Revenge of the Birds
The Arizona Cardinals opened 2026 training camp with a lot on their minds. Like, installing a new offense. A new coach, OC, and special teams coordinator.
Guys who are now healthy for the defensive backfield, and maybe nobody injured right away. There were a few players who have already been added to the PUP list. This link describes all those types of issues:
RELATED: NEWS FROM CARDINALS TRAINING CAMP
While the defense had its issues last year, the offense has been on everyone’s mind going into camp this year. Playing in the NFC West Division, the Cardinals have front-row seats to both the Los Angeles Rams’ and San Francisco 49ers’ offensive outputs. Arizona’s new head coach, Mike LaFleur, was employed by both clubs and is part of their extensive coaching trees.
The Cardinals offense will look like both of these clubs’ offenses. Eventually. Maybe. Hopefully. What was the question?
Having said this, it isn’t as simple as substituting Splenda for sugar while making Kool-Aid. This new offense is complicated. It is new, and so is the terminology and scheme. These players have better been studying during the 40-days away from the training facility.
Three quarterbacks, journeyman Gardner Minshew, veteran Kedon Slovis, and rookie Carson Beck, have arrived early during OTAs and spent every moment on the field. They have attended each minicamp and class meetings. Do these three have this offense down pat? Of course not, but they have been working that clutch in grandad’s old truck instead of crying that it isn’t an automatic transmission.
New stuff takes time to adjust – and learn.
Jacoby Brissett has missed all of this. The only appearance he has made up until the beginning of camp was as a ball boy during the mandatory minicamp. “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.” Yeah, something like that.
But lo and behold, Brissett has shown up for the Cardinals’ training camp. Or should we say, “Well, he’s here.”
On Thursday, Brissett worked out in his first practice session of 2026.
Word is, his desire to have his contract reworked with added years and/or an additional bump in salary remains in the same spot it has always been. In limbo. He is appearing at practice despite not signing a restructured deal. Hmmm…..
According to team sources, the contract negotiations are ongoing.
Now, Brissett is his own agent, right? If he knows his number and the number of years he wants attached, why is this still ongoing? Exactly what is the roadblock? Because all of us regular folk understand the process between agents – who are attorneys – and a team’s GM. It’s friggin’ back and forth with wants, desires, and demands until one side or the other (usually both) caves in and gets less than they wanted.
However, in the duel between Brissett and Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort, there aren’t any lawyers involved. Brissett is a communications major out of NC State. Ossenfort earned two master’s degrees in business administration and sports management while...
