Cards notebook: Haley happy to take reins of Cards’ offense full time

It’s not quite precise to say somebody has been “promoted” to a position in which he’s already performed. But that’s the case with offensive coordinator Todd Haley, who will be assuming the play-calling responsibilities from head coach Ken Whisenhunt in the upcoming season.

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Then again, Haley called the plays late last season — when the Cardinals’ offense was rolling — though neither coach specified exactly when this took place.

“It’s exciting to get to this year and be told we’re going to pick up where we left off,” Haley said. “That’s good stuff.”

If there’s any practical difference for 2008, it’s that, “You go into the week knowing you’re doing it; that’s your thought process from the first minute.”

Yet even early last season, when he wasn’t responsible for calling all the plays, “I still went into it as if it was. Because you have to be ready instantaneously with an answer if somebody is stuck.

“I don’t see a lot practical difference for me. ... I prepared my call sheet even if I was calling the game, even in the games I wasn’t.”

Assigning Haley the play-calling duties was part and parcel of persuading him to stick with the Cardinals rather than search for greener pastures.

“That was a big item, obviously, getting to do that,” says Haley, who got a new three-year contract. “I’m not saying that would have changed anything, necessarily. But it was a big item.”

Whisenhunt said he had always intended to turn over more of the responsibility to Haley, just as other coaches did for him years ago.

At the same time, Whisenhunt said, “I’m still going to be involved. Don’t make that mistake. It’s hard to completely turn loose of that.”

Quarterback Matt Leinart said, “I think he’ll (Haley) be great at it. He called some of the games last year, and he did a great job. It’s nothing new to him.“

LOOKING SMALL

Haley is the winner of a weight-loss contest in the offseason among a few coaches and staffers.

He dropped an even 50 pounds, from 251 to 201.

“I got in some competition with some other fat guys,” he says. “We had to weigh in every Friday.

“I wasn’t going to lose.”

His method: hike the 1.5-mile trail up Camelback Mountain most every day.

LOOKING EAST

The Cardinals sound like they want to spend a week in the East during the season between games at Washington Sept. 21 and at the New York Jets Sept. 28.

That way they can cut out one round trip across the country.

But, “It’s got to be practical,” Whisenhunt said.

“We’re looking at it to try to do it. But we have to make sure everything is right.

“There are a lot of things we have to find out for sure, as far as a facility where we can practice, where we can stay, which city it’s doing to be in.”