azdad1978
Championship!!!!
Defensive end Antonio Smith went to work Monday through Friday just like the rest of us for the last 13 weeks of the season. On Sundays, his ticket was punched and he stood in the stands with the rest of the Cardinals faithful but instead of cheering his favorite player, Smith was rooting for his co-workers.
Such is the job of a practice squad player. But big rewards can come and for the Cardinals fifth-round draft selection, that payoff came last week when he was activated from the practice squad to the team’s 53-man roster only to suit up and play in the team’s one-sided win over the St. Louis Rams.
Things started off rocky for the rookie out of Oklahoma State. Suffering from the worst case of nerves he’d ever experienced on the football field, Smith missed his name being called on the punt return team after the Rams first series.
“I forgot I was supposed to be out there and I was standing right there with Coach Green and I was like this is my opportunity, and I’m messing it up, I better straighten up real quick.”
After that, the butterflies quickly dissipated and Smith had the time of his life.
“It was like heaven to me,” Smith reflected. “I loved it.”
Smith caught himself every once in a while looking up to his old seat in the stands where this season he has made some friends out of Cardinals fans and enemies out of opposing fans. He has no intentions of returning to that seat ever again.
“It was a real nice change up,” said Smith. “I’d rather play football any day than sit in the bleachers.”
Smith is the last member of the Cardinals draft class to make a contribution in his rookie season. Linebacker Karlos Dansby, defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, receiver Larry Fitzgerald and center Alex Stepanovich have been mainstays in the starting lineup all season. Quarterback John Navarre had one start against Detroit before injuring his finger, center/guard Nick Leckey has started on special teams all year, and even undrafted free agents Larry Croom and Eric Edwards have seen significant playing time.
“I thought about it a lot because coming here as rookies, we all practiced in the rookie camps together and we were working hard and fighting hard to make this team and earn playing time,” explained Smith. “I was grateful to even be here, but watching them play all year, I wanted an opportunity to contribute as well. Becoming part of the active roster, it feels like when we were all here just practicing together in the rookie camps with all of us having the goal to make things happen for this team.”
Although Smith didn’t get off to fast start the rest of his class has, Head Coach Dennis Green said he’s developed into a much bigger and physical player, one of the reasons he activated Smith and played him on Sunday instead of last year’s first-round draft pick Calvin Pace.
Smith played primarily on special teams on Sunday and as a backup at both end positions. With the help of his defensive line coach Deek Pollard, Smith said he felt very prepared for last Sunday.
“I’m more technique sound then I was when I first got here,” Smith pointed out. “When I got here I was just rushing off on instinct. I know what to do now in certain situations.”
For his first NFL game, things couldn’t have gone any better as the Cardinals turned out their best all-around performance of the season.
“It was so exciting for me because all year I think we were capable of doing what we did against St. Louis but certain times we would fall short and we weren’t clicking on all cylinders. On last Sunday, everything was working right, the chemistry was right, the enthusiasm was there the whole game, not just for the first half or the second half. We kept the pressure on them all through the game and it was exciting to see everyone all hyped up and having fun.”
Smith will have another first this weekend when he travels with the team for his first regular-season road game.
“Seattle is number one in our division right now so if we beat them, we’ll be right on our way and that just goes to help the team’s swagger and confidence. Right now we are all feeling very confident because the win last week just boosted everybody up. We have beaten Seattle already this season so we know if we come out and play the way we did last week that we have a great chance to get another win. Winning changes everything. You should see the locker room right now, everybody is ready to go.”
For Clarification Sake…
Pro Bowl Bertrand Berry sort of gave up at times this season explaining to teammates and Cardinals staff that he can’t stand being called Bert.
But he clarified things to the Cardinals media this week
“It’s Bertrand.”
That didn’t stop quarterback Josh McCown and other teammates walking by and saying “Congrats Bert!”
“It’s something I’ve been called since high school. I’m not a big fan of it, but you deal with it. Some people do it, and we try to correct them as we go,” Berry good-naturedly explained.
Christmas Gifts from Emmitt….
