1 – I am shocked. Truly shocked. I gave up hope of a playoff spot after the loss to Seattle, but I absolutely did not think that the freaking Panthers would be the executioners.
2 – I really feel that Connor is being undervalued. In the media, among NFL fans, and among Cards fans. He is so good.
3 – That fumble was on 100% on Murray. Why did he try to hand it off in the head of Carter? It’s not Connor, dude! Carter is shorter!
4 – Now I want to lose the last two games. I am sorry, but it’s just the way I think. I believe that you can win by losing in the NFL, and there is a world of difference between drafting #11 or #19 – which is the realistic spectrum.
And in that regard, it was actually a good round for the Cards, with Indy, Bengals, Cowboys, Miami all winning. The Cardinals are sitting at #16 with the same record as those other teams, but the hardest strength of schedule (and thus the lowest pick).
5 – The future is bright for Isaiah Adams. Great in the run game.
6 – In one of my “10 thoughts”-columns after a preseason game, I mentioned WR Dan Chisena as a very dark horse to make the roster. It was just that he continued to make plays in each game. But he got cut. Fast forward to now where he – against the Cardinals - is making a major third down conversion that would have led to a victory, if Bryce Young had not missed the same wide-open Chisena on a third down after the two-minute warning.
Karma.
7 – Several plays where Darius Robinson got penetration from his interior d-line spot. If he can build on that, and maybe add a little weight, it could be a big upgrade going into next season.
8 – Those two passes in overtime that Harrison couldn’t haul in? Sure, it was difficult catches, but I expect him to make those.
9 – I want to move on from Kyler Murray. And just to be clear: yes, it can certainly be done. I explained it in another thread, so I will just quote myself:
“If Murray is on the roster on the fifth day of next league year, over 39 million from 2026 becomes fully guaranteed. But if traded after this season, his cap hit for the Cards would be 33 million, while Michael Bidwill would actually 11 million in cash. In other words, the cap hit is very manageble, and relative to the contract it would actually be beneficial to Bidwill to get out of it after this season, provided that he will not keep Murray until the end.”
And:
“In fact, I think that he is very tradable. First, his new team will only be on the hook for his 33 million-salary in 2025 as there will be no guarantees left after that year for a new team (that language is in the contract). That is not at all expensive for a quarterback, and it would give that team a one-year try-out before deciding what to do with Murray.”
In fact, if you are going to move on from him before the contract ends, now is the time. If next season starts with him on the roster, it will be more complicated to do before 2027.
10 – Tip Reiman has certainly had his share of mistakes this season, but he sure is a great blocker.
2 – I really feel that Connor is being undervalued. In the media, among NFL fans, and among Cards fans. He is so good.
3 – That fumble was on 100% on Murray. Why did he try to hand it off in the head of Carter? It’s not Connor, dude! Carter is shorter!
4 – Now I want to lose the last two games. I am sorry, but it’s just the way I think. I believe that you can win by losing in the NFL, and there is a world of difference between drafting #11 or #19 – which is the realistic spectrum.
And in that regard, it was actually a good round for the Cards, with Indy, Bengals, Cowboys, Miami all winning. The Cardinals are sitting at #16 with the same record as those other teams, but the hardest strength of schedule (and thus the lowest pick).
5 – The future is bright for Isaiah Adams. Great in the run game.
6 – In one of my “10 thoughts”-columns after a preseason game, I mentioned WR Dan Chisena as a very dark horse to make the roster. It was just that he continued to make plays in each game. But he got cut. Fast forward to now where he – against the Cardinals - is making a major third down conversion that would have led to a victory, if Bryce Young had not missed the same wide-open Chisena on a third down after the two-minute warning.
Karma.
7 – Several plays where Darius Robinson got penetration from his interior d-line spot. If he can build on that, and maybe add a little weight, it could be a big upgrade going into next season.
8 – Those two passes in overtime that Harrison couldn’t haul in? Sure, it was difficult catches, but I expect him to make those.
9 – I want to move on from Kyler Murray. And just to be clear: yes, it can certainly be done. I explained it in another thread, so I will just quote myself:
“If Murray is on the roster on the fifth day of next league year, over 39 million from 2026 becomes fully guaranteed. But if traded after this season, his cap hit for the Cards would be 33 million, while Michael Bidwill would actually 11 million in cash. In other words, the cap hit is very manageble, and relative to the contract it would actually be beneficial to Bidwill to get out of it after this season, provided that he will not keep Murray until the end.”
And:
“In fact, I think that he is very tradable. First, his new team will only be on the hook for his 33 million-salary in 2025 as there will be no guarantees left after that year for a new team (that language is in the contract). That is not at all expensive for a quarterback, and it would give that team a one-year try-out before deciding what to do with Murray.”
In fact, if you are going to move on from him before the contract ends, now is the time. If next season starts with him on the roster, it will be more complicated to do before 2027.
10 – Tip Reiman has certainly had his share of mistakes this season, but he sure is a great blocker.
