Are Arians, Palmer and Cardinals really for real?

After working his magic with Andrew Luck and the Indianapolis Colts a year ago, Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians is up to his old tricks, this time resurrecting the career of former Pro Bowl caliber veteran Carson Palmer – and simultaneously, the near-future hopes of a Cardinals’ franchise desperate to get back into legitimate Super Bowl title contention ever since the beloved Kurt Warner hung up his cleats.

Arians has helped Palmer get back to near-elite status as he ranks ninth in passing heading into the Cardinals’ huge Week 17 regular season finale against San Francisco. While Palmer has thrown 21 interceptions to go along with his 22 TD passes, he has managed to give the Cardinals a chance to win far more often than not, which is exactly what they’ve done. 

Todd Bowles them over!

Arizona Cardinals' defensive coordinator 

Todd Bowles.

Maybe it’s me, but I’m suddenly thinking the Arizona Cardinals are a lot more ‘legit’ than I ever thought this season.

While Arizona ranks just 23rd in total offense, they are also ranked a more impressive 16th in scoring. More importantly, the Cardinals are very, very good defensively for outstanding coordinator Todd Bowles.

Led by its league-leading run defense, Arizona is ranked sixth in total defense, mostly by limiting its opponents to a paltry 84.5 yards per game on the ground and just 20.1 points per contest (seventh). Bowles’ underrated defense completely shut down the Seattle Seahawks and gifted quarterback Russell Wilson in Week 16 and now have the look of a very legitimate contender in the NFC.

What do you think Eye On Sports readers? Are the Arizona Cardinals legitimate? How many postseason games will they win if any? Let me know what you think readers. 

Warner’s right … good for Goodell!

Former NFL quarterback Kurt Warner 

was one of four quarterbacks the Saints 

offered a bounty for. The now retired legend 

agreed with commisioner Roger Goodell's 

punishment of the Saints.

As one of four quarterbacks targeted in the New Orleans Saints bounty program, Future Hall of Fame NFL quarterback Kurt Warner shared his thoughts on how NFL commissioner Roger Goodell handled the situation – and I agree with the Christ-loving Warner one million percent.

“I’m shocked like a lot of people, but not fully surprised,” Warner said. “One thing we realize about the commish is this has been primary from day one … he was going to protect our players. I am shocked at Coach Payton being suspended for a year and the various other things, but this is what Commissioner Goodell has done from day one. I love that he is trying to make statements to protect our game for the long-term.”

Lin’s lovin’ the Lord too!

New York Knicks guard Jeremy Lin.

From the late, great Reggie White and retired NFL superstar Kurt Warner to Denver Broncos polarizing quarterback Tim Tebow and now, New York Knicks impressive point guard Jeremy Lin, I’ve got to say, it’s a wonderful thing to see athletes profess their love of the Lord in front of millions of viewers.

While some sports fans don’t like to mix religion with their sports, I believe that only a fool can – and would – try to separate the two!

Why?

Because, first and foremost, the two have been, almost forever linked. Secondly, God is in everything we do – whether some folks agree with that fact or not.

Late, great NFL Hall
of Fame legend Reggie White.

Why else do you think prayer has always been a part of sports teams pre-game rituals, mostly, football, since the inception of the sport?

Having said that, I just want to say that it’s an awesome thing to know that Lin has joined Tebow and that young people all over the globe will want to become better people whether they practice Christianity or another religion of their choice.

To know that Tebow received a lot of backlash – and in some cases – outright hatred – because of his penchant for professing his love for the Lord, is a saddening fact of life today.

Former NFL
superstar Kurt Warner.

However, outnumbering Tebow’s detractors were a contingent of supporters like me, that praised him for living an exemplary lifestyle and being an upstanding role model for young people everywhere.

While Lin has now opened himself up to criticism from sports fans that like to keep religion and their beloved pastime separate, he’s also won over a huge following of like-minded Christians that are sick and tired of seeing today’s plethora of penitentiary-bound performers, no matter the sport.

After Lin lit up Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers with a career-high 38 points on Friday night' he told reporters after the game, "I just give all the praise to God."

At the start of the New Year, Lin’s facebook said that his resolution is to "love God more deeply and intimately by Dec 31 than I did on Jan 1."

On Twitter, Lin also said, "to know Him is to want to know Him more."

Last year, as a member of the Golden State Warriors Lin testified at River of Life Christian Church  that he considers everything in his life – including his coaches, his "tall" genes (6'3) and opportunities given to play – blessings from God.

"I look back and I realize these are His fingerprints all over my story," he said. "I realize I had to learn ... to stop chasing the perishable prizes of this earth ... and give my best effort unto God and trust Him with the results."

Say what you like about the sensational Jeremy Lin, but clearly this young man is being used to tell a story that only God could tell – and I’m enjoying the show as long as it’s running!

Liar, Liar, Pants On Fire Irsay!

Owner Jim Irsay (C) has already jettisoned former Chairman

Bill Polian (L). Franchise quarterback Peyton Manning (R) is next

despite Irsay's claims of ignorance.

