Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll needs to test receiver Deon Butler on Sunday (Jan. 1). Butler is healthy again after suffering a broken leg in a game against the San Francisco 49ers last December. He has played a little bit in the last four games, but hasn’t really been tested by quarterback Tarvaris Jackson or the Seahawks . Now is the perfect opportunity to line him up against the first-string defense of the Arizona Cardinals and see what he can do.

Butler was a third-round draft choice in the 2009 N FL Draft coming out of Penn State University. He played in all 16 games during his rookie year, catching 15 passes for 175 yards. Before he got hurt in 2010, he had played in 13 games, catching 36 passes for 385 yards and 4 touchdowns. He had shown flashes of talent on deep routes , including a very nice 63-yard touchdown reception on one game. When he broke his leg though, his progression was de-railed for a bit.

Butler may have just 5 catches for 40 yards this season, but he still shows that same passion for the game in practices. Only Butler truly knows what he could provide for the Seahawks at receiver though, and I would like the coaching staff to really give him the chance to have a breakout game. There is no harm in letting him become a primary target for Jackson on Sunday (Jan .1) and what if they end up being a perfect tandem on the field? That can only benefit the team for the 2012 season.

The receiver positions have been a void of injuries this year, and heading into Week 17 both Doug Baldwin and Ben Obomanu are recovering from injuries. With Mike Williams and Sidney Rice also residing on injured-reserves, it’s time to let Baldwin get in on the action. I think he could become a really good complimentary receiver for the Seahawks again, and that could really come in handy in multiple-receiver spreads on third down plays. Now it’s time to see what his speed can do in a game situation and the Seahawks have nothing to lose by doing so against Arizona on Sunday (Jan. 1).

More From YCN:

Seahawks Week 17 Injury Report

Seahawks_Pro_Bowl_Snubs

Arizona_Vs_Seattle_Preview

Seattle_Has_Best_NFL_Secondary

Doug_Baldwin_Simply_Awesome

Sources:

NFL_Defensive_Statistics

Seahawks_2011_Stats

Seattle_Seahawks_Roster

Seattle_Seahawks_Schedule/Results

*Ryan Christopher DeVault is a lifelong fan of the Seattle Seahawks that continues to hold out hope that the team is heading in the right direction with a new coach, a weak NFC West, and some great young players on defense.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

The Cardinals’ 2012 schedule looks like this:

Home: Bears, Lions, Bills, Dolphins, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks and an NFC East team. The NFC East team will be determined by final division standings. The Cardinals will finish second or third, depending on the outcome of Sunday’s game against Seattle.

The possible NFC East teams are the Giants, Cowboys and Eagles.

Away: Packers, Vikings, Patriots, Jets, 49ers, Rams, Seahawks and an NFC South team. That team would be the Falcons if the Cardinals win on Sunday and the Panthers if they lose.

According to current standings, the Cardinals would have the 12th overall draft pick.

Arizona Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson, left, eludes the tackle-attempt of Cleveland Browns defensive back Eric Hagg, right, on a punt return in overtime of an NFL football game on Sunday, Dec. 18, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz.

Read More: Jaymar Johnson (WR – ARI), Brandon Keith (OT – ARI), D.J. Young (OT – ARI), Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks

The Arizona Cardinals are looking to finish their season on a high note against the Seattle Seahawks this Sunday, and will have some new blood on the sideline to do so as the team announced on Wednesday the signing of tackle D.J. Young from the practice squad.

Young, the 6-5, 298 pound undrafted rookie out of Michigan State and Bowling Green, spent the entire season on the Cards practice squad after being released from the team back on Sept. 2, but will now join the team for the last game of the season, giving the Cards more depth on the offensive line with Brandon Keith playing a bit banged up these days.

Young started 23 games on the o-line in two seasons with Michigan State, then at Bowling Green after a transfer. Young will wear #67 for the Cardinals.

