The Arizona Cardinals and the rest of the league are in Indianapolis wrapping up the NFL Combine this week but meanwhile the looming March 3 deadline for the current CBA is the bigger issue facing the team. GM Rod Graves told the Arizona Republic that discussions with super star wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald continue, but an agreement seems unlikely before the lockout that would begin on Thursday, March 3.

“Obviously the window is getting shorter in terms of us being able to close something before the end of the (league) year,” Graves told the Republic.

The deadline for this round of negotiations isn’t a huge issue, since Fitzgerald is under contract for one more season. And while the Cardinals and their fans would love to see an extension in place as soon as possible, there will be more time once the NFL labor issues are settled.

Meanwhile, at the NFL Combine players are continuing their workouts for the scouts, front office personnel and media in preparation for a draft that may or may not take place on time depending on the CBA status. One big thing to look for this week on that front is the union filing for decertification.

The players must file to decertify the NFLPA before Thursday or be forced to wait an additional six month. Once the union is gone, the players are free to sue the NFL on anti-trust grounds. It’s a complicated process but one that would signal a major escalation in the battle between the two sides. Lets hope it doesn’t come to that.

As for the Cardinals draft and quarterback prospects, Republic beat writer Kent Somers speculates that the team might pass on a quarterback with their number five pick and instead target pass rusher, Von Miller. The team would then hope to fill the QB slot in free agency or through a trade and try and land Kevin Kolb, Kyle Orton, or Marc Bulger.

Revenge of the Birds has more on Miller and why he might be a good fit for the Cardinals and for more NFL Combine coverage, visit SB Nation’s Story Stream.

“We’ve got a live one here.”

That’s how Arizona Cardinals strength and conditioning coach John Lott, who famously runs the scouting combine bench press every year, started off the bench session of Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea.

Little did he know. By the time Paea was done, he had set a new scouting combine record, raising the 225-pound barbell 49 times and breaking the old record of 48, put up by Arkansas Guard Mitch Petrus(notes) just last year. Perhaps the most amazing thing about the video is that there are guys Paea’s size (6-foot-1, 300 pounds), who lift about 30 times and are considered reasonably strong – Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder only got 21 reps. But when he’s hit 30, Paea is just barely starting to look winded – he just blows through the reps to an extraordinary degree.

For those who know Paea’s history, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise – the Tongan fireplug had been known to bench 500 pounds and squat 600; repping out at 44 on the bench before. Paea plays with a low center of gravity and has a great ability to move people around.

Asked if he was tired after pushing all that weight,Paea certainly didn’t sound worn out. “I think I can go back and do another one. I came prepared for the worst, and I did my best today,” he said.

But how does that strength transfer to the football field? “Football players, sometimes when you’re tired like in the fourth quarter, and you’re punching your hands into the tackle in the trenches, it’s very important. My mindset I think is past 30 (reps), you’re ready for the fourth quarter.

If that’s the case, Stephen Paea took it to triple overtime, and blew everyone away in the process.

More about Stephen Paea – the Shutdown 40 Scouting Report

Related: Arizona Cardinals

“We’ve got a live one here.”

That’s how Arizona Cardinals strength and conditioning coach John Lott, who famously runs the scouting combine bench press every year, started off the bench session of Oregon State defensive tackle Stephen Paea.

Little did he know. By the time Paea was done, he had set a new scouting combine record, raising the 225-pound barbell 49 times and breaking the old record of 48, put up by Arkansas Guard Mitch Petrus(notes) just last year. Perhaps the most amazing thing about the video is that there are guys Paea’s size (6-foot-1, 300 pounds), who lift about 30 times and are considered reasonably strong – Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder only got 21 reps. But when he’s hit 30, Paea is just barely starting to look winded – he just blows through the reps to an extraordinary degree.

For those who know Paea’s history, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise – the Tongan fireplug had been known to bench 500 pounds and squat 600; repping out at 44 on the bench before. Paea plays with a low center of gravity and has a great ability to move people around.

Asked if he was tired after pushing all that weight,Paea certainly didn’t sound worn out. “I think I can go back and do another one. I came prepared for the worst, and I did my best today,” he said.

But how does that strength transfer to the football field? “Football players, sometimes when you’re tired like in the fourth quarter, and you’re punching your hands into the tackle in the trenches, it’s very important. My mindset I think is past 30 (reps), you’re ready for the fourth quarter.

If that’s the case, Stephen Paea took it to triple overtime, and blew everyone away in the process.

More about Stephen Paea – the Shutdown 40 Scouting Report

Related: Arizona Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals update:

A few final thoughts as I prepare to leave Indianapolis for home:

– The Scouting Combine might be the last normal thing to happen in the NFL for some time. Labor negoiations with dominate the news, with March 3 looming. That’s when the league year ends. Without a new CBA, players can’t be traded or signed. In the event of a lockout, teams have been warned to avoid all contact with their players.

– Cornerback Prince Amukamara, from Apollo High and Nebraska, plans to participate in all the combine drills here. There is some curiousity about his 40-yard dash time. If he nails it, he easily could be a top 10 pick. Defensive backs work out on Tuesday.

– Two months out, my best guess is the Cardinals take Texas A&M Von Miller with the fifth overall pick. He has pass rush ability and could help this team immediately. Seems earnest, committed and mature. A solid kid, much like Daryl Washington, last year’s second-round pick.

– I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cardinals don’t take a quarterback at all in this draft. I’m not saying that will happen, but I could see it, especially if there is free agency before the draft. If they can bring in a veteran, the Cardinals would be content with John Skelton and Rich Bartel as backups, with Max Hall battling for a spot.

– Have to run to catch my flight. I’ll check in later.

 

Arizona Cardinals update:

Brooks Reed had his long blonde hair tucked away Saturday, but reporters at the Scouting Combine still wanted to know if he compared himself at all to Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.

Reed, wisely, said the comparisons end with their similar hairstyles.

“I know a lot of guys compare me with him because of the hair,” said Reed, a defensive end/outside linebacker from Tucson Sabino and the University of Arizona. “He played in a system (at USC) where he was a stand-up linebacker, whereas I’m trying to make that transition. I think it’s going to take me a little bit more time to understand that position, but I think I have the athletic ability to do that.”

Reed was measured at 6-feet-2 1/2 inches and weighed in at 263 pounds at the combine. That’s a little small for a defensive end, and many teams will look at moving him to outside linebacker. Many analysts have him rated as a mid to late round pick.

Reed played some H-back as a freshman at UofA.