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Kevin Kolb: Retired Boar Hunter, Larry Fitzgerald Lover, Kirk Gibson Impersonator

The Cardinals got their guy. Now the pressure's on to find out if he's worth the price.

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38 Total Updates since May 2, 2011
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Kevin Kolb's Attraction To Arizona Goes Beyond Larry Fitzgerald And Wild Boar

Kevin Kolb said 'hey' to the local media at his introductory press conference Friday just hours before the team packed up and headed to Flagstaff to start their 2011 NFL Training Camp adventure. Kolb was decked out in Arizona Cardinals gear and seemed genuinely happy to be wearing the red and white.

"It feels really good," Kolb said, confirming that he feels really good about coming to the Cardinals and stepping into the big shoes left by Kurt Warner when he was eliminated from the Dancing With The Stars competition retired from the NFL. (Yes, we are pretending 2010 never happened.)

"Absolutely, it's a hard act to follow," Kolb said about Warner. "I've watched a lot of film on Kurt (Warner). The things he does on the field are masterful in his mind. The mental game he has in unbelievable. That's something you can try and mimic. You'll never probably get there but you can try and bring in more of that to your own game."

But it was another Cardinals great that had actual influence over Kolb's desire and decision to come to Arizona.

During the offseason, as previously reported, Kolb worked out with Larry Fitzgerald which the new QB admitted was kind of a try out for the team.

Asked how the Fitz Camp went, Kolb responded, "It's a real easy fit. We texted here and there a little bit throughout the offseason and I came down here during that weekend and worked out with him. Right off the bat, everybody knows he's an easy guy to get along with. Great teammate. You can tell he's a great leader and you don't always find that in receivers."

It wasn't just the notion of throwing the ball to Larry Fitzgerald that got Kolb excited about coming to Arizona. He talked about playing here in the NFC Championship game in 2009 and what he learned about the city and the team....and the building.

"To be quite honest, it was the stadium. The stadium was tremendous, I was shocked by it."

Ed note: Well done, taxpayers, your money was well spent.

"The city alone, just how clean and nice the city looked -- granted, I was coming from Philadelphia but, it was a great city."

Ed note: Boom! Take that, Philly, and put some cheese and peppers on it and eat it all up.

"And of course the way Arizona just kept fighting back. We had some big plays, threw the ball all over the place and they kept answering, kept answering. We, in my opinion, at that time had a great defense." 

Ed note: Scoreboard.

Mr. Kolb reported that Mrs. Kolb will spend the next few days in town looking for a suitable place for the Kolb family to live while they are in the greater Phoenix metro area and away from their 2,500 acre north Texas ranch.

And in even more important news, it was announced via twitter that Kolb has purchased the rights from kicker Jay Feely to wear uniform no. 4 in exchange for a donation to the Feely Family Foundation of an undisclosed sum. Feely will wear no. 3 which became available when Derek Anderson...left.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals and their new quarterback visit Revenge of the Birds.

More Kevin Kolb Press Conference Quotes (or just watch the video here):

  • "There's always pressure to perform right away, and perform great. I put that on myself. As a quarterback in the National Football League you better put that on yourself...There's a lot of pressure in every situation. It's nothing new for me, I look forward to the challenge. I look forward to answering a lot of critics and just play my ball and fitting in with this team and going and making a run." -- Kolb on the pressure he's facing
  • "I think I can play. The people who've watched me think I can play. There's no doubt there's some sort of risk there. There's a risk in everything that you do. I'm just glad the Bidwells and Rod (Graves) and Ken (Whisenhunt) took the risk. I feel like it's going to turn out for the best. I look forward to putting in plenty of work to make sure it happens. Nobody's going to out-work me. That begins now." -- Kolb on his critics
  • "I have no idea. Really, I don't. It's not like being a rookie. Concepts are similar. It's nothing like being a rookie all over again which takes a year and a half until you get comfortable." -- Kolb on how long it will take to learn the system 
  • "You have to go into it with a competitive attitude, just as they should and they will...You have to be competitive in this sport. If you don't compete every day in practice your rear-end is going to be out. I know that, they know that. We'll have a great meeting room, great camaraderie but we're going to go out and compete as well." -- Kolb on how he will fit in with the other QBs
  • "I'm not the kind of guy who looks into things too deep. I just sit back and say, 'OK, let the cards fall where they may'. I'm just glad that I'm sitting here in a Cardinals shirt right now." -- Kolb on the negotiation process with Arizona
  • "The team's kind of a young team. I think when you have that sense and everybody's in it together it kind of gives you that old college atmosphere where you kind of come together, chemistry fits in well." -- Kolb on fitting in with the team
  • "It's a passing attack. Puts the ball on the quarterback's shoulders which I like. Getting us in and out of plays. I enjoy that stuff." -- Kolb on why he thinks he'll succeed in Arizona
  • "That's going to be difficult watching the other guys and wanting to be out there in the heat of battle. That's how you earn respect." -- Kolb on having to sit out the first few practices at camp
  • "My dad was a high school football coach. I was a gym rat." Grew up in locker rooms. Was a ball boy. "Football's been part of my life forever." -- Kolb on his love of the game
  • "In the offseason I like to fish and hunt a little bit but besides family and God, football's all I care about." -- Kolb on having a well-rounded life
  • "I'm just going to take it one day at a time and make sure I don't get ahead of myself. When you get ahead of yourself, that's when you get behind." -- Kolb sounding eerily like D-backs skipper Kirk Gibson
  • "It's not as dangerous as it sounds but it's a kamikaze side I guess. I don't do it any more. Once my hands started making me a little bit of money I stopped doing it." -- Kolb on hunting wild boar with just a knife and his bare hands
  • "(The NFC West) is obviously winnable...The door's open, we know, and we'll be ready to kick it in when it's time but it's not going to be an easy task." - Kolb on kick ass in the NFC West
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Cardinals Acquire Former Eagles LB Stewart Bradley

