TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Whatever the Arizona Cardinals were doing in their pursuit of Kevin Kolb, they were keeping it to themselves.

While other quarterbacks in the NFL found new homes, Kolb remained the property of the Philadelphia Eagles on Wednesday, although there were persistent indications that progress was being made toward finalizing a deal that would send Michael Vick’s backup to the Cardinals for cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a draft pick, probably a second rounder.

Agents for Kolb and Rodgers-Cromartie did not return calls, and the Cardinals’ brain trust remained ensconced in its upstairs offices trying to put together a team, with quarterback at the top of a list of many issues to be addressed.

Any delay in announcing the trade could stem from talks on a long-term contract that Kolb wants with a new team. He has a one-year deal with Philadelphia.

There were a few Cardinal-related developments. Arizona reached an agreement to re-sign punter Ben Graham, and the agent for Steve Breaston said the wide receiver would not re-sign with the Cardinals.

Cardinals players are to report to the team facility in Tempe on Thursday. They are to undergo physicals on Friday, then travel to Flagstaff for a mandatory meeting that evening. The first practice at their Northern Arizona University facility is scheduled for Saturday.

Poor play at quarterback was a major component in the team’s dropoff from two-time NFC West champion to a 5-11 season last year. The team is to release quarterback Derek Anderson on Thursday and coach Ken Whisenhunt has emphasized that the Cardinals are aggressively seeking a veteran at that position.

Kolb has openly talked about his desire to play for Arizona, saying it would be a good fit. The quarterback, who turns 27 next month, has appeared in 19 games, with seven starts in the last two seasons. He has completed 61 percent of his passes for 2,082 yards and 11 touchdowns with 14 interceptions.

He began last season as the heir-apparent to Donovan McNabb in Philadelphia, but he went down with a concussion in the opener, losing his job to Vick in the process. Kolb did have a couple of strong performances after that when Vick was hurt. Against Atlanta in Week 6, he completed 23 of 29 passes for 326 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.

If Kolb signs a new contract as part of a trade with the Cardinals, he wouldn’t be allowed to practice with the team until Aug. 4, the same day any incoming veteran free agents would first be allowed to work out.

Breaston’s departure leaves a void at No. 2 receiver behind Larry Fitzgerald.

Breaston caught 187 passes for 2,528 yards and seven touchdowns in four seasons with the Cardinals. In Arizona’s Super Bowl season of 2008, he had career highs of 77 catches for 1,006 yards. Bothered by a knee injury much of last season, Breaston caught 47 passes for 718 yards.

Free agent signings can’t be officially announced until Saturday.

The Cardinals also face a serious need on the interior of the offensive line. One starting guard, Alan Faneca, has retired. The other, Deuce Lutui, is an unrestricted free agent. Lutui’s agent, Ken Harris, would only say that talks are ongoing. He would not say if those discussions included Arizona. Starting center Lyle Sendlein also is a free agent.

Arizona reached contract agreements with 21 undrafted rookie free agents.

Among them was Stephen Skelton, a tight end from Fordham, the same school his brother, John, attended. Also agreeing to terms with the Cardinals was Miami safety Jared Campbell, Calais’ brother.

The Cardinals announced their Flagstaff practice schedule. The team’s camp in northern Arizona, at an elevation of 7,000 feet, will run through Aug. 25.

By Jess Root

– NFL/MLB Writer

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Jul 25, 2011 – The NFL lockout is all but over and the new league year is set to begin. The Arizona Cardinals and the entire league are now gearing up for a very busy free agency period. Teams will need to fill their rosters by re-signing their own players, picking up undrafted rookies and acquiring new free agents.

As things currently stand, the team has about $37.3 million to spend under the cap, and that number could grow by as much as $11 million if Derek Anderson, Joey Porter and Gerald Hayes are released. They are one of a few teams with great flexibility.

Here is a basic outline of the needs that the Cardinals have and possible targets to fill those needs:

Quarterback: This this the team’s most notable need. The rumors have been going on for months.

Possible targets: Kevin Kolb or Kyle Orton via trade, free agents Matt Hasselbeck or Marc Bulger or potential players to be cut by their teams — Donovan McNabb or Vince Young.

