http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/players/michael_adams/21813 Recent articles about Michael Adams en-us TEMPE, Ariz. The last time the Packers came to University of Phoenix Stadium, the two teams staged one of the greatest playoff games in NFL history, with the Cardinals prevailing 51-45 in overtime when cornerback Michael Adams stripped Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers of the ball and linebacker Karlos Dansby returned the fumble 17 yards for a touchdown. Earlier on that series, Rodgers missed Greg Jennings wide open down the field for a sure touchdown. Rodgers was asked Wednesday how long it took him to get over that game and that missed connection. A couple days, he said. Thanks for bringing that up, though. Packers coach Mike McCarthy said that game was still valuable for his club, even though Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner shredded Green Bay by completing 29 of 33 passes for 379 yards and five touchdowns in the final home game of his career. It was definitely a game that we could point to where we felt we were ready to take the next step, McCarthy said. Obviously, we were able to build off that Wed, 31 Oct 2012 19:08:48 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/packers_used_loss_to_cards_as_stepping_stone/12102535 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/packers_used_loss_to_cards_as_stepping_stone/12102535 Packers used loss to Cards as stepping stone http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/packers_used_loss_to_cards_as_stepping_stone/12102535 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Arizona Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson has been fined $21,000 by the NFL for an illegal block on the Minnesota's John Carlson last Sunday in the Red Birds' 21-14 loss to the Vikings. Carlson missed last night's game against Tampa Bay with concussion-like symptoms that appeared to stem from Johnson's block during a punt. Johnson is a four-year veteran and an Alabama University product. He was a third round pick of the Cardinals in the 2009 NFL Draft. He has compiled six tackles so far this season. Current Line The Cardinals are presently seven-point underdogs to the 49ers heading into Monday night's huge battle in Glendale. Injury Updates Defensive end Calais Campbell (quadricep ), CB Michael Adams (hamstring), ), LB Quentin Groves (hamstring), S James Sanders (knee , LB Paris Lenon (ankle), ), LB O'Brien Schofield (knee), QB John Skelton (ankle), LB Reggie Walker (head) all fully participated in practice today and should play on Monday night. D... Sat, 27 Oct 2012 07:18:42 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cardinals_safety_rashad_johnson_fined_21000/12067720 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cardinals_safety_rashad_johnson_fined_21000/12067720 Cardinals safety Rashad Johnson fined $21,000 http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cardinals_safety_rashad_johnson_fined_21000/12067720 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png TEMPE, Ariz. Through the first six games of the NFL season, Arizonas defense has allowed just eight TDs, the second fewest in the NFL and behind only Chicago (seven), which has played one fewer game. With only 97 points allowed, the Cardinals are on pace to surrender 258 points, which would rank as the lowest total in team history since the NFL went to a 16-game schedule in 1978. The Cards' average of 16.2 points allowed per game ranks fourth in the league, their 19 sacks rank behind only Green Bay (21) and Cincinnati (20), and their 13 forced turnovers are tied for sixth most in the league. By just about any statistical or eyeball measure, the Cardinals defense has been very good. The problem: It has had to be. Every game. Every quarter. Virtually every snap. The time-of-possession numbers say the Cardinals offense is helping out its defense. The Cards rank 12th in the NFL in time of possession at 31:16 per game -- a vast departure from last season, when they ranked 19th (28:43), and 2010, when they Fri, 19 Oct 2012 17:21:35 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cardinals_defense_has_little_margin_for_error/12007189 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cardinals_defense_has_little_margin_for_error/12007189 Cardinals defense has little margin for error http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cardinals_defense_has_little_margin_for_error/12007189 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png TEMPE, Ariz. With only a short practice on Monday, the Cardinals have had a much-needed six-day break to heal some wounds following Thursdays loss in St. Louis. A few injured players returned to full practice on Wednesday, including right guard Adam Snyder and quarterback John Skelton; defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, tight end Todd Heap and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling were limited, but improved. The lingering question is: Can the Cardinals heal their offense, which will