7-30-11: Bird Droppings - Mr. Kolb Goes To Arizona

The news from yesterday? Kevin Kolb has arrived in Arizona, and shortly after the Eagles signed Nnamdi Asomugha right after they already got Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from us.... Well played Andy Reid, well played.

Time for some links.

Arizona Cardinals News:

Kolb "Feels Right" As A Cardinal
From the time Kevin Kolb visited Arizona in January of 2009 for the NFC Championship game, he said he "marked this one down as one of my favorites."

QB Kevin Kolb introduced by Arizona Cardinals, looking forward to next challenge
The Cardinals' recruitment of quarterback Kevin Kolb started in January 2009, although the team didn't know it.

Arizona Cardinals introduce Kevin Kolb at news conference Friday - ESPN
Kevin Kolb has arrived in Arizona as the new quarterback of the Cardinals, acknowledging the pressure he will be under to succeed but saying the situation simply feels right.

Signings Become Official
Cards ink five new players, bring back 10 of their own

NFL.com news: Kolb driven to quiet doubters, start work as Cardinals' QB
Kevin Kolb has arrived in Arizona as the new quarterback of a Cardinals team in desperate need of one, acknowledging the pressure he will be under to succeed but saying the situation simply "feels right." "You just know when something feels right and this one feels right," he said, "all the way from flying in, driving through town, getting here to the facility, talking with everybody, meeting the players, it feels really good."

Arizona Cardinals 'in flux' as camp opens
In Flux. It sounds like an offensive formation. Instead, it's how Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt described his team as players reported to training camp Friday evening at Northern Arizona University. Whisenhunt didn't have a head count of players when he talked to reporters early in the evening. In fact, he was having a hard time recognizing many of the faces attached to those heads.

Arizona Cardinals add five free agents to the puzzle
The Cardinals announced the signings of five free agents, and although none are marquee names, coach Ken Whisenhunt thinks they could play important roles.

azcentral.com blogs - Kent Somers - A look at the 5 free agents
Until Friday, the Cardinals were very careful not to say anything about their free-agent acquisitions. That's because the players had not signed. Five have signed their deals, however, and Whisenhunt gave a quick assessment.

Cardinals agree to terms with five draft picks
The Cardinals agreed to terms with their last five draft picks, and had to turn away another. Tight end Rob Housler, the third-round pick, reported to camp, unaware that he needed to be under contract to do so. So the Cardinals had to turn him away. "I liked his drive," Whisenhunt said, smiling. All five rookies signed four-year deals: Texas linebacker Sam Acho, fourth round; Connecticut fullback Anthony Sherman (fifth), North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant (sixth); UCLA defensive lineman David Carter (sixth) and San Diego State receiver DeMarco Sampson (seventh). Financial terms were not available.

Cards wanted Asomugha, now could go get Samuel - ArizonaSports.com
The Cardinals traded a cornerback away, tried to sign a better one, and now may trade for one. How's that for trying to make some moves?

Word From the Birds Blog - Kolb’s first day as camp nears
Kevin Kolb, in his press conference, talked about how comfortable he already was in this city. And he looked it. He handled the questions as you’d think, acknowledging he has a lot to prove and that there is risk involved from the Cardinals’ end. But he clearly is confident he will make this deal pay off, and while you’d expect him to say just that, it’s one thing to say it and another thing to sound like you mean it. Kolb is the latter.

Ken Whisenhunt thinks he can get the best out of Kolb - ArizonaSports.com
Expectations for Kevin Kolb are high. Not only have the media and the fans set lofty goals for the new quarterback, but his coaches and teammates are as well.

Media reactions to Kevin Kolb trade - ArizonaSports.com
The Kevin Kolb trade has been highly publicized and criticized. Some think Kevin Kolb is the right man for the job, others think he will not pan out and some think that the Cardinals paid too much no matter how he performs. Here at Arizonasports.com, we compiled a list of various reactions from major media outlets to see where they stand on the Kolb acquisition.

Kevin Kolb ready to take the reigns in Arizona - ArizonaSports.com
OK, so maybe taking over as the starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals will only be the second toughest thing Kevin Kolb has done recently. An avid hunter, the newest Cardinal used to use a knife, rather than a gun, to take down his prey. But, he said his days of hand-to-hand combat are over, as his responsibility is to the Cardinals, a team that gave up a former Pro-Bowl defensive back and a high draft choice to get him.

Calais Campbell reacts to Kevin Kolb trade - ArizonaSports.com
Calais Campbell on ESPN reacting to the trade.