In a corresponding roster move wide receiver Jaymar Johnson was released by the team, but was immediately re-signed to the practice squad.

For more on the Cardinals, head over to Revenge of the Birds.

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:

Read More: Kerry Rhodes (S – ARI), Sean Considine (DB – ARI), Tony Pashos (OL – CLE), Dave Zastudil (P – ARI), Artis Hicks (OT – CLE), Brandon Keith (OT – ARI), Shawn Lauvao (OL – CLE), Colt McCoy (QB – CLE), T.J. Ward (DB – CLE), Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals are playing their best football of the season and they will look to continue their winning ways this Sunday against a struggling Cleveland Browns team. Fortunately for the Cardinals, it appears they will have most of their starters healthy and ready to go for Sunday. Beanie Wells is reportedly healthy and ready to go for Arizona, while quarterback Colt McCoy will miss the game with a concussion.

Here is the full injury report from Friday:

Cardinals:

• Did Not Participate In Practice: S Sean Considine (foot)
• Limited Participation: T Brandon Keith (ankle), QB Kevin Kolb (head), LB Joey Porter (knee), WR DeMarco Sampson (ribs), P Dave Zastudil (biceps)
• Full Participation: LB Clark Haggans (hamstring), TE Rob Housler (shoulder), S Kerry Rhodes (foot), RB Chris Wells (knee)

Browns:

• Did Not Participate In Practice: RB Owen Marecic (head, ankle), QB Colt McCoy (head, left hand), DT Brian Schaefering (ankle), S T.J. Ward (foot), TE Benjamin Watson (head)
• Limited Participation: WR Joshua Cribbs (groin), RB Montario Hardesty (calf), G Artis Hicks (shoulder), G Shawn Lauvao (ankle), T Tony Pashos (ankle), LB Quinton Spears (hamstring)
• Full Participation: DE Jabaal Sheard (forearm)

For more on the Cardinals, head on over to Revenge Of The Birds.

TEMPE, Ariz. — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb said he was able to practice “a little bit” on Wednesday after tests evaluating the concussion he sustained early in Sunday’s victory over San Francisco.

“The symptoms are down,” he said. “It’s just a matter of making sure they are down long enough to where I can get out there and then be in full-speed action. That’s the key right now. It’s a touchy subject, and we want to make sure that we err on the right side.”

Unlike the situation with the Cleveland Browns and their quarterback, Colt McCoy, the Cardinals benched Kolb after he took a knee to the head on Arizona’s third offensive play against the 49ers. He immediately went to the locker room for evaluation and it was determined he should not return to the game.

“I don’t know how they handled it in Cleveland,” Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “All I can speak about is the way our guys did it and they did a great job with it. … The number one thing is, if there is ever a doubt, you err to the side of caution and that’s the way we are going to proceed.”

Kolb said he plans to practice more as the week goes on in hopes of being able to play Sunday against the Browns.

He said the football culture is better at dealing with concussions than it used to be.

“I think that there are so many studies coming out now that prove long-term effects and things like that,” Kolb said. “Obviously, our health is number one, especially when it comes to your brain. I want to be out there as much as anybody, but it’s just something you don’t push.”

This is Kolb’s second concussion in as many seasons. He was sidelined with one after he started last season’s opener for Philadelphia and wound up losing the starting job to his replacement, Michael Vick. That eventually led to the trade that brought Kolb to Arizona.

Under the NFL’s revised rules, Kolb was required to see a doctor not affiliated with the Cardinals to have his condition independently evaluated. He said he did so on Tuesday and that the visit “went good.”

Kolb said some of the symptoms of a concussion don’t begin to show up for him until the adrenaline of the football game begins to fade.

“When your adrenaline is going, when you are in the game, it covers up,” he said. “It tends to cover up some of the symptoms. As you start calming down, during or after the game, then, from my experience, a lot of things start to rush on you; the vision, the sensitivity to light and noise, and all those things.”

