Croyle signed as Cardinals' backup QB; Hall waived

FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- The Arizona Cardinals have shored up their depleted quarterback ranks by signing Brodie Croyle, in the process parting ways with Max Hall.

Hall, who partially dislocated his left shoulder in practice on Monday, was waived-injured, a move that could lead to an injury settlement with the second-year quarterback. Coach Ken Whisenhunt said that would allow Hall to be re-signed at some point in the season if the team needs him.

"It's the only way we could potentially get him back," Whisenhunt said. "If we went straight injured reserve, then he wouldn't be able to come back and play for us this year. But the way I understand it, the way the rules work now, is that if we work out a settlement with him in whatever time frame, then we would have an opportunity later in the season to bring him back if we needed that."

The Cardinals also signed veteran punter Dave Zastudil, an indication the team is not satisfied with the performance of Australian Ben Graham, who has held that job for the past two seasons. Graham had a big season in 2009, averaging 47 yards per punt with 42 inside the 20-yard line and 17 inside the 10, and only three touchbacks. Last year, as the team went from 10-6 to 5-11, Graham's average dropped to 43.4 yards with 29 inside the 20 and 12 inside the 10. He had nine touchbacks.

"We weren't as good in a lot of areas last year, and that was definitely one of the areas that we weren't up to our standards," Whisenhunt said. "So that's the reason we have extra guys in camp. We're trying to look at that position and get the best player we can."

Zastudil, who started his pro career with Baltimore, is a 10-year NFL veteran, the last five with Cleveland. He spent last season on injured reserve with a knee injury. Zastudil has a career average of 42.7 yards in 113 games with 179 punts inside the opponent's 20.

Croyle participated in Wednesday morning's walkthrough and is expected to play some in Saturday night's preseason home opener against San Diego, because the only other healthy quarterbacks on the roster are starter Kevin Kolb and Rich Bartel. John Skelton has not practiced all week after spraining an ankle in last weekend's loss at Green Bay.

Croyle was the obvious choice to fill in because he spent the last five seasons in Kansas City, primarily as a backup, the last two under Todd Haley, who was Whisenhunt's offensive coordinator before going to the Chiefs.

"He was with Todd in that system so there's obviously some similarities there," Whisenhunt said. "As far as being able to get him in here in two days and have him potentially ready to play, we felt like that was the best opportunity for us to do that. You figure we've got two games in five days, so it would be very hard to get just any quarterback in here up to speed with the ability play, which could happen in those two games."

Hall, a high school star in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa, made the Cardinals' roster as an undrafted rookie out of BYU a year ago, impressing the coaches with his quick grasp of the offense. When starter Derek Anderson faltered, Hall became the starter in week five, helping Arizona upset New Orleans. But he had a bad game the following week at Seattle, then was benched after two passes were returned for touchdowns against Tampa Bay.

Anderson returned, then Hall came back briefly before going down with the same injury he sustained this week. The rookie Skelton started the final four games of the year.

The Cardinals practiced Wednesday afternoon, and have a morning workout Thursday before heading down to the triple-digit heat of the desert.

Kolb said he wants to play into the third quarter against the Chargers, something Whisenhunt said probably would happen.

The Cardinals' new quarterback has been to University of Phoenix Stadium once, when he was a backup for the Eagles in their NFC championship game loss to Arizona in the 2008 season.

"I don't even know how to get out there," he said. "I have to look it up on my phone and get directions."

Kolb wants to use these next two home preseason games to get his pregame routine down.

"Game day you don't want any surprises," he said. "You want to just get there, be in the right mindset, and be ready to roll."

As for excitement in the waning days of camp, there wasn't much, other than Kolb, riding his Segway, narrowly avoiding what could have been a nasty collision with one of the multitude of skunks that roam the area.

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Thomas injury has Ross back as Giants starter; Williams signed

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Veteran Brian Williams, 32, who has played with Minnesota, Jacksonville and Atlanta, was signed by the New York Giants Wednesday to address their urgent needs at the cornerback position.

"He is a veteran who knows how to play," coach Tom Coughlin said of Williams. "He has been a good physical blitzer, and we are in need of someone who can learn quick and go from there."

Williams has played in 128 regular-season games with 99 starts. He has 19 career interceptions. Last season, he played in all 16 games with one start for the Falcons.

To make room for Williams, the Giants waived linebacker Kenny Ingram.

The Giants secondary has been in a state of upheaval during the preseason. Starter Terrell Thomas, last year's leading tackler on the team, was lost for the season with a knee injury suffered during last weekend's preseason game against the Bears. And first-round pick Prince Amukamara is sidelined with a broken foot.

