Well, looks like Richard Bartel, the guy who the Redskins played in their Preseason game against the Cardinals this year is now a Cardinal with Max Hall going to the IR. I actually thought he was a kicker when I first heard the name until I remembered that game.
By the way, I was talking with some people last night about how Mark Sanchez has struggled in cold weather games and how I thought the Patriots would win big because of it. Turns out I was right, but I never expected the 45-3 win. Looks like I'm smarter than the ESPN people who said it would be one of the best games of the year, they got to witness a game that sucked even more than the Cardinals/49ers game last week after all the hype the gave it.
KTAR.com - Skelton ready for anything with Cardinals
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt hasn't officially named his starter for Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos but reporters certainly treated rookie John Skelton as if he'll get the call for the Cardinals. On Monday Skelton answered questions about everything from his mindset to his abilities. The fifth-round pick took them all in stride.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton excited for opportunity
Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton excited for opportunity, Rookie QB: ''It's unfortunate having two guys go down in front of me, but ... it's an opportunity.''
Cards sign Bartel, put Hall on IR
As expected, the Cardinals made a roster move at quarterback today, putting Max Hall on injured reserve with his bad shoulder and signing UFL graduate and former Redskin Richard Bartel for the rest of the season. I do not expect a decision on the starting QB to be made public today (although you never know). Bartel was with Washington last season and this preseason and with Cleveland in 2008. He has never appeared in a regular season game, although he did complete 12-of-14 passes for 125 yards and a touchdown against the Cardinals in the preseason finale. While coach Ken Whisenhunt did not rule out a new signee to start right away at QB, I still expect it to be either John Skelton or Derek Anderson. Skelton seems to be more likely, but predicting such things hasn’t been easy.
Cardinals lose QB Max Hall for season, sign Ronald Bartel - NFL - SI.com
The Arizona Cardinals have placed quarterback Max Hall on injured reserve and signed former Washington Redskins third-stringer Richard Bartel. Hall, an undrafted rookie out of BYU who started three games earlier this season, dislocated his left shoulder after relieving starter Derek Anderson in Sunday's 19-6 loss to St. Louis.
Fighting And The Future
Skelton and QB situation highlight Cards' philosophy for end of season
John Skelton 'by no means' ready for NFL, but could start, says Ken Whisenhunt - ESPN
he sinking Arizona Cardinals might turn to rookie John Skelton as the team's third starting quarterback of the season. Coach Ken Whisenhunt wouldn't name Skelton the starter for Sunday's game against Denver, but Derek Anderson is being evaluated for a concussion and backup Max Hall is out with a dislocated shoulder. Even if Anderson is cleared to play, Whisenhunt could turn to Skelton.
ProFootballWeekly.com - QB burnout absolutely killing lowly Cardinals
Stuck with seven consecutive losses and counting, the Cardinals’ 2010 comedy of errors continues in the desert. So does the team’s increasingly depressing situation at quarterback. With Derek Anderson suffering a possible concussion that ended his latest forgettable performance (7-of-20 passing for 93 yards and a costly interception), Max Hall probably out for the rest of the season after dislocating his left shoulder trying to recover his fumble and fellow rookie John Skelton still considered a major work in progress, the Cardinals might be forced to enlist the services of a new signalcaller in the next day or two.
John Skelton should start for the Arizona Cardinals | Bleacher Report
Last week Ken Whisenhunt said he wouldn’t start John Skelton at Quarterback this year for the Arizona Cardinals, barring injury, because he didn’t want to lose their "identity". He also said he didn’t want to "ruin" a young player. The identity has already been lost. It was lost the minute Kurt Warner retired. As far as ruining a young player, why doesn’t that same philosophy apply to Max Hall, who has been obliterated every time he’s been put out there? Even without the injuries last week to Max Hall and Derek Anderson, John Skelton needs to start for this Arizona Cardinals football team.
Should the Arizona Cardinals Begin Tanking Games To Gain Draft Position? | Bleacher Report
I know. There are some things we just don't discuss in polite company, and the idea of the Cardinals, or any team you love, going out of their way to lose games is one of them.
