Teams Arizona Cardinals - The Buzzsaw

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usalion

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Cards hire Whisenhunt

So much for the Pete Carrol rumours....

*************

Arizona hires Steelers assistant Whisenhunt as new coach
By BOB BAUM, AP Sports Writer
January 14, 2007

PHOENIX (AP) -- The Arizona Cardinals hired Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt as coach after a 5-11 season that culminated with Dennis Green's firing.

The 44-year-old Whisenhunt signed a four-year contract with a team option for a fifth, the Cardinals announced Sunday.

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Green was fired after three seasons and a 16-32 record. Whisenhunt becomes the Cardinals' eighth coach since the franchise moved to Arizona in 1988.

Whisenhunt was one of eight candidates interviewed for the job, but one of only two who got a second interview. The other was former Green Bay Packers coach Mike Sherman.

The Steelers assistant also interviewed for coaching jobs in Pittsburgh, Miami and Atlanta. He and fellow Pittsburgh assistant Russ Grimm had been considered leading candidates to replace Bill Cowher with the Steelers.

"It's clear to us that he has all the attributes we were seeking," Cardinals vice president of football operations Rod Graves said in a news release, "in terms of coaching ability, enthusiasm, organizational and leadership skills and the overall ability to lead this team to success immediately and for years to come."

The new coach inherits plenty of young talent, including quarterback Matt Leinart and a pair of the top receivers in the NFL, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. However, he also joins a franchise with a legacy of losing unprecedented in this era of NFL parity.

The Cardinals have had one winning season, and one playoff appearance, since 1984. They have one playoff victory since winning the NFL championship in 1947.

Owner Bill Bidwill and son Michael, the Cardinals' vice president and general counsel, joined Graves in conducting the interviews. The Cardinals insist they are intent at putting a winning team in their new stadium, pointing to the free agent acquisition of running back Edgerrin James and contract extensions to Boldin, Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson and several other of their best young players.

At Pittsburgh, Whisenhunt helped develop Ben Roethlisberger into an immediate success. He has another talented pupil now in Leinart.

"Young quarterbacks that have a bright future like he does are hard to find," Whisenhunt said after his initial interview with the Cardinals on Jan. 5. "They don't grow on trees. That's an exciting part of this organization."

Whisenhunt, who will be introduced at a news conference on Tuesday, spent six years on Cowher's staff, three as tight ends coach and three as offensive coordinator. He also had assistant coaching stints with the New York Jets, Cleveland and Baltimore. Whisenhunt played in the NFL for nine seasons with Atlanta, Washington and the Jets.

In his second season as coordinator, the Steelers won the Super Bowl, averaging 26.8 points per game in the playoffs. This season, Pittsburgh's offense ranked seventh in the NFL, ninth in passing and 10th in rushing.

The other candidates interviewed by the Cardinals were Grimm, Tennessee Titans offensive coordinator Norm Chow, Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Ron Rivera, San Diego Chargers offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, Indianapolis Colts assistant head coach-quarterbacks coach Jim Caldwell and Cardinals defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast.
 
Re: Cards hire Whisenhunt

Great news for the success starved Cards. I'm sure KW will reshuffle that club in no time and make them a Division champ soon enough. With the Steelers options, seems Ex-Hog Russ Grimm (grew up in Pitt) is only waiting for the Steelers to interview Bears def co-ord. before making the decision.
 

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usalion

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Re: Cards hire Whisenhunt

Great news for the success starved Cards. I'm sure KW will reshuffle that club in no time and make them a Division champ soon enough. With the Steelers options, seems Ex-Hog Russ Grimm (grew up in Pitt) is only waiting for the Steelers to interview Bears def co-ord. before making the decision.

Maybe, but don't underestimate the power of the owners....they've screwed up the Cardinals badly before....depends how much independence they give KW
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

Interesting...

FITZGERALD EYEBALLING ARIZONA EXIT?

Only two regular-season games into the Ken Whisenhunt era, rumors already are flying receiver Larry Fitzgerald is looking to leave the Cardinals when his rookie contract ends.

Fitzgerald, as the rumor goes, is not a big fan of Whisenhunt's run-based offense, and for good reason. Fitzgerald currently is averaging only five catches and 53.5 yards per game, which puts him on pace for 80 receptions and 856 receiving yards for the season. He currently has no receiving touchdowns in 2007.

There's no indication that Fitzgerald, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2004 draft, plans to try to force his way out prematurely. Based on the escalators in his rookie contract, there was speculation when it was signed that the Cardinals would likely have to extend the deal after four seasons. Since this is Fitzgerald's fourth season, and given that it's hard to justify two highly-paid wideouts (Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin) if the offense doesn't take full advantage of both of their skills, it could be time for the Cardinals to think about trading Fitzgerald.

One potential destination would be Minnesota, given that Fitzgerald is a native of Minneapolis and worked as a ball boy during the days of Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Though plenty of folks are murmuring about the Vikes possibly sniffing around Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb, we think it makes more sense for the Vikes try to bring Fitzgerald home.

