Cards notebook: Brown steps up after injuries deplete corners
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SEATTLE - The Cardinals had their pass-coverage depth tested.
Ralph Brown graded out just fine.
Cardinals end Seattles reign as division champs
Bordow: Cards' defense finally steps out of offense's shadow
Rodgers-Cromartie steps up with key picks
Brown, in what he acknowledged was his best game with the Cardinals, covered for injuries in the team's cornerback group because Rod Hood had to leave with a rib injury and Eric Green played sparingly because of a sore knee.
So Brown, the team's fourth corner, joined rookie Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie in coverage.
Brown was more than solid. He stayed with Seahawks receiver Koren Robinson on a deep pass into the end zone, then leaped over Robinson to knock Matt Hasselbeck's pass away.
"I kind of knew that they want to try to set you up to go deep," Brown said. "I made sure I didn't go for the (fake) slant."
"Ralph Brown played an outstanding game," said coach Ken Whisenhunt, who acknowledged that he was "very worried" about the cornerback situation.
"I always prepare as if I'm going to be on the field," Brown said. "I don't want to be not ready and nervous because I don't know what's going on."
WILSON TO FACE SUSPENSION?
Safety Adrian Wilson, who has been warned about a possible suspension if he's the subject of any more discipline by the NFL, sacked Hasselbeck with a high hit.
A suspension likely will hinge on whether the hit is determined by the league to have been helmet to helmet.
Wilson at first acknowledged that the play "probably" will lead to repercussions, then shrugged and said, "We'll see." He pointed out that no flag was thrown.
"I don't think it was a helmet-to-helmet hit," Wilson said.
Wilson said Hasselbeck told him "Good hit," but to "expect something in the mail" (meaning a fine).
Hasselbeck had similar comments afterward, saying, "That's the only thing that makes me feel good. There will be some fines coming out in a couple of days. But it's football. ... "
Because this was Hasselbeck's first game back after a prolonged absence, "We wanted to get some hits on him," Wilson said.
"I hope he's sore tomorrow. Our defensive line did a great job of getting after him and getting hits on him."
TWIN RECEIVING STARS
For the first time in franchise history, the Cardinals had two receivers hit 150 yards in receiving.
Anquan Boldin had 13 catches for 186 yards while Larry Fitzgerald had 10 catches for 151 yards.
"Those are my security blankets right there," quarterback Kurt Warner said. "Any time I need something or am in a crucial situation, you know I'm going to know where 81 and 11 are.
"If there's any way to get the ball to them, I'm going to do my best to do that.
"It becomes old hat. We don't appreciate them enough. They are special players."
INJURY UPDATE
Linebacker Clark Haggans suffered a foot sprain but was able to return.
Rod Hood could not return from his rib problem. Hood said he expects to undergo tests today.
STAT NOTES
Kurt Warner's 300-yard game was his fourth straight, tying for the third-longest such streak in NFL history.
Only five quarterbacks ever have reached at least five straight: Steve Young, San Francisco (1998); Warner, St. Louis (2000); and Rich Gannon, Oakland (2002) all had six straight 300-yard games.
Joe Montana, San Francisco (1982) and Kerry Collins, New York Giants (2001) each had a streak of five such games.
Warner has thrown for 300 yards 47 times in his career, 17 of those coming the Cardinals.
Boldin had his 24th career 100-yard receiving game.







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