The Valley had its first 110-degree day on Thursday, so it's lucky the Cardinals had their last OTA of the offseason -- only the minicamp is left, next week.

The heat is on, as some of the new players have noted. "It's hot. Very hot," defensive lineman Justin Jones said. "I think I have napped more times these last two weeks than I have my entire life."

When the Cardinals turn to their practice bubble -- air conditioned as it is -- is up to Jonathan Gannon, although the coach said "there is a big algorithm for that."

"Typically when we go in the bubble I control the pace so we're not going full tilt on the turf," Gannon said. "You can get a lot done in that bubble. It's a nice bubble with the new turf and the new lighting. But I like to be outside when we can be. I don't want to have anyone catch a heat illness. Gotta be smart with it."

Gannon dropped some knowledge about the situation too, pointing out that training in the dry heat in altitude (Tempe is about 1,180 feet above sea level) actually can increase a person's blood plasma.

That doesn't mean players don't have to constantly hydrate. For guys like Jones, who grew up in humid hot weather, it can be easy to forget that you are still losing a lot of water through the skin as it essentially evaporates.

The bubble remains in play, and it'll also be used for parts of practice early in the regular season too when the temperatures rage on. At that point it's a little easier for Gannon to employ, because the roster will be a little smaller than the 91 players the Cards currently have.

Dry heat seems to still be more favorable than the humid heat elsewhere in the league.

"Here I feel like I could play all day in that," Jones said, "but it's still hot."