The Arizona Cardinals got a huge boost from running back David Johnson as a rookie in 2015. He had a limited role to start the season but contributed in a big way before taking over the starting job late in the season.
He was able to do that, in part, because his quarterback, Carson Palmer, helped keep him settled down and able to learn everything. He had a hard time learning the offense and dealing with the hard coaching of Bruce Arians, who was head coach at the time.
“He was such a tremendous help for me,” Johnson told reporters, according to the team’s official site, referring to Palmer. “When I came in as a rookie, my head was spinning trying to learn B.A.’s offense. B.A.’s over there cursing me out and stuff, and Carson was always the one who kept me mellow, kept me even-keeled. I’m always going to be grateful for that.”
Palmer was a captain all five seasons he played for the Cardinals. He was loved by his teammates. Johnson said he was selfless and helped his teammates on offense and on defense.
Had Palmer not stepped in and kept Johnson calm and focused as a rookie, he might never have had the success he had his first two seasons in the league.
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