Arizona Cardinals: Right place but wrong time players

They were outstanding NFL performers who joined the Arizona Cardinals’ franchise when they hit the downside of their careers

If only they could’ve been members of the Arizona Cardinals’ organization sooner. They came to the team after dominating the league for other clubs. Classic cases of “too little, too late” for former stars attempting to prolong their football lives in the desert.

Defensive end Dexter Manley came to the squad in1990 when they were known as the “Phoenix ” Cardinals. The former Oklahoma State University star was a dominant sack artist for the Washington Redskins during the 1980’s. Manley terrorized opposing quarterbacks, racking up an incredible 97.5 sacks during his time in the NFL.

Unfortunately, his Cards’ career lasted a grand total of four games. Phoenix’s head coach at the time, Joe Bugel, had known Manley from theIr days with the ‘Skins. Washington’s former offensive line coach pushed hard for the Cardinals’ GM at the time, Larry Wilson, to claim the troubled player off of waivers.

Manley was fresh off of a year-long, league banishment for failing three drug tests. His demons got the best of him, the temptation to sniff cocaine was a daily battle for the two-time Super Bowl Champion. The Cards were hoping that the old Manley would resurface, but in hindsight that was nothing but a pipedream.

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Manley wasn’t the only ex-Redskins’ legend to trek to the Valley of the Sun. Wide receiver Gary Clark ran roughshod over NFL secondaries during his time in the nation’s capital. The four-time Pro Bowler, along with Art Monk and Ricky Sanders, formed the trio of wideouts known as the “Posse”.

His two campaigns with the Cardinals were by no means awful. Actually, the pair of seasons only suffered by comparison to what he had done while a Redskin. He did manage to catch 113 passes for 1,589 yards and five touchdowns for the squad (1993-94).

Rod Graves, another former GM of the Cards, couldn’t resist bringing the league’s career rushing leader to Arizona in 2003. But even the Red Sea had to admit that it was strange seeing Emmitt Smith in Cardinal red. That didn’t stop Graves from inking the Dallas Cowboys’ great to a two-year contract, worth $4 million a season.

Smith wasn’t terrible with the Cards. He did rush for 937 yards and score nine touchdowns on the ground in 2004. Nevertheless, most observers couldn’t help but get the feeling that the Hall of Famer should’ve called it quits following the 2002 season.

Guard Alan Faneca was part of the “Steelers West” movement that began when Ken Whisenhunt became Arizona’s head coach in 2007. The product of LSU wound down an outstanding career with the Cardinals in 2010. Faneca was one of the best offensive lineman in history, having been voted to an impressive nine Pro Bowls.

Quarterback Norman “Boomer” Esiason was brought in by first-year head coach Vince Tobin to be his starter in 1996. Despite an incredible three-game stretch in the middle of the year, the four-time Pro Bowler ultimately lost his job to journeyman Kent Graham. Esiason returned home to the Cincinnati Bengals the next season before hanging up his cleats.

Outside linebacker Wilber Marshall and a former head coach of the Cards, the late Buddy Ryan, reunited in 1994. The two had won a Super Bowl together following the 1985 season as members of the Chicago Bears’ vaunted defense (Ryan as defensive coordinator). After three career Pro Bowl appearances, Marshall made a cameo with Arizona before retiring one year later.

Dennis Thurman was an excellent defensive back with the Dallas Cowboys before playing one year for the Cardinals (when they resided in St. Louis). He registered 36 interceptions for “America’s team” before reuniting with a former Dallas assistant, Gene Stallings, with the Cards in 1986. Thurman would return to the organization as defensive backs coach in 1988-89.

Another one of the countless former Steelers to defect to the West was outside linebacker Joey Porter. After four Pro Bowls, the 6’3″, 248 pounder had a decent campaign with Arizona in 2010 (50 tackles, five sacks). Porter then played out the string in 2011, appearing in just six games before retiring.

Hometown hero Todd Heap (born in Mesa, AZ) played his final two seasons for the Cardinals (2011-12). The tight end made it to two Pro Bowls while a member of the Baltimore Ravens, but only found the end zone once as a Card. Heap’s daughter was tragically killed at his home in Mesa this past April.

That’s quite an impressive array of talent. The cream of the crop of the NFL. How wonderful it would’ve been if they had given the Cardinals their best years.

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