Time for todays links, as the Rookie Minicamp wraps up, and shortly the rookies will be working with the veterans to get ready for the season. Fun times.
Arizona Cardinals rookie minicamp ends on positive note
The only firm conclusion the Cardinals could draw after their three-day rookie minicamp was that it concluded on Sunday. Coach Ken Whisenhunt reserved judgment on performances because players were in shorts and helmets, playing mostly against other rookies. "For three days, five practices, we actually kind of looked like we knew what we were doing (Sunday)," Whisenhunt said. "Everybody looks good in shorts. You don't want to get too excited. We had a number of guys make plays, look good in what they were doing. We'll have a better sense when we go against our veterans. Things will speed up. "Let's just say this: the first stage of the test, they passed."
Quarterback Under Construction
Cards hope to develop Lindley as preparation for the future
Word From the Birds Blog | Rookies wrap up camp
The final rookie minicamp practice of the weekend just ended. As usual, it’s too early to tell much.
azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Sending rookies off with a message
Coach Ken Whisenhunt had some personal and professional advice for rookies after the final practice Sunday of a three-day minicamp: make sure to call your mothers and continue to work hard. Whisenhunt wasn't keen on providing any specific evaluations of players, saying most of them had their good and bad moments. Here are some things that struck me:
Massie Eyes Starting Role
Arizona Cardinals 4th round selection Bobbie Massie has his sights set on becoming the starting RT in 2012.
Arizona Sports News:
Phoenix Coyotes overpowered by Los Angeles Kings in opener
The Los Angeles Kings arrived in the Valley exactly as advertised. The surprising sweethearts of the playoffs were physical, they were responsible defensively and they played at a pace that typically starts to fade by this time of the season. No line better embodied that style than the Kings' top unit featuring Dustin Brown, Anze Kopitar and Justin Williams. The trio was, at times, impossible for the Coyotes to slow, and their production on two goals led the Kings to a 4-2 victory in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals Sunday night in front of 17,134 at Jobing.com Arena.
Arizona Diamondbacks continue struggles, lose series to San Francisco Giants
The Diamondbacks' recent struggles may not have gotten your attention, but perhaps this will: The home team hasn't won a home series in more than a month. In fact, their most-recent series win at home came the first week of the season. The San Francisco Giants were the latest to leave downtown Phoenix with a series win stowed in their carry-on bags, defeating the Diamondbacks 7-3 on Sunday to take a three-game series at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks weren't as sloppy as they were in Saturday's loss, but they still couldn't deliver, spoiling a Mother's Day get-together of 35,430.
NFL News:
Pete Carroll says Russell Wilson will compete to start | ProFootballTalk
Third-round rookie quarterbacks don’t typically get opportunities to begin the season as starters. No third-round rookie quarterback has been an opening-day starter since 1973, when the Bills gave Joe Ferguson the nod. But the Seahawks saw enough of third-round pick Russell Wilson at rookie minicamp to include him in their training camp battle at quarterback. Wilson will compete with incumbent Tarvaris Jackson and free-agent pickup Matt Flynn.
Tim Hightower will rejoin the Redskins | ProFootballTalk
Lost in the mountains in March, running back Tim Hightower has found his way back to the NFL. Specifically, to the Redskins.
Jets quarterbacks coach faults Sanchez for "poor decision-making" | ProFootballTalk
Actions speak louder than words; the Jets proved that by trading for quarterback/punt protector/dog-name-changer Tim Tebow. But when it comes to the flaws of starter Mark Sanchez, the words are there, too. Most recently, they came from his position coach, Matt Cavanaugh.
Juan Castillo gives Fletcher Cox a "profanity-filled tirade" | ProFootballTalk
It didn’t take the Eagles’ first-round draft pick long to incur the wrath of the coaching staff.
USFL will return next March | ProFootballTalk
On April 1, we told you that the USFL is back. We then told you that, no, it’s not an April Fool’s Day gag. The four-letter football league recently announced that it will return to action next March, with eight teams and a 14-game season.