1 00:00:04,559 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: Hey everybody, and welcome to the Dave Pash Podcast. I'm 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,840 Speaker 1: your host ESPN and Arizona Cardinals broadcast your Dave Pash. 3 00:00:10,920 --> 00:00:14,120 Speaker 1: We've been away for a while, but the pod is back. 4 00:00:14,320 --> 00:00:16,640 Speaker 1: We are going to tape a series of episodes over 5 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:18,599 Speaker 1: the next few months, and we kick it off with 6 00:00:18,720 --> 00:00:22,279 Speaker 1: Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwild. This is the second time 7 00:00:22,320 --> 00:00:24,760 Speaker 1: that Michael has appeared on the podcast, and obviously a 8 00:00:24,800 --> 00:00:27,760 Speaker 1: lot has changed since his first appearance. The Cardinals have 9 00:00:27,800 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 1: a new general manager as well as a new head coach. 10 00:00:31,400 --> 00:00:34,240 Speaker 1: Michael will go in depth on the process that led 11 00:00:34,280 --> 00:00:36,919 Speaker 1: to the hiring of Mantias and Fort, as well as 12 00:00:37,000 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: Jonathan Gannett. Michael's also going to give us an update 13 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:42,920 Speaker 1: on the health and progress of Kyler Murray, the Cardinals 14 00:00:43,040 --> 00:00:46,600 Speaker 1: quarterback who's coming off major knee surgery. I think right now, 15 00:00:46,760 --> 00:00:48,440 Speaker 1: I mean, he's a young man, it looks like he's 16 00:00:48,440 --> 00:00:51,640 Speaker 1: a fast healer. Things are going well. Let's hope that 17 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:54,279 Speaker 1: keeps going the way it is and that there are 18 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 1: no setbacks as he comes back. I think if you're 19 00:00:56,920 --> 00:00:59,720 Speaker 1: a Cardinal fan, you're gonna feel like you were brought 20 00:00:59,760 --> 00:01:03,280 Speaker 1: in to the interview room When you hear this conversation 21 00:01:03,320 --> 00:01:07,440 Speaker 1: with Michael, he's very open and honest and transparent about 22 00:01:07,480 --> 00:01:11,320 Speaker 1: what he liked about Monny and Jonathan Gannon and some 23 00:01:11,360 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: of the things that Cardinals still need to fix, like 24 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,920 Speaker 1: the line of scrimmage, other areas of concern that he 25 00:01:17,959 --> 00:01:21,920 Speaker 1: has with regard to the roster, what the draft process 26 00:01:22,120 --> 00:01:24,480 Speaker 1: is going to look like going forward. All that and 27 00:01:24,520 --> 00:01:27,840 Speaker 1: more with Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell. 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Next step All right, The 37 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:59,960 Speaker 1: Dave Pash Podcast is back and our guest today as 38 00:02:00,000 --> 00:02:07,080 Speaker 1: own a Cardinals owner, Michael Bidwill. So, Michael, you've been 39 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:12,080 Speaker 1: one of the busiest guys in sports, between hiring a 40 00:02:12,120 --> 00:02:15,920 Speaker 1: general manager, hiring a head coach, hosting a Super Bowl, 41 00:02:16,040 --> 00:02:18,160 Speaker 1: have you had a chance to catch a breath at all. Yeah. 42 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:22,600 Speaker 1: It took the weekend off immediately after the press conference 43 00:02:22,720 --> 00:02:26,800 Speaker 1: introducing Jonathan Gannon as our head coach. Took off and 44 00:02:26,840 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: went to South Florida and took a long weekend as 45 00:02:29,040 --> 00:02:31,320 Speaker 1: President's Day weekend. So it was it was really nice 46 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:33,800 Speaker 1: to take a few days off, got back here Monday afternoon, 47 00:02:33,800 --> 00:02:36,919 Speaker 1: and right back at it yesterday morning. So we're you 48 00:02:37,040 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: just in a stretch where you weren't sleeping, You're just 49 00:02:39,200 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: grinding between the searches and everything going on with the 50 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:45,480 Speaker 1: Super Bowl. Well, I slept, and a lot of this, 51 00:02:45,880 --> 00:02:48,320 Speaker 1: you know, started before the end of the season because 52 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,720 Speaker 1: you know, you could see things happening, and I knew 53 00:02:51,720 --> 00:02:53,880 Speaker 1: that Steve Kim was not going to be with the organization, 54 00:02:54,560 --> 00:02:58,160 Speaker 1: you know, before we announced it, and so there was 55 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: works that started all the way into December. We had 56 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:06,519 Speaker 1: a great the NFL had hosted a great accelerator program 57 00:03:06,520 --> 00:03:10,919 Speaker 1: through the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee in Dallas early 58 00:03:10,960 --> 00:03:12,960 Speaker 1: in December, and that was a good chance for me 59 00:03:13,000 --> 00:03:15,360 Speaker 1: to meet a number of different candidates, including several that 60 00:03:15,400 --> 00:03:19,560 Speaker 1: we spoke with, so I'm excited about our future. It 61 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:23,760 Speaker 1: was definitely a long six weeks. It really picked up 62 00:03:23,800 --> 00:03:26,359 Speaker 1: after the end of the season when when we made 63 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,960 Speaker 1: the changes and announced that Steve would not be returning 64 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: as general manager and immediately jumped into the GM search 65 00:03:32,919 --> 00:03:36,760 Speaker 1: and sort of simultaneously, you know, was approached by a 66 00:03:36,840 --> 00:03:40,640 Speaker 1: number of different folks about head coaching the head coach 67 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:44,600 Speaker 1: position as well, So there's a tremendous interest, you know. 68 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:50,840 Speaker 1: I would say, you know, just roughly about twenty five 69 00:03:50,920 --> 00:03:54,320 Speaker 1: different candidates that were wanted to get into that pipeline 70 00:03:54,320 --> 00:03:58,920 Speaker 1: of being interviewed for the general manager position, and more 71 00:03:58,960 --> 00:04:04,280 Speaker 1: than thirty, probably thirty five different candidates who were approached 72 00:04:04,760 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: different ways for the head coach position. But I think 73 00:04:09,440 --> 00:04:11,640 Speaker 1: we've got a great one with Monti astin Ford. I've 74 00:04:11,640 --> 00:04:15,480 Speaker 1: been working with him now for several weeks and now 75 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: one week on the job with JG and Jonathan Gannon's 76 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:22,480 Speaker 1: been terrific as well. So it's it's cool to get 77 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:26,360 Speaker 1: into this rhythm with Monti and you know, just figuring 78 00:04:26,360 --> 00:04:28,560 Speaker 1: out how we're going to work together. You know, there's 79 00:04:28,560 --> 00:04:31,520 Speaker 1: a build up to it, and you know, it's just 80 00:04:31,560 --> 00:04:34,000 Speaker 1: been going great. So I want to dive a little 81 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:36,240 Speaker 1: bit deeper into each and kind of the process of 82 00:04:36,960 --> 00:04:41,520 Speaker 1: going through those interviews and the decision making. But let's 83 00:04:41,520 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: go back to during the season. You mentioned you had 84 00:04:44,880 --> 00:04:46,719 Speaker 1: an inkling Steve wasn't going to be back and you 85 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:49,200 Speaker 1: were going to make a change at head coach. When 86 00:04:49,240 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: did that start? When did you start thinking, you know, 87 00:04:52,240 --> 00:04:54,520 Speaker 1: I feel like there's got to be a change in 88 00:04:54,560 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: the direction of the organization. Well, I think it was 89 00:04:58,040 --> 00:05:01,080 Speaker 1: earlier in December where I felt like Steve wouldn't be back. 90 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:04,800 Speaker 1: Didn't talk about it. I wanted to wait until I 91 00:05:04,920 --> 00:05:07,680 Speaker 1: had we had played all the games to do the 92 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:12,440 Speaker 1: full evaluation with coach Kingsbury. But I felt like, man, 93 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:15,240 Speaker 1: he really put a lot of effort in trying to 94 00:05:15,279 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: get this team in the right direction, and I think 95 00:05:17,400 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 1: it just got to a point to where it was 96 00:05:18,839 --> 00:05:20,800 Speaker 1: just time for a change. But it wasn't because of 97 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:23,559 Speaker 1: a lack of effort. I mean, he put in the time, 98 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:27,880 Speaker 1: he worked hard. Appreciate all his contributions and his staff 99 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:30,880 Speaker 1: as well. Many of his staff will not be back, 100 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:35,320 Speaker 1: but I do appreciate what they contributed. So when you 101 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:38,920 Speaker 1: started the process then of you said you knew Steve 102 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:42,160 Speaker 1: wasn't gonna be back before it was announced, and you 103 00:05:42,200 --> 00:05:46,120 Speaker 1: start the process of searching for a general manager. What 104 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:50,160 Speaker 1: was that like to start to put feelers out there 105 00:05:50,560 --> 00:05:53,680 Speaker 1: because you had obviously internal candidates and ended up going 106 00:05:53,720 --> 00:05:57,000 Speaker 1: with an external candidate. Yeah, as you know, I put 107 00:05:57,040 --> 00:06:00,320 Speaker 1: Adrian Wilson and Quentin Harris in a sort of co 108 00:06:00,560 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: general managers on an interim basis, asked them to each 109 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:09,280 Speaker 1: take part of the general manager's roles. They end up 110 00:06:09,400 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: sort of combining them, which was fine too, But I 111 00:06:11,880 --> 00:06:15,039 Speaker 1: thought it was you know, it was it was good 112 00:06:15,080 --> 00:06:17,720 Speaker 1: to be talking to people. I wasn't going to talk 113 00:06:17,760 --> 00:06:19,640 Speaker 1: about it very broadly. I want to just talk to 114 00:06:19,680 --> 00:06:22,880 Speaker 1: people that I trusted, knowing that it wouldn't get out 115 00:06:23,080 --> 00:06:26,400 Speaker 1: by just talking to that group of people. And then 116 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,840 Speaker 1: when it became clear that we were getting real close 117 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:31,840 Speaker 1: to the end of the season, that's when I invited 118 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:35,599 Speaker 1: both Adrian and Quinton to interview for the position, and 119 00:06:35,680 --> 00:06:38,919 Speaker 1: as well, I had spoken to Jerry Reese even before 120 00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,040 Speaker 1: the season ended, former general manager of the New York 121 00:06:42,040 --> 00:06:44,719 Speaker 1: Football Giants. Jerry Reese, Can you talk about that a 122 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: little bit in terms of just your relationship with him 123 00:06:46,839 --> 00:06:49,400 Speaker 1: and how far you guys go back. Well, we go 124 00:06:49,480 --> 00:06:52,279 Speaker 1: way back. I mean he's he was with the Giants 125 00:06:52,320 --> 00:06:54,960 Speaker 1: for a long long time, and he has two Super 126 00:06:54,960 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: Bowl rings and now he's been out of football for 127 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:01,159 Speaker 1: quite a few years. But I wanted to speak to him. 128 00:07:01,200 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: I in speaking to Rod Graves, who heads up the 129 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:09,040 Speaker 1: Fritz Power Alliance, he was very high on Jerry, as 130 00:07:09,040 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: so was John Mara, the owner of the New York Giants. 131 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:14,720 Speaker 1: So I thought it was it was great to get 132 00:07:14,760 --> 00:07:17,440 Speaker 1: together with him. I flew after the game in Atlanta, 133 00:07:17,480 --> 00:07:19,720 Speaker 1: I flew out to Nashville and met him in his 134 00:07:19,800 --> 00:07:23,600 Speaker 1: town and we spent about three hours together and just 135 00:07:23,640 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: asked him to keep it, keep it wrapped up and 136 00:07:25,440 --> 00:07:29,160 Speaker 1: confidential and U and then we had him back out 137 00:07:29,480 --> 00:07:33,360 Speaker 1: when you know, we started the process formally the following week. 138 00:07:34,240 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 1: When did Monty Austin Ford's name first come up? And 139 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:41,360 Speaker 1: how did it come up? It came up Probably the 140 00:07:42,240 --> 00:07:46,160 Speaker 1: first person that that spoke about Monty was was John Mara, 141 00:07:47,000 --> 00:07:49,880 Speaker 1: another good friend in the in the league, uh, and 142 00:07:49,960 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: I heard about him from other owners who had spoken 143 00:07:52,320 --> 00:07:55,760 Speaker 1: with him. I spoke to Robert Kraft, about him, his name. 144 00:07:56,120 --> 00:07:59,080 Speaker 1: You know, he had worked for the Patriots for many, 145 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,480 Speaker 1: many years, and Robert was very very high on money, 146 00:08:03,120 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: and so there were his name came up pretty early 147 00:08:08,040 --> 00:08:11,360 Speaker 1: and uh and and we actually spoke, We had a 148 00:08:11,440 --> 00:08:14,880 Speaker 1: lengthy phone call one one evening before he even came 149 00:08:14,920 --> 00:08:18,080 Speaker 1: to town for the interview and uh and I really 150 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,920 Speaker 1: got a sense of Money then, and it was it 151 00:08:21,000 --> 00:08:23,440 Speaker 1: was very impressive. What were some of the things that 152 00:08:23,480 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: stood out to you right away about Money, whether it's 153 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:30,320 Speaker 1: his personality or how he viewsed the game. I think 154 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: he's he's got that. Uh. You know, we've talked about 155 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:37,840 Speaker 1: our our system, which is about to be our former system, 156 00:08:37,840 --> 00:08:42,160 Speaker 1: a best player available for for draft and things along 157 00:08:42,200 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 1: those lines. He comes from a completely different system and 158 00:08:45,280 --> 00:08:47,320 Speaker 1: I would call it the New England system with a 159 00:08:47,360 --> 00:08:50,319 Speaker 1: little bit of a modification. And that's where they're looking 160 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:54,839 Speaker 1: for specific type of players with specific types of characteristics, 161 00:08:55,000 --> 00:08:57,800 Speaker 1: and they're not worried about what everybody else thinks. And 162 00:08:58,080 --> 00:09:00,319 Speaker 1: um and when you look at New England, I've done 163 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:05,680 Speaker 1: a great job of identifying players with physical characteristics, with 164 00:09:05,840 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: mental characteristics, with high football intelligence and then having success 165 00:09:12,200 --> 00:09:15,079 Speaker 1: out of that system. So we talked quite a bit 166 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:19,000 Speaker 1: about that. We talked about what kind of coach he 167 00:09:19,120 --> 00:09:23,400 Speaker 1: wanted to have in place. I think it really showed 168 00:09:23,400 --> 00:09:26,960 Speaker 1: me how prepared he was because he had already interviewed 169 00:09:27,520 --> 00:09:29,920 Speaker 1: a number of different coaches. So he went through this 170 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:33,520 Speaker 1: interview process last year and he realized, Hey, I'm putting 171 00:09:33,600 --> 00:09:36,440 Speaker 1: names out there that I just know reputationally or I've 172 00:09:36,440 --> 00:09:40,160 Speaker 1: only met a few times and haven't really spoken to. 173 00:09:40,760 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: So he took his offseason, He took June and July 174 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:46,600 Speaker 1: and set up zooms with a bunch of the coaches 175 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:48,440 Speaker 1: that were on his list and some that weren't on 176 00:09:48,480 --> 00:09:52,200 Speaker 1: his list, and some of those coaches rose to the top. 177 00:09:52,400 --> 00:09:55,120 Speaker 1: Jonathan Gannon was one of them. Some of those coaches 178 00:09:55,160 --> 00:09:58,920 Speaker 1: were eliminated based on those interviews. So he really did 179 00:09:58,960 --> 00:10:02,200 Speaker 1: a screening process before he was even named general manager 180 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:05,480 Speaker 1: of any team. And I thought it really showed how 181 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:08,720 Speaker 1: dialed in he is to you know, getting ready to 182 00:10:08,800 --> 00:10:11,120 Speaker 1: be a general manager. That he was ahead of it 183 00:10:11,600 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: and he wasn't going to waste any team's time by saying, well, 184 00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: let's go talk to these folks. He had already done it. 185 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:20,560 Speaker 1: Everybody on his list was somebody he had already vetted 186 00:10:21,120 --> 00:10:25,079 Speaker 1: and he wanted to get deeper into the Into the interview, 187 00:10:25,600 --> 00:10:31,280 Speaker 1: you mentioned that the new system of evaluating players is 188 00:10:31,400 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 1: very similar to what he had in New England. So 189 00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:37,920 Speaker 1: you've been in those draft board rooms now for twenty 190 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:42,360 Speaker 1: five years. Will this will the room and the grading 191 00:10:42,440 --> 00:10:45,640 Speaker 1: system and the board, Will that look completely different than 192 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,560 Speaker 1: it's looked in the past. You think, well, you're kind 193 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: to say, been looking at it for twenty five years. 194 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,400 Speaker 1: It's probably much longer than that. That is embarrassingly long 195 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:56,720 Speaker 1: because of at a young age when I walked into 196 00:10:56,760 --> 00:11:00,000 Speaker 1: the into the draft room in the nineteen seventies and eighties. 197 00:11:01,040 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 1: Our system is pretty much the same as it was 198 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:07,559 Speaker 1: in the seventies and eighties. But in the seventies and 199 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: not until the later in the eighties, the data that 200 00:11:11,559 --> 00:11:15,600 Speaker 1: was written on our cards was handwritten and it was 201 00:11:15,640 --> 00:11:18,920 Speaker 1: just on a card, and it was stored in somebody's notebook. 202 00:11:19,440 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: And today that that same data is stored in a 203 00:11:23,520 --> 00:11:27,280 Speaker 1: computer and printed off on a printer, which didn't exist 204 00:11:27,320 --> 00:11:29,800 Speaker 1: in the seventies and eighties. So it's kind of funny. 