Calais Campbell will be missed by Arizona Cardinals
By Jim Koch
The Arizona Cardinals desire to be Super Bowl contenders this year will cost them their mainstay at defensive end
The Arizona Cardinals knew the time would be coming. A time when decisions would need to be made on what players to keep and who to let go. For fans of defensive end Calais Campbell, it may be difficult to see him leave.
On Wednesday evening, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Campbell is going to sign with the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jaguars were not a team mentioned often in the same breath as possibilities for Campbell.
Jacksonville is expected to sign Arizona DE Calais Campbell barring any last minute negotiable snags, per @diannaESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2017
Such is the brutal world of NFL free agency. It’s not a good idea to get attached to players, they could be here today, gone tomorrow.
General Manager Steve Keim welcomed back Carson Palmer and Larry Fitzgerald this offseason with open arms. If the Cards were gonna have any realistic shot at making a Super Bowl run this year, those two had to return. Unfortunately, the duo eats up close to $40 million in salary cap space, so it’s a tough task for Keim to retain a highly sought-after free agent like Campbell.
Campbell will be sorely missed both on and off the field. He’s a two-time Pro Bowler, but he probably should’ve been voted to more of them. Off the field he has been exemplary, a true leader in every sense of the word.
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What Cardinals fan is gonna forget him getting in the faces of teammates before games, aiming to get them as pumped up as he was? His personality is contagious. Hearing him speak, you can’t help but be reminded of the late Philadelphia Eagles great, Reggie White.
As a player, his ability to bat down opposing quarterback’s throws is reflected in his 42 career pass breakups. He has also consistently brought down those quarterbacks, with 56.5 sacks on his resume. Over his nine campaigns, he has recorded 501 tackles, three interceptions and eight forced fumbles to boot.
There’s no doubt that the Cardinals defense will feel the impact of his absence. Jacksonville will be getting a top-notch player and person.