Tag: Cardinals

Nov 27, 2022; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive lineman Kelvin Beachum (68) against the Los Angeles Chargers at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Reports: Cardinals OT Kelvin Beachum to sign 2-year deal

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The Arizona Cardinals are re-signing free-agent offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum to a two-year, $5.15 million contract that includes $3.26 million guaranteed, NFL Network reported on Tuesday.

Beachum, 33, is heading into his 12th NFL season and fourth with the Cardinals, with the last three having been spent with quarterback Kyler Murray.

Beachum told Arizona Sports 98.7 FM last Wednesday that Murray needs to “grow up a little bit.”

“It’s not a completed process,” Beachum said of Murray, the top overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft. “I didn’t say he lacks leadership, I just think he needs to grow up a little bit. I think if he has the ability and willingness to grow up, he’s going to be just fine.”

Murray’s maturity publicly came into question when the Cardinals added a clause — later removed — to his $230.5 million deal that required Murray to study four hours per week during the season.

“Kyler is his own individual, he’s his own person, he beats to his own drum, which has made him what he is today,” Beachum said. “But, at the end of the day, you have to be able to lead an entire organization, you’ve got to lead a team.”

Beachum has started 147 of 152 games with the Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Cardinals since being selected by Pittsburgh in the seventh round of the 2012 NFL Draft.

–Field Level Media

Dec 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) throws as offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum (68) provides coverage against Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Leonard Floyd (54) during the first half at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Cardinals OL: Kyler Murray needs to ‘grow up’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Arizona offensive lineman and 11-year NFL veteran Kelvin Beachum had some pointed advice for Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray: “Grow up a little bit.”

Beachum, who started 48 games for the Cardinals the last three seasons and is set to become a free agent, made the comments during a radio interview with Arizona Sports 98.7 FM on Wednesday.

“It’s not a completed process,” Beachum said. “I didn’t say he lacks leadership, I just think he needs to grow up a little bit. I think if he has the ability and willingness to grow up, he’s going to be just fine.”

Murray’s maturity publicly came into question when the Cardinals added a clause — later removed — to his $230.5 million deal that required Murray to study four hours per week during the season.

“Kyler is his own individual, he’s his own person, he beats to his own drum, which has made him what he is today,” Beachum said. “But, at the end of the day, you have to be able to lead an entire organization, you’ve got to lead a team.”

Beachum, 33, has started 147 of 152 games for four teams since being taken in the seventh round of the 2012 draft.

Murray, 25, went 3-8 in his fourth season as Arizona’s QB1 in 2022 and tossed a career-low 14 touchdown passes.

–Field Level Media

Dec 12, 2022; Glendale, Ariz., USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Robbie Anderson (81) watches the defense play against the New England Patriots during the first quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic Nfl Cardinals Patriots 1213 New England Patriots At Arizona Cardinals

Reports: Cardinals releasing WR Chosen Anderson

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The Arizona Cardinals are releasing wide receiver Chosen (nee Robby, Robbie) Anderson and offensive lineman Rodney Hudson, NFL Network reported Monday.

The Cardinals will free up $12 million in cap space on Anderson. Hudson, who reduced his salary to $2 million in January, reportedly is mulling retirement.

Anderson, 29, played in 10 games with the Cardinals after a midseason trade with the Carolina Panthers. He caught just seven passes for 76 yards with the Cardinals. He had no guaranteed money remaining on his deal.

Anderson has 375 catches for 4,956 yards and 29 touchdowns in 111 career games (86 starts) with three teams.

Anderson changed his name to Chosen last month, after an earlier switch from Robby to Robbie.

Hudson, 33, is a three-time Pro Bowl lineman who played in just four games last season due to injuries. He was drafted in the second round of the 2011 draft by Kansas City. He played six seasons with the Raiders, earning three Pro Bowl nods.

–Field Level Media

Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross talks with Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, October 18, 2020. Dolphins Owner Stephen M Ross 06

Judge clears portion of Flores v. NFL discrimination suit to proceed

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Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ discrimination lawsuit was cleared to move forward by a federal judge in New York on Wednesday.

U.S. District Judge Valerie Caproni in Manhattan said Flores could advance systemic discrimination claims against the Denver Broncos, Houston Texans and New York Giants.

