Arizona Cardinals Underground Podcast

Yes, the 2021 schedule is here. Why wouldn't Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard want to have some deep discussions about whether the Cardinals have enough primetime games, opening at Tennessee (and what it means for the young ILB tandem of Zaven Collins and Isaiah Simmons), dealing with weather like the heat in Jacksonville and the cold of Chicago, the most intriguing game on the schedule, Patrick Peterson's return, the return of fans, potentially playing rookie QBs and the best road trips available for fans.

No, Tim Tebow hasn't signed with the Cardinals, but that doesn't mean the discussion doesn't go all over the place with Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Oedgard. There are single-digit jerseys on players, a tight end with a potential nickname of Psycho, what it will mean for the rookies to actually have some on-field and in-person time during rookie minicamp, Tay Gowan's confidence, Kyler Murray's quiet offseason before a crucial third year, Larry Fitzgerald's limbo, and DeAndre Hopkins' charitable foray into the breakfast cereal market.

Any easy subject this week for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard. Sure, Paul first asks about longsnappers, but quickly enough the guys delve into the athleticism of the Cardinals' draft class, choosing Zaven Collins in the first round and the kind of impact he can make compared to other positions, Rondale Moore as the latest second-round wide receiver and how his skillset can change the offense, how rookies can make an impact, the secondary help on Day 3, the curious case of Marco Wilson, Tay Gowan as steal, Budda Baker's new number and, of course, a dollop of Fitz.

The draft is here – hopefully, Kyle Shanahan, the world won't end this weekend – so Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard have a lot to chat about. Who should/will the 49ers take at No. 3 for quarterback, who might the Cardinals take at 16 if all the "hot" names are gone, could the Cards trade down, whether a running back in the first round makes sense, the fears of the Caleb Farley injuries, cornerback as priority and maybe trading up, the Kliff House, spending a pick on a punter, and yes, a little more Fitz speculation.

The time for the NFL draft is near, which means we're hip-deep in mock drafts and speculation. Little wonder Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard use that to their advantage, as they talk about oh so many mocks, how desperate is the need for cornerback in the first round, just what is valuable in the first round (is it receiver?), the second round and whether an edge rusher fits (and a story about Denny Green's draft predictions), the importance of the class overall in future roster-building, trading for a tight end, P2's goodbye essay and of course, this week's Fitz theory.

Fitz might be talking more golf than football these days, but the guys have talked about adding a running back for weeks, and now the Cardinals have one. So Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard have plenty to say about newcomer James Conner, how he fits in with Chase Edmonds, what it means – or doesn't mean – for the draft and Eno Benjamin, the question of just what will the Cardinals' offense look like this season, whether players will skip the voluntary offseason work, Paul's latest theory about Fitz, and just how much might the Cards reach for a cornerback in the draft?

It's good that Paul Calvisi and Kyle Odegard have settled their differences from a week ago, leaving an easy transition for the two to join Darren Urban to discuss the Reggie White/J.J. Watt parallels, what's left for the Cardinals to do in free agency, that cornerback position heading into the draft, the pros and cons of trading away the first-round pick for an established veteran or the need for immediate impact from 16, the offseason aggressiveness in the NFC West, the need to chase a QB in the NFL, Colt McCoy's role and, of course, Fitzwatch and the A.J. Green meaning.

It should've just been another podcast talking about 17-game seasons and Malcolm Butler's arrival, but Paul Calvisi and Kyle Odegard nearly came to virtual blows on the subject of leadership and how important it really is for the Cardinals -- with Darren Urban trying the play peacemaker. Thank goodness they were able to get past it all, and move on to Butler's impact and what is still needed at cornerback, how the 49ers trade impacts the NFC West and the its future, the addition of a 17th regular-season game to the schedule, and Paul's latest why Fitz-is-waiting theory – and how we may all want to be checking our fax machines.

