11-15-10: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings

All I can really say is thank you to the Phoenix Suns for keeping this weekend in Arizona Sports from being a complete waste of time.

Arizona Cardinals thumped by Seattle Seahawks
Turns out, you didn't have to go to Phoenix International Raceway on Sunday to watch a sporting event where grown men go in circles. The Cardinals did a pretty good job of that all afternoon in losing 36-18 to the Seahawks in front of 61,904 at University of Phoenix Stadium. Despite a postcard-day outside, the Cardinals hierarchy kept the roof closed Sunday, but all that did was keep the stench of the performance circulating and the boos echoing.

Wrap-up: Seahawks 36, Cardinals 18 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
What it means: The Cardinals have serious problems on defense, their starting quarterback remains prone to turnovers, the Seahawks cannot trust their backup quarterback and their starter, Matt Hasselbeck, can be the difference for Seattle -- in a big way. Hasselbeck played his best game of the season Sunday despite suffering a left wrist injury that sidelined him to open the second half. Arizona, having allowed more than 500 yards to Minnesota last week, had no answer for Hasselbeck's quick passes and increasingly accurate deep throws. Seattle helped itself tremendously within the division by sweeping the Cardinals. The Seahawks are now 3-1 within the division, 5-4 overall and feeling good about themselves after a brutal two-week stretch. Coach Pete Carroll couldn't have scripted this one much better for his team. Arizona has lost four in a row and is officially in free-fall mode.

Seattle Seahawks' Mike Williams, Matt Hasselbeck break Arizona Cardinals defense
One was playing three days after a bone had broken through the skin of his pinkie finger. The other one left wearing a cast after suffering a broken bone in his wrist. Collectively, Mike Williams and Matt Hasselbeck broke something else Sunday - the Cardinals defense and a lot of hearts inside University of Phoenix Stadium.

Arizona Cardinals don't blame fans for booing
The boos came so often and were so loud Sunday that the Cardinals couldn't help but hear them as they were losing 36-18 to the Seahawks. Well, most of the players heard them. "No, I got deaf ears," cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie said. Those that did hear the boos, which was pretty much everyone else, didn't blame people for voicing displeasure. "It's hard not to hear those," receiver Larry Fitzgerald said. "The fans pay a lot of money to come in here and watch a good product. They been expecting good things for us over the last few seasons, and we're not giving them the kind of show they deserve. "When you pay that kind of money for tickets, then you have the right to boo."

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Post-game spread
I admit that when it comes to remembering specific games and plays from years gone by, my mind is a blank as a school chalkboard in July. So that said, I'm trying to think of a more more disappointing game for the Cardinals under Ken Whisenhunt that Sunday's loss. (Excluding Super Bowl XLIII.)

The Arizona Cardinals Are Not Very Good - Desert Dirt - SB Nation Arizona
That is all.

A Tough Homecoming
The Cardinals heard the boos, and they understood.

Toler Hopes To Bounce Back
Greg Toler led the Cardinals with eight tackles Sunday and knocked down a pair of passes. But the cornerback was sullen following the 36-18 loss, down after getting repeatedly picked on by the Seahawks and ultimately being benched for a while in favor of backup Michael Adams.

KTAR.com - Too many mistakes all around for Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals went into Sunday's game with a chance of splitting their games against the Seattle Seahawks for the season and at worst being a game out of first place, possibly being tied atop the NFC West. Instead, the Seahawks emerged victorious from University of Phoenix Stadium for the first time since 2005 with a 36-18 thumping of the Cardinals.

Seahawks vs. Cardinals - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Matt Hasselbeck was brilliant until he cracked a bone in his left wrist. Even that didn't stop him altogether. The Seattle quarterback, out last week with a concussion, threw for 333 yards and a touchdown, most of them before he was hurt late in the first half, and Mike Williams had the biggest game of his rejuvenated career in the Seahawks' dominant 36-18 victory over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

Arizona Cardinals are caught in crisis
Players dressed and fled, as if they had a train to catch. Call it the Bipolar Express, a locomotive chugging hard toward last place. Yet Adrian Wilson wouldn't budge. He sat at his locker with a towel wrapped around his waist, his dignity stripped bare. After staring at his feet for an eternity, no answers were forthcoming. The team captain walked to the shower, declining comment after a 36-18 loss to the rival Seahawks. And doesn't that say it all?

Whiz: No staff changes coming
One of the subjects many have asked about is changing the coaching staff now — relieving Bill Davis of defensive coordinator duties, or bringing in an offensive coordinator. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said those inquiries were "fair," but aren’t going to happen. Not now.

For The Arizona Cardinals, The NFC West Was Lost In The Offseason - SB Nation Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals should be winning the NFC West this year. But they're not. It's not excusable.

