The best quotes from Bruce Arians’ time with the Arizona Cardinals
Jan 3, 2018, 10:26 AM | Updated: 10:35 pm
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians works against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half of an NFL football game, Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
(AP Photo/David Goldman)
Bruce Arians was a master of the English language.
Sometimes Usually, that included a few expletives dropped. The former Arizona Cardinals coach was also the master of the press-conference opening quip and handing out the fitting nickname.
Here is a collection of a few of the best quotes from Arians’ time with the Cardinals.
After a win over a Rams team favored because of their stout defense in 2014:
“I love it when nobody says you have a chance to win. There’s an 11-and-3 team and a team that’s always 8-and-8. You figure it out. Everybody wanted to talk all that stuff about how great their defense is. I think they saw a good defense tonight, it was in red and white.”
On the struggles of rookie tackle D.J. Humphries in training camp before the 2015 season:
“A knee in his (expletive) every day. A foot wasn’t going to do it. That’s why he’s nicknamed knee-deep.”
After improving to 2-0 on the season in 2015:
“They’re patting you on the back, they’re looking for a soft spot, where to stick the knife. Same guy patting us on the back saying we might lose 10 in a row and might still be right.”
On rookie safety Budda Baker taking the bait on offense and nicknaming him:
“He’s still learning. He’s still ‘Fish Bait’ a few times but as he continues to get better and better, that role could increase quickly.”
While visiting Bickley & Marotta with a cold:
“I need to start getting some whiskey lozenges.”
Following a victory over the Baltimore Ravens in 2015:
“We wanted to make sure there was a damn good traffic jam.”
On taking the Cardinals’ job and being himself in the interview process:
“The thing at the beginning was, ‘Hey, I’m not changing who I am and how I coach. I’ll probably get a lot of Bibles in the mail.’”
After clinching a bye in the 2015 playoffs:
“You don’t get rings for byes. You don’t even get t-shirts and hats.”
On seeing the Cardinals fan base grow in the Valley while joining Bickley & Marotta in 2016:
“Everywhere you go, I love seeing the kids in the jerseys. You know right now, if the kids are Cardinals fans, mom and pop got no choice.”
Arians after his final game, a win at CenturyLink Field over the Seattle Seahawks:
“Thank you for coming to my house. I hope you get home safe.”
In his press conference announcing he will retire after the 2017 season (Jan. 2, 2018):
“We built this program on three words: trust, loyalty and respect. I told our team last night I was done, that I’m retiring. And they lied to you. Because of that, there’s no greater feeling in the world to know your players have your back.”
