1 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:09,080 Speaker 1: Welcome bird Gang. No, it wasn't a dream. JJ Watt 2 00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: did indeed sign with the Cardinals. It's official, including his 3 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:17,439 Speaker 1: introduct repress conference on today's show, Why Watt chose the 4 00:00:17,520 --> 00:00:21,200 Speaker 1: Cardinals and what that choice means for the Cardinals. But 5 00:00:21,320 --> 00:00:25,279 Speaker 1: first we're talking numbers. One number to be specific. It's 6 00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:29,680 Speaker 1: Cardinals Cover two, episode three ninety nine and it starts now. 7 00:00:33,280 --> 00:00:37,400 Speaker 1: Welcome to Cardinals cover two with Craig Griolu and Mike Jarecki. 8 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:42,000 Speaker 1: Cardinals Cover two is presented by Hunday, proud partner of 9 00:00:42,040 --> 00:00:47,240 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals and by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts. Visit acy 10 00:00:47,280 --> 00:00:50,839 Speaker 1: Cardinals dot com, Slash Podcasts. Murray rolls to the right, 11 00:00:50,880 --> 00:00:53,239 Speaker 1: throws near sight of Fitts Bob, He's into the end 12 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:57,440 Speaker 1: zone for the touchdown. Here's Craig Grielou and Mike Jarecki. 13 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,160 Speaker 1: Well you often here winning the press conference and MJ 14 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 1: what we just watched. Ann heard JJ Watt's introductory press conference. 15 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:11,760 Speaker 1: He spoke for twenty five minutes, took a number of 16 00:01:11,880 --> 00:01:15,440 Speaker 1: different questions on a number of different topics. But very 17 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:18,480 Speaker 1: impressed and I don't think we shouldn't have been or 18 00:01:18,520 --> 00:01:22,720 Speaker 1: shouldn't have expected that, but very impressed. And that's what 19 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: he spoke burd Gang is what they mean by saying 20 00:01:26,959 --> 00:01:30,200 Speaker 1: winning the press conference. And he really didn't have to 21 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:33,240 Speaker 1: worry about that. But that's just his personality. I mean, 22 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:37,959 Speaker 1: well round it. You know, you look at the career 23 00:01:38,600 --> 00:01:41,840 Speaker 1: and he's you know, when you peel the curtains back 24 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: a little bit, he's also humbled. It's just where you know, 25 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,400 Speaker 1: where he's at in his career. But yeah, you know, 26 00:01:49,360 --> 00:01:52,200 Speaker 1: you want to see a guy that's excited to be here, 27 00:01:52,280 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 1: and we know a lot of times it's you know, 28 00:01:53,880 --> 00:01:56,400 Speaker 1: about the money, and then he talked about so many 29 00:01:56,480 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: other things though, and yeah, the money's great and the 30 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:02,320 Speaker 1: fifths great, but it was more about relationships and culture 31 00:02:02,440 --> 00:02:05,200 Speaker 1: and he wants to be here to get this thing 32 00:02:05,320 --> 00:02:08,480 Speaker 1: turned around. And you know he had choices out there, 33 00:02:08,600 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 1: you know, Aaron Rodgers, the Green Bay Packers. You know, 34 00:02:11,880 --> 00:02:14,200 Speaker 1: you look at the Tennessee Titans, a team on the rise, 35 00:02:14,240 --> 00:02:17,519 Speaker 1: and the Mike Vrabel and got a good defense and 36 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,160 Speaker 1: you know, you pair them up with Clowney and then 37 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:22,480 Speaker 1: you look at the Browns and you know, he didn't 38 00:02:22,480 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: have a lot of relationships there, but you know, obviously 39 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:27,000 Speaker 1: they're doing a good job, so he had a lot 40 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:30,240 Speaker 1: of options. And again this came out of left field, 41 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:33,639 Speaker 1: and the stories he told about how it all went 42 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:37,920 Speaker 1: down with the jerseys and the T shirts and now 43 00:02:38,600 --> 00:02:41,720 Speaker 1: you know, you see him from a feign year impressed. 44 00:02:42,120 --> 00:02:44,240 Speaker 1: But when you hear him talk for twenty five minutes 45 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:48,560 Speaker 1: and all kinds of questions, I mean, he's kind of 46 00:02:48,600 --> 00:02:52,679 Speaker 1: like the Renaissance man. It was a fascinating watch and 47 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:55,520 Speaker 1: listen and bird Gang go to az Cardinals dot com 48 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:57,880 Speaker 1: for more. We'll touch on a number of what he 49 00:02:58,000 --> 00:03:01,400 Speaker 1: had to say here and this of Cardinals cover two 50 00:03:01,480 --> 00:03:04,960 Speaker 1: presented by Hunday, probably partner of the Arizona Cardinals. Will 51 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:08,000 Speaker 1: get to the why. But first things first, because this 52 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: it typically happens, but numbers, jersey numbers, uniform numbers seem 53 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:16,600 Speaker 1: to take on a life of its own and always becomes, 54 00:03:16,919 --> 00:03:19,680 Speaker 1: if not topic number one, topic number two or three. 55 00:03:19,800 --> 00:03:23,160 Speaker 1: It was not the first question asked. It was, however, 56 00:03:23,240 --> 00:03:28,520 Speaker 1: the fourth question asked what number would J. J. Watt wearing. 57 00:03:28,600 --> 00:03:31,520 Speaker 1: In fact, to be completely honest, this was a decision 58 00:03:31,639 --> 00:03:35,360 Speaker 1: made ahead of the press conference, the Arizona Cardinals twitted 59 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:39,680 Speaker 1: out a video short video clip of Watt and Chandler 60 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:43,520 Speaker 1: Jones in the weight room at the facility and with 61 00:03:43,680 --> 00:03:46,640 Speaker 1: the heading fifty five and ninety nine, and it was 62 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:49,640 Speaker 1: Chandler Jones. Hey, let's give Chandler Jones some credit here. 63 00:03:49,680 --> 00:03:53,280 Speaker 1: He broke the news because he asked what number are 64 00:03:53,320 --> 00:03:55,480 Speaker 1: you're going to wear? And what explained that he is 65 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:59,240 Speaker 1: going to wear ninety nine. He was given that blessing. 66 00:03:59,760 --> 00:04:03,920 Speaker 1: The Cardinals have number ninety nine retired. Marshall Goldberg, four 67 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:06,920 Speaker 1: time All Pro halfback in the nineteen forties, part of 68 00:04:06,960 --> 00:04:10,520 Speaker 1: the nineteen forty seven championship team, served in the US 69 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:14,320 Speaker 1: Navy during World War Two. But as we talked about 70 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 1: that number was retired and it was I don't even 71 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:20,200 Speaker 1: think a consideration until Watt said he woke up this 72 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:25,880 Speaker 1: morning saw the TMZ report that Marshall Goldberg's daughter said 73 00:04:26,040 --> 00:04:29,880 Speaker 1: if asked yes, it would be okay with us if 74 00:04:30,000 --> 00:04:33,640 Speaker 1: JJ Watt would wear ninety nine. It would be an 75 00:04:33,720 --> 00:04:37,560 Speaker 1: honor for us if he wore that number. And then 76 00:04:38,279 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 1: Wat saw that and said he had had to hear 77 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:43,720 Speaker 1: it for himself. So he picked the phone talk with 78 00:04:43,800 --> 00:04:46,840 Speaker 1: Goldberg's daughter and quote, we had a great conversation she 79 00:04:46,960 --> 00:04:49,600 Speaker 1: believed her father would be honored. I'm very honored and 80 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,240 Speaker 1: touched by that, and he added it also be making 81 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:56,000 Speaker 1: a donation to fund his family. The Goldberg family is 82 00:04:56,160 --> 00:04:59,120 Speaker 1: part of. But that big question now has been answered. 83 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: It's been settled number ninety nine for ten seasons with 84 00:05:02,440 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 1: the Houston Texans. That will continue for however long he 85 00:05:05,920 --> 00:05:08,400 Speaker 1: plays for the Arrows and the Cardinals. I mean, he 86 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:10,840 Speaker 1: said that, you know, he wanted to reach out. You know, 87 00:05:11,240 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: he obviously he's been in the around the media a 88 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:15,599 Speaker 1: long time. He wanted to make sure that was accurate. 89 00:05:15,640 --> 00:05:18,720 Speaker 1: And TMZ is obviously breakes a lot of news and 90 00:05:19,320 --> 00:05:21,240 Speaker 1: you know, give them a credit for thinking about that, 91 00:05:21,800 --> 00:05:24,840 Speaker 1: and they reached out to her. And what a classy family. 