ARIZONA CARDINALS

Here’s wishing Ken Whisenhunt well with the Tennessee Titans

Jan 14, 2014, 7:33 PM | Updated: Jan 15, 2014, 12:18 am

Follow @Burnsy987...

Here’s wishing Ken Whisenhunt well.

And I don’t mean that in a false, fakey, good-luck-go-get-em kind of way. It’s a genuine desire to see him succeed in his second go-around as a head coach, and it’s for a couple of reasons.

First, he deserves another shot to prove his worth as a head coach in this league. There’s no doubt his time here had run its course, but his résumé was too impressive to think he hadn’t earned another opportunity to show he can do it.

But mostly I wish him well because I hope it will end, for the rest of eternity, this inane debate that Cardinals fans love to have.

The Super Bowl year, how much of it was Whiz and how much of it was Kurt Warner? Toward the end of his time here, the chorus of voices claiming he deserved no credit — that he was just here when the wheel went round — were loud and persistent.

I wanted to see a new coach like every other barstool expert. The lines between coach and personnel guy had become so blurred change was necessary.

But to suggest he had nothing, or very little, to do with a Super Bowl appearance was always, well, silly. The attempt to assign some kind of a ratio of credit (70:30 Warner, for example) was the hamster wheel of local sports for a solid year or so.

The truth is this organization has evolved mightily in the days since a mostly empty Sun Devil Stadium. Whisenhunt was a big part part of that evolution, as were Dennis Green’s draft picks and Warner. And Adrian Wilson, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald and countless others. The construction of University of Phoenix Stadium was perhaps the premiere driving force behind that evolution.

Stubborn to a fault? Sometimes. Struggles to evaluate quarterbacks? Surely. But you don’t take a team to the Super Bowl and then follow it up with a 10-win season by being somebody’s caddie.

The man can coach, and I think he’ll remind Cardinals fans of that fact soon enough.

Arizona Cardinals

Tip Reiman celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals trade No. 79 pick, take Illinois TE Tip Reiman at No. 82

The Arizona Cardinals traded the 79th pick to the Colts in exchange for Nos. 82, which was used on TE Tip Reiman, and 191.

26 minutes ago

Isaiah Adams talks to the media during the NFL Draft Combine...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals take Illinois T/G Isaiah Adams with 71st pick in 2024 NFL Draft

he Arizona Cardinals selected versatile Illinois offensive lineman Isaiah Adams with the 71st pick in the third round of the 2024 NFL Draft.

46 minutes ago

Trey Benson runs the rock...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals select RB Trey Benson with No. 66 pick in 2024 NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals selected Florida State running back Trey Benson with the 66th overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Friday.

1 hour ago

Rutgers cornerback Max Melton celebrates...

Tyler Drake

Arizona Cardinals select Rutgers CB Max Melton with No. 43 pick in 2024 NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals took Rutgers cornerback Max Melton with the No. 43 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

3 hours ago

Arizona Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort talks to reporters...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals trade Nos. 35, 186 to Falcons for Nos. 43, 79 in 2024 NFL Draft

The Arizona Cardinals have traded Nos. 35 and 186 to the Atlanta Falcons in exchange for Nos. 43 and 79 in the 2024 NFL Draft.

3 hours ago

Marvin Harrison Sr. and Marvin Harrison Jr. pose for a photo...

Tyler Drake

On or off the field, Marvin Harrison Sr. couldn’t be prouder of his son

Seeing your son reach new heights as a football player can do a lot for a father's pride, especially if that parent is an NFL Hall of Famer.

4 hours ago

Here’s wishing Ken Whisenhunt well with the Tennessee Titans