NFC West: Arizona Cardinals
Sacks tell only part of Warner's story
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
TAMPA, Fla. -- Bob Costas brought up a good point when he said Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner has taken only six sacks against more than 200 blitzes this season.
Sacks tell only part of the story, however. Warner took quite a bit of punishment in some of those games with relatively few sacks. He gets rid of the football, but he also hangs in there against the rush, taking punishment after the ball is gone.
The Cowboys knocked around Warner quite a bit in Week 6. The Cardinals had a bye the next week. Had they not, I wasn't sure how ready Warner would have been the next week. He took only one sack, but the stat sheet showed 10 quarterback hits. Arizona needed two special-teams touchdowns to win that game in overtime.
Photo by Matt Cashore/US Presswire
There is little doubt which team this fan is pulling for.
Revisited: How Arizona improved its run game
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| Getty Images | |
| Edgerrin James (left) or Tim Hightower? We asked the question back in early December and the Cardinals answered it by going with Edge. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
TAMPA, Fla. -- Back in early December, when the Cardinals weren't running the ball much, we asked you to help write a prescription for their ground game. We pretty much nailed this one.
"It's crazy that 'Edge' isn't getting any carries anymore," bigred48years wrote at the time. "He wasn't popping big runs, but he was making positive yardage when the Cardinals used him. It's equally crazy that the team isn't using [fullback] Terrelle Smith more. He's a bruiser and I've seen him pry open a few holes."
Here is what I wrote at the time as part of our broader look at the issue:
"My impression from watching the Cardinals and studying their personnel use: The team might benefit from using more two-receiver personnel groups in the passing game. Fitzgerald and Boldin would be good enough to sustain the passing game. And with two running backs and a tight end on the field, the Cardinals might be in better position to run the ball. Such an approach would mean less playing time for Breaston, but the tradeoff might be more balance."
The Cardinals indeed went back to Edgerrin James. They adopted more run-oriented personnel groupings. They favored tighter formations. And they started mixing in more running plays early in games, as measured by first-down plays in first halves of games.
Isolating these plays allows us to read a team's intentions before game situations -- the score, primarily -- are as likely to influence tendencies.
Arizona ran the ball 39.7 percent of the time on first-down plays in first halves from Week 8 through the end of the regular season. The percentage is at 55.8 percent in the playoffs. The averages per carry have risen on these plays during the playoffs, from 4.8 yards against the Falcons to 5.4 yards against the Panthers to 6.6 yards against the Eagles. The Steelers will obviously have something to say about that.
Action picking up as kickoff approaches
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| Matt Cashore/US Presswire | |
| Cardinals and Steelers fans arrived early to Raymond James Stadium. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Super Bowl atmosphere picked up dramatically Saturday as fans and partygoers lined some streets and packed hotel lobbies.
The limousine driver I chatted with outside the downtown Hyatt Hotel confirmed the dramatic increase in late-week action. He said business was horrible early in the week. He charges $200 an hour during Super Bowl week, up from $125 an hour normally. His company owns three stretch Escalades, each about $150,000 in value and nearly 15,000 pounds in weight.
I arrived at Raymond James Stadium within the last hour or so. If someone told me Steelers fans outnumbered Cardinals fans 10 to 1, I wouldn't argue. Three Cardinals fans did stand out. Each wore a white hard hat with an imitation cardinal leaving its mark on a Terrible Towel, which was draped over a faux steel girder. Not bad.
Can the Cardinals be a different team?
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
TAMPA, Fla. -- The search for a still-functioning wireless connection at the Tampa Convention Center has taken me to a mostly deserted Radio Row.
One of the last remaining radio hosts on air here, Craig Karmazin of ESPN Radio in Milwaukee, is making a case for the Cardinals' offense, though he thinks the Steelers will win the game. For much of the morning, I've been listening to an unknown host based somewhere near Philadelphia. He has since taken off, but for a long while he was hammering the Cardinals and holding them accountable for those blowout defeats they suffered during the regular season (you remember those). He could not accept the idea that Arizona had become a new team.
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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
TAMPA, Fla. -- The Steelers won Super Bowl XL without a strong showing from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
They have won games this season when Roethlisberger wasn't particularly sharp -- he had a 15.1 rating in beating the Redskins -- but his numbers were poor in three of the Steelers' four defeats. And opposing quarterbacks were more efficient each time.
Roethlisberger and the Cardinals' Kurt Warner have been efficient so far in the playoffs. Roethlisberger has two touchdowns, no interceptions and a 90.8 rating. Warner has eight touchdowns, two interceptions and a 112.1 rating.
