The Arizona Cardinals coveted Alan Branch so much that they traded up to get him with the first pick in the second round of the 2007 draft.

He’s been a big, literally too big, disappointment – until this season.

The coaching staff challenged the former Michigan standout to show up weighing less and in better shape, and Branch complied. That gave him his chance, and he’s earned a backup role at nose tackle and defensive tackle.

In last Sunday night’s 24-17 road victory over the New York Giants, Branch got the first two sacks of his pro career.

“I feel good. I’m at home,” Branch said. “I’m actually feeling like I’m more part of the team.”

The 6-foot-5 Branch reportedly lost about 25 pounds to meet coaches’ demands that he come to training camp at about 335 pounds.

“He had to come in with a specific weight and if he did or didn’t, it was going to tell us everything,” defensive coordinator Bill Davis said. “He didn’t have to say one word. That was going to tell us his commitment – and he came in and he made weight.”

Then Branch passed the run test, something he had struggled with the previous year.


Click here to read the full article – By BOB BAUM of TheLedger.com

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Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt gave his players the day off on Monday. No doubt they deserved it.

The Cardinals’ 24-17 victory over the New York Giants Sunday night was one of the biggest regular-season wins in the franchise’s 22 years in Arizona.

“Outside of the playoffs last year, we haven’t had a lot of quality wins, wins against tough opponents, teams that are playing really well,” quarterback Kurt Warner said afterward. “Those are kind of statement games, where you gain confidence, and you feel like you can compete with anybody.”

The Cardinals have for years been awful away from home, especially on trips to the East, but Sunday’s victory made Arizona 3-0 on the road this season. It’s the first time the Cardinals have won three in a row on the road since 1987.


Click here to read the full article – By The Associated Press of eastvalleytribune.com

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Steve Nash had 23 points and 15 assists and the Phoenix Suns returned to the Portland’s old Memorial Coliseum much same way they left it — with a victory over the Trail Blazers.

The Suns spoiled Portland’s retro return to the birthplace of “Rip City” with a 110-104 preseason win on Wednesday night. Leandro Barbosa scored 25 points, 12 of them in the fourth quarter.

Blazers center Greg Oden continued to show marked improvement over last season with 17 points and 13 rebounds.

Oden joked afterward about how the game was a trip back in time, except for one small detail: The team’s floor was brought over from the Rose Garden next door.

“It was our floor. If we would have a different floor it would have felt different,” he said. “I did enjoy it, despite the loss.”


Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of East Valley Tribune

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Three of the NFL’s best receivers played at University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday, and all three performed like it.

The Texans Andre Johnson caught eight passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns, including a 17-yarder in which he bounced off linebacker Gerald Hayes, made safety Antrel Rolle miss and carried cornerback Bryant McFadden into the end zone.

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald caught five passes, including two touchdowns, and teammate Anquan Boldin caught seven passes for 81 yards. Boldin had one blemish, however. He fumbled near the Texans’ goal line in the first half after taking a bit hit from safety Eugene Wilson.
Texans defensive end Antonio Smith, a former Cardinal, felt confident when Johnson’s second touchdown tied the game with 6:59 remaining.

“When you make a play like that and when you see a player fighting to get in the end zone like that, taking hits like he took, you’re thinking, ‘We’ve got it. It’s over,’ ” Smith said.


Click here to read the full article – By Kent Somers and Bob McManaman of Azcentral.com

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Orlando Vargas looks at his sparkling white practice jersey and smiles approvingly. “I like it,” he said. “It’s clean.”
Vargas has worn many different hats — and jerseys — during his one season-plus as Arizona Wildcats do-everything player.

The 5-foot-11-inch, 220-pound sophomore has been playing H-back in practice for the last two weeks. Vargas is expected to be a part of some running formations when the UA (3-1) travels to Washington on Saturday for a key Pac-10 Conference game.

Vargas, a career special teams player, is loving his foray into offense — from learning the plays to receiving new practice duds.

