Hey everybody, and welcome to a new Dave Pash podcast. I'm your host ESPN and Arizona Cardinals broadcaster Dave Pash. After a couple of months off, we are back and in a big way with first year Arizona Cardinals general manager Monty Austen. For I think after you listen to this conversation with Manti, you'll really learn a lot about what it's like in the draft room on Draft Night.
In particular, we're going to talk in depth about how the Cardinals ended up trading down from number three and then trading back up to number six to grab Paris Johnson from Ohio State, and how close it came with the pressure on and the clock ticking on the Cardinals to make that deal with Houston to move down from number three.
It was intense. It was good, But I would have to go back and look at the tape. I don't think anybody in our room was panicking. I think we had a plan and the time was ticking, and time was of the essence, and you know we were able to finally get and push it across the goal line.
Monty is the talk nationally amongst the media members about Draft Knight three trades with three teams in the first thirty four picks, the acquisition of a first round pick for twenty twenty four, and two third round picks for next year as well. Manni was very busy, and he goes deep into all of those decisions on draft night and what it was like for him in his first year in the big chair making the decisions to make
trades into draft players. We're also going to talk about some of the guys who've been on the roster, the latest on DeAndre Hopkins, Buddha Baker, Isaiah Simmons, and the health of Kyler Murray. We'll also talk with Mani about his history spending all those years with the New England Patriots, his time with Tennessee. We'll even go back to his playing days in college at Minnesota Morris, where for a brief period of time he was a radio show host.
All that and more coming up with Arizona Cardinals General manager Monte assin Ford. We are presented by BETTMGM, the official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals, and by Heila River Resorts and Casinos. Sign up today with BETMGM, the official partner of the Arizona Cardinals use code cards one thousand and get back up to one thousand dollars in bonus bets. If you don't win your first bet, visit BETMGM dot Comference Terms and conditions twenty one years
of age or older to wager Arizona only. New customer offer. Please gamble responsibly. Gambling problem call one eight hundred, next step. All right, Time for our sit down with Arizona Cardinals General manager Montiasinfo. So, MANI I got a chance to meet you briefly maybe two months ago, three months ago the last podcast actually did, which was with Michael brought me up and introduced me to you, But I haven't really had a chance to get to talk to you much.
So first time we've had a chance to really sit and chat. I'm curious, first of all, what's this whole process been like? Because you get hired and you're all in, you're going one hundred miles an hour. What's it been like personally? What's it been like professionally for you?
Well, professionally that you know it all culminated in these last last few days, it was, you know, it was a lot of a lot of work here from a lot of fronts, a lot of people from the scouting department, to the coaching staff, to trainers and all all facets of football operations contributed to this past weekend. So it was a nice just ending to just a lot of work that have went in. You know, it's it's been
it's been a challenge. You know, the when when you have this type of transition, it's you're away from your family. A lot of people are away from their families, you're living in a hotel, you're living in temporary housing. But you know what, it's also it's also a blessing because you can you can just focus in on the job and you know, because there is a lot to do.
There's a lot to do when when that transition comes in and you know, there's uh, you know, there was a lot of things that we wanted to to focus on with the draft and just getting the right types of people from the All Star Game process, through the
combine and then through our thirty visit process. So that was that was a big funcus of ours and you know, there was a lot of things to juggle, but a lot of people stepped up and a lot of people contributed to you know, what we hope was a winning effort this past weekend.
You talked about being away from your family as a dad. You know, how challenging has that been for you? How what's it been like communicating with your kids, who this is probably the first time you've been gone this long.
Yeah, it's been it's been a challenge for all of us. And you know, we came to a pretty good routine here over the last couple of months where you know, I'm an early morning guy, and so on my drive in Nashville is back on Central Time, and so on my drive in it was really breakfast time. The girls were getting ready for breakfast for school, and so my fifteen minute drive in to work was a great time for us just to chat over the phone and get connected for Hey, what's going on today, and what's the
plan anything special at school today? And then you know, FaceTime has been a lifesaver. That's been great to just connect and see faces and you know, but it's been tough. Missed a few sporting events this past weekend. My oldest daughter had a had her last volleyball tournament in Birmingham. But you know, thank god technology, I was able to pull up the iPad and watch her games, you know, so I could. I wasn't there, but I tried to
connect as much as possible. So I'm excited gonna take a couple of days and get home to see him, and but excited for them to get out here to the valley and call this home.
