Arizona Cardinals Football Club Game Release

Transcription

1 Arizona Cardinals Football Club Game Release Game 4 Sunday, October 1, :00 AM THIS WEEK S GAME The Cardinals travel to Atlanta this week to face the Falcons in their first non-nfc West game of the season. Both teams enter this week s game coming off a loss. The Cardinals fell to the St. Louis Rams at home last week, while the Falcons enter the game off a short week, following a 23-3 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. Kurt Warner completed 19 of 28 passes for 256 yards and a touchdown in last week s game and running back Edgerrin James recorded his best day as a Cardinal, rushing 24 times for 94 yards. James needs one 100-yard rushing game to become only the 8 th person in NFL history to record 50 career 100-yard games. This week s game marks the first meeting of the Cardinals and Falcons since September 26, 2004, a game that ended in a 6-3 Falcons victory with all nine combined points coming off field goals. Following this week s game, the Cardinals will have a two-game home stand, hosting the Kansas City Chiefs next week followed by the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football on October 16. It will be the Cardinals first Monday Night Football appearance since September 27, THE COACHES Dennis Green Jim Mora Overall Record Regular Season Record Playoff Record th Years as Head Coach in NFL 3 rd 3 rd Years with team 3 rd 0-1 Head-to-Head 1-0 BROADCAST INFORMATION TELEVISION CARDINALS RADIO NETWORK Network: Fox Flagship: ESPN Radio 860 AM Play-by-Play: Kenny Albert KTAR 620 AM Analyst: Brian Baldinger Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch Color Analyst: Ron Wolfley Sideline: Paul Calvisi CARDINALS SPANISH RADIO Flagship: KMIA 710 AM Play-by-Play: Gabriel Trujillo Color Analyst: Luis Zendejas ARIZONA CARDINALS (1-2) at ATLANTA FALCONS (2-1) Georgia Dome THE SERIES The Cardinals and Falcons have met 22 times dating back to 1966 with the Cardinals holding a 13-9 advantage in the series. This week s game marks the second time in three seasons that the Cardinals have traveled east to face the Falcons. The last time these two teams met was the third game of 2004, with the Falcons taking a 6-3 victory with all nine combined points scored on field goals. The Cardinals and Falcons are scheduled to meet again in 2007, with the Falcons making their first trip to the Valley since SERIES NOTES Overall Regular Season Series: Cards lead 13-9 Cardinals last win: Dec. 21, 1997, W, (home) First Meeting: Dec. 11, 1966, L, (away) Last Meeting: Sep. 26, 2004, L, 3-6 (away) Next Meeting: 2007 University of Phoenix Stadium CARDS & FALCONS SINCE 1990 Date Site Result Sep. 26, 2004 Atlanta L, 3-6 Sep. 30, 2001 Arizona L, Dec. 26, 1999 Atlanta L, Dec. 21, 1997 Arizona W, Nov. 26, 1995 Arizona W, (OT) Dec. 24, 1994 Atlanta L, 6-10 Jan. 2, 1993 Atlanta W, Nov. 15, 1992 Atlanta L, Oct. 20, 1991 Arizona W, Dec. 9, 1990 Atlanta W, Mark Dalton Sr. Dir. of Media Relations Mike Kane Media Relations Coordinator mdalton@cardinals.nfl.net 602/ mkane@cardinals.nfl.net 602/ Chris Melvin Media Relations Manager Amber Kelley Administrative Assistant cmelvin@cardinals.nfl.net 602/ akelley@cardinals.nfl.net 602/ S. Hardy Drive, Tempe, AZ Phone: Fax:

2 CARDINALS EXTREME HOME FIELD MAKEOVER CARDINALS HOME TO BE KNOWN AS UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM The Cardinals new state-of-the-art facility has a new name: University of Phoenix Stadium. At a press conference on Tuesday morning, the Cardinals and University of Phoenix announced an exclusive, multiyear agreement with University of Phoenix to become the team s naming rights partner. It is the first time a National Football League venue has been named after an educational institution. University of Phoenix, the largest private university in the United States, will invest an average of $7.7 million per year for 20 years in exchange for naming rights, signage and a variety of advertising, marketing and merchandising opportunities. In addition, the alliance will enable the University already international in scope to reach an even greater number and diversity of potential students, while staying grounded in its hometown community, according to Brian Mueller, president of Apollo Group, the University s parent company. Aside from 10 Arizona Cardinals football games, the stadium will host Super Bowl XLII in February Additionally, the stadium will be the annual site of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, and the first-ever Bowl Championship Series title game will be played there in January. University of Phoenix was founded 30 years ago, and serves students both on-line and with 191 campuses and learning centers in 39 states and four foreign nations. This is a win-win decision for both University of Phoenix and the Arizona Cardinals, said Mueller. Throughout its history, University of Phoenix has been synonymous with innovation, so it s fitting to place the name of an innovative university on the world s most innovative sports and multipurpose facility. This is a great day for the Arizona Cardinals, said Michael Bidwill, the organization s vice president and general counsel. We are thrilled to be affiliated with the largest private university in America, one whose home base is in Arizona but that has national and international reach, he said. The new home of the Arizona Cardinals is distinctly Arizona, and so is our stadium partner. UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM OPENS Three years and four months passed between groundbreaking and the preseason opener vs. Pittsburgh, but who s counting? The stadium opened as the most innovative stadium ever built in North America. The first stadium in North America to feature a retractable, natural grass playing field, the venue was named one of the 10 most impressive sports structures in the world by Business Week, before it ever hosted an event. The Cardinals opened their 2006 NFL preseason against the reigning Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh Steelers with a victory. CARDS SELL OUT REGULAR SEASON The Cardinals sold out of their 2006 season ticket allotment in early May following the NFL Draft. However fans did have an opportunity to purchase single game tickets. On Saturday, July 22, remaining tickets for the Cardinals 10 home