Preseason # 3 Saturday, August 23, 2008 – 6:00 PM (MST) 8701 S. Hardy Drive, Tempe, AZ 85284 Phone: 602-379-0101 Fax: 602-379-1821 www.azcardinals.com Mark Dalton – Vice President, Media Relations Mike Helm – Media Relations Coordinator [email protected]602/379-1720 [email protected]602/379-1647 Chris Melvin – Media Relations Manager Nate LoCascio – Media Relations Assistant [email protected]602/379-1882 [email protected]602/379-1620 Arizona Cardinals Football Club Game Release THE PRESEASON SERIES The Cardinals and Raiders meet for the 11 th time this week and for the fourth time in the last five preseasons, in a series that dates back to 1976. The first time these two teams met on Aug. 7, 1976, the Cardinals hosted the Raiders at Tempe Diablo Stadium, an exhibition game that took place while the Cardinals were based in St. Louis and 12 years before the team relocated to Arizona in 1988. Last season‘s meeting between the two teams in week one of the preseason was the first NFL contest for both Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt and Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin. This week‘s game will be the third consecutive preseason meeting between the teams in Oakland, with each team winning one of the previous two games. CARDS-RAIDERS PRESEASON SERIES Overall Preseason Series: 3-7-0 Cardinals on road at Oak: 2-2 First Meeting: Aug. 7, 1976, vs. Oakland, L, 9-20 Last Meeting: Aug. 11, 2007, @ Oakland, L, 23-27 THE COACHES Ken Whisenhunt Lane Kiffin 8-8 Overall Record 4-12 8-8 Regular Season Record 4-12 0-0 Playoff Record 0-0 2 nd Years as Head Coach in NFL 2 nd 2 nd Years with team 2 nd BROADCAST INFORMATION TELEVISION CARDINALS RADIO Network: ABC-15 Flagship: News Talk 92.3 KTAR Play-by-Play: Mike Goldberg Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch Analyst: Bill Lewis Analyst: Ron Wolfley Sideline: Jody Jackson Sideline: Paul Calvisi CARDINALS SPANISH RADIO Flagship: KMIA 710 AM Play-by-Play: Gabriel Trujillo Analyst: Rolando Cantu ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1) Vs. OAKLAND RAIDERS (1-1) McAfee Coliseum 2008 PRESEASON SCHEDULE The Cardinals continue the preseason this week as they travel to Oakland, the second of three consecutive AFC West opponents. The Cardinals face the Raiders for the fourth time in the last five years and next week they will finish off the preseason when they return home to face the Broncos for the fifth season in a row and sixth time in the last seven years. Time/ Date Opponent Location Result Aug. 7 New Orleans Saints U. of Phoenix Stadium L, 10-24 Aug. 16 @ Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium W, 27-17 Aug. 23 @ Oakland Raiders McAfee Coliseum 6:00 PM Aug. 29 Denver Broncos U. of Phoenix Stadium 7:00 PM THIS WEEK’S GAME The Cardinals finish up their preseason road schedule this week as they travel to Oakland to face the Raiders. The contest will feature two second-year head coaches in Arizona‘s Ken Whisenhunt and Oakland‘s Lane Kiffin. Arizona is coming off their first preseason victory under the Whisenhunt regime, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 27-17 at Arrowhead Stadium. Kurt Warner started the game at QB for the Cardinals and played two series before Matt Leinart took over. Each QB led a TD drive and the Arizona defense kept Kansas City out of the end zone until the closing seconds of the game. WR Steve Breaston continued to impress, catching a 14-yard TD pass from Matt Leinart while rookie RB Tim Hightower added a four-yard TD run, his second of the preseason. The Raiders were edged 17-16 by the Tennessee Titans in their second preseason contest when the Titans connected on a 33-yard field goal as time expired, evening Oakland ‗s record at 1-1 after defeating San Francisco the week before. The Cardinals finish off their preseason schedule next week when they host the Denver Broncos at University of Phoenix Stadium. Oakland‘s final tune up comes next week as they travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks.
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The Cardinals and Raiders meet for the 11th time this week and
for the fourth time in the last five preseasons, in a series that dates back to 1976.
The first time these two teams met on Aug. 7, 1976, the Cardinals hosted the Raiders at Tempe Diablo Stadium, an exhibition game that took place while the Cardinals were based in St. Louis and 12 years before the team relocated to Arizona in 1988.
Last season‘s meeting between the two teams in week one of the preseason was the first NFL contest for both Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt and Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin.
This week‘s game will be the third consecutive preseason meeting between the teams in Oakland, with each team winning one of the previous two games.
CARDS-RAIDERS PRESEASON SERIES
Overall Preseason Series: 3-7-0
Cardinals on road at Oak: 2-2
First Meeting: Aug. 7, 1976, vs. Oakland, L, 9-20
Last Meeting: Aug. 11, 2007, @ Oakland, L, 23-27
THE COACHES Ken Whisenhunt Lane Kiffin 8-8 Overall Record 4-12 8-8 Regular Season Record 4-12 0-0 Playoff Record 0-0 2
nd Years as Head Coach in NFL 2
nd
2nd
Years with team 2nd
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION CARDINALS RADIO
Network: ABC-15 Flagship: News Talk 92.3 KTAR Play-by-Play: Mike Goldberg Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch Analyst: Bill Lewis Analyst: Ron Wolfley Sideline: Jody Jackson Sideline: Paul Calvisi
CARDINALS SPANISH RADIO Flagship: KMIA 710 AM Play-by-Play: Gabriel Trujillo Analyst: Rolando Cantu
ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-1)
Vs.
OAKLAND RAIDERS (1-1)
McAfee Coliseum
2008 PRESEASON SCHEDULE
The Cardinals continue the preseason this week as they travel to Oakland, the second of three consecutive AFC West opponents. The Cardinals face the Raiders for the fourth time in the last five years and next week they will finish off the preseason when they return home to face the Broncos for the fifth season in a row and sixth time in the last seven years. Time/ Date Opponent Location Result
Aug. 7 New Orleans Saints U. of Phoenix Stadium L, 10-24 Aug. 16 @ Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium W, 27-17 Aug. 23 @ Oakland Raiders McAfee Coliseum 6:00 PM Aug. 29 Denver Broncos U. of Phoenix Stadium 7:00 PM
THIS WEEK’S GAME
The Cardinals finish up their preseason road schedule this week as they travel to Oakland to face the Raiders. The contest will feature two second-year head coaches in Arizona‘s Ken Whisenhunt and Oakland‘s Lane Kiffin. Arizona is coming off their first preseason victory under the Whisenhunt regime, defeating the Kansas City Chiefs 27-17 at Arrowhead Stadium. Kurt Warner started the game at QB for the Cardinals and played two series before Matt Leinart took over. Each QB led a TD drive and the Arizona defense kept Kansas City out of the end zone until the closing seconds of the game. WR Steve Breaston continued to impress, catching a 14-yard TD pass from Matt Leinart while rookie RB Tim Hightower added a four-yard TD run, his second of the preseason. The Raiders were edged 17-16 by the Tennessee Titans in their second preseason contest when the Titans connected on a 33-yard field goal as time expired, evening Oakland ‗s record at 1-1 after defeating San Francisco the week before. The Cardinals finish off their preseason schedule next week when they host the Denver Broncos at University of Phoenix Stadium. Oakland‘s final tune up comes next week as they travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks.
TEAM RECORDS Net passing yards: 4,437 (prev: 4,262, 1984) Gross passing yards: 4,723 (prev: 4,639, 1984) Pass attempts: 670 (prev: 613, 1996) Completions: 419 (prev: 347, 1984) Completion percentage: 62.5% (prev: 61.3%, 1984) First downs passing: 224 (prev: 214, 1996) Field goals attempted: 46 (prev: 40, 1996) Field goals made: 43 (prev: 30, 1995)
INDIVIDUAL RECORDS Receptions: Larry Fitzgerald, 103
(previous: 101, Larry Centers in ’95 and Boldin in ‘03) Points: Neil Rackers, 140
(previous: 117, Jim Bakken ’67 & Neil O’Donoghue ’84) Field Goals: Neil Rackers, 40
(previous: 30, Greg Davis in ‘95) Field Goal Attempts: Neil Rackers, 42
(previous: 40, Jim Bakken in ’66) Field goal %: Neil Rackers 95.2% (40-42) (previous: 82.4%, Kevin Butler in ’96, 14-17) Consecutive Field Goals: Neil Rackers, 31
(previous: 11, Greg Davis in ’94 & Bill Gramatica in ‘01 Completion %: Kurt Warner, 64.5% (242-375)
(previous: 61.7% Steve Beuerlein in ’93, 258- 418) Most consec. 100-yard receiving games: Boldin, 5 (previous: 4, Rob Moore in ’97 & David Boston in ’01)
CARDS IN PRIME TIME IN 2008 For the second season in a row, the Cardinals appeared on a live national broadcast during the preseason, opening up at home vs. the New Orleans Saints in a game that aired live on ESPN.
Last season, the Cardinals played two games that were broadcast live on NFL Network, hosting the Houston Texans and the San Diego Chargers.
The preseason matchup vs. New Orleans marked the first of three nationally televised games for the Cardinals in 2008. In the next one, the Cardinals will host the San Francisco 49ers on November 10 at University of Phoenix Stadium in a game that will be showcased on ESPN‘s ―Monday Night Football.‖ The third prime-time game will come later that month when the Cards head to Philadelphia for a Thanksgiving night game against the Eagles that will be carried by NFL Network. Cardinals-Eagles will be the third game of the NFL‘s Thanksgiving triple-header that also includes Tennessee at Detroit and Seattle at Dallas.
