Ep. 885 - A new look Marvin Harrison Jr. met the media on Monday. He “added some muscle” he told reporters. And there was a very specific reason why. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss what Harrison had to say; why it was important for him to get stronger, how he’s treating his first full offseason, what a successful Year 2 looks like for him, and in Year 2 it’ll be good for him to see his No. 18 jersey in the stands. Also, some notes on the just released schedule, specifically the end of the schedule when compared to the rest of the NFC West and what NFL owners are discussing, perhaps even deciding, at the Spring League Meeting later this week in Minnesota.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:04):
He looks different, will he play different? Welcome Bird Gang.
On today's show, Zach Ershman joins me. We're talking Marvin
Harrison Junior first time this offseason. We've heard from MHJ.
What he said, what we saw, Also some notes on
the schedules, specifically the end of the schedule when compared
to the rest of the NFC West, and what owners
are discussing, perhaps even deciding at the Spring league meeting
(00:27):
later this week. It's Cardinals Cover two, Episode eight eighty five,
and it starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Welcome to Cardinals Cover two. Buda Baker, What Heart? What rent?
This guy's unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals
dot Com slash podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
He's ad a ten half of five. He's it again,
So more hurry Magic. Here's Craig Grioler.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
So before we go any further, we need to begin
with a welcome back to Zach. After a week off,
he was able to rest, relax, recharge, get ready for
the offseason.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I don't think I did any of that.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
No, no rest, no relaxing, no, nothing.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I mean, I definitely enjoyed it. I was on a
cruise to the Caribbean, so that was a fun time.
But when you go with a group of twenty something
year olds, rest, recover, relax, none of that really seems
to be the case. But we did have a lot
of fun, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So basically, you did exactly the opposite of what we
heard Marvin Harrison Junior say he has done so far
this offseason, and that is zero days off.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I took, you know, a full week off, that is
for sure. I did the complete opposite there. With that
being said, though I put in the work in different areas,
I was very much enjoy the dance.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
And we'll just leave that to the imagination of everyone
out there. We'll get to MHJ here in a moment,
because you are gone, Zach, I do want to give
one first off, the Mac Wilson Senior aka rocket Ship
and his three songs eighteen bars, one of one and
a to Z. I'm not sure how many people are
(02:23):
aware though, that you were kind of the catalyst for
all of this. As they say, when whenever there's a fire,
there's a spark, and I would I would categorize your
article a year ago with Mac, Jesse Luketta and Zach
Pascal Third and Go. That article was kind of the
the spark if you will, to what we saw last
(02:44):
week and what was a lengthy process but a great
music video to release the twenty twenty five Arizona Cardinal schedule.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I had a little bit of a moment with Mac
which I really appreciated because he he remembered that he
remember that article that we wrote back in November December
was before the game against the New England Patriots, if
I'm not mistaken, and he was saying to me, He's like, look,
this is how it all. You know it started because
of that article, so for it to balloon into what
has utimately become one of, if not the top schedule
(03:15):
release videos. And kudos to everybody in our content creative department.
I know that they've been receiving a lot of praise.
I want to make sure I give them their flowers
as well on here on Cardinals Cover two, because they
do deserve it. It was a tire team effort. Yeah,
I could have been the spark, which I appreciate you
giving me credit for that as well. Craig but it's
a whole joint effort. Everybody is in it together and
(03:36):
it's very glad to see it come to fruition.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Well.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Was one of the cool things, even though I was
off all last week, seeing being able to be a
fan a little bit and seeing how the fans were
reacting to the scheduled release because I didn't see it
until it was posted. That was my first time watching it,
so to even though I saw the production of it,
but to see it actually be posted on social media.
To see all the different fire emojis and a lot
(04:02):
of different people and companies and organizations giving Mac Wilson
and the Arizona Cardinals and the music group giving them
all their their flowers was definitely pretty rewarding to see,
so kudos to everybody involved.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
First time an NFL team has introduced its schedule using
Apple Music and Spotify, and it did take a lot
of people, a lot of different entities, a lot of
different partnerships. But to see it all come together, and
then the fact that you have not seen the video
or didn't see until it was posted. There is a
behind the scenes video available on the Arizona Cardinals official
(04:36):
YouTube page in which you can spot Zech in the
behind the scenes video because I did notice young Zach
Gershman in the corner. I believe it was the bottom
left corner. I don't exactly know what you were doing,
but your face does appear in the video that has
been posted.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So that was the hot tub or the cold tub machine.
We brought Mac in there, and that's when we had
all the smoke. I was coming up and it's honestly
one of the coolest shots. My job was to be
the reflector to make sure that we had the background
lighting was on point. And then I was watching it
with Mac and a bunch of others. As we were
watching back the clip and to see he had his
(05:15):
phone out he was filming it. He posted a little
bit of a snippet on his social media. And I
will say this to our bird Gang listeners right now.
It was so tough the last time we had Cardinals
Cover two and we were previewing this and I couldn't
just tell you what I was doing. That was very
challenging because we are a bird Gang family over here.
So very sorry for not lying, because I would never
(05:36):
lie to you. I just couldn't tell you the full truth.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
No, but I will say this, no one reflects more
than Zach Gershman.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I did do a great job reflecting and a lot
of reflection as well.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
All Right, I've had my take on the schedule. There
are some nuggets before we hear and discuss what Marvin
Harrison Junior had to say on Monday. But as you
saw this schedule, now have had about a week, a
little less than a week to figure out, right, how
does it start, how does it finish? How many primetime
games were? Are some challenges within the schedule? What do
(06:11):
you think on how Again, we've known about the opponents,
we've known about the locations, but how it gets stacked
up is what gets everyone excited when it finally gets released.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Very excited about the first portion of the season. I'm
very anxious about the last portion of the season. I
have to start off the season on the road once again.
I have yet to experience a Week one home opener
since joining the Arizona car So you're the reason. I'm
not sure if I'm the reason because it seems to
be the common theme over the previous handful of years.
(06:41):
But for the Cardinals, for a third trade season and
fifth time in the last six years, so crack. I'm
not sure if I'm the reason, but they're gonna be
going to New Orleans and there's no better opponent on
this schedule right now, considering their situation at quarterback, brand
new head coach and Kellen Moore, and also just being
on the road, and you have that familiarity of going
on the road with Jonathan Gan in week one. With
(07:02):
that being the case, there's no better opponent to try
to kickstart that season and also get used to being
in NFC South play because the following week they're gonna
be facing off against the Carolina Panthers, and we know
how that Week sixteen went matchup went last year in
twenty twenty four. So I'm very excited for the Cardinals
to kick the season off strong. Obviously, there's the key
games you're looking forward to. The Thursday night Birthday game
(07:23):
for me against the Seattle Seahawks, the game against.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
The time timeout you just attached your own self to.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Week five, Thank Roger Goodell of that one.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Look I sow everyone out there mark on your calendar Thursday,
September twenty fifth. Not only is it Cardinals hosting the
Seahawks on Thursday night football first primetime game of the season.
But apparently it's Zach's birthday. Not apparently it is. It
is gonna be my birthday, and I'm very excited for that.
I'm not a big fan of crazy gifts, but small gifts.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Anybody that wants to know, I'll play. But that game
on Thursday night, that's a chance to show to the
national media what the Arizona Cardinals are able to bring
to the table in NFC West play. So I recognize
that they played the San Francisco forty nine Ers the
week prior or the week earlier. With that being said
that that's the chance to put a stamp on the
division and set the tone for the remainder half of
(08:17):
the year.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
The schedule, as you said, sets up real well for
the Cardinals, at least on paper. As we speak here
in May. Games aren't played on paper. The Cardinals could
very much look different as far as who's available who's
not available on these games. But at least with your
what you are looking at is how teams performed last season,
what are they added in the offseason. Some news, specifically
(08:40):
around the Saints. Who's their quarterback? It's a first year
head coach, so things are going to look a lot different.
But you're starting the season with the first six games
against teams that did not make the playoffs, and your
first twelve games you're playing only one team that made
the playoffs last season, that being Green Bay. So again,
(09:02):
on paper, it's a very good schedule for the Cardinals
to get out to a good start. A fast start,
especially with back to back division games in weeks three
and four, set yourself up well to where maybe and
every team goes through this, they say, stumble. There's a
game you should win and you don't. There's a game
in which you get blown out because for whatever reason
(09:23):
on that day, you just didn't have It happens to
every team, happens every year. But if you get off
to a strong start, now, all of a sudden at
the back end of the schedule, which we can discuss
where there might be some hiccups again later in the season.
How banged up are you, whether, what are your health concerns?
Are you playing in cold weather? Is it nice weather?
(09:45):
All of these things factor in. But if you have
given yourself a little bit of a cushion two or
three games ahead, then all of a sudden, it's not
that it's okay, but if you stub your foot, it's like,
all right, we can survive this base stuff. How we
began in September and early October.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
The most fascinating game for me on the calendar, at
least in the early portion of it, is that game
against Green Bay. And it's not just because it was
the team that was in the playoffs they're gonna be
facing in the early half of the season. But even
in mac Wilson's song where he said it's that get
back versus green Bay line, and I saw in the
Cardinals social media videos when they were speaking to the
(10:24):
players and the players that said that they wanted green Bay,
they mentioned it's a get back game. And I'm not
sure what was said in those meetings after that game
against green Bay. We know that the Cardinals were only
a playaway in three different games from being in the playoffs.
That game against green Bay was not the case. That
was a game where the Cardinals struggled a lot. Marvin
Harrison Junior left the game with the concussion. The offense
(10:46):
wasn't clicking, it was cold, and it was rainy deck
that day over there in Lambeau. But the players seem
to really be talking about it a little bit more
than maybe just the others. And I'm not sure why
that is the case. If that game from twenty twenty
four is the reason why it's potentially circled, that's beyond me.
But to see that it's not. You look at some
of the calendar games. I'm looking forward to Houston, I'm
(11:08):
looking forward to Jacksonville, looking forward to Monday night football
against the Dallas Cowboys. But hearing how eager the guys
are to play against Green Bay, not only to play
against them, but to welcome them back to State Farm Stadium.
