Cardinals News

Valley teams losing out to economy
Comment
November 7
Arizona Republic
 
"The lousy economy is playing havoc on attendance for the Valley's sports teams, but there are deals for fans looking to see a game on the cheap. Every professional sports team in metro Phoenix, along with Arizona State University's football team and the annual Fiesta Bowl, has had trouble selling tickets this year as growing unemployment and declining wages are keeping fans home. Teams have been forced to try promotions once considered unthinkable as the drop in attendance cuts deeper into revenue and costs jobs. For example, the Phoenix Suns saw their 153-game streak of sellouts at US Airways Center end Nov. 1, and a few days later the team laid off about 10 percent of its workforce. ..."
Cards seek rushing improvement
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November 7
Arizona Republic
 
"The Cardinals are ranked last in the NFL in rushing, a spot as familiar to them as a favorite chair. In Ken Whisenhunt's two previous seasons as coach, the Cardinals ranked last (2008) and 29th (2007) in rushing. Under the current pass-heavy system, the Cardinals are never going to move into the top half of the league, but Whisenhunt wants improvement. And he sees signs of it happening. "I don't think anybody is scared of or scheming to stop our run game," Whisenhunt said. Whisenhunt was encouraged by how his team ran the ball early in last week's game against Carolina. The Cardinals trailed by 21 points at halftime, so they couldn't stick with the run in the second half."
Hester expects to play; Boldin less certain
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November 7
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"The Bears won't be without their top wide receiver, and the Arizona Cardinals just might have their No. 2 guy after all Sunday at Soldier Field. Devin Hester returned to practice for the first time this week on Friday with his sprained right ankle and participated in portions of practice. He looked fine running around, and although he's listed as questionable on the injury report, he's expected to start. The Cardinals also got wide receiver Anquan Boldin back on the field Friday in a limited capacity, and he also is questionable. Boldin suffered a high ankle sprain on Oct. 11 and was knocked out of last Sunday's loss to the Carolina Panthers. He has vowed to play, and the Bears are ..."
Cards' TE options expand with Spach
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November 6
Arizona Republic
 
"The Cardinals have a glut of tight ends now that Stephen Spach has returned to practice this week after missing three weeks because of an ankle sprain. The Cardinals have four healthy tight ends, and have activated two for each game. Spach and Anthony Becht filled the roles in the first four games. Spach suffered his injury in the fourth game, but Ben Patrick came off a four-game suspension the next week and has played in the past three games. Spach was rusty in practice this week, coach Ken Whisenhunt said, but improved Thursday and is healthy enough to be activated for Sunday's game against the Bears. Whisenhunt said he hasn't decided which tight ends will play against the Bears. Most ..."
In a down economy, NFL viewership is up
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November 6
Washington Post
 
"When this NFL season began with some franchises struggling to sell tickets, there were concerns about the impact that the uncertain U.S. economy would have on the nation's most prosperous sport. While those concerns have turned out to be justified in a few NFL cities and unfounded in others, there has been an unforeseen development: The NFL's television ratings are soaring this season, and some analysts say it appears to be the result of consumers cutting back on other, more costly leisure activities in favor of watching pro football on TV. "I think there's only one answer and that is the NFL and television are actually getting the so-called 'benefit' of the recession," said Neal Pilson, ..."
Kreutz's rallying cry vs. Cards still resonates three years later
Comment
November 6
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"Dennis Green's postgame rant, memorialized in a beer commercial, is what everyone remembers from the Bears' 24-23 comeback victory at Arizona three seasons ago. But it was Olin Kreutz's chat at halftime, when the Bears trailed 20-0, that helped spur the team to victory and keep them undefeated at 6-0. ''I remember being in the locker room at halftime and Olin talking to the team, telling us, 'You guys play hard the rest of the game, we will win this game,''' linebacker Lance Briggs said. ''Those are the kind of moments that you never ever forget in your mind. When he said that, I know I believed him, and I'm pretty sure everybody believed him, too.'' Devin Hester provided the game-winning ..."
Boldin's days with Cards are short
Comment
November 5
East Valley Tribune
 columnist Scott Bordow
"Anquan Boldin knows only one way to play football: Head-on and all out. The day he ducks a defender or goes out of bounds to avoid a hit is the day he'll leave the game. "I'd be cheating my talent and myself," Boldin said Wednesday. "That's not me." Boldin is a warrior. It's what first endeared him to Cardinals fans. He'd bounce off one defender, run over the next and when he stood up, invariably signaling for a first down, they'd jump to their feet and celebrate his physicality. But the body pays a price for all those collisions, and these days it's not Boldin's attitude that is being talked about, but his availability. The Cardinals don't know if he'll play against the Chicago Bears ..."
Healthy pass game crucial for Cardinals
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November 5
Arizona Republic
 