Offensive Line: Since the team will be sporting a new starting quarterback and the only 2010 starter under contract is left tackle Levi Brown. Brandon Keith is a restricted free agent and will likely be back, but the interior line will be a priority.

Possible targets: Re-signing Lyle Sendlein and Deuce Lutui will be number one priority, but Lutui could be looking for a big payday. Other possibilities are Davin Joseph, Marshal Yanda or Justin Blalock. Evan Mathis is rumpred to have interest in the Cardinals.

Pass-rushing linebacker: As currently constituted, the Cardinals have enough at outside linebacker. Joey Porter, Clark Haggans, Will Davis, O’Brien Schofield and fourth-round pick Sam Acho are all on the team. However, Porter and Haggans might be salary cap casualties. 

Possible targets: Matt Roth and Manny Lawson.

Cornerback: This is only a need if the rumors are true and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie is traded.

Possible targets: Ike Taylor, Jonathan Joseph, Carlos Rogers

Inside linebacker: If Gerald Hayes is cut as expected, the Cardinals might look for a run-stuffing thumper in the middle to play alongside Daryl Washington. However, this position is one of the lowest priorities, at least in finding starting players.

Possible targets: Takeo Spikes, Paul Posluszny, Stephen Tulloch

Additional possible moves: With Steve Breaston a free agent, the team may try to resign him if the price is right. If not, they may be in play for another receiver. Likewise, the team will look for depth at defensive line because only starters are under contract.

Read More: nfl lockout 2011, 2011 nfl lockout, nfl lockout news, nfl lockout explained, nfl strike, nflpa, nfl players, nfl cba, nfl salary cap, nfl player contracts, nfl union, demaurice smith, roger goodell, nfl collective bargaining agreement, nfl players union, nfl owners, Arizona Cardinals

“I have searched everywhere but haven’t been able to find the data that supports (or contradicts) my argument that the Cardinals were one of the most-blitzed teams last year because no one feared our quarterbacks,” Jesse wrote to me via Facebook. “Could you help find the numbers? I’m sure other NFC West teams’ fans would love to know their numbers, too.”

Blitz numbers usually tell us which defenses were more aggressive. But if we flipped our perspective, as Jesse suggested, we could find out which quarterbacks commanded the most respect, at least by this measure. Where to turn? Keith Hawkins of ESPN Stats & Information put me in touch with colleague Jason Starrett, who came through with numbers for all 32 teams and for 40 individual quarterbacks.

Thanks to Jason, Jesse is going to win his argument by a knockout.

Opponents blitzed the Cardnials 37.2 percent of the time overall, the sixth-highest percentage in the league. Oakland (39.8), St. Louis (39.4), Chicago (38.4), Carolina (37.5) and Baltimore (37.5) faced blitzes more frequently.

We defined blitzes as plays when defenses rushed five or more defenders.

As the first chart shows, Max Hall, John Skelton, Jimmy Clausen, Colt McCoy and Sam Bradford — all rookies playing for losing teams season — faced blitzes most frequently.

As the second chart shows, five highly experienced quarterbacks — Peyton Manning, Jake Delhomme, Drew Brees, Matt Hasselbeck and Tom Brady — faced blitzes least frequently.

Hall and Skelton combined to start seven games for Arizona. Teammate Derek Anderson ranked 17th among the 40 players listed in terms of being blitzed most frequently.

In looking at the charts, a few names showed up in surprising places.

The San Francisco 49ers’ Smith ranked higher than expected on the list of quarterbacks facing blitzes less frequently. Was he really “commanding respect” the way Brady commanded respect? Of course not. Does he really qualify as a wily veteran such as Delhomme or Hasselbeck? The answer is “no” on that front as well.

Likewise, quarterbacks such as Hill and Henne wouldn’t provide a strong deterrent to blitzing, would they? Why would Green Bay’s Rodgers face blitzes more frequently than them?

Other variables come into play. Some teams blitz more frequently than others regardless of opponent. A quarterback facing these teams more frequently would see his numbers shift accordingly.

