Big Red Rage - Wesley Shines Big And Bright In Texas

and buy Arizona Cardinals podcasts. Visit Hacy Cardinals dot Com, Slash podcasts, The Rods, Rising Guard, Gilpture, Rising Vision, Flurring, Rage taking Over. Here's Paul KELVC. Get the popcorn ready, It's gonna be a show and Ron will flip. It doesn't get any better than that. Hors unleash the far So let's see the Arizona Cardinals went from New Year's Day and New Year's resolutions to January second Game Day, twenty twenty two, and it was all about implementing those

New Year's resolutions. Something you've yet to do. Round wolf Ley, I don't shake my fist at Moon, Sun and sky. Paul, let's run down the checklist of Cardinals new year's resolutions and how they fared on game day January second, let's see rush defense check. Dallas had its lowest output of the season forty five poultry rushing yards and their lowest

yards per carry all year two point six. Zeke Elliott's middle name was Jack as in squad That was pretty good both Turnover free football was on the New Year's resolutions list. Wolf, Yeah, check that one plus one key takeaway on d right, Yes, okay, let's run the ball, wolf, No, we don't want to hear your run rate percentage run ratio. Run the ball thirty two times for a buck twenty seven four yards of carry. By the way, the Arizona Cardinals this year, did you know when they run the

ball thirty times or more? Yes? They are nine and oh yes I knew that, Polly right there? Okay, yeah, they checked a lot of boxes ball. Is that your point? Yes, Rodney Hudson check they're nine and two and Rodney and then and then talking about the big red rage presented by santan Ford and Gilbert we are santan Ford. Okay? Was there not another New Year's resolution to find another outside receiving option minus d hop and double check for

two touchdown receptions by our special guest. Tonight, Antoine Wesley will join us. Wolf, how about that? They cannot? Honestly, Polly, I cannot wait to talk to Antoine Wesley and get his take as to what he believed the best catch, the best touchdown catch that he actually had, right because you can argue that one right there? Was it the tip ball? Or was it? Was it the fade and high pointing the fade right there? Most people would say, oh my god, it's it's the fade? Are you kidding me?

The athleticism, the frame, all that goodness on display for all to see. For me, it was really the tip ball. But I can't wait to actually ask Antoine what he thinks was the best You know, I'm having a Ron Wolfley moment as my short term memory has failed me here Wolf, because he was he was asked that question, and I believe he agreed with you it was the tip touchdown pass. But I honestly don't remember and recollect. So yes, we're going to get an answer to that question.

That'd be awesome right there, Bully. I'd be shocked, honestly if he did say the tip But because he's a wide receiver and we all know wide receiver. Oh I love it the fade, throw it up, Let me climb the ladder all high pointed and come down with the ball as he did. All right, So the Cardinals and the three game skid, they get the big dub in big d right Cardinals fans behind the bench in Dallas, Shotton,

how about damn Cardinals. So that was good stuff at the very end, twenty five twenty two Cardinals win, And it's it's amazing how the formula really is. No turnovers, don't kill yourself with penalties. Let the other team wind about the flags like Dallas has been doing ever since that game. Oh my goodness. You know you run the ball, you stop the run. Funny how it all coalesces into a win. A fact, here's Corey Peters just talking about how the Cardinals took a step forward with the mindset.

We definitely have taken a step forward as far as our focus is and our walk throughs and our practices and our meetings. And this team has won a lot of games. You know, we're not gonna change the way what we think about our say as we know we're capable of beating anybody, but we just have to execute at a high level. And there he was after the game in Dallas. So well, if your big takeaway, how much better do you feel about this team going into

the postseason. I'm sorry, BALI really to read so much into one game, but I think it was a big deal. I think it was huge as a matter of fact for the Arizona Cardinals to win that game in Dallas. Would you say Dallas is a formidable team, Paul? Would you say they are? There's no doubt, even though you can look at their schedule and say, okay, who if they really beat that's kind of winning record to begin I understand all of that, but I will tell you

right now, they had eleven wins on the season. That says this is a good football team, that being the Dallas Cowboys, especially when they play at Jara World, Paul, because you know they played better man their offenses fire veritable fire when you play at Jarland and they actually scored twenty two points in this game because your defense

went out and bawled out. The defense won a game in my opinion for the Arizona Cardinals in a gross simplification of the truth, they won a game for the Cardinals by going out and keeping the Dallas Cowboys one of the best offenses statistically, you could say, the best offense in the National Football League, highest scoring offense at home. As a matter of fact, they kept him to twenty two points when they typically score thirty eight. Man, they bawled out, and they did it without two of their

top three edge rushers. Right, they did it without two of their top three corners. So there are a lot of guys, a lot of different names, a lot of guys in different places, and they came through. And you