"No one can argue the Cardinals' passing game is running a low-grade fever. It can be debated, however, whether the fever is a symptom of a 24-hour bug or an illness that will last throughout the season. In the Cardinals' case, the thermometer reading is this: Running back Tim Hightower is second on the team in receptions with 39, only eight fewer than Larry Fitzgerald and four more than Anquan Boldin. Hightower leads NFL running backs in receptions, partly because the Cardinals haven't been able to get the ball deep to Fitzgerald, or short to Boldin, with any consistency. So quarterback Kurt Warner is dumping the ball to Hightower, who has made some decent gains. But opponents would ..."
Cards need practice focus
Comment
November 5
Arizona Republic
 
"With six turnovers last Sunday, the Cardinals offense has drawn considerable attention for its poor performance in the loss to Carolina. But the defense wasn't so hot, either, yielding 270 yards rushing. Defensive end Darnell Dockett said his teammates need to put aside personal concerns and focus on their jobs. "I know a lot of guys have a lot of things on their minds," Dockett said, "personal issues at home, financial things and regular-life situations. I just try to get my guys when they come to the field to (think), 'Hey, for this next two hours, just focus on what we got to do to be successful on Sunday.' "You usually don't win a game on Sunday. You usually win the games Wednesday, ..."
Cards testing fans with home losses
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November 4
Arizona Republic
 columnist Dan Bickley
"In times of trouble, Ken Whisenhunt has perfect pitch. His demeanor is calm and self-assured. His words come out slow and are soothing. Sometimes, he'll even leave the ballcap in his office, appearing like an egghead professor who can split a defense and an atom. It's a trait Whisenhunt says he gleaned from former coach Tony Dungy, one that's being sorely tested in 2009. "Coach came right out and told us. He said, 'No more losses at home,' " Cardinals defensive end Calais Campbell said. If you haven't noticed, these Cardinals are a strange bunch. In trouble, they're often at their best. At their best, they're often on the brink of trouble. They frequently bemoan a lack of respect. Once ..."
Cards should bench Boldin
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November 4
Arizona Republic
 columnist Kent Somers
"Over the past seven seasons, I've seen every one of Anquan Boldin's 537 receptions and written thousands of words about him. I was in Detroit in 2003 for his spectacular NFL debut. I was in Glendale last week when he passed Larry Centers to become the franchise's all-time leader in receptions. I've written about his three Pro Bowl selections, his contract squabbles and his trade demands. But I've never typed these words about him: Bench him. Not because Boldin isn't producing but because he can't. A sprained right ankle has made him less than ordinary in recent weeks, and it's not likely to improve until Boldin takes time off. Telling Boldin to sit out Sunday's game in Chicago won't be ..."
Cards place DT Dykes on injured reserve
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November 3
Arizona Republic
 
