The 2006 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 87th in the National Football League (NFL), their 19th in Arizona and the third and final under head coach Dennis Green. The season began with the team trying to improve on their 5–11 record in 2005. They also moved into the Cardinals Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (one of the western suburbs of Phoenix), the first-ever stadium in the United States with a retractable playing surface. The stadium was christened University of Phoenix Stadium on September 26, and managed to sell out every home game. Despite a somewhat promising start, the team suffered a few setbacks, including key losses to the Dallas Cowboys and most memorably the eventual NFC Champion Chicago Bears, and ended the season (again) at a disappointing 5–11 record. Head coach Dennis Green was fired after the season, replaced by Ken Whisenhunt.
Offseason On March 12, 2006, the Cardinals acquired former Colts running back Edgerrin James through free agency, by signing him to a four-year, $30 million contract.
The Cardinals then selected the 2004 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Matt Leinart with the 10th pick of the 2006 NFL draft. Leinart played for the University of Southern California and won 1½ national championships with the team in 2003 and 2004.
Leinart missed the first two weeks of the 2006 Cardinals training camp (and the opening game of the preseason) due to prolonged contract negotiations, but on August 15, the Arizona Republic, KTAR radio and ESPN reported that Leinart agreed to a six-year contract that could earn him a maximum of $51 million, according to his agent, Tom Condon. The contract reportedly contained $14 million in guaranteed money, and involved "escalator" clauses to increase Leinart's salary in the later years of the deal should he meet certain playing-time incentives.Cardinals sign Leinart
The Cardinals also selected another USC alum, guard Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui in the 3rd round, followed by Georgia tight end Leonard Pope, Michigan defensive tackle Gabriel Watson, Louisville linebacker Brandon Johnson, Virginia Tech defensive tackle Jonathan Lewis, and Brigham Young wide receiver Todd Watkins. This as well as the duo Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald at wide receiver, eventually made the Cardinals a serious threat in the NFC West.
Arizona Cardinals Draft
Personnel
Roster
Schedule In the 2006 regular season, the Cardinals' non-divisional, conference opponents were primarily from the NFC North, although they also played the Dallas Cowboys from the NFC East, and the Atlanta Falcons from the NFC South. Their non-conference opponents were from the AFC West.
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 10 San Francisco 49ers W 34–27 1–0 Cardinals Stadium 63,407 2 September 17 at Seattle Seahawks L 10–21 1–1 Qwest Field 67,470 3 September 24 St. Louis Rams L 14–16 1–2 Cardinals Stadium 63,278 4 October 1 at Atlanta Falcons L 10–32 1–3 Georgia Dome 68,981 5 October 8 Kansas City Chiefs L 20–23 1–4 University of Phoenix Stadium 63,445 6 October 16 Chicago Bears L 23–24 1–5 University of Phoenix Stadium 63,977 7 October 22 at Oakland Raiders L 9–22 1–6 McAfee Coliseum 61,595 8 October 29 at Green Bay Packers L 14–31 1–7 Lambeau Field 70,809 9 Bye 10 November 12 Dallas Cowboys L 10–27 1–8 University of Phoenix Stadium 63,926 11 November 19 Detroit Lions W 17–10 2–8 University of Phoenix Stadium 63,348 12 November 26 at Minnesota Vikings L 26–31 2–9 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 63,483 13 December 3 at St. Louis Rams W 34–20 3–9 Edward Jones Dome 65,612 14 December 10 Seattle Seahawks W 27–21 4–9 University of Phoenix Stadium 63,603 15 December 17 Denver Broncos L 20–37 4–10 University of Phoenix Stadium 63,845 16 December 24 at San Francisco 49ers W 26–20 5–10 Monster Park 67,751 17 December 31 at San Diego Chargers L 20–27 5–11 Qualcomm Stadium 66,492 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Standings
Regular season The Cardinals' Ring of Honor was started in 2006 to mark the opening of University of Phoenix Stadium. It honors former Cardinal greats from all eras of the franchise's history. Following is a list of inductees and the dates that they were inducted. Charles Bidwill, Owner (August 12, 2006) Jimmy Conzelman, Coach (August 12, 2006) Dan Dierdorf, Tackle (October 16, 2006) John "Paddy" Driscoll, Quarterback (August 12, 2006) Marshall Goldberg, Halfback (August 12, 2006) Dick "Night Train" Lane, Defensive Back (August 12, 2006) Ollie Matson, Halfback (August 12, 2006) Ernie Nevers, Fullback (August 12, 2006) Charley Trippi, Halfback/Quarterback (August 12, 2006) Roger Wehrli, Cornerback (October 14, 2007) Larry Wilson, Safety (September 10, 2006) Pat Tillman, Safety (November 12, 2006) Week 1: vs. San Francisco 49ers
The Cardinals opened the regular season at home against the San Francisco 49ers on September 10. This game was the inaugural regular season game played at Cardinals Stadium. In the first quarter, 49ers quarterback Alex Smith and tight end Vernon Davis scored the inaugural regular season touchdown in the new stadium as they connected on a 31-yard pass. The Cardinals responded, as quarterback Kurt Warner threw the first touchdown pass by a Cardinals player in the new stadium on a 2-yard strike to wide receiver Troy Walters. Newly acquired running back Edgerrin James provided the first rushing touchdown in their new stadium on a 1-yard strike. Afterwards, Warner threw another touchdown pass, this time to wide receiver Anquan Boldin. In the second quarter, 49ers running back Frank Gore helped San Francisco get closer as he ran on a 4-yard touchdown play. Kicker Neil Rackers helped improve the Cardinals' lead, as he kicked a 36-yard field goal. In the third quarter, both sides each got a touchdown. San Francisco's Gore scored on a 2-yard run, while Arizona's Warner threw a 7-yard touchdown to tight end Adam Bergen. In the fourth quarter, it was all field goals to end the game, as 49ers kicker Joe Nedney kicked a 22-yard field goal. Then, Rackers helped Arizona on a 30-yard field goal. Even though Nedney kicked one more field goal for San Francisco (a 44-yarder), the Cardinals escaped with the win and a 1–0 start.
