Raising Zona
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Arizona Cardinals: Picking the all 2000’s team

By Scott Allen

Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /

The Arizona Cardinals have had some very good players come and play for them the first 17 years of the 21st century

A lot of talk today about the Mt. Rushmore of players in Arizona Sports, initiated by Bickley and Marotta today at arizonasports.com.  That got me to thinking, what about if we were just talking about the Arizona Cardinals?

There could be a number of players we could put on the first team of the 2000’s.  However here is the team I came up with.

There will be disagreements and rightfully so.  It is just one man’s opinion.

First team:

Quarterback: Kurt Warner

Running back: David Johnson, Edgerrin James

Receivers: Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin

Tight end: Freddie Jones

OL: Lyle Sendlein, Jared Veldheer, Deuce Lutui, Mike Iupati, L.J. Shelton

DL: Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett, Bertrand Berry, Calvin Pace

LB: Markus Golden, Chandler Jones, Karlos Dansby

DB: Patrick Peterson, Pat Tillman, Tyrann Mathieu, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie

It’s a tough list in some spots, not so much in others.  Many of the players on this list are more recent.  That also reflects the recent history of the team.

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Some guys like Pat Tillman, Calvin pace, L.J. Shelton were guys who played earlier in the 2000’s. Tillman is a no-brainer.  He gave up a professional career for one with the Army and ended up losing his life because of it.

The Cardinals gave up Rodgers-Cromartie for what they thought their future at quarterback would be.  That didn’t work out so well.

Guys like David Johnson, Markus Golden, and Chandler Jones still have plenty of years left.  By the time all is said and done, guys like D.J. Humphries, Jermaine Gresham, and others could replace some players on this list.

The Cardinals lost Campbell in free agency but got Dansby back for his third go-around with the team in 2017.  Mathieu looks to get back on track after injuries have left him less than 100 percent over the past year.

If Carson Palmer ends up winning a Super Bowl this season, he could replace Warner, part of the 2017 Pro Football Hall of Fame class.  It should be a fun ride finding out.

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