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Dear Friend,
Did you see the Arizona Cardinals—Chicago Bears game last night?
I thought of our own lives and work while I watched. Never in my life have I seen a more stark example of what our "expectations" can produce. The legacy of years of losing had the Cardinals thinking Here we go again . . . I knew this would happen . . . as the game began to unravel in the fourth quarter. You could see it on their faces as the camera scanned the field and the sidelines. And on the other sideline, the Bears' faces showed the expectations brought about by a legacy of winning. We're gonna get these guys! they seemed to be saying.
What does a legacy of winning produce?
Well, lets look at Brian Urlacher, a safety at New Mexico State where he was deemed "too small" for the line, now inhabiting one of the most storied positions in football—middle linebacker for the Chicago Bears. His predecessors at the position — Sid Luckman, Dick Butkus, Mike Singletary — are all in the Hall of Fame. With the fourth quarter winding down and the Bears down 23 – 3, the current Bears middle linebacker, Urlacher, took matters into his own hands, literally ripping the ball from the arms of running back Edgerrin James, an All-Pro himself, who had not fumbled in more than a year. The fumble, as you know, was picked up and run in for a touchdown.
Now it’s 23 – 10.
The Cardinal quarterback, Leinhart, was blindsided on the next possession and fumbled. That ball was also run in for a score.
23 – 17.
After the kickoff, with less than two minutes left in the game, the Cardinals failed to move the ball and punted. To Devin Hester. A third round draft choice who was proud to be a Bear, happy to be on special teams, and expected to run the kick all the way back for a touchdown. Which he did. 83 yards and about 10 seconds later, the Bears were on top for the first time in the game . . .
23 – 24.
But there was still time for a Cardinal comeback. With a minute left on the clock, Arizona took the ensuing kickoff and with a desperate drive managed to put the ball within field goal range. It was only a forty- one yard kick and the Cardinals have Neil Rackers as their kicker. Rackers is the current All-Pro kicker in the conference. He couldn't miss, right?
Always remember what an attitude and legacy of winning will create.
As for the Cardinals, a legacy of losing seems even to wrap its evil fingers around the necks of the great free agents they sign. Edgerrin James, obviously headed for the Hall of Fame as a running back after his years with the Colts, signed with the Arizona Cardinals this year. Last night, he ran the ball 36 times for a total of 55 yards. To put it in perspective, that is the most carries in the history of the NFL by a player averaging less than 2 yards per carry — a horrific stat that his name will be attached to for years to come. Now, I am up on my football. I know that one might be tempted to say that this wasn't really James' fault — that football is a team game and that he must have blocking to create openings for yardage and touchdowns. Uh huh. My point exactly. Football is a team game and the legacy — dare I say expectation — of losing overcame them all.
Neil Rackers, too? Yes, Rackers, too. The All-Pro was wide right with his 41 yard attempt.
The final score was 23 – 24.
It was just what the Cardinals had expected. And amazingly, it was what the Bears had expected, as well.
Sooooo . . . what do you expect?
Your friend,
Andy Andrews
P.S. If you are a fan of the Cardinals, all is not lost! There is hope on the horizon. Head Coach Dennis Green is doing an excellent job of infusing the team with players like Edgerrin James, Kurt Warner, and Matt Leinart who bring with them the experience of consistent winning and the expectation of it. Those three men in particular are keeping their heads up through this difficult time and continuing to teach, exhort . . . and expect. It will take time, but (you heard it here first . . .) I predict the Cardinals are only a year away from making the playoffs. Then we will all get to watch the Cardinals create what they will come to expect for the next several decades . . . a legacy of winning.
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