Mum's the word with Monti
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By Walter MitchellOne of the most annoying aspects of watching this year's NFL draft, particularly after the Cardinals shocked the NFL world by drafting Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, was having to listen to an array of NFL pundits and draftniks scoff at the pick because according to them: "the Cardinals have NO quarterback and NO offensive line."
Example 1: From TalkSport USA
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1489109409583348
Example 2: Mina Kimes --- "the Cardinals would be better off taking a tackle at pick #3 than draft Jeremiyah Love."
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2767729080250105
Over the past ten days, not only has Monti Ossenfort kept mum on the QB and OL disparagements, he managed to pour gasoline on those fiery claims during the GM's and HC's s pre-draft press conference by refusing to state with conviction who the team's starting QB this season will be. "We're not really naming anybody at this time."
This came a mere day or so after Hjalte Froholdt assured the Arizona media that the "boys" believe in Jacoby Brissett:
“He’s a veteran, he knows his shit, he stands in the pocket, he takes a hit, he plays for the boys.”
"He's not just another backup. Jacoby has proven that he's a really good quarterback in this league, and he can get the job done. I'm excited to see what he's going to do this year."
Not only has the GM not made any declarative statements about Jacoby Brissett being the starter, but he has also made no financial commitment to him. Having Jacoby's status with the team in limbo during the draft was an utter embarrassment and yet another indication of the sheer dysfunction in leadership that has plagued this downtrodden franchise for years.
Yup. mum's with word with Monti.
But here's the gist --- no player, perhaps other than Josh Sweat, has given Monti Ossenfort more for the money and more for the GM's own credibility than Jacoby Brissett.
The two players pictured about, Hjalte Froholdt and Jacoby Brissett are the best two offensive UFAs Monti has signed.
When Jacoby took over for a struggling Kyler Murray, he did Monti and the Cardinals the ultimate favor of showing the NFL world what a real NFL passing game looks like from a tough-minded, dedicated leader and pocket passer at the position.
This was a slam dunk vindication of Monti's decision to move off from Kyler Murray, finally, at last.
Monti should be singing the praises of Jacoby Brissett to the rafters of State Farm Stadium with the roof wide open so that the world can hear.
After all of the punishing hits Jacoby absorbed while becoming the most productive passer in the NFL over the last 12 games, both in yards (280.5 ypg) and 23 TD passes (save for Matthew Stafford), can you just imagine what it must feel like for Jacoby to hear over and over, even from Arizona pundits, the "Cardinals have NO QB"?
At least Mike LaFleur has stated how well he believes Jacoby fits his QB profile and pocket-oriented offensive system. And it just so happens that LaFleur coached Matthew Stafford last season at age 38 to an NFL MVP award by virtue of his career-high 46 TD passes, which led the entire NFL.
But now that Jacoby Brissett is still twisting in the wind and that the Cardinals drafted Carson Beck at the top of Round 3, at pick #65, the convenient talk among pundits is that Beck has as good a shot as any to be the team's starter.
If that becomes the case, all of the hours, trust and reps that Jacoby Brissett put into developing his chemistry with Michael Wilson, Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. will have gone to waste.
Is it reasonable to assume that Carson Beck. as a rookie, can come right and in and develop the same kind of chemistry with the Cardinals' receivers?
The gist is --- what kind of a demoralizing setback could be this be for Wilson, Mc Bride and Harrison Jr.? Let alone for Hjalte Froholdt and his linemates.
NO offensive line?
If the Cardinals had a GM with any kind of cajones and utter respect for his players, his pre-draft press conference should have sounded something like this:
"We love the effort, production and professional leadership we got from Jacoby Brissett last season. He led the NFL in yards per game the last 12 weeks, inspiring a unit that was besieged by injuries. Jacoby has not only earned the respect and trust of his teammates, he has earned the right to be our starting QB this season."
