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Time for some links, with the best news being that the injury suffered by Patrick Peterson on Saturday doesn't look too serious and he could play in the finale if everything works out.
Arizona Cardinals News:For Finale, Nothing Changes
Cardinals don't plan to have looming end of season affect approach
Silver linings: Cardinals vs. Bengals - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The facts: The Arizona Cardinals fell to 7-8 following a 23-16 road defeat to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 16.
Arizona Cardinals optimistic Patrick Peterson didn't rupture left Achilles
Patrick Peterson is undergoing an MRI this morning on his left Achilles. It's still believed to be a strain, or possibly tendinitis. The Cardinals are optimistic it's not a rupture.
Larry Fitzgerald's dad slams Arizona Cardinals' Early Doucet
Larry Fitzgerald, Sr., a veteran writer and radio personality from Minneapolis, took aim at Arizona Cardinals receiver Early Doucet this morning via twitter.
Arizona Cardinals QB Kevin Kolb still is day to day with concussion symptons
Given the short-term reward vs. the potential long-term risk, most Cardinals fans might assume that coach Ken Whisenhunt will tell quarterback Kevin Kolb to just sit this next one out, that there's nothing to be gained by having him play in the regular-season finale against the visiting Seattle Seahawks. If Kolb still is dealing with concussion symptoms, he won't play, Whisenhunt confirmed Monday when he addressed the media for the first time since Arizona's 23-16 loss Saturday at Cincinnati. But if Kolb is cleared to go, Whisenhunt said he won't sit him for protective measures -- even though the Cardinals (7-8) have been eliminated from the playoff race.
Arizona Cardinals will be better in 2012
How appropriate that Ken Whisenhunt spent part of a rare Christmas Day off at the latest Sherlock Holmes movie with his family. If anyone needs to play sleuth and solve a mystery, it's the Cardinals coach. Talk about a maddening football team. You don't know whether to hug the Cardinals or keep squeezing until they cough up their propensity for early-game bungling.
QBR ranks: 49ers' Smith far and away best - NFC West Blog - ESPN
John Skelton, Arizona Cardinals (6.3 QBR, 60.5 NFL rating): Skelton completed 23 of 44 passes for 297 yards with two touchdowns, three interceptions, five sacks and one fumble, which the Cardinals recovered. He rushed four times for 6 yards. The fact that Skelton's poor play doomed the Cardinals to a 23-0 deficit proved more important than the plays he made in getting Arizona back into the game late. The fourth-quarter production meant little in the end.
Coaches unsure how to handle holiday off - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Those accustomed to grinding away at work every day sometimes have a hard time shutting it down, even for Christmas. Football coaches would generally fall into that group. The Arizona Cardinals' Ken Whisenhunt told reporters he went to a movie with his family, but found himself feeling as though he should have been doing something for work. Having a game Saturday instead of Sunday threw off everything.
Word From the Birds Blog - MRI shows no tear on Peterson injury
Rookie cornerback Patrick Peterson was undergoing an MRI Monday morning to check out his Achilles injury, but coach Ken Whisenhunt said he was optimistic it wasn’t "too bad" and the coach also wouldn’t rule out Peterson playing in the season finale against Seattle. Whisenhunt said he wasn’t sure if it was a strain or just tendinitis, but the MRI should clear that up. Peterson was upbeat after the game — Whiz said Peterson even wanted to go back in in Cincinnati.
Word From the Birds Blog - The Doucet debate
In the aftermath of the TD-catch-that-wasn’t by Early Doucet — and it wasn’t a drop, in this case, because Doucet’s feet got tangled and he never got a chance to get his hands on the ball — the fourth-year wide receiver has been a popular topic of conversation this morning. Larry Fitzgerald Sr., a long-time writer and sports commentator in Minnesota, tweeted out that Doucet "bombed" this season and drops too many passes. (Mike Sando tracked Big Fitz down for a more detailed explanation). In Sando’s piece, Fitzgerald Sr. said that Doucet was invited to train with Larry Fitzgerald Jr. this offseason and didn’t come, and the elder Fitz wondered about Doucet’s work ethic.
Awkward? Elder Fitzgerald rips Doucet - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Larry Fitzgerald Sr. has worked as a reporter and sports commentator for years. He will always be best known, however, for his role as father to one of the all-time great NFL receivers. That familial connection becomes impossible to ignore when the elder Fitzgerald rips one of his son's Arizona Cardinals teammates -- particularly another wide receiver on the team.
