Budda Baker Demanding Excellence From Cardinals

Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker is ensuring everybody is on the same page here at training camp.

GLENDALE -- Arizona Cardinals DC Nick Rallis stood before media members at State Farm Stadium preparing to talk for the first time since training camp began last week. 

Rallis is a long way from Philadelphia, and the current temperature outside confirms that. He said he thought 110 degrees was doable, until it actually came. 

"It got to like 115 and I'm like - everybody inside. Everybody inside, what can we do indoors?" joked Rallis. 

The heat is indeed demanding here in Phoenix, but so too is Cardinals safety Budda Baker. After a long offseason where Baker's future was unknown, Arizona was able to re-work his current deal to satisfy part of his demands and keep him afloat. 

Rallis said he didn't closely follow the offseason drama, but did acknowledge that the NFL is a business and Baker was simply handling his.

"That's the business side with the whole situation with Budda. Me and Budda were still developing a relationship," Rallis said. "I was whatever he needed from me throughout that time, I made sure that he knew that."

Baker and the team got the deal done on the second day of camp, clearing out any reports and speculation that he would be playing elsewhere. 

We heard throughout the beginning stages of football activities (minicamp, OTA's) Baker was in constant contact with players and coaches about the playbook, and Baker has lived up to Rallis' expectations thus far:

"It's been great now to get him in the building and be able to work with him on so many different levels. He's an excellent player obviously, he's making us better on the field. He's a leader in the meeting room. He demands from his coaches. He demands from me. He demands from PT [Cardinals DB Coach Patrick Toney]. He works extra. He constantly there right now in the hotel. My office is in the safety room and it's almost like his office is in the safety room, too. That's kind of what I expected from an outside perspective - It's real. Like he's a leader. He's a warrior, and he's a good football player," said Rallis. 

That's a refreshing take for a Cardinals team heavily expected to be awful in 2023, though that's right on brand for Baker. 

"I've been drafted here. I know it wasn't the same coach or the same GM, but of course it's the same owner. Drafted here, been here six years going on seven - it's been awesome for me. I love Arizona, I love Arizona fans. I'll continue to play to the best of my ability and that will be at a high level each and every year," said Baker last week. 

Fans are certainly used to Baker giving his maximum effort regardless of the record or score, and under a new regime here in the desert, there's hope that can spread to others as well.

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