Overall, Roethlisberger's rating during the regular season was 80.1, down from 104.1 in 2007. He was more efficient against his own division (90.4) than outside the division (75.4), and more efficient against the AFC (89.8) than the NFC (45.9) -- thanks to poor games against the Redskins, Eagles and Giants.
You called it: Moment of truth finally near
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
TAMPA, Fla. -- The moment of truth is fast approaching for the Cardinals and Steelers. I'll be heading to the stadium early and digging in for a memorable evening.
If you have not made a prediction here or here, feel free to do so in the comments section of this item. I'm compiling them as they are made.
The chart below shows the predictions as I have logged them. We had one person list two slightly different scores. I chose the first one submitted.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Brad from San Jose writes: Did you know that after Sunday, the only team in the NFC West that the steelers have not met in the super bowl would be the San Francisco 49ers? If they beat the cardinals, San Francisco will also be the only team they have not beat as well. I certainly would like to see a 49ers vs the Steelers in the super bowl.
Mike Sando: I had not thought of that, so thanks for sharing. It's hard to keep all the NFC West Super Bowl teams straight. That is one of the challenges associated with covering such a dominant division. On a slightly more serious note, who would have won a game between the 1978 Steelers and the 1989 49ers?
Ezra from Las Vegas writes: OK, here is the overly confident prediction. The D comes out and plays good for AZ, 31-7 Az domination, and is still a underdog next year. Edge is the MVP, rushes over 100 because the O-line makes a good statement. I don't think anyone has made this prediction yet.
Mike Sando: And probably for good reason, Ezra! I'll be surprised if anyone on the Cardinals rushes for 100 yards against this Steelers defense, unless someone can break loose for one long run on a draw play or some other act of deception.
I could see Arizona running just well enough to avoid second-and-9 or worse most of the time. But if Arizona runs the ball consistently well against this defense, I'll be watching closely to see if Russ Grimm sneaked onto the field as one of the guards.
Creativemind from San Diego writes: I have been reading your comments for a long while. I have one question -- what is your beef with Mike Vick? I mean you have never said one single positive thing about the guy. In one blog you even made reference to his career passing percentage, as though that is the only stat that he brings to an organization.
You failed to take into consideration or mention that he has a career winning percentage somewhere around 60 percent and has taken his team to the championship game in 2004 and was the first qb to beat Brett Favre on the road in the post season in Green Bay. He has taken his team to the post season twice and has been elected to the pro bowl 3-times in only 4-full seasons as a starter. If he had the team that Atlanta now has, they would have made it to the super bowl and not gone 1 and done.
It is obvious to the readers that your comments are more of a personal nature and less than professional. You need to seriously stop the biased attacks and report the facts, because you can be replaced as easily as you got this gig. Word of advice.
Mike Sando: To say I have "never said one single positive thing about the guy" fails to recognize the fact that I was one of the very few people supporting Vick following his indictment and premature conviction in the court of public opinion. I got pummeled for it at the time, but I felt he deserved the benefit of the doubt early on.
The column I wrote -- "Let's not rush to judgment" -- is available here if you'd like to read it. I'll include one passage:
Animal-rights activists are organizing protests outside NFL offices, demanding action and threatening boycotts. Their outrage is understandable. Vick bears some responsibility for even putting himself in position to be indicted.
And yet a civil society can't let emotions interfere with due process. No matter how repulsive the charges, no matter how much we love our pets, no matter how bad the indictment makes Vick appear, it's unfair to judge without weighing the evidence.
Several phone conversations with defense attorneys and legal scholars drove home a point easily lost amid the outrage: No one has seen all the evidence. An indictment is all we have, and it's not enough.
In short, I refused to jump on Vick when he was at his most vulnerable. He has since become a convicted felon, and that affects how teams should approach him, in my view. The head coach and quarterback tend to become the face of an organization. The decisions teams make in filling those positions are important ones.
I think a team would be foolish to invest hundreds of thousands or millions of dollars in a person with Vick's criminal background, particularly at the most important position. Society will give Vick a second chance. That doesn't mean an NFL team would be wise to give him one.
On the field, Vick was a terrific runner. He played with passion. He was not a good passer by starting NFL quarterback standards. The skills that made him so dangerous are the ones that will diminish as he gets older. Vick turns 29 in June. Buyer beware.
