NFC West: Aaron Francisco
The Seahawks aren't exactly set for life at safety, either.
What to do?
I've gone through the list of available safeties -- NFC West fan favorites Brian Russell and Mark Roman are out there -- and come up with a few fallback options, listed with their 2009 teams:
- Ryan Clark, Steelers. The 30-year-old longtime starter couldn't work out a long-term deal with Pittsburgh. The Cardinals are running their defense in the Pittsburgh mold. Clark could fit.
- Brodney Pool, Browns. Teams generally do not sever ties with productive 25-year-old starters, but the Browns decided against tendering Pool as a restricted free agent after he suffered a series of head injuries last season. Pool picked off four passes in 11 games last season, making 10 starts before his season was ended.
- Darren Sharper, Saints. The 34-year-old Pro Bowl choice would upgrade every secondary in the NFC West, but at what price? Sharper is probably most valuable to the Saints.
- Jermaine Phillips, Bucs. Injuries have severely limited Phillips' contributions recently. It's probably not a great sign that Tampa thought about moving him to linebacker. Still, Phillips is 30 years old, hardly ancient by safety standards, and he has 74 starts.
Other safeties who are unrestricted free agents: Ware, Russell, Roman, Nick Ferguson, Sean Jones, Will Allen, Todd Johnson, Clinton Hart, Roy Williams, Vernon Fox, Marquand Manuel, Mike Brown, Tyrone Carter and Lawyer Milloy.
Other safeties who are free agents (but technically not UFAs): John Busing, Hamza Abdullah, Aaron Francisco, Kennard Cox, Eric Bassey, Jamaal Fudge and Quinton Teal.
Also: ESPN's John Clayton notes that Jets safety Kerry Rhodes could be an option for Arizona via trade.
What separates Manning from, say, Warner
Warner's former Arizona teammate, Aaron Francisco, experienced the Manning difference after signing with the Colts.
"They are similar in a lot of ways because they are such great quarterbacks, they study a lot and they add such great leadership to the team on and off the field," Francisco said. "But I've just never seen anyone run practice the way Peyton Manning has."
Run practice? Isn't that for the real coaches?
"He is out there coaching the receivers, the running backs, the linemen, everything," Francisco said. "When I was hurt for six weeks with my ankle injury, I was watching the offensive side of practice that I really don't get to see when I'm in on defense. I've never seen nothing like it. I mean, the coaches are just standing on the side, not coaching, and he is doing all the coaching. It's crazy, but it's real awesome and I see why he is such a great quarterback."
Manning is a four-time MVP, but no one has considered him for coach of the year -- yet.
Eric Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks made progress last season with their inside zone running game, something that could carry over to 2010. The outside zone runs weren't as successful. Williams: "Part of the reason for that is the type of running backs the Seahawks have. Justin Forsett is a guy who cannot consistently threaten the edge of a defense because he does not have elite speed, like Tennessee’s Chris Johnson. So it's hard for him to force defenses to commit to getting to the edge of a defense in order for the offense to get the stretch it needs to create cutback lanes. ... Secondly, the Seahawks consistently struggled to get the cut blocks on the backside of the play in order to create those running lanes on the backside."
Scott Wolf of the Los Angeles Daily News says Rocky Seto has left USC's coaching staff to join Pete Carroll in Seattle as the Seahawks' quality-control coach for defense. Quality-control coaches generally break down lots of game video featuring opponents, charting each play by a long list of parameters. That allows teams to create the situation-specific video cutups coaches and players rely upon for preparation.
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times offers a Seahawks-related chat transcript. O'Neil: "Walter Jones is still attempting to come back. He wants to play. Will he play? No one knows. But if he doesn't come back, Sean Locklear isn't the default option there. The offensive line is going to be reshuffled, and I wouldn't expect to see anyone penciled in for certain at any spot except Max Unger at center. And Alex Gibbs hasn't said that Unger is for sure a center, so perhaps even that conclusion is premature."
John Morgan of Field Gulls explains why the Seahawks paid for allowing a higher completion percentage under Jim Mora. They simply weren't able to produce enough interceptions to offset yardage gains.
Patrick Hooper of 49ers.com looks at Ahmad Brooks' evolution within the 49ers' defense. Coach Mike Singletary: "When you think about it, [Brooks] came to us as an inside linebacker, not really a rush guy. But you begin to see the skill, the speed, that ability to come off the edge, and you go, 'Wow, we need to do something different here.' I think he's found his niche. He is such a talented guy."