Arizona Cardinals' quarterback plot thickens
Break out your handkerchiefs and reach for the tissue box. It's now time for another edition of, "As the Quarterback Turns." This week, Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt is faced with yet another difficult decision. Does he gamble and hope a terribly inconsistent Derek Anderson passes his concussion-symptoms tests? Or does he roll the dice even further and turn the starting quarterback job over to third-string rookie John Skelton?
IR move best for Max Hall, Cardinals - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Max Hall left with injuries or was benched for poor performance in each of the final four games he played for the Arizona Cardinals this season. The team's decision to place Hall on injured reserve Tuesday reflected obvious medical concerns. Hall suffered a dislocated left shoulder Sunday. The move also spares Hall from suffering any more damage, physical or otherwise, during his rookie season. He now has extra time to get healthy and regroup before attempting to compete for a role on the team next season. The team signed quarterback Richard Bartel to fill Hall's spot on the roster.
Skelton’s immediate future
John Skelton heard the cheers. Max Hall had gone down with what turned out to be a bad shoulder injury, and Skelton donned his helmet for the first time since the regular-season started and, during the injury timeout, went on the field to take a few quick snaps from center Lyle Sendlein. He hadn’t been able to do much of that. And the crowd erupted. "I heard them," Skelton said. "It is nice to hear them cheering for you like that, but I haven’t really done anything on the field yet. Time will tell." If Skelton is anything, he is even-keeled and realistic, at least outwardly. He has been hoping for his chance, but he isn’t about to predict greatness. You can tell he has a belief, but he isn’t about to make any bold pronouncements. That’s probably for the best.
Video Gallery
Whisenhunt's Monday Presser
Video Gallery
Skelton talks about his debut and the future
NFL Power Rankings, Week 14: All Hail The Mighty Patriots - SB Nation Arizona
The Patriots are a dominant force and the Cardinals are allegedly still a professional football team. Allegedly.
Derek Anderson's in-game laughing poses media questions - Richard Deitsch - SI.com
Forever chronicled on YouTube with the rest of the memorable postgame meltdowns in NFL history, Cardinals quarterback Derek Anderson lashed out recently at Arizona Republic reporter Kent Somers after Somers asked why Anderson had been laughing with lineman Deuce Lutui during the fourth quarter of a blowout loss t the Niners.
NFL Power Rankings Week 14 - National Football League - ESPN
The Atlanta Falcons own the top spot in the latest ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings for the fourth straight week -- but just barely. The New England Patriots' 45-3 romp over the New York Jets on "Monday Night Football" solidified the Pats' hold on the No. 2 spot, but they couldn't quite nudge the Falcons off their perch. New England will face another highly ranked opponent in Week 14, the No. 8 Chicago Bears. Another impressive win might push the Patriots over the top. The Pittsburgh Steelers leaped to No. 3 in the rankings with a narrow victory over the Baltimore Ravens, who remain in the No. 4 spot. The New Orleans Saints moved into the top five after their fifth consecutive win, and the Jets fell to No. 6.
Power rankings: How the voters voted - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The New England Patriots' dominating victory over the New York Jets on "Monday Night Football" seemed about right to one of our ESPN.com NFL Power Rankings panelists. "I've been saying for weeks the Jets were overrated and people were killing me for it," James Walker crowed. "I trust my eyes, not the hype, and New York was barely beating a lot of bad teams." Take that, Jets fans.
Where NFC West teams rank: Week 13 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A few highlights regarding where NFC West teams rank in various statistical categories through Week 13:
Arizona Cardinals rewind: What we learned in 19-6 loss to St. Louis Rams
Arizona Cardinals rewind: What we learned in 19-6 loss to St. Louis Rams, Much blame to be assessed from Sunday's 19-6 loss to the Rams, but quarterbacks deserve most of it.
azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - And the newest QB might be....
The Cardinals have expressed interest in signing quarterback Richard Bartel, who most recently played with the Sacramento franchise of the UFL. "He was in there a few weeks ago for a workout and we have had some discussions," said Bartel's agent, Ken Staninger. Bartel is 6-feet-3-inches and 230 pounds and played Tarleton State, has never played in an NFL game but has spent time with the Cowboys, Browns, Jaguars and, most recently, the Redskins. After being released by Washington, he signed with the UFL and backed up Daunte Culpepper this season.
