Leftovers from Arizona's NFC Title Win

Arizona Cardinals Coach Ken Whisenhunt told reporters that quarterback Kurt Warner now has to get a dog for his family.

I thought Whisenhunt was making a clever twist on Barack Obama having promised a puppy for his two daughters if he got elected president. But Warner's family does want a dog, despite the man of the house's will.

"Ssssssh," Warner said. "I never said that (he was getting his kids a dog). My wife said that.

"I don't want to have any part of it because I know I'll end up doing most of the work."

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Rookie defensive end Ken Iwebema of the University of Iowa played in 13 regular-seasons games and has played in all three playoff games for the Cardinals, though almot entirely on special teams.

I briefly met up with Iwebema in the NFC champions' dressing room after the Cardinals' 32-25 win over Philadelphia. Iwebema asked me if Iowa running back Shonn Greene would be a first-round draft pick.

I said I'm hearing late first, early second round, but that Greene's a smart player.

"He had, what, 13 straight games of 100 yards," Iwebema asked. "You better believe he's smart. He has to go in the first round."

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Warner's career postseason record in the NFL is 8-2. He has passed for 2,991 yards and 23 touchdowns in those games.

That, coupled with three Super Bowl trips, says he'll be going to Canton, Ohio for a Hall of Fame enshrinement in the next decade.

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Iowa's men's basketball team had 12 first-half turnovers in its loss at Purdue Sunday.

It wasn't a big deal here in Phoenix. Is it a big deal back in Iowa?

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So Warner wins an NFC title and Zach Johnson won the PGA Tour's Sony Open within hours of each other. Nice day for Cedar Rapids Regis grads.

I went to Cedar Rapids LaSalle. Our most famous alum is ... when we get one, I'll let you know.

Scott Michaux, a fine sports writer at the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, seized on the Warner/Johnson/Regis angle Sunday night. The link:

http://blogs.augusta.com/node/2049