--Negotiations with LB Karlos Dansby were placed on hold recently when Dansby fired agent Kirk Wood, who reportedly was nearing a long-term deal with the club. Dansby since hired Todd France, but negotiations haven't resumed. Dansby is talking as if he wants to be a free agent in 2010, when there might not be a salary cap. Dansby denied that Wood had nearly completed a new contract. "Not close, not even close," Dansby said. "That's why I felt there was a need for a change in order to get me a solid deal done that I'm comfortable with, that my family is comfortable with."
--NT Alan Branch has been a regular at the team's offseason strength and conditioning workouts, and according to coaches, no one needs it more. Branch has been overweight for most of his two NFL seasons and he's close to being labeled a bust. He weighs about 343 and wants to get down to 325 by the start of the season. "Last year I really didn't understand how much the weight was important to the coaches," Branch said. "Last year I thought even if I was a little overweight, even if I played well, it wouldn't matter. But what coach (Ken) Whisenhunt told me was not coming in at the weight he wanted proved that he couldn't fully trust me."
--The Cardinals have a minimal number of starting jobs open, so draft choices won't be expected to start in their first seasons. Don't look for the team to draft a quarterback or a receiver. And the Cardinals don't have a great need for a cornerback, either.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I think it would be foolish from our standpoint not to listen to those opportunities and see what actually exists." -- Coach Ken Whisenhunt on the team's decision to listen to trade offers for receiver Anquan Boldin.
