The Patriots probably didn't have much of a choice but to sign Junior Seau to join their linebacking corps, but the signing -- along with that of Rosevelt Colvin earlier in the week - certainly shows you what a dire spot the Pats are in because of the injuries they have sustained this season. With only three other healthy linebackers on the roster, it seems a good bet that both Colvin and Seau will see action this weekend against the Seahawks. How they play will be anyone's guess; it will also be anyone's guess how these guys feel on Monday morning.

INJURY NEWS: An unnamed NFL source told The Boston Globe that defensive lineman Ty Warren probably won't go on injured reserve, and that he is week to week with his groin injury.

YOU NEVER KNOW HOW THINGS WILL TURN OUT: Not many people would have guessed back when they were good friends at USC that backup quarterback Matt Cassel and undersized linebacker Lofa Tatupu would have much of an impact in the NFL. Now here they are, Cassel trying to get the defending AFC champions back into the playoffs while Tatupu is perhaps the most recognizable player on Seattle's defense.

TESTING TIMES: Even if the Seahawks are one of the league's worst defenses, the Herald's Karen Guregian feels that this week will present Cassel with a big test -- how he recovers from a subpar effort against Pittsburgh. It's informative, though, that Cassel's worst performance before the Pittsburgh game came against San Diego, and he followed that with a terrific effort against Denver.

KEEP YOUR EYE ON RANDY: Steve Buckley writes that Randy Moss' postgame comments after the Pittsburgh loss were among the most self-critical he has heard from a pro athlete, and that might be trouble for Seattle's 32nd-ranked pass defense (Boston Herald).

YE OF LITTLE FAITH: By a two-to-one margin, Patriots fans responding to a projo.com poll say they don't think the Patriots will make the playoffs this season.

MORA NOT JUMPING SHIP: Apparently the persistent rumors were wrong; Jim Mora is not bailing on the Seahawks job to become the University of Washington's head football coach, because the job is going to USC assistant Steve Sarkisian (Seattle Post-Intelligencer). By the way, wouldn't a coach snubbing the Seahawks to go to UW be kind of like Josh McDaniels declining an offer to coach the Patriots because he wanted to take the Boston College job? How would that work out?

NFL AND NYPD CONTINUE TO SPAR: Recent comments by NFL security chief Milt Ahlerich are not sitting well with the New York Police Department, according to a story in today's New York Times. Ahlerich said in an interview that the league contacted high-ranking NYPD officials the morning after the Plaxico Burress shooting to inform them of what had happened, and went so far as to say that the authorities "did not have a case" until the NFL intervened. But Paul J. Browne, the police deputy commissioner of public information, says that what really happened is this: The league contacted some low-level police officials trying to figure out what they already knew about the Burress case, and didn't offer up anything of value on their own.

COULDN'T HAVE HAPPENED TO A NICER GUY: A woman who tends bar at the Latin Quarter nightclub where Burress had his little accident tells the New York Post that Plax "was an ass" even before the gun went off: "He was rude and disorderly and didn't acknowledge anyone unless they were in the VIP section. He didn't treat anybody with respect," she said. Shocking.

CAN'T KEEP A GUY DOWN: Defensive end Shaun Elllis will play for the Jets on Sunday, despite his arrest last weekend on a marijuana possession charge (New York Daily News).

THE SUPER BOWL OF LAUNDRY: That's what the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Gene Collier calls Sunday's Steelers-Cowboys game, which features the two franchises whose clothing is owned by more sports fans than any other team.

AN ASTOUNDING STATS: The Oakland Raiders have not scored a first-quarter touchdown all season, and have exactly 3 first-quarter points in their last seven games. The Raiders, who fouled the NFL Network with their pathetic showing against the San Diego Chargers last night, converted just two of 12 third-down attempts (they have the worst third-down offense in the league), and they've now lost 11 straight to the rival Chargers. The quote that best sums up the Raiders was uttered by perhaps their best player (and probably the best player in the league whose name you can't pronounce), Nnamdi Asomugha: "We're not close, and it's clear that we're not close. We don't play good football, we don't play sound football, and we have been undisciplined." (Contra Costa Times)

NOTHING TO BE NERVOUS ABOUT: Packers coach Mike McCarthy, under fire for conservative play-calling late in the game on Sunday against Carolina and in the red zone, insists that he has not lost confidence in quarterback Aaron Rodgers' ability to win games (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel).