaired knee. If the knee does improve enough, Seattle will have found an upgrade at left guard. That's why the team has been willing to carry him on its roster this long without getting any on-field contributions.

Also from Johns: Rains began falling just as the Seahawks' offensive linemen broke their season-long silence in compliance with NFL rules.

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune quotes Seahawks center Chris Spencer as saying Seattle's line is beginning to jell.

Also from Williams: Lynch has never played at Soldier Field and he's looking forward to playing in Walter Payton's house. Lynch: "Sweetness did it there for a long time. So I mean probably to go in there and have one of those games that he would have had would be wonderful, wonderful for our backfield. But just to get out there with my guys and just put something together and hopefully come out with a win is my biggest thing."

John Morgan of Field Gulls explains Tyler Polumbus' perceived drop in play by noting that Seattle's game against the Rams marked the first time the team fell behind against a capable defense. Having to bounce between right and left tackle also had to present challenges.

John Boyle of the Everett Herald quotes Seattle line coach Art Valero this way regarding Russell Okung's matchup with Peppers: "They’re all good in this league. It’s like a rodeo. You’ve got to ride the bull that comes out of chute A. That’s yours, whether you want him or you don’t. You have no choice. If you’re afraid, go to church. They’ve got no choice. They’re all on full scholarship, so they’ve got to go play."

Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com says the 49ers want quarterback Alex Smith to play with a more aggressive mindset. Smith isn't naturally aggressive. His demeanor is reserved. He became more assertive throughout the offseason because he had a better understanding of the offense and he felt as though he had earned the starting job. But he's still not naturally aggressive. The question now becomes whether he can become more aggressive and play more freely without forcing the ball into coverage. Smith has been better this season when freed to "cut it loose" after the 49ers have fallen behind. Can he adopt that mindset earlier in games? He has actually been quite effective on opening drives recently.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee sizes up the 49ers' evolving offense.

Eric Branch of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat looks at the 49ers' improved prospects on third down.

Also from Branch: The Raiders-49ers rivalry is more between fans than players. Imagine my delight (dread?) upon hearing that my dear mother would be attending the Raiders-49ers game at Candlestick Park this weekend. She doesn't really follow football, but was invited to the game as part of a group outing. I told her to watch Nos. 21 and 52 on the 49ers. But mostly I'm hoping she doesn't find herself in the middle of a brawl between Raiders and 49ers fans. Keep your head on a swivel, Mom.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers' run-heavy play calling on first down against Philadelphia was designed to produce more manageable third-down situations.

David White of the San Francisco Chronicle says Michael Crabtree is excited to face the Raiders after Oakland drafted Darrius Heyward-Bey over him in 2009. Crabtree: "I'm not worried about Darrius. I'm focused on winning the game. But at the same time, I'm thinking about the Raiders."

The Associated Press says former 49ers guard Woody Peoples passed away at age 67.

A team-by-team look at the most indispensable players (non-quarterbacks) in the division.

This exercise was easy for every NFC West team but the Seattle Seahawks.

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc., writing for ESPN Insider, went with defensive lineman Brandon Mebane when putting together his Seattle choice. Mebane is a good player, but if he's in the mix as the non-quarterback Seattle can least afford to lose, the team must not have many impact players beyond Matt Hasselbeck. That is clearly the case as the Seahawks rebuild their roster.

ARIZONA CARDINALS: LARRY FITZGERALD

The Cardinals managed to win an even higher percentage of their games in recent seasons when former Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin wasn't available to them. They could always lean on Fitzgerald, one of the two or three best receivers in the league, to elevate his game as needed. Fitzgerald has 35 touchdowns over the past three regular seasons. He has nine touchdowns over the past two postseasons -- Randy Moss has 10 in his postseason career -- and has missed only one game over the past three seasons.

Fitzgerald's value has only increased now that Boldin is gone from Arizona for good. The on-field production is only part of what makes Fitzgerald so valuable. Fitzgerald also sets a standard of excellence for teammates to follow. He organizes an offseason training camp in Minnesota each summer. He constantly strives to improve the finer points of his game. This offseason, that meant working on getting better separation from receivers, something that could help him against the tougher coverages he'll likely face in the post-Boldin era.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: PATRICK WILLIS

Brett Favre's preseason debut this season lasted only four plays and Willis' violent (but clean) hit on the 40-year-old quarterback precipitated the early exit. Last season, Willis' hard (but clean) hit on Hasselbeck near the goal line left the quarterback with damaged ribs, affecting the Seahawks' overall viability.

