5/11: 49ers expect improvement from Taylor Mays

–Adam Schefter of ESPN.com writes that according to a source, Matt Hasselbeck is now “as likely to return there (to Seattle) as he ever was.” Schefter notes that Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell reached out to Hasselbeck during brief time in which NFL teams were allowed to communicate with players when the NFL’s lockout was lifted.

–Larry Stone offers thoughts on the Mariners’ 13-inning loss to the Orioles last night and passes along a quote from Jack Wilson on ex-teammate Milton Bradley.

Wilson: “Here’s the thing people don’t know about Milton: Even before he came over, you see what happens on TV and you see him get ejected and what not, and you automatically think bad, but this guy’s a great guy. No one here had any problem with him at all. He has a passion for the game that sometimes overflowed, I guess you can say. I was sad to see him go. It’s a situation where you don’t know if he’s going to play again. I hope he does. I’m going to miss him.”

–710 ESPN Seattle’s Jim Moore writes on seattlepi.com that he’s wondering why former Sonic Freddie Brown would auction off his 1979 NBA championship ring.

Moore: “It’s hard enough to watch the Oklahoma City Thunder in the playoffs, especially when the former Sonics look like they could win the NBA championship this year or next year or maybe both years and the year after that fercrisesakes, but then to discover that one of my childhood idols is selling his ring from the only major championship in this city’s history, it’s saddening and maddening at the same time.”

–Matt Maiocco of CSNBayArea.com (via Mike Sando of ESPN.com) passes along thoughts from 49ers secondary coach Ed Donatell on Seattle native and O’Dea High School alum Taylor Mays, who’s entering his second year with San Francisco. Donatell expects improvement from Mays, who lost his starting job for the final seven games last season.

Donatell: “This is a young player, going into Year 2. That’s when a lot of guys spike, especially when you’re a high-profile guy like he was. If you think about that first year, it’s a whirlwind. He got some valuable playing time. I see a lot of traits. He should spike in this system.”

–Sando takes a closer look at the Seahawks’ decision to take linebacker K.J. Wright in the fourth round.