Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
As we Arizona Cardinals' fans prepare for the brand new 2014 season that awaits us Monday night---let's take some song pages out of Peter Townshend's and Roger Daltrey's book of Top 10 hits and see how those hits apply to our team.
1. "I Can't Explain."
What is so difficult to explain heading into this season is all the number of adversities the Cardinals have endured over the past few months:
* The defection of ILB Karlos Dansby. Can anyone explain why the Browns offered a 30 year old LB so many years for so much money?
* The year-long suspension of ILB Daryl Washington. Can anyone explain how Washington, despite his previous suspension and subsequent arrest for domestic violence managed to convince the Cardinals to pick up his $10,000,000 option for the 2014 season?
* The DUI arrest of John Abraham. Can anyone explain how a player with the history of DUI incidents could be found asleep at the wheel at a traffic light in broad daylight?
* The torn ACL of Darnell Dockett, Can anyone explain how a durable player such as Dockett can blow out his knee during a non-contact portion of practice?
2. "The Real Me."
Who are you Carson Palmer?
Are you the QB we saw in pre-season game #1---poised and pinpoint pocket passer?
Or---are you the QB we saw on national TV in pre-season game #3---seemingly rattled and off the mark?
So much depends upon a red quarterback glazed with sweat beside the white helmeted receivers (an existential musing borrowed from the poet William Carlos Williams).
3. "Behind Blue Eyes."
No one knows what it's like to be the guy coming back from a torn ACL and MCL and wanting to play so badly and yet wanting to be the dynamic player he was just months ago.
4. "Pinball Wizard."
Few Cardinals have been able to speed, duck and carom his way through the blockers and bumpers the way Andre "Sir Juke" Ellington can. How long will the game be "tilted" before we can launch our wizard back into play again?
5. "My Generation."
Talkin' 'bout the venerable trio of Bruce Arians, Tom Moore and Tom Pratt---all of whom have one burning desire---to tread the sidelines at the Super Bowl one more glorious time. The last time bruce Arians did---his offense saved the day for the Steelers versus the Arizona Cardinals in 2009. The last time Tom Moore did was when his Colts were defeated by Drew Brees and the Saints in 2010---and fortunately there were no reports of Moore sticking the Hoover on a hot dog while watching The Who at half-time. And the last time Tom Pratt did was in Super Bowl I as an assistant coach under Hank Stram of the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs. Just imagine...
6. "The Kids Are Alright."
As The Who assured as that, despite so many ominous signs on the horizon, all would eventually be OK, for these Cardinals the kids (from Massie to Smokey Brown to Minter to Bucannon and to Catanzaro) have to step up and be game changers. The good news is---the venerable coaches believe in the kids and are eager to let the kids play.
7. "I Can See for Miles."
This song is all about the wide vision of second year GM Steve Keim and his team of scouts who have combed the country from Pullman, Washington to South Bend, Indiana to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to Pittsburg, Kansas to Blacksburg, Virginia, to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to University Park, Pennsylvania to Clemson, South Carolina to and everywhere in between and beyond for the newest, bright red Cardinals in this year's nest.
8. "Won't Get Fooled Again."
Adjustments. With this staff of astute coaches---the opponents may fool them once, but they will try to make every adjustment at half-time and beyond, so they won't be fooled twice. Our staff is really really good at making adjustments. I mean really really good. Not perfect, mind you, but as good as we have ever seen.
9. "BABA O'Reilly."
What certainly is not "wasted" on the players is the impact that their BA, the guy in the red Irish Ascot lid is making in Arizona. Yes, he may wish that you are as "elite" as he hopes you will be one minute, but if you don't live up to his and the organizations expectations, you will find yourself on the waiver wire or traded to Pittsburgh. All players ever want is to know where they stand---and this past week he told his men that if anyone isn't 100% sure of his role on the team to come see him and he would make it plain as day. He will give you a kick in the arse---and he will be the first to pat you on the back. He doesn't waste anyone's time or his own. He's a swing for the fences coach and the players love that.
10. "Love Reign O'er Me."
Our 2014 Cardinals may not be the strongest team on paper (just yet)---but this Birdgang loves the game of football and they truly love us, their fans. The players and fans love fest doesn't just happen in Seattle---it is very alive and well in Arizona---maybe now more than ever. While we probably are as nervous as ever about this season and the NFL Week 1 nightcap on Monday---that is such a good thing. It means we truly have hope---and---"hope is a good thing, Red, maybe the best of things, for no good thing ever dies."
