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Championship!!!!
REGULAR SEASON GAME #16
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-10) at ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-10)
Sunday, January 2, 2005
2:05 PM (MST) – Sun Devil Stadium
THIS WEEK’S GAME
The Cardinals return to Sun Devil Stadium for the regular season finale this Sunday against Tampa Bay. Arizona officially saw its playoff hopes dashed last week at Seattle when the Seahawks held on for a 24-21 victory. Like Arizona, Tampa Bay enters the game with a 5-10 mark and also saw its postseason chances end last Sunday. The Bucs suffered a 37-20 home loss to the Panthers for their third straight defeat. The Cardinals are 4-3 at home this year while the Bucs are 1-6 on the road. A win against Tampa would give the Cards their best home record since
going 5-3 during the playoff season of 1998.
THE SERIES
The Cardinals and Bucs have faced each other 14 times with the series split at seven. They haven’t met since 1997 with the Bucs taking a 19- 18 home victory. The last time the Cardinals defeated Tampa Bay was 1996 by a score of 13-9 at Sun Devil Stadium. According to the NFL schedule rotation, the Cardinals and Bucs will face each other again in 2007 with the Cardinals traveling to Tampa Bay.
Date Site Result
Sept. 28, 1997 @ Tampa Bay L, 18-19
Oct. 20, 1996 @ Arizona W, 13-9
Dec. 27, 1992 @ Arizona L, 3-7
Sept. 6, 1992 @ Tampa Bay L, 7-23
Nov. 26, 1989 @ Arizona L, 13-14
Sept. 18, 1988 @ Tampa Bay W, 30-24
Dec. 20, 1987 @ Tampa Bay W, 31-14
Nov. 8, 1987 @ St. Louis W, 31-28
Dec. 21, 1986 @ St. Louis W, 21-17
Oct. 12, 1986 @ Tampa Bay W, 30-19
Nov. 10, 1985 @ Tampa Bay L, 0-16
Oct. 16, 1983 @ Tampa Bay W, 34-27
Sept. 27, 1981 @ Tampa Bay L, 10-30
Dec. 18, 1977 @ Tampa Bay L, 7-17
Last Meeting
Buccaneers 19, CARDINALS 18
September 28, 1997 – Houlihan’s Stadium –(53,804)
The Cardinals squandered one of their finest defensive performances in years, allowing Tampa Bay to extend its record to 5-0 and equal the best start in franchise history. Arizona was dominant defensively. Tampa Bay logged 12 possessions; 10 ended in four plays or fewer. The Bucs gained only 167 net yards on 47 offensive plays; 25 of their yards were registered on a completed pass off a fake punt. Tampa Bay gained only 54 yards rushing and zero first downs on the ground. The Bucs also converted only two of 14 third-down conversions. However, they were very resourceful with limited opportunities, scoring touchdowns on a blocked first-quarter punt, a 63-yard drive kept alive by a 25-yard pass completion from punt formation from their own 31-yard line, and a short-field 31-yard touchdown pass four plays after intercepting a fourth-quarter Kent Graham pass at Arizona’s 35-yard line. The Cardinals appeared to seize the game’s momentum in the third quarter when cornerback Aeneas Williams returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion pass completion from Graham to Frank Sanders, but two missed fourth quarter field-goal attempts by Kevin Butler in the face of a stiff wind left the door wide open for Tampa Bay. Williams’ six-pointer was his fifth career interception return for a touchdown, equaling Larry Wilson’s franchise record. Graham completed 31 of 52 passes for 339 yards. He was intercepted twice and sacked six times, including three by Bucs tackle Brad Culpepper.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION
Network: FOX
Play-by-Play: Ron Pitts
Color Analyst: Tim Ryan
CARDINALS RADIO NETWORK
Flagship: 1060 KDUS (AM)
KSLX 100.7 (FM)
Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch
Color Analyst: John Mistler
Sideline: Mike Jurecki
CARDINALS SPANISH RADIO
Flagship: KMIA (710 AM)
Play-by-Play: Gabriel Trujillo
Color Analyst: Luis Zendejas
Halftime/Analyst: Felipe Coral
CARDINALS CATEGORY BUCS
5-10 Record 5-10
272 Points Scored 294
315 Points Allowed 292
31 Touchdowns Scored 36
15 Rushing TDs 9
14 Passing TDs 23
2 Return TDs 4
34 Touchdowns Allowed 35
12 Rushing TDs Allowed 8
17 Passing TDs Allowed 21
