CARDINALS CAMP DETAILSWhen: The Cardinals are conducting training camp in Glendale for the first time.  The initial full-sqad practice is Friday from 2-4:30 p.m. That will be the normal time for practices open to the public at University of Phoenix Stadium. FULL CAMP SCHEDULEParking: Parking and admission are free.  Parking lots are open on the east side of the stadium (Green and Gray) and will open each practice day at 12:30 p.m. Use the Green entry off 91st Avenue.  For Friday-Sunday practices, additional lots on the West (Orange) side of the stadium also will be available. Stadium entry: Enter through Gate 3 on the east side of the stadium beginning at 1:30 p.m. Fans can also enter through the team store at the north end near Gate 2.  For Friday-Sunday practices entry is also possible at Gate 1 on the west side of the building.  All fans will be subject to screening, including an inspection of all items brought inside the stadium. Seating: Open seating for fans will be on the east side of the stadium in the lower level.  For Friday-Sunday practices, additional lower-bowl seating will be provided on the west side of the stadium.  In addition, the south bridge will also be accessible as a vantage point. Also: Players will sign autographs along the lower-field walls for a limited time before leaving the field. ...  food and beverage concession stands will be open throughout the stadium. 

By Bob McManamanazcentral sportsThu Jul 25, 2013 6:02 PM

During each of his first three training camps with the Cardinals, it wasn’t unusual for nose tackle Dan Williams to catch some grief from his coaches about his weight and his conditioning, or lack thereof. 

Former head coach Ken Whisenhunt was often critical and he wasn’t afraid to freely chastise Williams to members of the media. 

So what would it be like for the fourth-year pro on Thursday when the team reported to training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium for conditioning tests and an exhaustive timed shuttle run? 

Well, not surprisingly, Williams finished dead last in the running test and he was still gasping for breath minutes later while talking to reporters. 

“Hey, 300-yard shuttles, the average big man he doesn’t practice that every day or look forward to doing it, actually,” said Williams, who is listed at 314 pounds. “ But you know, it’s a part of the game and in order to make the team you have to pass this test, so it’s definitely important.” 

Turns out Williams not only passed his running test, he also drew big praise afterward from first-year head coach Bruce Arians. 

“He looked great.  His weight is way down.  He hit his weight,” Arians said. “ I judged the running test on him.  He hit his number.  I said, ‘That’s enough, we’re all good.  If Danny’s good, we’re good.’  I was really pleased with Dan.” 

Williams, the Cardinals’ first-round pick in 2010 out of Tennessee, said he is expecting to make his biggest contributions this season and he hopes to do it by helping make Arizona’s defense staunch against the run.  The Cardinals ranked 28th in that statistic a year ago, allowing an average of 137 rushing yards per game. 

“My biggest thing was looking at our rush defense last year and the first person they look at is the nose tackle,” Williams said. “ So for me, personally, I want us to finish in the top 10, top five against the run.” 

If Williams keeps his weight under control, he can have a big influence on trying to reach that goal. 

“He can expand his role at this weight,” Arians said. “ He can push the middle of the pocket.  He doesn’t have to come out of there on passing downs.  We want to see him expand that role.” 

Swope reaction

It was with a heavy heart that rookie wide receiver Ryan Swope on Thursday agreed that it was best the team placed him on the reserve/retired list due to concussion issues. 

After suffering four of them in college at Texas A&M, he said he experienced another during team OTAs earlier this year and that it was time to put football on hold. 

“As a result of a concussion I suffered during OTAs, I was advised by doctors that there were serious risks in returning to play football at this point,” he said in a statement through his agent’s Twitter account. 

“It has been a lifelong dream to play in the NFL but my long-term health interests outweigh my current goals for football.  Because of that, I’m electing to retire from the game for now and then reassess my future after this season.  In the meantime, I plan to return to Texas A&M to pursue my degree.” 

Swope was a sixth-round pick who ran a 4.3 in the 40-yard dash at the NFL scouting combine. 

“We knew Ryan has a concussion history in college and understood that it could possibly be an issue,” Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim said. “ But weighing all the elements – the medical information available, the particular position in the draft – it was a decision we were comfortable making.  As it turned out, he had a setback after he got here.  Over the course of the subsequent evaluations, we all decided that Ryan’s long-term well-being was the number-one priority and this was the best course to take.” 

Tiger tale

Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett created a buzz this week during a local radio interview when he said he bought a young pet tiger named “Little Buddy” that he hopes to bring to training camp and to games. 

Dockett suggested in a tweet Thursday morning that he brought his tiger with him to the stadium for the team’s conditioning test and timed shuttle run. 

There was no sign of the tiger, however, and Dockett would not stop to talk with reporters as players made their way off the field following their run test. 

He also told the radio station that he tried to purchase a pet monkey for $30,000 but the monkey’s owner wouldn’t sell.  Had he made the deal, Dockett said he would have brought the monkey to the stadium on game days and have it dressed it its own Dockett jersey. 

“Could you picture that on game days?”  Dockett told Fox Sports 910. “ I’m coming to the game, I have my monkey with me, he has my jersey on.  Think about it.  The fans see me with the monkey, ticket sales go up, Dockett jersey sales go up.  Why?  Because they all want to see me with the monkey.” 

Arians pulling for Ryan

Running back Ryan Williams is back after missing most of his first two NFL seasons because of serious injuries and Arians, for one, hopes those problems are in the past. 

“Ryan looks great.  He’s in fantastic condition,” the coach said. “ I’m really pulling for him.  He’s had bad luck for two years, but I loved him coming out of Virginia Tech.  I think our backfield, with him healthy and Rashard (Mendenhall) healthy, is dynamic – especially with those young guys.” 

The Cardinals drafted two running backs back in April – Stanford’s Stepfan Taylor in the fifth round and Clemson’s Andre Ellington in the sixth round. 

He said it

Arians was in a carefree and colorful mood Thursday, a likely sign of what figures to become regularity with him during interview sessions. 

Here’s a few of his better quips:

On what it’s like for him and the team staying in a nearby hotel: “So far so good.  I’m a concerned it’s too nice and guys are going to want to stay.” 

On the oppressive Arizona summer heat: “Oh, I love it.  Every time I walk out in the parking lot, everything gets loose.” 

On waiting to get his players out of shorts and into full pads: “Yeah, I’m tired of playing soccer.  I mean soccer’s a great game, but we play this one in the trenches.” 

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