PHOENIX — Cardinals camp is off to an interesting start.
Good news, everyone is healthy and accounted for on the field for the first day of training camp. Kyler Murray leading the offense and rookie first round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. is as advertised.
Nobody is on the PUP (physically unable to perform) list, but offensive lineman Jon Gaines, who missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, is being slow-rolled to start camp. He could start at left guard for the Cardinals.
Is momentum real?
This has been a holiday debate in my family for years... and now head coach Jonathan Gannon joined the conversation. Gannon and his staff did a deep dive on the concept of momentum in sports and in life. So after all that research, does momentum exist?
"The answer is perhaps," Gannon said.
Tone-setter
On the eve of the first practice of camp, safety Budda Baker got up in the first team speech to give an impromptu speech.
“He got up and talked last night off the cuff. He’s everything we’re about,” Gannon said.
“It’s huge. Budda’s been a guy that’s done it right year after year,” said running back James Conner. “When he talks, guys listen. He’s been a captain every year and he’s our tone-setter for sure.”
Tatted-up
Best new personality on the team goes to cornerback Max Melton. The rookie is battling for the #2 cornerback spot opposite of #1 cornerback Sean Murphy-Bunting. The second round pick revealed part of his off-season included getting new tattoos on his chest and sleeve. He had to go under anesthesia for eight hours while five tattoo artists worked on him.
Arizona sports
The city of Phoenix is home to four major professional sports league teams; The NFL's Arizona Cardinals, NBA's Phoenix Suns, WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury and MLB's Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Cardinals have made State Farm Stadium in Glendale their home turf and the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix is home to both the Suns and the Mercury. The Indoor Football League’s Arizona Rattlers play at Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale.
Phoenix also has a soccer team with the USL's Phoenix Rising FC, who play at Phoenix Rising FC Stadium in Phoenix.
The Valley hosts multiple major sporting events on a yearly basis, including college football's Fiesta Bowl and Guaranteed Rate Bowl; the PGA Tour’s highest-attended event, the WM Phoenix Open; NASCAR events each spring and fall, including Championship Weekend in November; and Cactus League Spring Training for 15 Major League Baseball franchises.
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