Login

Register | Forgot Your Password? | Close
AP: 603e0fb5-1fb0-4e04-8014-b8c59543d3cd
Arizona Cardinals running back Beanie Wells, center in red, is tackled by a host of New York Jets players during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)
"When the Cardinals are ashes, then you have my permission to cry."

That isn't really what Bane said in the film The Dark Knight Rises, but it sure seems to be how Cardinals fans feel head coach Ken Whisenhunt is treating them. That, or I just saw way too many commercials for the movie's Blu Ray release during the Cards game Sunday.

It's not to say Whisenhunt is a bad guy, because he's not. By all accounts he has done plenty to help the community during his time in the Valley. But like Batman's main foil in the latest film, he's very stubborn and set in his ways.

That attitude has caused much success including two division titles -- their first since coming to Arizona -- a Super Bowl appearance -- the first in franchise history -- and the emergence of one of the most prolific quarterback and wide receiver combos in franchise and league history in Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald.

That same attitude, however, has led to a former Heisman winner and first round pick losing his mojo and becoming no more effective than Stoney Case (look it up if you aren't old enough to remember him, Cards fans). He took the same receiver he helped make a star and turned him into a guy with really cool dreads and very few touchdowns. He's the reason we wondered what was so funny to Derek Anderson, how moxy qualified Max Hall to be anything other than a short guy with a good attitude, made John Skelton a bigger joke than Red Skelton ever had in his act (maybe that was what Anderson was laughing about) and proved to be "Lindsane" thinking a sixth-round rookie could be the answer under center.

He's provided the one thing that Cardinals fans have longed for over the years, hope, and has taken it away just as fast. A theme the Gotham City villain had thoughts on as well.

"I learned here that there can be no true despair without hope... I will feed its people hope to poison their souls. I will let them believe they can survive so that you can watch them clamoring over each other to 'stay in the sun.'"

Whisenhunt obviously isn't doing this consciously. As a matter of fact, it has been an unfortunate byproduct of his inability to adapt to certain situations and make necessary changes. But the bottom line is, for fans, the effect is the same.

Franchise-record winning streaks followed by franchise-defining losing streaks give fans hope and then teach them great despair in the span of a calendar year. (Although, thanks to many Sundays spent at Sun Devil Stadium, they fight to stay out of the sun now.)

While the answer in the film was to rid the city of the man causing this phenomenon, for the Cardinals franchise, there seems to be a few different paths to salvation.

The first would be to set up a structure in which Whisenhunt can change his ways. One where his "guys" on the coaching staff (Russ Grimm and Mike Miller to name a couple) are asked to leave. Replacing them with experienced or creative coaches (paging Kurt Warner) more capable of shaping and molding the positions they oversee.

One where Ray Horton is handsomely rewarded for turning the team's defense, once a joke, into its strength. And finally one where deciding on who the team's quarterback of the future will be is more than a gut feeling that changes every four weeks. It would also require focusing on an offensive line that has been more neglected than the city of Detroit in the draft and free agency and finding an offensive identity.

The other option is starting completely over with a new staff and vision. Something that could be just as difficult as the first option.

What it comes down to is if the franchise and its fans don't want to see their beloved Cardinals who had finally found a way to be successful in Arizona reduced to ashes, something has to change.

The question is, what will it be?

24 Comments   |   Join the conversation »
  • Add A Comment 
  • Abuse
    Scoutdog wrote...
    Sorrry Big Red
    The are Sports fans, and fans of the Sport.NOT ONE PLAYER, goes on that field to LOOSE....YA wanna play the blame game,you "General Manager's", who have a better idea.Go get yourself a team, and Jump in.
  • Abuse
    Suspence wrote...
    pp talent 2
    You want me to name a new head coach? Easy! How about we bring in a head coach with a proven winning track record like a guy by the name of andy reid? I hear that Andy might be lookin for a new job and how awesome would it be to truly have an offensive guru in the house, (reid) not just a guy that calls himself one (whiz), but a guy that can manage to coach his team to more than just a measly 22 yds in the second half!
  • Abuse
    uyiu p. wrote...
    I agree, keep Whisenhunt.
    with a new GM that is willing to reign him in, a new offensive line coach, like juan castillo- and an offensive consultant not a coordinator. Pay Ray Horton to stay as DC. I read somewhere that he was the 8th coach on list of 10 for HC positions. That is because he has had games where he gave up big plays- a lot of big plays. Think of 5 of those eight losses- big plays given up. What good is talent on defense when the DC cant see the patterns leading up to a big play-if he could see that a little more consistently- he would have been #1 on that list.
  • Abuse
    Midtsaic wrote...
    Keep your emotions in check...
    You are all a bunch of shortsighted nincompoops. Non of you wanted Whiz fired when they were 4-0. Now that he has no QB to execute his offense HE needs to be fired? Quit your crying. It's football. Seriously!
  • Abuse
    tracerm17 wrote...
    Someone has to go
    Whoever is responsible for the following needs to be fired: 1.) Not using TE's to block consistantly when our tackles were failing miserably and Kolb needed protection 2.) Stuck with Batiste way too long 3.) Decided that our FG kicker who just hit a 65 yarder needed some mid-season competition 4.) Did not even give John Skelton a look when Lindley couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. If you can put those decisions on another coach, fire them, but if not, Wiz has to go.
  • Abuse
    stejbrown37 wrote...
    RE Patrick Petersons Talent
    I only went back to Super Bowl 26. Unsure if there are more so I cant speak on record that it is only 3 teams. But here's a true stat. Can you name the "2" teams to make the Super Bowl with a 9-7 Record. The 1979 Rams and.... Wait for it.... 2008 Arizona Cardinals. That was a magical year for our organization. As a season ticket holder since 1994 I feel that I can not agree with your assessment of the situation. At some point great coaches have to go... The Cardinals are now tied for the longest loosing streak in the teams Arizona history.
  • Abuse
    stejbrown37 wrote...
    RE Patrick Petersons Talent.. Continued.
    I agree this team has had a plethora of injuries. But that is football, but lets be honest about talent here. Kevin Kolb- Middle of the pack QB if lucky consistent injury issues. John Skelton- Bottom third of QBs. Beanie Wells- Yet to be healthy for a season. Avg 4ypc Ryan William- Unknown consistently hurt. Todd Heap- Missed games every year. Released today. Levi Brown- Ranked one of the worst LT. Better than Batiste but still not exactly the same as loosing Jason Peters. Lyle Sendlein did not get hurt til after we lost 7 games.
  • Abuse
    stejbrown37 wrote...
    RE Patrick Petersons Talent.. Continued.
    At some point the offensive mess we are sitting in falls on the GM and the Coach. Whose decision was it to draft Michael Floyd of Riley Reiff. Whose decision was it to draft Ryan Williams over Orlando Franklin. Was it Whiz or Graves. But know one can deny the coaching decisions on the field. At some point you have to blow things up and start over. We can keep Whiz another year, but are you picking up his option next year after the team goes 8-8 or worse.
  • Abuse
    OldHog wrote...
    Historical comparison.
    General McClellan during the civil war led much like Coach Whiz. Too hesitant too pensive uncertain and too cautious. Whiz is grasping at straws and the team knows it. The moment he started Lindly vs the rams I can imagine the team thinking back to 2010 here we go again.
  • Abuse
    OldHog wrote...
    Historical pt 2
    I must praise the team on not folding up and quitting. That being said the cracks are showing by actions of team members against each other (out of frustration) with the clueless offense and direction. Juggling QB's is not an answer now just as it was a colossal two years ago. Whiz has fumbled he's way out of a job. Only the players can save him now. The offensive staff has continually put players in a position to fail. The O line play has improved but too little too late ask Kolb how is ribs feel. What happened? Kolb 4-0 musical QBs 0-?.
close

Share: