Length of Kingsbury and Keim extensions shock Bickley & Marotta, fans
Mar 2, 2022, 3:25 PM | Updated: 3:51 pm
It makes sense that Arizona Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill wants to publicly express and improve the stability of his franchise.
Locking up head coach Kliff Kingsbury and general manager Steve Keim does just that. It also further ties their successes or failures with that of quarterback Kyler Murray, who, if you haven’t heard, would also like an extension agreed upon this offseason.
But the optics are at best questionable after Arizona lost five of its final six games last season, floundering out of the Wild Card round and ending 2021 with 11 wins. That said, it’s the second consecutive year of the GM-coach duo helping improve the win total by three from the previous campaign.
Except that when the Cardinals formally announced their extensions signed by Keim and Kingsbury, the length of it was a tad shocking.
Arizona signed the two through the 2027 season. For those counting, it is currently 2022.
Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta experienced physical reactions when they read and heard the length of the new contracts.
Here is the reaction from the @Bickley_Marotta show when they heard how many years Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim were extended for. #RedSea @Bickley_Marotta pic.twitter.com/bUIbpHvgkD
— 98.7 Arizona Sports (@AZSports) March 2, 2022
.@Vincemarotta pic.twitter.com/WmInUA9M7D
— Bickley & Marotta Mornings on 98.7 (@Bickley_Marotta) March 2, 2022
Other folks had similar feelings, though it’s important to point out that professional contracts in the coaching and executive world often times don’t run their entire course.
If the plan is for Kliff to improve by three games every season, the Cardinals will win 29 games in the last year of his deal.
— Luke Lapinski (@LukeLapinski) March 2, 2022
WHY MICHAEL WHY?!!!
— RC (@_ThatDudeRC) March 2, 2022
— Bryce (@BryceBreakers) March 2, 2022
This what happens when you're content with simply making the playoffs and not winning a championship. đ˘đ
— đ (@infam0us89) March 2, 2022
Cardinals explaining to Kyler Murray how he fits into their long term plans
— Rent Em Spoons đĽˇđż (@DerekJBiz) March 2, 2022
Two things folks:
One- they were in the last year of their deals, Cards have 4 years of control over K1 right now.
Two- just because they got 5 year deals(the norm) doesnât mean they canât be fired and any point.— Colby B (@brownc74) March 2, 2022
Keim? Seriously⌠I donât mind giving kingsbury another shot at least through this year to prove himself. Since he did get us further last year.. But Keim? Really? If youâre doing that might as well extend Kyler too. Since youâre so quick to extend Keim.
— JD Garcia (@jdgarciamusik) March 2, 2022
You extend the HC riding the QBâs coattail to success before extending the QB responsible for their success?
— Javari Williams (@JDubb_100) March 2, 2022
I dont mind the extensions but now the expectations have been raised. Just making the playoffs now isn't enough. Keim needs to build better offense and defensive lines that can last all season. Kliff has to be a smarter play caller and hold his guys more accountable.
— Andrew (@Alphadrew88) March 2, 2022