I'm interested to see what that matchup's gonna bring.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
And that game is right before the bye, and if
you can get that game back and you have some
positive momentum sorry JG, but positive momentum going into the by,
and then having a Monday night game at Dallas coming
out of the by. That stretch right there, followed by
another trip to Seattle. There's three games right there that
(11:45):
could be a pivot point within this schedule. You're looking
at weeks eight, nine, ten, and eleven, of.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Course, and that there. I don't think there's gonna be
that game against the Dallas Cowboys is gonna have a
lot of storylines for a lot of different reasons. Kyler
Murray trying to make it ten and l at at
and T Stadium again and just being in Dallas. Obviously
he's undefeat against the Dallas Cowboys. Was a star high
school ballplayer out there and made that state championship venue
(12:12):
kind of feel like a home for him a little bit.
But it's also going to be how are the Cardinals
responding after the bye We know the struggles that they
had this past season when they when they hit the
bye week and then they went to Seattle and they struggled,
And that was kind of the stub your foot situation
that you were alluding to, Craig, was how you respond
after those certain moments, and the Cardinals weren't really able
(12:33):
to get their legs under them after that happened for
the Arizona Cardinals in twenty twenty three, that was after
the Atlanta falcon Or they had the Houston Texans and
then a handful of different games in twenty twenty three,
and then the bye week happened, and obviously the team
was not the same for a lot of different reasons.
But that game against the Dallas Cowboys is going to
have a lot of storylines, but the number one storyline
(12:53):
should be how do the Cardinals respond after the buy?
Are they going to have that momentum even if JG
considers it a real thing or not a real thing?
How are they going to utilize the momentum for one
way or another post buy?
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And it's not so much the bye because it's an
earlier bye week eight versus week now hurting fourteen, So
you get an early bye week. So yeah, you're gonna
focus on, Okay, how does the team respond after the
bye week? I'm just looking at We talked about how
the season begins, how the season finishes with four games,
four of six on the road, and five of those
(13:28):
six against teams with a winning record. In twenty twenty four,
the only team you're facing that did not have a
winning record are the Atlanta Falcons, who you have on
at home. That's your final home game before going out
on the road at Cincinnati at the Los Angeles Rams.
So again, the narrative of the Arizona Cardinals how do
they finish seasons can be dispelled or rewritten if you
(13:52):
finish off those final six games again on a positive
note and hopefully heading into the postseason.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Five and zero at home against the Alanta Falcons. I'm
pretty sure they're only twelve and two in the all
time series against Atlanta. So the Cardinals have had their
way with the Falcons. And that last time that they
played the Atlanta Falcons, let's go back in time here,
Kalas Campbell was on the Atlanta Falcons. Kyler Murray was
returning for the first time in Desert. Ritter, who was
the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals for a couple of coffee,
(14:18):
was the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. So a lot
has changed since that twenty twenty three season. But the
games against Cincinnati and the Rams especially are going to
be the ones where those are two teams that historically
have started to get themselves right towards the back end
of the season. They Dala Rams have typically started off
very slow, and then towards the back end weeks twelve,
(14:40):
thirteen and onward, that is when you start to see
that Los Angeles Rams team that you're starting to say, okay, well,
we don't want to face this team in the playoffs
because we know that they're starting to get their footing.
We know that they're starting to shrink together. A couple
of wins, and not just a couple of wins, but
a couple of strong wins, a couple of connected team wins.
The fact that you have them in week fourteen and
then week eighteen, that's gonna be a little bit of
(15:02):
a challenge over there. We also saw it a little
bit with the Seattle Seahawks. They had him in week
they had him in week twelve and then week fourteen.
When you play against division opponents and they're so close
in the schedule, that creates a handful of challenges. Glad
you brought up the Rams.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
I was looking at not only how the Cardinals' schedule
sets up, but also the rest of the division. And
as difficult, again, I have to say this still as
difficult as it looks here in May. As far as
how the Cardinals finish, it does look very good for
the Rams, the forty Hinders and Seahawks how their seasons finish.
(15:38):
Rams finished with their final three games against teams that
did not make the playoffs. They finished with five of
six against teams who missed the playoffs. The forty nine
Ers do not play twenty twenty four playoff team in
the final eight weeks of their season, and the Seahawks
finished with four of their final five games against teams
(15:58):
that meant that missed the playoffs in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
So again, a.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Harder finish for the Cardinals as we speak here in May,
compared to their division opponents who seem to have a
softer end heading into the postseason, perhaps for the Rams,
forty nine Ers and Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
But this is why you need to start off the
season so strong to give yourself some wiggle room. You
want to have these conversations going into the bye of
a lot of analysts because it's what happened in the
Week eleven buye from this past season, where a lot
of analysts were saying, Okay, look at those Cardinals. You
know they're looking really strong six and four going into
the buy a lot of talks about them being the
betting favorites to win the NFC West. And it's how
(16:40):
they responded after the buy where things started to fade away.
You start off strong with the skill set and the
you know you could beat New Orleans. You know you
were a handful of plays away from being the Carolina Panthers.
You swept the San Francisco forty nine ers their previous year,
Seattle got the best of you, But how are you
going to respond? Especially on Thursday night fotball? Both teams
(17:00):
going into it on a short week. The Tennessee Titans,
who knows what cam Ward is going to be. You're
assuming that he's going to be a starting quarterback. I
wouldn't be surprised if you if they if they kind
of slow play him into it a little bit because
of not that I think it's actually going to happen,
but week one, week two, it wouldn't be a crazy
surprise to me. We've seen crazier things in the NFL,
and Brian Callahan is still running his way around being
(17:22):
an NFL head coach. So there's a lot of different ways.
But after the buye is when your season truly can begin.
But it's what you do in the beginning to make
sure that that's where you could have your starting point.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
You're not going to win the division or clinch a
playoff spot in September or October, but you can certainly
lose a postseason spot what you do or what you
don't do in those first eight weeks, those first nine
weeks of the season.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
All right, I think to the Miami Dolphins from this
past year, I mean, they started off really slow, and
that game against the Arizona Cardinals, after that ended up happening,
there were talks about trading Kalais Campbell to different teams
because there was a thought that they might not even
be in the playoff race, because I'm pretty sure they
were only two and five at that point, if I'm
not mistaken, they definitely were way below five hundred. So
(18:12):
and then they had the back end of the season
and they picked up some ground a little bit, and
then they were back in that playoff hunt. They didn't
make it, but they were in that hunt. That is
what teams are capable of doing. The Miami Dolphins, if
they would have had the fast start in the very
beginning of the season, they would have been in the playoffs.
What are you going to do when those first six
to seven eight games going into Monday Night football against
(18:32):
the Dallas Cowboys, that you get to put that stamp
not just on the division, but on the landscape of
the NFL of being a team that isn't just a
fun little story. It's not just Oh, look at what
Marvin Harrison Junior and Kyler Murray are able to do
in week number two. You have to see it turn
into wins.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Those first seven games, four at home, three on the road,
including two of your first three away from State Farm Stadium.
Some good news with respects to the schedule for the Cardinals.
They do not play a team coming off it's bye week,
and only once and it comes in Week sixteen when
the Cardinals play the Falcons. Only once will they have
(19:09):
played or play a team that will have played on
Thursday Night football, so you get those three extra days
of rest. So that's what the Cardinals face when they
play the Falcons, who will have that Thursday night game
the week prior.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
And we already discussed the Cardinals' recent success against the
Alanta Falcons, so you hope that that doesn't even make
too much of a difference. And we obviously are going
to have those questions surrounding Week one of who the
New Orleans Saints quarterback is going to be. It's not
that much farther off with the Alanta Falcons, who are
their quarterback? Who is it going to be? Is it
gonna be Michael Pennix? They still have Kirk Cousins in
(19:41):
the building. At that point, I think we'll know, but
it will be fascinating until we get them.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Another game that at least someone that we heard from
on Monday has an eye on, and that would be
week six, Sunday, October twelve, when the Cardinals visit the
Indianapolis Colts. And Marvin Harrison Junior was asked about that
earlier on Monday because a year ago, yeah, the Cardinals
played the Colts in the preseason, Marvin did not play,
(20:06):
But this time he will be in that stadium, playing
on a football field in which his father starred Hall
of Fame career, and be back in the building which
well he basically grew up in having watched his father
either on the sidelines or up in the stands. So
that and Marvin acknowledged, that's going to be a special moment,
special weekend for him, his family and his friends.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
It's going to be awesome when you get to trot
out onto the field and you look up into the
bleachers and you see your father's name on the side
of the building. It's going to be a very special
moment for the Harrison family. Obviously, they were there for
they went during the preseason, they had joint practices over
there in Indianapolis and got there was a big storyline, obviously,
(20:46):
but I think the person that was taking the headline
from that was Darius Robinson and what he was able
to do during those joint practices. He had such a
good joint practice that Johnathangannon didn't even have him suit
up in that preseason game. So for you would hope
from one second year player to another that both of
them are having standout performances. I'm very though, very very
(21:07):
very excited to see Marvin Harrison Junior put his own
stamp on Lucas Oil Stadium.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Speaking of seeing MHJ, what did you see Monday as
he walked in and addressed the media for about fifteen minutes.
First time we've heard from MHJ since the season ended.
We have seen him in the weight room on the
football field, but we saw him I don't know if
it was by design or not, but in a sleeveless
shirts and of course a lot of noise this offseason
(21:35):
about how he has looked talking about Marvin in the
photos that we've seen in the weight room and on
the football field, and how how does arms look a
lot larger, much more defined than his first year with
the Arizona Card.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
I saw a dude that didn't look like he was
just on a cruise for a week. I saw a
guy that went into Johnathan Gannon's office when the season
ended and handing him a piece of paper and said,
I know, I know what I need to work on
throughout the offseason. And essentially he got a bet here
and he moved into the facility he lived in the
Dignity Health Training Center because he knew that. I asked
(22:12):
him about his satisfaction after the twenty twenty four season,
and he didn't really give me an answer. He was
more so saying he was just blessed to play the game.
