Think the Cards will be back in the playoffs in 2018 with the majority of the roster they have. Special teams has sucked since we fired Kevin Spencer and BA brought in his own guy Amos. It has sucked every single year of BA's tenure, but last year it especially sucked because special teams miscues cost us ball games- without those miscues, those particular miscues, we are probably in the playoffs, and the way we were playing at the end of the season, it was realistic to think we would have competed punch for punch with any team in the NFC. This was a good year to compete for a spot in the super bowl, and we poo the bed. However, I'll concede that woulda, coulda, shoulda doesn't matter, and the cardinals were rightfully out of the playoffs.
Fitz is hardly old and washed up. He led the league in receptions this year (albeit, he insists an * stay next to his performance). I'd even go as far as to say he is still likely the best receiver in football; if I were building a team today, I'd take him as my first receiver (not just for receptions and yards, but clutch/difficult catches and his blocking is stellar)... A year ago, Carson was lighting it up and Matt Ryan was sitting at home. This year Carson is a bum and Ryan an MVP. There is no reason to think the Cardinals can not/will not be back in the playoff ring next year. Who thought Dallas would be the #1 seed? Who saw Carolina finishing last place in their division?
The Cardinals have the personnel to compete. Of course we have a long way to go (FA and draft) before we finalize the roster, but I see little reason for such a pessimistic view of the Cardinals moving forward. They have been one of the winning most teams the past 4 years. Fitz and the Cardinals still have a shot at a title Mickey...
