Published: September 05, 2009 01:13 am      

Cardinals keep LaRod

LaRod Stephens-Howling has beaten the odds again.

The Greater Johnstown graduate, who some thought was too small to play major college football, has secured a job in the NFL.

The Arizona Cardinals made their final cuts on Friday and Stephens-Howling, a seventh-round draft choice out of Pitt, was not among them.

And while he was pleased to make the team, Stephens-Howling could empathize with those around him who weren’t so fortunate.

“It was a tough situation,” he said in a telephone interview from Arizona. “You’re happy for yourself, but you feel bad for those that didn’t make it.”

Unlike draft day, when Stephens-Howling became emotional while talking with reporters about how it was a lifelong dream to be selected, there was no big celebration.

“This was more of taking it in stride,” he said. “It’s something you’ve been working on. I put work out there and gave it my all, whether it was practice or in the game. I felt like I deserved to make the team, but you still have to stay hungry and keep working.”

The 5-foot-7, 185-pound speedster provided a bright spot in an otherwise disappointing preseason for the defending NFC champions.

One of four running backs kept by the Cardinals, Stephens-Howling had kickoff returns of 89 and 63 yards during a preseason game against the San Diego Chargers.

He suffered a concussion in the third game and did not play in the Cardinals’ 19-0 loss to Denver on Thursday as Arizona finished up a winless preseason.

Stephens-Howling expects to be healthy for the team’s opener when San Francisco visits Arizona on Sept. 13.

“Everything’s getting better and hopefully I’ll be ready for opening kickoff,” he said.