Pelissero: Cardinals turn to Lindley; more around the NFL
Ryan Lindley lost the Arizona Cardinals' No. 3 quarterback job in training camp. He cleared waivers and joined the San Diego Chargers' practice squad, where he stayed until the Cardinals re-signed him last month out of desperation for a healthy body with knowledge of the offense.
It's hard to think of another quarterback going through a stretch like that and starting a more meaningful game in the final weeks of a season than Lindley will Sunday night, when the Seattle Seahawks visit Arizona as heavy road favorites, with the NFC West title in the balance.
The Cardinals are down to their fourth option at the most important position after starter Carson Palmer and backup Drew Stanton got hurt and coach Bruce Arians opted to bypass rookie fourth-round pick Logan Thomas for Lindley in last week's 12-6 win over the Rams at St. Louis.
Lindley, 25, hadn't played a regular-season snap since 2012, when he threw seven interceptions and no touchdown passes in six games (four starts). And there are reasons he was on the street in August. He has a decent arm but isn't particularly accurate and can't move – not an ideal combination against any defense, much less the best in the league.
Even when the Seahawks had to go with Charlie Whitehurst for the 2010 finale because of an injury to Matthew Hasselbeck (and beat the St. Louis Rams to take a terrible division at 7-9), that was a guy they'd acquired in a trade and were paying $4 million a year as a developmental project. Lindley was making $6,300 a week in San Diego and the Cardinals signed him to a prorated minimum contract, as any team could have done for more than two months.
Now a QB nobody even wanted on a 53-man roster is preparing to lead an Arizona offense that hasn't hit 20 points since Palmer's knee gave out Nov. 9 against a Seahawks defense that has allowed 27 points total during a four-game winning streak.
Seattle's run began with a 19-3 win over Stanton and the Cardinals, who managed 204 net yards Nov. 23. All that's at stake in the nationally televised rematch at University of Phoenix Stadium – where Arizona hasn't lost this season – is the division title, a home playoff opener and a shot at the No. 1 seed in the NFC.
Arians said Friday that Stanton, who has a sprained right knee, could suit up as Lindley's backup Sunday, boding well for his chances of returning in the playoffs. But it'll be a hard road if the division slips away.
The Cardinals defense – which has survived its own remarkable stretch of injuries – must lead the way Sunday as it has most of the season. Lindley has to do enough to give Arizona a chance, though.
And if he and the Cardinals pull it off, they won't just have upset what as of Friday was an eight-point spread at the Bovada Sportsbook. They will have pulled the upset of the year.
Vick wants to continue career
The one-year, $4 million contract Michael Vick signed with the New York Jets in March hasn't worked out particularly well for either side. But the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback says he has every intention of trying to keep playing as his 35th birthday approaches.
"I'm just going to pray for some great things," Vick told USA TODAY Sports this week. "I'm going to continue to pray for one more shot. I feel like I can still play at a high level and I've got a lot to give. Hopefully, (someone) gives me that opportunity to show what I can do."
Asked if he'd need a shot to start, Vick said, "An opportunity to be a starter would be great. But I can't be picky in terms of what my future holds."
He's right there. In nine appearances this season, Vick has completed just 52.9% of his passes for a career-low 5.0 average per attempt. The Jets won one of his three starts in November, then went back to second-year pro Geno Smith as they continued to spiral to 3-11.
There are never enough competent quarterbacks to go around in the NFL, so Vick figures to find work. The ongoing issues are durability and the inevitable decline in athletic ability for a player who has been at his best when he can stress defenses with his legs as much as his arm.
Pro Bowl sellout
The Pro Bowl flirted with TV blackouts multiple times in recent years while the game was played in Honolulu. That apparently won't be an issue on the mainland.
Peter O'Reilly, the NFL's senior vice president of events, said there are a "very limited number" of tickets left and he expects a sellout for this year's Pro Bowl, which will be played Jan. 25 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., site of Super Bowl XLIX one week later. Among other factors, Cardinals season ticket holders were aggressive in buying in.
After threats from Commissioner Roger Goodell to cancel the annual all-star game because of costs and lack of competitiveness, the Pro Bowl got a lift last season with a new format that included a player draft by two hall of famers (Deion Sanders and Jerry Rice), two-minute drills to end each quarter and the legalization of zone coverage.
The change "came through both on the field and the energy in the stadium and the broadcast," O'Reilly said. "We think that'll continue. We're excited about the alumni captains we have in Cris Carter and Michael Irvin and the new format. We think that'll be terrific."
Three and out
• Further evidence of the never-ending QB shortage: Week 16 starters are expected to include Lindley, Jimmy Clausen (Bears) and Case Keenum (Texans), who have a combined career passer rating of 62.2 and two wins in 22 NFL starts.
• The AFC playoff race could be all but over before Week 17. The Patriots and Broncos can clinch the first-round byes with wins this week. The Colts are already in, too. The Steelers and Bengals can clinch their playoff spots with wins. And if the Steelers do beat (or tie) the Chiefs, the Ravens would be in with a win and a Chargers loss or tie Saturday at San Francisco. The only real drama left then would be deciding an AFC North winner.
• The return of Saturday football isn't exactly a bonanza for compelling matchups. But chalk it up as a potentially great day for reality TV. Redskins WR DeSean Jackson's rematch with the slumping Eagles figures to generate some fireworks. And how the 49ers respond to playoff elimination in what appears likely to be Jim Harbaugh's penultimate game as coach is anyone's guess.
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Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero