Harold Goodwin Wants Head Coaching Job
- Even though he relishes working under Bruce Arians, Cardinals offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin‘s “end all” goal is to become a head coach, he informed Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com. “I think B.A. has groomed me, kind of like he groomed Todd (Bowles),” said Goodwin. “Every year he’s given me more and more responsibilities. Obviously I get to see him work every day, how he handles the team, the administrative part of it. I think it’s helped me grow a lot.” Goodwin interviewed with the Buccaneers for their head coaching vacancy last winter, and the Cardinals’ status as an elite offensive team likely helped him earn consideration. Arizona has fallen off this year, though it remains to be seen if that will hurt Goodwin’s chances of landing a promotion during the upcoming offseason. Notably, Arians – not Goodwin – calls the Cardinals’ offensive plays.
Cardinals Activate Tyvon Branch
The Cardinals have activated safety Tyvon Branch from injured reserve, the club announced. He’ll play Sunday against the Redskins, tweets Darren Urban of the team’s website.
Branch, a former Raider and Chief who signed a two-year deal with Arizona in March, appeared in the Cardinals’ first five games this season, racking up three starts and 20 tackles. He then landed on injured reserve Oct. 4 with a groin issue, and the team designated him to return from IR on Nov. 23. He’ll now rejoin a 4-6-1 club that entered the season as a Super Bowl contender but now has little room for error as it clings to slim playoff hopes.
While Branch will return Sunday, fellow defensive back Tyrann Mathieu is unlikely to suit up because of a sore shoulder. The 2015 first-team All-Pro’s shoulder kept him out of two of the Cardinals’ games in November, though he did play in their 38-19 loss to the Falcons last Sunday.
Could Cardinals Land Tony Romo?
Where will Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo wind up this offseason? The Broncos, Jets, and Bears would be the most obvious fits for the Cowboys quarterback, NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal opines. Beyond those teams, the Cardinals could be a possibility if Carson Palmer retires. Meanwhile, the Bills and Texans represent “longshot” landing spots for the veteran. Buffalo already has a QB in Tyrod Taylor, but his contract gives them an out if they see Romo as the better option to win right now. In Houston, Brock Osweiler could use another QB to push him, but they’d probably look to a younger player.
Chris Johnson To Continue Playing
Chris Johnson is done for the season, but he is not going to call it a career. Johnson says his body feels good and he’d like to play a couple more seasons (Twitter link via Kyle Odegard of AZCardinals.com). 
Johnson was placed on IR in October with a groin injury. He was hoping to be the team’s one player to be designated for return, but that door was shut when safety Tyvon Branch got the nod instead. This year, Johnson had just 95 yards and one touchdown off of 28 carries. But, in 2015, he racked up 814 rushing yards in eleven games. There’s reason to believe that Johnson can still be a contributor as he enters his age-32 season, even if he’s not starting material.
Johnson returned to the Cardinals on a one-year, $3MM deal this past offseason and it remains to be seen whether Arizona has interest in a reunion. David Johnson has a firm hold on the starting job and Andre Ellington is a solid No. 2 RB. Beyond them, the Cards have 25-year-olds Stepfan Taylor and Kerwynn Williams. Johnson took less money to stay with Arizona in the spring, but there might not be a place for him this time around.
Cardinals, Patrick Peterson Rework Contract
The Cardinals converted approximately $3.17MM of Patrick Peterson‘s base salary into a signing bonus, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter). The move creates $2.5MM in 2016 cap space. 
The Cardinals are near the bottom of the league in cap room and they needed a bit of a breather in the current year. We are past the trade deadline and there are no real premium free agents left on the board, but the Cardinals should now have enough space to make any minor signings that are necessary for the rest of the season.
Peterson is in the midst of a five-year, $70MM+ extension that was inked in the summer of 2014. That deal now stands as the third-highest in the league amongst cornerbacks in terms of total value and average salary per year. If the full contract is played out, the 26-year-old will not be eligible for free agency until after the 2020 season.
The cornerback got some good news this week when he learned that he did not suffer structural damage to his left knee. Peterson’s knee was hit by the cleat of Falcons receiver Julio Jones on Sunday. The incident was painful, but it doesn’t sound like he’ll miss any time as a result.