Cardinals Misery Continues With Home Loss To Rams, 19-6 - SB Nation Arizona
The Arizona Cardinals managed only two first quarter field goals and Rams' running back Steven Jackson scored in the fourth quarter on a 27-yard run, leading to a 19-6 loss to the NFC West-leading St. Louis Rams. The Rams kept pace with the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Carolina Panthers 31-14, evening their record at 6-6 and keeping themselves in the NFC playoff picture. Jackson rushed for 102 yards and rookie Sam Bradford threw 187 yards and an interception, on 18/29 passes.
NFL Week 13, Rams 19, Cardinals 6: Injuries, Comments, Changes, Playoff Picture For Rams - SB Nation Arizona
The defense for the Arizona Cardinals played better, holding rookie Sam Bradford to only 189 yards passing without a touchdown and intercepting him once, but Steven Jackson busted free in the fourth quarter for 27 of his 102 yards rushing to score the game's only touchdown in a 19-6 victory for the St. Louis Rams. The win evens the Rams' record at 6-6 and keeps them in pace with the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the Carolina Panthers 31-14, in a close NFC West competition.
Arizona Cardinals Fans Need To Reject Becoming A Loser Again - SB Nation Arizona
No more same ol' Cardinals. This is a town that should expect - and receive - winning NFL football.
KTAR.com - Espo: The Cardinals need to redefine bad
There are three degrees of despair when it comes to the Arizona Cardinals. We'll call it the "terrible triumvirate".
Whisenhunt: No regrets on QB decisions - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Ken Whisenhunt came prepared for the quarterback questions that awaited him Monday. The Arizona Cardinals' fourth-year coach offered no regrets for the decisions that left Arizona with quarterbacks Max Hall and John Skelton backing up Derek Anderson. Whisenhunt obviously regrets the results, but he stood by the decision-making.
NFC West QB rankings through Week 13 - 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):
Whiz re-visits handling of QB position
The Cardinals are undecided at quarterback at this moment. With Derek Anderson undergoing concussion tests and Max Hall out seemingly at least a week if not longer with a dislocated shoulder, John Skelton is the only healthy QB right now. Coach Ken Whisenhunt wouldn’t commit to a starter yet, which doesn’t surprise. He wants to see where Anderson is first. The Cards also need to see what Skelton is comfortable with as a playcaller. If Hall is out — and Whisenhunt declined to say it was a season-ending injury — the Cards I would think would sign someone (and signs point to former Redskin Richard Bartel). With everything going on, Whisenhunt was asked about what he has learned about dealing with the quarterback position, and was asked specifically if he would have kept Matt Leinart if he had to do it all over again.
NFL.com news: Frazier: Favre sprained shoulder, will start next game if OK
Brett Favre has become something of a medical expert through the years, a quarterback who has minored in pain management as he has put together a streak of consecutive starts that stands among the most impressive records in all of sports. Yet even a 41-year-old who has played 20 seasons in the league still can learn something new, and Favre is now faced with a pain and an injury that he's never felt before.
Broncos decide to fire head coach Josh McDaniels - ESPN
Josh McDaniels has been fired as head coach of the Denver Broncos, the team confirmed Monday.
Broncos fire Josh McDaniels | ProFootballTalk
Josh McDaniels won’t even finish his second season as Broncos head coach. In a short announcement sent over Twitter, the team announced that "Broncos Owner Pat Bowlen has relieved Josh McDaniels of his head coaching duties."
NFL.com news: Planting the seeds for reseeding the playoffs
Some observations after watching a noteworthy Week 13:
NFL.com news: 49ers will start QB Alex Smith vs. Seahawks
San Francisco 49ers coach Mike Singletary will make another switch at the quarterback position, going back to his original signal-caller to start the season. With his injured shoulder recovered, Alex Smith, who started the 49ers' first seven games this season, will replace Troy Smith as the team's starter Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.
Thoughts on 49ers' switch to Alex Smith - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Alex Smith slipped past Troy Smith in my weekly NFC West quarterback rankings earlier Monday. The San Francisco 49ers' coaching staff apparently felt similarly. Troy Smith, though preferable to Alex Smith in some ways, wasn't efficient enough to keep the offense moving. Alex Smith is expected to start against Seattle in Week 14, a game the 49ers must win to keep alive their playoff hopes.