Willis is a threat to anyone in his path on a football field. More than any other 49ers player, Willis sets the tone, making sure the team plays to the physical and emotional standards of coach Mike Singletary. The new contract Willis signed this offseason should only embolden him.

Take away Willis and the 49ers would lose some of their edge on defense. Their linebackers would suddenly look rather ordinary. Opposing quarterbacks would breathe easier (literally, in Hasselbeck's case).

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: RUSSELL OKUNG

Mebane wasn't a bad choice for Seattle, but the team's debilitating problems at left tackle last season made Okung an easy selection for me, particularly with tackle depth already thin following Ray Willis' latest knee issues.

The Seahawks fell apart last season when injuries forced them to use their projected fifth-string left tackle. Drafting Okung or another offensive tackle with the sixth overall choice bordered on being a necessity once it became clear Walter Jones' career was finished.

The ankle injury Okung suffered in the second exhibition game threatens the Seahawks more than an injury to any other non-quarterback might. Middle linebacker Lofa Tatupu and left cornerback Marcus Trufant were also in my thoughts for this discussion, but this is a quarterback-driven sport and Okung's presence affects the quarterback more than the presence of any other player on the team.

ST. LOUIS RAMS: STEVEN JACKSON

The Rams have one Pro Bowl player on their roster and it's Jackson. The team lacks a proven backup at the position, heightening Jackson's value. Throw in the Rams' transition to a rookie quarterback and the team arguably needs Jackson more than before.

Jackson is so good, however, that he might still be the most indispensable non-quarterback in the division even if he played for the 49ers, Seahawks or Cardinals. The will Jackson showed in carrying the offense last season convinced me he's a special player, not just a talented one. The way Jackson ran against the 49ers last season while the Rams trailed 35-0 would have made Walter Payton proud.

Former Grambling coach Eddie Robinson stopped to shake hands with reporters during a visit to a Seahawks practice years ago.

The feeling on this end was surreal, like shaking hands with someone out of a history book.

Robinson's first year at Grambling was 1941 and his impact was profound.

A couple of all-time football greats from NFC West teams, Deacon Jones and Jerry Rice, can feel privileged in joining Robinson as part of the inaugural class at the Black College Football Hall of Fame.

Buck Buchanan, Willie Galimore, Willie Lanier, Walter Payton, Ben Stevenson, Tank Younger, Eddie Robinson, Jake Gaither and Bill Nunn are also part of the group.

Official Jones bio: David "Deacon" Jones played defensive end for South Carolina State University and Mississippi Valley State University from 1958 to 1960. Blessed with speed, agility, and quickness, the “Deacon” became one of the finest pass rushers in the business. Yet had it not been for the chance observation of two Rams scouts viewing films of an opponent, he might never have had a chance to play pro football. When the scouts noted that the 6-4, 272-pound tackle was outrunning the backs they were scouting, they recommended Jones as a sleeper pick. He went on to unanimous all-league honors six straight years from 1965 through 1970 and was selected to eight Pro Bowls. Jones was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1980.

Official Rice bio: Jerry Rice, a wide receiver for Mississippi Valley State University from 1981 to 1984, is widely regarded as one of the greatest receivers in history on any level. He was named first-team Division I-AA All-America and finished ninth in the 1984 Heisman Trophy voting. His 27 touchdown receptions that season set the NCAA mark for all divisions. Rice was named the 1984 SWAC Player of the Year and Offensive Player of the Year for the State of Mississippi. In addition to being named first-team Division I-AA All-American, the NEA and Football Writers’ Association of America both named Rice to their first-team Division I-A All-America squads. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the 16th overall selection in the 1985 NFL Draft and became arguably the greatest player in NFL history. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2006 and is a 2010 Nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

MIAMI -- We're approaching 1,700 comments on the piece about Jerry Rice's potential standing as the greatest player in NFL history. I have also heard from people through the NFC West mailbag. Those comments and my responses follow.