The Cardinals have done a bunch in the first week of free agency, but there are still areas to address, and who better to chat about them than Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard. There is a deep dive into the cornerback spot now that Patrick Peterson has departed (and the options if we get to the draft), what makes sense at running back whether or not Chase Edmonds is No. 1, tight end needs (no, not Fitz), Paul's latest Fitz announcement conspiracy theory, with a dollop of Magnús Ver Magnússon debate.

Call it free agency with a flourish. After the first day of the new league year, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard discuss the trade for Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson; how Hudson now solidifies the offensive line; the signing of A.J. Green and what Green has left in the tank; how Green has patterned his career after Larry Fitzgerald; what Green's arrival might mean for Fitz's decision on his future; the addition of kicker Matt Prater and the confidence level needed with kickers; and Paul takes a moment for storytime and his bond with Green.

As teams begin to talk with free agents around the league, Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard begin to talk about the moves and potential moves of the Cardinals, including the important retention of Markus Golden, the market for Haason Reddick and Patrick Peterson, the question of Fitz, if the Cards might fill all their needs in free agency, and Paul's growing addiction to props.

Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard cannonball into the deep end of free agency talk with free agent talk – and the franchise tag – dominating the days a week out. The trio discuss no tag for Haason Reddick and Reddick's future; the potential of another high-profile signing despite the Cards closing in on the cap; the rookie contract window of Kyler and the inevitability of a giant Murray extension; what the future looks like at cornerback and Patrick Peterson; FitzWatch 2021; and what position the Cardinals should chase in free agency.

It's still true – J.J. Watt is a Cardinal, as odd as it sounds. Does his presence impact not only the pass rush but the culture? Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard chew on that topic, as well as considering the unretirement of No. 99, Watt's ability to be inspirational for the defense and the "whole lot" of gas he says he has left, how his salary cap number might be figured and what it means to the Cards, the opportunities the Cards have in free agency as they look ready to push their chips in, what it means for Pat P and Haason Reddick and again, much discussion on the ripple effect for a Fitz decision.

Who saw this coming? Not Darren Urban, Kyle Odegard and Paul Calvisi, who were as blown away by the addition of J.J. Watt to the defense as anyone. So much so, here's a special all-Watt, all-the-time podcast. The guys talk about the energy and leadership Watt will bring to the field and the locker room, the trickle down impact it may have on contracts and on drawing other free agents, what Watt has left, if Haason Reddick could still return, Watt's teaming with Chandler Jones and Jones' future, Watt's potential jersey number, the remaining cornerback questions on defense, Watt's draw for prime time games or Hard Knocks, and what – if anything – this could mean for Larry Fitzgerald's decision for 2021.

It's the first time since he started going in 2001 that Darren Urban isn't in Indianapolis for the Scouting combine, so with both he and Kyle Odegard protocoled out of that trip, they join Paul Calvisi on a cornucopia of topics. That includes Andy Isabella's at-home powerlifting; the possibility of playing tag with Haason Reddick; Kenyan Drake and the uncertainty of most free agents right now; the likelihood of one-year contracts in a year of a cap crunch; and Fitz as player, retiree and/or recruiter.

No, no breaking news yet, whether it's any free agent interest or Fitz's decision. The guys do talk a bunch about the latter, but Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard also get into the potential impact of new WR coach Shawn Jefferson on Andy Isabella, Kenyan Drake's desire for fans to come back (and a debate whether it matters on the scoreboard), LeBron in the NFL, Johnny Manziel not in the NFL, what the Cards could do in the draft's first round and even D-Hop's IG recruiting.

It's typical to have a lot of takeaways from the Super Bowl (and how they might relate to the Cardinals), so Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard do that, although the end of the season means free agency – and a decision for both Patrick Peterson and the team about Patrick Peterson. The guys talk about the "dirty rumor" Peterson addresses, the potential of drafting a cornerback, how Peterson's free agency could play out, how the defense could change, as well as revisit Bruce Arians' retirement and tell a couple stories about our friend Pedro Gomez, who passed away suddenly on Super Bowl Sunday.

