Some links to start your day. Also, the Washington Redskins have returned a portion of their ticket allotment and those tickets have now been made available by visiting seahawks.com or calling 206-628-0888.

Seattle Seahawks

Ex-Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander, now a reserve with Washington, believes he could still be an effective starting running back if given the opportunity.

After having an MRI on his re-injured left shoulder the Seahawks decided to place defensive end Patrick Kerney on the injured reserve, ending his season.

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Scott Johnson of the Everett Herald says Alexander knows he’s not the player he was a few years ago, and he fine with that.

Gregg Bell of the Associated Press says Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren is in the odd position of dealing with a team that will have to make changes next season, yet he won’t be the one to help evaluate and restructure this group.

Dan Arkush of Pro Football Weekly offers this quote from a Seahawks team insider on Seattle safeties Deon Grant and Brian Russell:

“It’s like two years ago — when the safeties were getting their brains beat out — all over again,” a longtime team insider told PFW. “I think Grant is playing with a knee problem that is a lot more serious than he, or anybody else, is letting on. As for Russell, he appears a step slower, and he was hardly fast to begin with. The lack of a pass rush up front hasn’t helped any, leading to many of the coverage breakdowns that have taken place.”

Peter Schrager of Fox Sports writes about the bad teams out West, which of course includes Seattle.

ESPN’s Mike Sando says the jury is still out on whether the Seahawks erred in not hiring Jim Zorn as the coach-in-waiting for Holmgren.

An honest Zorn, warts and all, returns to Seattle as head coach of Washington, writes Aaron Fentress of the Oregonian.

Les Carpenter of the Washington Post, who formerly worked for the Seattle Times, on Mike Holmgren’s final run.

Ryan O’Halloran of the Washington Times gets the Washington players’ take on Zorn returning to Seattle.

San Francisco 49ers

Gwen Knapp of the San Francisco Chronicle writes that with Shaun Hill, practice doesn’t always make perfect. Hill has struggled at times during practice for the 49ers, but has been a gamer so far in his starting role for San Francisco.

When the 49ers face the Cowboys, two free agents who were not drafted will lead their teams in Hill and Tony Romo, John Crumpacker of the Chronicle reports.

Mike Martz was fined $20,000 for comments he made about the officiating during the team’s 29-24 loss to Arizona two weeks ago, reports Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press Democrat.

The 49ers will start rookie offensive lineman Chilo Rachel, Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News reports.

Hill plays under constant pressure with a hands-on Martz watching his every move, Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee reports.

More Barrows: Hill was named NFC offensive player of the week.

Arizona Cardinals

Edgerrin James, who is playing only a few snaps a game with rookie Tim Hightower elevated to starter, has asked Arizona for his release, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic reports.

Dan Bickley, columnist for the Arizona Republic, says the Edge is unfortunately living down to his public perception.

Quarterback Kurt Warner’s benching in New York eventually helped two careers, his own, which is being rejuvenated in Arizona, and Eli Manning, who led the Giants to the Super Bowl last season, writes Somers.

The Cardinals will have to slow the Giants run game to have a chance this week, writes Darren Urban of azcardinals.com

More Urban: Neil Rackers earns NFC special teams player of the week honors for his four field goals against Seattle.

The Cardinals plan on keeping Anquan Boldin around for a long time, Urban writes here. Boldin complained about his contract earlier this season. Now he’s showing why he believes he deserves another deal.

St. Louis Rams

According to Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, head coach Jim Haslett delivered an ultimatum to his team after an embarrassing loss to the 49ers, get better or get lost.

Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that Haslett will stick behind quarterback Marc Bulger.

Bryan Burwell of the Post-Dispatch says even after the 49ers dismantled the Rams that Haslett is still the right man for the job.