Time for a few little updates from Training Camp, including a couple on players the 49ers have lost, and one on a player the Seahawks and 49ers gained that some of us were interested in. A Quarterback that was often linked to the Cardinals has retired as well.
Word From the Birds Blog - An "incredible" and "fluid" week for the front office
General manager Rod Graves is hoping to make it up to Flagstaff today or tomorrow, after the whirlwind week that was. Now, there is the ability to step back a little bit and absorb what happened since a week ago today when the free agent process officially began.
Word From the Birds Blog - Deuce’s weighty issues
Guard Deuce Lutui is back. No one knows the numbers, but he is overweight. Clearly. And he’ll get one more chance from the Cardinals to show he can control that.
Arizona Cardinals deserve credit for spending - and doing it wisely
Calais Campbell is paid to sack quarterbacks and tackle running backs, but he knows something about the business of football. "Winning ain't cheap," said Campbell, the Cardinals' fourth-year defensive end. Nor is it stupid. You knew teams such as the Pittsburgh Steelers and New England Patriots would be ready when this crazy, unpredictable free-agency period began. But the Cardinals? They were a crapshoot.
Heap Happy To Be Home
Veteran tight end and Arizona native had Cards as his top destination
Jay Feely: Cardinals players want Braylon Edwards | ProFootballTalk
Braylon Edwards hasn’t had many suitors in free agency, but there’s at least one NFL locker room where he’s wanted.
Quarterback was the problem, but now is part of solution - ArizonaSports.com
That the Arizona Cardinals had some issues with the quarterback position last season is no secret. So, it should come as no surprise that the addition of Kevin Kolb is being looked at as the most important move of the off-season. At least, that's what kicker Jay Feely thinks.
Arizona Cardinals' Todd Heap says he 'has a lot left'
Todd Heap felt comfortable in the Cardinals cap he wore to his introductory news conference Tuesday, although he never dreamed he would acquire it the way he did. slideshow Profile: Todd Heap After playing 10 seasons in Baltimore, Heap figured he would end his career with the Ravens. Instead, the team released him last week, and after weighing offers from a few other teams, Heap signed a two-year deal worth about $6 million with the Cardinals.
Arizona Cardinals' Deuce Lutui vows that he's learned a lesson
Guard Deuce Lutui lost a fortune in the past few days and says he's learned an expensive lesson: He needs to lose weight.
Patrick Peterson ready to learn -- quickly - ArizonaSports.com
Patrick Peterson was the fifth pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, but even he knows he, well, doesn't know everything.
Adjusting Practice: Tuesday Notes
Coach Ken Whisenhunt was asked what he noticed about practices so far in camp, practices his players were running for the first time since last season.
Programming note: Cardinals camp - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The usual morning programming will change out of necessity as I make the drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff for Arizona Cardinals training camp.
Word From the Birds Blog - Notes from the President
Team president Michael Bidwill attended practice Wednesday and briefly met with the media during his stay.
Bidwill, Cardinals feeling the momentum - NFC West Blog - ESPN
The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers are taking opposite approaches to free agency and the trading period this offseason. Arizona keeps adding players, from quarterback Kevin Kolb to guard Daryn Colledge to tight end Todd Heap and others. San Francisco keeps subtracting them, from linebacker Takeo Spikes to nose tackle Aubrayo Franklin, center David Baas, outside linebacker Manny Lawson, cornerback Nate Clements and possibly free safety Dashon Goldson.
Braylon Edwards to Arizona? Jay Feely hopes so - ArizonaSports.com
Jay Feely went to Michigan and played for the Jets. Braylon Edwards went to Michigan and played for the Jets. Jay Feely is now an Arizona Cardinal. Could the same be said for Edwards soon?
Newest Cardinal Heap: 'I've got a lot to prove' - ArizonaSports.com
When Todd Heap was released by the Baltimore Ravens, the 31-year-old created a short list of teams he'd like to play for. "From day one once I got released my wife and I talked, and we had a short list," Heap told Sports 620 KTAR's Dave Burns and John Gambadoro. "The Cardinals were at the top of that list."
Heap returns to Arizona, career comes full circle - ArizonaSports.com
With his return to Arizona, Todd Heap's football career has come full circle. After a decade with Baltimore, the two-time All Pro tight end was released by the Ravens, something he said was totally unexpected. He and his wife looked around and found Arizona the most desirable destination. He agreed to a two-year contract over the weekend and arrived at training camp Monday night. Heap was a high school football star in Mesa and excelled at Arizona State before going to the NFL, so it's a highly popular signing among Arizona fans. Most important to the Cardinals, however, is Heap's declaration that he has a lot left to offer on the field. His addition gives the Cardinals something they have sorely lacked, a big, pass-catching tight end.
After Bengals debacle, Lutui vows new commitment - ArizonaSports.com
Deuce Lutui insists he has a new commitment to losing weight, that the debacle that was his free agency flop in Cincinnati has opened his eyes.
Cardinals first priority: Get Fitzgerald paid before season starts | ProFootballTalk
The Cardinals know how they want to spend all that salary cap space.
PFT Live: Recent pickups should help Cardinals improve | ProFootballTalk
Arizona Cardinals GM Rod Graves says his team has gotten a lot better with their recent free agent signings and trades, believes Kevin Kolb’s youth, training and intelligence make him a great choice as Arizona’s QB of the future, discusses the team’s top priority of getting Larry Fitzgerald an extension and more in the second segment of today’s PFT Live.
Did Rod Graves challenge Fitzgerald's sincerity? - ArizonaSports.com
Cardinals GM Rod Graves told Sports 620 KTAR that the team has every intention of keeping Larry Fitzgerald, going as far as to say "We are prepared to make Larry the highest-paid player in our history and we are prepared to make him one of the highest-paid players in the National Football League." And, while Fitzgerald has consistently said he has no desire leave Arizona, Graves' words can almost be taken as a challenge to the receiver's sincerity.
