Cardinals’ Steve Wilks introduced at Suns’ game, puts twist on QB search
Feb 10, 2018, 10:01 PM | Updated: Feb 11, 2018, 12:23 am
New Arizona Cardinals NFL football head coach Steve Wilks poses for photographers, Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2018, after being introduced at the teams' training facility in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks received a standing ovation after he was introduced at the Suns’ game against the Denver Nuggets on Saturday.
The former Carolina Panthers defensive coordinator was hired by the Cardinals in January after former head coach Bruce Arians announced his retirement following the 2017 season.
During an interview with Fox Sports Arizona’s Lindsey Smith in the second quarter, Wilks addressed the most pressing Cardinals’ issue — the quarterback position.
Well, sort of.
.@LindseySmithAZ caught up with @AZCardinals Head Coach Steve Wilks on @FOXSPORTSAZ Plus! #AllAZ pic.twitter.com/wrX4UDaNI8
— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) February 11, 2018
“I had an opportunity to spend some time last night with Kurt Warner and he and I are probably working out a deal to bring him back,” he said.
Perhaps bringing the 46-year-old quarterback out of retirement would, in a way, solve the quarterback issue for the Cardinals.
Arizona was linked to Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Alex Smith before he was reportedly traded to the Washington Redskins.
That trade and other transactions, however, can not be official until the end of the NFL fiscal year on March 14, leaving Cardinals’ fans with another month of speculation surrounding how the quarterback situation will be addressed.
One aspect of the Cardinals that Wilks has already addressed is what fans can expect from the team going forward.
“Trust, accountability and commitment,” he said. “That is the most important thing that we are going to establish moving forward.
“I talked about how I want my team to look. You talk about a physical football team that plays with extreme effort and a bunch of smart guys that understand and know how to finish.”
Wilks has already pieced together the Cardinals coaching staff, starting with his coordinators. Mike McCoy, Al Holcomb and Jeff Rodgers were named the offensive, defensive and special teams coordinators.
Kirby Wilson was hired as the running backs coach, while five members of Arians’ staff will remain, providing some familiarity between coaches and players.
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