Time for some links, this time looking at how the Cardinals are learning from Warner's concussion in 09, along with more on the improved defense.
Arizona Cardinals using past experience with concussions in handling of Kevin Kolb
Arizona Cardinals update: Quarterback Kevin Kolb passed the neurological tests required by the NFL for a player to return to practice and games. But that doesn't automatically mean he will play on Sunday against the Browns. My guess is he won't play unless he can make it through full practices and experience no repercussions afterward. That wasn't the case on Wednesday when Kolb practiced on a limited basis. Judging by his comments after practice, it was very limited. Kolb's situation is similar to what Kurt Warner went through in 2009, and my hunch is that coach Ken Whisenhunt and the rest of the Cardinals learned something from that.
Getting Skelton Started
Notebook: Rhodes will be worked in slowly; Cards-Browns sold out
Quietly, Wilson Leads The Way
Pro Bowl safety shakes off injuries, learning curve to post solid season
Cardinals' offense still working on third downs
The Cardinals offense has not joined the green movement this season. Hardly anything it's produced has been sustainable. Big plays have popped up here and there. The running game has flourished one week and withered the next. The quarterbacks have produced a few blossoms but little fruit. The team's consistent offensive problems can be detailed through many statistical categories, but third-down-conversion percentage tells us all we need to know.
Word From the Birds Blog - Kolb situation echoes Warner’s
Coach Ken Whisenhunt said quarterback Kevin Kolb did a little more in practice today following his concussion and the expectation is that he will do more again Friday. But there are reasons to think, barring a big jump in Kolb’s recovery, that John Skelton will start against Cleveland Sunday, and one of them is the path Whisenhunt went down with former quarterback Kurt Warner before a game at Tennessee in 2009.
Chat wrap: Four big-picture questions - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Amro from Arizona thinks defensive improvement is about all the Cardinals will have to show for this season, with the quarterback situation remaining unresolved.
Word From the Birds Blog - Dialing it up on defense
The Cards, now, are coming from everywhere. The development of the defense — and the ability for defensive coordinator Ray Horton to call a lot of different plays now — has changed the way they attack the opposing passing game. Two games in a row, they have five sacks from five different players (eight players overall; Calais Campbell and Darnell Dockett have gone back-to-back. The others: Nose tackle Nick Eason and linebackers O’Brien Schofield, Paris Lenon, Clark Haggans and Daryl Washington, along with cornerback Patrick Peterson.
Explaining Cards' defensive improvement - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Many factors could be contributing to the Arizona Cardinals' dramatic defensive improvement over the past six games:
Big Red Rage - Rhodes and Johnson
FS Rashad Johnson joined Paul Calvisi, Ron Wolfley, and Kerry Rhodes to talk about the win against the 49ers and the upcoming match-up with the Browns.
Cards Daily - Campbell Shines
Damien Anderson catches up with Calais Campbell to talk about his tremendous season.
Arizona Sports News:
Coyotes snap 3-game skid with win over Oilers
Emotion can carry a team. Combine that with heady play and energy, and it can be an unbeatable combination. The Coyotes, on their heels after three consecutive losses, came through with one of the better efforts of the past two weeks and scored a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Thursday night in front of 9,397 at Jobing.com Arena.
ASU football enters a coaching transition
Having introduced its new coach, ASU football has entered an awkward transitional phase.
NFL News:
NFL Agrees To Nine-Year Broadcast Rights Extension With CBS, FOX & NBC - SBNation.com
The NFL agreed to a massive, nine-year extension with NBC, CBS and FOX for the rights to broadcast games.
Sam Hurd Arrested On Federal Drug Charges; Other NFL Players Could Be Implicated - SBNation.com
Bears WR Sam Hurd was arrested in Chicago Wednesday night on federal drug charges and a Chicago radio station reports he had NFL players as clients.
Roy Williams has nothing to say to Sam Hurd | ProFootballTalk
Bears receiver Sam Hurd is entitled to the presumption of innocence in court, regarding the drug trafficking charges he faces. In the locker room, however, it sounds like at least one of his teammates is ready to presume that Hurd is guilty as charged.
James Harrison's Suspension Upheld; Steelers LB Out One Game - SBNation.com
The suspension imposed upon Pittsburgh Steelers LB James Harrison was upheld after an appeal to the NFL office, according to Jason La Canfora of NFL Network. Harrison was appealing a one-game suspension he received for an illegal hit on Cleveland Browns QB Colt McCoy last week.
Andrew Luck Sweepstakes: Will Robert Griffin III's Heisman Trophy Switch The Stakes? - SBNation.com
After 14 weeks of the 2011 NFL season, the Indianapolis Colts have a commanding lead for the No. 1 overall pick. Could Robert Griffin III create some question marks alongside Andrew Luck as a possible number one pick?
2011 49ers Week 14: Five observations - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Five things I noticed while watching the San Francisco 49ers during their most recent game, a 21-19 defeat at Arizona in Week 5: