Hansen's Sunday Notebook: Arizona's NFL numbers shrinking

L.G. Patterson St. Louis Rams quarterback Nick Foles throws during the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game against the Indianapolis Colts Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/L.G. Patterson) Arizona's NFL numbers shrinking

Arizona opens the NFL season with a mere eight ex-Wildcats on NFL rosters; the number might actually be seven if Chicago running back Ka’Deem Carey is not among the Bears active roster for Sunday’s opener.

Did you realize that even a mid-level Mountain West Conference team like Utah State has eight players on NFL opening day rosters?

USC has 33. Cal 26. The leader is LSU with 38.

This can be traced to the hiring of John Mackovic in 2001; even though…