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Looks like Brett Favre's career is over. Goodbye ol' gunslinger. Most NFL fans will miss watching you play, even though you can't make up your mind on if you are going to retire or not.
John Skelton to start next Arizona Cardinals game
Ken Whisenhunt said he plans to choose the quarterback that gives his team the best chance to win the rest of the season. And that quarterback is ... "Right now, that's John Skelton," the Arizona Cardinals coach said at his Monday news conference. "Until we feel otherwise, we'll proceed along those lines."
Getting Skelton Ready
The perfect scenario would be to have an entire offseason to run John Skelton through the gauntlet. To pressure him physically and mentally, to get him comfortable with calling plays, with running plays. The Cardinals’ rookie quarterback didn’t get enough of that in his first NFL summer, and that’s why coach Ken Whisenhunt declared him – more than once – not ready. Not that it matters anymore.
Jay Feely, meet Hall of Famer Paul Hornung - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Jay Feely's 22 consecutive points for the Arizona Cardinals against the Denver Broncos in Week 14 placed the veteran kicker in elite company. Hall of Fame company.
Darnell Dockett gives Cardinals NFL record - NFC West Blog - ESPN
NFL scorekeepers changed Arizona Cardinals linebacker Daryl Washington's 40-yard interception return for a touchdown into a 39-yard return with a fumble. Teammate Darnell Dockett recovered in the end zone. Dockett gets the touchdown. Washington learns a lesson about finishing plays. The Denver Broncos' Lance Ball hustled downfield to knock loose the football after Washington appeared to lose focus toward the end of his return. One positive for Washington and the Cardinals on the fumble: Dockett's recovery gave Arizona six fumble recoveries for touchdowns this season, an NFL record. Four teams had accomplished the feat five times in a season, most recently Oakland in 1978. The San Francisco 49ers did it in 1965.
Sticking with John Skelton makes sense - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt expects doctors to clear quarterback Derek Anderson to return from a concussion later this week. Rookie John Skelton will remain the starter for Week 15 anyway, Whisenhunt told reporters during his news conference Monday. The thinking, Whisenhunt explained, was that Skelton gives the Cardinals a better chance to win.
Arizona Cardinals rewind: What we learned from 43-13 win vs. Denver Broncos
Arizona Cardinals rewind: What we learned from 43-13 win vs. Denver Broncos, The Arizona Cardinals got it done in all three phases en route to snapping their seven-game losing streak.
Arizona Cardinals Rebound Against Denver Broncos: 5 Big Positives for Cardinals | Bleacher Report
Though the postseason may be out of reach for Arizona, the Cardinals came out all guns blazing against the Denver Broncos, earning an important win for the Cardinals' morale. The 43-13 victory was the first competitive start for fifth-round pick John Skelton and was the Cardinals' penultimate home game of 2011.
Arizona Cardinals: Whisenhunt Says Winning More Important Than Draft Position | Bleacher Report
Ken Whisenhunt said yesterday the Arizona Cardinals winning football games was more important to them than gaining draft position. Given their dismal season, many fans are wondering why?
Arizona Cardinals coach says winning more important than draft status
After discussing all the positives from the victory over Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was asked a question that many have been dying to ask: Isn't winning games at this point in the season only killing your draft positioning and your chances of getting Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck? Whisenhunt got dead serious. "I want to win football games," he said. "I think the most important thing for us to do is play to win these games."
Broncos vs. Cardinals: 5 Positives For The Cards | Bleacher Report
These last eight weeks have been nothing but misery for the Arizona Cardinals and their fans. Until yesterday.
KTAR.com - Skelton's first start an awful lot like Hall's
They say that the grass is always greener on the other side. That fact holds true for Arizona Cardinals fans and their quarterbacks. Fans clamored for rookies John Skelton and Max Hall to start at different times this season. The excitement and anticipation for both debuts were huge as if the two quarterbacks were the second comings of Joe Montana and Steve Young. Why you ask? Because those fans became disenchanted with Derek Anderson after poor performances.
KTAR.com - Whisenhunt to stay with Skelton as starter
Arizona Cardinals fans won't have to wait until the end of the week to find out who their starting quarterback is against the Carolina Panthers. As a matter of fact they won't even have to wait till the end of this story.
Frightened Cheerleader Is Frightened
Wow, this Arizona Cardinals cheerleader wants nothing to do with Denver Broncos receiver Brandon Lloyd, who’s scrambling where so many of us have only dreamed…right into a pile of Glendale-area women.