The Arizona Cardinals continue their barrage of signings as they reportedly have struck an accord with former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Stewart Bradley, according to ESPN's NFL Insider Adam Schefter. 

Bradley spent his first three years of his career with the Eagles, battling through injuries during their 2010 campaign, forcing him to sit out four games last season. But Bradley is most definitely a viable reliable option at linebacker as he's recorded 186 tackles in just three seasons along with three career sacks.

Bradley will be moving from a 4-3 defensive scheme in Philadelphia to a 3-4 scheme out in the desert, which could prove to be a refreshing change of pace for the 27 year old out of the University of Nebraska. A good pick up for the Cardinals overall, Bradley will definitely provide some extra athleticism and depth at the LB position.  

For more discussion and analysis of the Arizona Cardinals, check out Revenge of the Birds to get in on the action. 

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Arizona Cardinals Kevin Kolb Press Conference: 'There's No Guarantees In This Business'

A tired-looking Arizona Cardinals general manager and head coach took the podium Thursday afternoon and answered questions about the trade for quarterback Kevin Kolb. Both Rod Graves and Ken Whisenhunt expressed their excitement about the move but also were clear in their sadness at losing Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Philadelphia Eagles in the deal. 

"When it was first initially talked about, I said 'no'. I want to be clear, we were not shopping Dominique. That was something that was a very tough decision," Whisenhunt said, echoing a similar sentiment from Graves who talked about how difficult it was to give up a good football player who is well-liked and gregarious and fun to be around.

"We're going to miss him but we also thank him very much for his contribution to our team," Graves said.

The decision, while difficult, was one the team felt they needed to make despite the price. Obviously, the Cardinals needed to fill the quarterback position and as Whisenhunt said, what will matter is how many wins the Cardinals end up with and how Kolb performs.  

"There's no guarantees in this business," Whisenhunt stressed.

Because of the compressed time frame for evaluating talent and making this kind of move, the Cardinals relied on information they had gathered about Kolb when he first was eligible for the draft in 2007. They looked back at the discussions they had with him during the NFL Combine to help assess his leadership abilities and then also relied heavily on input from Eagles' coach Andy Reid who spoke highly of Kolb.

Kolb will report to Arizona Friday to take his physical. There's no firm word yet on when he will be eligible to practice although it's believed that won't be until August 4 under the NFL timeline. Whisenhunt acknowledged the challenge of the limited time to prepare for the season but felt Kolb's experience and reputation as a "gym rat" would help speed things along.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals and their new quarterback visit Revenge of the Birds.

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Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie #29 of the Arizona Cardinals red mohawk against the New Orleans Saints during the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Louisana Superdome on January 16, 2010 in New Orleans, Louisiana. According to reports on July 28, 2011, the Cardinals have traded Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Kevin Kolb. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

Other Press Conference Notes:

  • "Obviously, I think physically, good size. Can move in the pocket. Good arm. Makes good decisions. I've seen him be accurate with his throws," Whisenhunt said when asked why they felt Kolb was the best option of those quarterbacks available.
  • "We had a plan and we executed that plan and we feel good about that. Certainly we're very happy how it came out. We're excited about Kevin and really looking forward to getting him in here when we can and getting started." - Ken Whisenhunt
  • "Well, you've got to look at what's available to you...there were a number of quarterbacks we targeted this offseason that we thought we'd have a chance (to get). Ultimately, Kevin was the guy we had the highest grade on that we felt was the best fit for what we're trying to get accomplished as far as a fit with our offense, where he was age-wise, what he had done in the league." - Ken Whisenhunt
  • "We did what we felt we had to do to make that happen," Rob Graves said about the price.
  • Asked if they will look for another cornerback, Whisenhunt said, "I think we drafted one," referring to Patrick Peterson.  He went on to talk about the young players on the team who will have a chance to step up.
  • Whisenhunt said that Larry Fitzgerald didn't have a direct input in the process and didn't share any information about his workout with Kolb in the offseason.