92 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:28,520 Speaker 1: That's remarkable. I mean, yesterday I'm thinking, you know what, 93 00:05:29,600 --> 00:05:31,520 Speaker 1: there's other numbers out there, and he started thinking what 94 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:33,600 Speaker 1: number is going to pick? But give the family a 95 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:36,600 Speaker 1: ton of credit and obviously wanted to speak to the 96 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: daughter to get her clarence and her approval. And just 97 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,240 Speaker 1: like JJ, wats done his entire career, and he'll make 98 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:46,160 Speaker 1: a donation and he gets back to the community and 99 00:05:46,160 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 1: whether he's playing here or different cities, so just just 100 00:05:50,440 --> 00:05:52,919 Speaker 1: a really classy move on both parts. And it certainly 101 00:05:53,000 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 1: sounds like m JA that this was not something that 102 00:05:55,640 --> 00:05:59,719 Speaker 1: he asked ahead of time or the organization brought to him. 103 00:06:00,480 --> 00:06:03,760 Speaker 1: He had basically said that he looked at the Cardinals 104 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:07,320 Speaker 1: roster from last season, saw that ninety nine was available, 105 00:06:07,720 --> 00:06:10,279 Speaker 1: and said, all right, I guess I'll still wear ninety nine, 106 00:06:10,640 --> 00:06:14,200 Speaker 1: but then was told by his friend that no, it's retired. 107 00:06:14,480 --> 00:06:16,960 Speaker 1: So at that point he was like, all right, I 108 00:06:17,080 --> 00:06:19,480 Speaker 1: gotta start looking at other options. And it was only 109 00:06:19,600 --> 00:06:22,560 Speaker 1: until that TMZ story that all of a sudden the 110 00:06:22,680 --> 00:06:25,840 Speaker 1: door was cracked open for him to continue to wear 111 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,080 Speaker 1: ninety nine. So this wasn't him seeking it out, This 112 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:32,160 Speaker 1: wasn't an offer by the Cardinals. This really the Marshall 113 00:06:32,240 --> 00:06:36,760 Speaker 1: Goldberg family. Credit them for making this possible. And now 114 00:06:36,760 --> 00:06:38,240 Speaker 1: all of a sudden, I think you have a nice 115 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:41,840 Speaker 1: relationship and it's a wonderful story now to not only 116 00:06:41,960 --> 00:06:45,920 Speaker 1: have what were ninety nine, but get Marshall Goldberg and 117 00:06:46,040 --> 00:06:49,320 Speaker 1: that family back in the spotlight after a very successful 118 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: career on and off the field. Oh, this will be 119 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:56,240 Speaker 1: a story that's told the entire season, and the Cardinals 120 00:06:56,279 --> 00:06:58,160 Speaker 1: do a great job when it comes to their press 121 00:06:58,279 --> 00:07:01,840 Speaker 1: releases and their Meteor Media guide, and that will be 122 00:07:01,960 --> 00:07:06,120 Speaker 1: in there because you know, normally this wouldn't happen if 123 00:07:06,320 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: you know, he had to pick the Cardinals for these 124 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,800 Speaker 1: even conversations to come up. So yeah, like I said, 125 00:07:11,960 --> 00:07:14,520 Speaker 1: just classy on both parts, and I'm glad I worked out. 126 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: But what you were saying is he would have taken 127 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:21,280 Speaker 1: any number at that point. You know, once he zeroed 128 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:23,200 Speaker 1: on the Cardinals, that's when he went to the website 129 00:07:23,200 --> 00:07:25,800 Speaker 1: and checked out the roster and he went from there. 130 00:07:25,880 --> 00:07:28,200 Speaker 1: But yeah, it sounds like his friends kept him into 131 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:30,400 Speaker 1: loop and a lot of good things. Yeah, let's get 132 00:07:30,440 --> 00:07:33,400 Speaker 1: into that because I was fascinating and it's great to 133 00:07:33,680 --> 00:07:36,080 Speaker 1: hear because you know, you can they say you can 134 00:07:36,160 --> 00:07:39,520 Speaker 1: count the number of your friends good friends on one hand, 135 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,120 Speaker 1: and JJ Watt was quick to reference a number of 136 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:48,120 Speaker 1: his high school friends, Doug, Joe, Evan. Well one, it 137 00:07:48,320 --> 00:07:52,160 Speaker 1: was Evan who told what that number ninety nine was retired. 138 00:07:52,680 --> 00:07:56,240 Speaker 1: But Doug and Joe, these two individuals, let's talk about 139 00:07:56,320 --> 00:07:59,920 Speaker 1: this because we're seeing more and more athletes break their 140 00:08:00,000 --> 00:08:02,360 Speaker 1: own news, and that's what JJ Watt said, Let me 141 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:06,040 Speaker 1: control my own narrative. Let me control the message here, 142 00:08:06,600 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: and it was fascinating because we saw the tweet picture 143 00:08:10,960 --> 00:08:15,760 Speaker 1: of him and Cardinal's T shirt folks, that was not photoshopped. 144 00:08:16,520 --> 00:08:19,880 Speaker 1: Jj Watt went on to explain that he had shirts 145 00:08:20,280 --> 00:08:23,960 Speaker 1: ordered for each of the four or five teams that 146 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,760 Speaker 1: were still kind of in the running, but they were 147 00:08:26,840 --> 00:08:31,680 Speaker 1: not ordered by him. They were ordered through Doug and Joe, 148 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: his high school friends, looking on Amazon their credit cards 149 00:08:36,559 --> 00:08:40,360 Speaker 1: to get these shirts shipped to jj Watt, So no 150 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,160 Speaker 1: one could figure out, oh, jj Watt just ordered to 151 00:08:43,200 --> 00:08:46,320 Speaker 1: Cleveland Brown's T shirt. Maybe that's an indication of where 152 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,400 Speaker 1: he's going. By the way, one, it's a fascinating story, 153 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:53,280 Speaker 1: but well thought of. Two, it's certainly well executed because 154 00:08:53,360 --> 00:08:56,320 Speaker 1: this was kept so quiet to allow Wat to break 155 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:02,520 Speaker 1: the news himself wearing a legitimate Cardinals shirt in that photo. Actually, 156 00:09:02,600 --> 00:09:06,280 Speaker 1: Craig I was thinking about this yesterday. I'm like, Okay, 157 00:09:06,760 --> 00:09:11,160 Speaker 1: did the Cardinals send him some gear and within twenty 158 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:13,960 Speaker 1: four hours? Because we know, you know c NFL, they 159 00:09:14,000 --> 00:09:16,559 Speaker 1: can get stuff there ship probably in twelve to fourteen hours. 160 00:09:16,600 --> 00:09:21,040 Speaker 1: But anyways, I'm thinking, Okay, he didn't walk into a 161 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:26,760 Speaker 1: sporting goods store because it's J. J. Watt. Maybe he 162 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:29,120 Speaker 1: could send his wife, but she's in Chicago. She's a 163 00:09:29,160 --> 00:09:32,280 Speaker 1: soccer player, professional soccer player. And then you're thinking, Okay, 164 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:35,719 Speaker 1: if he orders it, it's gonna they're gonna get his 165 00:09:35,840 --> 00:09:39,480 Speaker 1: address and his credit card numbers. So then it's all 166 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:42,640 Speaker 1: it takes is one person. It shouldn't be allowed. But 167 00:09:42,720 --> 00:09:45,599 Speaker 1: Amazon is going to say, hey, we sent him X 168 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:49,319 Speaker 1: amount of shirts different, you know. So it was fascinating 169 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:51,679 Speaker 1: that there was a game plan behind what he was 170 00:09:51,800 --> 00:09:55,720 Speaker 1: doing the entire time. Yeah, it's amazing what goes into 171 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,280 Speaker 1: the mind of these athletes on how to try to 172 00:09:58,360 --> 00:09:59,839 Speaker 1: keep things quiet, and I think a lot of it. 173 00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,720 Speaker 1: Jay was just over the number of days and weeks 174 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:06,120 Speaker 1: since that the news that he was getting released. You know, 175 00:10:06,400 --> 00:10:09,440 Speaker 1: certain teams you talked about at the Packers, Bills, Browns, Titans, 176 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: and Steelers. There were maybe a couple of others as well. 177 00:10:11,920 --> 00:10:14,160 Speaker 1: At bottom line, all thirty two teams, I'm sure put 178 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:16,559 Speaker 1: in a call. I'm sorry, thirty one teams put in 179 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:19,560 Speaker 1: a call to see if he was available. But as 180 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:22,280 Speaker 1: it got closer and closer for him to make his decision, 181 00:10:22,440 --> 00:10:26,360 Speaker 1: realizing that the Cardinals were never talked about. He then said, 182 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:29,640 Speaker 1: you know what, I think there's a window here for 183 00:10:29,840 --> 00:10:33,679 Speaker 1: me to make some news on my platform, my social 184 00:10:33,760 --> 00:10:38,480 Speaker 1: media platform. Kudos to him because typically this is known 185 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: days ahead of time, and now all of a sudden, 186 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: it's jj Watt breaking his own news. Which look, you know, 187 00:10:46,480 --> 00:10:49,120 Speaker 1: it's great for us working for the team. Maybe not 188 00:10:49,240 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 1: so good for some of the media that covers the team. 189 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:56,040 Speaker 1: But I love it when athletes take it upon themselves 190 00:10:56,360 --> 00:10:59,560 Speaker 1: to control the narrative, if you will. In this day 191 00:10:59,600 --> 00:11:01,679 Speaker 1: and age, I'm surprised we don't see more of it. 192 00:11:01,840 --> 00:11:03,920 Speaker 1: And sometimes, you know, you got to have an agent 193 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,160 Speaker 1: to kind of, you know, obviously be the hard negotiator, 194 00:11:07,280 --> 00:11:10,040 Speaker 1: but you know three percent. But that's why you hire 195 00:11:10,080 --> 00:11:12,360 Speaker 1: those guys to kind of be the guy that has 196 00:11:12,440 --> 00:11:15,440 Speaker 1: asked for the money. Now, I know we're doing a podcast, 197 00:11:15,559 --> 00:11:18,599 Speaker 1: but JJ Watt was in different locations. You didn't know 198 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:22,360 Speaker 1: if he was in Chicago. You know, clearly he didn't 199 00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:25,640 Speaker 1: have anybody trailing him, was a private jet or anything. 