In Honor of Pat Tillman | Woy's Arizona Cardinals (ESPN NFL 2K5)

[LC AAU]

Nice concept, followin.

[Woy]

def following, hopefully henson owned

Thanks, you'll have to see. ;)

Interesting idea for a chise. I'll keep an eye on it.

Thanks as well. I remembered that Pat Tillman died in 2004, and since this game takes place in that season, it was basically a no-brainer.

Nice concept, followin.

Thanks man.

I'll try to get the pre-season up now.

[Woy]

ARIZONA CARDINALS PRE-SEASON RESULTS

Pre-Season Game 1

Arizona Cardinals (0-0) at Seattle Seahawks (0-0)

Drew Henson, ARZ (4-13, 102 yards, 1 TD)
Bryant Johnson, ARZ (5 catches, 87 yards, 1 TD)
Darrell Jackson, SEA (4 catches, 136 yards, 1 TD)

Pre-Season Game 2

Arizona Cardinals (1-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (0-1)

Drew Henson, ARZ (3-8, 76 yards, 1 TD)
Coby Reinhart, ARZ (2 INT, 1 TD)
Keith Adams, PHI (6 tackles, 2 INT)

Pre-Season Game 3

Arizona Cardinals (1-1) at Detroit Lions (1-1)

Drew Henson, ARZ (15-29, 222 yards, 2 TD)
Emmitt Smith, ARZ (20 carries, 89 yards, 1 TD)
Kevin Jones, DET (14 carries, 42 yards, 1 TD)

Pre-Season Game 4

Arizona Cardinals (2-1) at Houston Texans (2-1)

Drew Henson, ARZ (11-22, 164 yards)
Adrian Wilson, ARZ (9 tackles, 1 sack)
David Carr, HOU (25-45, 249 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT)

Author's Note: I didn't want to go into a full recap for every pre-season game, and plus I'm doing this right before I leave for school, so that's why it might seem kinda rushed. I'll have a pre-season review for the Cardinals and other major move update, involving a talented runningback, next update.

[Aso]

I like how you did the pre-season. I think for pre-season thats all thats necessary except for maybe a few more key stats for people that might be on the bubble for a roster spot or starting job or something. All of this has looked real nice so far. I am guessing Josh McCown won't be in the running for the starting job.

[Gonzo]

You know I'm following.

[GMSFootballa54]

Followin'.

Pat Tillman = One of my biggest heros.

[Woy]

I like how you did the pre-season. I think for pre-season thats all thats necessary except for maybe a few more key stats for people that might be on the bubble for a roster spot or starting job or something. All of this has looked real nice so far. I am guessing Josh McCown won't be in the running for the starting job.

I probably would have went more in-depth but I didn't really write much stuff for it down, haha. As for McNown, I can't stand playing with him, so he's trade bait.

Regular season games will be very in-depth though.

Followin'.

Pat Tillman = One of my biggest heros.

Thanks Tanner, same here.

You know I'm following.

Thanks Gonzo, this is a given. ;)

[Lumpkin]

looking forward to the regular season, like the Henson idea too.

[Woy]

looking forward to the regular season, like the Henson idea too.

Thanks Lumpkin. I'm going up to Robert Morris University tomorrow but I'll have the last two pre-season updates tomorrow. Hopefully I'll have the first regular season game up friday, it's finally spring break over here.

[Woy]

WESTBROOK TRADED TO MINNESOTA; OTHER PRE-SEASON NEWS


Take a look Eagles fans. This will be the last time you'll see Brian Westbrook in an Eagles uniform.

PHILADELPHIA, PA (AP)- Disgrunted Eagles fans lined up outside Lincoln Financial Field when they saw the news on ESPN. Franchise runningback Brian Westbrook was traded to the Minnesota Vikings for defensive end Kenny Mixon. Mixon, a seventh year defensive end out of LSU, had 47 tackles, five sacks, and three forced fumbles for the Vikings last year.

Westbrook had a solid year for the Eagles last year, rushing for 613 yards and seven touchdowns on 117 carries. He also had 332 yards and four touchdowns on 37 catches. These two teams will play each other on week two of the regular season.

Denver acquires two guards: The Denver Broncos made two trades over the pre-season. The first was trading free safety Nick Ferguson to the Eagles. He totaled 64 tackles, a sack, and two forced fumbles last season. In return the Broncos got guard Jermane Newberry.

Staying with the Denver theme, as well as the guard theme, the Broncos added guard Ruben Brown from the Chicago Bears. Chicago received cornerback Lenny Walls and wide receiver Rod Smith. Smith shores up much of the Bears receiving concerns coming into this season. He had 74 catches for 845 yards and three touchdowns last season.

Holliday to the Dolphins: Miami acquired defensive end Vonnie Holliday from Kansas City for receiver Derrius Thompson. Holliday had five and a half sacks last year.