Part 1 of the Ken Whisenhunt and Rod Graves press conference:



Video part 2:



Video part 3:





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Kevin Kolb Trade For Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie Officially Announced

All the back and forth, is it or isn't it, has ended. The Arizona Cardinals Football Club announced the trade of Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie for quarterback Kevin Kolb. The Philadelphia Eagles also get Arizona's second round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft in the deal. 

The official team release does not include details of the new Kolb reportedly signed with the Cardinals that will pay him $63 million ($21 million guaranteed) over five years.

From the press release: 

The 26-year old Kolb (6-3, 218) spent all four of his previous NFL seasons with the Eagles who selected him in the second-round of the 2007 NFL Draft (36th overall) out of Houston. During his time in Philadelphia, the Stephenville, TX native played in 19 games with seven starts and threw for 2,082 yards on 194 completions with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. In his seven career starts, Kolb completed 61.9% of his passes (148-239), threw for 300-plus yards in three of them, and had a passer rating of 81.2.

Kolb began last season the season as the Eagles starter and appeared in a total of seven games with five starts. Kolb earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors in the Eagles week six victory against Atlanta when he set career highs in completion percentage (79.3%), passer rating (133.6) and touchdown passes (three). Kolb finished the season with a career high 1,197 yards and seven touchdowns. 

In 2009, Kolb became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 300+ yards in each of his first two career starts as he passed for 391 yards against the Saints (September 20) and for 327 yards against the Chiefs (September 27). In his second start against Kansas City, Kolb earner NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors after completing 24 of 34 passes (70.6%) for 327 yards, two passing touchdowns, a rushing touchdown and a passer rating of 120.6.

 

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Kevin Kolb Trade Draws Mixed Reactions From Arizona Cardinals Players

The trade between the Arizona Cardinals and Philadelphia Eagles that sent quarterback Kevin Kolb to the desert to take over the Red Bird Gang and sent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to City of Brotherly Love to attack Santa Clause has drawn plenty of reaction. Many fans and media pundits think the Cardinals over paid for a guy who has just seven career starts while others admire the gumption shown by the Cards to aggressively get their man.

Regardless of what we on the outside think, Kolb has to win over his new Cardinal teammates and from the looks of things the reactions are mixed. There's understandable sadness at losing the popular and speedy DRC but they also recognize the need to have a top flight quarterback. 

The guy who's opinion matters most, Larry Fitzgerald, probably gave his opinion after he had a chance to workout with Kolb in the offseason. The fact the deal got done for this price says all we need to know about what Fitz thinks.

Darnell Dockett was initially unsure but then rallied and gave a good and tactful response:

Twitter / @ddockett:
Damn I don't know how to feel!

Twitter / @ddockett: 
Philly getting a gooood player in DRC, and even more of an funny dude , sad to see him and Stevie B gone! I wish them both health & sucess!

Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes lost a fellow defensive back in DRC so of course they gave their shout outs to him:

Twitter / @adrian_wilson24: 
I'm so sad to see @ShoTime29 go.. I have alot of love for you.. I appreciate everything you've done for this DB family.MUCH SUCESS IN PHILLY

Twitter / @kerryrhodes: 
Congrats to new teammate Kolb! @shotime29 gonna miss ya bruh. Go out there and show ur worth just like I told u last year when I came in.

Beanie Wells bid farewell but is also looking forward. He certainly needs a good year himself or he'll be saying goodbye:

Twitter / @BeanieWells26: 
Time for the New Breed !!! #birdgang go get it!

Twitter / @BeanieWells26: 
Sad to see two of my homies go @SBreaston15 @ShoTime29! #goodfellas

Jay Feely, always helpful, shares a video of DRC with Philly fans:

Twitter / @jayfeely: 
You can't win in the NFL today without a very good QB at a minimum. Brady, Brees, Manning, Big Ben: QB's win titles in todays NFL

Twitter / @jayfeely: 
I'm excited we got our QB Kolb, looking forward to watching him in training camp. Stay tuned for updates throughout camp Cardinals fans

Twitter / @jayfeely: 
Philly fans here is your new CB and his speed: http://twitvid.com/CYSKQ

Steve Breaston laments breaking up the band of backpack buddies:

Twitter / @SBreaston15: RT @meezybaby27: 
RT @meezybaby27: No matter what happens 2 any of us #thebackpackboys will 4ever b trending n az #NP motivation by TI @SBreaston15 @ShoTime29

And finally, from the guy who's butt Kolb will get to know really well:

NFL News Updates - CBSSports.com RapidReports
43 minutes ago - by Craig Morgan - C Lyle Sendlein likes QB Kevin Kolb C Lyle Sendlein (expected to re-sign) on the impending trade for QB Kevin Kolb: "I’ve seen film. He makes his reads quick and throws a nice strong ball. He’s got a heck of an arm.” Cardinals RapidReports

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Kevin Kolb Trade To Arizona Finally Done According To Multiple Reports That We Hope Are Correct

Remember that Kevin Kolb trade sending the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for a second round pick and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie that was reported Wednesday night as being done? Guess what, it's now looking like it is actually done according to reports from both ESPN and Fox Sports.

