It’s hard to believe it has already been five months since the Super Bowl in Tampa.  It is 75 days until the season starts, week one at home against the San Francisco 49ers.  For all the obvious reasons this is the most anticipated season in Arizona Cardinals history.

Go Cards!

Scott Allen

AZScott

Get your votes in!!

Scott Allen

AZScott

Now as we await the results of the toxicology reports, there are strong suspicions about how he died.  At the young age of 50, Jackson passed away from a rumored heart attack.  A life taken way too early.

That brings to thought another man who died way too early, former Arizona Cardinals safety Pat Tillman.  The only parallel to the two lives is that they both had a passion for what they did and they both died before their time should have been up.

Tillman left the Cardinals and the NFL to become an Army Ranger.  As you all know, he died in action, most likely from friendly fire, in Afghanistan in 2004.  What he did was courageous and patriotic.  Greatly affected by the events of September 11, 2001, Tillman, who joined with his brother Kevin, decided fighting for his freedom and the freedom of all Americans was much more important than any football game and the fame and fortune that came along with it.

Although Tillman was the enemy to me as a college player, as he was from Arizona State University and I graduated from the University of Arizona, I still respected him as a played.  He fought hard for himself and his teammates.  It was that very passion that unfortunately led to his untimely death.

Jackson on the other hand, contrasts in comparison.  Here was a man, idolized by many in his early years, became the poster child of controversy throughout the remaining 15 years or so of his life.  Jackson was loved by many, as we have all witnessed over the past 48 hours.  He lived an eccentric life.  He had legal troubles.  He even moved out of the country for awhile to hide from the negative spotlight that had been cast upon him.

Tillman instead stayed with his country.  Fought for his country.  He was the poster child of passion for life.  Sure he too lived in the spotlight for a time, however you always knew it was never about him.  It was always about others.

So,  the one thing that links Tillman with Jackson though is how young and sudden both of them were taken from us.  We loved Tillman and Jackson for different reasons.  There are those that didn’t care for either one, although how could you not root for a guy like Tillman?  It took courage to do what he did.

Jackson apparently was ready to turn his life in a positive direction by attempting a comeback for his fans and to help wipe out a massive debt.  It was that attempt at turning his life around that most likely killed him.  Celebrate Jackson today because of his talents and accomplishments, especially since many will most likely not like what they see in the toxicology reports.  However, celebrate Tillman forever.  He was the type of person every father should want their son to be.

Tragic, two lives no matter how different, no matter what the opinions are of either, were taken way too early from us.

Rest in peace both of you.

The Cardinals have signed their fourth, fifth, sixth, and both seventh round picks so far, the last being Greg Toler, their fourth rounder from Saint Paul’s (VA) last Friday June 19th.

I know the top picks haven’t agreed to terms yet and I don’t expect them to be until right before the start of camp (cross your fingers not AFTER camp starts), however, you have got to start somewhere.

Five weeks away from today it starts all up again!  I can’t wait!

Scott Allen

AZScott

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Please check it out when you have the chance!  Great stuff!

Scott Allen

AZScott

Ok, I have little sympathy for him.  He should know better not to take ANYTHING, and I mean ANYTHING, before knowing its contents first.  Unfortunately that is the life of a professional athlete.  The only responsible thing to do was to check the ingrediants of the drug and check it against the banned substances list, which all NFL players receive.

Patrick is more than welcome to participate in pre-season training camp and games, but must sit out the first four games of the regular season.  I suspect he may not be on the roster by the time game five comes around.  The Cardinals have other options at the position.

Picked this up from KTAR.com yesterday, did you know that the Arizona Cardinals are the fastest growing sports brand over the past three years according to forbes.com?  Wow!  Who knew?  It seems like the run to the Super Bowl has done something for this team.

However look at the overall picture too.  This is over the past three years.  It seems like the Super Bowl may have only put this team over the top.  They’ve been growing as a sports brand even before that.  Well, when you really don’t have a brand, is it really all that surprising?

It helps that they moved into a new stadium, secured sold out games for three consecutive seasons in a row and looking to make it four, even in this tight economy.  No sugar coating this one.  The move to Glendale has been the best thing for this team.

Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson has been extended five years.

Now that’s the right way to get a deal done. Checklist please.

• Don’t publicly complain
• Leave it to the team to wait for the opportune time
• Work a new deal with one year left
• Indirectly take shots at your teammates, or at least call them out, for the way they’ve handled their press

Are you listening Anquan Boldin?  Darnell Dockett?

At least Karlos Dansby was there to support Wilson.  That’s a class act, even if the Cardinals may not get a deal done for him.  Dansby has gone about it the right way as well.

Wilson is 29, has several good years at least in front of him.  New England Patriots all-pro Rodney Harrison was still hitting and playing hard up until his retirement yesterday at age 37.

Good deal.  Wilson never complained once, at least publicly.  He never took his lack of an extension to the press.  No drama ever appeared with Wilson.  I hope the others were watching - closely.

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