"Defensive end Keilen Dykes, who suffered a torn biceps muscle in practice last week, was placed on injured reserve Tuesday. His place on the practice squad was taken by Antoine Holmes, who spent training camp with the Vikings. Holmes is listed a 6-2, 289 pound tackle. Judging by that size, however, I'd say the Cardinals are going to look at him as an end. He signed with the Vikings this as an undrafted rookie out of North Carolina State and was released on the final roster cut before the season."
Cards show lack of maturity in loss
Comment
November 2
East Valley Tribune
 columnist Scott Bordow
"If the Cardinals really want to do something for their fans, they should hand out packets of Dramamine before each game. You can get seasick following this football team. Up one week, down the next. 3-0 on the road, 1-3 at home. NFC title contenders after they beat the New York Giants. Immature and inconsistent after losing to the Carolina Panthers, 34-21, Sunday. Yup, team schizophrenic is back. Warner, Cards run over by Panthers "To be one of the elite teams you have to be able to win the big games and not let it drain you or affect you emotionally where you don't come back and play up to your potential the next week," quarterback Kurt Warner said. Well, if that's the standard, the ..."
Cards' pass game downright scary
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November 2
Arizona Republic
 columnist Paola Boivin
"In honor of El Dia de los Muertos, the Cardinals did their best impression of a team without a pulse. Kurt Warner played like he still had on his Jake Delhomme Halloween costume, and the team's deep passing game was nowhere to be found. It's too early to suggest the offense is broke, but there definitely are malfunctions within this once-smooth-operating machinery. In the game's final seven minutes and with the Cardinals trailing Carolina by as much as 13, Warner connected with Larry Fitzgerald once. Once. This is your three-time Pro Bowl receiver. This is the guy who shattered nearly ever NFL postseason record last season. Yet in Sunday's 34-21 loss at University of Phoenix Stadium, he ..."
Panthers exact revenge vs. Cards
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November 2
Arizona Republic
 
"They kept saying it wasn't on their minds, that last season's 33-13 playoff loss to the Cardinals was yesterday's news and not worth the trouble of holding onto the memory. But if they had not let go of that dark January day, the Carolina Panthers erased it with authority Sunday with their 34-21 victory over the Cardinals. And they did it with an eerily similar performance to the one the Cardinals used against them in Charlotte, N.C. Just like Arizona's defense did to quarterback Jake Delhomme then, the Panthers' defense intercepted Kurt Warner five times and forced him to fumble. "It was nice that we came and won," Delhomme said. "We needed it more for the '09 Panthers than to bury the ..."
Boldin sets franchise catches mark, aggravates right ankle sprain
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November 2
Arizona Republic
 
"Anquan Boldin has caught more passes than anyone in Cardinals history. But no one can say for sure when he'll have the opportunity to add to his total. Boldin aggravated a right-ankle sprain in the third quarter Sunday on the 537th reception of his career, an 8-yard gain. He hobbled off the field and didn't return. Boldin passed fullback Larry Centers, who had 535 receptions. Boldin has played the past two games despite the sprain, but his availability for Sunday's game at Chicago is in question. "The one issue we had going into the game was if he took a shot on that ankle," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "As low of probability of that happening, it did happen. It's hard when you lose him in ..."
Book restores the late Pat Tillman's humanity
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November 1
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
 
"Most of us are familiar with the tragic story of Pat Tillman, the strong safety for the Arizona Cardinals who walked away from a $3.6 million National Football League contract to join the U.S. Army after 9/11 because he felt morally obligated to defend his country against al-Qaeda. When he was gunned down two years later on a desolate ridge in Afghanistan, he was essentially canonized by the Bush administration for his heroism. The military brass quickly mobilized to award the 27-year-old California native the Silver Star just 11 days after his death on April 22, 2004. But all was not as it seemed, and we eventually learned that Tillman was the victim of not only friendly fire but also a ..."
Cards' Branch weighs less, plays more
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October 31
Arizona Republic
 
"Cardinals defensive lineman Alan Branch is doing more with less this season. He dropped 25 pounds or so in the off-season, down to 335, and it's led to him playing a key role as a backup end. Branch, in his third season, was active for only four games last season, mostly because coaches believed he was too heavy to make a contribution. But shedding the weight has allowed Branch to move out to defensive end, where he's given the Cardinals some depth. A second round pick in 2007, Branch had two sacks Sunday against the Giants and no longer looks like a wasted draft pick. "I know I'm a good player; it just felt good getting a sack," Branch said. "They say they come in bunches. Hopefully, ..."
Rolle fined for hit vs. Giants
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October 31
Arizona Republic
 