But we heard from Marvin and how he said it
wasn't the year that he envisioned. And for him to
go into Johnathan Gannon's office and for him to hand
him that piece of paper and saying, these are the
things I know I need to work on, And one
of those things was definitely his build. He's trying to
(22:33):
figure out what weight he wants to play at, the
physicality that comes with playing in the NFL, what he's
learned from lining up from across from guys like Jalen
Ramsey and Sauce Gardner. In Week ten when they played
the New York Jets, Marvin Harrison Junior learned a lot
that rookie season. That year one to year two jumped
is often talked about. I think Marvin is going to
(22:55):
prove why that is the case.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
You look at Harrison's numbers that for season eight hundred
and eighty five receiving yards, eight touchdowns, all solid in facts,
similar to what his father did in year one with
the Indianapolis Colts. Marvin Harrison Junior actually mentioned they were
too similar. But it's the other number, and that is
fifty three, as in fifty three percent catch percentage, sixty
(23:20):
two receptions, one hundred and sixteen targets. And I think
that right there tells you the story of MHJ. In
year one, he didn't catch as many balls as he
or I or anyone thought he should have based on
the number of times the ball was thrown his way.
So how do he increase that catch percentage? Well, one
way at least that you have control over in the
(23:42):
off season is making yourself bigger. Getting more physical, adds
some muscle and yes, MHJ has added muscle here in
the off season, mentioned that he feels the same, don't
quite know how much more weight he has added, still
listed at sixty three to nine, but he brought up
that the fact that football is a physical game. So
(24:05):
how do you be successful. You have to learn to
play physical within the rules, but play physical. And I
think that outside of the speed of the game is
one of the bigger adjustments for players coming from college
to the NFL.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
And I know that there's so many statistics out there
that you know will be the fifty three percent catch
percentage or the drop percentages or whatever it might be.
Regardless of what the numbers say, it's the eye test
that you could clearly look at. And there were moments
where Marvin was struggling with going against some of these cornerbacks,
these physical, violent cornerbacks. It's not really a league that
you know, they try to not have the officials be
(24:42):
a part of the game, and at some moments on
those jump balls, you're not you haven't seen as many
defensive pass interferences or offensive pass interferences. They definitely happen
at moments. And I'm not here to talk about the officiating.
With that being said, though, there were moments throughout the
twenty twenty four season where it was a fifty to
fifty ball, and I think before where the season began,
we all would have expected from Marvin Harrison Junior to
(25:03):
be the player that comes down with it. That didn't
happen as often as I think a lot of us
anticipated for it to be the case. So for Marvin
to add some weight to play with that physicality to
kind of he said. He said that he has the
ability to turn on the switch to play a little
bit more physical and remind those that they are lining
up against Marvin Harrison Junior. You have to be able
(25:25):
to see him flip on that switch a little bit
more and himself being a little bit more willing to
call for the ball, not just to have those fifty
to fifty balls hit you in the chest, but going
out and being able to pick it with your hands
bring it in. We know how good his hands can be.
He just can't catch it with his chest. He has
to go out and use his six to three two
oh nine frame, which is probably not two o nine.
(25:47):
He said that he's still going to be figuring out
throughout the offseason throughout OTAs what weight he wants to
play at, but we are excited and eager to see
what that six to three frame can bring to the table.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
You can still weigh the same from year one to
year two to year three, but how that weight is
distributed could look a lot different. Case in point Darius Robinson,
we've seen photos of him. He looks like he is
added muscle, he looks like he's added bulk. But when
he spoke with Darren Urban at mac Wilson Seniors charity
(26:19):
basketball game, Darius mentioned that he's weighs almost the same.
He just has shed body fat. He's redefined his body,
but maintaining that same weight because you don't want to
get too big to where all of a sudden you
lose that explosiveness off the line of scrimmage or for MHJ,
(26:40):
off the line as far as that first two three
steps as a wide receiver against the defensive back. So
you might look a little different, but at the same time,
you weight might be exactly the same, or you know,
give or take two or three pounds.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
In college, Darius Robinson m Rvin Harrison Junior both had
the physical skill sets to outmatch their opponent no matter
who it was, and there's a reason why those two
guys went in the first round. Once you make it
to the NFL, everybody's got the resources to be the
best and to have the health and body resources to
maximize your opportunity and to maximize your frame. And that's
(27:18):
something that with this being the first true offseason for
both Marvin Harrison Junior and for Darius Robinson, they have
done their best. They both have lived in the facility
to not just gain weight, not just to gain muscle,
but to change their eating habits. Marvin Harrison Junior said,
he thinks he's eating a lot more now, but it's
more protein. It's different sort of nutrients that you're putting
(27:40):
into your body that are helping your frame, that are
helping your overall health. And it's crazy to think that,
you know, not having certain types of meals can truly
shift the trajectory of an NFL football team. But depending
on what they're putting into their bodies, it is definitely
going to make a difference come Sunday and even on
a day like today, on a Monday on May nineteens,
(28:02):
when they walk into the building and Marvin Harrison junior
sits down at the podium. You could tell a physical difference.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
And that's why they always say that biggest jump a
player makes is from year one to year two because
it's your first full offseason within the team structure. You
don't have to worry about the banquet circuit or getting
ready for the combine and not knowing exactly what NFL
life is like or how to be a pro. You
learn that in year one, So year two there's no
(28:30):
more studying, there's no more classes, there's no more homework
or papers. Your job is football to where it's twenty
four seven, three sixty five, And that I think is
what really hits these players in year two to where
I can devote every single minute if I choose to,
as we heard Marvin say, no days off. Probably good
(28:52):
to get away every so often just to kind of
reset everything, but to put all of your energy into
one thing, and that is football and the game that
all these players love to play.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
And a good chunk of this team is first year,
second year, thirty year guys. They are most of them
have been teammates at some point in their lives, which
is very rare to see. How to see the connections.
The football is a small universe, but it reminds you
just how small it is when Xavier Thomas and Jordan
Burch are high school teammates and now they're going to
(29:25):
be competing for snaps in the outside linebacker room. To
think about how Marvin Harrison Junior lined up across from
Denzel Burke during his time at Ohio State and now
their teammates, and their teammates with one of their biggest
rivals and Will Johnson, and they also reunite with Paris
Johnson Jr. It's just the parallels and are remarkable. The
reason why I bring this up is because you could
(29:47):
learn from your coaches, you could learn from the strength staff,
but when you get to learn from your peers, a
guy like Paris who is kind of that other statesman
of the young group, the New regime, the Johnathanannon regime,
he's kind of the face of Jonathan Ganna, Manti Austin.
For coming in, that's kind of Paris's role and for
him to come in and he knows how to help
Marvin Harrison Junior take that jump from year one to
(30:09):
year two, which will then ultimately help all the other
guys when you're able to have that peer warning. There's
nothing better.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
You brought up something that Marvin said and I thought
was maybe the most interesting thing that he brought up.
Called him or described himself as humble, but quote, I
definitely do have a switch which he believes will be
turned on more. Meaning you need a little bit of
an ego. You need to be that alpha as a
(30:36):
number one wide receiver something passing game coordinator. Wide receivers
coach Drew Trell talked about at the end of last
season that he wanted Marvin to be more of that. Hey,
I'm Marvin Harrison Junior, and I'm gonna get this ball.
Not throw me the damn ball Keyshawn Johnson, but I'm
going to get this ball. This ball belongs to me,
and out muscle, out physical whoever you're going on up
(31:00):
against as a defensive back, that football is mine. And
if you have to come back to the huddle, maybe
do hey, this pass play, look my direction. I've got
a step on so and so. Look my direction. Not
that Kyler doesn't always look at eighteen's direction, but you
kind of need to be that dog if you will,
as a number one wide receiver, and it takes. It's
(31:23):
not something that I think Mahsjay really believes or that's
not his nature. He's got to come into his own
and that aspect of his ability as a football play
well well.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Marvin's career, when has he had to, He's always been
the guy regardless. You know, from his time at Saint
Jose Prep. He had that relationship with Kyle McCord over there,
and they knew there was a reason why they kept
winning state championships over there with the with the Saint
Jose Prep Hawks, and then they go to Ohio State
and look, Marvin Harrison Junior is still the guy. Even
though he's in a room with Chris Olave and uh
(31:56):
and Jackson Smith and Jigba and a handful of the
other players that they had over there at Ohio State.
Even though he is in that room, Marvin Harrison Junior
still had that aura. And I think that a lot
of people, a lot of opposing cornerbacks were always mindful
of MHJ. Even when the numbers were not flashing off
the paper. Everybody still knew who Marvin Harrison Junior was
(32:17):
and they were locked in focused on trying to stop eighteen.
It's not to say Kyler Murray didn't look mhj's way.
In fact, he always targeted MHJ even in those fifty
to fifty situations, which is why, going back to our
earlier point, he has had to put on some of
that muscle and some of that additional physicality and adding
that to his mindset, and not just to his mindset,
but to his game and to his style. Marvin's not
(32:40):
going to walk into the huddle and say give me
the damn ball. That's not his mo. But what he
is going to do is work with Kyler throughout the offseason.
He's going to be in the facility every single day
so that when Sundays do come, who is Kyler Murray
going to trust more than absolutely anybody. It's going to
be the guy wearing number one eight. And that's what
they're working on right now is routes on air. And
know you're not going on one hundred percent, but it's
(33:01):
the work that you put in here in the offseason
that you hope pays off once the regular season begins.
He was asked talking about Marvin any goals and he
brought up team success. He wants a home playoff game because,
as he mentioned, he was at State Farm Stadium for
that playoff game between the Rams and Vikings as a fan,
but to see two teams, one of those being the
(33:24):
quote unquote home team, a division rival in the Rams
as that being their home playoff game didn't sit well
with Marvin. Didn't sit well with a lot of people.
We all understand why that was the case. But the
goal is, and I think you're gonna hear this a
lot when you hear from players this offseason. When we
always ask all right, what do you want to accomplish?