Of course, nothing's really done until the ink is on the contract and that can't happen until Friday but this time we really think the trade is done. Unless it's not done in which case we will wait for more reports of it being close to done until it gets done. What does "done" even mean anymore?

Thursday the deal is said to be for five years and $63 million with $20-$22 million guaranteed. Last night the deal was reported to include $30 million guaranteed so congratulations to the Cardinals in saving $8-$10 million in fictional money that wasn't ever real...unless it was.

As we said the last time we thought the deal was done, this is a big move for the Cardinals and pressure is now on Kolb and coach Ken Whisenhunt to make it work.

We would expect a formal announcement on Friday from the team and the press conference soon there after will likely take place in Flagstaff where the weather is some 30 degrees cooler making for optimal press conference conditions. Under the current NFL rules, Kolb can join the team immediately but can't begin practice until August 4th when the new CBA is scheduled to be officially ratified. 

Good luck, Mr. Kolb, and don't think that just because you aren't in Philly that the fans won't boo you if you play poorly. Just as Max Hall, Derek Anderson, Matt Leinart or Tom Tupa. Good luck, DRC, watch the snow balls.

For more on the Arizona Cardinals visit Revenge of the Birds.

[Note by Seth Pollack, 07/28/11 12:27 PM MST ]

Then again...you know the drill. 

 

Twitter / @kentsomers: I'm told the Kolb deal is not finalized, probably won't be today. Friday more likely. Think terms are set but waiting.

 

Twitter / @ClarkJudgeCBS: terms of eagles deal seem complete, with DRC and #2 for kolb, but not sure what hangup is. eagles waiting to sign off

[Note by Seth Pollack, 07/28/11 1:06 PM MST ]

And we're back...

Twitter / @kentsomers: whatever hurdles needed to be cleared have, Kolb deal expected to be announced soon

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Cardinals Deal For Kevin Kolb Not Quite Done, But Close

Earlier Wedensday evening we passed on and commented about a report from Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter that the deal between the Arizona Cardinals and the Philadelphia Eagles was mission accomplished. Trotter later reneged on his report leaving us all wondering and waiting.

The deal isn't dead even if the early report might have jumped the gun. An agreement still remains very close as reported by Reuben Frank of CSN Philly.

Source: Kolb trade talks with Cardinals heating up
The Eagles and Cards have made "significant progress" toward reaching an agreement that would send Kevin Kolb to the Cards and Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and additional compensation in the form of a draft pick to the Eagles, according to a league source familiar with negotiations. The source said that as of Wednesday evening, the deal was not done.

Frank went on to report that the Eagles asked Kevin Kolb to stay home in Texas and not report to camp with Philadelphia on Thursday. Eagles' coach Andy Reid reportedly wants to avoid the circus that would come with Kolb showing up and they certainly don't want him injured with a deal on the table.

What we said earlier about pressure and expectations on Kolb -- save that. It will apply soon enough.

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Kevin Kolb To Cardinals Ends Quarterback Quest, Pressure For Success High

Based on a report from Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter, the Arizona Cardinals will trade Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie and a second round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft for quarterback Kevin Kolb of the Philadelphia Eagles. According to the report, Kolb will get a new deal that includes "at least" $30 million guaranteed.

It might be a cop out, but we won't know for some time if the Cardinals overpaid for Kolb should this turn out to be the actual deal. As we all know, you can't compete in the NFL without a quarterback. Even defensive tackle Darnell Dockett chimed in on the importance of getting someone good under center.

"I'm just hoping they do a great job of getting us somebody who'll win us some ball games," Dockett said Tuesday. "No disrespect to the guys we already got, we just need somebody that's going to get us to the next level. I don't think we can win this division without a quarterback."

The immediate reaction from many fans and media observers is the Cardinals gave up too much and should have gone after Denver's Kyle Orton who is believed to come with a smaller price tag. Orton and Kolb have similar numbers but if the team, including Larry Fitzgerald who worked out with Kolb during the lockout, are sold on him the deal had to be done regardless of cost.

The pressure will be on Kolb now to live up to very high expectations. He could be the next Tom Brady or Drew Brees who just needs his chance to shine. Or he could be another in a long line of Cardinals quarterback busts. But when you cost a team as much as Kolb reportedly will cost, the expectation for success is high.

Kolb, 26, has a career total of 2082 yards completed over the course of 18 games in three seasons. 

For more on the Arizona Cardinals visit Revenge of the Birds.

