Adrian Wilson, Arizona Cardinals / Photo: Newscom

Adrian was in a reflective mood amidst the news:

“Every time I step on the field at the stadium, I look up at the names on the Ring of Honor and I always say, ‘One day, I want my number up there.’ I want my number up there next to Aeneas (Williams). I want my number next to Pat (Tillman). It’s about making a legacy here ….. Every line sweep, every stroke of the pen when you sign your name, you think of the players that have been here and left, or the opportunities you left on the field, some of the bad games you have been in, Sun Devil Stadium, whatever you can name, I’ve thought about it. It’s been a long time, and I think I’ve witnessed more than a lot of players have just from the standpoint of building a team.”

This is true. Adrian Wilson has been through the thick and thin as a member of the Arizona Cardinals for the past eight years. He’s the team’s longest tenured player. And now he can plan on spending the remainder of his career in AZ.

As one of the best safeties in the National Football League (and somehow still one of the league’s best kept secrets), Adrian is now paid like one of the best—surpassing Troy Polamalu’s most recent deal ($33 million, $15.375 million guaranteed) and very nearly equaling Bob Sanders’ contract (five years, $37.5 million, $19 million guaranteed).

Source: AZCardinals.com

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Adrian Wilson Gets What He Deserves

Edgerrin James / Photo: Newscom

It was Edgerrin’s wish to be released by the team last season when his playing time had dwindled to a mere backup role behind Tim Hightower. But later in the season, he would eventually regain a starring role with the team and he was a major contributor in helping the Cardinals get to Super Bowl XLIII. Nevertheless, the handwriting was already on the wall and when the Cards drafted Ohio State RB Chris “Beanie” Wells this past weekend, it became obvious — Edgerrin would finally get the freedom he had been seeking.

My feeling is that Edge can’t possibly serve anything more than a dual role with another running back, no matter what team he plays for. As much as he has been a great running back during his career, it’s been ten years and he’s at the end of his road. Edgerrin James doesn’t have a whole lot of mileage left. But I think he can and will contribute a valuable role to whatever team takes a chance on him.

Source: NFL.com

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Cardinals Release Edgerrin James

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

If you CAN beat them, join them? That’s what Bryant McFadden is doing. The former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive back signed a two-year deal worth $10 million yesterday with the Arizona Cardinals –the same team he helped beat last month in Super Bowl XLIII. I’m sure Bryant would’ve been just as happy to stay in Pittsburgh with the Super Bowl champs and the NFL’s best defense, but it really is all about the money and he was happy to cash in on his four years of quality play with the Steelers and reunite with his former defensive coordinator, Cards head coach Ken Whisenhunt:

“It seems to be a good situation. There are some guys I have been around in previous years. And it’s an up-and-coming organization, which you’d love to be a part of — a successful organization and (one) that is making strides and you want to be a part of.”

The Cards now boast a pretty formidable secondary with the addition of Bryant to defensive backs Rod Hood and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie plus safeties Adrian Wilson and Antrel Rolle. Nobody has suggested that the Cardinals need to upgrade their offense. Despite their post-season surge, it’s the defense that needs to catch up and this is a step in the right direction.

Source: AZCardinals.com, Photo: Newscom

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Cardinals Sign Bryant McFadden

Here is the NFC Pro Bowl roster. Starters are listed in bold.

OFFENSE

QB: Kurt Warner, Cardinals; Drew Brees, Saints; Eli Manning, Giants
RB: Adrian Peterson, Vikings; Michael Turner, Falcons; Clinton Portis, Redskins
FB: Mike Sellers, Redskins
WR: Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals; Anquan Boldin, Cardinals; Steve Smith, Panthers; Roddy White, Falcons,
TE: Jason Witten, Cowboys; Chris Cooley, Redskins
T: Jordan Gross, Panthers; Walter Jones, Seahawks; Chris Samuels, Redskins
G: Chris Snee, Giants; Steve Hutchinson, Vikings; Leonard Davis, Cowboys
C: Andre Gurode, Cowboys; Shaun O’Hara, Giants

