Storylines Bedazzle Today

[Mitch]

1. A Christmas Miracle?

Can the Cardinals find a way to win at SF and at the same time watch on as the Rams kick a FG in OT to beat the Seahawks?

As the saying goes---"this is why you play the games."

2. 4:25 Bonanza.

Did you notice that all the meaningful games today are lumped in at 4:25?

Channel 702 on DirectTV is going to be on fire from 4:25 to 7:30.

3. Bah Harbaugh.

Yes, he's abrasive, petulant and egomaniacal. But---three straight NFC Championships for an organization that was mired in mediocrity before he arrived---are not good enough, after one subpar season?

Will he actually get outbid and out-wooed by a college program? Unreal.

4. Ryan's Hope.

Meanwhile, a young QB whom seemingly all the world thinks has no chance to succeed in the NFL gets another rare opportunity today. Last week BA prophetically said to Ryan: "There's a reason why you are here."

As the Chinese proverb suggests: "it is better to light one small candle than to curse the darkness."

5. Matty Ice or Big Newton?

Which QB is going to lock down the NFC South title with a sub .500 record today?

6. Passing the Bucs?

The race for the rights to QB Marcus Mariota concludes today. Bucs control their own destiny.

7. You Ain't Lion.

Yes, the Lions can win the NFC North today up in Green Bay. Go ahead Suh me!

8. Train Rex.

Expect the usual Sunday afternoon delays at Grand Central Station today and all day tomorrow.

9. Hawaiian Punch.

With the ____ pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, the Arizona Cardinals select Hau'oli Kikaha, DE/OLB, Washington.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnB0KrxTS1s

Dear Russell: say hello to our little friend. Love, the Cardinals.

10. Bowles Week.

Speculation will be rampant as Todd Bowles rises to the top of teams' HC candidate lists.

 

[schutd]

That Kikaha tape is a fun watch! We need a devastating pass rusher so badly.

 

[az jam]

Bowles can't interview as long as the Cards are playing. They don't have an off week since they are a wild card team. I think these are league rules. Lets hope the Cards get on a winning streak in the playoffs.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

1. A Christmas Miracle?

The Rams can beat the Seahawks, they have proven that time and time again. That is not the part I am worried about.

The Cardinals can, without a doubt in my mind, win against the Niners with Lindley at QB. The Cardinals got beat handily last week, but they didn't make it easy on themselves. They overcompensated for Lindley and got out of their game.

If the Cardinals can make a play or two this game they will be fine. If just one or two of those poorly aimed prayers to Michael Floyd connect, then that will probably result in a win. Not to mention just sit back and watch the Niners shoot themselves in the foot penalty wise.


2. 4:25 Bonanza.

I will be watching the Cardinals.


3. Bah Harbaugh.

He won with the talent that Singletary brought in. The problem with the Niners is injury plus a lack of depth, especially on the offensive side of the ball.

The most interesting topic about Harbaugh leaving ? What will become of Kaepernick ?


4. Ryan's Hope.

Lindley is a bad NFL QB. If, A. this was before week 8 a trade would have happened already, and B. Logan Thomas wasn't so raw and unready he would be in there.

Arians has no choice, I agree Lindley is the best guy for the job right now, but ......ugh, he is pretty bad. He just cannot keep his composure out on the field. His mechanics are a mess, and thus his accurate is horrific.


5. Matty Ice or Big Newton?

I think the Panthers, literally, run away with this game. Jonathan Stewart has awoken out of no where.


6. Passing the Bucs?

QB Marcus Mariota <--- will not translate well to the NFL, at least not worth a #1 overall pick. JMHO.

Who is to say the best head coach Arizona has ever had doesn't get the 1st round pick overall ?


7. You Ain't Lion.

Lions in an upset!


8. Train Rex.

Next stop Philadelphia.


9. Hawaiian Punch.

I'll take this in another direction. Congrats to Calais Campbell, he deserves the recognition.


10. Bowles Week.

Question 1: Does he leave ? He is very particular about where he wants to go. If he does leave ? I say he is going to Chicago.