200 00:11:25,720 --> 00:11:29,439 Speaker 1: But he was taking these pictures of like where he 201 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:34,760 Speaker 1: was working out, and the latest one, Craig was how 202 00:11:34,840 --> 00:11:41,880 Speaker 1: he stacked the weights and people started saying bills on 203 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:45,400 Speaker 1: the bottom because the colors are red and blue, and 204 00:11:45,480 --> 00:11:48,840 Speaker 1: then all of a sudden, the Steelers the next set 205 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:51,880 Speaker 1: of weights were black and yellow. That's how people were 206 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:55,000 Speaker 1: trying to figure out which team he was choosing, because 207 00:11:55,080 --> 00:11:59,199 Speaker 1: he was so subtweeting of where he was, but you 208 00:11:59,280 --> 00:12:02,360 Speaker 1: didn't know. It's fascinating. It's just how people were trying 209 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:04,559 Speaker 1: to figure it out. And none of them knew it, 210 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: not even Adam Schefter, Ian Rappaport, nobody knew. And here's 211 00:12:10,160 --> 00:12:13,400 Speaker 1: Steve Kime once he was released, got the film out 212 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:17,640 Speaker 1: and started watching, and Steve put a huge recruiting process 213 00:12:17,720 --> 00:12:20,959 Speaker 1: on him. But it was interesting just throughout the entire process, 214 00:12:21,040 --> 00:12:25,840 Speaker 1: and I'm glad that he announced source me. That's an 215 00:12:25,880 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 1: ald timer. It's funny you hear reading between the lines, 216 00:12:30,440 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 1: and I think a lot of people are trying to 217 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: do just that, trying to connect the dots. What is 218 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:39,120 Speaker 1: JJ Watt tweeting? What is his wife tweeting? Where are 219 00:12:39,280 --> 00:12:42,160 Speaker 1: they what are they doing? And bottom line is they're 220 00:12:42,240 --> 00:12:45,679 Speaker 1: just living their lives and at some point they'll make 221 00:12:45,720 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: a decision. But we're all society right now is we 222 00:12:49,280 --> 00:12:52,480 Speaker 1: need it now? We're not gonna wait? What is your 223 00:12:52,520 --> 00:12:55,640 Speaker 1: decision now, and it did maybe take a little bit 224 00:12:55,720 --> 00:12:59,240 Speaker 1: longer than people anticipated or expected. But JJ Watt yes 225 00:13:00,000 --> 00:13:02,000 Speaker 1: and errors on a Cardinal And if you missed any 226 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: of his press conference or many of the stories that 227 00:13:04,200 --> 00:13:07,400 Speaker 1: we've talked about here, Darren Urban and Kyle Dgard have 228 00:13:07,480 --> 00:13:09,760 Speaker 1: done a great job on asy Cardinals dot com. And 229 00:13:09,840 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: of course, if you want that information just in the 230 00:13:12,320 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: palm of your hand, update to the latest version of 231 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:18,240 Speaker 1: the Cardinals mobile app today. The update features an all 232 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:22,000 Speaker 1: new redesign a home screen experience. Visit asy cardinals dot 233 00:13:22,040 --> 00:13:25,800 Speaker 1: com slash app for more. All right, we took care 234 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:29,880 Speaker 1: of the number discussion, a fascinating story, but the big 235 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:35,160 Speaker 1: question that everyone wanted to know why the Cardinals. I 236 00:13:35,280 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: think we can all assume when you hear Packers, Bills, Browns, Titan, Steelers, 237 00:13:40,400 --> 00:13:43,480 Speaker 1: those teams all are playoff teams. Those are up and 238 00:13:43,600 --> 00:13:47,079 Speaker 1: coming teams or teams that are just short of maybe 239 00:13:47,120 --> 00:13:51,400 Speaker 1: a player or two. The Cardinals full disclosure, they're not 240 00:13:51,559 --> 00:13:54,200 Speaker 1: there yet. You can't say that they are just one 241 00:13:54,320 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 1: player away. But according to J. J. Watt, quote, signs 242 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:03,240 Speaker 1: kept pointing back down here regarding why the Cardinals, and 243 00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:05,839 Speaker 1: there were a number of factors, but the biggest one 244 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:11,080 Speaker 1: m Jay might be Kyler Murray. The biggest recruiting tool 245 00:14:11,120 --> 00:14:15,439 Speaker 1: the Cardinals have right now is a young quarterback who 246 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:18,959 Speaker 1: has a skill set unlike any other quarterback in the 247 00:14:19,040 --> 00:14:23,040 Speaker 1: National Football League. And when we heard that, and you know, 248 00:14:23,240 --> 00:14:25,520 Speaker 1: ed Warder tweeted something out that, Yet he has saying 249 00:14:25,560 --> 00:14:27,000 Speaker 1: he took some heat. Why wouldn't he want to go 250 00:14:27,080 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 1: play with Aaron Rodgers. Why wouldn't want to go play 251 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:33,360 Speaker 1: with Josh Allen or Baker Mayfield or Ben Roethlisberger. Again, 252 00:14:33,560 --> 00:14:38,000 Speaker 1: I do think relationships matter. He had intel, DeAndre Hopkins 253 00:14:38,160 --> 00:14:41,920 Speaker 1: was here for the last season. You think DeAndre is 254 00:14:41,920 --> 00:14:44,840 Speaker 1: going to give him bad information? Hey, you know, there's 255 00:14:44,840 --> 00:14:47,520 Speaker 1: other opportunities out there were close And I think Hot 256 00:14:47,560 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: feels that way, and I think the organization feels that way. 257 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:53,320 Speaker 1: And this team on paper should want to at least 258 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 1: ten games. That roster was made for at least ten wins. 259 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: And yeah, we can get into what happened and what 260 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,320 Speaker 1: didn't happen. But and then you have Vans Joseph who 261 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:06,720 Speaker 1: spent three years with him in Houston and Underwave Phillips, 262 00:15:06,760 --> 00:15:09,880 Speaker 1: which they play a similar defense. That was another attractive thing. 263 00:15:09,920 --> 00:15:12,600 Speaker 1: And then we find out today on Sirius Jonathan Joseph 264 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:15,720 Speaker 1: who joined the Cardinals late New Year. He was active 265 00:15:15,800 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: the first week he was here, and how he's been 266 00:15:18,880 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: talking to JJ Watt about Vans Joseph and how much 267 00:15:22,320 --> 00:15:25,880 Speaker 1: he's added to the defense and so he's comfortable there. 268 00:15:25,960 --> 00:15:28,840 Speaker 1: And then we know Chandler Jones was reaching out to 269 00:15:28,960 --> 00:15:33,080 Speaker 1: him through direct messages, and you got to think that 270 00:15:33,280 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: the Cardinals had other people. We don't know the names, 271 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:38,200 Speaker 1: but he said he heard from a lot of different 272 00:15:38,280 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: people that were trying. So I do think recruiting as 273 00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:44,440 Speaker 1: part of it. At the end, it's always about fit 274 00:15:44,760 --> 00:15:48,040 Speaker 1: and asking price, and they checked both of those boxes. 275 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:50,720 Speaker 1: And Craig I really feel in his career right now, 276 00:15:51,040 --> 00:15:55,000 Speaker 1: going to be thirty two married. Nothing against those other cities. 277 00:15:55,040 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: I grew up in Buffalo, great blue collar town. They 278 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:01,359 Speaker 1: loved their bills and Savers saying for Clear, same for Pittsburgh. 279 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: You know Green Bay, We've covered games up there. It's 280 00:16:04,440 --> 00:16:06,280 Speaker 1: a little bit different when you get to the November. 