Greg from Carlisle, Pa., writes: Hey there Mike, Jim Thorpe should probably be on any football great list. I guess it was NFL though. Jerry Rice is an all-time great, but best ever? Please! The man played with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks and a great offensive line. Not to mention the great mind of Bill Walsh. Rice benefited from these tremendously. Put him on a terrible team, and he looks like a normal great receiver like an Issac Bruce.

There are more than 10 players that are better than Jerry Rice, and that is with no doubt. Probably 10 or 20 more. Of course that is only my opinion. Even a guy like Brett Favre is an all-around better player than Jerry Rice. Mark it down! Wide receivers aren't even involved in a lot of the game. Rice had Joe Montana and Steve Young to make him involved. Watching Rice his last few years was painful. Best WR ever? YES. Best player ever, not even close.

Mike Sando: I think the most accurate way to put it is that Rice had the best career. Lots of factors go into that, including enjoying team success thanks to having great teammates. Rice made his quarterbacks look good, too. People questioning Kurt Warner's credentials often point out how he played with great wide receivers. I always counter by asking what those receivers ever won without Warner as their quarterback. Warner wasn't the only reason those teams won, but he was a big reason.

Rice was a big reason for the 49ers' success. We did cover some of the ground you alluded to through the comments Aeneas Williams made about what it's like playing on good teams.

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James from Baytown, Texas, writes: I think Barry Sanders is the best running back of all time, because of what he accomplished and who he did it with. Now, I really don't like comparing different eras, because for one, the players' skill sets have changed and rules have changed. Like today we have defensive ends, defensive tackles and linebackers running faster than running backs. If that would have happened back then, the players would have been assumed to be taking steroids.

This is the same reason you can't compare quarterbackss from different eras. The rules are set up for a QB to stand upright in the pocket and pick a defense apart. Defensive backs can't even touch a reciever now, when back in the day, the reciever had to fight the DB all the way up the field. So, comparing the Bradys and Mannings to the Montanas and Elways would not be fair, because their eras are totally different. It's still a fun barber shop argument, though, we just love to have.

Mike Sando: Great points, James. Some have said we should look at where players ranked when they retired. For example, Steve Largent ranked first in all-time receptions when he retired. Those numbers reflected NFL history to that point. Where he ranked, not how many catches he had, should stand as the more telling indicator.

The rules changes and corresponding styles of play definitely affect production. John Elway had a career passer rating of 79.9. Brian Griese has a career passer rating of 82.7. Those figures seem comparable, but there is absolutely nothing similar about how they played, what the accomplished or what they meant to the league.

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Dan from Duluth, Minn., writes: Why is Emmitt Smith not at least in the discussion? You've got Walter Payton and not Emmitt? Come on, there is more to his game than just longevity and even still you gotta give him props for being an indestructible beast at a position with a ridiculously short career span. You Cowboys haters will do anything to keep a Cowboy out of any discussion about the greatest -- apparently even exclude the NFL's all-time leading rusher. Wow.

Mike Sando: It's a positional thing to a degree. I loved the way Smith played the game and wouldn't have a problem with him being in the discussion. Remember the way he ran against the Giants in that playoff game despite a pretty serious injury? I won't forget it. Great, great player. My thinking was that Sanders, Brown and Payton were better runners, and that is why I left off Smith. Perhaps I was wrong there. The Cowboys conspiracy theory is admittedly more fun, though.

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Matt from parts unknown writes: Greatest of all time? Rice surely is ... but Tim Brown's stats put him in the Carter, Harrison, Owens comment you stated.

Mike Sando: Brown was one of my favorite players to watch. I remember the touchdown he scored to win at Buffalo in 1993. Rich Stadium was such a tough place to play back then. The Bills could be dominant there. Buffalo had hammered the Raiders, 51-0, in the AFC title game after the 1990 season. Brown caught 10 passes for 183 yards in that 1993 game, a 25-24 Raiders victory. Brown provided the winning 29-yard touchdown reception in the fourth quarter. That is one of my lasting memories of him.

Go ahead and include Brown in any discussion about all-time great receivers.

