Welcome to the final day of March, here are your links for today. Including stuff on, Jake Lockers Pro Day, analysis of the two top QBs, another injury to Pennington, Fitz's travels and a loss by the Suns that included two Suns players being ejected after reacting to a Referee who apparently called one of them "a little b****"....
Kurt Warner's not sold on top rookie QBs - ArizonaSports.com
Kurt Warner knows a thing or two about playing quarterback in the NFL. Kurt Warner knows a thing or two about playing quarterback in the NFL for Ken Whisenhunt. Talking to Sports 620 KTAR's Doug and Wolf Thursday, the former Pro-Bowler said the transition to a new offense would be a drawn out process for any QB, let alone a rookie signal caller. With that, he said he's not necessarily sold on the quarterbacks generally rated as the top two in the upcoming draft.
Word From the Birds Blog - The Top Five
No, we’re not talking former Cardinals cornerback Robert "Top Five" Tate, who used to put together top five lists all the time — including football lists, which inevitably included himself. Instead, we’re talking about the guys who will be considered for the top five picks in the draft. It sure seems like this is the list:
Word From the Birds Blog - Traveling Fitz helps again "
Last year, I wrote about Larry Fitzgerald’s offseason travels and his return, noting that part of his trip was to aid one of his Minnesota neighbors — Bill Austin — who runs Starkey Hearing Foundation. Fitzgerald has worked with Austin a few times in the past helping fit needy kids with hearing aids in countries where they can’t usually get them. Last year, it was India. This year, Fitz is part of a much bigger group of NFL players in Rwanda doing the same.
Whisenhunt: No one in this draft stands out like Sam Bradford | ProFootballTalk
Very little seems predictable about the top ten of the upcoming draft. Practically the only the thing the national media agrees on is that the Cardinals are likely to take Blaine Gabbert if he’s available at No. 5. Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt, for what’s worth, made comments Wednesday that run contrary to that notion.
Analyst thinks Blaine Gabbert and Cam Newton not what Arizona Cardinals need - ArizonaSports.com
If you think the Arizona Cardinals should draft Blaine Gabbert or Cam Newton with the No. 5 overall pick in this year's NFL draft, you might want to think again. That is if you put much stock into what ESPN NFL analyst Merril Hoge has to say.
Cardinals' Bidwill says team working to get to the top - ArizonaSports.com
Even though the NFL is currently in the midst of a work stoppage, that doesn't necessarily mean the Arizona Cardinals are going about the offseason any different. The process of going through free agency and putting players through offseason workouts isn't happening but the plan of getting out of the NFC West cellar is being worked on daily.
azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - A look at the top of the NFL draft board
One of the best things about the draft is we all can form opinions about players, and unless you work for a team, those opinions have equal value: nothing. But it's fun to hear different perspectives, and I was on a conference call Wednesday morning with Nolan Nawrocki, draft analyst for Pro Football Weekly.
azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Shallow QB pool drained a little more
ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported today that quarterback Chad Pennington suffered a torn ACL playing basketball this off-season. That prompted two thoughts.
Phoenix Suns play like non-contender against Oklahoma City
The last time the Suns played Oklahoma City, they held a lead entering the fourth quarter and were on the verge of moving into playoff position before losing and hearing of Memphis' comeback win from a 17-point deficit at Dallas. The Suns gave the Thunder three great games when they were in a playoff chase. When they met again Wednesday night at US Airways Center, the Suns were out of plausible playoff contention and performed like it in a 116-98 loss.
Phoenix Suns' struggles with late-game meltdowns continue
Only three teams in the NBA have averaged more fourth-quarter points than the Suns this season. It sure didn't feel like it Sunday and Tuesday nights, when the Suns made their offense and two important victories vanish.
NBA Referee Allegedly Tells Player To 'Stop Being A Little Bitch' - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
Suns' guard Zabian Dowdell was ejected in the final minute of the Oklahoma City Thunder's blow-out win in Phoenix. That's a bit odd, right? Words must have been serious to earn the ire of NBA referee Ken Mauer under those circumstances. Indeed they were, according to reports. But the most explosive words were apparently coming from Mauer, not Dowdell.
NBA Official 'Disrespected' Suns' Zabian Dowdell Before Ejections - SB Nation Arizona
In a messy end to an ugly game Phoenix Suns' reserve point guards Zabian Dowdell and Aaron Brooks were both ejected from the game by NBA official Ken Mauer with 1:05 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Suns were down 112-92 to the Oklahoma City Thunder at the time of the ejections. A report from someone sitting court side near the incident was tweeted by KTAR radio personality, John Gambadoro claimed that the the official Ken Mauer told the Suns' rookie third-string point guard "to stop being a little bitch".
Chat wrap: A.J. Green and the 49ers - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Manny (Phoenix): Do you think the Cardinals will lose credibility if they fail to land a quarterback who is able to win some games? Do you think the Cardinals are willing to give Larry Fitzgerald the highest contract in NFL history in terms of the wide reciever position?
Draft Watch: NFC West - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: decision-makers.
Chad Pennington tears ACL playing pickup basketball - ESPN
Miami Dolphins quarterback Chad Pennington has a torn knee ligament and will undergo surgery next week.
Drew Brees of New Orleans Saints says antitrust suit was right thing to do - ESPN
New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees says he felt it was the right thing to do to put his name on an antitrust lawsuit against the NFL.
Jake Locker’s Pro Day criticized for being "too easy" | ProFootballTalk
Washington quarterback Jake Locker drew initial praise for an accurate showing at his Wednesday Pro Day. But draft analysts have since conversed with scouts and personnel people, and there is growing skepticism about how much the Pro Day workout really showed.
Jerry’s giant TV loses its crown | ProFootballTalk
As the late Roy Scheider possibly would say to Jerry Jones, "You’re gonna need a bigger board."
NFL draft: Von Miller has driven himself to become a top prospect - ESPN
After Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller turned off the cruise control, he accelerated to the top of the draft class, Jeffri Chadiha writes.
Reading tea leaves at Jake Locker's pro day - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The guest list for Jake Locker's pro day at the University of Washington offered up a few surprises.
Despite suit, Von Miller accepts NFL's draft invite - ESPN
Texas A&M linebacker Von Miller, who is the only rookie plaintiff in the players' antitrust lawsuit against the National Football League, has accepted an invitation to attend the NFL draft on April 28.