RSS Cards Team Notes

[Arizona Cardinals]

Cardinals have a tackling problem. Gannon explains why

Offense gets fans in the seats, but defenses win championships.

Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon is a defensive-minded. He brought over his strategies that worked well when he was the DC for the Philadelphia Eagles, who had just lost the Super Bowl. The Cardinals were in need of some defensive changes, and Arizona owner Michael J. Bidwill thought a keen defensive guy could make a difference.

RELATED: CARDINALS ONCE AGAIN GET DOMINATED IN LOSS TO TEXANS

Gannon laid out a three-year plan, of which this season is the final year. At 3-11-0, those plans have highlighted quite a few problems and issues instead of playoff tickets going on sale.

The NFL loves the offensive side of the ball. They make no bones about it, either.

Can’t land on a quarterback, can’t touch a receiver after five yards, can’t hit a player in the face, after one Mississippi can’t hit a signalcaller, can’t block a man beneath the knee, allow offensive players to go into motion, no helmet-to-helmet contact, usually allows an offensive player to shield a defender on crossing routes (called a rub), and an offensive player can place his hand on a defender’s facemask as long as he doesn’t grab it.

And tackling? Geez. Players such as Ray Nitschke, Dick Butkus, Sam Huff, and Lawrence Taylor would be shadows of themselves in today’s NFL.

It used to be that players would kill each other in practice each week to prove to their own teammates who was the toughest SOB. And what’s this? Water breaks? Don Shula is spinning in his grave.

Gannon sees that the Cardinals’ defense is a bad-tackling team.

And rightfully so.

Remember when the goal on every tackle was to center the helmet on the other player’s jersey number, square up, and drive through the player? Or take him down by placing the helmet to the side of the ballcarrier’s knee, grab both legs just below the knees, and squeeze.

Now? Athletes today grab another player’s waist and try to sling them down. Or they jump on their shoulder pads and attempt to make their own body weight collapse the one with the ball. Out of Australia’s rugby culture came the “hip-drop” tackle, which has now been abolished. That used a player’s weight against him, but twisted knees and ankles in the process.

No team can have a good defense without sound tackling.

This past weekend against the Houston Texans, the Cardinals had plenty of missed tackles. It certainly made their opponent’s YAC stats much better and kept drives alive. Arizona has allowed 40 rushes with at least five yards after first contact. This ranks #3 in the league.

Currently, the Cardinals are ranked #11 in the NFL in missed tackles (85) in 2025. And they aren’t that far behind being in the Top-5. Safety Budda Baker leads the team in missed tackles with 11, followed by Mack Wilson (who is currently on IR) and Garrett Williams, both of whom have eight. However, Baker leads Arizona in tackles with 101 total tackles.

Gannon knows this is a team issue, and he knows part of the reason why: the NFL’s collectively bargained rules prevent defensive players from becoming better tacklers.

The coach recently shared his view on the subject:

“How the rules are set up, it’s hard to get better as a tackler being in the NFL, I’ll say that.”

Practicing how to tackle at this level has been hampered quite a bit. If the league had its way, it would ban tackling in practice sessions altogether. Lawyers rule this Earth, and they want it gone. Key players get hurt and are lost for long periods of time, which doesn’t compute to being on the field during real games.

Teams are only allowed 14 padded practices, but 11 of them have to take place during the first 11 weeks of the season. During the offseason, actual contact is prohibited.

When Coach Gannon was asked if he would be asking for different rules regarding tackling, he said:

“The rules are the rules. It’s set up how it’s set up, that’s fine. But to get better at a skill, you have to practice the skill. You practice skill, you can scale it, you can scale the tempo, you can scale how you do it, but to practice a skill, you need to practice the skill.”

Every offseason, one team or another brings up the subject of allowing more contact in practice at the owner’s meetings, especially the ability to tackle.

Gannon offered:

“A lot of people think [that if] you can’t practice it you better just acquire people that can tackle because you ain’t going to help them at all. That’s a thought process, too. To each their own. But it’s a challenge.”

Is poor tackling a product of the league placing the handcuffs on defensive coaches?

Gannon had his thoughts:

“And so it’s a conundrum I think all defensive guys face and there’s risk-reward to trying to practice it with it however you set things up. But you definitely have to be a good tackling defense to play good defense.”

The big question then looms: Why teach tackling at all at this level? Why not just draft players who have already shown they know how to tackle in college, and have had great success without any tutelage at all. If a guy can’t tackle in college, don’t grab him for this defense.

LB Carson Schwesinger of the Cleveland Browns led the nation with 90 solo tackles for UCLA last season. Now, he is the sixth-ranked tackler in the league despite being a rookie. Another linebacker, Roquan Smith of the Baltimore Ravens, was near the top in tackles in the nation his final two years at Alabama, and is annually a top tackler in the NFL. Jordyn Brooks of the Miami Dolphins had 86 tackles as a freshman at Texas Tech and was a four-year starter with 367 total career tackles. Now, he leads the NFL.

It is true that the lack of opportunities to tackle in practice limits skill development.

Maybe re-invent the wheel. Instead of training in-house and hoping that translates to the field, maybe find guys who are already productive tacklers and plug them in instead.

If they can’t already drive a player to the turf, let them miss tackles for another team.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...s-have-a-tackling-problem-gannon-explains-why

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

With the First Pick 4.0: Another Cardinals loss

It has been mentioned that this Arizona Cardinals roster is just a few pieces away from being a playoff contender.

Apparently, those media folks haven’t seen any actual games. “On paper” isn’t a reality.

RELATED: SHOULD THE CARDINALS FIRE GANNON AFTER THE SEASON?

Cardinals’ fans know all too well what is happening. Double-digit loss seasons don’t lie. This team is bad in so many departments. There will be plenty of fixes coming out of free agency and next April’s NFL draft, but it won’t fix all the issues.

Quarterback remains uncertain. Special teams haven’t been special all year. The offensive line is a mess. Run game without a feature back is a roller coaster. The receiver group has been great at times, then hurt. And the defense has finally given up, apparently.

At three wins, they are on the cusp of getting the first overall pick in next April’s NFL draft. Where do they sit now?

If the season were to end today, here are the standings from the bottom upwards:

—————————————————————————————————————————————————-

#32, Pick #1​

New York Football Giants 2-12-0​

Last five games: 0-5. Last game: Lost Commanders 29-21

Winnable opponents remaining: Vikings, Raiders, Cowboys

Ranking last week: 32 (unchanged)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .345

#31, Pick #2​

Las Vegas Raiders 2-12-0​

Last five games: 0-5. Last game: Lost Eagles 31-0

Winnable opponents remaining: Giants

Ranking last week: 31 (unchanged)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .405

#30, Pick #3​

Tennessee Titans 2-12-0​

Last five games: 1-4. Last game: Lost 49ers 37-24

Winnable opponents remaining: Saints, maybe Chiefs

Ranking last week: 30 (unchanged)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .476

#29, Pick #4​

Cleveland Browns 3-11-0​

Last five games: 1-4. Last game: Lost Bears 31-3

Winnable opponents remaining: Bengals, maybe Steelers

Ranking last week: 28 (up 1)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .512

#28, Pick #5​

New York Jets 3-11-0​

Last five games: 3-2. Last game: Beat Falcons 27-24

Winnable opponents remaining: Dolphins, Saints, maybe Jaguars

Ranking last week: 26 (up 2)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .595

#27, Pick #6​

Arizona Cardinals 3-11-0​

Last five games: 0-5. Last game: Lost Texans 40-20

Winnable opponents remaining: Falcons, Bengals

Ranking last week: 25 (up 2)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .476

#26, Pick #7​

New Orleans Saints 4-10-0​

Last five games: 3-2. Last game: Beat Panthers 20-17

Winnable opponents remaining: Jets, Titans, Falcons

Ranking last week: 28 (down 2)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .238 (easiest)

#25, Pick #8​

Washington Commanders 4-10-0​

Last five games: 1-4. Last game: Beat Giants 29-21

Winnable opponents remaining: Cowboys

Ranking last week: 27 (down 2)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .583

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...ith-the-first-pick-4-0-another-cardinals-loss

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

ESPN ranks every potential NFL head coaching opening

Several NFL clubs have already fired their head coaches, namely the Tennessee Titans and the New York Football Giants. On Black Monday, which is the next day after the final regular season league game, it is expected that between four and six other head coaches will be left without a team.