So---Who Are We?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDbAtWpoA6k
"Only love---can bring the rain---that makes you yearn to the sky..."
1. "I Can't Explain."
What is so difficult to explain heading into this season is all the number of adversities the Cardinals have endured over the past few months:
* The defection of ILB Karlos Dansby. Can anyone explain why the Browns offered a 30 year old LB so many years for so much money?
* The year-long suspension of ILB Daryl Washington. Can anyone explain how Washington, despite his previous suspension and subsequent arrest for domestic violence managed to convince the Cardinals to pick up his $10,000,000 option for the 2014 season?
* The DUI arrest of John Abraham. Can anyone explain how a player with the history of DUI incidents could be found asleep at the wheel at a traffic light in broad daylight?
* The torn ACL of Darnell Dockett, Can anyone explain how a durable player such as Dockett can blow out his knee during a non-contact portion of practice?
2. "The Real Me."
Who are you Carson Palmer?
Are you the QB we saw in pre-season game #1---poised and pinpoint pocket passer?
Or---are you the QB we saw on national TV in pre-season game #3---seemingly rattled and off the mark?
So much depends upon a red quarterback glazed with sweat beside the white helmeted receivers (an existential musing borrowed from the poet William Carlos Williams).
3. "Behind Blue Eyes."
No one knows what it's like to be the guy coming back from a torn ACL and MCL and wanting to play so badly and yet wanting to be the dynamic player he was just months ago.
4. "Pinball Wizard."
Few Cardinals have been able to speed, duck and carom his way through the blockers and bumpers the way Andre "Sir Juke" Ellington can. How long will the game be "tilted" before we can launch our wizard back into play again?
5. "My Generation."
Talkin' 'bout the venerable trio of Bruce Arians, Tom Moore and Tom Pratt---all of whom have one burning desire---to tread the sidelines at the Super Bowl one more glorious time. The last time bruce Arians did---his offense saved the day for the Steelers versus the Arizona Cardinals in 2009. The last time Tom Moore did was when his Colts were defeated by Drew Brees and the Saints in 2010---and fortunately there were no reports of Moore sticking the Hoover on a hot dog while watching The Who at half-time. And the last time Tom Pratt did was in Super Bowl I as an assistant coach under Hank Stram of the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs. Just imagine...
6. "The Kids Are Alright."
As The Who assured as that, despite so many ominous signs on the horizon, all would eventually be OK, for these Cardinals the kids (from Massie to Smokey Brown to Minter to Bucannon and to Catanzaro) have to step up and be game changers. The good news is---the venerable coaches believe in the kids and are eager to let the kids play.
7. "I Can See for Miles."
This song is all about the wide vision of second year GM Steve Keim and his team of scouts who have combed the country from Pullman, Washington to South Bend, Indiana to Chapel Hill, North Carolina to Pittsburg, Kansas to Blacksburg, Virginia, to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to University Park, Pennsylvania to Clemson, South Carolina to and everywhere in between and beyond for the newest, bright red Cardinals in this year's nest.
8. "Won't Get Fooled Again."
Adjustments. With this staff of astute coaches---the opponents may fool them once, but they will try to make every adjustment at half-time and beyond, so they won't be fooled twice. Our staff is really really good at making adjustments. I mean really really good. Not perfect, mind you, but as good as we have ever seen.
9. "BABA O'Reilly."
What certainly is not "wasted" on the players is the impact that their BA, the guy in the red Irish Ascot lid is making in Arizona. Yes, he may wish that you are as "elite" as he hopes you will be one minute, but if you don't live up to his and the organizations expectations, you will find yourself on the waiver wire or traded to Pittsburgh. All players ever want is to know where they stand---and this past week he told his men that if anyone isn't 100% sure of his role on the team to come see him and he would make it plain as day. He will give you a kick in the arse---and he will be the first to pat you on the back. He doesn't waste anyone's time or his own. He's a swing for the fences coach and the players love that.
10. "Love Reign O'er Me."
Our 2014 Cardinals may not be the strongest team on paper (just yet)---but this Birdgang loves the game of football and they truly love us, their fans. The players and fans love fest doesn't just happen in Seattle---it is very alive and well in Arizona---maybe now more than ever. While we probably are as nervous as ever about this season and the NFL Week 1 nightcap on Monday---that is such a good thing. It means we truly have hope---and---"hope is a good thing, Red, maybe the best of things, for no good thing ever dies."
So---Who Are We?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gDbAtWpoA6k
"Only love---can bring the rain---that makes you yearn to the sky..."
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