On Monday, Cardinals outspoken defensive tackle Darnell Dockett may have set a new standard for biting Tweets. Dockett called out his new Arizona safety Kerry Rhodes.

"@kerryrhodes u taking all these trips & s***! I hope u getting ready to play some FOOTBALL cuz antrell rolle would be ready.  #IMJUSTSAYING."

Dockett was likely responding to a Tweet from earlier by Rhodes:

“2 fill u guys in i liked Grown Ups it was cool! and i have been in the bahamas getting mad love out here from the natives and tourist. FUN!!,” Rhodes wrote.

It’s difficult to tell how much humor – if any – is in Dockett’s Tweet. As a New York Jet, Rhodes gained somewhat of a reputation for being flashy. But Dockett has never been one to harp on teammates for offseason workouts. In recent years, he himself has stayed away from certain team activities in an effort to leverage a new long-term contract. (Though he’s yet to receive the contract, it must be noted that Dockett was a strong presence at team facilities this past offseason.)

--Andy Benoit

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

Writing a book takes up so much of your time. It takes your leisure time and your sleep time, and until you finish those last few words and close the laptop, it takes your soul. In part, that’s why when Cardinals RB Tim Hightower was approached about writing a book for young people coping with life, he originally didn’t think he could fit it into his schedule.

Fast forward two years, and his book, entitled “Faith and Football” is nearly complete. In this Arizona Republic piece , Kent Somers writes that editors are making their final cuts and will soon start shopping it to publishers.

Hightower collaborated on the book with Dr. Aleta Richards, a counselor at Episcopal High School in Alexandria, Va., where the two first met.

From the article:

In Hightower, Richards saw exceptional intellect, talent and generosity. In Richards and her husband, Bob Ellis, Hightower found friends and mentors. When Hightower overcame long odds to make it in the NFL, Richards thought the lessons Hightower learned along the way could benefit others.

The book is about "taking hits," Richards said, but not the football variety.

"We distinguish between physical hits and social hits, which are more when people hurt your feelings, as opposed to your body," she said. "In high school, these take the form of being rejected, insulted or having people start rumors about you. They are the things that make life difficult for young people."

At first, Hightower wasn’t interested in participating. But Richards kept pursuing the idea, and eventually, he agreed.

"When I was a kid, I had the concept that athletes and actresses and actors lived in their own world, their own cities, their own towns," he told the paper. "You put people on a pedestal. (After removing the metaphorical pedestal), they enjoyed sharing your successes, your struggles, points where you've learned, your mistakes," Hightower said. "They like that. It helps them and it helps you as well."


--Josh Katzowitz

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Cardinals guard Deuce Lutui will become a true American twice this summer. The first time happened already when Lutui showed up at team headquarters carrying about 50 pounds of extra weight. The second will happen this weekend when he literally becomes a true American. This from Kent Somers’s blog on azcentral.com:

Guard Deuce Lutui will be among 204 Arizona residents who will become U.S. Citizens on Friday in a ceremony at South Mountain Community College.

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the college are playing host to the naturalization ceremony.
Lutui was born in Tonga but spent most of his life in Mesa. He will take the Oath of Allegiance along with immigrants from 55 other countries. The ceremony is part of The Fiesta of Independence, an annual program. According to the press release, many immigrants choose to be part of this ceremony because it's always held July 4.

--Andy Benoit

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

The Arizona Cardinals were irked by Deuce Lutui’s refusal to promptly sign his RFA tender all offseason. The fifth-year guard wanted a long-term deal. The Cards’ stance was, “Sorry, not this year, and not before we take care of Darnell Dockett (which hasn’t happened yet, by the way). And P.S., Deuce, we recommend you get to the OTA’s asap because we both know that, when left on your own, you tend to get fat.”

It appears the Cardinals were right. According to Mike Jurecki of Xtra Sports 910 in Phoenix, Lutui, who had his once-secure starting job jeopardized after the signing of Alan Faneca (Faneca’s arrival shifted left guard Reggie Wells to Lutui’s right guard spot) reportedly weighs 396 pounds. That’s roughly 60 pounds – or one-and-a-half Olsen Twin – over his listed weight.

--Andy Benoit

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

If WR Ed Gant had any illusions about making the Arizona Cardinals 53-man roster this year, his chances took a big hit today when the NFL announced that he’s suspended for the first four games of this season because of a violation of its policy on performance-enhancing drugs.

Gant spent all last season on the practice squad, and as the Arizona Republic’s Kent Somers points out, coach Ken Whisenhunt wasn’t exactly Gant’s biggest fan.

Gant can work in training camp and can be used in preseason games before the suspension starts. Chances are good, though, he won’t be around for too much longer.


--Josh Katzowitz

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl on Twitter.

Deuce Lutui has improved each year since joining the Cardinals as a second-round pick in 2006. Originally sloppy in his footwork and hand technique, he polished himself into Arizona’s most consistent blocker last season. Lutui is still not quite nimble enough to make every lead or pull as a run-blocker, but he knows how to compensate by creating good angles without having to over-extend. Most impressive is the nasty way he finishes blocks.

That said, Lutui could find himself in a backup role for the first time in his NFL career. He’s been away from the club all offseason, refusing to sign his RFA tender until today. His hope of receiving a long-term contract is understandable but, given the team’s current economy and tenuous CBA situation, misguided.

Because free agent acquisition Alan Faneca immediately took the left guard position upon signing in Arizona, versatile veteran Reggie Wells finds himself vying for Lutui’s right guard job. So does less-noted free agent pickup Rex Hadnot (another versatile veteran, by the way).

We often see players avoid offseason team activities and workouts. But aside from a friendly demotion early in training camp, rarely do we see these players lose their starting job. No promises, but Lutui could change that. (The bet here is that he begins training camp on the second string but manages to crack the starting lineup sometime during the preseason.)

---Andy Benoit

For more NFL news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsnfl