2-16-12: Arizona Cardinals Bird Droppings - Getting Ready For Free Agency

Not much to report in Cardinals news today, some stuff for the rest of the NFL though.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt dealt with several staff issues
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt easily could have had more than one opening on his coaching staff this off-season.

Word From the Birds Blog - Winding through the free-agent road
Almost a month remains before free agency begins in the NFL. So much can happen by then to change the landscape of who — and who will not — be available. One of the biggest examples is with the Cards. Defensive end Calais Campbell is scheduled to hit the open market, but no one believes he will, knowing the Cards will probably franchise him if they can’t come to a contract agreement, which is why those who have put together lists of the top 50 free agents (more on those in a minute) available don’t bother with Campbell’s name. It’s moot. This close to free agency, I don’t expect, league-wide, a ton of new deals to get done because there is usually no down side for a player to wait at this point. It’s not like they can get hurt, so why not see what’s out there on the open market (which is why I think tackle Levi Brown, while still a candidate to remain in Arizona, won’t be restructuring with the Cards without first knowing what else is available.) Unless a player is floored with an offer, he looks around.

Arizona Sports News:

Phoenix Suns can't hold court at home against Atlanta Hawks
After a night off in Denver on Tuesday night, Grant Hill and Steve Nash returned with fresh legs against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday night at US Airways Center. Hill and Nash couldn't have played much better, and the Suns couldn't have lost more painfully. Playing their third game in three nights, the Suns couldn't overcome a monster performance from Atlanta forward Josh Smith and faded again on their home floor in a 101-99 loss.

Draft expert on Burfict: 'I don't see first round at all' - ArizonaSports.com
Vontaze Burfict entered the 2011 season regarded as one of the premier defensive players in the country. As feared as he was explosive, the Arizona State Sun Devil was projected as a first round pick in the NFL Draft, and one of the first defensive players off the board. That's no longer the case.

NFL News:

Monday Night Football Will Have Two-Man Booth With Mike Tirico, Jon Gruden In 2012 - SBNation.com
ESPN announced that they'll be going with a two-man booth in 2012 as Ron Jaworski moves to the studio.

New Peyton Manning Report Reveals Colts QB Had Four Neck Surgeries - SBNation.com
The Peyton Manning saga continues as Sports Illustrated's Don Banks has new information regarding Manning and his surgically repaired neck. All the reports up until this point have cited Manning as having had three neck surgeries, with the latest one coming last September, only days before the start of the 2011 season. Don Banks of SI.com reports that the number of neck surgeries in the last two years is actually four, not three. Banks reports Manning had another one — which went unreported until now — sometime between his second surgery last May and the most recent one in September.

Albert Haynesworth Released By Tampa Bay Buccaneers - SBNation.com
After only a few months in Tampa Bay, Albert Haynesworth has been released, the Bucs announced.

The D.C. Mayor Doesn't Want Peyton Manning Coming To The Redskins - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
Peyton Manning is going to be a big story all year long, until he retires, returns to the Colts, or signs somewhere else. Like the Redskins, maybe? You have to admit, signing an aging superstar who may never play a down would probably be the most Washington Redskins move of all time.

Arian Foster, NFL Are In A Complicated Relationship - From Our Editors - SBNation.com
Arian Foster is just about the best thing going on Twitter when it comes to NFL players. He's random, funny and even throws in some words of wisdom. The star running back's Wednesday night conversation with the NFL's Twitter account falls into the random and funny categories.

Tebow works on throwing motion in L.A. | ProFootballTalk
Two years ago, as Tim Tebow tried to get himself in position to be taken in the first round of the draft, he embarked on an effort to change his throwing motion. Today, the effort continues. According to ESPNLosAngeles.com, Tebow is working on his mechanics with UCLA offensive coordinator Noel Mazzone.

Mayock: Luck is great, but not a "once in a lifetime" prospect | ProFootballTalk
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock is a big Andrew Luck fan. Luck is the top player on Mayock’s board, and Luck’s passion for the game reminds Mayock of Peyton Manning and Matt Ryan. Mayock just doesn’t see Luck as some sort of "once in a lifetime" prospect like others have indicated. (Yes, others means ESPN in this case.) Mayock compared Luck’s talent level more to someone like Sam Bradford.

Mark Sanchez knows the way to Santonio Holmes’ heart | ProFootballTalk
Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez’s first tweet since the Jets’ regular season meltdown was a weird one.