Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Dan Kreider was someone I spoke with on occasion after at least one of the Rams' tough defeats last season. He always struck a positive tone despite evidence suggesting the Rams were pretty much doomed.
Kreider figures to encounter fewer such experiences after signing with the Cardinals. The free-agent fullback gives Arizona another player with ties to coach Ken Whisenhunt's days in Pittsburgh. Bryant McFadden, Clark Haggans, Sean Morey and Brian St. Pierre also come to mind. This is clearly a case of Whisenhunt tapping into people he can trust as he continues to build the type of team he wants.
Kreider turned 32 on March 11. That makes him older than former Cardinals fullback Terrelle Smith, who turned 31 on March 12. Smith is an unrestricted free agent. The college ranks aren't turning out traditional fullbacks very reliably. That probably helps an older player such as Kreider, although even NFL teams have gotten away from traditional fullbacks in recent seasons.
Kreider became expendable in St. Louis when the Rams signed Mike Karney.
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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.