Arizona Sports Fan Blog

As the college football returns for the 2010 season, there are many questions to be answered. Today’s focus will be on the Arizona Wildcats as they try to improve on their 8-5 record from last season. The Wildcats finished 2nd in the Pac-10 only behind the Oregon Ducks. With tough difficult teams in the Pac-10 that sounds like an impressive season to me. Now the Wildcats are coming into the 2010 season looking to improve on last years’ success and try to finish the season on top as the number one team in the Pac-10.

Returning for the Widcats offense is quarterback Nick Foles, who threw for 19 touchdowns and 2,486 yards. Running backs Nic Grigsby and Keola Antolin will lead the rushing attack for the Wildcats. Helping out in the air game is returning receiver Juron Criner, who brought in 9 touchdowns with 582 receiving yards. On the defensive side of the ball the Wildcats had the 43rd ranked defense and will have the help of some talented freshmen defensive backs to help boost their defense. Freshman cornerback Shaquille Richardson and safety Marquis Flowers will have an impact on the Wildcats defense.

In all the Arizona Wildcats football team has the talent to take the Pac-10 championship this upcoming season. With their amazing fans and crowds, the Arizona Wildcats will be a team to watch this season. Wildcats Football Tickets available now. Buy Arizona Wildcats Football Tickets and fill Arizona Stadium every game. Visit this Arizona Wildcats Football Tickets site for details. All we have to do now is wait for the season to start and watch the Wildcats do damage to the Pac-10.

The Arizona Cardinals chose defensive tackle Dan Williams of Tennessee with the No. 26 overall pick in the NFL
draft.

The team needed defensive help at several positions, and nose tackle was certainly one of them. Last year’s starter, Bryan Robinson, was not re-signed and Alan Branch was shifted to defensive end. That left Gabe Watson the only nose tackle on the roster.
The 6-foot-3, 327-pound Williams started all 13 games for the Volunteers last season with 70 tackles, 36 solos.
Williams could start alongside Pro Bowler Darnell Dockett and Calais Campbell on the Cardinals’ defensive line.

Click here to read the full article – By Dave Staley of http://www.newschannel9.com

Dan Haren was so winded running the bases in front of Stephen Drew during the shortstop’s inside-the-park home run Monday on Opening Day that the Diamondbacks pitcher said it took him nearly two full innings to recover.

Drew’s fourth-inning shot off Jon Garland, the sixth by a Diamondbacks player, took a lot of people’s breath away.

“Probably the most exciting play in baseball,” manager A.J. Hinch said.

“Man,” right fielder Justin Upton said, “that was fun to watch.”

Drew has hit for the cycle, turned a triple play and now hit an inside-the-park homer. Where does the latter rank in his career?

“It’s up there,” Drew said. “I was telling (first baseman Adam) LaRoche, ‘I’ve seen it on TV, but I’ve never been a part of it on the field.’ To actually do it, it was exciting.

“With the roof open, the wind was kind of swirling all around and the ball just kept carrying and going left. . . . It hit (off the wall) and I got a good bounce. It was unexpected. You don’t think about it. You’re just running hard and you see the ball do that and nobody’s near the ball, you get a chance to score so, it’s pretty neat.”

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

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The Arizona Cardinals and former Cleveland Browns quarterback Derek Anderson have agreed to a two-year contract worth $7.25 million, a source told ESPN.com Wednesday.

The source said the deal includes $3.25 million guaranteed, and with incentives would max out at $18.25 million.

Anderson would compete with current Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart for the starting job.

Arizona’s deal for Anderson came on the heels of free-agent quarterback Charlie Whitehurst telling San Diego Chargers management earlier Wednesday that he will sign a one-year restricted free-agent tender offer. The development will allow the Chargers to begin trade talks on his behalf, a source told ESPN.com’s John Clayton.

Whitehurst has indicated he prefers to go to Seattle, according to a source; at one time, Whitehurst, who is a restricted free agent with third-round compensation, was considered a possibility to connect with the Cardinals. Because the Seahawks don’t have a third-round choice, the Chargers and the Seahawks would have to work out a trade.

Click here to read the full article – By of ESPN.com

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner will announce Friday at a news conference whether he plans to retire, according to a Cardinals source.

The widespread assumption — one that hasn’t changed for weeks — is that the 38-year-old Warner will step away from the game.

One possible indication of Warner’s intentions is that he already has begun gathering his family so they can attend Friday’s news conference at the team’s training facility, according to sources.

Warner’s agent confirmed the news conference in Tempe on Wednesday evening.

Warner also has another added motivation for a quick decision: He has multiple promotional appearance commitments during Super Bowl week in Miami. Rather than answer retirement questions then, Warner would prefer to remove the focus from his future as quickly as possible so it’s not an issue next week, according to a source.

Click here to read the full article – By Adam Schefter of ESPN.com

The phrase “jumped the shark” has certainly “jumped the shark”.

In fact, saying that the phrase “jump the shark” has “jumped the shark” has, indeed, “jumped the shark” as well.

(Note: “Jumping the shark” is a term used to describe a trend that has become played out and no longer relevant. I add this parenthetical after 80 percent of the people in the newsroom hadn’t heard of the expression. Which may prove my point.)

But in the NFL, a tried and true mindset of the last seven years has jumped the shark, and the Arizona Cardinals are finding out too late.


Click here to read the full article – By EDWARD CARIFIO of YumaSun.com

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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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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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