face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday minus its top two running backs (Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams), two key offensive linemen (Levi Brown and Jeremy Bridges) and perhaps still without a tight end or two. More to the point: Can a patchwork line that has allowed 17 sacks the past two games protect quarterback Kevin Kolb enough to aid a passing game that will need to carry the Cards while two backup running backs find their way? Its always a combination, quarterback Kevin Kolb said when addressing the units protection woes. Obviousl Wed, 10 Oct 2012 21:57:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/patchwork_cards_seek_cure_for_offensive_woes/11930008 http://network.yardbarker.com/all_sports/article_external/patchwork_cards_seek_cure_for_offensive_woes/11930008 Patchwork Cards seek cure for offensive woes http://www.yardbarker.com/all_sports/articles/patchwork_cards_seek_cure_for_offensive_woes/11930008 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png TEMPE, Ariz. With only a short practice on Monday, the Cardinals have had a much-needed six-day break to heal some wounds following Thursdays loss in St. Louis. A few injured players returned to full practice on Wednesday, including right guard Adam Snyder and quarterback John Skelton; defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, tight end Todd Heap and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling were limited, but improved. The lingering question is: Can the Cardinals heal their offense, which will face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday minus its top two running backs (Beanie Wells and Ryan Williams), two key offensive linemen (Levi Brown and Jeremy Bridges) and perhaps still without a tight end or two. More to the point: Can a patchwork line that has allowed 17 sacks the past two games protect quarterback Kevin Kolb enough to aid a passing game that will need to carry the Cards while two backup running backs find their way? Its always a combination, quarterback Kevin Kolb said when addressing the units protection woes. Obviousl Wed, 10 Oct 2012 21:57:25 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/patchwork_cards_seek_cure_for_offensive_woes/11929885 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/patchwork_cards_seek_cure_for_offensive_woes/11929885 Patchwork Cards seek cure for offensive woes http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/patchwork_cards_seek_cure_for_offensive_woes/11929885 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png TEMPE, Ariz. -- Through four games, the Cardinals have yet to unleash their vaunted return game. But special teams coach Kevin Spencer has no complaints with the performance of his punter and kicker. Dave Zastudil ranks just 12th in the league in yards per punt (47.5), but he is seventh in net yards per punt (42.9), a far more important stat. Hes also fifth in punts downed inside the 20-yard line (nine) and he has the third-longest punt in the NFL this season, a 68-yarder he boomed Sunday that Michael Adams downed at the Miami 5-yard line. How good was Zastudil on Sunday? Of his nine punts, only two were returned for a total of 27 yards (a 3-yard average per punt). Zastudil had average numbers in 2011 after the Cardinals brought him in to replace Ben Graham. But Spencer played a hunch that better days were coming. David was kind of in an unfair situation last season when we brought him in, Spencer said. Hed been out of football for a year and a half -- maybe close to two. He hadnt trained, and we had no o Tue, 02 Oct 2012 00:21:14 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cards_notebook_a_leg_up_in_the_kicking_game/11860300 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cards_notebook_a_leg_up_in_the_kicking_game/11860300 Cards notebook: A leg up in the kicking game http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cards_notebook_a_leg_up_in_the_kicking_game/11860300 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Cardinals' glut at cornerback was a well-worn topic throughout the preseason. As many as five guys were competing for the slot opposite Patrick Peterson, and the club felt confident enough in its current players that it traded one-time 2011 starter A.J Jefferson to Minnesota last week for a conditional 2013 draft pick. I know were better than we were last year, depth-wise, defensive coordinator Ray Horton said. Left unsaid in Hortons comment was whether that array of choices can play well. Everyone knew Peterson was a shoo-in on the left side, but the right side is far from settled. Veteran William Gay, who played under Horton in Pittsburgh, is currently the starter on the right side, but he seems more comfortable inside than he does as the No. 2 guy on the outside. Rookie Jamell Fleming has shown speed and aggression on the outside, but hes not yet ready to assume the No. 2 role. Greg Toler is still working his way back from ACL surgery, and he's also battling a hip injury. Horton says th Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:25:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cards_notebook_is_there_a_true_no_2_corner/11655316 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cards_notebook_is_there_a_true_no_2_corner/11655316 Cards notebook: Is there a true No. 2 corner? http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cards_notebook_is_there_a_true_no_2_corner/11655316 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png The Cardinals' glut at cornerback was a well-worn topic throughout the preseason. As many as five guys were competing for the slot opposite Patrick Peterson, and the club felt confident enough in its current players that it traded one-time 2011 starter A.J Jefferson to Minnesota last week for a conditional 2013 draft pick. I know were better than we were last year, depth-wise, defensive coordinator Ray Horton said. Left unsaid in Hortons comment was whether that array of choices can play well. Everyone knew Peterson was a shoo-in on the left side, but the right side is far from settled. Veteran William Gay, who played under Horton in Pittsburgh, is currently the starter on the right side, but he seems more comfortable inside than he does as the No. 2 guy on the outside. Rookie Jamell Fleming has shown speed and aggression on the outside, but hes not yet ready to assume the No. 2 role. Greg Toler is still working his way back from ACL surgery, and he's also battling a hip injury. Horton says th Fri, 07 Sep 2012 18:25:23 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cards_notebook_is_there_a_true_no_2_corner/11655313 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cards_notebook_is_there_a_true_no_2_corner/11655313 Cards notebook: Is there a true No. 2 corner? http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cards_notebook_is_there_a_true_no_2_corner/11655313 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png Kurt Warner comeback anyone? The Cardinals have regressed a long way since their Superbowl loss to the Steelers, their NFC West dominance lasting a lot shorter than people predicted. Without Warner, the Cardinals moved to acquire the promising Kevin Kolb from Philadelphia and unleash him on the league in 2011. Needless to say his first taste of action in red did not go as planned. Sharing the season with first year player John Skelton, Kolb did not play as advertised but luckily for the Cardinals, Skelton played well enough to bring Arizona to the brink of a winning season and a second place finish in the division. Both quarterbacks will be fighting to start throughout the preseason with the leader being anyone’s guess. The eventual leader of the offense will rest easy in the knowledge that Larry Fitzgerald will be focused on the Cardinals after signing a contract extension and will have first round pick Michael Floyd on the other side to throw to. The defense features a bun... Tue, 28 Aug 2012 07:06:16 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/an_in_depth_look_at_the_2012_arizona_cardinals/11566603 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/an_in_depth_look_at_the_2012_arizona_cardinals/11566603 An in-depth look at the 2012 Arizona Cardinals http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/an_in_depth_look_at_the_2012_arizona_cardinals/11566603 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png ST. JOSEPH, Mo. Matt Cassel was napalmed. The ball came out of the Kansas City Chief quarterbacks hands like a Bugs Bunny cartoon change-up, wobbling on this short and high arc, as if served by a badminton racket. Michael Adams had him dead to rights. Adams, the Arizona Cardinals cornerback, almost immediately recognized that the pass was comically underthrown. He closed quickly to a comfy spot near the sideline, boxed out the receiver, set his feet, and waited for glory. Only it never came. As the ball descended, a pair of giant arms suddenly stretched across Adams shoulders from behind and plucked it out of the sky, inches before the defender could grasp what, by position, seemed to be rightfully his. It was the perfect reach-around. In a basketball game, this cute little stunt mightve drawn a foul call for going over the back. On the practice field, seen in person by an estimated crowd of some 3,000 Tuesday at Missouri Western State, it was positively stupefying. Another notch on Jon Baldwins preseason Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:20:07 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/baldwin_trying_to_follow_fitzgeralds_footsteps/11406361 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/baldwin_trying_to_follow_fitzgeralds_footsteps/11406361 Baldwin trying to follow Fitzgerald's footsteps http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/baldwin_trying_to_follow_fitzgeralds_footsteps/11406361 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/e/c/ec4875d14e7b2a24c0815d3be300933a89f35762/mini/Arizona_Cardinals_v_22fd.jpg ST. JOSEPH, Mo. Matt Cassel was napalmed. The ball came out of the Kansas City Chief quarterbacks hands like a Bugs Bunny cartoon