games went on sale to the public and within a short time, every seat to all 10 home games was sold. RING OF HONOR The Cardinals have inducted nine former Cardinals into the team s Ring of Honor in the inaugural season at University of Phoenix Stadium. The team will also induct two more former Cardinals in 2006, Dan Dierdorf and Pat Tillman. At halftime of the first preseason game, the Cardinals inducted eight members into their Ring of Honor: Charles W. Bidwill Sr. (HOF 1967) Jimmy Conzelman (HOF 1964) John Paddy Driscoll (HOF 1965) Marshall Goldberg Dick Night Train Lane (HOF 1974) Ollie Matson (HOF 1972) Ernie Nevers (HOF 1963) Charlie Trippi (HOF 1968) At halftime of the Cardinals regular season opener vs. San Francisco on September 10, the team added Larry Wilson (HOF 1978) to the Ring of Honor. On October 16 at halftime of the Cardinals Monday Night Football game against the Chicago Bears, the team will induct Dierdorf (HOF 1994). On November 12, Veterans Day weekend, the team will add Pat Tillman to the Ring of Honor when the team hosts Dallas. Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 2 of 30

3 UNIVERSITY OF PHOENIX STADIUM BY THE NUMBERS 1.7 million Square footage of stadium 88 Total number of luxury lofts in stadium 7,501 Total number of club seats in stadium 7 Number of club lounges 63,400 Seating capacity for Cardinals games (expandable to 73,000 for Super Bowls and college Bowl games) 1,250 Approximate number of shade trees used throughout the stadium plaza 21 Number of vertical slots on the exterior wall of stadium 30 Height in feet of the giant numbers designating the three main entrances to the stadium 19 Width in inches of the stadium seats; club seats are 21 inches 10 Number of elevators for public use in stadium 18 Number of escalators for public use in stadium 115+ Number of event days already booked for first year at the stadium 1.1 million Projected number of visitors to stadium in its first year 14 Number of new NFL venues HOK has designed 1,175 Total restroom fixtures for public use in the stadium (33 women s restrooms, 28 men s, and 12 family restrooms) 310 The number of fixed locations for fans to purchase food and beverages (does not include additional portable locations) 8,000 Tons of cooling used by the stadium s air conditioning 2,300 Number of Valley homes that could be accommodated by the air conditioning provided at the stadium 14,000 Number of on-site parking spaces (not including additional 11,000 on adjacent and nearby parcels) 15,451 Square footage of the Cardinals locker room area including equipment and training rooms, shower areas, etc. (Locker room itself is 5,000) 454,785 Votes in favor of Proposition 302 stadium legislation in ,218 Days between the stadium groundbreaking (4/12/03) and the inaugural game at the stadium (8/12/06) 16,340 Total number of jobs created by Proposition 302; overall economic impact is $1.95 billion 700 Average number of workers on-site daily during stadium construction (3,000 total workers) 2.6 million Total number of hours put in by workers during construction project 900 Length in miles of a sidewalk that could be made from the amount of concrete used on the stadium (roughly the distance from Phoenix to San Francisco) 10,000 Approximate number of individual Crown Coor panels that make up the metallic skin of the stadium s exterior 2/3/08 Date of Super Bowl XLII at University of Phoenix Stadium 2009 Year that the stadium will host the Regionals of the NCAA men s basketball tournament. RETRACTABLE ROOF 242 x 361 Size in feet of the roof opening; when panels are open it exposes the entire playing field 700 Length in feet of each of the two Brunnel trusses that support the stadium roof; each one is as long as three 747 s lined up end-to-end 490,000 Square feet in the surface area of the roof 18.5 million Approximate weight in pounds of the total roof 550 Weight in tons of each roof panel 10 Approximate number of minutes to open or close the roof 25 Speed in feet per minute at which the roof will move (1/4 m.p.h.) 1 Number of other retractable roof venues In the NFL (Houston s Reliant Stadium) RETRACTABLE FIELD 18.9 million Weight in pounds of the retractable field 234 x 403 Size in feet of the field tray; it is 3.5 feet high 542 Total number of steel wheels used to slide playing field into stadium, each riding on one of 13 parallel steel rails Approximate number of minutes it will take to move playing field into the stadium 740 Total number of feet the field moves to get into the stadium 76 Driving force in horsepower required to move the retractable field 94,000 Amount of square feet of natural grass of field (over two acres) 0 Number of other fully retractable fields in North America Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 3 of 30

4 CARDINALS & FALCONS IN 2006 CARDINALS CATEGORY FALCONS 1-2 Record Points Scored Points Allowed 32 7 Touchdowns Scored 4 7 Touchdowns Allowed 2 2 Rushing TDs 1 5 Passing TDs 3 0 Return TDs 0 4 Rushing TDs Allowed 1 3 Passing TDs Allowed 0 0 Return TDs Allowed 1 9/68 Sacked/Yards Lost 9/48 9/3 Fumbles/Lost 6/1 4 Had Intercepted 1 3/5 Field Goals Made/Attempted 3/ Total Yards Per Game Opp. Total Yards Per Game Rushing Yards Per Game Opp. Rushing Yards Per Game Passing Yards Per Game Opp. Passing Yards Per Game Turnover Ratio +3 31:01 Average Time of Possession 32:39 15/22/9 NFL Rank-Total Offense/Run/Pass 12/1/31 26/18/28 NFL Rank-Total Defense/Run/Pass 14/8/ 0/0 2-Point Conversions 0/0 WHAT HAPPENED? Last week s game finished on a rather strange note for the Cardinals. After St. Louis recovered a Cardinals fumble with 1:46 remaining to play, the Cardinals defense held the Rams to a three-and-out. As the Matt Turk punt was in the air, time expired. However, Cardinals return man Troy Walters signaled for a fair catch. According to Rule 10, Section 1, Article 6 of the NFL rulebook when a fair catch is declared for a team, the captain must choose either a free kick or a snap to put the ball in play. On nearly every occasion a snap puts the ball in play. However, if a fair catch is called with time expired, there is no option to snap the ball from scrimmage. The fair catch kick can be either a drop kick or a place kick without a tee. The Cardinals lined up to try what would be a 77-yard field goal, but an offsides penalty on the punt gave St. Louis the chance to snap the ball and kneel to end the game. LAST WEEK S GAME Game 3 Rams 16, CARDINALS 14 September 24, 2006 University of Phoenix Stadium (63,278) The Cardinals were poised to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at home against the Rams but let the opportunity slip through their fingers. Arizona trailed 17-7 late in the fourth but a 6-yard TD run by Edgerrin James made it a 2-point game with 4:13 to play. Faced with a 3 rd -n-2 at their own 28, a Marc Bulger 6-yard pass to Torry Holt was ruled a completion and upheld by a replay challenge with 2:03 remaining. On the next snap, however, Bulger fumbled the ball in the backfield and DE Antonio Smith recovered at the St. Louis 30 with 1:58 left. Consecutive James runs of 4 and 8 yards moved the ball to the 18 putting Arizona well in range for a game-winning FG attempt. The chance never came, though, as Kurt Warner fumbled the next snap and the Rams recovered at the 18 with 1:41 to play. It was the fourth turnover of the day for AZ with the other three coming on Warner INTs. Arizona s defense held, forcing a punt with :05 left. While time expired as the punt was in the air, Troy Walters fair-caught it at his own 33 which would have led to a rarely-seen fair catch/free kick by Neil Rackers. But that slim hope was eliminated because of an off-side call against Arizona, who fell to 1-2 and suffered its first loss at its new stadium. Arizona took an early lead in the game when Warner connected with WR Larry Fitzgerald on a 12-yard TD pass on the Cards second drive of the game. St. Louis was aided on the next drive by a dubious pass interference call on 3 rd -n-5 that resulted in a 32-yard gain to the AZ 6 and led to a 26-yard Jeff Wilkins FG. Arizona responded on the next drive by moving to the Rams 13 thanks to three Anquan Boldin catches for 54 yards but it ended there when Warner was INT d by FS Oshimogho Atogwe. Boldin turned in another outstanding effort, finishing with 10 catches for 129 yards. The Rams then took a 10-7 lead when Bulger hit Holt on a 9-yard TD pass. On the next play from scrimmage, Warner was picked off by CB Fakhir Brown at the AZ 45. That led to a Wilkins FG on the final play of the first half and another on the opening drive of the second gave St. Louis a 16-7 lead that they took late into the fourth. RAMS CARDINALS Team Qtr. Time Scoring Play Drive Score CARDS 1 7:04 Fitzgerald 12-yard pass from Warner (Rackers kick) 8-45, 4: Rams 2 11:25 Wilkins 26-yard FG 11-72, 3: Rams 2 3:20 Holt 9-yard pass from Bulger (Wilkins kick) 5-94, 2: Rams 2 0:00 Wilkins 47-yard FG 8-16, 3: Rams 3 8:08 Wilkins 21-yard FG 13-77, 6: CARDS 4 4:13 James 6-yard run (Rackers kick) 16-87, 8: STATISTICS STL AZ First Downs Rushes-Yards Net Passing Yards Total Net Yards Passing (A-C-I) Sacked by Opp Punts-Average Fumbles-Lost Penalties Time of Possession 30:07 29:53 Weather: Indoors RUSHING RAMS: Jackson 24-62; Fisher 1-2; Bulger 3-(- 1). CARDS: James 24-94, TD; Warner 3-10; B. Johnson 1-(-3). PASSING RAMS: Bulger 21-31, 309 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT. CARDS: Warner 19-28, 256 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT. RECEIVING: RAMS: Holt 8-120, TD; Bruce 3-79; Jackson 3-59; McDonald 2-16; Fisher 2-8; Walker 1-16; Curtis 1-7; Davis 1-4. CARDS: Boldin ; Fitzgerald 6-65, TD; B. Johnson 1-54; James 1-5; Shipp 1-3. Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 4 of 30

5 THE LAST TIME CARDS AND FALCONS Falcons 6, CARDINALS 3 September 26, 2004 The Georgia Dome (70,534) The Cardinals had more than their share of opportunities to claim a road victory at Atlanta but couldn t cash in on multiple chances and fell to 0-3 for the season. In all, the two teams combined to turn it over 8 times after the 2:00 warning of the first half (four per side) and five of those came inside the team s own 30-yard line. The loss negated an exceptional effort by an Arizona defense that kept the dangerous Falcons offense out of the end zone for the entire game and pitched a shut-out in the second half. The D was particularly effective in containing QB Michael Vick, who was sacked 5 times, intercepted once, held to 115 passing yards on passing and gained just 10 rushing yards on 8 attempts before he broke off a 58-yard run late in the fourth. Things started well for the Falcons as RB Warrick Dunn raced 60 yards on their third offensive play and while they eventually reached the Arizona 4, the Cards forced them to settle for a 25-yard Jay Feely FG. Early in the second, a 30-yard Allen Rossum punt return set the Falcons up at the Cardinals 39 and they again moved to a first-and-goal before being held to a short Feely FG (23 yards). Trailing 6-0 with 1:37 to go in the half, Cards QB Josh McCown lost the ball on a sack and the Falcons took over at the Arizona 13. However, three plays later Vick turned it back over when CB Duane Starks forced a fumble that LB Karlos Dansby recovered at the 4-yard line. On their first drive of the second half, the Cards marched to the Atlanta 8 before McCown turned it over again on a fumble but Vick proceeded to return the favor 10 plays later when DE Calvin Pace sacked him at the Arizona 27 and DE Peppi Zellner recovered the fumble. On the Cards next series, they marched to the Falcons 6 in 13 plays before McCown again coughed it up on a sack at the Atlanta 18. Two plays later, though, safety Adrian Wilson intercepted Vick at the Falcons 18 and the Cards will able to convert it into a 30-yard Neil Rackers FG that made it 6-3. With 3:37 to go, the Cards had another golden opportunity when Dunn fumbled and Starks recovered at the Atlanta 19. Two plays later, however, WR Karl Williams fumbled at the end of a reverse, handing it back to the Falcons at their own 11. Two plays after that, Vick raced 58 yards to the Arizona 28 effectively sealing the win for the Falcons. CARDINALS FALCONS Team Qtr. Time Scoring Play Drive Score Falcons 1 7:12 Feely 25-yard FG 7-73, 3: Falcons 2 12:01 Feely 23-yard FG 6-34, 2: CARDS 4 9:24 Rackers 30-yard FG 4-6, 2: STATISTICS AZ ATL First Downs Rushes-Yards Net Passing Yards Total Net Yards Passing (A-C-I) Sacked by Opp Punts-Average Fumbles-Lost Penalties Time of Possession 34:37 25:23 Weather: Dome RUSHING CARDS: E. Smith 18-45; McCown 6-10; Hambrick 1-3; K. Williams 1-3. FALCONS: Dunn ; Vick 9-68; Price 1-9. PASSING