Especially if the team wants to sell out the Metrodome on a regular basis.
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Re: Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

So you have two rumors there.

I heard Jaworski on MNF talk about how when he was the star Eagles QB, they upped and drafted a top QB prospect all of a sudden without him being told...and that he knew his time was up pretty quickly.

It MIGHT be valid then that McNabb is therefore traded this season or end of season.
 
Re: Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

Welcome to last week gg. :)

He'd look good lining up opposition Colston. Henderson would look good at the Cardinals. Hell, we could even throw Meacham into the mix.

You know it makes sense. :thumbsu:
 
Re: Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

Read about this last week...

Would look amazing in Green and Gold, and we have cap space.

Favre would come back for one more year if we signed him, I guarantee it.

Minnesota is logical though, but I think he'd prefer to play with Brett than Tavaris.

And if they're looking to trade, word has it we were looking to off-load one of our D-Linemen late in training camp, probably Johnny Jolly or Colin Cole, throw in a draft pick, say second round maybe a 4th or 5th also, they can throw in Antrel Rolle to sweeten the deal:D
 
Re: Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

signs are definitely all around, if you look at the Eagles drafting earlier this year, they took Kolb in the second round, and that kid played pretty well to in the pre-season, grooming him for the future maybe?

This Kolb guy is a special. Quite impressive. McNabb is most likely in his last year and as most clubs do, refuse to honour the BONUS $quiddion$..I doubt McNabb will be worried as he'll get that MASSIVE bonus when he signs with the ...Vikes? So, lock it in folks...McNabb to Fitzgerald. Sven will be a happy camper if that eventuates.
 
Re: Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

The Vikings organisation have been preparing for a big splash in free agency for some time and have plenty of cap space to take on board at least a couple of high profile free agents.

One of the moves this year was the Pat Williams contract extension. As part of the deal, the Vikings ate up $13.2 million in salary cap space, leaving them about $5.2 million for the rest of this season. The Vikings also used the "likely to be earned incentive" to boost up the deal, although there is no expectation that Williams will be able to fulfill those incentives. As a result, they will get a credit on the 2008 salary cap. The NFLPA hate these deals, but there's not much they can do about it.

I've heard the Vikings could have $30 million+ in cap space for next year. A deal involving McNabb and Fizgerald, with Brohm taken in the draft, would have Vikings fans salivating at the front gate!
 

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Re: Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

So one minute we pass to much now we run to much, what a crock of s**t.

Fitz your basically playing with a rookie QB FFS, dont expect silver serivce my friend. If Warner was playing i think he would be much happier as he would get more looks, but were not exactly gonna win a superbowl this season are we. Looking for future success and that will happen with Leinart not Warner. He needs to pull his head in a bit aswell cos he has been s**t so far, he doesnt get open enough. Does he want a rookie QB throwing to a covered WR time after time. I dont care how good his hands are and how big he is unless he works hard he isnt going to get the ball.
 
Re: Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

Does he want a rookie QB throwing to a covered WR time after time. I dont care how good his hands are and how big he is unless he works hard he isnt going to get the ball.

And the Steelers will pounce on anything that doesn't meet the mark...I still anticipate a INT return back to the HOUSE! CB Bryant McFadden #20 is making alot of quality plays and none more CRUCIAL than Peyton Manning's game winning endzone attempt in the Divisional play-off vs the Steelers in the 2005/06 season, that McFadden needed to break up to save the Steelers season.

Last week, McFadden intercepted Smith's fourth quarter pass and bounded back to the endzone from midfield. Bryant McFadden has recently stated he would like to take on Carolina's Steve Smith.
 
Sep 18, 2007
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Re: Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

No, but Mr Jerry Porter is!

he's been good, although his stats don't show it, he's been able to get open etc. McCown just hasn't been able to get the ball over to him (also got a crucial catch, in a 3rd down situation to keep the scoring drive alive). He also hasn't been bitching to the media like he has done in the past, shall see how he fairs with a competent QB starting this week.
 
Sep 6, 2005
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Re: Rumor: Fitzgerald wants out of Arizona.

he's been good, although his stats don't show it, he's been able to get open etc. McCown just hasn't been able to get the ball over to him (also got a crucial catch, in a 3rd down situation to keep the scoring drive alive). He also hasn't been bitching to the media like he has done in the past, shall see how he fairs with a competent QB starting this week.

He hasn't yet, but he's prone to. Hopefully with Culpepper there, someone who can actually make his progressions and has an arm, Porter's numbers will increase.

But Porter is still a bitch. You read that article about Al Davis in RFnet where at the end Porter is asked about Al and the Raiders legacy and he basically said he doesnt give a s**t as it has nothing to do with him, and didn't really have any good feeling towards Al like many other Raider players do.

I get the feeling Porter, if he doesn't see major action and stats, will probably want out of Raiderland and head somewhere like Stat Heaven.
 
Matt Leinart you............

Di*k, concentrate on football would you FFS.

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