5 Return TDs Allowed 6
39/320 Sacked/Yards Lost 40/262
33/11 Fumbles/Lost 30/16
17 Had Intercepted 16
18/23 Field Goals Made/Attempted 15/24
288.5 Total Yards Per Game 314.3
326.1 Opp. Total Yards Per Game 288.7
104.1 Rushing Yards Per Game 95.1
136.2 Opp. Rushing Yards Per Game 124.4
184.5 Passing Yards Per Game 219.1
189.9 Opp. Passing Yards Per Game 164.3
-2 Turnover Ratio -6
31:02 Average Time of Possession 29:57
25 / 23 / 23 NFL Rank-Total Offense/Run/Pass 22 / 29 / 14
13 / 29 / 9 NFL Rank-Total Defense/Run/Pass 5 / 22 / 2
BOLDIN KEEPS ROLLING
WR Anquan Boldin was a Pro Bowler and the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and entered 2004 looking to build upon his record-setting inaugural campaign. Anquan missed all of the 2004 preseason and the regular season’s first six games due to a right knee injury suffered during training camp. He underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus on 8/11. He returned on 10/31 at Buffalo and has played in every game since. He certainly appears to be 100% with at least four catches in every game since returning. On 12/12 against the Niners, he posted season bests with 9 grabs for 109 yards, the first 100-yard day by a Cards receiver this season. He added his second with a 7-catch, 107-yard day last week at Seattle and also recorded his first TD of the season on a 31-yard grab. It marked the 19th time in 25 career games that Boldin has recorded five or more receptions in a game.
Date Opponent Rec. Yds
10/31 at Buffalo 4 * 50 *
11/7 at Miami 5 * 37
11/14 NY Giants 5 * 31
11/21 at Carolina 5 31
11/28 NY Jets 8 * 87 *
12/5 at Detroit 5* 48*
12/12 San Fran 9* 109*
12/19 St. Louis 4* 48
12/26 at Seattle 7* 107*
* led team 53 592
In 2003, he was the only first-year player selected to the Pro Bowl after he recorded 101 receptions for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns. Boldin set the NFL record for receptions by a rookie (101), and most receiving yards by a rookie in his first NFL game (217) while tying the Cardinals single-season reception record. In his NFL debut at Detroit in the 2003 season opener, Boldin caught 10 passes for 217 yards with a pair of touchdowns. The yardage total was the highest ever by a rookie in his first game and the reception total ranked tied for second all-time. The yardage also ranked as the fourth-most ever by a rookie. A second-round draft pick in 2003 out of Florida State, Boldin became only the 13th rookie in NFL history to record 1,000 receiving yards.
MOST RECEPTIONS / FIRST 25 NFL GAMES
154 Anquan Boldin, Cardinals 2003-04
134 Lionel Taylor, Bears/Broncos 1959-61
131 Tom Fears, LA Rams, 1948-50
126 Charley Hennigan, Oilers 1960-61
124 Keith Jackson, Eagles 1988-89
124 Jeremy Shockey, Giants 2002-03
WILSON SIGNS EXTENSION
A day after learning DE Bertrand Berry was selected to the Pro Bowl, the Cardinals defense received additional good news last Thursday when it was announced that safety Adrian Wilson was signed to a five-year contract extension through the 2009 season. “I’m just real happy right now,” Wilson said. “I’m going to be a Cardinal for a long time….It never crossed my mind that I was going to be able to hit the (free agent) market.” Wilson was taken by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2001 draft out of North Carolina State. The fourth year strong safety is currently second on the team with 93 tackles (James Darling, 100) and has set a new career high with 72 solos. Earlier this season, he returned a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown against New Orleans in the 35-10 week 4 victory, earning him the “NFC Defensive Player of the Week” honor. The 25-year old High Point, N.C. native led the Cardinals with four interceptions and ranked fourth on the team with 110 tackles (68 solos) in 2002 during his first season as a regular starter. He followed that up with 72 tackles (54 solos) as a 15-game starter in 2003. Wilson has collected 311 tackles (218 solo), 8 interceptions, 32 pass deflections, and 3.5 sacks in 62 career games with the Cardinals.