Kolb was making just his second start after being sidelined for six games with a right turf toe and bruise to the side of that same foot. The previous week, he had come on strong in the second half to help Arizona beat Dallas in overtime.

“It’s beyond frustrating, just because we played a good second half there against the Cowboys and had a good week at practice,” he said. “We were ready to go out there and do what we ended up doing, which is great for our team. I wish I could have been a part of it, but they did a great job again of picking right up and rolling along.”

John Skelton relieved Kolb last Sunday and threw three touchdown passes as the Cardinals rallied to beat the 49ers 21-19.

Arizona has won three in a row and five of six. A victory Sunday would even the Cardinals’ season record at 7-7 with two games to play.

AP Photo/Paul Connors

Arizona Cardinals’ Kevin Kolb (4) walks off the field after an injury during the first quarter in an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011, in Glendale, Ariz.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb said he was able to practice “a little bit” on Wednesday after tests evaluating the concussion he sustained early in Sunday’s victory over San Francisco.
“The symptoms are down,” he said. “It’s just a matter of making sure they are down long enough to where I can get out there and then be in full-speed action. That’s the key right now. It’s a touchy subject, and we want to make sure that we err on the right side.”
Unlike the situation with the Cleveland Browns and their quarterback, Colt McCoy, the Cardinals benched Kolb after he took a knee to the head on Arizona’s third offensive play against the 49ers. He immediately went to the locker room for evaluation and it was determined he should not return to the game.
“I don’t know how they handled it in Cleveland,” Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “All I can speak about is the way our guys did it and they did a great job with it. … The number one thing is, if there is ever a doubt, you err to the side of caution and that’s the way we are going to proceed.”
Kolb said he plans to practice more as the week goes on in hopes of being able to play Sunday against the Browns.
He said the football culture is better at dealing with concussions than it used to be.
“I think that there are so many studies coming out now that prove long-term effects and things like that,” Kolb said. “Obviously, our health is number one, especially when it comes to your brain. I want to be out there as much as anybody, but it’s just something you don’t push.”
This is Kolb’s second concussion in as many seasons. He was sidelined with one after he started last season’s opener for Philadelphia and wound up losing the starting job to his replacement, Michael Vick. That eventually led to the trade that brought Kolb to Arizona.
Under the NFL’s revised rules, Kolb was required to see a doctor not affiliated with the Cardinals to have his condition independently evaluated. He said he did so on Tuesday and that the visit “went good.”
Kolb said some of the symptoms of a concussion don’t begin to show up for him until the adrenaline of the football game begins to fade.
“When your adrenaline is going, when you are in the game, it covers up,” he said. “It tends to cover up some of the symptoms. As you start calming down, during or after the game, then, from my experience, a lot of things start to rush on you; the vision, the sensitivity to light and noise, and all those things.”
Kolb was making just his second start after being sidelined for six games with a right turf toe and bruise to the side of that same foot. The previous week, he had come on strong in the second half to help Arizona beat Dallas in overtime.
“It’s beyond frustrating, just because we played a good second half there against the Cowboys and had a good week at practice,” he said. “We were ready to go out there and do what we ended up doing, which is great for our team. I wish I could have been a part of it, but they did a great job again of picking right up and rolling along.”
John Skelton relieved Kolb last Sunday and threw three touchdown passes as the Cardinals rallied to beat the 49ers 21-19.
Arizona has won three in a row and five of six. A victory Sunday would even the Cardinals’ season record at 7-7 with two games to play.

TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb said he was able to practise “a little bit” on Wednesday after tests evaluating the concussion he sustained early in Sunday’s victory over San Francisco.

“The symptoms are down,” he said. “It’s just a matter of making sure they are down long enough to where I can get out there and then be in full-speed action. That’s the key right now. It’s a touchy subject, and we want to make sure that we err on the right side.”