"Last Sunday's game against the Giants was a costly one for several members of the Arizona Cardinals. Safety Antrel Rolle was fined $7,500 for unnecessary roughness for striking a defenseless receiver, tight end Kevin Boss. No penalty was called on the play. Tackle Levi Brown was fined $5,000 for a chop block that was called."
Cards playing like an invincible team
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October 29
Arizona Republic
 
"The Cardinals success in the playoffs last season, including a victory at Carolina, bolstered the team's belief that it could compete with any team, anywhere, Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner said. "Even last year, when we had good times and bad, I don't know if we ever believed we could go anywhere and play against anybody and beat anybody," he said. "I think that's what you've seen this year. Even though we haven't played great football all season long, you've seen us go on the road and win some games in tough environments." The Cardinals are 3-0 on the road after Sunday's victory over the Giants in New Jersey. The Cardinals are only 1-2 at home, however, something they have been ..."
Heat Index: Waiting for Beanie
Comment
October 29
Arizona Republic
 
"It was right around this team a year ago when Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt made a change at running back. He decided to sit Edgerrin James and start a rookie. Tim Hightower responded with 109 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries in a 34-13 thumping of the St. Louis Rams in a game that strengthened the Cardinals' hold on the NFC West. We mention this because in Sunday's 24-17 win over the New York Giants, Whisenhunt seemed to be forecasting another switch at running back. Hightower ran the ball only four times for 9 yards. Rookie Beanie Wells, meanwhile, had career highs in carries (14), yards (67) and scored his first NFL touchdown on a nifty 13-yard run. So naturally, we had to ask ..."
Arizona receivers present big problems
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October 29
Charlotte Observer
 
"Carolina Panthers rookie cornerback Captain Munnerlyn has never played against the Arizona Cardinals, but he knows what he might be in for Sunday when the teams play at University of Phoenix Stadium. "From what I'm hearing, they're the best offense in the league," said Munnerlyn. "I used to watch them go at teams. They'd just kill cornerbacks. They must really be good. I just hope we can hold them down." Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has two of the NFL's top receivers in 6-foot-3 Larry Fitzgerald and 6-1 Anquan Boldin. Fitzgerald, in particular, uses his size to go after passes Warner throws over everybody's head. "Jump balls, that's what (Fitzgerald) does well," said Munnerlyn, who is ..."
Warner's been where Delhomme is
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October 29
Charlotte Observer
 
"Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner said Wednesday that Jake Delhomme needs to understand he's not alone as he struggles through the most difficult period of his career. "I went through some tough stretches where it seemed like everything went against me," said Warner, who will go against Delhomme and the Carolina Panthers on Sunday at the Cardinals' University of Phoenix Stadium. "Even though it wasn't always me - it seemed like every tipped ball got intercepted, every time there was a miscommunication between me and somebody, it was intercepted. Every time I got hit, the ball popped out. Everything spiraled downhill." Panthers coach John Fox said Wednesday that Delhomme has kept ..."
Delhomme will start vs. Cardinals
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October 28
Charlotte Observer
 
"Panthers coach John Fox said Wednesday that embattled quarterback Jake Delhomme will start Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals. Delhomme leads the NFL with 13 interceptions, including three last week in a loss against the Buffalo Bills."
Cardinals looked Super beating Giants
Comment
October 27
East Valley Tribune
 columnist Scott Bordow
"Some NFL Sundays you want to forget when the alarm rings the next morning. Your team lost, you're in a foul mood, and you don't want to talk about the game around the water cooler. But then there are the Sundays that tease your palate. You see the talent and the hunger and you can't help but think about the possibilities. The Cardinals' 24-17 victory over the New York Giants was one of those Sundays. Arizona didn't beat New York on a fluke play or with a lucky bounce. It walked into Giants Stadium and manhandled the boys in blue. It was, dare we say it, a Super performance. And yes, the "S" is capitalized for a reason. "I think people forget that we won the NFC last year," nose tackle ..."
Cards' defense gains confidence
Comment
October 27
Arizona Republic
 