281 00:16:06,360 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: Just I really think the weather. You know, when you 282 00:16:09,560 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: wake up in the morning, your bones field, if you're 283 00:16:11,840 --> 00:16:14,400 Speaker 1: in a cold weather, I think that may have been 284 00:16:14,640 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 1: maybe the fifth or sixth thing. But I think he 285 00:16:17,040 --> 00:16:20,680 Speaker 1: really wanted to go to Arizona to kind of start 286 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:23,600 Speaker 1: his new career, and he didn't maybe want to go 287 00:16:23,760 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: somewhere else where. You know, I'm playing with my brothers 288 00:16:26,120 --> 00:16:27,920 Speaker 1: a little bit different. I think he wanted a fresh 289 00:16:27,960 --> 00:16:31,560 Speaker 1: start with nothing else tied to it besides relationships and 290 00:16:31,720 --> 00:16:35,560 Speaker 1: he trusts. What would he use hearing Kyler Murray, DeAndre Hopkins, 291 00:16:35,680 --> 00:16:39,400 Speaker 1: that offense, the familiarity with Vans, Joseph and the defense 292 00:16:39,520 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 1: he's runs, and then oh yeah, you brought it up. 293 00:16:43,120 --> 00:16:46,720 Speaker 1: Here's the quote from JJ Watt the weather. I'm not 294 00:16:46,880 --> 00:16:49,120 Speaker 1: going to lie to you. It's nice when it's sixty 295 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,520 Speaker 1: five and sunny when I woke up this morning. In quote, 296 00:16:53,040 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: As you get older, that plays a factor. You don't 297 00:16:56,360 --> 00:16:59,280 Speaker 1: want to have to go out and shovel snow, or 298 00:16:59,400 --> 00:17:02,000 Speaker 1: have to deal with the ray and a hurricane, a tornado, 299 00:17:02,160 --> 00:17:05,280 Speaker 1: whatever it might be. Yes, it gets hot here, it 300 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:10,000 Speaker 1: gets real hot. But ask anyone. My guess is about 301 00:17:11,920 --> 00:17:16,080 Speaker 1: I'd rather deal with the extreme heats than the extreme cold. 302 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,640 Speaker 1: And you know clearly he asked about Kingsbury and I'm 303 00:17:20,640 --> 00:17:23,120 Speaker 1: sure the players he spoke to said he's a players coach. 304 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 1: You know, the meeting's not going to be very long. 305 00:17:25,280 --> 00:17:28,080 Speaker 1: Now there's an accountability where you better do your job. 306 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,280 Speaker 1: You know, the staff as a whole. I mean the 307 00:17:31,400 --> 00:17:34,880 Speaker 1: fact that Vincent Buckner is really excited about JJ Watt, 308 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:37,080 Speaker 1: who wouldn't be. We know, you know they've got a 309 00:17:37,119 --> 00:17:40,520 Speaker 1: good staff with Charlie Bolin and then Billy Davis and 310 00:17:40,600 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: the secondary. So I mean it just seemed like everything connected. 311 00:17:44,800 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: And you know, I just look at he looks like 312 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,679 Speaker 1: a natural born leader when when I hear him speak. 313 00:17:50,920 --> 00:17:53,600 Speaker 1: I mean he's been in the spotlight for a long time. 314 00:17:53,760 --> 00:17:56,240 Speaker 1: But the way he was talking about the way he 315 00:17:56,440 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 1: practices and the way he hits the weight groom, I 316 00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:02,399 Speaker 1: mean again, he's going to be a new guy in 317 00:18:02,440 --> 00:18:04,480 Speaker 1: the locker room, but he's got skins on the wall. 318 00:18:04,560 --> 00:18:07,960 Speaker 1: That's called credentials. People people know who he is, just 319 00:18:08,119 --> 00:18:10,080 Speaker 1: like in Kyler Murray walking in there as a rookie, 320 00:18:10,119 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: they knew who he was. So he's going to get 321 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:16,200 Speaker 1: respect and he's gonna push guys. I mean when we 322 00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:19,200 Speaker 1: talk about these penalties, yeah, he plays on defense, and 323 00:18:19,760 --> 00:18:22,080 Speaker 1: if they get a fifteen yard penalty where didn't need 324 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: to happen. He's going to let people know. But if 325 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: the offense is getting penalties, I think, you know, hey, 326 00:18:27,600 --> 00:18:29,600 Speaker 1: let's clean this stuff up again. You got to know 327 00:18:29,720 --> 00:18:33,119 Speaker 1: your boundaries. But he's a natural born leader. Just listening 328 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:35,640 Speaker 1: to him for twenty five minutes today, by the way, 329 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,480 Speaker 1: real quick as an aside, what did you make or 330 00:18:38,640 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: what was your reaction just seeing him, you know, in 331 00:18:41,800 --> 00:18:47,080 Speaker 1: front of a Cardinals backdrop, wearing the Cardinals logo on 332 00:18:47,440 --> 00:18:52,240 Speaker 1: his chests for the first time ever. I mean it's 333 00:18:52,280 --> 00:18:55,080 Speaker 1: said in you know, yesterday afternoon, just because you saw 334 00:18:55,160 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 1: the national stuff and their reaction was similar to us. 335 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:04,120 Speaker 1: You know, wow, stunner, shocker. I mean when Emma Smith 336 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:09,760 Speaker 1: was here, they're in the closet, okay, and that was 337 00:19:09,880 --> 00:19:12,800 Speaker 1: weird for me. Edgar and James, that was kind of 338 00:19:12,840 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: weird for me, Kurt Warner, you know, Alan Fanica, those 339 00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,960 Speaker 1: are all Hall of famers, So yeah, it's it's different. 340 00:19:21,040 --> 00:19:22,720 Speaker 1: But I'll tell you why. He looks good in that 341 00:19:22,880 --> 00:19:25,840 Speaker 1: red He really does. And I'm looking forward to seeing 342 00:19:25,880 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 1: the bird on the side and the ninety nine. He's 343 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:31,480 Speaker 1: big two, he's six fives. He's in great shape. Not 344 00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:34,320 Speaker 1: like I said, I think it's a great signing for 345 00:19:34,680 --> 00:19:37,639 Speaker 1: JJ Watton. I think it's an excellent signing for the organization. 346 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,760 Speaker 1: You know, people are gonna bring up the money, but 347 00:19:39,920 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: let's let the dust settle and see what the numbers are. 348 00:19:42,280 --> 00:19:46,159 Speaker 1: I gotta think it's really incentive Leyden. We know he 349 00:19:46,200 --> 00:19:49,639 Speaker 1: played over a thousand snaps last year. Corey the ESPN 350 00:19:49,720 --> 00:19:52,520 Speaker 1: stats and info, he faced the most double teams in 351 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:55,880 Speaker 1: the NFL thirty percent of the time. They're gonna move 352 00:19:56,000 --> 00:19:59,080 Speaker 1: him around. I love the question where do you see 353 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,199 Speaker 1: yourself playing or what kind of where are you going 354 00:20:01,240 --> 00:20:02,800 Speaker 1: to line up? He saw a line up wherever they 355 00:20:02,880 --> 00:20:04,720 Speaker 1: put me, So that means he's going to move around 356 00:20:04,840 --> 00:20:08,359 Speaker 1: like Aaron Donald did under Brandon Staley, who now is 357 00:20:08,400 --> 00:20:12,040 Speaker 1: the head coach with the Los Angeles Chargers. So his 358 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:16,280 Speaker 1: answers like they're right on cue. Like I was just 359 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:21,040 Speaker 1: thoroughly impressed with his presentation and how he goes about things. 360 00:20:21,119 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 1: And he said earlier in his career, you know, he 361 00:20:23,480 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: led by example. But if anybody wants to learn, hey, 362 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:29,040 Speaker 1: he's there to help them. And if you're Zach Allen 363 00:20:29,680 --> 00:20:33,320 Speaker 1: or Shard, Lawrence Lucky Foe too, I mean you got 364 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,960 Speaker 1: to be a sponge for those guys. Yeah, he said 365 00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:39,359 Speaker 1: he was an example only guy early in his career. 