Kevin Lynch of Niner Insider assesses Jeff Ulbrich's value to the 49ers as a mentor for Patrick Willis and as an overall team player. Ulbrich, now the Seahawks' assistant special-teams coach, was what Lynch calls "the non-star who gives his all, does his best and leads."
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says the 49ers' resources are better allocated for re-signing their own players than adding expensive veteran free agents. Maiocco: "After next season, Vernon Davis, Manny Lawson and Dashon Goldson are among the scheduled free agents. ... Alex Smith is entering the final year of his contract. If his production takes another significant leap in 2010, he could solidify his long-term spot as a starter and attract a sizable contract extension. Inside linebackers are generally among the lowest-paid players on the team, but Patrick Willis figures to become the highest-paid defender in team history with his next contract. Willis' current deal expires after the 2011 season."
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee continues his look at draft prospects the 49ers might consider.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic checks in with former Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco, now with the AFC champion Colts. Francisco's wife hung a picture showing her husband trailing the Steelers' Santonio Holmes as Holmes scores the decisive touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII. Francisco: "It's up there only because she wants to have a Super Bowl memory. I was kind of upset just because I didn't want to see that picture again, but it's everywhere. I don't necessarily look at it, though. I just kind of walk by without glancing."
Also from Somers: Kurt Warner feels great about his decision to retire.
More from Somers: a look at the Cardinals' defensive line, where 35-year-old Bryan Robinson remains the best option at nose tackle. Somers: "The Cardinals need to add a pass rusher, either at linebacker or end. If it's a defensive end, he could play in nickel and dime packages when the club goes to a four-man front. It's doubtful the club would spend the money necessary to attract a free agent such as end Julius Peppers, but the position could be addressed in the first round of the draft."
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com looks at the difficulties associated with replacing legendary quarterbacks as Arizona's Matt Leinart prepares to succeed Warner. Urban: "Brian Griese was 6-10 in his first season as Broncos’ starter the year after John Elway left, although he did go 11-5 the season after that. Jeff Garcia came in for Steve Young in 1999 as the 49ers stumbled to a 4-12 record. Two years later, Garcia had the Niners with 12 wins and a division title. Quincy Carter tried to follow Troy Aikman in Dallas, but the Cowboys were already aging (5-11 in Aikman’s last season of 2000) and Carter was never a genuine quarterback prospect anyway."
Also from Urban: Not even Warner can tell whether Leinart will succeed.
Bernie Miklasz of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Bears' hiring of former Rams coach Mike Martz looks like a high-risk, high-reward proposition. Miklasz: "The bottom line is this: Smith and Martz and Cutler all need each other in the worst way. They have nothing left to lose, really. And that’s why this is worth taking a chance."
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says during his latest chat that the Rams might not be the only potential destination for Isaac Bruce if the 49ers receiver goes into coaching. Bruce was expected to speak with Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo. Thomas: "I think once Spagnuolo met Bruce, he would love the guy. I think Spags and Bruce would click on several levels. But I still have to wonder if Bruce, after 16 seasons in the league, really wants to put in the 16-hour days of an NFL assistant. Now that Mike Martz has taken the Chicago job, I wonder if Bruce somehow ends up in the Windy City."
The Pro Bowl is first on the agenda, followed by a week of Super Bowl buildup, followed by Hall of Fame voting Saturday, followed by the Super Bowl itself.
Jerry Rice, Cortez Kennedy, Roger Craig, Richard Dent, Charles Haley, John Randle and Rickey Jackson are among the Hall of Fame finalists with ties to current NFC West franchises.
A few Super Bowl participants also have ties to the division, including Colts safety Aaron Francisco (Arizona) and Saints general manager Mickey Loomis (Seattle), among others.
The focus here will remain mostly on the NFC West, with some South Florida flavor.
And if you've got ideas or suggestions, please fire away. It's appreciated.
Flashback to Seattle's last victory at Arizona
Shaun Alexander carried 23 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns during a 33-19 Seattle victory at Sun Devil Stadium. The Seahawks, headed to Super Bowl XL after that season, picked off Kurt Warner three times and sacked him four times.
A couple things about these teams have changed since that game. I had some fun sifting through those 2005 rosters.
Players no longer with Seattle
Offense (20): Bobby Engram, Steve Hutchinson, Robbie Tobeck, Chris Gray, Joe Jurevicius, Jerheme Urban, Mack Strong, Shaun Alexander, D.J. Hackett, Maurice Morris, Leonard Weaver, Floyd Womack, Ryan Hannam, Jerramy Stevens, Peter Warrick, David Greene, Wayne Hunter, Darrell Jackson, Itula Mili, Josh Scobey.