Kevin Kolb will prove the doubters wrong, succeed in Arizona - Andrew Perloff - SI.com
Kevin Kolb has been better than his career statistics so far have shown Kolb's contract might seem pricey, but it's the going rate for a good starting QB Kolb's smarts and leadership will benefit a team that needs a positive influence

Kurt Warner unsure of Kevin Kolb trade - ArizonaSports.com
The jury is still out on the Kevin Kolb trade. Some are for it, some are against it and some are withholding judgment. Among those withholding judgment is former Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner.

History does not favor Arizona Cardinals, Kevin Kolb - ArizonaSports.com
Kevin Kolb has been hyped as the savior of Arizona Cardinals football. The attention revolving around Kolb's arrival in the Valley was tremendous and people seem to be expecting a lot of the first year Cardinal. While Kolb has shown promise and potential throughout his tenure in Philadelphia, there is often a learning curve, especially for quarterbacks, when joining new teams.

Reactions to Kevin Kolb trade are mixed - ArizonaSports.com
Kevin Kolb is finally a Cardinal, but the discussion does not end. The acquisition of Kolb has shifted the debate from who the Cardinals should get at quarterback to did they pay too much for a signal caller.

ESPN Insider: [Kolb] is better than Matt Schaub - ArizonaSports.com
We're heard what everyone in Arizona has to say about the Kevin Kolb deal -- literally they've been commenting, tweeting and texting since yesterday -- but what is the feeling out of Philadelphia? It might not be as celebratory as some would think. Eagles guru and ESPN NFL analyst Sal Paolantonio was a guest on Sports 620 KTAR's Doug and Wolf Friday morning and said the Cardinals got a great guy in Kolb.

Kolb returns to Philly in Week 10 | National Football Post
Seems like the Philadelphia Eagles find themselves in this situation every year.

Video: Risk, responsibility for Kevin Kolb - NFC West Blog - ESPN
New Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb isn't running from suggestions the team took a significant risk acquiring a player with only seven starts.

NFL.com news: Cardinals might have overpaid for Kolb but had little choice
On the surface of it, the price tag for Kevin Kolb seems steep. But the cost of not getting him, for the Arizona Cardinals, may well have been immeasurable.

Kolb and Cardinals' bounce-back ability - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Kevin Kolb's arrival from Philadelphia gives the Arizona Cardinals renewed hope at quarterback and clear direction following Kurt Warner's retirement. It provides a fresh start after a forgettable 2010 transition season for Arizona.

Cardinals and Malcom Floyd share mutual interest - ArizonaSports.com
Everyone knows Kevin Kolb will throw the ball to Larry Fitzgerald, but the Cardinals are hoping to find another receiver to replace Steve Breaston. According to reports, Malcom Floyd is interested in joining the Arizona Cardinals which has both Sports 620 KTAR's Doug Franz and Ron Wolfley excited.

Seahawks show Alan Branch the money, he takes it - ArizonaSports.com
The Cardinals traded up to draft Michigan defensive lineman Alan Branch in 2007. It took four seasons, but he finally started to flash the ability that convinced coach Ken Whisenhunt he was worth moving up to get. And now his career will continue in a place that is not Arizona.

Adding three linebackers to NFC West - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The Arizona Cardinals reached agreement with Philadelphia Eagles inside linebacker Stewart Bradley. ESPN's Adam Schefter alluded to the pending agreement earlier Friday. The Cardinals released veteran inside linebacker Gerald Hayes, who has had back problems. Bradley, 27, has 28 starts over the last two seasons. He fills a clear need for Arizona, giving the Cardinals another inside linebacker to pair with second-year pro Daryl Washington.

NFC West gets its share of Nnamdi in 2011 - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The San Francisco 49ers and the rest of the NFC West ducked out while the year's top NFL free agent reached agreement with the Philadephia Eagles. Not to worry, NFC West fans.

Cardinals lose another starter - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals may have entered free agency hoping to retain their own players, but a couple days in they seem to be struggling to do so. Wide receiver Steve Breaston is heading to Kansas City to join the Chiefs, and now they've lost a starting offensive lineman.

Deuce Lutui joins the Bengals | ProFootballTalk
The rough week for the Bengals just took a positive turn. The team signed former Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.

Entertaining Lutui ran course in Arizona - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Deuce Lutui's departure from the Arizona Cardinals to the Cincinnati Bengals deprives the NFC West of a colorful character -- and a pretty good guard, too. The Cardinals won't miss Lutui's annual battles making weight (he once reported at 396 pounds), his demands for a new contract and his seeming resistance to motivational ploys. The evidence suggests Lutui had run his course in Arizona, with the Cardinals making little push to bring him back.