[Note by Seth Pollack, 07/27/11 6:12 PM MST ]

Then again, maybe someone jumped the gun:

Twitter / @SI_JimTrotter: To be clear, I'm not reporting this deal is done. I'm saying I would not do it at this cost. Give me Orton.

We'll see, folks. We'll see.

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Cardinals Whisenhunt And Dockett Seek Quarterback Help, Timeline Uncertain

The top priority for the Arizona Cardinals is quarterback help. Everyone knows it from head coach Ken Whisenhunt to defensive star Darnell Dockett. Both were at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe on Tuesday for the first time in the 2011 NFL season. Both talked about the QB situation in the desert.

"I would be surprised if something happened today," Whisenhunt said.

"Just from the standpoint of all the balls that are in the air right now. We're waiting. We've made proposals, we've talked, we've exchanged ideas. To get something nailed down and then to think that you're going to get something worked out whether it's a trade or even just a contract, especially when you have other teams involved, it's going to be difficult.

"It's not from a lack of trying, we're trying to get it done. But the dynamics of getting it done from 7:00 am this morning and closing everything by today is probably not going to happen."

Whisenhunt refused to answer any specific questions about any of the names we've been hearing but did comment on the irony of all the media reports that at various times during the offseason claimed the Cardinals had deals done with various guys from Marc Bulger to Kevin Kolb.

Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett was in working out, catching up with his coaches and generally just happy to have the lockout over. He's confident the team's defense will improve under new coordinator Ray Horton and understands the special challenge that this training camp will represent.

Dockett, never at a loss for words, also answered questions about the quarterback situation with a respectful honesty that you have to admire from him.

"I'm just hoping they do a great job of getting us somebody who'll win us some ball games," Dockett said.

"No disrespect to the guys we already got, we just need somebody that's going to get us to the next level. I don't think we can win this division without a quarterback. Everybody in our division has got a quarterback and got better and even the two teams that don't have a quarterback fell behind, that's us and San Fran."

And so we wait and watch the Twitter for sniffs of rumors until a deal actually gets done. Making matters even more complicated, a free agent or even traded quarterback wouldn't be eligible to practice with the team until August 4 which is just seven days before the first preseason game. 

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NFL Trade Talk: Cincinnati Bengals Quarterback Carson Palmer Will Not Be Traded

Cincinnati Bengals Owner Mike Brown has a reputation for being cheap and stubborn.  He is doing an excellent job of living up to that reputation. Brown reiterated today he would not trade quarterback Carson Palmer who has stated he would retire before playing again for the Bengals.

 "I'm not expecting him to be back," said Brown via the Cincinnati Enquirer. "Carson signed a contract, he made a commitment. He gave us his word. We relied on his word and his commitment. We expected him to perform here. If he is going to walk away from his commitment we aren't going to reward him for doing it."

Palmer was the Bengals #1 overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft. 

He led the Bengals to their only two playoff appearances since 1991. 

While Palmer has been solid he hasn't lived up to the hype he generated early in his career. His best season in the NFL was his second season when he threw 32 touchdowns. 

The Arizona Cardinals were able to revitalize one veteran's career with Kurt Warner, it doesn't sound like they will get the opportunity to do the same for Carson Palmer. 

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Kevin Kolb Has Private Workout With Larry Fitzgerald

While we sit and wait for the NFL lockout to finally be over (and the lockout could viably be lifted in the next couple of days), in Arizona the quarterback rumors continue to be the main football story. And the QB rumor that never dies is the one that connects Philadelphia Eagles backup Kevin Kolb with the Arizona Cardinals.

The latest report comes from FOXSportsArizona.com and claims that the Cardinals' star receiver Larry Fitzgerald and Kolb worked out together. It happened at the Arizona State University practice bubble, which has been the site of a few workouts that Fitzgerald organized for teammates during the offseason.

Earlier in the offseason Kolb's name came up as one of the quarterbacks Fitzgerald would like to see in Arizona for 2011. Rumors of a supposed deal in place have been mentioned for months, going back as far as the NFL Draft back in April. 

ESPN's Sal Paolantonio also has said that Kolb is looking for real estate in Arizona. 

If this deal does not happen, it will have been probably the greatest upset in offseason rumors ever. If it does happen according to reports, it will have been the worst kept secret ever. 

Obviously the workout alone should not be the smoking gun, as Fitz has also worked out with teammates Max Hall, John Skelton and Richard Bartel, as well as non-teammates Donovan McNabb (here in AZ) and Kyle Orton (in Minnesota). However, with everything else that has been out in the media, it is probably safe to say that it is themost likely move to happen in the first few days after the NFL lockout ends. 

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NFL Rumors: Kevin Kolb To Arizona Cardinals, But For Whom?

As the NFL Lockout continues but negotiations are furiously attempting to get a new deal done, still the rumors fly about the Arizona Cardinals and the most high profile quarterback on the market this offseason -- Philadelphia Eagles QB Kevin Kolb. As time has gone on the rumors have changed. Here is a quick rundown of what has come up, including just in the last week.