"I've been hearing pundits say that the Cardinals have NO offensive line. Well, we beg to differ. At left tackle we drafted one of the NFL's most talented left tackles in Paris Johnson Jr. At left guard, we signed one of the most accomplished and dominant offensive linemen in the NFL in Isaac Seumalo. At center, we have a captain whom we believe is one of the best, smartest and most physical centers in the league. At right guard we drafted three players we are very high on in Jon Gaines II, Isaiah Adams and Hayden Conner. For hquality competition and depth, we also signed veteran guard/tackle Matt Pryor. We like the players we have at right guard. At right tackle, we feel that we signed one of the most physically imposing tackles in the league in Elijah Wilkinson, who started all 17 games at right tackle for the Falcons. We believe his best football is ahead of him and that Elijah is going to help our running game get back to exhibiting the dominant tone we set in 2023 and 2024. Behind Elijah, we have a young Ohio Sr. Buckeye in Josh Fryar who we believe can develop into a quality NFL tackle. For added competition and depth we signed Osi Udoh to join two young tackles we think very highly of in Christian Jones our 2024 5th round pick out of Texas and Demontrey Jacobs who filled in well for us when needed last season."
"Anyone who thinks the 2026 Arizona Cardinals have NO quarterback and NO offensive line, well then, you are either not paying attention, or you are biased to think otherwise."
In Arizona at least the players are standing up for each other and themselves.
In spite of their GM who remains obliviously mum.
I know you hate Monti. And there’s a lot to fairly criticize. But I feel you are holding him to an impossible and unfair standard. First, your article has a built-in assumption that before Monti’s press conference, it came to his attention that TalkSport USA and Mina Kimes (whoever they are, I’ve never heard of them) criticized the team’s QBs and offensive line. I think it’s fair to say that Monti was probably preoccupied with other more important things. And if he was spending precious draft preparation time worrying about the opinions of TalkSport USA and Mina Kimes (who???) he deserves to be terminated on that basis alone. So, I think we should give Monti the benefit of the doubt and assume he was inaware of the comments. (This also holds true for similar comments by pundits). Even if he was somehow aware, I don’t think he should be validating TalkSport USA by engaging with them. And if he had made your proposed statement, I believe some players may have been offended, since they don’t feel they need their general manager to stand up for them and defend their reputations.
ReplyDeleteFurthermore, have you ever heard of any general manager who made an impulsive decision to name a player a starter on the spot, thereby undermining competition, because of a statement by some no-name media outlet. That too would be grounds for immediate termination if Monty had done it. I think players are happy to tune out the noise and respond to criticism with their play on the field. This particular attack on Monty is inwarranted.
Yes, in 2023, Monti not only named Kyler the starter, he and Gannon appointed him captain without the votes of the players. I don't like the way Monti operates. To say I hate him is draconian. I think Monti has a good way of interacting with coaches and players. But, to think that Monti doesn't know the "no QB and no OL" chatter is naive. His knowledge of that played right into both his Day 2 picks at the expense of ignoring the league's 29th ranked scoring defense.
DeleteWalt I didn’t say that nobody’s ever named somebody a starter before training camp. I said nobody has ever named somebody a starter impulsively, on the spot, because they’re reacting to a no-name media outlet. As I’ve said before, I greatly respect your work, and your blog is the first thing I read every day. That being said, when you’ve decided you don’t like someone (Monti, Gannon, Bidwill), I think you are prone to making unsupported assumptions. This is yet another example. There’s zero proof that Monti knew what people from no-name media outlets are saying. Many players and executives in the NFL say that they pay no attention to pundits or social media. They may be lying, but it’s not fair to draw an assumption without supporting evidence.. Also, you are now drawing a sweeping and unsupported conclusion that the criticism impacted the draft picks. None of us were in the draft room. I highly doubt that Monti’s instructions were this: “TalkSport USA Just criticized us. Throw out the 12 months of work on our draft board. That no longer matters . We are going to draft in response to TalkSport USA!” The fact that you’re citing to TalkSport USA, can be evidence that you started with a certain supposition and then searched for the evidence to support it, with TalkSports USA being the best you can find. But I won’t make that allegation because I don’t have any support for it.
DeleteGreat post Walt! I could not agree more! Jacobi should receive more respect and money. Our O line is vastly improved!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jim. Yes and yes!
DeleteThe more I see Monti's decisions, the more and more it seems like he is NOT making the decisions; or making decisions not based upon football but what the owner wants. Our owner was a ball boy and surrounded by best minds in football from birth, he may just think he's smarter than who he has hired. Leading to the last decade of mostly sub-par coaching, staff, and roster selection. It just see as if the Cardinals wish to fail (for another #1 draft selection).
ReplyDeleteSad part it’s too late to ask for a release as Jacoby probably would like, maybe he waits until a training camp injury on another team to get his freedom. To me, the fans will talk the owner and Monti to start the season with Minshew and Beck and we will watch a team lose a lot again… RIP J. Mauro.
ReplyDelete