Budda Baker Knows Cardinals Control The Narrative
Time for talk is nearly over.
The Arizona Cardinals have heard plenty of noise coming from outside the walls of their facility in Tempe for months now. A previously 4-13 team features a brand new front office, coaching staff and roster without notable names from the past as the 2023 season arrives.
Nearly everyone expects the Cardinals to be in contention for the No. 1 pick next spring. An organization that undoubtedly hit the rebuild button in the offseason has already been accused of tanking without a single meaningful snap being played.
Budda Baker isn't hearing any of that.
“Personally, I don’t really go into what the outside world thinks because I know at the end of the day, what only really matters is the guys that are in the building, the guys that are putting the work in each and every day,” Baker said (via AZ Central).
“We can tell what can happen because we’re in that group. I know there’s a lot of things out in the media or from different sources, but at the end of the day we don’t pay attention to that because a lot of times it’s just peoples’ opinions. I can go out there and say an opinion and it won’t mean anything."
With Kyler Murray out until further notice, Baker is the biggest name remaining on the team as the Cardinals enter the 2023 season, and even he's been disrespected on various national lists, rankings and things of that nature.
“My only job is to care what my players think and to try and get those guys better and ultimately to try to be the best person, best player I can be each and every week,” Baker said.
“And like I said, to win games. For me, it’s about winning the games, so that’s going to be on my mind for the rest of the season.”
We've heard all summer from the players about the massive change in culture under head coach Jonathan Gannon, who has brought a new sense of energy into the organization.
Yet it's guys like Baker that help hammer home that message.
“He’s one of the best I’ve been around in a short period of time with what you’re looking for from a player on your team,” Gannon said. “I’ve really been in awe of him — how he goes about his day, his attitude. I talk about sustained, positive enthusiasm - he has it. Obviously, the production has been there for a long time, and it will continue to be there. I think he’s going to have a fantastic year.”
The Cardinals have 18 games to prove seemingly everybody on the outside wrong, though Baker and his teammates know they control the narrative with wins and losses.
"Ultimately, it’s just about doing what we think we can do and that’s win games.”
