Steve Keim May Be Gone: No One Should Want the Arizona Cardinals Job
The position of general manager for the Arizona Cardinals should not be wanted by anyone. The situation has gotten so bad it is a poison pill.
Current general manager Steve Keim has taken an indefinite leave of absence for medical reasons, as reported by Ian Rapoport. According to Rapoport on NFL Network, there is “real doubt” about Keim returning to the team, so even if he does not get officially fired, Arizona will be looking for a new shot caller, and no one should want this job.
Keim has had an immense amount of job security, and unfortunately, health reasons may be why his tenure as general manager comes to a close. No one should have to deal with something like this, especially so close to the holidays. I am rooting for Keim to be okay and eventually be healthy enough to return as general manager if that is what he wishes.
However, no one should want to start their general manager career with the Cardinals.
The organization has some very large contracts with old players. J.J. Watt has a hit of over $7 million next season due to void years; DeAndre Hopkins has one of over $30 million; D.J. Humphries has one of over $18 million. Meanwhile, Rodney Hudson has a hit of over $11 million, tight end Zach Ertz has a cap hit of nearly $13 million and running back James Conner has a cap hit of just over $10 million.
These contracts are bad, and the team is old. Watt might be the team’s best interior defender and he is well into his thirties. This team needs major retooling and change. Also, Kyler Murray‘s ACL injury means there is a very good chance he misses a large chunk of next season.
Taking over a team with your starting quarterback coming off a major knee injury? No thank you.
The situation for the Arizona Cardinals is just terrible for a new general manager. The team gave coaches seven-year contracts and fired them after three, no one is safe, and nothing is guaranteed in the NFL. The general manager job for the Cardinals is a career poison pill.
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