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Ray from Hannibal, Mo., writes: Mike, I'm a huge Niners fan and love your blog. I don't know if you ever caught this Ralph Wiley column comparing Rice to Jordan, but it is a neat read.

Mike Sando: Thanks for that. Jordan was more dominant as a basketball player than Rice was as a football player, I think, but that also has a lot to do with the nature of their sports. Basketball definitely highlights the individual more than football. That worked against Rice because the ball wasn't in his hands all the time. Jordan probably touched the ball on the vast majority of offensive plays. He also played great defense, impractical for an NFL wide receiver.

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George from Buffalo writes: How do you have a list of greatest players ever and not have the all-time sack leader on the list, Bruce Smith. What a bogus list without it!

Mike Sando: Sacks became a stat in 1980, so I would not base a list of all-time greats solely on that category. However, it's true that Smith was a great, great player.

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Steve from Odenton, Md., writes: I believe Rice playing for the Niners played a large impact on being voted to so many Pro Bowls. Don't agree? Look at London Fletcher. Identical stats to Ray Lewis, but Fletcher makes one Pro Bowl as an alternate! If Ray Lewis had played for St. Louis, would he have gone to so many Pro Bowls and be in the same conversation as the best ever?

Mike Sando: Ray Lewis was much more of a force at linebacker than Fletcher, and that is no knock on Fletcher. Lewis was the heart, soul and fists for one of the NFL's all-time great defenses. He dominated games physically and emotionally. Fletcher might be underrated. He probably should have gone to more Pro Bowls. But that has nothing to do with Lewis or Rice.

Rice put up historically great numbers. Remember, too, that when he went to the Raiders late in his career, he put up big numbers for two seasons and Rich Gannon became league MVP.

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Tom from parts unknown writes: Johnny Unitas had a career rating of 78.2 Was that good for that era? Even so, why is he called one of the best ever? I don't think above average play coupled with longevity should get you in the talk of best ever.

Mike Sando: See earlier item referencing Elway. And please do brush up on NFL history. Unitas topped our list of greatest quarterbacks.

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Nick from Littleton, Colo., writes: Jerry Rice is great no doubt. But a better story would be how an organization can be a six-time winner of AFC championships and have only two players in the hall. The Denver Broncos have consistently, since 1976, won games and conference championships. The Chargers have seven Hall of Fame players and one AFC championship. Please help spread the word. Rod Smith, Shannon Sharpe, Randy Gradishar, Tom Jackson, Louis Wright, Steve Atwater, Floyd Little, Dennis Smith, Tom Nalen, etc. These are all great football players that get no respect. How does the best tight end ever not make the hall on the first ballot.

Mike Sando: I have written that story, Nick. Shannon Sharpe will make it in. The only question is whether it happens right away given the other players ahead of him in line.

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Bob from Winter Garden, Fla., writes: Mike, I am sure that you are a bright young man and a good writer, but you quote statistics like they are indisputable proof. You should remember that statistics are for losers.What you should be thinking about when deciding who was the best ever, the proof should be who dominated the game, league, etc., more than anyone during the time that they played. There is only one answer and that is Jimmy Brown. If you had ever seen him play, you would be convinced. He was bigger, faster, stronger than any linebackers in the league. He describes his talent as "strength, power, speed, vision and balance". He is the best football player that ever lived.

Mike Sando: I do not dispute what you are saying. I offered the case for Rice while acknowledging that statistics are not everything. The basic conclusion was that it's tough to make a case against Rice.

MIAMI -- Anyone advocating Jerry Rice as the greatest player in NFL history can bury the opposition in statistics.

Rice averaged 1,145 yards receiving and more than 10 total touchdowns per season -- for 20 NFL seasons.

Rice caught 69 touchdown passes -- more than the career totals for Art Monk, Michael Irvin, Charlie Joiner, John Stallworth and numerous other Hall of Fame receivers -- during a five-season span ending in 1993. Rice then caught 28 touchdown passes over the next two seasons, more than half the career total for Hall of Famer Lynn Swann.