What might be the celebratory meal for our trio if they were to win a Super Bowl? Such is the question for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard, but for that to happen for the Cardinals, the team would have to get through the dog-eat-dog world of the NFC West, which has a new quarterback in L.A. and perhaps another team seeking an upgrade. The Cards' own QB, Kyler Murray, might still think about baseball once in a while but he continues to impress on the football field, and to help, maybe the Cards might draft a wide receiver in the first round.

The Super Bowl is set, with Bruce Arians part of the Bucs-Chiefs equation, so there are B.A. memories on tap for Paul Calvisi and Darren Urban while Kyle Odegard takes the week off. The duo talk the NFC Championship game, how the final four underscore how much of a passing league the NFL really is, the promotion of Sean Kugler and Cam Turner along with the addition of Shawn Jefferson to the coaching staff, and the crazy talk of high-profile quarterbacks potentially being on the move this offseason (which is expected to be virtual again.)

It's a quarterback-driven league, and that's easy to see with four top QBs in the NFL championship games, and a fifth suddenly with questions about the future in Houston. Makes sense that Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard would use that has a jumping off point to the Cardinals' own man behind center. The trio talk about Kyler Murray's expectations in Year 3, his ability to push the Cardinals to a playoff contender next season, how teams defended K1, the way wide receiver might impact him, and how much say he might have/get in the Cardinals' plans. Oh, and there is also free-agency discussion, the need for Haason Reddick, and Fitz's smart real estate moves.

Virtual slime might help a TV broadcast – thanks, Nickelodeon! – but probably not impact where the Cardinals stand in the NFC West or what they need to fix. Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard take a look at the playoffs and what NFC West rivals the Rams and Seahawks looked like, and how that reflects and challenges the Cardinals. As for the on-vacation Cards, a brief look at what ails them, along with positions of need. That could include wide receiver, where Andy Isabella is still trying to find his way and Larry Fitzgerald has a bunch of pros and cons to weigh before deciding on retirement or an 18th season. Oh, and what could happen at running back, too.

Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard only traffic in the latest info – and that's all about the Cardinals' disappointing end to the season and the offseason ahead. So the trio discuss the emotions of the finish, the backup quarterback situation, Kyler Murray's health, the stunning offensive dropoff, the need to add a wide receiver, the Cards' place in the NFC West, the biggest defensive need, Isaiah Simmons, P2's future, fan frustration and the huge accomplishment of head athletic trainer Tom Reed.

It's very simple for the Cardinals, a grading scale of in or out – beat the Rams, it's the playoffs. Lose, and you are done. Not a bad topic for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard, who discuss playoff scenarios, the hard-to-explain loss to the 49ers, the mystery of the up-and-down offense, the Rams losing QB Jared Goff, backup QBs and the Chris Streveler's potential legendary role, Kyler Murray's health, new Rams QB John Wolford, the stingy Rams defense and parallels to the 2008 Super Bowl team.

Time is running out for gift-buying – Paul Calvisi is freaking out – but the Cards have the perfect gift for their fans and themselves if they can get into the playoffs. Maybe the Cards can clinch a spot this weekend? Certainly worth a discussion between Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard, along with DeAndre Hopkins' freakishness, Kyler's continued shiny moments (while looking for consistency), a potential last home game – without fans? – for Larry Fitzgerald, the impact of a banged-up Dennis Gardeck, and the surprising return of Josh Rosen.

After Haason Reddick sacked the Big Apple, there is much to talk about with the linebacker's breakout season, including the emotions of the day, his learning curve to get there and what it means for the free-agent market as well as the Cards' defense. But Reddick isn't the only topic for Paul Calvisi, Darren Urban and Kyle Odegard. There's also the pass rush by committee and Dennis Gardeck's impact, dealing with Eagles rookie QB Jalen Hurts, the postseason implications of Eagles-Cardinals, Kliff's offensive adjustments, the use of Christian Kirk and Dan Arnold, and the kicking question of Gonzalez/Nugent.