Arizona Cardinals update:

A few notes before the final game:

– Defensive lineman Bryan Robinson has not made a decision about retirement. “I have to involve my wife in this one,” he said, smiling. A 14-year veteran, Robinson will get away from the game for some time and then make a decision. He will weigh his desire to play again, as well as see what interest there might be in him. However, “my agent is not going to call 31 other teams,” he said.

It’s the same way Robinson approached last season. He didn’t call the Cardinals for a job; they called him and signed him. He has served as a mentor for rookie Dan Williams.

When the Cardinals signed Robinson in 2008, they were counting upon him to be a backup. But he became much more. Because of the team’s problems at nose tackle, Robinson moved there, even though end was his natural position. He has started every game in which the Cardinals used a nose tackle during that time.

– Richard Bartel will be the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday even though Derek Anderson is healthy enough to play. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said the move is not a reflection on Anderson, who started nine games. But if something happens to John Skelton, coaches want to get a look at Bartel, who is under contract for 2011.

– Members of the local chapter of the Pro Football Writers Association gave two awards today. Safety Kerry Rhodes was named the Lloyd Herberg MVP and running back Tim Hightower was the Steve Schoenfeld Good Guy.

Hightowser has taken a lot of criticism at times for fumbling. But he is a professional in the best sense of the word. If Hightower has an 80-yard touchdown run, he will talk about it after. If Hightower loses two fumbles, he will talk about it after. He takes the time to give reporters smart, thoughtful answers to even the dumbest questions. (Speaking only of myself.)

Those of us who cover this team are lucky in that Hightower had a lot of competition. Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston, Jason Wright, Alan Faneca, Lyle Sendlein, Calais Campbell, Rhodes, Clark Haggans and many other players were considered. That’s a lot of go-to guys in one locker room.

The awards are named after two former Arizona Republic writers.

Lloyd covered the team from the time it moved here in 1988 until his death in 1994. I’ve never been around a better reporter. That first year, I bumped into Bob Wallace, who negotiated contracts for the team then. Bob was incredulous that Lloyd was leaving messages for him, asking him when an 8th round pick might sign.

And Shoney, well, he as a Valley icon for many years. He was a great friend, and no one in our business took more time to help young reporters.

 

Click here for a slideshow view of this story

Cardinals first and foremost

Play hard defensively. It’s simple, but the Cardinals seemed to sleep walk through the middle part of this schedule. They lacked intensity and the results were ugly. The unit has played better over the past three weeks, and has seemed to develop some passion for the game. The 49ers’ offense shouldn’t do much today if the Cardinals defense is ready to play. But history suggests that’s a significant “if.”

Cardinals key stat

21.4 That’s the percentage of time the Cardinals have converted on third down over the past eight games. What makes that statistic worse is the Cardinals have not had even one decent outing during that time. Their best effort was 27 percent against the Chiefs. Early in the year, the problem was poor execution on early downs left third-and-long situations. Lately, however, the Cardinals have been in manageable situations, but have been unable to convert.

Cardinals key player

Defensive end Calais Campbell
Over the past month, Campbell is finally playing at the high level expected of him this season. Three of his six sacks have come in December and more than half his tackles (25 of 49). His lack of production in the first months of the season, however, hurt this team greatly. If Campbell continues to play well, the Cardinals’ defensive line is better than average.

Cardinals injury report

OLB Joey Porter (triceps), OLB Clark Haggans (groin), TE Ben Patrick (hamstring), RB LaRod Stephens-Howling (hamstring)

Cardinals on offense

The 49ers’ defense gave the Cardinals trouble even when Kurt Warner was quarterback. Nothing the Cardinals are doing now scares them. The 49ers’ secondary looked confused at times last week against the Rams, but the Cardinals can go for quarters without a first down. They hardly looked receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s way last week, and he caught only one pass. That’s inexcusable for someone who should be the center of the offense. Quarterback John Skelton needs to give Fitzgerald chances to make some plays. The Cardinals have not been able to run much on the 49ers, but the 49ers are playing without inside linebacker Patrick Willis for the first time in four years. If the Cardinals are ever going to move the ball on the ground in San Francisco, today is the day.