It will be the franchise‘s first Thanksgiving game since a 1985 contest at Dallas and this year will mark the first time since 2000 that the Cardinals will appear more than once in prime time.
Six days after a heart-breaking home loss to the Bears on Monday night, the Cardinals endured an equally difficult defeat in Oakland against the previously winless Raiders. Despite a switch of offensive coordinators earlier in the week, the Cardinals offense had its hands full with an Oakland defense that kept Arizona out of the end zone and harassed QB Matt Leinart throughout the game. The game began with Oakland moving to the AZ38 on the opening drive but LB Karlos Dansby halted it when he recovered a Zack Crockett fumble at the AZ45. The Cards then moved into position for a 45-yard FG but Neil Rackers missed it left. Oakland opened the scoring with a 1-yard TD plunge from ReShard Lee, capping an 11-play, 81-yard drive that was extended by a pair of 3
rd-n-long completions. The next Arizona drive ended when DT Terdell
Sands INT‘d a Leinart pass that was batted at the line of scrimmage and on the very next play Andrew Walter connected with Randy Moss on a 32-yard TD strike that made it 14-0. A 35-yard Chris Carr punt return on the next drive led to a 31-yard Sebastian Janikowski FG that upped the lead to 17-0 early in the 2
nd. Arizona‘s defense then forced another turnover when
DE Bertrand Berry sacked Walter to force a fumble that AZ recovered at the Oakland 32, setting up a 29-yard Rackers FG. Just before intermission, SS Adrian Wilson ended another Raider scoring threat when he picked off Walter at the AZ 4, keeping the score at 17-3. Arizona‘s tough day continued on the 3
rd play of the second half when Tyrone Poole INT‘d
Leinart at the AZ 44 but the Cards defense responded by forcing a 3-n-out. The Raiders made it 20-3 with a 35-yard Janikowski FG on their next drive, the key play of which was a 35-yard pass to TE Courtney Anderson. Arizona‘s ensuing drive went in reverse as back-to-back sacks pushed the Cards back to the 1 before RB Marcel Shipp was tackled in the end zone by SS Michael Huff for a safety. After the free kick, Berry sacked and stripped Walter a second time and Arizona recovered at the OAK44. The hit forced Walter out of the game but the Cards again could only convert it into a Rackers FG. FS Robert Griffith INT‘d a pass attempt by WR Ronald Curry on the next series and Leinart connected with WR Bryant Johnson on a 58-yard pass to the OAK22. However the offense again had to settle for a FG instead of a TD and Rackers‘ 38-yarder proved to be the game‘s final points.
CARDINALS 0 3 3 0 9
RAIDERS 14 3 5 0 22
Team Qtr. Time Scoring Play Drive Score Raiders 1 4:25 Lee 1-yard run (Janikowski kick) 11-61, 5:15 0-7 Raiders 1 3:30 Ross 32-yard pass from Walter (Janikowski kick) 1-32, 0:08 0-14 Raiders 2 14:50 Janikowski 31-yard FG 6-23, 1:40 0-17 CARDS 2 6:00 Rackers 29-yard FG 6-21, 2:41 3-17 Raiders 3 6:50 Janikowski 35-yard FG 10-53, 3:55 3-20 Raiders 3 5:46 Shipp tackled in end zone by Huff for Safety -- 3-22 CARDS 3 3:03 Rackers 45-yard FG 5-17, 2:28 6-22 CARDS 4 10:07 Rackers 38-yard FG 9-76, 3:58 9-22
STATISTICS
AZ OAK First Downs 9 21 Rushes-Yards 20-50 37-137 Net Passing Yards 174 258 Total Net Yards 224 395 Passing (A-C-I) 32-13-2 35-19-2 Sacked by Opp. 3-29 5-21 Punts-Average 4-43.5 3-45.0 Fumbles-Lost 2-0 5-3 Penalties 4-25 8-70 Time of Possession 22:59 37:01
Weather: Temp 67 degrees, Humidity 59%, Wind
W 6 mph.
RUSHING CARDS: James 13-34; Leinart 3-5; Schable 1-5; Boldin 1-4; Ayanbadejo 1-3; Shipp 1-(-1). RAIDERS: Fargas 23-66; Crockett 8-44; Tuisosopo 3-20; Lee 27; Walter 1-0.
The Cardinals improved to 1-1 in the ‘08 preseason and notched their first preseason win under head coach Ken Whisenhunt with a 10-point win at Kansas City. Kurt Warner started the game at QB for the Cardinals and played two series before Matt Leinart took over. Each QB led a TD drive and the Arizona defense kept Kansas City out of the end zone until the closing seconds of the game. The evening started with the Chiefs taking the opening kickoff to the AZ14 but the 12-play drive came up short of the end zone and instead resulted in a 32-yard Nick Novak FG. On Arizona‘s second offensive series, Warner was 6-6 for 54 yards and Edgerrin James was 3-22 rushing to move the team downfield. Rookie RB Tim Hightower found the end zone for the second time in as many weeks when he scored on a 4-yard touchdown run that was initially ruled down at the one but reversed after a successful Cardinals challenge. The PAT was missed because of a bad hold and the game was tied at 6 at the half after KC‘s Conner Barth hit a 35-yard FG late in the 2nd quarter. On the opening drive of the 3rd quarter, Leinart‘s passing and Hightower‘s running help set-up another scoring opportunity. Leinart was 5-5 for 49 yards and ended the drive with a 14-yard TD pass to WR Steve Breaston on 3rd-n-8. A 40-yard Novak FG on the ensuing Chiefs possession made it 13-9 but Arizona soon added to its lead. J.J. Arrington‘s 78-yard kickoff return set the offense up at the KC 24 and on his first snap after entering the game at the #3 QB, Brian St. Pierre hit FB Tim Castille with a TD pass down the left sideline. Trailing 20-9 late in the game, Chiefs reserve QB Tyler Thigpen was marching the team into Arizona territory but his pass attempt popped into the air and was picked off by rookie free agent safety Dennis Keyes who returned it 84 yards for a TD. Kansas City‘s lone score came on a 14-yard TD pass in the game‘s final seconds. Arizona‘s defensive effort was led by LB Travis LaBoy, who posted a game-high 7 tackles and 2 sacks. WR Larry Fitzgerald led all players with 4 catches for 46 yards in his limited action while fellow receiver Anquan Boldin returned from a hamstring injury for his first preseason appearance.
CARDINALS 0 6 14 7 27
CHIEFS 3 3 3 8 17
Team Qtr. Time Scoring Play Drive Score Chiefs 1 7:48 Novak 32-yard FG 12-46, 7:12 0-3 CARDS 2 12:41 Hightower 4-yard run (kick failed) 13-78, 6:50 6-3 Chiefs 2 4:57 Barth 35-yard FG 12-53, 6:01 6-6 CARDS 3 8:23 Breaston 14-yard pass from Leinart (Rackers kick) 11-70, 6:37 13-6 Chiefs 3 3:38 Novak 40-yard FG 8-35, 4:45 13-9 CARDS 3 3:20 Castille 24-yard pass from St. Pierre(Rackers kick) 1-24, 0:18 20-9 CARDS 4 1:14 Keyes 84-yard INT return (Rackers kick) -- 27-9 Chiefs 4 0:15 Joachim 14-yard pass from Thigpen (Savage run) 6-60, 0:59 27-17
STATISTICS
AZ KC First Downs 13 22 Rushes-Yards 21-76 29-153 Net Passing Yards 139 192 Total Net Yards 215 345 Passing (A-C-I) 25-18-0 40-23-1 Sacked by Opp. 4-24 4-20 Punts-Average 6-47.7 4-57.5 Fumbles-Lost 3-0 0-0 Penalties 3-20 3-20 Time of Possession 25:53 34:07
Weather: Clear, 84 degrees, 32% humidity; no
wind.
RUSHING CARDS: Hightower 9-28, TD; James 4-20; Baylark 4-13; Arrington 2-13; Castille 1-3; Morelli 1-(-1). Chiefs: L. Johnson 14-61; K. Smith 4-37; Thigpen 5-35; Savage 3-12; Battle 3-8. PASSING CARDS: Leinart 7-11, 62 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT; Warner 6-9, 54 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT; St. Pierre 4-4, 40 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT; Morelli 1-1, 7 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT. RECEIVING CARDS: Fitzgerald 4-46; Castille 4-45, TD; Breaston 3-35, TD; Hightower 2-3; Urban 1-16; Patrick 1-6; Morey 1-5; Arrington 1-5; James 1-2. Chiefs: McMahan 3-41; Price 3-34; Savage 2-19; Cox 2-12; Smith 2-10; Allan 1-18; Battle 1-17; Joachim 1-14, TD; Webb 1-12; Bowe 1-7; Franklin 1-6; Sippio 1-6; Cottam 1-5; Gonzalez 1-4; Arthur 1-4; Manderino 1-3.
Rushes: Cardinals-14, Tim Hightower (51 yards) Raiders-22, Michael Bush (86 yards)
Rushing Yards: Cardinals-51, Tim Hightower (14 att., 3.6 avg.) Raiders-120, Louis Rankin (14 att, 8.6 avg.)
