Football

May 14, 2013; Tempe, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) and wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) looks on during organized team activities at the Cardinals Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports. Arizona’s offensive line was atrocious in 2012, but the Cardinals’ biggest need was quarterback. The Cardinals’ quarterbacks threw 21 interceptions and 11 touchdowns, and the group combined to post a paltry 63.1 passer rating. The quarterback situation was a dire need, and Arizona addressed it by trading with the Raiders for Palmer. Palmer, who ranked second in passer rating in 2005 (he posted a spectacular 101.1 passer rating that year), has the potential to be great in Arizona. Chad Johnson was in his prime when Palmer put up his best numbers. Johnson ranked third in receiving yards in 2005, and that was largely due to Palmer. Palmer wasn’t as productive with the Raiders because Oakland didn’t have a great receiving corps, but he still managed to post the league’s 16th-best passer rating. Palmer likes to take risks, and Larry Fitzgerald can bail him out for taking those risks. Fitzgerald isn’t fast, but he knows how to go up and get a ball. Even though Palmer had terrible receivers who couldn’t bail him out for taking risks, he threw 14 interceptions, which isn’t a ton. With Fitzgerald as a big-play threat, Ryan Swope and Andre Roberts as threats to use their speed to get open and Jonathan Cooper and Levi Brown anchoring a talented offensive line, Palmer’s stats should be much better in 2013. In 2011, Palmer averaged a remarkable 8.39 yards per passing attempt, and in 2012 Palmer exceeded 4,000 passing yards and threw 1.6 touchdowns per game. Palmer has displayed flashes of greatness, and while he has thrown an abundance of interceptions, he has thrown a solid amount of touchdowns as well. A lot of people say that Palmer isn’t a long-term solution at quarterback, but he definitely could bring the Cardinals back to the playoffs. Palmer took the Bengals to the playoffs twice, which wasn’t easy at all considering the talent (or lack thereof) around him. His 86.2 career passer rating suggests that he is a top 15 quarterback, which is definitely enough for the Cardinals. Arizona’s defense ranked 12th in the league in 2012, and the offense is stacked with weapons. Due to Palmer’s potential and his supporting cast, if Palmer can perform like he did in 2005, the Cardinals will succeed. This was a huge pickup for the Cardinals, and it’s one that likely saved their season. With Alex Smith gone, Ryan Fitzpatrick and Geno Smith were the other main options. Fitzpatrick hasn’t been able to hold up for a whole season, and the draft class was exceptionally weak at quarterback. Then, Palmer, a talented veteran, became available, and the Cardinals pounced on the opportunity to take him. This was a great addition for the Cardinals. No one else was available, and Palmer is a stellar quarterback with the potential to play like a top 10 quarterback consistently. Arizona could look for its next great quarterback in the 2014 NFL draft, but Palmer is more than capable of keeping the starting quarterback job for an extended period of time. Palmer is 33 years old, but Kurt Warner took the Cardinals to the Super Bowl in his second-to-last year, and he took the Cardinals to the Divisional round in his final year. Palmer is a good fit in Arizona, and he is a guy who can restore hope among Cardinals fans quickly with stellar play. Because of this, the Cardinals nailed it with this trade, and they deserve an A for it.

Michael Renner has run a close eye over the Bears' roster and sees breakout potential in defensive tackle Nate Collins, the next PFF Secret Superstar.

Here at The Landry Hat, we care about what our readers think. Our entire site is dedicated to you, the die-hard Dallas Cowboy fans. And there is no better way to gauge your opinions then through our poll questions. Please submit your choice below, leave your thoughts in the comments section below, and come back to check to see what the bulk of Cowboy fans feel is the right answer. December 9, 2012; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton (14) looks for an open receiver under pressure from Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware (94) at Paul Brown Stadium. Dallas won the game 20-19. Mandatory Credit: Greg Bartram-USA TODAY Sports Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

