The Cardinals have released 27-year old OT Levi Brown.  Brown played in 16 games (all starts) for the Cardinals last year.  He played in 77 games (75 starts) for the Cardinals in his five years with the team.  This move saved the Cardinals $14.5 million bucks off the salary cap, but, they now have a hole at tackle.

UPDATE:  (3/16/2012) – The Cardinals have re-signed Levi Brown to a 5-year deal.

The Cardinals have used the franchise tag on 25-year old DE Calais Campbell, which will lock him up for the 2012 season.  Campbell played in 16 games for the Cardinals last year and he had 72 tackles, 8 sacks, 7 tackles for a loss, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception and 10 passes defensed.  He has now played in 63 games in his first four years with the Cardinals and he has 208 tackles, 21 sacks, 19 tackles for a loss, 4 forced fumbles, 2 fumble recoveries, 1 interception and 18 passes defensed.  It was smart to use the franchise tag on Campbell and this buys them time to sign him to a long term deal.

The Cardinals found a couple of impact players (CB Patrick Peterson and LB Sam Acho) for the defense and special teams last April.  They also found other contributors in the draft.  Here is a look at the 2011 class of rookies for the Cardinals:

21-year old CB/PR Patrick Peterson came to the Cardinals in the first round.  All he did was make the NFC Pro Bowl as a rookie.  Peterson played in all 16 games for the Cardinals last year and he had 64 tackles, 2 interceptions, 13 passes defensed and 1 sack.  He also returned 44 punts for 699 yards (15.9 avg) with 4 TD returns!  The sky is the limit for Peterson.

21-year old RB Ryan Williams came to the Cardinals in the second round.  He blew out his right patellar tendon before the 2011 season even began.  He was going to push Chris Wells for P.T., but he’s way behind him now.  Williams has a nice upside if he can get and stay healthy.

The Cardinals picked 23-year old TE Rob Housler in the 3rd round.  He played in 12 games for the Cardinals last year and he caught 12 passes for 133 yards (11.1 avg) and he also had 2 tackles.  I look for Housler’s role in the passing game to start to expand in 2012.

The Cardinals found a nugget in the 4th round in 23-year old LB Sam Acho.  Acho played in all 16 games for the Cardinals last year and he finished up with 40 tackles, 7 sacks, 4 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery and 2 passes defensed.  Acho has a huge upside as he was outstanding rushing the passer in 2011.

23-year old fullback Anthony Sherman came to the Cards in the 5th round.  He played in 15 games for the Cardinals last year and he carried the ball 1 time for 3 yards.  He also caught 8 passes for 72 yards (9.0 avg) in 2011.  Sherman is also a solid special teams player as he had 8 tackles last year.

23-year old LB Quan Sturdivant came to the Cardinals in the 6th round.  He spent his rookie season on the practice squad.

24-year old DT David Carter was a nice find for the Cardinals in the 6th round.  He played in all 16 games for the Cardinals last year and he had 16 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 2 passes defensed and 3 tackles for a loss.

26-year old WR Demarco Simpson came to the Cardinals in the 7th round.  He played in 12 games for the Cardinals last year and he caught 3 passes for 36 yards (12.0 avg).

GRADE FOR THE 2011 SEASON:  B+

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  A

The Cardinals thought they solved all of their problems at QB after dealing for Kevin Kolb after the lockout was lifted.  But, he proved to be brittle and somewhat ineffective when he did play as the Cardinals were only 3-6 in games he started at QB.  Kolb played in 9 games (all starts) for the Cardinals last year and he completed 146 of 253 passes (57.7%) for 1,955 yards with 9 TD passes and 8 INTs (81.1 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 17 times for 65 yards (3.8 ypc) last year.  Kolb has now played in 28 games (16 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 340 of 572 passes (59.4%) for 4,037 yards with 20 TD passes and 22 INTs (76.7 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 53 times for 129 yards (2.4 ypc) with 1 TD run so far in his NFL career.  Kolb is now 6-10 (37.5%) as a starting QB in his NFL career.  He will likely open the 2012 season as the starting QB for the Cardinals.

23-year old John Skelton didn’t put up great passing numbers in 2011, but the Cardinals were 5-2 (71.4%) when he started at QB.  Skelton played in 8 games (7 starts) for the Cardinals last year and he completed 151 of 275 passes (54.9%) for 1,913 yards with 11 TD passes and 14 INTs (68.9 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 28 times for 128 yards (4.6 ypc) last season.  Skelton has now played in 13 games (11 starts) in his NFL career so far and he has completed 211 of 401 passes (52.6%) for 2,575 yards with 13 TD passes and 16 INTs (66.9 QB Rating).  He also has carried the ball 38 times for 177 yards (4.7 ypc) so far in his NFL career.  The Cardinals are now 7-4 (63.6%) in games started at QB by John Skelton.

28-year old Richard Bartel is #3 in line at QB for the Cardinals.  He played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Cardinals in 2011 and he completed 10 of 22 passes (45.5%) for 86 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT (52.5 QB Rating).  He also carried the ball 1 time for 9 yards last year.  Bartel has now played in 3 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has completed 26 of 50 passes (52%) for 236 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs (55.1 QB Rating).  Bartel has also carried the ball 1 time for 9 yards in his NFL career.

The Cardinals have signed 25-year old OLB Antonio Coleman to a reserve/future contract.  Coleman played in 3 games for the Bills last year and he had 4 tackles.  He has now played in 11 games in his first two years in the NFL and he has 16 tackles.  Coleman will get a shot to impress the Cardinals next year in training camp.