Passing Yards: Cardinals-153, Matt Leinart (14-of-19 passing, 1 TD) Raiders-167, Andrew Walter (17-of-23 passing)
Touchdowns: Cardinals-2, Tim Hightower Raiders-1, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Zach Miller, Michael
Bush
Tackles: Cardinals-8, Karlos Dansby, Ali Highsmith Raiders-8, Harim Eugene
Sacks: Cardinals-2, Joe Tafoya, Travis LaBoy Raiders-1, Josh Shaw, Thomas Howard, Greyson
Gunheim
IN GAME TWO AGAINST THE CHIEFS
Ken Whisenhunt-Got his first preseason win with the Cardinals and
made judicious use of his replay challenges. Referee Pete Morelli reversed both plays he challenged. Whisenhunt was successful on 1-of-6 reviews in 2007.
RB Tim Hightower-The rookie running back ran for a four-yard
touchdown and now has two rushing TDs in his first two games of the preseason, both while playing with the Cardinals first team.
QB Matt Leinart-Completed 7-of-11 passes for 62 yards and a
touchdown for a passer rating of 108.9. Leinart has now completed 14-of-19 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown in the preseason, good for a 114.6 QB rating.
RB J.J. Arrington-Had two kickoff returns totaling 104 yards,
including a 78-yard return to the KC 24 yard line in the third quarter that set up a touchdown and also rushed twice for 13 yards.
DE Travis LaBoy-Put in a dominate performance against the Chiefs,
finishing with seven tackles, 2.0 sacks and four tackles-for-loss in his limited playing time.
WR Steve Breaston-Hauled in a 14-yard touchdown pass from Matt
Leinart and continued to solidify his claim on the #3 receiver spot, as he now leads the team with six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown in the preseason.
FB Tim Castille-The second-year pro had an impressive game,
catching four passes for 45 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown reception from Brian St. Pierre.
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 3 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
2008 ROAD WARRIORS
The Cardinals will certainly earn their frequent flyer miles as they make five East Coast trips during the 2008 season. Arizona is looking to improve their road record this year just like they did last season with their home record, going from 3-5 in 2006 to 6-2 in 2007. The task will not be easy as the five trips out east measure a total of 16,621 miles.
On top of that the Cardinals will also have to adjust to the time change as three of the team‘s trips will include a three hour difference and two just a two hour difference since the state of Arizona does not adjust their clocks during daylight saving time like the rest of the country.
The Cardinals will again be one of the handful of NFL teams that will ―travel around the world‖ in 2008. Arizona is among the seven teams that will travel at least 25,000 miles this season, the distance it takes to travel around the globe.
Total 2008 NFL Miles Traveled
1. Seattle 34,766 2. Oakland 34,218 3. San Diego 33,403 4. San Francisco 31,530 5. New England 29,024 6. Arizona 26,073
The teams in the NFC West will fly the furthest distance of any division for the second consecutive season. They will fly 114,616 miles this season compared to 113,584 last year. The teams in the AFC North will travel the least this year, accumulating a total of 34,584 miles.
THE STAFF REMAINS THE SAME
The key word for the Cardinals in 2008 is continuity. With all 16 coaches returning to their jobs with the team, it marks the first time since 2001-2002 that the Cardinals have had the same exact coaching staff for two consecutive seasons.
Years Coach Position w/ Team
Ken Whisenhunt Head Coach 2 Russ Grimm Asst. Head Coach/Off. Line 2 Todd Haley Offensive Coordinator 2 Clancy Pendergast Defensive Coordinator 5 Ron Aiken Defensive Line 2 Teryl Austin Defensive Backs 2 Maurice Carthon Running Backs 2 Rick Courtright Asst. Defensive Backs 5 Bill Davis Linebackers 2 Freddie Kitchens Tight Ends 2 John Lott Strength and Conditioning 2 Mike Miller Wide Receivers 2 Matt Raich Defensive Assistant 2 Jeff Rutledge Quarterbacks 2 Kevin Spencer Special Teams 2 Dedric Ward Offensive Quality Control 2
Whisenhunt feels like the trust built between the coaches and players and the understanding that grows between them pays dividends on the field.
―It‘s easy to think of coaches in schemes and in plays, and there is no question that helps,‖ Whisenhunt said. ―But the underestimated part of it is the relationship you build with these players. When you have been through the battles (together), you don‘t have a new guy to get up to speed and that helps with the overall team chemistry.‖
CARDS WRAP UP ANOTHER CAMP AT N.A.U.
The Cardinals will hold their final five practices at Northern Arizona University this week before concluding their second training camp under head coach Ken Whisenhunt on Thursday, Aug. 21. For Whisenhunt, he came to training camp with a theme of focusing on the fundamentals of the game in his second year as head coach, fundamentals such as avoiding penalties, especially late in games.
Arizona played an NFL-high 12 games decided by seven points or less and six games by three points or less. The Cardinals also led the NFL in penalties in 2007 and, especially late in the game, Whisenhunt felt the team prevented itself from winning by making mistakes when they were mentally and physically tired.
―If you can just eliminate that one area, which we can do, that will put us in position to win some of those close games,‖ Whisenhunt said as the team reported on July 23. ―Our focus is going to be on finishing off games. In other words, making the plays when you‘re tired, and that‘s what training camp in so great for. Guys are sore, they‘re tired, and they‘re put into positions where they have to make plays.‖
Although the team struggled with penalties in the first preseason contest vs. New Orleans, drawing eight for 70 yards, the hard work and attention to discipline began to show in a game two win at Kansas City with the team committing just three penalties.
WHISENHUNT ENTERS YEAR TWO
Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt enters his second
season as the man in charge for Arizona. Whisenhunt will look to build on the success that he had in his first season when he led the Cardinals to an 8-8 record, a three game improvement over the team‘s 2006 record. In 2007, Whisenhunt also:
Led the team to an 8-8 record in his first season in Arizona, the first coach to do so since Buddy Ryan in 1994.
The three-game improvement over the team‘s 2006 record was the biggest improvement margin of any of the five rookie head coaches in 2007.
Led the Cardinals to a 6-2 home record, their best home mark since going 6-1 in 1976.
Guided a passing offense which was ranked fifth in the NFL in 2007 after throwing for 4,065 net yards.
Led the offense to a franchise record 32 touchdown passes and their 404 points scored on 49 total touchdowns was the second highest total in team history.
In scoring 404 points on the season, the team scored 20+ points in 12 games and 30+ points in six contests.
The Cardinals scored five more points than they allowed this season (404-399), the first time the Cards have scored more points than they allowed since 1993 under Joe Bugel when the team scored 57 more points than it allowed (326-269).
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 4 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
HALEY CALLING THE SHOTS
Cardinals offensive coordinator Todd Haley was handed the
play-calling duties in the offseason, taking over full-time the duties that he began to share during the 2007 season.
Haley took over a portion of the play-calling duties during the 2007 season and the Cardinals offense improved steadily towards the end of the season, culminating in a 48-19 defeat of the St. Louis Rams in the season finale, the most points scored by a Cardinals team since 1977.
―He (coach Whisenhunt) really loosened the leash and gave me a lot of say-so, which was great,‖ Haley told the press after signing the new contract. ―That was a big part of staying and not doing any of the Miami stuff.‖
A candidate for the Dolphins head coaching position in the offseason, the Cardinals moved to lock up Haley, signing him to a new three-year contract and giving him the majority of the play-calling responsibility, something Haley relishes.
―That‘s what you do the job for,‖ Haley said. ―You prepare all week, design the game plan and when you get to game day, it makes it that much more fulfilling to do that. It‘s obviously as close as you can get to the game.‖
Whisenhunt sees it as the next step in Haley‘s career, an opportunity he was given while with Pittsburgh. ―I feel an obligation to do that because I was given that opportunity to grow in that capacity,‖ Whisenhunt said.
GRIMM RETURNS FAMILIAR FACES
As is the case with the coaching staff, the offensive line will achieve some continuity in 2008 if the starters can stay healthy. Russ Grimm’s crew returns all five full-time
starters from 2007. Center Al Johnson injured his left knee in the first week of training camp this year but is expected to regain his starting spot when he returns for the regular season.
Cardinals Starting Offensive Line
LT Mike Gandy LG Reggie Wells C Al Johnson RG Deuce Lutui RT Levi Brown
Despite a rash of injuries and setbacks, the line enjoyed a successful season under Grimm in 2007. The Cardinals ranked sixth in the NFL in sacks allowed per pass play with only 24 sacks allowed for minus 163 yards in 2007. The NFL average was 34.4 sacks for minus 223.4 yards.
The 24 sacks allowed is the lowest total since 1978 when the team allowed just 22 sacks.
The Cardinals offensive line did not allow a sack in the final two games and had five sackless games in 2007. It marked the first time since the opening two games of the 1989 season (9/10 @ Det; 9/19 @ Sea) that the Cards have not allowed a sack in back-to-back games.
Edgerrin James rushed for 1,222 yards on the season, the fifth highest total in franchise history and his second consecutive 1,000-yard season in Arizona.
PENDERGAST AGAIN LEADS DEFENSE
With the addition of a few free agents and draft picks as well as the return of numerous key players from injury, defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast is ready to lead
the defense back to being one of the league‘s best.
One of two coaches retained by head coach Ken Whisenhunt when he took over last season, Pendergast is in his fifth year in Arizona. He has accumulated an impressive resume since joining the Cardinals as the defensive signal caller.
In his first season at defensive coordinator in 2004, improved the team‘s overall defensive ranking from 26
th
to 12th. In 2005, Pendergast‘s defense improved to 8
th
overall, the unit‘s first top ten ranking since 1994 (3rd
).