366 00:20:39,520 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: Now he's matured and he's going to teach and pass 367 00:20:43,080 --> 00:20:45,840 Speaker 1: along some of that knowledge to the young players. And 368 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:48,000 Speaker 1: you just mentioned a handful of them right there. They 369 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:50,840 Speaker 1: got to be loving this as far as being able 370 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:54,000 Speaker 1: to learn under the direction of a JJ Watt, much 371 00:20:54,080 --> 00:20:56,399 Speaker 1: like Larry Fitzgerald that wide receiver's room. You've got to 372 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,000 Speaker 1: be a fool not to ask questions to these players 373 00:20:59,240 --> 00:21:01,800 Speaker 1: who have been there and done that, and not just 374 00:21:02,040 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: done it, but done it on a level that many players, 375 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:09,879 Speaker 1: almost all players, never get to. You can make the 376 00:21:09,960 --> 00:21:12,640 Speaker 1: case right now, even if it does come back. JJ 377 00:21:12,840 --> 00:21:16,040 Speaker 1: Watt is the most accomplished player in that Cardinals locker room. 378 00:21:16,560 --> 00:21:19,600 Speaker 1: And that's saying something. Yes, he's going to be thirty two, 379 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:22,960 Speaker 1: but just hearing him and the react, the look on 380 00:21:23,080 --> 00:21:26,840 Speaker 1: his face didn't sound like someone that is Hey, you know, 381 00:21:26,920 --> 00:21:29,600 Speaker 1: I'm just here. It's Arizona. I'm winding down my career 382 00:21:29,920 --> 00:21:32,480 Speaker 1: and then we'll see what happens coming this season. No, 383 00:21:33,040 --> 00:21:35,240 Speaker 1: he's willing to put it in the work quote. We 384 00:21:35,400 --> 00:21:38,480 Speaker 1: have one goal in mind end quote, and he's talking 385 00:21:38,520 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: about championships, not next year or the year after that, 386 00:21:41,840 --> 00:21:45,480 Speaker 1: this year, twenty twenty one. You're exactly right, that's those 387 00:21:45,480 --> 00:21:49,640 Speaker 1: are great observations. And you know how many years Craig. 388 00:21:50,240 --> 00:21:51,840 Speaker 1: We've been doing the show for a couple of years now, 389 00:21:52,040 --> 00:21:54,600 Speaker 1: but you know we've done the respret seat before before 390 00:21:54,600 --> 00:21:57,879 Speaker 1: we both got hired full time. And I always mentioned 391 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:01,760 Speaker 1: and don't the Geno act and the Fletcher Cox you know, 392 00:22:02,560 --> 00:22:07,720 Speaker 1: the defensive tackles were when you gain plan it changes everything. 393 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:10,639 Speaker 1: And then Cardinals have one. And then probably the closest 394 00:22:10,680 --> 00:22:13,600 Speaker 1: thing they had one prior was clay As Campbell and 395 00:22:13,760 --> 00:22:16,440 Speaker 1: he had decided at the age of thirty one, he 396 00:22:16,560 --> 00:22:18,560 Speaker 1: wanted to be the face of the franchise. You don't 397 00:22:18,640 --> 00:22:21,879 Speaker 1: hear that from JJ Watt. He goes to Jacksonville, didn't 398 00:22:22,560 --> 00:22:24,080 Speaker 1: think he would see his fourth year, and then he 399 00:22:24,160 --> 00:22:26,720 Speaker 1: goes to Baltimore on a trade. So I think this 400 00:22:26,880 --> 00:22:30,959 Speaker 1: is the closest thing where he you know, he may 401 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,520 Speaker 1: get double teamed, but that means somebody else is going 402 00:22:33,560 --> 00:22:36,320 Speaker 1: to be free. And so you know, if the fact 403 00:22:36,359 --> 00:22:38,399 Speaker 1: that they're going to move them around, that's music to 404 00:22:38,520 --> 00:22:41,760 Speaker 1: my ears. And again, don't need to be redundant you 405 00:22:41,840 --> 00:22:45,440 Speaker 1: know how I feel about sacks. They're great, Hurry's pressures 406 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:48,520 Speaker 1: and knockdowns, and he talked about that today and that 407 00:22:48,760 --> 00:22:53,760 Speaker 1: rush defense should be vastly improved. Quote a lot, a 408 00:22:53,880 --> 00:22:57,000 Speaker 1: whole lot end quote when he was asked how much 409 00:22:57,280 --> 00:23:00,600 Speaker 1: he has left in the tank. Once again, does not 410 00:23:00,760 --> 00:23:04,560 Speaker 1: sound like someone who is ready to wind down his career. 411 00:23:05,040 --> 00:23:08,119 Speaker 1: And I think that is enormous. Now, look, we need 412 00:23:08,200 --> 00:23:10,399 Speaker 1: to see it. We need to see it not just 413 00:23:10,800 --> 00:23:14,320 Speaker 1: in September, but the entire season. Hopefully we see it 414 00:23:14,440 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: for sixteen Sundays this season. But I think more than 415 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:21,960 Speaker 1: anything is what he's going to mean into that locker room, 416 00:23:22,400 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: not just defensively, but the entire team. And I want 417 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:28,440 Speaker 1: to go back to this Kyler Murray discussion because I 418 00:23:28,480 --> 00:23:31,200 Speaker 1: think this is important. When you look at the other 419 00:23:31,320 --> 00:23:34,720 Speaker 1: teams and you talk about and Aaron Rodgers in a 420 00:23:34,840 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 1: Baker Mayfield, Ben Roethlisberger, Ryan Tannehill, he could have played 421 00:23:40,600 --> 00:23:45,679 Speaker 1: with those quarterbacks. He chose to play with Kyler Murray. 422 00:23:45,840 --> 00:23:50,440 Speaker 1: And I think that speaks volumes because we can say it, 423 00:23:50,960 --> 00:23:53,840 Speaker 1: any fan can say it, but what do your peers 424 00:23:54,400 --> 00:23:58,080 Speaker 1: think of you? And at least from JJ Watt, he 425 00:23:58,280 --> 00:24:01,440 Speaker 1: thinks very highly of a or a young quarterback, and 426 00:24:01,600 --> 00:24:03,800 Speaker 1: he just got done playing with a really good quarterback, 427 00:24:03,920 --> 00:24:06,159 Speaker 1: and so Hopkins had a set I mean Hopkins to 428 00:24:06,280 --> 00:24:08,720 Speaker 1: me because he's been here. He's here for a year, 429 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:11,040 Speaker 1: and he just got traded last year. So I would 430 00:24:11,080 --> 00:24:14,120 Speaker 1: think that, you know, he knows Chandler's obviously been here, 431 00:24:14,160 --> 00:24:16,760 Speaker 1: and he loves the organization. He knows they're going to 432 00:24:16,800 --> 00:24:18,879 Speaker 1: do the right thing when it comes to acquiring players. 433 00:24:19,600 --> 00:24:22,160 Speaker 1: But you know, to me, the intel and then Vance 434 00:24:22,280 --> 00:24:26,280 Speaker 1: Joseph and these little things add up. But I forget 435 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:29,520 Speaker 1: about figuring it out the relationships because what what and 436 00:24:29,720 --> 00:24:32,359 Speaker 1: Murray don't have a relationship outside of them meeting for 437 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:35,679 Speaker 1: the first time one Murray was a high school senior, 438 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:38,520 Speaker 1: so they don't know one another. But here you have 439 00:24:38,880 --> 00:24:42,560 Speaker 1: a ten year veteran saying he texted Kyler Murray, quote, 440 00:24:42,800 --> 00:24:47,000 Speaker 1: I'm here because I believe in you end quote. Forget 441 00:24:47,000 --> 00:24:51,359 Speaker 1: about Hopkins, Chandler, Jones, Vance Joseph. To me, it's what 442 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:56,080 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray means to this organization as a recruiting tool boy. 443 00:24:56,080 --> 00:24:59,000 Speaker 1: Who do you think he got information from? He had 444 00:24:59,040 --> 00:25:00,840 Speaker 1: to talk to hop What do you think about this guy? 445 00:25:00,960 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: He had to talk to other people. I mean, just 446 00:25:03,119 --> 00:25:06,359 Speaker 1: to Hopkins saying, you know we're close, that's not going 447 00:25:06,440 --> 00:25:08,040 Speaker 1: to do it. I mean, he's got to believe in that. 448 00:25:08,240 --> 00:25:10,480 Speaker 1: So that's why he talks about I know that. I'm 449 00:25:10,520 --> 00:25:12,680 Speaker 1: not I'm not talking about the relationship here. I'm just 450 00:25:12,760 --> 00:25:15,240 Speaker 1: talking about when it comes to where did he where 451 00:25:15,280 --> 00:25:17,280 Speaker 1: did he start to believe in what he was hearing? 452 00:25:17,440 --> 00:25:19,880 Speaker 1: Somebody had to tell him this stuff. I'm sure Steve 453 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:23,720 Speaker 1: said we got a dynamic quarterback. You know that's I'm 454 00:25:23,800 --> 00:25:26,440 Speaker 1: just saying. Somebody had to tell him this where he 455 00:25:26,560 --> 00:25:30,240 Speaker 1: felt enough to come to Arizona and to me, it's 456 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:32,480 Speaker 1: a new leash on his career. I mean, let's see 457 00:25:32,520 --> 00:25:36,960 Speaker 1: he gets this thing turned around. You know, this could 458 00:25:36,960 --> 00:25:39,119 Speaker 1: be a three year deal at the end of the day. 459 00:25:39,160 --> 00:25:41,560 Speaker 1: I mean, I just think somebody had to tell him 460 00:25:41,600 --> 00:25:45,080 Speaker 1: these things where he had to believe it. The relationship 461 00:25:45,119 --> 00:25:47,000 Speaker 1: stuff is at the end of the day. He had 462 00:25:47,040 --> 00:25:50,200 Speaker 1: to make that decision though, because he's getting pitched by 463 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: these other teams and everyone is telling him how great 464 00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:57,400 Speaker 1: it's going to be here in X City with ex players, 465 00:25:58,080 --> 00:26:02,280 Speaker 1: and it's what the JJ Watt believe in, and he 466 00:26:02,480 --> 00:26:05,399 Speaker 1: believes in the Arizona Cardinals, because it needs to be 467 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:10,520 Speaker 1: said repeatedly, this was not a trade, this was a signing, 468 00:26:10,880 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 1: meaning JJ Watt chose to come to Arizona. Why did 469 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:19,399 Speaker 1: he choose a number of factors, But you have to 470 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:23,080 Speaker 1: have that belief in his teammates, and the biggest teammate 471 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:25,240 Speaker 1: that he has is on the other side of the 472 00:26:25,280 --> 00:26:27,960 Speaker 1: ball and Kyle Murray. Because you can only go so 473 00:26:28,200 --> 00:26:30,679 Speaker 1: far if you don't have a good quarterback. And at 474 00:26:30,760 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: least in JJ Watt's mind, the Cardinals have not just 475 00:26:33,920 --> 00:26:36,920 Speaker 1: a good quarterback, but someone who's ascending and needs to 476 00:26:37,000 --> 00:26:40,240 Speaker 1: take the next step for this organization to get to 477 00:26:40,320 --> 00:26:43,080 Speaker 1: the next level. And that's exactly what Watt said early 478 00:26:43,200 --> 00:26:46,520 Speaker 1: in his conversation or his comments about why he chose 479 00:26:46,560 --> 00:26:49,040 Speaker 1: the Arizona Cardinals, wanting to take this team to the 480 00:26:49,160 --> 00:26:53,080 Speaker 1: next level. And I believe that. I think he expressed 481 00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,320 Speaker 1: that today. And the thing is, you know they showed 482 00:26:56,359 --> 00:26:58,600 Speaker 1: that video at the end of the season when him 483 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:02,200 Speaker 1: and Deshaun Watson we're walking off the field. He apologized 484 00:27:02,240 --> 00:27:03,960 Speaker 1: to him. He said, we should have won nine or 485 00:27:04,000 --> 00:27:07,440 Speaker 1: ten games. I'm sorry. Well, he knows where the league 486 00:27:07,520 --> 00:27:11,480 Speaker 1: is going. He knows that the dual threat quarterbacks is 487 00:27:11,520 --> 00:27:15,040 Speaker 1: where the future is, and so he feels like, you know, 488 00:27:15,200 --> 00:27:17,800 Speaker 1: whether it's this year or next year. You know, got 489 00:27:17,800 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: a two year contract, could extend to three. He likes 490 00:27:21,000 --> 00:27:23,280 Speaker 1: where they're at and he sees the talent. I mean 491 00:27:23,560 --> 00:27:26,920 Speaker 1: a young Buddha Baker Chandler Jones. Yes, he's going to 492 00:27:26,960 --> 00:27:30,040 Speaker 1: be thirty one, but the numbers that they both put up, 493 00:27:30,200 --> 00:27:32,640 Speaker 1: there's equal respect there. You know, you got a young 494 00:27:32,720 --> 00:27:35,920 Speaker 1: guy in Isaiah Simmons. I mean no, I mean he 495 00:27:36,119 --> 00:27:39,439 Speaker 1: clearly did his homework. I can tell you that. Oh, 496 00:27:39,480 --> 00:27:42,040 Speaker 1: I don't think there's any question about that. As far 497 00:27:42,160 --> 00:27:45,400 Speaker 1: as whether you do your own homework, you reach out personally, 498 00:27:45,520 --> 00:27:49,240 Speaker 1: you have your friends do some digging and figure out, hey, 499 00:27:49,560 --> 00:27:52,399 Speaker 1: is this legit? Am I just coming here? Can this 500 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: team really make that next step and not just get 501 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:58,760 Speaker 1: to the postseason, but make a run in the postseason? 502 00:27:58,800 --> 00:28:01,120 Speaker 1: And JJ Watt I think more than anything, as far 503 00:28:01,240 --> 00:28:04,080 Speaker 1: as you know his numbers or whatever, his decision to 504 00:28:04,200 --> 00:28:07,480 Speaker 1: come to the Arizona Cardinals is enormous on what it 505 00:28:07,600 --> 00:28:12,720 Speaker 1: tells everyone else around the National Football League about where 506 00:28:12,840 --> 00:28:16,879 Speaker 1: this team is currently and where it's heading, not just 507 00:28:17,119 --> 00:28:20,520 Speaker 1: within the NFC West, but the entire NFC, and I 508 00:28:20,640 --> 00:28:24,399 Speaker 1: think that we don't we cannot lose sight of that now, 509 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,960 Speaker 1: Bird Gang. You might not believe that, or you might 510 00:28:27,160 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 1: have to wait and see it, but this is the 511 00:28:29,400 --> 00:28:32,440 Speaker 1: first step, the belief, and then you put in the 512 00:28:32,560 --> 00:28:35,800 Speaker 1: work to where you can have some success on Sunday. 513 00:28:35,880 --> 00:28:40,560 Speaker 1: So this decision a huge one by j J Watt. Great. 514 00:28:40,680 --> 00:28:44,520 Speaker 1: Let me ask you this based on him getting released, 515 00:28:44,600 --> 00:28:46,719 Speaker 1: and clearly there was nine to ten teams that were 516 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:50,080 Speaker 1: interested in the Cardinals. Obviously we're at the top when 517 00:28:50,120 --> 00:28:53,520 Speaker 1: he made his decision. Let's say I threw a question 518 00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:55,680 Speaker 1: out there, if there's one guy that you wanted to 519 00:28:55,920 --> 00:29:00,360 Speaker 1: sign in free agency? One guy free agency? Okay, he 520 00:29:00,520 --> 00:29:03,120 Speaker 1: was a free agent. We know the free agency opens up, 521 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: you know, Yeah, there's always a price tag and there's 522 00:29:06,760 --> 00:29:09,680 Speaker 1: a salary cap and it's going down. What player would 523 00:29:09,720 --> 00:29:12,320 Speaker 1: you would you would have picked? I mean, and you 524 00:29:12,400 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: could have said, Mike, it's not realistic for JJ Walt 525 00:29:15,160 --> 00:29:17,480 Speaker 1: to end up with the Cardinals when Channel Jones is 526 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:21,280 Speaker 1: making twenty million? What is it? A center? Was it size? 527 00:29:21,360 --> 00:29:23,360 Speaker 1: Resigning your own players? I don't know if they could 528 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:25,360 Speaker 1: have hit a home run better than this. This is 529 00:29:25,560 --> 00:29:28,840 Speaker 1: a Grand Slam with the bases loaded. Yeah, and because 530 00:29:28,920 --> 00:29:30,920 Speaker 1: he's available now, I think the easy answer in the 531 00:29:31,160 --> 00:29:34,400 Speaker 1: name that immediately popped in my head just because of 532 00:29:34,520 --> 00:29:37,480 Speaker 1: what he did during the playoffs. But Shack Barrett, Now 533 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:41,120 Speaker 1: there's not going any exactly, there's no way that that's 534 00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:44,280 Speaker 1: not a possibility, because if they can't you deal, he's 535 00:29:44,360 --> 00:29:47,280 Speaker 1: going to be franchise tag. But you're talking now, you're right, 536 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:51,600 Speaker 1: because let's talk free agents, because technically no one is 537 00:29:51,640 --> 00:29:56,200 Speaker 1: a free agent until March seventeenth. Jj Watt was because 538 00:29:56,280 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 1: he was released, so that free agent market as far 539 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:01,560 Speaker 1: as who you could sign. And still even at the 540 00:30:01,640 --> 00:30:04,720 Speaker 1: age of thirty one going on thirty two, I still 541 00:30:04,800 --> 00:30:08,120 Speaker 1: saw him listed among some of those analytical sites as being, 542 00:30:08,520 --> 00:30:11,520 Speaker 1: you know, one of the top ten at his position 543 00:30:11,800 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: or top twenty twenty five thirty across available free agents. 544 00:30:16,120 --> 00:30:18,360 Speaker 1: Now there's free agents and then free agents to be 545 00:30:18,600 --> 00:30:23,280 Speaker 1: or to be expected. But yeah, if possible, Jack Barrett, 546 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:26,520 Speaker 1: But again that wasn't possible. To your point, this was 547 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:31,200 Speaker 1: and the surprises the choice that jj Watt made, not 548 00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:35,040 Speaker 1: that the Cardinals chose to go after jj Watt, and 549 00:30:35,160 --> 00:30:39,320 Speaker 1: in Watt's word, put on a great recruiting pitch which 550 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:43,600 Speaker 1: was strong, heavy, and quote attacked from all angles. No, 551 00:30:44,040 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 1: that's an easy choice for a team to make. The 552 00:30:47,320 --> 00:30:51,280 Speaker 1: more difficult choice is what JJ Watt did and saying 553 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:55,600 Speaker 1: I'm going to go forget within your own division. I'm 554 00:30:55,600 --> 00:30:58,920 Speaker 1: going to go to another conference on the opposite side, 555 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:02,760 Speaker 1: if you will, Texas to Arizona. But he hadn't been 556 00:31:02,880 --> 00:31:06,120 Speaker 1: this far west. He's a Midwest guy, not a West 557 00:31:06,160 --> 00:31:09,720 Speaker 1: Coast guy or a southwest So this I think we 558 00:31:09,840 --> 00:31:12,080 Speaker 1: can't lose sight again. And I know I'm repeating myself, 559 00:31:12,160 --> 00:31:14,640 Speaker 1: but I just think this means so much to what 560 00:31:14,960 --> 00:31:18,600 Speaker 1: he and then of course what everyone else thinks of J. J. 561 00:31:18,840 --> 00:31:21,880 Speaker 1: Watt to where now maybe you do have more players 562 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:24,760 Speaker 1: out there. Hey, you know what, I'm thirty thirty one, 563 00:31:24,880 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 1: thirty two, thirty three. I'll take a one year deal. 564 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:29,800 Speaker 1: I'm going to come to the Arizona Cardinals help fill 565 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:32,440 Speaker 1: a need, and then we'll see what happens in twenty 566 00:31:32,560 --> 00:31:36,800 Speaker 1: twenty two and that offseason. This could be the crack 567 00:31:36,960 --> 00:31:39,160 Speaker 1: of the door, if you will, to open up for 568 00:31:39,360 --> 00:31:42,960 Speaker 1: other free agents, veteran free agents to come join the 569 00:31:43,000 --> 00:31:46,480 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals couldn't agree more. And if you're a guy 570 00:31:46,640 --> 00:31:49,480 Speaker 1: that's a fringe player and a backup, why wouldn't you 571 00:31:49,520 --> 00:31:51,920 Speaker 1: want to come here? I mean, the fact is that 572 00:31:52,080 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 1: you hope to get playing time. But I think Arizona 573 00:31:55,440 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 1: is a destination. Now, is a guy twenty six years 574 00:31:57,880 --> 00:31:59,800 Speaker 1: of like asan riding No, he is a go out 575 00:31:59,880 --> 00:32:02,080 Speaker 1: and find what he's worth. That's different. You get some 576 00:32:02,160 --> 00:32:04,880 Speaker 1: guy twenty nine thirty. And I know the Cardinals. You know, 577 00:32:05,040 --> 00:32:07,440 Speaker 1: over the last couple of years, they really haven't gone 578 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:10,000 Speaker 1: after thirty three, thirty four, thirty five year old guys 579 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:12,640 Speaker 1: unless a punter or something like that. But I do 580 00:32:12,880 --> 00:32:16,080 Speaker 1: think and players talk. When you when you hear about 581 00:32:16,080 --> 00:32:19,080 Speaker 1: a player's coach, he doesn't waste your time in meetings. 