Question 2: Who is currently second in command on the defensive side for the Cardinals, aka the guy learning from Bowles ?

 

[dylanbw]

Nice video on Kikaha. Where do Kiper and Todd, Todd, Todd, Todd have him currently projected to go?

C'mon Lindley! You can do it!

 

[Catfish]

Nice job Mitch-----and good reply by Muffin as well. That was a nice '10' days of Christmas to chew on. I find it very comforting that, (even given the catastrophic losses of Palmer and Stanton), we can find good things to talk about with this team. The biggest surprise of all might be opened in Santa Clara today, with Lindley getting his first couple of NFL TD passes in a very meaningful game. A 'W' today could go far toward getting him ready for the playoffs. Who knows what may happen once they start? Go Cards-----Go Lindley !!!!!

 

[NJCardFan]

Hau'oli Kikaha looks too undersized to be a DE/OLB right now which is strange considering he's 6' 3" 246lbs but that's too small. He looks like a safety. But he is quick and might be worth a 4th or so. That said, pretty uneventful Sunday. Only 1 playoff spot unspoken for but there are 4 teams vying for it. Playoff seedings are up for grabs though. As for the Lions, they're finally realizing their potential. It helps to have the right coach and Caldwell is the only coach who can challenge BA for COTY. Should be a fun day nonetheless.

 

[Buckybird]

Good stuff here. I'm get disappointed the NFL has the Pack-Lions & Falcs-Cats scheduled both late with neither having an effect on the other.regardless of the outcome. Dumb imo

 

[BullheadCardFan]

4. Ryan's Hope.

There is none. We are doomed.

There is no way you can convince me there were no other options at QB for the FO to bring in. After such a good job they did on filing other holes on the roster.

 

[NJCardFan]

There is none. We are doomed.

There is no way you can convince me there were no other options at QB for the FO to bring in. After such a good job they did on filing other holes on the roster.

Could you cite names?

 

[BullheadCardFan]

OK

Charlie Batch. Can manage a game and make short accurate throw. Knows the system. Lacks the arm strength to throw deep and is over 40.

Rex Grossman. He is a head case. He can throw deep and can be accurate when he is on.

The point is a vet like this, or someone else, can at least manage a game and not melt under pressure. It's basically the better of the worst.

Another name is John Kitna, but I don't know much about him. Also David Garrard has been mentioned.

We have seen what Lindley can and can't do and the FO has lots of film on him. We had time to bring in another QB and let them learn the system. Should have been done the moment Palmer went down.

There is no way that Lindley was the best option out there and I will never be convinced. He is lost and can't handle the game speed of the NFL.

 

[Brak]

If Bowles bails, I want Rexy as our next DC.

 

[DoTheDew]

1. There's always a chance. I'm more worried about the scenario where the Rams pull off the upset but poor QB play costs us the miracle against SF.

2. NFL has been doing this for a few years now. They flex almost all of the meaningful games to the 4:25 slot so that less teams know whether or not they need to win. It creates a better quality product and this is one good decision that Goodell deserves to receive some credit for.

3. This SF team isn't going to get over the hump any time soon. Harbaugh is the type of coach that wears on players. His style is ideal for college ball where guys only have to listen to him for 3-5 years. When you're potentially looking at a 10-15 year career with the guy in the NFL it becomes a problem. Kudos to SFs front office for seeing the writing on the wall.

4. Once again the weight of the world is on the shoulders of our defense. Lindley simply doesn't generate offense at the NFL level. If Arians was serious about winning, he'd put his faith in our run game and simply ask Lindley to not commit turnovers or take unnecessary sacks. That may very well be why he beat out Thomas. Thomas is a much greater big play threat than Lindley, but he is probably more prone to negative plays as well. If BA repeats last weeks mistake and throws constantly it will be akin to throwing the game.

5. Can the Panthers break the NFC South curse? No team has ever won that division back to back since it came into being in 2001.

