Arizona Cardinals quarterback fraternity seeking new pledge

First-round draft pick Josh Rosen is being counted on to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in Arizona Cardinals’ history

The quarterback history of the Arizona Cardinals is far from a storied one. While some quality passers have represented the organization over the years, none have been able to deliver them a Super Bowl Championship.

There’s currently a reason for optimism, however. Some savvy maneuvering by the Cards’ front office this past April brought the talented Josh Rosen to the desert. The hope is that the rookie will eventually go where no other Cardinals’ passer has gone before.

The great Kurt Warner came up just short of supplying the franchise with their first Lombardi Trophy. Arizona was two minutes and change away from winning Super Bowl XLIII, after the Hall of Famer hit Larry Fitzgerald for a 64-yard touchdown. The Pittsburgh Steelers crushed that dream a short time later, but it didn’t take away from the fact that Warner threw for 15,843 yards and 100 touchdowns during his time with the Cards.

With Carson Palmer at the helm, the Cardinals made it all the way to the NFC Championship game following the 2015 campaign. That contest also ended in defeat, but the three-time Pro Bowler was a magnificent part of the team’s history, nevertheless. Palmer compiled an excellent 38-21-1 record as Arizona’s starter, tallying 16,782 passing yards and 105 scoring tosses during his stint with Big Red.

If longevity counts for anything, then Jim Hart would certainly receive a high grade. The four-time Pro Bowler led the squad’s aerial attack for quite some time (1966-1983), back when the Cards resided in St. Louis. Hart’s 34,639 yards passing and 209 touchdown throws are still team records.

Neil Lomax may have been one of the most underrated quarterbacks of his generation. The two-time Pro Bowler was a Cardinal from 1981-88, before a chronic hip condition forced him into a premature retirement at the age of 30. Lomax led St. Louis to a playoff appearance in 1982, and amassed 22,771 passing yards and 136 touchdowns during his short career.

Jake Plummer, who starred at Arizona State University, was behind center for Arizona from 1997-2002. The ‘Snake’s’ best Cardinals moment occurred in 1999, when he engineered a 20-7 postseason triumph over the mighty Dallas Cowboys. Plummer threw for 17,622 yards and 90 touchdowns, before leaving for the Denver Broncos in 2003.

Rosen has arrived to make his own mark in the Cardinals’ record books. The former UCLA Bruin’s predecessors achieved some pretty nice things during their stay with the organization. The “Red Sea” is hoping that Rosen can do even better.