(33:44):
You know, how do you want to get better?
Speaker 1 (33:46):
My guess is ninety nine percent of the time the
answer is going to be, well, if we play better
as a team, then yeah, everyone's numbers will go up.
Team success and it goes back to JG team over you.
And if you put that, you believe that, then yeah,
you'll have success.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
At the end of the day. Of course, And for
him to I think that's I think that is a
good point for Marvin to experience an NFL playoff game,
to look at what it's supposed to look like, but
you're supposed to be the team that is on the field,
And for him to say it didn't feel right. If
it felt right, I would be concerned for for MHJ
(34:23):
to But but the competitor in these guys knowing that
they want to be the team that is out on
the field. I loved how Marvin didn't just say how
he wants to make it to the playoffs. He said
he wants to have Arizona host a playoff game. He
wants to win the division, and you could see it
in his eyes. There was definitely a quiet confidence to
(34:45):
Marvin in that presser on Monday when he had the
ability to sit down there and to say, like I
saw that I wasn't a fan of it that's supposed
to be us, And because the Cardinals were in talks
of being that team that was supposed to win the
NFC West, now they have the chance to run it back.
And if Marvin continues to be great, I recognize it's
team over you. But Marvin's personal development will also help
(35:09):
the team overall.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
The last part about Marvin Harrison Junior, that will be
completely different in year two. He'll be able to look
into the stands and see legitimate number eighteen new jerseys,
not off the rack somewhere offshore, but team issued fanatics
issued number eighteen jerseys that, as he said, has been situated.
(35:32):
So now, yes, the availability of Marvin Harrison junior Cardinals
jerseys are available, which was not the case last season.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
You had to inspire a lot of fans along the way.
And even though he has seen the jerseys out there,
knowing that he going into year number two, it's no
longer just the excitement of Marvin Harrison Junior. It's what
can he bring to the Arizona Cardinals in that second
year and beyond. And this is you know, you're no
longer a rookie, You're no longer learning what the NFL
(36:02):
is like. You're gonna learn a lot of things along
the way, but it's making that jump. And if he
gets to make that jump and people start to recognize
the Marvin Harrison junior that went fourth overall and is
projected to be in one thousand plus yards wide receiver,
year after year, there's gonna be a lot more jerseys
and the red, white and the black that are going
to be popping into the stands wearing that number one eight.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
And if you want one, just cut to the team
shop or Azycardinals dot Com by your number eighteen. Marvin
Harrison Junior and be at State Farm Stadium this season.
Of course, the home opener is Week two, Sunday, September fourteenth,
against the Carolina Panthers. Last item here on Cardinals Cover
two presented by Hyundai, probably partner of the Arizona Cardinals,
(36:44):
is what is going on this week in Minnesota? It
is the spring league meeting. Owners are discussing a number
of rules and proposals, some that have been tabled from
the annual league meeting. But perhaps the most interesting topic,
and this broke over the weekend, allowing NFL players to
play flag football in the twenty twenty eight Olympics be
(37:08):
limited to one player per team to be selected by
a country. And that's in addition to each team's designated
international player. And now you're looking at okay, Well, the
twenty twenty eight Summer Olympics. That's in the summer, that's
typically right around when training camp begins. And you're absolutely right.
In twenty twenty eight, the Olympic Games are held from
July fourteenth through the thirtieth, which is literally the start
(37:32):
of training camp that last week of July. So be
very curious what the decision if there is a decision
made this week on whether or not you will see
not a lot of players from the NFL, but a
handful maybe one again, there could be up to thirty two,
one from each team, and then the question is, all right,
(37:53):
how do you form an NFL flag football team? So
I found that intest and that it is going to
be discussed. I know why the league wants it. I'm
just curious on how owners feel about having their multi
million dollar athletes playing flag football before the start of training.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Case, there's a chance it happens in twenty twenty eight,
it only happens in twenty twenty eight, depending on how
it ends up going. Look, it's one of those things
where flag football, especially girls flag football, is the fastest
growing sport in the United States, and they get to
showcase their dominance and their athleticism to the entire globe.
I don't think that you know, there's I'm sure Roger
(38:32):
is going to be pushing for it, mister Commissioner Goodell,
because he gets to showcase why the NFL is the
league in the United States. Basketball has picked up a
lot of steam overseas. It's always been the case baseball
as well. Hockey is more of an international sport than
it is in American sport. But football is America's sport,
and I think that you get to watch them and
(38:54):
if they are able to do it. I'm not sure
how the owners are going to feel about it, but
there's one thing I do know is that they're going
to be in shape, and that is something that if
you're an owner, there's a positive there. I would love
to see flag football make it, but not only. The
challenges that are going to be the case is flag
football rules are very different than NFL rules, And on
top of that, you have a Team USA team already
(39:15):
for flag football. So how are those guys going to
handle meshing together with NFL players. It'll be fascinating to
see what the owners decide.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
Two other items on the agenda revisiting the tush push,
a proposal to ban the move was tabled during the
annual league meeting, and then reseeding teams in the playoffs
after the first round, a proposal by the Detroit Lions.
Those issues, or at least will come up again, but
keep in mind any rule change or proposal, in order
(39:43):
for it to pass, you need twenty four or thirty
two owners to say yes. So again, something pay attention
to this week in Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
Sixteen sixteen is right now, or at least what it
was reported to be the case for the touch push.
We know which way the Arizona Cardinals are going. They're
not in favor of banning it, and most like I'm
assuming that because of the fact that Nick Sirianni is
the you know, he's the leader of the touch bush
and his coaching tree of now Jonathan Gannon, Kellen Moore,
(40:12):
and Shane Stiken. Nick Sirianni made the joking comment saying
that they all have got they all have head coaching
jobs because of the touchbush. I wouldn't necessarily say that's
the case, but Jonathan Gannon obviously has a lot of
reverence and respect for Nick Sirianni, and the move is unstoppable,
and the Cardinals did their best also to implement the
touch bush, so I don't expect the Cardinals to be
(40:32):
in favor of being in the touchbush. When it comes
to receding the teams, I can only assume why Detroit
did it, and it's because the NFC North has been stacked.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Receding is what the NBA does, so I understand it
the toush push. If you don't like a play, learn
how to stop it.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
Now.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
If you want to say you can't push anywhere on
the field, how Trade McBride scored a touchdown once upon
a time when he was pushed into the end zone
from like the seven yard.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
Line against the Baltimore Raven.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
You want to stop pushing and pulling, fine, but don't
single out one particular play behind the line of scrimmage
just because one team does it so well and the
thirty one other teams have found it difficult to stop.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
And I don't like the optics behind the well. It
could be a play that causes injury. Me walking on
the street, I'm I'm a clumsy dude. This is gonna
get clipped. That could that that could have caused injury.
Hope not. But I'm just saying like, you don't ever
want for there to be injury, and you don't ever
(41:32):
want to make an uh an example out of a
play that causes an injury because you never want for
that to be the case. But football is a physical sport.
It's what you sign up for. I know. Frankie Luvu
was on was on Good Morning footballf I'm not mistaken.
He said he's in favor of it. Well, that's because
he was jumping over the line of scrimmage two a
different times in the NFC Championship Game. I do believe
that it's a If they figure out a way to
(41:55):
keep it and minus and and work around the wording
of the rule, then fine. But I think the play
itself does not need to be banned.
Speaker 1 (42:03):
We'll see twenty four thirty two. Inners again must approve
for any rule change or proposal to pass. That's what's
going on this week in Minnesota. The Spring League meeting
happening this week. Happening this week. It is the final
week of Phase two for the Arizona Cardinals. OTAs begin
the week after Memorial Day weekend. Bottom line is the
(42:25):
OTAs weren't going to begin until Zach came back from
his vacation, so all his rights in the world.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
We're ready again. Football started.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
Are you sure you're ready? You're rested, well, not quite rested, though.
I feel bad the fact that you went. You had
a quote unquote vacation, but you didn't come back resting.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
I'll be okay. The football is what energizes me. That
I'm really I'm really excited to wait. I haven't gotten
the chances to see, you know, the rookies and the
vets start to mesh together, so be able to watch them.
When that does happen, it's gonna be very exciting.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
So again, football, as you know, you about the offseason
and you get from schedule release to OTAs to mini camp,
a little bit of a break, and then training camp, preseason,
regular season, it's about to get real heavy as far
as the work that needs to get done in order
(43:18):
to be ready for the start of the regular season.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
One thousand percent. And now it's no longer in terms
of speculating where you're gonna be playing, who you're gonna
be playing, when you're gonna be playing, You now know
what it's all going to look like. And the clock
the countdown for the games in the preseason. They're going
to be playing the Kansas City Chiefs, They're going to
be playing against the Denver Broncos, the Raiders, which is
(43:42):
gonna be very weird to watch Pete Carroll on the
sidelines and not wearing the teal of Seattle, and then
obviously all the other opponents that the Arizona Cardinals are
going to face. It's go time. All in with this.
It's good to have you back in the building. Zach.
Thank you. Was it quiet? Yes? Very quiet? Yeah, that's
what I bring to the table. No longer quiet with
Zach back in there, right back in it.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
On that note, we will put a lit on this
edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hundai, probably partner
of the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our
executive producer Jim Momahundra our associate producer Cuddie Fincher for
Zach Gershman, I'm pretty real, Lou. We'll talk to you
next time here on Cardinals Cover two.
He looks different, will he play different? Welcome Bird Gang.
On today's show, Zach Ershman joins me. We're talking Marvin
Harrison Junior first time this offseason. We've heard from MHJ.
What he said, what we saw, Also some notes on
the schedules, specifically the end of the schedule when compared
to the rest of the NFC West, and what owners
are discussing, perhaps even deciding at the Spring league meeting
(00:27):
later this week. It's Cardinals Cover two, Episode eight eighty five,
and it starts now.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Welcome to Cardinals Cover two. Buda Baker, What Heart? What rent?
This guy's unbelievable.