RELATED: COACHING CANDIDATES TO REPLACE JONATHAN GANNON

ESPN football analyst Bill Barnwell recently posted his list of the most desirable NFL head coaching openings, provided these teams do indeed fire their head coaches, that is.

Are the Arizona Cardinals on that list? Right now, there is a nest of questions about where this roster is heading and its future.

Because the franchise sits at 3-11-0, the most obvious move would be to fire head coach Jonathan Gannon. After all, this is year three of the three-year plan, and the team has gone backwards instead of upwardly mobile with a playoff berth. Instead, every other NFC West Division club is postseason-bound, leaving the Cardinals to fend for crumbs at the bottom of the division.

Will Gannon be given the boot? The consensus among fans is yes.

Gannon is a bright football mind and would land somewhere else in a coordinator position rather quickly. He is well-respected around the league and has done a good job as a defensive coordinator, which seems to be his forte.

Barnwell looked at which teams will most likely can their head coach, then he ranked them the most desirable rosters for new head coaching prospects.

Here is the list:​

#1 Cincinnati Bengals

This is because of QB Joe Burrow and his receiver crew, including Ja’Marr Chase

#2 Arizona Cardinals​

Projected 2026 cap space: 17th most ($39.2 million)
Projected 2026 draft capital: sixth most

Barnwell points out that the Cardinals are a much better team than their 3-11-0 record. They are 2-7 in games decided by seven points or fewer. He also points out all of the games in which they had the lead or were tied, and then fell apart, blew leads, and lost key ballgames.

Do these facts mean Gannon will keep his job? Barnwell says no. That is part of the head coach’s job to keep things in perspective. Remember when the Cardinals were down by 14 points to the Seattle Seahawks and came back to tie them? But then allowed the Seahawks to win with 28 seconds remaining. Excused, or inexcusable?

The defense has collapsed, which is in Gannon’s wheelhouse. He is a defensive mind, and yet all of these losses were the result of defensive failures very late in games. This Cardinals defense is dead last in points allowed per possession (2.9) across the current six-game losing streak. In a season during which the defense was supposed to take a major step forward, it’s falling behind.

Regarding the Arizona job, Barnwell had this opinion:

“I’d still argue that there’s a fair amount to like in Arizona. The Cardinals do have plenty of promising talent on defense, where Josh Sweat has been excellent and young players like Walter Nolen, Will Johnson, and Garrett Williams have had moments where they’ve looked to be potential standouts. Trey McBride has been spectacular, and though Marv Harrison and Paris Johnson haven’t necessarily lived up to their draft position, they should settle in as above-average starters at key positions. GM Monti Ossenfort has done a good job of adding draft capital, and though there’s work to be done on the interior of the offensive line and at linebacker, there’s unquestionably young talent.”

The looming issue with the Cardinals is the QB position. Do they make a trade to send Kyler Murray away, or keep him and let Jacoby Brissett have an open competition in training camp next summer? Having the loser as a backup is a good problem to have. Or does Arizona take a high draft pick and secure a young buck to groom?

Barnwell does mention the issue for the Cardinals in the league’s toughest division:

“The other issue is the division. The Cardinals are stuck in a juggernaut of an NFC West, where the 49ers, Rams, and Seahawks all have 10 or more wins under potential Coach of the Year candidates. If you’re a coach with options, the idea of ending up in, say, the NFC South might be a lot more appealing than an NFC West division where going 3-3 might feel wildly successful in any given season.”

But this fact shouldn’t be a deterrent. Look at the Chicago Bears. They have been the bottom of their division for years, with the likes of the Green Bay Packers in the Aaron Rodgers days, plus the emergence of the Detroit Lions the past few seasons, and the Minnesota Vikings. Now, Chicago sits on top of the division despite its division foes all being good teams.

The NFL is designed for teams like Arizona to flop one year, then ascend and take over the division the following season with the right signings in free agency and smart draft choices. It can – and does – happen rapidly in this league.

Barnwell concluded:

“If the Cardinals nail the coach and get their quarterback situation right this offseason, they might have the ability to make that same sort of leap in 2026.”

——————————————————————————————————————————————-

The rest of Barnwell’s list:​

#3 Cleveland Browns

#4 Tennessee Titans

#5 New York Football Giants

#6 Atlanta Falcons

#7 Miami Dolphins

#8 Las Vegas Raiders

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...nks-every-potential-nfl-head-coaching-opening

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

College Football Playoffs prospects to know: Oklahoma vs. Alabama

The Arizona Cardinals should be paying attention to this one, as the Oklahoma Sooners host the Alabama Crimson Tide in the opening of the College Football Playoffs.

First, everything you need to know.

Date: Friday, December 19, 2025
Time: 6:00 p.m. AT
Location: Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium — Norman, OK
National TV: ABC/ESPN (Channel 15 locally)
National online streaming: ESPN+
TV announcers: Chris Fowler (play-by-play) Kirk Herbstreit (analyst) Holly Rowe & Laura Rutledge (sideline)
Betting line: Oklahoma Sooners -1.5 per FanDuel Sportsbook

Players to watch:

• Ty Simpson, QB – Alabama
• Kadyn Proctor, OL – Alabama
• Germie Bernard, WR – Alabama
• R Mason Thomas, OLB – Oklahoma
• Bray Hubbard, S – Alabama
• L.T. Overton, DT – Alabama
• Deontae Lawson, LB – Alabama
• Domani Jackson, CB – Alabama
• Peyton Bowen, S – Oklahoma

This will be a battle, and while Alabama has the overwhelming majority of NFL Draft talent, Oklahoma seems to be so well coached and prepared, especially on defense.

This should be a fun one.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/n...w-oklahoma-vs-alabama-ty-simpson-mason-thomas

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

College Football Playoffs prospects to know: Ole Miss vs. Tulane

This is quite the weird matchup as both head coaches are moving on.

One is coaching his team through the playoffs, for as long as they are in, while the other is already off to his next destination and his successor is a beloved by the players and fans.

The Ole Miss Rebels host the Tulane Green Wave in this college football playoff matchup.

Here is everything you need to know.

Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
Time: 1:30 p.m. AT
Location: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium — Oxford, MS
National TV: TNT/TruTV
National online streaming: HBO Max
TV announcers: Joe Tessitore (play-by-play) Jesse Palmer (analyst) Katie George & Quint Kessenich (sideline)
Betting line: Ole Miss Rebels -17.5 per FanDuel Sportsbook

Players to Watch:

• Zxavian Harris, Ole Miss – DT
• Suntarine Perkins, Ole Miss – Edge
• Dae’Quan Wright, Ole Miss – TE
• Antonio Kite, Ole Miss – CB
• Santana Hopper, Tulane – DT

This doesn’t look like a game that will be competitive on paper, but man, I love the way Tulane plays under Jon Sumrall.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/n...-miss-vs-tulane-zxavian-harris-santana-hopper

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

College Football Playoffs prospects to know: Oregon vs James Madison

The final matchup of the first round of the College Football Playoffs is here and it is the upstart James Madison Dukes against the powerhouse Oregon Ducks.

This one seems incredibly one-sided, and maybe it will be, but unless you are an Oregon alum, we are all Dukes fans today.

Here is everything you need to know about the game.

Date: Saturday, December 20, 2025
Time: 5:30 p.m. AT
Location: Autzen Stadium — Eugene, OR
National TV: TNT/TruTV
National online streaming: HBO Max
TV announcers: Bob Wischusen (play-by-play) Louis Riddick (analyst) Kris Budden & Stormy Buonantony (sideline)
Betting line: Oregon Ducks -20.5 per FanDuel Sportsbook

Players to Watch:

• Dante Moore, Oregon – QB
• Kenyon Sadiq, Oregon – TE
• Matayo Uigalelei, Oregon – Edge
• Dillon Thieneman, Oregon – S
• Isaiah World, Oregon – OL
• Iapani Laloulu, Oregon – IOL
• A’Mauri Washington, Oregon – DL
• Jacob Thomas, James Madison – S

Talk about a David vs. Goliath matchup, I had to go into the undrafted free agent bin to find Thomas for JMU. Who cares, this could be awesome for college football.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/n...ffs-prospects-to-know-oregon-vs-james-madison

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Arizona Cardinals-Atlanta Falcons first half game discussion

The final homegame of the 2025 NFL season is upon us.

