Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb understand what he’s up against in 2012.

In addition to committing to pay Kolb $19 million over his first two seasons, the Cardinals also sent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to the Philadelphia Eagles to acquire who they thought would emerge as their next franchise quarterback.

After a lackluster 2011 season, Kolb knows that he needs to produce results on the field to justify the team’s investment in him.

“I’m as anxious for this year as I’ve ever been. I’m looking forward to proving this move was right,” Kolb recently said, via told the Tucson Citizen.

Kolb missed seven games with a foot injury and a concussion. When he was healthy, Kolb didn’t perform up to expectations.

The Cardinals have tried to give Kolb some help by selecting receiver Michael Floyd in the first round. The team also took three offensive linemen over the last four rounds.

The rookies will not show up until May 11 for a three-day camp, but Kolb says he likes what little of Floyd he has seen on tape.

“He seems like a guy who fits us well,” Kolb said. “One thing that’s going to help him in our system is the way he attacks the ball.”

Read More: Kevin Kolb (QB – ARI), Tennessee Titans, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers

According to Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic, the Arizona Cardinals will be re-signing starting quarterback Kevin Kolb — potentially and presumably removing them from the chase to acquire QB Peyton Manning:

The Cardinals got only 9 starts out of Kolb in 2011 as he missed much of the year with injuries (turf toe and a concussion). In his time between injuries, Kolb managed to sport a 57.7 completion percentage and an 81.1 QB passer rating.

Manning, meanwhile, appears to have narrowed the potential field down to the Denver Broncos, the Tennessee Titans and the San Francisco 49ers.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Denver. For more on the Broncos, visit Mile High Report. Check out SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

By SportsDirect

POSTED: 5:19 pm MST March 10, 2012

Arizona Cardinals update:

So, the Cardinals apparently on Peyton Manning’s short list, if he has a short list. The Denver Post and ESPN are reporting Manning will visit, Denver, Arizona and Miami. And that he would like to have a new employer by Tuesday, the start of free agency.

Here are some thoughts off the top of my big head:

– First, the Cardinals aren’t saying anything about this. Mouths are closed. And I’m guessing that’s because Manning wants it that way.

– It seems awful optimistic to think a deal could be done by Tuesday. Maybe contract parameters are already set. But I would think anyone signing Manning would want to get assurances of his physical condition. Evaluating that, seeing him throw, negotiating a contract, passing a physical, etc., that seems like an awful lot to do by Tuesday.

– That timetable works for Arizona, however. The Cardinals would love to have Manning’s future determined by the start of free agency. That helps with budgeting for other free agents. Plus, Kevin Kolb has a roster bonus of $7 million due on March 17.

– Saturday would be a good day for Manning to visit. Kurt Warner is having his annual Flag Football tournament (closed to the public). Larry Fitzgerald will be there. Warner will be too, of course. Or maybe it’s not a good day. Maybe the Cardinals would prefer to bring Manning in on a day when nothing is going on. Who knows?

Friday, March 9, 2012 at 01:39 PM

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Arizona Cardinals update:

Here are the highlights from the press conferences of Rod Graves, Ken Whisenhunt.

On the team’s quarterback situation:

Whisenhunt said that Kevin Kolb remains the starter but will have competition. Will that competition come from a certain Colts QB who will be cut soon? Both Whisenhunt and Graves said they are open to “opportunities to get better.” That’s been their standard line. It will generate some headlines nationally because not all reporters have heard it.

Graves went on to say he thinks the team can win the quarterbacks they have: Kolb, John Skelton and Rich Bartel.

My interpretation: If Peyton Manning is cut, the Cardinals will be interested. A lot of other things have to come together for Manning to become a Cardinal. The Cardinals will pay Kolb the $7 million roster bonus he’s due by March 17 because no one will know then if Manning will be healthy enough to play in 2012.

On re-signing Levi Brown:

Talks are on-going and Graves said that Brown wants to return to Arizona. The Cardinals want him back.

On talks with defensive end Calais Campbell:

They have been “fruitful,” Graves said. That fruit has not been harvested, however. Discussions are on-going.

Thursday, February 23, 2012 at 11:48 AM

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It’s no surprise quarterback Kevin Kolb is among the Arizona Cardinals’ seven inactive players Saturday. Kolb was limited all week because of concussion symptoms.

It’s the sixth full game that Kolb has missed. He also missed most of the 49ers game after suffering the concussion on the third play.

John Skelton will start at quarterback, and Jeremy Bridges will start at right tackle in place of Brandon Keith, who is out with an ankle injury.

The Cardinals again will go with four tight ends and four receivers. Chansi Stuckey will be the fourth receiver as DeMarco Sampson sits, along with Stephen Williams and Jaymar Johnson.

Safety Sean Considine (foot) also is inactive. The Cardinals miss him on special teams. Linebacker Brandon Johnson, promoted from the practice squad this week, is also inactive.

Read More: Kevin Kolb (QB – ARI), Brandon Keith (OT – ARI), John Skelton (QB – ARI), Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals

As the Arizona Cardinals and Cincinnati Bengals get ready to fight it out on Christmas Eve at Paul Brown Stadium, both squads have a laundry lists of injuries to report at Friday’s practice, though many of the players are probable for Saturday’s matchup.

