ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians shuts down report of retirement talk

Dec 5, 2016, 1:33 PM | Updated: Dec 6, 2016, 11:14 am

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians argues a call that went to the Carolina Panthers with sid...

Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians argues a call that went to the Carolina Panthers with side judge Alan Eck during the second half of an NFL football game in Charlotte, N.C., Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016. The Panthers won 30-20. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

(AP Photo/Bob Leverone)

LISTEN: Bruce Arians, Cardinals head coach

Two recent health scares might have led to the speculation that Cardinals coach Bruce Arians could be thinking about retirement. And while CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora reported that coaches who know the Arizona coach think he could consider calling it a career after the 2016 season, Arians himself doesn’t buy it.

“First of all, I don’t have that many friends,” Arians said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM’s Bickley and Marotta.

The rumors that his family could perhaps push him to retire “couldn’t be anything further from the truth,” the Cardinals coach added. “(General manager Steve Keim) and I are talking a lot about, you know, what pieces do we need to start looking at, getting guys signed up for future contracts, and looking forward to finishing this year and damn sure coaching next year.”

While the hospitalizations — one in the preseason for Diverticulitis and one after the Minnesota game in Week 11 for chest pains — may be concerning, the 64-year-old coach said his health has been affected by the stress of the job his entire coaching career.

“Everybody gets sick, really sick after the season because, your immune system is shot,” he told Bickley and Marotta. “Everybody, most coaches, will be sick as a dog. I’ve been sick every year for the last 30 years within two weeks after the season.

“I did an adrenal test last year. I was an acute adrenal failure after the season. That’s just coaching.”

So is it stress? Lack of sleep? What causes a coach to fall ill?

“All of above,” Arians said. “Lack of good whiskey.”

In which case, the Cardinals coach believes he’ll survive continuing to coach beyond this year.

Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) warms up prior to an NFL football game against the Washington Redskins, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) celebrates his touchdown against the Washington Redskins with tackle D.J. Humphries during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians greets Washington Redskins head coach Jay Gruden prior to an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) scores a touchdown as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) and safety Duke Ihenacho (29) defend during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Will Compton (51) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Will Compton (51) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Kevin Minter (51) sacks Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) is hit by Washington Redskins inside linebacker Su'a Cravens (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals middle linebacker Kevin Minter (51) celebrates his sack against the Washington Redskins during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) celebrates his field goal with punter Tress Way (5) holds during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) kicks a field goal as punter Tress Way (5) holds during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals cornerback Marcus Cooper (41) stops Washington Redskins wide receiver Ryan Grant short of the goal line during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Washington Redskins kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) celebrates his field goal against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins running back Rob Kelley (32) is hit by Arizona Cardinals defensive back Tyvon Branch (27) and free safety D.J. Swearinger (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins running back Chris Thompson (25) eludes the reach of Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Deone Bucannon (20) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals kicker Chandler Catanzaro (7) watches his field goal split the uprights as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) looks on during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) celebrates his defensive stop in the end zone with teammate free safety Will Blackmon (41) during the first half of an NFL football game against the Arizona Cardinals, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins cornerback Josh Norman (24) breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Floyd (15) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) dives for yardage as Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland (26) defends during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) escapes the reach of Washington Redskins cornerback Bashaud Breeland during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Washington Redskins running back Rob Kelley (32) scores a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs as Washington Redskins inside linebacker Su'a Cravens (36) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 4, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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