Why the 2016 version of the Arizona Cardinals may be the most well-liked and respected team in the organization’s history
How important is it to actually like and admire the team you put your heart into every week? For some fans it isn’t a necessity. As long as their team is winning that’s all that matters, the character of that team is secondary.
There doesn’t appear to be any problem at all liking this season’s Arizona Cardinals. They are a group of hard-working, respectable and media friendly guys. Not surprisingly their example is their head coach, Bruce Arians.
Arians is friendly, brutally honest yet fair, his press conferences are extremely entertaining. His story is of perseverance, dreaming of becoming a head coach until that dream was finally realized in Arizona. Trying to find someone in the NFL to say a bad word about Arians is an almost impossible task.
The face of the franchise, pretty much since he was drafted in 2004, has been wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. In an age of prima donna wide receivers Fitz is refreshingly humble, has a smile that can light up your television screen. He’s so likable that even a big-mouthed rival like Seattle’s Richard Sherman finds it hard to say something negative about the future Hall of Famer.
Quarterback Carson Palmer is all class. He’s a born leader, a guy that his teammates will truly go the extra mile for. Hard not to root for a player who has fought so hard to come back from not one but two devastating knee injuries in the hope of winning a Lombardi trophy.
Listening to cornerback Patrick Peterson speak and I’m reminded of a man well beyond his 25 years. His exuberance on the field is contagious, a treat for fans to watch. His dressing up as an elf on a road trip to Philadelphia as payment for losing a bet was both hilarious and memorable!
Running back David Johnson is quickly becoming fan-favorite. As athletic and entertaining as he is on the field he’s humble and soft-spoken off of it. He’s destined for stardom but the kid seems so grounded that he should have no problem handling those accolades when they are bestowed on him.
Defensive end Calais Campbell seems like a funny, happy-go-lucky guy. As big as he is he doesn’t seem like a guy who’d be intimidating to approach for an autograph. His speaking voice bears an uncanny resemblance to the late, great Hall of Famer Reggie White, very entertaining!
The same words used to describe David Johnson can be used for third year wide receiver John Brown. Humble most certainly comes to mind. The backstory of him playing in memory of his deceased brother is also sure to pull at the heart strings.
So is it important to like the team you cheer for? I’m sure for some fans it is, some it isn’t. But it would not be difficult to cheer for such a likable group of guys like the 2016 Arizona Cardinals.
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