Aarownhere from Springfield writes: Hey sando, do you think the rams will trade down from the second overall pick? Their needs are lower round, right? Is there an o-lineman worth a second pick is there? I like Crabtree, but i see Devaney and Spags building the lines first. Thanks
Mike Sando: The Rams do need to rebuild their offensive line and teams can find offensive linemen later in the draft. If a team is targeting quarterback or another position of less interest to the Rams, I do think the Rams would be wise to consider moving back. However, teams rarely trade into the top few picks, for reasons outlined here. And with teams worried about their financial bottom lines, how many will want to make the investment associated with one of the top few choices in the draft?
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals have finally shed the loser label.
Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals players credit coach Ken Whisenhunt for turning around the team.
Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals fans will never forget Super Sunday.
Also from Bickley: A look at Super Bowl safeties Adrian Wilson and Troy Polamalu.
Paola Boivin of the Arizona Republic lists the reasons she thinks Kurt Warner should return to the Cardinals next season.
Also from Boivin: A look at the 1947 championship Cardinals. They won a title after ownership lavished a four-year, $100,000 contract upon Charley Trippi.
Mark Faller of the Arizona Republic looks back at the Cardinals' colorful past. A disputed 1925 championship still doesn't sit well with some in Pennsylvania.
Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune checks in with Gabe Watson for a humorous look at the best and worst inside the Cardinals' locker room. 
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee sees "echoes" of Norv Turner in the 49ers' recent offensive hires. Barrows on new quarterbacks coach Michael Johnson: "The first thing that jumps out: He was dismissed as receivers coach by the Ravens in 2008 and replaced by ... wait for it, wait for it ... Jim Hostler, who began his 49ers' tenure as QBs coach. He comes recommended by two men Mike Singletary has worked for, Brian Billick and Norv Turner. He's a former quarterback who I'm told relates well to his pupils. And, of course, he mentored Michael Vick for three seasons in Atlanta. Now whether he was successful in that venture ... that's a judgment call."
Ann Killion of the San Jose Mercury News says the buzz around the 49ers vanished during the month-long search for an offensive coordinator, particularly after the team hired Raye.
Mark Purdy of the San Jose Mercury News explains how he thinks the 49ers and Raiders could learn from the Cardinals and Steelers. 
Clare Farnsworth of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer says Cortez Kennedy' turn for Hall of Fame induction will have to wait for another year. Farnsworth: "As one member of the selection committee commented after Kennedy's presentation was made, it would be a 'crime, ridiculous and crazy' to not think that Kennedy belongs in the Hall of Fame."
VanRam of Turf Show Times sizes up the Rams' unrealized potential. In mentioning Alex Barron, Joe Klopfenstein, Tye Hill and others, he cites a 1972 book passage from Don Shula: "A lot of coaches have a tendency stay too long with people with potential. We call them coach killers. As soon as you find out who the coach killers are on your team, the better off you are. You go with the guys who may have lesser talent, but more dedication, more singleness of purpose. You spot them and stick with them because in a big game, they'll win it for you."
Mailbag: When Cardinals, Steelers were one
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Sal from parts unknown writes: Do you know if anybody has written a story on the steelers and cardinals 1944 season when they merged due to players serving in WWII?Mike Sando: Yes, and I regret having failed to link to such stories before now. Thanks for asking.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette provided this story by Robert Dvorchak, who wrote, in part:
"The two teams, owned by patriarchs Art Rooney and Charley Bidwill, formed a single entity in a marriage of necessity to survive a season. History called this merger the Card-Pitt combine.
"But this winless, luckless group of military rejects was commonly called a name that sounded like 'carpets' because, in the published words of one disgruntled fan, every other team in the league 'walked all over them.' "
Tig from Ashland, Ore., writes: 1st, love your blog, I have the RSS feed on my iGoogle homepage. 2nd, I don't remember if it was your blog, or the Seahawks Insider at the Tacoma Tribune, but someone mentioned a full break-down of the injury year the Seahawks had. Something laying out games missed by starters at each position compared to the league average for this season.
Is that something that you could put together? Is there a source for that info online somewhere? The 'Hawks are being very clear that they aren't blaming injuries for their 2008 woes, but I think they got hit pretty hard, and I just want to see if ANYONE got hit as hard or harder, and if not to see the distance between the Seahawks and the next most injured team of 2008. If the numbers fall the way I expect them to, I will quit looking *quit* so hard at other answers for their 2008 debacle. Thanks
Mike Sando: Thanks much. Tim Graham over on the AFC East blog did provide a chart showing how many starters each team had used with one game remaining in the regular season. I ran a copy of the chart on the NFC West blog.
