SB Nation Arizona: All Posts by James Bradyhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2013-02-27T19:36:38-07:00https://arizona.sbnation.com/authors/james-brady/rss2013-02-27T19:36:38-07:002013-02-27T19:36:38-07:00Matt Scott, Keelan Johnson have strong showing
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<figcaption>Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Both Matt Scott and Keelan Johnson impressed at the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine.</p> <p>The 2012 NFL Scouting Combine is wrapping up, and things were relatively quiet for the region. Arizona and Arizona State only sent three non-special teams players total to the combine: Arizona quarterback Matt Scott, Arizona State safety <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35241/keelan-johnson" class="sbn-auto-link">Keelan Johnson</a> and Arizona State outside linebacker Brandon Magee.</p>
<p>None of these guys are big-name players, though all three have been considered draft-worthy talent by scouts around the Internet. Scott is possibly the most intriguing prospect. Many have called him a sleeper in a rather weak class of quarterbacks.</p>
<div class="read-more">
<strong>More</strong>: <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-combine" target="new">Stay up to date with all of SB Nation's combine coverage</a> <a href="http://www.houseofsparky.com/" target="new">Visit House of Sparky for more on Arizona State</a> <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com/" target="new">Visit Arizona Desert Swarm for more on Arizona</a>
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<p>Scott has been projected as a late fifth-round pick or going totally undrafted, but he may have boosted his stock a little at the combine, given his athleticism.</p>
<p>He finished among the top players at his position in many of the drills. He ran a 4.69 40-yard dash, which was third-best behind EJ Manuel of Florida State and Geno Smith of West Virginia. He managed a vertical leap of 31 inches, a broad jump of 118 inches and ran the three-cone drill in 6.69 seconds.</p>
<p>By comparison, Magee had a pedestrian showing in which he only put up solid numbers in the 40-yard dash (4.74 seconds) and the broad jump (114 inches).</p>
<p>Then there was Johnson, who fared pretty well and may have cemented himself as a selection come draft day. Johnson finished fifth among safeties with a 4.54 40-yard dash, posted a good vertical leap at 36.5 inches, one of the best broad jumps at 125.0 inches, a good three-cone drill at 6.77 seconds (fifth among safeties) and 4.07 seconds in the 20-yard shuttle, which was third among safeties.</p>
<p>Many have considered Johnson a sixth-round pick at best, with some suggesting he will be an undrafted free agent. With a strong showing at the combine, he may have ensured his spot on the final day of the draft.</p>
<h4>More in the NFL:</h4>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/2/24/4025988/alex-smith-trade-rumors-details-49ers-chiefs-jaguars?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">49ers trade Alex Smith to Chiefs</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/2/27/4035300/2013-nfl-combine-winners-losers-dion-jordan-dee-milliner?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">NFL Combine's biggest winners and losers</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/2/27/4033004/2013-nfl-combine-media-quotes?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">The best (and we mean worst) quotes from the Combine</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/2/25/4026530/2013-nfl-mock-draft-combine-star-lotulelei-tank-carradine?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">NFL Mock Draft: We have a new No. 1</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2013/2/26/4030040/troll-tuesday-manti-teo-nfl-combine-notre-dame?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">This is a fake column: Te'o can't outrun past</a></p>
<p>• <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/2013/2/26/4029796/2013-nfl-free-agency-teams?utm_source=sbnation&utm_medium=nextclicks&utm_campaign=articlebottom">Why every city is awful for NFL free agents</a></p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2013/2/27/4038150/2013-nfl-scouting-combine-results-matt-scottJames Brady2013-02-16T06:00:07-07:002013-02-16T06:00:07-07:00Slam Dunk Contest TV schedule
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<p>Full schedule for the 2013 NBA Slam Dunk Contest.</p> <p>The 2013 NBA Slam Dunk Contest is set for Saturday at the Toyota Center in Houston, and there's a new wrinkle this time around. There will be six players going for the title, with three from each of the two conferences vying for supremacy.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">
