Cardinals Underground

Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard cannonball into the deep end of free agency talk with free agent talk – and the franchise tag – dominating the days a week out. The trio discuss no tag for Haason Reddick and Reddick’s future; the potential of another high-profile signing despite the Cards closing in on the cap; the rookie contract window of Kyler and the inevitability of a giant Murray...

It’s still true – J.J. Watt is a Cardinal, as odd as it sounds. Does his presence impact not only the pass rush but the culture? Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard chew on that topic, as well as considering the unretirement of No. 99, Watt’s ability to be inspirational for the defense and the “whole lot” of gas he says he has left, how his salary cap number might be figured and what it me...

Who saw this coming? Not Darren Urban, Kyle Odegard and Paul Calvisi, who were as blown away by the addition of J.J. Watt to the defense as anyone. So much so, here’s a special all-Watt, all-the-time podcast. The guys talk about the energy and leadership Watt will bring to the field and the locker room, the trickle down impact it may have on contracts and on drawing other free agents, what Watt ha...

It’s the first time since he started going in 2001 that Darren Urban isn’t in Indianapolis for the Scouting combine, so with both he and Kyle Odegard protocoled out of that trip, they join Paul Calvisi on a cornucopia of topics. That includes Andy Isabella’s at-home powerlifting; the possibility of playing tag with Haason Reddick; Kenyan Drake and the uncertainty of most free agents right now; the...

No, no breaking news yet, whether it’s any free agent interest or Fitz’s decision. The guys do talk a bunch about the latter, but Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard also get into the potential impact of new WR coach Shawn Jefferson on Andy Isabella, Kenyan Drake’s desire for fans to come back (and a debate whether it matters on the scoreboard), LeBron in the NFL, Johnny Manziel not in the...

It’s typical to have a lot of takeaways from the Super Bowl (and how they might relate to the Cardinals), so Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard do that, although the end of the season means free agency – and a decision for both Patrick Peterson and the team about Patrick Peterson. The guys talk about the “dirty rumor” Peterson addresses, the potential of drafting a cornerback, how Peterso...

What might be the celebratory meal for our trio if they were to win a Super Bowl? Such is the question for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard, but for that to happen for the Cardinals, the team would have to get through the dog-eat-dog world of the NFC West, which has a new quarterback in L.A. and perhaps another team seeking an upgrade. The Cards’ own QB, Kyler Murray, might still think...

The Super Bowl is set, with Bruce Arians part of the Bucs-Chiefs equation, so there are B.A. memories on tap for Paul Calvisi and Darren Urban while Kyle Odegard takes the week off. The duo talk the NFC Championship game, how the final four underscore how much of a passing league the NFL really is, the promotion of Sean Kugler and Cam Turner along with the addition of Shawn Jefferson to the coachi...

It’s a quarterback-driven league, and that’s easy to see with four top QBs in the NFL championship games, and a fifth suddenly with questions about the future in Houston. Makes sense that Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard would use that has a jumping off point to the Cardinals’ own man behind center. The trio talk about Kyler Murray’s expectations in Year 3, his ability to push the Cardi...

Virtual slime might help a TV broadcast – thanks, Nickelodeon! – but probably not impact where the Cardinals stand in the NFC West or what they need to fix. Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard take a look at the playoffs and what NFC West rivals the Rams and Seahawks looked like, and how that reflects and challenges the Cardinals. As for the on-vacation Cards, a brief look at what ails the...

Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard only traffic in the latest info – and that’s all about the Cardinals’ disappointing end to the season and the offseason ahead. So the trio discuss the emotions of the finish, the backup quarterback situation, Kyler Murray’s health, the stunning offensive dropoff, the need to add a wide receiver, the Cards’ place in the NFC West, the biggest defensive nee...

It’s very simple for the Cardinals, a grading scale of in or out – beat the Rams, it’s the playoffs. Lose, and you are done. Not a bad topic for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard, who discuss playoff scenarios, the hard-to-explain loss to the 49ers, the mystery of the up-and-down offense, the Rams losing QB Jared Goff, backup QBs and the Chris Streveler’s potential legendary role, Kyler...

