9-7-10: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings

Not much to say right now except that I am glad the NFL regular season is about to start. On to St. Louis!

Anderson's Plan
Quarterback hoped to be starter when he signed, and now he is

Anderson goes from castoff to NFL starter again - NFL - SI.com
By all accounts, Derek Anderson was not handed the starting quarterback job in Arizona. He took it, teammates and coaches say, with his attitude, strong arm and eagerness to work on the weaknesses that had made him an NFL castoff.

NFL.com news: Leinart has tough sell to change perceptions about his game
Matt Leinart's NFL options looked bleak after being cut this weekend by the Arizona Cardinals, but the Houston Texans stepped forward and signed the deposed Cardinals quarterback to a one-year deal, perhaps saving his career, even if momentarily. Leinart is going to a situation that will show he either wasn't in an ideal system for his skill set, or that he simply isn't an NFL starter.

(Good article with a good scouting report on Leinart)

Whisenhunt's Monday Presser

Anderson's Monday Presser

Deuce gets creamed — and his spot back
Deuce Lutui still has to fend off Rex Hadnot to stay the starting right guard, but Lutui is the guy for now, coach Ken Whisenhunt said. So everyone wanted to talk to Lutui after practice today, and while Deuce was holding court in front of the cameras, fellow O-lineman Jeremy Bridges nailed him in the face with a shaving cream pie.

Accuracy primary focus for Derek Anderson - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt and quarterback Derek Anderson addressed accuracy issues for Anderson during their media sessions Monday. That aspect of Anderson's game stands as a primary concern, I think. Anderson threw high for Early Doucet and behind Stephen Williams during the exhibition game against the Chicago Bears. It's only exhibition play, but inaccuracy has been a concern for Anderson in the past.

QBs make good coaches appear great - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Five thoughts on the Sporting News' rankings for NFL head coaches, which I know about because of this:

Texans sign QB Leinart to one-year deal | Houston Texans Football | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle
After he arrived at George Bush Intercontinental Airport from Los Angeles on Monday night, quarterback Matt Leinart promised to do "everything I can to help my team win" when he starts practicing with the Texans on Wednesday.

azcentral.com blogs - Bob McManaman - BobMcManaman - Mac on the NFL: Power Rankings -- Week 1
Bob McManaman’s NFL Power Rankings – Week 1

Matt Leinart Will Again Take Back Seat With Texans - NYTimes.com
Matt Leinart’s career is inextricably linked to Texas, considering that it was the University of Texas — and Vince Young — who ended Leinart’s reign as the Southern California quarterback with a stunning victory against the Trojans in the 2006 national championship game at the Rose Bowl.

KTAR.com - Whisenhunt: Cardinals ready for regular season
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the Cardinals are excited to get going and that Labor Day signifies the start of the regular season for them.

KTAR.com - Wolf: Let the kid play
We of the Wu Fang Clan have driven our stakes into the ground. Camped on the banks of the river Whatareyouthinking, we huddle in our tents, awaiting a runner's news on the backup QB for the Arizona Cardinals.

KTAR.com - Ash: Looking back at Leinart in Arizona
Today is the day that I honestly thought was a year away. I figured Matt would be the starter this year and probably not do well enough for coach Whisenhunt and the Cards to give him a new contract. I didn't see this coming at all.

(I know, I should have posted this one a couple of days ago)

Please, Please Don't Compare Matt Leinart To David Carr - Around the Loop - SB Nation Houston
First, I'd like to congratulate all of the fantasy football junkies out there who, back in July, selected Matt Leinart to be a number one QB, tabbed him as someone capable of having a 'breakout season,' only to see him bomb in camp, get released and then sign with Houston as a temporary third-stringer. Seriously, way to go.

Arizona Cardinals' Darnell Dockett working to fulfill high expectations
Practice had been over for nearly 40 minutes. Quarterback Derek Anderson and head coach Ken Whisenhunt already had done their interview sessions with the media. Several players already had showered, changed and left the locker room. Guess who still was outside in the heat, getting in extra work? The guy who just signed a $48 million contract extension, that's who.

Matt Leinart: One Bad Game Away from Starting Quarterback to Houston Texans Third String QB? - Associated Content - associatedcontent.com
Frustrated at the Arizona Cardinal's decision to make Derek Anderson the opening day starting quarterback, Ken Wisenhunt and Matt Leinart parted ways. Now, Matt Leinart is the Texans third string QB while Derek Anderson is the Cardinals only lifeline.

