Sept. 6, 2008

 We hear one key factor in the Cardinals’ decision to start the season with Kurt Warner under center, instead of Matt Leinart, was the team’s concern over Leinart’s ability to perform on the road after the way he imploded in Oakland in the third preseason game. The Cardinals have three of their first four games away from home this season and really would love to get off to a fast start.

 Don’t be surprised if J.J. Arrington eventually replaces Steve Breaston as the Cardinals’ primary kick returner. Both players can be explosive in the role, but team insiders are starting to think Arrington, who remains the fastest guy on the team, has more game-breaking potential than Breaston, who also shares the No. 3 WR role with Jerheme Urban. Arrington earned himself new life with a strong training camp. Said one team insider, “He really needed a good camp, and he had one.”

 We hear the Rams were interested in obtaining ex-Bengals CB Deltha O’Neal before settling for ex-Bear Ricky Manning Jr., but the Patriots beat them to the punch. We also hear that the Rams tried to put together a trade involving Bruce Gradkowski, who had been beaten out convincingly for the No. 3 job by Brock Berlin, before ultimately releasing the former Bucs QB.

 There are some Niners insiders who can’t understand why the team seems so obsessed with the “Ted” LB position, as evidenced by their acquisitions of Takeo Spikes and Ahmad Brooks. “They just seem to have so many more pressing needs, and (Jeff) Ulbrich can do the job there just fine,” said one insider. “(Head coach Mike) Nolan just seems so intent on ‘Ravenizing’ the defense.”

 Word is, it will probably be a week-to-week proposition as to whether or not Niners first-round DL Kentwan Balmer will be activated. Balmer started to display some flashes late in the preseason, but the consensus is that he needs a great deal of work on his technique and remains a work in progress.

 Word is that while the Seahawks weren’t surprised at all by the one-game suspension that DT Rocky Bernard received, they were definitely caught off guard by the one-game suspension that was given to big-play backup CB-S Jordan Babineaux.

 Seahawks insiders tell us that veteran WR Bobby Engram is saying he’ll miss only the first two games due to a cracked shoulder bone, but most observers close to the scene think he won’t be back in the starting lineup until October at the earliest.