Your 2011 Arizona Cardinals: What the Future Holds

It’s 2011.

Kurt Warner has ridden into a blazing Arizona sunset.

Fitting, because the sun has set on the most successful three-year run in Arizona Cardinals history:

• three NFC West Titles
• two NFC Championship Games wins
• one Super Bowl loss
• one Super Bowl win
• thousands of fans rewarded for 20 years of patience with one of, if not the most, inept franchise in the history of sports

It took a lot of time and emotions, but Kurt Warner has proven that you can be a winner as an Arizona Cardinal (not the Buddy Ryan-type winner either).

So, what now? That is the question Arizona Cardinals fans must ask themselves. What are they to expect now?

Kurt Warner is retired.

Anquan Boldin is gone.

Chris Wells is two years away from free agency and has become one of the better running backs in the NFL.

Biggest of all, Larry Fitzgerald’s contract is up at the end of the season.

The Cardinals have continued in their practice of waiting until the final season of a player’s expiring contract before they renegotiate.

They have signed extensions with pro bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and still emerging defensive end Calais Campbell.

Adrian Wilson is getting a little long in the tooth, but still has shown to be one of the better safeties in the game.

Antrel Rolle signed a very franchise-friendly contract, and has completely outplayed it.  He has become the new disgruntled Bird in the nest.

The biggest thing that has taken place is the re-signing of Matt Leinart.

This shows the Cardinals’ continued belief that Leinart has been in their plans for the future.

While he has produced nicely in his limited role as the backup to future Hall of Famer Kurt Warner, he has not shown the ability to step in and fill the void that Warner will surely leave.

The Cardinals will begin to overhaul their offense. They are going away from the exciting pitch and catch offense, to a more mundane run, run, run, and maybe pass. 

The coaching staff realizes that Matt Leinart is not Kurt Warner and they are going to put him in the best position possible to win games.

With the offensive line’s improvement and two big pounding running backs, this offense is made to run the ball.

The question is, did the running game improve the last two seasons because of the dominance of the passing game? Will they be able to run the ball when teams know it is coming?

As the defense and running games have improved, fans begin to believe that the Cardinals can win no matter who is behind center.

Hopefully this is true and not a case of the fans drinking the Cardinals’ Kool Aid.

The sport of football has engulfed the state of Arizona, and the Cardinals, more specifically, have captured the imagination of an entire population.

Can this continue without their quarterback?

Can they win with the golden boy from years ago?

The only thing that the fans in Arizona can count on is the coaching ability of Ken Whisenhunt.

Since he took over in 2008, Coach Whisenhunt has shown that he “gets it.”

He has proven that he can lead and mold players to be the best they can be.

He has also butted heads, on more than a few occasions, with some ego-driven stars.

Can he coax a career-defining season out of Matt Leinart?

Can he encourage the organization to step up and pay players like Larry Fitzgerald (again) and Chris Wells, in order to keep the young core together?

Can he win without Warner?

Maybe Ken Whisenhunt has not been the key to the success of the Arizona Cardinals.  Maybe it was, in fact, Kurt Warner.

I guess 2011 is a career defining moment for a lot of Arizona Cardinals and a pivotal moment for the organization as a whole.

Cardinals fans have enjoyed the last three years.

The unimaginable run to the Super Bowl in 2009.

The heartbreak of losing in the NFC Championship game in 2010.

The unfathomable fairy tale ending to a truly fairy-tale career with a 2011 Super Bowl win for Kurt Warner and the Arizona Cardinals.

Now reality has set in. Now fans will really get to see who was the genius behind the whole operation.

Let’s hope for the fans’ sake that it was more Ken Whisenhunt than Kurt Warner.

Let’s hope this is going to be a sustained success and a new era in the history of Arizona Cardinals football—not just a flash in the pan.

Arizona Cardinals Making a Great Statement…Finally

 

One common thing you always heard about the Arizona Cardinals is that they just never knew how to conduct business.

Whether it be signing free agents, resigning their own players, or getting draft picks into camp on time, you never heard a good word about the organization.

Things are definitely changing now, and it is because of a contract they are refusing to sign. Or should I say contracts they are refusing to renegotiate.

Much has been made about the disgruntled players on the Cardinals such as Anquan Boldin, Darnell Dockett, Karlos Dansby, and most recently Bert Berry.  Well for once I can say to myself, I am siding with the organization.

The Cardinals have publicly come out and tried to trade Anquan Boldin in order for him to get the new contract he so yearns for. While no one really knows how hard they tried to deal Boldin, and every report I have heard or read they were not overly enthusiastic about it, they still made an attempt.

