9-30-10: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings

Besides finding out that Adrian Wilson and Philip Rivers are buddies from the time they were both at North Carolina State (and Rivers was intimidated by A-Dub back then), I didn't see much worth mentioning here.

On to the links...

Arizona Cardinals' young receivers face tough test
Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson was only partly kidding Wednesday when he suggested to reporters that they stay away from the team's young receivers, who already are under enough pressure. "Don't everybody go to their lockers and start hounding them and giving them a hard time," Anderson said.

Arizona Cardinals' Adrian Wilson remembers Chargers' Philip Rivers
Until I got to know him, you couldn't quite read him, when he was serious or when he was having a good time," Rivers said Wednesday morning in a conference call. "Heck of a guy and heck of a player. This is his 10th year and it's gone by fast, then I forget it's my seventh. Time does fly.

NFC West quarterbacks in deep trouble - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Go deep. On second thought, let's check down to something more conservative.

KTAR.com - Green: At 2-1 it's time for a change
The Cardinals are 2-1. Excuse me for not breaking out in celebration.

KTAR.com - Cardinals' Anderson laboring in the desert
The Derek Anderson era in the desert started with a gradual buildup and culminated with the unceremonious dumping of Matt Leinart, once considered Arizona's quarterback of the future. Three ho-hum games into the season, a question has started to loom: Is Anderson the right choice?

Young Wideouts Full Of Confidence
Williams, Komar have no fear of stepping in for Breaston, backing Fitz

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - KentSomers - Looking for receiver help
It's never easy finding help at a position that's depleted by injuries during a season. The easy suggestion is to go sign someone on the street, which ignores the fact that players are usually on the street for a reason.

Hoping For A Teams Win
Cards could have advantage on special teams; Breaston week-to-week

Cardinals Underground Podcast (SD Preview)
Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban, and Ron Wolfley preview the upcoming game against the Chargers.

Hyphen’s gift and few injuries
There was good news after practice, though, with LaRod Stephens-Howling meeting the guy for whom the Hyphen won a house. Stephens-Howling ran the opening kickoff back for a touchdown, and Dave Johnson (pictured below with Hyphen and Johnson’s wife, Darci Mimz) got a free new home from Lennar Homes. Johnson clearly was grateful, saying of the Hyphen, "He’s got a place to stay forever." Stephens-Howling, meanwhile, seems to have a little trouble at home. Asked if he had yet to get his own mother a home, LSH smiled. "Naw," he said. "She’s kind of mad at me now."

Whisenhunt, Anderson on Breaston's Injury

Chat wrap: 49ers fans take it on chin - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Let's just say fans of NFC West teams located outside the San Francisco Bay Area had a little fun at the 49ers' expense during the latest NFC West chat.

What's wrong with this QB list? - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Matt Ryan, Alex Smith, Drew Brees, Matt Schaub, Derek Anderson, Tom Brady ... What's wrong with this list? Nothing. Those six quarterbacks lead the NFL in red zone passing, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

A-Dub, Rivers on buddy system
If one of your long-time friends was your target when you blitzed, would you still drill the guy? Adrian Wilson doesn’t hesitate. No way he’s easing up on Philip Rivers.

Chargers-Cardinals: 10 Matchups To Watch on Sunday | Bleacher Report
The San Diego Chargers are looking to rebound from another early season slump. The Arizona Cardinals are looking to capitalize on the momentum they have from their close win against Oakland last weekend. This should be a good one, folks.

NFL Week 4 Picks: From The Fingers Of Morons - SB Nation Arizona
Our own morons pick the NFL games for Week 4.

Fantasy Football Week 4 Predictions: Arizona Cardinals Stephen Williams Could Surprise - SB Nation Arizona
Last year the Cardinals were a virtual treasure trove of fantasy points. With Kurt Warner at the helm, and Larry and Anquan splitting wide, the lovable Red Birds were the gifts-that-kept-on-giving for fantasy owners. This year... eh, not so much.

