Evaluating the Cardinals 2020 Draft Class
Simmons showed flashes while Hopkins met high expectations. @JohnnyVenerable
Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports
As we approach the 2021 “Draft Season”, I thought it would be appropriate to review last year’s group and their contributions during this past season.
While it would be foolish to judge a single class off one year, that doesn’t mean their contributions (or lack there of) shouldn’t be evaluated heading into next fall.
The 2020 Arizona Cardinal draft class was the eighth selected by GM Steve Keim (2013-2020).
Isaiah Simmons (LB/Clemson) - 8th Overall - 1st Round
At the end of the day, this class will likely be defined by the contributions of former Butkus Award Winner Isaiah Simmons. The Clemson product shot up draft boards alike following his monster 2019 collegiate campaign in combination with his record setting combine.
Should Cardinals Tag Patrick Peterson?
Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images
I would like to thank Burns and Gambo for taking the time to read my “Cardinals’ 2021 Jobs in Question” article and then discussing aspects of it on their show a couple of days ago.
I listen very frequently to Burns and Gambo. I appreciate their energetic insights and their visceral reactions to what they see day-to-day and week-to-week from the Cardinals. As someone who grew up in the New York metropolitan area, I think that Burns and Gambo are Arizona’s equivalent of WFAN’s Mike and the Mad Dog. As a football fan, you want to hear shrewd analysis combined with passionate banter. With Burns and Gambo, just as it was in NY with Mike and The Mad Dog - we get lavish servings of both - plus the added element of alluring entertainment.
Mock Offseason
CAP is currently at $9,806,150 which I am going to round down to
9.75 million for convenience.
40 Million available Re-sign:
DE/DT Leonard Williams: 5 years/ 85 million (30 million guaranteed) [9, 20, 25, 16, 15]
My first initial drafts of this offseason had Williams walking, but should Williams want to return now that Graham is returning (the players on defense seem to love him) and Kevin Abrams can work his magic with the contracts to get both Williams and Tomlinson signed back then I think DG, Joe Judge and Patrick Graham would welcome Leonard back with open arms. The overall number is high, but the guaranteed part is super low. Williams has to bet on himself with this contract, but despite a double digit sack year I am not sure Williams is heading for a massive guarantee on his contract. Many teams will still be hesistant given his inconsistency with sacks year to year. The one team I fear in re-signing Williams is the Patriots where they have significant C
NFL awards 13 new grants under Inspire Change initiative Follow Us
Question of the Day By BARRY WILNER - Associated Press - Friday, January 8, 2021
The NFL expanded its social Justice initiative Inspire Change on Friday by awarding 13 new grants to nonprofit organizations across the country.
The league and teams, who now have committed more than $95 million in the initiative, also will provide funding to support closing the digital divide.
“We’re focused on the gap in access to technology and technological hardware and software, and we’re seeing it really exacerbated during the pandemic,” says Anna Isaacson, the NFL’s senior vice president of social responsibility. “It’s a much bigger issue with kids learning at home and schools having difficulty opening. These are digital divide issues, very local issues.
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
When you look back at the past decade of Pittsburgh Steelers football you will notice a couple of things. Most prominently how much talent has been on the roster, the lack of playoff success, and the amount of high profile injures. With the Steelers injured reserve seemingly growing by the week we are rapidly approaching ‘injuries ruined the season’ territory. So today we will look back at the past 10 years of Steelers football and how each season was effected by injury.
2011
Photo by George Gojkovich/Getty Images
The 2011 season was a fairly successful one for the Steelers. Finishing 12-4 but losing the AFC North the Steelers were force to travel to 8-8 Denver for wildcard weekend. It’s hard to blame injuries for this famous playoff as Demaryius Thomas took overtimes first play 80 yards for a touchdown. A putrid game plan from Dick LeBeau gave the equally bad Tim Tebow minutes to throw in the pocket. The Broncos would lose by 35 points the