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Cardinals Insider: Jurecki's Birdseed - July 20
by: Mike JureckiAs a local radio personality, the opinions expressed in Mike Jurecki’s columns are not those of the Arizona Cardinals.
Birdseed:
News has hit the Cardinals over the last few weeks and it hasn’t been
items that would make the organization too happy. First, the players went to the union complaining about the intensity of the workouts and the tempo of some of the drills. Another complaint regarded the length of the time spent on the field. The union requested a video tape and a practice schedule and ruled that the Cards were in violation of the collective bargaining agreement. As a result, the team suspended the final week of their conditioning program.
There are rules for a reason and every head coach is aware of their limitations when it comes to off-season workouts, but it is clear that here in the Valley and in New York, Tom Coughlin (Giants) and Denny Green are cracking the whip.
In other news, former number one pick Wendell Bryant was recently charged with allegedly driving under the influence, speeding, and failing to stop for a flashing red light on the campus of the University of Wisconsin on June 27. Bryant enters his third year with the Cardinals and has two remaining on his contract after this year. Going into training camp, he is the backup behind Russell Davis and really is going to have to prove that he’s worthy of gaining a spot on this team. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2002 draft, and so far hasn’t lived up to the expectations. Former defensive line coach Joe Greene gave the Cardinals the thumbs up to draft Bryant going back to the spring of 2002 when he was sent to Wisconsin to evaluate and work him out. In 26 games as a Cardinals player, he has a grand total of 38 tackles and a sack and a half more than you and me. For Bryant, it should be real simple, how good do you want to be and how are you going to apply yourself? It’s time to grow up.
Remember Bryant signed a 5 year contract on September 12, 2002 worth $7.427 million, (5.522 million signing bonus)
Emmitt Smith
Not only did Denny Green surprise the national media when he made Emmitt Smith the starter, but he also shocked the members of his team. Smith who turned 35 in May, gained only 256 yards on 90 carries after missing six games because of a shoulder injury. Going back throughout NFL history, only two running backs have gained over a thousand yards past the age of 34 years old. Former Redskin great, John Riggins rushed for 1239 yards in 1984, only playing in fourteen games. Matter of fact, Riggins is the only player in league history to gain 1000 rushing yards at the age of 34 and 35. He wasn’t your normal size running back and his bigger size could have attributed to his durability at that age. In comparison, a lot of backs are smaller and can’t take the pounding. In most cases many running backs tend to wear down once they get over 30. Remember, Smith is the all-time leading rusher but in this case history is definitely against him. I guess we’ll just have to see.
How many running backs who have rushed for over a 1000 yards in NFL history are past the age of 32?
1983- Washington-John Riggins-1,347 yards- 34 years old
1984- Washington-John Riggins-1,239 yards- 35 years old
1983-Pittsburgh-Franco Harris- 1,007 yards- 33 years old
1962-Pittsburgh-John Henry Johnson- 1,141 yards- 33 years old 1964-Pittsburgh-John Henry Johnson- 1,048 yards- 35 years old
1st season in Arizona
Take a look at how former Cardinals Coaches have fared in their first season in the desert:
1988- Gene Stallings, 7-9
1990- Joe Bugel, 5-11
1994- Buddy Ryan, 8-8
1996- Vince Tobin, 7-9
2001- Dave McGinnis, 7-9
Based on past records, Green’s prediction to the Tempe Chamber of Commerce of a 10-6 finish should land him right on top.
Turnovers and Rushing the Football
It’s been well documented that this team struggled on the road last year, and here’s a couple of reasons why. First of all, they turned the ball over 19 times and were a minus 10 away from Sun Devil Stadium when it came to the turnover battle. The other factor is that because of the turnovers they were forced to throw the ball just to get back into the games. The running game was nonexistent and the numbers back it up. If you look back, the Cardinals only gained 491 yards on 159 carries, averaging out to 3 yards a carry. At home, things were a bit different as the Redbirds gained over 1000 yards, and averaged 4.2 yards per carry. The message is to protect the football and keep the Redbird defense off the field. Move the chains.