NFL.com news: Favre, Vikings might have too many issues to overcome
The Minnesota Vikings' offense has fallen, and it can't get up. In fact, I say it won't get up at all this season.

NFL.com news: Wrong number: Ochocinco cereal box includes sex-line digits
Charity-minded callers are being intercepted by a phone-sex line because of a typo on Chad Ochocinco Cereal boxes.

NFL Videos: GameDay Morning: Vick and Reid sitdown
Michael Vick opens up to his old coach about his transformation and Andy Reid talks about facing McNabb. Catch their full interviews on NFL GameDay Morning Sunday, 9am ET on NFL Network.

NFL Predictions For The Winless Teams - SBNation.com
Five NFL teams have yet to win a game in the 2010 season. Which teams are legitimate awful, and which teams still have a chance to make something of themselves this year? SB Nation has opinions on the matter.

NFL Predictions For The Unbeaten Teams - SBNation.com
Only three NFL teams remain unbeaten after three regular season games. Which teams are legitimate contenders, and which teams still have a lot to prove before they get there? SB Nation has opinions on the matter.

NFC West: Injury situations that matter - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Arizona: Losing No. 2 receiver Steve Breaston to a knee injury affects the Cardinals on offense and special teams. The passing game was already producing sporadically. Opponents have contained Larry Fitzgerald relatively well. Take away Breaston and the job becomes less difficult, particularly with third receiver Early Doucet also unavailable. Undrafted rookie Stephen Williams becomes the No. 2 receiver. Max Komar, another undrafted rookie, becomes the third receiver. Rookie third-round choice Andre Roberts becomes the fourth receiver. Running back Beanie Wells was going to become a bigger part of the offense anyway. That transition should only accelerate without Breaston and Doucet, provided the Cardinals are winning or the score is close enough for Arizona to stick with its ground game. Removing Breaston also strains the Cardinals' punt-return team. Arizona doesn't have a proven, reliable punt returner. San Diego's secondary was opportunistic at home against Jacksonville. Turnovers are a concern for Arizona under with so many new faces at receiver.

49ers need steady leadership, not panic - NFC West Blog - ESPN
These need not be the end days for Mike Singletary's tenure as San Francisco 49ers head coach.

How I See It: NFC West Stock Watch - NFC West Blog - ESPN
3. Beanie Wells, Cardinals running back. Wells had 14 carries for 75 yards against the Raiders. He ran with authority. The Cardinals might need to rely on him even more now that knee surgery will sideline No. 2 receiver Steve Breaston for the next couple of games, at least.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - KentSomers - A-dub mooches some rides
Like many people, Philip Rivers found Adrian Wilson intimidating when they first met at North Carolina State. Rivers was a freshman when Wilson was a junior and they lived in the same dormitory, six or seven doors from each other.

NFL Power Rankings - Week 4
Bob McManaman's NFL Power Rankings – Week 4 (Last week's rankings in parenthesis)

NFP Power Rankings | National Football Post
Every week, the National Football Post brings you our NFL Power Rankings: a breakdown of how we stack up the league.

Old LT is back with a burst - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
25. Arizona Cardinals: What was more misdirected – Sebastian Janikowski’s last-second field-goal attempt Sunday, or Ken Whisenhunt’s Mark Dantonio heart-attack reference after the game?

Bryant's big spending bad for union - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Framed under the proper light, the fact Dallas Cowboys rookie receiver Dez Bryant was stuck with a $54,896 bill at the very upscale Pappas Brothers Steak House is a quaint, humorous little story. Bryant refused to carry a teammate’s shoulder pads during training camp – rejecting a rookie hazing ritual – and buying the veterans dinner was the pay back.

NFL Videos: Can the 49ers salvage their season?
The 49ers are 0-3 and heading to Atlanta, can they get a win? Jay Glazer and Rod Woodson break it down.

Chicago Bears among new batch of contenders; Tampa Bay Buccaneers don't yet qualify - ESPN
It's too early to fully sort out the pretenders from the contenders, but it's worth investigating.