Latest news with #JamesConner
Fox News
4 days ago
- Business
- Fox News
2025 NFL odds: Back Cardinals to eclipse regular-season win total
The Arizona Cardinals sit in a weird place heading into the 2025 season and that's decidedly in the middle. Are they good? Kinda. Are they bad? Not really. With a win total set at 8.5, the sportsbooks are telling you they're probably a .500 team. For a few reasons, I think there is some value on Arizona heading into this season and I think it will hit its win total. The Cardinals started last year 6-4 and were coming out of the bye with a schedule that had them maybe in position to secure only the second playoff berth of the Kyler Murray era. Then they cratered. They lost in Seattle, choked away a game in Minnesota, then lost to Seattle at home. All of this landed them in a hole. A crushing overtime loss to the lowly Panthers ended their playoff hopes. They finished 8-9, but they did eclipse their win total of seven games. Now, the optimism. Continuity is the word that best sums up the Cardinals' 2025 season. Their head coach and both coordinators return. Depending on how offensive line battles go, they should return 10 of 11 starters from last season. Their offense will be right there with the Rams and 49ers for best in the division. They've got a top-five tight end in Trey McBride, a top-five running back in James Conner and a second-year wideout in Marvin Harrison. By the way, Harrison has star written all over him, although we didn't always see that during his rookie year. Murray appears to have gotten the memo on running more when the opportunity is there, which he clearly did not want to do in 2022 and 2023. The defense will largely depend on how far this goes and if coach Jonathan Gannon ends up on the hot seat or not. They will probably start two rookies (CB Will Johnson, DT Walter Nolen), and they grabbed two DLs in free agency (Josh Sweat, Dalvin Tomlinson). Arizona must get to the QB this year. Nobody had more than five sacks or eight QB hits last season. It ranked 27th in pressure rate. If you have a good secondary like the Eagles did, it's not the end of the world to rank poorly in pressure rate. If you have a weak secondary like the Cardinals did, it's very bad news. The scheduling gods were kind to Arizona. There's only one cold weather game and that's at Cincinnati in Week 17. And the early schedule is manageable. Let's take a look at the QBs they're facing early: Starting QB uncertain, SaintsBryce Young, PanthersBrock Purdy, NinersSam Darnold, SeahawksCam Ward, TitansStarting QB uncertain, Colts If the Cards can go 5-1 there, your win total is locked up. I'd even feel good at 4-2. Either way, an early start should lead to Arizona eclipsing 8.5 wins. PICK: Cardinals Over 8.5 regular-season wins Jason McIntyre is a FOX Sports betting analyst who also writes about the NFL and NBA Draft. Before arriving at FOX, he created the website The Big Lead. Follow him on Twitter @JasonRMcIntyre. Want great stories delivered right to your inbox? Create or log in to your FOX Sports account, and follow leagues, teams and players to receive a personalized newsletter daily!
USA Today
20-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
7 Arizona Cardinals players who would be good fits on US flag football team
7 Arizona Cardinals players who would be good fits on US flag football team Which Cardinals players would make great flag football players? On Tuesday, NFL owners approved the participation of NFL players in flag football, coming to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. With that news, the next logical thing to do is to see which players would be a great fit. Let's look at the Arizona Cardinals. Flag football is not the same as regular football. It is about speed, timing and elusiveness. It is more about playing in space, so not everyone will be a fit. Cardinals running back James Conner? Not so much a fit, as he is big and physical. Who would be good flag football players? Arizona Cardinals player fits for US national flag football team Quarterback Kyler Murray: Murray is fast. He is elusive, and he can throw an accurate ball. RB Michael Carter: Carter can catch the ball and is the most slippery of the backs on the Cardinals' roster. WR Greg Dortch: Dortch is not the fastest, but he is one of the most elusive players in space. WR Marvin Harrison Jr.: His length makes him a hige threat, and he does have good speed. TE Trey McBride: Imagine someone having to guard someone as big as McBride who moves as well as he does. Now, he probably won't be hurdling anyone in flag football because no one tries to tackle players low, but his size and length would be incredible. CB Will Johnson: You need cover guys and he excels at disrupting the ball, and he can take it to the house when he picks off a pass. S Rabbit Taylor-Demerson: He is athletic and a ballhawk. He had 10 interceptions in his final three seasons at Texas Tech and broke up 23 passes. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
USA Today
11-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Check out highlights from Cardinals LB Mack Wilson's charity basketball game
Check out highlights from Cardinals LB Mack Wilson's charity basketball game James Conner, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Trey McBride were part of the charity basketball game Arizona Cardinals linebacker Mack Wilson, entering his second season with the team, organized a charity basketball game in Tempe that was played on Saturday and had the help of many Cardinals teammates and more. Receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., tight end Trey McBride and running back James Conner were among the Cardinals players to participate. There were a few clips on social media of them playing. Harrison had some dunks. Check out what the fans in attendance saw. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Broncos Trade Pitch Sends Cardinals Pro-Bowl Running Back to Denver
The Denver Broncos went into the 2025 offseason with clear needs. After a busy free agency, there are still needs on offense. One of those needs is at running back, and this trade pitch looks to fill that need. For this mock trade, the Broncos and the Arizona Cardinals make a deal, sending star running back James Conner to Denver. In a trade for Conner, the Broncos likely won't have to give up too much for him, as Conner is about to be 30 years old. Advertisement Denver has Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin on the roster, but neither has shown enough to be lead-backs in the NFL. Conner would come in and take over the majority of the workload, with Estime and McLaughlin spelling him. Conner is under contract for the 2025 and 2026 seasons and would be able to help Bo Nix by giving him a Pro Bowl running back with plenty of starting experience. Arizona Cardinals running back James Conner (6) runs with the ball against the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium on Dec. 15, 2024. Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The 2025 NFL Draft has a lot of great running backs, and Denver could go one as early as the first round. But, adding Conner would allow the Broncos to be flexible on draft night. Denver could still go for a running back early, but Conner would allow the Broncos not to feel forced into taking one if there is another player on the board they want. Advertisement The flexibility in the draft is good business, as the Broncos wouldn't be pressured into taking a player earlier than they should go. This trade pitch of Conner heading to the Broncos is a great move for Denver. Adding a Conner makes a lot of sense for all parties involved. Getting help for Nix is important, and Conner would be a quarterback friendly addition to the offense for the next two seasons. Related: Patrick Surtain Drops 12-Word Message on Broncos' Bo Nix
NBC Sports
06-03-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Conner still holds No. 1 RB role with Cardinals
Matthew Berry shares some of the rumors he heard at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, including why the Arizona Cardinals "love" James Conner and still expect him to be their starting running back in 2025.
