NFC North: Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
We’re no closer to knowing whether Arizona receiver Anquan Boldin (knee, ankle) will play in Sunday’s wild-card matchup against Green Bay.
Boldin missed a third consecutive day of practice Friday but is listed as questionable on the Cardinals’ injury report. By NFL definition, that means it’s a 50-50 proposition. Boldin has been noted for playing with injuries on multiple occasions in his career, and Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt told reporters a decision won’t be made until Sunday morning.
Here’s how Boldin put it, courtesy Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: “If I can go, I’ll be out there. I’m doing everything within my power to make sure I’m on the field Sunday. If I’m not able to go -- trust me, it won’t be nothing that I didn’t do. I have doctors at my house at night, poking and prodding, acupuncture -- everything that’s possible. I’m trying to make sure that I’m on the field.”
Cardinals beat writer Darren Urban, writing on the team’s Web site, notes that Boldin’s status “wouldn’t even be a question” if this were a regular season game. Indeed, if Boldin plays, it will be an exceptional effort by a big-time player in a sudden death game.
Without Boldin, the Cardinals would rely more heavily on receivers Steve Breaston and Early Doucet.
The Cardinals also listed safety Antrel Rolle (thigh) and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (toe/knee) as questionable. But both players practiced Thursday and Friday and are expected to play.
Meanwhile, only one Packers player could miss Sunday’s game because of injury. Safety Derrick Martin (ankle), primarily a special teams player, is listed as doubtful. Nose tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring), who has missed three of the past four games, is probable.
Boldin missed a third consecutive day of practice Friday but is listed as questionable on the Cardinals’ injury report. By NFL definition, that means it’s a 50-50 proposition. Boldin has been noted for playing with injuries on multiple occasions in his career, and Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt told reporters a decision won’t be made until Sunday morning.
Here’s how Boldin put it, courtesy Tom Pelissero of the Green Bay Press-Gazette: “If I can go, I’ll be out there. I’m doing everything within my power to make sure I’m on the field Sunday. If I’m not able to go -- trust me, it won’t be nothing that I didn’t do. I have doctors at my house at night, poking and prodding, acupuncture -- everything that’s possible. I’m trying to make sure that I’m on the field.”
Cardinals beat writer Darren Urban, writing on the team’s Web site, notes that Boldin’s status “wouldn’t even be a question” if this were a regular season game. Indeed, if Boldin plays, it will be an exceptional effort by a big-time player in a sudden death game.
Without Boldin, the Cardinals would rely more heavily on receivers Steve Breaston and Early Doucet.
The Cardinals also listed safety Antrel Rolle (thigh) and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (toe/knee) as questionable. But both players practiced Thursday and Friday and are expected to play.
Meanwhile, only one Packers player could miss Sunday’s game because of injury. Safety Derrick Martin (ankle), primarily a special teams player, is listed as doubtful. Nose tackle Ryan Pickett (hamstring), who has missed three of the past four games, is probable.
Boldin remains a question mark in Arizona
January, 7, 2010
1/07/10
5:58
PM ET
By
Kevin Seifert | ESPN.com
Two of Arizona’s three injured players got back on the practice field Thursday, but the most significant one remained sidelined.
That’s the upshot of Thursday’s injury report as we’re now three days from Green Bay’s wild-card matchup against the Cardinals. Receiver Anquan Boldin remained sidelined by knee and ankle sprains, and coach Ken Whisenhunt is appealing to Boldin’s well-chronicled toughness.
Speaking to Arizona reporters, Whisenhunt said: “He’s proven time and time again … what he’s all about as far as how tough he is and his ability to come in and play.”
Safety Antrel Rolle (thigh) and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (toe/knee) participated in a limited portion of Thursday’s practice after sitting out Wednesday. Both appear on track to play Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Packers had all hands practicing fully Thursday except for safety Derrick Martin (ankle).
That’s the upshot of Thursday’s injury report as we’re now three days from Green Bay’s wild-card matchup against the Cardinals. Receiver Anquan Boldin remained sidelined by knee and ankle sprains, and coach Ken Whisenhunt is appealing to Boldin’s well-chronicled toughness.
Speaking to Arizona reporters, Whisenhunt said: “He’s proven time and time again … what he’s all about as far as how tough he is and his ability to come in and play.”
Safety Antrel Rolle (thigh) and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (toe/knee) participated in a limited portion of Thursday’s practice after sitting out Wednesday. Both appear on track to play Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Packers had all hands practicing fully Thursday except for safety Derrick Martin (ankle).
