Who got to wear the No. 40 Pat Tillman jersey for the Cardinals as the team’s practice player of the week?
Safety Joey Blount said his goal is to be the Arizona Cardinals’ scout team player of the week and wear the Pat Tillman No. 40 jersey in practice “as many times as I can.”
That came to fruition this week for his preparation prior to the Monday night game against the Chargers. Blount was also honored after Week 13 last season.
He told Cards Wire, “It’s really an honor knowing the story about Pat Tillman. All the hard work he put in. An extra, high-effort guy. Any circumstance that he put himself in or found himself in, he made the best of it. Just finding your role on the team to just benefit the guys that are playing, give them the best looks, but in my case to find value in each circumstance.
“Just trying to achieve our goal every week that’s showing not just myself but the organization, fans, coaches my family that I’m still working no matter what role I have on the team. It’s an honor and it’s a privilege I’m trying for every week.”
Blount was in training camp with the Seahawks in 2023, but was waived with an injury settlement on Aug. 31. Added to the Cardinals practice squad on Sept. 18, he was signed to the active roster on Oct. 3. He’s been there ever since.
While Blount said he knew Tillman’s story prior to arriving in Arizona, he added, “I wasn’t as familiar of him as a player and the accolades he received on the field. But as soon as I got here, it definitely ramps up, just understanding the culture and what he meant while making his mark on the organization.”
Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Blount “had an excellent week. He’s a guy that obviously, you know what he does on teams for us. He’s ready to go on defense for us, but he’s one of the guys as far as keeping the team positive and connected. He’s an energy giver. He’s got a smile on his face. He practices his ass off. That was a really good acquire last year by (general manager) Monti (Ossenfort), and he does a lot for us. He’s an impact player.”
Gannon was asked if he enjoys the tradition that was started last year.
He said, “I have. That was (owner) Michael (Bidwill) and Monti and ‘Schwimm’ (equipment manager Jeff Schwimmer) talking about that. Obviously, I knew when I came here what Pat Tillman was to the world, and then this organization. It was a cool idea that they came up with that we talked about. I think that it serves a really good purpose for our guys because they know his story. They know what he is, who he was, and they compete for that. They compete for that week to week.
“That’s a big-time deal. We announce that on Saturday. There’s a lot of juice around that. Then when I show the tape, that’s part of our situational Saturday meeting and they take a lot of pride in it.”
Blount said, “There are a few guys that are really striving for it every week. I think that everyone at the end of the day is just trying to get film out there and trying to give the best looks. If you end up being that guy, you’re going to get that jersey and the locker-room talk that goes with it.
“Guys are competing for it every week, but it’s really about making the room better.”
In the fourth quarter of the game against the Chargers, Blount beat a 44-yard punt by Blake Gillikin down the field and was waiting at the goal line when the ball bounced right to him with it being downed at the 1-yard line.
He smiled and said, “Just doing your job the best you can and being a master of your craft.”
Spoken just like Pat Tillman.
2024 Pat Tillman Scout-Team Award Winners
Week 1: RB Michael Carter
Week 2: LB Markus Bailey
Week 3: WR Andre Baccellia
Week 4: OL Jon Gaines II
Week 5: WR Xavier Weaver
Week 6: DL P.J. Mustipher
Week 7: S Joey Blount
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