Time for todays links as we get closer to the weekend, including one on how Porter might need to get some more rest and Schofield/Acho could get more chances to play.
Arizona Cardinals News:
Word From the Birds Blog - Green and Fitz: From one record-holder to the next
Larry Fitzgerald and Roy Green have been friends since Fitzgerald came into the NFL. Green, the long-time Cardinal, lives in the Valley and naturally had an "in" to meet and get to know Fitzgerald. Fitz, meanwhile, immediately knew about Green because it was Green’s franchise receiving records that Fitzgerald knew he would be chasing.
Finishing On Defense
Cards don't want to waste another defensive effort
Without Catches, Roberts Helps Elsewhere
Notebook: Hamstring holds back Heap; Bridges prepared for anything
Word From the Birds Blog - Balancing Porter and Schofield
Finding a balance between his main two right outside linebackers has been difficult for coach Ken Whisenhunt, and since it directly impacts the Cards’ pass rush — and is one of the easiest things to watch for on game days — it has risen to the center of the spotlight for the team and fans watching. Porter acknowledges he has not created the kind of pressure on the quarterback that both he and everyone else expects. He said that before the season and again this week. Twice in the last two days, Whisenhunt has followed up the idea in training camp Porter had to play too much last season by noting it is happening again.
Cardinals deal with Kolb criticism | ProFootballTalk
The Arizona Cardinals made a bold move after the lockout ended, sending former first-round pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a 2012 second-round pick to the Eagles for quarterback Kevin Kolb. (We didn’t like the move when it was made.) With the Cardinals stuck in a 1-3 start, the fans are starting to grouse.
Cardinals could begin to give outside linebacker Joey Porter more rest
Cardinals coaches won't say it, so the dots have to be connected without their help. Outside linebacker Joey Porter is playing too much because his backup, O'Brien Schofield, hasn't developed as quickly as hoped. That dynamic, however, could begin to change Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. Porter, 34, has played better early in games than late, and coaches plan to pay closer attention to the amount of time he's on the field. That means more snaps for Schofield, a fourth-round draft pick in 2010, and Sam Acho, a fourth-round pick this year.
Kurt Warner’s ‘Football Life’ is one for the ages - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
St. Louis Rams receiver Torry Holt was a rookie when starting quarterback Trent Green(notes) fell to the turf with the knee injury that would keep him out for the 1999 season — and change franchise history forever. The sixth-overall pick in 1999 remembered where he was on the field and how he felt when Green suffered a torn ACL in the preseason. Most likely, Holt's thoughts of uncertainty mirrored everyone else's. "I was on the back side, running something deep and coming back. I saw [receiver] Isaac [Bruce] really upset, so I knew somebody was down, but I didn't know who it was at first. When I saw that it was Trent, I thought, 'My gosh — what are we gonna do?' I hoped it was nothing too bad, but he didn't come back. Okay, here comes Kurt Warner. Here's Kurt in the huddle. What is Kurt thinking? Can he really play?" That injury, as we all now know, led to the unlikely ascent of Kurt Warner, the former Green Bay Packers washout and Arena League standout Kurt Warner. Few knew who Warner was, but Holt said that he wasn't a complete surprise to his teammates at the time. As Holt said, "It didn't come out of nowhere, but it was a small buzz."
Cardinals' Beanie Wells looks to improve in receiving game
Beanie Wells is doing a fine job running the football, gaining 321 yards in three games. Catching the football, however, has proved more difficult for the Cardinals running back.
Spencer: 'The guys have an amazing ability to rebound' - ArizonaSports.com
Despite going 1-3 so far this season, the Arizona Cardinals were in good spirits before heading to Minnesota for their Sunday match-up with the Vikings, Cardinals special teams coach Kevin Spencer said. "The guys have an amazing ability to rebound," Spencer said. "If people could only have an inside look at the preparation and the guys' work, I mean, they still make mistakes, you still have to bark at them, but they have this resiliency and work ethic that really buoys my spirits, and certainly the other coaches, with the way the guys handle themselves." While Spencer said the guys are more than aware of what the filmed showed and the tough challenge they have to play a Vikings team that apparently has fallen on hard times, he also said that the Cards have prepared and worked well this week.
McNabb's lax attitude leading to blown games - ArizonaSports.com
All joking aside, an odd coping mechanism could be the reason the Minnesota Vikings have blown leads and are sitting at 0-4. "The knock against Donovan [McNabb]...is his intensity level is not what it needs to be, both throughout the week and during games," said Ron Wolfley, co-host of Arizona Sports 620's Doug & Wolf Show. Wolfley was quick to add that this is not his opinion, but something he has heard around the NFL.
