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Whisenhunt wants unhappy players in camp
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Coach Ken Whisenhunt, left, and quarterback Kurt Warner watch practice during the Cardinals' minicamp Wednesday at the team's training facility in Tempe.
The Associated Press
The Arizona Cardinals wrap up their voluntary workouts this week with disgruntled players Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett still absent.
Boldin and Dockett, upset with their contract situations, were no-shows for all of the voluntary practices. But coach Ken Whisenhunt expects them to be there when the team opens training camp in Flagstaff in late July.
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"They're under contract so they're expected to be there," Whisenhunt said after Wednesday's practice. "We expect all of our players that are under contract to be there."
Boldin and Dockett showed up for minicamp in May but didn't practice, citing sore hamstrings.
The players would be subject to a fine if they fail to appear for training camp.
Whisenhunt said he liked what he saw from the players in the practices as the Cardinals look to carry on the momentum from a surprising late-season run that took them to the Super Bowl.
"You know it's sad to see it come to an end because this is really one of the funnest times of the year for a coach just because you're getting to work on things," Whisenhunt said. "There's not the pressure of the season or a game coming, so it's a little bit more relaxed atmosphere with your players, and that's really a fun time."
The team has new coordinators on both sides. Defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast was fired and replaced by linebackers coach Bill Davis. Offensive coordinator Todd Haley left to become head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. His duties were split. Receivers coach Mike Miller was promoted to passing game coordinator and offensive line coach Russ Grimm had running game coordinator added to his title.
"I think we had good participation from a lot of our guys," Whisenhunt said. "I think we got a lot done. The thing that I think that's always important at this time is you are able to install a lot of your system and get reps on it in a competitive situation."
Whisenhunt, entering his third season at Arizona, expects the team to show up fit and ready at camp.
"We always have a stiff test for them to come back and that's the conditioning test," Whisenhunt said, "and the whole purpose of that is to make sure they sustain what they've done up to this point. I think because we're a little bit more mature as a football team now, our players understand what's at stake."
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