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Arizona Cardinals Weekly Flock: Training Camp is Finally Here Edition

Nfc_champ_ring_medium

That is truly a beautiful thing (via the official site)

In case you spent all day doing actual work or living under a rock, the Arizona Cardinals reported to training camp yesterday. The first actual practice won't take place until Friday but the players took physicals yesterday and they'll have a conditioning test today. The good news is that everyone who is under contract (yes that's Boldin, Dockett and Berry) reported on time and in relatively decent spirits. The bad news is that first round pick Chris Wells is not there yet although his contract talks are ongoing. It's worth remembering that last year's first rouder Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie missed a practice or two as well, it's just the nature of the beast. With all that being said there is new aplenty so we'll jump right in (also there is a ton of audio from yesterday's media sessions after the jump)....

  • Cards Getting Started - Some news is routine. First-round draft pick Beanie Wells remained unsigned and hasn’t arrived yet. General manager Rod Graves said Wednesday evening a deal wasn’t imminent but that progress had been made during the day. With the first practice still more than a day away, Wells still has time to get a deal and not miss any time. But, as expected, everyone showed up. Everyone is healthy heading into practice. And now – unlike many other seasons – success for this particular group will be rated not on wins and losses only but reaching the postseason.
  • Berry, Triple Q and Health - Yes, Bertrand Berry didn’t attend any of the organized team activities this offseason. No, Berry insisted, it wasn’t because he was – or is – unhappy with his contract. "Rest. I just needed rest," Berry said during a good-natured media session Wednesday as the Cardinals checked in for training camp. "People have all kind of theories of why I wasn’t there, I was upset about this that, or the other. It was just rest. As I said at the end of the season, I’m not a spring chicken, I’m a summer duck. So you have to treat your body accordingly. You can’t do everything going on out there. You have to pick and choose your spots."....................Anquan Boldin was late but he had a good reason, considering that he doubled back to pick up Ali Highsmith and Early Doucet after their car broke down..............For the most part the team passed their physicals with flying colors. Stephen Spach will be monitored closely and probably won't participate in two-a-days while the team will also keep a close eye on Kenny Iwebema, but both players did officially pass their physical.
  • Wrapping up move-in day - Yadda, Yadda, Yadda, the Cardinals received their NFC Championship rings (pictured above) during a ceremony Tuesday night.
  • Opening day - Consider this a grab bag of news and notes - Everyone made 'weight' including Alan Branch who tipped the scales at a trim 332 (lowest weight since he was drafted).....Boldin and Dockett are present and accounted for and they didn't report any mysterious injuries.....Interesting note on Keilen Dykes looking especially impressive and in fantastic shape.
  • Coaches adjusting to their new roles - Coaches adjusting to their new roles, success brought about many changes on the Cardinals coaching staff this off-season.

Star-divide

Ktar_mediumOne of the things that ROTB hopes to bring more of this year is audio directly from the players and coaches. The greatness of KTAR has agreed to send us some audio from time to time and in exchange you can read some ROTB stories on their website. In the end, we hope everyone enjoys the audio and if nothing else you can put in some ear buds and hear Whiz talking about winning Super Bowls instead of your boss yelling at you. Here's what we got from yesterday.

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Whats more impressive about Branch is....

that the coaches gave him that goal of 332 and he did it. Are the tides are turning for Branch?

by Pyromnc on Jul 30, 2009 7:46 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

thats exactly

what i was thinking. Did something finally click!?

Pedro Cerrano: Jesus, I like him very much, but he no help with curveball.
Eddie Harris: You trying to say Jesus Christ can't hit a curveball?

by PhoenixFly on Jul 30, 2009 11:54 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

About damn time.

Maybe he felt a bit guilty about not being the player he was supposed to be and for not producing for the team. If he does well, we might have a beast for nose tackle.

A man from Dallas who bleeds red, not silver and blue.

by Sir Whirly on Jul 30, 2009 5:03 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

that is one fine piece of hardware

All in all the news from yesterday was pretty promising. Spach sounds like he’s much further along than I thought he’d be, although I’ll be very interested to see how the feels the morning after his first practice. As a former ACL victim, I can tell you that how it feels the morning after is more important that how it feels while you’re actually running through practice. When you’re on the field for first time in the while that adrenaline will keep you going but a swollen knee in the morning is a sign that he might not be as close as we think.

- Good news from Branch, maybe he finally found an electrician to help him keep that light from flickering.

Be careful....to a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

by Bezekira on Jul 30, 2009 10:29 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

haha!

Love the final comment on your post! Even if his bulb stay on for the season I would still be very hesitant to sign him to a long term deal. It would have to be performance based.

Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.

by sc464 on Jul 30, 2009 11:09 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Well....

we have his rights through 2010 so if he can produce this year and next year, than I might think about a long term but I’ll have to see it from him before I’ll believe he can do it.

by Pyromnc on Jul 30, 2009 11:18 AM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

Way to go Alan!!!!

now work your tail off in training camp, have a break out year, and you could be well on your way to becoming a fan favorite!

by CardsDefense on Jul 30, 2009 11:28 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

His light won't stay totally on until his contract year.

Think Albert Haynesworth.

Life's too short. Be a fan. Magic, Cards,Rays and "the U"! What a winning combo.

by hevchv on Jul 30, 2009 11:51 AM MDT via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

my thoughts exactly

Never do card tricks for the group you play poker with.

by sc464 on Jul 30, 2009 12:50 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

"I'm not a spring chicken"

“I’m a summer duck” xD

by Fitz Jizzle on Jul 30, 2009 1:32 PM MDT reply actions   0 recs

Another story coming out of camp is that Branch is did good for the conditioning test.

He set the pace for linemen and really surprised coaches yesterday. So it’s looking more and more likely that Branch is worrying about playing rather than worrying about what he is going to eat for dinner.

by Pyromnc on Jul 31, 2009 7:44 AM MDT reply actions   0 recs

That's good news for Branch for sure

but is it really that good of a sign for our Dline if a nose tackle is leading the way in conditioning drills?

Section 135, Row 35

by AJ BirdWatcher on Jul 31, 2009 4:09 PM MDT up reply actions   0 recs

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