Edge: 49ers

49ers first and foremost

The Cardinals are still vulnerable against the run, even though they have employed more of the 4-3 scheme in recent weeks. The 49ers are missing running back Frank Gore, but Brian Westbrook is a capable replacement. He hurt the Cardinals in their first game. The Cardinals can be gashed with big plays, so the 49ers need to hit a couple if they are going to win.

49ers key stat

8 That’s the number of seasons that have passed since the 49ers last had a winning record (10-6 in 2002). Every other team in the division has won at least one division title in that time. This year’s 5-10 record got Mike Singletary fired as coach last week, and the 49ers will go in yet another direction this off-season. The 49ers’ offensive failures are mostly to blame. They’ve changed philosophies, quarterbacks and coordinators like most of us change our socks. And the unit still smells.

49ers key player

LB NaVorro Bowman

For the first time in four years, someone other than Patrick Willis will start at inside linebacker. Bowman, a third-round pick from Penn State, is that guy. Willis has killed the Cardinals, and the rest of the NFL, for the past four years, so no one in Arizona is sorry to see the Pro Bowler sit out with a hand injury. Willis never left the field and was as good against the pass as the run. The Cardinals can only hope that means a more productive running game for them. They’ve averaged 49 rushing yards against the 49ers during the current three-game losing streak.

49ers injury report

CB Phillip Adams (ankle), LB Keaton Kristick (concussion), T Joe Staley (fibula), LB Patrick Willis (hand), out; TE Nate Byham (heel), RB Brian Westbrook (not injury related), C David Baas (ribs), RB Anthony Dixon (ankle), LB Takeo Spikes (hand), TE Vernon Davis (thumb).

49ers on offense

The 49ers have changed quarterbacks, fired offensive coordinators and now have made a change at head coach. The one constant throughout has been a terrible offense. Losing running back Frank Gore to injury was damaging but Brian Westbrook hurt the Cardinals five weeks ago. The Cardinals defense, however, has played better in its past three games. End Calais Campbell is finally producing, and Daryl Washington gives the team more speed at linebacker. Using a 4-3 alignment more has helped a little, too. The Cardinals will need some turnovers to win today, and the secondary could provide them. This group might not always cover as well as it should, but the starters don’t drop many potential interceptions.

Edge: Cardinals

Special teams

49ers punt returner Ted Ginn is dangerous and capable of turning a game around. Kicker Jeff Reed has made all eight field-goal attempts since replacing the injured Joe Nedney. Cardinals returner LaRod Stephens-Howling might miss another game with a sore hamstring, and that’s a blow. The Cardinals need all the help they can get, and Stephens-Howling can change field position and the scoreboard.

Edge: Cardinals

Bottom line

Both teams are 5-10 and have suffered embarrassing losing streaks this season. This game likely will come down to motivation. How hard will each team play with nothing on the line? Players love to talk about this being a rivalry, but it has to be hard to get mentally prepared to play a season finale that means nothing other than draft status. The Cardinals should have the edge. They have won two of three, although both victories were against bad teams.

Prediction

Cardinals 23, 49ers 17

Click here for a slideshow view of this story

There was a time this season when Cardinals players wouldn’t trust handing so much as even a sandwich to rookie wide receiver Andre Roberts.

He’d drop it.

Roberts musters a smile as he looks back on those days, starting in training camp when passes and punt returns slipped through his fingers far too frequently.

It became such a concern as the season unfolded, however, that coaches had to go back and look at his college tapes from The Citadel, where he scored 41 career touchdowns, to see if they had missed something.

They didn’t. They saw the same sure-handed playmaker they drafted in the third round.

