azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Notebook: Boldin likely to miss a third straight game
By DARREN URBAN
Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has made a deliberate effort to remind fans they can be difference-makers during games at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Both before and after each of the Cardinals’ home games this season, coach Ken Whisenhunt has talked about the University of Phoenix Stadium crowd and how it can and has made an impact on the outcomes.
That hasn’t changed this week as the Cards prepare to host Carolina. It’s a conscious decision by Whisenhunt, who has already seen a tangible benefit of the home-field advantage.
“I believe it is important,” Whisenhunt said. “I have seen it have an effect on our football team this year. And I truly believe it. When I first got here I said it was important for me for us to put a team on the field in this city that these people can be proud of. And if we can do that, then I feel like we will get the kind of response we have gotten in the first two games.”
Both the Seahawks – who had a play-call confusion that led to the game-changing fumble – and the Steelers – who had multiple false start penalties – were hurt by the crowd noise.
“When we went to St. Louis it was like, wow. It was dead in there,” defensive end Darnell Dockett said. “So we get back to our home and hopefully, man, they will be there. Hopefully they will make it one of the rowdiest places to play in the National Football League. So far, it’s been loud in there. And it’s helped.”
The Cardinals have a chance to start 3-0 at home for the first time since 1976. That year, the Cards went 6-1 at home on a 14-game schedule. This season, with Detroit, San Francisco, Cleveland, Atlanta and St. Louis remaining on the home slate, the Cards may have a chance to better that mark.
Q DOUBTFUL
Receiver Anquan Boldin did not practice again Friday and is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game. It’s unlikely he would play, since Whisenhunt likes his players to practice in order to play and Boldin said he isn’t comfortable playing without practicing.
“That’s what it is going to be around here,” Whisenhunt said. “That is kind of the idea of what we want to get done. But in my experience, there have been players that didn’t necessarily like to practice that wanted to play.”
Tackle Levi Brown (ankle) is out, but the Cardinals are confident both tackle Elton Brown (knee) and receiver Bryant Johnson (quadriceps) will be able to play Sunday. Panthers quarterback David Carr returned to practice and will apparently be able to start despite a bad back. (For the official injury report, click here.)
FITZ AND THE GOOD HANDS PEOPLE
For two straight games, receiver Larry Fitzgerald has punctuated huge receiving performances with the biggest catch of the game – snaring the opposition’s last-ditch onsides kick attempt.
Receiver Larry Fitzgerald hauls in the Rams' onsides kick attempt at the end of last weekend's victory in St. Louis.
“If you’ve got the best hands on the team they usually put you out there,” Fitzgerald said. “I have that dubious honor of being out there. The teammates are counting on you, since we have played a game well enough to win, so you have to go and close it out.”
Fitzgerald said the pressure of grabbing an onsides kick is “not even close” in pressure compared to making a catch at the end of a tight game. That’s thanks to the blockers up front – Fitzgerald said linebacker Karlos Dansby decleated one of the Rams who was supposed to come after Fitzgerald.
“(The other team) usually has guys out there that don’t really want to be out there, they don’t want to be hit,” Fitzgerald said. “But when you got guys (blocking) like Gerald Hayes and Aaron Francisco, those guys are stone-cold killers. They hit for a living. You have those guys in front of you, I feel pretty secure back there I can catch it.”
PEPPERS WORTH HIS SALT?
Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, a perennial Pro Bowler, has been quiet this season. He has yet to post a sack, although coach John Fox dismissed that as an issue.
“I’ve used this (phrase) a lot: stats are for losers,” Fox said. “The only important stat is wins and losses. We’re real happy with Julius.”
The Panthers are 3-2, but Carolina has just two sacks total as a defense. And the Cardinals have allowed just five sacks in five games.
EXTRA POINTS
An NFL spokesman said Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon was fined $10,000 for “impermissible use of a helmet” on the hit to Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart that broke Leinart’s collarbone and ended his season. Witherspoon did not draw a penalty.
Cardinals linebacker Calvin Pace, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness on Rams quarterback Gus Frerotte, was not fined for his play. …
The two-week donation period for Kurt Warner’s America’s Team Ball Drive – used to collect sports equipment for soldiers serving overseas – comes to a conclusion at Sunday’s game. Donations of new and gently-used sports equipment can be made just outside any gate at the stadium, while monetary donations will be accepted just inside the gates. …
Donations will be collected Sunday by Cardinals cheerleaders for breast cancer research. Cheerleaders will accept contributions during their appearance on the Great Lawn from 11:30-12:30 and at the Red Zone Tailgate from 11:45 to 12:30. The cheerleaders will be on the club level in the second quarter through halftime.Contact Darren Urban at
[email protected].
http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=1992
By DARREN URBAN
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Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt has made a deliberate effort to remind fans they can be difference-makers during games at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Both before and after each of the Cardinals’ home games this season, coach Ken Whisenhunt has talked about the University of Phoenix Stadium crowd and how it can and has made an impact on the outcomes.
