FanHouse SeanMorey

On Monday, the NFL announced its preseason schedule for 2009, and the most intriguing game -- as intriguing as preseason games can be -- might be between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals on Thursday, Aug. 13.

Mike Martz, much like a rash, just won't go away. At least if the rumors that the Cardinals might be interested in him as their next offensive coordinator hold any truth.

San Francisco head coach Mike Singletary fired Martz two days after the season, and I figured he'd just take some time off after wholly unimpressive performances with the 49ers and the Lions. The word on the street suggests otherwise. Of course, the Santa Rosa Press Democrat's Matt Maiocco makes it clear that it's just a rumor, so we should, "take it for what it's worth." Consider it done, Matt.

Over the past two weeks we've heard all about the numerous connections between Pittsburgh and the Arizona Cardinals, and there are plenty. So many, in fact, that the Cardinals are jokingly referred to as "Pittsburgh west" by Steelers fans.

The story's of Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm are well documented. Clark Haggans, Brian St. Pierre, Jerame Tuman and Sean Morey are all former Steelers, while Steve Breaston and Reggie Wells were actually born in Pittsburgh.

Despite the recent rough patch -- where the Cards have lost three of their last four games -- this continues to be a historic season for the Arizona Cardinals. When the Pro Bowl teams were released yesterday, you might have noticed five Cardinals on the team. If you were an astute fan, you would have realized this is a rarity for the maligned franchise. If you were really educated, you'd know that the last time the Cardinals sent more than two to Hawaii was 1996 -- when Larry Centers, Eric Swann, and Aeneas Williams went.

In order to find the last time the Cardinals franchise sent at least five members, though, you'd have to go all the way back to 1977. Yep, back to St. Louis, once again, which is a common theme for this year's Cards. Another note about the historic Cardinals Pro-Bowlers -- as Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald are all starting:

It's the first time since the 1970 merger that a team has had the starting quarterback and receivers.

The AFC and NFC Pro Bowlers were announced a short while ago, and why make some pointless comment you are sure not to laugh at when we can just give you the rosters instead? Here goes.

And the news just gets better for the Cowboys. After ninth-string wide receiver/special teams maven Sean Morey blocked a Mat McBriar overtime punt to give Arizona a 30-24 victory over Dallas yesterday, we now find out that Tony Romo will miss four weeks with a ... broken pinky on his throwing hand? Really?

At least that's the word on the street according to ESPN's Michael Smith. Romo took a pretty good beating against the Cards -- the first time he's really been pushed around all season -- although I don't remember him ever grabbing his throwing hand at any point during the game.

Whatever, the Cowboys' season now lies in the very capable -- and ancient -- hands of Brad Johnson, who is four years older than Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, 36. Johnson was the Vikings starter for most of 2006, but has only attempted 11 passes since (he did complete seven, however!).

If there's a bright spot, it's this: Dallas has their bye in Week 10, which means that Romo should only miss three games. Johnson will face the red-hot, one-game-winning-streak Rams next week, then the Bucs (the team Johnson won the Super Bowl with in 2002), and finally the Giants.

If all goes well, Romo will return to face the Redskins in Washington on Nov. 16. In the meantime, he will rehab at a Mexican resort with his D-List ladyfriend.

Each week in the NFL, there are players that impress and players that distress. One week a certain quarterback might toss four touchdowns and run around with his finger in the air while the next he's laying on his back, holding his facemask as the other team returns one of his three interceptions for the game-winning score. With that in mind, here's Studs and Duds.

Here's Week 6 at a glance, where we point out the horses destined for the Kentucky Derby and jeer those headed to the glue factory.

Studs

Drew Brees, QB NO (26-30, 320 yards, three touchdowns) -- Brees is slowly become the elite of the elite at his position, carding his fifth game in six weeks with at least 320 passing yards. The Purdue graduate is basically picking apart opposing defenses week in and week out and is on pace to eclipse Dan Marino's single season passing yardage record set in 1984. After the game, new head coach Tom Cable of Oakland said, "You have to use him as a model if you are the Oakland Raiders." Now 3-3, Brees and the Saints will face an exposed Panthers defense next week and then host a Chargers secondary that gave up 350 yards to Jay Cutler in Week 2. Needless to say, don't expect his numbers to drop.

If you though the Larry Fitzgerald contract woes were over in Arizona, you thought wrong.

Only a week after Fitzgerald's official site announced the new deal, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic (via PFT) is reporting that the four-year, $40 million contract is not yet official. And while that may not seem like a big deal on the surface, this little hiccup has already resulted in the loss of wide receiver Sean Morey -- who was released yesterday.

While Morey is likely to be re-signed once the contract mess is finally put to bed, this unfortunate series of events does not look good for General Manager Rod Graves. If he ever wants to win over the fans -- something that seems like an impossible task -- he's going to have to avoid these types of blunders.

Let's just hope this little mistake doesn't prevent Arizona from signing free agent linebacker Brandon Chillar; whom the team is very interested in.

The Bengals' Chad Johnson really likes Niners' LB Patrick Willis. I mean really, really likes him. During a conference call, he sang the praises of Willis in a rather funny way.

"Who in the (expletive) is 52? Oh, my (expletive) God! I done seen a lot of linebackers in a seven-year period. ... You guys can laugh all you want, he is the real deal! He's playing with a cast on his hand, right? All during film, I'm calling him Bam-Bam."

Johnson wasn't finished. "He's the truth. You just tell him 85 said you're the truth. I stopped watching the DBs to watch him. I don't know anything about playing the position but I know when someone is doing something right, because he is making every damn play."

Of course, #52 is Willis ... a rookie linebacker from Ole Miss who San Francisco used the #11 pick in this spring's draft on. He also made that damn play in the video above ... running down Arizona receiver Sean Morey a few weeks ago.

Chad Johnson's Bengals face Willis' 49ers on Saturday night.