You know Eye On Sports followers, its one thing to be naïve or to lack good ‘ol common sense, but it’s another thing altogether to be a self-serving, scum-of-the-earth, liar like Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay!

I’m sorry if that sounded a bit harsh, but hey, everyone’s entitled to their opinions. Anyway, if you know a thing about pro football then you know Irsay is lying through his teeth when he says that he hasn’t decided whether or not to release veteran quarterback Peyton Manning.

Irsay, has about five weeks to decide whether or not to pay Manning a whopping $28 million bonus, but Indy is sitting on the No. 1 overall draft pick and 

the right to draft NFL-ready quarterback Andrew Luck 

and everyone knows that Irsay is just biding his time.

I expect Irsay to announce in the week or so leading up to the deadline that he will not retain Manning’s services, mostly because he fears for the four-time league MVP’s health.

After the recent public rift between the pair, it’s now a foregone conclusion that Irsay will part ways with the man that out his once sad-sack franchise back on the map.

Why Irsay doesn’t just move on from Manning now is beyond me, but still, dude’s lying like a rug when he says he hasn’t made up his mind on Manning!

Cardinals Finish Strong ... 'Whiz' Gets One More Chance!

I’ve gone on record several times over the years to share my thoughts on how mediocre of a head coach I believe Arizona Cardinals leader Ken Whisenhunt has been since taking the Cards’ job prior to the 2007 season, but I’ve got to give credit where credit is due.

While the Cardinals’ 8-8 record might look like a mediocre mark in which they did absolutely nothing special, the total opposite is true when you look at how Arizona closed out its 2011 regular season campaign.

The Cardinals closed out the regular season by winning seven of their final nine games while recording impressive wins over Philadelphia, Dallas and San Francisco along the way.

As I always say, I like to ‘keep it real’ and I’ve got to give credit where credit is due. Ken Whisenhunt deserves another season at the very least after getting his team to almost literally fight to the finish in 2011.

Garrett’s No Genius!

If you’re a Dallas Cowboys fan, then you’re probably still sick to your collective stomachs after seeing head coach Jason Garrett pull off one of the most idioticcoaching jobs I’ve ever seen in four decades of watching NFL football.

Late in the fourth quarter of Dallas’ 19-13 overtime loss to Arizona, Garrett foolishly failed to call a timeout after enigmatic wideout Dez Bryant mad a grab over the middle to give the ‘Boys a first down on the Cardinals’ 32-yard line.

Bryant made the grab with 31 seconds remaining – before Garrett and idiotic quarterback Tony Romo let the clock run all the way down to seven seconds – before spiking the ball.

Then, what ensued afterward will have Cowboys haters like myself doubled over in laughter for years to come.

Dallas kicker Dan Bailey lined up to attempt a game-winning 49-yard field goal and kicked the ball cleanly through the uprights as time expired. But wait …. Just a split-second before Bailey kicked the ball someone called timeout in an apparent effort to ‘ice’ Bailey into a missed kick.

Shockingly, the time out was called by Bailey’s own coach.

Too bad Garrett doesn’t know which team’s kicker to ‘ice’ because sure enough, Bailey went out and missed the ensuing ‘real’ attempt.

Shortly thereafter, the Cowboys gave up a thrilling 52-yard catch-and-run TD reception to fleet-footed little man LaRod Stephens-Howling not long into overtime, giving the ‘Boys what has to be one of their strangest – and most disappointing losses in franchise history.

"I think the biggest thing that you try to do is evaluate the situation, how you handled it and why you made that decision," Garrett said. "If you get in that situation again, do you handle it that way or handle it differently?"

Huh?

What the hell is Jason Garrett talking about NFL fans?

Niners Rule NFC Worst

NFC West The San Francisco 49ers got a rude awakening in their 16-6 Thanksgiving Day loss to Baltimore, but anyone that doesn’t think this team is for real had better think again.  Frisco is going to be a very tough out come playoff time for any team not named Green Bay.

I really like the enthusiastic Pete Carroll and I was impressed with the job he did in getting the team to 7-9 last season, not to mention the huge upset win they recorded over the Saints. Unfortunately, Carroll miscalculated very badly when he let Matt Hasselbeck go in favor of the incompetent Tavaris Jackson and equally-inept backup Charlie Whitehurst. Now, the Seahawks sit at an uninspiring 4-7 with five games left – and they still need a new quarterback in the worst way.

Maybe it’s just me, but suddenly, I’ve got the feeling that Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb, the Card’s big offseason free agent acquisition, is toast in the desert! The fact of the matter is that Arizona looked mostly clueless in going 1-6 through seven games under Kolb while actually looking competent in going 3-1 with unheralded second-year signal-caller John Skelton.

I don’t know how else to say it except to be brutally honest. If I’m the owner of the St. Louis Rams, I’m getting rid of head coach Steve Spagnuolo as soon as the clock strikes all zeroes in Seattle’s last game. The Rams – and ballyhooed quarterback Sam Bradford – have both taken some major steps backwards this season – and it’s clear that Spagnuolo knows nothing about coaching offense – or letting someone else do the job for him.