Arizona Cardinals Rumored To Have Been Invited To Play In Hall Of Fame Game

by Jess Root on Feb 21, 2012 9:01 AM MST in General Arizona Cardinals News

Monday afternoon, Mike Jurecki tweeted that he had heard that the Arizona Cardinals had been asked to play in the 2012 Hall of Fame Game, which kicks off the NFL preseason each year. If the Cardinals do decide to accept the invite, they would be getting a fifth preseason game.

Is this a good idea?

Aside from the extra work, there are some positives to this. It gives the team more game reps to make roster decisions for one. Since the Hall of Fame Game is the kickoff of the preseason, it would mean that the Cardinals would likely start training camp earlier than normal (they typically start camp around the last weekend in July).

Perhaps the biggest impact will be with Kevin Kolband John Skelton. As there will be an open competition for the starting QB job, it will give both guys more reps in games to be able to show what they can do. For Kevin Kolb, who has had less experience with the offense, this potentially will be invaluable.

It has not been confirmed whether this has happened or not, but if it has, Ken Whsienhunt and the Cardinals should jump at the opportunity. It would bring some recognition to the team and should be a help to make sure the roster is filled with the best guys at each position.

The downside is that with increased game reps comes greater risk of injury.

What do you think? Would you like to see the Cards in the Hall of Fame game? Would the injury risk be worth it to see the team play one additional game, even if it is meaningless?

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Comments

this is great imo

For the simple fact u just mentioned, kolb / skelly get more reps to determine our trigger man, not to mention hall of fame game gives us prime 15 min of fame.

by tucson cards fan on Feb 21, 2012 9:48 AM MST via mobile reply actions

Agreed

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by JoeCB1991 on Feb 21, 2012 11:11 AM MST up reply actions

GREAT IDEA!!

For a team that will be looking for an identity and with young players that need evaluated. I’m excited! I hope it happens.

by defense_dad on Feb 21, 2012 9:59 AM MST via iPhone app reply actions

Get it done.

By Preseason week 4 we’ll have our starting QB

by NATIVEWOOD on Feb 21, 2012 10:11 AM MST reply actions

No thanks

If one of our guys went down with a season ending injury in a meaningless game, that would suck. Definately not worth it. Realistically what is 1 extra game gonna tell the coaches what they don’t already know.

by cgcardzfan on Feb 21, 2012 10:47 AM MST via mobile reply actions 1 recs

Agreed

If you can’t tell after four games which one is better, then an additional game won’t mean a thing. The injury risk just is not worth it.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 21, 2012 3:37 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs

Agree

WTF do we need another meaningless preseason game for. I would be fine with ditching a home preseason game to play in the HOF game, but just no need for a 5th preseason game.

by Drullin'OverDaCards on Feb 21, 2012 4:14 PM MST up reply actions

Yup

Williams and Toler last year. No point in adding risk by adding another meaningless game

by Redbird Nation #1 on Feb 21, 2012 7:07 PM MST up reply actions

+1

We don’t need more preseason games (in a normal scheduled year).

"If Gortat pulls off a real Dream Shake in-game this year I will shave my head.
Mark my words." Piotr Szczesniak 12/12/11 2:12 PM
Cardinals, Suns, D-backs for life!

by Airwave on Feb 21, 2012 8:04 PM MST up reply actions

Hmmm

“Cardinals would likely start training camp earlier than normal "

Can you confirm this? I think teams are restricted on how early they can start, and I don’t believe they allow teams in the HOF game to start earlier than others, but I could be wrong.

I think the Cards typically start a day or two later than most, but unless I’m wrong about the above, I don’t think they’ll get extra training time and would actually be hurt in that regard with travel and the glorified scrimmage the HOF game is (being so early on). Everything I’ve heard is that the coaches don’t like being in the HOF game because of that.

by CardsFan1976 on Feb 21, 2012 11:52 AM MST reply actions

Typically cam starts

about 15 days before their first preseason game. So earlier first game, earlier camp. That info came from an Urban tweet

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by Jess Root on Feb 21, 2012 1:06 PM MST up reply actions

Thanks

If that’s the case, then I’d have to change my mind and say that it’s definitely worth it. Any extra camp time we can get, the better, especially if we’re going to have any kind of “qb competition”.

by CardsFan1976 on Feb 21, 2012 4:38 PM MST up reply actions

Still not worth the injury risk to me

Training camp is plenty long already. Bodies wear down – even without a major injury the wear and tear of even the preseason games add up. All those little bumps and brusies take a toll on these guys bodies. NO NO NO NO NO to an extra preseason game.

by Drullin'OverDaCards on Feb 22, 2012 7:47 AM MST up reply actions

This would make up for the first round bye we get this season

by NATIVEWOOD on Feb 21, 2012 1:48 PM MST reply actions 1 recs

Rec'd!

