• Talk about being a team leader. We hear Seahawks MLB Lofa Tatupu couldn't have gone more out of his way to keep Aaron Curry up to speed on the goings-on on in training camp during the first-round draft pick's eight-day contract holdout. We hear Tatupu even volunteered to meet up with Curry and do walk-throughs of some of the camp work Curry was missing out on.

• As if the Cardinals' receiving corps wasn't already potent enough with the top-flight trio of Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston, we hear the team's No. 4 wideout, Jerheme Urban, has been having a sensational training camp, making eye-opening plays on a regular basis.

• Word is the Cardinals' coaches continue to be intrigued by former Rams TE Dominique Byrd, who has been catching the ball well and, more importantly, blocking much better than anyone expected.

• We hear the top candidate for the Rams' No. 3 RB spot is probably Samkon Gado. The fourth-year pro has made his presence felt in more than a few ways in the Rams' training camp, getting in a lot of work at fullback when Mike Karney was out with an ankle injury and also returning kicks. Said Rams No. 1 RB Steven Jackson of Gado: "He is a very versatile guy … he is having a great camp."

• Our 49ers insiders believe street free agent Micheal Spurlock could be a player worth keeping an eye on. The former Ole Miss quarterback has emerged as the first option running "The Taser," the team's version of the "Wildcat" formation. We also hear Spurlock has caught the ball well enough to possibly steal a roster spot from WR Jason Hill.

• Niners defensive coordinator Greg Manusky likes what he has been seeing from 2008 first-round draft pick Kentwan Balmer, who hardly set the world on fire in his rookie season. "That's the progression that I would like to see every rookie defensive lineman going into his second year do," Manusky said. "Kentwan really has taken hold of it, not only from a physical standpoint, but from a fundamental and technique standpoint."

• We hear the Eagles did quite an extensive background check on Michael Vick and had to do quite a sales job for Jeffrey Lurie, who admitted as much in his first press conference, before the team's chairman and CEO was willing to green-light the move. Lurie, a self-professed dog lover, continues to be disgusted by Vick's former actions, but he reportedly was swung by three key factors: the testimonial provided by Vick's mentor, Tony Dungy; the trust he had for head coach Andy Reid; and Lurie's own meeting with Vick, which Lurie believes revealed a remorseful player who understood the gravity of his actions and was intent on proving his doubters wrong.

• Two Cowboys rookie DBs — who just happened to be college teammates — are heading in opposite directions as camp winds to a close. DeAngelo Smith, a fifth-round pick, had been moved to safety but also is playing his college position of cornerback because of injuries in the secondary, and the rookie is holding up well. He also is returning punts and is looking good for a roster spot. Mike Mickens, who played with Smith at Cincinnati in college, has struggled. Although his play has been slightly better of late, the seventh-round draft pick has an uphill battle to make the final roster.

• The Redskins' Chris Wilson, a defensive end by trade, has been moved to linebacker this offseason, and the results have been mixed. The undersized Wilson has shown a better flair for rushing the passer, always his forte, without the burden of locking up in the trenches with big offensive tackles right off the snap. But he also has shown he has a long way to go before he can cover as a linebacker. Right now, he's backing up rookie SLB Brian Orakpo, but Wilson also has played some end and might end up doing more from that spot this season.

• The consensus among daily Bears observers heading into the team's first preseason game was that sixth-round S Al Afalava was the most impressive-looking rookie in training camp. Afalava has displayed a strong physical presence, with lots of big hits, and appears to have very quickly adapted to the Bears' defense.

• As was the case during their rookie season, it appears Matt Flynn, who was drafted five rounds behind fellow QB Brian Brohm in 2008, has what looks to be a pretty sold hold on the No. 2 job behind Aaron Rodgers. One of the big edges for Flynn, we're told, is his presence. While Flynn projects a swagger without overdoing it, Brohm is very introverted and almost appears to be lacking in confidence.

• The Lions like what they have seen lately from rookie WR Derrick Williams, who has made the most of his opportunity with so many injuries at receiver. Williams started slowly and was limited with an offseason hamstring injury, but his recent flashes make the team think he can be a factor in the slot and perhaps as a returner.

• Lions CB Anthony Henry has been working at safety recently, but the move was expected. Henry will serve as an emergency safety in case injuries hit, just as he did in Dallas. He'll primarily be a cornerback for now and has a great chance to start there.

• With the Saints suddenly very deep at cornerback, we hear that Jason David could be the odd man out when the time comes to trim the roster. He's behind Tracy Porter, Jabari Greer and Randall Gay on the depth chart, and the team obviously is not going to part ways with rookie Malcolm Jenkins. David is battling Leigh Torrence for what could be the final spot at corner, if the club doesn't decide to keep both players.

Kickoff is coming! Be sure to buy copies of the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports 2009 NFL preview magazine, as well as the Pro Football Weekly/Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Football Guide 2009, both of which are now available at bookstores, newsstands and retail outlets where magazines are sold. Or order your copies online at PFWStore.com.