Although it’s been his custom throughout his career, Emmitt Smith’s thoughtful Christmas presents for his teammates came as a surprise to fullback Femi Ayanbadejo.
For Ayanbadejo, and the seven starting offensive linemen who have blocked for Smith this season, the all-time rushing leader commissioned paintings, an action image and a portrait of the player.
“He surprised us,” shared Ayanbadejo. “As soon as I came in, guys asked if I had seen the picture. I was amazed at the quality of work and that he even put the thought of doing something like that.”
Smith also got a gift basket and an autographed Smith jersey for all other offensive players, and a gift basket and an autographed Smith football for all defensive players.
Despite Holiday, Business as Usual
Although the team will be traveling to Seattle on Christmas Day, players say it is business as usual.
“You have to be a professional about your job,” explained Emmitt Smith. “You know what your occupation is and you have to deal with whatever comes. You try to enjoy Christmas as much as you possibly can with your family before you leave and then once you get on the road and on that plane, it is all about business. We understand what is at stake.”
What is at stake is a playoff berth for the Cardinals. While other teams might be resting players for the playoffs, the Cardinals have to treat this game as if it already is the sudden-death playoff mentality.
“Guys really have to understand that we’ve been given a lot of opportunities and we’ve squandered a lot of them, but if we squander this one, that’s it,” said Bertrand Berry. “There is no coming back with 10 losses. We aren’t going to go to the playoffs. That is like a broken record but we are going to have to go out and perform and make the most of this opportunity.”
Newly re-signed safety Adrian Wilson stated, “This is our playoff game.”
Although the Cardinals have had their fare share of struggles this season, they hit their stride last week against St. Louis.
“That makes it very fun,” said Emmitt of the week of practice after a win like that. “It makes it very exciting. That is what we’ve been shooting for all year long. If we can just build upon what we did this past Sunday in terms of consistency and being balanced like we were, we have a great chance of being very competitive. Once you become very competitive, wherever the chips fall, they fall. But, when you can put all three phases of the game together you can have games like we had Sunday and you give yourself a great chance of winning.”
Chrissy Mauck, azcardinals.com
http://azcardinals.com/news/news_details.html?iid=2525
Such is the job of a practice squad player. But big rewards can come and for the Cardinals fifth-round draft selection, that payoff came last week when he was activated from the practice squad to the team’s 53-man roster only to suit up and play in the team’s one-sided win over the St. Louis Rams.
Things started off rocky for the rookie out of Oklahoma State. Suffering from the worst case of nerves he’d ever experienced on the football field, Smith missed his name being called on the punt return team after the Rams first series.
“I forgot I was supposed to be out there and I was standing right there with Coach Green and I was like this is my opportunity, and I’m messing it up, I better straighten up real quick.”
After that, the butterflies quickly dissipated and Smith had the time of his life.
“It was like heaven to me,” Smith reflected. “I loved it.”
Smith caught himself every once in a while looking up to his old seat in the stands where this season he has made some friends out of Cardinals fans and enemies out of opposing fans. He has no intentions of returning to that seat ever again.
“It was a real nice change up,” said Smith. “I’d rather play football any day than sit in the bleachers.”
Smith is the last member of the Cardinals draft class to make a contribution in his rookie season. Linebacker Karlos Dansby, defensive tackle Darnell Dockett, receiver Larry Fitzgerald and center Alex Stepanovich have been mainstays in the starting lineup all season. Quarterback John Navarre had one start against Detroit before injuring his finger, center/guard Nick Leckey has started on special teams all year, and even undrafted free agents Larry Croom and Eric Edwards have seen significant playing time.
“I thought about it a lot because coming here as rookies, we all practiced in the rookie camps together and we were working hard and fighting hard to make this team and earn playing time,” explained Smith. “I was grateful to even be here, but watching them play all year, I wanted an opportunity to contribute as well. Becoming part of the active roster, it feels like when we were all here just practicing together in the rookie camps with all of us having the goal to make things happen for this team.”