205 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:34,120 Speaker 1: We modified it a few times, one around off field 206 00:11:34,320 --> 00:11:38,800 Speaker 1: character and a big, big upgrade around Danny Green when 207 00:11:38,840 --> 00:11:41,760 Speaker 1: Danny Green came in and had us reorganized the board, 208 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:43,920 Speaker 1: and this is the way many of the teams do it. 209 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:47,480 Speaker 1: It's just it's like flipping from a three foard defense 210 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,520 Speaker 1: to a four three defense. We're just changing systems here. 211 00:11:51,160 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 1: It's not going to look much different this year. But 212 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:57,800 Speaker 1: because what Moni didn't want to do is because a 213 00:11:57,800 --> 00:12:01,440 Speaker 1: lot of scouting has happened with scouts, is to sort 214 00:12:01,440 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: of change the language and change the system midstream. So 215 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: he's adapting to how we have been grading, and then 216 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:13,320 Speaker 1: he's going to adapt that and adapt the board. But 217 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:18,480 Speaker 1: going into the twenty twenty three college football season, we're 218 00:12:18,480 --> 00:12:20,200 Speaker 1: going to make that full change as soon as the 219 00:12:20,280 --> 00:12:22,720 Speaker 1: draft is over, and then the twenty four draft will 220 00:12:22,760 --> 00:12:29,280 Speaker 1: look a lot like a modified New England, modified Tennessee system, 221 00:12:29,360 --> 00:12:32,760 Speaker 1: because this is the system they input at Tennessee. As well. 222 00:12:33,679 --> 00:12:37,880 Speaker 1: Your conversations with Monty about the current roster when you 223 00:12:37,920 --> 00:12:40,439 Speaker 1: were trying to make the decision about Monty, what were 224 00:12:40,440 --> 00:12:42,360 Speaker 1: some of the things that stood out to you that 225 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,480 Speaker 1: impressed you about some of the things he had to 226 00:12:45,520 --> 00:12:49,120 Speaker 1: say about the current roster that you have. Well, I 227 00:12:49,160 --> 00:12:51,880 Speaker 1: think number one, we spent a lot of time talking 228 00:12:51,920 --> 00:12:54,960 Speaker 1: about Kyler and what type of offense we should be 229 00:12:55,040 --> 00:12:58,120 Speaker 1: running and how to protect him and where we should 230 00:12:58,120 --> 00:12:59,840 Speaker 1: be spending our money. We've got a lot of money 231 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:03,040 Speaker 1: hide up in a couple of different positions, and so 232 00:13:03,080 --> 00:13:05,440 Speaker 1: I think you're going to see that change. We're gonna 233 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:07,640 Speaker 1: I think you're going to see us beefing up the 234 00:13:07,679 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: offensive line, the defensive line. We've got to get help 235 00:13:10,800 --> 00:13:14,760 Speaker 1: at corner. We've got to get a just more protection 236 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:16,360 Speaker 1: for Kyler, and then we've got to be able to 237 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,319 Speaker 1: rush the passers, especially in the in the NFC West. 238 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:21,120 Speaker 1: So I think you're going to see a lot of 239 00:13:21,640 --> 00:13:23,640 Speaker 1: a lot of changes, but they're not going to happen immediately, 240 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:25,640 Speaker 1: and they will happen over the next several years is 241 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:29,520 Speaker 1: we get opportunities to build on the draft class that's 242 00:13:29,559 --> 00:13:34,319 Speaker 1: coming up. You mentioned about Adrian and Quinton their roles 243 00:13:34,400 --> 00:13:39,679 Speaker 1: as co interim general managers leading up to the end 244 00:13:39,679 --> 00:13:42,719 Speaker 1: of the season. What were the conversations like with those 245 00:13:42,720 --> 00:13:44,840 Speaker 1: difficult conversations when you had to say, look, I'm going 246 00:13:44,880 --> 00:13:46,320 Speaker 1: to go in a different direction. We're going to go 247 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:49,840 Speaker 1: with an external candidate. Yeah, I think they understood it's 248 00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:52,560 Speaker 1: part of the business, and both of them want to 249 00:13:52,600 --> 00:13:57,640 Speaker 1: be gms, and certainly we're hoping, but I think, you know, 250 00:13:57,640 --> 00:13:59,520 Speaker 1: what I want to do is make the best decision 251 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:03,560 Speaker 1: for the Cardinal's long term and sometimes that is a 252 00:14:03,600 --> 00:14:06,600 Speaker 1: tough decision relative to the people that were applying for 253 00:14:06,679 --> 00:14:09,800 Speaker 1: it internally. And same thing with Vance Joseph, who had 254 00:14:10,000 --> 00:14:13,800 Speaker 1: interviewed for the head coach position. You know, you'd love 255 00:14:13,840 --> 00:14:16,880 Speaker 1: to be able to promote from from within, but what 256 00:14:16,920 --> 00:14:18,720 Speaker 1: we needed to do is make the best decision for 257 00:14:18,760 --> 00:14:21,000 Speaker 1: the Cardinals and what was the best decision for us? 258 00:14:21,080 --> 00:14:23,440 Speaker 1: And I thought that was Monti assin Fort and I 259 00:14:23,480 --> 00:14:26,640 Speaker 1: thought that was Jonathan Gannon. One of the other candidates 260 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,720 Speaker 1: that you spoke with that you mentioned at your press 261 00:14:28,760 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: conference in terms of general manager was Matt Harris. Can 262 00:14:32,520 --> 00:14:35,320 Speaker 1: you just talk about you Matt, who assume is going 263 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,600 Speaker 1: to stay with the organization his future, and what impressed 264 00:14:38,640 --> 00:14:40,440 Speaker 1: you about Matt and what he does for the team. 265 00:14:40,560 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: Matt does a great job with our cap and with 266 00:14:44,320 --> 00:14:46,040 Speaker 1: some other things that we do here in terms of 267 00:14:46,080 --> 00:14:50,320 Speaker 1: the administration of the of the roster, and really helped 268 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:57,040 Speaker 1: helped out Quentin and Adrian during Steve's absence, and so 269 00:14:57,080 --> 00:14:59,800 Speaker 1: he did all three of those guys really stepped up, 270 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: and before December when it was clear that Steve wasn't well, 271 00:15:04,800 --> 00:15:08,320 Speaker 1: and so they stepped up in a great way. But 272 00:15:08,600 --> 00:15:11,360 Speaker 1: I'd say about matt Is, I've been around a lot 273 00:15:11,400 --> 00:15:13,920 Speaker 1: of CAP guys, and he's right up there at the top. 274 00:15:13,960 --> 00:15:15,520 Speaker 1: I mean, he does a great job for us. He 275 00:15:15,560 --> 00:15:18,600 Speaker 1: understands the rules, he understands the CAP, he understands the 276 00:15:18,600 --> 00:15:22,000 Speaker 1: agent community, and he understands how we need to maximize things. 277 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: And I think more importantly, Monie loved him when he 278 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:28,240 Speaker 1: had a chance to sit down and have the full 279 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:31,640 Speaker 1: conversation with him. Those guys are going to work together great. 280 00:15:32,360 --> 00:15:36,240 Speaker 1: You talked about being able to have conversations with people 281 00:15:36,280 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 1: that you trust in the business and keeping those conversations confidential. 282 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:41,920 Speaker 1: You guys have always done a really good job with that. 283 00:15:42,000 --> 00:15:44,880 Speaker 1: I go back to the DeAndre Hopkins trade. When all 284 00:15:44,920 --> 00:15:47,120 Speaker 1: of a sudden, I see it on Twitter. It's an 285 00:15:47,120 --> 00:15:49,760 Speaker 1: Adam Schefter tweet him, I'm looking okay, it's a blue check. 286 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,320 Speaker 1: That really happened. DeAndre Hopkins is coming to Arizona. So 287 00:15:52,360 --> 00:15:56,200 Speaker 1: you've obviously have been able to build those relationships where 288 00:15:56,880 --> 00:15:59,560 Speaker 1: things don't get leaked. And it was interesting because Jonathan 289 00:15:59,560 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: Gannon's name, at least publicly, wasn't really out there until 290 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:05,320 Speaker 1: the end. You guys did a good job of because 291 00:16:05,360 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: you mentioned Monty obviously liked Jonathan and some of your 292 00:16:08,800 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: early conversations with him. Is that accurate that he was 293 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: somebody all along that you guys had your eye on. Yeah, 294 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:19,000 Speaker 1: that long telephone conversation, we sort of jumped ahead and okay, 295 00:16:19,000 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: well who's on your list? And Jonathan Gannon one of 296 00:16:21,920 --> 00:16:26,240 Speaker 1: number one on his list. There were others. Aaron Glenn 297 00:16:26,320 --> 00:16:29,320 Speaker 1: was another trying to think of all the names that 298 00:16:29,360 --> 00:16:31,400 Speaker 1: were on that list, but Aaron Glenn was up there too, 299 00:16:31,400 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: the defensive coordinator at at Detroit who came in and 300 00:16:34,560 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: did a great job as well. So I think that that, 301 00:16:39,320 --> 00:16:43,680 Speaker 1: you know, again, Monny was the most prepared general manager 302 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:46,560 Speaker 1: candidate that came in, you know, in terms of being 303 00:16:46,600 --> 00:16:51,280 Speaker 1: ahead of the job. Nobody else hadn't done these interviews 304 00:16:51,320 --> 00:16:53,680 Speaker 1: of the coaches, and I was just super impressed by that. 305 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:56,920 Speaker 1: Showed a lot of a lot of foresight and and 306 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:00,400 Speaker 1: also weeding out people that they might be a name 307 00:17:00,440 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: that everybody's buzzing about, but you know, he eliminated some 308 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:07,439 Speaker 1: of those folks that might have been not might have 309 00:17:07,480 --> 00:17:10,320 Speaker 1: been they were on other people's lists, and so it 310 00:17:10,400 --> 00:17:12,440 Speaker 1: was interesting. It it was a great process to go through. 311 00:17:12,720 --> 00:17:16,480 Speaker 1: The other three people that I want to thank is internally, 312 00:17:17,119 --> 00:17:20,000 Speaker 1: you know, I ask three people from our executive senior 313 00:17:20,000 --> 00:17:22,600 Speaker 1: executive staff to help out. Lisa Manning, who's been with 314 00:17:22,600 --> 00:17:27,920 Speaker 1: the team for since two thousand before the stadium vote, 315 00:17:28,800 --> 00:17:33,639 Speaker 1: and runs all of our marketing and business operations. Mark Dalton, 316 00:17:33,680 --> 00:17:36,439 Speaker 1: our senior vice president of media Relations, been with us 317 00:17:36,480 --> 00:17:41,120 Speaker 1: since two thousand and four. And then Sean Mayo, who 318 00:17:41,240 --> 00:17:43,879 Speaker 1: is our chief people officer, does all of our human 319 00:17:44,119 --> 00:17:47,119 Speaker 1: relations and does an amazing job, and he's entering his 320 00:17:47,240 --> 00:17:50,320 Speaker 1: third season with us. And the three of those folks 321 00:17:50,600 --> 00:17:54,280 Speaker 1: really helped me. And we all came to the same 322 00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:58,639 Speaker 1: conclusions but from maybe different angles, and they all contributed 323 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:00,719 Speaker 1: a lot, and I want to thank them. And then 324 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,000 Speaker 1: I think, in the backdrop of all this, Dave we 325 00:18:03,040 --> 00:18:05,200 Speaker 1: talked about at the top of the interview, we were 326 00:18:05,240 --> 00:18:07,399 Speaker 1: preparing for a Super Bowl at the same time, and 327 00:18:07,400 --> 00:18:11,840 Speaker 1: there were, you know, on my staff, Melissa Gaspard, Brittany 328 00:18:11,880 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: new heiselm so many other folks that helped out to 329 00:18:17,720 --> 00:18:21,400 Speaker 1: help make this an amazing super Bowl, not just for 330 00:18:21,720 --> 00:18:25,199 Speaker 1: you know, the valley and the participating teams in the NFL, 331 00:18:25,240 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 1: but also for all of our partners, our employees, everybody 332 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:31,560 Speaker 1: that was able to participate in this. I think it 333 00:18:32,160 --> 00:18:35,400 Speaker 1: turned out to be an amazing um, an amazing weekend. 