In this episode we take a look at one of the most dismal divisions in professional football.  We talk about the NFC West and honestly wonder whether any of these teams are capable of finishing with a record over .500. I also wonder how we managed to get this one to 30 minutes long.  We apologize for the length, and will try to keep them shorter in the future.

Hosts: Kevin, Rich, Ryan, Sonny

 

 NFC West [30:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Brace yourself, Cardinals fans.  Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin isn’t happy and, according to his agent, he wants out.  This is jaw-dropping stuff.  This is incredible news.  The city of Arizona will flip upside down if Boldin is traded.  A legend in the city can’t be dealt like this over such a small impasse!  Wendi Nix is already on her way to Phoenix to set up base camp outside the Cardinals facility and do hourly reports while Rachel Nichols has been on her phone texting Cardinals players all morning trying to find out reactions to the situation.  Linda Cohn is losing sleep over the situation, FOR GODS SAKE ARIZONA WHAT ARE YOU DOING!  NOT BOLDIN!  NOT THE MAN WHO RETIRED AND THEN A WEEK BEFORE TRAINING CAMP STARTED DEMANDED HIS STARTING JOB BACK HAS BEEN IN CAMP THE WHOLE TIME AND JUST WANTS A NEW DEAL!

In all seriousness, I expect the Cardinals to handle this much the same way the Bengals dealt with Ocho Cinco.  Boldin isn’t going anywhere; trading him to a team like Dallas would only damn the Cardinals for years to come.  He’s still under contract for three more years so, as far as the Cardinals are concerned, he’s theirs for three more seasons.

Will Boldin sit out?  For the sake of my prospective fantasy team, hopefully not.  Boldin is a beast and, as a second receiver next to Larry Fitzgerald, a serious mismatch for most defenses.  Can you imagine watching a guy like Ellis Hobbs who is 5′9 try and cover this?  Dominique Foxworth’s eyes in the picture say it all…no chance.

The Cardinals will get a deal worked out with Boldin, whether it’s before or after training camp.  Matt Leinart needs him as a viable second option, Larry Fitzgerald needs him to draw attention, and Edgerrin James needs him to pull safeties away from the line of scrimmage.  Anquan Boldin isn’t going anywhere.

• Brady Quinn is pretty infamous around the blogosphere and it’s because of pictures like the one above. At Browns training camp, Brady Quinn was photographed wearing tights under his shorts, a stark contrast to Derek Anderson’s standard look. It’s not a huge deal (I photographed Antonio Cromartie wearing something similar yesterday), but it’s definitely another feather in the tiara for Quinn.

• Another interesting quarterback storyline exists in the desert, where Matt Leinart has been given the #1 spot at the start of training camp despite a great 2007 season from veteran Kurt Warner. For now, it’s the right thing to do. Leinart got injured, he wasn’t benched because of poor performance. Despite all the pictures of Leinart doing everything but playing football, he’s the Cardinals’ franchise quarterback, not Warner.

• NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that Bills running back Marshawn Lynch will not be punished for his role in a hit-and-run accident that left a woman injured. Way to take a stand, Roger. This means that Lynch will be good to go for the Bills’ September 7th opener against the Seahawks.

• He Who Shall Not be Named faxed his reinstatement letter into the NFL league offices today. But you knew that already.

• Anquan Boldin, one of the brightest receivers in the NFL, isn’t pleased with Arizona Cardinals management. After saying the Cardinals lied to him about his request for a new contract, Boldin has come out and said he won’t resign when his contract expires after the 2010 season. While it’s often hard to side with a client of Drew Rosenhaus, at least Boldin will still hit the field during training camp and bust his ass, something his own starting quarterback hasn’t even done.

• The last couple days have seen nearly every major conference be put into the spotlight of Media Day. One of those was the Big Ten, my least favorite conference. New Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez took the podium and gave one of the week’s most amusing comments. Rodriguez said he would answer a reporter’s question about West Virginia “so he wouldn’t have to address it for 13 or 14 more years.” Get real, Rich. The questions won’t stop, especially when your Wolverines lose their opener to a talented Utah team.

• One of the NFL’s most consistent receivers, Rod Smith announced his retirement from the NFL today. The 38-year-old had battled injuries for the last couple years, but remained a positive force in the Broncos’ locker room. Smith’s numbers support his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame, but the Broncos need him to continue to mentor troubled receiver Brandon Marshall, who appears hellbent on destroying his NFL career before it even begins.

Hosts: Sonny, Ryan, and Rich. In this episode, the entire Sportable staff discusses the NFC West. We debated the arrival of Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona, as well as the impact Norv Turner’s departure will have on Alex Smith’s development. Can the Rams return to the playoffs behind their dynamic offense? Or will the Seahawks use Qwest Field as a pedestal to another division crown?

You can find Episode 29 here. (Download mp3)

For the entire month of August, the Sportable Staff will look at one National Football League team a day. We?ll look at their offense, defense and in the end, assess their playoff chances. Previews will be done by division, starting with the NFC East. Each new division will also feature a new podcast devoted entirely to that division.

Can Whisenhunt Change Arizona’s Culture of Losing?
There’s a few things in Arizona that are a given: Heat, cactus, a city that’s spread out far too much and a shitty NFL team. For the last few years, we’ve been hearing that the Arizona Cardinals are the team that will break out and win the NFC West. Although there’s been a better product on the field, not much has changed in Arizona. In the last five years, the Cardinals haven’t won more than six games in a season. But things could be changing with the hiring of former Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisehunt, who becomes the 8th head coach in Arizona since 1988. Will things be any different?

Offense
It’s been a gradual build but the Arizona Cardinals look like a team set to be very tough on offense. In 2006, rookie quarterback Matt Leinart started 11 games and showed why he won a Heisman Trophy at USC. And he’s in a great situation. Leinart should blossom under the tutelage of Whisehunt, who helped turn Ben Roethlisberger into a Super Bowl winner. Leinart sits ahead of veteran Kurt Warner on the depth chart. Warner has been as supportive of Leinart and appears willing to play the role of mentor. Leinart threw 11 touchdowns and 12 interceptions in his rookie season.

Much like his time at USC, Leinart is blessed with a number of weapons. Veteran running back Edgerrin James had a disappointing first year with the Cardinals. However, look for him to find his feet during his second year in the NFC. James ran for 1150 yards and six touchdowns but gained just 3.4 yards a carry. He didn’t have a run over 20 yards all year. Look for that to change in 2007. Whisehunt shitcanned a good number of Cardinal linemen from 2006. He even used the 5th overall pick on a lineman, offensive tackle Levi Brown. The Cardinals also signed center Al Johnson and Bills lineman Mike Gandy. Unlike most teams’ infatuation with the left tackle, the Cardinals’ pivotal position will be right tackle because of their lefty quarterback.

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