7-21-11: Bird Droppings - Time For A Vote

It looks like the voting on the new CBA will be today, we are almost at the finish line guys. I'm getting this up early so I can save all of the vote updates for tomorrow.

For today, we look at some more opinions on the possible DRC for Kolb trade, Horton thinking that the Defense is going ot be great this year, and Breaston saying that he wants to stay.

DRC for Kolb? Three reasons it won't happen - ArizonaSports.com
The biggest rumor surrounding the pursuit of Kevin Kolb is that the Cardinals are prepared to part with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in order to get him. Sports 620 KTAR's Sports Interactive, though, does not think that is a good idea. So, they gave three reasons why it doesn't seem likely to happen.

Tough call on Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - ArizonaSports.com
The player most mentioned in relation to a Kevin Kolb trade is Arizona Cardinals cornerback Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie. The key to the decision is for coach Ken Whisenhunt and general manager Rod Graves to figure out who is the real DRC (insert corny Eminem joke here).

Coordinating Their Plans
Horton, Miller aim to be "fluid" and "flexible" after lack of offseason work

Word From the Birds Blog - A roster reset
Soon, the Cardinals will be able to start organizing the roster for the 2011 season (a vote on the new labor agreement from both players and owners should come at some point Thursday, according to NFL general counsel Jeff Pash). It isn’t a small job. The Cards are prepping with all hands on deck, but before we get there, a quick recap of the current situation.

Ray Horton thinks Cardinals defense should be one of the best in NFL - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals finished 31st in the NFL in total defense in 2010. That, and the fact that the team hasn't been able to hand out playbooks to their players due to the lockout, hasn't stopped their new defensive coordinator from having lofty goals for his squad. Ray Horton thinks the Cards defense won't just be improved next season but could be near the top of the league.

Cards rookie Peterson hopes DRC for Kolb isn't true - ArizonaSports.com
When the Arizona Cardinals drafted Patrick Peterson fifth overall the thought was he would pair with Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to form one of the best defensive secondaries in the NFL. But that was before the Kolb for DRC rumors popped up.

Could Kevin Kolb to the Cardinals be another Arizona-Philadelphia blockbuster? - ArizonaSports.com
With rumors continuing to circulate about the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles possibly consummating a deal involving Kevin Kolb, it got me thinking about all the times the sports universe has brought the two cities -- yes I know Arizona is a state but the Cards play in the greater Phoenix area -- together. Think about it. The two major trades involving the Valley and Philadelphia have been nothing short of blockbusters.

Word From the Birds Blog - Breaston: "If I’m meant to be here, I’ll be here."
Wide receiver Steve Breaston, a free-agent-to-be, was matter-of-fact when it came to his future while doing an interview with XTRA 910′s Bickley and MJ this afternoon, saying of his chances to remain a Cardinal, "If I’m meant to be here, I’ll be here."

Joey Porter, Gerald Hayes likely expendable for Cardinals - ArizonaSports.com
As soon as the NFL lockout ends, rosters across the league will go through rapid changes. Trades will be made, players will be cut and free agents will be signed all in a very short time frame. It will be fast, confusing, chaotic and significant. While most of the Cardinals offseason talk has been focused around the acquisition of a quarterback, there are a few players on defense that may be cut to free up some money.

Arizona Sports News:

Arizona Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew fractures ankle in loss to Milwaukee Brewers
His right ankle twisted in an unnatural position after an awkward slide into home, Stephen Drew's face was etched in agony. Imagining the worst was easy. And it was matched by reality: Drew suffered a fractured right ankle and is out for the season. He probably will need surgery, and manager Kirk Gibson said tests will be conducted Thursday to determine the next step. "It's disappointing, and we know how important Stephen is, but if you've been around the game a while, it's fairly common that you're going to lose star players," Gibson said. "You hope it doesn't happen to you. "We'll have to find a way to get through it. There's nothing we can do about it. Wish him well, just hope that he has a good recovery, and he'll be able to resume his career next year." The game, won in 10 innings by the Brewers 5-2 in front of 19,196 on Wednesday night at Chase Field, became just a footnote for a team fighting for the top spot in the National League West.

Phoenix Mercury's win streak ends on Camp Day
There was style. There was substance. And there were stars. More than half of the current Western Conference All-Star Game roster was showcased on the US Airways Center floor for Wednesday's matinee game. And the visiting Minnesota Lynx showed why they have a league-high four players named to Saturday's All-Star Game at San Antonio. The Mercury, with two All-Star players, couldn't contain the Lynx in a 106-98 loss.

Brock Osweiler defends ASU football coach Dennis Erickson
Quarterback Brock Osweiler tells Joe Pequeno that the "entire football team believes in coach Erickson" after former player Kerry Taylor said the program could not win with Dennis Erickson as the head coach.

NFL News:

NFL lockout --Owners likely to vote Thursday - ESPN
NFL owners have been told by the league to be prepared to vote on the new collective bargaining agreement between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m., multiple sources said.

DeMaurice Smith gets players ready for conference call | ProFootballTalk
The NFLPA* will have a conference call with player reps Thursday afternoon. The big question is whether the players will just get updated on the state of labor negotiations or whether they will be taking a vote.

Jeff Pash says both sides should be able to vote Thursday | ProFootballTalk
The players’ decision not to vote on a new Collective Bargaining Agreement today doesn’t mean the owners won’t vote on a new CBA tomorrow.

2011 NFL lockout -- NFLPA vote held up; Reps give DeMaurice Smith OK to finish deal - ESPN
NFL Players Association player representatives gave DeMaurice Smith and the executive committee a vote of confidence to finish the remaining deal points, a source told ESPN's Chris Mortensen.

Trying to explain the delay in player vote | ProFootballTalk
So everyone expected the NFL players to vote on a possible deal to end the lockout on Wednesday, and it didn’t happen. Since I’m not smart enough to understand why this might have happened, let’s collect a few reports from around the league to make sense of things.

Chicago Bears' Brian Urlacher can't see Hall of Fame game on Aug. 7 - ESPN Chicago
Brian Urlacher doesn't think there will be enough time to prepare for the Hall of Fame game.

Reggie Bush among potential cap casualties - ESPN
Reggie Bush's bloated cap number could make him expendable in New Orleans. He's not the only big name on shaky ground, writes John Clayton.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - NFC Series: The Rams
This is the third in a series previewing teams in the NFC West. Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch gives us his evaluation of the Rams. Here's what I think:

Audio: Will 8-8 win the NFC West? - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Damon Bruce of KNBR radio in San Francisco has the audio from our latest conversation on all things NFC West. He asked how many victories I thought would win the NFC West in 2011.

Which quarterbacks command most respect - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Jesse Reynolds, an Arizona Cardinals fan deadlocked in a debate over quarterbacks, turned this way for a resolution.