No
controversy
for Cardinals
So
much for
the quarterback
controversy
with the
Arizona
Cardinals.
Matt
Leinart’s
collarbone
injury
effectively
ended
the QB
shuffle
that had
been a
big part
of the
team’s
last three
games.
And while
the controversy
never
got ugly,
it was
at least
entertaining,
if only
because
the Cardinals’
offense
has looked
so much
better
with the
aging
Kurt Warner
under
center.
But
isn’t
it telling
that Leinart
could
be gone
for the
season
and nobody
is thinking
that it’s
the kind
of injury
that will
kill a
team’s
chances
for the
rest of
the year.
That must
mean there
is some
confidence
in Warner.
After
Warner,
who knows?
The Cardinals
have talked
to 43‑year
old Vinny
Testaverde
about
coming
in as
backup.
What,
was Terry
Bradshaw
too busy
with his
Fox pregame
show to
come in
for a
tryout?
What about
Bart Starr?
I don’t
think
he’s doing
much these
days.
While
the Cardinals
search,
here are
this week’s
local
football
picks:
PINNACLE
28, SKYLINE
27. When
the Pima
Region
was first
announced,
it just
seemed
like a
mismatch
of teams
that didn’t
have homes
elsewhere
in 5A‑Division
II. But
it has
turned
out to
be the
best region
in the
state
with Pinnacle,
Skyline
and Marcos
de Niza
among
the top
teams
in the
playoff
power
points.
After
seeing
how good
Marcos
de Niza
was last
week,
the Pioneers
will learn
all about
Skyline
this week.
It should
be a good
one.
GOLDWATER
45, KINGMAN
6. The
Bulldogs
needed
last week’s
blowout
of Valley
Vista
in the
worst
way. Kingman
will make
it two
routs
in a row
for Goldwater,
which
should
be able
to get
back over
the .500
mark and
back into
the thick
of playoff
power
points.
CACTUS
SHADOWS
24, PRESCOTT
21. The
Falcons
need a
win in
the worst
way and
should
get it
this week
in Prescott.
Cactus
Shadows
hasn’t
lost three
games
in a row
in a few
years
and they’ll
be eager
not to
make it
four.
ARIZONA
STATE
36, WASHINGTON
24. The
Sun Devils
are having
their
best season
since
Jake the
Snake
roamed
the sidelines
more than
a decade
ago. With
USC suffering
an upset
loss to
Stanford
a week
after
ASU ripped
up Stanford,
maybe
the Sun
Devils
have a
chance
to, gulp,
dare I
say it,
win the
Pac‑10.
Of course,
Washington
is resurgent
this season
and hopes
to have
something
to say
about
the Devils’
dreams.
USC
49, ARIZONA
35. So,
the Trojans
are vulnerable
after
all. USC
was caught
“looking
ahead”
to the
potent
Wildcats
and paid
for it
with an
upset
home loss
against
Stanford.
If you
didn’t
catch
the sarcasm
in the
“looking
ahead”
to U of
A comment,
you haven’t
been
paying
attention
to the
Wildcats.
Then again
the program
continues
to languish
in mediocrity
with nobody
really
paying
attention.
NORTHERN
ARIZONA
44, IDAHO
STATE
28. The
Lumberjacks
kept themselves
in the
Big Sky
Conference
race last
week with
a thrilling
victory
at Portland
State
that saw
the lead
swing
back and
forth
more than
the doors
at a Tombstone
saloon.
NAU should
be careful
not to
blow what
they recaptured
this week,
but if
they come
focused,
they’re
at least
a better
team by
two‑touchdowns.
CARDINALS
27, PANTHERS
17. How
about
them first
place
Arizona
Cardinals?
That’s
right,
I said
first
place.
Usually
the only
time the
Cards
are tied
for first
place
is at
kickoff
of opening
day, but
these
aren’t
the Buddy
Ryan or
Dennis
Green
Cardinals.
This week
they host
depleted
Carolina,
who just
lost quarterback
Jake Delhomme
for the
season.
Is 4‑2
in the
Cards?
It says
here,
it is.
