Cardinals tight end Trey McBride is already walking back some pointed comments he made about the team’s fanbase this offseason. It’s clear the words landed, and he’s now saying he wishes he never uttered them.
The Original Buzzkill
What exactly did McBride say? On the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast, he didn’t pull punches about the Arizona sports scene. He claimed, “Living in Arizona, no one’s from Arizona. Everyone has kind of moved in from another state, so they’re all fans of their own teams, so now you have the Arizona that sits there and there’s no Arizona fans in Arizona.” Ouch. He called it “a tough deal,” adding a hope that if they “start winning some games,” they could “bring some of those fans back.” It was a blunt, raw assessment.
Eating His Words
Turns out, those words didn’t just sit with fans; they didn’t sit well with McBride either. Fast forward to Saturday, and he was telling reporters, via Josh Weinfuss of ESPN, “Yeah, I probably shouldn’t have said that.” He quickly insisted his comments “came out wrong,” pivoting to praise the fanbase. McBride now says, “obviously the fanbase is great. We have a tremendous fanbase. Arizona’s been here, loyal fans to all the sports teams here, and we’re very lucky to have a lot of these guys.” He pledged, “we’re going to have a great season. We’re going to win games and we’re going to make sure those fans have something proud to cheer for.” He finished by saying he loves Arizona and hopes the fans love him back, calling it a “special place” and expressing excitement “to give them something to be proud of.” A complete reversal.
The Elephant in the Room
Here’s the real gut punch, and what likely fueled both the original comments and the quick regret: “The simple reality is that the Cardinals aren’t currently competitive.” That’s it. When a team isn’t winning, every bit of criticism, especially from inside the locker room, hits harder. McBride’s initial assessment, even with his apology, shines a light on a core issue. An uncompetitive team struggles to build that deep, unwavering loyalty, particularly in a city with many transplants. His promise to “bring some of those fans back” by winning isn’t just an apology; it’s a direct acknowledgement of the team’s foundational challenge.
As the NFL season approaches, Trey McBride and the Cardinals have a clear goal. Winning isn’t just about the standings; it’s about unifying a fanbase that McBride himself described as fragmented. His commitment to giving them “something to be proud of” now hangs heavy. Let’s see if they can step up and deliver when the real action starts.
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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