Cardinals Got Drake
As the Cardinals look ahead to the offseason, one of the many decisions that will need to be made is whether or not they want to re-sign Kenyan Drake. General manager Steve Keim has seen enough of the running back to answer yes to that question.
“As far as waiting until after the season, that’s not necessarily the thing either. I would certainly love to have Kenyan Drake back,” Keim said during an interview on Arizona Sports 98.7 on Friday. “I think he fits in this offense and he really has given us a spark in many ways.”
When the Cardinals traded for Drake last October, they were dealing with injuries at the running back position, and the ex-Dolphin was viewed as a temporary fix until both David Johnson and Chase Edmonds were able to get healthy. Little did the Cardinals know that Drake would actually surpass both players for the lead back role in Kliff Kingbury’s offense.
Since coming over from Miami, Drake has rushed for over 400 yards in a span of six games for his new team, and last Sunday’s performance against the Cleveland Browns was his best yet, which was a good call by some of the top, latest NJ sportsbook apps. Drake finished with 137 yards on the ground and four touchdowns in a win for Arizona.
It certainly sounds like the Cardinals want to bring Drake back, but we’ll see soon enough if he feels the same way.
Good on Brady
Joe Mixon is now the proud owner of a Tom Brady jersey gifted to him by the Patriots quarterback himself.
As you’ll recall, the Bengals running back said in a tweet that he was too afraid to ask for Brady’s jersey after last Sunday’s game between Cincinnati and New England. Brady saw the tweet and told Mixon he’d send him one.
Great game Joe, I’ll send a jersey your way! https://t.co/U2Et9XYgzK
— Tom Brady (@TomBrady) December 16, 2019
Well, on Friday, Mixon was seen in the Bengals locker room with a No. 12 jersey, which means Brady kept his word.
Joe Mixon clutching a Tom Brady jersey in the Bengals' locker room.
— Santa Baby (@Ben_Baby) December 20, 2019
Mixon’s reaction to meeting Brady is a reminder that many of today’s young players grew up idolizing the veterans they’re going up against on Sundays. It also shows that Brady, even after all the success he’s had, isn’t too big to show his appreciation for a fan, even if he plays for the opposing team.
Bash on Bell
Maurkice Pouncey famously said back in 2018 that he was pissed over Le’Veon Bell’s holdout and called the running back selfish, but the Steelers center is changing his tune ahead of Sunday’s game against the Jets.
Bell, who sat out the entire 2018 season due to a contract dispute with Pittsburgh, will face his former team for the first time since leaving for New York, and Pouncey insists the Steelers will show Bell nothing but love.
Maurkice Pouncey on former teammate Le'Veon Bell: "I’m telling you — we love Le’Veon. The outside world can think whatever they want but everyone in this locker room loves and respects him. If he was still here we’d be riding with him.”
— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) December 18, 2019
#Steelers C Maurkice Pouncey on seeing former teammate and current #Jets RB Le’Veon Bell Sunday: “I guarantee you there will be 50 guys hugging him.”
— Aditi Kinkhabwala (@AKinkhabwala) December 20, 2019
Perhaps enough time has passed that Bell’s former teammates have forgiven him for holding out, but there’s also a chance Pouncey might be downplaying the reunion so as to keep it from the media. Either way, it will be interesting to see Bell go up against the Steelers, and everyone will be watching what the running back’s interactions are like with Pittsburgh’s players before and after the game.