The Arizona Cardinals just took a 45-21 beating from the Lions on Sunday, and head coach Mike LaFleur is out here trying to tell everyone the Marvin Harrison Jr. trade situation had nothing to do with it. Seriously? The team was down 31-7 at one point, and the Harrison Jr. trade news broke literally as the game was kicking off. You cannot make this stuff up.
The Marvin Harrison Jr. Trade Blew Up Their Game Plan
Word started swirling Saturday morning that the Cardinals were looking to move wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. And then, the actual trade agreement with the Houston Texans dropped right as Sunday’s game against the Lions was getting underway. Talk about a bombshell hitting your locker room just as you are about to step on the field. The Lions clearly capitalized, jumping out to a monstrous 31-7 lead before finishing the job with a 45-21 victory. LaFleur, though, is straight-up saying he doesn’t believe any of that was a distraction. He claims the Harrison situation was “not why we didn’t play well.” It is a tough sell, especially with a performance like that.
Coach LaFleur’s Shaky Explanation
When pressed for details, LaFleur was tight-lipped. He wouldn’t get into whether Harrison Jr. even wanted out, how the Cardinals made the decision to trade their 2024 fourth overall pick, or why Harrison Jr. didn’t quite pan out in Arizona. He just shut it down, saying, “I’m not gonna totally get into that right now.” According to Theo Mackie of AZCentral.com, LaFleur did add, “I really like Marvin Harrison. He’s a good person. I wish him well. We did what we thought was in the best interest of the Cardinals. Any guy that does not play to the level I feel like they’re capable of, I’m always gonna put that on me and coaching in general.” It is a classic coach-speak move, taking the blame while sidestepping the uncomfortable truth of what felt like a chaotic game day. You have to wonder what is really going on in that locker room when a trade of that magnitude happens mid-game and the coach acts like it is just business as usual.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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