That hasn’t changed this week as the Cards prepare to host Carolina. It’s a conscious decision by Whisenhunt, who has already seen a tangible benefit of the home-field advantage.
“I believe it is important,” Whisenhunt said. “I have seen it have an effect on our football team this year. And I truly believe it. When I first got here I said it was important for me for us to put a team on the field in this city that these people can be proud of. And if we can do that, then I feel like we will get the kind of response we have gotten in the first two games.”
Both the Seahawks – who had a play-call confusion that led to the game-changing fumble – and the Steelers – who had multiple false start penalties – were hurt by the crowd noise.
“When we went to St. Louis it was like, wow. It was dead in there,” defensive end Darnell Dockett said. “So we get back to our home and hopefully, man, they will be there. Hopefully they will make it one of the rowdiest places to play in the National Football League. So far, it’s been loud in there. And it’s helped.”
The Cardinals have a chance to start 3-0 at home for the first time since 1976. That year, the Cards went 6-1 at home on a 14-game schedule. This season, with Detroit, San Francisco, Cleveland, Atlanta and St. Louis remaining on the home slate, the Cards may have a chance to better that mark.
Q DOUBTFUL
Receiver Anquan Boldin did not practice again Friday and is listed as doubtful for Sunday’s game. It’s unlikely he would play, since Whisenhunt likes his players to practice in order to play and Boldin said he isn’t comfortable playing without practicing.
“That’s what it is going to be around here,” Whisenhunt said. “That is kind of the idea of what we want to get done. But in my experience, there have been players that didn’t necessarily like to practice that wanted to play.”
Tackle Levi Brown (ankle) is out, but the Cardinals are confident both tackle Elton Brown (knee) and receiver Bryant Johnson (quadriceps) will be able to play Sunday. Panthers quarterback David Carr returned to practice and will apparently be able to start despite a bad back. (For the official injury report, click here.)
FITZ AND THE GOOD HANDS PEOPLE
For two straight games, receiver Larry Fitzgerald has punctuated huge receiving performances with the biggest catch of the game – snaring the opposition’s last-ditch onsides kick attempt.
You must be registered for see images
Receiver Larry Fitzgerald hauls in the Rams' onsides kick attempt at the end of last weekend's victory in St. Louis.
“If you’ve got the best hands on the team they usually put you out there,” Fitzgerald said. “I have that dubious honor of being out there. The teammates are counting on you, since we have played a game well enough to win, so you have to go and close it out.”
Fitzgerald said the pressure of grabbing an onsides kick is “not even close” in pressure compared to making a catch at the end of a tight game. That’s thanks to the blockers up front – Fitzgerald said linebacker Karlos Dansby decleated one of the Rams who was supposed to come after Fitzgerald.
“(The other team) usually has guys out there that don’t really want to be out there, they don’t want to be hit,” Fitzgerald said. “But when you got guys (blocking) like Gerald Hayes and Aaron Francisco, those guys are stone-cold killers. They hit for a living. You have those guys in front of you, I feel pretty secure back there I can catch it.”
PEPPERS WORTH HIS SALT?
Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers, a perennial Pro Bowler, has been quiet this season. He has yet to post a sack, although coach John Fox dismissed that as an issue.
“I’ve used this (phrase) a lot: stats are for losers,” Fox said. “The only important stat is wins and losses. We’re real happy with Julius.”
The Panthers are 3-2, but Carolina has just two sacks total as a defense. And the Cardinals have allowed just five sacks in five games.
EXTRA POINTS
An NFL spokesman said Rams linebacker Will Witherspoon was fined $10,000 for “impermissible use of a helmet” on the hit to Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart that broke Leinart’s collarbone and ended his season. Witherspoon did not draw a penalty.
Cardinals linebacker Calvin Pace, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness on Rams quarterback Gus Frerotte, was not fined for his play. …
The two-week donation period for Kurt Warner’s America’s Team Ball Drive – used to collect sports equipment for soldiers serving overseas – comes to a conclusion at Sunday’s game. Donations of new and gently-used sports equipment can be made just outside any gate at the stadium, while monetary donations will be accepted just inside the gates. …
Donations will be collected Sunday by Cardinals cheerleaders for breast cancer research. Cheerleaders will accept contributions during their appearance on the Great Lawn from 11:30-12:30 and at the Red Zone Tailgate from 11:45 to 12:30. The cheerleaders will be on the club level in the second quarter through halftime.Contact Darren Urban at
[email protected].
http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=1992
