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An intriguing veteran cornerback option hit the free agent market on Monday. The Green Bay Packersreleased cornerback Jaire Alexander.
Alexander is 28 years old and a two-time Pro Bowler with 12 career interceptions. He has made second-team All-Pro twice. However, he also missed 10 games in each of the last two seasons.
The Cardinals have a lack of experience at cornerback currently. They lost Sean Murphy-Bunting for the season to an offseason knee injury that required surgery, and they placed him on the non-football injury reserve.
It was reported that they could add a veteran cornerback to the roster.
Could Alexander be that guy?
The talent is undeniable. Even in only seven games last season, he picked off two passes and broke up seven.
He would definitely be better than Star Thomas, if healthy. Imagine having Alexander along with Garrett Williams, Max Melton and rookie Will Johnson. That would make for a formidable group.
The problem is the other stuff. He is funny, but he can be a distraction.
He once, when he was not a team captain, went to the middle of the field for the coin toss, made the call and then, after winning the toss, almost messed things up for the Packers when he didn't directly say they wanted to defer until the second half. It happened in Carolina against the Panthers.
He said his teammates backed him up, but it wasn't endorsed by the coaches.
If there is one thing that Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has preached as the No. 1 tenet for players, it is to put team over self.
Would the Cardinals risk investing in an oft-injured player with a selfish streak? It could pay off, but then it would mean pushing a player they like off the roster. A guy like Thomas would be pushed into a special teams role, pushing rookie Denzel Burke perhaps off the roster.
While Alexander is talented and likely an upgrade over guys on the roster, it seems unlikely they would pull the trigger on him right now.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Jaire Alexander release: Will Arizona Cardinals pursue veteran CB?
Continue reading...
Alexander is 28 years old and a two-time Pro Bowler with 12 career interceptions. He has made second-team All-Pro twice. However, he also missed 10 games in each of the last two seasons.
The Cardinals have a lack of experience at cornerback currently. They lost Sean Murphy-Bunting for the season to an offseason knee injury that required surgery, and they placed him on the non-football injury reserve.
It was reported that they could add a veteran cornerback to the roster.
Could Alexander be that guy?
Should the Arizona Cardinals pursue and sign CB Jaire Alexander?
The talent is undeniable. Even in only seven games last season, he picked off two passes and broke up seven.
He would definitely be better than Star Thomas, if healthy. Imagine having Alexander along with Garrett Williams, Max Melton and rookie Will Johnson. That would make for a formidable group.
The problem is the other stuff. He is funny, but he can be a distraction.
He once, when he was not a team captain, went to the middle of the field for the coin toss, made the call and then, after winning the toss, almost messed things up for the Packers when he didn't directly say they wanted to defer until the second half. It happened in Carolina against the Panthers.
He said his teammates backed him up, but it wasn't endorsed by the coaches.
If there is one thing that Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon has preached as the No. 1 tenet for players, it is to put team over self.
Would the Cardinals risk investing in an oft-injured player with a selfish streak? It could pay off, but then it would mean pushing a player they like off the roster. A guy like Thomas would be pushed into a special teams role, pushing rookie Denzel Burke perhaps off the roster.
While Alexander is talented and likely an upgrade over guys on the roster, it seems unlikely they would pull the trigger on him right now.
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Jaire Alexander release: Will Arizona Cardinals pursue veteran CB?
Continue reading...
