LITTLE ROCK — Cardinals show up for Rams
Chris Carpenter, Tony La Russa and the World Series champion Cardinals drew huge cheers Sunday at the NFL game between the St. Louis Rams and New Orleans Saints at the Edward Jones Dome.
They might’ve fired up the Rams, too.
About a dozen Cardinals showed up. They got a prolonged standing ovation when they were introduced early in the first quarter, and waved to the crowd from the end zone.
“To be on the sideline is definitely an adrenaline rush and we’re not even playing today,” pitcher Edwin Jackson said.
The Cardinals’ presence revved up the fans and may have rubbed off on the Rams. Winless this season and twotouchdown underdogs, they beat the NFC South-leading Saints 31-21.
“Maybe we were inspired by the Cardinals.
Who knows?” tackle Adam Goldberg said.
Carpenter wore the jersey of star running back Steven Jackson when he went to midfield for the coin toss.
Carpenter beat Texas in Game 7 on Friday night.
Chris Long sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees three times. After the first one, he swung his arms as if wielding a baseball bat.
La Russa sported the jersey of injured quarterback Sam Bradford. The manager was joined by Matt Holliday, Kyle Lohse and several other Cardinals.
The Cardinals’ victory parade was held later in the day and finished up a few blocks away at Busch Stadium.
Suh rules
Ndamukong Suh will meet with NFL officials on Tuesday to get a better understanding of the rules he’s been breaking.
Detroit’s second-year defensive tackle asked Commissioner Roger Goodell for the meeting to talk about all the flags he keeps drawing for roughing up quarterbacks.
“To me it’s just an opportunity to go out there and have good dialogue, see what I can take from that meeting,” Suh said afterthe Lions’ 45-10 victory at Denver on Sunday. “If it’s nothing it’s nothing, if it’s something good, then it’s something good.”
Suh, the second overall draft pick in 2010, is a passionate player but insists he’s not a dirty one.
Asked what the league doesn’t get about him, Suh said, “I have no clue, that’s why we’re having a meeting.
I’m not changing my game.
My game has gotten me to where I am right now.
I’m only planning on building off of things I have accomplished.”
Injuries, injuries
Cleveland running back Montario Hardesty injured his calf in the first half of a 20-10 loss at San Francisco running a route and did not return. He is scheduled to have a magnetic resonance imaging exam today, but said the injury does not appear serious.
Pittsburgh linebacker LaMarr Woodley missed portions of the fourth quarter of a victory over New England with a hamstring problem.
Cincinnati cornerback Pacman Jones strained a hamstring in the first quarter at Seattle and did not return.
Sports, Pages 16 on 10/31/2011