Doug Franz Blogs

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Doug Franz

A very important teammate wasn’t there to console Darnell Dockett after his injury

Was is it worth it Daryl? As Darnell Dockett laid on the ground, I couldn’t help but think about that question. Carson Palmer immediately went to Dockett as he laid on the ground. Calais Campbell stood above his fallen defensive linemate hoping what he was seeing was a messed up dream. One by one, different […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

What I want to see Saturday from the Arizona Cardinals vs. Minnesota

After every practice, I’ve been writing what I’ve seen at practice. Today, I want to focus on Minnesota. Here’s what I hope to see Saturday night. RUNNING GAME: It’s ridiculous to find fault in the Cardinals incredible offensive efficiency against Houston. Nothing even rose to the “concern” level after the game. However, the running game […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Wednesday observations from Arizona Cardinals training camp – Aug. 13

Here are the things that stood out to me watching Wednesday’s Cardinal’s practice. CARSON PALMER: There has been the occasional interception, but he has had a great camp. I think I can read Carson pretty well to determine if the INT is his fault or not. When it’s his fault, he either puts his hand […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Tuesday observations from Arizona Cardinals training camp – Aug. 12

Here’s what I saw and experienced at Cardinals practice on Tuesday (full disclosure, I was about 45 minutes late because I had a late meeting): JOHN BROWN: It finally happened. I was actually there to see it. John Brown made a mistake. During 7-on-7 drills, Palmer threw what appeared to be a slant pattern. I […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

A day with Ray

Arizona State football had a closed scrimmage Saturday morning. Coach Todd Graham doesn’t mind if I watch the scrimmage as long as I don’t say anything about what I see or hear. Those restrictions do not extend to filling you in on whom I get to talk to while I’m there. I had met Ray […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Good seats still available

If you don’t mind, would you help me if the question comes up again? If Todd Graham asks me, “What will it take for us to get the fans to support the program,” what should I say? I know of three people, and there might be more, at Arizona State who left seven-figure salaries to […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Wednesday observations from Cardinals Camp

Here are my observations from Wednesday at Arizona Cardinals camp: TERRY MCDONOUGH I got the chance to talk to the Cardinals assistant GM for an extended period of time. Smart yet personable. So strange is the personality of a good scout. You have to own amazing confidence because it is a job that includes colossal […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Tuesday observations from Arizona Cardinals training camp

TEMPO: Practice has been played at a fast and physical tempo. Tuesday was the first practice where the pace was gone. DARREN FELLS: Every year I pick a player that I love to watch and believe he’ll surprise. Within a few days, Fells was my guy. This pick was difficult because it appeared Fells had […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Monday observations from Arizona Cardinals training camp

Here are my observations from Arizona Cardinals practice on Monday, Aug. 4: FRANK CALIENDO Here is one guy I never expected to see at Cards practice. His son is interested in being a kicker. Jay Feely was cool enough to spend a few minutes with Frank’s son while he was warming up and kicking into […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Wednesday observations from Cardinals training camp

PATRICK PETERSON: I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary from Patrick but there’s no way around the fact that his contract is an attention-getter. For the remaining 25 people still saying “same old Cardinals,” can we finally put that to bed? LOGAN THOMAS: I have been to four of the five practices. I have […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Tuesday observations from Cardinals training camp

LOGAN THOMAS: Two things just jump out at me. One, I can’t believe how good he can be. I bet his sweat has talent. Two, I don’t see how any of that talent will ever translate into production. From everything I’ve heard, this is a really solid young man. As it appears society continues to […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Arizona Cardinals training camp — Monday observations

1) DEONE BUCANNON The guy hits anything that moves. He never plays the game slow. Completely a downhill safety. There has to be a concern about flags for some of the hits that he’ll bring to the party, but right now it’s fun. 2) KEVIN MINTER Got completely blown up in one of the blitz […]
9 years ago
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P.J. Tucker and cash deserved

It may not be popular in our culture but let’s celebrate a new millionaire. Gambo reported it a few weeks ago, but the signing of P.J. Tucker became official Wednesday. He is the perfect example of what it is about the relationship between players and fans that so many players simply do not understand. Although […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

For the Arizona Diamondbacks, does stability sell?

From the time that Tony La Russa was hired as chief baseball officer of the of the Arizona Diamondbacks, the “if” question seemed to become a “when.” Why hire La Russa if you’re satisfied with the job being done by Kevin Towers and Kirk Gibson? His hiring alone makes it obvious the plan was to […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Let’s talk

How well would the American education system work if teachers had to yell at students every time they were wrong? When there’s an opportunity to educate, should educators call students “haters” and threaten future educational opportunities simply because speaking exposed a lack of knowledge on a certain subject? Tony Dungy said he would not have […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Too good to be true

I’m not a believer because it would have been done. The Boston Globe and others reported the Lakers explored the idea of an Eric Bledsoe sign-and-trade deal with Phoenix for Julius Randle and a future first-round pick. This deal is simply too good to be true. Technically, the Suns can’t do the deal because the […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Doesn’t the MLB All-Star Game count?

Obviously, it doesn’t count. The front of the National League starting lineup had MVP Andrew McCutchen, rock star Yasiel Puig, all-world shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, America’s first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, and the Hulk, Giancarlo Stanton to lead off the game. In the top of the 8th, with the NL down by two, its vicious lineup was […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Eric Bledsoe’s waiting game continues

The silence is deafening. The LeBron James domino fell Friday morning. Chris Bosh, Luol Deng and Carmelo Anthony have signed. Various sign-and-trades have been completed. Restricted free agents have signed offers and moved to different teams. Eric Bledsoe waits. He doesn’t wait for a team to want him. Almost every team in the NBA wants […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

LeBron James and learning life’s lessons

The Cleveland Cavaliers would have never won a championship with LeBron James. The Cleveland Cavaliers will win a championship with LeBron James. Name an athlete who has done what he has done. No athlete in American history has dealt with more hype from an early age. There was talk that he might leave school early […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

Take the Snake’s advice

I met my Pat Tillman Thursday. On July 3rd of last week, my family and I were only about 20 yards from the back porch of Robert E. Lee’s when the sky opened. We were hit by an enormous downpour. Instead of walking in a suspended, painful peace through Arlington National Cemetery, my daughters, wife […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

An All-American vacation

If you can, you’ve got to go. My family vacation was to Washington, D.C. I sat down with my wife in a dark room looking at the actual Star-Spangled Banner. We cruised up the Potomac to Mt. Vernon and saw the home of the only man in world history to successfully lead a revolution without […]
9 years ago
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Doug Franz

It’s not 1984, but…

If you are between the ages of 25-35, you have no real memory of the 1984 NBA Draft. There’s a chance if you type “1984” into Google, “1984 NBA Draft” will come up as the first option. It was that big. Four Hall of Famers. Seven All-Stars. Nineteen 5+ year players. One great dunker (had […]
9 years ago
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Michael Bradley and US Soccer: Good people choke, too

Wonderful people can choke. Great business people can do great things to put their company into a position to succeed only to be the reason the company fails. No one should attack Michael Bradley’s character as a man. He’s given all that he can give to build US soccer. Among people that love the game, […]
9 years ago
Doug Franz

Unexpect the unexpected

Here’s a crazy opinion: the Arizona Diamondbacks are winning more than they should be. It’s crazy because everyone feels down about the D-backs, but the truth is that they’re a .500 team minus April. In no way is there an implication that April should be wiped from the record books. The 9-22 record is real […]
9 years ago