582 00:32:19,960 --> 00:32:24,640 Speaker 1: He's very direct to the point that people talk. And 583 00:32:24,800 --> 00:32:27,120 Speaker 1: so why wouldn't you go there? I know Tampa's going 584 00:32:27,160 --> 00:32:29,800 Speaker 1: to be a destination. But what you said earlier, I 585 00:32:29,840 --> 00:32:32,720 Speaker 1: don't know if you you said it just about I 586 00:32:32,800 --> 00:32:35,080 Speaker 1: don't think he wanted to be in the AFC. This 587 00:32:35,280 --> 00:32:39,000 Speaker 1: is just me talking. I think he thinks. You know. Listen, 588 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:41,760 Speaker 1: they had a huge lead against Patrick Mahomes and they lost, 589 00:32:42,600 --> 00:32:46,320 Speaker 1: and Johns to me, the NFC is wide open. Aaron 590 00:32:46,400 --> 00:32:48,600 Speaker 1: Rodgers not going to play forever. Breeze probably gonna announce 591 00:32:48,640 --> 00:32:51,640 Speaker 1: his retirement. Brady, Yes, okay, a couple more years. You know, 592 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:55,280 Speaker 1: you know, father time catches up. He didn't. It seemed 593 00:32:55,280 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: like a lot of those teams were in the AFC, 594 00:32:59,280 --> 00:33:02,880 Speaker 1: the one being the Bills and Josh Allen to where Okay, 595 00:33:03,040 --> 00:33:05,240 Speaker 1: you know that might be get you closer to the 596 00:33:05,280 --> 00:33:07,320 Speaker 1: super Bowl, but then you still have the Kansas City 597 00:33:07,440 --> 00:33:10,400 Speaker 1: Chiefs in your way. And yeah, those are all factors. 598 00:33:10,440 --> 00:33:12,880 Speaker 1: Because if you're doing a pro and a con list 599 00:33:12,960 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 1: about where you want to work, and that's basically what 600 00:33:15,920 --> 00:33:18,560 Speaker 1: this is, bird Gang, put yourself and JJ Watt's shoes, 601 00:33:18,840 --> 00:33:21,640 Speaker 1: where do you want to work? And this is what 602 00:33:21,840 --> 00:33:23,560 Speaker 1: you do? Hey, you know what the weather goes in 603 00:33:23,680 --> 00:33:26,160 Speaker 1: this column, Well, you know what my competition goes in 604 00:33:26,240 --> 00:33:28,880 Speaker 1: this column. And you keep going down the list and 605 00:33:28,960 --> 00:33:32,560 Speaker 1: then your rank, your priorities, and yes, money plays a factor. 606 00:33:32,640 --> 00:33:35,040 Speaker 1: I'm not discounting that at all. But the end of 607 00:33:35,040 --> 00:33:38,240 Speaker 1: the day, JJ Watt is no different than you and me, MJ. 608 00:33:38,960 --> 00:33:41,880 Speaker 1: You'll want to win, you want to feel good at 609 00:33:41,960 --> 00:33:45,400 Speaker 1: what you're doing, feeling satisfied at the end of the day, 610 00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 1: or in the case of JJ Watt and football players 611 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:50,600 Speaker 1: on a Sunday, walk off that field with your headheld 612 00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:53,640 Speaker 1: high because you won, not because you know what, we 613 00:33:53,760 --> 00:33:56,200 Speaker 1: lost another tough one. But you know what, I'm getting 614 00:33:56,240 --> 00:33:59,800 Speaker 1: paid real nice, So that just takes everything away. I 615 00:34:00,240 --> 00:34:03,400 Speaker 1: don't think athletes are wired that way. Now in Green 616 00:34:03,480 --> 00:34:05,240 Speaker 1: Bay was on the list, they're in the NFC, but 617 00:34:05,520 --> 00:34:08,839 Speaker 1: you know, the weather, Um, I just think he's put 618 00:34:08,920 --> 00:34:12,160 Speaker 1: the reset button. He dealt with the culture in Houston 619 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,640 Speaker 1: last year and nobody was happy obviously, the you know, 620 00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 1: fire the coach and bringing a new general manager and 621 00:34:17,480 --> 00:34:21,040 Speaker 1: everything else. He's hitting the reset button, and he thinks 622 00:34:21,480 --> 00:34:24,720 Speaker 1: he's got a lot of good years left and listening. 623 00:34:24,960 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 1: You know, Andrews are part of the game, but this 624 00:34:27,920 --> 00:34:30,279 Speaker 1: is not Terrell sucks sugs. Came in here at the 625 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:34,080 Speaker 1: age of thirty seven, and you know he obviously, you know, 626 00:34:34,680 --> 00:34:36,520 Speaker 1: had a Hall of Fame career in Baltimore. He thought 627 00:34:36,520 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 1: he'd come home be a good field, good story. He 628 00:34:39,160 --> 00:34:41,200 Speaker 1: didn't pan out. He played well in the first month 629 00:34:41,239 --> 00:34:44,760 Speaker 1: of the season, and then you know he's missing practice 630 00:34:44,840 --> 00:34:46,680 Speaker 1: and you see he had one foot in and one 631 00:34:46,719 --> 00:34:48,320 Speaker 1: foot out, and he decided to release him and he 632 00:34:48,400 --> 00:34:49,719 Speaker 1: got a chance to play in the Super Bowl and 633 00:34:49,719 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 1: all that. This is not the throug sugs signing. I 634 00:34:52,880 --> 00:34:57,040 Speaker 1: guarantee this burd gang. If you like what you're hearing, 635 00:34:57,200 --> 00:35:00,279 Speaker 1: we recommend that you subscribe to Arizona Cardinals podca cast 636 00:35:00,400 --> 00:35:04,640 Speaker 1: on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcast, Stitcher, and SoundCloud. That 637 00:35:04,760 --> 00:35:07,000 Speaker 1: way you can listen to all of your favorite shows 638 00:35:07,120 --> 00:35:09,640 Speaker 1: on the go, like Cardinals Underground, The Big Red Rage, 639 00:35:09,680 --> 00:35:11,560 Speaker 1: The Cardinals Red Sea Report, and of course this show, 640 00:35:11,640 --> 00:35:15,200 Speaker 1: Cardinals Cover two. Visit Easy Cardinals dot com slash podcast 641 00:35:15,400 --> 00:35:19,399 Speaker 1: for more information before we tap Alan out of here. 642 00:35:19,520 --> 00:35:22,560 Speaker 1: As far as this edition of Cardinals Cover two presented 643 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:25,680 Speaker 1: by Hunday, proud partner of the Arizona Cardinals, we're not 644 00:35:25,760 --> 00:35:29,080 Speaker 1: going to know really as far as on the field 645 00:35:29,640 --> 00:35:33,400 Speaker 1: what Vance Joseph does with JJ Watt, And even if 646 00:35:33,440 --> 00:35:35,720 Speaker 1: we do get a chance to hear from Coach Joseph 647 00:35:35,840 --> 00:35:38,040 Speaker 1: in the next couple of days or weeks, there's just 648 00:35:38,200 --> 00:35:42,000 Speaker 1: an idea how to best utilize him. But in some 649 00:35:42,120 --> 00:35:45,240 Speaker 1: of the questions that were asked of what with respects 650 00:35:45,280 --> 00:35:47,520 Speaker 1: to his role on the team, you brought up one. 651 00:35:48,000 --> 00:35:51,719 Speaker 1: He'll line up wherever, whatever it takes to help this 652 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:56,400 Speaker 1: team win. And then his big factor was when asked 653 00:35:56,400 --> 00:35:59,840 Speaker 1: about where he can help the Cardinals, a very simple response. 654 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:06,239 Speaker 1: It's dominating, meaning his production on the football field. Of course, 655 00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:09,759 Speaker 1: he has to stay healthy. But the sacks, the pressures, 656 00:36:10,239 --> 00:36:13,520 Speaker 1: the knockdowns, the hurries, batting balls down at the line 657 00:36:13,560 --> 00:36:16,759 Speaker 1: of scrimmage, everything that we know of JJ Watt can do. 658 00:36:17,640 --> 00:36:21,480 Speaker 1: Do your job in the context of this defense, and 659 00:36:21,640 --> 00:36:26,080 Speaker 1: the defense will be fine. We got a chance to 660 00:36:26,120 --> 00:36:29,959 Speaker 1: do the red Seat report on Tuesday and he played 661 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:33,360 Speaker 1: a couple of highlights. He had a pick six forty yards, 662 00:36:33,560 --> 00:36:36,640 Speaker 1: He had a scoop scumble for scorer. I mean again, 663 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:40,359 Speaker 1: we watched highlights of JJ Watter over the years. Craig, 664 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:43,520 Speaker 1: I really think this move to bottom line this, I 665 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:47,080 Speaker 1: think this move was made so they can try to 666 00:36:47,120 --> 00:36:50,640 Speaker 1: win the division. If you want to get to the playoffs. 