change-up, wobbling on this short and high arc, as if served by a badminton racket. Michael Adams had him dead to rights. Adams, the Arizona Cardinals cornerback, almost immediately recognized that the pass was comically underthrown. He closed quickly to a comfy spot near the sideline, boxed out the receiver, set his feet, and waited for glory. Only it never came. As the ball descended, a pair of giant arms suddenly stretched across Adams shoulders from behind and plucked it out of the sky, inches before the defender could grasp what, by position, seemed to be rightfully his. It was the perfect reach-around. In a basketball game, this cute little stunt mightve drawn a foul call for going over the back. On the practice field, seen in person by an estimated crowd of some 3,000 Tuesday at Missouri Western State, it was positively stupefying. Another notch on Jon Baldwins preseason Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:20:07 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/baldwin_trying_to_follow_fitzgeralds_footsteps/11406445 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/baldwin_trying_to_follow_fitzgeralds_footsteps/11406445 Baldwin trying to follow Fitzgerald's footsteps http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/baldwin_trying_to_follow_fitzgeralds_footsteps/11406445 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/7/e/7eecd5f148ae2ac69ada15410b5e65797c37526f/mini/Arizona_Cardinals_at_070a.jpg The quarterback competition is getting all the attention at the Arizona Cardinals training camp. The battle at cornerback is equally intense. Patrick Peterson has one cornerback spot nailed down. The other is the only position up for grabs on a defense that is considered the strength of the team. Among the candidates are Greg Toler, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, free agent signee William Gay, former starter A.J. Jefferson and promising rookie Jamell Fleming. Michael Adams, a special teams standout who saw considerable time at the nickel position, is in the mix as a possible backup. ''There's going to be a player or two that we're going to have to release that's going to be able to play for another team,'' coach Ken Whisenhunt said Thursday. ''That's not something that we've always faced in the last few years, but we'll see how it all pans out.'' There have been many times in past seasons, Whisenhunt noted, that the team has had to Fri, 27 Jul 2012 03:24:35 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/open_competition_at_cards_cornerback/11310319 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/open_competition_at_cards_cornerback/11310319 Open competition at Cards cornerback http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/open_competition_at_cards_cornerback/11310319 http://www.yardbarker.com/images/yb_logo_square_grey.png TEMPE, Ariz. Media outlets called it a blockbuster trade. Cynics are now calling it a block-bust trade. Time will tell which label is closer to the truth, but the early returns on the offseason deal that sent quarterback Kevin Kolb from Philadelphia to Arizona for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick are far less than what the Eagles and Cardinals envisioned. Rodgers-Cromartie is playing a little more than half the defensive snaps while adjusting to a new role in the slot one in which he got beaten on at least three occasions in a crushing loss to Chicago on Monday Night Football that dropped the so-called Dream Team to 3-5. I aint depressed, Rodgers-Cromartie told CSN Philly. Am I mad? I mean, yeah, I would like to be outside. But as far as getting down and beating myself up about it, I cant do that. Its out of my hands. All I can do is keep working and keep trying to get this nickel down. Without the benefit of offseason workouts, Kolb has struggled to learn the intricacies of Fri, 11 Nov 2011 13:20:41 -0500 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/blockbuster_goes_bust_for_cards_eagles/8026411 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/blockbuster_goes_bust_for_cards_eagles/8026411 Blockbuster goes bust for Cards, Eagles http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/blockbuster_goes_bust_for_cards_eagles/8026411 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/9/0/908d5509e089c930a297c9d68a5177ea604305bb/mini/Arizona_Cardinals_v_d5db.jpg Victor Cruz admits after catch ing what turned into a 19-yard completion from Eli Manning, after spinning free of cornerback Michael Adams and tumbling to the turf, he thought one of the Cardinals defenders touched him on the way down. That is why, Cruz explained, he simply dropped the ball... Tue, 04 Oct 2011 05:26:35 -0400 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cruz_says_card_made_contact/7202335 http://network.yardbarker.com/nfl/article_external/cruz_says_card_made_contact/7202335 Cruz says Card made contact http://www.yardbarker.com/nfl/articles/cruz_says_card_made_contact/7202335 http://www.yardbarker.com/media/2/5/2559a46829353133df42810684d87329b99ac999/mini/Dallas_Cowboys_v_85a4.jpg