know how about the offensive line. Speaking of at Kelvin Beacham playing left tackle for the first time in three years, I'd love the postgame video from the locker room where they're giving out the game balls and everyone's fired up, and then they get around to Kelvin Beacham getting in a game ball for not giving up a sack at left tackle, and he's on one knee and he could barely even get up and acknowledge he just got a game ball because he's so gassed after playing four quarters

at left tackle. Well, the guy next to him, Justin Peer, was talking to the media today and guess what when Kyler Murray's under center against Seattle on Sunday, it's gonna be the first time that he has played with the entire starting offensive line, that entire lineup. Here's justin pee on those guys getting healthy, getting all of us healthy. There's been spurts where Ronnie went down, There's I was out for a little bit, Beacham was out for a

little bit. DJ Humphreys being out last week. Getting all these guys healthy going into the playoffs is the perfect timing. I think this is definitely something that is ideal for this offense and his offensive line, and we're looking forward to, you know, continue to get better and better as a

group as we roll into the playoffs. And you can't minimize the presence of Rodney Hudson, just the way guys talk about him, the respect, the reverence for Rodney Hudson and what he does for everyone, And what if we had talked about it going into the game, Kyler just

looks more settled and more comfortable. And of course there's a correlation, right if you don't have to worry about penetration immediately coming through the A gaps, if you're feeling that much better and he's helping you read the defense, and he's making checks and calls everything. You know, it's all about making sure your quarterback is seeing the field. And when Rodney Hudson is out there, just Kyler's, Kyler's

performance seems to just rise. Accordingly Pauli, the first step execution is going out there and actually knowing what to do. That is the first step of execution. You have to know what it is that you're doing. And Rodney Hudson rarely makes any kind of mistakes when it comes to going out on the football field and trying to communicate blocking schemes and protection schemes to his teammates. He does

an incredible job of that. Now, all of a sudden, he helps Kyler Murray as well in certain looks, certain blitz looks or pressure looks on third and obvious paths situation. He does a great job communicating that execution starts with knowing what to do. Before you can actually do it. You gotta know what to do, and that's where Rodney Hudson is so huge. And then when you talk about his ability as a football player to actually execute his job,

oh my goodness, he's as good as it gets. What Cliff Kingsberry say about Ronnie Hudson on his TV show Game Plan, he said he's rarely wrong, so everyone has that trust and Rodney Hudson what he's seen, what he's calling, and honestly, well, if we got into this earlier this week, you know, if you told me, okay, if you are basing your first round playoff game just strictly on the opponent, I would take the Cowboys all over again, because I firmly think Cliff Kingsbury and Vance Joseph we're a step

ahead of Mike McCarthy and company. If you're telling he you're gonna see Sean McVay, And what does Sean McVay have in storing The last time he saw the Rams, I saw Cooper Cup wide open, and I saw receivers

wide open all over the field. If you're talking about Kyle Shanahan and what he might have in store for a playoff game, Okay, that's a little bit unsettling, right, But based on Vance Joseph disguising all those looks and even Dak Prescott saying after the game they did a good job at disguising, just seemed like the Cardinals coaching staff and game plan was a step ahead of the Cowboys. Yeah maybe, Paulie, maybe you're right on that one, But what's it going to be in another rematch in two weeks.

That's a very very talented football team the Arizona Cardinals beat in their place. I want the San Francisco forty nine Ers. And the reason why I want the forty nine Ers for a third time is because that means the Arizona Cardinals aren't playing at home, and that means they went ahead and won their game against the Seattle Seahawks and won their division, the NFC West. That to me, Polly, I would love that. I would love for the Arizona Cardinals.

I'm getting greedy, paul I, honestly am I want the Arizona Cardinals to win the NFC West. Now that means, of course, the forty nine Ers beat the Los Angeles Rams, but man, I love that. I'll take that all day in run, especially playing the forty nine Ers once again. You already beat them twice and now the odds aren't in your favor, but so what you're playing home, let's roll. Also means the Cardinals would have to do something they've never done against Russell Wilson a season sweep Hey the Day.

PASH Podcast episode twenty three available now featuring Cardinals VP of Pro Personnel Adrian Wilson. Yes. To catch up on past episodes and all the PASH podcasts, just go to a preferred podcast provider. Get the latest updates on Twitter at pash pods. Some great comments from a dubbed by Kyler, Murray's leadership, Kurt Warner and more. Ant Swan Wesley is next on The Big Red Rage presented by Santan Pord and Gilbert we All Santanford four. It's been gold for

the Cardinals. Of the Cowboy one under center is Murray. Ward is the running back. He takes he boots to the left. Now he throws back across his body into the enddowe for a tondown. It's caught by Wesley. That was Kyler magic that time and the Cardinals with a huge touchdown here on fourth down, third and six of the nineteen Kyler takes the snap short set, blobs it deep near side of the one yard line. Oh want to catch ant Swan Wesley into the end zone for

