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11-12-11: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings - "Jordan Rules"

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Time for some links as the Cards get ready for Philly, and the most interesting link to me is the one with Horton talking about the refs needing to adjust to how Peterson plays his game.

Check out the NFC West Roundup a couple stories below this and look at the article on how the 49ers made things easier for Alex Smith too. Very interesting article.

Arizona Cardinals News:

Cards Know Eagles' Speed Kills
Notebook: Beanie practices full; Marshall's role; frustrating TE injuries

Arizona Cardinals LB Stewart Bradley still learning system
Chances are Stewart Bradley won't get an ugly reception from Eagles on fans on Sunday, even though he left Philadelphia after four seasons and signed with the Cardinals last off-season. That's because Bradley isn't playing much for the Cardinals, despite being one of their major free-agent acquisitions last summer. Bradley continues to play behind inside linebacker Paris Lenon, and Bradley's participation as a defensive specialist changes weekly. Bradley has 14 tackles on defense and three more on special teams. Despite the lack of playing time, he doesn't regret his decision to join the Cardinals.

Get to know Patrick Peterson | ProFootballTalk
The Cardinals have won two games in 2011. The decisive points in each game were scored by rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson, via punt return. But since his team is struggling and he doesn’t play quarterback, Peterson isn’t getting as much attention as other 2011 rookies. So here’s a chance to get to know him. Peterson visited with PFT Live on Friday. He talked about his game-winning punt return from Week Nine and various other issues.

Word From the Birds Blog - Friday before the Eagles
As we sit on this flight back to Philly for one final two-day trip of the season, it jogs the memory of the last trip to Philly – which was only one day. That’s because the game was at night. A Thursday night to be exact, Thanksgiving night, when the Cards were knocked around pretty good, 48-20, and everyone wondered just what the Cardinals were going to be able to do in the playoffs a month later. It was 2008 of course, and while the Cards had trouble keeping it on the road in that stretch run, we all know what they did in the playoffs. And that was the last time the Cardinals played the Eagles as well, hosting them in the NFC Championship game when Tim Hightower worked the perfect screen pass for the go-ahead touchdown. Funny thing was, even though the Eagles dominated the Cards every which way in that regular-season game, I always thought the Cards would win the playoff game. It was that kind of season.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Saturday morning musings
Cardinals fans are mad but they haven't disengaged. That's been made clear to me via e-mail, twitter, blog comments and in everyday life. At the airport this morning, a TSA agent looked at my boarding pass and ID and asked if I was going to Philadelphia for the game. "How many road games is it that we've lost in a row?" he asked. "11," I said. "They haven't won since the 2010 opener." "I hope that changes," he said. I'm all for that; I could use a different story angle.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Horton: officials need to adjust to Peterson
Rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson has been called for nine penalties, but defensive coordinator Ray Horton said officials are the ones who have to make adjustments, not Peterson.

Final Word: NFC West - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Road worriers. The Arizona Cardinals have lost their last 11 road games, tied with Carolina for the longest active streak in the league. The Panthers are home against Tennessee this week, meaning a Cardinals defeat at Philadelphia would leave Arizona in sole possession of the distinction. This is already the Cardinals' longest road losing streak since the team dropped 17 in a row over the 2002-04 seasons. The game at Philadelphia is the first of three consecutive road games for the Cardinals before a three-game home stand.

NFC West penalty watch: Peterson's tactics - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Referee Ron Winter waved off one of the interference penalties against Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson in Week 9. "There is no foul for defensive pass interference," Winter announced. "The contact and the ball arrived at the same time." Peterson has incurred nine assessed or declined penalties this season, one behind NFL leaders Brandon Browner, Rodger Saffold and Ryan Clady. Six of the nine were for coverage-related violations on defense. But as Cardinals defensive coordinator Ray Horton told reporters Friday, Peterson isn't the only one making an adjustment. The rookie's aggressive playing style might require officials to adjust as well. Winter's decision to pick up the flag for pass interference might indicate that is happening already. What looks like interference isn't always interference.

Pat Tillman’s widow still working to broaden his legacy - Shutdown Corner - NFL Blog - Yahoo! Sports
When former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman died as a result of friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004, Marie Tillman was left with a great deal of grief, unanswered questions that went on far too long, and the need to build a legacy. Seven years later, the widow of the man who turned away from a lucrative NFL future to serve his country after the September 11 attacks is focusing on the legacy part of the equation. On Veteran's Day, Mrs. Tillman (who has since remarried but has kept the Tillman name) will be doing community service in New York with one of the many veterans assisted by the Pat Tillman Foundation.

