• It's beginning to look as though the Seahawks might not try real hard to keep C Chris Spencer, a former first-round draft pick in the final year of his contract. We hear the team is a lot more interested in re-signing fellow free-agent OG Rob Sims than Spencer, who looked completely lost against Minnesota's "Williams Wall" in Week 11. Even though Spencer could be a restricted free agent, don't be surprised if second-round rookie Max Unger, who has held his own at right guard, is Seattle's starting center next season.

• Our Cardinals insiders believe the team made a very smart move in re-signing veteran LB Monty Beisel, who played with the team for three seasons before signing with the Chiefs this past offseason. With injuries to starting ILB Gerald Hayes, starting OLB Chike Okeafor and promising rookie backup Will Davis taking their toll recently, we hear the Cardinals were very happy Beisel, who can adequately play either inside or out, was available. The Chiefs cut Beisel in September.

• While everybody in San Francisco has been talking about the Niners possibly switching to a spread/shotgun offense, the equally intriguing possibility of the defense switching to a 4-3 scheme has been a bit overlooked. "It won't happen this year, but I could definitely see it next year," said one team insider. "You can see all the sacks are coming from the inside, and the overall personnel just might be better-suited for a 4-3."

• Despite being the "people's choice" with Marc Bulger injured, our Rams insiders don't think third-string QB Keith Null is close to being ready to start yet.

• Giants MLB Antonio Pierce remains in a holding pattern after a second opinion on the bulging disc in his neck was the same as the first. Pierce is holding out hope he can return by season's end, but he might not be able to. There was talk that the original prognosis for his return was six weeks, though the Giants have not given a time frame. But if the Giants fall back in the playoff race, he almost certainly will be shut down for the season.

• The Cowboys' coaches have spoken highly of the play of OLB Anthony Spencer all season, but he had little luck getting to the quarterback prior to the Thanksgiving game. In the game, Spencer had two sacks and had one of the better games of his career. There had been talk of rookie Victor Butler pushing him, but Spencer has a firm grip on a starting job.

• The Redskins might not like the circumstances under which it's happening, but injuries are allowing some lesser-known players such as OL Edwin Williams to get an opportunity to play. Williams will get a chance as a guard, though he could figure in as Casey Rabach's eventual replacement at center one day.

• The Eagles want to see more from ILB Joe Mays, who is being given a chance to perform with the myriad injuries at linebacker. Right now, he's rotating with Jeremiah Trotter on running downs, having not shown enough to be a full-time performer. But the Eagles still are high on Mays to contribute down the stretch.

• Our sources in Green Bay tell us it is expected to take both CB Al Harris and LOLB Aaron Kampman at least 8-10 months to recover from their season-ending torn ACLs. We also hear that one move the team really regrets making, with Harris now out of the mix, was its decision to place 2008 second-round CB Patrick Lee on injured reserve at the start of the regular season.

• The Vikings are looking into finding ways to get pass-rushing LB Ben Leber more field time. He often comes off the field on nickel and dime packages, more than once playing about 10 snaps in a game, which is far fewer than any other starter would in any normal game. But in recent games, he has subbed for LBs Chad Greenway and E.J. Henderson in those packages, giving them a different look each time.

• The Lions are disappointed in the loss of TE Brandon Pettigrew, who is out for the season with a torn ligament in his knee. He has had an up-and-down rookie season, riding some real highs and lows, but the team was determined to give him a trial by fire. The hope is that he should be able to return by training camp next season, ready to go.

• Just how big a role will Bears RB Kahlil Bell have the rest of the season after raising eyebrows on a national stage with a 72-yard gallop on his first-ever NFL handoff? "He'll get a lot more opportunities than Garrett Wolfe was getting," said one team insider of Bell, who was promoted from the practice squad not long after Wolfe was placed on injured reserve. "But it's not like he's going to start splitting carries with Matt Forté because of one run. He does look quicker hitting the hole than Forté, though."

• The Panthers are on their third different starter at weak-side linebacker now that Landon Johnson has followed Thomas Davis onto the injured-reserve list. Observers say, however, that there isn't much of a drop-off between Johnson and his replacement, James Anderson.

• The Buccaneers placed QB Byron Leftwich on injured reserve Nov. 24, ending his season, and some have speculated that he has played his last game for Tampa Bay. Leftwich signed a two-year deal in the offseason. Sources say there's a chance Leftwich won't be cut if the organization feels as though rookie QB Josh Freeman could benefit from Leftwich sticking around to continue mentoring Freeman and second-year QB Josh Johnson.

• The Falcons brought in kickers to try out, heading into Week 12, but sources say the team was just doing its due diligence and is not considering dumping PK Jason Elam at this time. Elam has struggled from even short distances this year, missing four of his seven kicks from 30-39 yards. The decision to bring in some competition was likely meant to give Elam some extra motivation to get back on track.

• Falcons QB Chris Redman will be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, but sources expect the Falcons to lock him up with a short-term deal. The team is pleased with the chemistry between Redman, Matt Ryan and rookie John Parker Wilson.

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