How well an offensive line picks up blitzes could influence how a defense attacks. How well receivers adjust to blitzes could matter, as could the confidence a defensive coordinator has in his secondary during a given week. A quarterback’s running ability and ability to read defenses accurately could factor.

Overall, I’d say it’s telling to see the Cardinals’ Hall and Skelton blitzed so frequently, particularly relative to the numbers for the more experienced Anderson. It’s also telling to see some highly experienced quarterbacks blitzed so infrequently by comparison.

Pretty much everyone other than Derek Anderson(notes), John Skelton(notes) and Max Hall(notes) believes that the Arizona Cardinals need to go out and get a quarterback, and pretty much everyone assumes they’re going to.

And it seems like most people also assume it will be Kevin Kolb(notes), the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback who was displaced when Michael Vick(notes) decided to be All-World again. Kolb, at the age of 26 and a second-round draft pick in 2007, has shown a modicum of ability, but where anyone got the idea that Kolb was head-and-shoulders above all other available quarterbacks, I’m really not sure.

He’s had a few solid games, but has he shown enough that you’d want to bet your team’s future on him?  I wouldn’t.

Former Cardinal Bertrand Berry(notes) is thinking along those same lines and suggests the Cardinals target another guy: Vince Young. From ArizonaSports.com:

“The next team that lands [Vince Young(notes)] is going to get a very motivated guy that has a lot to prove. If he gets somebody who believes and trusts him, he can be a great quarterback,” said Berry on the Sports 620 KTAR’s Gambo and Ash show.

[Speaking of Kolb] “I don’t like the idea of taking somebody else’s castaway. He’s a castaway for a reason. I’m not real big on bringing in somebody who was looked over in somebody else’s organization,” said Berry.

The second part of Bert’s opinion is a little suspect — Vince Young’s as much of a castaway as Kolb. And at least Kolb was cast away in favor of Michael Vick, while the Titans made the decision to cast Young away in favor of a daisy-fresh rookie and a guy who was about to retire.

But Young still has to be worth at least a look, right? He’s not without his problems, but over the past two years, Young has gone 12-7 as Titans quarterback (in games in which he’s thrown five or more passes). Now, before Doug savagely punches me in the jejunum for mentioning quarterback wins, this one comes with context. Over that same period of time, with the same supporting cast, same coaching staff and same defense, other Titans QBs (mainly Kerry Collins(notes), with a dash of Rusty Smith(notes)) have gone 2-11.

It comes with a side of statistics, too. Over the last two seasons, Young’s quarterback rating is 88.8, while other Titans quarterbacks check in at 76.2. That’s a significant difference.

I’m not trying to sell anyone on the idea that Vince Young is a franchise savior, but his body of work at least means that he should get a look from someone, doesn’t it? At least as much of a look as Kolb?

I get that there are questions about Young’s mental/emotional state, as well as his attitude and work ethic, and those are valid. But he’s won games in circumstances when others couldn’t, and if Kolb’s resume has teams ready to give up high draft picks to get him, Young is worth some consideration, too.

Related: Kevin Kolb, Vince Young, Michael Vick, Kerry Collins, Arizona Cardinals, Philadelphia Eagles

Arizona Cardinals update:

Offensive lines usually draw an unfair amount of blame when pass protection fails. Game circumstances, protection calls, the blocking ability of running backs and tight ends and quarterback play also play a part.

All of those were factors in the Cardinals breakdowns last season. Profootballfocus.com has an intriguing look at how well teams protected the passer in 2010, and the diligent folks there will have more on the subject as the week progresses.

According to their findings, the Cardinals ranked 22nd in pressure per pass play percentage (39.25).  Without some context, this statistic can be misleading. Seattle, for instance, finished first with a 28.29 percentage. Chicago, Tampa Bay and Pittsburgh were last, and all three teams had excellent records.

The Seahawks had serious problems on the offensive line last season, but they compensated by doing pretty much whatever they could to protect the quarterback. ESPN’s NFC West guru Mike Sando provides a nice example of how adjustments in scheme can skew this statistic.