Madden 11 Week 14 Ratings Change Suggestions | pastapadre.com
Week 14 of the NFL season featured some miserable QB play, the end of Brett Favre’s streak and possibly career, and a number of big performances. This week’s roster update for Madden 11 should be more significant in ratings shifts than the last one.
In the Red Zone with Ken Whisenhunt - DEN Review
Coach Whisenhunt reviews the Cardinals win against the Broncos with Doug and Wolf on Sports 620 KTAR
Video Gallery
Whisenhunt's Monday Presser
2010 Year in Review - Arizona Cardinals
2010 Year in Review - Arizona Cardinals, Quarterback questions prevailed after Warner retired.
An Opinion On The John Skelton Debut (And Other Random Cardinals Thoughts) - SB Nation Arizona
The John Skelton era is here. All hail John Skelton. Or something.
Arizona Cardinals, Week 14: (Mostly) Musings And (Some) Frustrations - Desert Dirt - SB Nation Arizona
John Skelton and the Arizona Cardinals throttled the Denver Broncos at home in Week 14 of the NFL. What can we take from the game?
Skelton remains starting QB
First things first: Coach Ken Whisenhunt said at quarterback, the Cards will go with the guy with the best chance to win, "and right now, that’s John Skelton." So Skelton will remain the starter, which — after Sunday — is the way it should be. Quarterback Derek Anderson still is working to be symptom-free from his concussion for 24 hours; he can’t practice until he does so. When he does return, I’d expect him to be the backup and Richard Bartel to slide to third-string.
NFC West QB rankings through Week 14 - 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):
Feely’s day Hornung-like
The game for kicker Jay Feely just keeps providing nuggets of fun. The latest is this: Feely’s 22 straight points Sunday — after the Broncos’ took a 3-0 lead, it was all-Feely, all the time until another Denver field goal made it 22-6 — was the longest string of one player scoring points in a game since Packer Hall of Famer Paul Hornung had 24 straight against the Baltimore Colts Oct. 8, 1961. (Big props to the Elias Sports Bureau and Cards’ stats wizard Mike Helm for delving into the subject). Hornung kicked a field goal to start, and then added three straight touchdowns (kicking the corresponding point-afters) on a pair of one-yard runs and an eight-yard TD catch. Of course, I bet Hornung didn’t finish one of his TDs with a leap into the stands.
NFC West High Energy Player of the Week - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Arizona Cardinals holder Ben Graham placed the football on the ground with 4:08 showing on the game clock in the first half. Kicker Jay Feely stepped once toward the ball as if intending to kick it, then darted around to his right and took the pitch from Graham near the left hash at the Denver Broncos' 15-yard line. The race was on.
NFC West Week 14 decisive moment - NFC West Blog - ESPN
There were so many legitimate candidates this week.
Where NFC West teams rank: Week 14 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A few highlights regarding where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 14:
Jay Feely, Arizona Cardinals, Kicks It into Another Gear | Bleacher Report
So, kickers aren’t athletes, you say? Eh. Probably right. Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely continues to do all he can to disprove that common belief.
Is John Skelton the Answer at Quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals? | Bleacher Report
John Skelton, a fifth-round draft pick of the Arizona Cardinals, started his first game Sunday against the Denver Broncos. His numbers weren’t stellar by any stretch (15-37, 146 yards, 0 TD’s, 0 INT’s), but for rabid Cardinals fans watching the inept Derek Anderson and Max Hall all year, it must have seemed like an All-Pro performance.
NFL Week 15, Cardinals Vs. Panthers: John Skelton To Start, No Tanking For Draft - SB Nation Arizona
As the Cardinals prepare for a dreadful Panthers team, they are trying to reward the hard work of the players with wins and not a draft pick.
NFL Power Rankings, Week 15: Stability Is Good For The Patriots, But Not The Panthers - SB Nation Arizona
The name of the game this week in in the NFL is stability. Not too many teams moved around.
Brett Favre's consecutive starts streak ends at 297, tests due Tuesday - ESPN
No more, Brett. After 297 consecutive starts over 19 seasons, one of the greatest individual streaks in all of sports, Brett Favre ran into an injury he couldn't beat and sat down.
The streak ends - NFC North Blog - ESPN
Take a breath, Brett Favre. You deserve it.