a touchdown. How did he pull that down? And how about the toss by Kyler Murray, a huge score for the Cardinals. Early in the third, Kyler Murray with a beam Antoine Wesley one on one on the outside. Let the Big Bad go off and bring it down thirt and six from the nineteen, preceded by fourth and goal from the one. Cliff Kingsbury said a couple of weeks ago, wolf I was probably the only one in the building

that knew he could really play. Talking about the offseason acquisition of Antoine Wesley, I'm very familiar with him, said the head coach. I watched him in college. Nobody could cover him. And now guess what the NFL knows, because if nothing else, that game was the national Game of the Week on Fox, and it got Mondo TV ratings. Say hello to our guest tonight on The Big Red Rage, presented by Santan Ford in Gilbert. Antoine Wesley joins us, Antoine, are we doing Hey, guys, I'm doing good. Are you

guys doing really? We're doing great? Bad, Really appreciated, Antoine, your time this evening right here? Man, where do you start when you think of the Dallas Cowboys game? What is the first thought that you have? Oh? Man, um I got a lot of family members that love the Cowboys. So the big game, you know, yeah, you know what all the press was. Okay, Kyler going back to Texas, Cliff going back to Texas, Kelvin Beecham, But wait a minute, you're a Texas guy, So what was it like for

you to ball out in that stadium? Oh? Man, it was awesome. It feel it feel it felt like oh back at home. You know my college times when I was to tech Um we played there against the cow not a Cowboys, I'm sorry, uh the Bears, uh for for three years and yeah, man, we had a good time. We had a good time. So what did your family members do? I mean, here they are at Twine, they're they're cowboy fans by your own admittance, and they're cowboy fans. So what did they do? They put on a cardinal

jersey or I had for a day. Oh yeah, they had to. They know better than they had it. They walk in with a cowboy. They've never gotten no more tickets. Hey, hey, just just so everyone knows, that's not an automatic because both remember Bertrand Barry, the longtime host of The Big Red Ray. Hey, Houston guy, his dad, his own father would not give up is Houston gear. When the Cardinals played the Texans. He just he still was a Houston Texans fan. That was hilarious. He used to go at

it about that. What was your phone like after the game? I mean it must have blowed up? Huh oh yeah, man, they blew up a lot, a lot of a lot of family members came out the will works. But you know, I just stay strong and you know, pray to God and you know everything everything was good. I'll just you know, more excited that I had the opportunity that God let me, you know, be able to do the stuff that I did out there for my teammates. And you know I would just you know, being a kid in the candy

store just having a blast. That's the way to do it, right there, Antoine, no doubt A bought it. But I have to ask you this too. How many tickets? All right? I know what it was like to actually have to buy tickets for your family members. So how many? Oh yeah, I had about I had about twelve twelve tickets? Man. It was like Christmas, I'll ay it's you know, Christmas is your your birthday? Is everything? Yo? All right? So Wolf, ask him your question. We heard the two touchdown catches,

ask him your question. Okay, so here it is Antoine right now. You had two touchdown catches. Which one did you prefer? Which one was better than the other? Oh Man, to be honest, I loved I loved the fourth down fourth down one on the goal line. Oh I didn't think you want to say that? Why? Man? Okay? So so and in my you know, that was really a good jump start for you know, not only our offense but our defense. You know, our defense you know saw that that we drove the ball all the way down

and that we actually finished. So it was more of a you know, all week in practice that we were working on was you know, finishing finishing play, finishing the drives and and make sure we get that touchdown. So I'll definitely, you know, more focused on the fourth down. And I was, yeah, I was definitely my best one.

I love that. Yeah, you're right, fifteen plays, ninety one yards on that on that drive you capped it from Kyler and yeah, the defense loves to get an extra cup of gatorade right when you guys are going fifteen plays and taking eight a half minutes off the clock. But I tell you on the second one, take us through that a little bit and and at what point and do you start thinking, Okay, I gotta time this, but I also have to body the defender. I mean,

what's your mindset? Is that ball leaves Kyler's hand? Yeah? You know, um, you know high school I did a lot of jumping events in track, so you know, it definitely felt like, you know, my my timing was perfect. Um, you know, pay one through a perfect ball to me where only I can go get it. And you know we've been working a lot on that in practice, one on ones um, and you know, you know, had a release, had a good release off the line. Um, he tried

to jam me, made him miss. And you know after that, like if I can get you, you know, side by side, and that's I like that game. I love that game. I tell you. On the sideline, Buddha Baker was going nuts, not only just about playing the touchdown, but he was on, man he can get up. Anybody who listen. Buddha was just saying, man, he can get up. So so you're you're pretty confident when it comes to high pointing the ball. Yeah, yeah, that is mine. That is my thing. You know, I

try to do as much as I can. I try to find what's best what I can do, and you know, I trying to look at the things that I'm not good at, you know, And I definitely worked on you know, high pointing the ball a lot, and I take take real, real hard work to that for sure, you know. Honestly, Antoine, I gotta give you an awful lot of credit, man, because you have earned my respect. I know what it's like to go out there and and fail. I know what it's like to go out there and make a mistake.

