Harry
ASFN Consultant and Senior Writer
The Cards entered this season with one of the three weakest rosters in the league. Their regular starting QB was on IR. They let their meaningful free agents leave with no effort to retain them. They released their best WR. They signed zero front line free agent players. They drafted at least 2 early round prospects who were too injured to play in training camp. They traded for a QB who had failed at 4 other teams.
Despite all this they began the season playing harder than there was any reason to expect they would. Regardless of skill level these are pro players who likely could assess the skill level of this team. They knew they were doomed to lose, yet Gannon got the morale level way up. Then, thanks in part to opponent incompetence, they beat the Cowboys. Everyone immediately forgot who they were. Perhaps even they forgot it. Yet losses followed. Then came the highly anticipated return of Murray and they won. He actually played so well it seemed he’d never been gone. Adrenaline is an amazing drug.
Then things started to slip again. Despite a weak opponent they lost to the Falcons, partly because of weird coaching decisions. There were ominous signs the rookies were hitting a wall. Injuries were mounting on a team with the least personnel depth in the league. Then came a game against a team that had historically crushed the Cards even when they were at full strength. Was this loss a surprise? I saw at least 2 pregame TV pundits pick the Cards to win. Why? Because they believed in Murray. Maybe next season, but the NFL is not a video game. It’s reality!
This team never had a chance. Turning on the coaches isn’t fair. They never had a chance. Turning on Murray isn’t fair; he never had a chance. Singling out failing players may be accurate, but they never had a chance. If someone misplayed there was no one to have their back.
It’s okay to complain, especially if you spent hard earned money to see this game. I feel for you. You were conned by hoping that history would’t repeat itself. However, this is the NFL; history almost always does. These are the Cardinals. They have an incredibly long history of disappointing fans. Even their best years since 1947 ended in failure. So, c’mon. What did you expect? I say this realizing at 76 I’m as big a sucker as any of you. I’m still a fan. I still keep hoping. I feel like one of those Cubs’ fans saying, “Wait until next year.” I comfort myself by remembering the long suffering Steelers turned into an NFL power for a while. The Bosox & Cubs both won a World Series. It can happen.
Next year the Cards have money to spend and they will. They have stacks of draft picks. Their top choices from 2023’s draft actually show promise. They made a few small moves, like White, that indicate they may have a handle on quality. So the GM looks able. I like the coaching staff. I’m anxious to see them with a talented roster. Sure I have concerns about Murray, but he’s showing signs of real change. It takes time. All this may yet turn into false hope, but at least this team is trying. Successful or not this isn’t the same old Cardinals. They seem to have an actual plan. They seem to have buy in at every level. They seem to have focus.
For my part I’m willing to go once more into the breach and risk my sanity. Wait until next year!
Despite all this they began the season playing harder than there was any reason to expect they would. Regardless of skill level these are pro players who likely could assess the skill level of this team. They knew they were doomed to lose, yet Gannon got the morale level way up. Then, thanks in part to opponent incompetence, they beat the Cowboys. Everyone immediately forgot who they were. Perhaps even they forgot it. Yet losses followed. Then came the highly anticipated return of Murray and they won. He actually played so well it seemed he’d never been gone. Adrenaline is an amazing drug.
Then things started to slip again. Despite a weak opponent they lost to the Falcons, partly because of weird coaching decisions. There were ominous signs the rookies were hitting a wall. Injuries were mounting on a team with the least personnel depth in the league. Then came a game against a team that had historically crushed the Cards even when they were at full strength. Was this loss a surprise? I saw at least 2 pregame TV pundits pick the Cards to win. Why? Because they believed in Murray. Maybe next season, but the NFL is not a video game. It’s reality!
This team never had a chance. Turning on the coaches isn’t fair. They never had a chance. Turning on Murray isn’t fair; he never had a chance. Singling out failing players may be accurate, but they never had a chance. If someone misplayed there was no one to have their back.
It’s okay to complain, especially if you spent hard earned money to see this game. I feel for you. You were conned by hoping that history would’t repeat itself. However, this is the NFL; history almost always does. These are the Cardinals. They have an incredibly long history of disappointing fans. Even their best years since 1947 ended in failure. So, c’mon. What did you expect? I say this realizing at 76 I’m as big a sucker as any of you. I’m still a fan. I still keep hoping. I feel like one of those Cubs’ fans saying, “Wait until next year.” I comfort myself by remembering the long suffering Steelers turned into an NFL power for a while. The Bosox & Cubs both won a World Series. It can happen.
Next year the Cards have money to spend and they will. They have stacks of draft picks. Their top choices from 2023’s draft actually show promise. They made a few small moves, like White, that indicate they may have a handle on quality. So the GM looks able. I like the coaching staff. I’m anxious to see them with a talented roster. Sure I have concerns about Murray, but he’s showing signs of real change. It takes time. All this may yet turn into false hope, but at least this team is trying. Successful or not this isn’t the same old Cardinals. They seem to have an actual plan. They seem to have buy in at every level. They seem to have focus.
For my part I’m willing to go once more into the breach and risk my sanity. Wait until next year!