The Seahawks were hit hard, but they didn't do a very good job fighting through the injuries. The Patriots fought through them more effectively and won in Seattle despite using linebackers signed shortly before the game. Greg Knapp, the Seahawks' new offensive coordinator, is trying to set up the offense so that Seattle will have an easier time assimilating players into the lineup. That could conceivably help the Seahawks deal with injuries better.
Cardinals made right moves for right reasons
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| Jamie Squire/Getty Images | |
| Cardinals coaches chose to start 37-year-old Kurt Warner this season instead of developing their apparent QB of the future, Matt Leinart. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
TAMPA, Fla. -- An ego-driven coaching staff might have left Edgerrin James on the sideline as punishment after the veteran running back complained rather loudly about his diminished role.
The Arizona Cardinals went back to James, a player the current staff inherited, at the expense of their own draft choice, rookie Tim Hightower.
A stubborn coaching staff might have backed quarterback Matt Leinart well into the regular season after publicly committing to the 2006 first-round choice months earlier.
The Cardinals? They made a last-minute decision to start 37-year-old veteran Kurt Warner once they thought Warner might give them a better chance to start the season quickly.
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| Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images | |
| The coaching staff used a patient approach with rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. |
An impulsive staff might have rushed talented cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie into the lineup as an immediate upgrade instead of waiting until midseason, when the rookie had more seasoning.
An undisciplined staff might have shaken up the offensive line when right guard Deuce Lutui lacked consistency early in the season. The Cardinals valued continuity enough to stick with their same five starters, a move that has paid off during Arizona's run to Super Bowl XLIII.
"Sometimes dollars, sometimes draft picks will dictate [decisions]," Warner said. "Sometimes even not knowing something about a young guy will dictate the decision that is being made, even though deep in their heart or in the back of their mind they think the other guy should be getting the job."
Warner was with the New York Giants in 2004 when the organization named rookie first-round choice Eli Manning to start ahead of him. The Giants, 5-4 with Warner starting, lost six of their final seven games and failed to win in the postseason until three years later.
The Cardinals could have made a case for developing Leinart this season. While Warner had led the NFL in touchdown passes over the second half of the 2007 season, the coaching staff wanted him to become more careful in avoiding turnovers. That's why Leinart headed into the exhibition season as the starter. The job went to Warner only after Leinart faltered and Warner showed a willingness to alter his approach.
"The compliment to this coaching staff is that they have tried to make every decision based on what they think is best for this football team," Warner said this week. "I think that is something in this day and age that is to be complimented because I don't think everybody goes about it that way."
Practice report: Cardinals keep it light
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
This is the NFC practice report I filed from Tampa Bay Bucs headquarters while subbing for Fox's John Czarnecki as the NFC pool reporter Saturday:
TAMPA, Fla. -- The NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals completed their final preparations for Super Bowl XLIII with a walk-through practice under clear skies Saturday at the Tampa Bay Bucaneerss' facility."I think we had a good week of work," coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
The Cardinals kept the atmosphere relaxed as the team completed brief sessions for offense, defense and special teams. About 300 friends and family members watched most of the roughly 35-minute session. They mingled on the field after practice. Some posed for pictures with Whisenhunt and other members of the organization.
"There are so many sacrifices made by families to allow our players and our team to get here," Whisenhunt said. "This is something that is special and I think it's important that you enjoy that together."
Some players traded jerseys as is sometimes customary for these walk-through practices. Kicker Neil Rackers wore the No. 90 assigned to defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, for example.
The Cardinals reported no new injuries. All players participated in the walk-through.
"Everybody looks pretty good as far as getting through," Whisenhunt said. "I know there were a couple of guys listed on the report as questionable, but barring something else coming up, which today nothing came up, I don't anticipate that they will not play."
Around the NFC West: Warner and the Hall
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Mike Tulumello of the East Valley Tribune looks into Kurt Warner's chances for the Hall of Fame. One voter says Warner won't be in the conversation without a victory over the Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII.
Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch quotes Marshall Faulk and Joe Montana as saying Warner should be in the Hall of Fame either way.
Also from Miklasz: Brenda Warner speaks for her husband at the NFL's man of the year news conference.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with Cardinals general manager Rod Graves, who declines to gloat about the team's success.
Also from Somers: He sizes up Russ Grimm's chances for the Hall of Fame.
