Calais Campbell (93), Kurt Warner (13) and Karlos Dansby (58) take a picture with a sick child during Tuesday's Teddy Bear Express at Phoenix Children's Hospital.
The players were technically off both Monday and Tuesday after their division-clinching victory Sunday against the Rams, but many of them stayed busy within the community.
Beginning Monday night with the annual "Making the Cut with Rolf's Salons" event for Cardinals Charities and lasting through Tuesday night, some players made sure to give back in one form or another.
The Rolf's event, featuring players providing shampoos, manicures and haircuts
(all under strict supervision by professionals), included Bertrand Berry, Steve Breaston, Calais Campbell, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Lyle Sendlein, Jerheme Urban, Elliot Vallejo, Eduardo Castaneda, Michael Adams, Scott Peters and Wilrey Fontenot. The money raised went to Cardinals Charities, which goes to help needy children, women and minorities in Arizona.
Tuesday was event-laden.
It started with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald taking part in the NFL's "Take a Player to School" day. Riding in a limo to meet second-grader Jacob Galindo of Gilbert, Fitzgerald hung around with the Galindo at Higley's Gateway Point Elementary. Galindo, 8, was one of 34 kids chosen nationwide to host a player. Fitzgerald not only delivered high fives to kids but also the message to stay active, part of the NFL's "Play 60" campaign to get kids to exercise at least 60 minutes a day.The annual "Teddy Bear Express" also took place at Phoenix Children's Hospital. Kurt Warner, Urban, Campbell, Karlos Dansby, Brian St. Pierre,
Neil Rackers and Alex Shor delivered personalized teddy bears to sick kids, trying to encourage them around the holidays despite the children's health issues. They were joined by Reggie Wells' mother, Dee, and coach Ken Whisenhunt's wife Alice.
Part two of Tuesday's Express came later at Watkins Shelter, which houses homeless families. Rodgers-Cromartie, Shor, Deuce Lutui and Lance Long took part, as did Dee Wells and Alice Whisenhunt.
In the afternoon, the Matt Leinart Foundation conducted an outdoor Christmas
party and barbeque at the Save The Families shelter in Mesa. The shelter is designed as for homeless families trying to get back on their feet, helping to set up job interviews while providing a place to live. With a small carnival and Santa (Cardinals strength coach John Lott) giving away presents to the children, Leinart was joined by Campbell, Rackers, Lutui, Stephen Spach and Ben Graham.
In the evening, long snapper Nathan Hodel also hosted his annual shopping excursion for needy kids.
