Aug. 17, 2008

 Here’s an indication of how deep the Cardinals are at inside linebacker after recently picking up ex-49ers LB Brandon Moore, who previously worked under Cardinals LB coach Billy Davis in San Francisco: Forced to compete with starters Karlos Dansby and Gerald Hayes and veterans Matt Stewart, Monty Beisel and Moore, undrafted rookie Ali Highsmith, who has been extremely impressive (he led the team in tackles in the preseason opener) might end up having to settle for a spot on the practice squad.

 Because of a lingering hamstring injury, we hear Cardinals rookie WR Early Doucet appears to have fallen behind both holdovers Steve Breaston and Jerheme Urban for the team’s third WR spot behind Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin.

 Back on the field wearing a huge club to protect the broken middle finger that had forced him to miss a couple of weeks, DE Victor Adeyanju has been playing like a monster, daily Rams observers tell us. One more D-line whisper: We hear DE James Hall could be shifted inside in nickel formations a lot more frequently this season.

 Our Rams sources report that Derek Stanley, who is in a real logjam at the WR position, might have helped earn himself a roster spot with his ability to possibly help out the team’s depleted CB ranks in a pinch. Said Rams head coach Scott Linehan of Stanley: “He’s such a great athlete and has played the position before.”

 Team insiders tell us nobody is really taking the rumor seriously that Rush Limbaugh might actually be interested in owning the Rams.

 While we’re told he put up a very courageous front, our Niners sources tell us QB Alex Smith couldn’t have been more devastated by the recent suicide of his close friend David Edwards, and that Smith’s apparent drop behind J.T. O’Sullivan in the battle for the starting QB job seemed pretty meaningless in comparison to the tragic death of Edwards, who had been treated like a third son by Smith’s family.

 Word is there is no doubt among Niners daily observers that Jed York, the son of owner John York, has become the team’s ownership face both internally and externally. As for the elder York, we hear he has hardly been seen around Niners headquarters.

 Considered an afterthought at the start of training camp, we hear Seahawks rookie WR Michael Bumpus out of Washington State is really making his presence felt with catch after catch in practice sessions and has earned a legitimate shot at making the final roster, with injuries to Bobby Engram and Deion Branch thinning the WR ranks.

 Offsetting the disappointment resulting from the release of Seahawks former first-round draft pick Marcus Tubbs after he was unable to recuperate from season-ending knee injuries the past two years, the team couldn’t be more pleased with DT Howard Green, who had two sacks, five tackles, a forced fumble and a tipped pass in Seattle’s preseason opener. Word is Seattle coaches were pleasantly surprised because, before appearing in five games for the Seahawks late last season, Green had last played in the league in 2004 for the Saints.