Speaker 3 (00:42):
Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hyundai, proud partner of
the Arizona Cardinals, and by Arizona Cardinals Podcast. Visit Azycardinals
dot Com slash podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
He's ad a ten half of five. He's it again,
So more hurry Magic. Here's Craig Grioler.
Speaker 1 (01:06):
So before we go any further, we need to begin
with a welcome back to Zach. After a week off,
he was able to rest, relax, recharge, get ready for
the offseason.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
I don't think I did any of that.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
No, no rest, no relaxing, no, nothing.
Speaker 2 (01:22):
I mean, I definitely enjoyed it. I was on a
cruise to the Caribbean, so that was a fun time.
But when you go with a group of twenty something
year olds, rest, recover, relax, none of that really seems
to be the case. But we did have a lot
of fun, that's for sure.
Speaker 1 (01:39):
So basically, you did exactly the opposite of what we
heard Marvin Harrison Junior say he has done so far
this offseason, and that is zero days off.
Speaker 2 (01:49):
I took, you know, a full week off, that is
for sure. I did the complete opposite there. With that
being said, though I put in the work in different areas,
I was very much enjoy the dance.
Speaker 1 (02:01):
And we'll just leave that to the imagination of everyone
out there. We'll get to MHJ here in a moment,
because you are gone, Zach, I do want to give
one first off, the Mac Wilson Senior aka rocket Ship
and his three songs eighteen bars, one of one and
a to Z. I'm not sure how many people are
(02:23):
aware though, that you were kind of the catalyst for
all of this. As they say, when whenever there's a fire,
there's a spark, and I would I would categorize your
article a year ago with Mac, Jesse Luketta and Zach
Pascal Third and Go. That article was kind of the
the spark if you will, to what we saw last
(02:44):
week and what was a lengthy process but a great
music video to release the twenty twenty five Arizona Cardinal schedule.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
I had a little bit of a moment with Mac
which I really appreciated because he he remembered that he
remember that article that we wrote back in November December
was before the game against the New England Patriots, if
I'm not mistaken, and he was saying to me, He's like, look,
this is how it all. You know it started because
of that article, so for it to balloon into what
has utimately become one of, if not the top schedule
(03:15):
release videos. And kudos to everybody in our content creative department.
I know that they've been receiving a lot of praise.
I want to make sure I give them their flowers
as well on here on Cardinals Cover two, because they
do deserve it. It was a tire team effort. Yeah,
I could have been the spark, which I appreciate you
giving me credit for that as well. Craig but it's
a whole joint effort. Everybody is in it together and
(03:36):
it's very glad to see it come to fruition.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Well.
Speaker 2 (03:39):
Was one of the cool things, even though I was
off all last week, seeing being able to be a
fan a little bit and seeing how the fans were
reacting to the scheduled release because I didn't see it
until it was posted. That was my first time watching it,
so to even though I saw the production of it,
but to see it actually be posted on social media.
To see all the different fire emojis and a lot
(04:02):
of different people and companies and organizations giving Mac Wilson
and the Arizona Cardinals and the music group giving them
all their their flowers was definitely pretty rewarding to see,
so kudos to everybody involved.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
First time an NFL team has introduced its schedule using
Apple Music and Spotify, and it did take a lot
of people, a lot of different entities, a lot of
different partnerships. But to see it all come together, and
then the fact that you have not seen the video
or didn't see until it was posted. There is a
behind the scenes video available on the Arizona Cardinals official
(04:36):
YouTube page in which you can spot Zech in the
behind the scenes video because I did notice young Zach
Gershman in the corner. I believe it was the bottom
left corner. I don't exactly know what you were doing,
but your face does appear in the video that has
been posted.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
So that was the hot tub or the cold tub machine.
We brought Mac in there, and that's when we had
all the smoke. I was coming up and it's honestly
one of the coolest shots. My job was to be
the reflector to make sure that we had the background
lighting was on point. And then I was watching it
with Mac and a bunch of others. As we were
watching back the clip and to see he had his
(05:15):
phone out he was filming it. He posted a little
bit of a snippet on his social media. And I
will say this to our bird Gang listeners right now.
It was so tough the last time we had Cardinals
Cover two and we were previewing this and I couldn't
just tell you what I was doing. That was very
challenging because we are a bird Gang family over here.
So very sorry for not lying, because I would never
(05:36):
lie to you. I just couldn't tell you the full truth.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
No, but I will say this, no one reflects more
than Zach Gershman.
Speaker 2 (05:43):
I did do a great job reflecting and a lot
of reflection as well.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
All Right, I've had my take on the schedule. There
are some nuggets before we hear and discuss what Marvin
Harrison Junior had to say on Monday. But as you
saw this schedule, now have had about a week, a
little less than a week to figure out, right, how
does it start, how does it finish? How many primetime
games were? Are some challenges within the schedule? What do
(06:11):
you think on how Again, we've known about the opponents,
we've known about the locations, but how it gets stacked
up is what gets everyone excited when it finally gets released.
Speaker 2 (06:20):
Very excited about the first portion of the season. I'm
very anxious about the last portion of the season. I
have to start off the season on the road once again.
I have yet to experience a Week one home opener
since joining the Arizona car So you're the reason. I'm
not sure if I'm the reason because it seems to
be the common theme over the previous handful of years.
(06:41):
But for the Cardinals, for a third trade season and
fifth time in the last six years, so crack. I'm
not sure if I'm the reason, but they're gonna be
going to New Orleans and there's no better opponent on
this schedule right now, considering their situation at quarterback, brand
new head coach and Kellen Moore, and also just being
on the road, and you have that familiarity of going
on the road with Jonathan Gan in week one. With
(07:02):
that being the case, there's no better opponent to try
to kickstart that season and also get used to being
in NFC South play because the following week they're gonna
be facing off against the Carolina Panthers, and we know
how that Week sixteen went matchup went last year in
twenty twenty four. So I'm very excited for the Cardinals
to kick the season off strong. Obviously, there's the key
games you're looking forward to. The Thursday night Birthday game
(07:23):
for me against the Seattle Seahawks, the game against.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
The time timeout you just attached your own self to.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
Week five, Thank Roger Goodell of that one.
Speaker 1 (07:35):
Look I sow everyone out there mark on your calendar Thursday,
September twenty fifth. Not only is it Cardinals hosting the
Seahawks on Thursday night football first primetime game of the season.
But apparently it's Zach's birthday. Not apparently it is. It
is gonna be my birthday, and I'm very excited for that.
I'm not a big fan of crazy gifts, but small gifts.
Speaker 2 (07:55):
Anybody that wants to know, I'll play. But that game
on Thursday night, that's a chance to show to the
national media what the Arizona Cardinals are able to bring
to the table in NFC West play. So I recognize
that they played the San Francisco forty nine Ers the
week prior or the week earlier. With that being said
that that's the chance to put a stamp on the
division and set the tone for the remainder half of
(08:17):
the year.
Speaker 1 (08:17):
The schedule, as you said, sets up real well for
the Cardinals, at least on paper. As we speak here
in May. Games aren't played on paper. The Cardinals could
very much look different as far as who's available who's
not available on these games. But at least with your
what you are looking at is how teams performed last season,
what are they added in the offseason. Some news, specifically
(08:40):
around the Saints. Who's their quarterback? It's a first year
head coach, so things are going to look a lot different.
But you're starting the season with the first six games
against teams that did not make the playoffs, and your
first twelve games you're playing only one team that made
the playoffs last season, that being Green Bay. So again,
(09:02):
on paper, it's a very good schedule for the Cardinals
to get out to a good start. A fast start,
especially with back to back division games in weeks three
and four, set yourself up well to where maybe and
every team goes through this, they say, stumble. There's a
game you should win and you don't. There's a game
in which you get blown out because for whatever reason
(09:23):
on that day, you just didn't have It happens to
every team, happens every year. But if you get off
to a strong start, now, all of a sudden at
the back end of the schedule, which we can discuss
where there might be some hiccups again later in the season.
How banged up are you, whether, what are your health concerns?
Are you playing in cold weather? Is it nice weather?
(09:45):
All of these things factor in. But if you have
given yourself a little bit of a cushion two or
three games ahead, then all of a sudden, it's not
that it's okay, but if you stub your foot, it's like,
all right, we can survive this base stuff. How we
began in September and early October.
Speaker 2 (10:02):
The most fascinating game for me on the calendar, at
least in the early portion of it, is that game
against Green Bay. And it's not just because it was
the team that was in the playoffs they're gonna be
facing in the early half of the season. But even
in mac Wilson's song where he said it's that get
back versus green Bay line, and I saw in the
Cardinals social media videos when they were speaking to the
(10:24):
players and the players that said that they wanted green Bay,
they mentioned it's a get back game. And I'm not
sure what was said in those meetings after that game
against green Bay. We know that the Cardinals were only
a playaway in three different games from being in the playoffs.
That game against green Bay was not the case. That
was a game where the Cardinals struggled a lot. Marvin
Harrison Junior left the game with the concussion. The offense
(10:46):
wasn't clicking, it was cold, and it was rainy deck
that day over there in Lambeau. But the players seem
to really be talking about it a little bit more
than maybe just the others. And I'm not sure why
that is the case. If that game from twenty twenty
four is the reason why it's potentially circled, that's beyond me.
But to see that it's not. You look at some
of the calendar games. I'm looking forward to Houston, I'm
(11:08):
looking forward to Jacksonville, looking forward to Monday night football
against the Dallas Cowboys. But hearing how eager the guys
are to play against Green Bay, not only to play
against them, but to welcome them back to State Farm Stadium.
I'm interested to see what that matchup's gonna bring.
Speaker 1 (11:23):
And that game is right before the bye, and if
you can get that game back and you have some
positive momentum sorry JG, but positive momentum going into the by,
and then having a Monday night game at Dallas coming
out of the by. That stretch right there, followed by
another trip to Seattle. There's three games right there that
(11:45):
could be a pivot point within this schedule. You're looking
at weeks eight, nine, ten, and eleven, of.