That is the good news.

The bad news is that the Arizona Cardinals will have two more games after this one, and it could be a mixed bag, as the Bengals look miserable, but the Rams will have to play their starters as they try and maintain pace in the NFC Playoffs.

That is for the next two weeks.

Today, the Cardinals need to find a way to put on a good performance against a bad Atlanta Falcons team. I know fans are into the tank, but this staff, if retained needs to show they can actually win games.

They have not done that at all.

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Week 16: Arizona Cardinals (3-11) vs. Atlanta Falcons (5-9)​

Date: Sunday, December 21, 2025
Time: 2:05 p.m. AT
Location: State Farm Stadium — Glendale, AZ
National TV: Fox (Channel 10 locally)
National online streaming: NFL+, Fox Sports Streaming
TV announcers: Jason Benetti (play-by-play) Brady Quinn (analyst) Sarah Kustok (sideline)
Radio: Arizona Sports 98.7 FM
Radio announcers: Dave Pasch (play-by-play), A.Q. Shipley (analyst) and Paul Calvisi (sideline)
Spanish Radio: Fuego Radio 106.7 FM
Spanish Radio announcers: Luis Hernandez (play-by-play) and Irving Villanueva (analyst)
Betting line: Cardinals +2.5 per FanDuel Sportsbook

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...ls-atlanta-falcons-first-half-game-discussion

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Arizona Cardinals offense falls flat in second half of loss to Atlanta Falcons

The Arizona Cardinals defense has been an issue the past couple of weeks, and they were not up to the task of trying to keep Bijan Robinson in check.

Yet, in a game where the Arizona Cardinals more efficient run game than the Atlanta Falcons, they completely fell apart offensively in the second half.

The Cardinals were averaging 5.9 yards per carry in the first half. They finished with 5.8 yards per carry in the game after running the ball only seven times for 37 yards in the second half.

No, instead they went back to the drop back 70% of the time in the second half, and Jacoby Brissett and the passing game couldn’t make things happen, which led to another Arizona Cardinals loss, and maybe the worst offensive performance of the season.

Brissett was bad today, and compounded it with an egregious interception when the Cardinals had one last shot to win the game.

With more devastating injuries, I’m sure there will be a lot of excuses and understanding from ownership.

Others would just like to see a win for once.

We are onto the Cincinnati Bengals.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...lat-in-second-half-of-loss-to-atlanta-falcons

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Cardinals NFL Draft order 2026: Where Arizona stands after Week 16

Things are fine.

Sure the Arizona Cardinals ran their losing streak to an impressive seven games in a row, sure they sustained more injuries that look serious, and sure the bright spots on the season were mostly held in check, but they lost so their draft pick had to get better… right?

Nope, the Arizona Cardinals did move up once spot, as the now pick fifth in the 2026 NFL Draft even after another loss.

Updated NFL Draft order​

1. New York Giants (2-13)
2. Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)
3. Cleveland Browns (3-12)
4. New York Jets (3-12)
5. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)
6. Tennessee Titans (3-12)
7. Washington Commanders (4-11)
8. New Orleans Saints (5-10)
9. Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)
10. Miami Dolphins (6-9)
11. Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons) (6-9)
12. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)
13. Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)
14. Baltimore Ravens (7-8)
15. Minnesota Vikings (7-8)
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)
17. Detroit Lions (8-7)
18. New York Jets (via Indianapolis Colts) (8-6)
19. Carolina Panthers (8-7)
20. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)
21. Dallas Cowboys (via Green Bay Packers) (9-5-1)
22. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5)
23. Houston Texans (10-5)
24. Buffalo Bills (11-4)
25. San Francisco 49ers (10-4)
26. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4)
27. Cleveland Browns (via Jacksonville Jaguars) (11-4)
28. Los Angeles Rams (11-4)
29. Chicago Bears (11-4)
30. New England Patriots (12-3)
31. Denver Broncos (12-3)
32. Seattle Seahawks (12-3)

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...t-order-2026-first-round-pick-updated-week-16

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Making an argument for the Cardinals to keep head coach Jonathan Gannon

The Arizona Cardinals, well, they just could not win the close games this year.

Why is that? Great teams find ways to win. And since the Cards have 12 losses already, with just a few games remaining, nobody is pointing a finger at them as a great team. Or even a good team.

RELATED: COACHING CANDIDATES TO REPLACE JONATHAN GANNON

Some folks would rather that owner Michael J. Bidwill just go ahead and let the head coach walk. No reason to wait for Black Monday, eh? Take the ax, find a stone to hone it, and strike. Nobody would be surprised at the action for a double-digit loss team. Nobody is crying in the corner or threatening to cancel their season tickets.

And absolutely, Gannon was hired away from the Philadelphia Eagles as one of those new trend coaches who are in the prime of their life and could become the next NFL Wonder Kid fresh off the Sean McVay lookalike coaching farm.

And Gannon came with a strategy: a three-year plan.

The first season under Gannon? 4-13-0. Year two? 8-9-0. Pretty standard for rebuilds, show improvement each season. So an uptick in 2025, complete with a playoff berth? But basically, a repeat of the first season. The “Oh, no. We suck again!” syndrome. Now, the team has lost 12 of the last 13 games, including seven in a row.

That would usually fall under the category of “Coach wants to see you. Bring your playbook.” Except it’s the head coach who is getting the pink slip.

Bidwill would pretty much be justified in his actions of giving Gannon the heave-ho. By the way, why do we say “heave-ho”? Absolutely makes no sense. Actually, it came from ships that had sails. It was a chant for sailors to synchronize pulling ropes for tasks like raising sails, nets, or heavy anchors.

There has been plenty of ink dedicated to letting Gannon go. And the narrative in these articles makes a lot of sense.

RELATED: SHOULD THE CARDINALS FIRE GANNON?

However, what if the Cardinals kept him instead? What reasons would they have to retain his services? Should the club give him at least one more year to prove this system actually works? What are the pros and cons?

Let’s discuss keeping Gannon. Grab a seat and one of those cold Dr. Peppers with blackberry, a Sonoran hot dog, and some Cheese Crisps. Now, fire away.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

Close games​

Having completed 15 games already, Arizona has been close quite a bit, only to lose. It is aggravating.

Examine how close they came to beating some of the league’s best teams:

Week 3: was beating the San Francisco 49ers, only to lose 16-15

Week 4: had come back down against the Seattle Seahawks by two touchdowns and tied the game, then lost 23-20

Week 5: was killing the Tennessee Titans before the wheels came off, lost 22-21

Week 6: beating the Indianapolis Colts 24-17, going into the fourth quarter, lost 31-27

Week 7: winning 23-20 late in the fourth quarter

Week 9: got killed by Seattle

Week 10: tied Jacksonville, then could not get in field goal range for the loss

Week 11: down 20-17 against Tampa Bay, but could not get the ball back

Week 12: got killed by the Rams

Week 13: got killed by the Texans

Week 14: was up 16-10, but the defense could not hold up

That is eight games that the Cardinals lost by seven points or less. And in many Cardinal teams from yesteryear, they would have gotten blown out in those types of games. Arizona has been in games right down to the wire against very good teams against San Fran, Indy, Tampa, Seattle, Green Bay, and Jacksonville.

Injuries​

How can this Cardinals roster be fairly judged on their win/loss record without all of its starting players?

Any correct evaluation of Gannon has to devise a metric of how Gannon has done with the roster he ended up with – not the roster he had coming out of training camp.

The biggest area hit was at running back. The Cardinals currently have zero success running the ball. This is a two-pronged monster because the offensive line hasn’t been good, but mainly because Arizona is using guys who had submitted applications for substitute teaching positions before getting the call.

James Conner was everything the franchise needed in a running back, and was suddenly lost for the year in Week 3 with a foot injury. This means the Cardinals have gone almost the entire season without their feature back. He was ranked #11 in the league last year. Then, his backup, Trey Benson, became hurt in the following game with a meniscus injury that required surgery.

Then it was Demercado and Bam Knight who became injured. All with one team. When your current two starting running backs are both practice-squad guys, things like an actual rushing attack just aren’t likely to happen.

