The news of the Cardinals of Arizona signing the defensive line player Calais Campbell sent positive shock waves to the desert earlier this week, because many fans here in Arizona had asked the veteran to return home before calling him a career in the NFL.
The cardinals and their fans were not the only ones wanting to enter their 18th season.
According to the Miami Herald, The dolphins of Miami and Baltimore Ravens were two very interested teams to sign Campbell.
He was also thinking about retirement:
“Campbell, a free agent’s defensive line player, thinks if he wants to sign with dolphins, Baltimore Ravens or another team. Retirement is not out of the question either,” said Barry Jackson.
Dolphins’ head coach Mike McDaniel seemed quite confident that the organization would bring Campbell before Arizona designed its former draft choice to a one-year contract worth $ 5.5 million.
“Calais, in particular, is in a unique situation where he assesses several options as a player in the 45th year of his career,” said McDaniel during the meetings of the owners of the NFL.
“There is a lot of games in that, when it comes to, your game is high, you are delighted to play another year. He assesses these options, and he was a very important player from the team last year. I see him having the opportunity to be a very important player in the team this year.”
The Dolphins almost exchanged Campbell on the deadline for trade last season before McDaniel penetrated and categorically opposed the idea of exchanging a coveted player in the locker room of Miami.
Campbell spent the first nine seasons of his career with the cardinals before presenting the Jaguars, Ravens, Atlanta Falcons and Dolphins from Jacksonville. He has had at least five bags in his last three years.
“What story it would be! I started my career with a blow. Now it’s time to end it with a return home where it started!” Campbell said on Instagram, reacting to the news becoming official.
Campbell has three All-Pro head nods with Six Pro Bowls and is a winner of the Walter Payton Man of the Year from the NFL.
His presence in the desert is certainly welcome, and the cardinals were able to swing Campbell from certain other attractive options.
