• We hear that the Cowboys are not concerned about WR Roy Williams expressing his frustration over not catching more passes. The pressure Williams has felt over being paid like a No. 1 receiver and the draft picks the team surrendered to get him are the reasons he has felt frustrated, and not just a need to see more passes coming his way. But the coaches do not feel he is being a cancer by talking about his lack of production.

• The Redskins are trying to do decide what to do going forward at punt returner. Antwaan Randle El just hasn't provided any spark there, but Jim Zorn said this week he's sticking with Randle El for now. DeAngelo Hall has volunteered to return punts, something he hasn't done a lot of, but we hear the club is a little leery of him getting expanded reps there. Santana Moss also is in the mix, but he likely would protest doing it more than once or twice a game.

• An Eagles source gives tremendous praise to the job that WR coach David Culley has done with his young receivers, saying it is rare to see back-to-back years where a rookie wideout — DeSean Jackson last season and Jeremy Maclin this year — has stepped up and played well almost immediately. It simply hadn't happened before under Andy Reid, and our people say Culley's patience and attention to detail have made a big difference.

• Giants CB Aaron Ross, who has been out all season with a nagging hamstring injury, has said the plan is to return to practice during the bye week. He has been pain-free for a few weeks while doing side work with the trainers and is targeting Week 11 against the Falcons as his hopeful return date.

• We hear that talk of a contract extension for Vikings head coach Brad Childress might be in the very preliminary stages and probably won't be addressed further until the offseason. There might still be lingering doubt about his ability to take a team deep into the playoffs, and with a team that appears to be well-prepared to do so, it could be that Childress' performance late in the season will be the telling factor as to whether he gets something done to stay with the Vikings longer.

• The Lions might have to go back to Manny Ramirez after trying Daniel Loper and Jon Jansen at left guard, with limited success. Ramirez is limited physically, but he's tough and ornery, which would fit what the Lions would like to see more of in their run blocking. It's not a great solution right now, but it's probably the best the team has at this point.

• Two Bears who seem to have become forgotten men lately are veteran offseason addition Josh Bullocks, who was considered a strong candidate to start at free safety before the season started, and CB Corey Graham. "Bullocks plays some special teams, and that's been it," said one daily team observer. "And after playing well last year, Graham, for whatever reasons, just hasn't been used as much."

• It would appear the Packers have lost confidence in fifth-year DE Michael Montgomery, who did not get any defensive snaps in the Week Eight game against Minnesota.

• While he's made some poor decisions off the field and reportedly shouted at head coach Raheem Morris after Morris called him out for missing curfew during the team's London trip, we hear the Buccaneers are very pleased with CB Aqib Talib's performance on the field. Some observers think he has a shot at a Pro Bowl bid.

• FB Brad Hoover is expected to be sidelined for the next few weeks after suffering a high ankle sprain in Week Eight, and it appears his time with the Panthers is running out, as they have rookie Tony Fiammetta waiting in the wings to replace him. While it's almost a given that Hoover, who is signed through the 2010 season, won't be back if a head-coaching change is made in the offseason, sources say it would be no surprise if Hoover is brought back in 2010 if John Fox is still manning the sideline. Hoover is a better blocking back than Fiammetta, who is still learning, and Fox considers Hoover a valuable piece on offense.

• His numbers are way down from last season, but sources say Saints WR Lance Moore's play hasn't declined. His struggles this year stem from being injured. When at full health, he is still considered the team's No. 2 wide receiver behind Marques Colston and showed he can be productive in a Week Six win over the Giants when he made six catches for 78 yards and a touchdown. Moore has already been ruled out for Week Nine with a high ankle sprain, and he could be out for some time.

• While good luck is considered more responsible for the Cardinals' relative lack of injuries so far this season, team insiders also believe well-regarded strength and conditioning coach John Lott might have something to do with it. "All the players rave about him, especially Larry Fitzgerald," said one source. "He comes up with a lot of creative conditioning drills and is closer to being an actual assistant coach than most training guys."

• It will be interesting to see whether the Rams decide to keep first-round draft pick Jason Smith in the starting lineup after his impressive job at right tackle against the Lions in Week Eight. "That's a good question," said one team source. "A lot depends on the status of (starting ORG) Richie Incognito, with Adam Goldberg probably having to start in his place if his injured foot continues to keep him out for a while. But he (Smith) played so well against Detroit it would be foolish not to keep starting him."

• Our Niners insiders tell us the team might consider moving the injured Nate Clements, who appears to have lost a step, to safety if they decide to keep him around. Said one source: "He's still effective in short spaces, and being a safety might suit him better at this stage of his career."

• Our Seahawks sources tell us the decision was made to cut hard-hitting safety/special-teams player C.J. Wallace because he had too many problems staying healthy. "They also like Jamar Adams a lot," said one source of the player promoted from the practice squad to replace Wallace.

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