NFC West Notes: Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks

Cardinals

Cardinals CB Patrick Peterson says he helped recruit CB Robert Alford to Arizona. 

“Once I saw that he was available,” Peterson said via Kyle Odegard of the team website, “(GM) Steve (Keim) was on speed dial.”

Peterson and Alford both believe the new Cardinals cornerback can excel in the man-to-man, aggressive defense Arizona employs. 

“I love being in a receiver’s face and just challenging him,” Alford said. “There’s a five-yard rule now that we have, so pretty much you want to use as much as you can within those five yards, and I feel like playing man, being in their face and disrupting them is the main key.”

Peterson is hoping Alford will force teams to not just avoid throwing to his side of the field. 

“I’m definitely happy that we got somebody that has some credibility in this league, somebody I feel that can hold their own on the opposite side,” Peterson said. “Hopefully I can start getting more looks my way. I hope he gets two or three interceptions early in the season so they start passing the ball all over the field and everybody can eat.”

Rams

• Washington S Taylor Rapp is visiting the Rams. (Ian Rapoport)
• The Rams had a private workout with Kansas State OT Dalton Risner this week. (Jordan Schultz)
• UNC-Charlotte OL Nate Davis has a visit set up with the Rams. (Jordan Schultz)

Seahawks

Ravens S Earl Thomas said that he could see himself signing a one-day contract with the Seahawks in order to retire with Seattle. 

“I envision myself retiring as a Seahawk,” Thomas said, via Brady Henderson of ESPN. “I would never burn a bridge there. I still love my teammates. I definitely see myself signing maybe a one-day deal, and hopefully they’ll hang my jersey in the rafters.”

Thomas admitted that he grew very “heated” and frustrated with the Seahawks and felt “disrespected” by how his contract situation was handled. 

“My feelings towards the organization at the time, I was very heated, very frustrated,” said Thomas. “But when you look at the blessing that the Ravens organization has believed in me and gave me this megadeal, I put all the stuff behind me and start to focus immediately on my new teammates and the Ravens organization. But obviously, everything that we’ve been through, everything I gave to that team, I felt kind of disrespected. But I know it’s a business, I know they’ve got other guys they need to pay like [Russell Wilson], Frank Clark, Bobby [Wagner], and they’re very deserving as well.”

• Free-agent WR Jordan Taylor will work out with the Seahawks Friday but remains a candidate to sign with the Vikings. (Chris Tomasson)