I know what it's like to go out there and not allow my team or give my team an opportunity to win a game. I've cost, in my opinion, as a personal protector, my team, the opportunity to win a game because I made the wrong balls. You dropped the ball earlier. You dropped the ball went right through your hands on that one. I've got so much respect for you because you came back. You wanted the ball again, did you not? You told Kyler you wanted the ball again, correct? Correct? Yeah, Yeah,

that's that's my that's my dog. He knows, he knows, you know, when my mind said it and you know, we practiced more than enough times to where you know, one ball is you know, I forget about those things, but you know I need to when when that balls done to me again, I gotta wipe everything out of my memory and catch that ball. He was holding guys pretty accountable against the Cowboys during that game. He was

especially vocal. From what I saw. I can't hear what's being said, but can you share with us when you guys had a conversation? Didn't you after that drop back on the bench. Yeah? Yeah, he pretty much saying, you know, he needs me, and you know I told him, you know I got you. You know, just throw the ball again, you know, you know, put it where I need to and you know I was a great ball to him. It was a great ball. So excuse me, h Yeah, I mean I just pretty much, you know, just went

back to the basics, you know what I mean. I talked to my coach, my receiver coach on the sideline and I felt like I widen too much close to the sideline and you know, how to fight fight back more. But you know, a ball ball touched my hands, you know, that's that's mine, that's that would definitely on me. Have you okay, go ahead, I just say real quick, you and Kyler go way back, right, and so you have that relationship where you guys can keep it real I presume, right, yeah, yeah, yeah,

So sometimes we don't even have to say anything. You know, we got that look where you know it's it's already, it's already go. You know it, it's good. Have you always been that way? Antoine? Have you? Have you always been tough? Because there's a lot of guys that are front runners when everything is going well, give me the baton and I'll laid the parade and everything. But what happens when you face a little adversity? Have you always been that tough? Oh? Yeah, you know, I got I

got a chip on my shoulder everywhere I go. You know, I've I've worked my butt off, you know. Uh, like I said, you know I have. I only had two offers coming out of high school, and Clip with my first offering and I committed right on spot. So after that, you know, I just felt like, you know, if he's given me, given me this opportunity, you know, then and I could do it. So you know, I'm proving everybody wrong. You know, the people that didn't draft me. You know,

you know they're they're they're gonna get it. Well, your teammates saw it. AJ Green was our guest right after the game and I had a chance to interview him and I asked him about your two touchdown performance at Dallas. Here's AJ Green Man. They're just unbelievable. I'm so happy for that kid, Tweezy Man. The way he works, you know, coming in and training camp, we know Tweezies. He was different, the way he went about his business on and off the field. Man, that guy just works his butt off.

I'm so so happy that people can see and it's how it workspan off for him. Take us back to training camp, because you definitely played with an edge in August in those practices, and you tell us what was your mindset in there, because you were pretty much a complete unknown except to your head coach, Right, Yeah, um, I was, you know I went in there, you know, Yeah, mindset was was. You know, I gotta I gotta be

everybody out you know. Um. You know, every every day I try to make myself make a play, you know, I to force it, you know, because that's that's what that's what you gotta do to make it in this league. You gotta you gotta show out training camp and then you know that's not where it stops. You know, you

keep going. So you know, my focus was just making the play every day, and you know, getting my my teammates used to me making them crazy, you know, d hop catches or something, you know what I mean, or making them third down in fives and we need it and you know we get the first down, like I want them to trust me. Like that was my main goal on you know, training camp. But you know, it's awesome hearing you know A j speak very very highly of me, you know, because I also speak very highly

of him. You know, that's my guy. You know I looked up to him. I told him today, you know it was it was a blessing to be on the same you know, practice to it as you because you know, in college, you know I looked up to them, and you know I watched a lot of film on them, him Hop, you know, Calvin Johnson and you know those those guys. You know, I feel my body type was you know, similar, So it was awesome. Antoine, where do

you think you need to get better? Uh? Definitely say being more patient you know, um, not rushing uh everything on routes, you know, and just being able to to see the field more. I want to say, I tell you, um, I think was Christian Kirk who said you would sit behind d Hop and all the meetings from day one. That was by design, wasn't it. Oh No, it wasn't.

