SB Nation Arizona: All Posts by Tyler Nickel

NFL Free Agency 2013: Steelers were in pursuit of QB Brian Hoyer

2013-03-24T20:00:10Z

Last week, Brian Hoyer signed his second-round tender with the Arizona Cardinals, meaning that unless the team decides to trade or cut him, he will be one of the quarterbacks on the roster next season. No team is allowed to negotiate with Hoyer now that he has signed the tender and he is no longer considered a free agent, which is bad news for the Steelers, according to Ed Bouchette of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (via NFL.com).

Bouchette states that the Steelers had interest in signing Hoyer to be the backup to Ben Roethlisberger before signing his tender with the Cardinals.

The Steelers were not willing to part with a second-round pick for a backup quarterback (obviously), so it became moot. The Cardinals were obviously aware that teams were going to have interest in him, which is why they placed such a high tender on him instead of hoping for the best.

The oddest part about all of this is that the Cardinals actually signed Hoyer last season after he was released from the Steelers. If they would have kept him on their roster, they would have had the option of tendering Hoyer instead of the Cardinals.

In all, it was a good move by the Cardinals as they were able to secure their backup (and possible starter) by paying him just $800,000 more for the season.

2013 NFL Draft: Ryan Nassib the best quarterback in this class?

2013-03-24T18:00:08Z

We know that the Arizona Cardinals are in dire need of an upgrade at the quarterback position. They brought in Drew Stanton to possibly take over the reins for the starting job and Brian Hoyer could become a more than serviceable backup. With that, it seems highly unlikely that the Cards take a QB in the first round of the draft at 7th overall.

If they were to take someone, it would probably be Geno Smith from West Virginia. Most draft pundits agree that he is the top QB in an otherwise paltry quarterback class. But Greg Cosell of NFL Films would disagree. He believes Ryan Nassib from Syracuse projects to be the best signal caller.

Per NFL.com:

"My No. 1 quarterback based on the film study I've done is (Syracuse's) Ryan Nassib. I like him overall more than Geno Smith," Cosell said Thursday on NFL Network's "Path to the Draft." "I think he's a much more precise intermediate thrower. I think the ball comes out with a little bit better velocity at the intermediate level. And I think he's a little more accurate. And I like his footwork a little bit better.

"No one here is at the (Andrew) Luck, RG3 level. Maybe not even the (Ryan) Tannehill level. At the end of the day, Nassib, at this point, would be the guy I like the most."

This is an interesting stance from Cosell, an opinion that I take seriously. Despite his thoughts, however, it seems unlikely that Nassib gets taken in the first round, let alone at 7th overall by the Cards.

If Nassib is available when the Cardinals are selecting at 38th overall in the second round, then it will be intriguing to see what happens. I don't necessarily see him as a fit in Bruce Arians' offense, but I could be wrong.

What do you think? Is Nassib the top signal caller in this class? Or is it Geno Smith? Would you like the Cards to take a chance on Nassib? Tell us in the comments section below.

NFL offseason: O'Brien Schofield cleared to start running

2013-03-23T17:00:06Z

In the midst of this sudden drought of news, Cardinals fans were greeted with a little good news on Friday from one of the current players on the team. Outside linebacker O'Brien Schofield announced on Twitter that he is getting closer by the day to returning to the field.

Just got cleared to start running and doing some drills, about time! Ive been working my butt off for the last 5 months. Praise God
— O'Brien (@Ob_Scho) March 22, 2013

Schofield left during a week 10 game against the Packers last season in where Darnell Dockett unintentionally rolled on Schofield's ankle, causing him to miss the rest of the season.

Schofield is expected to be ready by the start of the season barring any major setbacks. He will join Sam Acho, Lorenzo Alexander and perhaps an additional draft pick in an outside linebacker group that has plenty of room to grow. Schofield picked up his game last season by finally getting a good grasp on Ray Horton's playbook and creating havoc on opposing quarterbacks.

The last five months have been tough for Schofield, but it seems that his hard work is finally beginning to pay off.

NFL offseason: Adrian Wilson reflects on 2012 season with Cardinals, says being benched was a "coaches decision"

2013-03-23T14:00:08Z

One of the greatest Cardinals to ever put on the uniform has headed to New England to join Tom Brady and the Patriots in pursuit of his first ever Super Bowl ring. Adrian Wilson spoke to reporters on a conference call on Friday to talk about his level of excitement for the upcoming season and what his goals are with the Patriots.

More interestingly was what he said about his 2012 campaign in Arizona. According to Fox Sports Arizona, Wilson said that his being benched was "strictly a coaches' decision" and that he feels completely fine physically. Wilson has said that he still thinks he has at least three good years of football left in him and will be able to make a great contribution to the Patriots franchise.

What Wilson said isn't really big news, though. We know that he didn't bench himself in favor of Rashad Johnson and James Sanders. He is one of the few guys in the NFL that wants to be on the field for every single snap if at all possible.

What is surprising is his confidence in being able to make a big contribution at the age of 33. A-Dub keeps himself in phenomenal shape all year round, no matter if it is the offseason or playoffs. At his age, he has to in order to keep up with the younger players. Wilson has always had a quiet confidence, but if you watch his games from the past couple of seasons, a drop off in talent has been noticeable. It will be interesting to see if he is revitalized in Foxborough.

With Wilson feeling great and already having a good rapport with Coach Bill Belichick, we could be seeing a glimpse of the old A-Dub next season instead of old A-Dub that we saw in 2012.

2013 NFL Draft: Jarvis Jones does not impress at Georgia Pro Day

2013-03-22T16:00:12Z

Georgia held their Pro Day on Thursday and participating in that were two surefire top prospects in Jarvis Jones and Alec Ogletree. Ogletree's athleticism and strength stood out and he looks to be the prototypical middle linebacker in the NFL. He, in my opinion, would look great next to Daryl Washington for the Cardinals.