<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba-all-star-game">Catch up on all of SB Nation's 2013 NBA All-Star Game coverage</a>
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<p>On the Eastern Conference, we have <span>Gerald Green</span> of the <a href="https://www.indycornrows.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Indiana Pacers</a>, <span>James White</span> of the <a href="https://www.postingandtoasting.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">New York Knicks</a> and rookie <span>Terrence Ross</span> of the <a href="https://www.raptorshq.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Toronto Raptors</a>. Green was the 2007 Slam Dunk champion, sealing his victory with a dunk that included blowing out a candle atop a cupcake.</p>
<p>As usual, the Slam Dunk contest is generally more about the creativity and the props used in the dunks than anything else.</p>
<p>For the Western Conference, <span>Jeremy Evans</span> of the <a href="https://www.slcdunk.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Utah Jazz</a>, <span>Eric Bledsoe</span> of the <a href="https://www.clipsnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Los Angeles Clippers</a> and <span>Kenneth Faried</span> of the <a href="https://www.denverstiffs.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Denver Nuggets</a> make up the field of players. Evans was the 2012 champion, so he'll be defending his crown. He won on a dunk that entailed catching two balls mid-flight and jumping over teammate <span>Gordon Hayward</span>.</p>
<p>Former stars will judge the initial rounds, and a fan vote will decide the winner in the final round.</p>
<p>Coverage on TNT begins at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, but the Slam Dunk contest is the fourth event of the night, following the Shooting Stars Challenge, the Skills Challenge, and the Three-Point Contest.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2013/2/16/3994342/2013-nba-slam-dunk-contest-time-tv-schedule-participantsJames Brady2013-02-11T11:21:22-07:002013-02-11T11:21:22-07:00Cardinals to gamble on early quarterback?
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<p>Could the Arizona Cardinals draft a quarterback in the first round, despite a relatively weak class at the position?</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> have a lot of issues that need fixing before they're contending in the NFC West again, especially with the rapid rise of both the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a>, who both made the playoffs this past season.</p>
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<i>Visit <a href="http://revengeofthebirds.com" target="_blank">Revenge of the Birds</a> for more on the Arizona Cardinals and their needs</i>
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<p>Arizona, on the other hand, finished with one of the worst records in the NFL, but have one of the top picks in the 2013 NFL Draft with which to address one of their needs. By all accounts, their biggest needs are on the offensive side of the ball, specifically at quarterback and offensive line.</p>
<p>Matthew Fairburn and Dan Kadar collaborated on the most recent <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/2/11/3975632/2013-nfl-mock-draft" target="_blank">SB Nation mock draft</a> on Monday, and they have the Cardinals addressing the former by taking Tyler Wilson, the quarterback out of Arkansas:</p>
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<p>Few teams in the league need a quarterback as badly as the Cardinals do. The offensive line also needs fixing in the worst way, but both of the top offensive tackles are off the board. Tyler Wilson's arm strength makes him a fit for the vertical style of offense Bruce Arians likes to run. The Cardinals could also take one of the talented pass rushers that are still on the board, but Arians will want to find his quarterback.</p>
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<p>With guys like <span>Brian Hoyer</span>, <span>John Skelton</span> and <span>Ryan Lindley</span> taking significant snaps under center in 2012, few would argue with the Cardinals reaching to take a quarterback at No. 7, despite a relatively weak class at the position this year.</p>
<p>Still, if one of the top two offensive tackles is still on the board, one has to wonder if the Cardinals would go that route. Their offensive line was one of the absolute worst in the league and that certainly didn't help their quarterbacks approach anything remotely nearing consistency.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2013/2/11/3976870/nfl-mock-draft-2013-arizona-cardinalsJames Brady2013-02-04T12:55:27-07:002013-02-04T12:55:27-07:00Cardinals to build around o-line in draft?
