Big Red
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- Mar 16, 2019
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The Cardinals don't want Baker to change a thing. They made him the highest-paid safety in the NFL during training camp and the contract has looked like a bargain through the first six games of the season.
In the one contest Baker missed this season – Week 4 against the Panthers due to a thumb injury – the Cardinals gave up 31 points. In the five games he's played, they are allowing 16.2 points per game.
Baker slipped to the second round of the 2017 draft because of his size, but being 5-foot-10 and 195 hasn't affected his durability, nor his ability to impact games.
He won the NFC Defensive Player of the Week award on Wednesday after compiling seven tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble against the Cowboys.
"He's a little guy, but he packs a very, very big punch," cornerback Patrick Peterson said. "He's almost like the Aaron Donald of defensive backs."
Baker has long proven his ability to be an impact defender in the box, and so heading into Monday's game, the final item on his check list was an interception.
Despite making the Pro Bowl last season, Baker had never nabbed one in his career, until making a great break on an Andy Dalton pass in the fourth quarter and cradling the ball into his chest despite wearing a cast around his injured right thumb.
"I'm always teasing him, always, like, 'Bro, when are you going to get your first pick?'" cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.said. "It's crazy he got his first pick with his little cast on. That's what makes it even better.'"
Baker had a memorable celebration, rolling the football into his teammates like a bowling ball and emphatically reveling in the strike.
By the time he spoke with reporters after the game, Baker was clearly happy, but also back to his laidback self – a week away from the return of savage mode.
"When he crosses those lines," Murphy said, "it's a whole different Budda."
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