Joe Saunders: "They Giants played a really good game, so hats off to us"

by Skii on Feb 21, 2012 11:29 PM MST up reply actions

The extra game is for the rookies

The Starters are still going to play the same amount, for the most part. The extra game will give the rookies more reps and game speed.

I think this is a great idea. Can’t wait for the new season.

by Sect113rw10 on Feb 21, 2012 3:17 PM MST reply actions

I am not buying the open competition bit on Kolb and Skelton either

It is still Kolb’s job to lose. Not saying I like this, but I just don’t beleive there is ever an open equal competition at QB.

by Drullin'OverDaCards on Feb 21, 2012 4:17 PM MST reply actions

Did you hear "open" somewhere?

I’ve heard “competition”, but to me that doesn’t mean that you don’t have a declared starter, just that one guy doesn’t have the lock on the job and can have it taken away. But “open competition” usually means something more like you imply with no true starter and the job wide open.

by CardsFan1976 on Feb 21, 2012 4:43 PM MST up reply actions

I recall Whiz saying...

The great record Skelton had and the unfortunate injuries to Kolb. That, to me, sounds like a ringing endorsement for open competition.

When life gives you lemons... Bag them up and sell them. Fruit can be expensive these days.

by hevchv on Feb 21, 2012 5:31 PM MST via mobile up reply actions

I heard it in the story above

by Drullin'OverDaCards on Feb 23, 2012 1:10 PM MST up reply actions

I'd rather see extra games at the end of the season.

Completely ambivalent about the HOF game. Dislike the chances of injury. Like the opportunity for the younger players to get extra game time.

by hadrarius on Feb 21, 2012 4:32 PM MST reply actions

1 more meaningless preseason game is just one more opportunity to have someone get injured. Just a big risk for little value.

by mahill3 on Feb 21, 2012 5:30 PM MST reply actions

Preseason is already too long

Why add another game?

by Jesse Reynolds on Feb 21, 2012 7:58 PM MST reply actions

Boo!

More snaps for the young guys!

by tw3kr on Feb 22, 2012 3:31 AM MST up reply actions

For the young guys that probably won't make the roster?

I guess…

by Jesse Reynolds on Feb 22, 2012 9:58 AM MST up reply actions

I don't know about the whole more games=more injuries idea

That could be true, but you could still only play 2 preseason games and have 10 guys go on IR. I think more time to prepare can only be good for the team, and if injury happens then that’s just the way it is.

by falltea on Feb 22, 2012 8:07 AM MST reply actions 1 recs

That's what I'm thinking too.

I can see how an extra game equals more opportunity for someone to get injured, but doesn’t any other game have just as much chance for an injury? I don’t really see how any preseason, regular season, or post-season game has a higher chance for injury? To me, the extra game would be good, if it’s just another meaningless preseason game.

by crisco219 on Feb 22, 2012 3:51 PM MST up reply actions

It's not that playing an extra games makes players more suseptible to injury

It’s that your adding more meaningless chances for players to get hurt. We’re not talking about a game that matters in the standings or stats or postseason, it’s a meaningless game that opens the door for more injuries.

Go big or go home!! Bet big to win big!!

by Steamin' Beamin' on Feb 22, 2012 4:27 PM MST up reply actions

I get your point

and I would definitely agree if the game was solely meaningless, however if it would help better evaluate the QB position and give more time for camp then I believe that the benefits outweigh the risks.

Obviously, if the game is just a pro bowl-esque walkthrough of a game, then the extra game is definitely not needed.

by falltea on Feb 22, 2012 8:23 PM MST up reply actions