Man Um. I kind of like, like I said, like I looked up to them, to them guys, you know, I try to say, I try to sit next to A. J. Green also, so it's like I'm in the middle of them, and you know, it's just it's just great conversations anytime we have, you know, some route that that someone like doesn't like, you know, I take any feedback from both of them. That's smart. That's great stuff. You know, you're around those kind of guys. You learn and and as AJ said, look how it's paying off here at a

critical time for the Cardinals. They make the postseason. Bush in fact, joined the Cardinal season ticket priority list for next season. All you have to do is go to easy Cardinals dot com slash priority list for all the information. We continue with an Swan Wesley on the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert we are satan Ford. They take it though. It's a direct snap and now a throw down field and inside the forty five yard line. It's caught. Caught at the forty yard line, there's a

flag down trying to see who caught the ball. It was Jonathan Ward. Chris Banjo threw it. He was the up man. Completed the past downfield on fourth and two on a fake hunt. Cliff Kingsberry and Jeff Rogers just rolled the dice. Oh my goodness, did you see the catch? Wolf? He basically caught it on the back of the defender Nashan Wright, who committed the penalty. He pinned it to the helmet of Wright and then pulled it in as

he went to the ground, So it's a catch. So they declined the penalty because he actually caught the ball and getting caught it on the helmet and the back of Nashan Wright. I don't want to exaggerate, but I don't think I've ever seen that in this league, in this game before. That is not hyperbole, Wolf, I mean

catch of the year in the NFL. Gotta be That was a no comprendo graph by Jonathan What it was like David Tyree and the Super Bowl, except instead of pinning it off his own helmet, he pinned it against the defender's helmet. Paul, that is difficulty wise, that is impossible. It's impossible to do what Jonathan ward did. And he controlled the ball the way down off the other guy's helmet. Oh my goodness, fault. I've never seen anything like it. Man.

And after that winning Dallas post game, I'll say the same thing now to our Antoine Wesley, who joins us in the Big Red Rage presented by Santan Ford and Gilbert that I said to aj Green, Antoine, I'm sorry you guys had a great game the receiver room, but you did not have the best catch of the game. That belonged to Jonathan Warden. You agree with that, right, true, true, true, totally agree. I told him, I said, oh man, you inspired me. Oh man, that that right there? Yeah, I

want to try that in practice. Now, before we get into some heavy stuff here, Antoine, I have to ask you this right here, where did the nickname Tweezy come? How long have they been calling you tweezy? Oh man, it's it's it's been uh since, like it's like a childhood name. Man, I got it because my dance a lot, you know, And yeah, I used to used to love Chris brown Man, and you know his name was ce Breezy,

so you know, I just you know, it's tweezy. So everything it stuck, you know, and it's you know, once you get to know me, you understand because because we're doing something no one in the locker room does. And that's nobody calls you antoine do they Nah? Not really. So in fact, Cliff Kingsbury mentioned it. He said something to us on his TV show. He said, yeah, did you see the dance move? Was he talking about your touchdown catch against the Colts? Yeah? The Colts? Yep? Okay,

So what was that move all about? It? And you know what, because you got the video guys. I asked our video guys about it. Who shot it? They said, oh, no, it was good. But did you get some some stuff from the fellas in the locker room? Did you get a thumbs up or thumbs down for the most part in that dance move? Oh, it definitely thumbs up. Everybody kept coming up to me, Hey, can you teach me how to do it? Can you teach me? I said? All right, I'll try, but you know it's it's funny

when they try and they yeah, it's real funny. So by the way, real quick Wolf. On that touchdown against the Colts, I wanted to ask you. You gave that football to your head coach, didn't you your first NFL touchdown catch? And you gave the ball to Cliff Kingsbury. Yep, so it didn't Why was it? What was behind that? Why was that meaningful to you to do that? Man? So? Um, you know, first, like I said, you know, Clip was wash my first offer, you know, and I committed right

on the spot. And you know when I got to the league, you know, I when I drafted and you know, I went to Baltimore and felt like, you know, it could have gave me a better, better opportunity to to you know, be who I am. But um, you know they end up releasing me my second year in the league. And you know, um, I was, I was at home, you know, waiting for a call, you know, waiting for somebody to call me, and you know, uh, clipping up

end up giving my aging that call. And you know after that, you know I saw him again and you know I told him I got your back, you know, and I appreciate this opportunity. So you know, in my eye it was it was more of a you know, thank you for believing in me and you know, never giving up on me, you know. So you know, like I said, I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for that manage there. So I definitely sat very very high in them. That's very very cool, no doubt about it.

