Raising Zona - An Arizona Cardinals Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and more.

The first Raising Zona 2012 NFL Mock Draft is now complete.  I have the Arizona Cardinals taking wide receiver Michael Floyd in the first round.  While it may seem a bit high for Floyd based on other projections out there, it is a position of need for the Cardinals.  Being third on the depth chart for WR, he was the best available WR at 13. This mock draft will be featured in the DC Pro Sports Report, WalterFootball.com, and hailredskins.com mock draft databases. Each site keeps track of a huge number mock drafts all over the web. Check out NFL Mocks and With the First Pick for comprehensive NFL draft coverage year-round.

1. Indianapolis Colts
Andrew Luck
QB, Stanford

2. St. Louis Rams
Justin Blackmon
WR, Oklahoma State

3. Minnesota Vikings
Matt Kalil
OT, USC

4. Cleveland Browns
Robert Griffin III
QB, Baylor

5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Trent Richardson
RB, Alabama

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Feb 6, 2011; Arlington, TX, USA; Kurt Warner throws a pass before Super Bowl XLV between the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

First it was Dancing with the Stars.  Now, it’s a brand new show titled, “The Moment”, hosted by former Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner.  One season removed from the NFL, he took a turn on the dance floor and now he is off to host his own show that will have contestants have an opportunity for a dream career.  Contestants will be secretly nominated to participate.  Sounds like I need to find some friends to tell this about to quickly.  I would love to be able to pursue my dream career.  There will initially be a nine-episode season airing on USA Network.  Warner has been one busy guy since retiring two years ago.

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In just about every sport, every team, has seen its share of passionate fans, however has also seen its share of stupid fans too, including the Arizona Cardinals.  What happened last night after the San Francisco 49′ers lost to the New York Giants though 20-17 in the NFC Championship Game was just downright criminal.  Receiver turned punt returner thanks to the injury to Ted Ginn Jr., Kyle Williams ended up muffing not one but two punts, including one in overtime that ultimately cost the Niners the game.  Williams, of Arizona State fame actually saw the same thing happen to him in the University of Arizona-Arizona State game in 2009 when a muffed punt cost them the game.  Let me say that last word again – game.  Williams received a number of reported death threats after the loss from so called “fans”.  Uncalled for.  Many of you undoubtedly have seen some of the tweets that came out last night. Sad.

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I told you, when Charlie Casserly speaks, I listen.  Not two minutes after I was done talking about Peyton Manning again, I read that Casserly is reporting he is hearing that the Arizona Cardinals are going to interview former Oakland Raiders head coach Hue Jackson for their open quarterbacks coach position.  Interesting move if it happens.

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When CBS’s Charlie Casserly speaks, I listen.  No, he’s no E.F. Hutton, but still, ever since Casserly suggested the Arizona Cardinals would be looking at current Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning if the Colts do not offer him the $28 million option sitting on the table with a March 8th deadline, I listen.  He was at it again today on The NFL Today.  He said that the Cardinals also have a $7 million decision on quarterback Kevin Kolb but that is tied into what happens with Manning.  Also today, add ESPN’s Adam Schefter into those saying the Cards have interest in Manning.  He tweeted out that the Cards are now in the mix for Manning if he becomes available.  I think that would be a no-brainer.

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Things in Arizona have changed a lot in the last five years since the Arizona Cardinals started playing in University of Phoenix Stadium.  They have fans in the seats, or at the very least, all the tickets are spoken for.  For the St. Louis Rams, their announcement yesterday that they will play a home game in London over each of the next three seasons signifies they have a little bit of a fan attendance issue.  I could not see the Cards agreeing to play home games elsewhere.  Once upon a time, that idea could have come to fruition.

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To say the Arizona Cardinals offensive line needs help is like saying the Indianapolis Colts missed Peyton Manning this year.  Yeah, it’s worse.  The Cards offensive line was offensive for the most part and after a 2011 season that left the Cards quarterbacks scrambling for their lives at times, 2012 can only get better.  It has to get better and quick.  Especially if the aforementioned Manning is to entertain any thoughts of coming to Arizona if the Colts decide not to pick up his 2012 option.

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I appreciate the opinions of all, including the staff of raisingzona.com.  One of our writers today gave his voice of approval in favor of the San Francisco 49′ers.   I don’t agree with his take as an Arizona Cardinals fan, however I do agree with the idea of sticking up for your division, except when it comes to the San Francisco 49′ers.  It is like a Dallas Cowboys fan cheering on the New York Giants, who I happen to be rooting for this weekend.  It is like a New York Yankees fan rooting for the Boston Red Sox.  It doesn’t happen.  Now while I guarantee nothing, I would imagine in the reverse situation, you’d be hard pressed to find a Niners fan rooting for the Cardinals.

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I know it’s popular for fans to root against their division rivals if their rivals make the playoffs and the team they are rooting for doesn’t.  However, I have never subscribed to that belief. Once the season is over, all is forgiven as far as I’m concerned. And that’s why I’m pulling for the San Francisco 49ers to win the Super Bowl.

What a story it would be!  A team that was extremely talented but highly dysfunctional fires their coach (Mike Singletary), hires a new coach (Jim Harbaugh), and completely turns things around in one season.  I wonder what Mike Singletary is thinking these days!

The quarterback  is the most documented position in the NFL and it is no different with the Arizona Cardinals.  The Cards have been chasing quarterback ever since the retirement of Kurt Warner after the 2009 season/2010 playoffs.  There was Matt Leinart.  Fail.  There was Derek Anderson.  Fail.  There was Max Hall.  Fail.  Then there is John Skelton, a work in progress and finally Kevin Kolb, a work in progress.  Both Kolb and Skelton figure to be the number one and two quarterbacks in 2012 unless some other miracle takes place.

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