CARDS: McCown 20-26, 198 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT; King 5-6, 40 yds, 0 TD, 0 INT. FALCONS: Vick 10-20, 115 yds, 0 TD, 1 INT. RECEIVING: CARDS: K. Williams 6-90; B. Johnson 6-53; Fitzgerald 5-37; Poole 2-24; F. Jones 2-11; E. Smith 2-11; Scobey 1-7; Diamond 1-5. FALCONS: Griffith 3-25; Crumpler 2-34; Dunn 2-20; Price 2-16; White MAKING CHANGE Since the last time these two teams met in week three of 2004, the Cardinals have made a few changes to their starting lineup. The Cards will have 15 new starters across the offense and defense in this week s game, compared to the last time these teams met in week three of Here s a look at the Cardinals starting lineup from their previous game in Atlanta and last week s game against the Rams. Since the last time the Cardinals and Falcons faced each other, only 21 of the 53 players remain with the team. Atl Offense 9/24/06 vs. StL Lorenzo Diamond Tight End Adam Bergen Cameron Spikes Right Guard Milford Brown Anthony Clement Right Tackle Oliver Ross Freddie Jones Tight End Fred Wakefield Bryant Johnson Wide Receiver Anquan Boldin Josh McCown Quarterback Kurt Warner Emmitt Smith Running Back Edgerrin James Defense Peppi Zellner Defensive End Chike Okeafor Russell Davis Nose Tackle Kendrick Clancy Ronald McKinnon Linebacker Gerald Hayes Karlos Dansby Linebacker Calvin Pace James Darling Linebacker Orlando Huff Duane Starks Cornerback Antrel Rolle David Macklin Cornerback Matt Ware Quentin Harris Free Safety Robert Griffith THE CLASS OF 01 The five-year reunion for the NFL Draft Class of 2001 is this weekend at the Georgia Dome. Falcons quarterback Michael Vick was selected with the first overall pick in the draft. Minutes later the Cardinals selected Leonard Davis with the second overall pick. Here s a look at the first 10 picks of the 2001 NFL Draft: # Team Player Pos School 1. Atl Michael Vick QB Virginia Tech 2. Ari Leonard Davis T Texas 3. Cle Gerard Warren DT Florida 4. Cin Justin Smith DE Missouri 5. SD LaDainian Tomlinson RB Texas Christian 6. NE Richard Seymour DE Georgia 7. SF Andre Carter OLB California 8. Chi David Terrell WR Michigan 9. Sea Koren Robinson WR N.C. State 10. GB Jamal Reynolds DE Florida State Of the 31 players selected in the first round of the 2001 NFL Draft, 16 have switched teams or are out of the league, including five of the top 10. Only Vick, Davis, Smith, Tomlinson and Seymour remain with the team that drafted them in the top 10. Davis is in the final year of his rookie contract with the Cardinals. Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 5 of 30

6 WARNER 6-0 ALL-TIME AGAINST ATLANTA Kurt Warner has played the Atlanta Falcons six times and in those games has recorded a perfect 6-0 record. The St. Louis Rams and Atlanta Falcons met twice annually as they shared the NFC West division until NFL realignment in Warner s first Super Bowl was held in the Georgia Dome. In that game, Warner completed 24 of 45 passes for 414 yards to lead the Rams to a victory over the Tennessee Titans in Super Bowl XXXIV and was named the game s MVP. In six games against the Falcons, Warner has completed 108 of 157 passes (68.8%) for 1,657 yards, 18 touchdowns and only five interceptions for a passer rating. In five of the six meetings, Warner has passed for three or more touchdowns. Warner vs. Atlanta Date H/A Att Comp Yds TD INT Rat 1/6/02 H /2/01 A /15/00 H /24/00 A /17/99 A /26/99 H Total , LEINART READY Cardinals first round draft pick Matt Leinart made his Arizona debut in the preseason game against Denver on 8/31. Leinart was unsigned when the Cards opened the preseason at home against Pittsburgh on August 12. In his first game in the Cardinals new home, Leinart completed 10 of 15 passes for 125 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions for a QB rating. Leinart connected with WR Troy Walters for a 17-yard touchdown to give the Cardinals a 13-9 lead with 3:18 remaining in the first half. After missing the first preseason game, Leinart went on to complete 29 of 47 passes (61.7%) for 314 yards, and two touchdowns with no interceptions in the preseason. Leinart recorded a 37-2 record at USC in three years as a starter. He re-wrote the Trojans record books, claiming 13 school records and 11 Pac-10 records. Leinart in the 2006 Preseason Date Opp Att Comp Yds TD Int Rat 8/12 Pit Not Signed NE Chi /31 Den Totals WARNER HITS 20,000 Kurt Warner needed 254 passing yards last week in his 76 th career game to become the second-fastest player to reach 20,000 yards in NFL history, behind only Dan Marino, who reached 20,000-yards in 74 games. Warner finished the game with 256 yards and now has 20,002 career passing yards. Fastest to 20,000 Passing Yards Dan Marino 74 Kurt Warner 76 Peyton Manning 78 Daunte Culpepper 80 Drew Bledsoe 83 Trent Green 83 WARNER BRINGS IT INSIDE Kurt Warner must have been happy to hear the Cardinals were putting a roof on their new stadium. The quarterback has a 30-9 career record indoors in the NFL. Warner went in 40 career games in the Arena Football League, a league played exclusively indoors. From there, Warner went to the St. Louis Rams from and as the starting quarterback went 19-4 in home games during that span. The Rams play indoors at the Edward Jones Dome. WARNER +300 Kurt Warner passed for 301 yards in the season opener vs. San Francisco, it marked Warner s sixth 300-yard game as a Cardinal. The next time Warner passes for 300 yards will tie him with Jake Plummer for fourth on the Cardinals all-time list. Neil Lomax holds the record for career 300-yard games for the Cardinals with 19. WHERE WARNER RANKS Kurt Warner ranks 5 th in the NFL in completions and 9 th in passing yardage. Warner is also 10 th in attempts and 12 th in completion percentage. Warner s 87.4 quarterback rating is 15 th in the NFL. Here s a breakdown of where Warner ranks among NFL quarterbacks and the league leader in each category. Warner NFL Leader Attempts 10 th (103) Brett Favre, GB (120) Completions 5 th (66) Eli Manning, NYG (75) Comp. Pct. 12 th (64.1) David Carr, Hou (72.0) Yards 9 th (788) Donovan McNabb (960) Touchdowns 8t (5) Eli Manning, NYG (8) Rating 15 th (87.4) David Carr, Hou (113.6) Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 6 of 30