What team can flourish without any exceptional running backs?

Receivers Zay Jones, Greg Dortch, and Marv Harrison missing multiple games has hurt the starters and the depth chart.

Punter Blake Billikin went down. One of the defense’s best tacklers, Mack Wilson, was lost for the year. Backup TE Tip Reiman ended up on IR, as did RT Jonah Williams.

CBs Starling Thomas and Sean Murphy-Bunting are gone for the year after being projected as starters. LB Baron Browning missed games, as have Garrett Williams, Will Johnson, Max Melton, and Kei’Trel Clark.

In all, the Cardinals have 21 players on IR. That is an entire offense and defense hurt and tucked away.

The team is clearly talented when not impacted so heavily by injuries. Maybe allow Gannon to run it back for one more year rather than to clean house.

New coaches​

Several media sites have mentioned that the issue isn’t Gannon, but some of his coaching staff. The areas specifically mentioned are changes at offensive coordinator, special teams, strength & conditioning, and perhaps offensive line.

OC Drew Petzing has his share of detractors, but since Jacoby Brissett has been installed at quarterback, the offense is clicking. The Cardinals are ranked #4 in total passing yards because there isn’t any run game to deal with. Petzing is making Brissett look like a starting QB in this league. Our offensive awareness with short time on the clock is a concern.

Why does Arizona have the number of injuries it does? Sure, every team has attrition, but the Cardinals just seem to be way more injured than most. Perhaps fire the entire athletic training staff. Then seek out the league’s best and find them a new home. Start with the best strength and conditioning coach and hire him/her. Figure out how to make it through an entire season.

A new special teams coordinator might be another shrewd move. Punt coverage isn’t just about tackling the returner; it’s also about the punter’s ability to pin opponents deep (net average) and the offense’s ability to avoid punting altogether. And find a decent return man who can break a long punt return once in a while.

Positions of great need​

What would go for miles and miles in improvement on this roster is a stud running back. Is that James Conner, or is Conner his compliment?

Whether that is in this year’s draft or through free agency, the Cardinals need that flashy home run hitter.

Now, having said that, you can’t get a bellcow without getting it right up front. There needs to be a new offensive tackle plus two guards. Yes, that is a lot to ask. We can’t just log onto Amazon and get four players just like that. But the facts are, they are all needed.

Suggestion: RB Breece Hall of the New York Jets. Complete workhorse with speed.

The franchise will need to address the defensive line as well. Calais Campbell should be re-signed, but will he? Walter Nolen looks like a good player, but how much time will he miss going forward due to injuries? Josh Sweat has proved his contract and has had a quiet season. Depth is needed at all positions so that the D-Line can get into a rotational system instead of players being out there all game long.

Fixing dumb mistakes​

Some of the roster’s highest-paid players are underperforming their contracts. Some have sustained an injury here and there.

How many times has the offense been on the move, and a receiver drops a pass? Or how many missed tackles is this defense going to make? Dropping easy interceptions in key moments?

The Red Zone is very troubling. The team drives all the way downfield only to stall. Against the Atlanta Falcons, the Cardinals were 0-2 inside the 20. Two missed field goals.

False starts and too many sacks allowed.

Coaches have placed these athletes in position to make plays, and the players have not produced.

Fire on the field​

Despite the continued losses, the team battles all four quarters, especially on offense and special teams.

Does Gannon deserve to get one more season? Even though this year hasn’t been anything like it was drawn up during training camp, the roster continues to battle down to the end.

Against the Falcons, the team was getting closer to the goal line when an untimely interception killed any chance of scoring.

This has been a common theme with this ballclub coming up short game after game. But they fight. They continue to the whistle. They want to win.

Staying on board​

What if Gannon were given one more season? And tell him that. Let’s take one good year with all of his players in healthy mode, and just see what happens.

Not ready to get off the Gannon train. Yet. Let’s see what he can do with a full season with a healthy roster and a healthy QB1. Love or hate Murray, he was out almost all year for Gannon in his first season, looked tentative, so he wouldn’t get hurt again, then only played a partial season in Year 3.

Name another ballclub that is anywhere close to Arizona being shorthanded and paying a full roster of players to rehab and begin getting ready for next season instead of helping out on this year’s schedule.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...-cardinals-to-keep-head-coach-jonathan-gannon

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Trey McBride and Budda Baker elected to 2026 Pro Bowl

In what as been an incredibly disappointing season, the Arizona Cardinals still have two Pro Bowl players.

Trey McBride and Budda Baker were both once again selected to represent the Arizona Cardinals in the Pro Bowl.

From the team:

S Budda Baker

Baker was named to his eighth Pro Bowl and seventh consecutive selection at safety after being chosen as a special teamer as a rookie in 2017.

· Baker (8) joins CB Patrick Peterson (8) as the only players in Cardinals history to receive at least eight Pro Bowl selections in his first nine NFL seasons.

· Baker (7) and Hall of Famer Larry Wilson (8) are the only players in franchise history named to the Pro Bowl as a safety at least seven times.

· Baker (8) is one of just four players in franchise history to be selected to the Pro Bowl at least eight times, joining WR Larry Fitzgerald (11), CB Patrick Peterson (8) and S Larry Wilson (8).

· Baker (7) joins Peterson (8) and Fitzgerald (7) as the only players in Cardinals history named to the Pro Bowl in at least seven consecutive seasons.

· Baker is the only safety in the NFL named to the Pro Bowl each of the last seven seasons (2019-25).

· Baker (8) joins Jalen Ramsey (8) as the only active DBs in the NFL with at least eight Pro Bowl selections.

· In addition to being named to the Pro Bowl, Baker is also one of eight finalists for the 2025 Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. The 2025 season is his third straight year as a finalist.

· He leads the Cardinals with 111 tackles and has added two tackles for loss, five passes defensed, a half-sack and one interception. Baker’s 111 tackles are the second-most by a DB in the NFL this season.

· The 2025 season is Baker’s eighth straight with 85+ tackles and his sixth season with 100+ tackles. Baker is one of two DBs to have at least five seasons of 100+ tackles since 2000 (Antonie Bethea – 8). He also joined Bethea (8) Lawyer Milloy (7), Rodney Harrison (7) and Steve Atwater (6) as the only DBs to have 6+ seasons of 100-or-more tackles in their career dating back to 1987 when tackles started to be officially tracked.

· Dating back to 2017, Baker leads all NFL DBs with 994 total tackles and 657 solo tackles.

· He has 10+ tackles in 35 games since entering the NFL in 2017, the most among NFL DBs.

· Baker surpassed 975 total tackles in Week 14 of 2025 and became one of just two active defensive backs to accomplish the feat, joining Vikings S Harrison Smith (1,168). He needs six tackles to reach 1,000 in his career.

· He has an active streak of 33 consecutive games with at least five tackles, the third-longest streak in NFL history by a defensive back, trailing Landon Collins (36 games in 2015-17) and Yeremiah Bell (34 games in 2008-10). Baker has the second-longest active streak in the NFL behind only Commanders LB Bobby Wagner (44 games).

TE Trey McBride

· McBride was named to his second-consecutive Pro Bowl and joins TE Jackie Smith (5 straight from 1966-70) as the only TEs in franchise history to earn Pro Bowl honors in consecutive seasons.

· McBride ranks third in the NFL in receptions (109), is tied for third in TD receptions (10) and ranks sixth in receiving yards (1,098) in 2025. If he finishes the season as the NFL receptions leader, McBride would become just the fourth TE in NFL history to accomplish the feat, joining two Hall of Famers (Tony Gonzalez-2004 and Kellen Winslow Sr.-1980,81) and a multiple time All-Pro (Todd Christensen-1983, 86).

· His 109 receptions through 15 games are the second-most by a TE through the first 15 games of a season and he is on pace to pass Zach Ertz (116 in 2018) for the most receptions by a TE in a single-season in NFL history.

· McBride caught 5+ passes in 16 consecutive games, the longest streak by a TE in NFL history (Travis Kelce – 15 straight in 2018) and tied for the 13th-longest streak all-time.

· His 330 career receptions are most by a tight end in their first four seasons in NFL history, shattering the previous record of 301 established by Jimmy Graham from 2010-2013.

· He became the 1st TE in NFL history with 100+ receptions in back-to-back seasons (111 in 2024; 105 in 2025).

