Dennis Gardeck Rates High As Cardinals' Success Story

[Big Red]

But that's the kind of person and player the Cardinals want around, and why they kept him. Coach Kliff Kingsbury calls him a "phenomenal story," even if he's a guy who can screw up scout team looks by playing so over the top on the 'look' defense.


That his path was unusual not only makes Gardeck's story, it makes Gardeck. He went to West Virginia State, played his last year at Sioux Falls. Most certainly did not expect to be an Arizona Cardinal.


"The goal was never to play professionally, it was to pay for school.," Gardeck said. "I wanted to see how far we can take this."


Eventually, he did have higher hopes, but only to play in the arena league or maybe another country, to pull in a paycheck from the sport he loves so much.


"It doesn't matter where you come from," Peterson said. "The game is the game. If you have love and passion for the game, with energy and the tenacity, everything will take care of itself. And Dennis plays with those intangibles. Dennis is just a ballplayer.


"If Dennis didn't go to college and was on the couch, I believe he could still make it in this league because of his mindset, his mentality. He's a grinder. He's a dog."


Gardeck is also where he wants to be. At 6-foot and 232 pounds, Gardeck is undersized for a player on the edge, the reason the Cardinals used him at inside linebacker his first two seasons. But with the additions of De'Vondre Campbell and Isaiah Simmons, Gardeck was moved back outside, a decision about which he acknowledged he was "stoked."


Defensive coordinator Vance Joseph said he knew Gardeck preferred to be out there, and the flashes he showed in New York is what he had done since the beginning of training camp.


But Gardeck also understands his role. He knows he's not going to be the obvious answer to replace Jones. He knows the biggest benefit he gives to the Cardinals is on special teams, and that isn't going to change even with his big day.


There isn't going to be any boasting. If anything, Gardeck good-naturedly puts himself down, even as a reporter was asking how he frequently comes across as self-depreciating.


"I'm glad you kind of explained it a little bit more, self-deprecating is a big one for me," Gardeck said, steering right into the concept. "Who am I, at the end of the day? I think that's kind of where I came from. Even back in high school, I was never 'The Guy.'


"You can think what you want about me. I'm just going to have fun, play football, celebrate how I celebrate -- whether it's a 7 or a 3."

Continue reading...