Good morning ladies and gents. Sorry for the confusion in the headline of yesterday's Nuggets. I've always used the term to mean "good luck," which of course, a lot of other people do. Still, I could have picked a better choice of words on that one. Kyle Williams isn't going anywhere, though I do think 2013 is probably his last chance to make an impact before the team cuts ties with him. The big news from yesterday was the suspension of Seattle Seahawks defensive end Bruce Irvin. I'm not in the camp of "oh well the Seahawks are a bunch of cheaters," I just happen to think that they're not very good at disguising it. If you want to call them anything, do something with that. For those who aren't aware, the Nuggets are supposed to just be quick links, especially at this point in the offseason where there's so little to talk about. I'd love to spend an hour or more each night writing them up like I used to, but right now it's either quick links or no links and I'd rather get you good folks you're links. We'll see what we can do to flesh things out once the preseason nears. Onto the links. Seatte DE Irvin suspended; 49ers' Dahl unsympathetic (Branch) Let's start the bidding: 49ers, Bay Area to learn Super Bowl fate Tuesday (Barrows) Eric Mangini -- Three thoughts on his possible hiring in San Francisco (Lynch) Michael Crabtree and stakes for 'No. 1' WR (Sando) Quinton Patton vs. D.J. Hayden highlights (Cohn) Quinton Patton got the Tavon Austin treatment (FOX Sports) His Shadow: Lattimore inspired after first meeting with Gore (Branch) Lockette: 49ers Jenkins will 'surprise a lot of people' (49ers) MT: Lattimore inspired by Gore (49ers) Dilfer: Kaepernick Changing the Environment (49ers)

Eagles, 76ers using brains over brawnThe Eagles' new coach and the Sixers' new president share neither a sport nor a background - but they are united in a way they probably don't even realize. How will tight ends fit in Chip Kelly's offense?Of all the starters left over from the Andy Reid regime, Brent Celek might have reason to fret the most in Chip Kelly's first offseason of player acquisition. The Eagles tight end saw his new coach add two competitors at a position where teams sometimes carry only two players on the 53-man roster. Three Philadelphia Eagles Numbers That Matter - Birds 24/7From Chip Kelly's red-zone efficiency to Mychal Kendricks' tackling, here are three numbers that matter. Vince Young: Graduating from UT even tops winning a national title - CBSSports.comVince Young produced arguably the greatest performance in the history of college football on its biggest stage when he carried Texas to the BCS title in the 2006 Rose Bowl. But as spectacular as Young was in Pasadena against top-ranked USC, that day still won't feel quite as special as Friday morning when he is awarded his college degree from UT in the school's graduation ceremonies on campus. Former Philadelphia Eagles QB Donovan McNabb and the Hall of Fame argument | PennLive.comMcNabb has long been a polarizing figure in Philadelphia, a highly productive player but with no Super Bowl rings to show for the numbers. Three AFC scouts analyze Eagles' draft class | Comcast SportsNet PhiladelphiaFor objective, expert opinions on the Eagles' batch of rookies, we turned to three AFC scouts, who gave mixed reviews on a few draft picks. Hope springs eternal in NFL spring minicamps. | SportsonEarth.com : Mike Tanier ArticleNothing breeds optimism quite like May in the NFL, where we get our first chance to be impressed by rookies and new coaches in minicamps. From Chicago to Buffalo to Dallas, hope springs eternal and anything seems possible, even if it isn't. Cutting Ties | The Sideline ViewThe one conundrum that isn't discussed enough in the NFL, and which personnel men routinely fail at, is when it is the right time to give up on quarterbacks. In truth, most general managers don't sit in the front office long enough to see their struggling "franchise" quarterbacks develop, let alone make the decision to get rid of them or not. Bruce Irvin suspended 4 games for PED violation - Field GullsHe's 6th Seahawk to get a PED suspension in 2 years.