More from Somers: Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt consults the notes he took while observing other coaches, including Bill Cowher.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com asks Cardinals players about differences between Whisenhunt and former coach Dennis Green. Urban: "Safety Adrian Wilson said too often there were two different messages coming from the coaching staff -- one from Green, and one from the assistants."
Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic explains how Cardinals rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie made it through the week, which included a short trip home Tuesday.
Dan Bickley of the Arizona Republic follows Rocky Bleier and Mike Ditka on an emotional visit to a veterans hospital. Bleier, the Vietnam veteran and former Steelers fullback, discourages comparisons to former Cardinals safety Pat Tillman, who died in Afghanistan. Bleier: "I got drafted. Pat chose. There's a big difference."
Ginger Rough of the Arizona Republic looks at the Cardinals' revamped conditioning program.
John Faherty of the Arizona Republic checks in with Cardinals fans in Tampa. They feel outnumbered.
Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune compares the current Cardinals organization to the Steelers of nearly 40 years ago.
Revenge of the Birds' Hawkwind looks at keys to the game for Arizona.
John Dudley of Cold, Hard Football Facts makes a case for the Cardinals as Super Bowl champs. Ken Whisenhunt has an 8-1 record in postseason as an assistant and head coach.
Aaron Schatz of Football Outsiders previews Super Bowl XLIII: "The real mystery of the Arizona playoff surge is the improved pass defense."
Doug Farrar of Football Outsiders profiles the Cardinals' Karlos Dansby and others. Farrar: "Given Pittsburgh's reliance on the pass in situations both conventional and unconventional (hint: a lot of third-and-short), don't be surprised if Dansby has the modus operandi for success."
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the hiring of Kevin Demoff puts the Rams in position to start negotiating contracts with key players, including Oshiomogho Atogwe and Ron Bartell. Also, Brendan Daly is joining the Rams' coaching staff, probably to oversee the defensive line. Finally, former Rams assistant Jeff Horton is joining former Rams head coach Scott Linehan in Detroit.
The 49ers' Web site provides a transcript of Jimmy Raye's conference call with reporters.
Also from the 49ers: a transcript of Mike Singletary's conference call with reporters.
More from 49ers: links to recent interviews involving team president Jed York.
Niners scout Quentus Cumby picks the Cardinals to beat the Steelers. Cumby: "The first half of the game, I think both teams will be feeling each other out and Pittsburgh may have the upper hand early on. As soon as Arizona realizes that it's just another football game, I think they're going to explode."
Niners assistant Tom Rathman explains why he's rooting for Arizona in the Super Bowl. He doesn't want the Steelers to pass the 49ers in Super Bowl victories.
John Crumpacker of the San Francisco Chronicle says the hiring of Raye and quarterbacks coach Michael Johnson rounds out the offensive staff.
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat offers highlights from the conference calls with Raye and Singletary.
Also from Maiocco: Raye's philosophy lined up with that of Singletary.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers would like Johnson to eventually succeed the 62-year-old Raye as coordinator.
Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News says the 49ers and Raye are the same age. Also: "Raye pointed to his successful 2000 Chiefs team as evidence that he can air it out when called upon. Quarterback Elvis Grbac threw for 4,169 yards and 28 touchdowns that season, while tight end Tony Gonzalez and rece
ivers Andre Rison and Derrick Alexander also had big seasons."
Note: If you see anything from the Seahawks or more stories worth checking out, please share links in the comments. Thanks.
Mailbag: Tough matchup for Cards' Gandy
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Victor from Avondale writes: Sando, It is exciting to be reading about the Super Bowl. As a Cards fan always watching from the outside, I never really understood the hype, but now with my team in the mix, I can't get enough!
On to the game. I would like your opinion on how Mike Gandy matches up with James Harrison. It will be important to protect Kurt. So far, Gandy has done terrific limiting John Abraham and Julius Peppers. I thought Trent Cole got the best of him a couple of times in the second half getting to Warner. Is Harrison more of a Trent Cole type and do you see Gandy struggling? - Thanks!
Mike Sando: Harrison appears to be in another category as far as being able to get around the corner. The Cardinals will have a hard time coming back if they fall behind and become one-dimensional. Jared Allen thrived under those circumstances when the Vikings jumped to a big lead on the Cardinals during the regular season.
Peppers had lots of sacks this season, but he was not dominant in the games I saw. Abraham matched up less against Gandy than I would have expected.