Arizona Cardinals: The Crushingly Bad From Week 10 - Desert Dirt - SB Nation Arizona
The Cardinals lost their fourth game in a row, this time in a must-win divisional game that would have set the team up nicely to take the NFC West. Instead, their season's on the brink. What went wrong?

Arizona Cardinals coach not making personnel changes
The Arizona Cardinals are mired in a four-game losing streak following Sunday's 36-18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, but head coach Ken Whisenhunt isn't contemplating making any major personnel changes or reconfiguring his coaching staff.

Silver linings: Cardinals vs. Seahawks - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The facts: The Cardinals fell to 3-6 with a 36-18 defeat to the Seattle Seahawks at University of Phoenix Stadium in Week 10.

In the Red Zone with Ken Whisenhunt - SEA Review
Coach Whisenhunt reviews the Cardinals loss against the Seahawks with Doug and Wolf on Sports 620 KTAR

Video Gallery
Cards talk about 36-18 loss to Seahawks

Video Gallery
GameDay: Seahawks vs. Cardinals highlights

Video Gallery
Cardinals postgame press conference

Phoenix Suns defeat Los Angeles Lakers behind 3-point barrage
Suns Hall of Fame announcer Al McCoy has never uttered "Shazam!" as much as he did Sunday night at Staples Center. The Suns made beating the world-champion Los Angeles Lakers a side achievement Sunday by setting a franchise record with 22 3-pointers in a 121-116 road victory.

Seahawks' Hasselbeck, 49ers' Staley hurt - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The San Francisco 49ers will be without left tackle Joe Staley indefinitely after Staley suffered a fractured fibula in his left leg Sunday. Staley suffered two injuries to the leg, according to the 49ers. X-rays were negative following the first injury and Staley returned to the game. He suffered the fracture later and hopped off the field. Staley tried to gut it out, but he could barely walk. The 49ers' Will James (concussion), Adam Snyder (shoulder) and Joe Nedney (non-kicking knee) also suffered injuries. Meanwhile, the Seattle Seahawks are not sure about quarterback Matt Hasselbeck's status after Hasselbeck suffered a cracked bone in his left wrist, according to reports from Arizona, where Seattle grabbed sole possession of first place with a 36-18 victory over the Cardinals.

Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks play of the game
Arizona Cardinals vs. Seattle Seahawks play of the game, The Cardinals had the ball on their 21-yard line. It was 2nd and 8. There was 4:07 remaining in the third quarter.

Hasselbeck breaks bone in wrist as Seahawks separate in NFC West | ProFootballTalk
Seattle’s offense finally got going on Sunday, with Hasselbeck completing 22-of-34 passes for 333 yards and a touchdown. The Seahawks just have to keep him on the field. Hasselbeck missed a number of snaps against Arizona with a broken bone in his non-throwing wrist. Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said the injury "looks to be manageable" after the game, according to Danny O’ Neil of the Seattle Times.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - No coaching changes, Whiz says
Just a few quick notes between media availability at the Cardinals facility.

A Tiny Rant From A Whisenhunt Apologist - Desert Dirt - SB Nation Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals fell on the sword in their embarrassing loss to the Seattle Seahawks at home. Does Ken Whisenhunt deserve the blame for the surrender?

Arizona Cardinals Week 10 rewind: What we learned from loss to Seattle Seahawks
Arizona Cardinals Week 10 rewind: What we learned from loss to Seattle Seahawks, The Cardinals' Offense, defense put on a poor display in thorough defeat.

Cardinals defense has hit rock bottom
All season, the Cards coaching staff has insisted that the defense has the talent to overcome the loss of four starters. It’s time to consider the alternative.

NFC West QB rankings through Week 10 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
My weekly look at where NFC West quarterbacks stand (trending arrows indicate general direction, not necessarily a change in ranking from the previous week):

Power rankings revisited: Week 10 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
So much for ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings heading into Week 10.

KTAR.com - Whisenhunt thinks Cards character will help them forward
After losing at home to the Seattle Seahawks 36-18 on Sunday, Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt said even though he's frustrated his team showed the character that will allow them to get better going forward.

KTAR.com - Don't question the Cardinals effort. Question the talent
What happens when a team looks bad and the players and coaches claim that effort has nothing with it? That's exactly what the Arizona Cardinals and head coach Ken Whisenhunt did following their 36-18 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. While the media threw around the word during their post game questions more often than the Cards used to throw around the football with Kurt Warner, the head coach and his players didn't bite. No one, even slightly, questioned the effort on the field.

KTAR.com - Green: Clock is ticking for Whisenhunt, Cardinals
The Cardinals' slogan, "We do this together," has been around since the 2008 season. I'm sorry, Cardinals, but please don't lump me in with what you guys have been doing on the field the last few weeks. You're failing perfectly fine without my help.