An Antoine, right there? Okay, Tweezy, I'm gonna ask you this. Does being a good dancer translate into being a good wide receiver in the NFL? Oh yeah, man, like like like a like a dance it would say, hips don't lie. So so it is in the hips, right, yeah, it's all in the hips. See, I was a fullback. I don't know if you knew that, Antoine, I was a wedge busting fullback. That's what it was. And that tells you immediately I had no hips. Yeah yeah, Wolf will

take your word for it. But that way, who gives you a run for your money? You know? I honestly, if there was like a Dancing with the Stars, who would be your best competition? Oh, dancing star? You know, like in that room team yeah in that locker room. Uh, I definitely have to you know, we already did a little a little battle, but it would definitely have to be close uh byan Murphy for sure. Murh Yeah, mursh had had to battle. Mean, um, yeah, the whole thing

win this. Has anybody battled you and it's been an epic fail? Has anyone you know, I mean, anyone stepped up who shouldn't have? Oh no, no like for as for them, like you know, like winning or losing bad? No losing bad thinking they can dance when they can? Oh man, No, no, no one, No one's really you know,

push that yet. You know. I usually, um, you know, can tell like just you know, when we're just joking around or something and you know, but other than that, noah, no one's really like it's bad bad to where you know, just stopped dancing. Come on, man, you're telling me Home hasn't tried to impress you with his dance moves. I just yeah, I don't know that. Chandler would be I put money on Chandler. That's that's the guy. Yeah, I mean I practice h channel. Chann would definitely like try

to how you do that? How you do this? How you do that here, but you know it's more of like just a teaching moment for them guys. You know, it's never a battle battle, I guess. You know. So Tweezy did, what did your time on the practice squad with the Baltimore Ravens. What did that time teach you? Oh? Definitely, you know it humbled me a lot, you know, coming

off from my junior year. You know, I had a great, great year, you know, thinking I was going to get drafted, and when I went undrafted and any um, I got on the practice squad. You know, it definitely humbled me a lot. You know, I prayed a lot, you know, just being patient, you know, mentally physically, you know, I was working working out, you know, a lot more um. But yeah, it just being patient. You know, I was

waiting for my turn. You know, I didn't know if it was going to happen the next day, you know, three years, two years later. But you know, I was just being patient, waiting because I knew, I knew I had something special, you know, for football for sure. I mean I'm looking at your numbers right now, and our guest is Antoine Wesley, Cardinals receiver. He's still only twenty four years of age. You were first team All Big Twelve. Your junior year, you led Cliff Kingsbury's team with eighty

eight catches for over fourteen hundred yards receiving. You had nine touch downs. You're six four. What did they miss? What did those guys miss on you? Coming out in the draft? Oh? Man, it was my forty. I definitely ran a slower forty than you know, usual, But um, yeah, I guess that was it. Because you know, the film speaks for itself, you know, you know it will tell you right now. I had my NFL moment when I had my first fight in training camp. Okay, I'm just

telling you, tweezy, It's just the truth. That's what a full bat does have. Have you had your NFL moment yet? And if so, which which was it? And where was it? I guess? Oh? Yeah, to be honest, it was actually my first year in the league, my rookie year. And you know it was actually when I was with Baltimore and we're doing one on ones and I was going against Earl Thomas one on ones and you know, I had a good fatball jumped over them, and you know,

it was awesome and that moment right there. I was watching film like wow, like I'm I'm really in the NFL. You know, I can really run with these guys. So and that after that all th oh man, this is this is awesome. That's important, isn't it? Atwine, it is important to have that moment and say, oh my goodness, I belong here. You like right now, watching you develop over these seven games that you have played for the Arizona Cardinals, you can see the confidence in you growing.

It's important to have that starting point, correct, Yeah, that that is that is true. You know, like I said, um, my teammates definitely helped me a lot with my confidence. You know, it starts in practice, you know when like you know, today I had a good you know, go ball and caught it and the old linemen are more excited than you know, Kyler Murray. So you know, I just love to have that, um, that trust, that that

that connection with my teammates. It's it's awesome. Well that is a great segue to what we're gonna hear right now, because here's Kyler relationship and trust with you, Antoine Westling. Off the field, we're friends as well, so you know we're kind of just a natural Uh you know, click feel that you know, confidence that I have in him. Um, you know, we we met each other before the draft. We got the same agent, so I've I've worked out with Tweezy before he was even with the Cardinals. So um,

now that one on the same team. You know, I could already had that confidence in him. I know what type of player he is. I know, you know, he's accountable, He's gonna be where he's supposed to be. He's gonna you know, he's gonna make those players if I give him the opportunities. That's man, I can't imagine how I'm pooring that is. I mean, your quarterback first and foremost, better trust you as a receiver before anything else. I'm guessing, right, Yeah,

that's true. That's true. You guys hang out off the field. I mean, did I hear right before? Like you're a big gamer. We know Kyler likes the game obviously, right is do you guys connect on that level? Oh? Yeah, we definitely connect a lot on a game, And um, I definitely am. I am better than him at call of duty for sure, But come on, get you where does he beat you? Come on? Madden? Oh? Oh yeah,

he got me. Man, I don't play. I don't play no, No, I don't I do not play no Madden, no two K. I don't play no sports games because I get irritated and it's like, hey, I would not do that, and you know I can't control that. I love it, man. Okay, talk to yeah, talk to me about playing the Seattle Seahawks when you watch him on tape. What have you seen from them? Tweezy. Yeah, They're they're very very good dominant team. You know. Um, I definitely played with Jordan Brooks.