Super Bowl XLVII Champion Ray Rice To Be One of Several New Players Featured in the Vignette Series to Air During NFL Regular Season NEW YORK – May 16, 2012 – USA Network announced today that it is expanding its Characters Unite collaboration with the National Football League. The initiative, which works to combat hate and intolerance, kicks off with a new series of vignettes during the NFL regular season and culminates with the third annual NFL CHARACTERS UNITE hour-long special documentary premiering around Super Bowl XLVIII. Super Bowl champion Ray Rice will be among the players featured in the weekly vignettes that highlight NFL stars sharing their personal stories of overcoming discrimination and helping a young person facing similar challenges today. Launching in November 2013 on-air, online and in select stadiums around the nation, the series will be offered as a sponsorship opportunity to marketing partners looking to align their brand to the important cause of promoting greater respect and acceptance. The announcement was made in conjunction with USA’s Upfront (#USAupfront), which is being held today at Pier 36 in New York. "We are proud to expand the collaboration between Characters Unite and the National Football League. With the combined resources of the top cable network and the top professional sports league, we can exponentially increase the reach and impact of our shared effort to combat hate and bullying – two critical issues facing today’s youth," said Toby Graff, USA’s Senior Vice President, Public Affairs. "The powerful and courageous stories of the NFL stars taking part will help to inspire greater respect, tolerance and acceptance." Each of the eight heart-warming and inspiring vignettes will profile a NFL star who serves as a role model, using his own experiences to mentor a young person who is experiencing similar prejudice and discrimination today. Among those featured will be Rice, Baltimore Ravens running back and Super Bowl XLVII champion, who will be tackling the problem of bullying and teen suicide in conjunction with his efforts through Ray Rice Charitable Fund. The vignettes will be broadcast on-air, and viewers can delve deeper into the series online, where there will be even more background on the emotional stories behind each player and young person. The documentary will kick off Characters Unite Month in February 2014, a time when USA Network shines a brighter spotlight on the initiative and the importance of promoting greater respect and acceptance. "We are pleased to continue working with Characters Unite to highlight the positive impact NFL players have on their communities," said Tracy Perlman, NFL Vice President of Entertainment Marketing and Promotions. "We look forward to working with USA Network and The Hochberg Ebersol Company to tell these important stories." "Each year, it is one of our company’s great honors to produce ‘NFL Characters Unite,’" said executive producer Charlie Ebersol. "We are thrilled that USA Network, the NFL and its players will continue to truly inspire teens while giving viewers an often ignored first person depiction of the cycle of negativity that we all should be fighting to end with today’s youth." Previous players who participated in NFL CHARACTERS UNITE included Baltimore Ravens linebacker Jameel McClain, Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu, New York Giants Pro Bowl defensive end Justin Tuck, Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl MVP wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Atlanta Falcons Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez, New Orleans Saints star tight end Jimmy Graham, former Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver and Super Bowl XL MVP Hines Ward, and NBC’s Football Night in America analyst and Super Bowl-winning Indianapolis Colts head coach Tony Dungy. The films have been narrated by former NBC’s Football Night in America Emmy-winning sportscaster Cris Collinswo