Helped guide defensive tackle Darnell Dockett to his first Pro Bowl selection in 2008, strong safety Adrian Wilson to his first Pro Bowl selection in 2007 and defensive end Bertrand Berry to an NFC leading 14.5 sacks in 2004, earning the free agent acquisition his first Pro Bowl appearance.
In 2005, strong safety Adrian Wilson collected a team high eight sacks setting an NFL record for the most sacks in a single season by a defensive back.
The Cardinals defense set a new franchise record with 551 interception return yards and six interceptions returned for touchdowns in 2007.
The 2007 defense also set a modern NFL record by holding the Detroit Lions to -18 rushing yards on eight attempts in Week 10.
A GOOD PROBLEM TO HAVE
The most well-publicized story line of the Cardinals preseason has been the quarterback battle between third-year pro Matt Leinart and 11-year pro Kurt Warner.
Head coach Ken Whisenhunt named Leinart, the 10th overall selection in the 2006 draft, the starter heading into training camp but pressing him every step of the way will be the veteran Warner, who took over the quarterbacking duties in 2007 after Leinart went down with a broken collar bone. Warner excelled despite playing most of the season with a torn ligament in his non-throwing arm, suffered in his first start of 2007 vs. Carolina in week six.
Despite the injury and only starting in 11 games, Warner threw 27 touchdown passes, one shy of the franchise single-season record and amassed 3,417 passing yards.
Leinart has returned from last season‘s injury with a better understanding of the offense and the hard work he put in during the offseason has showed through the first two preseason games. Leinart has completed 14-of-19 passes (73.7%) for 153 yards and a touchdown for a QB rating of 114.6.
After not appearing in the first preseason game vs. New Orleans, Warner received the start in game two last week in Kansas City. After a three-n-out in the first drive, Warner completed six-of-seven passes for 54 yards in a drive that culminated in a Tim Hightower rushing touchdown.
Despite being behind Leinart on the depth chart, Warner was excited to be back on the field. ―It felt good,‖ Warner said of being back on the field. ―We made a couple of mistakes there early which didn‘t make me real happy but we got into a rhythm in that second drive. I felt really comfortable in that second drive.‖
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 5 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
IMPORTANCE OF THE RUSH
The Cardinals have been primarily known as a passing team over the last couple of years, especially with the emergence of Pro Bowlers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. The duo has combined for 34 100-yard
receiving games, with both going over 100 yards five times. The team‘s passing attack has finished in the league‘s top 10 for the last three years (5
th in 2007, 10
th in 2006 and 1
st
in 2004).
However, the Cardinals are looking to rely more on the rushing game in 2008, using running back Edgerrin James
to lead the attack. It is hard to dispute the rationale.
Since James joined the team in 2006, he has rushed for 100 yards six times, with the team winning all six games. Five of those wins came against NFC West foes.
Looking back, since 1998, the Cardinals have had 17 100-yard rushing games and the team has a 16-1 record in those games.
Around the NFL, those stats hold true. In the last five years, teams with backs that go over 100 yards rushing in a game win almost 75 percent of their games.
Below is the win percentage of teams with a 100-yard rusher since 1993:
In his team meeting with the players on the opening day of training camp, Ken Whisenhunt emphasized to the team the importance of winning close games and the work they must do in camp, both mentally and physically, to prepare themselves to close out games.
Looking back over the 2007 season, Whisenhunt‘s first as head coach, it is easy to see why he wants to make this point a priority for the season.
Arizona played 12 games that were decided by eight points or fewer in 2007, more than any other team in the NFL. Six of those games were decided by three points or less. Of the Cardinals eight wins, six were decided by eight points or fewer.
Opponent Score Pt. Dif
9/16 vs. Sea W, 23-20 +3 9/30 vs. Pit W, 21-14 +7 10/7 @ StL W, 34-31 +3 11/18 @ Cin W, 35-27 +8 12/2 vs. Cle W, 27-21 +6 12/23 vs. Atl W, 30-27 (OT) +3
Of the team‘s eight losses, six were decided by seven points or fewer.
Opponent Score Pt. Dif
9/10 @ SF L, 17-20 -3 9/23 @ Bal L, 20-23 -3 10/21 @ Was L, 19-21 -2 11/4 @ TB L, 10-17 -7 11/25 vs. SF L, 31-37 (OT) -6 12/16 @ NO L, 31-24 -7
Five of the Cardinals games in 2007 were decided by a made or missed field goal at the end of regulation.
UNDRAFTED SUCCESS
The Cardinals have 13 undrafted rookie free agents in camp in 2008, all trying to make the team facing one of the toughest uphill climbs in sports—the 53-man roster.
If they beat the odds and make the roster, they would join the 14 players currently on the Cardinals roster who have made their way onto an NFL team after joining the league as an undrafted free agent.
CB Mike Adams-Appeared in seven games as a rookie in 2007.
FB Tim Castille-Made the roster in 2007 as a rookie.
S Oliver Celestin-Appeared in 48 games with four starts since entering the league in 2004.
S Aaron Francisco-Entered the NFL with the Cardinals in 2005 and has played in 37 games with five starts.
LS Nathan Hodel-Has handled the long snapping duties in 96 consecutive games with the Cardinals.
CB Rod Hood-Appeared in 78 games with 28 starts in his career, including starting all 16 games for the Cardinals in 2007.
P Dirk Johnson-Has punted in 57 games in his six years in the NFL.
WR Ahmad Merritt-Has appeared in 29 games with four starts after entering the league in 2000.
LB Brandon Moore-Enters his seventh NFL season and has appeared in 88 games with 26 starts for his career, all with the
49ers.
WR Jamaica Rector-Has played in three games in his two NFL seasons.
DE Bryan Robinson-In his 12th NFL season, has appeared in 159 games with 124 career starts.
C Lyle Sendlein-Appeared in 12 games and started two in his rookie season of 2007.
WR Jerheme Urban-Entered the league in 2003 and had 329 receiving yards and two TDs for the Cardinals in 2007.
QB Kurt Warner-One of the most celebrated stories in the NFL, is a two-time NFL MVP and was named the MVP of Super Bowl
XXXIV as a member of the St. Louis Rams. Entered the NFL in 1994 with Green Bay before being out of football until 1997 when he signed with St. Louis.
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 6 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
BOLDIN RISING
Anquan Boldin should make some huge strides up the
Cardinals career lists in 2008 if he continues on the pace he has set through the first five years of his career.
Boldin needs just one more 100-yard receiving game to tie Hall of Famer Jackie Smith for the most in franchise history.
Games Player (Years)
22 Jackie Smith (1963-77) 21 Anquan Boldin (2003-)
Roy Green (1979-90) 18 Rob Moore (1995-2001) 17 Mel Gray (1971-82) 16 David Boston (1999-02)
Boldin has averaged 82.6 receptions per season since entering the NFL in 2003 and sits in the seventh spot on the Cardinals career list with 413 receptions. If he continues on pace this season, he would pass Frank Sanders for third place all-time.
Catches Rnk Player (Years) Rec. To Pass
1. Larry Centers (1990-98) 535 123 2. Roy Green (1979-90) 522 110 3. Frank Sanders (1995-02) 493 81 4. Jackie Smith (1963-77) 480 68 5. Pat Tilley (1976-86) 469 57 6. Bobby Joe Conrad (1958-68) 418 6 7. Anquan Boldin (2003-) 413 -
FITZGERALD REPEATS IN 2007
Larry Fitzgerald’s 2007 totals of 100 catches for 1,409
yards and 10 touchdowns were almost identical to his 2005 totals when he caught 103 passes for 1,409 yards and 10 touchdowns. In repeating his 2005 Pro Bowl season, Fitzgerald became the youngest receiver in NFL history to have two 100-catch seasons, reaching the milestone at the age of 24 years and 121 days.
His record breaking play in his first four seasons with the Cardinals earned him a four-year contract extension during the offseason that will keep him with the team through 2011.
In 2007, Fitzgerald
Led the NFC in both receptions (100) and yards (1,409).
Joined teammate Anquan Boldin as the only receivers in NFL history to record 100 catches twice in their first four seasons.
Tied a franchise record with touchdowns in five consecutive games.
Recorded 10 receiving touchdowns, giving him 34 for his career, the most by a Cardinal since the team moved to Arizona in 1998.
Led the Cardinals in receptions for the third time in his four seasons with Arizona.
Caught nine touchdown passes in the final seven games he appeared in.
Became one of 39 receivers in NFL history to be selected to the Pro Bowl twice in their first four seasons.
WHO WILL BE NUMBER THREE?
Much of the talk in the offseason surrounded the question of who was going to fill the third receiver spot vacated when Bryant Johnson left in free agency. The Cardinals have their Pro Bowl tandem of Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin in the first two slots but who would it be to fill the void at number three?
Through the first two preseason games, a couple of players have made a significant push for the third spot:
Steve Breaston: The second-year pro had a terrific
offseason and that has continued into the preseason as he has been a standout in both contests. He leads all Cardinals receivers with six receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown. He also has the longest reception of the preseason, a 34-yarder from Matt Leinart.
Jerheme Urban: Urban played valuable minutes for the
Cardinals in 2007, appearing in 10 games with two starts, and finished the season with 22 catches for 329 yards and two touchdowns. He has been consistent and steady so far in 2008 with five receptions for 48 yards. He has been used as a key outlet on third down.
Jamaica Rector: A third-year pro, Rector looked strong in
the first game of the preseason, hauling in four passes for 34 yards, including a key 23-yard reception on third down in the first quarter. Rector was held without a catch last week in Kansas City
Early Doucet: Arizona‘s third-round selection in the 2008
draft (81st overall), Doucet will be in completion for playing
time when he returns from injury. After suffering a hamstring injury early in training camp, Doucet has been held out of both preseason contests so far this season. Coaches hope he will return to the field this week as the Cardinals travel to Oakland.
