Today, the main news stories involve Kurt Warner speaking out on the lockout, and an interview Drew Brees did with Sports Illustrated where he said he thinks the Owners have been planning this since Gene Upshaw died. Also, updates on Kyle Orton and Kevin Kolb.
Warner again says players have to relent - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Kurt Warner left $11.5 million on the table when he retired with one year on his contract. The money -- envision $31,506.85 per day for a calendar year -- didn't mean enough to Warner for the quarterback to play in 2010. Other players need their salaries enough to give NFL owners the decisive edge in the ongoing labor dispute. That was the word from Warner, now an NFL Network analyst, in comments published Friday by USA Today.
Nursing a Kevin Kolb hangover this holiday weekend - ArizonaSports.com
It's a holiday weekend and I don't have to be in the palatial offices of ArizonaSports.com -- really it's just a tiny quarter cubicle with whiteboard walls -- so I'm looking forward to enjoying a hangover. Since I drink about as often as Los Angeles sports fans act classy, I'll have to settle for the Hangover Part 2. I realize the chances that it lives up to the original are about as good as Jeffery Jordan living up to his father Michael's legacy, but I'm still looking forward to it regardless. As much as I'll probably enjoy it, not all hangovers are like the movie. Some are anything but entertaining. I'm battling one of those right now. I'm fighting a Kevin Kolb hangover.
Warner sides with owners in NFL labor dispute - ArizonaSports.com
Kurt Warner has been away from the football field for over a year and he may have finally found his post career calling. Working in the NFL Commissioner's office. That's because Warner came out on Friday and told the USA Today his thoughts on the NFL's labor strife and his stance might surprise many around the league.
Kurt Warner: "The players have to give in" | ProFootballTalk
Former Rams, Giants and Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner believes the lockout is going to end in time for the 2011 NFL season to begin as scheduled. But those on the players’ side may not be happy to hear how Warner thinks that’s going to happen. Warner told USA Today that he thinks it’s the players who are going to have to budge and meet the demands of the owners to get a deal done.
Broncos may be asking more for Orton - ArizonaSports.com
Kyle Orton has been a name dropped more than once for the Arizona Cardinals' opening at starting quarterback, but things might not be so simple. According to NFL Network's Jason La Canfora, the Broncos don't have a reason to trade Orton, unless the price is high enough (Read: A second round pick. Minimum) to make them rethink their stance on the 28-year-old quarterback.
Economist: NFL furloughs likely symbolic - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The Arizona Cardinals wanted quarterback Kurt Warner to return last season. They tried to keep safety Antrel Rolle and linebacker Karlos Dansby. Ideally, they would have kept receiver Anquan Boldin as well. With those players leaving the payroll, Arizona spent an NFC West-low $89.9 million on player compensation last season, down from $119.7 million in 2009, according to salary numbers ESPN's John Clayton maintains. The year-over-year reduction did not stop the Cardinals from forcing one-week furloughs upon employees this week.
On Kyle Orton's viability for Seahawks - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Mike from Eugene, Ore., thinks the Seattle Seahawks would be better served considering Kyle Orton over Kevin Kolb among quarterback options, based in part on what K.C. Joyner wrote about Orton in a recent Insider piece.
(I'm counting this as Cardinals news since we have been linked to him, and the blog post can apply to us and the Seahawks)
Arizona Sports News:
Diamondbacks hold on for series win vs. Rockies
Micah Owings pitched five effective innings for his first win in more than a year and Miguel Montero hit a three-run homer, helping the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the slumping Colorado Rockies 6-3 on Thursday night.
Former D-back manager Bob Brenly wants automated strike zone - ArizonaSports.com
While on the Doug & Wolf show on Sports 620 KTAR Friday morning Brenly went off about how terrible he feels the strike zone has been called by umpires this season.
NFL News:
Saints QB Drew Brees explains players side in NFL labor issue - Jim Trotter - SI.com
Drew Brees points to Gene Upshaw's death as starting point for NFL work stoppage Saints QB makes case that league has been preparing for lockout since 2008 Revenue distribution is the real issue in dispute as labor impasse continues
NFL.com news: Media has manufactured hype around 'what-if guy' Kolb
If, as a Philadelphia Daily News columnist recently wrote, Kevin Kolb has become the face of the NFL lockout, the expression on that face might prove to be one of pain. Of the many topics manufactured in the media's desperate search for something to write and talk about while next to nothing is going on, Kolb's future has easily been the biggest.
NFL: Court needs to honor labor law in lockout ruling - ESPN
The NFL hasn't wavered in this message to its locked-out players: Get out of the courts and come back to the bargaining table.
Roger Goodell to Tennessee Titans fans: No 'drop dead date' on labor impasse - ESPN
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell defended the lockout to some unhappy Tennessee Titans fans and said that the league does not have a drop dead date to end the impasse.
Handicapping the field for Los Angeles, with one surprise team | ProFootballTalk
During his appearance on PFT Live Friday, the conversation with NFL Network’s Albert Breer naturally gravitated towards his recent story about Vikings ownership meeting with AEG. That segued into a discussion regarding what team could eventually wind up moving to Los Angeles. The whole conversation is worth checking out below, but I was especially surprised to hear one name mentioned.
NFL, Dallas Cowboys want Super Bowl seat suit tossed - ESPN Dallas
The NFL and the Dallas Cowboys have asked a federal court judge to dismiss the class-action lawsuit filed on behalf of Super Bowl ticket holders who wound up with no seats for the game.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib indicted for shooting at man in Texas - ESPN
A Texas grand jury has returned an indictment for Buccaneers cornerback Aqib Talib, two months after he was charged with firing a gun at his sister's boyfriend.