Revenge of the Birds
Two of the Cardinals; remaining UFAs find new NFL homes
It’s a sad day for Arizona Cardinals’ fans who have always held OLB Dennis Gardeck in high regard. he has just signed as an unrestricted free agent with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Who will ever forget how it took only two pre-season games as an undrafted rookie in 2018 out of Sioux Falls to acquire the nickname of “Gardeck the Barbarian” from Cardinals’ color commentator Ron Wolfley for Dennis’ relentless effort as a gunner on special teams?
Who will ever forget how Dennis Gardeck recorded 7 sacks and 18 QB pressures in a mere 97 pass rushes while trying to fill the void left by Chandler Jones’ season-ending injury. That’s a 22.7% QB pass rush win rate, which is extraordinary, to say the least.
Then sadly came the first of the ACT tears during the Cardinals’ home win over the Eagles where Dennis had two sacks on Jalen Hurts and was practically unstoppable.
Who will ever forget edge plays like this:
Or this gem:
Or this Johnny on the Spot:
The past two seasons Dennis Gardeck was leading the team in sacks and QB pressures with 9 and 54 respectively, when sadly once again he teared an ACL in the Week 7 game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Yet what Dennis Gardeck may be most remembered for in Arizona was his leadership as a multi-year special teams’ captain and his insatiable work ethic. Kliff Kingsbury used to remark about seeing “The Barbarian” doing rope tosses at the Cardinals’ facility at 4:30 am.
Who will ever forget “The Barbarian’s” sack dance?
“Gardecky” is a popular GIF:
And for 7 years with the Cardinals —-> Dennis Gardeck was a gift.
Hope “The Barbarian” lights it up in Jacksonville.
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In other news pertaining to former Cardinals, the Detroit Lions, a day after the announcement that All-Pro center Frank Ragnow retired, have signed C/G Trystan Colon.
Trystan Colon played good, dependable football at guard and center for the Cardinals the past two seasons. He was ideal for swing C/G active roster spot on game days and when needed to fill in or start games at guard and center, he was like Domino’s Pizza —- he delivered.
In close to 400 snaps last season, Trystan Colon scored a 71.0 PFF grade.
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