So your daughter's playing volleyball? Is it club volleyball? So she must be pretty good if she's traveling at pretty young age.
Yeah, yeah, so you know, so her her mom, my wife, Shannon, she she was a collegiate volleyball player, and you know, the my oldest is involved in club volleyball and she's she's really enjoyed that. So you know, I've it's it's been tough missing out on that, but you know, I know, my my wife has been there to to support her
and and to help her out. My wife actually coached her school team this past year at at our school, and so you know, but my wife took a step back for the club season, and uh, but that's been great.
You were an athlete too. You played quarterback Minnesota Morerus which is where and I grew up in Madison, Wisconsin, and I don't know where Minnesota.
Or Yeah, allegedly an athlete I would say that, No. Morris is in the middle of nowhere. It's in about as far west part of the state of Minnesota, but right in the middle, so west central Minnesota. Tiny little town. It's a tiny school when I when I was there, we were a Division two school. They've since dropped down to Division three. But you know, hey, we had a lot of fun, met a lot of friends there. We we we weren't a good team. We Uh, that's kind of an insult to to say we were a bad
team to bad teams. So we but we had a lot of fun and we we worked hard, and uh it was it was a good experience for me.
And so I'm trying to find information about you other than you know, what's obviously been out there and through either the Cardinals or the Titans. Are going back to the Patriots. And one thing I caught on Wikipedia, and I always have to ask, because Wikipedia is the worst. There's been things on me that are that are not correct on Wikipedia that I've had to tell people like that that's not true. So you were a radio show host in college? Is that is that accurate?
Man?
Did you think is that true? Did you think about going into.
Broadcasting you're digging deep. You're digging deep. No. So at my at our tiny little school, there was a student run radio station that I you know, I'm not sure that the signal went out much further than the force the four blocks of campus. But uh, yeah, there was a Saturday I can't remember. No, I think it was a Sunday morning show for two hours that you know, you just filled blocks of time, and so, you know, me and a couple buddies we were screwing around and uh,
you know, hey, well this would be cool. And you know, I think it lasted for a few months, but I think they ran us off. I don't think listenership was real high.
So so broadcasting was not going to be part of your future.
Nah, I got out of that click.
But scouting was what what? When did you make the choice to go down this road knowing you know how hard it is to work your way up. You're already you talked about being away from your family now, but that's something as a scout, traveling over the years, you've learned to get you to what made you decide to go this route in terms of staying involved in football?
Yeah, when my when my playing career was over. I I kind of was at a little bit of crossroads, didn't quite know where I was going to go, and thought about going in the coaching coaching realm. And you know, it's something always about personnel, the personnel. I'd always was interested in the draft and kind of when I was young, reading up on on personnel moves and trades and things like that, and and so you know, I didn't didn't
think coaching was was the right path for me. And and so I decided, hey, this is this is an avenue that I I kind of wanted to go try going down. And and so when I when I left under undergraduate at from Morris and decided to go to graduate school at Ohio University for a couple of years and and they have a sports administration program there and so went there for a couple of years, and through through the connections from Ohio University, I was able to
land an internship. My first job in the NFL down you know, actually first I had a training camp internship with the Minister the Vikings, hauling mattresses around a dorm room, installing window air conditioning units. Uh you know, real glorious stuff.
And uh so that was my first exposure to the NFL, and then after my two years in Ohio, found a year long internship down in Houston with the Texans in personnel and and at that point I was hooked and and just had a real fortunate along the way to meet some great people and learn and and to have a bunch of things break my way for me to kind of just move up the ranks.
Was Mike Tice, the head coach of the Vikings. Then it wasn't Denny, was it?
It was? Man That's a great question at that point, it was what year was it? It was two thousand and one.
I think it might have still been Denny.
I think it was. I think it was Denny. It was it was Moss's rookie year.
Yeah, Yeah, it was Masny.
Then, Yeah, it was Denny, it was. It was actually unfortunately it was it was the summer that that Corey Stringer passed away. Yeah, it was that. Then. That was a that was a tough, tough situation there in Mankato. We had training camps. So that was that was the year. Yeah.
And so you were with the Patriots obviously for a long time, most recently with the Titans, but fifteen years overall in New England. What was your biggest takeaway when you look back and think, hey, this was something that I held on to that I learned from Coach Belichick or one of the many other personnel guys who've gone on to be GMS like Jason Light.
Yeah. Boy, we could be here for two hours talking about that, because you know, I just extremely fortunate to have that experience of being there. But you know, I think I think the biggest thing for me is just taken from there is just the importance of building an entire football program. That there's nothing that can stand alone
and be on its own. Everything is connected, whether it's the coaching or the scouting, but even to the strength training, to training, to nutrition, to how the team travels, to you know, the PR group. Everything is every everything is on the same page. Everything is pointed in one direction, and that's to winning. And so you know that's something out There's really no secret sauce. Everybody always brings up, oh the Patriot Way and there's some you know, magical
formula or some secret pill like that. There really isn't other than you know, people knowing what their job is and how they contribute to a winning effort and doing it at a high level.
Do you have any particular interactions with Coach Belichick that you recall. I don't know if you've had a chance to get to know Ron Wolfley at all, who I do the Cardinal Games with with. Wolf was the special teams captain for Bill in Cleveland and still talks to
him like they still have a relationship. He's had him on his radio show and he's got great stories that really tell you all you need to know that basically Bill hasn't changed, Like he's the same now as he was then in terms of how he interacts with players, how he interacts with people on his staff. Is there anything that you recall, like, man, that was a great conversation or one that was like embarrassing where he riptures.
Well, I mean, I you know, I'd say I'd say this. I mean Coach Belichick is He's He's always been. You know, he's been a person that I've warn't an immense amount from And you know, he's been extremely generous with his time here since I since I got this job, just being a sounding board for me and and just being being there to to talk through some things with. And
he's He's been tremendous with that. You know, I think my first, uh, when I was a lower level scout in New England one year we were prepping for the draft, and and at the time I was living in Colorado, so I wasn't even in the office, but you know, I had had I had a project to do, and for some reason, I got on a project of looking at special teams players for the draft, and so you know, there was a there was a It was the year that Matt Slater was coming out of UCLA, and so
Matt Slater was one of the guys that I happened to look at. And you know, I looked at ten twelve, ten twelve players, and you know, Matts, Matt Slater stood out as just a guy that an out outstanding special teams player. And so you know, I, as a lower level scout, you didn't have a lot of interaction with
coach Belichick. And so you know, I completed this project and and sent it in and and you know, passed it up to to Scott Pioli, to Nick Cassario, some guys that I had worked for, and you know, I woke up one morning with the time change in Colorado and you know, I checked my phone and I had an email from Coach Belichick and like kind of groggy even snap up and like, oh, I got to read
this one, you know. So it was it was it was Coach Belichick, and it was him asking me about the project that I did and specifically about Matt And so, you know, that's something that that really was my first like real direct interaction with Coach Belichick on a on a one to one basis, and just you know that he had taken the time to to read what I had had put before him. You know that that was kind of something that's always going to stick with me.
I remember, I think it was called the Two Bills. It was a thirty for thirty with him and Bill Parcells and watching Coach Belichick's reverence for Coach Parcells and again hearing from Wolf other guys that played for Bill. I know it's all business with him, but at the same time, like I feel that he respects and appreciates guys that went to war for him, whether it was a player or somebody in your position. Is that something that you found as well?
Absolutely, I think I think that's absolutely fair. I mean, Bill is an extremely focused individual, and he is focused on He's focused on winning and doing what's best for the football team. And I think when he sees he sees you know, other people he I mean, that's his goal is to surround the rest of his organization with people that have that same mindset, and he has a real appreciation for people that can can really put the team before themselves.
So you'd talked to after the draft in your press conference about the rush of everything you did. And I'm curious, because you know, we're not in that room. We have no idea what it's like to be in that room. What was it like to be the GM on draft night. You've been in the rooms before, but you've not been that guy making all the calls, having the final say. What was it like?
It was different? It was certainly different, you know. I I think that that kind of dawned on me in the in the couple of days leading up to the draft. And you know, in the in the past, you prepare for a draft and you're like, man, you know, I hope this happens, and I you know, you know, if this happens, I think we should do this. But now it's there's no more. I think we should do this.
