Getting cut by Arizona was ticket to Super Bowl

[azdad1978]

By Darren Urban, Tribune

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Jeff Blake’s exasperation was evident when he left Arizona. "It’s not like I have played bad ball," Blake said nearly one year ago, when the Cardinals released the veteran quarterback. "I’ve just been on bad teams." Now Blake’s on a good team — and he couldn’t be happier.

"It’s a lot harder to go some place when you don’t have anything to work with and they put it all on your shoulders, especially as a quarterback," Blake said Tuesday while enjoying Super Bowl media day as the Philadelphia Eagles’ third-string quarterback. "A lot of teams I have been on, there was just nothing there to work with. You are always trying to be a Cinderella."

Blake’s long career in the NFL had been highlighted by losing during his stints with the Cardinals, New Orleans Saints and Cincinnati Bengals.

Still, he was stung when Dennis Green, hired to coach the Cards only the month before, cut him to turn the quarterback job over to Josh McCown. Blake admits he remains disappointed Green never bothered to talk to him about the decision.

"Hey, things happen for a reason, even if you can’t see it at the time," Blake said. "I am happy for this opportunity, because those guys in Arizona, they’re home and I’m here."

Blake was one of a couple of ex-Cardinals who won’t see the field on Super Sunday without regret. Kevin Kasper, who spent part of 2002 and 2003 in Arizona before being cut by the Cards in training camp this season, landed with the New England Patriots.

Kasper was training with the Cardinals’ Damien Anderson in the Valley after both had been released. Kasper got picked up by the Pats in Week 4, played in only eight games, and now has little to do but take in the experience.

He was popular during Tuesday’s media day, his platinum-blond hair earning him a spur-of-the-moment piece for "The Tonight Show" in which a correspondent tried to get him to rap an Eminem song.

"You dream about going to the Super Bowl and there are a lot of great players that never got a chance to be a part of it," Kasper said with a wide grin. "For me, I am going to keep a smile on my face all week. It’s just fun."

Not everybody was in such good spirits talking about the Cardinals, though. Eagles defensive tackle Darwin Walker — who has started for Philadelphia for three seasons — clearly remains bitter about his short time in Arizona. Walker was a third-round draft pick in 2000, but he landed in coach Vince Tobin’s doghouse early on and was cut only two games into the season.

"I don’t even consider that part of my career," Walker said. "I am an Eagle, I have been here my whole career, and that’s the way I look at it."

But, Walker added, "when Arizona released me, that was the best thing they could have done for me — absolutely."

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=35719

 

[clif]

nice piece .


why do players blame the organization for them not succeeding? Then they go and get buried on the bench but still find time to bash the cards.

 

[Mulli]

"It’s a lot harder to go some place when you don’t have anything to work with and they put it all on your shoulders, especially as a quarterback," Blake said..


Ah yes, it is much easier to go to a team and hold a clip board.

 

[jefftheshark]

Personally, I will never forget the 21 point deficient that Jeff Blake amazingly overcame in order for Philly to beat Atlanta. Kudos to him for punching his Super Bowl "Ticket" and getting what he so richly deserves. And Kasper! Wow! His heroics in the AFC Championship Game will forever be seen on NFL Films for my grandkids to marvel! And really, what can I say about Walker and the major contribution he made to Arizona in his storied career stay? How about those two special teams tackles? Wait, wasn’t he cut before he even played? Wasn’t he cut because he had a self-professed attitude problem?

Give me a break.

Note to D. Urban: A true writer can offer more insight into a Cardinals-Super Bowl connection than this drivel. Let’s put some effort (and maybe pride) into our work.

The Shark

 

[Jersey Girl]

"It’s a lot harder to go some place when you don’t have anything to work with and they put it all on your shoulders, especially as a quarterback," Blake said..


Ah yes, it is much easier to go to a team and hold a clip board.

Exactly. How many snaps did this guy take this year? I don't think anybody who rides someone else's coattails to the Superbowl should be talking trash.

And, as far as Walker is concerned, we are on the same page. I don't consider him as ever being a Cardinal either. I can't even remember us drafting that dude. Have fun in the Superbowl. We don't miss you a bit.

BTW, I don't know how you guys stand crap like this being written in AZ. The Cards are a few years away from seriously contending for the Superbowl. Will you have to hear about every ex-Card on every Superbowl-bound team from now til eternity? Is there nothing else to write about?

Ridiculous.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

nice piece .


why do players blame the organization for them not succeeding? Then they go and get buried on the bench but still find time to bash the cards.

Well you can make arguements for cutting Blake and Kasper, but the McGinnis regime made a terrible mistake cutting Walker. No one knows the whole story but he was never even given a chance in AZ and was cut before training camp was over.

He is an obvious talent that stepped right into that lineup!

As for Blake, well, all I can say is he proved to me that he as at least better than McCown which is the best QB on the Cards roster right now!

 

[clif]

Well you can make arguements for cutting Blake and Kasper, but the McGinnis regime made a terrible mistake cutting Walker. No one knows the whole story but he was never even given a chance in AZ and was cut before training camp was over.