EDGE AIMS FOR TOP 10
Currently 13th on the NFL‘s all-time rushing list, Edgerrin
James enters the 2008 season poised to enter the top 10.
With 11,607 yards on the ground coming into the season, James needs 636 yards to pass Marcus Allen, who currently sits in 10
th place.
With another 1,000-yard season, James would move as high up as the number eight spot, currently held by the legendary Jim Brown.
All-Time NFL Rushing Leaders: Yds. to
Rk Player Yrs/NFL Yds. Pass
1 Emmitt Smith 15 18,355 6,749 2 Walter Payton 13 16,726 5,120 3 Barry Sanders 10 15,269 3,663 4 Curtis Martin 12 14,101 2,495 5 Jerome Bettis 13 13,662 2,056 6 Eric Dickerson 11 13,259 1,653 7 Tony Dorsett 12 12,739 1,133 8 Jim Brown 9 12,312 706 9 Marshall Faulk 13 12,279 673 10 Marcus Allen 16 12,243 637 11 Franco Harris 13 12,120 514 12 Thurman Thomas 13 12,074 468 13 Edgerrin James* 9 11,607 -
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 7 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
LEINART STARTS OFF YEAR THREE WELL
Matt Leinart has returned from a 2007 season that saw
him land on injured reserve with a broken collarbone he suffered in the fifth game of the year. He returned the starter but after Kurt Warner‘s success as Leinart‘s backup, some questioned whether Warner should start in 2008.
Whisenhunt named Leinart the starter heading into training camp and has continued to praise Leinart‘s improvement in the offseason and even during his first few starts of last season before the injury.
―One thing that seems to be forgotten is that Matt was growing and doing a pretty good job for us, too, when he got hurt, ― Whisenhunt reminded reporters in training camp. ―I think you‘ve got to be pretty careful in not overlooking that.‖
Whisenhunt‘s words have rung true so far in the preseason. Leinart has looked impressive and in control in his two appearances so far. He has completed 14-of-19 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown in limited action. He has completed 73.7 percent of his passes and has had a rating over 100.0 in both contests.
Whisenhunt was impressed with what he saw vs. New Orleans. ―He was accurate and in control,‖ coach Ken Whisenhunt said after Leinart‘s first game of the season. ―He looked smooth in the pocket and his footwork was good. I was impressed.‖ Still, Leinart knows that the ―quarterback controversy‖ between him and Warner is not going away.
―A guy like Kurt pushing me is only going to make me better,‖ Leinart said.
HIGHTOWER GETTING HIGH MARKS
Rookie running back Tim Hightower, taken by the
Cardinals in the fifth round (149th
overall) in the 2008 draft, has capitalized on every opportunity given to him in the preseason and he has certainly turned heads so far.
Working with the first team offense through the first two preseason games, Hightower has rushed the ball 14 times for 51 yards and two touchdowns. He has been a force inside the redzone, scoring touchdowns on both his runs when handed the ball inside the five yard line.
More important than the stats are the intangibles he has proven, showing coaches the potential that made him their fifth round selection.
―I think he is a combination of some guys I‘ve been around,‖ Whisenhunt said after seeing Hightower in a game situation. ―He doesn‘t have quite the speed of a Willie Parker but he reminds me a little bit of Jerome (Bettis) in the way he can see the holes and the way he picks up his feet in the holes.‖
Hightower has made it a point to say that the praise, while flattering, has not earned him spot on the team and he sees room for improvement.
―I don‘t like mediocrity,‖ Hightower said after his first preseason game, a game where he missed a block in pass protection. ―They talk about young running backs in blitz protection, and that‘s something I‘ve got to improve.‖
PROVIDING PRESSURE
One of the things the Cardinals lost last season on defense when many of their highest profile defenders went down to injuries was their ability to put consistent pressure on the quarterback.
With the return of Bertrand Berry, Chike Okeafor and Adrian Wilson from injuries sustained in 2007 and the addition of free agents such as LB Clark Haggans and DE Travis LaBoy, the Cardinals figure to turn up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks in 2008.
The Cardinals now field an impressive list of accomplished pass rushers on their roster. Below are some of their accomplishments.
DE Bertrand Berry-Has 54.0 career sacks, 29 of those
coming with the Cardinals since joining the team in 2004, a year he recorded 14.5 sacks and a Pro Bowl nod.
LB Chike Okeafor-Has 45.0 career sacks, 16 coming in
his first two years on playing with Arizona (missed all of 2007 with a torn bicep). Hassacks in the last five consecutive games he appeared in.
DT Darnell Dockett-Had a breakout season in 2007,
leading all NFL defensive tackles with 9.0 sacks in a season that earned him a trip to the Pro Bowl.
LB Clark Haggans-Recorded 31.5 sacks in his first eight
season with Pittsburgh and has one sack already in the preseason.
DE/LB Travis LaBoy-Collected 19.5 in his first four
seasons in the NFL and made a big impression in last week‘s game in Kansas City with 2.0 sacks.
LB Karlos Dansby-Has 20.5 sacks in his first four seasons
in the NFL, good for 10th
on the Cardinals career-list.
SS Adrian Wilson-A feared all-around defender, redefined
the safety position when he collected eight sacks in 2005, the most by an NFL safety since sacks became an official stat in 1982. Has recorded 16.0 sacks for his career.
WARNER RETURNS TO COMPETE
Kurt Warner proved he was still very capable of being an
effective quarterback when he took over for Matt Leinart last season when Leinart went down with a broken collarbone. He threw for 27 TD passes, 3,417 yards in his best season since he was the league MVP.
After Leinart was named the starter heading into the 2007 season, Warner knew he would be in for another QB battle if he wants to be under center again in 2008. He wants to show that he is the player who can lead the team to the playoffs.
―That is all you ask for, is to put the best player on the football field, whoever that is at whatever position,― Warner said.
After not playing in the first preseason due to coaches not wanting him to play behind the second team offensive line, Warner received the start and was impressive in his first 2008 game action. After missing on his first two throws, Warner finished by completing six-of-seven passes for 54 yards as he led the first team on a 13-play 78-yard drive.
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 8 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
MOORE FAMILY TRADITION
When the Cardinals signed linebacker Brandon Moore last week, he joined his brother Rob Moore, a former Pro Bowl
receiver for the Cardinals, as only the sixth set of brothers to ever play for the Cardinals and the first since the Pete and Niko Noga played for the team in 1987. Rob Moore played for the Cardinals from 1995-2001 and is currently a radio analyst for Arizona. He caught 97 passes for 1,584 yards (the second highest total in team history) and eight touchdowns in his Pro Bowl season of 1997. Brothers who have played for the Cardinals
HORWEEN Arnie – BB, FB, TB – 1921-22 Chicago Cardinals, Player-Coach: 1923-24 Chicago Cardinals Ralph – B – 1921-23 Chicago Cardinals
MONACO Rob – C – 1985 St. Louis Cardinals Ron – LB – 1986 St. Louis Cardinals
NOGA Niko – LB – 1984-88 St. Louis/Phoenix Cardinals Pete – LB – 1987 St. Louis Cardinals
RAMSEY Garrard "Buster" – G, LB – 1946-1951 Chicago Cardinals Knox – G, LB, DG –1950-51 Chicago Cardinals
ROONEY Bill – B, C, G – 1929 Chicago Cardinals Cobb (Harry) – B, E – 1929-1930 Chicago Cardinals
According to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there have been 333 documented sets of brothers who have played pro football (list includes players from AAFC, AFL and NFL).
MILLERS TO FINALLY MEET They have both been playing football their entire lives but this week Cardinals tight end Brent Miller and Oakland tight end Zach Miller will face each other for the first time ever.
The brothers, who grew up in the Phoenix area, began playing Pop Warner football together as kids. This continued on through high school and college. The duo played high school football together at Desert Vista High. Zach was the number one tight end in the nation and the Gatorade player of the year in 2003 while Brent, who played linebacker, fullback, quarterback, tight end and wide receiver, was the fifth ranked player in the state of Arizona by SuperPrep magazine.
Both went on to play college ball at Arizona State. Brent started 22 of 47 career games and was the only Sun Devil to have played in all 37 games during the 2004-06 seasons. Zach‘s 144 career receptions rank sixth best in ASU history and number one among tight ends. Zach, a consensus All-American as a junior in 2006, was drafted by the Raiders in the second round in 2007 after entering the draft following his junior season. Brent stayed for a fifth year in 2007 and signed with the Cardinals as a free agent during training camp.
CARDINALS-RAIDERS CONNECTIONS
Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart played for Raiders head coach Lane Kiffin at the University of Southern California in
2002-05 when Kiffin served as wide receivers coach (2002-03), passing game coordinator (2004) and offensive coordinator (2005). USC won the 2003 and 2004 National Championships and appeared in the 2005 National Championship against the University of Texas. Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui (2004-05), Raiders running back Justin Fargas (2002) and Raiders wide receiver Chris McFoy
(2002-06) also played for the Trojans.
Raiders quarterback Andrew Walter was born in
Scottsdale, AZ and played at Arizona State following his father Randy, who played baseball for the Sun Devils. Finished his career as one of the top quarterbacks in Arizona State history, setting almost every school, career and single-season record for passing and total offense.
