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Steve Keim: Highly-Paid Cardinals Need More Production

GM acknowledges possibility of signing Amukamara

Steve Keim, not surprisingly, is "very disappointed" with the way the Cardinals have played the last two games, both losses. Going forward, he is looking closely at the top end of the roster, hoping they can help turn around the fortunes of the team.

"To be quite frank with you, we've got a lot of guys making a lot of money, and that's how you build the roster -- you have to allocate the money in particular spots -- and when you see players who are making an exorbitant amount of money, those players have got to be productive," Keim said during an appearance on 98.7, Arizona's Sports Station. "In my opinion, our stars have not played like stars."

Keim did not specifically name players, although he was asked about most of the higher-paid players on the team.

-- On cornerback Patrick Peterson: "He's got to play better. He's got tremendous skills, he's been an all-pro the majority of his career, he's a captain, so we have high expectations for Pat. I know he has high expectations for himself. Hopefully he'll be ready to go this week."

-- On Larry Fitzgerald and Chandler Jones, "it's more about opportunities," Keim said. The issues getting the ball to Fitz have been well-chronicled, and Keim noted the early target to Fitzgerald that was simply a bad throw and too high. Jones, Keim said, was close "three or four" times to sacking Teddy Bridgewater but the QB was able to get the ball away. "We've got to get them both involved," Keim said.

-- With Kyler Murray, Keim said he knows his quarterback is accurate and that he isn't sure what caused misfires the last couple of games. "He's a much better pure passer than that," Keim said. "I know Kyler is disappointed in himself, he's working hard, and I know he'll get that corrected." When Murray misses an open receiver or throws an interception early, Keim added, "it really seems to throw us out of rhythm."

-- Keim said he thought the offensive line played its worst game in Carolina, although it was throughout the line and not just one player. "I know (OL coach) Sean Kugler will have those guys ready this week."

-- The signing of veteran cornerback Prince Amukamara is possible, Keim acknowledged, but first he has to get through COVID protocols.

"Prince was a guy we actually took a look at in the springtime and we talked at length about him," Keim said. "I'm not sure why, but Prince changed his mind and decided he wanted to play this year. It's nice to have a hometown kid who could potentially help us, so we'll see."

-- On the feeling the game against the Jets is a "must-win." "Every game is a must-win," he said. "I'm a week-to-week guy. It shows in the way I carry out the week. If we lose, it literally feels like the world is coming to an end. And if you win unfortunately you don't get that excited, you just think, 'OK, on to the next game.' ... It's the way you have to be wired in this league."

Masked GM Steve Keim before the home opener in 2020
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