Inside the numbers- 2003 season
Home Record, 4-4
Turnovers, -3
Rushing, 245 carries for 1,046 yards = 4.2 per carry
Road
Record, 0-8
Turnovers, -10
Rushing, 159 carries for 491 yards = 3.0 per carry
Denny Green quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune
On Sunday July 18 Green talked to a reporter from the San Deigo Union-Tribune and had some interesting comments.
He said he has found his 10 tremendous players. First up? His quarterback Josh McCown.
"McCown can be like Brett Favre; he reminds me a lot of Favre," Green said of the former Sam Houston State athlete. "He is a tremendous athlete, 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, with 4.6 speed and a vertical leap of 39 inches."
Green also talked about his first choice in the draft this year, Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
"I came out and said Fitzgerald was the No. 1 player in the country," Green said. "He's a fabulous player. I still say he is the best, and he has been incredible in our practices."
He also had a few choice words about the recent sanction against the Cardinals for their off-season practices.
"You're always going to have one or two guys who can't accept the intensity and tempo of a program," said Green, "but we're going to outwork New England. If the Patriots work from 9 to 4, we're going to work from 8 to 5. I know how many games these players have lost. Guys are going to get paid on Tuesdays whether they win or lose and whether they block the guy in front of them or they don't. But we have 10 players who understand how you win."
And finally, he elaborated on his decision to name Emmitt Smith the starter over Marcel Shipp.
"I wanted to make sure that Emmitt was on board," Green explained to the San Diego Union Tribune. "He had to accept his role. It was clear that he would. The problem was that Marcel was not ready to accept a leadership role. Emmitt can still play; he's going to make those big guys in our offensive line start blocking."
Click here for the complete story
What the third overall pick received over the last three years…
2003
*Johnson, Andre- WR-
Date signed July 22- 7 years (voidable up to 6) $39 million (14.4 million in total bonuses)
2002
*Harrington, Joey- QB
Date signed July 23- 6 years $36.5 million (12.6 million guaranteed bonuses)
2001
*Warren, Gerard- DT
Date signed Aug.1- 6 years $33.6 million (12 million guaranteed bonus)
*PFW- Pro-Football Weekly
http://azcardinals.com/fanzone/columndetails.php?cid=251
by: Mike Jurecki
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Birdseed:
News has hit the Cardinals over the last few weeks and it hasn’t been
items that would make the organization too happy. First, the players went to the union complaining about the intensity of the workouts and the tempo of some of the drills. Another complaint regarded the length of the time spent on the field. The union requested a video tape and a practice schedule and ruled that the Cards were in violation of the collective bargaining agreement. As a result, the team suspended the final week of their conditioning program.
There are rules for a reason and every head coach is aware of their limitations when it comes to off-season workouts, but it is clear that here in the Valley and in New York, Tom Coughlin (Giants) and Denny Green are cracking the whip.
In other news, former number one pick Wendell Bryant was recently charged with allegedly driving under the influence, speeding, and failing to stop for a flashing red light on the campus of the University of Wisconsin on June 27. Bryant enters his third year with the Cardinals and has two remaining on his contract after this year. Going into training camp, he is the backup behind Russell Davis and really is going to have to prove that he’s worthy of gaining a spot on this team. He was the 12th overall pick in the 2002 draft, and so far hasn’t lived up to the expectations. Former defensive line coach Joe Greene gave the Cardinals the thumbs up to draft Bryant going back to the spring of 2002 when he was sent to Wisconsin to evaluate and work him out. In 26 games as a Cardinals player, he has a grand total of 38 tackles and a sack and a half more than you and me. For Bryant, it should be real simple, how good do you want to be and how are you going to apply yourself? It’s time to grow up.
Remember Bryant signed a 5 year contract on September 12, 2002 worth $7.427 million, (5.522 million signing bonus)
Emmitt Smith
Not only did Denny Green surprise the national media when he made Emmitt Smith the starter, but he also shocked the members of his team. Smith who turned 35 in May, gained only 256 yards on 90 carries after missing six games because of a shoulder injury. Going back throughout NFL history, only two running backs have gained over a thousand yards past the age of 34 years old. Former Redskin great, John Riggins rushed for 1239 yards in 1984, only playing in fourteen games. Matter of fact, Riggins is the only player in league history to gain 1000 rushing yards at the age of 34 and 35. He wasn’t your normal size running back and his bigger size could have attributed to his durability at that age. In comparison, a lot of backs are smaller and can’t take the pounding. In most cases many running backs tend to wear down once they get over 30. Remember, Smith is the all-time leading rusher but in this case history is definitely against him. I guess we’ll just have to see.