He retired holding NFL records for:

• Touchdowns (208), receiving TDs (197), receiving TDs in a season (22), consecutive games with a TD reception (13), TDs in Super Bowls (8), receiving TDs in a single Super Bowl (3) and postseason TDs (22).
• Receptions (1,549), consecutive games with a reception (274), receptions in Super Bowls (33) and postseason receptions (151).
• Receiving yards (22,895), receiving yards in a season (1,848), receiving yards in Super Bowls (589), receiving yards in a Super Bowl (215), postseason receiving yards (2,245) and seasons with at least 1,000 yards receiving (14).

Rice, whose selection to the Pro Football Hall of Fame is a formality Saturday, probably enjoyed the greatest NFL career. He was probably the greatest wide receiver despite some arguments for Don Hutson. But was he the greatest player, period?

"Oh, yeah," Hall of Fame defensive back Rod Woodson said almost reflexively during Super Bowl media day.

Woodson, perhaps mindful of history as a member of the NFL's 75th Anniversary team, then showed he could still backpedal a bit.

"I mean, he is definitely up there," he said. "I don't think one player is the greatest player ever, but he is in that water-cooler conversation. Now, if you say greatest receiver, absolutely. But the greatest player, to make him the most dominant player ever in NFL history or just say pro football history, that is a profound statement. But I can say that he will be in that argument time in and time out."

The conversation might include Otto Graham, Jim Brown, Sammy Baugh, Lawrence Taylor, Joe Montana, Johnny Unitas, Hutson, Walter Payton and Barry Sanders among players no longer active. And that list is probably shortchanging defensive greats such as Deacon Jones and Dick Butkus.

But Ray Lewis, arguably the greatest defensive player of the current era, didn't hesitate in singling out Rice.

"I don't know what argument you are going to make why he is not," Lewis said.

And that might be what separates Rice from the rest. There really isn't a great case against him. No one played at such a high level for as long with such grace.

"Jerry Rice doesn't rank in the all-time greats," said Saints safety Darren Sharper, a five-time Pro Bowl choice and member of the 2000s All-Decade team. "He is the greatest receiver and maybe the greatest football player of all time."

Maybe?

"I can't comment on eras that I didn't perform in," retired cornerback Deion Sanders said, "but the era I performed in, Jerry Rice is the best football player to play in that era."

On what grounds beyond the numbers?

"Work ethic, precision, routes, physical toughness, awareness, that hunger," Sanders said. "Jerry stayed hungry until the day he retired."

(Read full post)

NFL offseasons wouldn't be complete without stories about players "maturing" into all-around good guys.

Sometimes the hard evidence is a little lacking. We're left to trust what coaches or teammates might say.

The Cardinals made a statement Tuesday by announcing Matt Leinart as their "Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year" for the 2009 season. Leinart becomes one of 32 qualifiers for the league-wide honor, announced before the Super Bowl.

Kurt Warner won the Cardinals' version of the award last season for his "off-the-field community service as well his playing excellence." That last part wouldn't seem to fit Leinart this season, but off-field stuff is there. Leinart has pledged $500,000 through his foundation to a children's hospital in Phoenix. Leinart is also national spokesman for the Children's Eye Foundation.

"Leinart also takes 16 underprivileged kids from Phoenix to every Cardinals home game as well as four troops returning home from overseas," the team said in a statement.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando



Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic passes along a tweet from Larry Fitzgerald's brother suggesting the Arizona receiver isn't happy with his role. Marcus Fitzgerald also referred to Warner as an old man. Nothing a couple touchdown passes can't solve.

Bob McManamon of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is appealing to Fitzgerald's improved leadership skills during a slow start for the Pro Bowl wide receiver.

Also from McManamon: redemption for the Cardinals' offensive line.

Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals' running game is gaining momentum early in the season. Boivin: "No one is calling Wells the next Walter Payton, but he has shown some much-needed home-run promise. Even in limited play, he has had runs of at least 15 yards in each of the Cardinals games. He's the ideal guy to have in the lineup when the team takes a lead into the fourth quarter. Too bad he couldn't be that Sunday. After fumbling twice -- giving him the dubious honor of sharing the NFL fumble lead -- he lost coach Ken Whisenhunt's confidence, and with good reason. Whisenhunt has a 17-0 record when his team wins the turnover battle. Seventeen-and-oh. They are 1-15 when they lose it. That's significant."

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com breaks down the Cardinals' field-goal block against the Jaguars in Week 2. Gabe Watson was the mastermind.



Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle stands up for 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill. Knapp: "How can 9-3 not buy Hill more respect? Drew Brees is currently the quarterback equivalent of Tiger Woods at the 2000 U.S. Open, so far ahead of the field that his competitors can only laugh. Yet he is 7-5 over his past 12 games. Donovan McNabb is 8-3-1 in his past 12 regular-season starts. Philip Rivers is 6-6." Agreed.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat provides a video analysis of the 49ers' performance in Week 2.

Also from Maiocco: Mike Singletary hopes the 49ers never need Hill to carry the offense. Singletary: "I believe what he's doing right now has been good enough the first two games. Going forward, and I've said before, we're going to have to run the ball and Shaun Hill makes some plays here and there, and as he gets more comfortable, we can open it up a bit. That's what's going to have to start happening. And I believe he can do that."

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers' willingness to file tampering charges against the Jets suggests general manager Scot McCloughan is showing some of the toughness and resolve that have marked Singletary's run as head coach. Cohn: "McCloughan is doing the same thing in the front office, taking his cue from the team on the field. He’s ordered Crabtree to sit in the corner and ponder the meaning of his life, and he’s told the Jets not so fast. The wimp fights back."

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News provides an overview to the tampering case and some good quotes from Jets coach Rex Ryan, who called the charges "ridiculous" and said he wished the Jets could play the 49ers on the field.

Tim Kawakami of the San Jose Mercury News wonders if the 49ers need Michael Crabtree. Kawakami: "You have to read between the lines and pick up the vibe of the room, but there's a definite sense of distance cropping up in Singletary's words about Crabtree. He's unsigned, apparently insisting on at least $7 million more in guarantees than the 49ers are willing to pay him. And all the recent activity tells us that the 49ers are bracing themselves for life after Crabtree, without ever actually having Crabtree."

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com says Seahawks rookie Aaron Curry needs to find a more effective tempo to avoid being too aggressive.

Also from Johns: Matt Hasselbeck says he is "absolutely hoping" to play against the Bears in Week 3.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times quotes Hasselbeck as saying he has "definitely felt worse" on days after games.

Clare Farnsworth of seahawks.com also checks in with Hasselbeck and coach Jim Mora. Mora: "Every time Matt gets hit, everyone thinks, 'Oh no, his back.' But I knew right away it wasn’t his back. I thought it was his head, the way that he came over as he walked off the field, and then just kind of crumbled. I thought, 'Oh, it’s his head.' But as soon as (the trainers) laid him down, you could see that he was lucid. It was just that he was in a lot of pain and he was struggling to catch his breath."

Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says Chris Spencer, Walter Jones and Deion Branch are expected to practice for the Seahawks when the team returns to the field Wednesday.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams quarterback Marc Bulger has shown good toughness through two games. Coats: "As he dressed in the locker room Sunday at FedEx Field, a large, ugly welt across his back was noticeable. So were knots on both arms. The bruise on Bulger’s back was the result of a vicious shot he took after he scrambled for a 3-yard gain late in the first half. Bulger slid, which means he’d given himself up and shouldn’t be hit. But Redskins end Andre Carter drilled him anyway, and then 350-pound tackle Albert Haynesworth piled on. No flag was thrown, but either or both players should’ve been called for a personal foul."

Also from Coats: The Rams are on pace to finish the 2009 season with only eight sacks, not good for a team that has invested heavily in the defensive line. Coats: "Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been sacked 10 times — six in Sunday's loss to Cincinnati. And the Packers might be without veteran left tackle Chad Clifton, who is nursing an ankle injury, when they visit the Edward Jones Dome."

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch breaks down the Rams' injury situation heading into Week 3. Expect Adam Goldberg to start at right tackle Sunday.

Roger Hensley of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch asks whether the Rams are headed for an 0-5 start. Thomas and other staffers provide answers. Bernie Miklasz: "It’s up to the lines. The Rams offensive line has too many breakdowns that kill drives and scoring chances. The defensive line has one sack in two games and is doing nothing to disrupt the QB. As long as the Rams continue to get slapped around up front, the losing will continue. They need better game management from the coaches. And someone -- anyone -- has to step up and make some plays. There is a critical shortage of playmakers on this team."

