Cardinals lose starting center for season
Heckert, former Browns GM, dies
GLENDALE, Ariz. — The Arizona Cardinals have lost starting center A.Q. Shipley for the season with a torn right ACL and will replace him with rookie Mason Cole.
Coach Steve Wilks confirmed the injury Monday, saying the center “heard something pop” in his knee during a goal-line drill in training camp on Saturday.
Shipley, a six-year NFL veteran, started all 16 games each of the past two seasons, the only member of the Cardinals offensive line to play every game either year. Wilks called him “a tremendous leader and hard worker.”
“When you talk about the DNA that I look for, a guy that loves the game, very passionate, gritty,” Wilks said. “He really was the leader up front.”
Shipley signed with Arizona as a free agent in 2015, working his way to a starting role after bouncing around the NFL early in his career.
“Coach (offensive coordinator Mike) McCoy said it best,” right guard Justin Pugh said. “He’s the heartbeat of the offensive line. So it’s’ definitely tough news to hear and knowing everything he’s been through in his career.”
The 6-foot-5, 307-pound Cole is a third-round draft pick out of Michigan, where he was a fouryear starter but only one — his junior year — was at center.
The Cardinals, though, drafted him as a center and he’s been working at that position.
Former Cleveland Browns general manager Tom Heckert died Sunday night, the Denver Broncos announced Monday.
He was 51. Heckert had spent the past five years in the Broncos’ player personnel department.
A news release from the Broncos states Heckert “passed away peacefully last night in the company of his family.”
Hired by former Browns President Mike Holmgren, Heckert served as general manager of the franchise from 2010-12. He was fired after owners Jimmy and Dee Haslam bought the team and cleaned house after the 2012 season.
Before arriving in Cleveland, Heckert worked for the Philadelphia Eagles and was their GM from 2006-09. His NFL career began in 1991 as a scout for the Miami Dolphins.
In Denver, helped the Broncos win Super Bowl 50. He stepped away from the Broncos after the 2017 season to focus on his health. He had been diagnosed in recent years with amyloidosis.
“Tom was an integral part of our organization and we’re all incredibly saddened today,” Broncos GM John Elway said. “With his many years of experience and time as a GM, Tom was a tremendous resource and a key member of our team. He was a very good evaluator — he had an eye for talent, and we always trusted his voice.
“It’s easy to see why Tom was widely respected and had so many great relationships across the league. I’ll always be grateful for how he helped me transition into this position. My prayers go out to Tom’s family, friends and everyone he worked with during his career.”
Ziggy Ansah is back from the PUP list — and has little to say about his contract situation.
The Lions removed the defensive end from the active/ physically unable to perform list Monday, and he spoke to reporters for a bit. But Ansah didn’t shed much light on how negotiations went with the team. Detroit ended up bringing him back this season on the franchise tag .
“I’m just excited that I get to play here again in Detroit for this year. The future will just take care of itself,” Ansah said. “Right now, I’m just focused on this year.”
The Lions have not said what injury caused Ansah to go on the PUP list. He hasn’t played a full 16 games since the 2015 season.
Ansah played in 14 games last season and finished with 12 sacks, including three each against the Giants, Bengals and Packers.