Link time, including more on the draft, NFC West Wide Receivers, Fitz offering to help some of his younger teammates with their financial situation because of the lockout (class) and differing opinions on Quarterbacks.
Also, birthday turned out pretty good, but the last six or seven minutes of the Coyotes game made me go to sleep angry.
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: Dream Scenario/Plan B.
Adventures in drafting NFL wide receivers - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Larry Fitzgerald's arrival with the Arizona Cardinals via the 2004 NFL draft serves as the starting point for the latest item looking at recent NFC West choices. Fitzgerald already has 613 receptions, far more than any other NFC West receiver over the last seven seasons.
azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - Graves, Whisenhunt talk about the draft
A few quick notes from the pre-draft press conference today with GM Rod Graves and coach Ken Whisenhunt.
Word From the Birds Blog - One week out, Whiz and Graves talk draft
Coach Ken Whisenhunt and GM Rod Graves held their pre-draft press conference today. No surprise — they did not announce their preferred player to be available when they select fifth overall. But some of the things they did say:
Larry Fitzgerald is ready to help his teammates financially | ProFootballTalk
With the lockout nearly six weeks old, there have been tales of players taking out high-interest loans in order to stay afloat. If any of those players play for the Cardinals, they don’t need to go to those extremes. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald is ready to help.
Cincinnati Reds top Arizona Diamondbacks, avoid sweep
Mike Leake got razzed by a few fans during his first appearance since a shoplifting arrest, but ignored the nasty signs and gave the Cincinnati Reds a much-needed boost Thursday, going seven innings for a 7-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Detroit Red Wings complete sweep of Phoenix Coyotes
Nothing to lose. Play hard. See what happens. That was the Coyotes' mind-set as they peered up from the pit they found themselves in after losing the first three games of their playoff series against the Detroit Red Wings. They took that to heart.
NFL sky is dark, but not necessarily falling - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Facebook friend Kevin reiterated his fears that the NFL Players Association and its attorneys are going to "ruin" the NFL if they get what they want. He feels even more strongly about this after hearing Roger Goodell's comments to Giants season-ticket holders.
Chat wrap: Blaine Gabbert talk heating up - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Derrik (AZ): I'll be upset with the Cardinals if they draft the QB from Missouri or any QB in the first round. None of them come close to what Sam Bradford accomplished in college. The Cards need a QB, but missing on another one like Matt Leinart would be far worse. I would rather have John Skelton play than a first-round draft pick. Priorities at No. 5 should be: Von Miller, Patrick Peterson, trading down and Robert Quinn.
After a lap, I'm rethinking Gabbert - ArizonaSports.com
I've written in this space before that I hope the Cardinals don't have this choice. I hope Newton and Gabbert will be gone and the Cards can go get Von Miller or Patrick Peterson. I still think that will happen. ESPN's John Clayton said the other day that he expects both QB's will be off the board before #5 and even if they weren't he guarantees the Cardinals would not take Gabbert. Clayton got an Amen from this choir on all his points. Suddenly though, I find myself vacillating on Gabbert. Hard worker. Big athletic guy. Whip smart. Accurate. The NFL Network's Trent Green compared him to Matt Ryan. How can you pass on the next Matt Ryan?
Whisenhunt: It depends on the quarterback - ArizonaSports.com
They say timing is everything, and the proverb could be used to describe how the Arizona Cardinals' plan to rectify their void situation at quarterback. The Cardinals badly need a new one, and there are a few intriguing options expected to be available to them.
NFL.com news: Odds stacked even higher against this year's rookie QB class
I don't believe this is a great draft when it comes to quarterbacks. Simply put, there is no Peyton Manning, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, or even a Josh Freeman. Someday, one of the quarterbacks from this draft class might develop into an elite player. But right now they have everything working against them, and it starts with the 2011 schedule.
Cardinals need to think Dalton at QB, regardless of hair color - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals need to draft a quarterback in the NFL Draft next week. What they don't have to do is draft one with the No. 5 overall pick. When their turn comes in the second round for the 38th pick, if TCU's Andy Dalton is still on the board he needs to be taken with that pick.
Cardinals-Panthers Week 1 match-up marred by uncertainty - ArizonaSports.com
When the Arizona Cardinals schedule was released on Tuesday and I saw they were hosting the Carolina Panthers in Week 1 my immediate reaction was, "they should start 1-0." Then I came back to reality. Who am I kidding? We sit here on April 20th and have zero idea who the Cardinals or Panthers will be starting at quarterback. We have even less of an idea if Week 1 will really be played on September 11, as the schedule suggests.
Phoenix Coyotes goalie Ilya Bryzgalov takes blame for loss
He tended to shy away from the media after losses. He sometimes didn't even want to talk after wins. But after the team's final and arguably most humbling defeat of the season, there stood goaltender Ilya Bryzgalov, clean-shaven, accepting the blame.
Phoenix Coyotes franchise continues to face uphill battle
Since the arrival of coach Dave Tippett in 2009, the Coyotes vaulted to the elite level enjoyed by the premier teams of the Western Conference. They followed last season's surprising run to 107 points with a 99-point performance this year, which was expected. What wasn't expected was the organization's continued desperate plight. The team's situation is not a consequence of a lack of will; it exists because the team has reached the limits of its potential.