Deuce Lutui back in Arizona, has something to prove - ArizonaSports.com
Deuce Lutui tried to leave. A free agent, the right guard signed a contract with the Cincinnati Bengals, a move that would have him leave the only team he's ever known since being taken in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. But then Lutui failed his physical -- due to his weight -- and the former USC Trojan ended up back in Arizona on a one-year contract.
Arizona Cardinals have proposed, now it's Larry Fitzgerald's decision - ArizonaSports.com
The Arizona Cardinals usually play contract negotiations pretty close to the chest. They rarely talk about ongoing discussions about contracts. They never disclose the terms of contracts and they aren't known for their candor in the media about exactly what their plan is. So why exactly did general manager Rod Graves take to the airwaves of any media outlet willing to listen on Monday to let fans know signing Larry Fitzgerald to the biggest contract in team history is his priority?
Cardinals Daily: Heap, Lutui Report to Camp
Video Gallery - azcardinals.com
Camp Unfiltered: Indoor Practice
Video Gallery - azcardinals.com
Cardinals Daily: Playbooks, Peterson & More
Video Gallery - azcardinals.com
Todd Heap Introductory Presser
Video Gallery - azcardinals.com
Arizona Sports News:
Arizona Diamondbacks pull even atop the NL West
The ball shot off Paul Goldschmidt's bat and into the chilly Bay Area night, a 400-plus-foot home run that also served as a silencer at AT&T Park, where 42,332 fans perhaps began to contemplate the legitimacy of the Diamondbacks. Make that the first-place Diamondbacks - co-first place, rather, as their 6-1 win over Tim Lincecum and the San Francisco Giants left both teams with a 61-49 record.
Maya Moore scores 22, leads Minnesota Lynx past Phoenix Mercury
The Minnesota Lynx are having their finest season in franchise history. But they're not allowing themselves time to enjoy their strong regular season so far. On Tuesday, the Lynx won their seventh in a row, breaking open a close game with a 14-2 fourth-quarter run, and surging past the Mercury 90-73.
NFL News:
Seattle Seahawks, Zach Miller agree to contract, source says - ESPN
The Seahawks have reached an agreement with Oakland Raiders tight end Zach Miller, a source said.
New Orleans Saints, Aubrayo Franklin agree to one-year deal, source says - ESPN
The New Orleans Saints have reached an agreement with former 49ers free-agent defensive tackle Aubrayo Franklin on a one-year deal, a source told ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter.
Dallas Cowboys' Rob Ryan takes shot at "all-hype" Philadelphia Eagles? - ESPN Dallas
New defensive coordinator Rob Ryan is well aware that the Dallas Cowboys' signings won't win the all-hype team. ... That might have gone to someone else, but we're going to beat their ass when we play them.
Rex Grossman arriving at Washington Redskins camp to battle John Beck - ESPN
The Rex Grossman vs. John Beck battle for the Washington Redskins starting quarterback job is about to get under way.
NFL Roundup -- Carlos Rogers agrees with San Francisco 49ers - ESPN
Former Redskins cornerback Carlos Rogers has reached an agreement on a one-year deal with the 49ers.
Ex-St. Louis Rams starter Marc Bulger retires from NFL after 11 seasons - ESPN
After 11 NFL seasons, including two in which he was selected to the Pro Bowl, former Rams and Ravens quarterback Marc Bulger said he is retiring.
Quick thoughts on Carlos Rogers, 49ers - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Three thoughts on the San Francisco 49ers' interest in Carlos Rogers, free-agent cornerback from the Washington Redskins:
Mike Patterson of Philadelphia Eagles hospitalized, undergoing tests after seizure - ESPN
Eagles defensive tackle Mike Patterson was said to be alert and stable at an area hospital after collapsing and suffering a seizure during practice, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Bulger's retirement and what could've been - NFC West Blog - ESPN
Rumors swirled in recent seasons that Marc Bulger, former Pro Bowl quarterback for the St. Louis Rams, was contemplating retirement. Bulger had taken so much punishment during his final years in St. Louis, the thinking went, that he had lost the will to continue in the game. Bulger hung around for one last season, spending 2010 as a backup with Baltimore. But he was indeed finished. Bulger's retirement plans, revealed Wednesday by ESPN's Adam Schefter, come one year after the Arizona Cardinals considered bringing him in as a stopgap starter.
Merril Hoge says Tim Tebow just can’t play | ProFootballTalk
Former Steelers and Bears fullback Merril Hoge watches a lot of all-22 game film in his role as an analyst on ESPN’s NFL Matchup, and after watching film of the Denver Broncos from last season, Hoge says he knows who their starting quarterback should be: Kyle Orton. In fact, in a series of posts on Twitter this morning, Hoge said the idea that Tim Tebow should be a starter is absurd.
McNabb says Eagles "have more problems than people are looking at" | ProFootballTalk
When Donovan McNabb played quarterback for the Eagles, the Eagles never went bonkos when it comes to collecting talent. This year, the Eagles are like the fat kid at a bake sale who found a wallet in the parking lot. And McNabb has noticed. More importantly, McNabb has opted to say something about it.
Rex Grossman isn’t getting paid like a potential starter | ProFootballTalk
Veteran quarterback Rex Grossman believes he’ll keep the starting job he wrested from Donovan McNabb in 2010. But if Grossman wins the job, he won’t be getting paid like a starter.
The Philadelphia Eagles are winning free agency while the San Francicso 49ers move backward - ESPN
The Eagles have had a high profile so far in free agency, and John Clayton is examining all the winners and losers.