334 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:39,000 Speaker 1: Thank God the weather, you know, cooperated. But we were 335 00:18:39,000 --> 00:18:41,680 Speaker 1: able to do all this, and I didn't. I wasn't 336 00:18:41,680 --> 00:18:44,240 Speaker 1: able to focus on some of the detail, not some 337 00:18:44,680 --> 00:18:46,959 Speaker 1: many of the details. And there were a lot of 338 00:18:46,960 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: great members of our staff that that picked up the 339 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:53,040 Speaker 1: slack for us and allowed us to stay focused on 340 00:18:53,080 --> 00:18:56,520 Speaker 1: the tasks at hand, which was first general manager and 341 00:18:56,560 --> 00:18:59,400 Speaker 1: then head coach search. And after the Super Bowl you 342 00:18:59,720 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: meet with Jonathan Gannon, he's named the next head coach 343 00:19:02,600 --> 00:19:06,320 Speaker 1: of the Cardinals. What was your first impression of I 344 00:19:06,359 --> 00:19:08,679 Speaker 1: know he likes to go by JG. What was your 345 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:13,120 Speaker 1: first impression of JG? It was very positive. He talked 346 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:15,560 Speaker 1: a little bit about our high school experience. Both of 347 00:19:15,640 --> 00:19:19,600 Speaker 1: us went to Jesuit high schools, Jesuit educated where you 348 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:22,479 Speaker 1: learn to be men and women for others. You know 349 00:19:22,520 --> 00:19:24,400 Speaker 1: that we called it men for others at our high 350 00:19:24,400 --> 00:19:29,560 Speaker 1: school all boys, and so we hit it off there 351 00:19:29,560 --> 00:19:32,000 Speaker 1: and that was a joked. I'm like, man, you're talking 352 00:19:32,000 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: about your high school school experience as much as I do. 353 00:19:35,000 --> 00:19:42,600 Speaker 1: And then his huge amount of energy and passion for 354 00:19:42,640 --> 00:19:45,840 Speaker 1: the game. He came off of, you know, a really 355 00:19:46,160 --> 00:19:50,400 Speaker 1: tough Super Bowl loss, and he showed up the next 356 00:19:50,480 --> 00:19:53,640 Speaker 1: afternoon here at the training facility raring to go, and 357 00:19:53,760 --> 00:19:56,920 Speaker 1: he just took over the room and it's like, Okay, 358 00:19:57,400 --> 00:19:59,879 Speaker 1: this is what we're talking about. This guy has the 359 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,879 Speaker 1: ability to lead, He has the ability you know, to 360 00:20:03,280 --> 00:20:06,680 Speaker 1: you know, keep the conversation moving and and that was 361 00:20:06,720 --> 00:20:11,040 Speaker 1: pretty cool. What about his philosophy was it something right 362 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:13,760 Speaker 1: away that clicked with you in terms of how you 363 00:20:13,920 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 1: view where this organization needs to go in terms of 364 00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,760 Speaker 1: coaching philosophy and player philosophy. Yeah. No, I think he 365 00:20:22,080 --> 00:20:24,720 Speaker 1: outlined a great plan for the offense and particularly for 366 00:20:24,840 --> 00:20:28,080 Speaker 1: Kyler Murray and was very excited about him, and most 367 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:29,760 Speaker 1: of the candidates were. There were no there was a 368 00:20:29,760 --> 00:20:32,440 Speaker 1: lot of noise out there that people were turned off 369 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:35,040 Speaker 1: by him. Not at all. I think people, you know, uh, 370 00:20:35,520 --> 00:20:38,920 Speaker 1: realize what a great dual threat talent he is. He's 371 00:20:38,960 --> 00:20:42,120 Speaker 1: got this injuries working through, so that's something any coach 372 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:45,680 Speaker 1: was going to have to manage will do that. And 373 00:20:46,000 --> 00:20:47,800 Speaker 1: then on the defensive side of the ball, it was 374 00:20:47,840 --> 00:20:52,000 Speaker 1: just no question what he did in Philadelphia. Obviously, we've 375 00:20:52,000 --> 00:20:55,399 Speaker 1: got to rebuild that defensive line, especially with J. J. 376 00:20:55,520 --> 00:20:58,240 Speaker 1: Watt retiring, but I have confidence that we're going to 377 00:20:58,359 --> 00:21:01,080 Speaker 1: We're gonna be able to do that with Monny and 378 00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,800 Speaker 1: and JG working together. And then i'd say back, I'm 379 00:21:05,840 --> 00:21:09,359 Speaker 1: not sure I've fully answered the question about the secrecy 380 00:21:09,440 --> 00:21:14,200 Speaker 1: of our interest in JAG. Part of what we didn't 381 00:21:14,200 --> 00:21:16,240 Speaker 1: want to do was disturb any of the coaches that 382 00:21:16,280 --> 00:21:18,879 Speaker 1: were in the playoffs actively. So it was not just 383 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,399 Speaker 1: Jonathan Gannon, but also lou Anna Rumo who was still 384 00:21:22,720 --> 00:21:27,359 Speaker 1: participating in in the playoffs with the Cincinnati Bengals. We 385 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,480 Speaker 1: didn't put in their names until after they were eliminated 386 00:21:30,520 --> 00:21:33,439 Speaker 1: and then and that's what we did with Jonathan, and 387 00:21:35,040 --> 00:21:37,359 Speaker 1: word got out a little bit over the weekend because 388 00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:41,800 Speaker 1: I don't know why, but it did. But it didn't 389 00:21:41,800 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: distract him until we hit him Monday morning with the 390 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:48,800 Speaker 1: permission request to speak to him about our head coach position. 391 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,480 Speaker 1: His energy, I have not met him, but his energy 392 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:54,960 Speaker 1: seems off the charts. I heard somebody say the other 393 00:21:55,040 --> 00:21:57,040 Speaker 1: day they were in they were in the building at 394 00:21:57,080 --> 00:21:58,640 Speaker 1: like six in the morning, and they happened to walk 395 00:21:58,640 --> 00:22:00,959 Speaker 1: by his office and they can hear him in They're going, yeah, 396 00:22:00,960 --> 00:22:03,960 Speaker 1: that's awesome. I guess he was watching film and talking himself. 397 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: I don't know if he was on a zoom with somebody, 398 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:09,280 Speaker 1: but he's got incredible energy. Everybody says, yeah, he's got 399 00:22:09,280 --> 00:22:11,960 Speaker 1: a voice, and so he can hear him down the hall. 400 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:14,680 Speaker 1: When he's he can, he'll fill up the room. And 401 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:16,439 Speaker 1: there's just no question about it. But I think he 402 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:19,959 Speaker 1: was doing zooms because they were doing zoom interviews. Like 403 00:22:20,480 --> 00:22:22,280 Speaker 1: as soon as I mean, as soon as the press 404 00:22:22,280 --> 00:22:25,240 Speaker 1: conference was over, he sent his family off back to 405 00:22:25,280 --> 00:22:27,359 Speaker 1: the Arizona Biltmore, where we put him up for the 406 00:22:27,400 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: weekend so they can enjoy their time out here over 407 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:34,120 Speaker 1: the long weekend and and sort of celebrate their dad's success. 408 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:36,960 Speaker 1: But he was ready to go to work right away, 409 00:22:36,960 --> 00:22:38,800 Speaker 1: and they did, and so he was bang, bang, bang 410 00:22:38,840 --> 00:22:42,680 Speaker 1: through a bunch of back to back zooms. Was the 411 00:22:42,760 --> 00:22:47,800 Speaker 1: defense versus offense? Was that even part of the conversation 412 00:22:48,160 --> 00:22:50,399 Speaker 1: between you and Monty when it came to looking at 413 00:22:50,480 --> 00:22:54,600 Speaker 1: head coach or it didn't matter. We want the best guy. 414 00:22:54,920 --> 00:23:00,359 Speaker 1: We want the best guy. My personal you know interest, 415 00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:03,119 Speaker 1: and call it a bias, was we should probably have 416 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:05,760 Speaker 1: somebody who's on the offensive side of the ball, but 417 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:08,879 Speaker 1: I want to keep an open mind. And it was 418 00:23:08,920 --> 00:23:12,240 Speaker 1: pretty clear, especially when you look at the final candidates 419 00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:15,639 Speaker 1: that we had. Three of them were defensive side of 420 00:23:15,680 --> 00:23:18,480 Speaker 1: the ball and it was just one, Mike Kafka, who 421 00:23:18,600 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: was on the offensive side of the ball, because we 422 00:23:21,960 --> 00:23:24,800 Speaker 1: just felt like those were the best leaders out there, 423 00:23:25,000 --> 00:23:28,160 Speaker 1: those four. Do you also think there's something too if 424 00:23:28,160 --> 00:23:30,679 Speaker 1: we have a defensive head coach, we're going to have 425 00:23:30,760 --> 00:23:34,600 Speaker 1: somebody on the offensive side who is completely focused on 426 00:23:35,240 --> 00:23:39,440 Speaker 1: Kyler and the offense and not about head coaching, managing 427 00:23:39,480 --> 00:23:41,840 Speaker 1: the defense, just all the other things that go along 428 00:23:41,880 --> 00:23:44,480 Speaker 1: with being a head coach. Well, I think he's going 429 00:23:44,560 --> 00:23:46,320 Speaker 1: to be in the traditional head coach role. He's going 430 00:23:46,400 --> 00:23:49,000 Speaker 1: to let his defensive coordinator do his thing, He's going 431 00:23:49,040 --> 00:23:51,080 Speaker 1: to let his offensive coordinator do his thing, and I 432 00:23:51,119 --> 00:23:54,240 Speaker 1: think he will probably spend maybe a little more time 433 00:23:54,240 