--President Barack Obama mentioned quarterback Kurt Warner in his commencement address at Arizona State, using Warner as an example of someone who didn't give up pursuing his dreams. Warner and the President met at the Phoenix Airport before the speech and the President invited Warner to the White House for a game of hoops one day. Obama openly cheered for the Steelers over the Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII because Steelers chairman Dan Rooney campaigned for him.
--Add coach Ken Whisenhunt to the list of Cardinals who have undergone surgery this offseason. Whisenhunt had a scope job on a knee to fix a condition left over from his playing days. It was outpatient surgery and Whisenhunt expected to be available for the start of voluntary practices next week.
--Offensive tackle Herman Johnson impressed coaches by showing up to minicamp at 365 pounds. The fifth-round pick from LSU weighed around 400 pounds at times in college, where he played guard. The Cardinals are going to see if he has the agility to move to tackle.
--The club cut defensive end/outside linebacker Travis LaBoy after the draft, partly because LaBoy was facing serious ankle surgery. One doctor thought LaBoy could play in 2009 without the surgery. Other doctors, however, advised LaBoy to have the ankle repaired. The surgery is expected to keep him out in 2009. The Cardinals decided to cut their losses and released LaBoy. The club paid LaBoy $8 million in the year he was in Arizona.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I know he was cheering for Pittsburgh last year, so hopefully through our meeting here, he'll become a Cardinals fan and cheer for us. Maybe we'll get him on our side." -- QB Kurt Warner on meeting with President Obama during his recent trip to Phoenix.