Profootballfocus.com also ranks teams according to how well skill players — receivers, running backs and tight ends — block in pass protection. The Cardinals ranked No. 23.

I thought the Cardinals were poor in this department in 2010, especially in contrast to the two prior seasons. Running back Tim Hightower entered the season with a well-earned reputation as being excellent at picking up the blitz. He was not nearly as good in that area in 2010. It’s not Beanie Wells’ strength, either.

The team’s tight ends also struggled in pass blocking, but sometimes that’s because they were matched up one-on-one with defensive ends. That’s a tough job for a tight end.

Quarterbacks often are the biggest determining factor in handling pressure. The Colts offensive line was terrible last season, yet Peyton Manning ranked second in what Profootballfocus calls “QB-invited pressures.” Manning had just two of them.

In other words, Manning is so good at knowing where defenders are coming from, and getting rid of the ball quickly, that he avoids a lot of pressure.

The Cardinals weren’t good in that area, either, although they ranked better, 10th, that I would have guessed.

It’s also important to factor in game situations when evaluating pass protection. It’s much easier, for instance, to pass block when you also have the threat of running the ball. If the threat of the run is gone — as it often was in the second half last season — protection breakdowns are inevitable. It’s hard to come back from double-digit deficits by running the ball, or by using maximum protections on pass plays.

That’s not to excuse the play of the offensive line last season. I’m not as down on the group as some fans, but there is no question the unit has to improve, especially at the tackle spots.

Right tackle Brandon Keith showed his inexperience early in the season and was taken advantage of. He was improving just as his season ended with a knee injury in mid-November.

Left tackle Levi Brown didn’t have an impressive season, his first at the position. Coaches have defended Brown, saying game circumstances often put him in difficult circumstances. And there’s no question better quarterback play will make Brown a better left tackle.

But there also is no question that Brown was not an upgrade over his predecessor, Mike Gandy, as a pass blocker.

Any evaluation of the Cardinals offense in 2010 comes back to the quarterback. If the Cardinals get competent play there, they contend for the NFC West title.

Darren Urban of azcardinals.com wrote a revealing piece last week on designing offensive plays. No one quoted in the story outright blames the team’s quarterbacks for the struggles, but their point is pretty clear.

Near the end, coaches talk about a play they had designed to work against the Chargers. Receiver Stephen Williams was open down the sideline but Derek Anderson overthrew him. If you want to summarize with one play, that one could be it.

Here’s Whisenhunt’s quote about the play:

“Unfortunately, last season we had a lot of those plays and we just didn’t connect on them, and that’s tough,” Whisenhunt said. “But I don’t think that keeps you from continuing to try and find those plays.”

Monday, June 6, 2011 at 11:54 AM

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Read More: Kevin Kolb (QB – PHI), Philadelphia Eagles, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks

Kevin Kolb, Wally Pipped ex-quarterback-of-the-future of the Philadelphia Eagles, hopes to be traded, although he said he was ready to “roll with the punches” in an interview aired recently by ESPN. Kolb has been the subject of trade rumors throughout the NFC West, with the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks both potentially interested in a young quarterback who’s ready to start. Even the San Francisco 49ers appeared to be interested early, before settling on Alex Smith for another year in 2011. 

Kolb is a perfect fit for teams like the Cardinals and Seahawks, veteran clubs prepared to compete in a weak division in every position except quarterback. The Cardinals ended up with rookie John Skelton under center after a disastrous bet on Derek Anderson over Matt Leinart; the Seahawks have to decide whether they’re willing to commit another year to aging quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. 

Kolb is 194-for-319 with 2082 yards, 11 touchdowns, and 14 interceptions in parts of four seasons after being drafted in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He seemed ready to assume the Eagles’ starting role over the long term before an injury allowed for Michael Vick’s improbable comeback in Week 1. 

As Clayton notes, the Cardinals wouldn’t need Kolb to become a top-flight quarterback to make the trade work. They would simply need him to be much better than the quarterback play they received from Derek Anderson, Max Hall and John Skelton last season. Even decent play from the position last season would have put the Cardinals over the top within the division, in my view.

