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SPORTS A19
Saturday 23 January 2016
Freeney, coaxed off the couch, is still pressuring QBs
BOB BAUM 12 games with the team, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is sacked on his golf game and
Associated Press including one last week in by Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Dwight Freeney during contemplated calling it
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Dwight Arizona’s 26-20 overtime the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 27, quits.
Freeney said he was a playoff win over Green Bay. 2015, in Glendale, Ariz. Freeney said he was a week away from Freeney said he heard from
week away from retiring It was Freeney’s 10th retiring from the NFL when Arizona coach Bruce Arians called “a bunch of teams” that
from the NFL when Arizona postseason sack. Only to offer him a job. wanted him.
coach Bruce Arians called seven players in NFL history “The thing is I didn’t want
to offer him a job. have more. Without him, (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) to go to a place where
Freeney said he was on an the Cardinals’ pass rush off I was going to lose,” he
airplane that was about to the edge isn’t much, so he’s For the effort, Freeney was combined to bring a said. “I have played long
take off. a critical component to the selected the NFC defensive ferocious pass rush for the enough to know that I want
“The door was closing,” he Cardinals’ hopes of beating player of the week. Colts, helping the team win to be in a place that has
said. “The flight attendants Carolina on Sunday in the He earned five such honors the Super Bowl in the 2006 the right attitude and has
were telling everyone to NFC championship game in the AFC in his 11 seasons season. Freeney and the the right pieces to win a
put away their cell phones. in what will be Freeney’s with the Indianapolis Colts, Colts parted ways after the championship.”
I am looking at my phone 18th postseason game. who selected him 11th 2012 season, and he spent He found that place in the
seeing that it is B.A. I am “Dwight’s a pro’s pro,” overall out of Syracuse in two years with the San desert.
telling her to hold on. She defensive James Bettcher the 2002 draft. Diego Chargers. “I think this team has so
is telling me to get off the said. “The first day he’s here, He and Robert Mathis This season, he worked many pieces,” Freeney
phone. he’s in there watching tape. said. “You have Bruce, who
“It was great when he He’s prepping himself. He’s is a great coach and I have
called me. I said, ‘Yeah, there early every morning. a great familiarity with him
I am ready to get off the He’s here late every day.” from Indianapolis — coach
couch, let’s go man,’ and Freeney matched his of the year last year. You
it has been a ride ever career best of three sacks have legends like (assistant
since.” in Arizona’s 38-8 rout of head coach) Tom Moore.
Since joining the Cardinals Green Bay in the next-to- I have known Tom Moore
in mid-October, Freeney last game of the regular forever.”
has shown he still can get season. On one sack he He said the Arizona offense
to the quarterback. stripped the ball from Aaron reminds him of the high-
The 35-year-old outside Rodgers and the Cardinals’ powered ones on the Colts’
linebacker, in his 14th NFL Jerraud Powers returned it best teams.q
season, has nine sacks in his for a touchdown.
