Damn, Cards got Rolle, Blackstock and Brown

[Northman]

they are going to be a hell of a lot better this year.

[stoxman]

Yep, some nice drafting there!

[WaffleBoy]

Originally Posted by Anubis_Zyklon

they are going to be a hell of a lot better this year.

I was hoping the Steelers snatch up Blackstock.

The Boy Wonder

[-Slap-]

Arizona had arguably the best draft last year, too. Green is putting together a really tough team down there.

The Cardinals will be a great play at home in September. The betting public won't be on to them yet and they'll have their annual early season home heat index advantage.

[Northman]

Originally Posted by WaffleBoy

I was hoping the Steelers snatch up Blackstock.

The Boy Wonder

Yea, i know Pitt had Canty on their list as well. they are going to love Miller though. i envy you Waffle.

[Breck Bronc]

It's amazing what a new front office that knows how to build a team can do when it comes into town. The last two drafts under Green have been excellent. Cardinals fans actually have a team to look forward to in the future. As good as the '04 draft was for them, I like this one even better after they got Elton Brown and Lance Mitchell on the second day, where last year their second day guys couldn't match Larry Fitzgerald, Karlos Dansby, and Darnell Dockett.

2005 Draft
1. Antrel Rolle CB Miami
2. J.J. Arrington RB California
3. Eric Green CB Virginia Tech
3. Darryl Blackstock LB Virginia
4. Elton Brown OG Virginia
5. Lance Mitchell LB Oklahoma
7. LeRon McCoy WR Indiana (PA)

2004 Draft
1. Larry Fitzgerald WR Pittsburgh
2. Karlos Dansby OLB Auburn
3. Darnell Dockett DT Florida St.
4. Alex Stepanovich C Ohio St.
5. Antonio Smith DE Oklahoma St.
6. Nick Leckey OG Kansas St.
7. John Navarre QB Michigan

Not only have they done great drafting, they're moving into a new, state of the art stadium in 2006. This will be their last year playing in a college team's stadium (ASU) at about 30% capacity, except when the Cowboys or Broncos come to town. The stadium will have a retractable roof, and the grass playing field will be outside the stadium until being moved by tracks into the building for game days. Hopefully for the Cards that system works out better than Denver International Airport's automated baggage handling system. I know a few soccer stadiums in Japan use the same type of technology for having natural grass in a domed facility.







Cool 45-second animation on the new Cardinals Stadium

Hell, they've even got new uniforms, and we Bronco fans know how that can turn around your fortunes. We never would have won Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII without the new Nike uniforms. And Tampa Bay never would have won it a few years ago with those "Bucco Bruce" creamsicle uniforms. I do think that Arizona's new uniforms are a little too similar to Atlanta's and the helmet change is a little too similar to the Louisville Cardinals' new helmet.





If Arizona can keep Kurt Warner protected, if the defense keeps improving now with Antrel Rolle, Darryl Blackstock, and Eric Green, if J.J. Arrington turns into a solid RB, and if Rod Tidwell catches a few more touchdown passes, the Arizona Cardinals will win the NFC West and host a playoff game. And if Pat Tillman is looking down on them, they might just win a Super Bowl in the next 3 years.

[RhymesayersDU]

That jersey is the hotness.

[Breck Bronc]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

That jersey is the hotness.

I'm buying an Antrel Rolle jersey when it comes out.

[-Slap-]

I predicted Dennis Green would turn that franchise around, but its interesting to see how much differently he's doing things now that he has more control. The player's coach from Minnesota is gone. Green's quick to run off anyone who doesn't buy into what he's selling. Usually that's the best approach whenever a coach comes to a team with a long tradition of losing, though.

He still makes some puzzling decisions, though. Benching McCown last year while the team was playing well, and he had no viable alternative, kind of derailed what should have been a more successful season.

[Bronco LB 59]

I drove by the new football stadium last month and its surrounded by farm fields. It's unbelievable when you think that facility will host the Super Bowl less than three years from now.

Slap, Arizona sounds like its been your adopted NFC team for about two years now. I remember when you used to talk about watching them all the time on the Ticket last season. I want to put a "Futures Bet" on Arizona myself.

I love Arizona's young talent. Adrian Wilson is one of the best kept secrets in the NFL. Karlos Dansby and Darnell Dockett got kind of ignored in the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year talk. Alex Stepanovich would have been a perfect fit as Broncos center. I think he's going to be a perennial Pro Bowler in the NFC once the Cardinals get more recognition.

[-Slap-]

Dockett was a badass last year. He started the season fast, but still had his best game of the season in week 17. I like when Arizona wins, especially when I'm taking the points. I guess I have a few NFC teams I don't mind seeing have success. Philly and Carolina are the other two.

[-Slap-]

I think the Bears are going to be a surprise team next season. If Mike Brown comes back 100%, that defense Lovie is putting together will be evil.

[Breck Bronc]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

He still makes some puzzling decisions, though. Benching McCown last year while the team was playing well, and he had no viable alternative, kind of derailed what should have been a more successful season.

Especially since they were still in the playoff hunt in that mediocre NFC of '04.

I watched them a lot for fantasy football purposes last season and it seemed like they never went down the field to Fitzgerald or Johnson (or Boldin when healthy). It seemed like every pass was a dump off. I don't know if McCown couldn't go deep or what, but you'd think Warner will complete some more long passes and open up other things for the offense -- if he doesn't get killed first.

I think Arizona and Washington will be my priority Sunday Ticket teams to watch when Denver isn't playing.

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Breck Bronc

Especially since they were still in the playoff hunt in that mediocre NFC of '04.

I watched them a lot for fantasy football purposes last season and it seemed like they never went down the field to Fitzgerald or Johnson (or Boldin when healthy). It seemed like every pass was a dump off. I don't know if McCown couldn't go deep or what, but you'd think Warner will complete some more long passes and open up other things for the offense -- if he doesn't get killed first.

I think Arizona and Washington will be my priority Sunday Ticket teams to watch when Denver isn't playing.

Do you have MLB Extra Innings, Breck?

The goddamn blackouts here in Vegas are pissing me off. The nearest pro team is almost 300 miles away. I wonder if its like that in other regions.

[Breck Bronc]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

Do you have MLB Extra Innings, Breck?

The goddamn blackouts here in Vegas are pissing me off. The nearest pro team is almost 300 miles away. I wonder if its like that in other regions.

Nah, I wish. I have Sunday Ticket and NHL Center Ice (ugh, when there's hockey), but I can't justify spending that much more on baseball. I figure the Rockies are on pretty much every day here in CO, the Braves and Cubs are on a ton on cable, and ESPN shows quite a few games. Plus, my best friend has Extra Innings and I can go over to his house and watch whatever he has on that particular day.

Why are there blackouts in Vegas and who would be your local team, the Angels and Dodgers?

[-Slap-]

Originally Posted by Breck Bronc

Nah, I wish. I have Sunday Ticket and NHL Center Ice (ugh, when there's hockey), but I can't justify spending that much more on baseball. I figure the Rockies are on pretty much every day here in CO, the Braves and Cubs are on a ton on cable, and ESPN shows quite a few games. Plus, my best friend has Extra Innings and I can go over to his house and watch whatever he has on that particular day.

Why are there blackouts in Vegas and who would be your local team, the Angels and Dodgers?

There seem to be no rhyme or reason to the blackouts. Usually its a west coast game like the Dodgers, Padres, Angels or A's, sometimes its from another region of the country. Totally senseless, though. One game of a series will be blacked out and the others will be broadcast.

[SoCalBronco]

Lance Mitchell is a STEAL as well. Should be fully recovered now. Damn Dennis Green. Front Seven is going to be quite good. Dansby, Mitchell, Blackstock, Dockett, Berry, Okeafor. Damn.

[Breck Bronc]

Originally Posted by -Slap-

There seem to be no rhyme or reason to the blackouts. Usually its a west coast game like the Dodgers, Padres, Angels or A's, sometimes its from another region of the country. Totally senseless, though. One game of a series will be blacked out and the others will be broadcast.

That sucks, west coast baseball is real strong this year. I think the Giants are going to be the worst Pacific based team, particularly once Alfonzo cools off. I enjoyed the Blanton/Escobar pitchers duel tonight on ESPN. The A's don't score any runs for Blanton.

[Bronco LB 59]

Originally Posted by SoCalBronco

Lance Mitchell is a STEAL as well. Should be fully recovered now. Damn Dennis Green. Front Seven is going to be quite good. Dansby, Mitchell, Blackstock, Dockett, Berry, Okeafor. Damn.

Not to mention Gerald Hayes, your old nemesis in the Big East. He's supposed to take over for Ronald McKinnon in the middle this season.

Plus, they have two former 1st rounder d-linemen stashed away on their bench in Bryant and Pace.

[Kaylore]

I have no faith in the Cardinals. Its the Cardinals. There are some teams where the curse of the organization overwhelms them. The Saints have some studs on their team; they suck. The Chiefs have put together solid teams in recen tmemory; they can't get out of the playoffs. The Cardinals are run by Bill Bidwell; they will always pick in the top ten.

On the side, heir new whiter uniforms look much better and will be less hot in the sun.

[Breck Bronc]

Originally Posted by Kaylore

I have no faith in the Cardinals. Its the Cardinals. There are some teams where the curse of the organization overwhelms them. The Saints have some studs on their team; they suck. The Chiefs have put together solid teams in recen tmemory; they can't get out of the playoffs. The Cardinals are run by Bill Bidwell; they will always pick in the top ten.

On the side, heir new whiter uniforms look much better and will be less hot in the sun.

The Broncos couldn't win a Super Bowl until their 5th try, Cleveland/Baltimore had never even been to a Super Bowl unitl 2000, Tampa Bay was the worst franchise in sports until Dungy got there (check their winning % prior to 1997), and many New Englanders still can't believe that their Patriots are far and away the best run franshise in football and have three titles in four years.

I don't think it's a stretch at all to see Arizona or Cincinnati win a Super Bowl in the next 5 seasons. Things have changed in todays NFL. San Francisco and Miami drafted first and second on Saturday, for Christ's sake.

[DrFate]

The Cardinals had something we haven't seen in a while - it's called 'a good draft'.

Neat concept, huh?

[Garcia Bronco]

the best player the got was Eric Green

[Odysseus]

I was a Cardinals fans since just before Denny Green signed on. It was a lot to do with Tillman.

I always hated seeing them get chewed up. They are going to be so good this year. I like them over anyone else in their division.

I grew up on the Bears and Lions so all the teams of the "Black and Blue" division are good by me. Bears had a smart draft and are going to nasty next year.

I think the new uniforms suck but I think the new attitude is going to force them to be a team to be reckoned with.

[Darkhawk24]

I am curious to see how Kurt Warner does over there. He sure does have the weapons to throw to. They had an excellent draft. Green has always built his teams through the draft. The way you should be doing it.