However, the claim against his former employer, the Miami Dolphins, and co-plaintiff claims from Ray Horton and Steve Wilks, are being funneled to arbitration. The ruling puts the matter directly into the hands of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who can elect to serve as arbitrator in the case or opt to appoint one.

Douglas Wigdor, Flores’ attorney, summarized the district court ruling as a win and a loss.

“We are pleased that Coach Flores’ class claims of systematic discrimination against the NFL and several teams will proceed in court and ultimately before a jury of his peers,” Wigdor said in a statement. “We are disappointed the court compelled arbitration of any claims before Mr. Goodell as he is obviously biased and unqualified to rule on these matters. We expect him to delegate those matters to a truly neutral arbitrator as a matter of fundamental fairness.”

Flores was 24-25 as head coach of the Dolphins, who fired him in what was later revealed as part of a plan by ownership to lure Sean Payton, then under contract with the New Orleans Saints, to Miami. Dolphins owner Stephen Ross was fined, suspended and the Dolphins lost their first-round pick in the 2023 draft as a result.

Flores’ lawsuit claims that from owners to general managers and beyond, “systemic racial discrimination in the hiring, retention and termination of NFL coaches and executives” is pervasive in the league.

The NFL said on Wednesday they look forward to moving ahead with arbitration as laid out in the collective bargaining agreement.

“We intend to move forward promptly with arbitrations as directed by the Court and to seek to dismiss the remaining claims,” the league said in a statement provided by spokesperson Brian McCarthy.

Historically, the NFL goes to great lengths to avoid the discovery phase permitted in a public court system jury trial.

The NFL argued in court that all of the matters should be limited to resolution by arbitration as part of a confidential review and hearings. The matters related to Wilks, and the Arizona Cardinals, and Horton’s claim against the Tennessee Titans, along with Flores’ dispute with the Dolphins all are covered by the terms of their employment contracts with those teams, Caproni ruled Wednesday.

But Flores can forge ahead seeking a jury trial against the other three teams.

“This case shines an unflattering spotlight on the employment practices of National Football League teams,” Caproni wrote in the ruling. “Although the clear majority of professional football players are Black, only a tiny percentage of coaches are Black.”

Flores spent last season as senior defensive assistant and linebackers coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers. He interviewed with the Cardinals for their head-coaching vacancy but withdrew to become defensive coordinator of the Vikings in February.

Flores accuses the Broncos and Giants of inviting him for what he considered “sham” interviews. Flores revealed that he received a congratulatory text intended for Brian Daboll from the Giants that was sent by Patriots head coach Bill Belichick. But Flores hadn’t interviewed with the Giants yet. The team hired Daboll.

He also claims the Texans retaliated against him for filing the lawsuit.

–Field Level Media

Quarterback Kyler Murray arrives as Jonathan Gannon is introduced as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals during a news conference at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe on Feb. 16, 2023. Nfl New Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon

Cardinals expect QB Kyler Murray back earlier than expected

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Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray could be back earlier than expected from a torn ACL in his right knee.

Arizona is planning to address the position due to Murray’s injury and backup Colt McCoy’s unspecified injury, which team owner Michael Bidwill said will limit the 36-year-old in the offseason.

But Bidwill expects Murray, who was injured Dec. 12, to beat projections that he could return in late September or October from knee surgery.

“I think (his return) is going to be earlier than this midseason, so hopefully, it’s toward the beginning of the season, but I don’t want to put any specific dates,” Bidwill said. “There could be setbacks, the progress could slow. But he’s a young man, it looks like he is a fast healer, things are going well. Let’s hope that keeps going the way it is.”

Murray, 25, signed a $230.5 million deal before the 2022 season. But Arizona went 4-13 and the Cardinals made massive changes, firing coach Kliff Kingsbury and parting with general manager Steve Keim.

The brain trust — other than Bidwill — that drafted Murray and committed to him with an average annual salary over $46 million is gone, and the Cardinals are reportedly shopping lead wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

Last week, Murray shared videos of his physical progress via Instagram, and new head coach Jonathan Gannon downplayed the challenge of installing a new system without his starting quarterback available for on-field workouts.

Gannon left no question about the role Murray’s presence had in him taking the job in an interview with NBC Sports.

“If Kyler Murray isn’t here, I don’t take this job,” Gannon said.

–Field Level Media

Jonathan Gannon is introduced as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals during a news conference at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe on Feb. 16, 2023. Nfl New Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon

Jonathan Gannon took pay cut to become Cardinals HC

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New Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon said the Eagles made him a counteroffer of more money than the Cardinals are paying him if he would stay on as defensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

Gannon made the comments to NBC Sports in an interview published Monday. In essence, Gannon took a pay cut to become a first-time head coach in the NFL and work with quarterback Kyler Murray.

“They came back and they were like, ‘Here’s a new offer. It’s gonna pay you more than being a head coach,’” Gannon told NBC Sports. “That’s cool and I loved it there but I wanted to be a head coach and I was excited about this because of (owner) Mr. Bidwill — Michael, as he would say – (GM) Monti Ossenfort, and Kyler.”

The Cardinals introduced Gannon as head coach on Thursday. Financial terms of his deal were not announced.

The money might not have been a factor for Gannon in taking the Arizona job but Murray certainly was.

“If Kyler Murray isn’t here, I don’t take this job,” Gannon told NBC Sports.

“This guy does things that it completely handcuffs you how you play defense — at times,” Gannon went on about Murray. “I think we can take him to another level and unleash his full skill set. We’re not gonna put him in gun all the time, I’ll tell you that. The way to take pressure off the quarterback and the O-line is to put him under center at times. That’s the missing piece I thought they had with Kyler. They were in gun all the time. When you’re in gun all the time, you don’t make the defense defend certain play types.”

Gannon, just 40, also discussed his hiring of coordinators: 29-year-old Nick Rallis as DC and 35-year-old Drew Petzing as OC.

“Age isn’t a prerequisite for firepower,” Gannon told NBC. “When we got to Philly, we had the youngest staff in the NFL. There’s a reason that our (players) ran into the building to come to work. I love that. I’m gonna have some guys with major, major experience worked into the staff because I value that, too. But as far as who’s running the offense and the defense, age was never a factor for me — what was in their brain and what was in their heart is.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Detailed view od Arizona Cardinals helmet at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Cards tab Browns QB coach Drew Petzing as OC

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New Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon continues to fill out his staff, naming Drew Petzing as his offensive coordinator, NFL Network reported Sunday.

Petzing, 35, was the Cleveland Browns quarterbacks coach last season, following two season as tight ends coach there. One of his major tasks in Arizona will be to design an offense for quarterback Kyler Murray.

NFL Network reported Saturday night that 29-year-old Nick Rallis had been tabbed as Arizona’s defensive coordinator. Rallis was Philadelphia’s linebackers coach the past two seasons working with Gannon, then the Eagles’ DC.

Petzing started his NFL career as an intern with the Browns in 2013, then spent six seasons on the staff of the Minnesota Vikings, where he worked with Gannon, before returning to Cleveland in 2020.

The Cardinals finished 4-13 last season under Kliff Kingsbury, who was fired in January.

–Field Level Media

Jonathan Gannon is introduced as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals during a news conference at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe on Feb. 16, 2023. Nfl New Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon

Report: Cardinals to hire Nick Rallis, 29, as DC

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The Arizona Cardinals are set to hire 29-year-old Nick Rallis as their defensive coordinator, NFL Network reported Saturday night.

The move would make Rallis the youngest coordinator in the league. He would join Jonathan Gannon’s staff, marking the first hire of the new head coach. Gannon was introduced on Thursday.

Rallis was Philadelphia’s linebackers coach the past two seasons working with Gannon, then the Eagles’ DC.

Rallis became the youngest full-time positional coach in the NFL when the Eagles hired him in 2021. Before that, he was the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive quality control/assistant linebackers coach from 2018-20.

A native of Edina, Minn., Rallis played linebacker at the University of Minnesota from 2012-16, participating in 26 games and making three starts as a senior.

Rallis then accepted a position as a quality control coach at Wake Forest in 2017.

According to a story Friday on the Cardinals’ website, the team’s search for a defensive coordinator included interest in Chicago Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi (as reported by ESPN) and Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington (as reported by NFL Network).

“With all our coaches (I want) capacity and character,” Gannon said. “I want smart guys that value the players and want to serve the players. That’s their job to maximize the players. I want to be able to start putting that staff together.”

