Saints Beat Cardinals In Rough Preseason Opener

Kevin Kolb's Injury Doesn't Mean Cardinals QB Battle Is Over

The Arizona Cardinals suffered what could've been a serious blow in Sunday night's Hall of Fame game against the New Orleans Saints when quarterback Kevin Kolb hit the deck with an injury. Luckily for Arizona, the injury is just a rib contusion, which isn't serious.

Cardinals head coach Ken Whisenhunt said it's conceivable that Kolb could practice this week and play in the Cardinals next game against the Chiefs on Friday night.

Kolb and John Skelton are in the midst of a position battle for the Cards' starting quarterback job and Kolb's injury doesn't figure to change a whole lot, writes SB Nation's Revenge Of The Birds.

This is just the first preseason game and if Kolb is healthy, he is going to put up a fight. Skelton was scheduled to start the next game with the first unit anyhow, so Kolb could potentially come in with the second team and shine. Skelton has shown issues with accuracy and decision making as well, so he will need to continue to show consistency to maintain the lead.

The position battle continues with the Cardinals traveling to Kansas City to practice with the Chiefs this week before Friday's game.

For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds.

Saints Beat Cardinals: Kevin Kolb's Injury, Replacement Refs And More From Canton

The Saints and Cardinals met in Sunday's Hall of Fame Game, the first preseason action of the year. New Orleans came out on top, 17-10.

Cardinals Vs. Saints, 2012 Hall Of Fame Game: New Orleans Wins 17-10

After a long off-season, the NFL "returned" with the New Orleans Saints' 17-10 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in the Hall of Fame Game.

Drew Brees led New Orleans down the field for a touchdown in his only series, but the big story was Kevin Kolb's rib contusion, which knocked him out of the game after an ugly 1-for-4 day with one interception.

The first and second stringers took the offense with him when they left at halftime, as the two teams combined to score only three points in the second half.

Undrafted QBs Ryan Lindley (Fresno State) and Sean Canfield (Oregon State) got all the snaps in the fourth quarter. Bonus points for whoever knows which team each played for.

For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Follow all the news and updates related to the Hall of Fame Game in this StoryStream.

Eddie Elder Delivers The Lone Fourth Quarter Highlight For Arizona

Preseason tackling always leaves a little to be desired. Veteran players don't always give the tackles 100 percent, and the fringe roster guys struggle to bring down their man. Arizona Cardinals defensive back Eddie Elder delivered one of the more memorable hits in the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday night during an otherwise forgettable fourth quarter.

On the receiving end is New Orleans Saints wide receiver Andy Tanner.

The Cardinals quickly got things back to preseason expectations on the resulting drive. At the Saints seven-yard line, Arizona stumbled, before Ryan Lindley threw an interception to prevent overtime, which might have been a favor for fans weary of watching the fourth teamers practice.

For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Follow all the news and updates related to the Hall of Fame Game in this StoryStream.

Cardinals Vs. Saints, 2012 Hall Of Fame Game: New Orleans Up 17-7 At Half

Drew Brees and the rest of the New Orleans Saints offense didn't seem to be affected by Sean Payton's absence in their first preseason game, marching down the field on the first possession to score a touchdown.

The view wasn't so rosy for Kevin Kolb, who was knocked out of the game with a rib contusion. His final stat-line: 1-4, 4 yards and an INT.

John Skelton, the other half of the most underwhelming starting QB battle in the NFL, came in and threw 4-6 for 32 yards. He did lead a touchdown drive, although most of the work was done by Alphonso Smith, who rushed for 46 yards and 1 TD in the first half.

Chase Daniel, who got most of the snaps in the first half, performed well for New Orleans: going 12-16 for 156 yards and 1 TD.

For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Follow all the news and updates related to the Hall of Fame Game in this StoryStream.

No Helmet, No Problem For Cardinals FB Anthony Sherman

Through two quarters of play in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, things have been about what you might have expected from a preseason game. Arizona Cardinals fullback Anthony Sherman helped fill the void on the punt team, chasing down the ball carrier and making the tackle sans headgear.

No helmet, no problem.

Of course, this was Sherman not long after that play.

For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Follow all the news and updates related to the Hall of Fame Game in this StoryStream.

Stewart Bradley Does 'The Carlton'

At the Hall of Fame game on Sunday, Arizona Cardinals linebacker Stewart Bradley got to bust out some sweet moves after a big stop.

Unfortunately for him, the Arizona Cardinals got the ball back shortly after that play. That never ends well.

For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Follow all the news and updates related to the Hall of Fame Game in this StoryStream. And be sure to check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

Kevin Kolb Injury: Rib Contusion For Cardinals QB

The Arizona Cardinals entered Sunday night's Hall of Fame Game hoping to find some answers on their quarterback question. Unfortunately, the first quarter was a microcosm of the prior season, with Kevin Kolb replaced early by John Skelton.