KTAR.com - Burns: Cardinals trip over their own feet
Well that just about takes care of that…..doesn't it? The Arizona Cardinals have been hobbling around for most of the season, resting the weight of their playoff hopes on two crutches; the dreadful NFC West and their heaven sent schedule. Sunday, both gave out and the Cards collapsed in a heap.

Arizona Cardinals QB Woes Continue: How Can We Recover Loosing Kurt Warner? | Bleacher Report
I don't like being wrong. Not at all. Who of us does? But when it comes to predicting what will happen next on the Arizona Cardinals QB Merry-go-Round, boy have I been wrong this year.

Veterans Day: 10 NFL Players Who Served Overseas | Bleacher Report
In honor of Veterans Day, it's time for us to take a moment to acknowledge the men and women who fight or have fought for our freedom.

Josh McDaniels stumped by Todd Haley's handshake snub - NFL - SI.com
Denver Broncos coach Josh McDaniels says he's still stumped by Kansas City Chiefs coach Todd Haley's post-game snub.

Source: Shoulder injury ends Chad Pennington's year - ESPN
The Miami Dolphins haven't publicly revealed the prognosis for their damaged quarterbacks, but Chad Pennington will miss the rest of the season with a potentially career-threatening throwing shoulder injury, a source close to Pennington has informed ESPN.com.

League moving closer to L.A. return | ProFootballTalk
Fifteen years after the Raiders and Rams vacated Los Angeles, the league is moving closer to a return.

Favre plans to consult with Dr. James Andrews this week | ProFootballTalk
t’s going to be a busy week for Dr. James Andrews. The famous surgeon is expected to meet with Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford on Monday. Chad Pennington will probably want to get an MRI looked at after his latest setback, which is expected to end his season.

Brad Childress doesn’t watch ESPN | ProFootballTalk
In case it wasn’t already obvious, Ed Werder has a much closer relationship with Brett Favre than Vikings coach Brad Childress.

Week 10 Monday 10-pack | ProFootballTalk
Every Monday, we present 10 takes from the Sunday that was. Most Mondays, it’s waiting for you when you wake up, like a hangover.

Patriots? Jets? Giants? There are no super NFL teams this season - Peter King - SI.com
Whatever you do, don't make plans for the Sundays of Week 13 or Week 17

Jimmy Clausen has concussion; Panthers upset by hit - NFL - SI.com
Just when rookie Jimmy Clausen and the Carolina offense finally showed some spark, albeit in another loss, the Panthers were hit with more bad news as Clausen's status for next week is uncertain because of a concussion.

NFL.com news: 'Other' Smith has 49ers back in contention after 0-5 start
There was enough suspense in Week 10 for a month's worth of games. The Hail Mary play in the Houston-Jacksonville game reminded me of Doug Flutie's legendary throw back at Boston College against Miami. The Buffalo Bills finally got a win, and a few of the bottom-dwellers in the league also woke up and won, keeping the races in every division up in the air. Here are six things that caught my attention in Week 10:

NFL.com news: Still waiting for dominant team to emerge amid surprises
With 10 weeks of football in the books, no one team has separated itself as a Super Bowl favorite. No team is playing its best yet, and that is what makes the NFL so special.

Jets' sweet November could lead to comfortable December - Don Banks - SI.com
Musings, observations and the occasional Week 10 insight as we await the clash of AFC superpowers at Heinz Field, aka, the Big Ketchup Bottle ...

First and 10: Jags' prayer answered, more early analysis - Andrew Perloff - SI.com
Quick-hitting insights from the slate of 1 p.m. games ...

Todd Haley doesn’t appreciate the way the Broncos beat him | ProFootballTalk
If nothing else, Chiefs coach Todd Haley’s postgame antics will distract folks from his team’s terrible performance Sunday. Haley apparently was not pleased with how Josh McDaniels handled a big lead in Denver’s 49-29 victory over the Chiefs. The Broncos were still throwing plenty, max protecting, and blitzing on defense with a comfortable fourth quarter lead.

49ers comeback victory comes with a price | ProFootballTalk
First, the good news: The 49ers won 23-20 over the Rams in a game they absolutely needed to stay alive in the NFC West race. Now, the bad news. Joe Staley suffered a fracture in his leg during the game, according to Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee. Matt Maiocco of Comcast Bay Area says Staley will miss 4-6 weeks.

Report: Favre played with undisclosed shoulder injury | ProFootballTalk
After Sunday’s loss to the Bears, the king of NFL excuse-making offered up his latest excuse for poor play. Vikings quarterback Brett Favre told ESPN’s Ed Werder that Favre "experienced a sharp pain there while putting on a T-shirt at practice Saturday." The disclosure came directly to Werder, after Favre met with the media.

Week Ten Early Quick slants | ProFootballTalk
While I wonder whether if Texans cornerback Glover Quin played high school volleyball, here are my quick slants from Week Ten’s early games.

