LaFleur unfazed by Brissett’s absence from spring workouts
Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images Mike LaFleur faced the first awkward quarterback question of the Arizona Cardinals’ spring in May, with Jacoby Brissett still away from voluntary OTAs while his contract situation remains unresolved. The Cardinals head coach did not turn it into a crisis. That was the right response.
Brissett’s absence matters, but it does not need to damage Arizona’s offseason if the Cardinals use the extra work wisely. Mike LaFleur has no reason to overreact to Jacoby Brissett’s absence Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images Brissett has skipped the first two phases of voluntary spring work and remained away as the Cardinals opened organized team activities.
That is not nothing. He is also seeking a contract adjustment, which makes this more than a simple attendance note. Still, LaFleur’s public tone has been calm for a reason.
Asked where things stand with Brissett, he said: “We’ve had contact, I’ll leave it at that. ” That line was short, but it told the story. Arizona is not pretending the situation does not exist, but LaFleur is also not giving it more oxygen than it deserves in May.
The more important point came in how he framed Brissett’s football readiness. LaFleur said the veteran has “done probably everything we’ve ever done schematically”. That is why this should be treated as quarterback management, not quarterback panic.