Big Red
Well-known member
- Mar 16, 2019
- 1,355
- 0
Humphries said getting away from the facility to "reset" is important. But wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said Kingsbury told the team in a meeting that while players should take time to "clear your mind," the Cardinals also don't want to squander what they have built through seven games.
"Understand we have the stretch run of the season ahead of us," Fitzgerald said. "(He was) reminding us about what happened last year when we came off the bye and what the Rams did, embarrassing us at home."
Not that the Cardinals are unhappy to have some time off. They have created some momentum with the three-game winning streak, but enough injuries have cropped up over seven weeks that health is an issue. The injured reserve list has grown, although some (like safety Jalen Thompson) should be coming back. And any extra time between games benefits the rest of the wounded.
Besides, the hindsight of last year's post-bye disappointment gives General Manager Steve Keim confidence the Cardinals won't repeat it.
"I think we are a team and particularly a coach that is humble enough to learn from mistakes we've made in the past," Keim said. "Coming off of a 'Monday Night Football' game on a short week and then playing overtime against your division rival, there's no better time than a bye right now. We certainly need it. We need it both mentally and physically. I think our guys will come out and respond."
With a chance to win the NFC West – the best division in the league – the Cardinals can't afford to throw any games away because they aren't ready to play.
"This is year two for me, so understanding what happened last year, what I did last year," quarterback Kyler Murray said. "For me there is no bye week. Last year we kind of treated it like there was a bye week, this year the head stays down. There is no bye week for me, so I'm going to keep at it and be ready to come back and lead these guys."
Continue reading...