  1. Kolb for Patrick Peterson
  2. Kolb for a first round draft pick
  3. Kolb for a first round pick and a player, such as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie
  4. Kolb for multiple draft picks
  5. Kolb for DRC
  6. Kolb for Daryl Washington
  7. Kolb for a "surprise player"
No one really knows what to think, and truthfully, teams aren't even allowed to discuss player acquisitions. However, there has surely been internal discussions by all teams about who their targets are and what/who they would be willing to give up to acquire said targets. 

Until the NFL lockout is over and the offseason has its true commencement, all there is is banter and guessing, and perhaps a tinge of true information. However, there will likely be more "reports" between now and then.

To discuss more about rumors with the Arizona Cardinals and the lockout, or to get more in-depth coverage of what is going on with the Cardinals, visit Revenge of the Birds. 
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NFL Trade Rumors: Kevin Kolb To Arizona Cardinals For DRC

Even with the NFL lockout now beyond 100 days in length and teams technically unable to discuss player moves, he trade rumors continue to fly regarding the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Kevin Kolb. The two have been connected for months and all sorts of deals have been brought up. The latest speculation no longer involves future draft picks at all, but rather a straight up trade for a player. 

Supposedly, there is a deal in place to bring Kolb to Arizona for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. In terms of personnel, it makes sense. Philly needs a cornerback and Arizona needs a quarterback. Arizona, on paper, has an extra CB because of drafting Patrick Peterson, leaving there potentially three starting caliber players (Peterson, DRC and Greg Toler). Philly has two starting quarterbacks essentially with Kolb and Michael Vick. 

There are lots of reasons to say yes or say no to this potential trade. But most come down to the premise that if Kolb turns out to be the franchise-type QB many believe he can be, then no matter what the cost ends up being, it will have been worth it. If he is less than that, then that is where the issue lies. 

In any case, it continues to be pure speculation, but once the lockout is done and a new CBA is in place, it is not likely going to be long before we know how it all plays out.

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Despite Reports, Peter King Thinks Matt Hasselbeck Could Come To Arizona Cardinals

Just a week ago it seemed that the quarterback picture was getting clearer, Peter King seemed to muck it all up again with a set of tweets Wednesday morning. When responding to someone who was sure that Matt Hasselbeck would be returning to the Seattle Seahawks and that Charlie Whitehurst would most certainly would not be the starter in 2011, King tweets, "you are incorrect, sir."

When someone else then asked King where Hasselbeck would be come the season, he responded as he did around the start of the NFL Draft, stating that the most likely destination for the bald veteran signal-caller is Arizona. 

This seems to fly in the face of all the the reports out there. Hasselbeck has a copy of the Seattle playbook and has been leading workouts with his teammates. Most reports have him returning to the team he has played for years.

The part that causes us to think about this is the fact that, while King is not reporting anything as breaking news, he typically has some inside knowledge. 

If indeed he ends up here in Arizona, it would be a clear sign that the team thinks that it will be able to hand over the reigns to John Skelton in the future. Hasselbeck is 35 years old and has a recent history of injuries. 

He would certainly come at a lower cost than Kevin Kolb or Kyle Orton because he is a free agent and thus no draft picks would be given up. 

Hasselbeck, if healthy, would not be a bad choice. He knows the division well, he has won a lot in it and is a great leader. 

Once again, all of this requires that the lockout end, otherwise it will never matter. 

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NFL Offseason: Quarterback Situation Taking Shape In NFC West

There is no real action in the offseason to discuss besides what happens with the lockout and the court hearings that are set to take place on Friday, but there is speculation  and lots of discussion. Of all the divisions in the NFL, the NFC West was by far the worst and this offseason has three of the four teams with quarterback questions. As things have been rumored and reported, it appears that only the Arizona Cardinals are left to see who will be their starter. 

The St. Louis Rams are set with Sam Bradford. It looks more and more like new head coach Jim Harbaugh will bring back Alex Smith to start for the 49ers while grooming Colin Kaepernick for the future. 

The Seattle Seahawks have Charlie Whitehurst, for whom they traded last offseason. Matt Hasselbeck is not under contract and for a bit was rumored to be heading out of town. In fact, at one point, SI's Peter King had the Arizona Cardinals as the most likely landing spot for Hasselbeck and that he was done in Seattle. Now it seems that things have been smoothed over and that he will be leading the Seahawks in 2011. 

The Cardinals are the ones left in limbo. Technically, Derek Anderson is still on the team, but almost everyone believes (and most Cardinals fans hope) he will be cut at some point. John Skelton is still on the team. Max Hall is still alive. However, I think that everyone in the organization will view this offseason as an utter disaster and a failure if any of those three guys starts for the team in 2011. 

