Arizona Cardinals news 6/15: Father's Day, waiting for recovery, wanting to move up depth chart

Bruce Arians: 'That's why they call it football'
Bruce Arians meets with the media to end the 2014 offseason program.

Cardinals Blogs | Waiting on Mathieu, Ta’amu
No pressure to get Mathieu and Ta'amu on the field until they are cleared by the medical staff.

Cardinals' Troy Niklas out until training camp with broken hand

The Cardinals had to keep him sidelined during off-season workouts unfortunately due to off-season hernia surgery the tight end had in the first part of the summer, and then in an even more unfortunate turn of events, Niklas broke his hand just as he was able to start getting his feet wet so to speak. What is fortunate for both Niklas and the Cardinals, is that the rookies injury issues are not the type that will linger on throughout his rookie campaign. And in the short term that it should take to recover from them, he’ll be good to go. In fact, he should be back at the start of training camp. Another silver lining to this story is the depth at the tight end position for the Cardinals, so it is not like Niklas’s absence is a setback of any sort.

Arizona Cardinals' Jonathan Cooper close, but not yet game-ready ArizonaSports.com

"I think I have progressed quite a bit, but not quite to game-ready," Cooper said after the team's final minicamp practice Thursday. "I've come out here and I've done everything they asked me to do rehab-wise and lifting-wise and on the field to the best of my ability, but my performance isn't quite where it needs to be for game one." There's still more than one month until training camp, just less than two months until the first preseason game and nearly three months before the team's season opener against the San Diego Chargers. If he needs time, he's got it.

Arizona Cardinals' John Carlson focused on staying healthy, improving ArizonaSports.com

The veteran tight end just wants to stay healthy, and improve his game. He was brought to the team for his natural size and his ability to block like the rest of his counterparts at the tight end position on the team. It remains to be seen if he will make the 53-man roster and be a part of the nucleus of tight ends that his new coach is hoping for.

Arizona Cardinals' Rob Housler enjoying competition at tight end ArizonaSports.com

Tight End Rob Housler will enter his 4th training camp with the Cardinals in late July: and with all the added depth the team acquired at tight end in the off-season, Housler is happy with the competition. And inspite of his inability to fulfill his draft day expectations it will be interesting to see if he will be able to hold a roster spot when the team takes the field against the San Diego Chargers in week 1 of the regular season.

Cardinals cornerback Justin Bethel gets high praise from coach

He proved his worth on special teams last season by making his first pro bowl on special team coverage, But could Justin Bethel move his way move his way up the depth chart come training camp, and become the Cardinals best corner back, even better than Patrick Peterson himself like coach Arians proclaims he could be?

NFL

Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers coach Chuck Noll dies - NFL.com
Chuck Noll, who won four Super Bowls in the '70s coaching the Steelers, died Friday at the age of 82. The Hall of Fame coach transformed Pittsburgh from a laughingstock into a dynasty.

Chiefs' Dwayne Bowe: Alex Smith like a brother-in-law - NFL.com
Dwayne Bowe failed to produce like a top-tier wide receiver last season. Will improved chemistry with Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith lead to a bounce-back season?

Jadeveon Clowney undergoes surgery, will sit until training camp - SBNation.com
The Texans' No. 1 overall pick has suffered a setback that will leave him on the mend until start of training camp, head coach Bill O'Brien has confirmed.

Vince Young on retirement: 'Definitely official I think' - NFL.com
Vince Young announced a retirement of sorts Saturday. Though the quarterback says the move is 'definitely official I think in my book,' he also acknowledges that he wouldn't turn down a 'guaranteed' offer.

Sheldon Richardson to Jets: Pay Muhammad Wilkerson - NFL.com
Muhammad Wilkerson is due for a big payday, and teammate Sheldon Richardson hopes it happens sooner rather than later. Will the New York Jets step to the plate?

Happy Father's Day to all the Great Dad's out there

Who's Your Daddy Week: Arizona Sports recognizes all the great dads out there ArizonaSports.com
Who's Your Daddy Week: Arizona Sports recognizes all the great dads out there - Other Stories at ArizonaSports.com