Cardinals notebook: Team striving for elusive 2-0 start

The Cardinals are facing a historical note that seems to mean infinitely more to media people - and perhaps fans - than it does to them.

Believe it or not, this franchise hasn't started 2-0 since 1991.

A typical reaction came from linebacker/defensive end Travis LaBoy: "Half the people on this team weren't even playing football yet (in '91). It has nothing to do with anybody in this facility."

Coach Ken Whisenhunt, asked about the task of changing a losing culture, said, "We've got to win some more games to say we're far along in that process. We're making progress. ... We're excited about where we're going. ... (But) the next stage is to win some games.

"Until we do that, there's no illusion about us having arrived anyway."

A question along similar lines, about the team's ability to handle a 1-0 start - which is good enough for first place in NFC West - brought laughter from quarterback Kurt Warner.

"If 1-0 is prosperity, we're in the wrong place. Prosperity has got to be a lot more than 1-0," he said.

"It shouldn't be anything that's hard to handle. We've won one football game. That's it."

ROSTER TWEAKED

The Cardinals re-signed safety Oliver Celestin Wednesday. Celestin had been cut Saturday, just before the season opener at San Francisco.

He played in 15 games last season, including four starts, after the Cardinals began suffering injury problems.

Also, the Cardinals re-signed tight end Alex Shor and signed center Enoka Lucas to the practice squad.

BIG RATINGS

The Cardinals' win over San Francisco on Sunday ranked as the Valley's most watched television program last week.

The telecast recorded a rating of 14.8 and 30 share while reaching 266,000 households.

The Indianapolis-Chicago game Sunday night ranked No. 2 and the New York Jets-Miami game ranked third among Valley viewers.

GETTING HEALTHY

The Cards' nose tackle position, at the moment one of the team's thinnest, should get reinforcements soon.

Gabe Watson, who started practicing Thursday after an offseason knee injury, worked out in a limited role Wednesday. So did Alan Branch, who has a sore ankle and missed the opener Sunday.

"They looked good running around," Whisenhunt said.

"Their chances of playing Sunday may depend on whether they can practice again today."

The Cards are down to veteran Bryan Robinson and Kenny Iwebema, a rookie defensive end who backed up Robinson on Sunday.

The only Cardinal who didn't practice Wednesday was No. 3 tight end Jerame Tuman.