Raiders safety Adam Archuleta played his college ball at
Arizona State (1997-2000) and was born in Chandler, AZ, and attended Chandler High. After walking-on to the Sun Devils as a freshman, was the Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year as a senior.
Raiders Quality Control Coach, Defense George Martinez
was an assistant for the Arizona Cardinals from 1994-95, serving first as quality control coach and then as running backs coach.
Raiders defensive coordinator Rob Ryan served as the
Cardinals defensive backs coach under his father Buddy Ryan in 1994-95. Cardinals offensive quality control coach Dedric Ward played for the New England Patriots in 2003
while Ryan served as linebackers coach.
Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt, assistant head coach/offensive line Russ Grimm and special teams coach Kevin Spencer served on the same staff as Raiders defensive backs coach Darren Perry from 2003-06 in
Pittsburgh. Spencer coached for the Raiders from 1995-97, serving as a quality control coach in 1995, assistant linebackers coach in 1996 and as a defensive assistant in 1997.
Raiders 2008 seventh round draft pick, wide receiver Chaz Schilens grew up in Mesa, AZ and attended Highland High
where he was a free safety and receiver.
Raiders guard Brandon Rodd (2003-07) played at Arizona
State and earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 recognition in each of his final three seasons at ASU.
Raiders wide receiver Todd Watkins was taken in the 7th
round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Cardinals and most of his rookie season was spent on the practice squad.
Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin (1999-2002), defensive tackle Darnell Dockett (2000-03) and Raiders wide receiver Javon Walker (2000-01) were teammates at
Florida State. Dockett (2003) also played with Raiders tackle Mario Henderson (2003-06) in Tallahassee, while Boldin played with Raiders kicker Sebastian Janikowski for the
Seminoles in 1999.
From 2004-06 Cardinals wide receiver Early Doucet and linebacker Ali Highsmith played with Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell at LSU. With Russell as the starting
quarterback in 2005-06, Doucet hauled in 85 receptions for 1,161 yards and 13 touchdowns including his best season as a collegiate in 2006 where he registered 59 receptions and eight touchdowns.
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 9 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
A NEW ROLLE The Cardinals newest free safety is not a recently signed free agent or a 2008 draft pick but converted cornerback Antrel Rolle.
Rolle convinced coaches to make the move with his play as a nickel back in 2007. Playing the extra defensive back, Rolle swiped five interceptions, returning an NFL-high three of them for touchdowns with an additional one errantly called back due to a penalty. In returning those interceptions, Rolle amassed an NFL-high 283 return yards, averaging 56.6 yards per return. After starting the first preseason game vs. New Orleans, Rolle earned praise from his coaches, as he has throughout the offseason. They have pointed to his work ethic and his willingness to do what the coaches ask for the betterment of the team.
Rolle suffered a left ankle sprain during the first game that has kept him out of action since. He did not play in the Cardinals 27-17 win over Kansas City, meaning the learning curve will be steeper when the fourth year pro returns.
Since being drafted in 2005, Rolle has started 28 of the 37 games he has appeared in at corner and nickel back. He has collected 156 tackles, seven interceptions and 20 passes defensed, three times collecting 11 tackles in a game.
ADRIAN RETURNS Strong safety Adrian Wilson returns in 2008 after missing
the final seven games of 2007 with a heel injury which required surgery, forcing him to miss most of the Cardinals offseason work leading into the season. Wilson arrived at camp on July 23 ready to resume his position as one of the most feared defenders in the NFL and the anchor of the Cardinals secondary. Before missing the Cincinnati contest in 2007, Wilson had made 59 consecutive starts and appeared in 73 straight games for the Cardinals, landing on injured reserve last season for the first time in his career.
A LOOK AT THE OPPONENTS
Below is a look at the teams the Cardinals will face during the regular season and their record in 2007. Home 2007 Away 2007
St. Louis 3-13 St. Louis 3-13 San Francisco 5-11 San Francisco 5-11 Seattle* 10-6 Seattle* 10-6 Dallas* 13-3 Philadelphia 8-8 NY Giants* 10-6 Washington* 9-7 Minnesota 8-8 Carolina 7-9 Buffalo 7-9 NE Patriots* 16-0 Miami 1-15 NY Jets 5-11
The teams the Cardinals face in 2008 finished last season with a 119-137 regular season record.
Aside from their normal NFC West opponents, the Cardinals will play the AFC East and the NFC East this season.
The Cards will also play the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings, who finished with the same position as the Cardinals in their division in 2007.
The Cards will face five teams that made the playoffs in 2007: Seattle, Dallas, NY Giants, Washington and New England. The Cards will face three of those teams on the road.
The Cardinals will also face the New England Patriots, who became the first team in NFL history to finish the regular season 16-0.
*2007 playoff team
THE BELT BELONGS TO LABOY
The completion doesn‘t start until the regular season begins, but DE/LB Travis LaBoy got a good head start in
his battle to retain his belt…literally.
The Cardinals signed LaBoy as a free agent in the offseason and the fifth-year pro came to Arizona with an idea. Having trained with professional wrestlers in the offseason and knowing a guy that builds the championship belts that the wrestlers wear, LaBoy wanted to introduce a little healthy competition to the Cardinals linebacking core this season.
The result is a flashy ―$10,000 to $15,000‖ gold-and-jewel encrusted ―title‖ belt with a spinning Cardinals logo that will go to whoever compiles the most sacks in each given week.
LaBoy showed last week in Kansas City that he has plans on keeping the belt around the waist of its original owner. He compiled 2.0 sacks in the game and was routinely in the Kansas City backfield, finishing with four tackles for a loss in the game.
LaBoy will have stiff competition each week however, as he will be going up against skilled pass rushers such as Karlos Dansby, Bertrand Berry, Chike Okeafor and Clark Haggans, all of whom have at least 20.0 career sacks.
ONE LAST SHOT
For many Cardinals players, each remaining day in the preseason could be their last opportunity to make a good impression on coaches and earn themselves a spot on the team.
This week‘s contest in Oakland will be the last opportunity in a game setting to make an impression on coaches before the first cuts must be made on August 26. The Cardinals must cut at least five players by that day with the final round of cuts coming on August 30, the day after the team‘s final preseason game vs. Denver. The roster, which currently includes 81 players, must be cut to 76 by next week.
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 10 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
QUICK FACTS ABOUT THE DRAFTEES
CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: 1st Round (16
th
overall)-Rodgers-Cromartie had four career interception returns for TDs at Tennessee State and added a kickoff return for a TD, a fumble return for a TD and eight blocked kicks on special teams.
DE Calais Campbell: 2nd
Round (50th
overall)-Campbell
played in 36 games (25 starts) with the Hurricanes before entering the draft following his junior season.
WR Early Doucet: 3rd
Round (81st overall)-Doucet was the
leading receiver on LSU‘s National Championship team in 2007, catching 57 passes for 525 yards and five TDs, despite playing most of the year with a groin injury.
DE Kenny Iwebema: 4th
Round (116th
overall)-Iwebema
blocked two field goals in a game on two occasions while at Iowa and started in 30 of the last 31 games he appeared in.
RB Tim Hightower: 5th
Round (149th
overall)-Hightower
broke 18 school, game, season and career rushing records at Richmond, including 1,924 rushing yards as a senior.
LB Chris Harrington: 6th
Round (185th
overall)-Harrington
earned first-team All-Big 12 Conference honors as a junior despite playing the season with a torn rotator cuff.
T/G Brandon Keith: 7th
Round (225th
overall)-Keith was the
third player drafted by the Cardinals in 2008 that did not attend a Division 1-A college.
ROOKIE FREE AGENTS
DE Jason Banks: (Grambling)-Registered 29 career
starts in 44 games, collecting 27 tackles for a loss and 8.5 sacks. CB Marcus Brown: (McNeese State)-An athletic
cornerback, used speed and athletic ability to guide him into becoming one of the best cornerbacks in the Southland Conference. OT Peter Clifford: (Michigan State)-A versatile lineman,
appeared at both guard and tackle in his 19 career starts for the Spartans. DT Keilen Dykes: (West Virginia)-Leader of West
Virginia‘s 2007 senior class that compiled a school best four-year record of 41-9 and made four bowl appearances, winning three. LB Ali Highsmith: (LSU)-Appeared in 52 games for the
Tigers, including starts in the final 28 games of his career while helping lead the Tigers to the 2007 BCS National Championship. Named after Muhammad Ali, who his grandfather once sparred with. FB Dionte Johnson: (Ohio State)-Is the son of Thomas
―Pepper‖ Johnson, the former NY Giants linebacker who is now an assistant coach with the New England Patriots. FS Dennis Keyes: (UCLA)-Started 34 of the 45 games
he appeared in for the Bruins and was named honorable mention All Pac-10 as a senior. While in high school, played safety and also running back where he rushed for 1,692 yards and 36 touchdowns as a senior. WR Lance Long: (Mississippi State)-Began his collegiate
career at the University of Toledo before transferring to Mississippi State where he started seven of the 35 games he appeared in. G Carlton Medder: (Florida)-Helped lead Florida to the
National Championship when they defeated Ohio State at University of Phoenix Stadium in 2006 while helping lead the way for QB Tim Tebow to become the first sophomore Heisman winner. TE Brent Miller: (Arizona State)-Signed on 7/29/08,
Miller is an Arizona native who played at Arizona State with his brother, fellow tight end and Oakland Raider Zach Miller. QB Anthony Morrelli: (Penn State)-Once fired a 50-yard
pass at Three Rivers Stadium to win the NFL‘s Punt, Pass and Kick Competition when he was 10 years old. DE Bryan Robinson: (Wesley College)-Started all 51
career games played at Wesley College and established school records with 96.5 tackles for a loss and 47 career sacks. G Hercules Satele: (Hawaii)-Is the cousin of current
Miami Dolphins center Samson Satele. Blocking for Heisman candidate QB Colt Brennan, helped Hawaii to its first ever BCS Bowl bid in 2007.
