We have reached the end of the offseason. Vacations for all! OK, at least me and many of the players and coaches. It'll be my last mailbag for a while. But we will still need questions, because Dani Sureck will have her mailbag June 24, Zach Gershman one on July 8, and Craig Grialou on July 15. (The office is closed the week of July 4, so we'll take a break.)
So here's my summer walk-off. Questions have been edited for length and clarity. Don't forget to send a question for a future mailbag with at least a first name and last initial.
From Hank S:
"With this being Year 3 of Ossenfort/Gannon regime, making the playoffs is the measuring stick. With the QB room, do you think it is a foregone conclusion, Jacoby Brissett will be the No. 2 QB? I have no knowledge on Clayton Tune's progress. My next question is how do NFL teams gather information on a player with little NFL experience? Do their agents provide information?"
Nothing is a 100 percent lock at backup quarterback, but obviously Brissett has a major edge in the situation given his experience and how he has proven himself in games. Unlike Desmond Ridder, who arrived in trade last year and ultimately lost the No. 2 battle with Tune, Brissett picked to come to Arizona and he's not doing that without significant confidence he'll have a role.
As for teams gathering info, there is always info to get even if players haven't played much in the regular season. They play in preseason games, they have college tape, and yes, they talk to coaches and staff who have been around the player.
From Jay Hughes:
"Hi Darren, having seen Marv in person is he as gigantic as he looks in photos? Kyler tongue-in-cheek mentioned Marv might be too big (jokingly) but there is a kernel of truth to that. So really that's just my question. Is he in fact walking the line of too big for a wide receiver or is it just really good lighting in the photos?"
That seems pretty one side or the other, Jay. There is middle ground between lighting "faking" things and MHJ being "too big," isn't there? Look, I've been around "too big." It was David Boston, although he really got out of control after he left Arizona. Harrison isn't too big. He's only 22. He's filling out and he's on an NFL strength regiment. This will only be an advantage.
From Charles O:
"Darren, what is meant when they say 'He's a five-, four- or three-star recruit?' Does it means they played that many sports and recruited for those sports? What would the sports have to be to be a five-star recruit? Go Cards!"
No. Stars are assigned -- subjectively, it should be said -- by various services and/or scouts when they are assessing high school athletes. There's nothing scientific or concrete about it. And, like many things with high schoolers in life, sometimes how someone is judged when he/she is 17 or 18 is far from what they are going to be when they are 24 or 25.
From Stevie H:
"Darren, on the various podcasts and interviews, I have heard comments about seeing players in the building a lot and others who work out privately. The comment 'when the players are allowed in the building' made me wonder what the rules are for players under contract using the facilities between the end of minicamp and the start of training camp. If it is banned, are there allowances for rehabbing players? Is this because of the NFLPA/NFL owners agreement? Is this more because the teams prefer it rather than concern about the coaches and players interacting inappropriately or perceived pressure on the players to be there during their downtime? Thanks for providing a venue for these types of questions."
There are windows in which the players can work out at the team facility but they cannot have any interaction with any coaches or staff. If players choose to work out away from the facility, teams are not allowed to monitor it. Yes, these are the results of the collective bargaining agreement; giving more freedom/downtime in the offseason was one of the things owners gave the players in exchange for players giving up certain things. Yes, there need to be rules against the perceived pressure, which did exist previously.
From Dana F:
"First a comment. Thank you for your insightful questions during press conferences; you never ask questions like this: 'What did it feel like seeing Calais Campbell out there again?' Because the answer is always going to be something akin to the following: 'It felt good.' So thank you. Now the question: As much as I love Paul Calvisi and his infectious enthusiasm, I'm wondering if he might give Pauly Pencil-Neck ('Aw gee...,') his persona that makes a cameo in every podcast episode, his own podcast? Pauly's Pencil-Neck Podcast! I think it's time."
I appreciate the compliment of my questions; I do try and make an effort (most of the time) to ask something that isn't run of the mill. I know I don't bat 1.000. As for Paul's "reporter" persona, I'm not sure he's about keeping that up for 20 to 30 on a pod. I'm not sure I am about him doing that. But all suggestions are always welcome and considered.
From Kenny J:
"Hello D. I know you don't like whataboutthisguy questions but what about Amari Cooper? When you look at our roster makeup, we look to be a very solid group top to bottom, with the only exception being wide receiver. While the cornerback room is young and extremely talented, our WR room just seems lacking. Cooper doesn't solve our problems, but he's a proven commodity in this league. A big body who can likely contribute as a No. 3 option, or even No. 2 if need be. I'll point out that old man A.J. Green once put up 848 yards for us one year. That's more than Mike Wilson has ever given us. Don't discount the old guys."
First, I'm not calling Cooper or even Green the old guys; I'm not in a position to do such. You're right, Green had that kind of year, but he was the No. 2 and the Cardinals didn't really have a tight end either. He also had 92 targets that year; it'd be interesting to see what Wilson would do with 92 targets. But that's moot. I understand the Cooper stuff. The question: Are you playing Cooper over Wilson? I don't see this coaching staff having interest in that. Is Cooper wanting to sign somewhere and be the No. 3 wideout (and have the subsequent money in the contract he signs)?
I've said this before -- I'm never saying never. Things change, and we will see what happens in camp. But the coaches and front office saw this group all last season and haven't made a significant move for that room in the months in which significant moves are made. There has to be confidence there.
From Elliot Hyde:
"Hi Darren. Last season the Lions were an early favourite in the NFC; a great team with star players and great coaching. Although they retain many of the star players, they have lost eight assistant coaches including the coordinators. What do you think is harder to recover from, losing a number of your stars or losing your key coaches? In your years following the team, have you gleaned any insight into how the coaching market works? It's not an area that gets much coverage."
The coaching market is relatively simple. When you win, your higher-ranking assistants are going to be sought as head coaches or coordinators. If they get such jobs, there is a chance they are going to take another assistant coach or two with them. Head coaches -- who were once those assistants -- should want their guys to get such opportunities. But you have to have a ready list to replace them. And we're not talking about the assistants who are let go so a team can try and upgrade. There are hundreds of coaching wanna-bes that are trying to get into the NFL. There are numbers to find people. It's like any job search. You hope you know good people or hope you can find them in the process.
But let's be clear, I'm still going to take a team with stars and OK coaching over great coaching and no players.
From Lupe G:
"Back when we signed Josh Sweat it was made mention that he has a bum knee; which is totally fine so long as it's managed. Thus far, it has been managed and he's had a long productive career. I see in your OTAs tweet that he's not practicing in full, and we can only assume he's under that same protocol here. I also noticed Will Johnson is not practicing in full. Is Will Johnson under the same bum knee management protocol as Sweat?"
OK, couple of things here. One, Jonathan Gannon said Johnson's issue was a hamstring. Not a knee. Second, Sweat does not have a "bum knee." He had a serious knee injury in college. As far as I can tell, it's never been a problem since he got into the NFL, and it isn't a problem now.
From Jeremy Fehr:
"Recently JG explained 'Level 3 work.' He later noted that Walter Nolen was doing Level 3 work to help get out of his break faster; he then mentions a hypothetical 'you' needing to get out of their break faster otherwise they were going to be cut. Is there any chance he was referring to Nolen? Do you think Nolen's technique can easily transition to success at the NFL level? Also Jordan Burch looks absolutely jacked, and he looked explosive in his college highlights. Do you think he will find a spot on the final roster?"
No, JG wasn't sending a passive-aggressive message to his first-round pick through the media. As for Nolen's technique, I won't pretend to know that answer; I love his tools but we won't know what it looks like in games that matter until he plays in games that matter. With Burch, he was a third-round pick. Third-round picks made the roster as a rookie unless he is awful in training camp, and I don't expect that.
From Brian McMaster:
"Darren, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation for the work that all of you do at covering the Arizona Cardinals. I've been in Prescott for 20 years and quite a few years back when the team had its camp here. It was awesome, I know they will probably never come back up here to the best climate Arizona has to offer. But I was wondering if your motley crew and few players could make a trip up here for a visit. Your team of journalists and reporters I believe are the best. I believe there are plenty of Cardinal fans up here that would love for that to happen. Paul Calvisi is great at his craft! Thank you for sharing your experience and passion with us."
I recall the training camp in Prescott in 2005, thanks to a norovirus in the NAU dorms sidetracked the team from Flagstaff at the last second. Stayed for a bit at Embry Riddle before moving to a hotel (I was still with the East Valley Tribune at the time.) Your compliments are appreciated and I'll probably let Paul know. Not sure if there will be a road trip at some point, but as I noted earlier in this mailbag, we'll listen to all suggestions.
From Cody Lloyd:
"Why do you always get the first question in the pressers? Is that Cardinals beat writer privilege? And also are you careful with your first question to not start the session off on a sour note? Or if there's an elephant in the room, is the burden on you to address it as the No. 1 media man in the assembly?"
I'd like to believe it's because of all the respect I have earned with my going-on-27 seasons covering this team -- and that probably is part of it -- but it's also because I have a comfort level speaking up first, which believe it or not still can be a thing even with people on the job. When it comes to elephants, I don't usually like opening with it, but if I have to be elephant guy, I will be. I do try to read the room and know the situation, and yes, that does impact how I might open the presser.
