Arizona Cardinals hoping trade will provide results
After being traded to the struggling Arizona Cardinals, Adrian Peterson’s arrival in the desert feels more like a godsend after his “prayers” were answered.
Ten years after the Cardinals were to draft future Hall of Fame running back, Adrian Peterson, he finally has arrived.
Albeit a decade later, Peterson is now a Cardinal and will once again be a feature back after things didn’t quite go his way in New Orleans.
“I wasn’t pushing to be moved,” Peterson said, “but I’d be lying to you to say that I didn’t want a change of scenery after four weeks seeing how things played out.”
A change of scenery that would deter most backs in the NFL. Arizona is rushing for an abysmal 51.8 yards per game (32nd). That’s dead last in the league. Not a great complement to the NFL’s number 2-ranked passing offense (289 yards/game).
Behind a sorry excuse for an offensive line this year, quarterback Carson Palmer has put up major numbers, despite being beaten up and sacked a total of 19(!) times this season through 5 games.
Even the slightest threat of a run game would alleviate those concerns for Palmer. Life without David Johnson has made it relatively easy for opposing defenses. The Cardinals were one-dimensional — it wasn’t a secret.
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Enter: AD (All Day). Who Bruce Arians has said will start this Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Peterson, however, will not take any 3rd down snaps. Gaining 4-5 yards on first or second down will make Palmer’s life much easier, and Peterson –even behind a terrible line — will provide that.
The 32-year-old isn’t worried about his new offensive live, though. “This isn’t my first rodeo,” he said. “I’ve been in situations where I didn’t have the best offensive line in front of me and was able to be productive and accomplish some great things as a team and individually as well.”
With hopes of having “a lot left in the tank,” Peterson will look to resurrect the Cardinals like a Phoenix from the ashes and keep playoff aspirations alive.
Have the football gods sent the Cards an answer while David Johnson is still out? Or will Peterson be another has-been NFL player the Cardinals sign in the twilight of his career?