Arizona Cardinals Weekly Flock: Is it Time for Training Camp Yet Edition

Mike Gandy’s Future - Cardinals OLT Mike Gandy has a hefty cap figure of $5.8 million entering the final year of his contract, which could be lowered if the team chose to extend his current deal. But our sources in the desert believe the team is leaning toward allowing the ninth-year veteran to test the free-agent market next offseason, with former first-round pick Levi Brown moving from the right side to the left, and promising second-year pro Brandon Keith getting a shot at becoming the starting right tackle.

Moneyball, NFL style - I was able to get a look at some NFL Management Council figures on “committed cash,” which is a fancy way of saying how much each team spent in actual dollars (not salary cap funny money) on player costs during a fixed period of time. In this case, we’re looking at the gross totals spent on salaries and bonuses to players for the past five seasons — from 2004-2008. (spoiler alert: The Cardinals can’t be called cheap anymore.)

Dolphins among clubs supersizing cornerbacks - No regular starter was taller than 6 foot 2 last year, but the four listed at that height were Nnamdi Asomugha, Antonio Cromartie, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Ike Taylor. So that’s the best in the business (Asomugha), the 2007 interception leader (Cromartie), a top rookie last year (Rodgers-Cromartie) and two Super Bowl starters (Rodgers-Cromartie, Taylor).

Redbirds fill out scouting department - The Cardinals filled the vacancies in their scouting staff Monday, officially announcing the hiring of Luke Palko and Chris Culmer. Culmer joins the Cards after spending the last nine seasons with NFC West rival Seattle, including the last five as a pro personnel assistant. Culmer will scout college players in the western region. He received an undergraduate degree in business from Washington State and a Master’s degree in Sports Management from the University of Massachusetts. Palko, the younger brother of Cardinals quarterback Tyler Palko, spent the past two seasons as a scouting intern with the Steelers. His college scouting area will primarily be in the southeast and central regions of the country. Palko was the all-time leading receiver at Saint Francis (PA) in college, where he also got a degree in accounting.

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