BERRY LEADS SACK ATTACK
Defensive end Bertrand Berry, who signed with Arizona this past offseason from Denver, has proven to be the best free agent acquisition in team history. Last Wednesday, Berry received an early Christmas present when he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. He becomes just the second defensive end in team history selected to the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl since it began following the 1970 season. The other was Simeon Rice in 1999, which was also the last year a Cardinal defender was selected (Rice and cornerback Aeneas Williams). He leads the NFC with 12.5 sacks, half a sack ahead of Tampa’s Simeon Rice and Atlanta’s Patrick Kerney. That sack total also ranks second in the NFL behind only Indianapolis’Dwight Freeney. No Cardinals player has ever led the NFL in sacks. The week before it was a sack of Ken Dorsey in overtime vs. SF (12/12) and at Detroit (12/5) he recorded one of Joey Harrington at Detroit. Against the Jets (11/28) he recorded a pair of half sacks to give him 10.0 and his second straight double-digit sack season. This year marks the 14th time a Cardinal has recorded 10+sacks. Berry becomes just the 8th different player to do so and the first since Simeon Rice in 1999.
Cards All-Time 10-Sack Seasons
16.5 Simeon Rice, 1999
16.0 Curtis Greer, 1983
14.0 Curtis Greer, 1984
14.0 Freddie Joe Nunn, 1988
13.5 Al Baker, 1983
12.5 Bertrand Berry, 2004
12.5 Simeon Rice, 1996
12.0 David Galloway, 1983
11.0 Freddie Joe Nunn, 1987
11.0 Clyde Simmons, 1995
10.0 Al Baker, 1984
10.0 Al Baker, 1986
10.0 Ken Harvey, 1990
10.0 Simeon Rice, 1998
400-CATCH CLUB
With his first catch two weeks ago vs. the Rams, tight end Freddie Jones recorded the 400th reception of his eight-year career. Jones currently ranks fourth on the team in receptions (43) and receiving yards (408), and also has two receiving touchdowns. Now in his third season with the Cards and his eighth in the NFL (he spent 1997-01 with San Diego), Freddie has caught at least one pass in each of the last 26 games after 1-catch for 5 yards last week at Seattle. Presently, Freddie ranks second among active tight ends behind only Kansas City’s Tony Gonzalez.
MOST CATCHES, ACTIVE TE’S
556 Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs
402 Freddie Jones, Cards
347 Ken Dilger, Bucs
309 Kyle Brady, Jaguars
259 Marcus Pollard, Colts
ODDS & ENDS
• Larry Fitzgerald has two receiving touchdowns in each of the last two games. Since the 1970 merger, no player in team history had ever recorded consecutive games with multiple receiving TDs.
• Arizona’s 34 sacks in 2004 are the team’s most since they recorded 39 in 1998.
• FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo needs three more receiving yards to set a new career high (168 in 2000 with Baltimore)
• RB Emmitt Smith needs 132 rushing yards Sunday to record an NFL record 12th career 1,000-yard season. His next rushing TD will give Emmitt 10 in 2004. It would be his ninth career season with 10+ and his first since 1999.
• S Adrian Wilson needs 7 tackles for the second 100-tackle campaign of his career (110 in ’02).
• While 14 of the 16 games in ’05 were already determined by the NFL schedule rotation, the two determined by position in the standings are in clearer focus. The Cardinals are locked into finishing third in the NFC West and now know that they’ll play at Detroit next season and host the loser of this week’s Saints-Panthers game.
• When Tampa defeated Arizona 19-18 in the last Bucs-Card match-up (9/28/97) the game winning score came on a 31-yard pass from Trent Dilfer to current Cardinal Karl Williams with 4:48 remaining.
• In his first start of ‘04 MLB, Gerald Hayes had a career game. His 9 tackles and 7 solo are both career bests. Entering the game he had only had seven tackles on the season and six of them were solos.
CARDS-BUCS CONNECTIONS
• Cardinals special teams coach Kevin O’Dea spent six seasons with Tampa Bay as an offensive assistant (2001) and defensive assistant (1996-2000) handling all aspects of game preparation.