· With 10 TD receptions in 2025, McBride set a new franchise single-season record for TD catches by a TE. He broke the previous record of 9 established by Jackie Smith in 1967.

· This season, McBride joined Travis Kelce (2018, 2020, and 2022) and Dallas Clark (2009) as the only TEs in NFL history to have 100+ receptions, 1,000+ receiving yards and 10+ TDs in a season. He was the first TE to reach the milestone in just 14 games.

· After establishing franchise single-season records for receptions by a TE with 81 (2023) and 111 (2024) in each of the last two seasons, McBride currently sits at 109 catches with two games remaining in 2025. With 1,098 receiving yards he needs just 107 more to pass Jackie Smith (1,205 in 1967) for the most receiving yards in a season by a TE in franchise history.

· McBride joined Larry Fitzgerald (2005, 07) as the only players to have 100+ receptions, 1,000+ yards and 10+ TDs in a season in franchise history.

· His four-career games with 12+ receptions (two this season) are tied with Anquan Boldin for the second-most such games by a Cardinals player in franchise history. He only trails Larry Fitzgerald (five such games).

· McBride joined WR Larry Fitzgerald (3, 2015-17) as the only Cardinals players ever with 100+ receptions & 1,000+ receiving yards in consecutive seasons.

In addition, Josh Sweat was named as an alternate to the 2026 Pro Bowl.

The Pro Bowl will take place February 3, 2026 in the Bay Area at the Moscome Center.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/n...ride-and-budda-baker-elected-to-2026-pro-bowl

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Cardinals lose two defenders for final two games

The Arizona Cardinals have two games left in the 2025 NFL season. They will play those games with rookie DT Walter Nolen and CB Garrett Williams. Both players were placed on IR on Monday.

RELATED: GANNON’S PITCH AND BIG EMPTY NUMBERS ON OFFENSE

Williams suffered an Achilles injury in the first quarter of the 26-19 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. At the time of the injury, Arizona was ahead 10-0. The Falcons were driving with 6:27 remaining in the first quarter on a third-and-four when QB Kirk Cousins threw a short pass to WR Drake London for the first down conversion. Williams was injured while attempting to make the tackle and did not return.

It is not known if Williams tore his Achilles tendon or if it is considered a partial tear.

Nolen injured his left knee in the third quarter when he assisted Zaven Collins on a tackle on a six-yard loss when Cousins found RB Tyler Allgeier in the left flats on an outlet pass. The Falcons finished that drive with a 40-yard field goal that enabled Atlanta to take a 19-16 lead.

Right now, it is not known if Nolen will need surgery until an MRI is done on Tuesday. The rookie sat out the first seven games this year because of another knee injury and was housed on the PUP list.

Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon stated regarding Nolen’s second knee injury:

“You feel bad for the guy because I know he didn’t see this year going like it did. I know he’s got goals because he wasn’t out there, wasn’t able to achieve. But he has shown the ability to be a difference-maker on our defense and impact the game in the run and pass game and will be a huge piece of us moving forward.”

Williams sat out five games earlier this season because of a knee injury.

The Cardinals are 3-12-0 and in the middle of a seven-game losing streak. The addition of these two defenders brings Arizona’s total players on IR to 23.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...dinals-lose-two-defenders-for-final-two-games

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Arizona Cardinals lose once again, are you confident in the direction of the franchise?

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cardinals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.

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It is not necessarily quitting, but there is a mentality that begins to seep in as losses pile up.

While we can all agree that the luck of the Michael Wilson touchdown catch was something to behold, it was the catches that we would like to see made that hurt.

It was the throws we would like to see made that were missed and or intercepted that makes you wonder if they are at the point where they are just accepting it.

Think about it, Marvin Harrison Jr. has a really difficult catch that A.J. Terrell alien arms into and causes a missed catch.

Trey McBride drops a ball squeezed in between three players and takes an absolute shot for his troubles.

Jacoby Brissett throws a ball and it is errant, but Michael Wilson looks resigned to there is nothing he can do about it, while a journeyman former first round pick C.J. Henderson is hungrily making a play on the ball.

When superstars or your best players start to struggle to continue to play at their standard, that is when things become an issue.

What are your thoughts?

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/n...u-confident-in-the-direction-of-the-franchise

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

The story of how the Bidwill family became owners of the Cardinals – Part 3

The Arizona Cardinals are the longest tenured continuous operating pro football club in America. Only the Toronto Argonauts of the Canadian Football League have been in continuous operation longer in North America.

The Bidwill family has owned the Cardinals since 1932. Charles “Blue shirt Charley” Bidwill bought the team from Dr. David Jones, who was the second owner. A member of the Bidwill family has owned and operated the franchise ever since.

But how did the Bidwill family become owners of the franchise?

RELATED: BIDWILL OWNERS PART 1

RELATED: BIDWILL OWNERS PART 2

The first two parts are linked above. The information leading into this final part will explain quite a bit about the background of Charles Bidwill, who eventually was the VP of the Chicago Bears, his wife Violet’s ownership, the eventual takeover by Stormy and Bill Bidwill, and the Cardinals’ second NFL championship.

Here is the final part of this story.

Part 3​

A new regime​

Upon Charley Bidwill’s death prior to the 1947 NFL season, the club was now owned by his wife, Violet, who became the first female owner of a professional football team.

She took this seriously. Violet was of German and Irish descent, which meant she didn’t take anything from anybody. Violet wasn’t the type to be barefoot in the kitchen baking pies for her man when he got home from work. She was wealthy yet didn’t participate in Chicago’s social scene. Not a single photograph of her was ever published in the local paper in the society section.

However, her name and likeness were a constant in the Chicago sports pages.

Now, keep in mind, she did spend money. And she was a woman. Upon her death, her estate auctioned off 1,500 pairs of shoes, 500 coats, jackets, and furs, scores of dresses, and a matching purse and hat for every dress. In all, they let out for bid 3,000 lots of sportswear.14

At first, the other NFL owners wanted her to assign a representative to take care of business at the league meetings and be given a team vote. You know, a man.

But that was not who she was. She had been around the Cardinals for a long time with Charley. Now, she did have a sensitive side. After the Cardinals won the 1947 title, she was in tears after the game, wishing her late husband had been alive to see it. She knew how much being a part of a team meant to him.

Violet was also tough. Instead of assigning the team president or outright selling the club, she decided she would take over the family businesses.15 All of them, including the dog tracks and horse racing tracks. And that also included the Cardinals.

She ran the Cardinals in a male-dominated world, attended all owners’ meetings, was placed on committees, made suggestions, voted on league matters, and kept the team going.

Officially, she is listed as the second Bidwill to own the franchise and the fourth majority owner.

Continued success and a new home​

Charley and Violet were not able to conceive children, so at some point, they adopted two infant boys. They named them Charles W. Bidwell Jr., also known as “Stormy,” and his new younger brother, William Vogel “Bill” Bidwell. The two were not biological brothers. Stormy was born in 1928, while Bill was conceived three years later. Neither knew they were adopted until Violet passed away, and neither was ready to take on a position with a pro football team, as Stormy was 18 and Bill was 16 when Charley passed away.

Coach Jim Conzelman guided the Cardinals to an 11-1-0 record in 1948, again, just one game ahead of the Bears, and defeated them in the season finale 24-21. Winning back-to-back Western Division titles placed them in a return to the NFL Championship Game, again against the 9-2-1 Eagles.

This time around, the game was hosted by the Eagles at Shibe Park in front of 28,864 fans and in a snowstorm, commonly called “The Philly Blizzard.” The game was 0-0 going into the final quarter, to which the Cardinals fumbled on their end of the field with 1:05 remaining, and the Eagles scored from five yards out to win 7-0.

Violet married Walter Wolfner in 1949, a one-time St. Louis coffee broker. She attended owners’ meetings and continued to perform league business just like the other owners, much to the chagrin of her male counterparts.

In 1951, Wolfner was named the team’s managing director, while Stormy became team President, and Bill was appointed team VP. At this juncture, Wolfner had control of the franchise.

Beginning in 1954, the Cardinals played an annual exhibition game in St. Louis called the “Cardinal Glennon Charity Game” to which the team signed a 10-year agreement.