The Cardinals defense stopped the Seahawks’ offense in O.T., which set up John Skelton and the offense to put together a 13 play, 71 yard drive to set up a 28-yard field goal for Jay Feely….and he nailed it with 5:59 left in O.T.  John Skelton completed 22 of 40 passes for 271 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 5 times for 19 yards (3.8 ypc).  LaRod Stephens-Howling led the way on the ground for the Cardinals in this game with 21 carries for 93 yards (4.4 ypc) and a TD.  Chester Taylor pitched in with 3 carries for 8 yards (2.7 ypc) and a TD run.  Larry Fitzgerald led the way for the Cardinals in the passing game with 9 grabs for 149 yards (16.6 avg).  TE Todd Heap pitched in with 2 grabs for 35 yards (17.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  The Cardinals finished up with 131 yards rushing on 31 carries (4.2 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 40 passes (55%) for 257 yards as they had possession of the ball for 35:19.

The defense wasn’t too good for the Cardinals in this game.  LB Daryl Washington (11 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 pass defensed) and CB Richard Marshall (7 tackles, 1 pass defensed and a interception that he returned 49 yards) led the way for the Cardinals in this game.  CB Michael Adams (6 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss) and LB Paris Lenon (6 tackles and 1 pass defensed) also pitched in for the Cardinals on D.  The Seahawks finished up with 178 yards rushing on 34 carries (5.2 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 35 passes (60%) for 191 yards.  The Cardinals finished the 2011 season with a 8-8 record.

The Cardinals have won six of their last eight games as they have been red hot.  The Seahawks are also hot as they have won 5 of their last 7 games.  The winner will finish .500 on the season, so these teams have a little bit to play for.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Cardinals have the ball:  The Cardinals are going to look to be balanced on offense tomorrow.  Beanie Wells will likely get 20-25 carries tomorrow against a Seahawks’ D that is giving up 111.1 yards rushing per game, but only 3.8 yards per carry…so he will have to fight for every yard he gets.  The Cardinals are starting John Skelton at QB again this weekend, but they need him to protect the football.  The Seahawks have a pretty decent secondary, so Skelton is going to have to be careful throwing the ball this weekend.  If the Seahawks gang up on Larry Fitzgerald, Skelton would be smart to throw the ball to Early Doucet, Andre Roberts and Todd Heap more tomorrow.

When the Seahawks have the ball:  The Cardinals’ D is going to have to tighten up their chinstraps as Marshawn Lynch has been a beast so far this year for the Seahawks.  He is a power runner in the purest sense and he’s more than fast enough to get to the corner.  The Cardinals will be blitzing like crazy on passing downs as the Seahawks don’t have any receiver that worries them.  Tarvaris Jackson is little more than a game manager, so he’s not going to beat them with his right arm throwing the ball.

PREDICTION:  CARDINALS 23, SEAHAWKS 20

The Cardinals have placed 27-year old RT Brandon Keith on the Injured Reserve List, ending his season due to a injured right ankle.  Keith played in 13 games (11 starts) for the Cardinals last year.  He has now played in 26 games (20 starts) in his first four years with the Cardinals.  Keith will be replaced in the starting lineup by 31-year old Jeremy Bridges.  Bridges has played in 15 games (4 starts) for the Cardinals so far this year.  Keith didn’t play too well this year, so Bridges might actually be an improvement for the Cardinals.

The Cardinals are sending three players to the Pro Bowl in Hawaii this year.  It all starts with 28-year old WR Larry Fitzgerald.  He has played in 15 games for the Cardinals so far this year and he has caught 71 passes for 1,262 yards (17.8 avg) with 8 TD grabs despite constant double and triple teams by opponents.  32-year old safety Adrian Wilson is also making a return trip to the Pro Bowl.  He has played in 15 games for the Cardinals so far this year and he has 62 tackles, 12 passes defensed, 1 interceptions, 7 tackles for a loss and 1 forced fumble.  21-year old CB/PR Patrick Peterson has made it to the Pro Bowl as a rookie.  He has played in 15 games for the Cardinals so far this year and he has 60 tackles, 13 passes defensed, 1 sack and 2 interceptions.  Peterson made the Pro Bowl based on his punt return abilities, not his defense.  He has returned 40 punts for 636 yards (15.9 avg) with 4 TD returns so far this year.

The Arizona Cardinals played pretty solid football, but they just weren’t good enough to beat the Bengals in Cincy last Saturday.  John Skelton took too many chances as he completed 23 of 44 passes for 297 yards with 2 TD passes and 3 INTs.  Beanie Wells led the way for the Cardinals on the ground in this game with 53 yards rushing on 14 carries (3.8 ypc).  WR Larry Fitzgerald led the way in the air in this game with 6 grabs for 105 yards (17.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  WR Andre Roberts (6 rec, 75 yards) and TE Jeff King (1 rec, 2 yards, TD) also pitched in for the Cardinals.  The Cardinals finished up with 59 yards rushing on 18 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 23 of 44 passes (52.3%) for 257 yards as they had possession of the ball for 28:21.

The defense was didn’t play too well for the Cardinals in this game.  LB Daryl Washington led the way for the Cardinals with 11 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 1 QB hit led the way for the Cardinals’ D in this game.  DT Darnell Dockett (7 tackles and 2 QB hits), DE Calais Campbell (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 2 passes defensed and 1 QB hit) and safety Adrian Wilson (7 tackles) also had solid games for the Cardinals yesterday.  The Bengals finished up with 165 yards rushing on 34 carries (4.9 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 31 passes (58.1%) for 136 yards in this game.  The Cardinals are now 7-8 on the season.