• Cardinals running backs coach Kirby Wilson was the running backs coach during the 2002-2003 seasons in Tampa. In 2002, Wilson was part of the Super Bowl team the gained 1,400 rushing yards as a unit.
• Tampa Bay safety Dexter Jackson was with the Cardinals for the 2003 season. He started all 16 games with 70 solo tackles, 35 assists, 6 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles.
• Arizona quarterback Shaun King played five seasons with Tampa Bay (1999-2003) owning an 14-8 record as a starter and guiding the Bucs to the NFC Championship Game following the 1999 season. He was originally selected by Tampa in the second round (50th overall) of the 1999 draft. In 31 career games, he threw for 4,064 yards on 368 of 654 passing with 26 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. A native of St. Petersburg, FL, King was a prep all-America at Gibbs High School.
• Tampa Bay fullback Greg Comella was with the Cardinals for their 2003 training camp and signed again with the Cardinals for six weeks in the spring until being released in March.
• Arizona wide receiver/punt returner Karl Williams played eight seasons with Tampa Bay (1996-2003) appearing in 115 games (22 starts) with 135 receptions for 1,700 yards and seven touchdowns. He also returned 55 kicks for 1,227 yards and had 213 punt returns for 2,279 yards and 5 TDS.
• Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson played under current Cardinals head coach Dennis Green while the two were together in Minnesota from 1992-1998.
• Tampa Bay safety Marquis Cooper was a standout at Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona where he earned all state honors in 1999. His dad Bruce is a sportscaster at KPNX-NBC (Channel 12) in Phoenix.
• Arizona center Alex Stepanovich and safety Will Allen were teammates together at Ohio State and were both drafted in the 4th round of the 2004 NFL Draft (Stepanovich 100th overall, Allen 111th overall).
• Tampa Bay tackle Todd Steussie played under current Cardinals coach Dennis Green while the two were together in Minnesota 1994-2000.
• Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman was drafted by Arizona in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 1998 draft. In 56 games with Arizona, Pittman carried the ball 241 times for 1,945 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had 131 receptions for 1,039 yards and two touchdowns. In 2001 he was the first Cardinals running back to lead the team in receptions (73) and rushing yardage (719) since Terry Metcalf in 1975.
• Cardinals Senior Director of Football Operations John Idzik is in his first year in Arizona after spending the last 11 years with the Buccaneers, including the last three years as assistant general manager under Rich McKay. During his tenure the Buccaneers sent 47 players to the Pro Bowl and appeared in the playoffs in five of his last seven seasons.
• Tampa Bay defensive end Simeon Rice was originally drafted third overall by the Cardinals in 1996 NFL Draft. Rice holds the franchise record in sacks in a season with 16.5, set in 1999. He tallied 51.5 sacks in 79 games with the Cardinals.
• Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin served as inside linebacker coach for the Minnesota Vikings under then coach Dennis Green from 1992-1994. The 1994 Vikings defense ranked first in the league in overall defense and first against the run.
• Tampa Bay assistant head coach/defensive line coach Rod Marinelli served in the same capacity at Arizona State under head coach Bruce Snyder from 1992-1994.
• Tampa Bay wide receiver coach Richard Mann was the wide receiver coach at Arizona State from 1974-79 and helped tutor former NFL receiver John Jefferson. He was also a three year starter at flanker and tight end for the Sun Devils from 1966-68.
• Arizona RB Emmitt Smith is an Escambia, FL native and a consensus all-America running back and prep player of the year by Parade Magazine and USA Today as a senior at Escambia High School. He also starred at the University of Florida where he established 58 career school records in three seasons including a career rushing mark of 3,928 yards.