First order of business for the Cardinals is their QB question, which is looking like it has it’s answer as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that John Skelton will likely be the starter for the Cards:

As for the rest of the team, here is a look at the Cards full injury report along with their game statuses for tomorrow:

Luckily only tackle Brandon Keith will be out with an ankle injury, while every other player is either questionable or probable.

As for the Bengals, they too have a few players less than 100%, though most of them should be a go tomorrow:

For more on the Cardinals, head over to Revenge of the Birds. For all the latest AZ sports news, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and “Like” us on Facebook.

Read More: Kevin Kolb (QB – ARI), John Skelton (QB – ARI), Arizona Cardinals, Arizona Cardinals at Cincinnati Bengals, Dec 24, 2011 11:00 AM MST

Wednesday was a disappointment for those of us hoping to get through a week of Arizona Cardinals football practice without having to hear about Kevin Kolb’s head to toe health. Of course, it’s not nearly as disappointing for us as it is for him as he enters another week of practice officially limited with his status for the weekend’s game very much up in the air.

“To have one of the better halves (against Dallas) that I’ve had and to be set back again for this, and it’s something you can’t mess around with, it’s very frustrating, I’m not going to lie. What are you going to do? You just come to work and hope to get better and keep working hard,” Kolb said on Wednesday.

He said he split the reps in practice with John Skelton and that he felt “pretty good” after experiencing sensitivity to light and sound as recently as Sunday. Kolb reported having a “few symptoms this morning, but nothing much” and that he felt better than he did last week after being knocked out of the game against the 49ers with a concussion. 

“He looked good. It’s still a process,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said about Kolb.

The next step will be to see how he responds and how much he can practice on Thursday. Right now, as of Wednesday, the general feeling in the media room is that Skelton will start on Saturday in Cincinnati but that’s just a guess.

A better question might be if Kolb would start even if he is healthy. Whisenhunt was vague when asked that question, “We’ll see. I don’t have to make that decision right now, do I?”

For all the latest AZ sports news, follow us on Twitter @SBNArizona and “Like” us on Facebook. 

John Skelton made his fifth start in place of Kevin Kolb, who missed the game because of a concussion. Skelton is 4-1 in those starts. (The Cardinals also won last week when he entered in the first quarter.) But that overall record is more attributable to the defense’s performance. Skelton, however, is showing great improvement. He started slowly, again, but found his rhythm quicker than usual. He completed more than 50 percent of his passes (28 of 46) and threw for 313 yards and a touchdown. His only interception went off Early Doucet’s hands.

Kent Somers/The Arizona Republic

Read More: Kevin Kolb (QB – ARI), John Skelton (QB – ARI), Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals, Dec 18, 2011 3:15 PM CST

There were indications late this week that Kevin Kolb could start this Sunday vs. the Browns. He supposedly increased his participation in practice on Thursday (despite all three days being labeled as “limited participant”) and the team was optimistic that he would be able to do the same on Friday and be ready for Sunday.

However, reports on Saturday suggest  that Kevin Kolb is out and John Skelton, who is 3-1 as a starter, will get the nod. Skelton led the Cardinals to a win over the 49ers last week after Kolb was re-injured.

Here is the full injury report for the Arizona Cardinals:

John Skelton will make his fifth start of the season for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday as Kevin Kolb will remain out due to a concussion, according to a report.

A league source told ESPN.com the move would be made.

Kolb’s status had been in question, but he had practiced more as the week went on, seemingly building momentum to be ready to play.

Instead, Skelton, who is 3-1 as a starter for Arizona this year, will start and Richard Bartel will serve as his back-up.

Skelton also led the Cardinals to a win when he relieved Kolb last week against the San Francisco 49ers just a few plays in when Kolb took a knee to the head.

By Alfie Crow

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Dec 16, 2011 – The Cleveland Browns are getting set to take on the Arizona Cardinals, neither team really has much other than pride to play for. So who do the experts think will win the game?

All of the ESPN experts like the Arizona Cardinals to win the game.

Peter King of SI.com likes the Cardinals to get to .500 with the win:

Cleveland Browns (4-9) at Arizona Cardinals (6-7)
Whoa! You mean to tell me the Cardinals are 7-7 with this win? What happened? The Miracle of Red Skelton lives? The best defense no one knows is in the desert? With a Cincinnati-Seattle finishing schedule, this is suddenly an interesting outside-the-box playoff team.

The Sporting News likes the Cardinals to come away with an easy victory:

Cleveland Browns at Arizona Cardinals, 4:15 p.m. Sunday. It was a rough Week 14 for quarterbacks Colt McCoy and Kevin Kolb, who both got head injuries. The Cards should feel good, however, about their chances to get to .500 with John Skelton filling in for Kolb. They should be able to outscore an anemic Browns offense. Larry Fitzgerald draws a tough matchup with Joe Haden, but talent and savvy will help the wide receiver overcome it. Cardinals 24, Browns 9.

For more on the Browns head over to Dawgs By Nature. For more on the Cardinals, check out Revenge Of The Birds. Follow the rest of Week 15 at SB Nation NFL.

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