You know, he was my roommate in college. Um, so I know him very well. UM, very very very aggressive to the ball. You know, he he makes big, big plays. Um. You know, even though their their whole defense is they're very fast. So you know, it's got to make sure we we stay composed and the work at the team and make sure we do the little things right. What kind of coverages are they gonna throw at you? What

kind of coverages do you anticipate? We're most likely seeing a lot of couple four like we did last game. Couple three quarters four deep yep, quarters four, yep too, a little bit of two um, depending on how everything goes. You know, um, it might see a little bit of three um techniques, but it you know, whatever we see whatever, you know, Cliff dollars up, we just gotta be ready for it. Jordan Brooks has had a heck of a season. He had fifteen tackles in the first game up again

Seattle against the Cardinals. He's been balling this year, hasn't he? Yeah, he has been born. We had the same agent. You know. That's that's that's really like my brother, you know. Um, but he's definitely been doing his thing lately. How important is this game from what you're gathering in regard to your teammates and their approach to this game coming up?

Is it? Is it a situation where you think some guys are looking at this as an opportunity to rest and relax a little, or do you think this is a precursor of the playoff game? Oh? Yeah, no, this is this is definitely a you know even from the Cowboys that that was our or we need to stay that stay that level. You know, we don't need to be going down, you know, we just stay going up on a roller coast and not you know, not Plateau

and not going down. We just need to make sure that we stay consistent, and you know it starts with Seattle. By the way, you caught that pass from Christian Kirk. There seems to be a quarterback controversy over QB four right now, Christian Kirk or Banjo. So I mean, which way are you signing right now, Antoine? In that battle for QB four? Man? Uh, I don't know. Banjol definitely got a lot of help from day War, you know,

Jay War made him look real, real good. So um, I'm definitely gonna have to go with oh with Kirk though, I'm definitely that's my guy. Yeah, yeah, that's why I love your perseverance, man. And keep your head down man, and your eyes off, if you know what I mean. And thank you so much for coming out on tonight. Thanks Antoine, Yeah, thank you, thank you guys for having me. I appreciate it. There you go, Antoine. Wesley Wholf maybe instead it's tweezy. We'll call him a dup the new adup.

But Adrian Wilson would probably pound me the first time he saw. Maybe I shouldn't do that choke you. We'll talk about the Seahawks next on the big red rage a Seattle. We gotta do. Go Hawks, Go Hawks. I'm gonna see y'all in the morning to do you can go to Sweet Sea the morning. Russell Wilson, what kind of show you running here? We got a family program here and we got Russell Wilson with smoke stacks of

sacks as the music in the background. I mean, my goodness, might have been like Russ can I can I talk to you the first second place? Yeah, the snort and everything in there, Okay, I mean seriously, Yeah, Well he's got two years left on his contract. Yeah, at thirty million plus, he has a no trade clause. But will Russ be there next season? Will the Arizona Cardinals and the az proved to be bookends to a Seahawks career because we all know it started, that's right, Paula. I mean, honestly,

this is the end. It feels like the end, doesn't it. It feels it feels like the end of a dynasty up there in Seattle. It feels like the end. The Seattle Seahawks have played a certain way. I've been a fan, you know this, paul of how the Seattle Seahawks have played over the years. They were built on the line of scrimmage. Everyone. Yes, you hear about the legion of Boom all the time, but they were really really good in the box. They were really really good at running

the ball. They were great up front. They've had great talent at the skilled positions. There's no denying that. Great corners, Isn't that right, Richard Sherman. They had great safeties over the years. I loved how they played the game of football. But man, it just doesn't feel like this is Seattle. Seahawks football hasn't really felt that way for the last few years. Think about it. This is gonna be the first time they've ended up in last place since nineteen

ninety six, Matt when they were in the AFC West. Okay, So that's why I was saying a month ago. When they are firmly entrenched in last place, I mean, it soaked this in Cardinals fans. Okay, you know the holiday blessings that is Seattle firmly entrenched in last place. Pete Carroll, coach Double Rainbow, has never won fewer than seven games in a season in his twelve year tenure. So you got a team that a year ago had won twelve and they were the NFC West champions. Right now there's

six and ten. What do you expect at of them on Sunday Wolf, because Russell Wilson has never been swept. Now, they've Cardinals, have won a game, and they've tied a game against, but they have ever won this season series, both games against Russell Wilson in his decade as their franchise quarterback. Yeah, Polly. You know. The one thing I want to say, though, Polly, is the fact that I

