Rumors were rampant on Tuesday (May 20), with many outlets reporting that the NFL would likely vote to allow players to participate in the newly christened flag football events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. This, of course, led us at Raising Zona to wonder: Which Arizona Cardinals players should try out?
It's a bit premature, yes: if 24 of the 32 team owners vote to allow their players to play, then the league would have to negotiate with the NFL Players Association, Olympic officials, and the national governing bodies on letting these professional players play.
There’s already an American Flag Football League, with teams like the Boston Brigade, the Dallas Ocelots, the Las Vegas Lucky Sevens and the Nashville Nighthawks. These AFFL players are already familiar with the rules (five on five; no offensive or defensive linemen; a 50-yard-long, 25-yard-wide field; etc.), so it might make sense to utilize them instead of teaching NFL players not to tackle or dive at the ball-carrier (which is illegal).
The 2028 Olympics are also three years away. By July 14, 2028, we don’t know if the following players will still be with the Arizona Cardinals. But let’s say that the games were this year. Who of the Cardinals are good candidates for the American
Arizona Cardinals who could play flag football in the Olympics
First, let’s go with the criteria: flag football is not a contact sport. No tackles. No dives. This isn’t to say big dudes can’t play. Still, if Coach Jonathan Gannon loves “violent” football, then those positions that rely on “violent” contact (linebackers, guards, defensive tackles, offensive linemen, etc.) are out of the running.
We’re working with running backs, wide receivers, quarterbacks—those positions that would excel in this game.
Andre Baccellia, WR
When reviewing the list of Cardinals wide receivers that would make for good flag football players, you get a sense that Marvin Harrison Jr. got a bad rap.
Most of the receiver room is full of untested potential or veterans who are in the middle or near the end of their career (and Zay Jones, who missed a third of his first year as a Cardinal serving a 5-game ban he earned after being arrested for domestic battery while he was still with the Jacksonville Jaguars; charges were later dropped).
It feels like Arizona hasn’t prioritized the wide receiver position since Larry Fitzgerald left in 2020. So, sending Andre Baccellia to the Flag Football team might do him some good.
Baccellia has bounced between the practice and active rosters since joining the team in 2021. It feels like the team can’t decide whether to keep him. The dude ran the 40-yard dash in 4.28 seconds, but that was five years ago.
But, you know what? Let’s see if he can bring that speed to Team USA. And who knows? Maybe he’ll fall in love with flag football and land an active spot on one of the AFFL teams. It’ll be better than being in an on-again/off-again situationship with the Cardinals.
Budda Baker, S
Baker ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash during his 2017 combine. But when it comes to speed, he’s known more for being chased down by DK Metcalf after intercepting Russell Wilson in a 2020 clash with the Seattle Seahawks.
While it’s probably not wise to send your starter to the Olympics (coaches are already expressing reservations about having their players risk injury while competing in the offseason), Baker seems like he can handle himself.
He’s a 7-time Pro Bowler, so he’s used to playing well with others. He has the size, speed and experience to play well in the defensive role. Plus, just show him the footage of Metcalf chasing him down before every Olympic game to inspire him. That’ll get him to come home with a gold medal.
Trey Benson, RB
Conventional wisdom would say, wouldn’t you want to send James Conner to the Olympics? And then the REAL conventional wisdom would come in, unmask this imposter, and say, NO. DO NOT SEND YOUR STARTING RUNNING BACK TO THE OLYMPICS.
By the time 2028 rolls around, Conner would be game for going to Los Angeles. He’ll be 33 by then, approaching his 11th season in the NFL. Winning an Olympic medal in the final act of your career sounds pretty sweet, right?
But under the idea that the 2028 Olympics were happening this year, send Trey Benson. His rookie year did end prematurely with an ankle injury, but in the 13 games he played, he ran 63 times for 291 yards, averaging 4.6 yards per carry. He did have one touchdown (and one fumble).
This is a backhanded comment, but Benson would have something to prove in the Olympics. His career has just begun, and if he wants the starting running back position with the Cardinals (or another team), then a gold medal around his neck would help the argument.
Kyler Murray, QB
Remember in that previous scenario, we had one Conventional Wisdom unmask a fraudulent one, like a weird Scooby-Doo moment? Well, that first CW will return from the dead, and we will send Kyler Murray to the Olympics.
Why? To stoke the fire that seems re-lit in him.
Murray’s been with the Cardinals since they selected him as the first overall Draft pick in 2019. And he’s been tasked with leading the Arizona Cardinals to victory, which, in some seasons, feels impossible.
I’ve given him grief in the past over him being checked out, as if he’s just going through the motions, and I get it. He’s on the Cardinals. Sometimes, it feels like everyone in the NFL is barely locked in on this team.
But look at the first-ever Kyler Murray Charity Softball game, which just happened. It was the debut event of his newly launched foundation. Whaaaaa?!?!?
Murray, who was selected ninth overall in the 2018 MLB Draft, hasn’t done a charity baseball/softball game until now. He’s been a Cardinal for six years. Six years! Hell, incoming rookie Will Johnson ran charity youth camps and toy drives while he was in college.
Something has changed with Murray’s mentality. He’s taking more of a leadership role and seems to know that he needs to bring it this season.
So, if the Olympics were this summer, Murray should go. He might not get the starter role, but if so, he would make a solid backup. It takes a team to win gold, anyway.