Arizona Cardinals running back Michael Carter is the season’s first winner of the Pat Tillman Award that goes to the player head coach Jonathan Gannon selects for doing the best job on the scout team preparing for a game.
The weekly winner then wears Tillman’s No. 40 on a red jersey during practice.
Gannon consistently talks about the importance of practice-squad players and backups on the roster working at a high level during practice.
On what it takes to be his choice, Gannon said, “Give really good effort. Do exactly what they’re coached to do. Team over you. That’s what I’m kinda looking for there.”
As for Carter, the head coach said, “He had a helluva week last week. Made some plays in practice. That’s play-making; that’s what I’m looking for there, who’s giving a great look.”
Prior to the start of the season, Gannon said, “We’re actually putting a little sauce on that too. This year, you’ll like what you see.”
However, all that was seen at practice was Carter wearing the jersey.
Carter said it was “cool, especially on 9/11.”
However, he said there wasn’t anything extra although he was recognized in a team meeting. Carter, who was two years old on 9/11 and five when Tillman was killed in Afghanistan by friendly fire, said it was “an honor” to be a winner and that he’s been aware of Tillman since he was a kid, noting that his father was in the military.
“It was a legendary story,” he concluded.
When Gannon was reminded about his recent comments, he said, “That’s behind closed doors; the sauce part.”
Noting that’s understandable, he was asked about saying that the media would like what we see.
He answered, “I can’t say, but we do some things behind closed doors. So I guess that’s a false by me. The players like what they see behind closed doors with that.”
As another reporter started a different question, Gannon added, “I actually thought they were gonna have Tillman on it.”
Gannon then explained that equipment manager Jeff Schwimmer told him, “To go from running back to defensive line to offensive line, it’s hard for him to get it turned over that quick. So I said don’t worry about it.
“But that award means a lot to the guys in the locker room.”
Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.