He is an obvious talent that stepped right into that lineup!

As for Blake, well, all I can say is he proved to me that he as at least better than McCown which is the best QB on the Cards roster right now!

darwin walker had an attitude problem that he admitted to. he did not work nearly as hard when he was here as he has with the eagles since. he even admitted that IIRC

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

darwin walker had an attitude problem that he admitted to. he did not work nearly as hard when he was here as he has with the eagles since. he even admitted that IIRC

I have heard that theory clif of Walker's attitude problem but I dont ever remember it being more that just that-a Theory!

I am not saying I dont believe you, I just havent see n it other than speculation from people on this board (myself included)

 

[Russ Smith]

nice piece .


why do players blame the organization for them not succeeding? Then they go and get buried on the bench but still find time to bash the cards.

I'd agree his comments were a bit harsh and a bit bitter but when you've played the bulk of your career for the bengals, and then play for the Cards with Mac as a lameduck and Sullivan as an OC I do think you have a right to say you played for bad teams.

Doesn't excuse his comments, he didn't play that well, and while his receiving group was certainly young, I wouldn't say Quan was "nothing to work with".

Blake has a chip on his shoulder, always has, probably always will.

If Green never discussed it with Blake I guess that confirms the talk that Wood was the one who was told to tell Blake? Ironic that nearly a year later wood is unemployed, and Blake is standing on the sideline in a Superbowl.

 

[joeshmo]

I have heard that theory clif of Walker's attitude problem but I dont ever remember it being more that just that-a Theory!

I am not saying I dont believe you, I just havent see n it other than speculation from people on this board (myself included)

It is true, Walker said it himself, the radio guys said it as well, so why would it still be a theory to you. There are probably article somewhere but I am not looking for it.

But regardless, the guy was a 3rd round pick, you just dont cut a a 3rd rounder that quickly. IMO the cards didnt even try with him. They should have kept him for at least the season to see if things changed.

But I for one am glad he is gone. Can the guy rush the passer, yes, but he is a complete turnstile for RB's playing against Philly. And it isnt like he is making plays in the back field against RB's either he only had 2 tackles for loss. If he was still on our team and was getting his sacks like he is right now, he would be playing UT for us and Dockett would most likely be on another team. I would rather have dockett as he had a better year then Walker had and Dockett is a rookie.

 

[Lex]

When Darwin Walker got to Philly, he said he had decided that was the only team he was going to play for.

He's a smart guy that already had a business plan for after his football career, that was far far away from Arizona.

"I don't even consider that part of my career" Walker said. "I'm an Eagle, I have been here my whole career, and that's the way I look at it."

But Walker added, " when Arizona RELEASED ME, that was the best thing they could have done for me-absolutely."

Released me. Let me out. We actually CUT him, but he accomplished his goal of playing in Philadelphia no matter which team drafted him. It would have been some other team, had we not taken him. He circumvented the NFL draft.

We should have left him here to rot on the bench.

A good reporter from Arizona should have asked him WHY he tanked it here. THAT would have been a good story.

 

[cdex99]

I liked Kasper when he was here. I think I remember when he was cut that Green specifically mentioned him as one of the toughest cuts to make.

 

[Russ Smith]

But Walker added, " when Arizona RELEASED ME, that was the best thing they could have done for me-absolutely."

Released me. Let me out. We actually CUT him, but he accomplished his goal of playing in Philadelphia no matter which team drafted him. It would have been some other team, had we not taken him. He circumvented the NFL draft.

We should have left him here to rot on the bench.

A good reporter from Arizona should have asked him WHY he tanked it here. THAT would have been a good story.

Released is another word for cut in the NFL Lex.

how did walker know Philly was going to claim him off waivers, cut rookies go through the same waiver wire process veterans do don't they?

Mac and Tobin said that Walker didn't fit our scheme, you know he was a DT that actually penetrated and made plays, our scheme was to hang onto the OL and step aside to the let the RB go through the hole.

Walker was one of the classic examples of the old Cardinal regime, draft a guy in the 3rd round who apparently doesn't fit your scheme, and then cut him, all the while holding on to guys like Rutledge and Stone for years who didn't seem to fit any scheme?

 

[jefftheshark]

Both the Tobin and Mac regimes were possibly the worst evaluators of both playing and coaching talent that the League has ever seen. That they would waive a good player, while promoting a lesser talent, should come as no surprise.

However, Walker had an attitude problem that was discussed in the Republic at great length. A tried and true way of handling this situation is to run off the offending player (See Kendall, Pete). Sometimes these players go on to perform better than when they were here, sometimes they don’t. That’s life in the NFL.

Note: Lex, Walker is not the first player to circumvent the draft process (See Elway, John & Manning, Eli). You are absolutely correct that the author of this "story" ( I hesitate to call this journalism) should have found a less trite angle to tout.

The Shark

 

[ajcardfan]

IIRC, and I'm pretty sure I do, the Cards were intending to resign Walker to the practice squad.

 

[Syracusecards]

It is true, Walker said it himself, the radio guys said it as well, so why would it still be a theory to you. There are probably article somewhere but I am not looking for it.

