Bird Droppings: Cardinals suit up and hit for first time in 2017

Happy Tuesday one and all.

Hope your week is going well. We have a ton of news coming out of day one of hitting with the Arizona Cardinals, so lets get right to it.

Drew Stanton Continues To Compete
Notes: Backup QB won't change with Gabbert around; Nkemdiche's time; Pads on.

Justin Bethel Backed Into A Corner
Veteran still trying to grab a starting role although questions remain.

Cardinals Blogs | FA CB Flowers reportedly visiting Cards

Cardinals Blogs | Camp scuffle? “Rank has privilege”

Arizona Cardinals' Tyrann Mathieu ready to hit, regain swagger - Arizona Cardinals Blog- ESPN
Finishing a season on IR for the third time in four years shook the confidence of Arizona's Tyrann Mathieu, who is ready to be the Honey Badger again.

When he walks away, Arizona's Larry Fitzgerald wants it to be his call - Arizona Cardinals Blog- ESPN
Larry Fitzgerald doesn't want to play when he's a shell of his former self. He'd rather retire when he feels the time is right, and do it quietly.

Ranking NFL backup quarterback situations for all 32 teams - 2017 training camps, preseason
The Patriots refused to trade Jimmy Garoppolo this offseason -- at any price -- and Jacoby Brissett showed promise in 2016. That's why the Patriots are No. 1 on our list of backup QB situations. We're ranking them all from best to worst.

Bruce Arians eager to see Arizona Cardinals go at it in pads - Arizona Cardinals Blog- ESPN
Now that the pads can go on for training camp, head coach Bruce Arians is eager to see who embraces contact and is ready to help the Cardinals win.

USA Today projects the Cardinals to go 10-6, but fail to make the playoffs
USA Today's Nate Davis projects the Cardinals to go 10-6, but writes that record will not be good enough to get the Cardinals to the playoffs.

Report: Veteran CB Brandon Flowers to visit with Cardinals
A veteran of nine NFL seasons with the first six coming in Kansas City, Brandon Flowers has 21 career interceptions.

Arizona Cardinals training camp: All-Access with Bruce Arians
Head coach Bruce Arians, now in his fifth year with the Arizona Cardinals, meets the media each day during training camp.

Cardinals $LB Deone Bucannon plays comforting role for Haason Reddick
Cardinals rookie Haason Reddick said his support system of ILB coach Larry Foote, LB Karlos Dansby and $LB Deone Bucannon have been of great help.

Position battles few and far between for Cardinals' starting slots
For the Arizona Cardinals, there are few true position battles for the starting lineups; less than we can remember in recent years.

Dealing Cards: As pads go on the energy goes up
For the first time this training camp the Arizona Cardinals donned pads, making Monday's practice noticeably different than the two that preceded it.

Illness in 2016 had Cardinals' John Brown thinking his career was over
Cardinals receiver John Brown at one point thought his mysterious health issues during the 2016 season could be the end of his NFL career.

Cardinals hope to utilize David Johnson, Chris Johnson on field at same time | Cards Wire
"We've always wanted to have some two-back stuff," Arians said. "We've had it in the plan every year."

Bruce Arians prefers to be favorite rather than underdog | Cards Wire
He doesn't think the Cardinals are underdogs this year.

Cardinals must follow simple rules when pads go on | Cards Wire
"You just can't hit 31 and 11," safety Tyrann Mathieu told reporters after practice on Sunday. "Everyone else is free game."

D.J. Humphries sees big difference in smaller Mike Iupati | Cards Wire
Cardinals' tackle DJ Humphries had plenty positive feedback on teammate Mike Iupati's more physical appearance and comfort on the field.

Veteran Brandon Flowers to visit Cardinals, could be in CB mix | Cards Wire
If he signs, it will make the most interesting competition on the team a little more intriguing.