Arizona played the easiest schedule in the league over the second half of the season. Close losses to Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Carolina could have turned out differently with even average quarterback play. I’ve cautioned against playing the what-if game without also converting some close victories into defeats, but in this case, Arizona would have been better positioned to win those games as well.

The question isn’t so much whether the Cardinals should make a move for Kolb. They need to acquire a quarterback, whether it’s Kolb or someone else. The question is what to pay for a mostly unproven passer.

Last year, the Cardinals ducked out of the Charlie Whitehurst trade talks. Is Kolb another Whitehurst? Unlike Whitehurst, who had never been a No. 2 quarterback, Kolb has started games. He has served as the backup and he was good enough, at one point, for the Eagles to name him their starter heading into a season.

Clayton also touches on Seattle as an option for Kolb, though he thinks Arizona has more to gain because the Seahawks could get similar play by re-signing Matt Hasselbeck. How much should an NFC West team give up for Kolb? Hit the ballot box.

Earlier: Where Kolb fits in the NFC West, the case against Kolb, the case for Kolb, Kolb and the Cardinals.

After the Arizona Cardinals failed to select a quarterback in the draft, it appears they’re planning to go after a veteran once free agency and trades can begin after the lockout. One signal caller they may be targeting is Denver’s Kyle Orton, who has one year left on his contract with the Broncos.

According to KTVK-TV in Phoenix, the Cardinals have reached out to the Broncos about the availability of Orton, a six-year veteran who has been Denver’s primary starter each of the last two seasons. Last year, Orton completed 58.8 percent of his passes for 3,653 yards, with 20 touchdowns and nine interceptions in 13 starts before giving way to rookie Tim Tebow in the final three games.

The Cardinals and Broncos haven’t engaged in serious discussions yet, according to a source, because Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb is No. 1 on Arizona’s wish list. The Broncos believe Orton is “Plan B” for the Cardinals if they can’t trade for Kolb.

Quarterback Kurt Warner retired last year after leading the Cardinals to back-to-back playoff appearances, including a trip to Super Bowl XLIII, and the team struggled at quarterback. It used a rotation of Derek Anderson, John Skelton and Max Hall en route to a 5-11 record.

Skelton, who made four starts last season, recently told The Arizona Republic that he’s not worried about the quarterback competition once training camp begins.

“The coaching staff has been honest with me all along,” Skelton said. “They’ve said, ‘No matter who we bring in, whether it’s through the draft or free agency, we just want you to compete.’ I’m sure they’re going to be scrambling hard to find someone in free agency, so whoever it is I’m just going to get in here and compete.”

The Arizona Cardinals resisted reaching for a quarterback with the fifth pick of the NFL draft’s first round Thursday night, despite how badly Derek Anderson(notes) flopped last season after replacing the retired Kurt Warner(notes), the Arizona Republic reports. Instead, the team went with LSU cornerback Patrick Peterson(notes).

The word out of Arizona Thursday is that the team has “an understanding” with quarterback Marc Bulger(notes), who is set to join the team once the new CBA is in place and free agency occurs, according to CBSSports.com.

The National Football Post reports that the team is quietly hoping that it can make a run at Matt Hasselbeck(notes) in free agency. So far the general consensus has had Hasselbeck returning to the Seattle Seahawks.

Whoever it is, Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt sounds ready to make his move once free agency kicks off again: “We’re going to be ready to move forward when that happens,” Whisenhunt said, according to the Arizona Republic. “We are prepared. We put in time for that. We’ll be ready to go when we get that opportunity.”

Find out before your friends. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.

Source: Arizona RepublicNational Football Post

Related: Matt Hasselbeck, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks

By Darren Feeney / KFMB Interactive

If the Chargers keep playing like this at home, it will be tough for Qualcomm Stadium to not sell out.

The four-time defending AFC West champion Chargers dominated the Arizona Cardinals, the two-time defending NFC West champs, 41-7 on Sunday as both the offense and defense came up huge.

Fans who couldn’t watch the game on television due to a blackout missed Antonio Gates become the seventh tight end in NFL history with 500 catches, including two touchdown receptions of 33 and 26 yards from Philip Rivers.

Gates had seven catches for 144 yards as the Chargers pulled to 2-2.

Rookie running back Ryan Mathews scored his first NFL touchdown on a 15-yard run late in the third quarter.

But it was the Mike Tolbert show once again out of the backfield, as the fullback ran 16 times for 100 yards — his first 100-yard game in three seasons — and one score.

The Chargers have scored 79 combined points in their first two home games, neither of which has been televised.

The defense came up big with nine sacks and three takeaways to drop Arizona to 2-2.

Linebacker Shaun Phillips had a career-high four sacks and also returned an interception of Derek Anderson 31 yards for a touchdown late in the second quarter.

Max Hall then replaced Anderson, who was 7 of 14 for 64 yards with two interceptions and three sacks, for a 23.2 quarterback rating. Hall didn’t fare much better with the Cardinals’ offensive line. He was sacked six times and lost a fumble.

Linebacker Kevin Burnett had two sacks and forced a fumble by Hall that Luis Castillo recovered.

The San Diego secondary held arguably the most talented player on the field, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, in check. Fitzgerald was Arizona’s only real source of offense with seven catches for 56 yards.

The Chargers also tightened their kickoff coverage after allowing Leon Washington to score on kickoff returns of 101 and 99 yards in a 27-20 Seattle victory a week earlier.

The Cardinals gained only 89 yards in the first three quarters while the Chargers had 258. The Cardinals had minus 12 yards in the third quarter, courtesy of four sacks.

San Diego again proved that their offensive arsenal is among the best in the league.

The Chargers converted eight plays of 20 or more yards and didn’t kick their first punt until 7:22 remained in the fourth quarter.

Phillip Rivers was nearly flawless, connecting on 15 of 20 attempts for 241 yards and two touchdowns, for a 148.1 rating.

The Chargers scored touchdowns on three of their first four possessions.

The Cardinals had the advantage of field position early, but, realistically, the Chargers offense was in position to score any time it was on the field.

They had touchdown drives of 89, 63 and 65 yards in the first half.

The Cardinals defense did score the team’s only touchdown of the day, a 42-yard rumble return by Kerry Rhodes.

In all three years under Norv Turner, the Chargers have started 2-3.

They have a chance to put an end to that streak as they travel to the Oakland Coliseum to take on the Raiders next Sunday at 1:15 p.m.

At the NFL owners meetings on Friday, the league announced the 32 compensatory picks it awarded NFL teams. Typically, this is to offset losses via free agency. The Cardinals lost two free agents last offseason as Karlos Dansby signed with the Miami Dolphins and Neil Rackers to the Houston Texans. They signed two free agents, linebacker Paris Lenon and offensive lineman Rex Hadnot. 

In the NFL Draft next month, the Cardinals will have an additional pick, in the seventh round. Previously, they had no pick in the seventh round, as that choice went to the Jets as part of the deal to acquire Kerry Rhodes. Arizona now has eight picks in the draft. They have one selection in rounds one through five, two in the sixth round (one obtained from the Eagle for Reggie Wells) and now one in the seventh and final round.

Technically, the pick was not compensatory, but the league always grants 32 picks, so the team benefited from that.

Carolina received three and seven teams were granted two picks. In the NFC West, the 49ers received two picks, making their total number of picks now 12 for the draft next month. This puts them in a position to move around and obtain specific players they are targeting.

For those who wonder about the other player signings (Derek Anderson, Joey Porter, Jay Feely, Alan Faneca) and losses (Antrel Rolle) the Cardinals had, they do not count towards compensation, as all these players were released and did not have their contracts expire.

What does this mean? It could mean that with an extra pick in the sixth round (the compensatory pick cannot be traded) that Arizona might use it to move up in the draft to select a targeted player as they have done in the past to draft John Skelton and Alan Branch. 

The Cardinals have gotten some value out of their seventh round picks. Starting RT Brandon Keith was a seventh rounder, TE Jim Dray was as well and started for the team this past season and rotation and special teams player Kenny Iwebema also was selected in the final round.

