Arizona Cardinals safety Budda Baker already is a fan favorite. He apparently is already a favorite of new general manager Monti Ossenfort.
In Ossenfort’s introductory press conference, he established what type of player he wants to build the Cardinals with. He spoke of not tolerating ego and players putting the team ahead of individual goals.
He has a player in mind as the model.
That would be Baker.
“Budda Baker represents everything that we want this organization to be and I am excited to be on a team with him,” Ossenfort said.
He got to say hello to Budda and recall a story he remembered when he was waiting before his interview and saw a photo of Baker on the wall.
“I distinctly remembered I was with the Patriots at the time and Budda came in (before the 2017 draft),” he recalled. “We interviewed Budda at the combine for our 20-minute interview. After the end of that 20-minute interview, I think I was ready to run through a brick wall for Budda Baker and I just relayed that story to him.”
Baker’s toughness and selflessness were evidenced this past season. He played on a high ankle sprain and did not come out of his last game despite fracturing his shoulder.
On “Hard Knocks,” we saw how much he means to the team.
Ossenfort will be looking for more Budda Bakers as he attempts to bring the Cardinals back to being a contender.
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