Aug. 24, 2008

 Don’t be alarmed or surprised that Lions first-round pick Gosder Cherilus has taken snaps at both OT spots. If anything, it shows the team is willing to give extra reps and looks to the rookie, who should overtake George Foster for the starting ORT spot. Cherilus perhaps has OLT starting potential down the line, but he’s slated for the right side as a rookie, barring a major injury to Jeff Backus.

 Did the Niners and head coach Mike Nolan go out of their way to make Packers QB Aaron Rodgers look bad in their recent preseason encounter because they had passed over Rodgers in the draft three years ago in favor of Alex Smith? “They were in an all-out blitz mode big-time,” a longtime Packers insider said of the Niners’ amped-up defense in the second preseason game, which sacked Rodgers four times in the first half. “I’d like to think pettiness doesn’t exist at the pro level, but there’s no doubt it does.”

 Our Packers sources tell us it’s quite possible the team could go out of its way to pick up a veteran tight end off the waiver wire, with rookie Jermichael Finley looking like a major work in progress and third-year pro Tory Humphrey continuing to be a major injury risk behind starting TE Donald Lee.

 Vikings TE Garrett Mills’ bothersome right ankle has kept him off the field and could cost him a roster spot. His lack of play this preseason has hurt his cause, despite the coaching staff’s interest in his ability. If Mills is cut, don’t be surprised if the team that drafted him — the Patriots — take a hard look.

 Our Bears sources were quick to mention after the team’s preseason loss to the Niners that second-year RB Garrett Wolfe might have very well put himself on the bubble following his fumbled kickoff return that set up a Niners TD in that game. The fact that newcomer Kevin Jones looked impressive in his first preseason action vs. the Niners certainly doesn’t help Wolfe’s cause.

 Bears sources who have been dealing with starting LBs Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs on a regular basis report that the two players’ relationships with the local media have made a 360-degree turn for the better this season. On the field, meanwhile, although Urlacher has looked pretty sharp most of the time, we’re told Briggs has been uncharacteristically sloppy and slow to reach his normal All-Pro form.