Two Cardinals fans arrested for burning McNabb's lawn

C HANDLER, Ariz. - Police arrested two Arizona Cardinals fans who they say burned messages in the front lawn of Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb's Arizona residence a day before the NFC Championship game.

Police were able to track down the pair after they discovered a sticker containing the home address of one of the men on a cardboard sign left in McNabb's driveway.

Rex Michael Perkins, 37, of Chandler, and Ryan Hanlon, 29, of Gilbert, Ariz., were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage Sunday after police questioned Perkins about the sign that read: "Go Cards" on one side and "Beat Philly" on the other, Chandler police said.

Perkins and Hanlon were fingerprinted, photographed and cited for misdemeanor criminal damage.

Police said Perkins and Hanlon also allegedly poured and lit diesel fuel on McNabb's front yard in the 4100 block of South Purple Sage Drive. The burnt message read: "Go Kurt," and "Go Cards," causing an estimated $2,000 in damage.

"When they decided to get diesel fuel out and start damaging the yard, they crossed the line," Chandler police Sgt. Joe Favazzo said. "They thought it would be funny. They were doing it as more of a prank."

McNabb had arrived home to find an Arizona Cardinals flag in his front yard, thought it was funny, and he took it in stride, Favazzo said.

On Saturday, a cardboard sign was left in McNabb's driveway. Favazzo said McNabb discovered it about midnight and laughed that off too.

When police discovered Perkins' address sticker on the cardboard box, officers questioned him at the station, and Hanlon later came into the station on his own, Favazzo said.

"It seems as though these two guys wanted to be funny, and when that address sticker was noticed, that's how they got caught," Favazzo said. *