Well we know Boldin was not traded and he has yet to participate or show up to all of the off-season workouts. Also MIA in the workouts was Dockett and Berry because they want new contracts.

This is where the Cardinals are taking a proactive stand. They have come out and publicly stated that they will not renegotiate any contracts until they only have one year left.

This should be applauded by all organizations, and needs to be something that all teams should put into practice.

There are obviously some exceptions to the rule, such as rookie contracts and restructuring in order to help the team.

Look at the Cardinals contracts for example. Anquan Boldin still has two years remaining on his deal he signed in 2005, one that was given to him after only two years in the NFL.

That was something that is almost unprecedented in the league. Rewarding a two year performer with a nice, rich contract.

Darnell Dockett was in a very similar situation. He was rewarded with a very handsome deal during his third season in the NFL. He was a third round selection and was given a $22 million deal.

After the first year of his new deal, he began chirping about wanting a new deal. I mean this is a guy who had just signed his deal and he is already wanting a new one.

Now he has three years remaining on the contract and he is still demanding a new contract and has even asked to be traded. This is ridiculous and it is not even the worst one.

Bert Berry tested the free agent market, despite being offered a new contract from the Cardinals. Well he did not get what he thought he was worth, so he came back to the Cardinals, who had already signed a couple of free agents and were working on extending younger, more important players.

He signed a one year $1 million deal.  He is unhappy with that contract and is sitting out. He turned down their first offer! How can you be so greedy to sit out on the only team willing to give you a playing spot?

The Arizona Cardinals have not done a whole lot right in their existence, but one thing they are definitely doing good is sending a message to their players. 

If you sign a contract, honor it and keep your mouth shut, and when you have one year left, if you deserve more money you can expect it.

Just ask Adrian Wilson.

 

Arizona Cardinals: Realistic Expectations for the 2009 Draft Class

The Arizona Cardinals made their first draft pick later than anytime in team history. Coming seconds within the first Super Bowl win in franchise history has definitely put a charge into the fan base and organization.

After the Super Bowl loss, came the draft, and more good news for the franchise. They were able to draft a potential franchise running back, something they have not had, well since ever.

Each pick after that showed the new direction that the franchise is going towards as they made pick after pick for depth and not need.

As a fan, this is the first time I can remember the team being able to draft players at positions that they already have able bodies at.

In all eight new players were added to the Cardinals roster, and while many of those players have yet to sign contracts, they are all going to be Arizona Cardinals.

They may only last a short amount of time before being cut and moving on too different teams, but that is not for you and I to decide.

So, what can we expect from the incoming rookies?

Well, let’s take a look into my crystal ball and see what to look forward from the 2009 draft class.

Creating the Perfect Wide Receiver

Creating the perfect wide receiver is really simple.

I mean all it takes is someone with fantastic hands, perfect route running ability, great speed, the ability to go up and get the ball, the body control to come down with the ball, toughness to go over the middle, and the heart leave it all on the field week after week.

Sounds fairly simple to me.

With all the debates about who is the best wide receiver in the game today, and what makes them the best, I thought, why not create the best receiver.

What receivers in the game today would you put together, in order to create the perfect wide receiver?

Who’s hands, who’s feet, who’s body control, who’s size, who’s toughness, who’s leadership?

How can we create the perfect receiver?

Or the next Jerry Rice.

Five Arizona Cardinals Ready For a Breakout

Breakouts are sometimes a good thing, sometimes a bad thing. A breakout before a big date, not good. A wide receiver going in the 13th round of your fantasy draft and scoring like a top 10 pick, good break out.

There is a different way of looking at breakout players every year.

Is someone like Larry Fitzgerald making the jump from top ten to top two wide receivers in the game considered a breakout? I think so.

Some are obvious, like Steve Breaston becoming not only a viable third wide receiver in the Cardinals offense, but a top offensive threat on one of the best offenses in the NFL.

Others are a little more discreet, like Ben Graham being picked up off of the scrap heap, and becoming one of the best directional punters in the league the last part of the year.

Breakout players are not just good for fantasy geeks searching for the next Marques Colston. They are integral to the success and betterment of teams.

Players like James Harrison, Darren Sproles, Joe Flacco, Matt Ryan and Michael Turner not only burst onto the scene, they tore the scene down.

Are there players like that on the Cardinals this year? Are there players that you can look at and say, that guy can not only get playing time, but make plays for this team?

Today we will look at five players that I think you can classify, in one way or another a breakout player for the 2009 season.

None will be early drafted rookies, who are expected to come in and make a difference, but rather players already on the roster, or some that were drafted in later rounds that could surprise this year.

If the Cardinals want to repeat as NFC West Champions, and make it back to the Super Bowl, they will need these five players to breakout this year.

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