I see this matchup as tougher for Gandy and I think Kurt Warner will have to get rid of the ball quickly to help out the tackles. Arizona does not help its tackles much, as a general rule. I asked Gandy about this Thursday. Here is what he said:
"It's definitely tough. Sometimes me and Levi [Brown] look at each other in the huddle and just give ourselves that look like, 'It's tough.' I'd rather it be tough for us all year and us be in the Super Bowl than for it to be easy and get a lot of recognition and be at home right now. Whatever we are doing is working. We had a very productive offense and we had a good year. I guess it speaks for the coaches' confidence in us. Like I said, you have to just buy into what we are doing."
Arlan from Cupertino, Calif., writes: hey mike thanks for all your hard work covering the nfc west and my favorite team the niners. i have been a niners fan all my life and have to ask, why did the niners hire singletary so soon after their last game? it took them what, 15 min, its not like he was gonna escape to some other franchise so what would have been the harm in waiting a couple weeks to hire him?
i mean look what would have happened had they waited, they could have had shanahan or gruden, both superbowl winning head coaches. it just doesn't seem to make any sense, singletary improved the offense but the two major things he did on offense were presumably going to be gone at the end of the season anyways, those two being mike martz and o'sullivan. even if the players like the coach, if there's a better candidate available you take the more qualified better candidate. maybe in a few years ill look back at this and say "man was i wrong" but right now their decision is perplexing, esp. since we've seemed to have hired an OC who may have experience but doesnt seem to produce winning offenses, this after being turned down by a coach who "didnt want to relocate his family" but then takes a job with the 0-16 lions.
i'd say there's something seriously wrong if a guy thinks it's a better opportunity to go to the lions than come to your team for the same position. i dont know if this problem would have been solved if gruden was hired cuz i dont know if he's an offensive or defensive guy but it certainly would have been solved if we had hired shanahan. the way things are going doesn't seem like the niners ever make it back to prominence
Mike Sando: Gruden's background is on offense. Just as the 49ers did not have a long list of hot candidates lining up to become offensive coordinator, they probably weren't going to land one of those big-name coaches, even if they had waited. In theory, yes, they should have waited. For practical purposes, they might very well have come back to Singletary anyway. They liked Singletary, they thought he was their guy and moved decisively. That makes sense -- unless he turns out to be a poor head coach.
Charlie from Lexington writes: Hey Mike, Now that you're on the east coast hopefully the responses should be faster. What is up with Singletary? I am a fan of what he did for the niners at the end of last season. But Jimmy Raye. Who is this guy? After reading a few articles on him, how did he beat out the other candidates? One top ten offense in his stint as OC. I personally think that Sing has just started digging his grave. And is lil Jed and Scot cool with this decision? If so they need to be fired as well!
Mike Sando: This was by all accounts Singletary's staff to hire. Jed York was the one who rushed to hire Singletary at the earliest possible point. This one is on him if it doesn't work out. I respect what Jimmy Raye represents, but what matters is how players 40 years younger than Raye respond to him. Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News quoted Jackie Slater and Tony Richardson in support of Singletary. I respect those players a great deal, but they do not represent the typical player on the 49ers roster.
You called it: Early action favoring Cardinals
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
TAMPA, Fla. -- Sixty-seven of the first 82 forecasters in the Super Bowl XLIII edition of "You called it" are backing the Cardinals.
I'm thinking we might have a few Steelers fans ready to even out the numbers by leaving their predictions in the comments section of this item. A sampling of what we have so far:
Eric Elniski: Cardinals 27, Steelers 14. MVP Kurt Warner will throw for 300+ yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinals will score a defensive or special teams touchdown. Neil Rackers will break Steve Christie's Superbowl record for longest field goal right before halftime. The Steelers will rush for less than 100 yards in the game. Roethlisberger will throw for two touchdowns, but will be sacked at least four times.
mmason1009: Arizona 34. Steelers 17. Fitz catches 2, Boldin catches 1, Hightower runs one in from short. Steelers look strong on their first drive, end their second drive with a field goal, pretty much do nothing until garbage time in the fourth.
bulvaii: AZ-34 Pitt-23. The Pitt defense will focus primarily on Fitz while forgetting that Boldin is a pro-bowler himself. Boldin destroys them with 139 yards and 2 td's, Breaston pulls in 94 yards and the tight ends combine for 89 yds and 2 td's. Fitz gets 45 yds.
mburro_1: I'm guessing about 350 yards for arizona, but only 17 points to show for it. ... A defensive score helps the burg cover (at least for the early birds) and win 24-17.
ABOUT THIS BLOG
Mike Sando
Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.
