ESPN NFC West Blog

Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic quotes agent Drew Rosenhaus as saying Edgerrin James hopes the Cardinals spare his client the "indignity of standing on the sidelines." The Cardinals are paying the running back $294,117.60 per week to tough it out.

Also from Somers: The Giants' decision to bench Kurt Warner worked out well for all.

Peter King of Sports Illustrated names Warner his top choice for Sportsman of the Year.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says it is normal for a player such as James to ask for his release during the season upon being benched.

Also from Urban: Warner reflects on his time with the Giants in 2004.

More from Urban: Arizona's defense faces a tough job in trying to stop the Giants' ground game.

Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune says Warner never would have fit into the Giants' run-oriented offense.

Mike Tulumello of the East Valley Tribune quotes Rosenhaus as saying it's a "huge insult" for James to be a backup.

Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle says 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill generally looks better in games than practices.

John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle downplays the draft in pointing out how Hill and the Cowboys' Tony Romo became starters as undrafted free agents.

Also from Crumpacker: A look at Alex Smith's role on the team.

Lowell Cohn of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat blames 49ers offensive coordinator Mike Martz for choosing the wrong quarterback and the wrong offensive approach heading into the season.

Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat looks at potential quarterback options for the 49ers after this season. Warner heads the list of quarterbacks scheduled for free agency. I'm thinking the Cardinals might think about bringing him back.

Also from Maiocco: Hill and Mike Singletary are auditioning for jobs beyond this season.

Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says receivers Arnaz Battle and Josh Morgan might not play against the Cowboys.

Also from Barrows: Rookie Chilo Rachal could make his first NFL start Sunday.

Daniel Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says Romo stepped in for teammate Terrell Owens on a conference call with Bay Area reporters. Owens' production this season has hinged on Romo's availability.

Also from Brown: Singletary talks about building continuity on the offensive line, but Rachal could start anyway.

Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer checks in with Jim Zorn as the Seattle icon prepares to face his former team at Qwest Field.

Also from Farnsworth: Patrick Kerney won't be padding his sack totals down the stretch.

More from Farnsworth: Mike Holmgren won't be benching established players for unproven ones over the final six games.

Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune previews Shaun Alexander's return to Seattle. Walter Jones says fans should cheer the former MVP.

Frank Hughes of Seahawks Insider quotes Holmgren as saying the Seahawks' cornerbacks have been vulnerable, in part, because of their diminutive stature. Holmgren favored bigger corners when he was general manager, but the team gave up too many big plays in the passing game back then as well.

Rod Mar of the Seattle Times offers photos from the Seahawks' game against Arizona.

Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says Zorn's towering flat-top distinguished him from other coaches back in the late 1908s. Zorn didn't seem to care. He does things his own way.

Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coach Jim Haslett is imploring the team to play more physically in the upcoming weeks.

Bill Coats of Around the Horns says Rams personnel chief Billy Devaney has succeeded in supplementing the roster during the season. Anthony Davis is the latest addition.

Also from Coats: Haslett takes a stand against Marc Bulger's critics.

More from Coats: The Rams hope Orlando Pace can return sooner instead of later.

Steve Korte of the Belleville News-Democrat quotes Haslett as saying Steven Jackson's injury stems from missing camp during a holdout.

Also from Korte: Haslett is threatening to bench underperforming players.

Jeff Roman of ramsgab.com lists offensive players the Rams need to keep for 2009.

Also from Roman: A look at the defense.