Filling out the practice squad (and ice cream)
The Cardinals have put together a practice squad. Three newcomers are joining G Tom Pestock, T Herman Johnson and WR Isaiah Williams. RB Ian Johnson, cut by the Vikings, is best known for being the Boise State hero in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl who ended up proposing to his now-wife at University of Phoenix Stadium after the game. The Cards are also adding WR Tim Brown — no, not that one — who was cut by the Giants (and who played for receivers coach John McNulty when both were at Rutgers) and LB Curtis Gatewood, cut by the Redskins. Gatewood has bounced around with the Lions, Chiefs, Eagles and Steelers as well as an inside ‘backer. The Cardinals still have two spots to fill, although that is expected to happen sooner rather than later.

Blackouts looming for multiple teams, again | ProFootballTalk.com
Leahy points to the Jaguars, Lions, Chiefs, Raiders, Rams, Cardinals, Bengals, and Chargers as teams that could struggle to sell out their venues -- and thus to avoid a local blackout of their home games. On-field failures possibly could result in late-season blackouts in other cities, too, such as Buffalo, Carolina, Seattle, and Minnesota.

Report: Bush will lose his Heisman, and no one else will get it | ProFootballTalk.com
Though it took way too long for the Heisman Trophy Trust to come to the only right decision in the wake of the NCAA's ruling that Saints running back Reggie Bush was ineligible to play college football for USC during the entire college football season in which he ultimately won the award given to the best player in (wait for it) college football, the folks responsible for the most recognized and prestigious individual award in all of football reportedly will be taking back Bush's trophy.

PFT's Week Zero Power Rankings | ProFootballTalk.com
24. Arizona Cardinals: It's only a matter of time before Larry Fitzgerald tries to finagle a trade.

NFL.com news: Fifty-three reasons to be intrigued heading into the season
If you were among those chosen for the final 53-man roster you're breathing a sigh of relief. There have been tons of storylines to monitor this offseason, but in keeping with the theme of making the cut, let's take a look at the 53 stories that matter the most as we head into opening kickoff this Thursday night.

Arizona Cardinals 2010 Preview: Larry Fitzgerald Has To Lead For NFC West Title | Bleacher Report
The Arizona Cardinals have emerged as a dominating team in the NFC West division in recent years, with the pinnacle being their Super Bowl Appearance just two seasons ago. However, this is been a tumultuous offseason for the Cardinals, as they lost four key playmakers and leaders, beginning with the retirement of quarterback Kurt Warner, following a playoff loss to the Super Bowl Champion New Orleans Saints.

In the Red Zone with Ken Whisenhunt
Coach Whisenhunt wraps up the Cardinals preseason with Doug and Wolf on Sports 620 KTAR

NFL Power Rankings Week 1 - National Football League - ESPN
The 2010 NFL regular season kicks off with some titanic tilts that should shake up our Week 1 ESPN.com Power Rankings.

Video: NFC West More Or Less - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Mike Tirico polled Jon Gruden and Ron Jaworski for thoughts on the NFC West.

NFL TV blackouts could be more common this season
The specter of potential NFL TV blackouts has more than just the poor-performing teams on edge this season.

Matt Leinart took a big pay cut | ProFootballTalk.com
When Matt Leinart said he wanted to stay in Arizona because it was his best chance to play in 2010, it was part of a high stakes game of chicken with the Cardinals. He was essentially daring Arizona to keep him.

KTAR.com - Valley Voice: Will this part the Red Sea?
This is it. We, as Cardinals fans, as a city, are finally at the pinnacle of the NFL mountain.

KTAR.com - Cardinals QB situation clears up; Whisenhunt ready for season
When Kurt Warner retired last year, very few thought the quarterback situation in Arizona would be the way it is now - Derek Anderson as the starter and Max Hall as the backup.

KTAR.com - Doug Franz's Mailbag

Cardinals camp report (09.06): Roster shuffling continues
The Cardinals’ 53-man roster has been a work in progress, and that theme continued through the weekend. After 17 players were let go on Friday, additional roster moves have been trickling in over the past few days.

More than ever, Cards declare 'In Whiz, we trust'
Ken Whisenhunt is not a gambler by nature. The Cardinals coach is an analyst -- a thinker with a civil engineering degree who leaves no stone unturned.

NFL Power Rankings: Start of a silver-black revival? - NFL - CBSSports.com Football
We know there will be several new playoff teams in the NFL in 2010. That's the way of the league. There have been five new ones in each of the past 14 seasons. Picking the new ones out is the tough part.