Time is running out for gift-buying – Paul Calvisi is freaking out – but the Cards have the perfect gift for their fans and themselves if they can get into the playoffs. Maybe the Cards can clinch a spot this weekend? Certainly worth a discussion between Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard, along with DeAndre Hopkins’ freakishness, Kyler’s continued shiny moments (while looking for consistency)...

After Haason Reddick sacked the Big Apple, there is much to talk about with the linebacker’s breakout season, including the emotions of the day, his learning curve to get there and what it means for the free-agent market as well as the Cards’ defense. But Reddick isn’t the only topic for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard. There’s also the pass rush by committee and Dennis Gardeck’s impac...

The Cardinals are seeking their lost offense, and Paul Calvisi’s catchy slogans aren’t enough to fix things. Still, Paul, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard discuss it all in depth, from what defenses are showing the Cards, Kyler Murray’s struggles, the disappearing chunk plays, routing D-Hop and yes, Kyler running (or not.) They also talk about potential offensive tweaks, expectations for both K1 and...

The Cardinals head into December’s stretch run still in control of their playoff destiny, but after a November that put a dent into those hopes and a brutal loss in New England, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard try to remember that nothing lasts forever. So in hopes of a bounceback month, the guys discuss the odd struggles of the offense and Kyler Murray’s progress, the targets and use...

Kyler Murray wants to make sure his shoulder is OK and Isaiah Simmons wants to make sure he can help carry a banged-up defense, and both are natural topics for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard on this week’s episode. Also on tap: Kyler’s ability to run in New England, a league-leading offense that still could do more, penalty problems that won’t seem to go away, Patriots road games past...

An amazing finish and a short week, so of course Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard are going to go deep on the Hail Murray, that Kyler MVP consideration, the parts of the Cards that need improvement if they are to stay in the race to win the division, the potential of the Cardinals earning more national TV games, the Seahawks’ issues, one-time third-round draft pick Random Variance, Keny...

Coming out of the bye week, the Cardinals were left having to deal with COVID issues within the defense. Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard talk about potentially losing Devon Kennard and Byron Murphy and why they have the depth to get through it; why stats aren’t always everything and a way back story from 2004; How to deal with newbie Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa; those pesky bye issues;...

Thank goodness the temperatures are finally dropping -- just as the Cardinals are getting hot. Sure, the bye weekend looms, but Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard have things they have to get off their chest, like what team might be left standing atop the NFC West, how the way the defense responded in the second half against the Seahawks, Patrick Peterson’s big game, Kenyan Drake’s injury...

Sure, if you get all your information only from Wikipedia, that might not be the best course of action, but if you listen to Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard, there is plenty to learn about the Cardinals. In this week’s episode, they discuss the unique skillset of Kyler Murray and how the stats aren’t always going to show his production; the metamorphosis, déjà vu-style, of the offense;...

With Kliff Kingsbury and Kyler Murray about to return to their home state for “Monday Night Football,” Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard talk about how the K2+K1 offense finally broke out in some important ways, how they might fare against a struggling Cowboys defense, the Chase Edmonds effect, how the defense will make it work without Chandler Jones, dealing with a Cowboys offense witho...

With a tip of the cap to the late Eddie Van Halen, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard search his discography to see what applies to the struggling Cardinals, who go to New York this week needing a win badly. The Cards’ inconsistent passing game is a topic, and the guys also discuss how high the bar should be for Kyler Murray in Year 2, how close Kenyan Drake is to showing like 2019, findi...

The Cardinals are trying to shake off their first loss while Budda Baker’s thumb makes them thin at safety, so Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard discuss what to do however long Baker is down – including the potential of Isaiah Simmons playing safety instead of linebacker – as well as Kyler Murray’s influence on the outcome, what the QB must still work on, DeAndre Hopkins’ fantabulous sta...

Yes, it’s only two games, so no one should proclaim a finished product. But Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard still have plenty good to talk about, like Kyler’s legs, Fitz’s position, an offense spreading its wings, the pros and cons of going for it on fourth down – especially deep in your own end, a defense standing out but one that will be tested by a Lions’ passing offense, how good D...