“It just got in my head,” Roberts said of all the drops he had. “With every receiver, once you have one or two drops, you’re thinking about it way too much. You can’t do that. You have to learn to trust yourself and your hands.”

But Roberts was admittedly overwhelmed. The speed of the game at the NFL level was faster than he thought. The passes come quicker, just like the defensive backs.

“I just had to get used to it and once I did, it was just like college, where I hardly ever dropped the ball,” Roberts said. “It’s only been four months, really, but it’s been a long time and I feel like I’ve improved week by week and it’s finally starting to show.”

It certainly did last week against the Dallas Cowboys. In a Christmas night victory, Roberts caught five passes for a career-high 110 yards. The biggest was a 74-yard touchdown pass from John Skelton in which Roberts stretched the field and ran away from the defender.

It was Roberts’ second touchdown of the season, but Skelton’s first in the NFL, so he gave the quarterback the ball as a keepsake.

“It was in my locker on Monday morning,” Skelton said. “That was nice of Andre. I couldn’t be happier for him. He’s really come along.”

Roberts has become a viable weapon in recent weeks with Early Doucet going on injured reserve and Steve Breaston’s role having been reduced. He’s even added kickoff returns to his punt-return duty with LaRod Stephens-Howling nursing a hamstring injury.

In the Dallas game, Roberts accumulated 244 all-purpose yards and he will be looking for more Sunday when the Cardinals close out the season at the San Francisco 49ers.

“He had a rough start and that’s been well noted,” teammate Larry Fitzgerald said, “but you really have to tip your hat for the way he’s bounced back. It really makes you proud to see a guy so resilient and dealing with controversy and things not going his way.

“I told him after the (Cowboys) game how happy I was for him. . . . He’s getting better every single week. He can get a lot better and he is getting better.”

Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt went back to his roots when it came to waiting for Roberts to blossom.

“I learned from Coach (Bill) Cowher than you have to be patient with young guys, that everybody is different,” he said. “I knew he was frustrated. I think any time you’re a draft pick, especially one of the higher ones, there is always pressure and expectations and he didn’t feel like he was living up to those.

“Other players are looking at you. It’s a tough deal. But part of the reason he’s having success now is he was mentally tough enough to deal with it.”

Now that he’s finally coming into his own, Roberts is sad to see the season come to an end.

“The learning curve in the NFL is ridiculous,” he said. “But I’ve kept learning and working and with a strong camp next year, the sky’s the limit.”

Guard Alan Faneca will complete his 13th NFL season on Sunday, and will take some time to decide whether he wants to return for a 14th.

Faneca signed with the Cardinals last spring after being cut by the Jets. Selected to the Pro Bowl in each of the nine seasons before this one, Faneca has admitted he’s not the player he was a few years ago.

But the Cardinals have been happy with Faneca’s performance, and Faneca thinks he did a good job.

“It can always be better, but I think I’ve done well,” Faneca said.

So does coach Ken Whisenhunt.

“I think there were a lot of judgments about Alan early, based on individual drills that you saw in training camp,” Whisenhunt said. “If you look at his season as a whole, I think he did a good job for us this year. If you can get a lot of players like Alan Faneca on your team, you’re going to win some ball games.”

Faneca, 34, signed a one-year $2 million deal with the Cardinals. This off-season will be the first time he has seriously contemplated retirement, and he’s made sure to enjoy this season as much as he could.

“You know you are getting closer to the end than you are to the beginning,” Faneca said. “So you just appreciate the moment and treat it as if it is the last time. I’ve seen guys that haven’t known (it was ending).”

Braving the elements

Weather has made practices interesting this week. On Wednesday, the Cardinals worked out in the rain. On Thursday, they practiced through chilly temperatures and strong winds.

“I’m hopeful it won’t be quite that windy in Candlestick Park,” Whisenhunt said, referring to Sunday’s game against the 49ers. “The wind is usually harder to work in because it disrupts the ball so much, especially on some of the longer throws.

“When it’s wet, you can always attempt to get a dry ball in there and that compensates for it.”