"If the Cardinals were truly going to rid themselves of any real - or perceived - hangover from getting to the Super Bowl and then losing in the waning moments to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they had to let something go. After beating the New York Giants 24-17 in front of a national primetime television audience Sunday night, head coach Ken Whisenhunt said they finally have. "We had this aura of being the NFC champs and a 'We have to live up to this' thing," he said Monday, "that you get so worried about making mistakes, you make mistakes. But I think we're finally letting that go. "We're playing our game now. We're flying around, having fun, and we understand if we make mistakes, we're good ..."
Cards have chance for big streak
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October 27
Arizona Republic
 columnist Paola Boivin
"It's easy to romanticize a big victory when the reference point is a history of failure. The celebration of the Cardinals' 24-17 victory over the New York Giants on Sunday night is about more than that. The performance was pivotal because it spoke as much about the future as it did the past. Only two of the Cardinals' 10 remaining games are against teams with winning records. Their next five opponents - Carolina, Chicago, Seattle, St. Louis and Tennessee - are a combined 7-24. In this bizarre NFL season riddled with have-nots, the Cardinals will benefit from having the 0-7 Rams on their schedule twice and the 0-6 Titans and 1-5 Lions once. "It doesn't matter if we're playing a team with ..."
Cards' defense gains confidence
Comment
October 27
Arizona Republic
 
"If the Cardinals were truly going to rid themselves of any real - or perceived - hangover from getting to the Super Bowl and then losing in the waning moments to the Pittsburgh Steelers, they had to let something go. After beating the New York Giants 24-17 in front of a national primetime television audience Sunday night, head coach Ken Whisenhunt said they finally have. "We had this aura of being the NFC champs and a 'We have to live up to this' thing," he said Monday, "that you get so worried about making mistakes, you make mistakes. But I think we're finally letting that go. "We're playing our game now. We're flying around, having fun, and we understand if we make mistakes, we're good ..."
Kevin Boss OK with hit against Arizona Cardinals
Comment
October 27
New York Daily News
 
"Kevin Boss' grandmother was in the stands Sunday night and she wasn't too happy with the head-to-head hit Arizona safety Antrell Rolle laid on the Giants' tight end in the fourth quarter. Boss, though, was much more forgiving. "I don't know," he said. "In that situation I never really blame the guy," Boss said. "I mean, he's going for the ball. He's trying to make a play. I'm not mad at him for it." Boss said he was very briefly knocked out by the hit that came as he made a full-extension, 25-yard catch with about 4-1/2 minutes remaining in the Giants' 24-17 loss to the Cardinals. There was no penalty called, though Rolle probably will be fined. As for Boss, he looked woozy when he got ..."
Boldin's role not limited by injury
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October 26
Arizona Republic
 
"Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin played fewer snaps than usual Sunday because of a sprained ankle, but it would be a mistake to say his role was limited. Boldin made a couple of key receptions in the first half despite playing only in formations with three and four receivers. Steve Breaston took his place in two-receiver formations. Boldin made two catches that led to scores in the first half. A 13-yarder on third and 3 kept a touchdown drive alive, and a 44-yard pass set up a field goal in the closing seconds. Boldin had three catches for 75 yards in the first half but was noticeably hobbling in the second half. "For me, it wasn't a question of whether I was going to go or not," Boldin ..."
Cardinals taking on Giants, history
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October 26
Arizona Republic
 
"Much has been made of the Cardinals possibly suffering from a Super Bowl hangover this season after somebody spiked the punch with success last season. Cornerback Ralph Brown, however, prefers to see that punch bowl as half full. Rather than the Cardinals being inebriated by their playoff run last season, he thinks it will give them confidence in difficult times ahead. Like Sunday night, when the Cardinals (3-2) play the Giants (5-1) in primetime at Giants Stadium. "I think this team really believes we can play with anyone," said Brown, in his 10th NFL season. "Last year, we had to really convince ourselves. Now we have something tangible to say, 'We actually did this.' "This year, we ..."
Arizona Cardinals get first win at Giants Stadium since 1999
Comment
October 26
New York Daily News
 
