All offseason, it felt like the Arizona Cardinals would address the center position with an established veteran.
It took until training camp, but among the roster moves they made on Tuesday as the players reported for training camp, they finally did that.
They announced the addition of offensive lineman Pat Elflein.
He has the experience in the NFL to be their starting center and should immediately compete with Hjalte Froholdt.
Elflein has started 64 games at center and left guard, playing for the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets and Minnesota Vikings.
He was in Minnesota when Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing was on the coaching staff.
He is 29 years old but has played in only 22 games over the last three seasons.
Even still, he gives the Cardinals an established veteran to play the center position.
They signed Froholdt in free agency and he has manned the first team at center all offseason but only has started six NFL games, four at center.
But the move, at minimum, creates a legitimate competition for the starting job, which is good. If Froholdt holds off Elflein, great. If Elflein wins the job, hopefully he can stay healthy.
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