• Arizona quarterbacks coach Mike Kruczek coached for 16 seasons at the University of Central Florida, including the last six as head coach. He also received his first coaching experience as quarterbacks coach under Bobby Bowden at Florida State from 1982-1983.
http://azcardinals.com/news/news_details.html?iid=2532
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (5-10) at ARIZONA CARDINALS (5-10)
Sunday, January 2, 2005
2:05 PM (MST) – Sun Devil Stadium
THIS WEEK’S GAME
The Cardinals return to Sun Devil Stadium for the regular season finale this Sunday against Tampa Bay. Arizona officially saw its playoff hopes dashed last week at Seattle when the Seahawks held on for a 24-21 victory. Like Arizona, Tampa Bay enters the game with a 5-10 mark and also saw its postseason chances end last Sunday. The Bucs suffered a 37-20 home loss to the Panthers for their third straight defeat. The Cardinals are 4-3 at home this year while the Bucs are 1-6 on the road. A win against Tampa would give the Cards their best home record since
going 5-3 during the playoff season of 1998.
THE SERIES
The Cardinals and Bucs have faced each other 14 times with the series split at seven. They haven’t met since 1997 with the Bucs taking a 19- 18 home victory. The last time the Cardinals defeated Tampa Bay was 1996 by a score of 13-9 at Sun Devil Stadium. According to the NFL schedule rotation, the Cardinals and Bucs will face each other again in 2007 with the Cardinals traveling to Tampa Bay.
Date Site Result
Sept. 28, 1997 @ Tampa Bay L, 18-19
Oct. 20, 1996 @ Arizona W, 13-9
Dec. 27, 1992 @ Arizona L, 3-7
Sept. 6, 1992 @ Tampa Bay L, 7-23
Nov. 26, 1989 @ Arizona L, 13-14
Sept. 18, 1988 @ Tampa Bay W, 30-24
Dec. 20, 1987 @ Tampa Bay W, 31-14
Nov. 8, 1987 @ St. Louis W, 31-28
Dec. 21, 1986 @ St. Louis W, 21-17
Oct. 12, 1986 @ Tampa Bay W, 30-19
Nov. 10, 1985 @ Tampa Bay L, 0-16
Oct. 16, 1983 @ Tampa Bay W, 34-27
Sept. 27, 1981 @ Tampa Bay L, 10-30
Dec. 18, 1977 @ Tampa Bay L, 7-17
Last Meeting
Buccaneers 19, CARDINALS 18
September 28, 1997 – Houlihan’s Stadium –(53,804)
The Cardinals squandered one of their finest defensive performances in years, allowing Tampa Bay to extend its record to 5-0 and equal the best start in franchise history. Arizona was dominant defensively. Tampa Bay logged 12 possessions; 10 ended in four plays or fewer. The Bucs gained only 167 net yards on 47 offensive plays; 25 of their yards were registered on a completed pass off a fake punt. Tampa Bay gained only 54 yards rushing and zero first downs on the ground. The Bucs also converted only two of 14 third-down conversions. However, they were very resourceful with limited opportunities, scoring touchdowns on a blocked first-quarter punt, a 63-yard drive kept alive by a 25-yard pass completion from punt formation from their own 31-yard line, and a short-field 31-yard touchdown pass four plays after intercepting a fourth-quarter Kent Graham pass at Arizona’s 35-yard line. The Cardinals appeared to seize the game’s momentum in the third quarter when cornerback Aeneas Williams returned an interception 42 yards for a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion pass completion from Graham to Frank Sanders, but two missed fourth quarter field-goal attempts by Kevin Butler in the face of a stiff wind left the door wide open for Tampa Bay. Williams’ six-pointer was his fifth career interception return for a touchdown, equaling Larry Wilson’s franchise record. Graham completed 31 of 52 passes for 339 yards. He was intercepted twice and sacked six times, including three by Bucs tackle Brad Culpepper.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TELEVISION
Network: FOX
Play-by-Play: Ron Pitts
Color Analyst: Tim Ryan
CARDINALS RADIO NETWORK
Flagship: 1060 KDUS (AM)
KSLX 100.7 (FM)
Play-by-Play: Dave Pasch
Color Analyst: John Mistler
Sideline: Mike Jurecki
CARDINALS SPANISH RADIO
Flagship: KMIA (710 AM)
Play-by-Play: Gabriel Trujillo
Color Analyst: Luis Zendejas
Halftime/Analyst: Felipe Coral
CARDINALS CATEGORY BUCS
5-10 Record 5-10
272 Points Scored 294
315 Points Allowed 292
31 Touchdowns Scored 36
15 Rushing TDs 9