7 IN A RUSH TO GET TO 50 In 99 career games, Edgerrin James has rushed for 100 yards 49 times. If James can rush for a 100-yard game in this week s contest, he would become only the second player in NFL history to hit 50 in 100 games or fewer. Here s a list of the all-time fastest players to reach yard games. Player Games to reach 50 Eric Dickerson 83 Jim Brown 102 Barry Sanders 114 Walter Payton 117 Emmitt Smith 129 Emmitt Smith retired with the most 100-yard games in the history of the NFL, ending his career with 78. Only seven players have rushed for more than yard games in the history of the NFL. Player 100-Yard Games Emmitt Smith 78 Walter Payton 77 Barry Sanders 76 Eric Dickerson 64 Jerome Bettis 61 Jim Brown 58 Curtis Martin 57 Edgerrin James YARDS = WIN Edgerrin James has rushed for 100 yards 49 times in his career. In those games, his team is The Cardinals last 100-yard rusher was Emmitt Smith on Oct. 24, 2004 vs. Seattle. Since 2003, the Cardinals have had four 100-yard rushing games. In those games, the Cards are 4-0. Here s a look at the Cards last four 100-yard rushing games: Date Player Opp Att Yards Result 10/24/04 Emmitt Smith vs. Sea W, /3/04 Emmitt Smith vs. NO W, /2/03 Marcel Shipp vs. Cin W, /26/03 Marcel Shipp vs. SF W, EDGE MAKES 100 TH CAREER START Edgerrin James is set to make his 100 th career start this weekend in Atlanta. In 99 career games, James has averaged 22.8 carries and 95.5 yards per game. The last time James faced the Falcons was on 12/14/03. James rushed for 126 yards on 20 carries in that game. JAMES RANKS AMONG THE BEST James needed 45 rushing yards in last week s game to pass Earl Campbell and rank among the top 20 rushers of all time. James finished the game with 94 yards and now has 9,457 career yards. James needs 266 yards to move ahead of Joe Perry. All-Time Rushing Leaders: Rk Player Att. Yds. TD 1 Emmitt Smith 4,409 18, Walter Payton 3,838 16, Barry Sanders 3,062 15, Curtis Martin* 3,518 14, Jerome Bettis 3,479 13, Eric Dickerson 2,996 13, Tony Dorsett 2,936 12, Jim Brown 2,359 12, Marshall Faulk* 2,836 12, Marcus Allen 3,022 12, Franco Harris 2,949 12, Thurman Thomas 2,877 12, John Riggins 2,916 11, O.J. Simpson 2,404 11, Ricky Watters 2,622 10, Corey Dillon* 2,435 10, Eddie George 2,865 10, O.J. Anderson 2,562 10, Joe Perry# 1,929 9, Edgerrin James* 2,256 9, * Denotes active players # includes AAFC stats DOMINATING SINCE 1999 Edgerrin James was selected by the Colts with the fourthoverall pick in the 1999 NFL Draft. Since that time, no other running back has gained as many yards on the ground as James. Since entering the league, James has tallied 9,457 yards. The next closest back is the Jets Curtis Martin, who in the time span gained 9,015 yards. Here s a look at the top five running backs by yardage since 1999: Player Yards Attempts Games Edgerrin James 9,457 2, Curtis Martin 9,015 2, Corey Dillon 8,339 1, Tiki Barber 8,335 1, Shaun Alexander 8,004 1, EJ S RECORD WHEN Overall Rushes for 100 yards Carries times Indoors Outdoors Within Division Multiple Rushing TDs Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 7 of 30

8 BOLDIN AND FITZGERALD ON THE ROAD Cardinal wide receivers Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald don t discriminate, they ll dominate both at home and on the road. In the last nine road games going back through 2005, Fitzgerald and Boldin have combined for 116 receptions for 1,580 yards and nine touchdowns. They ve also combined to record seven 100-yard receiving games. Boldin missed one road game in 05 with a knee injury but still averages 6.7 receptions and 94.6 yards on the road. Fitzgerald averages 6.8 receptions per game and 91.4 yards on the road. Boldin Last Nine Road Games Fitzgerald Sea 9/17/ Ind 1/1/ TD Hou 12/18/ TD SF 12/4/ StL 11/20/ TD Det 11/13/ TD Dal 10/30/ Sea 9/25/ NYG 9/11/ TD TDs Totals TDs Avg/Game FITZGERALD LOOKING TO REPEAT 05 Larry Fitzgerald s 2005 season was one that receivers dream about. The Cardinals 2004 first-round pick out of Pittsburgh was named to the Pro Bowl and set a new franchise record with 103 receptions for 1,409 yards and 10 TDs. The previous mark was set in 2003 by then rookie Anquan Boldin. Boldin also surpassed his previous team record while recording 102 receptions in Fitzgerald tied Carolina s Steve Smith for the most receptions in the NFL in The franchise record number of catches for Fitzgerald led him to his first career Pro Bowl in Fitzgerald accompanied Cards kicker Neil Rackers who set an NFL record with 40 field goals in Along with Boldin, the receiving duo combined for yard games in 2005, breaking the previous team record of 11 set in Of Fitzgerald s 103 receptions, 27 of them came for 20- yards or more, ranking first in the NFL in Now in his third season with the Cardinals, Fitzgerald has never missed a start in 35 games. FITZGERALD HITS CENTURY MARK Larry Fitzgerald recorded his eighth career 100-yard game as a Cardinal in the season opener vs. San Francisco after pulling in nine receptions for 133 yards against the 49ers. It marked Fitzgerald s fifth consecutive 100-yard game vs. an NFC West opponent, a streak that ended as Fitzgerald caught four passes for 52 yards in Seattle a week later. Five of Fitzgerald s eight 100-yard games have come against NFC West opponents. In the last six Cardinals road games, Fitzgerald has recorded 42 receptions for 591 yards and four touchdowns, an average of seven receptions and 98.5 yard per game. In three of his last six road games, Fitzgerald has recorded a 100-yard game. FITZGERALD S 100-YARD GAMES Date Opp Rec Yards TD 9/10/06 vs. SF SF StL Det /6/05 vs. Sea /9/05 vs. Car /2/05 vs. SF NYG BOLDIN AND FITZ AT THE TOP Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald rank among the league leaders in receptions and receiving yardage. Boldin is in a three-way tie for first in the NFC with 20 receptions. Boldin is tied for 4 th in the NFL in receptions while Fitzgerald is tied for 7 th with 19. NFL Receptions Leaders Rank Player, Team Rec Yds TD 1. Laveraneus Coles, NYJ Marvin Harrison, Ind Andre Johnson, Hou t. Anquan Boldin, Ari t. Torry Holt, StL t. Amani Toomer, NYG t. Mushin Muhammad, Chi t. Larry Fitzgerald, Ari t. Kellen Winslow, Cle Donald Driver, GB NFL Receiving Yardage Leaders Rank Player, Team Yds Rec Avg 1. Marvin Harrison, Ind Laveraneaus Coles, NYJ Andre Johnson, Hou Reggie Wayne, Ind Antonio Bryant, SF Mushin Muhammad, Chi Donald Driver, GB Anquan Boldin, Ari t. Larry Fitzgerald, Ari t. Javon Walker, Den Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 8 of 30

