Beanie Wells takes a handoff from quarterback Brian St. Pierre at the beginning of Friday morning's minicamp practice.
With Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett already having contract issues, not having linebacker Karlos Dansby out at practice Friday morning was obviously going to raise a red flag, given his inability to reach a contract extension with the Cardinals.
It seemed odd, however, after Dansby had spent a chunk of time at voluntary conditioning work, and since he didn't seem nearly as flustered about contract discussions as his teammates.
So when Dansby came jogging on to the field in full uniform with what turned out to be only a few minutes left in the morning practice, he was chided by teammates who gave him a brief ovation of claps.
"They were glad to see me," Dansby said with a laugh. "They thought I was holding out too."
Instead, Dansby had what coach Ken Whisenhunt called a "miscommunication" with the team. He showed up late and had to get some blood work done before he was allowed to practice. He insisted holding out was never on his mind.
"No man, I am bigger than that," Dansby said. "I can't let nothing hold me back right now from me being with the team and making things work."
Dansby is already guaranteed a salary of $9.7 million this season if he doesn't get a contract extension.
WARNER FINALLY WORKS
Coming off hip surgery, quarterback Kurt Warner took part in 7-on-7 and individual drills Friday, and in the end, Whisenhunt said, "we had to hold him back" from doing more.
"It felt pretty good," Warner said. "It felt good to be back out there.
"I had been dropping a little bit and throwing. But live speed, seeing things and being able to react, I didn't know how it would respond. But it felt really good. Good for practice one."
BEANIE'S BEGINNING
Rookie first-round running back Beanie Wells called his first practice "an adjustment," but "I enjoyed it."
Wells said he "got in the playbook" Thursday night, so his first outing wasn't overwhelming. Wells will battle Tim Hightower for the starting job but for now, he is running with the second team.
EXTRA POINTS
The Cardinals have three veteran players in for tryouts for minicamp: tight end Dominique Byrd, tackle Oliver Ross and linebacker Rian Wallace. …
Four players coming back from knee surgery sat out: linebacker Ali Highsmith, tight end Stephen Spach, fullback Tim Castille and defensive tackle Gabe Watson. Watson recently had surgery to clean up some of the pins first inserted when he broke his kneecap last offseason.
Contact Darren Urban at askdarren@cardinals.nfl.net. Posted 5/1/09.
