Training camp battles: NFC West

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The fourth of our NFC division-by-division looks at training camp battles:

Arizona Cardinals

Matt Leinart vs. Kurt Warner, quarterback

Ken Whisenhunt's big decision: Leinart or Warner? (US Presswire)

This is much closer than it seems. The Cardinals have said they plan to make Leinart their starter; they just don't say when. The expectation is that he retains his job this summer and opens the season as the team's quarterback, but Arizona knows what it has in Warner and, frankly, the Cards like it. So he's 37. He's experienced. He's accurate. And he's productive, throwing 27 touchdown passes a year ago and shredding the 49ers for nearly 500 yards in a November loss. Leinart is the future; there's no question about that. But should the Cardinals try to rush him back on the field when Warner might offer the better short-term solution? Ah, that's why they have training camp.

Edge: Leinart. He was the starter when he was hurt last year and will return to that job at some point. It's up to him to figure out when.

Opening day starter: I'm taking a flyer on Warner, only because I think the Cards are ready to win now. Warner is the better immediate option.

St. Louis Rams

Richie Incognito vs. Brett Romberg, center

Center looks more like a revolving door in St. Louis since Andy McCollum suffered a season-ending injury in the 2006 season opener. McCollum, Romberg and Incognito, who could wind up as the team's starting right guard, have taken turns since. Now it's down to Incognito and Romberg, with guard Mark Setterstrom an outside shot. If Incognito wins the job, Romberg serves as the backup and Setterstrom stays at right guard. If Romberg wins, Incognito moves to right guard and Setterstrom takes reps as the backup. Romberg worked with the first team in minicamp, but that's when the club had Incognito at right guard. Now the position is up for grabs. Romberg and McCollum shared the position a year ago, but Incognito had 12 starts there in 2006. Both Romberg and Incognito are coming off seasons punctuated by injuries; Incognito was shelved at midseason by a bad knee.

Edge: Incognito because he's bigger and stronger.

Opening day starter: Incognito

San Francisco 49ers

Alex Smith vs. Shaun Hill, quarterback

Shaun Hill's great selling point: A 2-0 won-loss record. (US Presswire)

This is one of the more intriguing battles of the summer. Smith is the former first-round draft pick who's in the fourth year of a five-year contract. He should be well established by now, but he isn't -- and that's where Hill comes in. A year ago the 49ers floundered until Hill stepped behind center. They were 2-0 with him starting; they were 3-11 with everyone else -- one reason the club signed Hill to a three-year, $6 million deal. Smith is 7-5 in his last 12 starts when healthy, but he ran afoul of the head coach last season when the two squabbled over the severity of Smith's shoulder injury. Cut Smith some slack: He has a different offensive coordinator every season, so he can never sit still. It's hard to believe he won't make it, especially with Mike Martz on board as offensive coordinator. But Martz has an allegiance to no one, which means there won't be a winner until the third preseason game.

Edge: Smith because he's the one the club is paying a zillion dollars.

Opening day starter: Smith

Seattle Seahawks

John Carlson vs. Jeb Putzier vs. Will Heller, tight end

Heller and Putzier have the advantage in experience, with Heller having the inside track on everyone with six starts last season. And you can't forget this: In his 16 years as head coach, Mike Holmgren has never started a rookie tight end. But that streak could end with the emergence of Carlson, who fought through a sore hamstring in minicamp yet who is someone most observers consider the favorite at the position. The Seahawks thought so much of the former Notre Dame star they not only used a second-round pick on him, they traded up 17 spots to get there. Carlson is an outstanding pass receiver at a position where the Seahawks haven't had one in years and seems determined to absorb the playbook as fast as he can, which means a lot of studying. Plus, he's an above average blocker. "A complete player," the Seahawks say. Sounds like we have a frontrunner.

Edge: Carlson, because the Seahawks have a need at the position and because they thought enough of the guy to make him a first-day pick.

Opening day starter: Carlson