Yes, you read that right. I did just compare a tiny local basketball team to an NFL squad. If you can call the Arizona Cardinals an NFL squad, that is.
Recently, I heard that Arizona had picked up former Steeler Clark Haggans. I loved Clark Haggans. Completely respect everything he brought to our organization, but there wasn’t cap space to sign him, and LaMarr Woodley is waiting in the wings.
So he went to Arizona, which is basically the football equivalent of Pittsbugh’s basketball team…the Xplosion. In that I mean that local castoffs are forced to play for these teams when there is no other option.
First, the Xplosion. Not only did the team boast local star (WV is close enough to be called local) Kevis Pittsnogle last season, but this year added former Pitt “greats” John DeGroat, Antonio Graves and Carl Krauser. Krauser was even mentioned to be an NBA prospect. That turned out beautifully.
The Cardinals subscribe to a similar theory, mainly because their coach used to work in the Steel City. After taking the Arizona job, Whisenhunt added Jerame Tuman, Sean Morey…and now Haggans. This is in addition to local kid Steve Breaston and Pitt standout Larry Fitzgerald.
Haggans played the free agency field…and was unable to garner an offer. Honestly, its a crime…and Arizona just got a good LB on the cheap. By signing Haggans, though, Arizona adds to their Xplosion-esque mentality of signing the Pittsburgh kids out of familiarity. Nothing against Tuman or Morey…but I doubt that they had multiple offers on the table at the onset of their signing with the Cards.
However…only best wishes go to Clark Haggans. And to the Xplosion…what…the Xplosion were just eliminated from the playoffs? That’s more than the Cards can claim, though.