The candidate rumors have come and gone. First is was Marc Bulger. Reportedly, there was "an understanding" in place. Now it is believed that he wants to stay closer to St. Louis for family reasons and is not necessarily interested in starting. 

Hasselbeck is out. Carson Palmer is not going to be traded from Cincinnati, according to owner Mike Brown. This leaves Kevin Kolb and Kyle Orton as the only real candidates that remain. Both are under contract with their respective teams and both are supposedly on the market. 

Almost every rumor, report or speculation has Kolb being the guy who is number one on the Cardinals' list, but that Orton is a worthy backup plan. The trade price varies from as low as a third round draft pick for Orton to as high as a first round pick and a starting caliber player for Kolb. 

With the offseason not technically started and a lot of doubt as to when that will happen, this is the best we can do for now. If the lockout magically ends soon, then real action can happen. It will be madness when it does, but fans won't care. 

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NFL Trade Rumors: Marc Bulger Not Interested In Cardinals, Kolb Chatter Heating Up

It wasn't that long ago that the Arizona Cardinals had an "understanding" with free agent quarterback Marc Bulger. There were some around these parts who were thrilled about the prospect and even made comparisons to Kurt Warner. Scott Howard explains:

Marc Bulger Should Be The Arizona Cardinals' Next Quarterback - SB Nation Arizona
Anyone that watched Kurt Warner play for the Cardinals knows that his success was predicated on a deadly mix of accuracy, a quick release, and an ability to hold the ball until the very last second possible before finding an open receiver. These are all things Bulger is capable of.

Unfortunately for Bulger fans, it looks like he's not interested in moving out west. And while this might be bad news for some, it's good news for those pulling for the Kevin Kolb era to begin.

NFL: John Clayton examines 10 deals that need to get done when the lockout finally ends - ESPN
It's starting to sound like Marc Bulger, an East Coast guy with family considerations, might not be lured to Phoenix by the chance to be the Cardinals' starter.That may be the reason we're hearing more about a trade that could bring Kolb to Arizona.

According to Clayton's report, Philadelphia wants a first round pick for Kolb but the Cardinals are more inclined to part with two second round picks instead. But if the Cardinals really believe they can win the NFC West with Kolb, can they afford to be to stingy with the offer? 

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NFL Trade Rumors: Kevin Kolb To Cardinals A 'Slam Dunk'

The term "slam dunk" got a bad rap a few years ago when it was used to describe the case for invading Iraq and finding weapons of mass destruction. It was used again recently in a totally different context by ESPN's Sal Paolantonio who told SI's Peter King that Kevin Kolb being traded to the Arizona Cardinals was "slam dunk".

For Cardinals fans hoping to land the Philadelphia Eagles back up quarterback, you might want to hope the "slam dunk" is a bit more like this than like this. To make this report even a bit more unpalatable (or confusing) is this part that has the Cardinals giving up Patrick Peterson.

Kolb to Arizona a 'slam dunk' after lockout? - CBSSports.com
There was actually some chatter that a Kolb-Cards deal was already done, with the principle parts being Kolb for Patrick Peterson (aka "2011 first-rounder") and a 2012 second-rounder.

 It's hard to imagine Cardinals fans getting board with that. Kolb has a total of 19 games on his resume. He's completed 60.8 percent of his passes for 2, 082 yards with 11 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. 

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NFL Quarterback Trade Rumors: Kevin Kolb To Arizona, Miami Not Interested

The second best thing about the NFL lockout being over will the end to all the silly trade rumors. The biggest name out there seems to be quarterback Kevin Kolb, currently of the Philadelphia Eagles but soon to be throwing for the Arizona Cardinals according to one loud mouth analyst who says "book it". 

The basis for Mr. Adam Schein's confident proclamation isn't a source or any other reporting. He simply thinks it makes the most sense so therefor it will happen. While we can't disagree that Kolb coming the Cardinals does make sense, when has that ever been the only basis for getting deals done in the NFL?

There's at least one team out there that thinks the asking price for Kolb is too high. The Miami Dolphins are reported to be out of the Kolb market. Note that this report cites an actual team official. 

Sports Buzz - MiamiHerald.com
Besides the fact Miami doesn’t want to trade a future No. 1 pick when the lockout ends, one Dolphins official expressed skepticism about whether Kevin Kolb’s body of work is enough to justify such compensation (seven career starts; 11 touchdowns; 14 interceptions)

Please NFL Lockout, end soon.

Here's video of Mr. Schein making his confident prediction that seems more like an audition to replace Glenn Beck than any kind of sports analyst we would want to watch on a regular basis.

It's not hard to understand after viewing this why there already exists a Facebook page called "Adam Schein is a Jerk".

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Alan Faneca Retiring No Surprise Or Set Back For Cardinals

Alan Faneca will be hanging up his cleats and retiring from the NFL after a fantastic 13-year career. The news of his retirement, however, isn't a surprise to the Arizona Cardinals. We've been hearing for weeks now that Faneca was considering this and so the announcement today is simply confirmation.