Let’s catch up after another busy day in the NFC North:
Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will interview Thursday to become Buffalo’s head coach, his sixth opportunity to do so in the past three years. He interviewed with Miami and Atlanta after the 2007 season. Last winter, he spoke with Denver, Detroit and St. Louis.
My AFC East colleague Tim Graham makes the important point that the Bills don’t consider this a token interview because Frazier is black; they’ve already interviewed interim head coach Perry Fewell for the job and therefore aren’t required to interview any further minorities.
My feeling about Frazier remains the same. He won’t blow you away with a sales pitch during an interview, but he is a classy and intense coach who will appeal to teams looking for substance over style. Look for his name to surface in Cleveland if new Browns president Mike Holmgren fires coach Eric Mangini.
Chicago will interview Fewell for its defensive coordinator job next week, after he speaks with the New York Giants. My ESPN Chicago colleague Jeff Dickerson considers Fewell a good fit for the job, and I agree. With Lovie Smith unwilling to change his defensive scheme, he might as well hire someone with extensive experience in the system.
All Green Bay players except safety Derrick Martin (ankle) participated in at least a portion of practice Wednesday. That includes nose tackle Ryan Pickett, who has been inactive for three of the past four games because of a hamstring injury. In Arizona, receiver Anquan Boldin (ankle), cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (toe/knee) and safety Antrel Rolle (thigh) all sat out practice. My NFC West colleague Mike Sando has more on Rodgers-Cromartie here.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he hadn’t heard that Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt was apparently miffed by the way Green Bay approached the two games between the teams this season. And even if he had, McCarthy said: “I am worried about my own football team. His feelings toward my team or my feelings toward his team, it's a non-topic with me.”
Speaking during a conference call with Wisconsin reporters, Whisenhunt clarified his original comments. “The only thing I was chafing about was the approach of my football team and how we handled it. I was disappointed with some of the things we did in the ball game as far as how we played. It was obvious to me that Green Bay was more physical than us. That’s what was very disappointing to me. I could see where [reporters] would think that I was irritated, and I was, but it certainly wasn't at coach McCarthy or the Packers. It was more about how we performed.”
I guess all’s well that ends well.
Minnesota defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier will interview Thursday to become Buffalo’s head coach, his sixth opportunity to do so in the past three years. He interviewed with Miami and Atlanta after the 2007 season. Last winter, he spoke with Denver, Detroit and St. Louis.
My AFC East colleague Tim Graham makes the important point that the Bills don’t consider this a token interview because Frazier is black; they’ve already interviewed interim head coach Perry Fewell for the job and therefore aren’t required to interview any further minorities.
My feeling about Frazier remains the same. He won’t blow you away with a sales pitch during an interview, but he is a classy and intense coach who will appeal to teams looking for substance over style. Look for his name to surface in Cleveland if new Browns president Mike Holmgren fires coach Eric Mangini.
Chicago will interview Fewell for its defensive coordinator job next week, after he speaks with the New York Giants. My ESPN Chicago colleague Jeff Dickerson considers Fewell a good fit for the job, and I agree. With Lovie Smith unwilling to change his defensive scheme, he might as well hire someone with extensive experience in the system.
All Green Bay players except safety Derrick Martin (ankle) participated in at least a portion of practice Wednesday. That includes nose tackle Ryan Pickett, who has been inactive for three of the past four games because of a hamstring injury. In Arizona, receiver Anquan Boldin (ankle), cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (toe/knee) and safety Antrel Rolle (thigh) all sat out practice. My NFC West colleague Mike Sando has more on Rodgers-Cromartie here.
Packers coach Mike McCarthy said he hadn’t heard that Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt was apparently miffed by the way Green Bay approached the two games between the teams this season. And even if he had, McCarthy said: “I am worried about my own football team. His feelings toward my team or my feelings toward his team, it's a non-topic with me.”
Speaking during a conference call with Wisconsin reporters, Whisenhunt clarified his original comments. “The only thing I was chafing about was the approach of my football team and how we handled it. I was disappointed with some of the things we did in the ball game as far as how we played. It was obvious to me that Green Bay was more physical than us. That’s what was very disappointing to me. I could see where [reporters] would think that I was irritated, and I was, but it certainly wasn't at coach McCarthy or the Packers. It was more about how we performed.”
I guess all’s well that ends well.
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