6. I don't think Mariota turns TB (or Tennesee who actually holds #1 going into todays games) into an elite franchise. He's the type of QB who needs to be in the right system that will utilize his strengths and hide is weaknesses. Whoever gets Winston is in an even worse boat. I fully expect him to ruin a potentially great career with off the field issues.

7. If the Lions win, we most likely will get the 6 seed. If GB wins we will most likely get the 5 seed. I'm rooting for GB personally.

8. ---

9. I know everyone has been on the pass rusher bandwagon with this team for years now, and I certainly wouldn't complain about this pick but this team needs offense. Badly. I could see WR here with Fitz on his last legs and Floyd proving to be no better than average. I could see TE. I could see interior OL. I also wonder if perhaps Hundley fits the bill for Arians at QB? I don't trust Palmer's body and I think Stanton and the other backups have proven they aren't good enough. While a long shot, there's certainly merit to it IMO.

10. I've been fearing the possibility of SF signing him as their next HC. I'd hate to see what kind of interior pass rush he could generate with the ILB/S combo that team has on it's roster. Drafting a QB would almost become mandatory if they signed him.

 

[Buckybird]

If Bowles bails, I want Rexy as our next DC.

Never happen bet that!!!
Neither of the Ryan brothers will be allowed in the State again. Both have spoken bad about the organization in the past.

 

[Buckybird]

OK

Charlie Batch. Can manage a game and make short accurate throw. Knows the system. Lacks the arm strength to throw deep and is over 40.

Rex Grossman. He is a head case. He can throw deep and can be accurate when he is on.

The point is a vet like this, or someone else, can at least manage a game and not melt under pressure. It's basically the better of the worst.

Another name is John Kitna, but I don't know much about him. Also David Garrard has been mentioned.

We have seen what Lindley can and can't do and the FO has lots of film on him. We had time to bring in another QB and let them learn the system. Should have been done the moment Palmer went down.


There is no way that Lindley was the best option out there and I will never be convinced. He is lost and can't handle the game speed of the NFL.

Exactly what Bask should've been doing 2 weeks ago.

I luv both but as you say Incomplindley doesn't belong on anyone's NFL roster, let alone a playoff team!!!

 

[GatorAZ]

So glad Jimbo is gone. He wins everywhere he goes.

 

[Ronin]

3. Bah Harbaugh.

He won with the talent that Nolan brought in.

FTFY.

 

[NJCardFan]

OK

Charlie Batch. Can manage a game and make short accurate throw. Knows the system. Lacks the arm strength to throw deep and is over 40.

Rex Grossman. He is a head case. He can throw deep and can be accurate when he is on.

The point is a vet like this, or someone else, can at least manage a game and not melt under pressure. It's basically the better of the worst.

Another name is John Kitna, but I don't know much about him. Also David Garrard has been mentioned.

We have seen what Lindley can and can't do and the FO has lots of film on him. We had time to bring in another QB and let them learn the system. Should have been done the moment Palmer went down.

There is no way that Lindley was the best option out there and I will never be convinced. He is lost and can't handle the game speed of the NFL.

I want you to think about something for a minute. All of those QB's you've mentioned are unemployed while Luke McCown, Josh McCown, Charlie Whitehurst, Derek Anderson, Chad Henne, etc are all gainfully employed. Should tell you something about those players you mentioned.

 

[Brak]

Never happen bet that!!!
Neither of the Ryan brothers will be allowed in the State again. Both have spoken bad about the organization in the past.

So what? If they spoke badly before 2006, then they were right.

Hire the man, if the timing works out. Who would be a better candidate to replace Bowles as DC?

 

[NJCardFan]

So what? If they spoke badly before 2006, then they were right.

Hire the man, if the timing works out. Who would be a better candidate to replace Bowles as DC?

I was listening to Philly sports talk radio on my way to pick up dinner and they were throwing Ryan's name around. I'd rather have him here if Bowles gets a HC job. The bad thing is, if Ryan is fired tomorrow, we won't stand a chance to get him right away because of the playoffs.