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<p>Will the Arizona Cardinals start their rebuilding effort by taking a franchise left tackle in the first round of the draft?</p> <p>We've just wrapped up <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/super-bowl">Super Bowl XLVII</a>, with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Baltimore Ravens</a> now the best team in the NFL until we all get started again later this year. Now teams will focus on three main events this offseason: the Scouting Combine in late February, the opening of free agency in March and the 2013 NFL Draft in April.</p>
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<i>For more on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> and the 2013 NFL Draft, go to <a target="_blank" href="http://revengeofthebirds.com">Revenge of the Birds</a></i>
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<p>For the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL Draft will be their best opportunity to build. They came up short of their expectations this year, starting with a 4-0 mark and then falling totally flat in every way after that point. Offensive line and quarterback highlight their primary needs, and with the No. 7 overall pick of the draft, they should have an opportunity to address one of them.</p>
<p>Matthew Fairburn of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/2/4/3949260/2013-nfl-mock-draft-super-bowl">SB Nation</a> released his latest mock draft on Monday, and he has the Cardinals doing just that. Fairburn has Arizona taking Eric Fisher, the left tackle out of Central Michigan.</p>
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<p>Another player who made waves at the Senior Bowl was Eric Fisher. While Fisher tends to struggle with the bull rush, his athleticism and technique make him a potential anchor on the left side. The Cardinals need to fix the offensive line before they worry about anything else. </p>
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<p>While it's indisputable that the Cardinals need to find a new quarterback, they do have one of the absolute worst lines in the NFL. With a relatively weak quarterback class this season, it's probably the smarter choice to build around a potential franchise left tackle in Fisher.</p>
<p>Why bring in a quarterback who may not be worth the No. 7 pick if he's just going to get destroyed being constantly under fire behind one of the worst lines in the NFL? Fisher seems a smart pick for the Cardinals, and fills a need without being much of a reach.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2013/2/4/3951570/nfl-mock-draft-2013-arizona-cardinalsJames Brady2013-01-28T12:23:22-07:002013-01-28T12:23:22-07:00Cardinals to draft o-line in first round?
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<p>Could the Arizona Cardinals begin their rebuilding process by taking an offensive lineman in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft?</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Cardinals</a> started off well this past season, but quickly fell down to Earth as their quarterback position instability accounted for loss after loss. When Kevin Kolb went down with injury, the list of quarterbacks who took meaningful snaps is almost sad to look at. Guys like <span>Ryan Lindley</span> and <span>John Skelton</span> threw way more interceptions than touchdowns when it was all said and done.</p>
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<i>For more on the Arizona Cardinals and their 2013 NFL Draft needs, go to <a target="_blank" href="http://revengeofthebirds.com">Revenge of the Birds</a>.</i>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Arizona could decide that Kolb was doing well before getting hurt, and they may want to move forward with him, or they could try to start fresh and take a quarterback in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Dan Kadar of<a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/1/28/3924336/2013-nfl-mock-draft"> SB Nation</a> released his latest mock draft on Monday, and he has the Cardinals going in a different direction, taking Eric Fisher, an offensive tackle out of Central Michigan.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Every report from the Senior Bowl last week was that Fisher was the best player on the field. While he can't throw touchdowns for the Cardinals, he's a vast improvement over <span>Nate Potter</span> on the left side. Fisher excels in pass blocking and will only get better in the run game as he gets stronger.</p>
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<p style="text-align: left;">Fisher would definitely help the Cardinals, who had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season. Their quarterbacks were under pressure constantly this past season, and that might alleviate some of the issues at the position going forward.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Still, it's unlikely that securing a strong tackle will take away all of their quarterback woes. But teams do often like to start building their offense around a strong line, so this could be a smart move for a new regime.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2013/1/28/3925216/2013-nfl-mock-draft-arizona-cardinalsJames Brady2013-01-21T11:50:23-07:002013-01-21T11:50:23-07:00Could Cardinals go after quarterback in draft?