THE VETERAN NEWCOMERS
LB Clark Haggans: In his ninth NFL season, Haggans
comes to the Cardinal after having spent his first eight seasons with the Steelers where he collected 31.5 sacks in 107 games.
DE/LB Travis LaBoy: The fifth-year pro comes to the
Cardinals from Tennessee where he collected 19.5 sacks in his first 54 games (20 starts).
TE Jerame Tuman: Entering his 10th NFL season, Tuman
spent his first nine seasons with Pittsburgh where he appeared in 120 games and was used as a blocking specialist.
DT Bryan Robinson: The most seasoned player on the
Cardinals team, Robinson enters his 12 NFL season and has appeared in 159 games with 124 starts for his career.
P Dirk Johnson: Johnson begins his seventh season in the
NFL having previously punted for the Saints, Eagles and Bears over the course of his career.
LB Brandon Moore: The brother of former Cardinals
receiver Rob Moore, he has appeared in 88 career games with 26 starts.
QB Brian St. Pierre: St. Pierre enters his sixth NFL season
and served as a backup and third quarterback during his first five seasons with Pittsburgh.
LB Matt Stewart: In his eighth season as a pro, Stewart
comes to the Cardinals having spent three years in Cleveland after spending his first four seasons in Atlanta.
THE NEW FACES
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 11 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
RECENT TRANSACTIONS
Wed, Aug. 13 Signed free agent LB Brandon Moore to a one-year contract and released LB David Holloway.
Mon, Aug. 4 Signed G/C Jasper Harvey to a one-year contract
and released RB Marcel Shipp.
Fri, Aug. 1 Awarded the waiver claim on C Pat Ross and placed G/C Scott Peters on injured reserve (left
knee).
Thur, July 31 Signed T Kelly Butler to a one-year contract and released T Thaddeus Coleman.
Tues, July 29 Signed TE Brent Miller to a one-year contract and
released TE Troy Bienemann.
Sat, July 26 Released RB Chris Vincent.
Fri, July 25 Signed CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (first
round, 16th overall, Tennessee State, to a six-year
contract.
Mon, Jul. 21 Signed DE Calais Campbell (second round, 50th
overall, Miami, to a four-year contract.
Tues, Jul. 15 Signed WR Early Doucet (third round, 81st overall,
LSU) to a three-year contract.
BY THE NUMBERS
7,200 Elevation of the Cardinals training camp in
Flagstaff, AZ.
104, 78 Average high temperature in Phoenix and
Flagstaff during August.
81 Number of players on the Cardinals roster,
including Eduardo Castaneda, a Mexico native who is part of the NFL‘s International Practice
Squad program.
19 Number of times in the last 21 years that the
Cardinals opening game of the regular season will be an away game when the team opens at
San Francisco on Sept. 7.
73.7 QB Matt Leinart‘s completion percentage in his first two preseason appearances (14-of-19 for
153 yards, 1 TD, 114.6 QB rating).
84 Number of yards rookie S Dennis Keyes
returned an interception for a touchdowns last week in Kansas City.
2 Rushing touchdowns for rookie RB Tim
Hightower in the first two preseason games
100.0 Redzone scoring percentage for the Cardinals in
three trips so far this preseason. Arizona finished second in the NFL in 2007 with a 94.0
scoring percentage inside the redzone.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
2008 SEASON SCHEDULE
Preseason Result/
Date Opponent Location Time
Aug. 7 NO+ Univ. of Phoenix Stadium L, 24-10
Aug.16 @ KC Arrowhead Stadium W, 27-17
Aug. 23 @ Oak McAfee Coliseum 6:00 PM
Aug. 29 DEN Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 7:00 PM
Regular Season
Date Opponent Location AZ Time
Sep. 7 @ SF Candlestick Park 1:15 PM
Sep. 14 MIA Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 1:15 PM
Sep. 21 @ Was FedEx Field 10:00 AM
Sep. 28 @ NYJ Giants Stadium 10:00 AM
Oct. 5 BUF Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 1:15 PM
Oct. 12 DAL Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 1:15 PM
Oct. 19 BYE
Oct. 26 @ Car Bank of America Stadium 10:00 AM
Nov. 2 @ StL Edward Jones Dome 11:00 AM
Nov. 10 SF # Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 6:30 PM
Nov. 16 @ Sea * Qwest Field 2:05 PM
Nov. 23 NYG * Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 2:15 PM
Nov. 27 @ Phi & Lincoln Financial Field 6:15 PM
Dec. 7 STL * Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 2:15 PM
Dec. 14 MIN * Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 2:05 PM
Dec. 21 @ NE * Gillette Stadium 11:00 AM
Dec. 28 SEA * Univ. of Phoenix Stadium 2:15 PM
+ Thursday night on ESPN
# Monday night on ESPN
& Thanksgiving night on NFL Network
* Subject to flexible scheduling decisions
BROADCAST AREA EXPANDS
Live broadcasts of Arizona Cardinals preseason games are now available to fans across Arizona and into New Mexico on FSN Arizona‘s newly created FSN Arizona Plus channel.
The broadcasts will include ―Maximum Cardinals: The Pregame Show‖ a half hour show hosted by Jody Jackson followed by the live game broadcast that will now air live across southern Arizona and in Albequerque.
The following are the cable and satellite companies that will offer the Cardinals pre-season games outside the Phoenix market live on FSN Arizona Plus and the channel they can be viewed:
Cable/Satellite Community Channel
Cox Tucson 22 Comcast Tucson 17 Comcast Albuquerque 53 Time Warner Yuma 2 DirecTV 699 DISH 452
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 12 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
2008 KEY DATES
Below are some important dates for the 2008 NFL season. Arizona kicks of the regular season on Sept. 7 at San Francisco.
Date Occasion 8/23 Cardinals at Raiders (Preseason Game 3) 8/26 Roster cutdown to maximum of 75 8/30 Roster cutdown to maximum of 53 8/31 Clubs may establish practice squad 8/29 Cardinals vs. Broncos (Preseason Game 4) 9/4-8 Kickoff Weekend 9/7 Cardinals at 49ers
THIS WEEK IN THE NFL All times MST
Thursday, Aug. 21
San Francisco at Chicago 5:00 PM – FOX
Friday, Aug. 22
Philadelphia at New England 4:30 PM Tennessee at Atlanta 4:30 PM Houston at Dallas 5:00 PM – CBS Green Bay at Denver 6:00 PM
Saturday, Aug. 23
Cleveland at Detroit 1:00 PM NY Giants at NY Jets 4:00 PM Kansas City at Miami 4:30 PM Jacksonville at Tampa Bay 4:30 PM Washington at Carolina 4:30 PM New Orleans at Cincinnati 4:35 PM Pittsburgh at Minnesota 5:00 PM – CBS Baltimore at St. Louis 5:00 PM Arizona at Oakland 6:00 PM
Sunday, Aug. 24
Buffalo at Indianapolis 5:00 PM – NFLN
Monday, Aug. 25
Seattle at San Diego 5:00 PM – ESPN
CARDINALS ROSTER FACTS AND FIGURES
Oldest Cardinals player — Kurt Warner, 37, Born 6/22/71
Youngest Cardinals player — Calais Campbell, 21, Born
9/1/86
Most seasons as a Cardinal — Adrian Wilson, 8th
Cardinal season
Most NFL seasons — Bryan Robinson – 12th NFL season
College with the most Cardinals — Michigan – 4
Largest Cardinal — T Brandon Keith, 6-5, 343
Tallest Cardinal – TE Leonard Pope, TE Alex Shor and
DE Calais Campbell — 6-8
Shortest Cardinal — CB Michael Adams, 5-8
Former 1st
-round draft picks — 6, Dominique Rodgers-
Cromartie, Levi Brown, Larry Fitzgerald, Antrel Rolle, Edgerrin James, Matt Leinart
Pro Bowlers — 8, Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Bertrand
Berry, Larry Fitzgerald, Neil Rackers, Edgerrin James, Adrian Wilson and Darnell Dockett
Coaches who played in the NFL — 6, Maurice Carthon,
Russ Grimm, John Lott, Jeff Rutledge, Dedric Ward, Ken Whisenhunt
Furthest away from home — SS Aaron Francisco, Laie,
Hawaii – 2,898 miles
Closest to home — G Deuce Lutui, Mesa, AZ and Brent
Miller, Phoenix, AZ.