9 BOLDIN CLOSING IN ON 300 In his fourth season with the Cardinals, Anquan Boldin has recorded 279 career receptions, topping the 100- catch mark in two of his first three seasons. Boldin was the fastest player to reach 200 receptions, hitting the mark after only 34 games, two ahead of the previous record holder Lionel Taylor (Denver, 1961). Taylor was also the fastest receiver to record 300 receptions, hitting the mark after 54 games. Boldin averages 6.4 receptions per game. At that rate, he would hit the 300 mark in his 47 th career game (at Oakland on October 22). It would also make Boldin the fastest receiver to reach the milestone. Below is a history of Boldin s receiving milestones: Receptions # of Games Opponent, Date 50 Pit, 11/9/ vs. Min, 12/28/ Sea, 12/26/ StL, 11/20/ vs. Phi, 12/24/ (projected) Oak, 10/22/06 FASTEST PLAYERS TO REACH 300 Player, Team # of Games Lionel Taylor, Denver 54 Kellen Winslow, San Diego 57 Isaac Bruce, St. Louis 58 Marvin Harrison, Indianapolis 59 BOLDIN IN ELITE COMPANY Anquan Boldin has recorded 100 receptions twice in his three-year career. With another 100-reception season this year, Boldin will join Marvin Harrison and Jerry Rice as the only players in NFL history with three seasons with 100 receptions. Randy Moss, Torry Holt and Steve Smith each have two 100-reception seasons as well. Boldin s 100-catch seasons Rec Yards Year 102 1, , Harrison s 100-catch seasons Rec Yards Year *143 1, , , , *Denotes NFL record Rice 100-catch seasons Rec Yards Year 122 1, , , , BOLDIN HITS 100 Anquan Boldin recorded his 16 th career 100-yard game last week vs. St. Louis. Boldin finished the day with 10 receptions for 129 yards. With his 16 th career 100-yard game, Boldin moved into a tie for 5 th most in team history with David Boston. The Cardinals record for 100-yard games in a career is 22, set by Jackie Smith. Boldin s 10 receptions fell one short of tying his career-high of 11, set in San Francisco on 12/4/05. In 2005 Boldin recorded five consecutive 100-yard games, beginning with the second meeting of the Rams and Cardinals on November 20. The single-season record for 100-yard games is nine, set by Boston in BOLDIN S 100-YARD GAMES Date Opp Rec Yards TD 9/24/06 vs. StL Hou /11/05 vs. Was SF /27/05 vs. Jax StL /9/05 vs. Car /2/05 vs. SF /18/05 vs. StL Sea /12/04 vs. SF Sea SF /23/03 vs. StL Pit Det MOST CAREER 100-YARD GAMES IN TEAM HISTORY Jackie Smith 22 Roy Green 20 Rob Moore 18 Mel Gray 17 Anquan Boldin 16 David Boston 16 BIG PLAY BRYANT JOHNSON Cards wide receiver Bryant Johnson ranks 1 st among NFL receivers with a 36.3 yards per catch average. Johnson is also tied for the 2 nd in the NFL with two 40+ yard catches. Johnson has recorded four receptions for 145 yards in 2006, including a 40-yard touchdown in Seattle. In week one, Johnson had two receptions for 51 yards, one of which was a 39 yard reception on third-and-10. In last week s game vs. St. Louis, Johnson recorded a 54- yard catch in the third quarter. Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 9 of 30

10 CARDS IN YEAR THREE OF GREEN ERA Now in his third season with the Cardinals, head coach Dennis Green has revamped the team s roster and built a foundation for success since taking over in Injuries ravaged the Cardinals in 2005 as the team placed a league-high 15 players on injured reserve. Of the 15 players placed on IR, at least seven figured to be full time starters. Green, a member of the 100-win club, took over the Cardinals after posting a regular season record of as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. Green also compiled a 4-8 playoff record, making the NFC Championship game twice. Green and Vice President of Football Operations Rod Graves have worked together to land prize free agents Bertrand Berry, Kurt Warner, and Edgerrin James as well draft stars such as Larry Fitzgerald, Antrel Rolle and Matt Leinart in the first round. Under Green the Cardinals have become a much more competitive team. Since Green s arrival the team s margin of defeat has nearly halved while the margin of victory almost tripled. Category 2003 Green s Avg. Points Scored/Game Total Yds/Game Pass Yds/Game Margin of Defeat Margin of Victory SPECIAL TEAMS MAKEOVER One of the top priorities of the 2006 offseason was to improve the Cardinals special teams. Although Neil Rackers kicked for an NFL record 40 field goals, the team s coverage units allowed three kickoffs and one punt to be returned for a touchdown. Cardinal opponents in 2005 averaged 28.3 yards per return on kickoffs, nearly six yards more than the Cardinals. To address the need on special teams, the Cardinals hired Gary Zauner, one of the most respected special teams coaches in the NFL. In the first three games of the season, the Cardinals have averaged 23.8 yards per kickoff return, up from 22.6 in The Cards kickoff coverage unit has also improved, allowing 22.9 yards per return, as opposed to 28.3 in Although the coverage units have undergone change, the Cardinals main special teamers have remained the same. Punter Scott Player enters his 9 th season as a Cardinal, the longest tenured player on the team. Longsnapper Nathan Hodel and Rackers also both remain from GREEN IN 100-WIN CLUB Dennis Green joined the group of head coaches with 100 or more wins in 2004 as he recorded his 100 th regular season win at Miami. In 2006, the Cardinals will face 100- win coaches on five separate occasions. Top Active Coaches with 100+ Wins* Coach Career Totals Marty Schottenheimer Bill Parcells Joe Gibbs Bill Cowher Mike Holmgren Mike Shanahan Dennis Green Bill Belichick Tony Dungy Jeff Fisher *includes postseason CARDS CONVERTING The Cardinals have converted 19 of 40 third down attempts, tying them for third in the NFL with a 47.5 conversion percentage. The Cards are tied for second in the NFL in third-and-10 conversions, converting six of 16 (37.5%). Third-and-10 Conversions Rk Team 3rd-n-10 Plays # Converted Pct. 1. Ind t. Ari t. Chi Hou Phi YOU CAN T ALWAYS BE PERFECT Even the best kickers will miss occasionally. Against Seattle Neil Rackers missed two field goals, both from beyond 50 yards. In 2005, Rackers only missed two field goals the entire season. Rackers holds the NFL single-season record for field goals, connecting on 40 of 42 in His only two misses were from 43 and 54 yards. In the last two seasons, Rackers has missed only 11 attempts. Seven of his missed attempts were from 50 yards or more, including a 64-yard attempt in Buffalo in Rackers has hit 25 straight field goals from inside 40 yards. RACKERS SINCE 2004 Overall Inside (25 straight) Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 10 of 30

