More photos » Matt York - AP

Matt Leinart may be looking over his shoulder now that Derek Anderson is a member of the Cardinals. Quarterback controversy anyone?

Browse more photos »

Most of the news surround the Arizona Cardinals revolves around the signing of free agent quarterback Derek Anderson. Anderson was signed to a two year deal on Wednesday, to back up Matt Leinart. In regards to Leinart, head coach Ken Whisenhunt has been reiterating his statements that Matt is the starter heading into training camp. Why can't the media wrap their minds around that?

Leinart gets -- and gives -- the message - NFC West Blog - ESPN
First up is from Mike Sando, talking about the text message that was sent to Whisenhunt from Leinart. Whisenhunt stated," 'He is fired up about where he is and about getting in here in the offseason program and working with the guys,' Whisenhunt told reporters in Arizona."

The Leinart endorsement - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Sando also talks about Derek Anderson and Matt Lienart, and the possible feelings of Ken Whisenhunt: "No one is saying Whisenhunt handed the job to Leinart unconditionally. Whisenhunt is merely acknowledging that newly signed backup Derek Anderson will have to unseat Leinart to win the job."

Continue reading this post »

More photos » Paul Connors - AP

Head coach Ken Whisenhunt stirred up a lot of talk with his comments that Matt Leinart needs to earn the starting job for next season.

Browse more photos »

There's a lot of new links stemming from the last couple days. Ken Whisenhunt made a lot of people think twice when he declared that Matt Leinart will need to earn the starting position for next season. I personally agree with what Darren Urban said about it. He's right. Mike Sando also had a productive conversation with John Clayton about overtime in the playoffs. There idea for a change makes a lot of sense, but shouldn't it be for the entire season?

The search goes on
Darren Urban gives his opinion on Ken Whisenhunt stating that Leinart needs to earn the starting job:"It’s funny to me to a point that people are making a big deal (in this case, profootballtalk.com but that’s not the only place) about coach Ken Whisenhunt declining to "give" Leinart the starting job. Whisenhunt doesn’t give out starting jobs. Heck, Kurt Warner had more touchdown passes the last eight games of the 2007 season — more than Tom Brady in that span in the year Brady threw for an NFL-record 50 — while Leinart struggled before his injury that season, and Warner still had to compete with Leinart and beat him out in training camp 2008."

Continue reading this post »

Matt York - AP

After looking at the numbers, Larry Fitzgerald may benefit more with the loss of Anquan Boldin.

View full size photo »

A lot of news and moves have occurred the last couple days. It's almost unreal how much national attention the Cardinals have received in free agency this year. Although there's usually one team that makes a lot of noise, good or bad. As you can imagine, a lot of the links today are about the Kerry Rhodes trade and Kurt Warner's charity event.

Darren Urban is the first to talk about Rhodes and his new role - New Rolle For Rhodes

Rhodes move shows Cardinals have plan - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Mike Sando talks about the deal and that it may be part of the Cardinals offseason plans: "Kerry Rhodes' addition isn't going to offset all the Cardinals' personnel losses this offseason, but his quick acquisition from the Jets following Antrel Rolle's departure shows Arizona has a plan."

Fitzgerald without Warner, Boldin - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Sando also lists some very compelling stats. First he breaks down Fitzgerald's stats without Boldin and Warner, then just Warner, then just Boldin. Clearly the most significant are his stats without Boldin, in which he's considerably better. "There you have it. We can now safely say Arizona will dominate the league with Leinart at quarterback, Fitzgerald at receiver and Boldin out of the picture.

Fitzgerald's numbers without Warner - NFC West Blog - ESPN

Fitzgerald's numbers without Boldin - NFC West Blog - ESPN

Continue reading this post »

More photos » Mark Humphrey - AP

Dockett to Suh: me and u will dominate together something serious!!

