July 20, 2008

 In the Cardinals’ minicamps and OTAs leading up to training camp, team sources tell us QB Matt Leinart’s arm strength appeared to be very close to what it was before he suffered his 2007 season-ending fractured collarbone. But they also said Leinart, the designated starter heading into ’08, didn’t look nearly as sharp as backup QB Kurt Warner, who seemed to be right on the money with every pass he threw. Daily team observers maintain that Warner’s passing has improved significantly since he decided to don gloves to improve his grip on the ball last year. “Every pass is a tight spiral,” one team insider said. “The flutter balls he used to throw are gone.”

 Rams executive Jay Zygmunt reiterated to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch early in the week that the team remained “very optimistic” that first-round draft pick Chris Long would sign his rookie contract before the opening of training camp July 24. Said Zygmunt, “Marvin (Long’s agent, Marvin Demoff) expressed how important that is to Chris, and we expressed how important it is to the Rams.”

 Niners team insiders tell us RB Thomas Clayton — the team’s sixth-round draft pick last year, who spent the entire 2007 season on the practice squad after leading the team in rushing during the exhibition season — displayed very impressive quickness in this year’s OTAs and minicamps.

 We hear the rift that surfaced between Niners WR Asley Lelie and perfectionist WR coach Jerry Sullivan last season over Lelie’s far-from-perfect route-running has cooled down, with Lelie reportedly much more in sync with Sullivan so far this offseason.

 Our Seahawks sources will be anxious to see if newly acquired RB Julius Jones picks up where he left off in the final minicamp as far as hitting holes quickly. So far, we’re told, Jones has made a very positive impression.