14 Passing TDs 23
2 Return TDs 4
34 Touchdowns Allowed 35
12 Rushing TDs Allowed 8
17 Passing TDs Allowed 21
5 Return TDs Allowed 6
39/320 Sacked/Yards Lost 40/262
33/11 Fumbles/Lost 30/16
17 Had Intercepted 16
18/23 Field Goals Made/Attempted 15/24
288.5 Total Yards Per Game 314.3
326.1 Opp. Total Yards Per Game 288.7
104.1 Rushing Yards Per Game 95.1
136.2 Opp. Rushing Yards Per Game 124.4
184.5 Passing Yards Per Game 219.1
189.9 Opp. Passing Yards Per Game 164.3
-2 Turnover Ratio -6
31:02 Average Time of Possession 29:57
25 / 23 / 23 NFL Rank-Total Offense/Run/Pass 22 / 29 / 14
13 / 29 / 9 NFL Rank-Total Defense/Run/Pass 5 / 22 / 2
BOLDIN KEEPS ROLLING
WR Anquan Boldin was a Pro Bowler and the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2003 and entered 2004 looking to build upon his record-setting inaugural campaign. Anquan missed all of the 2004 preseason and the regular season’s first six games due to a right knee injury suffered during training camp. He underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus on 8/11. He returned on 10/31 at Buffalo and has played in every game since. He certainly appears to be 100% with at least four catches in every game since returning. On 12/12 against the Niners, he posted season bests with 9 grabs for 109 yards, the first 100-yard day by a Cards receiver this season. He added his second with a 7-catch, 107-yard day last week at Seattle and also recorded his first TD of the season on a 31-yard grab. It marked the 19th time in 25 career games that Boldin has recorded five or more receptions in a game.
Date Opponent Rec. Yds
10/31 at Buffalo 4 * 50 *
11/7 at Miami 5 * 37
11/14 NY Giants 5 * 31
11/21 at Carolina 5 31
11/28 NY Jets 8 * 87 *
12/5 at Detroit 5* 48*
12/12 San Fran 9* 109*
12/19 St. Louis 4* 48
12/26 at Seattle 7* 107*
* led team 53 592
In 2003, he was the only first-year player selected to the Pro Bowl after he recorded 101 receptions for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns. Boldin set the NFL record for receptions by a rookie (101), and most receiving yards by a rookie in his first NFL game (217) while tying the Cardinals single-season reception record. In his NFL debut at Detroit in the 2003 season opener, Boldin caught 10 passes for 217 yards with a pair of touchdowns. The yardage total was the highest ever by a rookie in his first game and the reception total ranked tied for second all-time. The yardage also ranked as the fourth-most ever by a rookie. A second-round draft pick in 2003 out of Florida State, Boldin became only the 13th rookie in NFL history to record 1,000 receiving yards.
MOST RECEPTIONS / FIRST 25 NFL GAMES
154 Anquan Boldin, Cardinals 2003-04
134 Lionel Taylor, Bears/Broncos 1959-61
131 Tom Fears, LA Rams, 1948-50
126 Charley Hennigan, Oilers 1960-61
124 Keith Jackson, Eagles 1988-89
124 Jeremy Shockey, Giants 2002-03
WILSON SIGNS EXTENSION
A day after learning DE Bertrand Berry was selected to the Pro Bowl, the Cardinals defense received additional good news last Thursday when it was announced that safety Adrian Wilson was signed to a five-year contract extension through the 2009 season. “I’m just real happy right now,” Wilson said. “I’m going to be a Cardinal for a long time….It never crossed my mind that I was going to be able to hit the (free agent) market.” Wilson was taken by the Cardinals in the third round of the 2001 draft out of North Carolina State. The fourth year strong safety is currently second on the team with 93 tackles (James Darling, 100) and has set a new career high with 72 solos. Earlier this season, he returned a fumble 35 yards for a touchdown against New Orleans in the 35-10 week 4 victory, earning him the “NFC Defensive Player of the Week” honor. The 25-year old High Point, N.C. native led the Cardinals with four interceptions and ranked fourth on the team with 110 tackles (68 solos) in 2002 during his first season as a regular starter. He followed that up with 72 tackles (54 solos) as a 15-game starter in 2003. Wilson has collected 311 tackles (218 solo), 8 interceptions, 32 pass deflections, and 3.5 sacks in 62 career games with the Cardinals.
BERRY LEADS SACK ATTACK
Defensive end Bertrand Berry, who signed with Arizona this past offseason from Denver, has proven to be the best free agent acquisition in team history. Last Wednesday, Berry received an early Christmas present when he was selected to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career. He becomes just the second defensive end in team history selected to the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl since it began following the 1970 season. The other was Simeon Rice in 1999, which was also the last year a Cardinal defender was selected (Rice and cornerback Aeneas Williams). He leads the NFC with 12.5 sacks, half a sack ahead of Tampa’s Simeon Rice and Atlanta’s Patrick Kerney. That sack total also ranks second in the NFL behind only Indianapolis’Dwight Freeney. No Cardinals player has ever led the NFL in sacks. The week before it was a sack of Ken Dorsey in overtime vs. SF (12/12) and at Detroit (12/5) he recorded one of Joey Harrington at Detroit. Against the Jets (11/28) he recorded a pair of half sacks to give him 10.0 and his second straight double-digit sack season. This year marks the 14th time a Cardinal has recorded 10+sacks. Berry becomes just the 8th different player to do so and the first since Simeon Rice in 1999.
Cards All-Time 10-Sack Seasons
16.5 Simeon Rice, 1999
16.0 Curtis Greer, 1983
14.0 Curtis Greer, 1984
14.0 Freddie Joe Nunn, 1988
13.5 Al Baker, 1983
12.5 Bertrand Berry, 2004
12.5 Simeon Rice, 1996
12.0 David Galloway, 1983
11.0 Freddie Joe Nunn, 1987
11.0 Clyde Simmons, 1995
10.0 Al Baker, 1984
10.0 Al Baker, 1986
10.0 Ken Harvey, 1990
10.0 Simeon Rice, 1998
400-CATCH CLUB
With his first catch two weeks ago vs. the Rams, tight end Freddie Jones recorded the 400th reception of his eight-year career. Jones currently ranks fourth on the team in receptions (43) and receiving yards (408), and also has two receiving touchdowns. Now in his third season with the Cards and his eighth in the NFL (he spent 1997-01 with San Diego), Freddie has caught at least one pass in each of the last 26 games after 1-catch for 5 yards last week at Seattle. Presently, Freddie ranks second among active tight ends behind only Kansas City’s Tony Gonzalez.
MOST CATCHES, ACTIVE TE’S
556 Tony Gonzalez, Chiefs
402 Freddie Jones, Cards
347 Ken Dilger, Bucs
309 Kyle Brady, Jaguars
259 Marcus Pollard, Colts
ODDS & ENDS
• Larry Fitzgerald has two receiving touchdowns in each of the last two games. Since the 1970 merger, no player in team history had ever recorded consecutive games with multiple receiving TDs.
• Arizona’s 34 sacks in 2004 are the team’s most since they recorded 39 in 1998.
• FB Obafemi Ayanbadejo needs three more receiving yards to set a new career high (168 in 2000 with Baltimore)
• RB Emmitt Smith needs 132 rushing yards Sunday to record an NFL record 12th career 1,000-yard season. His next rushing TD will give Emmitt 10 in 2004. It would be his ninth career season with 10+ and his first since 1999.
• S Adrian Wilson needs 7 tackles for the second 100-tackle campaign of his career (110 in ’02).
• While 14 of the 16 games in ’05 were already determined by the NFL schedule rotation, the two determined by position in the standings are in clearer focus. The Cardinals are locked into finishing third in the NFC West and now know that they’ll play at Detroit next season and host the loser of this week’s Saints-Panthers game.
• When Tampa defeated Arizona 19-18 in the last Bucs-Card match-up (9/28/97) the game winning score came on a 31-yard pass from Trent Dilfer to current Cardinal Karl Williams with 4:48 remaining.
• In his first start of ‘04 MLB, Gerald Hayes had a career game. His 9 tackles and 7 solo are both career bests. Entering the game he had only had seven tackles on the season and six of them were solos.