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: on the offense because of all the work that we 434 00:23:56,880 --> 00:23:59,040 Speaker 1: need to do there to really get it right and 435 00:23:59,119 --> 00:24:02,199 Speaker 1: also to man the you know, the phase in of 436 00:24:02,440 --> 00:24:05,399 Speaker 1: who's starting the season will it be, will it be 437 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:09,080 Speaker 1: Kyler or not? And installing that offense. So I think 438 00:24:09,359 --> 00:24:14,560 Speaker 1: and also is showing uh, not only um Drew, but 439 00:24:14,720 --> 00:24:18,720 Speaker 1: also you know, our offensive coordinator, but also Kyler. Here's 440 00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:21,440 Speaker 1: what I would do as a defensive coordinator to attack 441 00:24:21,520 --> 00:24:24,280 Speaker 1: this offense. And I think that'll be a really important 442 00:24:24,760 --> 00:24:28,040 Speaker 1: important thing to keep us sharp. You mentioned Drew Drew 443 00:24:28,080 --> 00:24:30,520 Speaker 1: pets Ng thirty five years old, Nick Rowlis, twenty nine 444 00:24:30,600 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 1: year old, defensive coordinator. I don't know if you've had 445 00:24:33,000 --> 00:24:35,119 Speaker 1: a chance to get to know each guy yet. What 446 00:24:35,280 --> 00:24:39,520 Speaker 1: are your thoughts on on those two guys? Extremely sharp, decisive, 447 00:24:39,920 --> 00:24:43,480 Speaker 1: high energy guys, soldiers that are going to go out 448 00:24:43,480 --> 00:24:49,360 Speaker 1: there and just absolutely execute and raise that standard that 449 00:24:49,400 --> 00:24:52,560 Speaker 1: we all want. I mean, I'm I'm excited about these 450 00:24:52,600 --> 00:24:56,359 Speaker 1: two leaders and and and all the other members of 451 00:24:56,400 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: the staff that I've met. I think JG did a 452 00:25:00,480 --> 00:25:03,480 Speaker 1: really good job because he similarly had been thinking he 453 00:25:03,560 --> 00:25:04,920 Speaker 1: knew he was going to be a head coach at 454 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,480 Speaker 1: some point. He interviewed for it, you know, last year, 455 00:25:08,480 --> 00:25:11,439 Speaker 1: and you know, he knew if he didn't get this position, 456 00:25:11,520 --> 00:25:13,439 Speaker 1: he was going to be interviewing next year. He had 457 00:25:13,480 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: already had it in his mind several folks that he 458 00:25:16,640 --> 00:25:20,240 Speaker 1: wanted to approach, and so when he went through his plan, 459 00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:23,160 Speaker 1: it was just bing, bing bing. It's interesting you've used 460 00:25:23,200 --> 00:25:26,639 Speaker 1: the word leader leadership a lot in talking about all 461 00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,560 Speaker 1: these candidates, and I think there were some times over 462 00:25:29,600 --> 00:25:33,080 Speaker 1: the last few years where when things weren't going well, 463 00:25:33,160 --> 00:25:35,280 Speaker 1: you know, we all kind of like, well, where is 464 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,760 Speaker 1: the leadership, whether it was you know, from the coaching 465 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:42,520 Speaker 1: staff or the players. So how much of you're thinking 466 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:44,840 Speaker 1: when you're going through the process of hiring a GM 467 00:25:44,880 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 1: and a coach and then the assistance and what you're 468 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:48,920 Speaker 1: going to look at for players is hey, we need 469 00:25:48,960 --> 00:25:52,080 Speaker 1: the leadership and accountability to be better in that locker room. 470 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:55,000 Speaker 1: That was the absolutely the number one thing I was 471 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: focused on is, you know, lots of people can do 472 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,439 Speaker 1: the x's and knows it's okay. Making sure that we 473 00:26:03,200 --> 00:26:07,000 Speaker 1: raise the bar here and that we are absolutely getting 474 00:26:07,000 --> 00:26:10,080 Speaker 1: the players to perform at the highest level on every 475 00:26:10,119 --> 00:26:13,640 Speaker 1: single play. And you know, you heard j G talk 476 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:17,200 Speaker 1: about it. Everybody is results oriented. Everybody wants you know, hey, 477 00:26:17,240 --> 00:26:21,200 Speaker 1: everybody wants to win. But winning starts with the process 478 00:26:21,720 --> 00:26:24,240 Speaker 1: and it's about doing a great job on Monday, doing 479 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:26,760 Speaker 1: a great job on Tuesday, doing a great job on Wednesday, 480 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:29,720 Speaker 1: and everything you do builds up to Sunday, and it 481 00:26:29,760 --> 00:26:33,080 Speaker 1: starts in the off season. So what he's trying to 482 00:26:33,119 --> 00:26:38,040 Speaker 1: do is instill that as a culture and with our 483 00:26:38,160 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: leaders in the locker room and make sure those guys 484 00:26:41,560 --> 00:26:45,000 Speaker 1: take over his words and take over because he's a 485 00:26:45,040 --> 00:26:47,439 Speaker 1: culture builder. There's no question about that. He did it 486 00:26:47,480 --> 00:26:51,080 Speaker 1: at Philadelphia, he did it at Minnesota, and I think 487 00:26:51,119 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 1: what you'll see is he's going to do it here 488 00:26:53,800 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: in Arizona, and I think it's gonna be pretty cool 489 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:57,840 Speaker 1: to watch us unfold over the next several months. I've 490 00:26:57,840 --> 00:26:59,359 Speaker 1: got one more coach question. I'm want to get to 491 00:26:59,400 --> 00:27:01,199 Speaker 1: the players first. I think this has been great. I 492 00:27:01,240 --> 00:27:04,320 Speaker 1: think if you're a Cardinal fan, you're very appreciative of 493 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,600 Speaker 1: your transparency, because this is outstanding for fans to be 494 00:27:07,600 --> 00:27:10,680 Speaker 1: able to hear kind of take him inside, the information 495 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:12,800 Speaker 1: that they get that they can't get otherwise, to be 496 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:14,640 Speaker 1: able to know kind of what you were thinking when 497 00:27:14,640 --> 00:27:16,520 Speaker 1: you went through the process of hiring a GM and 498 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:19,800 Speaker 1: a coach, and it's all great stuff. Jeff Rogers staying 499 00:27:19,840 --> 00:27:22,639 Speaker 1: on somebody who's been Now this is the third staff 500 00:27:22,680 --> 00:27:25,159 Speaker 1: he's been on. How important was that to you and 501 00:27:25,200 --> 00:27:28,760 Speaker 1: to MONI to have Jeff here, given his role helping 502 00:27:28,800 --> 00:27:30,960 Speaker 1: Cliff in terms of managing the clock and then also 503 00:27:31,000 --> 00:27:34,240 Speaker 1: obviously being in charge of special teams. I think, and 504 00:27:34,400 --> 00:27:37,000 Speaker 1: it's it's just not that Jeff Rogers who will stay 505 00:27:37,000 --> 00:27:38,760 Speaker 1: on board, but there are others on the staff that 506 00:27:38,760 --> 00:27:41,119 Speaker 1: will be staying on board. And I'm excited about it 507 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:44,399 Speaker 1: because he is one of the better special teams coordinators 508 00:27:44,400 --> 00:27:47,880 Speaker 1: in the league. And I think, let's do what's best 509 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:51,120 Speaker 1: for the Cardinals. Do what's best for us to have 510 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: success on the field, and to have it right away. 511 00:27:55,119 --> 00:27:57,399 Speaker 1: There was no reason to start over, you know. I 512 00:27:57,440 --> 00:27:59,879 Speaker 1: was going to let jg make his decision on everybody 513 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:03,640 Speaker 1: on the staff, which he's done. But what I really 514 00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,040 Speaker 1: wanted to do was to m you know, make sure 515 00:28:06,040 --> 00:28:09,040 Speaker 1: we retain the best of the of the staff that 516 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:13,440 Speaker 1: we could. So Kyler, you talked obviously about his importance. 517 00:28:13,480 --> 00:28:16,199 Speaker 1: We all know this team is going to go as 518 00:28:16,240 --> 00:28:17,840 Speaker 1: far as Kyler takes him. It's how it works in 519 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:21,600 Speaker 1: the NFL. It's about the quarterback. How's his rehab going. 520 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:23,760 Speaker 1: I think his rehab is going very well. I think 521 00:28:23,760 --> 00:28:27,560 Speaker 1: he's ahead of schedule and he is in here every day, 522 00:28:28,480 --> 00:28:30,840 Speaker 1: and so it's been great to see him when I've 523 00:28:30,840 --> 00:28:33,560 Speaker 1: been able to pull my head out of the meetings 524 00:28:33,600 --> 00:28:36,240 Speaker 1: and run down and get a bite to eat, being 525 00:28:36,280 --> 00:28:38,239 Speaker 1: able to stop by and see him, and he's fired up, 526 00:28:38,240 --> 00:28:41,160 Speaker 1: and I know that he and JG have already kicked 527 00:28:41,160 --> 00:28:44,240 Speaker 1: off a great relationship and uh, and so it's it's 528 00:28:44,280 --> 00:28:47,960 Speaker 1: pretty cool. How involved was Kyler? Did you pick his 529 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:51,080 Speaker 1: brain at all or tell him, Hey, this is what 530 00:28:51,160 --> 00:28:53,320 Speaker 1: I'm thinking when you're going through the process of both 531 00:28:53,360 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: GM and coach. Yeah, so it was just not Kyler, 532 00:28:56,400 --> 00:29:00,520 Speaker 1: but other players. I had, you know, multiple commun unications 533 00:29:00,560 --> 00:29:03,400 Speaker 1: with Kyler, just not only checking in on how he's doing, 534 00:29:03,520 --> 00:29:06,720 Speaker 1: but you know, he let me know who he liked, 535 00:29:06,840 --> 00:29:11,520 Speaker 1: and so did other players in our locker room. You know, 536 00:29:11,800 --> 00:29:15,040 Speaker 1: zach Ertz was here and heard from Buddha. I heard 537 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:19,239 Speaker 1: from quite a few of our leaders about you know, 538 00:29:19,440 --> 00:29:21,680 Speaker 1: who they had worked with before, what they had been 539 00:29:21,720 --> 00:29:24,680 Speaker 1: hearing and things like that. And so I just wanted 540 00:29:24,720 --> 00:29:26,800 Speaker 1: to take all input and try to get a three 541 00:29:26,880 --> 00:29:29,240 Speaker 1: hundred and sixty degree view of every candidate, whether it 542 00:29:29,280 --> 00:29:31,840 Speaker 1: was general manager or head coach. Do you think that's rare? 543 00:29:31,920 --> 00:29:34,840 Speaker 1: That sounds rare to me that an owner would be 544 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:37,520 Speaker 1: not only talking sounds. You talked to other owners, you 545 00:29:37,560 --> 00:29:41,000 Speaker 1: talked to other gms, you talked to obviously people within 546 00:29:41,040 --> 00:29:43,600 Speaker 1: the organization. You had people that you counted on that 547 00:29:43,640 --> 00:29:46,000 Speaker 1: are part of your senior staff that are not on 548 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:48,760 Speaker 1: the football side, that you had involved, and you're talking 549 00:29:48,800 --> 00:29:51,960 Speaker 1: to players. I gotta think that's pretty rare. Well, I 550 00:29:51,960 --> 00:29:54,040 Speaker 1: don't know if it's rare, but I just felt like, 551 00:29:54,320 --> 00:29:56,960 Speaker 1: you know, we talk about due diligence, what does that mean. 552 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 1: It's like, hey, let's let's try to gather as much information. 