Is this the real 'it' for Brett Favre? - NFC North Blog - ESPN
Has Brett Favre thrown his final NFL pass? That's a postgame question we'll have for Favre, who won't play Monday night against the New York Giants because of a sprained SC joint near his right shoulder. The Vikings have three games remaining after tonight, and ESPN's Ed Werder reported the team is giving serious thought to placing him on injured reserve. Doing so would eliminate the spectacle of a 41-year-old quarterback trying to heal quickly enough to squeeze in one or two more starts before heading into retirement. That decision wouldn't necessarily be up to Favre, but we'll see in a few hours if he thinks it's a possibility.
Signs point towards Favre being shut down for the season | ProFootballTalk
Brett Favre milled around during pregame warmups Monday night looking every bit like a 41-year-old man. Dressed in black warmups with a winter hat on indoors, Favre seemed a little lost. He often kept his hands in his pocket, perhaps to cover his somewhat hideous purple right hand. (Favre’s hand is reportedly numb.) Sitting out is a new experience for him, and it sounds like one he’s going to have to get used to.
Tarvaris Jackson reminds Vikings they need to start over at quarterback | ProFootballTalk
The Vikings had rookie Joe Webb at quarterback for part of the fourth quarter Monday night. They may as well get Webb some practice, because he’s the only Vikings quarterback on the roster that’s likely to be back next year.
Favre tries to profit from end of streak | ProFootballTalk
Apparently, a salary of $16 million for 2010 isn’t enough. Not long after Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was placed on the inactive list for Monday night’s game against the Giants, Favre’s official web site began selling a signed football commemorating his 297-game streak of starts. For the low, low price of $499.99.
Brett Favre's streak comes to an end, the luckless Texans, more Monday Snaps - Don Banks - SI.com
A special Monday-night-doubleheader edition of musings, observations and the occasional insight as we watch the Favre-less Vikings fall 21-3 to the road-weary Giants in Detroit, while the Ravens hang on by their fingernails to outlast the Ravens 34-28 in an overtime thriller ...
For Brett Favre, the end came 11 months too late | ProFootballTalk
After Brett Favre stood on the sideline and watched his Minnesota Vikings lose on Monday night, he was asked whether he regrets coming back for a 20th NFL season. He insisted that he doesn’t. "I’ll think more about last season than I will this season, but you take the good with the bad," Favre said. "At least I won’t look back and say, ‘I wonder if I played could we have done this or that.’ We know now.""
Picture: Brett Favre has a purple right hand - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Officially, Brett Favre(notes) was inactive from Monday night's game against the New York Giants because of a shoulder injury. Unofficially, the streak-snapping might have had just as much to do with Favre's grotesquely purple throwing hand.
Brett Favre's Streak Is Impressive, For A Coddled Nancy-Boy Quarterback
So the streak ends at 297, huh? Big number, but the most amazing streak in NFL history indisputably still belongs to another man. Another Minnesota Viking, in fact.
Favre's website already selling commemorative streak footballs - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Looking for a Christmas gift for that hard-to-shop-for sports fan who already has a closet full of Wranglers, a driveway lined with pickup trucks and plenty of guns with which to sling? Then look no further than this signed and inscribed football from BrettFavre.com commemorating the quarterback's NFL record of 297 straight starts. All it takes is a major credit card and $499.99 (shipping not included).
Two Months After Moss, Bill Belichick Looks Like The Smartest Guy In The Room (Again) - SBNation.com
It seems like just yesterday we were whispering the death of the Patriots dynasty. That it looked Bill Belichick could die by his own sword—trading Randy Moss in the name of the Patriot way—made the fate seem all the more inevitable.
Matt Cassel of Kansas City Chiefs preparing like he'll play Sunday - ESPN
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel, who missed last week's loss at San Diego following an appendectomy, said he's preparing this week as if he will be starting against the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.
NFL suspends Jets assistant Sal Alosi suspended, fined $25K for tripping a Miami player - NFL - SI.com
The New York Jets assistant coach who tripped a Miami Dolphins player during a game has been suspended by the team without pay for the rest of the season, including the playoffs, and fined an additional $25,000.
Aaron Rodgers' status for Packers-Patriots game unclear - NFL - SI.com
Even with Green Bay's playoff hopes in jeopardy, coach Mike McCarthy insists the team will err on the side of caution when evaluating Aaron Rodgers' second concussion of the season. Rodgers was expected to begin the evaluation protocol for head injuries Monday. The quarterback's availability for Sunday's game at New England remains unclear.
