ARIZONA CARDINALS

The name’s James: Cardinals’ Budda Baker goes incognito at a bar

May 24, 2022, 9:00 AM

Budda Baker, Arizona Cardinals safety...

Budda Baker reportedly earned a raise before 2023 training camp. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

Sometimes professional athletes want to have a quiet night out.

Most times that’s not possible given their status.

So instead of staying cooped up in their own confines, players have come up with a way to go largely unnoticed while out in public: use a different name.

Just ask Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker, who decided he wanted to go out to grab a few “waters” at a local establishment the other night.

Or should we say James?

“I talked to a couple people, my name was James,” Baker told reporters Monday. “It was cool, I had a good time, had a couple waters. Had a good time.

“It was pretty dark in there so I just walked in there, sat by myself and was just like, ‘I’ll drink this water.'”

Baker was more than prepared for the solo night out, even preparing a backstory if it came down to it.

“We didn’t get to that extent but if they would have asked my profession I probably would have said I’m a dentist or something like that.

“They’d be like, ‘You’re a dentist? How old are you?’ And I’m like, ’45.'”

Baker isn’t the only Cardinal to mix it up name-wise, either.

But instead of using a completely different name, former Sun Devil Eno Benjamin gets creative with his own.

“I would just say I go by my last name,” Benjamin told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Monday. “So just Ben, like if I were to order food on DoorDash or anything like that, I’ll just put my last name and middle initial instead of first and last name.”

More power to you, Ben and James the dentist.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Monti Ossenfort looks on...

Vincent DeAngelis

PFF’s Spielberger grades Cardinals’ free agent class among worst in NFL

PFF's Brad Spielberger gave the Cardinals' free agent class a "C" grade in his latest rankings. It was the worst grade among all 32 teams.

8 hours ago

Jonah Williams pressure Sam Darnold...

Tyler Drake

Report: Free agent DL Jonah Williams visiting Arizona Cardinals this week

Defensive lineman Jonah Williams is visiting the Arizona Cardinals and Minnesota Vikings this week, according to Aaron Wilson.

17 hours ago

Casita seating at the Arizona Cardinals' State Farm Stadium...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals’ new suite options at State Farm Stadium include casitas

The Arizona Cardinals on Monday announced new luxury seating options for 2024, including custom casita suites at State Farm Stadium.

21 hours ago

Justin Fields...

Associated Press

Quarterback carousel: Bears trade Justin Fields to Steelers to clear way for top pick

The Chicago Bears traded quarterback Justin Fields to the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday night for draft compensation.

3 days ago

Kyler Murray...

Arizona Sports

Report: Cardinals QB Kyler Murray’s 2025 guarantees kick in

Cardinals QB Kyler Murray had nearly $30 million guaranteed for the 2025 season kick in by remaining on Arizona's roster by Saturday.

3 days ago

Paris Johnson Jr. celebrates with Kyler Murray...

Tyler Drake

Which side of the line will Cardinals’ Paris Johnson Jr. command in 2024?

Even before the Cardinals released D.J. Humphries, there was already talk of Paris Johnson Jr. making the switch from right to left.

3 days ago

The name’s James: Cardinals’ Budda Baker goes incognito at a bar