Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
I will be the first to say that as a fan the free agency period for the Cardinals was not what I expected.
However, in light of the Cardinals' draft, there UDFA signings and their recent veteran acquisitions (C/G Tony Bergstrom, CB Jumal Rolle and QB Blaine Gabbert), having a broader and more specific view of the off-season plan and the big picture, I am feeling very encouraged.
The early FA signings of S Antoine Bethea, LB Karlos Dansby and K Phil Dawson, plus the re-signings of DE Chandler Jones, DE Josh Mauro, TE Jermaine Greshman and DE Frostee Rucker, coupled with the restructured contracts of CB Justin Bethel and S Tyvon Branch are looking brighter by the day, particularly because of the influx of youth that Steve Keim has amassed in recent weeks.
I am also becoming more and more cognizant of how important it was for the Cardinals to re-establish the integrity and character of the locker room. Judging by how excited and rejuvenated BA and SK are, it feels like the Cardinals are getting back to basics and holding the themselves to the highest priorities and standards.
Off the field, the Cardinals are hitting home runs left and right. BA and is wife have done a fabulous job with their charity to help aid and prevent child abuse, The Arians Family Foundation. In a recent interview, Michael Bidwill raved about Larry Fitzgerald's philanthropy, not only for winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, but by giving so generously to the community and ways that few people know. Bidwill alluded to Fitz's efforts this past Thanksgiving when following a full, physically demanding practice, he ate a quick Thanksgiving dinner at home with his family and then went to help feed the forlorn and homeless and after that went to cheer up and play with a host of children in the hospital. Larry Legend at his finest.
Then there's the recent work that Patrick Peterson and his wife have been doing in Haiti for the Mission of Hope program. Not only did they bring food and water to those living in abject poverty, they have committed to building three new houses for families that lost their houses in the hurricanes.
Back to football side of things, the prep work the veterans are putting in to this season is becoming very obvious. For example, Tyrann Mathieu and Brandon Williams have packed 10+ pounds of muscle to their frames. David Johnson has been working out like a warrior. John Brown is back to full health and running like the Smoke of old.
Furthermore, it makes me proud of the way that Michael Bidwill handled the Daryl Washington situation. Bidwill is willing to give players chances to redeem themselves, but only if he is convinced that those players are humble, contrite and sincere....and that they truly understand the gravity of their situations. There is no doubt in my mind that Bidwill would have supported Michael Floyd had he been remorseful for his DUI. Just as there is no doubt in my mind that Bidwill would have give Daryl Washington a chance to redeem himself, had Washington shown the appropriate gratitude. As hard as it was for Bidwill to let Floyd go...the Cardinals have been trending upward ever since. Bidwill is hinging his vision on team character and leadership and at this point he is not going to compromise that vision one iota.
What's equally exciting is how well the Cardinals are building for the present and the future. Having 4 compensatory picks in next year's draft is a boon. Plus, despite not reaching for a QB in this year's draft, which Steve Keim was adamant he would not do, I think it was a superb move to sign QB Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert gets a year to audition for the starting job in 2018. BA likes his size, smarts and athleticism and feels that he can coach Gabbert to master the nuances of QB play. We know how loyal BA has been to Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton...but adding Gabbert to the mix at QB shows that BA is willing to try to overlook loyalties for the sake of possible short and long term improvements.
Another significant chance that i sense is that BA appears to more willing and eager to assimilate the rookies and younger players into active roles. This recent draft has captured BA's imagination. Chances are that several of the draftees will earn significant roles in the weekly game plans. The mixing of veteran leadership with youthful exuberance should be very exciting to watch.
However, in light of the Cardinals' draft, there UDFA signings and their recent veteran acquisitions (C/G Tony Bergstrom, CB Jumal Rolle and QB Blaine Gabbert), having a broader and more specific view of the off-season plan and the big picture, I am feeling very encouraged.
The early FA signings of S Antoine Bethea, LB Karlos Dansby and K Phil Dawson, plus the re-signings of DE Chandler Jones, DE Josh Mauro, TE Jermaine Greshman and DE Frostee Rucker, coupled with the restructured contracts of CB Justin Bethel and S Tyvon Branch are looking brighter by the day, particularly because of the influx of youth that Steve Keim has amassed in recent weeks.
I am also becoming more and more cognizant of how important it was for the Cardinals to re-establish the integrity and character of the locker room. Judging by how excited and rejuvenated BA and SK are, it feels like the Cardinals are getting back to basics and holding the themselves to the highest priorities and standards.
Off the field, the Cardinals are hitting home runs left and right. BA and is wife have done a fabulous job with their charity to help aid and prevent child abuse, The Arians Family Foundation. In a recent interview, Michael Bidwill raved about Larry Fitzgerald's philanthropy, not only for winning the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award, but by giving so generously to the community and ways that few people know. Bidwill alluded to Fitz's efforts this past Thanksgiving when following a full, physically demanding practice, he ate a quick Thanksgiving dinner at home with his family and then went to help feed the forlorn and homeless and after that went to cheer up and play with a host of children in the hospital. Larry Legend at his finest.
Then there's the recent work that Patrick Peterson and his wife have been doing in Haiti for the Mission of Hope program. Not only did they bring food and water to those living in abject poverty, they have committed to building three new houses for families that lost their houses in the hurricanes.
Back to football side of things, the prep work the veterans are putting in to this season is becoming very obvious. For example, Tyrann Mathieu and Brandon Williams have packed 10+ pounds of muscle to their frames. David Johnson has been working out like a warrior. John Brown is back to full health and running like the Smoke of old.
Furthermore, it makes me proud of the way that Michael Bidwill handled the Daryl Washington situation. Bidwill is willing to give players chances to redeem themselves, but only if he is convinced that those players are humble, contrite and sincere....and that they truly understand the gravity of their situations. There is no doubt in my mind that Bidwill would have supported Michael Floyd had he been remorseful for his DUI. Just as there is no doubt in my mind that Bidwill would have give Daryl Washington a chance to redeem himself, had Washington shown the appropriate gratitude. As hard as it was for Bidwill to let Floyd go...the Cardinals have been trending upward ever since. Bidwill is hinging his vision on team character and leadership and at this point he is not going to compromise that vision one iota.
What's equally exciting is how well the Cardinals are building for the present and the future. Having 4 compensatory picks in next year's draft is a boon. Plus, despite not reaching for a QB in this year's draft, which Steve Keim was adamant he would not do, I think it was a superb move to sign QB Blaine Gabbert. Gabbert gets a year to audition for the starting job in 2018. BA likes his size, smarts and athleticism and feels that he can coach Gabbert to master the nuances of QB play. We know how loyal BA has been to Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton...but adding Gabbert to the mix at QB shows that BA is willing to try to overlook loyalties for the sake of possible short and long term improvements.
Another significant chance that i sense is that BA appears to more willing and eager to assimilate the rookies and younger players into active roles. This recent draft has captured BA's imagination. Chances are that several of the draftees will earn significant roles in the weekly game plans. The mixing of veteran leadership with youthful exuberance should be very exciting to watch.
