Cardinals Cover 2

Ep. 740 - It’s been a bit quiet on the free-agent front. Yes, the Cardinals are paying attention to those players still on the market - heck, they may even have an interest in signing one, two, or more of them - but, for the moment, their focus has shifted to the draft, which is less than four weeks away. Regardless of if it’s free agency or the draft, there are needs that must be addressed. Edge...

Ep. 739 - Fans are guaranteed to see at least two kickoffs every game. And last season, kickoffs were an afterthought. That’s about to change with the league approving new kickoff rules for 2024. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss what it’s going to look like and, more importantly, how the Cardinals will likely benefit from the new approach; and maybe why they made DeeJay Dallas an early sign...

Ep. 738 - No team is in better position for the 2024 NFL Draft than the Arizona Cardinals. Or, more specifically, no *one person* as Broncos head coach Sean Payton said on Monday from the Annual League Meeting in Orlando. With the fourth overall pick, the Cardinals are the talk of the league. Darren Urban heard all the talk. From Orlando, he joins Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi to discuss what it...

Ep. 737 - Do you love ball? And do you put team first? That’s how Jonathan Gannon defines the price of admission to be an Arizona Cardinal. And, yes, being a good football player is a must. All nine players – to date – signed in free agency paid the price of admission. Gannon and Monti Ossenfort met the media on Wednesday to discuss the moves made thus far. What did they say? Craig Grialou and Dan...

Ep. 736 - Back after a week away, Craig Grialou enlists the help of Paul Calvisi to go over everything that happened at the start of the new league year. And there was a lot. Seven players re-signed, seven players signed, one player was acquired and there were a handful of good-byes. The discussion began with GM Monti Ossenfort’s focus on the defense, specifically the defensive line; an edge rushe...

Ep. 735 - In what is likely the first of many moves to provide the team depth along the defensive line going into next season, the Cardinals re-signed veteran L.J. Collier on Friday. It’s a one-year deal ahead of the official start of free agency. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss the decision to bring back Collier, who played less than one game last season after suffering a biceps injury in W...

Ep. 734 - Free agency begins in one week, so how does GM Monti Ossenfort approach the market? Does he re-sign players? Does he bring in new players? Or is it some combination of both? Bottom line is a lot of decisions need to be made at several different positions. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman discuss some of those decisions, specifically at cornerback, safety and running back; highlighting Zac...

Ep. 733 - It happens every year. One or two quarterbacks will hear their name called earlier than projected; and for some, a lot earlier. If that happens this year, then the Cardinals, who have the fourth overall pick, stand to benefit. Craig Grialou - fresh off a week-long stay in Indianapolis for the 2024 Scouting Combine - and Paul Calvisi discuss the many options for GM Monti Ossenfort, especi...

Ep. 732 - Do the Cardinals go wide receiver or is the choice offensive line? And maybe there is no wrong decision. Charles Davis, NFL Network and NFL on CBS analyst, joined Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck from Indianapolis, site of the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to talk about what the Cardinals may do with the fourth overall pick. Other topics discussed with Davis included why some teams may priorit...

Ep. 729 - That’s where games are won or lost, right? The Cardinals need to invest in the offensive line and defensive line this offseason. But how? Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman put the line of scrimmage under the microscope. Who’s under contract? Who isn’t under contract? And then, what’s the level of need when looking ahead to free agency and the draft? Speaking of the draft, the Scouting Comb...

Ep. 728 - The Scouting Combine is in two weeks. Free agency begins in one month. The NFL Draft happens at the end of April. In other words, what offseason? This, though, is the time when teams look to improve their rosters. The Cardinals are no exception. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck talk about what’s ahead, first with a conversation about the needs on offense and then shifting their attention to...

Ep. 727 - Of course, the Cardinals’ offseason began more than a month ago. But with Super Bowl 58 now in the rearview mirror, the entire league is on the clock. The goal: to be where the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers were on Sunday, playing for the Lombardi Trophy. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi breakdown the big game, from the plays that were made to the plays that weren’t made and t...

Ep. 726 - Is James Conner’s stiff arm of Patrick Peterson in Week 13 worthy of Angry Run of the Year? Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman certainly think so. Everyone will find out on Thursday, when the Angry Run of the Year will be announced as part of NFL Honors. Budda Baker (Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award) and Jonathan Ledbetter (Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year) may also hear their names called d...