Defense (18): Bryce Fisher, Chuck Darby, Marcus Tubbs, Grant Wistrom, Jamie Sharper, Kelly Herndon, Michael Boulware, Marquand Manual, Jimmy Williams, John Howell, Niko Koutouvides, Kevin Bentley, Isaiah Kacyvenski, Joe Tafoya, Rocky Bernard, Etric Pruitt, Rodney Bailey, Andre Dyson.
Specialists (3): Josh Brown, Tom Rouen, J.P. Darche.
Players still with SeattleOffense (6): Walter Jones (injured reserve), Sean Locklear, Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace, Chris Spencer, Ray Willis.
Defense (6): Jordan Babineaux, Craig Terrill, D.D. Lewis, Lofa Tatupu (IR), Leroy Hill, Marcus Trufant.
Players no longer with Arizona
Offense (23): Bryant Johnson, Leonard Davis, Nick Leckey, Alex Stepanovich, Oliver Ross, Eric Edwards, Marcel Shipp, Adam Bergen, J.J. Arrington, Josh McCown, John Navarre, Reggie Newhouse, LeRon McCoy, Fred Wakefield, James Jackson, Obafemi Ayanbadejo, Harold Morrow, Jarrod Baxter, Adam Haayer, J.J. Moses, Elton Brown, Teyo Johnson, Reggie Swinton.
Defense (16): Langston Moore, Ross Kolodziej, James Darling, Robert Tate, Robert Griffith, David Macklin, Antonio Cochran, Darryl Blackstock, Orlando Huff, Eric Green, Antonio Smith, Lamont Reid, Quentin Harris, Isaac Keys, Lance Mitchell, Aaron Francisco.
Specialists (2): Scott Player, Nathan Hodel.
Players still with ArizonaOffense (5): Reggie Wells, Larry Fitzgerald, Kurt Warner, Jeremy Bridges, Anquan Boldin.
Defense (6): Chike Okeafor, Darnell Dockett, Bernard Berry, Karlos Dansby, Adrian Wilson, Antrel Rolle.
Specialists (1): Neil Rackers.
Note: Thanks to spaumi10 for noticing that Aaron Francisco and Lance Mitchell were initially listed on offense. There was a little cutting and pasting involved with this entry. Missed those two. Thanks!Catching up with the Cardinals' cut list
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
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I've gone through the initial NFC West cut lists -- those players released at the 53-man deadline -- to see which ones have returned to their teams or caught on elsewhere.
The chart shows results for Arizona.
Veteran safety Aaron Francisco signed with the Colts. Receiver Onrea Jones signed with the Redskins' practice squad. Arizona re-signed four players to its practice squad.
Four others -- Wilrey Fontenot, Chris Vincent, Carlton Medder and Pago Togafau -- were injured when the Cardinals released them. All but Fontenot have reached injury settlements, leaving the roster. Fontenot remains on injured reserve. Update: Fontenot has also reached an injury settlement.
Some veterans on the list might have an easier time finding work after Week 1. Rules require teams to guarantee salaries to some veterans who are active for Week 1 and then released.
Around the NFC West: Pashos and the 49ers
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee says the 49ers are taking a "long look" at former Jaguars starting tackle Tony Pashos. Barrows: "The 49ers are looking at Pashos as a right tackle. They signed Marvel Smith in the offseason to play that position, but Smith's bad back never returned to normal, and he retired last month. As of now, Adam Snyder is the starter with Barry Sims backing him up."
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says "none of the players [the 49ers] cut on Saturday was claimed off waivers today, including [Kory] Sheets. And the 49ers did not make any waivers claims, either. However, the 49ers might still be interested in adding a veteran or two for insurance."
Also from Maiocco: The 49ers view Pashos as a backup right tackle. Pashos sees the 49ers as where he might find the best chance at playing time. Maiocco: "The 49ers scouted Pashos’ final exhibition game. Although Pashos (6-foot-6, 326 pounds) started and played the first half of the Jaguars’ game Thursday against Washington at right guard, the 49ers envision him as a backup right tackle."
Cameron Hollway, writing for the Amarillo Globe-News, checks in with quarterback Keith Null after the rookie earned a spot on the Rams' initial 53-man roster. Null: "Man, it's such a blessing to have made it. It's sort of a hard feeling to explain. I've worked so hard to get here, and to reach that goal is just so special." Null and the man he beat out, Brock Berlin, both had practice-squad eligibility. The Rams have not signed a quarterback to their practice squad.