Beginning in 1957, other wealthy men started to circulate and inquire with the NFL owners about getting an expansion club. The owners rebuffed them all and stated their 12-team entity was just fine. In 1958, one man was Texas oilman Lamar Hunt, who wished to place a team in Dallas. He was told the league had no plans for expansion, but the Cardinals might be for sale.

When Hunt met with Violet and Wolfner, they informed him they would consider selling him 20% of the Cardinals,16 but the team wasn’t going to be moved to Texas. She knew her football, and she was a shrewd businesswoman. In 1960, Hunt and seven other wealthy football minds founded the American Football League, commonly known as “AFL5.”

That same year, the Cardinals did indeed relocate, but not to Dallas, but to St. Louis, 17 after news spread that the infant AFL would place a team in this Midwestern city. Halas then agreed to pay the Cardinals $500,000 over 10 years if they moved out of Chicago. The annual charity game and Wolfner’s business connections had set up the team to simply relocate there.

Violet passed away in 1962 from an allergic reaction to penicillin in a Miami Beach doctor’s office.

Phoenix rising ​

Violet Bidwill Wolfner left 90% control of the Cardinals to Stormy and Bill Bidwill.18 They would become the third and fourth Bidwell family members to own the team. Personality-wise, they were polar opposites. Wolfner was subsequently fired from his position. He would later sue, but did not win. The brothers found out about their adoptions in probate court.

The Bidwill brothers operated the Cardinals until 1972, when Bill Bidwill bought out his brother for $6 million. Stormy Bidwill attempted to bid for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1975 but failed. He then ran Sportsman’s Race Track in Chicago before turning it over to his son in 1995.

The Cardinals played their home games at Busch Stadium from 1960-1965 and then at Busch Memorial Stadium from 1966-1987. Bill Bidwill tried for years to get the City of St. Louis to build an indoor stadium, but to no avail. The Cardinals never hired a General Manager while they played their home games in St. Louis.

Bill Bidwill decided to move the franchise to Arizona in 1988 and cemented the deal with a handshake with both local and state officials.19 The Cardinals had their choice of four cities: Jacksonville, Baltimore, Phoenix, and St. Louis.

They were christened the “Phoenix Cardinals” and promised a new $150 million stadium, which had been on hold awaiting Bidwill’s decision. One of the features was a retractable roof.

In 1994, the name was altered to the “Arizona Cardinals” to better represent the entire state in an attempt to gather fans across the entire state.

On November 3, 2025, Charles “Stormy” Bidwill, Jr., passed away at the age of 97. Bill had died on October 2, 2019, at the age of 88. Bill Bidwill had five children, one of whom is Michael J. Bidwill. He is now the Principal Owner, Chairman, and President of the Arizona Cardinals.

And the fifth Bidwill family member to own the team. Today, Forbes values the Cardinals at $5.5 billion, up from $4.3 billion in 2024.

For most of the 1930s through the 1960s, the NFL was mostly seven men and one woman: George Halas (Bears), Tim Mara (Giants), Art Rooney (Steelers), Curly Lambeau (Packers), George Preston Marshall (Redskins), Bert Bell (Eagles), and Charles and Violet Bidwill (Cardinals).

Notes

———————————————————————————–

14 Adeline Fitzgerald, “She Seldom Wore Her Many Hats,” Toledo Blade, December 2, 1963

15 Darren Urban, “Violet Bidwell’s Imprint Remains with Cardinals,” azcardinals.com, March 11, 2025

16 John Eisenberg, “Epilogue,” The League, Basic Books, 2018

17 Robert Morrison, “St. Louis Gets Pro Football Chicago Cardinals,” St. Louis Post-Dispatch, March 14, 1960

18 Bob Underwood, “Remembering Violet Bidwell Wolfner,” The Big Red Zone, January 10, 2020

19 Lisa Harris, “Football Cardinals to leave St. Louis,” UPI, January 15, 1988

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...-family-became-owners-of-the-cardinals-part-3

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

With the First Pick 5.0: Cardinals inch closer to the first overall pick

Another lost season. Geez. Not the Christmas gift Arizona Cardinals fans were looking for.

Remember back in the mid-teens when Bruce Arians had the Cardinals going through winning seasons and in the playoffs for several years? Those were exciting times to be a Cardinals fan. Being a good team during the regular season, then winning entry-level playoff games, and ending up in the NFC Championship Game with an opportunity to be in that year’s Super Bowl. It truly was a magical time to be a fan of the Cardinals.

10 wins, followed by 11 victories, and then that 13-3-0 2015 season that ended with a 49-15 loss to the Carolina Panthers in the NFC Championship Game.

RELATED: MCBRIDE AND BAKER ELECTED TO 2026 PRO BOWL

And those squads weren’t the best the franchise had to offer. But they were consistently a playoff team. That was exciting for the fanbase to see their team in the postseason for several seasons in a row.

How many seasons yielded double-digit losses? 2025 represents the 31st in franchise history. 16 since being named the “Arizona Cardinals.” Add another four since relocating from St. Louis to Phoenix.

And now, Arizona has the opportunity to yet again own the first overall pick in next April’s NFL draft. Hell no, we aren’t proud of that fact. And yet, here we are again.

Can the Cardinals end up with the first overall pick in next April’s NFL draft? Where do they sit now?

If the season were to end today, here are the standings from the bottom upwards:

——————————————————————————————————————————————————

#32, Pick #1​

New York Football Giants 2-13-0​

Last five games: 0-5. Last game: Lost Vikings 16-13

Winnable opponents remaining: Raiders, Cowboys

Ranking last week: 32 (unchanged)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .283

#31, Pick #2​

Las Vegas Raiders 2-13-0​

Last five games: 0-5. Last game: Lost Texans 23-21

Winnable opponents remaining: Giants

Ranking last week: 31 (unchanged)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .267

#30, Pick #3​

Cleveland Browns 3-12-0​

Last five games: 1-4. Last game: Lost Bills 23-20

Winnable opponents remaining: Bengals, maybe Steelers

Ranking last week: 29 (up 1)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .467

#29, Pick #4​

New York Jets 3-12-0​

Last five games: 1-4. Last game: Lost Saints 29-6

Winnable opponents remaining: none

Ranking last week: 28 (up 1)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .767 (highest)

#28, Pick #5​

Tennessee Titans 3-12-0​

Last five games: 2-3. Last game: Beat Chiefs 26-9

Winnable opponents remaining: Saints

Ranking last week: 30 (down 2)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .533

#27, Pick #6​

Arizona Cardinals 3-12-0​

Last five games: 0-5. Last game: Lost Falcons 26-19

Winnable opponents remaining: Bengals

Ranking last week: 27 (unchanged)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .533

#26, Pick #7​

Washington Commanders 4-11-0​

Last five games: 1-4. Last game: Lost Eagles 29-18

Winnable opponents remaining: Cowboys

Ranking last week: 25 (up 1)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .550

#25, Pick #8​

New Orleans Saints 5-10-0​

Last five games: 3-2. Last game: Beat Jets 29-6

Winnable opponents remaining: Titans, Falcons

Ranking last week: 26 (down 1)

Strength of Schedule remaining: .300

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...rdinals-inch-closer-to-the-first-overall-pick

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

President Trump: Let’s rename football. Hmmm…..

The World Cup is Earth’s finest sports tournament. Every four years, the men’s tournament is enacted, while the women also play every four years, but are sandwiched on a two-year interval. This means that every two years, a World Cup is played.

It is an important tournament because it pits countries around the globe against each other in the sport of football.

RELATED: WORLD CUP DRAW 2026 EXPLAINED

The 2026 men’s World Cup is being played in North and Central America this time around, beginning June 11.

World Cup draw 2026, explained with USMNT’s best and worst case scenarios https://t.co/jRqDORtHZN

— SB Nation (@SBNation) December 4, 2025

There are 12 groups with four clubs in each group. Teams play each other in their group with points given for wins and tie games (labeled “draws”), and zero points for a loss. At the end of the group stage, the top two clubs from each group advance.

Exhibition games, commonly called “friendlies,” have been going on since last year. These give each World Cup participant tune-up games, commonly called “matches.”

Normally, one country will host the World Cup. This time around, three countries will host games: the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

The American host cities are Seattle, New York, San Francisco, Kansas City, Los Angeles, Boston, Atlanta, Houston, Miami, Dallas, and Philadelphia. Two Canadian cities will host contests: Vancouver and Toronto. In Mexico, Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Mexico City will showcase their cities.

