azdad1978
Championship!!!!
By Darren Urban, Tribune
So let’s say, for whatever reason, coach Dennis Green decides John Navarre isn’t the answer. And that Josh McCown — a restricted free agent-to-be — isn’t salvageable as the long-term Cardinals starter.
Arizona is going to be looking for a quarterback again in the offseason.
Green used seven different quarterbacks in eight playoff appearances when he was with the Vikings. He insisted, when he first arrived in Arizona, he had revolving quarterbacks only because circumstances such as injuries dictated such.
But his decision to take receiver Larry Fitzgerald instead of a quarterback in the 2004 draft could hurt.
The senior class of college quarterbacks is not as strong as last year. Underclassmen like Matt Leinart or Aaron Rodgers might come out, but Green made it pretty clear (at least until his decision to start Navarre) he’s not one to think a rookie quarterback can step right in and shine. In Minnesota, Green left Daunte Culpepper on the bench his entire rookie season.
The Cardinals could turn to the free agent market. If the Chargers let Drew Brees walk away, he’ll want an awful lot of money, and his lack of a big arm doesn’t fit Green’s style of offense. The next best names on the list are Kurt Warner, Matt Hasselbeck or maybe Detroit backup Mike McMahon. Age or inconsistency are negatives for each.
Former Green quarterback Brad Johnson, now in Tampa, or the Saints’ Aaron Brooks are both expected to be possible cap casualties. Perhaps Green might turn to one of them.
But in this league, time for a "turnaround program," as Green likes to call his team, is short. Team vice president Michael Bidwill is looking for serious momentum in 2005 to carry the Cards into their new stadium in 2006. Arizona can’t afford another year of disappointing quarterback play — and the accompanying struggles on offense and in the win column.
EARLY RETIREMENT
Some people tried to explain the hints at retirement by Titans quarterback Steve McNair after last week’s game as the vocalized frustrations of a guy who doesn’t like to lose.
"Until I see that stamp with his retirement papers sent back into the league, then I am not going to say the dude is done or he doesn’t have some fight left in him," Tennessee tackle Brad Hopkins said.
But McNair, a 10-year veteran who has mentioned in the past leaving after 10 years, talked again later in the week and sounded like a man who might walk away. He has been seriously beat up the past five years and admitted it is tough when he can’t play catch with his 6-year-old son because he is hurt, this time with a bruised sternum.
"The frustrating part about it is nobody understands but me and probably a couple of other people, how hard it is for me," McNair said. "This injury is causing me to miss out on a lot of things."
NO TEARS FOR BUTCH
There has been much talk about ousted Browns coach Butch Davis, who told HBO he had a panic attack before last week’s game and couldn’t handle the scrutiny about his job situation. None of his players was feeling very sympathetic.
"You can go talk to him, and he’ll tell you one thing and behind your back it’s another," former Browns receiver Quincy Morgan said.
There was also a little matter of Davis still receiving the $12 million left on his contract, despite "resigning."
"I hope everything works out for him and his family," fullback Terrelle Smith said. "(But) then you get home and on the screen it pops up that he settled for $12 million. When one of us gets cut, we have to go home and work at the nearest grocery mart. To me, it looks like ‘OK, I’m taking the $12 million, see you guys later.’ I mean, battle. Fight to the finish with us."
OVERHEARD
• Lions coach Steve Mariucci, after his team lost to the Colts, 41-9, on stopping Colts quarterback Peyton Manning: "Good luck. You want an answer from me?"
• Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, one touchdown catch shy of the NFL season record for tight ends: "Three years from now, I could be the biggest bust in football history."
• Texans linebacker Antwan Peek, after Houston was forced to take a timeout because he threw up on the field: "Sometimes your adrenaline gets going, and it just happens. That’s how fired up I was."
UNDERSTOOD
• Since Packers quarterback Brett Favre began his NFL record 200-game starting streak, the Bears have started an NFL-high 18 quarterbacks. The 19th — Chad Hutchinson — starts today and there might be a 20th — Jeff George — by the end of the season.
• With former starters Chris Hovan, a defensive tackle, and Michael Bennett, a running back, falling out of favor in Minnesota, there is a belief that former Vikings coach and current Cards coach Dennis Green will make a run at both in the offseason.
• Broncos running back Reuben Droughns, who has started just seven games, has one more yard than the man he replaced, the Redskins’ Clinton Portis (946-945).
WHO’S HOT
• Green Bay: Many believe the Packers, not the Falcons, will give Philly its toughest NFC test.
• Philadelphia: The Eagles have been 10-1 twice before in their history; they won the title in 1949 and made the Super Bowl in 1980.
• Peyton Manning: His assault on the single-season touchdown-pass record is making the MVP race a runaway.
WHO’S NOT
• Kansas City: Call a Priest — the Chiefs are sinking fast without their star running back.
• Washington: Averaging a wretched 12.5 points a game.