Misplaced marker leads to fifth-down confusion for Redskins - NFL - SI.com
For those watching on television, it appeared the Washington Redskins scored their final touchdown on fifth down. For the players on the field, there was no such confusion.
Seattle WR Butler out for season with broken leg - NFL - SI.com
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Deon Butler will be placed on injured reserve, as expected, after suffering a broken leg against San Francisco.
Crews to inspect Metrodome, estimate repair time - NFL - SI.com
Crews are planning to inspect the Metrodome in Minneapolis after its fabric roof collapsed in a storm that dropped 17 inches of snow on the Twin Cities.
NFL Power Rankings Week 15 - National Football League - ESPN
The New England Patriots are the unanimous pick to top the latest edition of ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings. Our four pollsters crowned the Patriots, who flip-flopped places with the Week 14 kings, the Atlanta Falcons. The Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans Saints and Baltimore Ravens round out the top 5.
Power rankings: How the voters voted - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Move over, Atlanta Falcons. Your four-week run atop ESPN.com's NFL Power Rankings has ended -- through no fault of your own. Blame the New England Patriots for this one.
Tashard Choice sorry for seeking Michael Vick autograph after 'Boys loss - NFL - SI.com
Cowboys running back Tashard Choice apologized via Twitter on Monday to anyone bothered by him asking Eagles quarterback Michael Vick for an autograph right after a loss. He'll get a chance to say more about it in an upcoming conversation with interim coach Jason Garrett.
Collapse of Metrodome roof refuels debate over new Minnesota stadium - ESPN
Frigid air whipped through a desolate Metrodome on Monday as crews began inspecting the Minnesota stadium's nearly three decades-old roof after it collapsed under the weight of heavy snow that pounded the Twin Cities and forced the Vikings to move their game to Detroit. Sunday's roof collapse was the fourth since the since the 29-year-old facility opened, and it has rekindled the debate over whether the cash-strapped state should build a new venue using taxpayer money.
Struggling Kyle Orton remains Denver Broncos' starter - ESPN
Denver Broncos interim coach Eric Studesville says he's sticking with slumping quarterback Kyle Orton as his starter. Studesville left the door open just a crack to the possibility that first-round draft pick Tim Tebow could get more action with the Broncos (3-10) heading for what could be their worst season since 1964.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers linebacker Geno Hayes arrested at nightclub in Tampa - ESPN
Tampa Bay Buccaners linebacker Geno Hayes has been released on bond after being arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and trespassing during an incident at a nightclub.
DeSean Jackson's big night; Spygate effect; Sal Alosi punishment - Peter King - SI.com
Funny how quickly things change in the NFL. On Saturday afternoon, I thought this would be a big week for coaching news and Brett Favre will-he-or-won't-he, and maybe the Favre/Sterger story. On Sunday afternoon, it was all weather and dome collapse, all the time. By this morning, I'm marveling over Michael Vick and DeSean Jackson. Those are two guys I'd pay to see. My 10 nuggets, some big and some small, for Week 14:
Free Vikings-Giants tickets gone in 90 minutes | ProFootballTalk
Detroit is ready for some free Monday Night Football. 30,000 tickets were given away in 90 minutes on Monday morning before the Lions had to cut off the line distributing tickets outside Ford Field, according to Tom Pelissero of espn1500.com.
Concussions up 21 percent in NFL this season - NFL - SI.com
Concussions are being reported at a much higher rate in the NFL this season, which the league considers evidence that players and teams are taking head injuries more seriously.
NFL, Jets reviewing Sal Alosi's trip incident against Dolphins - NFL - SI.com
Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby took a swipe at New York Jets coach Rex Ryan after learning that a Jets' assistant tripped one of his teammates during Sunday's game.
Steve Smith on Jimmy Clausen: "He ain’t at Notre Dame anymore" | ProFootballTalk
The questions about Jimmy Clausen during the build-up to the draft were less about his arm strength, and more about his ability to lead men. Clausen has struggled mightily on the field, like many rookie quarterbacks. Based on some comments from wide receiver Steve Smith, Clausen also may be struggling with how to command respect from veterans around him.
Brett Favre's 297-game streak of consecutive starts is over, so Page 2 imagines a world in which it never happened. - ESPN
Brett Favre's fabled streak is over. We'll likely never see anything like it again in the NFL. While many aren't sad to see the old gunslinger go, it's difficult to underestimate Favre's impact on football. But what if his streak had never gotten started? What if his early struggles had short-circuited his football career? The NFL, the world and life itself would be very different.