667 00:36:50,680 --> 00:36:54,279 Speaker 1: We know getting into a wild card that's great. They 668 00:36:54,360 --> 00:36:56,040 Speaker 1: got off to a two and oh start last year 669 00:36:56,080 --> 00:36:59,040 Speaker 1: and end up losing four straight. They didn't have a 670 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:01,560 Speaker 1: great conference, right, but if you win the division, you 671 00:37:01,719 --> 00:37:04,439 Speaker 1: host a playoff game. That's got to be the goal. 672 00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:08,720 Speaker 1: And I think adding him six games in the division 673 00:37:09,000 --> 00:37:11,400 Speaker 1: is going to go a long way if we're talking 674 00:37:11,520 --> 00:37:15,360 Speaker 1: forward two, you know, split depending on what other team's 675 00:37:15,440 --> 00:37:17,919 Speaker 1: records are and how good they are four and two 676 00:37:18,200 --> 00:37:21,040 Speaker 1: that you flipped it. You flipped it from two and 677 00:37:21,120 --> 00:37:23,960 Speaker 1: four to four and two, and I think this increases 678 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:27,120 Speaker 1: their chances to win the NFC West if not compete 679 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:29,720 Speaker 1: until the last week of the season, not a wild 680 00:37:29,760 --> 00:37:33,800 Speaker 1: card birth the division title. You mentioned beating the forty 681 00:37:33,880 --> 00:37:37,080 Speaker 1: nine Ers, beating the Seahawks and then losing your next 682 00:37:37,320 --> 00:37:40,400 Speaker 1: four within the division, and that's is never good. And 683 00:37:40,560 --> 00:37:44,959 Speaker 1: JJ Watt is here to correct that. And also well 684 00:37:45,560 --> 00:37:48,600 Speaker 1: he is going to be paired up with Chandler Jones, 685 00:37:48,680 --> 00:37:50,479 Speaker 1: and I like what he had to say when asked 686 00:37:50,520 --> 00:37:53,640 Speaker 1: about that pairing quote, I don't have to deal with 687 00:37:53,800 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: the headache of blocking that, And I think that's a 688 00:37:57,320 --> 00:38:00,560 Speaker 1: headache now, MJ. That offense is are going to be 689 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:04,000 Speaker 1: looking at not the week of they play the Cardinals. 690 00:38:04,200 --> 00:38:06,839 Speaker 1: I'm talking about right now, especially as we just talked 691 00:38:06,840 --> 00:38:09,799 Speaker 1: about within the division, if you're the forty nine Ers, 692 00:38:09,840 --> 00:38:14,440 Speaker 1: Seahawks and Rams, especially the Seahawks, because we know Chandler 693 00:38:14,560 --> 00:38:17,200 Speaker 1: Jones success right at getting to Russell Wilson. Now you 694 00:38:17,320 --> 00:38:20,920 Speaker 1: got Chandler Jones and JJ Watt attacking these quarterbacks in 695 00:38:20,960 --> 00:38:24,960 Speaker 1: the NFC West, And I know Russell Wilson has obviously 696 00:38:24,960 --> 00:38:28,080 Speaker 1: seemed been vocal about, you know, having some say. I 697 00:38:28,200 --> 00:38:30,360 Speaker 1: gotta think the Seahawks are going to try to improve 698 00:38:30,440 --> 00:38:33,360 Speaker 1: that offensive line between now and week one. Yeah, you 699 00:38:33,520 --> 00:38:36,720 Speaker 1: have to. And now it's that arms race. If you wills, 700 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:39,759 Speaker 1: what do you do? And then the counter move and 701 00:38:39,840 --> 00:38:42,520 Speaker 1: then this is the game that general managers played too 702 00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:46,040 Speaker 1: to have the best roster on the football field once 703 00:38:46,120 --> 00:38:49,160 Speaker 1: the regular season begins. But I'm fascinating on how this 704 00:38:49,280 --> 00:38:52,480 Speaker 1: is going to work because, as bertram Berry on the 705 00:38:52,560 --> 00:38:55,560 Speaker 1: Red Sea Report says, you know you can move JJ 706 00:38:55,719 --> 00:38:58,880 Speaker 1: Watt wherever. Do you put him and Chandler Jones together 707 00:38:59,200 --> 00:39:01,320 Speaker 1: for a snapper two or a series or two? Or 708 00:39:01,320 --> 00:39:05,560 Speaker 1: do you keep them separated. It's the stat that I've 709 00:39:05,680 --> 00:39:08,440 Speaker 1: used a lot, but they are the top two sack 710 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:12,400 Speaker 1: artists since twenty twelve, and now not only are they 711 00:39:13,160 --> 00:39:17,760 Speaker 1: not on different conferences anymore, they're in the same division 712 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:21,319 Speaker 1: on the same team to wreck havoc. I think it's 713 00:39:21,320 --> 00:39:22,960 Speaker 1: going to be interesting when we get to the off 714 00:39:23,000 --> 00:39:25,279 Speaker 1: season after free agency, in the draft, and we start 715 00:39:25,360 --> 00:39:30,200 Speaker 1: looking at, okay, how did the Cardinals offensive line stack 716 00:39:30,320 --> 00:39:32,759 Speaker 1: up in the division against the other three? And then 717 00:39:33,440 --> 00:39:36,440 Speaker 1: you know, where are the Cardinals wide receivers compared to 718 00:39:36,760 --> 00:39:39,560 Speaker 1: the other wide receivers in the division. And because you 719 00:39:39,640 --> 00:39:42,400 Speaker 1: know DK metcalf is, he's an up and coming receiver, 720 00:39:42,600 --> 00:39:45,080 Speaker 1: you know Tyler Lockett, and then he's throwing DeAndre Hopkins. 721 00:39:45,680 --> 00:39:47,719 Speaker 1: I look at the running backs, you know, and then 722 00:39:47,800 --> 00:39:50,759 Speaker 1: who's got the better lines? Is it? You know, is 723 00:39:50,800 --> 00:39:53,040 Speaker 1: it the forty nine ers because they had five first 724 00:39:53,120 --> 00:39:54,800 Speaker 1: round picks on there, maybe four and now went to 725 00:39:54,840 --> 00:39:58,879 Speaker 1: Forrest Buckner. They getting boasted back. You know, obviously Fred 726 00:39:58,920 --> 00:40:00,880 Speaker 1: Warren is a really good line back, could be interested 727 00:40:00,920 --> 00:40:04,799 Speaker 1: to just see clearly you're you're trying to get better. 728 00:40:04,920 --> 00:40:07,719 Speaker 1: But that's those are the three teams we talk about. 729 00:40:07,800 --> 00:40:10,279 Speaker 1: They're ahead of you. In order for you to get 730 00:40:10,320 --> 00:40:12,080 Speaker 1: to the postseason. You can get it as a wild card. 731 00:40:12,120 --> 00:40:15,399 Speaker 1: That's great, win ten games, but when the division then 732 00:40:15,480 --> 00:40:20,080 Speaker 1: you host. It's only March second, but can we fast 733 00:40:20,160 --> 00:40:24,080 Speaker 1: forward now to September? I mean, that's that's what this 734 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:26,920 Speaker 1: move has done for me personally. And you know, it's 735 00:40:26,960 --> 00:40:28,560 Speaker 1: what it's done for a lot of the Bird gang. 736 00:40:28,640 --> 00:40:32,160 Speaker 1: It's got you excited about the upcoming season to where 737 00:40:32,320 --> 00:40:34,879 Speaker 1: maybe a couple of weeks ago, a couple of months ago, 738 00:40:35,000 --> 00:40:38,120 Speaker 1: based off how twenty twenty ended, I don't think a 739 00:40:38,200 --> 00:40:40,960 Speaker 1: lot of people shared a lot of excitements. I know 740 00:40:41,080 --> 00:40:44,120 Speaker 1: for a stretch there I didn't because I was severely 741 00:40:44,239 --> 00:40:48,360 Speaker 1: disappointed with weeks sixteen and seventeen. But you push that 742 00:40:48,480 --> 00:40:51,239 Speaker 1: aside and you start looking forward, and you can only 743 00:40:51,320 --> 00:40:53,279 Speaker 1: look forward. It does, you know, good to look back. 744 00:40:53,360 --> 00:40:56,080 Speaker 1: So you know twenty twenties in the rear view mirror, 745 00:40:56,440 --> 00:40:59,359 Speaker 1: and we've got to focus now on what this team 746 00:40:59,480 --> 00:41:03,279 Speaker 1: can do on paper. Yes, but to get better first, 747 00:41:03,360 --> 00:41:06,200 Speaker 1: as you said, within the division, then in the conference, 748 00:41:06,280 --> 00:41:08,480 Speaker 1: and then hopefully get on that stage to where you 749 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:12,280 Speaker 1: can test yourself against the best in the entire league. 750 00:41:13,440 --> 00:41:16,160 Speaker 1: And you look at the division the Cardinals are playing 751 00:41:16,560 --> 00:41:20,280 Speaker 1: in the AFC next year or this year, same division 752 00:41:20,400 --> 00:41:23,759 Speaker 1: J J. Watt was in. You think they're gonna be 753 00:41:23,920 --> 00:41:27,520 Speaker 1: no where he's gonna stand in the lineup. Maybe not? Yeah, 754 00:41:27,960 --> 00:41:30,640 Speaker 1: to me, it's just and we talked about this too, 755 00:41:30,840 --> 00:41:34,400 Speaker 1: and maybe there wasn't the excitement because you know, the 756 00:41:34,520 --> 00:41:37,800 Speaker 1: Cardinals don't have fifty million in cash packs. The Cardinals 757 00:41:37,880 --> 00:41:40,600 Speaker 1: don't have a top five pick. Cardinals only have five 758 00:41:40,680 --> 00:41:44,360 Speaker 1: draft picks. But you look at it, they're adding pieces 759 00:41:44,760 --> 00:41:48,600 Speaker 1: and they're not done yet. So it's exciting times. And 760 00:41:48,680 --> 00:41:50,640 Speaker 1: I can't tell you how many people reached out to 761 00:41:50,719 --> 00:41:53,880 Speaker 1: me yesterday. It was on Facebook or Twitter or friends 762 00:41:54,400 --> 00:41:57,759 Speaker 1: what number is j J Watt wearing? And you know, 763 00:41:57,920 --> 00:41:59,920 Speaker 1: at the time, I'm like, I don't know where I 764 00:42:00,040 --> 00:42:01,759 Speaker 1: now and we're like, come on, you know, And then 765 00:42:01,800 --> 00:42:03,320 Speaker 1: I can't tell you how many people want to go 766 00:42:03,360 --> 00:42:06,560 Speaker 1: out and buy that T shirt that JJ Watt was waring. 767 00:42:07,120 --> 00:42:09,239 Speaker 1: I mean, and then you had people saying, you know, 768 00:42:09,440 --> 00:42:13,960 Speaker 1: last year we kept our season tickets and we're renewing now. 769 00:42:14,239 --> 00:42:19,640 Speaker 1: And this is just within twenty four hours. He brought excitement, passion, 770 00:42:19,760 --> 00:42:23,280 Speaker 1: and energy to the valley within the last twenty four hours, 771 00:42:24,000 --> 00:42:27,239 Speaker 1: well said, and we will put a lid on this 772 00:42:27,520 --> 00:42:30,840 Speaker 1: edition of Cardinals cover too, presented by Hyunday, proud partner 773 00:42:30,920 --> 00:42:35,160 Speaker 1: of the Arizona Cardinals. On that note, the excitement level 774 00:42:35,320 --> 00:42:39,040 Speaker 1: in the valley something JJ Watt did touch on as well. Quote, 775 00:42:39,280 --> 00:42:42,200 Speaker 1: there is an energy in the air and it's not 776 00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:46,480 Speaker 1: just the valley, but the entire Cardinals fan base looking 777 00:42:46,560 --> 00:42:49,920 Speaker 1: forward to twenty twenty one, a lot of excitement and 778 00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:54,200 Speaker 1: well deserved special thanks as always to our executive producer, 779 00:42:54,320 --> 00:42:57,359 Speaker 1: Jim momhndro For Mike Jarecki, I'm Greg Riel Loup. We'll 780 00:42:57,400 --> 00:42:59,879 Speaker 1: talk to you next time you're on Cardinals Cover two