• Observers in Tampa say TE Kellen Winslow has been arguably the Buccaneers' most consistent offensive player this season. Winslow has at least four catches in each of the past seven games, and he has become the go-to target for rookie QB Josh Freeman since he became the starter in Week Nine. Winslow, who was dealt by the Browns in the offseason, is only one touchdown away from setting a new career high. The sixth-year veteran came to Tampa with the reputation of being a combustible force in the locker room, but he has blended in fairly well and hasn't allowed frustration with the team's struggles lead to a major outburst.

• Word out of New Orleans is rookie CB Malcolm Jenkins, who has started the last five games, will be battling for playing time at nickel back by the time the playoffs get under way, unless injuries force him to continue as a starter. CB Jabari Greer is expected to return from sports hernia surgery in time for the Saints' first postseason game, and he would take the starting job back, leaving Jenkins to compete for reps with backup Randall Gay.

• Giants RB Ahmad Bradshaw has shown no ill effects in recent games from the two bum ankles he suffered this season. Bradshaw's cutting ability has been especially effective on screens and delays, and his hard running style has served him well, even in traffic. The Giants might lean on him more if they can qualify for the postseason.

• We hear that Redskins head coach Jim Zorn wasn't pleased with the news that secondary coach Jerry Gray had interviewed for Zorn's job last week, and the players knew there was tension between the two leading up to the Monday-night debacle against the Giants. Word also has trickled down that the assistants have known that their fate in Washington likely wasn't going to end well, so there has been a bit of friction among the staff for the past several weeks, even as the team previously had played well.

• The Cowboys have signed Shaun Suisham for the third time to handle their kicking duties down the stretch, but expect the team to try to get David Buehler ready to compete for the spot next season. Right now, he's a kickoff specialist and also covers punts, but that might not be enough to guarantee him a roster spot in 2010. At a minimum, he might have to add deep field-goal kicking to his résumé.

• The Eagles know they can score and run the ball without RB Brian Westbrook, but they also would love to add him to an offense that's already as diverse as any Andy Reid has had in his 11 seasons. Westbrook could be effective in a role where he touches the ball 10-12 times a game, splitting carries with Leonard Weaver and LeSean McCoy, but there's also a small concern that not giving Westbrook enough work could limit his effectiveness. He tends to do better the more carries he gets.

• It was a no-brainer for the Lions to place Matthew Stafford on injured reserve, ending his season. But the reason for doing so was not his ailing left shoulder, but the right knee he injured against the Bears in Chicago. We hear it never got fully healthy, and there was nothing Stafford was going to gain by playing in the final two games. So, the Lions decided to have him get his knee cleaned up now, giving Stafford a head start on the offseason.

• The Vikings are not worried that CB Antoine Winfield struggled against the Panthers in Week 15. It was a tough assignment against WR Steve Smith, and they expect Winfield to play down the stretch more like he did against the Bengals the previous week, when he returned to action after having been sidelined six weeks by a toe injury.

• There hasn't been a bigger disappointment on the Bears' underachieving defensive line than second-year DT Marcus Harrison, who was given a chance to replace Anthony Adams as the starting nose tackle and just couldn't come through well enough. "He made no impact," said one team insider of the Bears' second of two third-round picks in the 2008 draft. "He showed up overweight in training camp, and he hasn't done much at all since then. Adams clearly outplayed him."

• The word out of Green Bay is that it would hardly be a shock if fifth-round rookie FB Quinn Johnson takes on a greater role the remainder of the season. With the run game and bad fields in cold weather becoming more of a factor, Johnson figures to pack a much greater punch as an inside blocker than either John Kuhn or Korey Hall. The downside is that Johnson leaves a lot to be desired as a special-teams performer, according to daily team observers.

• We hear the early favorites in the Seahawks' search for a new GM to replace the departed Tim Ruskell are Cardinals director of player personnel Steve Keim, Eagles GM Tom Heckert, Packers director of football operations John Schneider, Chargers senior executive Randy Mueller and Seahawks interim GM Ruston Webster.

• Word out of the desert is that the status of highly regarded Cardinals strength and conditioning coach John Lott, whose contract expires after this season, is as big an offseason concern as any facing the team. Team insiders tell us the loss of Lott, who could be in demand elsewhere, would be a substantial blow. We hear Lott has a strong bond with the majority of Cardinals players and is considered one of the team's major motivators.

• Rams fourth-round rookie DT Darell Scott has not been demoted in favor of Leger Douzable, who started at left tackle in the Week 15 loss to the Texans. The Rams started Douzable because Scott was one of four players unable to practice on the Friday before the game due to illness. Scott still managed to make his presence felt, recovering a fumble and registering three solo tackles, including one tackle for loss. "The more he plays, the more they like him," one team insider said of Scott. "He could have a bright future."

• Niners head coach Mike Singletary singled out second-year C Cody Wallace, who has yet to be activated for a game, when asked whether there were any young players he specifically wanted to see more of down the stretch.

AFC Whispers

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