"These aren't the same old Cardinals. Seven-point underdogs against what was supposed to be an angry Giants team, the defending NFC champs proved themselves just that Sunday night with a 24-17 victory. "We made a statement," said Cards QB Kurt Warner. "To come in here and beat the Giants, one of the best teams in the league, is huge." They did it mostly with some timely scores and an opportunistic defense that had the Giants off balance most of the night, forcing four turnovers, including three interceptions by Eli Manning. After falling behind at halftime on a fluke touchdown - Hakeem Nicks grabbed a pass that had been swatted away by cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie - they ..."
New York Giants show shades of 2008 season in tough loss to Arizona Cardinals
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October 26
New York Daily News
 columnist Gary Myers
"It's only October, but it's suddenly feeling like last December for the Giants. After their 5-0 start, the Giants are officially slumping with back-to-back losses, and it can definitely get worse next week when they go to Philadelphia with first place in the NFC East at stake. Last week, the defense didn't show up in New Orleans and gave up 48 points. And Sunday night, the offense was pretty much a no-show in the 24-17 loss to the Cardinals. It looked just like it did post-Plaxico last year, when the Giants wound up losing three of their last four games and then didn't win a playoff game. "I don't think we have to be concerned," Eli Manning said. "We just have to get back to playing ..."
Tom Coughlin forgives Ahmad Bradshaw's fumble
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October 26
New York Daily News
 
"Tom Coughlan was frustrated with a lot of things Sunday night, but Ahmad Bradshaw's fumble wasn't one of them. Bradshaw, however, would like to forget the last four minutes of Sunday night's 24-17 loss to the Cardinals. The sparkplug running back lost a fumble in Arizona territory with 3:52 remaining and the Giants trailing by seven. Then when the Giants were backed up at their own 5-yard line with 2:52 left, Bradshaw was whistled for an unnecessary roughness penalty when he took a swipe at Darnell Dockett while trying to get the defensive tackle off of him after a run. The penalty put the Giants in a second-and-18 hole at their own 1. While the Giants would escape that predicament and ..."
Turnovers and interceptions are costly in New York Giants 24-17 win over Arizona Cardinals
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October 26
New York Daily News
 
"It was easy for the Giants to dismiss their loss in New Orleans as an aberration. But they couldn't dismiss what happened to them Sunday night. Even though it wasn't as ugly, it was just as disheartening when the Giants lost their homecoming game to the Arizona Cardinals, 24-17. It was their second straight loss and left them with just a half-game lead in the NFC East. Worse, it left them scratching their heads trying to figure out what's gone wrong. "This was a game we should have won," said defensive end Osi Umenyiora. "I just don't understand." "We've got to get back to the drawing board," added linebacker Antonio Pierce. "We've got a lot of work to do." Unlike last week, when the ..."
Giants Lose the Ball Too Much in a Comeback Bid
Comment
October 26
New York Times
 
"In a match between Super Bowl finalists from the previous two seasons, neither the Giants nor the Arizona Cardinals played at a championship level Sunday night. But they sure made it close and interesting, with the Cardinals winning, 24-17, at Giants Stadium. Two Giants drives that could have tied the score died in the final five minutes. The first drive ended on a fumble by running back Ahmad Bradshaw. The second ended on an interception thrown by Eli Manning, his third of the game. "We had a chance to overcome it all," Coach Tom Coughlin said of those aborted drives. Manning was hardly the only Giant to play a lackluster game. Jeff Feagles, a punter who is usually among football's best, ..."
Cardinals slipping back into pass-happy ways
Comment
October 25
Camden Courier-Post
 
"One of the best running teams in last year's playoffs was, surprisingly, the Arizona Cardinals. It took a sudden epiphany by coach Ken Whisenhunt to get afterthought running back Edgerrin James involved in the offense, and the Cardinals shocked the NFL and advanced through three rounds of playoff games to reach the Super Bowl by racking up the most rushing yards of any postseason team. They averaged nearly 92 rushing yards per game in the playoffs -- almost 20 more than their regular-season average [73.6], which was the worst in football. But months later, with James gone and the Cardinals having spent their first-round pick on Ohio State running back Chris "Beanie" Wells, the old is once ..."
Stopping Cardinals receivers is the Giants catch-phrase
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October 24
New York Post
 