Allen Meyer of stjoenews.com checks in with Roger Allen's former college coach after the undrafted rookie earned a spot on the Rams' initial 53-man roster. With John Greco sidelined by wrist surgery in the short term, the Rams were one of only six teams carrying more than nine offensive linemen Sunday night. They had only four receivers. Those holding down spots on the fringes of the roster could remain vulnerable as the Rams add depth where it's needed most.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch profiles Rams safety Oshiomogho Atogwe, who hasn't let contract issues sour his mood.
John Morgan of Field Gulls says the Seahawks' defense fully reflects general manager Tim Ruskell, and that Ruskell's future in Seattle depends on how well that defense performs. Morgan: "The parts have been good individually, but never great together. Until now the talent and the coaching staff were at odds. This year, they are united by the vision of one man. Seattle's defense is now Tim Ruskell's living resume. In one week, this ship sets out to sea. It will float or it will sink. It will take this season somewhere wonderful or drag us all to a watery grave. The hull, keel, masts, crew and captain were picked by Ruskell as was the sail. We are below deck, cargo. Now we await the wind."
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times says the Seahawks plan to sign Mike Hass and (reportedly) Logan Payne to their practice squad
Also from O'Neil: An advance look at the Rams-Seahawks game in Week 1.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt remains confident in his team following some shaky moments during the exhibition season. Whisenhunt: "I had a friend who said his son was torn up because we didn’t do well in preseason because he really didn’t understand what preseason was all about. I think with the general public, that’s the perception, and I understand that. All I can say is I feel good about our team and what we have done and where we are."
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says former Cardinals safety Aaron Francisco, released Friday, plans to sign a one-year deal with the Colts. Somers: "Francisco is a vested veteran, so he wasn’t subject to the waiver process. He was traveling to Indianapolis on Sunday and is expected to begin practice with the Colts this week, said his agent, Max Hannemann."
Numbers games: Cardinals roster in perspective
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
The Cardinals have gotten dramatically younger at running back this offseason. Edgerrin James and Terrelle Smith are gone, leaving Tim Hightower and Dan Kreider as the only current Cardinals running backs with starting experience.
The team kept three halfbacks and two fullbacks on its Week 1 roster last season. Nine other teams also kept more than one fullback for the opener.
Hightower, Chris Wells, Jason Wright, Kreider and Tim Castille entered camp as the likely choices for those spots, should the team keep five. LaRod Stephens-Howling would have to significantly liven up the return game to earn a spot, most likely.
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The chart provides a framework for how many players the Cardinals might keep at each position heading into the regular-season opener against the 49ers.
Here's a quick look at which Cardinals players I might keep on the cutdown to 53 players:
Around the NFC West: Singletary missed camp
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat says 49ers coach Mike Singletary knows about missing camp during a contract dispute. He did it as a player -- twice. Singletary also ruled out any chance of the 49ers signing Michael Vick.
49ers.com provides a transcript of the answers Singletary gave to reporters' questions.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee provides lots of 49ers notes before concluding that the third day of training camp should be pivotal in finding out which players are tough enough to handle Singletary's regimen. Good to know. I'll be there that day.
Taylor Price of 49ers.com checks in with players as they report for training camp. Facility upgrades mean changes to the locker room. Shaun Hill had some fun with it: "Frank Gore has one of the messiest lockers in the history of lockers. So, I'm a little bit excited that I'm no longer next to Frank. But I did move one locker closer to Alex [Smith] and he has the second-messiest locker in the locker room. It is a little bit of an upgrade ... but not much."
David Fucillo of Niners Nation breaks out the dictionary to determine whether 49ers rookie receiver Michael Crabtree is holding out. I think the term is misapplied to unsigned players. We assume both sides have made contract proposals. Either side could end the stalemate by agreeing to the other side's proposal. Does anyone accuse the team of holding out? Exactly. The term is a loaded one.
Bill Coats of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo decided to hold training camp at the team's facility with an eye toward the fans. Coats: "Spagnuolo 'had the option' for the location of the Rams' camp, GM Billy Devaney said Tuesday. 'And he said, 'You know what? We need to reconnect. I understand that part of the problem around here was not connecting with the fans. At least this year for sure, we've got to stay here.' And I know it kind of went against what he's used to doing. But he gave the fan part of it a lot of importance. And that was his call. If he'd have said, 'I want to go some place [out of town],' we'd have found some place."
Also from Coats: The Rams' situation at wide receiver is wide open. Hard to imagine they'll face Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce as opponents this season.
