Cardinals Vs. Saints 2012 NFL Hall Of Fame Game Night Thread - 8/5/12

[Westgate]

Hi, everybody! Arizona Cardinals finally begin their preseason schedule at Canton, Ohio! Cardinals are playing the 93rd season in the National Football League, and their 25th season in the State Of Arizona. Cardinals hope to improve from both their 2-2 preseason record, and 8-8 regular season record, and contend to regain the NFC West Championship in 2012.

Our Cardinals break from their training camp at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, Arizona to play the New Orleans Saints, in the 2012 Pro Football Hall Of Fame Game at Fawcett Stadium in Canton, Ohio.

Former NFL players Jack Butler, Dermontti Dawson, Chris Doleman, Cortez Kennedy, Curtis Martin, and Willie Roaf were immortalized each with their own headstones for their achievements and contributions to Pro Football earlier at the Hall Of Fame In Canton.

Arizona is the NFC team with the longest current absence from the HOF game, their last appearance as the St. Louis Cardinals back in August 1986. 2011 Pro Football Hall Of Fame Game was the only game cancelled by the NFL because of the lockout.

Saints are 1-3 all-time in the Pro Football Hall Of Fame game, their only win over the Minnesota Vikings 14-13 on August 8, 1970, but lost in their last appearance in Canton, Ohio, to the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-7, back on August 5, 2007. -

Cardinals are appearing in their fourth NFL Hall-Of-Fame game in their history. Cardinals currently are 1-1-1 all-time in the NFL Hall-Of Fame Game in games as the St. Louis football Cardinals, and tonight will be their first HOF game as the Arizona Cardinals.

Cardinals and the New York Giants tied at 21-21 in the first HOF game in history at Canton, Ohio, back on August 11, 1962. St. Louis played their second HOF game in Canton, defeating the Buffalo Bills 21-13, on July 27, 1974. Cardinals lost their last game in their last appearance Canton to the New England Patriots 21-16, back on August 2, 1986.

Tonight will be the first appearance in NFL game action to the rookies selected in the NFL Draft. Top pick Michael Floyd, selected #13 by Arizona from Notre Dame, may possibly start opposite Larry Fitzgerald at Wide Receiver. Other rookies who may get playing time tonight include second round pick Jamell Fleming, cornerback from Oklahoma, offensive tackle Bobby Massie from Ole Miss, quarterback Ryan Lindley from San Diego State, safety Justin Bethel, guard Senio Kelemete, and offensive tackle Nate Potter.

Ryan Williams, the Cardinals second round pick from Virginia Tech last season, hopes to carry the ball more after suffering a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee, in his first play from scrimmage in a preseason game at Green Bay, and has been diligent gaining his strength back through his rehabilitation and recovery.

Since the 2011 NFL season ended, the Cardinals Player Personnel department were involved in many signings. Cardinals have signed 1-year contracts and/or tenders to QB Rich Bartel, CB A.J. Jefferson, S Rashad Johnson, S James Sanders, RB Alfonso Smith, RB Larod Stephens-Howling CB Greg Toler, DE Ronald Talley, LB Brandon Williams, and WR Stephen Williams.

Cardinals also signed multi-year contracts for 2012 for their special teams unit of to K Jay Feely, LS Mike Leach, and P Dave Zastudil intact through the 2013 season, T D'Anthony Batiste, T Levi Brown, WR Early Doucet, G/T Adam Snyder, LB Reggie Walker.

Arizona also signed free agent CB William Gay from the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Key losses from Arizona though include T Deuce Lutui signing as a free agent with Seattle, and the Cardinals releasing G Rex Hadnot, and WR Chansi Stuckey.

Tight end Jeff King, and running back Beanie Wells though, are active, but physically unable to perform during training camp.

Cardinals also changed, and re-signed, most of their coaching staff for Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt for the 2012 NFL season, including former NFL QB Frank Reich coming from Indianapolis to be the new wide receivers coach, John McNulty coaching the QB's, DL coach Russ Aiken, OL coach Russ Grimm, TE coach Freddie Kitchens, RB coach Tommie Robinson, and special teams coach Kevin Spencer.

Brad Nessler and Mike Mayock will announce both the live game play-by-play and game analysis, along with sideline reporter Stacey Dales, simulcast both on national cable for the NFL Network, and locally over-the-air in the Metro Phoenix area on KPHO CBS 5.

Veteran radio broadcast team of Dave Pasch Ron Wolfley, and sideline reporter Paul Calvisi return to announce tonight's Cardinals/Saints preseason contest on flagship station KTAR 92.3FM, and the Arizona Cardinals Radio Network.

Local weather conditions at Fawcett Stadium, adjacent to the Pro Football Hall Of Fame, in Canton, Ohio, for tonight's 8:00PM Arizona and Pacific Standard Time kickoff, is forecast as Clear and Mostly Cloudy Skies at 77 degrees, feels like 79 degrees, 62% humidity, 10% precipitation, and west/southwest winds at 12 miles per hour. There may also be subtropical and monsoon elements during tonight's HOF game, because of severe morning thunderstorms at the Canton, Ohio area, earlier in the day.

Kevin Kolb will start at QB for the Cardinals. Most of the veteran starters and reserve players may play the first half, and parts of the second half. John Skelton, Ryan Lindley, and Rick Bartel may lead the offense in the second half of the game with the drafted rookies, signed veterans and free agents, enter the field for game action, and both set the course of the rest of tonight's game to show their talents on the field, and impress the Cardinals coaching staff to earn themselves into the 53-man roster. First major scheduled cutdown by all NFL teams is 80 players by August 28.

NO injuries to both teams as the Cardinals and Saints lead and begin the preseason, and upset Drew Brews, and Joe Vitt lose his first preseason game as interim coach of the Saints.

Hopefully our Cardinals begin their journey through the 2012 NFL preseason, regular, and postseason to earn themselves into Super Bowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans next February 2013. GO CARDINALS!!!

Cardinals Vs. Saints NFL Game Center:

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter/201208...&menu=gameinfo

http://www.profootballhof.com/enshri.../hof_game.aspx

[Johannesmoejen]

Nice to finally see a game thread from Westgate again! It has been a loong loong off season!

[AussieCardinal]

Finally something good to watch on TV!

[Darth Llama]

I am SOOOO ready for some Football!

[JagNCard225]

[McCollum,Travis]

Originally Posted by Westgate

Kevin Kolb will start at QB for the Cardinals. Most of the veteran starters and reserve players may play the first half, and parts of the second half. John Skelton, Ryan Lindley, and Rick Bartel may lead the offense in the second half of the game with the drafted rookies, signed veterans and free agents, enter the field for game action, and both set the course of the rest of tonight's game to show their talents on the field, and impress the Cardinals coaching staff to earn themselves into the 53-man roster. First major scheduled cutdown by all NFL teams is 80 players by August 28.

I don't see the starter playing close to that long. They will most likely play 1 set 2 if they are lucky.

[Arizona_Steve]

I would think they would keep the first team offense out there for at least two sets so that both Kolb and Skelton get playing time with the first team, for evaluation purposes.

[2008NFChamps]

Should Be Fun Just Happy To See My Team Play

[SuperCard]

What I would love to see is a pick 6 by PP on Brees' first throw! What a way that would be to start off the season. Also, looking for some solid qb play.

[Westgate]

My correction! Tonight's kickoff is after 5:00PM Arizona and Pacific Standard Time, NOT 8:00PM in the opening thread. I sincerely don't mean to confuse anyone on the gametime.

I also still hope the field conditions are still safe for the game to be played, and none of the players get hurt and/or injured despite the potential recurring thunderstorms.