"Corey Webster said he thinks the only thing worse than having a defensive performance like the one the Giants did a week ago in New Orleans would be to let it happen again. "We don't want to be repeat offenders," the cornerback said of the Giants' desire to put the 48-27 rout by the Saints behind them and redeem themselves tomorrow when they play host to the Cardinals. "You hate to have a game like that, but if you do, you at least want to get better from it." That will not be easy, considering the fact that the receiving tandem Arizona has of Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Steve Breaston is perhaps the best in the league, though Boldin has been hampered by an ankle injury and ..."
Boldin gets back on Cardinals practice field
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October 23
Arizona Republic
 
"Receiver Anquan Boldin participated in practice Friday for the first time this week, and coach Ken Whisenhunt said he was encouraged by Boldin's recovery from a sprained ankle. Boldin is pleased with his recovery, too. "Every day, it's getting better," he said. "No setbacks yet." The official injury report hasn't been released yet, but I would guess Boldin will be listed as questionable."
Lack of injuries key for Cardinals
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October 23
Arizona Republic
 
"Mention to an NFL coach that his team has enjoyed good fortune when it comes to the health of players, and he likely will look at you as if you have injected him with the H1N1 virus. But there is no ignoring the fact that a lack of injuries has played a large part in the Cardinals success over the past two seasons. In 2008, not one starter finished the year on injured reserve. That trend has held this season, although starters have missed games here and there. This week's opponent, the Giants, have two key defensive players, tackle Jay Alford and safety Kenny Phillips, on injured reserve. A handful of others, including starting cornerback Aaron Ross and starting linebacker Michael Boley, ..."
Hightower can kick in a pinch
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October 23
Arizona Republic
 
"At least once a week, running back Tim Hightower practices kicking field goals in the event he's called upon in an emergency. With the way kicker Neil Rackers likes to make tackles on kickoffs, Hightower might need to use the skill at some point. "Even though we have fun with it, let's not underestimate the importance of it," coach Ken Whisenhunt said of Hightower's kicking. "If it was a critical extra point and Neil were to get knocked out covering a kick the way he does, it could be something that would be important." It's coincidental that Whisenhunt addressed his emergency kicker situation the week the Cardinals are playing the Giants in New Jersey. In 2001 at Giants Stadium, the ..."
Hits never end for punt returners
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October 22
Arizona Republic
 
"Ask anyone what the toughest position to play in the NFL is and they probably will answer "quarterback." But if you think about it a little longer, is there anything tougher to do in the big-boy league than being a punt returner? If it's not the toughest job in the NFL, it certainly has to be the most dangerous. Just ask Tampa Bay's Clifton Smith, who was nearly decapitated Sunday by a vicious hit from Carolina's Dante Wesley. Before Smith had a chance to even field the punt, Wesley launched himself into the Smith's head and neck area, knocking the returner out of the game with a concussion and an injured throat. Wesley was ejected and further hit with a fine and a one-game suspension. "I ..."
Cards prepare for 'fired up' Giants
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October 22
Arizona Republic
 
"Until last weekend. That phrase comes up a lot when discussing the Giants these days. Until last weekend, they looked like the best team in the NFL. Until last weekend, quarterback Eli Manning was as consistent as sunrise. Until last weekend, the Giants could rush the passer. Until last weekend, the Giants were undefeated. A 48-27 pasting in New Orleans changed all that, and while the Giants (5-1) are far from a tailspin, they suddenly don't seem extraordinary either. Normally, Giants coach Tom Coughlin talks in direct sentences filled with action verbs. But when asked on Wednesday what went wrong in New Orleans, he answered in paragraphs. "We never make excuses here," he said in a ..."
Cards' Boldin a 'game-time decision'
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October 22
Arizona Republic
 
"Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin didn't practice Wednesday because of a sprained ankle, and his status for Sunday night's game against the Giants won't likely be determined until that day. "It's up in the air right now," Boldin said. "It probably will be a game-time decision." Boldin suffered the sprained right ankle in the first half last Sunday against Seattle and played a minimal amount in the second half. Boldin said there hasn't been much swelling and he underwent a rigorous rehabilitation session during practice. If Boldin can't play, Steve Breaston would start with Jerheme Urban moving up to the No. 3 receiver role. Tight end Stephen Spach, who missed last week's game with a ..."
New York Giants plan to blitz Kurt Warner, pass-happy Arizona Cardinals
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October 22
New York Daily News
 
"The tone was set in the first defensive meeting Wednesday, and it carried over to practice. There was more of an edge, players said, faster tempo and a higher intensity. "This was different than a normal practice," said linebacker Danny Clark. "This was definitely up-tempo. After coming off the game we had a week ago, everything was a bit more precise." "Why wouldn't it be?" added defensive end Justin Tuck. "You just got your butt kicked. You definitely want to come out and do something about it." For the defense, that means returning to the aggressive, attacking style that was nonexistent during the Giants' 48-27 loss in New Orleans. The defense barely touched Saints quarterback Drew ..."
Warner looks like Giants' bull's-eye
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October 22
New York Post
 
"Fresh off a historically bad defensive performance, the Giants yesterday put aside the debacle in New Orleans that resulted in 48 points for the Saints and vowed to clean up their act for Sunday's game against the Cardinals. "We consider ourselves a world-class organization and we are going to get the problems corrected," defensive end Mathias Kiwanuka said. "Did they expose some things? Yeah. Were there problems out there? Absolutely. But it's our job to get them corrected, and we're positive we're going to get those corrections made. We will get it done." It's not easy to promise defensive success when confronted by Arizona's weaponry. Rarely is a team as easy to figure as the ..."
Cards sign LB Renkart to practice squad
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October 21
Arizona Republic
 
"The Cardinals signed linebacker Brandon Renkart to the practice squad and released linebacker Lee Robinson from the practice squad. Renkart (6 feet 2, 245 pounds) spent the preseason with the New York Jets before being released Sept. 6."
Cards' Rackers not your typical kicker
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October 21
Arizona Republic
 columnist Dan Bickley
"Kickers are like traveling carnivals. Eventually, the act gets tired. The locals grow weary of the show. At some point, the performer must try his skill in another town, usually departing in the middle of the night. Neil Rackers is different. The Cardinals kicker is stout, stubborn and trustworthy. He's desperate to prove he's a real football player. In the preseason, he recovered his onside kick against the Packers, emerged from the pile and spiked the ball with great fury. He drew a 15-yard penalty for excessive celebration. It was far more acceptable than the antics of Bill Gramatica, who blew out a knee celebrating a short field goal, becoming the poster boy for goofy kickers ..."
Cardinals look for Beanie to take it slow
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October 21
Arizona Republic
 
"It's not only opposing defenses that want to slow down Cardinals rookie running back Beanie Wells. Cardinals coaches want him to take things slower, too. When Wells has made mistakes this season, it's usually been because of impatience. In his first game, he missed a handoff because he didn't hesitate enough before running to a spot. Against Seattle, he bobbled the ball twice, partly because he wasn't pausing long enough in the backfield to get in proper position and let linemen pull in front of him. "He's a young player and so geeked up," coach Ken Whisenhunt said. "Normally, guys will take astep and then they'll go because it times up better with the quarterback. Beanie is getting there ..."
Fitzgerald's TD a long time coming
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October 21
Arizona Republic
 
"There are tougher ways to earn a living than writing about football (pretty much any other job), but watching practices can become tedious. After the first couple thousand, workouts tend to look pretty much like same, like heads of lettuce. One day, on the sideline of a practice field, I calculated in my head the number of practices I've attended, and then quickly forgot the number because it was so disturbing. On occasion, however, you see something that makes you stop and look at the person next to you to make sure it really happened. That was the case a couple of months ago when the Cardinals were working on their goal-line offense. Receiver Larry Fitzgerald split to the left and at ..."