Kolb was tackled on the first play of the Cardinals third offensive drive. He has a rib contusion, and will not return to the game.

Kevin Kolb has rib contusion. Return is doubtful

— Kent Somers (@kentsomers) August 6, 2012

via assets.sbnation.com

Kolb entered the game as the favorite to win the Cardinals' starting quarterback job. He threw an interception on his first pass of the game, missing an easy read to make an ugly throw. He left the game 1-for-4 with an interception.

John Skelton replaced Kolb, offering the high five. He was rejected on the hand slap, as you might imagine.

via assets.sbnation.com

For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Follow all the news and updates related to the Hall of Fame Game in this StoryStream.

Replacement Refs Start Hall Of Fame Game With A Coin Toss Correction

Replacement referees are calling the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game on Sunday night, leaving many to wonder about the quality of the work the fill-ins would produce. They did not get off to good start, having to issue a correction on coin toss.

Replacement referee issues correction on coin toss. Bad sign?

— Mike Sando, ESPN.com (@espn_nfcwest) August 6, 2012

The officials crew for the game is led by Craig Ochoa, a former ref in the Big 10 and the Arena Football League. The rest of the crew includes:

The crew also features umpire Tim Morris, head linesman Kevin Akin, line judge Esteban Garza, field judge Rusty Spindel, side judge Dwayne Strozier and back judge Mark Wetzel.

For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Follow all the news and updates related to the Hall of Fame Game in this StoryStream.

NFL Hall Of Fame Game: Will Replacement Referees Change The Game?

NFL football returns on Sunday night when the preseason schedule kicks off with the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game. The year's game features the Arizona Cardinals taking on the New Orleans Saints, marking the return of a one-year hiatus after last year's game was nixed because of the lockout and labor dispute between the NFL and the NFLPA. Labor troubles and another lockout hover over this year's Hall of Fame Game as well.

This time the referees are locked out as the league and the NFL Referees Association square off over a labor deal. With progress between the two sides somewhere between minimal and nothing, the league is bringing in a battalion of replacement referees culled from the ranks of Division II & III college football, the CFL and even high schools. The new faces calling the games has more than a few players, coaches, fans, pundits and others concerned about the quality of play on the field and even player safety.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers veteran tight end Dallas Clark was one of several to express his feelings about the replacement refs. When asked whether or not he was concerned about the new officials, Clark told USA Today:

"Absolutely. ... It's a fast game and that's why you see your officials that have been around for 20 (years), the reason they're good is because they've been doing it for that long. ... That's one of those things that you never want to say that refs win or lose games or things like that. But in a situation like that, who knows what could happen with certain situations of a game that they might not handle it correctly."

Clark's statement echoed the NFLRA's criticism over the replacement refs. The referees union points to the extensive year-round training referees receive and the significant differences between the rules of the professional games versus other football leagues where the replacements come from.

"The NFL would never put more than one rookie official on a crew," NFLRA president Scott Green said recently. "[Using replacements] has got to be pretty unsettling to players and coaches, not to mention fans. The folks that are going to be on the field are not of NFL quality."

Referees also warned of the threats to player safety and the overall competitiveness of the game. Veteran ref Ed Hochuli, a past NFLRA president, warned of player taking advantage of the untrained eyes.

"There is a great deal of atmosphere control. Players know who we are. They're going to see how far they can push it, going to see how much they can get away with."

On the other side, the NFL contends that the replacements will be just fine following two months of training. As part of that training, replacement refs were at team practices last week. Officiated practices are a normal part of training camp as the league sends in the referees as part of their own preparation for the season.

Reviews out of practices for the replacement refs were not good.

Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had more than a few vocal complaints in practice last week.

"Quit blowing your whistle! We're trying to get work done! ... Stop! These guys (players) know what they're doing!"

Crowds watching the Green Bay Packers practice last week showered the new officials with jeers when they called an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for a Lambeau Leap.

Others have complained that the replacement refs have missed important calls that could change the outcome of a game or help keep players safe. Chicago Bears offensive lineman Roberto Garza admitted to trying to take additional leeway in the trenches with the less experienced eyes watching the game.

Some have been more pointed in their criticism of the refs.

#NFL replacement officials working #Jaguars practice are pitiful. Pending disaster for league if no settlement.

— Paul Kuharsky (@espn_afcsouth) August 2, 2012

So what can fans expect from the replacement referees on the field Sunday night?

The last time replacement referees called a game was in 2001, when they threw half the number of flags as the regular crews, according to the NFLRA. Some may be relieved to see the refs keeping their flags in their pocket, at least until it swings the outcome of a game.