know they won twelve games last year. I understand that, but they were doing it a lot different than what the Seattle Seahawks have done for the most part over the years in terms of building their offense around running the ball and being balanced offensively. They really were heavy in terms of throwing the ball last year for the most part. And honestly, right now this game coming up, Polly,

do you want to say something? No, I was gonna say, you're right, and in fact, Russell Wilson, and maybe it's been the hand injury, the thumb injury, but think about it, in his career, he's led thirty five game winning comebacks in the fourth quarter over time, but none this season. Yeah, the magic has not been there this season. There you go, Polly, and there's a couple of things I'm going to be looking at in this game for the Arizona Cardinals. Number

one would be balanced offensively. I really want to see a balanced offense. Cliff Kingsbury's been talking about the fact that man, every time they run, they rush for over thirty attempts in a game. They're nine to O. Of course on the season, ding they've done very very well, Polly. Now that means, of course that you're in a game. That means that you're in a game. And that's the reason why I can flip it over on the defensive side of the ball and say, where are those safeties?

Where is Jalen Thompson, Where is Buddha Baker? Where are those safeties going to be? How often will we be able to keep two safeties high? Because again, the Seattle Seahawks, the area they've improved the most, I would say over the last four games, in particular, is running the ball. Polly. Yeah, Well, Rashad Penny, their former first round pick who has been injured much of his career. He actually over the last four games has one hundred more rushing yards than Jonathan Taylor.

He's run for one thirty five or more and three of the last four games. If you remember the game at Seattle where the Cardinals won with Colet McCoy on their first possession, he ripped off a chunk run, heard of himself and never came back into the game. So if the Cardinals complete the season, sweep up Seattle and the Rams lose to the Niners, the Cardinals win the

division for the first time since twenty fifteen. Here's Kyler Murray on that to be able to win the division will be obviously a huge milestone, a huge accomplishment for us. But at the end of the day, it doesn't It's just something that you can say you did. It doesn't matter un once you get in the playoffs. So yeah, I'm looking forward to Sunday, and that's that's my focus. For example, if James Connor and Chase Edmonds aren't quite able to go and you're holding them out, are you not? Wolf?

I mean, yeah, you know what. I again, Polly, I want to see James Connor get some reps. I want to see that if he's healthy. Here's the one thing I'm not doing, Paul. If he's healthy. I'm not holding him out saying it's only one game. It's only one game, and you know what, we're going into the postseason next week. If he's one hundred percent, I'm playing him because I'm Bill Belichick. I am Bill Belijick. You know what football players, that's what they do. And if they're healthy, run him

out there and blame if he's hurt it all nicked up. No, you don't have to force him out there. Okay, Well, you know it's interesting, do you disagree with that, Paul? You know, look, it's been you're telling me if James Connor's one hundred, if he's healthy, you're going to run him out that. You're not going to run him out there if he's one hundred percent. But there's no way he's gonna be one hundred Okay, Okay, So I just think, p Yeah, that's for anybody at this point of the season.

I'll just put it to you this way. And I and and and and I had a coach say this to me this week, Um, can your name who won the NFC South last year? Yeah, yeah, I know exactly the coach that said that. Yes, I know exactly what you mean. Paulli and that is correct, There's no doubt about it. But once again, I love BA speaking of that team that won the or didn't win the NFC South. Um, you see what BA said, Oh, we are not resting players.

There's no way we are not resting players. And I've think it's because of their own experience where they had to win to get in and win to actually go to the Super Bowl and do it on the road. We'll see, We'll see what the Cardinals approaches on Sunday. And you know, for example, Marco Wilson practice today for the first time in several weeks. Okay, that would be a big get obviously, so is he tracking Do you

risk it with that shoulder? Some decisions there, and exactly because think about it, you can host a playoff game if the Niners make it sixth straight against the Rams, which I think we both believe is much more realistic and feasible than a lot of people think. It's not a fore gone conclusion. The Cardinals is going to be

the fifth seed and automatically go to Dallas. Heck no. Cynthia Freeland of the NFL Right and NFL dot Com said, no way, man, She's got the Cardinals as the number three seed all our computer projection and they could be as high as the number two seeds. Special thanks Jim Alanro, Cody Fincher, An Suan Wesley for Ron Wolfley on Paul KLBC. This has been a Big Red Rage presented by Santana Ford in Gilbert. Number one. You've been listening to the

Big Red Rage presented by Santanford in Gilbert. Are you Santanford State Farm talk to an agent today at eight hundred State Farm. And by Arizona Cardinals Podcasts visit acy Cardinals dot com Slash podcasts. This has been an exclusive presentation of the Arizona Cardinals Football Club.