Speaker 2 (11:51):
Course, and that there. I don't think there's gonna be
that game against the Dallas Cowboys is gonna have a
lot of storylines for a lot of different reasons. Kyler
Murray trying to make it ten and l at at
and T Stadium again and just being in Dallas. Obviously
he's undefeat against the Dallas Cowboys. Was a star high
school ballplayer out there and made that state championship venue
(12:12):
kind of feel like a home for him a little bit.
But it's also going to be how are the Cardinals
responding after the bye We know the struggles that they
had this past season when they when they hit the
bye week and then they went to Seattle and they struggled,
And that was kind of the stub your foot situation
that you were alluding to, Craig, was how you respond
after those certain moments, and the Cardinals weren't really able
(12:33):
to get their legs under them after that happened for
the Arizona Cardinals in twenty twenty three, that was after
the Atlanta falcon Or they had the Houston Texans and
then a handful of different games in twenty twenty three,
and then the bye week happened, and obviously the team
was not the same for a lot of different reasons.
But that game against the Dallas Cowboys is going to
have a lot of storylines, but the number one storyline
(12:53):
should be how do the Cardinals respond after the buy?
Are they going to have that momentum even if JG
considers it a real thing or not a real thing?
How are they going to utilize the momentum for one
way or another post buy?
Speaker 1 (13:06):
And it's not so much the bye because it's an
earlier bye week eight versus week now hurting fourteen, So
you get an early bye week. So yeah, you're gonna
focus on, Okay, how does the team respond after the
bye week? I'm just looking at We talked about how
the season begins, how the season finishes with four games,
four of six on the road, and five of those
(13:28):
six against teams with a winning record. In twenty twenty four,
the only team you're facing that did not have a
winning record are the Atlanta Falcons, who you have on
at home. That's your final home game before going out
on the road at Cincinnati at the Los Angeles Rams.
So again, the narrative of the Arizona Cardinals how do
they finish seasons can be dispelled or rewritten if you
(13:52):
finish off those final six games again on a positive
note and hopefully heading into the postseason.
Speaker 2 (13:58):
Five and zero at home against the Alanta Falcons. I'm
pretty sure they're only twelve and two in the all
time series against Atlanta. So the Cardinals have had their
way with the Falcons. And that last time that they
played the Atlanta Falcons, let's go back in time here,
Kalas Campbell was on the Atlanta Falcons. Kyler Murray was
returning for the first time in Desert. Ritter, who was
the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals for a couple of coffee,
(14:18):
was the quarterback for the Atlanta Falcons. So a lot
has changed since that twenty twenty three season. But the
games against Cincinnati and the Rams especially are going to
be the ones where those are two teams that historically
have started to get themselves right towards the back end
of the season. They Dala Rams have typically started off
very slow, and then towards the back end weeks twelve,
(14:40):
thirteen and onward, that is when you start to see
that Los Angeles Rams team that you're starting to say, okay, well,
we don't want to face this team in the playoffs
because we know that they're starting to get their footing.
We know that they're starting to shrink together. A couple
of wins, and not just a couple of wins, but
a couple of strong wins, a couple of connected team wins.
The fact that you have them in week fourteen and
then week eighteen, that's gonna be a little bit of
(15:02):
a challenge over there. We also saw it a little
bit with the Seattle Seahawks. They had him in week
they had him in week twelve and then week fourteen.
When you play against division opponents and they're so close
in the schedule, that creates a handful of challenges. Glad
you brought up the Rams.
Speaker 1 (15:15):
I was looking at not only how the Cardinals' schedule
sets up, but also the rest of the division. And
as difficult, again, I have to say this still as
difficult as it looks here in May. As far as
how the Cardinals finish, it does look very good for
the Rams, the forty Hinders and Seahawks how their seasons finish.
(15:38):
Rams finished with their final three games against teams that
did not make the playoffs. They finished with five of
six against teams who missed the playoffs. The forty nine
Ers do not play twenty twenty four playoff team in
the final eight weeks of their season, and the Seahawks
finished with four of their final five games against teams
(15:58):
that meant that missed the playoffs in twenty twenty four.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
So again, a.
Speaker 1 (16:04):
Harder finish for the Cardinals as we speak here in May,
compared to their division opponents who seem to have a
softer end heading into the postseason, perhaps for the Rams,
forty nine Ers and Seahawks.
Speaker 2 (16:17):
But this is why you need to start off the
season so strong to give yourself some wiggle room. You
want to have these conversations going into the bye of
a lot of analysts because it's what happened in the
Week eleven buye from this past season, where a lot
of analysts were saying, Okay, look at those Cardinals. You
know they're looking really strong six and four going into
the buy a lot of talks about them being the
betting favorites to win the NFC West. And it's how
(16:40):
they responded after the buy where things started to fade away.
You start off strong with the skill set and the
you know you could beat New Orleans. You know you
were a handful of plays away from being the Carolina Panthers.
You swept the San Francisco forty nine ers their previous year,
Seattle got the best of you, But how are you
going to respond? Especially on Thursday night fotball? Both teams
(17:00):
going into it on a short week. The Tennessee Titans,
who knows what cam Ward is going to be. You're
assuming that he's going to be a starting quarterback. I
wouldn't be surprised if you if they if they kind
of slow play him into it a little bit because
of not that I think it's actually going to happen,
but week one, week two, it wouldn't be a crazy
surprise to me. We've seen crazier things in the NFL,
and Brian Callahan is still running his way around being
(17:22):
an NFL head coach. So there's a lot of different ways.
But after the buye is when your season truly can begin.
But it's what you do in the beginning to make
sure that that's where you could have your starting point.
Speaker 1 (17:34):
You're not going to win the division or clinch a
playoff spot in September or October, but you can certainly
lose a postseason spot what you do or what you
don't do in those first eight weeks, those first nine
weeks of the season.
Speaker 2 (17:50):
All right, I think to the Miami Dolphins from this
past year, I mean, they started off really slow, and
that game against the Arizona Cardinals, after that ended up happening,
there were talks about trading Kalais Campbell to different teams
because there was a thought that they might not even
be in the playoff race, because I'm pretty sure they
were only two and five at that point, if I'm
not mistaken, they definitely were way below five hundred. So
(18:12):
and then they had the back end of the season
and they picked up some ground a little bit, and
then they were back in that playoff hunt. They didn't
make it, but they were in that hunt. That is
what teams are capable of doing. The Miami Dolphins, if
they would have had the fast start in the very
beginning of the season, they would have been in the playoffs.
What are you going to do when those first six
to seven eight games going into Monday Night football against
(18:32):
the Dallas Cowboys, that you get to put that stamp
not just on the division, but on the landscape of
the NFL of being a team that isn't just a
fun little story. It's not just Oh, look at what
Marvin Harrison Junior and Kyler Murray are able to do
in week number two. You have to see it turn
into wins.
Speaker 1 (18:49):
Those first seven games, four at home, three on the road,
including two of your first three away from State Farm Stadium.
Some good news with respects to the schedule for the Cardinals.
They do not play a team coming off it's bye week,
and only once and it comes in Week sixteen when
the Cardinals play the Falcons. Only once will they have
(19:09):
played or play a team that will have played on
Thursday Night football, so you get those three extra days
of rest. So that's what the Cardinals face when they
play the Falcons, who will have that Thursday night game
the week prior.
Speaker 2 (19:21):
And we already discussed the Cardinals' recent success against the
Alanta Falcons, so you hope that that doesn't even make
too much of a difference. And we obviously are going
to have those questions surrounding Week one of who the
New Orleans Saints quarterback is going to be. It's not
that much farther off with the Alanta Falcons, who are
their quarterback? Who is it going to be? Is it
gonna be Michael Pennix? They still have Kirk Cousins in
(19:41):
the building. At that point, I think we'll know, but
it will be fascinating until we get them.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
Another game that at least someone that we heard from
on Monday has an eye on, and that would be
week six, Sunday, October twelve, when the Cardinals visit the
Indianapolis Colts. And Marvin Harrison Junior was asked about that
earlier on Monday because a year ago, yeah, the Cardinals
played the Colts in the preseason, Marvin did not play,
(20:06):
But this time he will be in that stadium, playing
on a football field in which his father starred Hall
of Fame career, and be back in the building which
well he basically grew up in having watched his father
either on the sidelines or up in the stands. So
that and Marvin acknowledged, that's going to be a special moment,
special weekend for him, his family and his friends.
Speaker 2 (20:26):
It's going to be awesome when you get to trot
out onto the field and you look up into the
bleachers and you see your father's name on the side
of the building. It's going to be a very special
moment for the Harrison family. Obviously, they were there for
they went during the preseason, they had joint practices over
there in Indianapolis and got there was a big storyline, obviously,
(20:46):
but I think the person that was taking the headline
from that was Darius Robinson and what he was able
to do during those joint practices. He had such a
good joint practice that Johnathangannon didn't even have him suit
up in that preseason game. So for you would hope
from one second year player to another that both of
them are having standout performances. I'm very though, very very
(21:07):
very excited to see Marvin Harrison Junior put his own
stamp on Lucas Oil Stadium.
Speaker 1 (21:12):
Speaking of seeing MHJ, what did you see Monday as
he walked in and addressed the media for about fifteen minutes.
First time we've heard from MHJ since the season ended.
We have seen him in the weight room on the
football field, but we saw him I don't know if
it was by design or not, but in a sleeveless
shirts and of course a lot of noise this offseason
(21:35):
about how he has looked talking about Marvin in the
photos that we've seen in the weight room and on
the football field, and how how does arms look a
lot larger, much more defined than his first year with
the Arizona Card.
Speaker 2 (21:48):
I saw a dude that didn't look like he was
just on a cruise for a week. I saw a
guy that went into Johnathan Gannon's office when the season
ended and handing him a piece of paper and said,
I know, I know what I need to work on
throughout the offseason. And essentially he got a bet here
and he moved into the facility he lived in the
Dignity Health Training Center because he knew that. I asked
(22:12):
him about his satisfaction after the twenty twenty four season,
and he didn't really give me an answer. He was
more so saying he was just blessed to play the game.