553 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:04,040 Speaker 1: And we were doing it from from people in the 554 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:10,040 Speaker 1: football world, you know, and from NFL films to Nike 555 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:14,000 Speaker 1: to other folks that just have touch points with different 556 00:30:14,040 --> 00:30:16,560 Speaker 1: people in the football world, whether it's general managers or 557 00:30:16,560 --> 00:30:19,440 Speaker 1: head coaches. So we had we were taking every bit 558 00:30:19,440 --> 00:30:21,800 Speaker 1: of input we could get from the league office, etc. 559 00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:25,880 Speaker 1: And that's what was great about having Mark Dalton, Lisa Manning, 560 00:30:25,880 --> 00:30:27,920 Speaker 1: and Seawan Mayo part of it because they all have 561 00:30:28,000 --> 00:30:31,120 Speaker 1: their own networks and we were tapping into everybody's including 562 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:33,560 Speaker 1: some members of the media who had great things to 563 00:30:33,600 --> 00:30:38,480 Speaker 1: say about different candidates. At this point, you mentioned Kyler's 564 00:30:38,520 --> 00:30:41,800 Speaker 1: ahead of schedule. Do we have a sense of at 565 00:30:41,800 --> 00:30:45,840 Speaker 1: this point, I know it's late February, the season doesn't 566 00:30:45,880 --> 00:30:47,600 Speaker 1: start for a long time, but do you get a 567 00:30:47,640 --> 00:30:51,360 Speaker 1: sense that he's going to be ready on this particular 568 00:30:51,480 --> 00:30:54,040 Speaker 1: date or in this particular window or can't say it, 569 00:30:54,560 --> 00:30:56,480 Speaker 1: you know, I think it's gonna be earlier than you know, 570 00:30:56,520 --> 00:30:59,520 Speaker 1: this mid season, so hopefully it's towards the beginning of 571 00:30:59,600 --> 00:31:01,400 Speaker 1: the season. But you know, I don't want to put 572 00:31:01,440 --> 00:31:04,200 Speaker 1: any specific dates because there could be setbacks. There could 573 00:31:04,240 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: be the progress could slow. But I think right now, 574 00:31:08,400 --> 00:31:10,040 Speaker 1: I mean, he's a young man, it looks like he's 575 00:31:10,040 --> 00:31:13,240 Speaker 1: a fast healer. Things are going well. Let's hope that 576 00:31:13,360 --> 00:31:16,800 Speaker 1: keeps going the way it is and then that there 577 00:31:16,800 --> 00:31:19,040 Speaker 1: are no setbacks as he comes back. And I think 578 00:31:19,080 --> 00:31:21,160 Speaker 1: that's one of the things that the other areas that 579 00:31:21,640 --> 00:31:24,240 Speaker 1: Moni is going to be looking at. And same thing 580 00:31:24,240 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 1: what JG is, Okay, what is the best thing we 581 00:31:26,520 --> 00:31:29,120 Speaker 1: can be doing around sports science? Our return to play, 582 00:31:29,840 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 1: our training room and getting the players back. And we 583 00:31:33,440 --> 00:31:35,560 Speaker 1: call it return to play, but it's return to practice 584 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:38,360 Speaker 1: and play. So that there are not setbacks as we 585 00:31:38,400 --> 00:31:41,480 Speaker 1: get back onto the practice field, and there could be 586 00:31:41,520 --> 00:31:45,360 Speaker 1: a quick ramp up period that doesn't have setbacks. There's 587 00:31:45,400 --> 00:31:47,320 Speaker 1: a lot of science around that now, and I think 588 00:31:47,360 --> 00:31:49,080 Speaker 1: that's an area that we're going to build out the 589 00:31:49,200 --> 00:31:52,560 Speaker 1: organization as well as we go forward over the next 590 00:31:52,600 --> 00:31:56,160 Speaker 1: several several weeks. What do you envision for Kyler not 591 00:31:56,240 --> 00:31:59,120 Speaker 1: just for this year when he comes back, but long 592 00:31:59,280 --> 00:32:02,479 Speaker 1: term with Jonathan Gannon as a head coach, true pet 593 00:32:02,600 --> 00:32:05,960 Speaker 1: Sing as the offensive coordinator, in terms of maximizing his 594 00:32:06,080 --> 00:32:08,920 Speaker 1: skill set, Well, I think what we're gonna do is 595 00:32:08,920 --> 00:32:11,760 Speaker 1: is try to take some of the pressure off of 596 00:32:11,840 --> 00:32:15,080 Speaker 1: him and then put him in position where when it's 597 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:17,200 Speaker 1: time for him to make a play, whether it's with 598 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:19,600 Speaker 1: his arm or with his feet, that he's going to 599 00:32:19,640 --> 00:32:21,640 Speaker 1: be in a position to do that. But also take 600 00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:23,480 Speaker 1: some of the pressure off of him. I think the 601 00:32:23,520 --> 00:32:26,880 Speaker 1: way the offense was before, he had a choice on 602 00:32:27,360 --> 00:32:30,280 Speaker 1: almost every play we ran, and so we were making 603 00:32:30,400 --> 00:32:32,320 Speaker 1: him think too much and we were making him put 604 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:34,240 Speaker 1: too much pressure on him. And what we need him 605 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:37,240 Speaker 1: to do is to play faster and to play with 606 00:32:37,360 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 1: that confidence that will come with Okay, I don't have 607 00:32:41,640 --> 00:32:44,200 Speaker 1: to get every first down I can hand the ball off. 608 00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:45,960 Speaker 1: I know they're going to put him under center quite 609 00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:47,240 Speaker 1: a bit, and that's going to take some of the 610 00:32:47,280 --> 00:32:50,280 Speaker 1: pressure off because the pass rushers won't be able to 611 00:32:50,040 --> 00:32:52,960 Speaker 1: get after him as quickly as if he's in the gun. 612 00:32:53,440 --> 00:32:55,880 Speaker 1: So I think, I think this will be a This 613 00:32:55,920 --> 00:32:57,640 Speaker 1: will be good for him, and I think it'll be 614 00:32:57,680 --> 00:32:59,200 Speaker 1: good for us, and I think we're gonna have more 615 00:32:59,200 --> 00:33:03,760 Speaker 1: production on off It's interesting because you know Wolf. I'm 616 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:06,120 Speaker 1: sure you probably heard Wolf say it, whether it's during 617 00:33:06,160 --> 00:33:08,240 Speaker 1: a broadcast round to show the blending of you know, 618 00:33:08,320 --> 00:33:10,680 Speaker 1: the blending of the old and the new. Michael, I mean, 619 00:33:10,680 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 1: you've known Wolf forever, going back to when you were 620 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:13,840 Speaker 1: a ball boy and he was a player on the 621 00:33:13,880 --> 00:33:18,440 Speaker 1: team exactly. And it feels like the way Wolf looks 622 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:24,320 Speaker 1: at the game, being physical, being multiple, kind of the 623 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:27,719 Speaker 1: Eagles blueprint and how they ran their offense that in 624 00:33:27,720 --> 00:33:31,240 Speaker 1: how Cleveland to Cleveland was very unique. Did a lot 625 00:33:31,240 --> 00:33:33,400 Speaker 1: of under center and then you saw a lot of 626 00:33:33,680 --> 00:33:36,640 Speaker 1: you know, shotgun and depending on whether it's Rosetta Watson 627 00:33:36,640 --> 00:33:40,040 Speaker 1: a quarterback, do you see the Cardinals kind of being 628 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:42,600 Speaker 1: like that where it is really a true blending of 629 00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:44,360 Speaker 1: the old and the new, as Wolf would say, I 630 00:33:44,400 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 1: think so. And I also think you know, we're going 631 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:48,640 Speaker 1: to be we're gonna be not just looking at the 632 00:33:48,720 --> 00:33:50,680 Speaker 1: new in the NFL, but we're gonna be looking at 633 00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:53,400 Speaker 1: the new. And Jonathan Gann has said as press conference 634 00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:56,240 Speaker 1: the way football is played in the NFL in twenty 635 00:33:56,280 --> 00:33:59,640 Speaker 1: twenty three will be different than twenty twenty two, and 636 00:33:59,680 --> 00:34:02,440 Speaker 1: so you have to be adaptable. There's no question in 637 00:34:02,480 --> 00:34:04,800 Speaker 1: my mind that we're going to be looking to what's 638 00:34:04,800 --> 00:34:08,600 Speaker 1: done at the college game because that really helps influence 639 00:34:08,640 --> 00:34:10,839 Speaker 1: the NFL game. And so they're going to be things 640 00:34:10,840 --> 00:34:14,239 Speaker 1: that are being done that the players, especially this new 641 00:34:14,320 --> 00:34:16,720 Speaker 1: crop of players will bring in from twenty twenty three's 642 00:34:17,840 --> 00:34:21,920 Speaker 1: college classes that we're we're going to be doing a 643 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:24,480 Speaker 1: lot of things differently, and so I'm looking forward to 644 00:34:24,520 --> 00:34:28,120 Speaker 1: seeing everything that's developed, especially after we finish with the 645 00:34:28,200 --> 00:34:32,600 Speaker 1: draft and with free agency. So, if Kyler isn't available 646 00:34:32,600 --> 00:34:36,000 Speaker 1: to start the year, what's your sense organizationally of the 647 00:34:36,120 --> 00:34:39,719 Speaker 1: comfort level with Colt? Well, the Colt's coming back from 648 00:34:40,160 --> 00:34:44,400 Speaker 1: an injury as well, that he is going to limit 649 00:34:44,480 --> 00:34:47,680 Speaker 1: him during the off season, So I think, you know, 650 00:34:47,719 --> 00:34:49,960 Speaker 1: we've got to and I'm not as dialed in on 651 00:34:50,080 --> 00:34:53,160 Speaker 1: where his recovery is, so that's going to be another, um, 652 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:57,000 Speaker 1: you know, set of dynamics that that that Drew and 653 00:34:57,239 --> 00:34:59,760 Speaker 1: JG are going to have to work through in terms 654 00:34:59,800 --> 00:35:03,440 Speaker 1: of Okay and Monnie, you know, or we're going to 655 00:35:03,520 --> 00:35:06,640 Speaker 1: definitely need a quarterback that can help us out during 656 00:35:06,680 --> 00:35:09,800 Speaker 1: the the OTAs and everything, and we can't put it 657 00:35:09,880 --> 00:35:13,160 Speaker 1: all on Colt when he comes back. But I know 658 00:35:13,600 --> 00:35:16,120 Speaker 1: Colt can still play. I know he feels he can 659 00:35:16,160 --> 00:35:19,200 Speaker 1: still play, and he's he's, he's he's he's still got 660 00:35:19,239 --> 00:35:20,680 Speaker 1: a lot of gas left in the tank and I've 661 00:35:20,680 --> 00:35:22,759 Speaker 1: got a lot of confidence in him. So we'll see 662 00:35:22,800 --> 00:35:24,719 Speaker 1: exactly what the plan is. That's not for me to 663 00:35:24,760 --> 00:35:26,840 Speaker 1: figure out. That's for those guys to figure out. But 664 00:35:26,880 --> 00:35:29,120 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to hearing more about it. So I'm 665 00:35:29,160 --> 00:35:33,960 Speaker 1: guessing part of that plan could be free agency, could 666 00:35:34,000 --> 00:35:37,799 Speaker 1: be drafting a quarterback at some point. I assume we're 667 00:35:37,840 --> 00:35:39,600 Speaker 1: not ruling either of those out. I don't think we 668 00:35:39,719 --> 00:35:41,520 Speaker 1: rule anything out. Yeah, No, We've got to keep all 669 00:35:41,560 --> 00:35:43,600 Speaker 1: options on the table, and I know Monty and JG 670 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:46,359 Speaker 1: and Drew will be exploring that. But you know, we 671 00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:48,520 Speaker 1: need to we need to see how the recoveries are 672 00:35:48,520 --> 00:35:51,000 Speaker 1: coming along and then figure out what's the best option 673 00:35:51,040 --> 00:35:53,200 Speaker 1: for us. Can you go back, you touch a little 674 00:35:53,200 --> 00:35:56,240 Speaker 1: bit on other areas of need and some things maybe 675 00:35:56,280 --> 00:35:58,839 Speaker 1: philosophically that'll be different in terms of what you guys 676 00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:01,840 Speaker 1: are going to address here with free agency and drafting. 677 00:36:01,960 --> 00:36:06,160 Speaker 1: What do you think is foremost? I think probably number 678 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:08,840 Speaker 1: one is the staff. Getting the staff in place, and 679 00:36:08,880 --> 00:36:11,719 Speaker 1: I think we've done that. It's almost done. I would 680 00:36:11,719 --> 00:36:16,759 Speaker 1: say about eighty five to ninety percent done. Then I 681 00:36:16,760 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 1: think clearly it's offensive line defensive line. You know, we've 682 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:23,000 Speaker 1: got a lot of skill players in different positions, and 683 00:36:23,040 --> 00:36:26,440 Speaker 1: then trying to figure out what we're doing around draft 684 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:28,920 Speaker 1: and free agency. But it's it's gonna be offensive line 685 00:36:28,960 --> 00:36:31,600 Speaker 1: defensive line because we've got to build that offensive line 686 00:36:31,600 --> 00:36:34,080 Speaker 1: so we can get back to running the ball, protecting 687 00:36:34,160 --> 00:36:36,960 Speaker 1: Kyler and defensive line, especially in the NFC West, we're 688 00:36:36,960 --> 00:36:39,719 Speaker 1: going to need a really good defensive line, and you know, 689 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:43,719 Speaker 1: with the retirement of JJ Watt, we've got a big 690 00:36:43,719 --> 00:36:46,120 Speaker 1: hold of field there. We got to see if we 691 00:36:46,160 --> 00:36:50,560 Speaker 1: can get Zach Allen resigned and which we're interested in 692 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:53,000 Speaker 1: doing and get that going. And I think he wants 693 00:36:53,000 --> 00:36:54,480 Speaker 1: to be here, So I think there's gonna be a 694 00:36:54,560 --> 00:36:57,279 Speaker 1: lot of things on the to do list here. The 695 00:36:57,360 --> 00:37:00,800 Speaker 1: first thing is next week is is the combine, So 696 00:37:00,840 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 1: everybody's going to be heading back to Indianapolis for that. 697 00:37:03,840 --> 00:37:07,040 Speaker 1: You talked a bunch during the multiple press conferences about 698 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:10,799 Speaker 1: being the best team in the division, you know sometimes, 699 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:13,000 Speaker 1: and I feel like I've heard you say that all 700 00:37:13,040 --> 00:37:14,720 Speaker 1: the time. I don't know if that's something that's always 701 00:37:14,719 --> 00:37:16,640 Speaker 1: been because obviously, you win your division, you get in 702 00:37:16,680 --> 00:37:19,759 Speaker 1: the playoffs, anything can happen. Has that always been your focus? Hey, 703 00:37:19,760 --> 00:37:22,040 Speaker 1: we got to look at the other three organizations and 704 00:37:22,120 --> 00:37:24,200 Speaker 1: say how can we be the best of those four 705 00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:27,680 Speaker 1: as opposed to looking at the other thirty one organizations. Yeah, 706 00:37:27,680 --> 00:37:29,279 Speaker 1: I think it all starts in the division. If you 707 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,919 Speaker 1: can win your division, then you host a home playoff game, 708 00:37:33,360 --> 00:37:36,719 Speaker 1: and if you're really good, then you get a chance 709 00:37:36,760 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 1: to have a buy that super wild card weekend. And 710 00:37:41,239 --> 00:37:44,759 Speaker 1: so what the whole plan is if we really are 711 00:37:44,760 --> 00:37:48,839 Speaker 1: serious about, you know, winning, we've got to be able 712 00:37:48,880 --> 00:37:50,919 Speaker 1: to win the NFC West and that's a tall order. 713 00:37:50,920 --> 00:37:54,040 Speaker 1: There's some great coaches, great quarterbacks, and great players and 714 00:37:54,160 --> 00:37:57,440 Speaker 1: teams and organizations and so we've got to build an 715 00:37:57,480 --> 00:38:00,600 Speaker 1: outstanding organization here, which I think we're doing so. Over 716 00:38:00,640 --> 00:38:02,600 Speaker 1: the last you know, month and a half, you've been, 717 00:38:02,640 --> 00:38:05,240 Speaker 1: as I mentioned the top of the podcast, as busy 718 00:38:05,280 --> 00:38:09,799 Speaker 1: as is anybody in sports. M the Super Bowl week. 719 00:38:10,000 --> 00:38:12,960 Speaker 1: What were some of the highlights for you, h, Not 720 00:38:13,040 --> 00:38:16,160 Speaker 1: just you know, the interview process with with Monty and 721 00:38:16,200 --> 00:38:18,200 Speaker 1: then you know, leaning up to look into the candidates 722 00:38:18,200 --> 00:38:20,400 Speaker 1: for head coach, but in terms of the event itself, 723 00:38:20,440 --> 00:38:22,759 Speaker 1: what were some of the highlights for you? Wow? There 724 00:38:22,760 --> 00:38:27,359 Speaker 1: were so many, Um, you know, I think, uh, it 725 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:29,040 Speaker 1: was great to be able to be a part of 726 00:38:29,480 --> 00:38:34,560 Speaker 1: many different meals, luncheons, dinners and things along those lines. Um. 727 00:38:34,840 --> 00:38:37,560 Speaker 1: You know. First was Thursday, the Fritz Polder Alliance had 728 00:38:37,560 --> 00:38:40,799 Speaker 1: their awards luncheon. It was great to see so many 729 00:38:41,080 --> 00:38:45,239 Speaker 1: leaders in that room. H Friday was the Hall of 730 00:38:45,280 --> 00:38:49,799 Speaker 1: Fame luncheon where they honored my grandmother, Violet Bidwell, the 731 00:38:49,880 --> 00:38:54,719 Speaker 1: first female owner in NFL history and h one of 732 00:38:54,719 --> 00:38:58,280 Speaker 1: the first in the world, and celebrate her and her success. 733 00:38:58,400 --> 00:39:02,920 Speaker 1: And then I'd say, you know, just being able to 734 00:39:03,000 --> 00:39:04,799 Speaker 1: I had a bunch of friends come in town. We 735 00:39:04,880 --> 00:39:09,359 Speaker 1: had a blast, you know, little bits of time on 736 00:39:09,400 --> 00:39:14,160 Speaker 1: Friday night and Saturday night as well, but you know, 737 00:39:14,360 --> 00:39:17,440 Speaker 1: seeing all the other owners. We hosted a dinner party 738 00:39:17,440 --> 00:39:21,399 Speaker 1: down at the Science Center in downtown Phoenix and had 739 00:39:21,440 --> 00:39:26,480 Speaker 1: a huge tent and had all the teams there, the commissioner, 740 00:39:26,680 --> 00:39:30,080 Speaker 1: the leaders of all the different networks and some of 741 00:39:30,080 --> 00:39:33,200 Speaker 1: the Cardinals partners as well. There had a beautiful dinner 742 00:39:33,480 --> 00:39:36,000 Speaker 1: and that that was one where Missy Gaspard and the 743 00:39:36,040 --> 00:39:38,799 Speaker 1: rest of the you know, the event's crew here helped 744 00:39:38,840 --> 00:39:41,240 Speaker 1: plan that dinner. And then we went across the street 745 00:39:41,320 --> 00:39:45,320 Speaker 1: inside of the Phoenix Convention Center for the post party, 746 00:39:45,480 --> 00:39:48,239 Speaker 1: which was we had a party and that was I 747 00:39:48,239 --> 00:39:53,160 Speaker 1: called Lisa Mannings Party. That's so we had a fantastic party. 748 00:39:53,160 --> 00:39:55,960 Speaker 1: I believe you were there, I think because we invited 749 00:39:56,000 --> 00:39:58,840 Speaker 1: the whole staff. I know, I was in EUGENEO. I 750 00:39:58,880 --> 00:40:01,600 Speaker 1: went from New Orleans to gene Oregon and got back 751 00:40:01,719 --> 00:40:04,640 Speaker 1: like late because yeah, I'm sorry, that's that time of 752 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:07,560 Speaker 1: year with college basketball, NBA everything else going on. Good 753 00:40:07,600 --> 00:40:11,120 Speaker 1: problem to have. But Gwen Stefanie was our entertainment and 754 00:40:11,200 --> 00:40:13,480 Speaker 1: she just rocked it out. It was awesome, and so 755 00:40:13,520 --> 00:40:17,319 Speaker 1: we had a great time Saturday night and then game Day. 756 00:40:17,400 --> 00:40:20,520 Speaker 1: The whole weekend was beautiful. The other thing that I 757 00:40:20,560 --> 00:40:25,520 Speaker 1: had the honor of doing again was participating as Vice 758 00:40:25,640 --> 00:40:30,520 Speaker 1: Chairman of the Arizona Commerce Authority in our Visiting CEO program. 