Anyone who watched the Bears/Packers game last night has to have seen the hit that will probably end Brett Favre's career (even though I said that after the Bills game). The guy may have been a pain over the last couple of years, and all of the drama that he has created is getting on everyones nerves. But he is still one of the best Quarterbacks of all time, and it is impressive that he was even able to play with the injury he had before. Hopefully, he can just let his NFL career end now and keep himself from getting injured worse than he already is now.
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt talks about painful year
You know it's going super bad for the Arizona Cardinals this season when the network studio crew covers its eyes and ears and doesn't even want to discuss their game Sunday against the Carolina Panthers. And that was at halftime.
Joey Porter of Arizona Cardinals suffers serious injury to triceps - ESPN
Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Joey Porter has a triceps injury that coach Ken Whisenhunt says could be significant. Whisenhunt said Monday that further tests were planned on the 33-year-old four-time Pro Bowler, who was hurt in the Cardinals' 19-12 loss at Carolina on Sunday. Early Doucet, the team's No. 3 wide receiver, was knocked out of the game with a hip flexor and special teams standout LaRod Stephens-Howling aggravated a hamstring injury.
"A Very Painful Year"
Whisenhunt, Cards trying to find way to finish season in positive light
Week 15's five least valuable players - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Every Arizona Cardinal Who Is Not Larry Fitzgerald.
The Cardinals ran the ball 17 times Sunday, getting just 2.5 yards per carry. Their quarterback was a rookie who played last year in the Patriot League. And Larry Fitzgerald still managed to catch nine balls for 125 yards. That's pretty good for a guy dealing with just about the highest degree of difficulty you can give a wide receiver. Fitzgerald accounted for 57 percent of the 218 total yards amassed by the Cardinals on Sunday. I don't think he's going to pull a Barry Sanders-like retirement move this offseason, but if he did, would you blame him?
NFC West QB rankings through Week 15 - 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):
The day after, Porter hurting
Coach Ken Whisenhunt opens his Monday press conference touching on injuries, even though there is usually not a whole lot of new information on the guys we had already heard about Sunday — in this case, wide receiver Early Doucet (hip, but not related to the surgery he had earlier this season) and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (hamstring, the same one that was bothering him). Stephens-Howling’s injury probably isn’t serious. But Whisenhunt also mentioned a triceps injury for linebacker Joey Porter, and it seems that usually, when Whisenhunt brings up a new injury (Porter’s injury wasn’t reported yesterday) it tends to skew serious. Whisenhunt said it could be, although he didn’t know yet since Porter is waiting to get an MRI. At this point, I guess it wouldn’t be shocking to see Porter be out the final two games. We will see.
Play-calling now Miller time (sometimes)
As both Mike Jurecki and Kent Somers reported today (man, where was I?), passing game coordinator Mike Miller has been calling some of the plays, with coach Ken Whisenhunt still calling some. I had heard a few weeks ago Miller had been involved in calling some stuff; I don’t know how it splits up or whether Miller’s involvement has grown. Whisenhunt didn’t make a big deal about it because, obviously, playcalling has been a source of, let’s call it consternation, for many fans. Miller (pictured below with ESPN’s Suzy Kolber) is being brought into the job like Whiz did with Todd Haley (after Bill Cowher did it with Whisenhunt in Pittsburgh). It was always the plan to let Miller get to this point; Whisenhunt said he eventually wanted to do so when Miller was promoted after Haley left following the Super Bowl appearance.
Video Gallery
Whisenhunt's Monday Presser
Phoenix Suns once again short-handed in 118-110 loss to streaking San Antonio Spurs
Phoenix Suns once again short-handed in 118-110 loss to streaking San Antonio Spurs, For the 10th time this season, the Suns took a .500 record into a game. For the eighth time, they lost, with a 118-110 setback to the league-leading San Antonio Spurs.
Evgeni Malkin earns five points, leads Pittsburgh Penguins to 6-1 rout of Phoenix Coyotes
No one is playing better hockey than Sidney Crosby these days. But even he was in awe and just trying to keep up with a teammate who was the best player on the ice Monday night.
Pro Bowl Voting Has To Include These Five Arizona Cardinals (Today Is Last Day To Vote!) - Desert Dirt - SB Nation Arizona
Pro Bowl fan voting ends today. The Cardinals have had a terrible year, but not all the Cardinals have. Even in the darkest years of less than medicority, the Cardinals have produced Pro Bowlers. Adrian Wilson, Darnell Dockett, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Alan Faneca, Larry Fitzgerald, and Levi Brown (yes even Levi Brown) have all been a selection or an alternate selection to the Pro Bowl. Since today is the last day for the fan votes, it is our duty as fans to represent, even if the team has been dreadful. Make your vote count today and make sure that the following players have your support.
2011 Draft Order: Cardinals Would Have Fourth Pick If Season Ended Today - SB Nation Arizona
With two weeks left of the NFL regular season and more and more teams eliminated from playoff contention, the only thing left to look forward to is the 2011 Draft. The Carolina Panthers appear to have a lock on the first pick (also known as the Andrew Luck sweepstakes). The top five are rounded out currently by the Denver Broncos, the Cincinnati Bengals, our very own Arizona Cardinals and the Detroit Lions. These can change in the next two weeks, but not likely much.
Definitive NFC West playoff scenarios - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The chart shows every possible NFC West outcome as long as none of the remaining games end in a tie.
azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Whiz gives up some play calling
Coach Ken Whisenhunt confirmed that passing game coordinator Mike Miller has been calling some of the team's plays for the past few weeks. Whisenhunt said it's a move that's been planned for some time, but the head coach didn't announce it because he didn't want Miller blamed if the offense continued to struggle. Whisenhunt called plays for the majority of the season and is now dividing those duties with Miller. "I call some of the plays," Whisenhunt said Tuesday. Whisenhunt said he has been satisfied with Miller's game plans and play calls, and that the offense "has gone pretty much the same as it has the whole year."
Where NFC West teams rank: Week 15 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A few highlights regarding where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 15:
Vikings QB Brett Favre active, to start against Bears - NFL - SI.com
Brett Favre found the perfect setting to make a surprising return to the field - on Monday night, in the snow.
Brett Favre starts for Minnesota Vikings, leaves injured - NFL - SI.com
Brett Favre started for the Vikings, but left in the second quarter with a head injury
Pete Carroll of Seattle Seahawks won't commit to either quarterback as starter - ESPN
Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll says he isn't rushing to make a decision about who the Seahawks quarterback will be this week at Tampa Bay, although it appears it will remain Matt Hasselbeck.
Upon Further Review: Tim Tebow's 40-yard mistake - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Broken plays happen all the time in the NFL; to make the most of them, you've got to be either lucky or good, and it doesn't hurt to be both. For Denver Broncos rookie quarterback Tim Tebow (you may have heard of him), his first NFL start against the Oakland Raiders featured such a play, and Tebow was able to take advantage in ways that many quarterbacks might not.
Tim Tebow will again start at QB for Denver Broncos - ESPN
Tim Tebow has earned another start. Interim coach Eric Studesville said Monday he's decided to start Tebow again when the Denver Broncos (3-10) host the Houston Texans (5-9) next weekend.
Thoughts on Hasselbeck keeping his job - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Matt Hasselbeck will remain the Seattle Seahawks' starting quarterback despite 10 interceptions and three lost fumbles in the team's last four games. Coach Pete Carroll made the announcement at his news conference Monday. The next question: What would have to happen for Charlie Whitehurst to get a start?
DeSean Jackson punt return; NFL playoff picture clears up - Peter King - SI.com
We yell a lot in the fifth-floor Rockefeller Center viewing room of NBC's Football Night in America. Up to nine games in high-def on a big wall, and the 12 to 15 people in the room putting together the Sunday night show get a little excited from time to time. Oh, Rodney Harrison yells, often at big hits. Tony Dungy even yells a time or two per Sunday. I yell more than I ever did in a press box, where yelling is verboten. But I don't recall the sound coming out of the viewing room ever sounding like it did at 4:18 p.m. Sunday.
Opportunistic Bears clinch NFC North, Brett Favre's last stand and more Snap Judgments - Don Banks - SI.com
Musings, observations and the occasional insight from the Bears' playoff-clinching drubbing of the Vikings in the frigid environs of Minnesota....
Rex Ryan: New York Jets' Mark Sanchez has sore shoulder, will play - ESPN New York
Mark Sanchez went into Pittsburgh with a bruised ego. He came out with a sore shoulder. The New York Jets' quarterback landed on his throwing shoulder on a first-quarter scramble in Sunday's 22-17 victory over the Steelers, and he went for an MRI exam Monday. The results were negative, according to head coach Rex Ryan, who downplayed the injury and said Sanchez will start Sunday at the Chicago Bears.
Chicago Bears' Devin Hester sets NFL record with 14th touchdown on return - ESPN Chicago
The Chicago Bears' Devin Hester finally set the NFL record for combined return touchdowns when he scored on a 64-yard punt return in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday at TCF Bank Stadium.
Terrell Owens of Cincinnati Bengals has knee surgery, out for season - ESPN
Terrell Owens decided to have knee surgery Monday, ending his revival season with the Cincinnati Bengals.
A source said Dallas Cowboys are considering putting quarterback Tony Romo on injured reserve - ESPN Dallas
The Dallas Cowboys are considering putting quarterback Tony Romo on injured reserve with two games left in the season, a source said Monday.
Source: Cincinnati Bengals not expected ro re-sign Terrell Owens - ESPN
The Cincinnati Bengals are not expected to re-sign outspoken receiver Terrell Owens, who was placed on injured reserve Tuesday, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Hester chokes up when talking about return record | ProFootballTalk
In fewer than five full NFL seasons, Devin Hester of the Bears has returned more kicks and/or punts for touchdowns than any other player in the history of the NFL.
Favre doesn’t regret getting back on the field | ProFootballTalk
After starting 297 consecutive times, Brett Favre has now been knocked out of back-to-back games. He says he doesn’t regret playing Monday night or the circumstances that led to him surprisingly being upgraded from "out" to questionable. Favre texted interim head coach Leslie Frazier Sunday night with his change of heart.
Week 15's five most valuable players: A Michael Vick lovefest - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Comprehensive National Football League news, scores, standings, fantasy games, rumors, and more
Bears vs. Vikings - Recap - December 20, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Brett Favre was bundled up in a heavy gray coat by the time Devin Hester sped through the snow with his record-setting return. Favre's surprise start ended with another injury, perhaps putting him out for good, and the game ended with an NFC North title for the Chicago Bears .