But we heard from Marvin and how he said it
wasn't the year that he envisioned. And for him to
go into Johnathan Gannon's office and for him to hand
him that piece of paper and saying, these are the
things I know I need to work on, And one
of those things was definitely his build. He's trying to
(22:33):
figure out what weight he wants to play at, the
physicality that comes with playing in the NFL, what he's
learned from lining up from across from guys like Jalen
Ramsey and Sauce Gardner. In Week ten when they played
the New York Jets, Marvin Harrison Junior learned a lot
that rookie season. That year one to year two jumped
is often talked about. I think Marvin is going to
(22:55):
prove why that is the case.
Speaker 1 (22:56):
You look at Harrison's numbers that for season eight hundred
and eighty five receiving yards, eight touchdowns, all solid in facts,
similar to what his father did in year one with
the Indianapolis Colts. Marvin Harrison Junior actually mentioned they were
too similar. But it's the other number, and that is
fifty three, as in fifty three percent catch percentage, sixty
(23:20):
two receptions, one hundred and sixteen targets. And I think
that right there tells you the story of MHJ. In
year one, he didn't catch as many balls as he
or I or anyone thought he should have based on
the number of times the ball was thrown his way.
So how do he increase that catch percentage? Well, one
way at least that you have control over in the
(23:42):
off season is making yourself bigger. Getting more physical, adds
some muscle and yes, MHJ has added muscle here in
the off season, mentioned that he feels the same, don't
quite know how much more weight he has added, still
listed at sixty three to nine, but he brought up
that the fact that football is a physical game. So
(24:05):
how do you be successful. You have to learn to
play physical within the rules, but play physical. And I
think that outside of the speed of the game is
one of the bigger adjustments for players coming from college
to the NFL.
Speaker 2 (24:19):
And I know that there's so many statistics out there
that you know will be the fifty three percent catch
percentage or the drop percentages or whatever it might be.
Regardless of what the numbers say, it's the eye test
that you could clearly look at. And there were moments
where Marvin was struggling with going against some of these cornerbacks,
these physical, violent cornerbacks. It's not really a league that
you know, they try to not have the officials be
(24:42):
a part of the game, and at some moments on
those jump balls, you're not you haven't seen as many
defensive pass interferences or offensive pass interferences. They definitely happen
at moments. And I'm not here to talk about the officiating.
With that being said, though, there were moments throughout the
twenty twenty four season where it was a fifty to
fifty ball, and I think before where the season began,
we all would have expected from Marvin Harrison Junior to
(25:03):
be the player that comes down with it. That didn't
happen as often as I think a lot of us
anticipated for it to be the case. So for Marvin
to add some weight to play with that physicality to
kind of he said. He said that he has the
ability to turn on the switch to play a little
bit more physical and remind those that they are lining
up against Marvin Harrison Junior. You have to be able
(25:25):
to see him flip on that switch a little bit
more and himself being a little bit more willing to
call for the ball, not just to have those fifty
to fifty balls hit you in the chest, but going
out and being able to pick it with your hands
bring it in. We know how good his hands can be.
He just can't catch it with his chest. He has
to go out and use his six to three two
oh nine frame, which is probably not two o nine.
(25:47):
He said that he's still going to be figuring out
throughout the offseason throughout OTAs what weight he wants to
play at, but we are excited and eager to see
what that six to three frame can bring to the table.
Speaker 1 (25:58):
You can still weigh the same from year one to
year two to year three, but how that weight is
distributed could look a lot different. Case in point Darius Robinson,
we've seen photos of him. He looks like he is
added muscle, he looks like he's added bulk. But when
he spoke with Darren Urban at mac Wilson Seniors charity
(26:19):
basketball game, Darius mentioned that he's weighs almost the same.
He just has shed body fat. He's redefined his body,
but maintaining that same weight because you don't want to
get too big to where all of a sudden you
lose that explosiveness off the line of scrimmage or for MHJ,
(26:40):
off the line as far as that first two three
steps as a wide receiver against the defensive back. So
you might look a little different, but at the same time,
you weight might be exactly the same, or you know,
give or take two or three pounds.
Speaker 2 (26:55):
In college, Darius Robinson m Rvin Harrison Junior both had
the physical skill sets to outmatch their opponent no matter
who it was, and there's a reason why those two
guys went in the first round. Once you make it
to the NFL, everybody's got the resources to be the
best and to have the health and body resources to
maximize your opportunity and to maximize your frame. And that's
(27:18):
something that with this being the first true offseason for
both Marvin Harrison Junior and for Darius Robinson, they have
done their best. They both have lived in the facility
to not just gain weight, not just to gain muscle,
but to change their eating habits. Marvin Harrison Junior said,
he thinks he's eating a lot more now, but it's
more protein. It's different sort of nutrients that you're putting
(27:40):
into your body that are helping your frame, that are
helping your overall health. And it's crazy to think that,
you know, not having certain types of meals can truly
shift the trajectory of an NFL football team. But depending
on what they're putting into their bodies, it is definitely
going to make a difference come Sunday and even on
a day like today, on a Monday on May nineteens,
(28:02):
when they walk into the building and Marvin Harrison junior
sits down at the podium. You could tell a physical difference.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
And that's why they always say that biggest jump a
player makes is from year one to year two because
it's your first full offseason within the team structure. You
don't have to worry about the banquet circuit or getting
ready for the combine and not knowing exactly what NFL
life is like or how to be a pro. You
learn that in year one, So year two there's no
(28:30):
more studying, there's no more classes, there's no more homework
or papers. Your job is football to where it's twenty
four seven, three sixty five, And that I think is
what really hits these players in year two to where
I can devote every single minute if I choose to,
as we heard Marvin say, no days off. Probably good
(28:52):
to get away every so often just to kind of
reset everything, but to put all of your energy into
one thing, and that is football and the game that
all these players love to play.
Speaker 2 (29:04):
And a good chunk of this team is first year,
second year, thirty year guys. They are most of them
have been teammates at some point in their lives, which
is very rare to see. How to see the connections.
The football is a small universe, but it reminds you
just how small it is when Xavier Thomas and Jordan
Burch are high school teammates and now they're going to
(29:25):
be competing for snaps in the outside linebacker room. To
think about how Marvin Harrison Junior lined up across from
Denzel Burke during his time at Ohio State and now
their teammates, and their teammates with one of their biggest
rivals and Will Johnson, and they also reunite with Paris
Johnson Jr. It's just the parallels and are remarkable. The
reason why I bring this up is because you could
(29:47):
learn from your coaches, you could learn from the strength staff,
but when you get to learn from your peers, a
guy like Paris who is kind of that other statesman
of the young group, the New regime, the Johnathanannon regime,
he's kind of the face of Jonathan Ganna, Manti Austin.
For coming in, that's kind of Paris's role and for
him to come in and he knows how to help
Marvin Harrison Junior take that jump from year one to
(30:09):
year two, which will then ultimately help all the other
guys when you're able to have that peer warning. There's
nothing better.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
You brought up something that Marvin said and I thought
was maybe the most interesting thing that he brought up.
Called him or described himself as humble, but quote, I
definitely do have a switch which he believes will be
turned on more. Meaning you need a little bit of
an ego. You need to be that alpha as a
(30:36):
number one wide receiver something passing game coordinator. Wide receivers
coach Drew Trell talked about at the end of last
season that he wanted Marvin to be more of that. Hey,
I'm Marvin Harrison Junior, and I'm gonna get this ball.
Not throw me the damn ball Keyshawn Johnson, but I'm
going to get this ball. This ball belongs to me,
and out muscle, out physical whoever you're going on up
(31:00):
against as a defensive back, that football is mine. And
if you have to come back to the huddle, maybe
do hey, this pass play, look my direction. I've got
a step on so and so. Look my direction. Not
that Kyler doesn't always look at eighteen's direction, but you
kind of need to be that dog if you will,
as a number one wide receiver, and it takes. It's
(31:23):
not something that I think Mahsjay really believes or that's
not his nature. He's got to come into his own
and that aspect of his ability as a football play
well well.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Marvin's career, when has he had to, He's always been
the guy regardless. You know, from his time at Saint
Jose Prep. He had that relationship with Kyle McCord over there,
and they knew there was a reason why they kept
winning state championships over there with the with the Saint
Jose Prep Hawks, and then they go to Ohio State
and look, Marvin Harrison Junior is still the guy. Even
though he's in a room with Chris Olave and uh
(31:56):
and Jackson Smith and Jigba and a handful of the
other players that they had over there at Ohio State.
Even though he is in that room, Marvin Harrison Junior
still had that aura. And I think that a lot
of people, a lot of opposing cornerbacks were always mindful
of MHJ. Even when the numbers were not flashing off
the paper. Everybody still knew who Marvin Harrison Junior was
(32:17):
and they were locked in focused on trying to stop eighteen.
It's not to say Kyler Murray didn't look mhj's way.
In fact, he always targeted MHJ even in those fifty
to fifty situations, which is why, going back to our
earlier point, he has had to put on some of
that muscle and some of that additional physicality and adding
that to his mindset, and not just to his mindset,
but to his game and to his style. Marvin's not
(32:40):
going to walk into the huddle and say give me
the damn ball. That's not his mo. But what he
is going to do is work with Kyler throughout the offseason.
He's going to be in the facility every single day
so that when Sundays do come, who is Kyler Murray
going to trust more than absolutely anybody. It's going to
be the guy wearing number one eight. And that's what
they're working on right now is routes on air. And
know you're not going on one hundred percent, but it's
(33:01):
the work that you put in here in the offseason
that you hope pays off once the regular season begins.
He was asked talking about Marvin any goals and he
brought up team success. He wants a home playoff game because,
as he mentioned, he was at State Farm Stadium for
that playoff game between the Rams and Vikings as a fan,
but to see two teams, one of those being the
(33:24):
quote unquote home team, a division rival in the Rams
as that being their home playoff game didn't sit well
with Marvin. Didn't sit well with a lot of people.