How many running backs who have rushed for over a 1000 yards in NFL history are past the age of 32?
1983- Washington-John Riggins-1,347 yards- 34 years old
1984- Washington-John Riggins-1,239 yards- 35 years old
1983-Pittsburgh-Franco Harris- 1,007 yards- 33 years old
1962-Pittsburgh-John Henry Johnson- 1,141 yards- 33 years old 1964-Pittsburgh-John Henry Johnson- 1,048 yards- 35 years old
1st season in Arizona
Take a look at how former Cardinals Coaches have fared in their first season in the desert:
1988- Gene Stallings, 7-9
1990- Joe Bugel, 5-11
1994- Buddy Ryan, 8-8
1996- Vince Tobin, 7-9
2001- Dave McGinnis, 7-9
Based on past records, Green’s prediction to the Tempe Chamber of Commerce of a 10-6 finish should land him right on top.
Turnovers and Rushing the Football
It’s been well documented that this team struggled on the road last year, and here’s a couple of reasons why. First of all, they turned the ball over 19 times and were a minus 10 away from Sun Devil Stadium when it came to the turnover battle. The other factor is that because of the turnovers they were forced to throw the ball just to get back into the games. The running game was nonexistent and the numbers back it up. If you look back, the Cardinals only gained 491 yards on 159 carries, averaging out to 3 yards a carry. At home, things were a bit different as the Redbirds gained over 1000 yards, and averaged 4.2 yards per carry. The message is to protect the football and keep the Redbird defense off the field. Move the chains.
Inside the numbers- 2003 season
Home Record, 4-4
Turnovers, -3
Rushing, 245 carries for 1,046 yards = 4.2 per carry
Road
Record, 0-8
Turnovers, -10
Rushing, 159 carries for 491 yards = 3.0 per carry
Denny Green quoted in the San Diego Union-Tribune
On Sunday July 18 Green talked to a reporter from the San Deigo Union-Tribune and had some interesting comments.
He said he has found his 10 tremendous players. First up? His quarterback Josh McCown.
"McCown can be like Brett Favre; he reminds me a lot of Favre," Green said of the former Sam Houston State athlete. "He is a tremendous athlete, 6-foot-5 and 225 pounds, with 4.6 speed and a vertical leap of 39 inches."
Green also talked about his first choice in the draft this year, Pittsburgh wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald.
"I came out and said Fitzgerald was the No. 1 player in the country," Green said. "He's a fabulous player. I still say he is the best, and he has been incredible in our practices."
He also had a few choice words about the recent sanction against the Cardinals for their off-season practices.
"You're always going to have one or two guys who can't accept the intensity and tempo of a program," said Green, "but we're going to outwork New England. If the Patriots work from 9 to 4, we're going to work from 8 to 5. I know how many games these players have lost. Guys are going to get paid on Tuesdays whether they win or lose and whether they block the guy in front of them or they don't. But we have 10 players who understand how you win."
And finally, he elaborated on his decision to name Emmitt Smith the starter over Marcel Shipp.
"I wanted to make sure that Emmitt was on board," Green explained to the San Diego Union Tribune. "He had to accept his role. It was clear that he would. The problem was that Marcel was not ready to accept a leadership role. Emmitt can still play; he's going to make those big guys in our offensive line start blocking."
Click here for the complete story
What the third overall pick received over the last three years…
2003
*Johnson, Andre- WR-
Date signed July 22- 7 years (voidable up to 6) $39 million (14.4 million in total bonuses)
2002
*Harrington, Joey- QB
Date signed July 23- 6 years $36.5 million (12.6 million guaranteed bonuses)
2001
*Warren, Gerard- DT
Date signed Aug.1- 6 years $33.6 million (12 million guaranteed bonus)
*PFW- Pro-Football Weekly
http://azcardinals.com/fanzone/columndetails.php?cid=251
