Arizona

Arizona Cardinals free agency grades: DL Roy Lopez

Published

1 hour ago

March 16, 2026

Arizona Cardinals free agency grades: DL Roy Lopez

The Cardinals added DL Roy Lopez in free agency. We grade the free agent addition for 2026.

The first week of NFL free agency is in the books. The Arizona Cardinals have been active, although they have not made any real significant moves like last offseason. It is time to start grading their initial moves.

We don’t know how they will actually work out, as the season is still months away, but based on need, fit and value, we can give initial grades.

Let’s look at defensive lineman Roy Lopez.

Grading the Cardinals’ signing of Roy Lopez

Grade: B-minus

Lopez returns to Arizona after a season in Detroit on a two-year, $10.5 million contract. He will presumably be the team’s starting nose tackle. He is not a spectacular player, but he is solid. He had career-highs in sacks (two) and quarterback hits (five) while playing in a rotational role for the Lions. He logged 425 defensive snaps.

He is a space eater. He is active. He doesn’t produce a lot, but he also didn’t cost much. He is a veteran, something badly needed in the Cardinals’ defensive line room after the release of Justin Jones and Bilal Nichols, and with the uncertain status of Calais Campbell.

He is another player who is not a bad signing. It’s decent signing.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Arizona

There’s more to Phoenix hot-weather records than you may realize

Published

13 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Press Room

There’s more to Phoenix hot-weather records than you may realize

The National Weather Service provides helpful information for extreme heat in Arizona, but you may need some help deciphering the data on the website page.

For example, under “Average First 100° F Day,” there are two sets of figures for the Phoenix area: “May 10 (POR)” and “May 2 (1991-2020).” So, which one do we go by?

According to The Republic’s environment and climate editor, Shaun McKinnon, those two sets of figures can be interpreted this way:

“May 10 is the ‘period of record,’ which means the average for 1896-2025. May 2 is based on the last 30 years (which is the time frame the National Weather Service uses to determine ‘normal’ temps. Every 10 years, the service slides the date ahead 10 years to keep it at 30). The difference between the two figures shows that 100-degree days are arriving on average eight days sooner than over the long term.”

Which means it’s starting to get hotter sooner in the year now.

The data also applies on the other side of what we Arizonans loosely call “the summer season”: The average last 110-degree day is Aug. 13 (period of record) and Aug. 26 (1991-2020), which anyone who has lived here long enough knows by experience means the extreme heat is lasting longer.

What you need to know about Phoenix-area heat

A Tucson native whose family spent summers in the White Mountains, Rebecca “Becca” Dyer lives in the Valley and is a copy editor/online producer for The Arizona Republic/azcentral.com. Send tips on Arizona history items to rebecca.dyer@arizonarepublic.com.

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Arizona

Arizona basketball popular March Madness NCAA Tournament winner pick

Published

1 day ago

March 15, 2026

Press Room

Arizona basketball popular March Madness NCAA Tournament winner pick

The Arizona Wildcats may not be the favorite to win the 2026 Men’s NCAA Tournament, but that isn’t going to stop a lot of people from picking Tommy Lloyd’s team to win March Madness.

The Big 12 champions got some early support during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on CBS, when two out of three analysts selected the No. 1 seed in the West Region to win the NCAA Tournament.

Seth Davis predicted an Arizona win over Duke, the No. 1 seed in the East, in the national title game.

Bruce Pearl predicted an Arizona win over Florida, the No. 1 seed in the South Region, for the national championship.

Only Kenny Smith had a different idea. He predicted Purdue to defeat Florida for the NCAA title. The Boilermakers are the No. 2 seed in the West Region, behind Arizona.

Join the madness: USA TODAY Bracket Challenge | Survivor Pool

Final Four, national championship picks:

Kenny Smith: Duke, Purdue, Florida, Virginia

Purdue over Florida for NCAA title

Seth Davis: Duke, Arizona, Houston, Michigan

Arizona over Duke for title

Bruce Pearl: St. John’s, Arizona, Florida, Michigan

Arizona over Florida for championship

National championship odds

Early odds from DraftKings Sportsbook have Duke (+330), Michigan (+350), Arizona (+400) and Florida (+700) as the March Madness favorites.

Purdue is at +3500, while Virginia is at +6000, Houston is at +1000. St. John’s is at +5000.

Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.

Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Sign up for azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing.

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Arizona

Donate to Send a Kid to Camp, save on your Arizona taxes

Published

2 days ago

March 15, 2026

Press Room

Donate to Send a Kid to Camp, save on your Arizona taxes

Jean (Jamie) Hilton, $20.

John A. and Virginia La Bar, $200.

Mr. and Mrs. R.J. Lundin II, $100.

Mrs. Eugene Nielson, $100.

Pete and Tony Read, $100.

Rene R. and Alice F. Redondo, $100.

Michael and Judy Rigby, $50.

Barbara L. Schoenhals, $200.

More donations will be acknowledged in the coming week.

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