The retirement also isn't greeted with much sadness. Yes, Faneca should and will be celebrated for his career that included nine trips to the Pro Bowl and 201 career starts. Most incredibly, he started all 16 games in each of the past nine seasons and only missed two games in his entire career.

Think about that for a moment. Out of a possible 208 regular season games he played in 206 and started 201. Add in 14 playoff games and the durability of Faneca's career is historic.

But the time had come for Alan to move on. There were many games in the Cardinals 2010 season where it seemed he was on the field more out of respect for his tenure than for what he was able to bring. So, while we celebrate Alan Faneca the football player, his one season as a Cardinal will not be the high point of his career.

Farewell to Alan Faneca, the Hall of Fame awaits.

For more on this story, visit Revenge of the Birds.

 

Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Alan Faneca announces retirement
He released a statement through his agent, Rick Smith:

"After a lot of thought I am announcing my retirement from Professional Football. Playing in the NFL has been a childhood dream come true. Thirteen years later I have decided that it is time to move on."

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NFL Trade Rumors: Kyle Orton Now Linked To Cardinals Via Source

By the time the Arizona Cardinals actually have a quarterback for the 2011 NFL season, every QB in the league from Sam Bradford to Cam Newton to some retread like Derek Anderson will have been rumored to be coming to Arizona. The latest is from a source that says the Cardinals have had preliminary talks with the Denver Broncos about Kyle Orton.

Orton could be available now that John Elway has jumped on the Tim Tebow bandwagon. "He has the opportunity to be a great quarterback and leader," Elway said of Tebow recently on the Mike and Mike show.

Of course, Broncos coach John Fox who has to actually live the results sees it a different way.

"As far as I'm concerned, he's under contract and he's the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos," Fox said of Orton, "Kyle Orton is our starter."

One could see why the Cardinals would pick up the phone and ask given the mixed messages coming out of Colorado. And before Cardinals fans panic at the idea of Orton being "the guy" under center that the team trusts to return the Red Birds to the Super Bowl, rest assured that he's not Plan A according to this rumor.

A source tells 3TV's Tim Ring, the discussions would not be categorized as serious but the Broncos believe the Cardinals have an interest in Orton as a "Plan B" if they can't work out a deal for Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Over his five-year career that spans time in Chicago and Denver, Orton's record is 32-29 and his passer rating over the past two seasons is 87.

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GLENDALE AZ - DECEMBER 12: Quarterback Kyle Orton #8 of the Denver Broncos is sacked by Clark Haggans #53 of the Arizona Cardinals during the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on December 12 2010 in Glendale Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Broncos 43-13. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)


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Arizona Cardinals Not Opposed To Trading 1st Rd Pick For QB

Since the NFL Draft has come and gone and the Cardinals did not draft a quarterback, all eyes are now firmly focused on the possible existing NFL quarterback possibilities out there for the Arizona Cardinals. The names Kevin Kolb, Marc Bulger, Matt Hasselbeck and Carson Palmer are those most frequently connected to the Cardinals' starting quarterback position. Cards GM Rod Graves was interviewed on Monday on a local radio station about the draft and also the quarterback position, and he revealed something telling.

Graves said that they are "not opposed" to trading a future draft pick to address the quarterback position on the team. 

"We'd have to take a strong look at it but we are open to a lot of different scenarios. It certainly may entail us having to give up a high round draft choice in order to make a trade successful if we are in that situation."

This will certainly feed the trade rumor beasts and the speculation that Kevin Kolb will be a target of the team. 

Does that mean that it is a certainty that there will be a trade? Of course not. However, it certainly means that the Cardinals are truly serious about improving the play at the most important position in the NFL. 

If anything else, we can all find solace and hope that the Cardinals are not going to stand pat and are really trying to be competitive and put themselves in a position to win now and in the future. 

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Carson Palmer Best Fit For Cardinals According To Kurt Warner

If anyone is qualified to comment on which of the available quarterbacks would be the best fit for the Arizona Cardinals, it's Kurt Warner. He knows the offense and knows who's going to fit best with Ken Whisenhunt. Warner was a guest on Dan Patrick's radio show on Tuesday morning and put his golden blessing on Carson Palmer.

Warner is a now an analyst with the NFL Network and shared his thoughts on Cam Newton, the NFL Draft in general and reported that Whisenhunt had asked his opinion on the Cardinals quarterback situation. 

"I would take Carson," Warner said, adding that he would fit the Cardinals offense perfectly. 

Palmer is in a pickle with his situation in Cincinnati. Palmer has said that he doesn't want to play for the Bengals but the Bengals have said they aren't trading him. Eventually, this impasse will pass just like the NFL lockout will be lifted. There will be football at some point and somewhere down the line Carson Palmer will be playing for a team outside of Cincinnati. 

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(AP Photo/David Kohl,File)


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