Ep. 920 - For the third straight year, the Cardinals are opening the regular season on the road. New Orleans is the site, more specifically, the Caesars Superdome, one of the loudest venues in the league. The challenge is very real, despite the home team's recent struggles and low expectations for 2025. Yes, on paper the Cardinals are more talented than the Saints. But games are not played on paper. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman look ahead to Sunday's game; what must happen for the Cardinals to begin the season 1-0? Plus, the guys head into enemy territory. Mike Triplett, who covers the Saints for NewOrleans.Football, joins the show to discuss Spencer Rattler - former Phoenix Pinnacle High standout - Alvin Kamara, Chris Olave and how the Saints might defend James Conner and the Cardinals run game.

Ep. 919 - It is officially game week, the first one of the season. Coaches are excited. Players are excited. And you know Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck are excited, joining the rest of the Bird Gang. There's just something different about Week 1. Perhaps even more so this year given the expectations so many have for the 2025 Arizona Cardinals. With the season opening in New Orleans, Craig and Dani discuss the challenges facing Kyler Murray and his teammates, from playing in a hostile environment to facing an inexperienced quarterback but backed up by an experienced playcaller; who or what position group(s) is in the spotlight on Sunday; and, speaking of Sunday, what are the other matchups involving the NFC West. Also, the first injury report of the season is out - good news, it's a short one.

Ep. 918 - Don't get too comfortable. A lot can change between now and the season opener in New Orleans. Yes, the Cardinals announced their 53-man roster, but did you happen to notice that it didn't include a long snapper? And that's one of the reasons why head coach Jonathan Gannon made it clear on Wednesday that things are "very fluid" with respects to the roster. Of course, that didn't stop Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman from giving their thoughts on who made the team - congratulations to Bam Knight, Josh Fryar and P.J. Mustipher - and who didn't - thanks for your efforts DeeJay Dallas - and who is now back on the practice squad - Michael Carter, Simi Fehoko and Darren Hall. Also, it was good to see Will Hernandez on the practice field on Wednesday. What does that mean for the offensive line moving forward?

Ep. 917 - By 1 p.m. Tuesday afternoon teams must reduce their rosters to no more than 53 players. For the Cardinals, that process has already begun. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck discuss what's happened - the initial waive of cuts - and what might happen. Plus, Craig and Dani talk about who might've helped themselves with their effort and performance in the preseason finale against the Las Vegas Raiders. Several players stood out on Saturday night including running back Michael Carter, wide receiver Simi Fehoko and outside linebacker Xavier Thomas. There are tough decisions to be made for sure, a lot of tough decisions, and that is exactly what you want if you're GM Monti Ossenfort and head coach Jonathan Gannon.

Ep. 916 - It's a big week around the NFL. It's the final week to make evaluations. And for the Arizona Cardinals, the final evaluation happens this weekend or more specifically, Saturday night at State Farm Stadium. The preseason finale sees the Cardinals host the Las Vegas Raiders. Craig Grialou and Zach Gershman look ahead to the game and discuss who they want to see play. (FYI, as of Wednesday, head coach Jonathan Gannon hadn't said if the staters will play; Craig and Zach are assuming they won't.) The guys put the spotlight on several different position rooms, starting with cornerback. Also, there are a handful of undrafted rookies who have played well throughout training camp and the preseason. Can they do it one more time?

Ep. 915 - Let's be honest, it was a tough watch Saturday night. The Cardinals concluded their four-day stay in Denver with a less than stellar performance against the Broncos, losing 27-7 in Week 2 of the preseason. Paul Calvisi was there in the Mile High City. He joins Craig Grialou to discuss the game, where not much went right offensively or defensively - special teams, though, was a positive - as well as the joint practice on Thursday. Key takeaways: Jacoby Brissett looks regular-season ready, Semi Fehoko stood out in his Cardinals debut, and a handful of young linemen - Jeremiah Byers and Josh Fryar on the O-line and P.J. Mustipher on the D-line - flashed, but was it enough to make the final 53-man roster? Also, Jonathan Gannon wants to see better "basic fundamentals of football" this week, the last week before roster cuts.

Ep. 914 - Fitting that the hometown boy had a good showing against the hometown team. Trey McBride, who grew up a Broncos fan, was "unguardable" in Thursday's joint practice, according to Darren Urban, who was this show's eyes and ears in Denver. Following practice, and minus his bucket hat, Darren joined Craig Grialou to discuss what he saw from the offense - McBride obviously, but also Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison Jr., and Trey Benson - as well as the defense plus his account of the lone dust-up between the two teams that, to no one's surprise, involved Tip Reiman in a special teams period. Also, Darren and Craig react to Calais Campbell, himself a Colorado native, saying he would be "very surprised" if this is not his last season and Broncos head coach Sean Payton telling the media neither team plans to play many of its starters on Saturday.

Ep. 913 - First and foremost, no injuries. Second, they got a win. Third, several players had good performances. Craig Grialou and Dani Sureck look back at Saturday's preseason opener, a 20-17 victory against the Kansas City Chiefs from State Farm Stadium. Dani, by the way, had a unique vantage point for the game. She was on the sideline, working on the TV broadcast. What did she see? Who stood out to her? Again, a lot of players flashed from running backs Trey Benson and Emari Demercado to wide receiver Xavier Weaver and cornerback Darren Hall. And as you'd expect, there was a lot that needs to be cleaned up. Turnovers. Penalties; especially at the start of the game. All in all, though, a good effort and first impression in front of the Bird Gang.