Pat Tillman’s Mother Honoring Her Son’s Legacy

Boldin Makes it Known He Wants to Stick with the Cards

Cardinals wide out Anquan Boldin wants to make one thing clear.  He does not want to be traded from the Cardinals.  Taking part in the Cardinals mini-camp, Boldin went on record and made sure to tell reporters that he wants to stick with the Cards, and hopefully be part of a franchise that is ready to take a step to the next level.  “I went to sleep one night, woke up the next morning and was disgruntled, I wanted out of Arizona and all this stuff,” Boldin said.  “And I hadn’t even talked to anybody.  It was funny to see the reports going around, especially around the draft time.

“We were under the impression the whole time that [we were] just keeping things under wraps, like we usually do,” Boldin said.  “I don’t feel like going to the media every time something happens because I think the business between me and the ballclub is between us and that’s how it should stay.”  The first report said that it was Boldin that wanted a deal out of Arizona, but now it seems that things have been smoothed over between he and the team.

Boldin’s current deal is signed through 2010 at salaries of $2.5 million, $2.75 million, and $3 million over the next three seasons.

Rodgers-Cromartie Ready to Go to Work for the Cards

Cards first round draft pick Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie spoke out today as he gets set to take the field for the first time this weekend with the Cardinals in a mini-camp.  The corner says he wants to take each moment of what he and the Cardinals hope will be a long NFL career in before he hits the field for the first time.  “I was just going to sit in the locker room for a few minutes with the helmet on my head and close my eyes and just look back over all the things I’ve been through and just say, ‘I’m finally here,”’ Rodgers-Cromartie said Thursday, when the club formally introduced him to the media. “And then go to work.” Rodgers-Cromartie will be a welcome sight for the Cards if he works out, as they are a team that has needed help at the corner spot for awhile.  If he can come in and help the 28th ranked pass defense, the pick will be well worth it.

Cardinals Select CB D. Rodgers-Cromartie With The 16th Pick

Going Corner First; Cards Grab CB Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie with 16th Pick

The Cardinals needed help in the corner spot, and Saturday they were able to secure what many think is the best CB in the draft, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie from Tennessee State.  Last season in 11 games he had 37 tackles, and 2 picks.  He is a very solid cover guy and is very aggressive, meaning he can make plays, but sometimes does a little too much, which is something the Cards will have to work on.  Look for Rodgers-Cromartie to be a steal at this spot when it’s all said and done.

Here is a scouting report on Rodgers-Cromartie from NFLdraftcountdown.com

Strengths:
Naturally athletic and very smooth…Great height with long arms and some growth potential…Very good timed speed with a burst to close…Instinctive and breaks on the ball quickly…Terrific agility…Playmaker with exceptional ball skills…Aggressive and confident…Was pretty productive at his level…Also an excellent kick returner.

Weaknesses:
Needs to add weight and bulk up…Not very physical and has to get stronger…Did not play against top competition…Still raw and will need to work on his technique and footwork…Struggles to shed blocks…Doesn’t really offer much in run support.

Notes:
Attended four different high schools and didn’t play football until his senior year..A Division II All-American…Also participated in track for the Tigers, winning the Ohio Valley Conference championships in the 60 yard dash, the long jump and the high jump…Needs to put some time in at the training table and in the weight room but has the talent to make the NFL leap…One of the top sleepers prospects available.

And here is ESPN’s take on Rodgers-Cromartie:

Rodgers-Cromartie isn’t as strong against the run as teams would like and he needs to add some weight to his frame. On the flip side, he quieted concerns about facing small-school competition with an excellent showing during Senior Bowl week and an outstanding performance at the combine. There’s little question about his upside; he’s fast enough to run with any receiver and he can cut on a dime. In addition, he can line up at free safety and he has the range to play a center fielder type role.

DE Robinson Joins the Cardinals

The Cards have added a position of need to their defensive line, as the team has signed 11-year vet Bryan Robinson.  The DE has played for the Bengals, Dolphins, Bears and Rams.  The last three years he’s been with the Bengals.  Last season with Cincy, he appeared in 16 games, starting four.  The team has been on the lookout for D-lineman, so Robinson fits the bill right now.

Cards Re-Sign Celestin

The Cardinals re-signed safety Oliver Celestin to a one-year contract on Wednesday.  Financial terms were not released.  Celestin played in a career-high 15 games with four starts last season for the Cards and posted 22 tackles.  The 27-year-old Texas Southern product has recorded 59 tackles, 24 special teams tackles and two fumble recoveries over 48 career games with the Jets, Seattle and Arizona.

Are Matt Leinart’s Off-Field Activities an Issue?

Cards Sign St. Pierre, Re-Sign Ware

The Cardinals signed free agent quarterback Brian St. Pierre and re-signed safety Matt Ware on Monday.  St. Pierre spent the 2007 campaign with the Pittsburgh Steelers.  He was the team’s third quarterback for 15 games and dressed as the backup for one game last year.  Ware notched 12 tackles over 15 games with the Cards last season.  Ware has 45 tackles on defense and 53 special teams tackles in 57 career games.

Cards and LB Haggans Agree to a Deal

The Cardinals have made a move on the free agent market, as they have inked former Steelers LB Clark Haggans. Adam Schefter of NFL Network is reporting that Haggans has come to terms with the Cards, but that you can assume it was for not that much money, considering it was being reported that the Cards only had about $100,000 under the cap after the extension of Larry Fitzgerald.

Haggans is a classic case of a player thinking he was worth more than he really was. He was getting little to no interest on the open market, and the only team that had him in for a visit was the Browns. There were some rumors that he might have to return back to the Steelers as a backup just to have a job in the league. With Ken Whisenhunt, the former Steeler coordinator knows all about Haggans, making it a good fit for the club.

Last season in 16 games with the Steelers, Haggans had 58 tackles and four sacks. In his career, he has 322 career tackles with 32.5 sacks. He was a 5th round pick of the Steelers back in 2000, with his best season coming in the teams Super Bowl year of 2005 when he had 9 sacks and 61 tackles.