11 FIRST QUARTER COME AROUND In 2005, the Cardinals scored 27 points in the first quarter and did not score a single touchdown. Against the 49ers in week one, the Cards put up 21 points in the first quarter thanks to three touchdowns. The Cards scored on each of their first three possessions for the first time since 11/23/75 (St. NYJ). The last time the Cardinals scored a touchdown on their first possession of a game was 11/2/03 when Jeff Blake connected with Freddie Jones on a one-yard pass. In the 40 games that would follow, the Cardinals recorded 23 punts, eight field goal attempts, four interceptions, four lost fumbles and one turnover on downs. First Quarter Comparison Year Points TD FG ALL-ARIZONA TEAM When the Cardinals drafted guard Deuce Lutui in the second round of this year s draft, he became the first Arizona native to be drafted by the Cardinals since their move to the desert in Hailing from Mesa, AZ, Lutui grew up as a Cardinals fan. Only 12 other Arizonans have played for the Arizona Cardinals. Below are their names and hometowns: Player Mario Bates Brent Burnstein Steve Bush Ryan Christopherson Anthony Edwards Jeff Feagles John Fina Frank Garcia Bryan Hooks Kevin Miniefield Vai Sikahema Danny Villa Hometown Tucson Glendale Phoenix Glendale Casa Grande Phoenix Tucson Phoenix Phoenix Phoenix Mesa Nogales HAMPTON CROSS ROADS Hampton Roads is the name of both a body of water and the land that surrounds it in Southeastern Virginia. It should be re-named NFL Roads. Both the Cardinals and Falcons have three players that hail from the area. G Elton Bown, LB Darryl Blackstock and CB David Macklin represent Hampton Roads on the Cardinals while Falcons QB Michael Vick, CB DeAngelo Hall and CB Jimmy Williams are from the area as well. Brown s mother, Robin Brown Miller, has organized a bus trip for over 60 family and friends from the area for this game. CARDINALS BY THE NUMBERS yard rushing game needed by Edgerrin James to reach 50 career 100-yard games. He d be just the second player to reach that plateau in 100 career games or less yard passing days as a Cardinal for Kurt Warner. His next one will tie Jake Plummer for the 4 th most in team history. 6 of 10 Anquan Boldin has recorded a 100-yard game in six of his last 10 games. 11 Different combinations of starters used on the offensive line since the beginning of Total tackles by LB Gerald Hayes last week, a team and career-high. 16 Career 100-yard receiving games for Anquan Boldin. He is tied with David Boston for 5 th most in team history. 28 First quarter points scored by the Cardinals in the first three games of the season. In 2005, the Cardinals scored 27 points in the first quarter for the entire season Yards per catch average for WR Bryant Johnson (4-145), the highest among wide receivers Kurt Warner s record indoors. 42 Number of University of Miami players in the NFL, the most of any school. The Cardinals have two, Antrel Rolle and Edgerrin James Edgerrin James record when he rushes for 100 yards or more Average weight of an Arizona Cardinal, the heaviest in the NFC. $7.7 Million Average amount paid annually by University of Phoenix for naming rights to the Cardinals new stadium as part of a 20- year agreement announced on Tuesday. Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 11 of 30

12 CARDINALS-FALCONS CONNECTIONS Cardinals Senior Director of Football Operations John Idzik and Falcons President/General Manager Rich McKay worked together in the front office of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from , helping to put together the Super Bowl XXXVI squad. Falcons Senior Defensive Assistant/Secondary Coach Emmitt Thomas was the tight ends coach for the St. Louis Cardinals from Thomas was also the defensive coordinator for the Minnesota Vikings under then Head Coach Dennis Green from Falcons Head Coach Jim Mora was the defensive coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers , where he coached Cardinals defensive end Chike Okeafor while he played there from Cardinals Defensive Coordinator Clancy Pendergast and Falcons Assistant Special Teams Coach Steve Hoffman coached together with the Dallas Cowboys from Cardinals Assistant Head Coach/Linebackers Frank Bush, who is from Athens, Georgia, Falcons Defensive Coordinator Ed Donatell and Falcons Consultant Alex Gibbs all coached together with the Denver Broncos from Bush and Gibbs were with the Broncos together from In Denver, Bush was the linebackers/special teams coach while Donatell coached defensive backs and Gibbs was the assistant head coach/ offensive line. Cardinals rookie tight end Leonard Pope and Falcons rookie quarterback D.J. Shockley were offensive teammates together for the Georgia Bulldogs throughout their college careers which last from Pope hails from Americus, GA, roughly three hours south of Atlanta. Cardinals linebacker Calvin Pace is from Douglasville, GA, a short drive from Atlanta, and attended Lithia Springs High School where he earned all-region and county defensive-player-of-the-year honors in Cardinals Scout Rashaan Curry is from Atlanta, Georgia. Cardinals tackle Oliver Ross and Falcons tackle Wayne Gandy were offensive line mates from with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ross made his first career start in 2001 for an injured Gandy in a game vs. Baltimore. Cornerbacks Eric Green (Cardinals), DeAngelo Hall (Falcons), and Jimmy Williams (Falcons) were all team and position mates from at Virginia Tech. Green played three years will Hall ( ) and three years with Williams ( ). Cardinals defensive end Bertrand Berry and Falcons cornerback Allen Rossum were defensive teammates at the University of Notre Dame from Berry and Falcons wide receiver Ashley Lelie were teammates with the Denver Broncos from Cardinals defensive tackle Darnell Dockett and Falcons defensive end Chauncey Davis were defensive teammates at Florida State University in Atlanta College Scout Bruce Plummer was a