• While our Cardinals insiders weren't shocked that sixth-year veteran Aaron Francisco was cut — Matt Ware is able to fill Francisco's dual role as a reserve safety/special-teams contributor at half the price — they agree Francisco's special-teams prowess could be difficult to replace. "They'll miss him," said one team insider of Francisco, who was quickly snatched up by the Colts. "There are many around the league who think he's every bit as good as (Pro Bowl special-teamer) Sean Morey."

• Don't be shocked if DE Eric Moore, who reached an injury settlement with the Rams, is re-signed by the team down the road if he doesn't sign elsewhere. A popular player who had a strong preseason, Moore could follow in the footsteps of OL Todd Steussie, who came back to start the final six games for the Rams at right guard in 2007 after previously reaching an injury settlement.

• Word is the expected recovery time on Rams DT Adam Carriker's latest shoulder surgery is roughly four months.

• Our sources in San Francisco believe there's a good possibly that newly acquired OT Tony Pashos could eventually challenge Adam Snyder for the starting job at right tackle. Snyder had a great training camp, but there are some team observers who believe that going up against the Niners' weak pass rushers might have made him look better than he actually is.   

• As was the case last season when he had to replace the injured Chris Spencer, we hear the Seahawks have been very pleased with backup C Steve Vallos. "Getting to play last year helped him immensely," said one team insider of Vallos. "They really like his tenacity."

• The Giants think they might have found a sleeper in undrafted rookie CB Bruce Johnson, who will be pushed into action on Sunday because of injuries. They like his burst and short-area skills, though there are questions about his toughness and speed. He will be tested immediately.

• The Eagles feel comfortable about their linebackers, even with some injuries cropping up at a bad time. The coaches are comfortable with Chris Gocong stepping in and playing the middle if needed, and rookie Moise Fokou would take Gocong's SLB spot in that scenario. The depth is perhaps a little better than imagined, even with some bumps and bruises.

• Vikings QB Brett Favre and WR Bernard Berrian have not developed the proper chemistry yet, and Berrian's hamstring injury that has kept him off the practice field for much of Favre's time in Minnesota has been the main reason why. Don't be shocked if Berrian gets off to a slow start this season as these two get to know each other better.

• Lions C Dominic Raiola to PFW on what ORT Gosder Cherilus struggled most with in his first season: "Probably the mental part of the game the most. He has it physically; he over-thought too much, and I think it's the stuff you deal with as a rookie. Guys are coming at you fast. He was going up against the best of the best. Once you pick up the scheme, the game slows down. And he has shown that this preseason. He has been pretty consistent."

• Lions LB Larry Foote sees promise in rookie LB DeAndre Levy, who stood out on film in the preseason. "Every rookie, mentally speaking, they need the experience and the growth to keep getting better," Foote told PFW. "You have to be a professional if you want to last long in this league. He's got the talent; that's what got him here. Now he just has to take it to the next level. He's off to a good start. And he has someone in me who can bring him around. He has the tools, but he just has to get things down mentally to make it all work."

• Unlike Bears sixth-round draft pick Al Afalava, who surprisingly shot up the depth chart this offseason to become the starting strong safety on Week One, we hear the general feeling around Halas Hall is that fourth-round CB D.J. Moore has been a bit of a disappointment up to now.

• We hear the Bears are counting on ninth-year DE Adewale Ogunleye, who was named a team captain this season for the first time in his Bear career, to fill much of the major leadership void created by the departure of S Mike Brown, who has moved on to Kansas City.

• Word is Packers CB Patrick Lee, one of the team's three second-round picks in 2008, was looking greatly improved this offseason before a back injury suffered on Aug. 6 shut him down. In his first preseason game after being sidelined for three weeks due to the back injury, Lee then suffered a knee bruise, which was diagnosed as a six-week injury, and was subsequently placed on injured reserve.

• Word is Saints RB Mike Bell has a legitimate chance to overtake Pierre Thomas as the team's primary rusher. If one player has the hot hand, head coach Sean Payton will likely stick with him, and with Thomas nursing a knee injury, he could fall behind Bell in the early going.

• Sources say the Joey Harrington experiment in New Orleans is officially over this time. He first signed with the Saints last September and was cut and re-signed on two different occasions during last season. He re-signed with the team again in March as a free agent and competed with Mark Brunell to become Drew Brees' primary backup in the preseason, but was cut again at the deadline for 53-man rosters Sept. 5. The Saints signed rookie Chase Daniel to the practice squad as their third quarterback and wouldn't consider Harrington again unless Brunell or Brees suffered an injury.

PFW's annual Kickoff Issue is on sale at PFWstore.com and at newsstands and bookstores across the country. Also, 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.