Two weeks ago, Vargas ditched the navy-blue practice jersey worn by defensive players for the white one worn by the offense.

Click here to read the full article – By Ryan Finley of Arizona Daily Star

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It can be easy to lose confidence when not doing your job well, especially in the NFL.

When a receiver continually drops passes, he can get to a point where he prays that the quarterback
will stop throwing the ball his way. It’s the same for a cornerback who keeps getting beat.

Then there is a player such as the Cardinals’ Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who might be a little unpolished when it comes to technique but certainly hasn’t lost his confidence as the team’s second-year starting left cornerback.


Click here to read the full article – By Bob McManaman of The Arizona Republic

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The expected Coyotes fourth line of Lauri Korpikoski, Vernon Fiddler and Daniel Winnik moved up a couple notches Saturday night, and they came through with a quality effort.

“I thought they were a good line,” coach Dave Tippett said. “They had a couple shifts early where they got run around their end a little bit, but that line was a solid line for us most of the night, controlled a lot of pucks, and it’s great to see them get rewarded with a (Winnik) goal.”

Throughout his career, Fiddler has had a knack of winning faceoffs, and he prevailed in 12 of 15 against the Kings.

“Vern to me is one of those players that at the end of the day helps you win,” Tippett said. “Sometimes it’s not with scoring. He’s just a solid, solid competitor. He can put him in a lot of situations that he’ll get the job done for you.”

Click here to read the full article – By Jim Gintonio of Arizona Republic

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Doug Davis said he thought about the possibility all week leading up to his start on Sunday afternoon, and if it in fact turns out to be his last game with the Diamondbacks, it was a good one for the veteran left-hander.

The Diamondbacks finished with a 70-92 record that amounted to a surprising fall into last place in the National League West just two years after coming a series victory short of playing in the World Series.

It is the third last-place finish in the franchise’s 12-year history and their third-worst record, behind 2004 (51-111) and the inaugural season in 1998 (65-97).

Davis, who completed a three-year, $22 million deal, said he was satisfied with the way he ended his season as he prepares to enter the free-agent market.


Click here to read the full article – By Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic

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In Paul Bissonnette, the Coyotes have a tough player not afraid to mix it up.

Bissonnette played 15 games with 22 penalty minutes last season for the Penguins. He was plucked off the waiver wire this week.

At all his stops, his outlook has remained the same.

“I know my role, and I don’t really look at the guys or what they thought,” he said. “Let’s say for instance, a guy like (Raitis) Ivanans (6-4, 250-pound Kings forward), was going to take a run at one of our guys, I wouldn’t be shy to ask him (to fight) . . .

“Is he a big, strong guy, and can he hurt you? Yeah, he can, but that’s the risk of my job, and I know that, and that’s OK.”

Tippett noted how Bissonnette, a converted defenseman, has responded to a new situation.

Click here to read the full article – By Jim Gintonio of Arizona Republic

The future for Coyotes center Martin Hanzal is open-ended, and the big Czech has made a definite impression on coach Dave Tippett.

“I think he’s a great player,” Tippett said. “He’s a big strong guy that I think we’re just starting to get into what he can do. “

Hanzal, entering his third year at 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds, is bigger and stronger than a year ago, when the early part of his season was compromised as he was recovered from back surgery. He finished with 11 goals and 31 points in 74 games, but his major contributions came defensively, where he became adept at shutting down opponents’ big centers and winning faceoffs.

He’ll likely start the season on the “Czech Line” with Radim Vrbata and Petr Prucha.

“He wants to be a top player,” Tippett said. “I like that about him. He says he wants to be a go-to guy, and we’ll put him in some of those positions.

“I think there’s a lot of room for improvement offensively from him, but he’s got to remember that he’s going to be a strong two-way player, has the ability to play against top players but also has the ability to produce offense from his role on our team.”

Click here to read the full article – By Jim Gintonio of Arizona Republic

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