Rallis would replace Vance Joseph, who was released from his contract.

–Field Level Media

Jonathan Gannon is introduced as the new head coach of the Arizona Cardinals during a news conference at the Cardinals training facility in Tempe on Feb. 16, 2023. Nfl New Arizona Cardinals Head Coach Jonathan Gannon

Report: Bears’ Dave Borgonzi to interview for Arizona DC post

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The Arizona Cardinals will interview Chicago Bears linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi for their defensive coordinator vacancy, multiple outlets reported Friday.

Borgonzi worked for three seasons in Indianapolis with new Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon from 2018-20.

He is scheduled to interview virtually with Arizona on Saturday, per the reports.

Gannon, formerly the defensive coordinator for the Philadelphia Eagles, said Thursday that he has not decided if he will call the defensive plays for the Cardinals.

Borgonzi made the move along with Matt Eberflus from Indianapolis to Chicago in 2022 when the latter became head coach of the Bears.

Borgonzi coached linebackers for four seasons (2018-21) with the Colts after working in defensive quality control with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2014-17).

–Field Level Media

Jul 29, 2022; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon speaks with the media at training camp at NovaCare Complex. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Jonathan Gannon’s vision on Kyler Murray landed him Cards job

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It took a defensive mind to convince the Arizona Cardinals that Jonathan Gannon was the right man to turn around their “elite” franchise quarterback.

Kyler Murray was a central theme to Gannon’s introductory press conference as the new head coach of the Cardinals on Thursday.

That came from Gannon as well as Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill.

Bidwill was asked how he knew he had the right man to lead the Cardinals on Sundays.

“It’s the view he had of our elite quarterback and getting him back to be the playmaker that he is and making sure we build around him,” Bidwill said.

Considering the team signed Murray to a five-year, $230.5 million contract — $103.3 million guaranteed — last July, the new head coach had to believe the Cardinals have an “elite” quarterback.

“Everything that we do will be structured around the quarterback position to maximize his skillset,” Gannon said. “And we have an elite one.”

The Cardinals introduced their new front man, the former defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, two days after announcing the hire.

Gannon, 39, interviewed for the job on Monday, one day after the Eagles dropped a 38-35 decision to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII in Glendale, Ariz. Gannon said he didn’t know he was interviewing for the job until after the game.

He didn’t fly back to Philadelphia with the team after Eagles general manager Howie Roseman told him he was staying behind for the Monday interview.

One thing Gannon did do Sunday was watch the video of the Eagles’ Super Bowl loss.

“Sunday night, in my hotel room, which was hard. You feel for the players,” Gannon said. “I don’t feel sorry for myself, I feel bad about the players. I’m always trying to learn from experiences that happen right in real time. I feel bad about not being able to get that done but it was an excellent learning experience for me and I know that I learned a lot from that game. Things that I would need to do different to win that game.”

Gannon said he’s not sure if he’ll be the defensive play caller for the Cardinals, saying it’ll depend on his defensive coordinator. But one thing is for sure – he doesn’t like schemes.

“I don’t have a scheme. I don’t believe in a scheme,” Gannon said. “I believe in putting the players that we have in positions to be successful. So, we’re gonna look different week to week, predicated on who we have playing and who we are playing.”

He also credited Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni for giving him the blueprint to be a head coach.

“Nick Sirianni really prepped me to be a head coach, I truly believe that. I told him before I walked out of the building,” Gannon said. “He was extremely hard on me, extremely detailed but he always had my back. He let me in on a lot of things on how he was running the team and the why behind it.”

Gannon replaces Kliff Kingsbury, who was fired by Arizona on Jan. 9. Kingsbury posted a 4-13 record in 2022 and 28-37-1 mark in four seasons as coach of the Cardinals.

Gannon was the architect of an impressive Eagles defense that in 2022 registered a league-high 70 sacks and held opponents to 20.2 points per game.

Gannon’s NFL coaching career began in 2007 with the Atlanta Falcons when he served as defensive quality control coach. He also worked with the then-St. Louis Rams as a scout, Tennessee Titans in defensive quality control, Minnesota Vikings as an assistant defensive backs coach, and the Colts as cornerbacks coach before being hired in Philadelphia in 2021.

–Field Level Media