Video review has expanded substantially since 2001, which removes some of the danger of refs missing a key call, but the video booth can only help so much. Besides, the replay officials will be replacements as well.

Just as replay rules have expanded, so have the stipulations governing more complex matters on the field such as pass interference, crackback blocking, tackling and more. Those areas could be especially dicey since the rules have been altered as the league looks to expand safety measures for players. The NFL has also placed a heavier burden on referees in recent years in preventing and spotting injuries, particularly concussions. An injury to a star player in a game replacement refs let get out of control would likely be a more bitter pill for fans to swallow than a blown call on a scoring play.

Preseason football usually fails to elicit more than a shrug from even the most passionate fans. That could change on Sunday night when the world gets its first look at how rookie refs could impact the season ahead.

NFL Hall Of Fame Game: Cardinals Looking For Answers At Quarterback

The Arizona Cardinals have been practicing for almost two weeks. A quarterback battle between Kevin Kolb and John Skelton has dominated training camp headlines out of Flagstaff. On Sunday, the Cardinals will likely get a a few more answers to their quarterback quandary when they open the preseason against the New Orleans Saints in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

For more insight into the Cardinals' season, we talked to Revenge of the Birds, SB Nation's Cardinals blog.

How has each quarterback looked in camp?

Honestly, neither has looked spectacular. If I had to say who has looked better, Kolb is a little ahead, which can be evidenced by the fact that Kolb is the starter right now. Skelton has been good at times, but his accuracy is still an issue. Kolb hasn't been great either. In their first scrimmage, Skelton competed only two of 10 passes while Kolb was 9/16 with a TD, but was intercepted twice.

Is it concerning that Kolb, with his multi-year contract, isn't the clear starter?

Absolutely. However, it is as much a testament to the play of Skelton when it counted. But with the money Kolb has been paid, it is not comforting knowing he has not clearly beaten out an inaccurate late-round draft pick.

John Skelton went 5-2 down the stretch last year....how? What did he do well?

The truth it was not so much what he did, but how the defense and special teams played. Skelton was near terrible for most of those games, but he had the uncanny ability to make big throws late in the game. And the reason why he was able to do that was because of the defense and special teams. What he did well was throw a lot to Larry Fitzgerald, and Fitz at times made him look good. Of course, Skelton also was picked off more because of leaning on Fitz.

Are Kolb's concussion problems behind him? Is it still a concern?

The concussion he had is no longer a concern, but there is a big question about his durability in general. He needs to show he can make it through a whole season.

Which QB do most Cardinals fans want to see start the regular season?

Honestly, fans have gravitated to Skelton. He is a bit of a Cinderella story being a fifth-round pick. He has had some late-game heroics and he was the guy playing when the team was winning. So he has more of a fan base, while the fans are a bit impatient with Kolb.

For more on the Cardinals, be sure to check out Revenge of the Birds. Follow all the news and updates related to the Hall of Fame Game in this StoryStream.

NFL Hall Of Fame Game: Can The New Orleans Saints Put The Distractions Behind Them?

It was not a quiet offseason for the New Orleans Saints. A bounty scandal, a list of suspensions and a high profile contract standoff with quarterback Drew Brees have dominated headlines in "Who Dat Nation," leading many to wonder whether or not the team can play through the distractions and continue its run as a perennial Super Bowl contender. On Sunday night, the Saints take their first step toward putting all the controversy in the rearview mirror when they open the preseason against the Arizona Cardinals in the annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game.

To get a closer look at the Saints, we talked to Canal Street Chronicles, SB Nation's Saints blog.

What kind of things should fans be looking for with the Saints this weekend?

Definitely the defense. The big question is whether or not the presence of new defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo will lead to an improvement. We won't get that answer this weekend but we might be able to tell how things will be different.

How much of a distraction are the coaching suspensions causing? The rest of the bounty issues?

What bounty issues?

Will the offense be any different this year? Is there a player due for a big season?

I expect the offense to be powerful and high-scoring just like last year, if not better. Now that running back Mark Ingram is healthy, has a year of experience behind him and had the benefit of a full offseason of workouts, I think he could primed for a breakout season.

What about the defense? how will they adapt to Spagnuolo's style?

That's the million dollar question. Of course we don't really know. It's definitely supposed to be more of a zone defense and less man-to-man like Gregg Williams' system. The hope is that his system is able to get more pressure on the quarterback with just the front four, without having to use all the exotic blitzes we've seen the past three years that also leave the defense vulnerable.

For more on the Saints, check out Canal Street Chronicles. For updates on the Hall of Fame game, stay tuned to this StoryStream.

Cardinals Vs. Saints, 2012 Hall Of Fame Game: Time, TV Schedule And More

The Saints and Cardinals will kick off the 2012 NFL preseason with the Hall of Fame Game on Sunday.