All of the U.S. stadiums are NFL venues, while the Canadian arenas are CFL stadiums. The governing bodies of the game of soccer worldwide require natural grass, and the field has to be completely flat without a crown, which is a feature that many football fields install in order for the turf to drain properly.

Around the world, the sport of soccer is called “football.” Why? What is the reason?

The answer? Soccer has always been called football. Always. It is the first. It is the game from which all of the other games that have “football” in their title were derived. “Soccer” is not that game’s real name. Its real name is football.

The word “soccer” came later.

The Romans invented soccer as a method to keep their soldiers in shape. The rules would differ from region to region, which made it difficult to host tournaments or play against other nations. Finally, as the world became less violent and countries began to take shape, the English put down on paper standardized rules they titled “Association Football.” It is what the world still follows.

Today, the worldwide organizing group that governs the sport is named the “Federation Internationale de Football Association,” commonly known as “FIFA.” It oversees competition globally, which governs all soccer leagues and laws, tournaments, and events.

Football (soccer) came first. At different intervals, other sports began to form. All of these games became an offshoot of football (soccer), with some different rules, terminology, field markings, and equipment. But they all began with football (soccer).

It’s like a man named Sam Jones who has a son who he names Joe Jones. Then, his son is named Brandon Jones. Three generations, but are all called Jones, because the grandfather had the last name of Jones.

The sport of football is only called “soccer” in North America. Everywhere else on this planet, it is called “football.” It was the first Jones.

The rules of football played in the United States are officially called “American Football.” The rules of the game in Canada are officially called “Canadian Football.” Then there is “Gaelic Football,” “Rugby Football,” and “Arena Football.” In Australia, they have “Australian Rules Football,” “Rugby League Q,” and “Rugby Football Union.” All three are substantially different games.

The word “soccer” comes from the word “Association.”

Playing “Association Football” got shortened to playing “Assoccer” to “Soccer.”

Rugby Football became shortened to “Rugby.” American Football became shortened to “Football.” We call “American Football” simply “football” because it is the most popular form of football that exists in our area. In Latin America, the game is called “Futbol,” which is Spanish for “football.”

And now that the men’s World Cup is about to kick off, President Donald Trump got involved.

RELATED: HOW THE U.S.A. MEN’S TEAM AVOIDED A TOUGH DRAW

All of the teams are assigned to all 12 groups by a draw. This event occurred at the Kennedy Center in Washington. In attendance was FIFA president Gianni Infantino, and then three heads of state who took part in a ceremonial drawing of their respective nations into the groups.

Trump stated:

“(The World Cup)is football, there’s no question about it. We have to come up with another name for the NFL. It really doesn’t make sense when you think about it.”

Trump decided to throw out an idea that he has been toying with. Since the rest of the world calls soccer “football,” maybe North America should come up with a new name for its sport. No longer should the professional, college, high school, and recreational levels use the name “football” to describe their game. Why not just come up with a new name?

Then, the entire globe would refer to soccer as “football.” And there wouldn’t be any confusion. See how easy that is? In fact, the word “soccer” would then become obsolete.

Trump indicated that the crossover with football identities provides a conflict.

Trump: But when you look at what has happened to the football, soccer in the US. We never call it that because we have another conflict with a thing called football. But when you think about it, this is football, there is no question. We have to come up with another name for the… pic.twitter.com/oxHUm3nREA

— Acyn (@Acyn) December 5, 2025

Which may not be a bad idea.

Obviously, football (soccer) got its name because the game is played mostly with the feet and is descriptive of the sport. Just like basketball and baseball. American Football also offers kicking the ball with the foot, but only on certain plays and in certain opportunities. The majority of play is not conducted with the foot being placed on the ball like football (soccer) does. In fact, except for the placement kicker and punter, kicking the ball on the field of play is a penalty. So is punting the ball into the crowd.

And also consider that the ball used in American Football is actually spherical in shape, officially called a “prolate spheroid.” Whereas almost every other sport calls it “a ball” because it is round. So, if the ball utilized isn’t round, and if there isn’t that much kicking involved throughout the entirety of the game, maybe “foot” and “ball” are terrible choices in which to refer to this sport. Trump may be onto something.

Here are some suggestions:​

“Piggly Wiggly”

This gives a nod to the beginnings of American Football, where the inside portion that held the air was a pig’s bladder, and the ball’s protective exterior was made from a pig’s hide. Today, they are either manufactured from cowhide leather, synthetic leather, or rubber with a vinyl bladder that is less susceptible to leaks.

“Kill the Man with the Ball”

Because of the way society views nationwide shootings, perhaps this should be toned down a bit, but the title is certainly correct. The job of the defense is to plant their opponents into the turf. A less offensive moniker might be, “Pop off on the fellow with the prolate spheroid.”

“Foosball”

Yeah, yeah, we know there is a bar game of the same name. But it is still funny when “The Waterboy’s” mom, Helen Boucher, says it, and it should stick.

“Gridironball”

The playing surface of any American Football game has been referred to as a gridiron. It is simply a metaphor for the field itself. The Boston Herald in 1897 coined this phrase at the annual Harvard-Yale game because from the higher seats, the field markings appeared like a stove gridiron with its painted yardage lines. It could be shortened to “Gridiron.” The word “ball” could be substituted with “Spheroid,” “Orb,” or “Globule.”

“American Football”

Why not just require all forms and levels of the game add the word “American” to all of its league, conference, divisional, and championship names? Several leagues in the past have already used it: the “World League of American Football,” “American Professional Football Association,” and the “Alliance of American Football.” The game’s originator, Walter Camp, described the game in “Walter Camp’s Book of College Sports,” circa 1900. Chapter 5 is entitled, “Foot-ball in America.” He states, “The rules governing American foot-ball are an outgrowth or development of the English Rugby foot-ball game.”

It seems more that when the sport of rugby was being played by American colleges in the Northeast, and then Camp began to tinker with rules and invented a brand-new game that we know now as American Football, Camp should have used the word “American” more as a description of his new game.

——————————————————————————————————————————————————-

Things in life just get shortened. A digital versatile disc is now a DVD. Mister becomes Mr. Tsp is the measurement of a teaspoon. Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation is shortened to LASER. The NCAA is actually the National Collegiate Athletic Association.

Up north, it began as “Canadians Rules Football” and remains as such. That game is very similar to American Football, and is seen as a sister sport. However, there are lots of rule changes. The fields are not comparable. Scoring is different. And terminology is not the same.

But it is still a game of downs, yards gained, touchdowns, passing, runs, blocks, and tackles.

The reason is that the Canadian game kept a lot of its roots tied closely to rugby, whereas American Football did not. The CFL came together as a merger between two rugby leagues, and then melded into the game of American Football with its own rules, which honored their legacy sport.

And really, did anyone take Trump seriously when he said that football in North America should come up with its own name? Most likely, he was doing this tongue-in-cheek since he was around all of those football (soccer) dignitaries. In the 1980s, Trump owned his own pro football team, the New Jersey Generals, so he is very aware of what the game of football is in the United States.

Some things just get their own identity and retain it.

In North America, football will always be football. And soccer will always be that other football game.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...050/president-trump-lets-rename-football-hmmm

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

2026 Pro Bowl squads. Where is Cardinals EDGE Josh Sweat?

Quick: What NFC pass rusher with double-digit sack numbers was the only player not voted to this year’s Pro Bowl?

If you said the Arizona Cardinals EDGE rusher Josh Sweat, you would be correct. He has 11.0 sacks and was not named to the Pro Bowl as a starter, reserve, or alternate.

RELATED: TREY MCBRIDE AND BUDDA BAKER ELECTED TO 2026 PRO BOWL

Usually, teams with losing records find themselves with very few members of the current year’s Pro Bowl and All-Pro squads, which is very true with the Cardinals, as TE Trey McBride and S Budda Baker were the lone representatives from Arizona’s lineup. Even the reserve and alternate spots are devoid of any players from the Cards.

But Sweat has had a tremendous season. His 4.0 forced fumbles this season not only lead the NFL but are also a career high. In 2021, while his Philadelphia Eagles teammates DE Brandon Graham and DT Fletcher Cox were named starters on the Pro Bowl, Sweat was voted as an alternate and was called up to play when Nick Bosa of the San Francisco 49ers became injured. So far, that has been his only taste of the coveted All-Star mention.

The Pro Bowl is no longer a game to watch, but the recognition is critical among NFL players. There are very few individual achievement awards given out each season, in addition to the MVP and Offensive and Defensive Player of the Year trophies. The Pro Bowl and All-Pro are important, especially during new contract negotiations.

And the talented pass rusher isn’t taking it lightly. Sweat vented to ESPN Arizona’s Josh Weinfuss:

“I’m upset because there are only two individual things that you can get and it’s Pro Bowl and All-Pro. And I got one taken away from me. I’m just flat out saying it was taken away from me — and it ain’t the first time.”

Sweat matched his career high from 2022 in sacks with 11.0 this year. It is his first season in Arizona after signing a four-year deal this past spring worth up to $76.4 million with $41 million guaranteed.

In addition to the sacks and forced fumbles, the remainder of his stats so far are 15 starts, 27 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, one fumble recovery, 16 QB hits, two batted passes, 26 pressures, seven knockdowns, and eight hurries. He has played on 497 snaps, which is 50% of all defensive plays.

Arizona’s defensive scheme is very familiar to Sweat in that head coach Jonathan Gannon was once the DC for the Eagles, as well as the Cardinals’ current DC Nick Rallis, who was the linebacker coach with Philly.

While with Philadelphia, Sweat was stationed on one side of the defense in every game, while with Arizona, he is allowed to move from side to side and play free, similar to DE Myles Garrett of the Cleveland Browns. This prevents the opposing offensive line’s gameplan to eliminate double teams and schemes designed just for him.

Currently, Sweat is ranked #9 in sacks. Garrett leads this category with 22 and is chasing the single-season record of 22.5 sacks.

In all fairness, and perhaps the best explanation for Sweat’s omission, back in the day, the Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams were voted on by the players and coaches. Now, fans vote online. And not only that, but they can vote every single day. It’s not like folks have one vote and that’s it. So, the more active teams can – and do – have a legion of people within their organization that are in the business of voting their own players in.

Basically, voters brought other players who are more familiar onto the list instead of Sweat. Which is a fallacy of the voting process. Makes zero sense.

Just imagine if the Cardinals had 30 people, no, make that 75, whose job it is to vote on their own athletes every day. Then perhaps Arizona would have six players named to the Pro Bowl, just like the San Francisco 49ers have accomplished. Food for thought for seasons to come.

Sweat has seen firsthand the illusion that is today’s Pro Bowl:

“It’s like I don’t know what else I could have done at that point. I don’t know what else I could have done. Now previous years, maybe you could have said he didn’t have the popularity, maybe he didn’t get the fan vote.”

He wanted to have an impressive season in his first year in Arizona in order to justify the huge contract the organization gave him. And it is his feeling that he has produced in a big way. Yet, his production wasn’t noticed or acknowledged.

He continued:

“It does still signify that you’re one of the top guys in the league, regardless of how you made it,” Sweat said. “You were one of those pictures up there initially that got to be seen, and I get nothing. So, that’s why it’s important.”

Ditto. That’s why it’s important.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...owl-squads-where-is-cardinals-edge-josh-sweat

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Budda Baker will miss Arizona Cardinals game against Bengals

There are definitely a lot of questions that this regime needs to answer, one of which is about injuries and why they are so downplayed.

Yet, they do not control the concussion protocol, so I guess we can push that onto someone else, but the reality is we need to know more about why Budda Baker came back into the loss for the Arizona Cardinals against the Atlanta Falcons and why he is now ruled out with a concussion for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Baker joins left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. and cornerback Kei’Trel Clark for players that will miss the game against the Bengals.

Baker left the game but was cleared by the NFL’s doctor to re-enter the game, before experiencing more concussion symptoms the next few days.

This is an issue within the NFL and something that the Cardinals need to be vigilant about. There was no reason Baker should have gone back in the game. Especially in a season like this.

Now, will we see Baker again this season? Will we see Baker in a Cardinals uniform again?

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...l-miss-arizona-cardinals-game-against-bengals

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

Arizona Cardinals place Paris Johnson Jr. on injured reserve

In a season that has been nothing but disappointing, the Arizona Cardinals have another big name on the injured reserve.

The Cardinals announced today that Paris Johnson Jr. will be placed on injured reserve, with additional moves for the game on Sunday.

From the team:

Signed defensive lineman Zach Carter to the active roster from the practice squad

– Elevated cornerback Jaden Davis and wide receiver Steven Sims to the active roster from the practice squad as standard elevations

– Placed offensive lineman Paris Johnson Jr. on injured reserve

The signing took place today at the Dignity Health Arizona Cardinals Training Center in Tempe, AZ.

Carter will wear jersey #90, Davis will wear #26 and Sims will wear #80.

Not the season anyone envisioned for this franchise. PJJ was turning in another upper echelon season, but between how bad the team is and his injuries, it will get overlooked.

Of course I am sure running it back next year will work.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...als-place-paris-johnson-jr-on-injured-reserve

 

[Arizona Cardinals]

A Cardinals defender that nobody is talking about

The Arizona Cardinals will have a lot to consider after the final game of this disastrous 2025 season. Holes everywhere, on a roster that was supposed to be a good team. And to top off the madness, this team began the season 2-0-0.

At 3-11-0, there isn’t much to celebrate. The roster will certainly look a lot different going into next season’s training camp because heads will roll. Who knows? There might be a lot of new faces in the coaching circle as well.

RELATED: MCBRIDE AND BAKER NAMED TO 2026 PRO BOWL

The Cardinals’ defense has been challenged all year. The offense at times could not finish drives, and the defense was then forced to stay on the field instead of resting up.

What is the state of this defense? What needs improvement? What positions need new blood?

One defender that isn’t getting much ink is LB Akeem Davis-Gaither. He is quietly having a very good year, yet nobody seems to be noticing. And he has been relatively healthy, which is a huge plus down the stretch in any NFL season, and received quite a few Pro Bowl votes, although not a top vote-getter.

After 15 games starting at the WILL linebacker, Davis-Gaither has 107 total tackles. That ranks #2 on the team behind S Budda Baker (111) and #30 in the league. He is not a great pass rusher and isn’t usually the extra man sent on blitz packages. However, he excels in run support.

He learned these skills at the college level, balling out at Appalachian State, which is known for its defensive prowess and power schemes.

This is Davis-Gaither’s first year in Arizona. He chose to come to the desert and play, signing a two-year deal worth $10 million. He was a fourth-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2020 after a great Senior Bowl week.

He was a team captain in 2024 (on special teams) and played a career-high 311 special teams snaps. He also played a career-high 534 defensive snaps in all 17 games, starting seven times. He started the final six games of the season in the absence of Logan Wilson, who was injured. In three of those six starts to end the season, he had 12 or more tackles. He had an interception and four pass breakups.

Davis-Gaither was named the Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year in his senior college season and was also selected First Team All-Sun Belt his final year and Second Team All-Sun Belt in his junior campaign.

With the Bengals, he had very few starts in his first two seasons and played mainly on special teams, making tackles on kickoffs and the punt return team. In 2021, he suffered a foot injury late in the season that landed him on IR. Other than that, he has been very durable in college and at the NFL level.

Akeem Davis-Gaither snatches it! #GoApp #AppStateNFL pic.twitter.com/Ea6c4lvb29

— App State Football (@AppState_FB) November 24, 2025

But with the Cardinals, he is making up for lost time.

His playing style is aggressive. Each week, his tackling totals are near the top. So far this season, Davis-Gaither has had four games with double-digit tackles, including 11 in the last game against the Atlanta Falcons. In addition, he has tallied six additional games in which he has had seven or eight tackles. Which means he is consistent.

The defense will need some new bodies this upcoming off-season, just like the class that was inked last year. Davis-Gaither, Josh Sweat, and Calais Campbell have all been instrumental with this year’s defense and were each a great free-agent signing.

And although Sweat and Campbell get the headlines, it is Davis-Gaither who is quietly sitting in the background and grinding it out every game.

Source: https://www.revengeofthebirds.com/a...rdinals-defender-that-nobody-is-talking-about