Week 2: at Seattle Seahawks
For Week 2, the Cardinals flew to the Northwest to take on the defending NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks. From the get-go, the Cardinals trailed, as the opposing running back Shaun Alexander scored a touchdown on a 2-yard run. Then, Arizona allowed opposing quarterback Matt Hasselbeck to complete a 49-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Darrell Jackson. There wasn't any more scoring by either team for the remainder of the half. In the third quarter, the Cardinals finally got on the border with kicker Neil Rackers nailing a 43-yard field goal. However, Seattle managed to put the game away with fullback Mack Strong's 3-yard touchdown run. The Cardinals got a touchdown, with quarterback Kurt Warner completing a 40-yard pass to wide receiver Bryant Johnson, but the Seahawks were the better team and the Cardinals fell to 1–1.
Week 3: vs. St. Louis Rams
The Cardinals returned home to face their third NFC West opponent, the St. Louis Rams. Quarterback Kurt Warner drew first blood against his former team, as completed a 12-yard touchdown strike to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald for the only score of the first quarter. However, in the second quarter, it was all St. Louis. Kicker Jeff Wilkins got a 26-yard field goal, quarterback Marc Bulger completed a 9-yard pass to wide receiver Torry Holt, and Wilkens got a 47-yard field goal as time ran out on the first half. In the third quarter, Wilkens helped the Rams increase their lead with a 21-yard field goal, which was the only score of the third quarter. In the fourth quarter, even a valiant effort for a comeback, the only score that Arizona could muster was a 6-yard touchdown run by running back Edgerrin James. After a Bulger fumble deep in St. Louis territory while trying to run out the clock set up the Cardinals for an easy chip shot field goal to win, Warner fumbled a snap and St. Louis recovered to seal the victory. Adding to Warner's three interceptions, the Cardinals got their first loss in their new stadium as they fell to 1–2. A few days afterward, ESPN reported that rookie quarterback Matt Leinart would be starting the next game. However, the next day, Arizona's head coach announced that the club would be sticking with the veteran Warner.
Week 4: at Atlanta Falcons
Hoping to recover from a two-game skid, the Cardinals flew to the Georgia Dome for a Week 4 match-up with the Atlanta Falcons. From the get-go, the Cardinals trailed, as Falcons kicker Morten Andersen completed a 34-yard and a 40-yard field goal in the opening period. The Cardinals responded with a 29-yard field goal by kicker Neil Rackers. In the second quarter, Arizona continued to trail, as Koenan belted a 51-yard field goal for Atlanta. The Cardinals struck back with strong safety Adrian Wilson returning an interception 99 yards for a touchdown, but that was the only time that the Cardinals saw the lead, as Andersen got a 36-yard field goal to give the Falcons the lead at halftime. In the second half, the Cardinals got shot down and shut-out, as Atlanta scored 20 unanswered points (Andersen's 26-yard field goal, cornerback DeAngelo Hall's 37-yard interception return in the third quarter, rookie running back Jerious Norwood's 78-yard touchdown run and Andersen's 28-yard field goal in the fourth quarter). Not even quarterback Matt Leinart, who replaced quarterback Kurt Warner in the fourth quarter, could save Arizona from dropping their third straight game, as the Cardinals fell to 1–3. The game showed just how much the Cardinals had to improve their offensive line, as they were whipped for the whole game by the Falcons defensive line.
Week 5: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
The Cardinals hosted a close contest with the Kansas City Chiefs. The game was the first at the newly christened University of Phoenix Stadium, which signed its naming rights deal with the Cardinals two days after Arizona's last home game versus St. Louis. The Cardinals started off hot as Matt Leinart, making his first NFL start, threw two touchdowns in the first quarter to his two top targets, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. The Chiefs responded early in the second quarter with a 45-yard field goal by kicker Lawrence Tynes, and a touchdown pass from quarterback Damon Huard to running back Larry Johnson. Cards kicker Neil Rackers added a 41-yard field at the end of the first half. Another Rackers field goal, this time from 45 yards, accounted for the only score in the third quarter. The Chiefs then scored 13 unanswered points to win the game, with a touchdown pass from Huard to Samie Parker, and two field goals by Tynes (40, 19). Tynes' last field goal was set up by a 78-yard screen pass from Huard to Johnson. Johnson suffered a sprained neck at the end of the play on a violent face mask tackle by Cardinals' cornerback Antrel Rolle, who was fined $12,500 for the penalty. A last second 51-yard field goal attempt by Rackers to send the game to overtime failed, giving the Cardinals their fourth straight loss. During the game Larry Fitzgerald pulled a hamstring and missed 3 games, returning Week 10 against Dallas.
Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears