Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE
If you’re an Arizona Cardinals fan and you want the media to respect your team you need to be patient. The last two seasons have been nowhere near great, and before 2008 the Cardinals hadn’t made the playoffs in ten years.
In the past, I have been very critical of the Cardinals fall from NFC champions. I still believe trading Anquan Boldin to the Baltimore Ravens was the worst move in franchise history. Boldin was a constant threat anywhere on the field, and he is still in the back of most defenders minds while he plays with the Ravens.
There have been some questionable decisions in the last decade from the Cardinals front office. Trading for Kevin Kolb has become a questionable decision, but he is still young enough to bounce back. San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith, at one point, might have been a questionable decision, but all he needed was the right coach. So, before we put all the blame on Kolb for his mediocre 2011 season, maybe it’s time to put some of the blame on the coaching staff.
Fans need to know respect is not given, it is earned. To put it plain and simple the Cardinals have not earned their respect. The New England Patriots are number 1 in most reasonable rankings because they contend every year. Most power rankings, in the NFL, have Arizona ranked right around 20. I personally think 20 is quite fair. However, if the Cardinals win this week against the Patriots, and they don’t jump five, maybe 10 spots, there is a lack of good judgment among NFL writers. I ask fans to be patient; the Cardinals time will come and when it does it will taste that much sweeter.