But regardless, the guy was a 3rd round pick, you just dont cut a a 3rd rounder that quickly. IMO the cards didnt even try with him. They should have kept him for at least the season to see if things changed.

But I for one am glad he is gone. Can the guy rush the passer, yes, but he is a complete turnstile for RB's playing against Philly. And it isnt like he is making plays in the back field against RB's either he only had 2 tackles for loss. If he was still on our team and was getting his sacks like he is right now, he would be playing UT for us and Dockett would most likely be on another team. I would rather have dockett as he had a better year then Walker had and Dockett is a rookie.

They probably realized that Mean Joe Green couldn't motivate his way out of a paper bag so they just gave up on him.

 

[joeshmo]

They probably realized that Mean Joe Green couldn't motivate his way out of a paper bag so they just gave up on him.

Depends on the bag. Is it one of those lunch size bags or a full size grocery bag.

 

[Syracusecards]

Depends on the bag. Is it one of those lunch size bags or a full size grocery bag.

Either way, if there's food in them, he's not coming out.

 

[AzKarl]

It's True he sulked through training camp

darwin walker had an attitude problem that he admitted to. he did not work nearly as hard when he was here as he has with the eagles since. he even admitted that IIRC

No matter how hard Tobin and Company tried the Cardinals could not get this guy out of his funk over being drafted in the third round as opposed to being drafted in the first round as some agent probably told him. Since there was not psychiatric help in training camp for this moron, the team cut his lard ass.

Nothing like getting signed by a team at the time in need of D-linemen and realizing your NFL career is over if you don't get out of your funk. I give Walker credit, he realized he'd be pumping gas or at some car wash if he didn't snap out of it. The rest is history. I'm glad he did because I doubt he ever graduated from Tennessee. Phat Phil isn't known for running an Academic bastion for intellectuals.

 

[Gee!]

No matter how hard Tobin and Company tried the Cardinals could not get this guy out of his funk over being drafted in the third round as opposed to being drafted in the first round as some agent probably told him. Since there was not psychiatric help in training camp for this moron, the team cut his lard ass.

Nothing like getting signed by a team at the time in need of D-linemen and realizing your NFL career is over if you don't get out of your funk. I give Walker credit, he realized he'd be pumping gas or at some car wash if he didn't snap out of it. The rest is history. I'm glad he did because I doubt he ever graduated from Tennessee. Phat Phil isn't known for running an Academic bastion for intellectuals.

Your old bro. No one pumps gas no more for a living.

 

[SECTION 11]

Nothing like getting signed by a team at the time in need of D-linemen and realizing your NFL career is over if you don't get out of your funk. I give Walker credit, he realized he'd be pumping gas or at some car wash if he didn't snap out of it. The rest is history. I'm glad he did because I doubt he ever graduated from Tennessee. Phat Phil isn't known for running an Academic bastion for intellectuals.

Not that Tennessee's graduation rate is anything to be proud of, but Darwin Walker is the exception. He's actually very smart. He got a civil engineering degree and I believe now co-owns a structural engineering firm.

http://www.darwinwalker.com/bus_appearance.htmhttp://utsports.collegesports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/020105aac.html

 

[SECTION 11]

Given your chance to roll a signing bonus into opening up your own company vs playing for a bad team in front of 25K fans... I can see why he wasn't interested.

Doesn't make it right, but it certainly isn't surprising.

 

[Faithful]

Your old bro. No one pumps gas no more for a living.

 

[Russ Smith]

Your old bro. No one pumps gas no more for a living.

How true is that, my ex girlfriends 14 year old son didn't even know that there used to be something called full service, we passed a gas station that said they still had full service and Ryen asked me what that was.

The days of "check your oil" and someone washing your windshield are long gone.

 

[schillingfan]

It is true, Walker said it himself, the radio guys said it as well, so why would it still be a theory to you. There are probably article somewhere but I am not looking for it.

But regardless, the guy was a 3rd round pick, you just dont cut a a 3rd rounder that quickly. IMO the cards didnt even try with him. They should have kept him for at least the season to see if things changed.

But I for one am glad he is gone. Can the guy rush the passer, yes, but he is a complete turnstile for RB's playing against Philly. And it isnt like he is making plays in the back field against RB's either he only had 2 tackles for loss. If he was still on our team and was getting his sacks like he is right now, he would be playing UT for us and Dockett would most likely be on another team. I would rather have dockett as he had a better year then Walker had and Dockett is a rookie.

You obviously haven't watched Darwin walker play. He's not a turnstile. And the Eagles have had a good run defense since they lost to the Steelers. Atlanta was the top running team in the NFL and the Eagles stuffed them.

While Darwin Walker might have had an attitude problem in AZ, self-admitted, a good coach will find a way to turn that around as Andy Reid obviously did. Plus, the Eagles have had a lot of really high character guys, particularly on defense.

In some ways the Eagles and Patriots are a lot alike. Good organizations know how to recognize, work with and development talent. Bad organizations, like the Cards throw it away.

Of course in Philly we have the Phillies incredible poor organization to balance out the Eagles.