It's we're going to do this, and you know, alter that's that's uh, you know, that's a that's a big mantle to take on, you know, and so you know that, uh, that's something that I did, you know, think about. It did cross my mind going in. But you know, I think for me personally, like I think the thing that really helped me over that that first hour of the draft where there was there was so much action, is is we were prepared and that the team are our
group of individuals upstairs. We were ready and you know, it could have things could have shook out a different way and we would have been fine. We would have been fine with that too. I just I just think that the time that we prepared and the scenarios that we tried to walk through, you know, things didn't happen exactly the way we thought they would, but we had also talked at nauseum about different ways that things could happen,
and we were ready. We reacted, and you know, ultimately, I think I think we made decisions that were good for the team.
How much of what you're talking about right now in terms of things didn't go exactly how we thought or we weren't sure what was going to happen. It felt like the world wasn't sure based on it just seemed like everything was coming down to number two. Like I kept hearing they don't like CJ. Stroud in Houston, and clearly was subterfuge, right, It clearly was put out there. Were you guys hearing that as well? Like, were you guys unsure? Hey, is it going to be Stroud? Is
it going to be Will Anderson? Are they going to look to trade down? Is going to be somebody else?
Yeah? And I think we looked at all those scenarios day. I think you know, we didn't. We had no idea. We had no idea. I mean, we felt we felt pretty good about what was going to happen at one. Number two we had no idea. So we had to talk about all those scenarios that you just said, we we hey, if they take this quarterback or a different quarterback, or do they go a position player? And we had to talk through all those scenarios about who may or may not be interested in moving up based on what
happened at number two. So we worked through those, and you know, you could drive yourself crazy going going with there's a million different scenarios, and you well, what if this happens, Well, that would never happen. Oh really, like you just don't know with the draft, you know. So we worked through those and we we felt good about, you know, just working through those different scenarios, and we were as surprised as ever as anybody when when number two came off the board.
Okay, so number two comes off the board? Is it right away? Okay, we've worked through these scenarios, so scenario X has happened. Let's execute that plan correct.
And I think, you know, I think I think the discussion on this the number three pick, they really they really started back at the combine and you know, hey, you know at that point it was more I don't know if we're going to pick at number three, but if we don't pick, or would you be interested in coming up? So you know, we started those conversations back then. Uh. And then I would say the week leading up to the draft, and specifically the Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday before the draft,
those talks really started to get more concrete. And so it was a goal of mine is to have I wanted to go into Thursday with parameters of what was going to happen, so that no matter what happened at number two, I didn't want a cold call to come out of the blue and number three and us start from ground zero. So we had multiple teams that we had talked to Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. You know, hey, if if this happens or if our guy's there, you know, this is what it would look like. This is what
we'd be interested in. Okay, all right, I'll you know, we'll see what happens. And and so then when number two did come off the board, you know, there were some teams that weren't interested anymore. And coming up to number three, there were some teams that were still interested in coming to number three. But there was no at
no time was there. We weren't starting from zero. We we kind of had a ballpark of what we were trying to do, and you know, ultimately we were able to work through and come up with a deal that worked.
So we're watching the draft and it feels like the trade is made as we're coming down to the wire. Was it like that for you in the room or was it calm? Were the conversations very typical of what you expected? And it just took time to kind of get it to the league so they could announce it.
I would say it did. It did come down that the time was taken down, and that was a product of you know, when when the number two pick, When the number two pick goes in, the clock starts immediately right, so that there's no lag to Hey, let's walk up there and announce it like it it's it's going. And so there's some time to Hey, we got to check back with all the teams that we've had discussions with, Hey, are you still interested? No? Are you still interested? Yes?
And then so you go down the line and so then you go through that process. All right, so now we're down to x number of teams that are interested in coming up. Okay, so this team, we know that this team was here on the deal. This team was here on the deal. Okay, which one do we like better out of the two? All right, we like this one.
