ARIZONA CARDINALS

Robert Nkemdiche apparently has the strongest handshake ever

May 4, 2016, 8:15 PM | Updated: May 5, 2016, 5:11 pm

Mississippi's Robert Nkemdiche shakes hands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selecte...

Mississippi's Robert Nkemdiche shakes hands with NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell after being selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the 29th pick in the first round of the 2016 NFL football draft, Thursday, April 28, 2016, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

(AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Cardinals rookie defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche has it all.

At 6-foot-4 and 294 pounds, he has the moves to beat double-teams and the speed to run down quarterbacks with ease. When it comes to his strength, there are few doubts he’s physically ready to contribute for Arizona — now.

And then there’s the cold, hard proof that Cardinals vice president of player personnel Terry McDonough dropped Wednesday during the Big Red Rage show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM.

“Have we talked about his handshake yet?” McDonough asked. “Forget about the athletic ability, the guy breaks your hand when he shakes it. I guess there’s a nerve that runs from your wrist all the way up your forearm into your elbow. I have something wrong with it because he’s gripped my hand twice and it’s shot like a bolt up my arm.

“I give him the old 2015-16 fist-bump when I see him,” McDonough added. “He has real power in his hands.”

Alas, this got us to wondering how real of a thing this was.

Though the image atop this article is a split-second in time — and maybe not the most attractive one — of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell shaking Nkemdiche’s hand during the NFL Draft last week, it makes us believe Roger wasn’t exactly comfortable shaking the defensive tackle’s hand.

For more evidence, to the ole’ Twitter machine we went. There we found that, yes, there is a long history of Nkemdiche being overly-aggressive with his handshakes.

We present these to you in chronological order with the first noted strong handshake by Nkemdiche coming in 2011.

What does this mean? If handshake power equates to bullying through offensive linemen, then the Cardinals picked a good one.

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

21 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Robert Nkemdiche apparently has the strongest handshake ever