Well before he signed a six-year, $46.8 million free agent deal with the Tennessee Titans, it was assumed that the Buffalo Bills would need to replace four-year starting left guard Andy Levitre in 2013. Sure enough, roughly two months away from the start of training camp, the left guard position is among the most unsettled areas on the team's depth chart. That said, with two quality interior starters returning and several viable options to replace Levitre, the Bills are better off on the offensive line than most outsiders give them credit for. That's doubly true when considering the qualifications of new offensive line coach Pat Morris, not to mention the fact that head coach Doug Marrone is a renowned line coach himself. Eric Wood Age: 27 Contract: Signed through the 2013 season. Scheduled to make $2.3 million in base salary in his contract year. Once the Bills resolve the pending contract situation with Jairus Byrd, his 2009 NFL Draft classmate, Wood, is next on the team's to-do list. On the field, Wood is a solid center with somewhat inconsistent tape but at times exemplary technique. He's a great leader for an unheralded line, but he's been held back through his first four years by an inability to stay on the field. Wood's extensive injury history - which includes two catastrophic leg injuries that required season-ending surgery - will almost certainly be a factor in those forthcoming contract negotiations. For now, he's the centerpiece - literally and figuratively - of a re-tooling offensive line post-Levitre. Kraig Urbik Age: 27 (28 in September) Contract: Signed through the 2016 season. Scheduled to make $2.05 million in base salary in 2013. It was a bit telling when the Bills didn't open contract negotiations with Levitre last season, instead signing the under-appreciated Urbik to a four-year contract extension in December. Once a waiver claim by the Bills and a former third-round pick in Pittsburgh, Urbik has now been a starter in Buffalo for the last two years, and has grown into a reliable and steady performer with surprising second-level ability and positional versatility. He's a lock to start and the most important piece of the interior line long-term, and it wouldn't be at all surprising if he emerged as the Bills' best lineman in 2013. Sam Young Age: 25 (26 in June) Contract: Signed through the 2013 season. Scheduled to make $630,000 in base salary in his contract year. Though Young is a tackle by trade, he saw action inside at guard for the Bills over the last two years, performing admirably in spot duty. Now, he's among the early leaders in the clubhouse to replace Levitre at left guard. He's not built like a classic guard - he's 6'8" and 316 pounds with long arms - but he's a highly intelligent, tough player that has gotten the job done when called upon. Marrone and Morris can work with a guy like that. Colin Brown Age: 27 (28 in August) Contract: Signed through the 2014 season. Scheduled to make $630,000 in base salary in 2013. Brown, who pulled two starts at center in 2011 when both Wood and Urbik landed on IR, might have been the clear front-runner to replace Levitre had he not landed on IR himself after just 19 snaps in 2012 with a severe hamstring injury. Another huge blocker (6'7", 326), Brown does not fit the classic mold of a guard, and it'll be interesting to see if he can seriously contend for a starting position coming off of the injury. Chris Scott Age: 25 (26 in August) Contract: Signed through the 2013 season. Scheduled to make $630,000 in base salary in his contract year. This under-the-radar player has already received first-team left guard reps in OTAs, and is a name that bears watching. One of two 2010 fifth-round picks by Pittsburgh currently on Buffalo's roster (cornerback Crezdon Butler is the other), the 6'5", 320-pound Scott was added to the roster late in the 2012 season and didn't see a down of action. If he does end up winning the le

If Manti Te’o wanted to make sure he heard fake dead girlfriend jokes forever, he’d duck his head and mutter “no comment,” or “that’s in the past.” Embracing the joke takes the sting out of the needle, and will be what makes it go away. Te’o appeared to be a good sport about the whole…

Alright, folks. . .it looks like the sites are officially back up and running with no issues. We apologize to all of our readers out there that have had difficulty getting to us for the past couple of days. While we were having problems, it appears that the state of Minnesota might have solved their problem of coming up with sufficient funding for a new Minnesota Vikings' stadium. The solution is two-fold, and it was introduced by Governor Mark Dayton on Friday. The first is an increase on cigarette taxes, which will bump the tax on a pack of smokes from $1.23 per pack to $2.83 per pack. I can't imagine this being too terribly popular with the smoking crowd. . .it would make the price of a carton go up by $16. . .and would give Minnesota one of the highest cigarette taxes in the nation. The other part of the equation would involve closing a corporate "tax avoidance" loophole. According to the state's revenue commissioner, raising the cigarette tax by itself would generate $24.5 million a year in additional revenue, which would replenish the state's stadium fund and cover any shortfalls. The legislature has to have the tax bill drafted by midnight on Monday, so at that point we'll see if the plan introduced by Governor Dayton has any real traction. According to the Fox Sports North article listed above, the deal was "accepted in principle" by the folks in charge of drafting that bill. Yes, I realize that this is a political matter. It can't really be avoided. Feel free to discuss it as such. . .however, if the comments degenerate into "RAWR REPUBLICANS SUCK RAWR NO DEMOCRATS SUCK" or something of a similar nature, we're yanking the plug. If the issue can't be discussed in a normal, respectful manner, it won't be discussed at all.

The Patriots will play just once on "Monday Night Football" during the 2013 season, and the game comes on the heels of their Week 10 bye. It will take place in Charlotte against the Carolina Panthers, who feature one of the most exciting young players in football, quarterback Cam Newton. The teams have something of a history after a memorable meeting in Super Bowl XXXVIII, but while the Patriots have continued their success since that time, the Panthers took a nosedive in the standings and have had to rebuild the franchise.