The big play is a big issue for the Cardinals - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals offense has been subject to a lot of scrutiny over the last few weeks because it has struggled down the stretch of games.
Chat wrap: Complaints on play-calling - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Phil from Connecticut questions the Arizona Cardinals' play calling against the New York Giants. By his count, the Cardinals had the lead twice with 5-6 minutes remaining, only to call three pass plays in a row to go three-and-out, using little clock time. He wondered why the team would take that tack with Beanie Wells running so effectively.
Cardinals face enigma in Vikings - ArizonaSports.com
The Minnesota Vikings are a complete conundrum. Watching them on film belies the record they have posted after the first month of the season: they are talented, relatively young and completely better than 0-4.
Vikings not subtle about plan: Attack CBs - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Sometimes an NFL coach will gloss over an opponent's weakness. Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave took a more direct approach when asked about attacking the Arizona Cardinals' young cornerbacks entering Week 5.
Personnel report: Beanie Wells' power game - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The knock on Beanie Wells coming out of Ohio State was that he too often shied away from contact. "Wells is a big back, but he does not have great toughness," Steve Muench of Scouts Inc. said after the Arizona Cardinals made Wells the 31st player chosen in the 2009 draft. "There's a clip you'll see against Michigan where he is 20 yards downfield and one-on-one against a back and he steps out of bounds. Not encouraging." Wells put to rest some of those concerns for stretches during his rookie season, but a disappointing 2010 season revived perceptions. Now that Wells is back to running over defenders and providing a physical presence to the Cardinals' ground game, what should we make of the apparent inconsistencies?
Re-Focused – Giants @ Cardinals, Week 4 | ProFootballFocus.com
Arizona – Three Performances of Note
Cards Daily - Slowing Down Adrian Peterson
The Viking rank 3rd in the NFL in rushing and feature one of the top running backs in the league in Adrian Peterson. Cardinals defenders talk about the task of containing a physical runner like Peterson.
Video: Arizona Cardinals at Minnesota Vikings preview
The Arizona Republic's Kent Somers talks about the Arizona Cardinals' road game at the winless Minnesota Vikings.
Big Red Rage - Rhodes and Dockett
Kerry Rhodes, Paul Calvisi, and Ron Wolfley welcomed the always entertaining Darnell Dockett to the Big Red Rage.
NFL News:
Peyton Manning Still Wants To Return To Colts This Season - SBNation.com
The Indianapolis Colts have yet to place Peyton Manning on injured reserve even though most feel that Manning won't play a down for the Colts after undergoing surgery on his neck. Colts owner Jim Irsay caused a stir a couple weeks ago when he said Manning likely wouldn't play this season, and later clarified his comments to indicate that Manning isn't definitely out this year.
Danny Amendola Update: Rams WR Will Have Surgery, Be Placed On IR - SBNation.com
The St. Louis Rams officially lost their top receiver today. Danny Amendola will undergo surgery to repair a torn triceps, according to his agent. The Rams later confirmed that he will be placed on the injured reserve list, officially ending his season.
Patriots RB Eric Kettani Ordered Back To Navy - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
RB Eric Kettani is a member of the New England Patriots practice squad. But he's not just any member of the practice squad, he's one with two years in the Naval reserve as an active military member. That made him a feel-good story in Patriots camp all season. However, there's a flip side to being in the reserve. Kettani is being called back in to service immediately.
Brandon Jacobs Injury: Jacobs Misses Practice Again With MCL Sprain - SBNation.com
New York Giants running back Brandon Jacobs has a grade one MCL sprain, according to Will Caroll of SI.com. He will sit out today’s practice, which puts his status for this week’s game against the Seahawks in serious doubt.
Dan Marino: "Four or five guys" could break yardage record | ProFootballTalk
In 1984, Dan Marino passed for an NFL-record 5,084 yards. No one has equaled that mark since, but Marino thinks this may be the year — and he thinks it may be the year that more than one quarterback breaks his record.
Peppers on Stafford injury: Not something I take pride in | ProFootballTalk
Last season Bears defensive end Julius Peppers injured Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford’s shoulder. Now Peppers is preparing to see Stafford again on Monday night.
Frank Gore says Philadelphia Eagles threw in towel as San Francisco 49ers rallied - ESPN
It took three unanswered second-half touchdowns for the 49ers to overtake the Eagles on Sunday. It was a comeback also made possible by the Eagles throwing in the towel, according to the Niners' Frank Gore.