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Arizona Cardinals: If 2016 was the Golden Globes

By Scott Allen

Dec 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians watches from the sidelines in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 24, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians watches from the sidelines in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Cardinals won 34-31. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) against the New York Jets at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2016; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche (90) against the New York Jets at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

Best Performance by an Actor – Drama

Winner: Robert Nkemdiche

In September 2015, Nkemdiche was named on of the top five prospects for the 2016 NFL Draft. For one reason or another though by the end of the 2015 college football season, Nkemdiche fell down a lot of scouts charts and experts mock drafts.

For awhile we wondered why?  He had all the talent in the world and looked to be the real deal coming out of Ole Miss.  Then a marijuana incident got him suspended for the 2016 Sugar Bowl.

The lights were coming on with NFL personnel.  Experts now were shying a bit away from talking him up.  He ended up falling to the bottom of the first round and being taken by the Cardinals.

At first glance it seemed like the Cardinals were getting a steal that early in the draft.  However it was a sign of things to come.

Nkemdiche’s work habits were lamented by the Cardinals in the preseason.  Sound familiar?  The Cardinals had the same issue with D.J. Humphries the year before.

The big difference was Nkemdiche still had maturing to do not only on the field but off the field. He showed up for a road trip at the airport wearing a t-shirt, not professionally dressed as required.

It was too much drama for the Cardinals and for that reason Nkemdiche was inactive for all but five games in his rookie season.  He registered all of one tackle in the 2016 season.

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