Tickets remain for Cards home game

Tickets remain for Cards home game
Local TV blackout if game not sold out
by Kent Somers - Sept. 10, 2008 07:45 PM
The Arizona Republic

The Cardinals home opener Sunday against Miami is not sold out, although the team expects it to be by Thursday's 1:15 p.m. blackout deadline.

All 22 of the team's previous games at University of Phoenix have been sold out. NFL games must be sold out 72 hours prior to kickoff to avoid a local television blackout.

About 2,000 tickets remained Wednesday morning.

Businesses could buy the remaining tickets Thursday so CBS could broadcast the game locally on Channel 5 (KPHO).

The Cardinals went 6-2 at home last season, and coach Ken Whisenhunt repeatedly has said the crowd played a big factor in that.

"First of all it energizes our football team and second of all it makes it very difficult for opponents," he said. "We saw a number of false starts last year and that's directly attributable to our crowd. We're looking forward to getting that advantage this week."

Lots of eyes

The Cardinals victory over San Francisco was the most watched television program in Phoenix last week.

The broadcast recorded a rating of 14.8 and a 30 share. The Bears-Colts Sunday night game on NBC ranked second and the Jets-Dolphins game on CBS ranked third.

Scoring change

Outside linebacker Chike Okeafor was credited with a sack Wednesday after a review of Sunday's game. Linebacker Gerald Hayes had been given that sack.

Okeafor, who missed last season with an injury, has recorded a sack in each of his past six games. That's one behind the franchise record held by Curtis Greer, (1984-85).

Not surprised

Running back J.J. Arrington wasn't surprised he was inactive last Sunday. He had an idea it was coming after seeing in practice last week that he didn't have a part in the game plan.

"I've never sat on the sideline too much," he said. "Never, actually."

Arrington was the team's third-down back last year, but that role has been assumed by backup running back Tim Hightower and fullback Tim Castille. It's the first game Arrington has missed since his rookie year in 2005, when he sat out one game with a stomach virus.

Injury update

Nose tackles Alan Branch (ankle) and Gabe Watson (knee) practiced on a limited basis Wednesday. How they respond to an increased workload will determine their availability to play Sunday, Whisenhunt said.

Tight end Jerame Tuman (hamstring) won't practice until Friday at the earliest. The Dolphins reported no injuries.




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