ARIZONA CARDINALS

Calais Campbell thinks Cardinals will ‘surprise’

Apr 20, 2013, 9:02 PM | Updated: 9:03 pm

Calais Campbell - 2012The Cardinals had every intention of signing Campbell to a multi-year contrac...

Calais Campbell - 2012

The Cardinals had every intention of signing Campbell to a multi-year contract in 2012, but wanted to extend their window to negotiate and therefore placed the tag on him. It made sense, as Campbell had a breakout 2011 with 72 total tackles and eight sacks, and was on his way to being one of the NFL's better defensive linemen. He was also on his way to that long-term contract, which was signed just a couple months later.

The Arizona Cardinals may have a tough road ahead of them in 2013, drawing a daunting schedule next season. But that hasn’t deterred one player’s belief that this team could surprise a lot of people.

Defensive end Calais Campbell, a guest on NFL Network, discussed the Cardinals’ challenging opponents for the 2013 season and explained why he feels they can answer the call.

“We got a new coaching staff in there that I think everybody loves so far,” Campbell said. “Bruce Arians is just a great coach — his motivation, his swagger, the way he talks to us — everyone loves playing for him already.”

Campbell also believes the Cardinals will showcase their talents on a primetime stage against the Seahawks in Week 7.

“It’ll be a good chance for us to show the world how good we are against a team that is well-respected,” Campbell said. “I think we are going to surprise.”

NFL Network’s Heath Evans has also come out and said he thinks the Cardinals are a sleeper team in the NFC West this season.

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Calais Campbell thinks Cardinals will ‘surprise’