Injuries hit key players: Injuries hit hard in the pre-season. Young center Jeff Faine of the Cleveland Browns will be out probably for the season with a cracked veterbrae. Faine was in the running to start at center for the Browns.

Star wideout Keyshawn Johnson will not get "thrown the damn ball" for a while. The Cowboys leading receiver will miss 11 weeks with a broken forearm. Johnson was Dallas's number one target and with him gone, they'll look for former Patriot Terry Glenn to step up in Johnson's absence.

And finally, staying with injuries to outspoken wideouts, a big off-season acquistion was injured over the pre-season. The off-season's biggest story, Terrell Owens, will miss six weeks with a hairline arm fracture. Owens was finding a connection with Donovan McNabb before the injury, as he led the league in catches and touchdowns.

[Woy]

Bump, I'll have the last pre-season update later this afternoon. First game should be up tonight or tomorrow.

[Woy]

ARIZONA CARDINALS PRE-SEASON REVIEW


Rookie quarterback Drew Henson is the key to a surprising run in the NFC West this year.

GLENDALE, AZ (AP)- After a surprising 3-1 pre-season, the Arizona cardinals actually might have some expectations this year. Fans were looking towards having the number one pick in the draft, now they think in a weak NFC West, they could make a run for the playoffs. Newly acquired rookie quarterback Drew Henson threw for 564 yards and four touchdowns over the pre-season, but he only completed 33 of 72 passes. Concerns about his accuracy have opened up rumors that Shaun King or Josh McNown could start, but coach Dennis Green dismissed those.

"Drew's our quarterback," stated Green. "There's a reason why we traded for him; he's got all the talent in the world and I believe that his accuracy concerns will only improve over the season. He gives us the best chance to win." King was Henson's main competition by posting a better quarterback rating than him (104.3 to 91.4) and throwing for 336 yards and five touchdowns.

Henson's main receivers were Anquan Boldin, Bryant Johnson, and rookie Larry Fitzgerald. Boldin caught 15 passes for 232 yards and a score and will go into the season as the number one receiver. Rookie Fitzgerald caught 11 passes for 219 yards and a touchdown. He'll be beside Boldin as the number two receiver. Johnson actually caught the most touchdown passes in the pre-season but against the Texans, he tore a calf muscle and will miss about eight weeks.

The defense was led by Ronald McKinnon, who totaled 30 tackles, one and a half sack, and an interception. Adrian Wilson added 22 tackles, a sack, and interception and Bert Berry led the team with two and a half sacks. Duane Starks and Coby Reinhart both intercepted two passes, with one of Reinhart's being a touchdown.

The Cardinals are a young team that consists of hard workers that don't have the best talent. In the weak NFC West, Arizona could definitely contend for a playoff spot. However, I don't see that happening. Henson will go through some growing pains but he'll show that he's a star in the making as the Cardinals will go 6-10.

[Aso]

Good articles. I can see the Eagles making those trades to improve their cap situation. Also I suggest making the Drew Henson pic a little smaller. Things huge.

[Woy]

Good articles. I can see the Eagles making those trades to improve their cap situation. Also I suggest making the Drew Henson pic a little smaller. Things huge.

Thanks Aso. I just edited the Henson pic.
I'll have a little game preview posted, nothing that special, then I'll post the game a little bit after.

[Woy]

Week 1 Preview

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Arizona Cardinals (0-0) at St. Louis Rams (0-0)

Pre-Game Injury Report

ARZ- Bryant Johnson, WR (torn calf - out)
STL- Marshall Faulk, HB (sprained wrist - probable) | Tommy Polley, OLB (food poisoning - doubtful) | Travis Fisher, CB (torn hamstring - out)

Pre-Game Matchups

Cardinals QB Drew Henson vs. Rams QB Marc Bulger

The rookie Henson will have it a little easier because of Fisher of the Rams being out. However, he still has to go against safeties like Aeneas Williams and Adam Archuleta, who want to make this rookie's debut a living hell. Bulger has talented safeties to throw against as well, but he also has two of the best receivers in football in Torry Holt and Issac Bruce.

Cardinals HB Emmitt Smith vs. Rams HB Marshall Faulk

The two veterans go at it in this matchup. Smith is on his last legs, and if Marcel Shipp wasn't traded, he probably wouldn't be starting. Faulk still has some left in the tank and against a suspect linebacker crew that the Cardinals have, look for Faulk to have a good game, even if he's playing with a sprained wrist.

Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin vs. Rams WR Torry Holt

Boldin had a great rookie season last year, catching 101 passes, but some of those will be taken away from him this year with the arrival of rookie Larry Fitzgerald. Boldin and Fitzgerald could become the league's best receiving duo in a few years, but they'll need a quarterback that can get the ball to them consistently. Holt and Issac Bruce are near the top of the league's best for receiving duos and at least one of them should have a nice game against the Cardinals secondary.

Prediction: Rams 31, Cardinals 14