Ep. 725 - It is officially Super Bowl week. But before Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss the big game, they discuss the just completed Pro Bowl and all the event’s activities. Budda Baker was the Cardinals’ lone representative. He had a hand in the NFC’s win over the AFC. He also stopped to talk with Sureck, who was in Orlando leading up to Sunday’s game. What did Baker have to say? How does B...

Ep. 724 - Teams are built from the inside out. That said, the Cardinals are in great position with the fourth overall pick. Do they go offensive line, or do they go wide receiver? Is there a right answer? Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi discuss the options. Of course, Calvisi is hoping GM Monti Ossenfort trades down, adding more draft capital. Also, they react in real time to the Cardinals’ first t...

Ep. 723 - The offseason is not even a month old and there is already some early buzz that the Cardinals will be a playoff team in 2024. Of course, a lot needs to happen between now and then, but it does speak to how well the team competed in Jonathan Gannon’s first season as head coach. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck talk playoffs, both next season and this season. How do they feel about the Super...

Ep. 722 - It is award season and, well, Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman didn’t want to be left out. It is time for the 2023 Cardinals Awards, as voted by the 30-person Content & Creative Team. There are six categories. Some winners were more obvious than others. Other winners faced tougher competition, most notably Offensive Player of the Year and Beyond the Box Score Player of the Year. All resul...

Ep. 721 - No dancing, like John Harbaugh. Shirts will remain on, unlike Jason Kelce. With that said, Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi dive into the divisional round of the playoffs; the biggest stories coming from the weekend’s four games. Of course, one of the bigger stories - at least for Cardinals fans - is the Cardinals now know their second first-round pick in April’s draft will be 27th overall...

Ep. 720 - Ahead of next week’s announcement of the annual Arizona Cardinals Year-End Awards, Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss - after a brief conversation about Blockbuster Video, a conversation Dani started much to the surprise and enjoyment of Craig - who they voted for in six separate categories. They agreed on Newcomer of the Year, Beyond the Box Score Player of the Year and Play of the Y...

Ep. 719 - A loss on Sunday ended the regular season, but it did not end the good feelings surrounding the 2023 Arizona Cardinals. In fact, it’s just the opposite. There is a lot to look forward to; and, yes, a lot of work to do. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi begin the offseason discussion, first with a look back at the 21-20 loss to the Seattle Seahawks - who knows, maybe come April the loss will...

Ep. 718 - Never has James Conner ran for 1,000 yards in a season. And only once has he eclipsed 900 rushing yards in a season. Conner has a chance to reach both milestones on Sunday when the Cardinals host the Seattle Seahawks. It is the last game of the season, and what better way to go out than with a win and a career achievement. Also, a win would eliminate the Seahawks from the playoffs. A bon...

Ep. 717 - Very unfortunate news on Wednesday. Starting left tackle - and the longest-tenured Cardinals player - D.J. Humphries will miss the season finale on Sunday, and he will likely miss a good chunk of the start of next season due to torn ACL. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what that means moving forward for the offensive line, a position that has been a pleasant surprise this season. O...

Ep. 716 - No question it was the best win of the season. And for head coach Jonathan Gannon, it had to have been the most satisfying win of the season. Craig Grialou and Paul Calvisi look back at Sunday’s come-from-behind 35-31 victory at the Philadelphia Eagles. So many contributors - Gannon does like to say “it takes all 11 on the field.” Kyler Murray played his best game of the season; James Co...

Ep. 715 - When the schedule was released in May, this was among the more anticipated matchups. And it had nothing to do with the players themselves. No, it had everything to do with the two head coaches and the location. On Sunday in Philadelphia, head coach Jonathan Gannon faces good friend and the man he worked under for two years with the Eagles as defensive coordinator, Nick Sirianni, in the c...

Ep. 714 - The Cardinals haven’t faced a ton of dual-threat quarterbacks this season. Lamar Jackson comes to mind back in Week 8. But here the Cardinals are, for the second straight week, preparing to face a quarterback who is as good with his arm as he is with his legs. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what to expect from Jalen Hurts and what the Cardinals defense may have learned from just p...