Aaron Ross is another player who will be counted on to fill the gap in New York's secondary.

Ross came to training camp as the somewhat forgotten man among the cornerbacks.

Corey Webster and Thomas were the returning starters and general manager Jerry Reese didn't hesitate to take Amukamara in the first round when the Nebraska cornerback was available with the 19th pick overall.

It left Ross in no man's land. The Giants' first-round pick in 2007 was down on the depth chart and fighting the stigma of being injury-prone the past two seasons. He missed a good part of 2009 with hamstring issues and battled a painful foot injury most of last season.

Three weeks into training camp, though, Ross is no longer an afterthought. With Amukamara and Thomas sidelined, Ross is back in a starting role and anxious to show people what he can do.

"Being out there on the outside and being able to make plays and show the coaches I can make plays, and the fans, the media, it is exciting," said Ross, who has the added motivation of being in the final year of his contract.

Ross said his biggest concern this season is staying healthy. If he does, he has no doubt about his ability to play.

"I am really confident in myself to tell you the truth," Ross said. "I know what I can do. As long as I stay healthy I know that I am fine. Coaches haven't seen me healthy in two years, the fans or you guys. Of course, y'all forget.

"But I know what I can do."

Ross had three interceptions in each of his first two seasons, but has not had one since 2008.

"I think I am a decent player," Ross, 28, said. "They drafted me here for a reason. So, as long as I am healthy, I believe I can be a positive impact on the field."

Ross, who is married to track star and Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards, is taking added precautions to stay healthy. He used to keep stretching to a minimum. His approach is totally different now.

"I have a guy coming in that stretches me, gets the knots out, pretty much everything," Ross said. "I put everything in the basket and am letting it go."

The injury to Thomas also has given opportunities to players like Michael Coe, rookie Darnell Burks and first-year pro Joe Burnett, who had little chance of making the roster at the start of camp.

"My mindset has always been to prepare to play and try to get comfortable doing everything and when you get the opportunity, be ready," said Coe, a former Arkansas Razorback, who is now No. 3 on the depth chart after spending part of last season with the Giants. "You never know the circumstances. You have to have the mindset of trying to absorb as much as you can.

"I am a lot more comfortable in this defense. It's similar to the one I had in college."

Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press

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Herzlich, who survived cancer, says he's signed with Giants

Mark Herzlich, the Boston College linebacker who survived cancer, has signed with the New York Giants as a free agent.

Herzlich announced his decision Tuesday morning via his official Twitter account.

"Decision is made I will be a #GIANT can't wait to get to #NYC. Thank you for everything." Herzlich wrote.

Herzlich was ranked No. 1 on NFL.com analyst Pat Kirwan's list of top undrafted free agents this week.

Speaking to NFL Network on Tuesday, Herzlich said the decision to sign with the Giants boiled down to two things.

"It's all about opportunity and fit," Herzlich said. "I felt like this was the best opportunity to not only make a team but grow, get a job, go from there, get great coaching."

Herzlich said he also considered two other teams.

"Two other teams I was high on were the Eagles and the Ravens," Herzlich said. "I talked a lot with the coaches and the staffs. Both are great organizations as well."

Herzlich was chosen ACC defensive player of the year after his sophomore season at BC. He was diagnosed with bone cancer and missed the 2009 season. He returned in 2010 and started all 13 games for the Eagles. He had 65 tackles, forced two fumbles and intercepted four passes.

"We are excited to give him the opportunity to see if he can make it in this league," said Giants chief executive and co-owner John Mara. "He's a great kid who had obviously been through a lot. I'm in favor of the signing and, in fact, I suggested it. We think of him as being a prospect."

Herzlich was struck by the condensed period in which to make his decision.

"The phone has been crazy, starting 7:30, 8 o'clock last night," he said Tuesday. "Different teams were contacting myself directly as well as my agent, just getting information out there that they were interested.

"Three months of recruiting wound down to 12 hours."

Herzlich, 23, was on everybody's watch list after his big season in 2008, when he had 97 tackles, including 12 tackles for losses, 1.5 sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

However, he was diagnosed during the following offseason with Ewing's sarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Doctors said he might never play football again.

After hours of wondering "why," he said he focused on the future in a telephone interview with The Associated Press before April's NFL draft.

"You have to look past that and see that you have something that you want to live for, you want to beat the cancer for," Herzlich said. "That was my focus the whole time. You can't really look back over your shoulder and think what could have been. You have to kind of just push forward and see where I'm going to get to."

He had a tumor removed from his left leg and a titanium rod inserted. He underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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