Although Smith didn’t get off to fast start the rest of his class has, Head Coach Dennis Green said he’s developed into a much bigger and physical player, one of the reasons he activated Smith and played him on Sunday instead of last year’s first-round draft pick Calvin Pace.
Smith played primarily on special teams on Sunday and as a backup at both end positions. With the help of his defensive line coach Deek Pollard, Smith said he felt very prepared for last Sunday.
“I’m more technique sound then I was when I first got here,” Smith pointed out. “When I got here I was just rushing off on instinct. I know what to do now in certain situations.”
For his first NFL game, things couldn’t have gone any better as the Cardinals turned out their best all-around performance of the season.
“It was so exciting for me because all year I think we were capable of doing what we did against St. Louis but certain times we would fall short and we weren’t clicking on all cylinders. On last Sunday, everything was working right, the chemistry was right, the enthusiasm was there the whole game, not just for the first half or the second half. We kept the pressure on them all through the game and it was exciting to see everyone all hyped up and having fun.”
Smith will have another first this weekend when he travels with the team for his first regular-season road game.
“Seattle is number one in our division right now so if we beat them, we’ll be right on our way and that just goes to help the team’s swagger and confidence. Right now we are all feeling very confident because the win last week just boosted everybody up. We have beaten Seattle already this season so we know if we come out and play the way we did last week that we have a great chance to get another win. Winning changes everything. You should see the locker room right now, everybody is ready to go.”
For Clarification Sake…
Pro Bowl Bertrand Berry sort of gave up at times this season explaining to teammates and Cardinals staff that he can’t stand being called Bert.
But he clarified things to the Cardinals media this week
“It’s Bertrand.”
That didn’t stop quarterback Josh McCown and other teammates walking by and saying “Congrats Bert!”
“It’s something I’ve been called since high school. I’m not a big fan of it, but you deal with it. Some people do it, and we try to correct them as we go,” Berry good-naturedly explained.
Christmas Gifts from Emmitt….
Although it’s been his custom throughout his career, Emmitt Smith’s thoughtful Christmas presents for his teammates came as a surprise to fullback Femi Ayanbadejo.
For Ayanbadejo, and the seven starting offensive linemen who have blocked for Smith this season, the all-time rushing leader commissioned paintings, an action image and a portrait of the player.
“He surprised us,” shared Ayanbadejo. “As soon as I came in, guys asked if I had seen the picture. I was amazed at the quality of work and that he even put the thought of doing something like that.”
Smith also got a gift basket and an autographed Smith jersey for all other offensive players, and a gift basket and an autographed Smith football for all defensive players.
Despite Holiday, Business as Usual
Although the team will be traveling to Seattle on Christmas Day, players say it is business as usual.
“You have to be a professional about your job,” explained Emmitt Smith. “You know what your occupation is and you have to deal with whatever comes. You try to enjoy Christmas as much as you possibly can with your family before you leave and then once you get on the road and on that plane, it is all about business. We understand what is at stake.”
What is at stake is a playoff berth for the Cardinals. While other teams might be resting players for the playoffs, the Cardinals have to treat this game as if it already is the sudden-death playoff mentality.
“Guys really have to understand that we’ve been given a lot of opportunities and we’ve squandered a lot of them, but if we squander this one, that’s it,” said Bertrand Berry. “There is no coming back with 10 losses. We aren’t going to go to the playoffs. That is like a broken record but we are going to have to go out and perform and make the most of this opportunity.”
Newly re-signed safety Adrian Wilson stated, “This is our playoff game.”
Although the Cardinals have had their fare share of struggles this season, they hit their stride last week against St. Louis.
“That makes it very fun,” said Emmitt of the week of practice after a win like that. “It makes it very exciting. That is what we’ve been shooting for all year long. If we can just build upon what we did this past Sunday in terms of consistency and being balanced like we were, we have a great chance of being very competitive. Once you become very competitive, wherever the chips fall, they fall. But, when you can put all three phases of the game together you can have games like we had Sunday and you give yourself a great chance of winning.”
Chrissy Mauck, azcardinals.com
http://azcardinals.com/news/news_details.html?iid=2525