Leslie Frazier says he'd be 'surprised' if Brett Favre can't go - NFL - SI.com
If Brett Favre can throw, he'll go. Near the end of his 20th NFL season, Favre has created a consistent expectation that he'll play each weekend regardless of what kind of malady he might be dealing with. Earlier this season, it was a pair of fractures in an ankle. This time, it's a sprained joint in his right shoulder.
Denver Broncos fire Josh McDaniels after 3-9 start to 2010 - NFL - SI.com
The Denver Broncos wanted Josh McDaniels to bring the New England Patriots' winning ways with him to the Rocky Mountains when they hired Bill Belichick's brash, young disciple 22 months ago. What they got instead was the ash-gray hoodie and their very own videotaping scandal to go with a pile of losses and personnel blunders that cost him his job not even halfway through his four-year contract.
What could have been in Denver - NFL Nation Blog - ESPN
There is no doubting that Josh McDaniels was a hot prospect when Denver chose the then 32-year-old to replace Mike Shanahan in January 2009. He was sought after and if Denver didn't hire him, another NFL team would have snagged New England’s offensive coordinator. But some questioned the hire, because the Broncos really needed help on defense. Shanahan left Denver in fine shape on offense. Originally, the plan was to keep offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates, who had a good relationship with 25-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback Jay Cutler, and pursue a defensive coach.
Josh McDaniels sealed his own fate with the Broncos - Jim Trotter - SI.com
Josh McDaniels is out as coach of the Broncos. Is anyone really surprised? In one-plus seasons McDaniels looked lost in the draft room, alienated assistants and tarnished the Broncos' iconic shield by failing to immediately report that his video director had illegally recorded an opponent's walkthrough practice. He lost not only 17 of his final 22 games, but also the benefit of the doubt with an insanely loyal fan base.
Patriots retool with BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Danny Woodhead, others - Peter King - SI.com
Mail topics: Chiefs sideline incident, Donovan McNabb and Walter Jones
49ers turn to Alex Smith again for must-win game - NFL - SI.com
Alex Smith is the San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback yet again.
Embarrassed Ryan: 'NFL deserved better game' - NFL - SI.com
The New York Jets went to New England looking to make a statement. They did. The wrong one.
Redskins suspend Haynesworth 4 games without pay - NFL - SI.com
Defensive lineman Albert Haynesworth was suspended without pay by the Washington Redskins on Tuesday for the last four games of the regular season, capping a saga that began last offseason. The Redskins said the move was made because of "conduct detrimental to the club."
Tom Brady, Patriots appear to be class of AFC after rout of Jets - Don Banks - SI.com
Five things we learned from New England's shocking 45-3 destruction of the New York Jets Monday night at a festive Gillette Stadium. ...
Karma's Not Always Fair: Josh McDaniels Is Finally Fired, But What About Tim Tebow? - SBNation.com
Some people get what they deserve, and when the Denver Broncos fired Josh McDaniels on Monday, he had it coming. Not because the Broncos are 3-9, but because almost from the moment he took over in Denver, McDaniels insisted on doing things his way. Rather than biding his time and bridging the gaps between new and old regimes, McDaniels stormed into Denver like a mad man, hell-bent on changing the culture by force. And here's the thing about people like that—they don't really engender much sympathy. So where it might be possible for a different coach to survive a 3-9 start this year, McDaniels didn't leave himself much room for error.
NFL Lockout: If There Isn’t A 2011 Season, Should We Blame The Owners Or Players? - SBNation.com
Many – if not most – football fans would rather not worry about the possibility that there won’t be a 2011 NFL season until this one is done. It’s hard to blame them. The business of collective bargaining is complex and slow. It’s a helluva lot more fun to watch highlights or surf SB Nation or play Madden.
So, are the Patriots that good or are the Jets that bad? - Shutdown Corner - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
We were told it would be the game of the year. We ended up getting the most merciless beating any team has suffered in the NFL this season. So what do we take from it? Does the 45-3 massacre of the Jets mean the Patriots are the dominant team everyone's been looking for this season? Does it mean that the Jets were never as good as we thought they were, or they claimed to be? Or is this beatdown just an anomaly; one of those blowouts that happens from time to time, but in the grand scheme, doesn't mean much?
Jets vs. Patriots - Recap - December 6, 2010 - NFL - Football - SI.com
Tom Brady turned this anticipated classic into a classic rout.