Cardinals tried to get into Nnamdi sweepstakes | ProFootballTalk
For those inclined to circumcise mosquitoes, Jay Glazer of FOX brokes the news on Twitter of the Nnamdi Asomugha deal roughly three minutes before the Eagles announced the move via mass text message. (Adam Schefter of ESPN posted a bet-hedging tweet that Nnamdi "looks headed" to the Eagles before Glazer, but it wasn’t unequivocal and it was lacking his trademark breaking-news preface "Filed to ESPN.") Any other "reports" coming after that weren’t really "reports" because the team had announced the move.

Cardinals sign five draft choices - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals announced that the team has signed the following five draft choices to four-year contracts: Texas linebacker Sam Acho (4th round) Connecticut fullback Anthony Sherman (5th round), North Carolina linebacker Quan Sturdivant (6th round), UCLA defensive tackle David Carter (6th round) and San Diego State wide receiver Demarco Sampson (7th round).

Cardinals officially add five free agents - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals announced that the team has signed the following four unrestricted free agents: Green Bay guard Daryn Colledge (five years), Pittsburgh defensive end Nick Eason (two years), Carolina tight end Jeff King (three years), and Cleveland wide receiver Chansi Stuckey (two years). The club also agreed to terms on a five-year deal with Philadelphia linebacker Stewart Bradley. Bradley joins the Cardinals after spending the first four seasons of his NFL career with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Cardinals re-sign 10 players back to team - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals announced that the team has re-signed the following eight players who were free agents: center Lyle Sendlein (five years), safety Hamza Abdullah (one year), cornerback Michael Adams (two years), tackle D'Anthony Batiste (one year), center Ben Claxton (one year), punter Ben Graham (two years), fullback Reagan Maui'a (two years), and tight end Stephen Spach (one year). The Cardinals also reached deals with restricted free agents wide receiver Early Doucet and tackle Brandon Keith who have both signed their one-year qualifying offers.

Tough decision: To buy an Arizona Cardinals Kevin Kolb jersey or not? - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals made their tough decision on Thursday when they landed quarterback Kevin Kolb in exchange for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick. Their conclusion left me having to make a difficult one of my own. Do I buy a Kolb jersey?

Kolb Introductory Presser
Video Gallery - azcardinals.com

Whisenhunt Camp Opening Address
Video Gallery - azcardinals.com

NFL Videos: Kolb delighted in the desert
Kevin Kolb sits down with Rich Eisen to talk about his expectations for himself and his new team, the Cardinals, in 2011.

NFL Videos: State of the Cardinals
Ron Wolfley of the Cardinals radio network weighs in on Kevin Kolb, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and more.

Arizona Sports News:

Matt Kemp, Dodgers crush Diamondbacks in series opener
The last time Diamondbacks right-hander Josh Collmenter stepped on the mound at Dodger Stadium, he helped turn around the season of a club that was seven games under .500 and on its way to being an afterthought in the National League. His outing on Friday night wasn't nearly as magical. Collmenter was pounded for five runs in 3 2/3 innings, and though the Diamondbacks wouldn't go down quietly, they still went down, falling 9-5 to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Arizona Rattlers move on to National Conference finals after routing Spokane Shock
The Rattlers' offense spent all but one play in the first 16 minutes huddled together in the corner of the end zone, watching the defense give Spokane quarterback Kyle Rowley a migraine. With the offense out of sorts and off the field for much of the game, the defense came up huge and carried the Rattlers into the Arena Football League semifinals with a 62-33 victory Friday night over the defending Arena Bowl champions before 7,105 at US Airways Center.

NFL News:

Top pick Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers agree to four-year, $22 million deal, source says - ESPN
The Carolina Panthers and No. 1 overall pick Cam Newton reached agreement on a four-year deal worth over $22 million that is fully guaranteed, according to a source.

Nnamdi Asomugha agrees to five-year, $60 million deal with Philadelphia Eagles, source says - ESPN
Nnamdi Asomugha has agreed to a five-year, $60 million deal with the Philadelphia Eagles, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Mike Sims-Walker agrees to deal with St. Louis Rams, source says - ESPN
The St. Louis Rams have reached agreement with former Jacksonville Jaguars wide receiver Mike Sims-Walker on a one-year deal, a league source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.

Vince Young, Philadelphia Eagles agree on one-year deal - ESPN
The Philadelphia Eagles have reached agreement with former Tennessee Titans quarterback Vince Young on a one-year deal.

49ers sign QB Alex Smith to new one-year deal - ArizonaSports.com
The San Francisco 49ers have their new quarterback: old familiar face Alex Smith.

Dan Orlovsky dropped for Leinart | ProFootballTalk
Year after making his name running out of the back of the end zone, Dan Orlovsky has run out of time in Houston.