Let's go back and see if we can talk. And so as we are going through that, you know, it helped that I have a personal relationship with with Nick Cassario and Houston have a lot of respect for Nick as a as a person. He's been a mentor to me. He's been a friend of me. Our families are close, you know, I say that other than to say just the conversation was easy between Nick and I, and you know, so it got to a point where, hey, you know, this is this is what we're offering, and you know, Nick,
I need it to include this. And then Nick can tell me, yeah, you know what, I'm not doing that, and so I don't take offense to that. I know Nick. I have that relationship with Nick, and he can tell me, no,
I'm not doing that. And so eventually there were some back and forth there and the top clock's going, the clock's going, and I think it was around I don't know, two and a half minutes maybe where you know, we got the got the couple of deals written up on the board, and a couple of teams, and so then okay, Nick, I think we're at a spot where we're close. Here it's this and this for this, this and this. Uh are you in? Yep? I'm in. I'm in. Okay, great,
call it in. And so at two two and a half minutes, we both hang up the phone and our cap guy, Matt Harris, then has to call the league and repeat the trade terms of them. On Nick's end, their cap guy or whoever is handling trades for them has to call the has to call the league and turn their pick in or turn turn their the terms of the trade. We both have to say the exact same trade, so the league knows that nobody's trying to pull something here. And then so once that happens, the
trade becomes official. And now Houston's got to take another step and call the player in this case, Will Anderson get him on the phone and make sure he's okay. And so all that happened, I would say, give or take in span a two two and a half minute. So it was it was, uh yeah, it was. It was intense. It was good. But again I I would have to go back and look at the tape. I don't. I don't think anybody in our room was panicking. I would, you know, football people always got to go back and
look at the tape. Sorry, right, but I think, you know, I think again, I think we had a plan and the time was taken, and time was of the essence, and but you know we were able to finally get and push it across the goal line.
First of all, it's fascinating and I think for the people that are listening to this that that gives them some inside knowledge as to what it's like. And there's a lot of stuff you said there that I didn't know. I didn't know that you have to actually get Will Anderson, the player that's going to get picked, on the phone to let him know exactly what's going on. Sure, I
didn't know how that information was relayed to a guy. Hey, you're going to get picked, but the team that is picking at number three is no longer picking at number three.
Correct. Yeah, And that's and and really we are ahead of we are what you guys are watching on TV. We're ahead of that. And so you know, maybe it was different for Will being in the green room, but for for most guys like they they they're sitting there watching on TV, and we were probably like two picks ahead of them. So we call somebody and tell him, hey, we're gonna you know, your name is gonna be coming across here. It's going to be in a few minutes. So there is a little bit of a lag.
There was Paris Johnson always the guy, meaning if you had to pick him at three, would you have? And if so, you know him being the guy for you. When did you know? When did you guys make the decision, Hey, this is the guy we want.
M Yeah, I mean I think we had. I think we had multiple options at various points. I mean, I think Paris was in the discussion, you know, wherever we were going to end up picking. You know, I think for me personally, we we did. We spent a lot of time with Paris, starting at the Combine with him. We had a formal interview with him there. He was
a very impressive kid there. But really what solidified it for me is when he when Paris came in for his thirty visit and he got we had a chance to spend the entire day with him and just to see the type of kid that he was. And really those thirty visits have nothing to do with his ability on the field. It's all about the person and how he interacts and how smart is he and how mature
and dependable is he. And so my meeting with Paris, my meeting with all the prospects is really at the end of the day, after we spent you know, kind of put them through the ringer and gone through things, and my meeting with Paris, with that was at the end of the day, and you know when by the time my meeting with him was done, he walked out and and I knew that that Paris was made up of the type of stuff that we would want to
add to our program. And you know, you there's but there's a lot of people that you can say that about. And so sure, I hope that we would get a chance to add Paris, and you know, ultimately we did so, and we were happy with that.
So you trade down and then you trade back up obviously to make the selection at six to get Paris. How did you know when to move back up? Did you know when you made the trade with Houston, Hey, we're going to move back up. Part of this, dear, is we're going to use what we just got or some of the other picks we had to move back up. And when did you pull that trigger?
