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Despite Criticism, Business As Usual For Mike McCoy

Notes: Pugh practices with cast; Practice squad addition

Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy looks over his play sheet at a game earlier this season.
Offensive coordinator Mike McCoy looks over his play sheet at a game earlier this season.

If Mike McCoy is worried about his job status with the Cardinals, he's not letting on.

The Cardinals' offensive coordinator has come under outside fire for the team's inefficient start, but said Tuesday that he does not feel any extra pressure to succeed in Thursday night's clash with the Broncos.

"We're preparing like every other week," McCoy said. "Our objective every week is to go out and win the next game we're playing. That's our focus."

The Cardinals are averaging 13.7 points per game and have the fewest yards. While the criticism seems to be reaching a fevered pitch, McCoy said he avoids the chatter.

"No offense, but I don't watch a lot of TV," McCoy said. "I don't read papers. I don't get on the internet. I'm too busy doing other things, putting plans together. And when my family is in town, I spend every minute I can with them, or talking to them at night when they're in San Diego, things like that. I've been in this long enough (to not get wrapped up in the fervor)."

While many outsiders are pointing at McCoy's schemes as the root of the issue on offense, wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said McCoy should not be the scapegoat for the ills.

"It's a team game," Fitzgerald said. "Everybody's got to be held accountable. None of us has done a good enough job to this point to be successful. To try to blame one person is not fair or right. Unfortunately in this profession, there always needs to be a finger pointed at somebody. Somebody has to be blamed. It's always been that way, and it's unfortunate."

Fitzgerald is empathetic toward McCoy's plight because of his up-close view of the situation.

"I know people outside the building don't understand what it's like to see guys working so hard," Fitzgerald said. "Mike McCoy is in this building every day at 4:30 (a.m.) and leaving here at 10:30 (p.m.). I don't even know if he sees his wife and kids. He's a tireless worker. These guys put in a lot of time and effort to give us the recipes to go out there and have success. So when blame is placed on guys like that, it's tough on all of us. The relationships we have, it's not just football. It's personal. You want to do well for everybody."

PUGH PRACTICES WITH CAST

Guard Justin Pugh sported a cast on his left hand but still practiced in a limited capacity on Tuesday. He is hoping to play against the Broncos despite the impediment. Safety Tre Boston (shoulder/ribs), guard Mike Iupati (back), cornerback Jamar Taylor (back) and guard Jeremy Vujnovich (hamstring) did not practice.

Others limited were safety Budda Baker (wrist), linebacker Josh Bynes (wrist), defensive end Markus Golden (knee), tight end Jermaine Gresham (Achilles), left tackle D.J. Humphries (knee), defensive end Chandler Jones (groin), wide receiver J.J. Nelson (back) and Fitzgerald (back).

For the Broncos, cornerback Adam Jones (thigh), guard Ron Leary (Achilles), outside linebacker Shane Ray (ankle/wrist), safety Dymonte Thomas (chest) and tackle Jared Veldheer (knee) did not practice. Tight end Matt LaCrosse (knee) was limited.

CARDINALS MAKE PRACTICE SQUAD MOVE

The Cardinals signed offensive lineman Kyle Friend to the practice squad. Friend was an undrafted free agent out of Temple in 2016 who was previously on the practice squads of the Steelers and Jets. Offensive lineman Will House was released to make room.

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