DEFENSE

DE: Justin Tuck, Giants; Julius Peppers, Panthers; Jared Allen, Vikings
DT: Kevin Williams, Vikings; Jay Ratliff, Cowboys; Pat Williams, Vikings
OLB: DeMarcus Ware, Cowboys; Lance Briggs, Bears; Derrick Brooks, Buccaneers
MLB: Patrick Willis, 49ers; Jon Beason, Panthers
CB: Charles Woodson, Packers; Antoine Winfield, Vikings; Asante Samuel, Eagles
S: Nick Collins, Packers; Adrian Wilson, Cardinals; Brian Dawkins, Eagles

SPECIAL TEAMS

K: John Carney, Giants
P: Jeff Feagles, Giants
KR: Clifton Smith, Buccaneers
ST: Sean Morey, Cardinals

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2009 NFC Pro Bowl Roster

National Football League Blogcast, NFL Blogcast

Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson was fined $25,000 for his hit on Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards last Sunday. I knew this was coming. Take a look at the replay. When a player puts the crown of his helmet into another player’s facemask and drives him to the turf, that’s unnecessary roughness. Adrian very easily could’ve gone lower, putting his shoulder into Trent’s midsection and wrapping him up on the tackle. This was a dirty play. I’ve always liked Adrian’s aggressive style, but this is just plain wrong and he would be lying to say otherwise. He knew what he was doing — trying to take out the opposing team’s quarterback. Which he did. Trent suffered a concussion and never returned to the game. Officials didn’t flag the play, but the NFL has a soft spot for its QBs and will go the extra mile to protect them. Adrian wasn’t surprised with the outcome and actually seemed kind of proud of his “accomplishment”:

“We’ll see where it goes, but it’s kind of hard to appeal something when you have 15 personal fouls in your career, numerous fines for hits like that. It’s kind of reputation ….. Anytime you have a quarterback on the ground, of course it is going to be questioned.”

The league reminded Adrian in a letter that he was fined twice last season, once for a late hit and once for a horse collar tackle, and that “future infractions can lead to increased disciplinary action.” Translated, that means his next such penalty will draw a one-game suspension and double the fine. Knowing Adrian, I really doubt he’ll change his game one bit. In fact, when he was asked that very question, his response was quickly, “No.” Do you think the league has a special lookout on Adrian Wilson now? You better believe they do. He asked for it.

Source: AZCardinals.com

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Adrian Wilson Fined $25,000

Buffalo Bills quarterback Trent Edwards‘ workday came to an abrupt halt after just three plays this afternoon. Trent was looking down the gun barrel of Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson and completed a nice first down pass to rookie receiver James Hardy. But in the process, Adrian delivered a crushing helmet-to-facemask hit that gave Trent a concussion and knocked him out of the game for good. As he was being carted off the field, you could tell Trent didn’t really seem to know where he was or what was happening. It wasn’t a pretty sight. As it turns out, it was a bad omen for the Bills as they lost their first game of the season to the Cards 41-17. Bills head coach Dick Jauron gave a postgame update:

“Trent was responding, but still a bit groggy. Hopefully he’ll be fine as time goes by here.”

It won’t surprise me if Adrian gets a fine and possibly a suspension for the hit. The NFL is particularly protective of their quarterbacks and it’s plays like these that puts the highest profile players out of commission. With the recent emphasis on player safety, Adrian Wilson’s hit will not be taken lightly. As it shouldn’t be. Oddly enough, he wasn’t flagged for any wrongdoing on the play. I like Adrian Wilson. He’s one of the toughest safeties in the league. But he needs to have a better understanding of the rules if he wants to keep the money he’s earning. As for Trent, the Bills are on a bye this week, so he has some extra time to recover from the hit. And my guess is he’ll need it.

Source: BuffaloBills.com

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Trent Edwards Suffers Concussion