defensive back for the Arizona Rattlers when they captured the Arena Bowl XI Championship in THE MEN IN BLACK When the Cardinals signed Edgerrin James, not only did they acquire a new look in the backfield, but their shoes received a makeover as well. James lobbied the Cardinals administration to switch to black shoes for their uniform. On the first day of mini camp James was presented with a gift wrapped shoe box containing a pair of black cleats. If you look good, you feel good, said James. And if you feel good, you play good. Now we re coordinated. NFL teams must choose one primary color for their shoes, black or white. Since the mid s the Cardinals had worn white cleats. Including the Cardinals, 17 teams wear black shoes. Prior to this season only one other team in the NFC West wore black shoes, Seattle. The change in shoe style comes one year after the Cardinals made dramatic changes to their uniform and revamped the Cardinal logo. GAMES CAN BE SEEN AND HEARD ACROSS AZ Whether you re in Albuqurque or Flagstaff, a Cardinals game is never very far. Tune in to the Cardinals radio affiliates across the state to listen to live Cardinals football action. In the Valley, Cardinals games can be heard on the Cardinals flagship stations ESPN Radio 860 and KTAR 620 AM. KDEF 1150 AM Albuquerque KVNA 600 AM Flagstaff KZUA 92.1 FM Holbrook KNTR 980 AM Lake Havasu KIKO 1340 AM Miami KPPV FM Prescott Valley KQNA 1130 AM Prescott Valley KAZM 780 AM Sedona KTAN 1420 AM Sierra Vista KATO 1230 AM Thatcher KHIL 1250 AM Wilcox KBLU 560 AM Yuma This week s game will also be shown live on FOX through the Phoenix market and the NFL Network will be replaying games throughout the week with additional commentary. Check your local listings for times and channels. Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 12 of 30

13 YO, ADRIAN! After setting the NFL record for a defensive back with 8.0 sacks in 2005, Adrian Wilson opened quarterback season for the Cardinals by sacking Seahawks passer Matt Hasselbeck twice in the second game of the season. He also had an interception against Seattle. Wilson, the first defensive back to lead the Cards in sacks, also recorded an interception in last week s game. The two sacks gave Wilson eight in his last nine games and tie him for second among defensive backs in the NFL. Most Sacks in a Season by a DB 8.0 Adrian Wilson, Arizona Dave Duerson, Chicago LeRoy Butler, Green Bay Shared by many players CARDS D LOOKS TO REPEAT The last time the Cardinals and Falcons met, the Cards defense took Michael Vick for five sacks and held him to only passing for 115 yards. Peppi Zellner recorded two sacks while Russell Davis and Karlos Dansby each added one. Adrian Wilson also intercepted Vick. HAYES RECORDS FIRST INT Cardinals linebacker Gerald Hayes has recovered. There s no question the Cards starting middle linebacker has fully healed from a knee injury that sidelined him for the entire 2005 season. Last week vs. St. Louis, Hayes also recovered in another sense, a forced fumble. After Matt Ware forced Shaun McDonald to lose the ball in the third quarter, it was Hayes who came through with the recovery. In addition to recovering the fumble, Hayes posted a team and career-high 12 tackles last week against the Rams. A week earlier, Hayes recorded his first career interception, picking off Seahawks passer Matt Hasselbeck near the end of the first half. DOCKETT GETS STARTED EARLY In the last two weeks Darnell Dockett has combined for 17 tackles and a sack, easily the best two-game stretch of his career. Last week vs. St. Louis, Dockett tallied five tackles and was instrumental in holding the Rams running backs to under 100 yards. A week earlier in Seattle, Dockett posted a team and careerhigh 12 tackles and sacked QB Matt Hasselbeck on the first play of the game. PENDERGAST GUIDES CARDINALS D Clancy Pendergast planted seeds in the Cardinals defense when he was hired in Entering his third season with the team, Pendergast s defense is reaping the fruits of his labor. It should come as no surprise that Pendergast had the foresight to see the Cardinals defense from seedling to crop. He was raised on a farm in Glendale, AZ where Cardinals Stadium now sits. The house he grew up in is still standing and his father continues to farm dairy and various crops on the land adjacent to the stadium. Upon his arrival Pendergast instilled a sense of urgency in the Cardinals defense and built the unit on speed. After the addition of Bertrand Berry in free agency, the Cards addressed the need for speed through the draft, picking up linebacker Karlos Dansby (2004), and cornerbacks Antrel Rolle and Eric Green (2005). In his first season with Pendergast, Berry earned his first Pro Bowl appearance and led the NFC in sacks with 14.5 in In 2005, Pendergast used safety Adrian Wilson in a variety of ways allowing him to record eight sacks, the most ever by a defensive back since sacks became an official statistic in Prior to his arrival, the Cardinals allowed yards per game. In two seasons under Pendergast, the Cards defense has allowed 308 yards per game on average. Injuries depleted the Cardinals defensive line in 2005 and the team took note in both the draft and free agency. The team signed defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy in unrestricted free agency and drafted defensive tackles Gabe Watson and Jonathan Lewis in the fourth and sixth round, respectively. The unit s rank has also risen since Pendergast took over. In 2003 the Cardinals had the 28 th ranked defense in the league. In 2004 the rank rose to 12 th and cracked the top 10 in 2005, finishing 8 th overall. ON A ROLLE The Cardinals first round pick in 2005 (8 th overall), Antrel Rolle was sidelined for the majority of 2005 following a meniscus tear in his knee. Rolle returned for two games at the tail end of 2005, only to have swelling in his knee sideline him again for the final two games of the year. In the Cardinals third preseason game, Rolle made it clear he has returned as he picked off Bears QB Rex Grossman to thwart the Bears first drive of the third quarter. After minor surgery in the offseason to clean scar tissue in his knee, Rolle returned to training camp in Flagstaff this summer at 100%, and in the first regular season game, led the team with eight tackles. Cardinals vs. Falcons Page 13 of 30