Author: Anthony Stalter (Page 974 of 1503)

      Tim Cowlishaw pours big cup of jinx over Cardinals

      January 21, 2009 /

      If their team loses to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLIII, Arizona Cardinal fans can thank Tim Cowlishaw of the Dallas Morning News for it.

      Larry FitzgeraldThe torch really has been passed now. The best player in the NFL plays for the Arizona Cardinals, and his name is Larry Fitzgerald. He’s the reason the Steelers will not become the first franchise to win six Super Bowls this time around.

      The Cardinals, leaving the Detroit Lions as the only team to participate in all 43 seasons without reaching a Super Bowl, will become the 18th franchise to win their first.

      These Cardinals aren’t the best team in the NFL, and they weren’t anything close to it during the regular season. But suddenly their defense stops every team’s running attack. Suddenly, their secondary that got beat up so often makes all the right plays.

      Kurt Warner is playing as if he’s 27, not 37, and the biggest reason for that is a game-breaking and game-changing receiver that the Steelers will not be able to cover.

      It has been six decades since the Cardinals won a title and four decades since I decided as a kid they were going to produce a superior product than the Cowboys.

      Needless to say, I spent a lot of years being wrong on that one.

      That’s why it feels so good now to be right.

      After Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution jinxed the Falcons by stating that they would beat the Cardinals in the wild card round three weeks ago, I warned Gary Myers of the New York Daily News that he crimped the Giants by claiming there was no way the Eagles would beat the G-Men in the divisional round.

      And now this – Cowlishaw, a former Cardinal fan, is doing the same thing to ‘Zona for the Super Bowl. NFL columnists are 0-2 this postseason when they write an article claiming one team will emphatically beat their opponent. Now Sir Jinx-A-Lot the III is about to make NFL columnists 0-3 in the postseason.

      Looks like I’m going with the Steel Curtain when I make my Super Bowl prediction next week. Thanks, Cowlishaw.

      NFL, Super Bowl

      Lions land Cunningham for defensive coordinator

      January 21, 2009 /

      The Lions took a major step in their rebuilding process on Wednesday, hiring former Chiefs’ defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham for the same role.

      The Detroit Lions have hired Gunther Cunningham to be their new defensive coordinator and coach Jim Schwartz is expected to make an announcement shortly.

      Cunningham, who also will hold the title of assistant head coach, was believed to be Schwartz’s No. 1 target.

      Cunningham coached linebackers in Tennessee for three years while Schwartz was the defensive coordinator there. Schwartz’s search will now turn toward an offensive coordinator and special teams coach.

      This was a solid hire and the Lions commitment to defense is a necessary step in trying to resurrect the franchise.

      Word to the wise though, Gunther: leave your former defensive players in Kansas City. The Lions want to upgrade their defense, not make it worse.

      NFL

      Cowboys upset with Romo’s practice habits

      January 21, 2009 /

      The soap opera that is the Dallas Cowboys has a new episode today. Apparently the team is less than thrilled with quarterback Tony Romo’s practice habits and feel that his in-game struggles are an indication that he needs to focus more Monday through Friday at Valley Ranch.

      Tony RomoAccording to five sources, several offensive players lost respect for Garrett for his failure to corral quarterback Tony Romo in practice. Romo, sources said, often forced throws in practice and often did not treat practice work consistently.

      Sources said Owens was upset that Romo directed more passes at tight end and close friend Jason Witten as opposed to the other receivers who he deemed open. Owens has declined to discuss that issue.

      The relationship between Garrett and his offensive players will be an important issue for the unit to work out. Garrett was unsuccessful in his bid to land recent head coaching jobs in Denver, Detroit and St. Louis.

      Specifically, the relationship between the mercurial Owens and Garrett is in question. Other receivers respect Owens and often share his sentiments.

      When asked about his relationship with Owens, Garrett said Monday, “I have a lot of respect for him, certainly as a player, we’ll just leave it at that, OK?”

      Does anyone else feel like the Cowboys are the replica of the Raiders, only without all of the losses and lack of talent?

      I started to write how Dallas needs a strong figure head at head coach to corral all of the egos and personalities in the locker room, but then what was Bill Parcells? If the Tuna couldn’t control that group, who can?

      Keyshawn Johnson recently threw out Cardinals’ offensive coordinator (and former Dallas OC) Todd Haley’s name, but I highly doubt he would take the job knowing he would have to work with T.O. again. Still, he might be a good fit to grab hold of Romo and get him to realize that quarterbacks have to go that extra mile everyday if they want to win a Super Bowl.

      NFL

      Ryan Howard asks for $18 mil in arbitration

      January 21, 2009 /

      Phillies’ first basemen Ryan Howard asked for $18 million in arbitration on Tuesday, while the club offered him $14 mil.

      From Rotoworld.com:

      Ryan Howard
      The $18 million request is the second-highest ever for an arbitration-eligible player, falling just short of the $18.5 million Derek Jeter asked for in 2001. Howard will, of course, overtake that mark next year unless a long-term deal is worked out. He made a record $10 million in his first season of arbitration.

      Considering Howard is coming off another MVP-caliber season, it’s not unfathomable that he would come close to hitting his $18 million request. He’s eligible for arbitration until 2011, so the Phillies are in a tough spot. Do they continue to pay him top dollar for one year at a time until his arbitration ends and then decide whether or not they’ll re-up long term? By then, he’ll be in his early 30s, so maybe Philly parts ways at that point and lets another club roll the dice on giving a 30-plus year old slugger who doesn’t play defense a long-term contract.

      Even though it’ll be more expensive now, paying him what he wins in arbitration might be the defending champ’s best move in the long run.

      MLB

      Cardinal fans torch McNabb’s lawn, then leave evidence

      January 21, 2009 /

      Two Cardinals fans burned messages into Donovan McNabb’s lawn before the NFC Championship Game last week and then were bright enough to leave evidence behind, which linked them to the crime.

      Donovan McNabbThe Cardinals fans who left diesel fuel messages in the lawn of Donovan McNabb’s Chandler home also left something else – a box with a postage sticker that listed the suspect’s name and address.

      The two men, Rex Perkin, 37, and Ryan Hanlon, 28, were arrested Saturday around 6 p.m., for using the fuel to kill the grass in the Philadelphia quarterback’s lawn and leave the messages., “Go Cards,” “Go Kurt,” and “I (heart) AZ.”

      But the story actually started two days before, when McNabb came home to his house in the Ocotillo neighborhood on the Thursday to find a Cardinals flag hanging from a tree in his yard. The quarterback found the prank amusing and left the flag hanging in the tree, Favazzo said.

      When McNabb came home late the next night, he saw the cardboard box that the vandals made into a makeshift sign – “Go Cards” was written on one side and “Beat Philly” on the other. Again McNabb brushed it off, but when he woke up early the next morning on the day of the game, he smelled diesel fuel and called police.

      “Police did a very, very quick investigation,” said Sgt. Joe Favazzo, a Chandler police spokesman. Officers quickly spotted the postage sticker on the box with Perkin’s name and address. They went Perkin’s home, where police arrested him at about 6 p.m. when he admitted to the prank and outted his co-worker, Hanlon. Perkins wore a Cardinals cap in his booking photo.

      Go easy on the Cardinal fans – this is the first time they’ve ever had the opportunity to do something like this. They’ll learn.

      NFL, Super Bowl

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