Injury update

There were no changes in the Cardinals’ injury report on Thursday. Outside linebacker Joey Porter (triceps) remained out, and outside linebacker Clark Haggans (groin), tight end Ben Patrick (hamstring) and running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (hamstring) were limited.

While the NFC West winner will be decided Sunday night, the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers will play a few hours earlier to decide which team will finish in the basement of the NFL’s weakest division.

The 49ers have already got a head start on putting their disastrous season behind them.

Mike Singletary was fired hours after San Francisco was officially eliminated from playoff contention last week, leaving interim coach Jim Tomsula to lead the 49ers as two of the NFC’s biggest disappointments wrap up their seasons at Candlestick Park.

San Francisco (5-10) was the preseason favorite to win the West after Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner(notes) retired, but the division title will be determined when St. Louis visits Seattle on Sunday night.

A Seahawks win would give the NFL its first division winner with a losing record, an indictment of the struggles Arizona (5-10) and San Francisco have experienced. The 49ers wasted no time cleaning house, though, canning Singletary after last Sunday’s 25-17 loss at St. Louis.

Singletary finished his two-plus seasons in San Francisco with an 18-22 record, but he’ll be remembered more for what occurred off the field.

He dropped his pants in the locker room at halftime of a game two years ago, infamously dressed down tight end Vernon Davis(notes) in a press conference and spent much of his tenure waffling between quarterbacks – three times switching from Alex Smith to Troy Smith(notes) recently.

“Obviously we had expectations of being a playoff-caliber team this year. Whether we were a 7-9 division winner or not didn’t matter to me,” team president and CEO Jed York said. “… I’m not sure when our players are going to be back next season, so I wanted to make sure we didn’t have a coaching turnover, coaching change going into (a potential lockout).”

Tomsula, the team’s defensive line coach since 2007, will get a one-game shot, but the deck may already be stacked against him. Four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis(notes) will miss the first game of his NFL career due to a broken right hand.

Rookie Navorro Bowman(notes) will start in place of Willis, who had four solo tackles, an assist and a sack in a 27-6 victory at Arizona on Nov. 29.

“He’s a great player. I saw what he did last time he played us,” Cardinals rookie quarterback John Skelton(notes) said of Willis. “He’s a talented guy, so that’s a big advantage for us.”

Alex Smith, meanwhile, will be back under center for San Francisco a week after Singletary trotted out Troy Smith in the team’s must-win game at St. Louis.

Tomsula expects Alex Smith – and the rest of his team – to perform, even in an essentially meaningless game.

“We’re going to win. Let me make that clear,” Tomsula said Monday. “That was something we talked about this morning. Jed’s made that very clear. (Vice president of player personnel) Trent Baalke’s made it very clear – very, very crystal clear.”

The Cardinals, meanwhile, at least seem to be making a few small strides. They’re 2-1 with Skelton starting after a 27-26 win over Dallas on Christmas night that featured the rookie’s first TD pass – a 74-yard strike to fellow rookie Andre Roberts(notes).

“We’re finding out a lot about our young players, not so much by design as it is by necessity,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said, referring to injuries to more experienced players. “But it’s been a positive when you think back to the game and you see how many young guys made big plays in that game.”

Skelton still appears to have work to do if he’s going to be Arizona’s quarterback next season. He’s completed just 45.3 percent of his passes in three starts.

“We’re trying to finish this season strong, learn a lot about our football players, and then we’re going to have a lot of things that we have to consider in the offseason because we don’t want to have this type of season again,” Whisenhunt said.

One thing Whisenhunt has going for him is his team’s knack for making big plays. Arizona has 12 return touchdowns this season, one shy of the NFL record set by Seattle in 1998. Its seven fumble returns are already a record.

It could use a non-offensive touchdown against the 49ers. The Cardinals have committed seven turnovers and averaged 10.3 points and 249.0 yards in losing their last three meetings in the series.