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat says the Rams aren't sugar-coating their latest defeat.

Randy Karraker of 101ESPN St. Louis offers video analysis from the Rams' defeat at Washington.

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Ralph Barbieri of KNBR radio provoked testy responses from 49ers coach Mike Singletary by repeatedly asking him about Kurt Warner after Singletary kept telling him he wanted to cover other topics. The interview ended on a friendly note. Along the way, Singletary said Shaun Hill was the 49ers' starting quarterback -- for now. Singletary: "I would envision at some point in time we make a decision on whether Shaun Hill is going to be the starting quarterback or whether it is going to be Alex Smith. But I can tell you right now, today, based on what he did last year, he is the starting quarterback." Damon Huard will be strictly a backup, Singletary said.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers are optimistic about their defense after dropping the "hybrid" from their hybrid 3-4 scheme. We will probably find out more definitively whether Manny Lawson can become a strong outside pass-rusher. The 49ers envisioned him as someone for which opposing quarterbacks would have to account at the snap.

Also from Maiocco: Alex Smith threw the ball relatively well for a man coming off such a long layoff. His arm strength and throwing motion appeared fine. Maiocco: "This was a good minicamp for Dashon Goldson, Manny Lawson, Brandon Jones and Alex Smith."

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says Vernon Davis' over-the-shoulder grab from Shaun Hill was a highlight. Barrows: "I paid careful attention to the end-of-practice, sideline-to-sideline gassers the team was running. Once again, Patrick Willis, Alex Smith, Reggie Smith, Lewis Baker and Goldson were among the winners. Isaac Sopoaga, Aubrayo Franklin, Chilo Rachal and Ahmad Brooks brought up the rear."

Also from Barrows: Justin Smith hopes the 49ers can become a top-10 defense. Meanwhile, the team is about two weeks away from being able to use the massive training hill under construction at Singletary's urging.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News provides additional details on the hill. Brown: "Singletary used to run hills himself during his playing days, as did Hall-of-Fame teammate Walter Payton. The 49ers' Jerry Rice was famous for his sprint work in the hills of San Carlos. Singletary said that athletes who trained that way 'were a cut above some of the other competition around the league and had a long playing career.'"

Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says Hill remained anonymous during the offseason despite emerging as the 49ers' best quarterback in 2008.

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says Singletary plans to make the 49ers work -- hard -- during their offseason program. Crumpacker: "Singletary cautioned his players at the end of the season that they had better be prepared to work when the offseason program began. So it was in a minicamp Friday and Saturday when the players were put through 50-minute circuit training sessions featuring short sprints, change of direction, lateral movement and running with weighted bags."

StrictlyFootball of Niners Nation looks at Frank Gore's declining production and weights two primary factors: injuries and instability at quarterback. The 49ers expect to draft a bigger back to carry some of the load.

Revenge of the Birds' Andrew602 sizes up California center Alex Mack as a potential Cardinals draft choice. Andrew602: "Regardless of whether he stumbles or not, Mack will become the anchor of the line for whoever drafts him. He works hard in the weight room and is always trying to improve his skills. Once he polishes certain aspects of his game, he will be able to start for a team if they needed him too."

Rob Staton of Seahawks Draft Blog wonders how closely the Seahawks were looking at Knowshon Moreno during the pro day featuring Matthew Stafford. Staton: "The only marker you could place against Moreno is that he isn't a four-year starter. But let's be honest, how many running backs are these days? He played two solid years for a big school in a pro-style offense. That should be enough compensation."

Greg Johns of seattlepi.com questions the Seahawks' wisdom in letting fullback Leonard Weaver leave through free agency. The team could sign Justin Griffith instead.

Chris Harry of the Orlando Sentinel checks in with former Rams coach Jim Haslett, who is coaching the Orlando franchise in the upstart UFL. Haslett: "I know that when I was in my office on a Thursday night that I would sit there and watch a Division I-AA game if it was on. And I'm like a lot of people -- people love football I'm going to have fun with this." Jay Gruden is serving as Haslett's offensive coordinator. The story says UFL coaches will earn around $500,000 per season. That's less than Haslett would have earned as an NFL defensive coordinator, but still great money, obviously.