759 00:40:30,560 --> 00:40:34,400 Speaker 1: In twenty fifteen, Governor Doocey and I teamed up invited 760 00:40:34,560 --> 00:40:38,960 Speaker 1: fifty different companies that were seriously about expanding or relocating 761 00:40:38,960 --> 00:40:43,120 Speaker 1: to Arizona. We landed twenty of those fifty companies, over 762 00:40:43,200 --> 00:40:47,040 Speaker 1: two billion dollars of investment, tens of thousands of employees 763 00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:51,200 Speaker 1: at high paying jobs with benefits. This time around, I 764 00:40:51,320 --> 00:40:56,760 Speaker 1: teamed up with Governor Katie Hobbs and we I think 765 00:40:56,960 --> 00:41:00,960 Speaker 1: we had seventy CEOs this time around, same visits CEO program, 766 00:41:00,960 --> 00:41:04,080 Speaker 1: with different with different companies this time around, and I 767 00:41:04,200 --> 00:41:08,520 Speaker 1: felt really good. Saturday afternoon, she and I and Sandra Watson, 768 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:11,759 Speaker 1: who heads up the Arizona Commerce Authority, we had what 769 00:41:11,800 --> 00:41:14,760 Speaker 1: I call corporate speed dating, and it was twenty minute 770 00:41:14,760 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 1: meetings with multiple companies, trying to pitch them to come 771 00:41:18,160 --> 00:41:20,799 Speaker 1: to Arizona. What can we do to close out this deal? 772 00:41:20,800 --> 00:41:22,279 Speaker 1: And so I think we're going to land a bunch 773 00:41:22,280 --> 00:41:25,560 Speaker 1: of those I felt really good about those meetings. Governor Hobbs, 774 00:41:25,560 --> 00:41:28,640 Speaker 1: who doesn't have a background in economic development, did a 775 00:41:28,640 --> 00:41:31,680 Speaker 1: great job in those meetings helping us. You know, it's 776 00:41:31,719 --> 00:41:34,799 Speaker 1: the sales pitch. It's like corporate free agency. It's you know, 777 00:41:35,160 --> 00:41:37,799 Speaker 1: you're trying to love up on these folks and get 778 00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:40,120 Speaker 1: them to commit to Arizona. So I think we're going 779 00:41:40,160 --> 00:41:41,720 Speaker 1: to land a bunch of those. So that was another 780 00:41:41,719 --> 00:41:44,040 Speaker 1: big highlight of the weekend. And then the game was 781 00:41:44,080 --> 00:41:47,960 Speaker 1: amazing Rihanna's halftime show. The stadium looked beautiful. There were 782 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:49,799 Speaker 1: so many good things that happened there. We had so 783 00:41:49,840 --> 00:41:54,319 Speaker 1: many great leaders and partners in the building, and I 784 00:41:54,360 --> 00:41:58,200 Speaker 1: think the campus looked amazing. Sportsman's Park at State Farm Stadium, 785 00:41:59,640 --> 00:42:02,680 Speaker 1: it was just so much bigger than it was in 786 00:42:02,719 --> 00:42:06,240 Speaker 1: twenty fifteen, probably three times the amount of parties happening 787 00:42:06,239 --> 00:42:09,920 Speaker 1: on the campus there. It was amazing. You've hosted multiple 788 00:42:09,960 --> 00:42:13,160 Speaker 1: Super Bowls. I assume you want to and will host more. 789 00:42:13,280 --> 00:42:17,560 Speaker 1: And obviously one of the draws for the Super Bowl 790 00:42:17,680 --> 00:42:19,640 Speaker 1: is the stadium. How have you been able to keep 791 00:42:19,680 --> 00:42:22,759 Speaker 1: it modern? The investments that you guys have been able 792 00:42:22,800 --> 00:42:25,080 Speaker 1: to make and will continue to make in the stadium 793 00:42:25,160 --> 00:42:28,279 Speaker 1: so since twenty fifteen, we've made over two hundred million 794 00:42:28,320 --> 00:42:32,879 Speaker 1: dollars worth of investments. And when these investments are all 795 00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:36,200 Speaker 1: about fan experience. So it's upgrading the Wi Fi to 796 00:42:36,239 --> 00:42:41,000 Speaker 1: the latest technology. It's installing five G capability inside the 797 00:42:41,040 --> 00:42:44,560 Speaker 1: stadium and outside the stadium, the parking lots, the Great Lawn, 798 00:42:44,600 --> 00:42:48,640 Speaker 1: the South Lawn, everywhere. It is modifying some of the 799 00:42:48,719 --> 00:42:51,880 Speaker 1: sidewalks to make it easier to get into into the stadium. 800 00:42:52,120 --> 00:42:56,759 Speaker 1: It's upgrading the security, it's upgrading the sound system. We 801 00:42:56,800 --> 00:42:59,720 Speaker 1: invested in the Great Lawn to create a fan pavilion 802 00:42:59,760 --> 00:43:02,920 Speaker 1: out with permanent restrooms and a beer garden. We a 803 00:43:02,920 --> 00:43:06,400 Speaker 1: lot of talk last year around the bed MGM Sportsbook, 804 00:43:06,440 --> 00:43:09,480 Speaker 1: the first NFL stadium, So we built new buildings. We 805 00:43:09,600 --> 00:43:13,239 Speaker 1: invested in the pregame experience. We've invested in the in 806 00:43:13,400 --> 00:43:17,480 Speaker 1: game experience, new video boards. I mean two hundred million dollars. 807 00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:20,759 Speaker 1: We you know, there's more to be done, and we'll 808 00:43:20,760 --> 00:43:24,680 Speaker 1: continue to upgrade and make the fan game day experience 809 00:43:24,840 --> 00:43:28,120 Speaker 1: and the pregame experience to be the best it can be. 810 00:43:28,160 --> 00:43:32,000 Speaker 1: And we're an organization. There's some sports teams out there 811 00:43:32,040 --> 00:43:35,719 Speaker 1: that you know, let their buildings fall behind. We're one 812 00:43:35,760 --> 00:43:39,080 Speaker 1: that constantly is investing in it. And I know our 813 00:43:39,080 --> 00:43:41,759 Speaker 1: fans recognize it because they see it. And it's just 814 00:43:41,880 --> 00:43:44,680 Speaker 1: not upgrading the club area or the suites where the 815 00:43:45,360 --> 00:43:50,600 Speaker 1: high end customers are, but it's the entire experience. Anybody 816 00:43:50,600 --> 00:43:53,840 Speaker 1: that's coming into that venue is noticed the big upgrades 817 00:43:53,840 --> 00:43:56,160 Speaker 1: that we've made throughout the entire building and the entire 818 00:43:56,360 --> 00:43:59,640 Speaker 1: parking lot area around the stadium. Well, somebody that is 819 00:43:59,680 --> 00:44:03,120 Speaker 1: in a lot of stadiums, a lot of I see 820 00:44:03,120 --> 00:44:06,120 Speaker 1: the ones that do lag behind that start out great. 821 00:44:06,239 --> 00:44:08,839 Speaker 1: And I'm not just saying this because you're sitting right here, 822 00:44:09,200 --> 00:44:13,040 Speaker 1: but it State Farm Stadium remains at the top in 823 00:44:13,120 --> 00:44:15,160 Speaker 1: terms of the venues that I that I see, and 824 00:44:15,239 --> 00:44:19,600 Speaker 1: I see NBA College Football and obviously all the NFL ones. 825 00:44:19,640 --> 00:44:22,040 Speaker 1: So yeah, no, I think I think we've done a 826 00:44:22,080 --> 00:44:26,000 Speaker 1: great job of literally keeping up with the Joneses to 827 00:44:26,160 --> 00:44:29,279 Speaker 1: the other stadium I like, is is the one in Minneapolis, 828 00:44:29,360 --> 00:44:33,240 Speaker 1: the Viking Stadium is US Bank Stadium is amazing as well, 829 00:44:33,280 --> 00:44:37,719 Speaker 1: and Las Vegas Allegiant Stadium is awesome. But there's no 830 00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:40,719 Speaker 1: better stadium than State Farm Stadium, especially when the Red 831 00:44:40,760 --> 00:44:42,880 Speaker 1: Sea is rocking and We're going to get back to that. 832 00:44:42,920 --> 00:44:45,880 Speaker 1: Winning football games at home is extremely important to me, 833 00:44:45,960 --> 00:44:48,439 Speaker 1: and that was something that I really emphasized with jg 834 00:44:48,640 --> 00:44:51,279 Speaker 1: and with Monni. We're going to get back to that. Well, 835 00:44:51,280 --> 00:44:53,360 Speaker 1: this has been great again. I think if you're a 836 00:44:53,400 --> 00:44:57,520 Speaker 1: Cardinal fan, you're excited. I said in one of the 837 00:44:57,520 --> 00:45:01,280 Speaker 1: interviews I did early on and they asked me about, 838 00:45:01,400 --> 00:45:03,160 Speaker 1: you know, my thoughts. I said, you know, I think 839 00:45:03,200 --> 00:45:05,960 Speaker 1: Michael made a pretty big statement going outside the organization 840 00:45:06,920 --> 00:45:10,920 Speaker 1: for a general manager, the hiring of Jgum. I think 841 00:45:10,960 --> 00:45:12,600 Speaker 1: if you're a Cardinal fan, you've got to be excited 842 00:45:12,640 --> 00:45:16,600 Speaker 1: about the direction that Michael's not messing around. I guess 843 00:45:17,640 --> 00:45:19,120 Speaker 1: is how I put it. There was a lot of 844 00:45:19,160 --> 00:45:21,440 Speaker 1: noise out there, Dave, and you saw some of the stuff. 845 00:45:21,440 --> 00:45:23,960 Speaker 1: It was just nonsense that people just you know, blah 846 00:45:23,960 --> 00:45:27,480 Speaker 1: blah blah, and we ignored it and it was like, 847 00:45:27,560 --> 00:45:29,960 Speaker 1: we weren't going to hit the easy button. We were 848 00:45:29,960 --> 00:45:31,839 Speaker 1: going to make sure that we did what we needed 849 00:45:31,880 --> 00:45:34,560 Speaker 1: to do to make the best decisions for this organization 850 00:45:34,600 --> 00:45:37,160 Speaker 1: going forward. And I think we did and time will tell, 851 00:45:37,520 --> 00:45:39,640 Speaker 1: but I'm excited about the start we're off too. Now. Well, 852 00:45:39,640 --> 00:45:43,640 Speaker 1: I know fans appreciate that and also are appreciative of 853 00:45:43,840 --> 00:45:51,800 Speaker 1: your candor today. Thanks Mike, appreciate you, appreciate Dave Wow. 854 00:45:52,000 --> 00:45:56,520 Speaker 1: A lot to unpack from our conversation with Arizona Cardinals 855 00:45:56,600 --> 00:45:59,800 Speaker 1: owner Michael Bidwill. Again, if you're a Cardinal fan, I 856 00:46:00,080 --> 00:46:04,200 Speaker 1: think you really appreciate the candor, the honesty, the transparency 857 00:46:04,280 --> 00:46:08,680 Speaker 1: about the past, present and future of the Arizona Cardinals. 858 00:46:09,320 --> 00:46:12,759 Speaker 1: I think the whole process of the draft that's going 859 00:46:12,800 --> 00:46:15,080 Speaker 1: to change over the next few years that really stood 860 00:46:15,080 --> 00:46:18,880 Speaker 1: out to me. And they're change in philosophy from what 861 00:46:18,920 --> 00:46:22,080 Speaker 1: the Cardinals had been doing to what they're going to 862 00:46:22,120 --> 00:46:24,760 Speaker 1: be doing going forward, which mirrors what the New England 863 00:46:24,760 --> 00:46:27,360 Speaker 1: Patriots have done and been so successful at over the 864 00:46:27,440 --> 00:46:32,239 Speaker 1: last two decades. The update on Kyler Murray's health was newsworthy, 865 00:46:32,440 --> 00:46:35,440 Speaker 1: as well as the fact that Colt McCoy is going 866 00:46:35,480 --> 00:46:37,719 Speaker 1: to be limited during the off season and that could 867 00:46:37,880 --> 00:46:42,560 Speaker 1: necessitate something through either the draft or free agency in 868 00:46:42,680 --> 00:46:45,040 Speaker 1: terms of bringing in another quarterback to get the Cardinals 869 00:46:45,040 --> 00:46:48,800 Speaker 1: through the off season. Again, appreciate Michael's time and hopefully 870 00:46:48,800 --> 00:46:50,879 Speaker 1: if you're a Cardinal fan, you got a lot out 871 00:46:50,920 --> 00:46:53,400 Speaker 1: of this conversation. We are presented by bet MGM, the 872 00:46:53,400 --> 00:46:56,520 Speaker 1: official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by 873 00:46:56,600 --> 00:46:59,880 Speaker 1: Hila River Resorts and Casinos. You can expect over the 874 00:46:59,920 --> 00:47:02,760 Speaker 1: next several months to hear from Cardinals GM Moni asen 875 00:47:02,840 --> 00:47:05,400 Speaker 1: Fort and head coach Jonathan Gannon, as well as a 876 00:47:05,440 --> 00:47:08,000 Speaker 1: lot of others on the Dave Pash Podcast or Thanks 877 00:47:08,000 --> 00:47:10,240 Speaker 1: to you for listening. You can follow us on Twitter 878 00:47:10,320 --> 00:47:12,680 Speaker 1: at Pashpod. You can also rate us and review us. 879 00:47:12,719 --> 00:47:16,240 Speaker 1: Tell us what you think by going to your podcast platform. 880 00:47:16,280 --> 00:47:19,319 Speaker 1: Thanks again to Cardinals owner Michael Bidwell. Thanks to you 881 00:47:19,360 --> 00:47:25,400 Speaker 1: for listening to another edition of the Dave Pash Podcast