In what could be considered a cruel joke to Arizona Cardinals fans, who have mostly been ruing the day of Derek Anderson’s departure from the team. Despite an earlier report that the Cardinals were set to release both Anderson and linebacker Joey Porter this week, it is now being said that, at least for now, the Cardinals will not be making any cuts from their roster.

According to Kent Somers, there is no reason to make the cuts now as opposed to later. The Cardinals have plenty of space with the salary cap, should they decide to pursue another player that was cut by other teams or renegotiate a contract of one of their own players. Also, while Anderson is set to make $4.25 million and Porter $5.75 million in 2011, their salaries do not begin until the 2011 season begins and they had no roster bonus due. 

Arizona Cardinals update:

Some teams have released veterans this week, but the Cardinals have no such plans, I’m told.

That doesn’t mean it won’t happen some time this off-season, but there is really no need to do it now.

Outside linebacker Joey Porter is due to make $5.75 million in 2011, but those paychecks don’t come until the season starts. The Cardinals don’t have to release Porter unless some sort of salary cap is in the place and they need the room. Since the Cardinals didn’t spend much last year, that’s probably not going to be necessary.

Quarterback Derek Anderson likely won’t return, either. He’s due to make $4.1 million in 2011.

After watching so many episodes of “Mad Men” we just assumed guys in advertising sit around smoking, sipping scotch and hitting on their secretaries.

Turns out it’s not true.

A couple of guys we know in the advertising biz also work in time for good Heat Index ideas.

Noting that the family of Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill recently took over Tom’s Tavern, the downtown Phoenix landmark, they suggested that The Heat Index might want to help update the restaurant’s menu.

They even included a couple of the suggestions you’ll find below – the good ones, of course.

Hey, we’re not even going to make the Bidwills pay for this. However, they might receive an invoice from the advertising guys:

Appetizers

- The Best “Curly”Fries: The Cardinals never named a field after Curly Lambeau, who once coached them, but we gave our spicy fries his name.

- Fitz’s Sticky (Chicken) Fingers: They’re the best.

Salads

- Dennis Greens: They are what you think they are.

- Dierdorf Salad: Your Hart will thank you.

Sandwiches

- Chuck Cecil’s Heat Seeker: This burger will hit you so hard it should be illegal!

- Vince Tobin B.L.T.: Best served on milquetoast.

- Garrison Hearst Liverwurst: It’s really not very good until it’s gone.

- Stoney Case-adilla: Those New Mexican peppers just don’t have much zing.

- The “Big” Burger: Like Leonard Davis, you’ll need to hold on for dear life with both hands.

- Emmitt Smith BBQ: Sorry, but it was a little dried up when it arrived from Texas.

- The Pat Tillman: Our hero sandwich.

- Jim Hart-attack double cheeseburger: A nod to the original Cardiac Cardinals.

- The “Paddy” melt: John Driscoll’s favorite, served with a side of onion rings worthy of honor.

- The Q: (discontinued).

- The Buddy: Put some mustard on this hot dog, because you’ve got a wiener in town!

- Bill Gramatica’s Pulled Pork: Careful, you might hurt yourself!

- Boss Hog: Everything but the pig’s skin on this ham-fisted slobber-knocker worthy of Joe Bugel.

- The Darnell Dockett Pita Pocket: It’s just full of . . . um, stuff.

Big Red-Plate Daily Specials

- Monday: Cry-in-yer soup. It’s a Monday tradition.

- Tuesday: Kurt Warner Wild Wings. You’ll take them for granted till they’re all gone.

- Wednesday: In Whiz We Trust Surprise. He’ll think of something. Right?

- Thursday: Bow-tie Pasta, a favorite of Mr. B. Comes with a complementary scoop of ice cream.

- Friday: A hot tub of Matt Leinart’s beer-battered fish fingers. Not a smart choice.

Dessert

- The Lockout Sundae: Every indulgence imaginable!

An abundance of richness!

More than you could possibly consume in a lifetime!

Don’t worry. You pay for it, but it’s the owners and employees who get to feast.

(And don’t forget to ask about our Derek Anderson That’s Fine Whine list).

Reach The Heat Index at bob.young@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8271.