Opinion: Humphries Give Cards LT Options
- 2015 first-round pick D.J. Humphries played well in his first attempt at left tackle on Sunday, and his solid showing gives the Cardinals options going forward, writes Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com. Not only could Humphries continue to play on the blindside in 2016, with Jared Veldheer moving to right tackle, but he could allow Arizona to move on from Veldheer in years to come if the club needs to create cap space.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/29/16
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: OL Kevin Graf
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: WR Chris Hubert
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: CB Asa Jackson
- Cut: LB James Burgess
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: T Jake Rodgers, T Tyrus Thompson
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Tony McRae
New England Patriots
- Signed: TE Kennard Backman, RB D.J. Foster
New York Jets
- Cut: OL Zach Sterup
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Wynton McManis
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Kevin Smith
- Cut: RB Zac Brooks, RB Malcolm Johnson
Tennessee Titans
- Signed: CB D’Joun Smith
NFL Teams Showing Interest In Rugby Stars
Last year, rugby star Jarryd Hayne signed with the 49ers and tried his hand at the NFL. His stay in the league was short, but there are now a pair of rugby standouts that are hoping to follow his footsteps. Australian Rugby League players Valentine Holmes and Jason Taumalolo tried out for teams on Saturday, as Howard Balzer of BalzerFootball.com tweets.
The Bills, Bears, Browns, Packers, Colts, Jaguars, Chiefs, Rams, Jets, Eagles, Chargers, Seahawks, Cardinals, and the 49ers were all in attendance for the workout (Twitter link). Taumalolo, 23, and Holmes, 21, ran passing routes, underwent speed and agility tests, and ran the 40-yard dash, according to the Sydney Morning Herald. Taumalolo hears that he could project to fullback, tight end, or linebacker while Holmes was pegged as a wide receiver or safety.
At least four NFL teams expressed interest in taking a second look at the duo, the Australian Associated Press reports. Scouts from the Packers, Eagles, Jets, Chiefs and Cardinals appeared to be the most interested. The AAP writes that both players intend on fulfilling their NRL contracts for 2017, but one has to imagine that they could change their minds if presented with an NFL offer.
Cardinals Cut Third-Year Safety
- The Cardinals announced that they have waived safety Christian Bryant, whom they promoted from their practice squad earlier this month. A 2014 UDFA, Bryant vacillated between the Rams’ active roster and practice squad in 2015 before catching on with the Cardinals this year.
Steve Keim Not Ready For Cardinals Rebuild
Viewed as one of the NFC favorites after ascending to the NFC West title and the franchise’s second conference championship game since the merger last season, the Cardinals have joined the Panthers in putting together an underwhelming follow-up effort.
But GM Steve Keim does not see this as a sign to blow up the team and orchestrate a rebuilding process. Keim said during a radio appearance Monday he sees the potential for this group to make another run in 2017.
“I really do feel like there are enough good quality core pieces in place, not only contractually, but with age,” the fourth-year GM said on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM (via Bob McManamon of the Arizona Daily Republic). “We have a nice core of defenders, and I think we have some talent on offense. So whatever happens after the season, whether it’s players moving on or continuing to stay on or whatever it may be, I don’t think it’s a situation where it’s a complete revamp of this team to make it better.”
Arizona slunk to 4-6-1 after the loss in Atlanta. It’s not necessarily out of the realm of possibility the Cardinals make a last-ditch playoff push, as they sit less than two games out of the wild card, but it’s looking unlikely. And major offensive pieces are in or nearing the twilight of their careers. Carson Palmer will turn 37 next month and has not come close to resembling his 2015 version, and Larry Fitzgerald — who will be 34 in 2017 — has been linked to retirement rumors. His supporting-cast wideouts are mostly off their 2015 respective paces as well. Starting linemen Mike Iupati and A.Q. Shipley will also be over 30 next season.
However, the Cardinals’ defense ranked third in Football Outsiders’ DVOA entering Week 11, when it surrendered 38 points. Plenty of young talent remains there, although some starters are impending free agents.
“I think it’s going to be just some different pieces and we’ll continue to stay aggressive and I can tell you, as disappointing as things are, I’ve never been more excited to continue to try and improve this team and put this organization in a good position to succeed,” Keim said.
The Cardinals have the expiring contracts of Chandler Jones, Tony Jefferson, Calais Campbell and Michael Floyd to deal with after the season but stand to possess upwards of $37MM in cap space in 2017. Keim will need to make some key decisions since some key members of that talented defense are coming off the books soon.