Browse more photos »

I apologize for the absence over the weekend. During that time there was an abundant amount of news, notably from the NFL Scouting Combine. As you can imagine, in Cardinal-land it's the contract talk regarding three Arizona Cardinals(for the time-being). I guess we should be happy there's a lot to talk about at this point in the offseason. Once May and June hits we'll be dying for some news. Here's the first weekly flock.

Word From the Birds Blog
Cardinals' defensive tackle Darnell Dockett expressed his interest in draft prospect Suh via twitter:Dear Ndamukong Suh I know u might be the 1st pick but can u whine like eli manning and go to another team like the cardinals” “If u wait till we pic ill make sure u with us, me and u will dominate together something serious, thx NINE-0 –please fwd to SUH”

Darren Urban of www.azcardinals.com considers the possibility of the Cardinals adding QB depth in the draft: The Question Of A Mid-Round QB  

In The Cards' Defense
Urban discusses the Cardinals defense: Free agency will also make a difference not only in what the Cards lose but gain. If Dansby departs, it wouldn’t be a surprise to have the Cards chase a couple of linebackers scheduled to be available and that once were with Whisenhunt in Pittsburgh – inside linebacker Larry Foote and outside linebacker Joey Porter. 

Word From the Birds Blog
Another Levi Brown- a quarterback at the combine -  talked about the Cardinals' Brown and what it was like with another athlete having the same name in the NFL: If Levi the quarterback wasn’t aware of Levi the tackle once upon a time, he certainly was in April of 2007. "It’s weird," Levi the QB said. "A couple years ago when he was coming out, people saw it on the news he got drafted and I had some people calling me, sending me text messages and asking my parents, ‘Did Levi get drafted already?’ I was like, ‘I’m only a sophomore. How am I going to get drafted?’ "

Word From the Birds Blog
Urban said the Cardinals will target Pennington. Not sure what I think about that move: The team wants Chad Pennington (Graves said Pennington, if he becomes a free agent, will be among the quarterbacks the Cards look at).

Continue reading this post »

There's plenty of Cardinals news floating around the web right now with player contracts, free agency and the combine all joining into one mass of news and headlines. It's sure to grow as everything actually begins. The Cardinals are on the brink of changing their roster into a whole new form. Right now it's in their best interest to get key players re-signed and to be prepared for free agency. Links are below.

Cardinals have big 'off-season' ahead
Speaking of that mess of headlines, Somers talks about what the Cardinals are about to face this offseason: "The Cardinals won't play a game that counts until September, but given the challenges they face over the next few months, it's hard to call this the "off-season." Two key defensive starters, inside linebacker Karlos Dansby and free safety Antrel Rolle, likely will be unrestricted free agents on March 5. Matt Leinart is the only quarterback under contract. Receiver Anquan Boldin could be traded, and defensive end Darnell Dockett wants more money."

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - KentSomers - A critical few months
Somers also discusses the Cardinals' approach to free agency, and the potential switch for Levi Brown to left tackle: "The club's approach in free agency won't vary much from the past few years. The Cardinals aren't going to jump in and pay big money for a player right away. They will wait to see how the market shakes out. With an uncapped year looming, no one is quite sure how free agency will look this year."

"Right tackle Levi Brown likely is going to move to the left side, since it looks as if Mike Gandy won't be re-signed. Brandon Keith and Herman Johnson will battle for the starting job on the right side. The team wants to re-sign Jeremy Bridges to compete for a starting job, or at least to be a backup at guard and tackle." 

Continue reading this post »

It's Friday and I can't say that I'm not excited the weekend is already here. It seems like time still flys by even when the Cardinals and the rest of us are in offseason mode. I thought I'd drop a Weekly Flock on everybody today with stuff around the web related to all things Cardinals. I also wanted to say I plan on posting weekly flocks at least twice a week to fill your brains with as much Cardinals news as possible. Enjoy.

