The Arizona Cardinals were in the news again on Friday when The Score NFL Insider Jordan Schultz published an article with a scathing quote directed at General Manager Steve Keim.
In it, an anonymous longtime personnel staffer called Keim “a fan” who only keeps his job because of a friendship with owner Michael Bidwill.
Heavy criticism for #Cardinals GM Steve Keim, from a long-time NFL personnel staffer I spoke with.https://t.co/1Y88IngAGb pic.twitter.com/TIIEDfEZVS
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 9, 2022
Schultz didn’t pull punches in his own analysis, writing that coach Kliff Kingsbury “is a good offensive mind stuck in a no-win situation for an owner and GM who haven’t a clue how to properly run a professional organization.”
I caught up with Schultz on Monday morning for a more in-depth conversation about the team and how it is viewed nationally.
Kyle Odegard: You talk to a lot of people across the NFL — what is the national perception of Steve Keim and Michael Bidwill?
Jordan Schultz: “Not good. Well, I’m going to focus more on Keim when I say that. Any time a franchise continues to make the same mistakes – I don’t think he’s really had, over the last several years, a direction of what he wants to do. Every draft feels like its own entity. There is no cohesion. And more importantly, there is a sense of a lack of professionalism that Keim exudes. I don’t know if he’s going to keep his job or not. I don’t know if he’s going to get fired. But if you’re asking me what other teams think, they look at Steve Keim basically like he’s a fan. He’s attached himself smartly to the owner who hasn’t gotten rid of him yet despite a ton of mistakes. Listen, I like some of their young players and he has done some nice things in the draft, but making Kliff the scapegoat is totally unfair. This is how it’s been described to me: You’re giving him a situation in which no coach is going to win because there is a lack of leadership from the front office.”
KO: What are some of the issues?
JS: “There’s not a wall. If you go to a professional organization — let’s say the Seahawks for example, where John (Schneider) and Pete (Carroll) are running that thing cohesively. If you have a conversation with one of them, there is going to be a really good dialogue between Pete and John to make sure that player gets what he needs, within reason. With Keim, he doesn’t allow Kliff the opportunity to do that. That’s why I say Kliff is a scapegoat, unfairly. Steve isn’t communicating enough with the rest of the staff. It’s really just his show with the owner.”
KO: Did the comments by the longtime personnel staffer surprise you?
JS: “It didn’t surprise me because I’ve heard this off the record from other teams and agents. I’ve heard it too many times. I would have loved to say who this person was, but it would have been very bad for this person if I did that. But at least I was able to get a quote, because everything else is always off the record or background. To me, it says a lot. I don’t really know Steve that well. We’ve communicated a little bit but I really don’t know him. Any time you criticize someone you don’t know you feel a little uncomfortable, but I wasn’t surprised at all, to answer your question. I think that’s been a consistent perception of Steve and the organization the past few years.”
Great news for the #AZCardinals’ defense: Zach Allen will play vs the #Pats, a source tells @theScore. Allen’s listed as questionable w/illness.
The fourth-year DT has had a terrific season. No interior linemen has more QB hits (19) and Allen leads all DL with 6 batted passes.
— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) December 12, 2022
KO: Do you sense any buzz one way or the other pertaining to the job security of Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim?
JS: “I don’t, because Michael doesn’t seem to understand that he’s got a lemon (Keim) running his team. Look what Patrick Peterson said, you know? This guy’s probably a Hall of Famer, was the best player along with Larry (Fitzgerald) for a decade for that organization, and he couldn’t even get a call back from his GM. That’s awful. And that says a lot. I’m less critical of Kliff because of who his direct boss is, and I just see ineptitude.”
KO: What’s the best way for the Cardinals to get things going in the right direction?
JS: “I think they definitely need a switch at GM. I don’t think they need a switch at coach. That’s my opinion. Until they get someone running the team that is able to present professionalism and class and consistency, they’re going to be mired in this rut.”
