33rd Team: Coaches should ‘stay away from Cardinals’ job’
Jan 11, 2023, 7:30 PM
Head coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints reviews plays against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 21, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The Arizona Cardinals start their offseason with a need at head coach but the 33rd Team’s Joe Thomas and Mitchell Schwartz warn potential candidates.
“I don’t know if it is super desirable,” Schwartz said Monday. “Kyler (Murray) just got injured, he just had surgery, I am not banking on having him at all and if he does I don’t know if he will be his true self. … I think this year is a bit of a wash.
“Finance-wise, I don’t know if they have the cleanest cap. They were in a weird, win-now mode. They are in a strange position with the cap and the ownership doesn’t seem to be that great at building a stable franchise. I’m not sure as a head coach you look at that situation and be super psyched to go there. … I would stay away if I was a head coach.”
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Thomas and Schwartz were both All-Pro offensive tackles that played in the league for nine or more years and were some of the best at protecting quarterbacks over their careers.
They mention Kingsbury went 28-37-1 over his four years at the helm and signing Kyler Murray to a five-year, $230.5 million extension made this an easy choice for Bidwill.
When a QB is signed long term, the money supports the decision of keeping Murray over Kingsbury, but Schwartz isn’t so sure if this is the right or only choice.
“Whether it is warranted or not, there are a lot of concerns with things like the way (Murray) prepares, the way he plays and all these little things,” Schwartz said.
“I would absolutely stay away if I was a head coach.”
The two hosts also asked about any surprise hirings that could happen in the NFL and joked that Arizona should hire a coach with an above .500 winning percentage.
Ironically, defensive coordinator Vance Joseph is one of the candidates for the job, who has an 11-21 record in two years as a head coach with the Denver Broncos.
Despite many of the negatives with the job, the two mention how this is more desirable than many other places because of Arizona’s long-term plan at QB, the No. 3 overall pick and talent littered throughout the roster.