• Making Up For Lost Time
  Darren Urban talks about linebacker Cody Brown, "The locker room was mostly barren, but out on the Cardinals’ practice field, Cody Brown took turns with fellow linebacker Reggie Walker taking coverage drops and catching the football. Brown hadn’t been on the field since last offseason, after fracturing his right wrist in the Cards’ second preseason game. His rookie year, in many ways, was lost."
• Word From the Birds Blog
  Urban also talks about the Cardinals labor situation, "NFC Divisional Playoff Arizona Cardinals — 1 unrestricted free agent for $5.5 million* or more in Year One of contract + the same number of Cardinals unrestricted free agents who sign with other clubs + any unrestricted free agent for less than $3.7 million* in Year One of contract with limitations on per season increases."
• Word From the Birds Blog
  Also from Urban, he discusses Antrel Rolle's contract situation, "As expected, the Cardinals are trying to negotiate a contract extension with safety Antrel Rolle — a must, given that Rolle is due a $4 million bonus next month and an $8+ million salary."

Continue reading this post »

We've gotten away from the "weekly" flock, so to start this Wednesday morning off right I thought I'd get any important links to you.

• Mike Sando looks over the NFC West offensive tackle situations. Sando believes the Cardinals may need to consider bringing Mike Gandy back, as there aren't many elite pass protectors that will be available at 26th pick in the draft, and the free agency pool isn't promising.
• Sando also looks at the free agent picture for each team in the NFC West. The Cardinals have the most(13) in the division, and second most in the league only to the Houston Texans. The Cardinals have three linebackers set to become free agents.
• Darren Urban talks about whether or not the Cardinals should and/or will pursue defensive end Julius Peppers when free agency begins. According to Urban, the risk/reward of signing a 30-year old converted end to a high-end contract would be too much for the Cardinals.
• Bob McManaman lists potential draft picks for the Arizona Cardinals. No surprise, the majority of them are defenders or offensive lineman.
• Dan Bickley compares the football season to a full meal. Apparently we are all hogs salvating at the mouth for next season to begin. I have to agree.
• The Sports Exchange looks at the Cardinals personnel needs.
• They also list some interesting quotes and notes, including a surprising note that said NT Bryan Robinson ripped the name plate off his locker and threw it in the trash when the Cardinals cleaned their lockers. I wonder if he'll be back.

From Revenge of the Birds, Merry Christmas and happy holidays to everyone. Today's kind of hectic so to feed your Cardinals needs we'll get any Cardinal related links posted here. Tomorrow we're back in the office and will get the Five Keys to Success and Fly Around the NFC West posted then. Have a good day and hope you get everything you want.

From azcardinals, Darren Urban finds that U of P stadium was the best new stadium since 2000, even beating out the recently opened Dallas Cowboys stadium. The roof and roll-out field were what pushed it over the top.

Also from Urban, Ken Whisenhunt says that if Jermey Bridges gets hurt, then Levi Brown would move to left tackle and Brandon Keith would start at right tackle. Ben Patrick and Sean Morey will be game-time decisions after suffering from concussions also.

Urban also reports that this Sunday's game has sold out, making that 41 straight sell outs and also means they've sold out there remaining game since the Packers game is sure to be filled up.

Finally from Urban, the Cardinals made a deal with coach Whisenhunt that if they beat the Lions, they got Christmas day off. They did win, and there was no practice for them today.

Mike Sando provides a penalty watch, concluding that Warner has significantly lowered his penalties since Ken Whisenhunt took over play calling.

Mike Sando also looks at the Cardinals gap between big plays this season and last. The Cardinals have a -19 gap they'd have to fill in the final two games - that isn't going to happen.

Ken Whisenhunt says he plans to play the starters on Sunday and will only limit those with significant injuries. Kurt Warner doesn't know if it is a good or bad thing.

Cardinals kicker Neil Rackers is expected to return week 17, but would play this week if he had it his way.

That's it for today guys. See you all tomorrow.