Jones, on the other hand, struggled a bit. Most concerning was his 40-yard dash time, which clocked in at 4.9 seconds according to XTRA 910's Mike Jurecki:

Jarvis Jones ran a 4.9 at his pro day, dnt run at the combine, needed a better showing, will still be a productive player, Manti Te'o speed!
— Mike Jurecki (@mikejurecki) March 21, 2013

Jones will likely play outside linebacker in the NFL and teams that run 3-4 defenses will be looking at him. He was a very productive player at Georgia, leading the nation with 14.5 sacks. The problem is, he doesn't appear to be very fast and needed to have a great pro day in order to allay fears of his spinal stenosis issue.

Teams are very worried that his back may not hold up in the NFL, which could cause him to drop come draft day. To me, that should be the biggest worry for teams, not his speed. You may recall Terrell Suggs running a very similar time at his ASU Pro Day and look how he has turned out. If Jones turns out to be half as good, his selection in the first round will be warranted.

If Jones is on the board at 7, which he likely will be, I think the Cardinals have to give him a good look. They desperately need an impact player to rush the passer and Jones could be that guy. They may also look at players like Barkevious Mingo or Dion Jordan.

What do you think? Does Jones' 40 time scare you? Or is it more about his back problems? Tell us in the comments section below.

NFL Mock Drafts 2013: New offensive lineman name emerges for Arizona Cardinals

2013-03-22T13:00:11Z

In the latest collection of mock drafts, many pundits have the Arizona Cardinals seeking a relatively new name. It is presumed that by the time the Cards are on the clock at #7, Luke Joeckel and Eric Fisher will be off the board. That could leave the Cardinals to take someone like Chance Warmack from Alabama, but not many believe a guard will be taken that high.

That is why many believe Lane Johnson could be the pick. Bucky Brooks of NFL.com thinks the Drew Stanton signing takes the Cards out of the QB market, leaving them with Johnson. Dane Brugler of CBS Sports is thinking along a similar line, saying that Johnson gives them a "building block" at left tackle.

Then there are still some that think USC quarterback Matt Barkley is the guy that will be taken, including Pat Kirwan and Rob Rang of CBS. They obviously missed Bruce Arians' comments the other day about no QBs "wowing" him in this class, which would lead me to believe that a QB won't be the pick here, let alone for Barkley.

If they do take a quarterback, it is more likely to be Geno Smith of West Virginia. At least, that is what Pete Prisco of CBS thinks. The same goes for Matt Smith of NFL.com.

Daniel Jeremiah of NFL.com still believes Fisher will fall right into the Cardinals' laps and they will scoop him up with open arms.

Lastly, our very own SB Nation thinks Barkevious Mingo from LSU is the guy. He would certainly add a new dynamic to the Cardinals' pass rush.

What do you think? Would you be okay with Lane Johnson or Matt Barkley? Tell us in the comments section below.

NFL free agency 2013: Cardinals looking to replace long snapper Mike Leach?

2013-03-21T18:00:08Z

Mike Leach, oddly enough, is one of the more tenured players on the Arizona Cardinals. He was signed in 2009 to be the team's long snapper and has been ever since. He was a favorite of Coach Ken Whisenhunt and praised for his work ethic and leadership. Even though he may be more expensive since he is a vested veteran, he was worth it for the lack of blunders and his preparation.

Now, it seems the new regime might be moving on. According to various reports, the Cardinals are trying out new long snappers, including...

Kevin McDermott/LS/UCLA has workouts set up with theJets, Eagles, 49ers, Colts, Cards and Seahawks.
— Tony Pauline (@TonyPauline) March 20, 2013

Leach is 36 years old and set to make $1 million in salary this season. The Cardinals could easily sign a younger player that would make half of that in salary for a job that is relatively easy compared to the other positions on the field.

All signs are pointing towards the end of the road for Leach in Arizona, but then again, I thought they were last offseason as well. We shall see if the veteran has the savvy to fight off the younger guys for yet another year.

Do you think Leach should be replaced or is he the type of veteran you would pay a little extra for to have on the team? Tell us in the comments section below.

Brian Hoyer signs second-round tender, will likely be with Cardinals in 2013

2013-03-21T14:00:17Z

On Wednesday, Brian Hoyer signed his second-round tender with the Arizona Cardinals, netting him $2 million.

Hoyer official. MT @brian_mcintyre: #Cardinals quarterback Brian Hoyer signed his "Second Round" RFA tender on Wednesday
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) March 20, 2013

The move was a relatively simple one for Hoyer, who was out of work for much of the season last year and now finds himself with a comfortable spot on the team. No other team was going to sign

There are a couple provisions with him signing his tender, though. First, he is no longer a free agent. That means he cannot shop his services to other teams anymore.

Also, the $2 million he is set to earn is only partially guaranteed. Per a tweet from Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com:

Nope. Franchise tenders guaranteed. RFA tenders not. Ask L Pope '09. RT @azsportsnfl: @cardschatter @chrispearcey It's guaranteed now right?
— Darren Urban (@Cardschatter) March 20, 2013

If, for any reason, the Cards cut Hoyer at any point, he will not receive that entire sum of $2 million. Urban also cited that Hoyer signed a RFA tender with the Patriots last season and was later cut. He never saw all of the money he signed for from New England.

At this point, it looks as if Hoyer will start training camp as the #2 quarterback behind newcomer Drew Stanton. The only way that won't happen is if he is either promoted/demoted or traded, which I personally see as a distinct possibility.