Cardinals: No surgery for Patrick Peterson - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The Arizona Cardinals finished their Week 16 game at Cincinnati without rookie cornerback and return specialist Patrick Peterson. The first-round draft choice's injured left Achilles tendon will not require surgery, however. An MRI administered Monday showed no tears or any injury that would require surgery, the team said in a statement.
Cards Daily - Fighting to the Finish
As the Cardinals head into the final week of the season, head coach Ken Whisenhunt says that he is proud of how his team has fought through some tough times.
Arizona Sports News:
Phoenix Suns stumble against New Orleans Hornets in season debut
This is becoming more than a concern for the Suns. This is a worry. Concerns have quick fixes. The Suns season has become a full-scale worry after their evident shortcomings played themselves out in a season-opening 85-84 loss to New Orleans on Monday night at US Airways Center. The Hornets are tabbed to be the worst team in the Western Conference by many, but where does that put the Suns after they lost at home with New Orleans missing Jarrett Jack?
Los Angeles Kings break scoring slump, beat Phoenix Coyotes
Willie Mitchell scored the tiebreaking goal early in the third period, and the Los Angeles Kings broke their offensive slump to beat the Phoenix Coyotes 4-3 Monday night for their second victory under new coach Darryl Sutter.
NFL News:
Silver linings: Seahawks vs. 49ers - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The facts: The Seattle Seahawks fell to 7-8 with a 19-17 home defeat to the San Francisco 49ers.
Silver linings: Rams at Steelers - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The facts: The St. Louis Rams fell to 2-13 with a 27-0 road defeat to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 16.
Drew Brees Makes History, Breaks Dan Marino's Passing Record - SBNation.com
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees surpassed Hall of Famer Dan Marino for the most passing yards in a single season on Monday Night Football against the Atlanta Falcons.
Were Saints right to run up score for Brees' record? - NFL - Yahoo! Sports
Drew Brees tucked the record-setting ball in his oversized brown leather bag as a reporter asked him if it was one day headed to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. "They already got my uniform," Brees said with equal parts incredulity and amazement, and a dash of humor as he smiled. The New Orleans quarterback got everything he, his team and Saints fans could have wanted in a 45-16 humiliation of the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night. There was the NFC South title, at least one home game in the playoffs, a sweep of archrival Atlanta and the topper of all: Brees breaking Dan Marino’s all-time record for passing yards in a season on his final throw of the game.
Drew Brees' Passing Record And 'The Year Of The Quarterback' - SBNation.com
Drew Brees broke Dan Marino's 27-year-old passing record in Monday night's 45-16 win over the Falcons, but he may not even be the best quarterback in the league this season.
Falcons Player Upset With Drew Brees And Saints' Decision To Go For Dan Marino's Record - SBNation.com
Drew Brees broke a 27-year old NFL record on Monday night when he completed a nine-yard touchdown pass with 2:51 remaining in the game. That pass game him 5,087 yards on the season, passing the mark Dan Marino set in 1984 as the greatest passing season in NFL history.
Jon Gruden Wants Back Into Coaching In 2012, According To Report - SBNation.com
Jon Gruden currently works on ESPN's Monday Night Football broadcast but a report states that Gruden is preparing to get back into coaching in 2012.
Braylon Edwards Waived By San Francisco 49ers - SBNation.com
The 49ers signed Braylon Edwards before the season but have decided to release him before Week 17.
Pierre Thomas giftwraps touchdown, penalty | ProFootballTalk
We’ve seen just about every touchdown celebration possible over the years, but Pierre Thomas came up with a new one on the day after Christmas.
Jets have a decision to make on Sanchez | ProFootballTalk
As the New York Jets begin to process the reality that there most likely will be no back-door path to the playoffs followed by a couple of unlikely road wins in the postseason, one of the factors the franchise will confront is the future of quarterback Mark Sanchez.
NFL.com news: Jets reportedly unsure if franchise QB is on their roster
If the New York Jets and Mark Sanchez end up parting ways sometime in the near future, people might point toward his ill-advised retreat into his own end zone Saturday -- and another untimely fourth-quarter giveaway -- as the beginning of the end of his tenure as the Jets' quarterback.
2012 NFL draft order as Week 16 nears end - NFC West Blog - ESPN
While the San Francisco 49ers fans sweat over playoff seeding, those following the other NFC West teams have 2012 NFL draft order to consider heading into Week 17.