Unlike the situation with the Cleveland Browns and their quarterback, Colt McCoy, the Cardinals benched Kolb after he took a knee to the head on Arizona’s third offensive play against the 49ers. He immediately went to the locker-room for evaluation and it was determined he should not return to the game.

“I don’t know how they handled it in Cleveland,” Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. “All I can speak about is the way our guys did it and they did a great job with it. … The number one thing is, if there is ever a doubt, you err to the side of caution and that’s the way we are going to proceed.”

Kolb said he plans to practise more as the week goes on in hopes of being able to play Sunday against the Browns.

He said the football culture is better at dealing with concussions than it used to be.

“I think that there are so many studies coming out now that prove long-term effects and things like that,” Kolb said. “Obviously, our health is number one, especially when it comes to your brain. I want to be out there as much as anybody, but it’s just something you don’t push.”

This is Kolb’s second concussion in as many seasons. He was sidelined with one after he started last season’s opener for Philadelphia and wound up losing the starting job to his replacement, Michael Vick. That eventually led to the trade that brought Kolb to Arizona.

Under the NFL’s revised rules, Kolb was required to see a doctor not affiliated with the Cardinals to have his condition independently evaluated. He said he did so on Tuesday and that the visit “went good.”

Kolb said some of the symptoms of a concussion don’t begin to show up for him until the adrenaline of the football game begins to fade.

“When your adrenaline is going, when you are in the game, it covers up,” he said. “It tends to cover up some of the symptoms. As you start calming down, during or after the game, then, from my experience, a lot of things start to rush on you; the vision, the sensitivity to light and noise, and all those things.”

Kolb was making just his second start after being sidelined for six games with a right turf toe and bruise to the side of that same foot. The previous week, he had come on strong in the second half to help Arizona beat Dallas in overtime.

“It’s beyond frustrating, just because we played a good second half there against the Cowboys and had a good week at practice,” he said. “We were ready to go out there and do what we ended up doing, which is great for our team. I wish I could have been a part of it, but they did a great job again of picking right up and rolling along.”

John Skelton relieved Kolb last Sunday and threw three touchdown passes as the Cardinals rallied to beat the 49ers 21-19.

Arizona has won three in a row and five of six. A victory Sunday would even the Cardinals’ season record at 7-7 with two games to play.

GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP)—San Francisco’s standout inside linebacker Patrick
Willis was inactive Sunday when the 49ers met the Arizona Cardinals, only the
second game he has missed in his career.

He sat out the regular season finale in 2010 with a broken hand.

Willis, who did some stretching before Sunday’s game, did not practice all
last week because of a right hamstring injury. He was replaced in the lineup by
Larry Grant.

49ers wide receiver Braylon Edwards was active after missing last week’s NFC
West-clinching victory over St. Louis with a sore right knee.

Arizona had three wide receivers inactive as coach Ken Whisenhunt chose to
dress all four of his tight ends.

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

The Arizona Cardinals have been playing very well as of late, winners of four of their last five matchups who now host the division leading San Francisco 49ers at University of Phoenix stadium. Unfortunately the the Cards the Niners were there last loss, and according to Numberfire.com, quarterback Kevin Kolb likely won’t be leading the charge against them this Sunday for Arizona. 

Kolb is projected to scored a shade under 12 points at 11.94, throwing 1.02 touchdowns, 0.76 INT’s and 187 yards passing, nothing to write home to Mommy about that’s for sure. THe 49ers defense has been stifling to most this season, holding Arizona to only seven points their last time out. They do give up a decent amount of yards in the air, currently ranking 29th in the league in that regard, but are filled with ball-hawks and have racked up 16 interceptions already this season. 

If you have no one else, than Kolb is your guy, but another option would probably be a good idea. Here’s a look at how the rest of the notable Cardinals will fare. 

Arizona Cardinals update:

The importance of field position isn’t a topic that’s going to push anyone’s hot buttons. But it will be a vital factor in Sunday’s game against the 49ers.

