Associated Press
The NFL notebook …
TEMPE, Ariz. ó Lost in all the hoopla of Cam Newton’s NFL debut at Arizona was the performance of the other quarterback on that field.
Kevin Kolb’s debut for the Cardinals was somewhere between solid and superb, and he expects better things to come as he heads for familiar ground this weekend against the Washington Redskins.
In Arizona’s 28-21 victory over Newton’s Carolina Panthers last Sunday, Kolb completed 18 of 27 passes (67 percent) for 309 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. His quarterback rating of 130.0 was third among last week’s season-opening performances, behind only Ryan Fitzpatrick of Buffalo (133.0) and Aaron Rodgers of Green Bay (132.1).
Kolb has thrown for over 300 yards in half of his eight NFL starts, the first seven with the Philadelphia Eagles. Next up for Kolb and the Cardinals is a trip to Washington to face the Redskins, a team he should know well from his time in the NFC East.
BRADY PUMPED
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. ó Tom Brady wants loud fans cheering for his team in Sunday’s home opener. He even had a suggestion for their pre-game activities.
“Yeah, start drinking early,” he said with a grin, drawing laughter from reporters at his locker on Wednesday. “It’s a 4:15 (p.m.) game. They have a lot of time to get lubed up, come out here and cheer for the home team.”
Less than an hour later, Patriots spokesman Stacey James said Brady wanted to clarify his remarks. The quarterback, James said, “wants everyone to drink a lot of water, stay hydrated. Drink responsibly.”
New England, coming off a 38-24 win at the Miami Dolphins in its season opener, faces the San Diego Chargers, 24-17 winners over the Minnesota Vikings.
WOODSON FINED
GREEN BAY, Wis. ó Cornerback Charles Woodson was fined $10,000 for throwing a punch in the Green Bay Packers’ season opener against the New Orleans Saints.
Woodson was penalized for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter of last Thursday’s game at Lambeau Field after throwing a punch at Saints tight end David Thomas. He was not ejected, and the Packers went on to win 42-34.
NICKS UPDATE
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ó New York Giantsí leading receiver Hakeem Nicks apparently only has a bone bruise on his left knee and is hopeful that he will be able to play on Monday against the St. Louis Rams.
The former North Carolina star hurt the knee early in the first quarter on Sunday after making a 68-yard reception to set up Eli Manning’s 2-yard touchdown run.