Coach Ken Whisenhunt speaks to fans during Saturday's Fan Fest practice while the 2008 Pro Bowlers, including safety Adrian Wilson, received framed jerseys.
Adrian Wilson has watched the Super Bowl again, not with regret but pride for what he and his Cardinals' teammates accomplished.
Kurt Warner was at a charity event when he noticed a particular auction item – a photo of Steelers linebacker James Harrison returning Warner's Super Bowl interception for a touchdown, but reminders like that don't seem to faze him either.
"Overall, I was so excited about that time and being part of it, and that's what I remember, the run we made," Warner said. "(The Super loss) is all in the past."
But while the players insist they have moved on, coach Ken Whisenhunt said the game still sticks with him.
"Every time I turn around, they are showing a clip (from the game)," Whisenhunt said. "As exciting as it was that we were in the Super Bowl, it was also painful that we were that close and didn't win it."
Whisenhunt still hasn't re-watched the game, but he said he likely will before the Cards face the Steelers in the preseason opener. It's not like the loss gives him nightmares, he said, but it does stick with him.
"You just think about it, like today (at Fan Fest) with a lot of Super Bowl merchandise out here," Whisenhunt said. "It is natural to think about."
TOLER'S TRAVELS
Fourth-round draft pick Greg Toler has had a significant upgrade in facilities this week, coming from tiny Saint Paul's College in Virginia. But the cornerback said the best part is playing football again, after visiting 19 different NFL teams prior to the draft.
New teammate Tim Hightower had a similar rugged travel schedule after he too didn't attend the scouting combine. Hightower said the traveling made it hard for him to be in shape when minicamp arrived. Toler, however, isn't complaining.
"It was kind of hard, but coming from a D-II small school I knew I couldn't turn down too many visits," Toler said. "I just left (the draft) in God's hands. I heard I could be gone before I was drafted. I just wanted to work hard and hopefully, I'll get into the starting lineup here."
SHUFFLING THE LINE
The Cardinals have put rookie fifth-round pick Herman Johnson at right tackle (third team) to begin with, although Whisenhunt reiterated Johnson will also get work at guard at some point in a process that will span the offseason and into training camp.
"We will see how he does in (strength and conditioning coach) John Lott's program," Whisenhunt said. "To be honest, he looked good at tackle. I am not discounting him at guard, but because of the depth at our line right now, that's why he started at tackle."
The depth is such at this point where Oliver Ross – who is in minicamp only on a tryout basis for now – was running as the second-string right tackle. Part of that too is because Brandon Keith, who spent most of last season at tackle, is working at right guard for now.
Contact Darren Urban at askdarren@cardinals.nfl.net. Posted 5/2/09. Updated 5/3/09.