CARDS-BUCS CONNECTIONS
• Cardinals special teams coach Kevin O’Dea spent six seasons with Tampa Bay as an offensive assistant (2001) and defensive assistant (1996-2000) handling all aspects of game preparation.
• Cardinals running backs coach Kirby Wilson was the running backs coach during the 2002-2003 seasons in Tampa. In 2002, Wilson was part of the Super Bowl team the gained 1,400 rushing yards as a unit.
• Tampa Bay safety Dexter Jackson was with the Cardinals for the 2003 season. He started all 16 games with 70 solo tackles, 35 assists, 6 interceptions, and 2 forced fumbles.
• Arizona quarterback Shaun King played five seasons with Tampa Bay (1999-2003) owning an 14-8 record as a starter and guiding the Bucs to the NFC Championship Game following the 1999 season. He was originally selected by Tampa in the second round (50th overall) of the 1999 draft. In 31 career games, he threw for 4,064 yards on 368 of 654 passing with 26 touchdowns and 20 interceptions. A native of St. Petersburg, FL, King was a prep all-America at Gibbs High School.
• Tampa Bay fullback Greg Comella was with the Cardinals for their 2003 training camp and signed again with the Cardinals for six weeks in the spring until being released in March.
• Arizona wide receiver/punt returner Karl Williams played eight seasons with Tampa Bay (1996-2003) appearing in 115 games (22 starts) with 135 receptions for 1,700 yards and seven touchdowns. He also returned 55 kicks for 1,227 yards and had 213 punt returns for 2,279 yards and 5 TDS.
• Tampa Bay quarterback Brad Johnson played under current Cardinals head coach Dennis Green while the two were together in Minnesota from 1992-1998.
• Tampa Bay safety Marquis Cooper was a standout at Highland High School in Gilbert, Arizona where he earned all state honors in 1999. His dad Bruce is a sportscaster at KPNX-NBC (Channel 12) in Phoenix.
• Arizona center Alex Stepanovich and safety Will Allen were teammates together at Ohio State and were both drafted in the 4th round of the 2004 NFL Draft (Stepanovich 100th overall, Allen 111th overall).
• Tampa Bay tackle Todd Steussie played under current Cardinals coach Dennis Green while the two were together in Minnesota 1994-2000.
• Tampa Bay running back Michael Pittman was drafted by Arizona in the fourth round (95th overall) of the 1998 draft. In 56 games with Arizona, Pittman carried the ball 241 times for 1,945 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also had 131 receptions for 1,039 yards and two touchdowns. In 2001 he was the first Cardinals running back to lead the team in receptions (73) and rushing yardage (719) since Terry Metcalf in 1975.
• Cardinals Senior Director of Football Operations John Idzik is in his first year in Arizona after spending the last 11 years with the Buccaneers, including the last three years as assistant general manager under Rich McKay. During his tenure the Buccaneers sent 47 players to the Pro Bowl and appeared in the playoffs in five of his last seven seasons.
• Tampa Bay defensive end Simeon Rice was originally drafted third overall by the Cardinals in 1996 NFL Draft. Rice holds the franchise record in sacks in a season with 16.5, set in 1999. He tallied 51.5 sacks in 79 games with the Cardinals.
• Tampa Bay defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin served as inside linebacker coach for the Minnesota Vikings under then coach Dennis Green from 1992-1994. The 1994 Vikings defense ranked first in the league in overall defense and first against the run.
• Tampa Bay assistant head coach/defensive line coach Rod Marinelli served in the same capacity at Arizona State under head coach Bruce Snyder from 1992-1994.
• Tampa Bay wide receiver coach Richard Mann was the wide receiver coach at Arizona State from 1974-79 and helped tutor former NFL receiver John Jefferson. He was also a three year starter at flanker and tight end for the Sun Devils from 1966-68.
• Arizona RB Emmitt Smith is an Escambia, FL native and a consensus all-America running back and prep player of the year by Parade Magazine and USA Today as a senior at Escambia High School. He also starred at the University of Florida where he established 58 career school records in three seasons including a career rushing mark of 3,928 yards.
• Arizona quarterbacks coach Mike Kruczek coached for 16 seasons at the University of Central Florida, including the last six as head coach. He also received his first coaching experience as quarterbacks coach under Bobby Bowden at Florida State from 1982-1983.
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