If Arizona Cardinals fans exist, and maybe they do in very small numbers, they likely cannot feel good about their team's future. The gap between the Cards and the rest of the NFC West, featuring, obviously, the Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Rams, and San Francisco 49ers, continues to grow.
Even in the offseason, Arizona was a mess. This was led by journeyman quarterback Jacoby Brissett basically holding out in hopes of having more of his contract guaranteed. He is expected to start this season, but the team also signed another journeyman QB, Gardner Minshew, to be his backup.
This weekend, Arizona and Brissett agreed to a new deal for 2026 that is worth as much as $21 million. But following the signing, the quarterback accidentally made his team look sillier. He was asked whether he knew the offense he was about to lead this coming season, and Brissett answered honestly, "Oh, hello no."
Seattle Seahawks have one more reason to laugh at the Arizona Cardinals
Well, then. Nothing like giving a veteran quarterback a lot of money who, even while not participating in drills, could have learned the new playbook the team had. While he wasn't physically preparing, he could have been mentally preparing. As he admitted in not so many words, he wasn't.
Not that what Brissett was or wasn't doing is going to matter all that much. He was the starter for much of 2025, too, and in those games, his team was 1-11. His career record is an atrocious 20-45, which for a quarterback who doesn't turn the ball over much is completely awful.
Brissett did set career-highs in passing yards, touchdown passes, and quarterback rating last season, and he's not the worst quarterback in the NFL, but he is on one of the worst teams. He also did himself and his team no favors in the public view by freely saying he wasn't ready to know what his offense was supposed to be doing.
The quarterback will likely learn the playbook fast, though. He is used to that. In 10 seasons, he has played for six teams. If anyone can acclimate quickly, it is a QB who has bounced around the league, never being anyone's dream of a long-term starter. He has been a backup for most of his career, but the Cardinals simply can't do any better, which shows the entire state of the team.
Maybe Arizona fans should have a little hope, though. They have another new head coach in Mike LaFleur and a new offensive coordinator in Nathaniel Hackett, the coach who destroyed Russell Wilson with the Denver Broncos. Facing the Seahawks, 49ers, and Rams twice a season, what could go wrong? The answer in terms of the Cardinals is "everything."
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