Report: Fins want to work out JaMarcus Russell | ProFootballTalk
As the reader who pointed this one out to us aptly put it, former Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell may be taking his talents (and his appetite) to South Beach.

The Designed Rush, Week 10: Hakeem Nicks, Dez Bryant Terrify While Browns, Bills And Lions Aggravate - SBNation.com
November's midpoint gave us the usual array of dramatic finishes, flashes of brilliance by Hakeem Nicks and Dez Bryant in the darkness of the New Meadowlands and also a rare simultaneous halftime for all the early games.

The timing of Favre's shoulder revelation - NFC North Blog - ESPN
Favre revealed to ESPN's Ed Werder a bit of information that could offer him a relatively graceful out from this mess if he chooses to take it. Favre admitted he felt a sharp pain in his right shoulder Saturday while putting on a T-shirt before practice. The pain was severe enough that he considered taking a pain-killing shot before Sunday's 27-13 loss to the Chicago Bears. Favre has had two issues with the right shoulder. One is the torn biceps tendon that significantly impacted his play with the New York Jets in 2008. The second is a partially torn rotator cuff that doctors found when they repaired the biceps tendon in 2009.

NFL.com news: Favre wants 'storybook ending' to prolific 20-year career
Brett Favre, at the midpoint of a disappointing season by his standards, isn't giving up on the Minnesota Vikings' playoff chances just yet. Favre is hoping for "a storybook ending," not only for the Vikings, but for his epic career that he vows will end with Minnesota's final snap of the 2010 season.

Rams vs. 49ers - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
After getting back into the NFC West race with two gutsy performances by their new starting quarterback, the San Francisco 49ers think they've finally found the right Smith for the job. Joe Nedney kicked a 29-yard field goal with 9:38 left in overtime, and Troy Smith passed for 356 yards while leading two late scoring drives in the 49ers' 23-20 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Bengals vs. Colts - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
The Indianapolis Colts don't need Peyton Manning playing at an MVP level to win every game. On Sunday, they found an old-fashioned formula - defense and turnovers - works just fine.

Jets vs. Browns - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Santonio Holmes almost felt sorry for Rob Ryan. The other Ryan wasn't so sympathetic. Holmes scored on a 37-yard touchdown pass from Mark Sanchez with 16 seconds left, giving the New York Jets their second straight overtime win, 26-20 over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday - also the AFC East leaders' eighth straight regular-season road win.

Vikings vs. Bears - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Brett Favre is still clinging to playoff hope even if Minnesota has little left. Barely in postseason contention when the day began, Favre and the Vikings may be just about out of it. The Chicago Bears are sticking around, though. Jay Cutler threw for 237 yards and three touchdowns, Devin Hester had two big returns and the Bears beat Minnesota 27-13 on Sunday to tie Green Bay for the NFC North lead.

Titans vs. Dolphins - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
When injuries sidelined two quarterbacks, the Miami Dolphins went without, resorting to the wildcat. Then third-stringer Tyler Thigpen came off the bench to seal a bizarre victory. Anything-goes play-calling Sunday helped compensate for the loss of Chad Pennington and Chad Henne , and the Dolphins beat the Tennessee Titans 29-17.

Texans vs. Jaguars - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
The play is called "Rebound," and Mike Thomas serves as "the scoop guy." The Jacksonville Jaguars don't even run it during practice. David Garrard always fakes the deep throw and teammates act out the results. It never turns out like this.

Lions vs. Bills - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Elated and relieved, Eric Wood couldn't contain himself as he skipped toward the Buffalo Bills ' locker room door and yelled out in ear-piercing jubilation. "Holy cow, we won a game!" the Bills guard crowed, his voice echoing throughout the Ralph Wilson Stadium tunnel.

Panthers vs. Buccaneers - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
As long as Tampa Bay keeps winning, Raheem Morris doesn't care how others feel about how the surprising Buccaneers stack up against the rest of the NFC. The NFL's youngest team has already doubled its win total from last season, impressing their coach with the type of resilience that's normally associated with more experienced teams.

Chiefs vs. Broncos - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
The negativity was hanging over the Denver Broncos like a dark winter cloud. Riding a four-game losing streak, they were facing angry fans and the league's top-ranked rushing team while also dealing with star linebacker D.J. Williams' drunken driving arrest that had him stewing on the sideline to start the game Sunday.

Cowboys vs. Giants - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
A change in coaches is all the Dallas Cowboys needed to play like - well - the Cowboys of old. Give interim coach Jason Garrett credit, for at least one game. Jon Kitna passed for 327 yards and three touchdowns and the Cowboys looked revitalized with Garrett running the team in a 33-20 victory that served as a reality check for the New York Giants on Sunday.

Patriots vs. Steelers - Recap - November 14, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Not many teams beat the Steelers. Tom Brady not only beats them, he embarrasses them.