Yeah? That was that was definitely a part of any of our trade down discussions, is that we wanted any any trade where we were bouncing back or moving back, we wanted to have enough currency in that trade to claw back up but still come out net positive on the first trade. And so didn't know if we were going to be able to pull that off like that all sounds great, but you need you need the other
side of the trade to work out as well. And so you know, as we were talking through the scenarios leading up to the week, we knew that, hey, if the further you jump back up, it's going to cost more. And so you know, so those were things that that we had considered. We were we were ready at We
made several calls. As soon as we went back to number twelve, we immediately made it, started making calls at various levels, and you know, we had to wait for what the number, the number four pick to go went across, and so then we were making calls and finally we came to a team that was willing to or that was willing to take the deal that we were offering, and and then we just went ahead and made that move.
Second round. You take bj Ojalai from LSU, who I did not have l s U this year, but had them two years ago. So a little familiar with him, familiar with his brother. What do you think he can be? I think there were some people. Look, you guys got praised by everybody in the media for the moves you made. There were some people I just remember the time seeing it that were a little surprised at the pick. What do you think BJ can be and why did you guys take him at that spot?
Yeah? Sure, So you know, with BJ, we saw, you know, a player that has played at a high level in one of the best conference in the in the country, the SEC. We see a guy that has a good get off. He's he's fast off the edge, he can bend, he can he's got a good mix of speed to power,
of quickness of counter moves, you know. And the thing that the thing that really impressed us about BJ is not only meeting with him at the combine, but then also you know BJ wears the number eighteen jersey at LSU, and the number eighteen jersey is a you know, it's a pretty big honor that they give out that the staff, the coaches there, they vote on and and really that's given to a player that exhibits the top program characteristics, not not necessarily the best player, but the best the
guy that works hard, does things right, that goes about things the right way, and that that was really important to us. So, you know, not only BJ's ability on the field to rush the passer, to set the edge to do multiple things in our defense, but also the makeup of BJ was really attractive to us at that point.
John Gains. You, guys, taking the fourth round, how important was it for you to really address the offensive line in this draft?
Yeah, And I think I think line of scrimmage players are always going to be important to us. You know, I think I think the game, the game starts up there on both sides of the ball, and you know, so I think I think that was definitely an area that that we wanted to address. You know, with John an interesting guy. You know, played played mainly guard at U C. L A, but also saw time at center.
And then when when he went to the the All Star Game, he played at the East West All Star Game that was in Vegas, he he worked even more so at center. So, you know, those interior guys that that have that versatility to play multiple positions, that's always going to be intriguing. And then our ability to meet with him, our scouts to meet with him in Las Vegas, and then also for us to continue the process through the from the combine through the through the Zoom process.
You know, Zoom has has allowed us to reach out and and just logistically be more efficient with our time. But John did an extremely good job with our coaches on the zoom. Just liked his makeup and his intellect and his ability to handle the hand, the center position, handle the guard position. You know. So that was attractive about Adam John to our group.
So you look at the quarterback room. Look, no, nobody in the NFL is like Kyler. But you know, Colt and Kyler are pretty different. They're they're on different ends of the spectrum. Where where do you think Clayton Tune, who you guys took on the fifth round from Houston? Where does he fit there? What did you guys see in him that you think? You know, at some point if we had to play this kid, we think he could go in and win.
Yeah, yeah, I mean, and we'll we'll see how that all shakes out. I mean, we got we got a long way to go here. We got to get Clayton here and and you know, get him, get him in doctrine to our offense and and get him in the group. But you know, with Clayton, we we did have an interesting perspective with him, you know, are he he was a participant down at the Senior Bowl this year and at the time, are who are our current quarterback coach? Now?
Is he? Wolfwork was with Cleveland at the time, and he had a chance to coach down in the Senior Bowl and one of his Clayton, was on his team, so we had we had a positive impression. Is he is? He talked very highly of Clayton coming out of there, and you know, Clayton was a highly productive player. And you know, I think with a guy like Clayton, you know, he's put up good passing numbers and and he's obviously got a throwing talent, but it's he's also got good
athleticism for a for a bigger quarterback. I mean, he ran well at the Combine. He ran for I want to say, over five hundred yards this year in Houston's offense. And so, you know, I think he does bring some versatility that he's not just a he's just not a pocket passer, that he can do some things outside the pocket, play extension, some r P RPO type stuff. So we're excited about adding him to our group and we'll see where that shakes out.