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch checks in with Rams running backs coach Sylvester Croom. Thomas: "During Croom's four-year stint as offensive coordinator in Detroit (1997-2000), the Lions earned two playoff berths and had some of the league's most productive offenses with Barry Sanders at running back (until Sanders abruptly retired before the '99 season), and Herman Moore and Johnnie Morton at wide receiver."
Also from Thomas: Rams-related thoughts during his weekly chat. Thomas: "Even with the addition of [Ronald] Curry, I think the WR position remains the biggest question mark on the team. And I seriously wonder if the Rams are even close to having enough at the position to keep defenses honest. Yes, I realize that the return to health of TE Randy McMichael helps, and that Steven Jackson is a good pass-catching at RB. But has [Donnie] Avery shown you enough to convince you that he's a legit No. 1 wideout? Can [Keenan] Burton stay healthy enough to develop into a consistent pass-catcher? Will Curry and [Laurent] Robinson show up when it counts? There are a lot of questions about this group."
VanRam of Turf Show Times suggests best- and worst-case scenarios for the Rams' offensive line. Wait, I thought the worst-case scenario was last season. Or was it 2007?
Tim Klutsarits of examiner.com offers 10 tips for fans visiting Rams training camp. Klutsarits: "If you go to training camp and watch nothing else, I ask you to please watch the one-on-one pass blocking drills between the offensive and defensive lineman. That is by far the most interesting and intense work you will see during an NFL practice." Agreed.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says the Cardinals received their NFC championship rings Tuesday. Meanwhile, negotiations with first-round choice Beanie Wells are expected to continue Wednesday.
Also from Somers: a look at the Cardinals' secondary. Somers: "The real competition will come for the backup jobs. Rashad Johnson, a third-round pick, is going to make the team. He was drafted out of Alabama because he excelled at playing the ball and creating turnovers. Aaron Francisco and Matt Ware return. Both are solid special teams players, especially Francisco. But Francisco is due to make $1.25 million in 2009, so that could be a factor if cap space becomes a concern. It would be hard to part with Francisco, however, because of his special teams prowess."
More from Somers: Ken Whisenhunt's mindset coming off a Super Bowl defeat.
Revenge of the Birds' Hawkwind projects locks and bubble players on the Cardinals' 53-man roster. Hard to believe Mike Gandy qualifies as a bubble player, but you never know.
Greg Johns of seattlepi.com offers a tentative Seahawks depth chart heading into training camp. Look for Max Unger to rise from his third-string listing.
Eric D. Williams of the Tacoma News Tribune suggests the Seahawks do not necessarily need a highly ranked running game to succeed. The Cardinals, though ranked 32nd in regular-season rushing yards, use
d the running game more effectively during their Super Bowl run.
Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck paid tribute to longtime Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson with this message via Twitter: "Jim Johnson -- one of the best Def Coordinators of all time. Ask any QB."
Mike Parker of Seahawk Addicts says Kelly Jennings must prove he belongs in the Seahawks' secondary.
Adam Caplan of scout.com says the Seahawks worked out veteran offensive linemen Cory Withrow and Grey Ruegamer.John Morgan of Field Gulls assesses the injury situation on the Seahawks' offensive line. I'll have a few more thoughts injury-wise as the day progresses.
Also from Morgan: thoughts on what those offensive line workouts might mean. Might the Seahawks need insurance at center? They might if they weren't sure Unger would sign in time for camp, or if they thought an injury might sideline another player.
Around the NFC West: Rams wise to take tackle?
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch emphatically shoots down rumors that the Rams tried to trade Marc Bulger. Moving him was never a remotely realistic option based on salary-cap implications and Bulger's recent struggles. Thomas also wonders whether the Rams would have drafted Jason Smith second overall if they could have known Eben Britton would be available in the second round. He also thinks St. Louis should hold a parade if the Rams win six games in 2009.
VanRam of Turf Show Times examines whether the Rams should have used the second overall choice for an offensive tackle. I think the Rams' hands were nearly tied on this one. They had to emerge from this draft with a starting tackle and they couldn't guarantee that would happen without taking one at the top of the draft. The investments in Bulger and Steven Jackson are too great for the Rams to take chances with their line. If only the team could have found an impact receiver at some point along the way. In retrospect, imagine if the Rams had drafted Michael Crabtree second overall and Britton in the second round. Just a thought.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee looks at where each of the 49ers' draft choices might fit for the 2009 season. Crabtree becomes the "X" receiver, or split end. The 49ers hope fifth-rounder Scott McKillop eventually succeeds Takeo Spikes in the "Ted" linebacker role. Bear Pascoe projects as Billy Bajema's replacement. Barrows thinks seventh-round defensive lineman Ricky Jean-Francois could be a steal.