Word From the Birds Blog - Kolb questionable for Sunday; Horton talks Peterson
Quarterback Kevin Kolb will officially be listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. Asked if that meant questionable to start or questionable to be the backup to John Skelton, coach Ken Whisenhunt bluntly said "questionable to play." I would still think it’s more likely John Skelton starts against the Eagles. It will be determined on gameday, Whisenhunt said, based on how Kolb can push off on the Lincoln Financial Field turf. Running back Beanie Wells feels much better this week and he did more in practice this week, a good sign for the running back. Fullback Anthony Sherman’s ankle is doing well enough that Whisenhunt said he thinks he as a "great chance" to play, although he will be worked out ahead of the game.

Sacks piling up against some in NFC West - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Arizona's Levi Brown and St. Louis' Rodger Saffold are tied for the NFL lead with 8.5 sacks allowed. As Cooper notes, offensive linemen aren't always responsible for sacks. Quarterbacks are often more responsible for them, in my view. But Cooper said the stats take care to focus only on plays when a blocker fared poorly in pass protection. He also said physical limitations appear more to blame for Browns' troubles than for Saffold's troubles.

Ray Horton hoping for 'Jordan Rules' with Patrick Peterson - ArizonaSports.com
Patrick Peterson is already one of the best punt returners in the NFL, and that's great. However, the Cardinals selected him No. 5 overall because he was a standout cornerback at LSU, and they're hoping he can be a shutdown kind of player at the pro level. Peterson has shown flashes, but has been held back by inexperience -- and penalties.

With experience, Patrick Peterson gets his swagger back - ArizonaSports.com
Patrick Peterson is getting more comfortable. After an amazing game-winning punt return in overtime and strong defensive play all game against the St. Louis Rams, the number five pick in the 2011 Draft appears be getting the hang of professional football. "With me taking the time to study with the defensive secondary coach, studying with Adrian Wilson, the game has slowed down tremendously for me," Peterson said on Arizona Sports 620's Doug and Wolf. It is scary to think that Peterson was unsatisfied with where he was at the beginning of the season, considering he played well for a rookie starter.

XTRA910 audio: NFC West Week 10 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
This probably stands as the most highly anticipated NFC West weekend since the San Francisco 49ers visited the previously undefeated Detroit Lions in Week 6. Dan Bickley, Mike Jurecki and I discussed the 49ers' big game against the New York Giants during our latest conversation on the division. They've made available the audio. We also discussed the Arizona Cardinals' chances at Philadelphia without Kevin Kolb and possibly without Beanie Wells functioning at full strength. Wells, slowed by a knee injury recently, was a full participant in practice Friday. The team listed him as probable.

Cards Arrive in PHI, Gameplan for Vick
The Cardinals travel Northeast to take on the Philadelphia Eagles and face their dual threat QB Mike Vick. Paul Calvisi reports from team headquarters.

Arizona Sports News:

Trent Lockett, Keala King help lead ASU basketball to season-opening win over Montana State
The season opener was over. The basketball arena had begun to empty, and yet coach Herb Sendek kept his players in the locker room a tad longer than usual Friday. Arizona State defeated Montana State 78-72 in front of 5,603 at Wells Fargo Arena, a game that featured a quicker offensive pace from the Sun Devils and 35 trips to the foul line.

GM Kevin Towers: Arizona Diamondbacks have backup plan for Stephen Drew
With still no timetable set for shortstop Stephen Drew's recovery from ankle and sports-hernia surgeries, the Diamondbacks believe they are covered in the event he isn't ready for Opening Day.

NFL News:

Steelers, Cowboys And Ravens On Upset Watch For NFL Week 10 - SBNation.com
The Steelers, Cowboys and Ravens are on upset watch in Week 10 of the 2011 NFL season.

Antrel Rolle fined $5,000 for wearing University of Miami logo | ProFootballTalk
Giants safety Antrel Rolle wanted to represent The U on Sunday. Now he’s $5,000 poorer for it. The league office has confirmed to PFT that Rolle was fined $5,000 for displaying an unauthorized logo — the University of Miami logo — on his eyeblack.

Following up: About that 'pretender' label - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Some people are still under the assumption that the 49ers are 'pretenders'.