9-12-10: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings

The NFL Season has finally begun for the Cardinals, now after all of the drama during the offseason, its time to see how the team looks.

On to the links.

2010 NFL Draft: NFC West player updates - NFC West Blog - ESPN
NFC West teams are relying on 2010 draft choices to varying degrees.

Finding Themselves
Cardinals await to see own identity in season opener at St. Louis

Arizona V. St. Louis: 5 Keys To Victory For The Cards | Bleacher Report
As a Cardinals fan, there has definitely been a mixture of emotions this season.

Arizona Cardinals look to outsmart St. Louis, not selves
For months, NFL teams have devised and implemented myriad offensive and defensive schemes in anticipation of the start of the regular season. Yet in the week before the opening game, those very playbooks can be the coaches' nemesis.

KTAR.com - A look into week 1 against the Rams
The Arizona Cardinals look to defend their back to back NFC West titles on the road against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday. Derek Anderson will start a new era in Arizona as he gets his first regular season start in a Cardinals uniform. Rookie Sam Bradford is also getting his first start after being the 1st overall pick in the 09' draft. Bradford looks to bring a positive vibe to a struggling St. Louis team that has only won a total of six games in the last three years.

KTAR.com - Green: Where are your expectations?
Last year as the Cardinals were set to open the season nothing but excitement and optimism was in the air. The team was coming off a trip to the Super Bowl and returned largely the same group of players who took them there. We all knew the Cardinals would win the NFC West - that was just a formality. No, the only question we had was whether or not they could make a return trip to the NFL's biggest game.

But now, just one year later, the Cardinals are being picked by many experts to lose to the St. Louis Rams in the season opener, be beaten out for the division title by the San Francisco 49ers and likely make a return to the bottom of the NFL. Excitement has been replaced by trepidation and optimism has given way to doubt.

Sounding off: NFC West on the airwaves - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The latest in our periodic spin around the NFC West radio dials:

KTAR.com - Rookie Washington gets the start
Daryl Washington admits he's a little surprised. Ken Whisenhunt is too.

Long day of waiting for NFC West fans - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The NFC West is the only division without an early game Sunday.

Week 1 NFL football preview, picks by Bob McManaman
The Republic's Bob McManaman offers a rundown of Sunday's NFL schedule:

NFL Week 1: Previewing And Predicting Every Game Of Opening Weekend - SBNation.com
Scroll down the page to find quick previews and predictions of each Week 1 stream from SB Nation's NFL Editor, Joel Thorman.

100 in 100: Stephen Williams (85 of 100) - Niners Nation
Some people use the "but he went to a small school" argument from time to time. Sometimes it is a legitimate argument and other times it has no bearing. In Stephen Williams case, it has no bearing. When a player dominates (and not just statistically) the way Williams did while at Toledo, then a case can be tossed out the window for the ever so famous "small school argument".

NFL Picks and Predictions for Week 1 - National Football League - ESPN
Each week on ESPN.com, the brain trust of Bristol University convenes and our experts offer their predictions for the upcoming slate of NFL games. A green border indicates a correct answer, and a red border indicates a wrong answer.

Important questions for 'First Sunday' of NFL season
Wow, thank goodness the NFL season has arrived.

ASU's Dennis Erickson a big fan of Arizona Cardinals' Derek Anderson
The big fish (Derek Anderson) in a small pond (Scappoose, Ore.) once was coveted by a man with two championship rings (Dennis Erickson).

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - KentSomers - Dockett's contract numbers
The details of Darnell Dockett's contract extension are finally available.

Wolf's Building The game Plan - Week 1

Playbook: Cardinals vs. Rams

Another Revis holdout could be coming in two years | ProFootballTalk.com
With Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis set to earn $32.5 million in 2010 and 2011 combined and then only (only?) $13.5 million in 2012 and 2013 combined, we firmly believe that Revis will be holding out again two years from now, absent a true retirement contract from the Jets.

Football Roundup 9/10: Simmons keeps Perry unbeaten | VarsityXtra - Arizona High School Sports
McClintock 34, Palo Verde 6: The visiting Chargers had a 24-0 halftime lead and cruised to victory in the second half. Chris Freudenberg threw for two touchdown passes and ran for score for the Chargers (1-1). Miguel Juarez had two interceptions for the defense. And Joe Wells had two touchdown receptions.

(Yay!)