• Hines Ward: The Pro Bowl Steelers receiver catches 38 percent of the team’s completions but because Pittsburgh runs so much, he has only 11 receptions in the past four games.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=32664
So let’s say, for whatever reason, coach Dennis Green decides John Navarre isn’t the answer. And that Josh McCown — a restricted free agent-to-be — isn’t salvageable as the long-term Cardinals starter.
Arizona is going to be looking for a quarterback again in the offseason.
Green used seven different quarterbacks in eight playoff appearances when he was with the Vikings. He insisted, when he first arrived in Arizona, he had revolving quarterbacks only because circumstances such as injuries dictated such.
But his decision to take receiver Larry Fitzgerald instead of a quarterback in the 2004 draft could hurt.
The senior class of college quarterbacks is not as strong as last year. Underclassmen like Matt Leinart or Aaron Rodgers might come out, but Green made it pretty clear (at least until his decision to start Navarre) he’s not one to think a rookie quarterback can step right in and shine. In Minnesota, Green left Daunte Culpepper on the bench his entire rookie season.
The Cardinals could turn to the free agent market. If the Chargers let Drew Brees walk away, he’ll want an awful lot of money, and his lack of a big arm doesn’t fit Green’s style of offense. The next best names on the list are Kurt Warner, Matt Hasselbeck or maybe Detroit backup Mike McMahon. Age or inconsistency are negatives for each.
Former Green quarterback Brad Johnson, now in Tampa, or the Saints’ Aaron Brooks are both expected to be possible cap casualties. Perhaps Green might turn to one of them.
But in this league, time for a "turnaround program," as Green likes to call his team, is short. Team vice president Michael Bidwill is looking for serious momentum in 2005 to carry the Cards into their new stadium in 2006. Arizona can’t afford another year of disappointing quarterback play — and the accompanying struggles on offense and in the win column.
EARLY RETIREMENT
Some people tried to explain the hints at retirement by Titans quarterback Steve McNair after last week’s game as the vocalized frustrations of a guy who doesn’t like to lose.
"Until I see that stamp with his retirement papers sent back into the league, then I am not going to say the dude is done or he doesn’t have some fight left in him," Tennessee tackle Brad Hopkins said.
But McNair, a 10-year veteran who has mentioned in the past leaving after 10 years, talked again later in the week and sounded like a man who might walk away. He has been seriously beat up the past five years and admitted it is tough when he can’t play catch with his 6-year-old son because he is hurt, this time with a bruised sternum.
"The frustrating part about it is nobody understands but me and probably a couple of other people, how hard it is for me," McNair said. "This injury is causing me to miss out on a lot of things."
NO TEARS FOR BUTCH
There has been much talk about ousted Browns coach Butch Davis, who told HBO he had a panic attack before last week’s game and couldn’t handle the scrutiny about his job situation. None of his players was feeling very sympathetic.
"You can go talk to him, and he’ll tell you one thing and behind your back it’s another," former Browns receiver Quincy Morgan said.
There was also a little matter of Davis still receiving the $12 million left on his contract, despite "resigning."
"I hope everything works out for him and his family," fullback Terrelle Smith said. "(But) then you get home and on the screen it pops up that he settled for $12 million. When one of us gets cut, we have to go home and work at the nearest grocery mart. To me, it looks like ‘OK, I’m taking the $12 million, see you guys later.’ I mean, battle. Fight to the finish with us."
OVERHEARD
• Lions coach Steve Mariucci, after his team lost to the Colts, 41-9, on stopping Colts quarterback Peyton Manning: "Good luck. You want an answer from me?"
• Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, one touchdown catch shy of the NFL season record for tight ends: "Three years from now, I could be the biggest bust in football history."
• Texans linebacker Antwan Peek, after Houston was forced to take a timeout because he threw up on the field: "Sometimes your adrenaline gets going, and it just happens. That’s how fired up I was."
UNDERSTOOD
• Since Packers quarterback Brett Favre began his NFL record 200-game starting streak, the Bears have started an NFL-high 18 quarterbacks. The 19th — Chad Hutchinson — starts today and there might be a 20th — Jeff George — by the end of the season.
• With former starters Chris Hovan, a defensive tackle, and Michael Bennett, a running back, falling out of favor in Minnesota, there is a belief that former Vikings coach and current Cards coach Dennis Green will make a run at both in the offseason.
• Broncos running back Reuben Droughns, who has started just seven games, has one more yard than the man he replaced, the Redskins’ Clinton Portis (946-945).
WHO’S HOT
• Green Bay: Many believe the Packers, not the Falcons, will give Philly its toughest NFC test.
• Philadelphia: The Eagles have been 10-1 twice before in their history; they won the title in 1949 and made the Super Bowl in 1980.
• Peyton Manning: His assault on the single-season touchdown-pass record is making the MVP race a runaway.
WHO’S NOT
• Kansas City: Call a Priest — the Chiefs are sinking fast without their star running back.
• Washington: Averaging a wretched 12.5 points a game.
• Hines Ward: The Pro Bowl Steelers receiver catches 38 percent of the team’s completions but because Pittsburgh runs so much, he has only 11 receptions in the past four games.
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=32664