San Francisco plays in low gear. The 49ers love to run, throw safe passes and gradually win the field position game with superior defense and punting. It’s a grinding way to play, and the Cardinals lost the game within a game three weeks ago in San Francisco.

The Cardinals had 12 possessions in that game and started, on average, at their 23-yard line. Only twice did they open drives outside their 20-yard line and that was at their 36 and 39.

The 49ers, on average, started at their 38, an advantage of 15 yards. Due mostly to Cardinals turnovers, they started drives at the Arizona 38, 26, 37 and 31.

The Cardinals were indeed fortunate that they only yielded 23 points.it took an excellent defensive performance and San Francisco kicker David Akers missing three field goals (including two blocks).

As coach Ken Whisenhunt mentioned on Wednesday, the main thing the Cardinals need to do Sunday that they didn’t do three weeks ago is hang on to the ball. Quarterback John Skelton was terribly off that day, completing 6 of 19 passes with three interceptions. Beanie Wells lost a fumble.

The Cardinals will need more out of its quarterback position on Sunday than just ball security. In the game three weeks ago, the Cardinals believe they had pass plays open early, throws that were low in degree of difficulty. Skelton looked nervous early, and his passes sailed over receivers’ heads.

Kolb needs to complete those passes. He and his teammates, as well as coaches, must be aware of the first-down markers at all times. First downs will be at a premium in this game.

The Cardinals need to maintain patience on offense. First downs will be at a premium, and the Cardinals need to concentrate on getting one or two, at least, when deep in their territory. Cardinals punter Dave Zastudil is having a solid season and has been especially effective over the past month. But he’s also punted in or near the end zone far too often in that time.

Thursday, December 8, 2011 at 10:20 AM

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Read More: Justin Smith (DE – SFX), Arizona Cardinals

The Arizona Cardinals (5-7) are not surprisingly, a home underdog in their Sunday game against the San Francisco 49ers (10-2). What’s a bit more shocking is the opening line being set at just four points. It’s a sign of respect for how much better the Cardinals are playing since they were ten-point underdogs to the Niners in Week 11 and got smoked 23-7.

49ers DE Justin Smith, on a conference call with the media expressed his respect for the work Arizona has made over recent weeks.

“We know it’s going to be a hard game down there. They’re coming off a big win, playing pretty good football,” Smith said.

Smith’s had a chance to watch some film on the Cardinals and declared the team much better with Kevin Kolb at the helm. He said the Arizona offense was playing faster and seemed to be running more plays then when they last played. 

The 49ers have won their NFC West but are still playing for seeding in the playoffs. Smith doesn’t expect any kind of let down on Sunday.

The Arizona Cardinals will begin to use handheld metal detectors Sunday to screen people entering University of Phoenix Stadium for NFL games.

The National Football League has requested that teams change their procedures from limited pat-downs to using the metal detectors, the Cardinals said in a release on Thursday.

The Cardinals said they will begin using the metal detectors Sunday for Arizona’s game against the Dallas Cowboys.

Cardinals officials said the complete change-over will be a gradual process over the four remaining regular season home games. The procedures will be in place for ticket holders and stadium security staff.

The Cardinals issues these points for fans, employees and media to heed:

• The security lanes with handheld metal detectors will be indicated with signage and a stadium security member explaining the process in advance.
• Guests will be asked to remove all metal from their pockets and hold the items in their hands during the screening.
• If a guest has medical concerns about the use of a metal detector, the limited pat-down screening can be substituted.
• Fans are asked to give themselves enough time to pass through security; stadium gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff (12:45 p.m. for Sunday’s game vs. the Cowboys) and the 30-minute period immediately prior to kickoff is the busiest at the security screening points.

Everyone entering the stadium on game day should be aware of this new screening method, the Cardinals said.

Copyright 2011 KPHO. All rights reserved.