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January 06, 2009
Whisenhunt remembers Smith's big play
Even in the crucible of the NFL playoffs, Arizona Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt is keeping his sense of humor.
Whisenhunt, whose Cardinals play the Carolina Panthers in an NFC Divisional playoff game Saturday at Bank of America Stadium, could laugh Tuesday when he was asked about a 65-yard touchdown reception by Steve Smith in the Panthers' 27-23 victory against the Cardinals on Oct. 26.
It was an important play. After catching the pass from Jake Delhomme near midfield in front of the Arizona bench, Smith barely stayed in bounds, broke a few Cardinals tackles and sprinted to the end zone. Cardinals special teams coach Kevin Spencer, standing immediately next to the play when Smith caught the ball, thought he had stepped out of bounds. So did Whisenhunt, who was about 10 yards away. Whisenhunt threw his red flag, asking for an officials' review, but the play was upheld. Smith's third-quarter touchdown gave the Panthers a 24-23 lead, the go-ahead points after Arizona had taken a 17-3 lead at one point.
"I think maybe we can put a little more white on the sideline," Whisenhunt said Tuesday of how the Cardinals might defend Smith this time. "So that when he steps out like he did that last game, they'll actually call that.
"I'm just kidding."
But Whisenhunt had no problem with the officials' call.
"I'm not trying to do anything to diminish that play, it was a great play," he said. "But we were jaded. It was one of those things that we saw something that we wanted to see, because it was so devastating when he made that play.
"I just hope he had a rag to wipe that white paint off his shoes."
-- David Scott
Posted by Observer Sports on January 6, 2009 at 05:45 PM | Permalink
Comments
Don't worry about the white paint Whisenhunt, there will be plenty of Panther black and blue to go around for all the Cardinals.
Posted by: Al Irwin | Jan 6, 2009 6:19:36 PM
And Steve Smith catches the ball with his rearcheeks! Touchdown Carolina!
You've got to be kidding me! Unbelievable! Steve Smith is the most prolific receiver ever! I don't believe it!
Posted by: Revshawn | Jan 6, 2009 7:16:17 PM
I seem to remember that that was the play that put us ahead 24-23, not to tie the game at 17 all.
Posted by: catchick | Jan 6, 2009 7:28:29 PM
i really think that steve smith is going to be pump in this game !!!
Posted by: Danny | Jan 6, 2009 8:39:51 PM
Your a strange dude, Revshawn.
Posted by: nasty704 | Jan 7, 2009 12:42:06 AM
Was that the play when it looked like Steve (Please don't call him Steven on TV) Smith stepped on the sideline but was ruled that he managed to keep the heel off the chalk? That was an amazing play. How he managed to stay on his toes enough to convince the officials to allow the TD is beyond me. He has the most amazing body control of any football player I have ever seen, whether he's in the air to make a big catch or juking a defender out of his cleats on his way to the end zone. Well, with the possible exception of Lynn Swann, that is. Just a terrific athlete. I'm glad he plays for my favorite team. He makes the DirecTV Sunday Ticket package worth the money all by himself.
Posted by: FrankieB2 | Jan 7, 2009 1:39:43 AM
FOR THOSE WONDERING ABOUT Q's STATUS
Linebacker Karlos Dansby, appearing last night on Late Hits with Howard David and Gil Brandt on Sirius NFL Radio, addressed Boldin’s status.
“He’s a warrior, man. He’s going to be fine,” Dansby said. “Like they said, he just tweaked it a little bit. I told him [that] today when I saw him in the training room, I was laughing, I said, ‘Man, that’s the fastest I’ve ever seen you run.’ . . . In my five years being here that’s the fastest I’ve ever seen him run.
“I get the opportunity to check him every Wednesday [in practice] and he tries to run the seam route on me every time and he don’t run that fast, you know what I’m saying? So I was really impressed with it, man, and I told him that. He said he’s going to be fine and he’s going to be ready to go.”
We can’t imagine Boldin not playing — even if his status is only as a decoy to draw attention away from Larry Fitzgerald and Steve Breaston.
Posted by: O B X | Jan 7, 2009 8:02:51 AM
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