Will Cardinals Erase a Painful Memory for Sun Devils?
The Arizona Cardinals made a very bad choice back in 2003—to the chagrin of Arizona State fans. Could they get a mulligan this off-season and sign the Sun Devil they should have drafted back in ’03?
Watching the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night, we couldn’t help but wonder how differently the game might have played out if one of the most electrifying Sun Devils of all time was wearing the home red.
And with 49ers wide receiver Bryant Johnson catching three passes for a pedestrian 17 yards and Jets linebacker Calvin Pace returning an interception for a touchdown against the Rams on Sunday, we couldn’t help but think about Terrell Suggs.
The Cardinals chose Pace and Johnson in the 2003 NFL Draft after a draft-day trade with the New Orleans Saints that gave them the Nos. 17 and 18 picks in the first round and No. 22 in the second in exchange for their own first- and second-round picks (No. 5 in both rounds).
So rather than pick Suggs, who played college football in their then-home stadium and played high school football just down the street at Chandler Hamilton, they went with the eventually disappointing Pace and Johnson.
Sigh.
But one can’t help but wonder — is there a chance the Cardinals would take a mulligan on that decision and bring Suggs back to the Valley next summer?
The coaching staff of the Cardinals was groomed in the system of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which not only values strong defensive play, but has consistently maintained a stable of excellent linebackers for decades. They also, of course, played against the Baltimore Ravens twice a year.
If Anquan Boldin — who the Cardinals chose in the second round of that 2003 Draft — is traded this summer, the Cardinals may not spend all of that allotted money at the wide receiver position, and could instead go for a high-ticket free agent like Suggs. He could be especially in demand if Karlos Dansby, who got the franchise tag in 2008, were to leave after the season.
Four weeks ago, Suggs returned an interception for a touchdown against the Miami Dolphins, the first of his career. He followed it up with another score two weeks later against the Cleveland Browns, a late fourth quarter play that iced the game in a 37-27 Ravens win.
We’re not experts in NFL personnel or the salary cap, and we are certainly not tuned in on what the Cardinals may need in the offseason.
No, we’re just Sun Devils fans, and big fans of our man T-Sizzle. After watching him plow over defensive players as a running back at Hamilton and terrorize the Pac-10 on the way to 24 sacks on ASU’s 2002 Holiday Bowl team, it sure would be exciting to have Suggs back in the Valley.
What’s Your Take, Sun Devils?
While we’re talking Cardinals, we’re curious to get your take on a franchise that’s rubbed a lot of ASU fans the wrong way. Are you happy, sad or indifferent to the team’s success this season? Let us know in the comments below.
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I’ll throw this out there. I was happy to see them leave Tempe. I don’t think you should crash on a friend’s couch for 10 years and then when you finally move into your own place complain about how lumpy the couch was. Good riddance.
I agree. Can’t stand the bidwells. However, I do cheer for the home town team. About suggs, I would love for them to get him this next offseason. Let that peice of crap RB go and bring in this devil home! I hope the keep Boldin bc the cards have the best WR combo in the league. If the cards play there cards right, spend the cash, they can have a good team for the next few years.