Niners scout Ethan Waugh runs through the 49ers' draft choices, with a couple of interesting notes on quarterback Nate Davis. Waugh: "Davis has two techniques that make him unique. First, he typically throws the ball without using the laces. He's actually not the first quarterback I've seen do that. With the proliferation of the spread offense in college and high school football, some quarterbacks are taught to catch the shotgun snap and throw the ball quickly without adjusting it in their hands. Additionally, like Kurt Warner and Ben Roethlisberger, he prefers to wear gloves -- he might not need them in sunny California, but as long as he throws completions, it shouldn't be an issue."
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat offers a few post-draft thoughts on the 49ers. He wonders how Crabtree's addition will affect the situation at receiver after the team paid $5.4 million in guaranteed money to Brandon Jones. It's a good problem to have. The 49ers never counted on Crabtree being available. They couldn't worry about Jones or Josh Morgan or anyone else when selecting arguably the most talented player in the draft.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals coaches considered Travis LaBoy expendable after selecting Cody Brown and Will Davis in the draft. Somers: "The Cardinals were about $1.2 million under the salary before make the moves. They will need the additional space if they are to accomplish their goals of re-signing strong safety Adrian Wilson, inside linebacker Karlos Dansby and receiver Anquan Boldin." Releasing Edgerrin James and Rod Hood created salary-cap room for 2009. Releasing LaBoy produced a short-term cap loss.
Also from Somers: The Cardinals' older pass-rushers had better stay healthy in 2009.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com thought Matt Ware or Aaron Francisco might be in more imminent danger of release than Hood, but Hood's salary made him vulnerable.
Also from Urban: The Cardinals have no plans to release Chike Okeafor despite a relatively high salary for 2009.
Michael Steffes of Seahawk Addicts lists the Bucs, Falcons, Redskins, Jaguars and Eagles as potential suitors for formerly franchised Seattle linebacker Leroy Hill. So far, so quiet. Most teams are busy gearing up for their post-draft camps. Some teams are also releasing veterans, not adding them, after addressing needs in the draft.
Chris Sullivan of Seahawk Addicts grades the Seahawks' draft choices from 2008. Tyler Schmitt and Brandon Coutu get 'F' grades through no fault of their own.
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Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Bryant McFadden gives the Cardinals a physical cornerback to pair opposite top cover man Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.
The improved depth also gives the Cardinals flexibility heading into the draft. Rodgers-Cromartie, McFadden and Rod Hood comprise a potentially strong top three at cornerback.
Here's the Scouts Inc. breakdown on McFadden, who joins the Cardinals from Pittsburgh as an unrestricted free agent:
The situation at cornerback has improved dramatically from one year ago. Rodgers-Cromartie became an emerging star as a rookie first-round draft choice. McFadden qualifies as a solid veteran. Hood is good enough to be part of the rotation, but now the Cardinals aren't counting on him to be a starter.McFadden has a strong well-defined body and adequate height. He plays the run well, is physical near the line of scrimmage and doesn't back down from a physical challenge. McFadden has decent instincts, plays th
e ball well and is a quick learner. He sees plays develop well and shows excellent competitiveness. He is a good tackler and gets his hands on the ball quite a bit.His speed is just slightly above average and could be exposed against the faster wideouts in the league. His hip turn and change-of-direction skills are also just slightly above average, but he has very good body control and rarely takes false steps, which make up for some of his potential shortcomings. He can be overly aggressive at times going for the big play and will sometimes bite on double moves, although he has improved in this area.
McFadden is effective in press or off-coverage and may be at his best playing in a Cover 2, where he can stay close to the line of scrimmage and mix it up. He also does a nice job in off-coverage and sees the play develop in front of him well. He is a valuable member of the secondary, but needs to step up all areas of his game to be considered a solid starter. He also contributes on special teams and is a young player with an ample amount of upside..
Around the NFC West: Warner expected back
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic expects Kurt Warner to re-sign with the Cardinals in the next two or three weeks. McManaman: "That was the word circulating through the Warner camp before and following the Cardinals' 27-23 loss to the Steelers in Tampa. And unless management completely drops the ball and short-changes the quarterback at the negotiating table, it's appears to be a done deal."
Also from McManaman: a quick look at questionable calls in the Super Bowl. Aaron Francisco calls out the Steelers' James Harrison.
Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic says Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was "humbled" and "stunned" to receive a phone call from the president following Super Bowl XLIII.
Also from Somers: The Cardinals are five weeks behind most teams as they finally dive into offseason preparations.
Darren Urban of azcardinals.com says the Cardinals said their goodbyes Tuesday, knowing some players would not be back.
Mike Tulumello of the East Valley Tribune says Whisenhunt appeared "bewildered" by the number of penalties called against the Cardinals in the Super Bowl.
Revenge of the Birds' Andrew602 looks at what the Cardinals' Super Bowl appearance might mean to the team in the future. Seven of the last eight Super Bowl losers missed the playoffs the following season.
Niners tackle Joe Staley blogs about his Super Bowl experience. Watching other teams play made him feel sick, or was it the annoying fan seated behind him? Staley's immediate plans include visiting family in Pennsylvania and hanging out with quarterback Shaun Hill in Missouri. It's a good sign when an offensive lineman chooses to hang out with a quarterback.
Kris Anderson of 49ers.com profiles linebacker Patrick Willis.
Matt Maiocco of the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat takes a look at free-agent situations around the NFC West. He considers retirement "highly unlikely" for Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner.
Also from Maiocco: a look at how the 49ers contained Larry Fitzgerald during the regular season. The Cardinals were a running team when they visited San Francisco in the opener. And then I thought Nate Clements played well during the rematch in Arizona.
Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee looks at whether the 49ers will split carries between backs or rely almost exclusively on Frank Gore.
Dan Brown of the San Jose Mercury News contrasts the 49ers and Steelers in showing how Pittsburgh has built a consistent winner. Brown: "So how does Pittsburgh do it? Their transactions in 2004 certainly helped. That off-season, Pittsburgh drafted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the first round (11th overall), and quietly landed linebacker James Harrison (free agent) and running back Willie Parker (free agent). That same year, the 49ers' drafted Rashaun Woods."
Jeff Gordon of stltoday.com suggests the Rams can improve if Steve Spagnuolo can restore their attitudes. Linebacker Chris Draft: "I'm definitely excited. Not just what he's done with the defense in New York, but he is going to come with a swagger. His guys have been playing well, have been playing with passion, playing with physical presence these last few years. That's what we need. We need to have a swagger to us."
Jim Thomas of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says the Rams need at least two new starters on their offensive line. Thomas: "To me, the Rams need a new starting center and a new starting tackle at a minimum for the line next season. I don't know if you saw the stat during the Super Bowl, but Bulger has been sacked something like 190 times over the past five seasons, the second-highest total in the league over that period. So it starts there."
Greg Johns of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer summarizes Greg Knapp's comments following Knapp's first interview as the Seahawks' offensive coordinator. Knapp: "One of the strengths of the zone run game is that its history has proven, as the parts have changed -- whether the runner or linemen -- it's still been pretty productive. There's so much turnover now with free agency and coaches, this is a system that maybe lends better to that environment. It provides a quicker learning curve to get on target to have success."
Danny O'Neil of the Seattle Times traces Knapp's NFL roots to his days as camp quarterback for the 49ers and Chiefs.
Dave Boling of the Tacoma News Tribune says the Seahawks will need more than an altered scheme to revive their offense in 2009.
John Morgan of Field Gulls says Florida State's Everette Brown is on his radar as a potential Seahawks draft choice.
How is Harrison still in game for Steelers?
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
TAMPA, Fla. -- Officiating won't be the reason for defeat if the Cardinals lose this game, but we'll hear plenty about James Harrison's dirty tactics against Arizona's Aaron Francisco on that punt.
The officials obviously saw the infraction. They penalized Harrison on the play. How could an official see one player punch another player in the back, then deck that player, without ejecting him from the game?
Expect the Cardinals to ask that question following this game.
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Kolbe from Scottsdale writes: Do you think this NFC Championship puts Kurt Warner in the Hall or does he have to win the Super Bowl (again)? Also, has Warner given any hints lately as to whether he still wants to play for another couple years? Do you think he might retire, as some have suggested, and go out in a blaze of glory if the Cardinals somehow win it all?
Lastly, had a 9-7 team ever been to the Super Bowl before? What was the worst regular season record for a team to go to the Super Bowl? and what to win? I know the NFL as a corporation probably likes the story lines of a Cinderella like the Cards but from a business standpoint, do they like having a team that was so mediocre in the regular season and does not represent a big East Coast market representing the league in the Championship?
Mike Sando: Tough to say on Warner. If Arizona loses, one more strong statistical season would certainly help. Warner is one more strong season from having numbers similar to those Steve Young amassed during a Hall of Fame career featuring one Super Bowl title as a starter. If Arizona wins, Warner's resume might not need those stats. That is just my feeling. The process will be slightly more involved than that, of course.
