Michael Bidwill took the necessary first step on Monday, parting ways with coach Kliff Kingsbury and Steve Keim following a tumultuous 4-13 campaign in 2022.
Many wondered if the Arizona Cardinals’ owner would make the move after extending both through 2027 just 10 months ago, and to his credit, Bidwill accepted the multi-million dollar mistake for the good of the organization.
But he can’t stop there.
Several national insiders have pointed to defensive coordinator Vance Joseph as a prime candidate for the head coaching gig, along with the possibility of Bidwill elevating Quentin Harris and Adrian Wilson into permanent co-GM roles.
First and foremost, let me get this out of the way: As those who follow my Twitter feed can attest, I am a big fan of Joseph. He has done a really good job with the Cardinals’ defense the past three years. He also has former head coaching experience and is well-liked within the building.
However, the move would scream of frugality at a time when Bidwill needs to prove to the fanbase that he is willing to do everything in his power to field a winner.
Joseph confirmed to the Arizona media last week that he received a contract extension at the same time as Kingsbury and Keim, and it’s likely that many of the assistants would also be owed money if a new coach comes in and they are cleaned out.
The same goes for the front office, where a new regime would undoubtedly look to bring in new faces and cost Bidwill more money.
So, yes, it would be an expensive endeavor, but let’s be real: Bidwill is a billionaire who can afford the payouts, and turning to in-house options would perpetuate a setup that has resulted in limited success for the Cardinals for the entirety of their existence.
The 2013-2015 run was fantastic, but looking back, Arizona may have found lightning in a bottle with the hire of Bruce Arians, because it hasn’t come close to that level of success since.
The Cardinals have the No. 3 overall pick in next year’s draft, the third time in the past five years they have drafted in the top-8.
Arizona has one wild card appearance and zero postseason wins since 2015, and the draft misses have been a major part of the struggles, so why bring back the lieutenants who Keim confided in when whiffing so badly all of those years?
No, it’s time to swing big. Offer Sean Payton full control of personnel and a say in the next GM. Give him a lavish contract.
Billionaires like to say that they value time more than money, because it’s the one thing they can’t buy. No matter if he spends extra dough on more buyouts or not, Bidwill will always be filthy rich, but keeping the same infrastructure would cost him more opportunities at the Super Bowl he so badly wants.
Even though Payton is the crown jewel, Demeco Ryans and other candidates should also hold intrigue. Joseph certainly deserves an interview, but the net should be cast wide, and Bidwill should go through the process with an open mind.
As for the GM, the Cardinals really, really, really need someone with an analytical bent.
The beginning of the end for Keim came when he spent a top-10 pick on inside linebacker Isaiah Simmons in an offensive tackle-rich draft, then doubled down with another inside linebacker the next season in Zaven Collins.
The most important positions on the football field are quarterback, tackle, edge rusher, cornerback and wide receiver. If you spend a first-rounder on a non-premium position, that player has to be a star, and that has not been the case with Simmons or Collins.
Arizona has delved more into analytics the past few seasons but is nowhere near the level of the Ravens or Eagles. Both organizations run a master class in team-building, and interviewing a bright mind or two from those teams would be a smart way to go.
Joseph would be a competent head coach. This isn’t an egregious Jeff Saturday situation. And while I don’t know too much about Harris’ philosophy, he’s a hard worker and a good person, which are two important qualities following such a rough calendar year for the Cardinals.
But the same ol’, same ol’ has not worked in Arizona and a different approach is needed. Bidwill opened his wallet and took a big hit with the changes at coach and GM.
In order to put the team on the right path, he has to do it again, because status quo is currently a derogatory term in Cardinals-land.
