Clayton Tune: The Fateful Path of an NFL Legacy by Walter Mitchell photo: @azcardinals.com via Instagram During the second night of the 2023 NFL Draft, Clayton Tune received a call from the Green Bay Packers. The Packers wanted to assure Clayton of their interest in drafting the University of Houston quarterback at some point on day three. When the Arizona Cardinals selected Clayton Tune with the #139 pick a day later, he was surprised, given that the Cardinals had not expressed any significant interest in him during the pre-draft process. The Cardinals were not one of the six teams that brought him in for 30 visits (Texans, Saints, Browns, Steelers, Bucs, Giants). Tune had also been given a private workout by the Rams. The eventual link the Cardinals had to Clayton Tune was that Israel Woolfork was one of his coaches at the Senior Bowl. At that time, Woolfork had just finished his second year of a Bill Walsh/Bill Willis coaching fellowship with the Cleveland Browns. A...
The best episode of the year!!!
ReplyDeleteIn a season where the podcasts resembled the Festivus “airing of grievances,” this was the “grievance-est,” but it was enjoyable and therapeutic!
DeleteThese things need to be said, and It’s a nice contrast to the (mostly) spineless local media coverage!
Good insights on University of Miami Zach Ethridge. Maybe his defensive concepts can help move the needle. Baine is starting to look more probable.
ReplyDeleteThis was exactly what I was afraid of happening with the team firing Gannon. I knew MB would have zero interest in spending big to attract good coaches while paying KK and Gannon's salaries still. The thought of putting up with another year of Gannon was unbearable but now it looks like instead we're just going to have to put up with another 3 years of a staff that's even worse.
ReplyDeleteAnother thing I realized is how all of this is related to the decision to fire Wilks and draft Kyler instead of Bosa in 2019. The Wilks firing and the lawsuit that came after is, I think, the main reason why MB has "white washed" the organization. The opposite of what you'd think a lawyer would do when facing a lawsuit, but it almost feels more like a vindictive nepo baby who is reacting to the racism accusations with hubris, rather than remorse.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Kyler aspect, Kyler is the reason that KK got fired. Which led to MB being on the hook for a ton of coaching salary. That combined with the mandate to make things work with Kyler is why Gannon was the only coach the Cardinals could convince to hire in 2023. Now, uncertainty at the QB position and Kyler's contract serving as an anchor to roster construction is a major factor in why Arizona was the last choice for all the potential coaching candidates.
Imagine an alternate universe where the Cardinals retained Wilks for a second season and suffered through 1 more year of Rosen/Wilks. They would have had a worse record in 2020 and MB likely isn't getting sued by Wilks. 1 less win moves them ahead of the Chargers and Miami in the draft. A little worse and they were picking #1 again and could take Burrow, but lets say they don't get Burrow and just end up with Herbert. Then they have Bosa and Herbert instead of Kyler and Isaiah Simmons. At this point maybe they make KK their head coach, because he still would have been available. Or maybe they go in a different direction. Either way it's light years better than what we've endured for since Kyler got his extension.
No qualified coaches want anything to do with this team. The reputation of this team is getting worse and worse with every HC firing. Nobody wanted LeFleur. McVay was probably shocked LaFleur was offered a HC position and relieved it was with a division rival. State Farm stadium has been relegated to being a place where you can watch your team beat up on the Cardinals while you enjoy your winter vacation in the "Valley of the Sun".
ReplyDeleteThank You!!! Your passion for all things AZ Cardinals is refreshing. Your realism and struggles remind me that in all life in love and life come disappointments. It with the consistency and fortitude that we overcome our struggles and disappointments of life. It is very unfortunate that an NFL team run by such selfish ineptitude that the common man must struggle. The sports media in AZ is weak. You are a welcome breath of reality in a wind full of lies. I too remain a fan of AZ Cardinals to spite its owner. I want to root for my home team, the same team I began rooting for in 1988 when they arrived in AZ. I am frustrated at the state of the Cardinals organization - when will the cycle end///From Bugle and Stallings to Wilks, Gannon, et,al. there never seems to be a reprieve for AZ Cardinals fans. We get lucky now and again - but overall our expectation should really be to be disappointed, and to watch some of worst football during the past 50yrs...Thank You Larry Centers, Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, Budda Baker, & Bruce Arians to name a few of good names that made Cardinal football enjoyable even if the moment was brief and our ownership never truly backed up your gravitas in creating a winning atmosphere. May the sun rise again, when it will be we are all anxiously waiting, but it appears another 3+ years of same old show.
ReplyDeleteSpot on terrific as usual Redrun. Thank you for being a contributor, I value your thoughts and opinions.
DeleteSince - I really, really appreciate you too... I feel like I have become a negative party pooper in the past 5yrs. I was completely disgusted by Wilks, had hope for Kingsbury only to watch Keim & Bidwill to pull rug out from underneath us by creating an atmosphere were playing cell phone games ruled over football. To be followed by teflon Gannon, and now 'no blooms' LeFleur. At least in SunDevil stadium we had the heat index to keep at an advantage in nighttime home game, now we get a jet aeroplane, Casitas and gourmet concessions. But still no winning football. Our dome stadium for all its beauty and comfort has become a place opposing fans LOVE for it being the friendliest stadium for visiting teamz. It has just become difficult to remain a fan! I fully expect that if given chance Bidwill would move team to Mexico to meet NFL international growth pattern, and AZ would lose out on the 'expansion' team we were hoping for decades ago.
DeleteWe spoke at length yesterday how a terrible owner gets a pass from the Arizona media-especially AZSports.
DeleteIn a blatant "shill for failure" on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM today, Ron Wolfly insulted the intelligence of his audience by claiming coaching essentially doesn't matter in the NFL. In a desperate attempt to defend the retention of Nick Rallis, Wolfly argued that talent alone dictates wins. Wolfly’s revisionist history was transparently absurd: he had the audacity to suggest that Nick Rallis, the man physically calling defensive alignments and in-game adjustments for years bears no blame for the unit's collapse. Wolfly proved he is more interested in protecting Michael Bidwill’s paycheck than providing honest analysis. His claim that coaching isn't required to coordinate lines or develop college prospects is a disgusting slap in the face to a fan base tired of being treated like idiots.
There can be no doubt, Wolfly is on the radio because Mike Bidwill pays him.
I stopped listening to windbag Wolfley (I believe around time Wilks was here) - He literally has no huevos and no analysis he does is ever objectionable and accountable. You're right, he is nothing more than a mouthpiece for Michael Bidwill's ego and wallet.
DeleteSeattle will probably get 10billion. You think Bidwill would say No to 7 billion?.
ReplyDeleteFools act against their own interest
DeleteThe last article on Jacoby Brissett surpassing Kyler Murray is not loading correctly so nobody can comment.
ReplyDeleteHey Walt,
ReplyDeleteFirst time commenting but I've been a RedRain listener for 3 years. I found your podcast and ROTB articles when I was reading more about the Cards' head coach search after firing Kingsbury. Since then I've listened to nearly every episode, and after this week's ep I wanted to share how I felt. While you are one of the few holding this team accountable, the real service you do is for our misfit community of fans. You provide an outlet to vent our frustrations, and also to celebrate the fleeting victories. You've given me a language to articulate the maddening dysfunction of this team (for anyone who is unfortunate enough to be on the receiving end!) Now hope in this team is at an all time low, but I'll still listen and read if you're still posting. Thanks for all of the passion and effort you put into this project.