The 1979 Rams went 9-7 during the regular season before advancing to the Super Bowl. I remember it well. Frank Corrall's three field goals provided all the scoring in a 9-0 Rams victory at Tampa in the NFC Championship Game. Those Rams lost to the Steelers, 31-19, in the Super Bowl. I'll pass along something more definitive as I get the information.
Julian from Tempe writes: Mike, longtime reader, but just finally registered on ESPN.com for posting. Huge Cards fan and long time follower. Can't begin to tell you how much the win means for the franchise. It used to be me and my dad's favorite activity to listen to KTAR sports radio talk after cardinal losses back in the day and hear disgruntled fans call in and talk about their drinking (football) problems.
Now it's a total 360! Everyone is buzzing with excitement already for the game (never high fived so many random strangers in my life until after the game outside the stadium). I think we showed we are who we thought we were.
I have one major concern though going into the game with Pittsburgh. I think Francisco is a major MAJOR liability at Free Safety. He always gets to the play way to late and is pretty bad in helping coverages down the field. Was wondering if you had any stats to prove my point or quell my fears? Maybe the numbers won't show it, but I am super worried about Ward/Holmes down field and arriving late to outside runs to make big tackles. Thanks for making the NFC West a respectable column in a year that the NFC wasn't so respectable...
Mike Sando: Thanks, and you're welcome. Antrel Rolle is the starting free safety. Aaron Francisco would factor into the nickel and dime defenses. If he is your biggest concern entering this game, the Cardinals must be in pretty good shape. Arizona should have an outstanding defensive plan for this game based on what the Cardinals' offensive staff knows about the Steelers' personnel, including Ben Roethlisberger.
Colton from Scranton, Pa., writes: Hey Mike, how come there's been little to no interest shown in Todd Haley or Clancy Pendergast for the various head coach vacancies around the NFL? All the attention is on Rex Ryan and Steve Spagnuolo. I just don't get why nobody is interviewing these guys. Haley you would think would garner some attention because of his pedigree and this season's high production level. Pendergast because of his exotic use of schemes, which you would believe would make him desirable as a head coach (meaning he could fit in to any existing scheme and gradually change it.)
Mike Sando: The Cardinals haven't won enough until the playoffs to make their assistant coaches hot candidates. Arizona lost four of its final six regular-season games. That hurt those coaches' standing in the short term. If Arizona posted a 13-3 record during the regular season, more teams probably would have called. That would be one theory. Making it to the Super Bowl should help those coaches command stronger consideration.
Haley's stock is definitely rising. His handling of the play calling has worked out very well for Arizona. His emotional nature is something Haley might want to control better on the sideline. Camera shots of him jawing with key players might not endear him to all owners.
The subject reminds me of what Jim Mora said at his news conference in Seattle last week. Like Haley, Mora is an emotional coach. Mora said he needed to be himself. Haley needs to do the same. But Mora he also said he learned much from watching how Mike Holmgren handled situations. Like Holmgren, Ken Whisenhunt also seems to handle situations well. He projects control and authority on the sideline and when speaking after games. That can be important for a head coach.
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| Jeff Gross/Getty Images | |
| Larry Fitzgerald's ability to outleap defenders makes him especially dangerous in the red zone. |
Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando
Even with short memories, NFL cornerbacks can't get Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald out of their heads. When they do, Fitzgerald gives them something else to remember him by.
Perhaps no receiver in the league renders tight coverage irrelevant as consistently and effectively as the Cardinals' No. 11. And when a jump-ball situation arises? Best of luck to ya.
The leaping grab Fitzgerald made for a 42-yard touchdown in the wild-card round against two Atlanta Falcons defenders will rank among the receiver's most memorable receptions for its importance, but not for level of difficulty. Not by Fitzgerald's standards. Not even close.
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Larry Fitzgerald says the Cardinals have always been disrespected and that's fine. The only way they can 
is to keep winning and move on in the playoffs.Anyone versed in fantasy football knows what Fitzgerald offers: an average of 92 receptions for 1,299 yards and more than nine touchdowns per season since 2005.
Anyone following the NFL should know Fitzgerald ranks among the game's most productive receivers. But watching him every play, every week, affords another level of appreciation. The playoffs are allowing the rest of the country to see what the Cardinals and their followers see every week.
Fitzgerald makes memorable plays so routinely that they stop being so memorable.
"I have played with Randy Moss and I have seen Randy Moss make some phenomenal catches -- phenomenal," said former Minnesota Vikings, New York Giants and Cleveland Browns cornerback Ralph Brown, now in his second season with Arizona. "But he didn't make them on a consistent basis like Larry does."
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.