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<p>Could the Arizona Cardinals look to address their quarterback position in the 2013 NFL Draft.</p> <p>While two teams are set to face off in the Super Bowl, the other 30 teams in the NFL are gearing up for free agency in March and the 2013 NFL Draft in April. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> are one such team, as they were far out of the playoffs by the end of the season.</p>
<p>They're up in the top of the draft, picking at No. 7. They have a huge list of needs on both sides of the ball, but none are more important than their quarterback position. <span>Ryan Lindley</span> and <span>John Skelton</span> saw significant time in 2012, which is probably enough of a condemnation on its own.</p>
<p>Matthew Fairburn of <a target="_blank" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/1/21/3894084/nfl-mock-draft-2013-luke-joeckel-geno-smith-chiefs">SB Nation</a> released his latest mock draft on Monday, and he has the Cardinals addressing that need by drafting Tyler Wilson, the quarterback out of Arkansas.</p>
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<p>If the board falls in this fashion -- with Joeckel and Smith gone -- the Cardinals would be in a tough spot. With new head coach Bruce Arians in place, he may look to improve an offense that finished second to last in the NFL in scoring. Some expect a player like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78281/chance-warmack">Chance Warmack</a> for this pick, but that's unlikely for two reasons. As good as Warmack is, a guard hasn't been taken in the top 10 since 1997 (Chris Neole, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a>, 10th overall). As good as Warmack is, he's not a flawless prospect.<br><br>More importantly, the Cardinals need a jumpstart in the passing game. Currently we're projecting Tyler Wilson here. As the draft process moves along, we'll get a better feel for which quarterback would fit Arians' offense best. If he continues hinting that he wants a quarterback who excels at play action and completing on third down, a player like <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78123/matt-barkley">Matt Barkley</a> might be better than Wilson. But Wilson is the choice for now because he can play well under pressure and read the entire field.</p>
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<p>While our team blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Revenge of the Birds</a>, is more focused on new head coach Bruce Arians and other changes to the coaching staff, but they'll shift their focus to the draft soon. And when they do, it's pretty obvious that the quarterback position will be their primary point of focus.</p>
<p>There are some other options, like Matt Barkley, but SB Nation has maintained Wilson in this spot, so it will be interesting to see what happens with the quarterback position prior to Arizona's pick.</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/2013/1/21/3900348/nfl-mock-draft-2013-cardinals-tyler-wilsonJames Brady2013-01-07T11:16:56-07:002013-01-07T11:16:56-07:00Cardinals to go with QB in first round?
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<p>The latest mock draft from SB Nation has the Arizona Cardinals drafting a quarterback in the first round.</p> <p>For most of the teams in the NFL, the season is over and the NFL Draft and free agency are the points of focus. The top half of the draft order is set, and for the Arizona Cardinals, it means a top-10 pick after a disappointing season. Actually, given the instability at the quarterback position, it might be said that they over-performed at some points.</p>
<p>Still, that quarterback position will be the primary concern. In Matthew Fairburn's latest mock draft at <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl-mock-draft/2013/1/7/3842518/nfl-mock-draft-2013-tyler-wilson-geno-smith-chiefs-cardinals" target="_blank">SB Nation</a>, he has the team addressing the need. He's got them drafting Tyler Wilson, the signal caller from Arkansas.</p>
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<p><b>7. <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/">Arizona Cardinals</a> - Tyler Wilson, Quarterback, Arkansas</b></p>
<p>Tyler Wilson isn't a perfect prospect by any means, but the Arizona Cardinals are desperate at the quarterback position. Wilson has displayed shaky footwork and throwing mechanics this season, which has caused his accuracy to suffer. He isn't the best decision maker, but by all accounts, Wilson works hard in the film room. Don't be surprised if he works his way into this draft spot.</p>
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<p>Arizona had four different quarterbacks attempt passes this season. <span>Kevin Kolb</span> was the best, with eight touchdowns and three interceptions, but he went down with an injury. From there, it was all downhill.</p>
<p>John Skelton threw two touchdown passes, which is great and all, but also had <i>nine</i> interceptions. <span>Ryan Lindley</span> did slightly better in the latter statistic, with seven interceptions, but zero touchdowns. <span>Brian Hoyer</span> played in Week 17 and managed a touchdown alongside his two interceptions.</p>
<p>In short, if the Cardinals can justify taking a quarterback at No. 7, it seems as though they desperately need to.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2013/1/7/3846970/nfl-mock-draft-2013-cardinals-tyler-wilsonJames Brady2012-12-07T08:15:29-07:002012-12-07T08:15:29-07:00Satisfaction in close loss for Suns?
