Cardinals reinforcing dangerous stereotypes against them in Jacoby Brissett contract saga

Vague posting is the scourge of social media. But there is no mistaking what’s bothering Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker these days:

“Just want bro to get his (bleep) done … he is not asking for what you think. Bro is asking for below the bare minimum. Let’s just get it done!!!”

Baker’s X bomb is clearly intended to defend estranged quarterback Jacoby Brissett, who is unhappy with his contract; who wants a salary commensurate with his perceived promotion; who has already missed voluntary workouts and did not participate in mandatory minicamp.

Brissett does not have an agent. He represents himself. He once said he believes in negotiating face-to-face and in good faith, which is why his demands have not yet been made public. If they were exorbitant requests from a player or an outrageous leverage play meant to prey on the organization at a vulnerable time, you would’ve probably heard by now.

Already, there is an uncomfortable segment of Cardinals fans who think Brissett is the one to blame. That he’s imminently expendable and doesn’t deserve a raise after posting just one victory in long relief of Kyler Murray. That is tremendously disrespectful to how well Brissett performed in 2025, a veteran who stood tall in the pocket, absorbed 43 sacks and was normally hit at least 10 times a game. He also had no running game at his disposal, and yet somehow, launched Michael Wilson’s career.

Brissett’s salary and guaranteed money are laughably low in 2026, but if he wanted a steep increase in pay or additional years on his contract, the Cardinals would have every right to fight back and send him packing. They drafted a rookie quarterback with a third-round pick (Carson Beck). They acquired a veteran quarterback who has no trouble quickly adapting to new organizations (Gardner Minshew II). They have options, especially if they’re planning on a lengthy runway for Beck in 2026.

Except Baker spilled the tea. His post made it clear that Brissett’s demands are very reasonable. He’s imploring the team to make good with Brissett and give the team a fighting chance. His post followed the news that a handful of Cardinals players (including Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride) had traveled to South Florida to work out with Brissett for a few days, in a strong show of allegiance.

The post might suggest Baker isn’t all that thrilled with what he’s seen from the other potential starters in camp. This much is certain: Baker is the longest tenured player in Arizona. He’s been a top 100 player in the NFL for seven consecutive years. His words carry great weight among NFL media and the local fan base, and they put heavy pressure on the Cardinals to do something.

Recently, McBride told a national podcast that he, too, felt lowballed by the team during recent contract negotiations. That’s depressing. And by digging in against Brissett over a number that Baker called “below the bare minimum,” the Cardinals are reinforcing dangerous stereotypes and long-held complaints against the organization. They have been battered by national observers and analysts in recent months, and they are giving more fuel to the belief that nothing really changes in Arizona. Except for the losing.

Reach Bickley at dbickley@arizonasports.com. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.

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