We all understand why that was the case. But the
goal is, and I think you're gonna hear this a
lot when you hear from players this offseason. When we
always ask all right, what do you want to accomplish?
(33:44):
You know, how do you want to get better?
Speaker 1 (33:46):
My guess is ninety nine percent of the time the
answer is going to be, well, if we play better
as a team, then yeah, everyone's numbers will go up.
Team success and it goes back to JG team over you.
And if you put that, you believe that, then yeah,
you'll have success.
Speaker 2 (34:02):
At the end of the day. Of course, And for
him to I think that's I think that is a
good point for Marvin to experience an NFL playoff game,
to look at what it's supposed to look like, but
you're supposed to be the team that is on the field,
And for him to say it didn't feel right. If
it felt right, I would be concerned for for MHJ
(34:23):
to But but the competitor in these guys knowing that
they want to be the team that is out on
the field. I loved how Marvin didn't just say how
he wants to make it to the playoffs. He said
he wants to have Arizona host a playoff game. He
wants to win the division, and you could see it
in his eyes. There was definitely a quiet confidence to
(34:45):
Marvin in that presser on Monday when he had the
ability to sit down there and to say, like I
saw that I wasn't a fan of it that's supposed
to be us, And because the Cardinals were in talks
of being that team that was supposed to win the
NFC West, now they have the chance to run it back.
And if Marvin continues to be great, I recognize it's
team over you. But Marvin's personal development will also help
(35:09):
the team overall.
Speaker 1 (35:10):
The last part about Marvin Harrison Junior, that will be
completely different in year two. He'll be able to look
into the stands and see legitimate number eighteen new jerseys,
not off the rack somewhere offshore, but team issued fanatics
issued number eighteen jerseys that, as he said, has been situated.
(35:32):
So now, yes, the availability of Marvin Harrison junior Cardinals
jerseys are available, which was not the case last season.
Speaker 2 (35:40):
You had to inspire a lot of fans along the way.
And even though he has seen the jerseys out there,
knowing that he going into year number two, it's no
longer just the excitement of Marvin Harrison Junior. It's what
can he bring to the Arizona Cardinals in that second
year and beyond. And this is you know, you're no
longer a rookie, You're no longer learning what the NFL
(36:02):
is like. You're gonna learn a lot of things along
the way, but it's making that jump. And if he
gets to make that jump and people start to recognize
the Marvin Harrison junior that went fourth overall and is
projected to be in one thousand plus yards wide receiver,
year after year, there's gonna be a lot more jerseys
and the red, white and the black that are going
to be popping into the stands wearing that number one eight.
Speaker 1 (36:24):
And if you want one, just cut to the team
shop or Azycardinals dot Com by your number eighteen. Marvin
Harrison Junior and be at State Farm Stadium this season.
Of course, the home opener is Week two, Sunday, September fourteenth,
against the Carolina Panthers. Last item here on Cardinals Cover
two presented by Hyundai, probably partner of the Arizona Cardinals,
(36:44):
is what is going on this week in Minnesota? It
is the spring league meeting. Owners are discussing a number
of rules and proposals, some that have been tabled from
the annual league meeting. But perhaps the most interesting topic,
and this broke over the weekend, allowing NFL players to
play flag football in the twenty twenty eight Olympics be
(37:08):
limited to one player per team to be selected by
a country. And that's in addition to each team's designated
international player. And now you're looking at okay, Well, the
twenty twenty eight Summer Olympics. That's in the summer, that's
typically right around when training camp begins. And you're absolutely right.
In twenty twenty eight, the Olympic Games are held from
July fourteenth through the thirtieth, which is literally the start
(37:32):
of training camp that last week of July. So be
very curious what the decision if there is a decision
made this week on whether or not you will see
not a lot of players from the NFL, but a
handful maybe one again, there could be up to thirty two,
one from each team, and then the question is, all right,
(37:53):
how do you form an NFL flag football team? So
I found that intest and that it is going to
be discussed. I know why the league wants it. I'm
just curious on how owners feel about having their multi
million dollar athletes playing flag football before the start of training.
Speaker 2 (38:12):
Case, there's a chance it happens in twenty twenty eight,
it only happens in twenty twenty eight, depending on how
it ends up going. Look, it's one of those things
where flag football, especially girls flag football, is the fastest
growing sport in the United States, and they get to
showcase their dominance and their athleticism to the entire globe.
I don't think that you know, there's I'm sure Roger
(38:32):
is going to be pushing for it, mister Commissioner Goodell,
because he gets to showcase why the NFL is the
league in the United States. Basketball has picked up a
lot of steam overseas. It's always been the case baseball
as well. Hockey is more of an international sport than
it is in American sport. But football is America's sport,
and I think that you get to watch them and
(38:54):
if they are able to do it. I'm not sure
how the owners are going to feel about it, but
there's one thing I do know is that they're going
to be in shape, and that is something that if
you're an owner, there's a positive there. I would love
to see flag football make it, but not only. The
challenges that are going to be the case is flag
football rules are very different than NFL rules, And on
top of that, you have a Team USA team already
(39:15):
for flag football. So how are those guys going to
handle meshing together with NFL players. It'll be fascinating to
see what the owners decide.
Speaker 1 (39:23):
Two other items on the agenda revisiting the tush push,
a proposal to ban the move was tabled during the
annual league meeting, and then reseeding teams in the playoffs
after the first round, a proposal by the Detroit Lions.
Those issues, or at least will come up again, but
keep in mind any rule change or proposal, in order
(39:43):
for it to pass, you need twenty four or thirty
two owners to say yes. So again, something pay attention
to this week in Minnesota.
Speaker 2 (39:51):
Sixteen sixteen is right now, or at least what it
was reported to be the case for the touch push.
We know which way the Arizona Cardinals are going. They're
not in favor of banning it, and most like I'm
assuming that because of the fact that Nick Sirianni is
the you know, he's the leader of the touch bush
and his coaching tree of now Jonathan Gannon, Kellen Moore,
(40:12):
and Shane Stiken. Nick Sirianni made the joking comment saying
that they all have got they all have head coaching
jobs because of the touchbush. I wouldn't necessarily say that's
the case, but Jonathan Gannon obviously has a lot of
reverence and respect for Nick Sirianni, and the move is unstoppable,
and the Cardinals did their best also to implement the
touch bush, so I don't expect the Cardinals to be
(40:32):
in favor of being in the touchbush. When it comes
to receding the teams, I can only assume why Detroit
did it, and it's because the NFC North has been stacked.
Speaker 1 (40:42):
Receding is what the NBA does, so I understand it
the toush push. If you don't like a play, learn
how to stop it.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
Now.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
If you want to say you can't push anywhere on
the field, how Trade McBride scored a touchdown once upon
a time when he was pushed into the end zone
from like the seven yard.
Speaker 2 (40:58):
Line against the Baltimore Raven.
Speaker 1 (40:59):
You want to stop pushing and pulling, fine, but don't
single out one particular play behind the line of scrimmage
just because one team does it so well and the
thirty one other teams have found it difficult to stop.
Speaker 2 (41:11):
And I don't like the optics behind the well. It
could be a play that causes injury. Me walking on
the street, I'm I'm a clumsy dude. This is gonna
get clipped. That could that that could have caused injury.
Hope not. But I'm just saying like, you don't ever
want for there to be injury, and you don't ever
(41:32):
want to make an uh an example out of a
play that causes an injury because you never want for
that to be the case. But football is a physical sport.
It's what you sign up for. I know. Frankie Luvu
was on was on Good Morning footballf I'm not mistaken.
He said he's in favor of it. Well, that's because
he was jumping over the line of scrimmage two a
different times in the NFC Championship Game. I do believe
that it's a If they figure out a way to
(41:55):
keep it and minus and and work around the wording
of the rule, then fine. But I think the play
itself does not need to be banned.
Speaker 1 (42:03):
We'll see twenty four thirty two. Inners again must approve
for any rule change or proposal to pass. That's what's
going on this week in Minnesota. The Spring League meeting
happening this week. Happening this week. It is the final
week of Phase two for the Arizona Cardinals. OTAs begin
the week after Memorial Day weekend. Bottom line is the
(42:25):
OTAs weren't going to begin until Zach came back from
his vacation, so all his rights in the world.
Speaker 2 (42:30):
We're ready again. Football started.
Speaker 1 (42:32):
Are you sure you're ready? You're rested, well, not quite rested, though.
I feel bad the fact that you went. You had
a quote unquote vacation, but you didn't come back resting.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
I'll be okay. The football is what energizes me. That
I'm really I'm really excited to wait. I haven't gotten
the chances to see, you know, the rookies and the
vets start to mesh together, so be able to watch them.
When that does happen, it's gonna be very exciting.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
So again, football, as you know, you about the offseason
and you get from schedule release to OTAs to mini camp,
a little bit of a break, and then training camp, preseason,
regular season, it's about to get real heavy as far
as the work that needs to get done in order
(43:18):
to be ready for the start of the regular season.
Speaker 2 (43:19):
One thousand percent. And now it's no longer in terms
of speculating where you're gonna be playing, who you're gonna
be playing, when you're gonna be playing, You now know
what it's all going to look like. And the clock
the countdown for the games in the preseason. They're going
to be playing the Kansas City Chiefs, They're going to
be playing against the Denver Broncos, the Raiders, which is
(43:42):
gonna be very weird to watch Pete Carroll on the
sidelines and not wearing the teal of Seattle, and then
obviously all the other opponents that the Arizona Cardinals are
going to face. It's go time. All in with this.
It's good to have you back in the building. Zach.
Thank you. Was it quiet? Yes? Very quiet? Yeah, that's
what I bring to the table. No longer quiet with
Zach back in there, right back in it.
Speaker 1 (44:06):
On that note, we will put a lit on this
edition of Cardinals Cover two presented by Hundai, probably partner
of the Arizona Cardinals. As always, special thanks to our
executive producer Jim Momahundra our associate producer Cuddie Fincher for
Zach Gershman, I'm pretty real, Lou. We'll talk to you
next time here on Cardinals Cover two.
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