Cardinals not from NCAA Division I-A schools — 17,
Travarous Bain, Jason Banks, Steve Baylark, Marcus Brown, Tim Hightower, Dirk Johnson, Brandon Keith, Sean Morey, Ben Patrick, Jamaica Rector, Bryan Robinson, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Marcel Shipp, Jerheme Urban, Elliott Vallejo, Kurt Warner, Reggie Wells
2008 Rookie Free Agents — 13, Jason Banks, Marcus
Brown, Peter Clifford, Keilen Dykes, Ali Highsmith, Dionte Johnson, Dennis Keyes, Lance Long, Brent Miller, Hercules Satele, Anthony Morelli, Bryan Robinson, Carlton Medder
Cardinals with Playoff Experience – 21, Monty Beisel,
Ralph Brown, Oliver Celestin, Clark Haggans, Roderick Hood, Edgerrin James, Al Johnson, Dirk Johnson, Travis LaBoy, Ahmad Merritt, Brandon Moore, Sean Morey, Chike Okeafor, Bryan Robinson, Bo Schobel, Brian St. Pierre, Matt Stewart, Joe Tafoya, Jerame Tuman, Matt Ware, Kurt Warner
Average Age – 25.8
CARDINALS PRONUNCIATIONS
Travarous Bain tra-VAIR-us Monty Beisel BYE-sull Calais Campbell kuh-LAY-us Oliver Celestin SELL-us-teen Jemalle Cornelius juh-MALL Early Doucet doo-SETT Keilen Dykes KEE-len Clark Haggans HAY-gins Ali Highsmith ah-LEE Nathan Hodel HOE-dul Kenny Iwebema ee-WEB-eh-mah Dionte Johnson dee-AHN-tay Chike Okeafor chee-kay oh-KEY-for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie dah-muh-NEEK Antrel Rolle AHN-trel Hercules Satele sah-TELL-ay Lyle Sendlein SEND-line Jerame Tuman Jeremy Jerheme Urban Jeremy Elliot Vallejo vuh-LAY-ho
UPCOMING PRACTICE SCHEDULE Tuesday, 8/19/08 3:05-5:15 PM Wednesday, 8/20/08 9:05-10:30 AM 3:05-5:15 PM Thursday, 8/21/08 8:15-10:00 AM Cardinals Break Camp at NAU Friday, 8/22/08 Players Off Saturday, 8/23/08 Cardinals at Raiders, 6:00 PM Sunday, 8/24/08 Players Off
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 13 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
Arizona Cardinals / Week 3 / Through Saturday, August 16, 2008 / Preseason
Won 1, Lost 1
8/7/2008 L 10- 24 New Orleans Saints 8/16/2008 W 27- 17 at Kansas City Chiefs
Arizona Opponent
Total First Downs 26 44 Rushing 7 14 Passing 18 27 Penalty 1 3 3rd Down: Made/Att 10/25 15/30 3rd Down Pct. 40.0% 50.0% 4th Down: Made/Att 1/1 1/3 4th Down Pct. 100.0% 33.3% Possession Avg. 25:51 34:09 Total Net Yards 443 728 Avg. Per Game 221.5 364.0 Total Plays 102 140 Avg. Per Play 4.3 5.2 Net Yards Rushing 139 251 Avg. Per Game 69.5 125.5 Total Rushes 36 64 Net Yards Passing 304 477 Avg. Per Game 152.0 238.5 Sacked/Yards Lost 9/47 6/38 Gross Yards 351 515 Attempts/Completions 57/39 70/45 Completion Pct. 68.4% 64.3% Had Intercepted 0 1 Punts/Average 13/45.8 6/55.2 Net Punting Avg. 36.2 46.7 Penalties/Yards 11/90 9/72 Fumbles/Ball Lost 4/0 2/1 Touchdowns 5 4 Rushing 2 1 Passing 2 3 Returns 1 0 Score By Periods Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT Pts Team 0 16 14 7 0 37 Opponents 10 3 13 15 0 41 Scoring TD Ru Pa Rt PAT FG 2Pt Pts T.Hightower 2 2 0 0 0/0 0/0 0 12 N.Rackers 0 0 0 0 4/5 1/1 0 7 S.Breaston 1 0 1 0 0/0 0/0 0 6 T.Castille 1 0 1 0 0/0 0/0 0 6 D.Keyes 1 0 0 1 0/0 0/0 0 6 Team 5 2 2 1 4/5 1/1 0 37 Opponents 4 1 3 0 3/3 4/5 1 41 2-Pt. Conversions: Team 0/ 0, Opponents: 1/ 1 Sacks: J.Tafoya 2.0, T.LaBoy 2.0, K.Iwebema 1.0, C.Haggans 1.0 Team: 6.0, Opponents: 9.0
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 14 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
ARIZONA CARDINALS 2008 DEPTH CHART
OFFENSE
WR 11 Larry Fitzgerald 85 Jerheme Urban 87 Sean Morey 86 Ahmad Merritt 19 Lance Long LT 69 Mike Gandy 65 Kelly Butler 60 Pete Clifford LG 74 Reggie Wells 72 Brandon Keith (66 Carlton Medder) C (50 Al Johnson) 63 Lyle Sendlein 70 Pat Ross 67 Hercules Satele RG 76 Deuce Lutui 61 Elton Brown 79 Jasper Harvey RT 75 Levi Brown 68 Elliot Vallejo 72 Brandon Keith TE 82 Leonard Pope 89 Ben Patrick 84 Jerame Tuman 49 Alex Shor 83 Brent Miller WR 81 Anquan Boldin 15 Steve Breaston 10 Jamaica Rector 80 Early Doucet 18 Jemalle Cornelius QB 7 Matt Leinart 13 Kurt Warner 2 Brian St. Pierre 12 Anthony Morelli RB 32 Edgerrin James 34 Tim Hightower 28 J.J. Arrington 33 Steve Baylark FB 45 Terrelle Smith 46 Tim Castille 44 Dionte Johnson
DEFENSE
LDE 94 Antonio Smith 91 Kenny Iwebema 71 Bryan Robinson NT (98 Gabe Watson) 97 Bryan Robinson 78 Alan Branch 73 Keilen Dykes DT 90 Darnell Dockett 93 Calais Campbell 62 Jason Banks RDE 92 Bertrand Berry 55 Travis LaBoy 96 Joe Tafoya SLB 56 Chike Okeafor 53 Clark Haggans 59 Chris Harrington MLB 54 Gerald Hayes 52 Monty Beisel 57 Brandon Moore 43 Eduardo Castenada WLB 58 Karlos Dansby 51 Matt Stewart 95 Ali Highsmith LCB 26 Rod Hood 29 D. Rodgers-Cromartie 27 Michael Adams 41 Travarous Bain RCB 25 Eric Green 20 Ralph Brown 23 DeMario Minter 36 Marcus Brown SS 24 Adrian Wilson 47 Aaron Francisco 35 Oliver Celestin FS 21 Antrel Rolle 22 Matt Ware 38 Dennis Keyes
SPECIALISTS
K 1 Neil Rackers P 9 Dirk Johnson
KO LS 48 Nathan Hodel 51 Matt Stewart H 9 Dirk Johnson 87 Sean Morey KR 15 Steve Breaston 28 J.J. Arrington 87 Sean Morey 85 Jerheme Urban PR 15 Steve Breaston 21 Antrel Rolle 26 Rod Hood
NOTE: Rookies are underlined; Injured players in parentheses
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 15 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
No. Name Pos. Ht. Wt. AgeNFL
Exp. College
How
Acquired
2007
GP-GS-DNP-IA
1 Neil Rackers K 6-1 202 32 9 Illinois FA-03 16-0-0-0
2 Brian St. Pierre QB 6-3 230 28 6 Boston College UFA-08 (Pitt) 0-0-1-15
7 Matt Leinart QB 6-5 232 25 3 USC D1-06 5-5-0-0
9 Dirk Johnson P 6-0 210 33 6 Northern Colorado FA-08 1-0-0-1
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 18 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
DRAFT
WAIVERS
TRADES
2001 Adrian Wilson (3) Nathan Hodel
2003 Anquan Boldin (2) Gerald Hayes (3) Reggie Wells (6a)
Neil Rackers
2004 Larry Fitzgerald (1) Karlos Dansby (2) Darnell Dockett (3) Antonio Smith (5)
Bertrand Berry (Den)
2005 Antrel Rolle (1) J.J. Arrington (2) Eric Green (3a) Elton Brown (4)
Aaron Francisco (R) Chike Okeafor (Sea) Kurt Warner (NYG)
2008 Arizona Cardinals – How They Were Built
FREE AGENTS
2006 Matt Leinart (1) Deuce Lutui (2) Leonard Pope (3) Gabe Watson (4)
Matt Ware (Phi)
Monty Beisel Edgerrin James (Ind)
2007 Levi Brown (1) Alan Branch (2) Steve Breaston (5) Ben Patrick (7)
Jerheme Urban (Dal)
Michael Adams (R) Ralph Brown (Clev) Tim Castille (R) Oliver Celestin Jemalle Cornelius Mike Gandy (Buf) Roderick Hood (Phi) Al Johnson (Dal) Ahmad Merritt DeMario Minter Sean Morey (Pitt) Scott Peters Jamaica Rector Lyle Sendlein (R) Alex Shor Terrelle Smith (Clev) Joe Tafoya (Sea)
2008 D. Rodgers-Cromartie (1) Calais Campbell (2) Early Doucet (3) Kenny Iwebema (4) Tim Hightower (5) Chris Harrington (6) Brandon Keith (7)
Pat Ross (Car)
Jason Banks (R) Marcus Brown (R) Kelly Butler Peter Clifford (R) Keilen Dykes (R) Clark Haggans (Pitt) Jasper Harvey Ali Highsmith (R) Dirk Johnson Dionte Johnson (R) Dennis Keyes (R) Travis LaBoy (Ten) Lance Long (R) Carlton Medder (R) Brent Miller (R) Brandon Moore Anthony Morelli (R) Brian St. Pierre (Pitt) Bryan Robinson (Cin) Bryan Robinson (R) Hercules Satele (R) Matt Stewart (Clev) Jerame Tuman (Pitt)
Cardinals vs. Raiders Page 19 of 21 www.azcardinals.com
ARIZONA CARIDNALS 2007 FINAL TEAM AND INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS