8-14-11: Bird Droppings - Another Quiet Weekend

Besides a couple of little articles about some of the players, not much in the way of Cardinals news for this morning.

Plenty of links relating to the other teams in Arizona and some other NFL stuff though.

It's time for Arizona Cardinals' Beanie Wells to step up
It's time for Beanie Wells to stiff-arm talk about potential and deliver on the promise that made him a first-round draft pick.

Cardinals' Stewart Bradley has an appetite for more
Upon first glance, you're not sure if you just met an NFL linebacker or an underwear model for Calvin Klein. But don't be deceived by the chiseled physique or the magazine-cover facial features. Forget that he is a renaissance man who studies architecture and the arts, fine literature and foreign languages. Stewart Bradley can certainly disarm the ladies with his looks and multitude of interests, which also includes gourmet cooking and playing the guitar, but he'd just as soon rip your face off as the newest inside linebacker for the Cardinals. After all, that's why he is here in the first place.

Jefferson Makes His Play
One-time undrafted cornerback working as starter

Arizona Sports News:

Ryan Roberts' homer lifts Diamondbacks over Mets
The down times, Ryan Roberts said, are never easy. No matter how young or old a player is, how experienced or inexperienced, failing at your job day after day will eat at you from the inside. Roberts allows that he might be a little better at handling those struggles now, at age 30, than he was earlier in his career, but the Diamondbacks third baseman points to a more basic reason as to why, in recent weeks, he has been able to revive his season. "It's all about playing time," Roberts said Saturday evening, after his three-run home run helped Daniel Hudson and the Diamondbacks to a 6-4 victory against the New York Mets at Chase Field.

ASU football loses linebacker Brandon Magee for season
Just a few days ago, Arizona State coach Dennis Erickson admitted the Sun Devils have had their share of camp injuries, but he also said they were fortunate: They hadn't suffered anything major. That changed Saturday.

ASU football's James Morrison, Gerell Robinson leave scrimmage early
Started bad and pretty much got worse. As I'm sure you've heard, senior linebacker Brandon Magee ruptured an Achilles tendon and is likely done for the season. "When you start a scrimmage like that it's very devastating to everyone involved," ASU coach Dennis Erickson said. Running back James Morrison suffered a shoulder injury and had to leave early. Receiver Gerell Robinson had a MCL issue and never returned. Neither are considered serious.

Arizona Diamondbacks sign Lyle Overbay, put Xavier Nady on 15-day DL
The Arizona Diamondbacks have signed free agent infielder Lyle Overbay and placed infielder Xavier Nady on the 15-day disabled list with a fractured left hand. Arizona designated pitcher Juan Jaime for assignment. Nady was injured Friday night when he was hit by a second-inning pitch from the New York Mets' Dillon Gee.

Jacksonville Sharks crash Arizona Rattlers' party
Ever go to a party with 14,320 of your closest friends, and there's no food, drinks or music? That's what US Airways Center felt - and sounded like - after the Rattlers lost ArenaBowl XXIV 73-70 to the Jacksonville Sharks on Friday night. Everything was set up for a grand bash. Arizona was playing in its first ArenaBowl since 2004. It had won 12 consecutive games. It was at home, in the Snakepit.

NFL News:

Audio: NFC West talk with John Clayton - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Among the NFC West subjects John Clayton and I discussed beginning at the 36:38 mark of this 710ESPN Seattle session:

Jerry Jones: Nnamdi Asomugha really wanted to be a Cowboy | ProFootballTalk
Jerry Jones will see Nnamdi Asomugha twice a year when the Eagles play the Cowboys. But Jones says things got close enough in his pursuit of Asomugha that he thought he’d be seeing the star cornerback 16 times a year. And Jones says Dallas is where Asomugha really wanted to play.

(If he really wanted to be a Cowboy, why i he in Philly?)

What we learned: Preseason night No. 3 | ProFootballTalk
By popular demand we’re going to keep these preseason recaps rolling.

NFL.com news: Harbaugh: QB competition open between Smith, Kaepernick
Surprise! There's another quarterback competition for the San Francisco 49ers.

NFL.com news: Tynes critical of rules after being injured in preseason opener
Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes is on crutches and angry with the NFL for a non-call that left him injured in New York's 20-10 preseason loss to the Panthers on Saturday night.

Three things revisited: Rams-Colts - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Looking back on three things discussed here heading into the St. Louis Rams' 33-10 victory over the Indianapolis Colts in their preseason opener Saturday:

A look back at Cam Newton’s first preseason game | ProFootballTalk
It’s going to take Cam Newton time to develop into a quality starting quarterback. In the meantime, at least the Panthers are a lot more interesting to watch.

Bears ignored new kickoff rule, twice | ProFootballTalk
One of the most controversial new rules of the 2011 season relates to the placement of the kickoff. With the NFL realizing that the kick-return play is one of the most dangerous in the game, the league has essentially tried to take bullets out of the gun, moving the kickoff point up five yards in order to engineer more touchbacks — and thus fewer returns. The Bears opposed the move, and on Saturday night they ignored it. Twice.

Locker shows off arm, accuracy, poise | ProFootballTalk
Titans rookie quarterback Jake Locker isn’t expected to win the starting job to start the 2011 season, given the presence of — and the large chunk of money given to — Matthew Hasselbeck. But Locker looks pretty good so far, keeping a cool head under pressure and, moments ago, firing a 45-yard touchdown pass to Yamon Figurs.

Harbaugh: Quarterback competition isn’t "clear cut" | ProFootballTalk
Alex Smith is considered the heavy favorite to open the season as San Francisco’s starting quarterback. Coach Jim Harbaugh made it clear on Saturday, however, that the decision hasn’t been made.

What to know about 49ers' QB situation - NFC West Blog - ESPN
A few thoughts on Jim Harbaugh's comments regarding the San Francisco 49ers' quarterback situation:

Ankle injury to Seattle Seahawks' Russell Okung not serious - ESPN
Russell Okung walked around with just the slightest noticeable limp and without a protective boot sheltering his left foot.

Kubiak says Leinart has the "It" factor | ProFootballTalk
Texans backup quarterback Matt Leinart says he still wants to be a starter. Texans coach Gary Kubiak apparently thinks that it will happen.

NFL Game Recaps:

New York Giants vs. Carolina Panthers - Recap - August 13, 2011 - ESPN
Cam Newton showed glimpses Saturday night of why the Carolina Panthers made him the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, from the strong arm that zipped the ball downfield to the mobility that bought extra moments in a collapsing pocket. He also looked like a rookie quarterback struggling with his accuracy. Newton led a pair of field-goal drives in his NFL debut, and Jimmy Clausen threw a touchdown pass to Greg Olsen to help the Panthers beat the New York Giants 20-10 in a preseason game.

Green Bay Packers vs. Cleveland Browns - Recap - August 13, 2011 - ESPN
There was no hurricane of confetti, no trip to Disney World and no champagne-soaked celebration awaiting Aaron Rodgers this time. Six months later, he walked off a loser. Still, there's nothing like competition -- and nothing like the NFL.

Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears - Recap - August 13, 2011 - ESPN
If indeed he was experiencing flashbacks, Jay Cutler wasn't saying. Who could blame him if he did, though? Cutler was on the run and out of the game in hurry, playing just one series as the Chicago Bears opened the preseason with a 10-3 victory over the Buffalo Bills that did nothing to ease lingering concerns about the offensive line.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Tennessee Titans - Recap - August 13, 2011 - ESPN
Matt Hasselbeck, the veteran quarterback signed to win now and show Jake Locker how it's done in the NFL, might have made his best move after their debut in Tennessee. Hasselbeck gave new coach Mike Munchak the game ball Saturday night after the Titans beat the Minnesota Vikings 14-3 in the preseason opener for both teams.

Indianapolis Colts vs. St. Louis Rams - Recap - August 13, 2011 - ESPN
Josh McDaniels' debut as St. Louis Rams offensive coordinator was a big success. The Indianapolis Colts got a reminder just how much Peyton Manning means to the franchise. Sam Bradford produced 17 points in four possessions with big help from a defense that jumped on Manning's backups for a pair of early interceptions as the Rams opened the preseason with a 33-10 victory on Saturday night.