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.
Cardinals Promote Marquis Bundy
The Cardinals have promoted wide receiver Marquis Bundy from the practice squad to the active roster and cut fellow wideout Chris Hubert, per a team announcement.
Bundy, a Phoenix native, signed with the Cardinals in June as an undrafted free agent from New Mexico and had been on their practice squad since September. Bundy caught just 31 passes in 35 games during his college career, but he’ll now join an Arizona receiving corps that, like the team itself, has been a disappointment this year. One of the unit’s letdowns, Michael Floyd, has a hamstring injury and is questionable for the Cardinals’ game against the Falcons on Sunday.
Hubert, also an undrafted rookie, originally signed with the Cardinals in May after playing college football at Fayetteville State. The club promoted him to its active roster Oct. 26 to take the place of receiver Jaron Brown, who tore his ACL, but Hubert didn’t see any game action.
Bruce Arians Calls Out Robert Nkemdiche
- Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians was frank in explaining why first-round defensive end Robert Nkemdiche was inactive for the club’s previous two games, telling Darren Urban of the team’s website, “Talent, not an issue. Maturity is. It’s just maturing.” Arians also took a shot at Nkemdiche’s work ethic (or lack thereof), saying that 2015 first-rounder D.J. Humphries – who was inactive his entire rookie season – put in more of an effort last year. Nkemdiche was a highly regarded talent at Ole Miss, but character concerns helped him fall to 29th in the draft, and several scouts opined beforehand that he’d bust in the pros. It’s early, but with just three appearances and one tackle thus far, Nkdemiche certainly hasn’t made those scouts eat their words.
Cardinals Designate Tyvon Branch For Return
In early October, both safety Tyvon Branch and running back Chris Johnson were placed on injured reserve with severe groin injuries. At the time, coach Bruce Arians indicated that it would be a race between the two to see who could get healthy first. It appears that Branch has won. 
Branch will come off IR and is on the field practicing today, according to Darren Urban of AZCardinals.com (on Twitter). The safety cannot play before Dec. 4 but he is on the path to return.
Branch appeared in all 16 games for the Chiefs last season and recorded 43 tackles, one interception, a forced fumble, and four passes defensed. The advanced metrics from Pro Football Focus placed Branch as the 30th best safety in the NFL last year, slotting him ahead of free agents like Chris Conte, Eric Weddle, and David Bruton. While he did not start in 2015, the Cardinals believed that he was capable of a larger role. Branch was shelved after just five games this year, but he’ll get the opportunity to rejoin the club for the final stretch of the season.
Because only one player can return from IR, Johnson’s season is through. In 2015, Johnson was surprisingly productive for Arizona before a fractured tibia ended his season early. He re-signed with the Cardinals in the spring where he was expected to be David Johnson‘s primary backup. His season ends with a grand total of 95 yards and one touchdown off of 28 carries.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/22/16
Here are today’s practice squad moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: LB Reshard Cliett
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: CB Tyler Patmon
- Cut: DT Bruce Gaston
Chicago Bears
- Signed: CB De’Vante Bausby, WR Dres Anderson
- Cut: Darius Jennings
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: LS Tyler Ott
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LB Derrick Mathews
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: TE E.J. Bibbs
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: LB Randell Johnson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: S Marcus Ball
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: RB Zac Brooks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: OL Mike Liedtke, CB Cody Riggs, WR Myles White
- Cut: RB Russell Hansbrough
Cardinals Sign Sio Moore
The Cardinals announced (via Twitter) that they have signed linebacker Sio Moore. In a related move, the team cut fellow linebacker Joplo Bartu with an injury settlement (hamstring).
Moore, a 2013 third-round pick, will be joining his third team of the season. The linebacker started the season with the Colts, compiling 30 tackles in four games. However, Moore was waived in early October. The 26-year-old soon caught on with the Chiefs, but he was released in early November without making a single appearance with the squad. The three-year veteran also got an audition with the Lions in early November.
The defender showed plenty of promise during his first two seasons in the league, as he averaged 70 tackles and nearly four sacks with the Raiders. Moore’s tenure with Oakland ended when he was traded to the Colts for a sixth-round pick. Moore will be joining a Cardinals linebacker corps that already features Alex Okafor, Kareem Martin, and Zaviar Gooden in reserve roles.
Bartu, 27, played seven games for the Cardinals this season. He hasn’t made a significant NFL contribution since 2014, when he collected 82 tackles in 14 starts for the Falcons.
Tyrann Mathieu On Verge Of Return
- Cardinals GM Steve Keim thinks “there’s a good chance” safety Tyrann Mathieu plays Sunday in Atlanta (Twitter link via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN.com). Mathieu’s been out since October with a shoulder injury.
Cardinals Promote Zaviar Gooden
- The Cardinals have placed linebacker Gabe Martin on injured reserve with a knee injury and promoted LB Zaviar Gooden from the practice squad, according to a team announcement. Martin had only played 19 defensive snaps on the season, but had been a force on special teams, where he’d played on 64% of Arizona’s plays. Like Poutasi, Gooden is a former Titans third-round pick, having been drafted in 2013.
NFL Execs On Tony Romo’s Trade Value
The Cowboys insist that Tony Romo is still a part of their plans going forward, but that hasn’t stopped speculation on whether Romo could be traded this offseason and what his price tag could be. Tom Pelissero of USA Today Sports checked in with a handful of NFL executives to gauge Romo’s trade value and got a wide range of answers. 
[RELATED: Cowboys Organization Torn On Romo, Prescott]
One GM feels the Cowboys could get as much as a second-round pick, provided that the Romo could pass a physical. Another executive predicted the Cowboys could ask for a second or third. Another said a third was the absolute max Dallas could get. Other responses ranged from a sixth-round choice to a conditional late-round pick.
“Imagine me going to [the owner] and saying, ‘Listen, I’m going to make a trade for a 36-year-old that’s got back issues that’s a backup,’ ” one anonymous GM said. “He’d be like, ‘You’re crazy.’ ”
Of course, it’s hard to peg Romo’s value without having a good handle on his health or the quarterback landscape in the offseason. Romo’s market would vary depending on which teams needed a quarterback and exactly how desperate they are. As I have noted before, this year’s draft class is pretty thin at QB, and that could help the Cowboys’ case if they choose to deal their one-time franchise star.
The executives mentioned the Jets, Broncos, Cardinals (if they were to dump Carson Palmer) and Bears as possible suitors. The 49ers need a QB, but as Pelissero notes, Romo isn’t a great fit for Chip Kelly‘s offense.
Cardinals, WR Jaron Brown Agree To Extension
Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown is done for the 2016 season, but he’ll still be in the team’s plans for 2017. The Cardinals and Brown agreed to a one-year extension, according to a source who spoke with Kent Somers of The Arizona Republic (on Twitter). 
Brown was shut down for the year after suffering a torn ACL last month. The timing was unfortunate as Brown had been given an opportunity for more playing time in the wake of John Brown‘s bout with sickle-cell trait. Prior to suffering the injury, Jaron Brown had been a more prominent part of the Cardinals’ offense this season compared to previous years. He had already tied his 16-game reception total from last season (11) and amassed 22 targets – one fewer than his 2015 amount. He also averaged an impressive 17.0 yards per catch and added a touchdown over the Cardinals’ first seven games.
The Cardinals have made a point to stick by their players and they have been extension-happy all year. In August, the team extended veterans Larry Fitzgerald and Carson Palmer despite their age and advanced mileage. The Cards also paid Tyrann Mathieu handsomely on a long term deal despite his own ACL injury. As a player-friendly organization, the Cardinals have likely established themselves as a preferred destination for free agents going forward.