Just a few more rapid fire, we'll get you out of here. I really appreciate the time money Kyler's recovered. You guys have a sense yet of when Kyler's going to be available to play?
Yeah, I mean Kyler's here every day. Kyler's grinding, he's working hard, he's getting better, he's improving every day. You know, I don't I don't have a timeline. I don't have an update on that. You know, Kyler is We're We're going to put him out there when he's ready, and he'll He's doing everything he can now. He's in meetings, he's learned, he's trying to take in the new offense and doing what he can on that front. He just can't be out on the field right now and he's
he's just physically not ready to do that. But when he I know, he's doing everything he can, and when he's ready, we'll get him out there and we're excited to get him back out there.
This obviously is not the first time that you've been part of an organization where you've got veteran players that are unhappy. They either want to be traded or they want a contract extension, or you've got players like d Hop that have a huge cap number. I'm talking about Buddha and de Hop in particular, Now that you're in the chair and you're making the call, how have you managed those request slash situations?
Yeah, And I think the key to to to both those situations is communication. And both both d Hop and Buddha have been great with communicating with me back and forth with their you know, their representation. So I think you know understanding that that players have opinions and ideas and things that go through their head. Hey, that's that's human nature. We all have that that that happens for
all of us. But I think just continuing to have those conversations and and keeping them informed and in our thought process and and the things that we have going on here. I mean, there's it's it's exciting here right now. There's a there's a good energy in the building. And and you know, I think the guys that are here that have been working are seeing that and seeing some of the things that we're doing and and some of
the changes that we made. So so we're excited about that, and I think we're just going to continue to keep those lines of communication open, all right.
Last one, Isaiah Simmons, you guys deciding not to pick up the option. What all went into that?
Sure, Yeah, yeah, so you know, I think I think those are discussions. You know, I wouldn't read anything other. And then you know that that just probably wasn't the best decision for us to do right now. Just as as a team, you know, we're excited about working with Isaiah we and we think he's extremely talented and has a lot to offer versatility in our defense. But just right now, I think that that the decision to not pick up that option right now is just probably the best for the team right now.
Hey, Man, I really appreciate this. I think if you're a Cardinal fan, you got a lot out of this and you get to know MANI. Awesome for it a little bit more so, appreciate you stupping by.
Man, Dave. Thanks for the time, Appreciate it. Thank you.
Terrific stuff for MANI. My biggest takeaway, and I'm hoping this is yours as well, is just how good of a guy MANI is very personable, professional, polite, and I think for you guys out there and for me as well, it's just great to get brought inside that draft room and what it's really like when the pressures on the
clock is ticking, you've got to make a deal. And the relationships that these guys have with one another, it's a very tight knit community in the scouting world, and to be able to make deals with guys you know, is very helpful. And because there's honest conversations going on about players and draft picks that you can get and when you're in that fifteen minute time window and you've got to pull the trigger, just the kind of press
that you're dealing with. And also the fact too, I thought was really interesting was that just like us, even Moni and the rest of the league wasn't sure exactly what Houston was going to do at number two, and then how that triggered so many different scenarios for the Cardinals and for other teams in the NFL. So great to catch up with Mani on a lot of things. Hope you really enjoyed that. One of the things we didn't get a chance to talk about is the new uniforms.
And with all the excitement around the Cardinals surrounding the draft picks and all the trades, the uniform unveiled was recent and was obviously a big story. We're going to go behind the scenes with the latest Cardinals flight plan. It airs Thursday for the first time at noon on the Cardinals YouTube channel. You can go inside what happened on that night and also what went into the Cardinals making the decision to go with the new uniforms. Really
good stuff. My favorite the all white. If I had to pick, I love them all, but the all white to me was was the coolest uniform the Cardinals I have ever had. I can't wait to see the Cardinals and bust those unis up. Maybe week one, depending on the schedule obviously that comes out May eleventh, we'll know for sure who the Cardinals are playing week one. We're presented by BETMGM, the official sports betting partner of the Arizona Cardinals in by Hila River Resorts and Casinos. You
can follow us on Twitter at pashpod. You can also rate us tell us what you think by going to your podcast platform. Thanks to you for listening to another edition of the Day Pash Podcast, and thanks again to our guest, Arizona Cardinals General manager Manias and Forth.