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<p>Is there satisfaction to be gained in a close loss? The Suns narrowly lost to the Mavericks after a very poor first half and a strong comeback in the second.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/">Phoenix Suns</a> fell just short against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.mavsmoneyball.com/">Dallas Mavericks</a> on Thursday -- a game in which they trailed by double digits (15 points) at one point. They committed mistake after mistake in the first half and the first part of the second half but managed to claw their way back to tie it, falling just short of escaping with the win.</p>
<p>That leaves SB Nation's <a href="http://www.brightsideofthesun.com/2012/12/6/3738458/recap-phoenix-suns-lose-on-satisfaction-guaranteed-night-to-dallas" target="_blank">Bright Side of the Sun</a> to ask the question: does a last-second loss count as satisfaction? They break down the game in their recap, and it wasn't pretty for a while there. Here's some of the more negative comments:</p>
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<p>This one had the Mavericks up by 15 points within the first seven minutes of the third. Hey guess what? Another double-digit deficit! Even a couple of substitutions by Gentry did not help stem the tide. Missed free throws, missed layups, balls bouncing right to the Mavericks combined with their hot shooting. Everything that could go wrong for the Suns, went wrong for the Suns. The Suns missed 13 of their first 14 shots in the third quarter.</p>
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<p>But back to the question at hand -- the one of whether there is satisfaction in a very close loss. The fans commenting on the piece certainly weren't happy, though they're more concerned with the big picture. When a team battles back from a 15-point deficit, the fan tends to ignore the battling-back aspect and focus more on why the team was in that hole in the first place.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/phoenix-suns/2012/12/7/3739666/nba-suns-mavsJames Brady2012-12-07T07:43:56-07:002012-12-07T07:43:56-07:00Kolb explains rib injury
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<p>Kevin Kolb says he hasn't fully healed from the rib injury that has kept him out.</p> <p>Some expected <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Cardinals</a> quarterback <span>Kevin Kolb</span> to return from his injury much sooner, but the healing process has proven lengthy and painful.</p>
<p><a style="background-color: #ffffff; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank" href="http://blog.azcardinals.com/2012/12/06/inside-kolbs-insides/">According to Kolb</a>, it all goes back to the injury itself. Because it involves broken cartilage on top of the broken ribs, they're recovering faster than the cartilage and can't fully heal until everything around them heal.</p>
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<p>"Whenever the cartilage broke, (the ribs) are laying underneath my sternum. That's how they are trying to heal, rather than healing where it's butted up straight against it like a normal cracked rib, flush with each other, mine are laid underneath there. That's what extends the process."</p>
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<p>Some have questioned Kolb's ability to actually come back and play this season and, given his description of the healing process and him saying he's not completely there yet, those concerns don't seem totally off base.</p>
<p>That being said, Kolb is still adamant he's going to return, but says he wants to take his rehab slowly. With these kind of injuries, that's always the smart bet, because they have one of the highest rates of re-injury if not treated with caution.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2012/12/7/3739552/kevin-kolb-injury-arizona-cardinalsJames Brady2012-12-07T07:28:10-07:002012-12-07T07:28:10-07:00Fitzgerald admires Skelton's levelheadedness
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<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/ZWwF7kx35Gof9H-ygfxPO0s-llI=/0x24:4000x2691/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/4574395/156659665.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kevin C. Cox</figcaption>
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<p>Larry Fitzgerald is a fan of John Skelton's ability to not let his emotions get to him one way or another.</p> <p>The <a href="https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arizona Cardinals</a> have had few constants over the years, but star wide receiver <span>Larry Fitzgerald</span> has been one of them.</p>
<p>He's been consistently good, and he's also been consistently happy, or at least, he's been consistently measured. He keeps an even keel and, as <a href="http://www.azcardinals.com/news-and-events/article-2/Fitzgerald-Stays-Stoic/e0edfa08-3833-4274-9abc-f64318019292" target="_blank">reported by azcardinals.com</a>, Fitzgerald respects such qualities in his teammates as well, like quarterback <span>John Skelton</span>.</p>
<p>"I think that's one of the greatest qualities of John is that he never really wavers," Fitzgerald said in a post on the team's official website. He went on to say that Skelton does a good job of keeping an even keel, that he doesn't let games get away from him in either direction -- positive or negative.</p>
<p>Receivers coach Frank Reich has helped Fitzgerald keep his own composure, with the words "a wise man avoids all extremes." Fitzgerald has never been one to lash out at his quarterback for a bad pass, nor has he ever let a big play get the best of him and take away his focus.</p>
<p>Either way, it's a quality he shares with Skelton and, for better or for worse, the two will take a measured approach at trying to get some wins over the rest of this season, if Skelton is the guy going forward.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-cardinals/2012/12/7/3739494/john-skelton-larry-fitzgerald-arizona-cardinalsJames Brady