On Monday night, the Arizona Cardinals finally snapped a five-game losing streak to take their record to 3-5. Notably, they did so with veteran backup Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. Head coach Jonathan Gannon just announced that he will remain the starter even when Kyler Murray comes back.
However, if you were to ask legendary wide receiver Marvin Harrison Sr., the Cardinals’ offensive woes run deeper than that.
Marvin Harrison Sr. Calls Out The Cardinals’ Offense
In a recent interview, the Hall of Fame pass catcher didn’t mince his words when talking about his son’s team and the state of the offense.
“It’s very hard for me to watch the Cardinals’ offense,” Harrison Sr. told ESPN. “And you can quote me on that. The style of offense that I am accustomed to, that I’m used to watching as a professional eye, as a wide receiver … I just can’t relate to watching that [current] offense, that style of offense. Basically, I can’t relate to what goes on there,” he added.
Harrison Sr., one of the most prolific receivers of his generation, doesn’t think he would be able to thrive on Drew Petzing’s offense, jokingly adding that the Hall of Fame would ask for his jacket back if he played for that offensive coordinator.
“I think that’s just peacefully put, without pointing fingers or anything. It’s just me. I’m giving you the professional eye. I can’t relate to it. It don’t add up to me. I can’t deal with it. What I do know is you can put Marvin Harrison Sr., in my prime, in Arizona right now, and guess what happened?” he said.
“Canton, Ohio, [home of the Pro Football Hall of Fame] is going to send me a prepaid envelope and say, ‘Could you please send that jacket back?’ So, I’m not speaking for anyone. I’m speaking for me. I’m just telling you that jacket, they’d be sending me a prepaid envelope. ‘Thanks for all your help, but send that jacket back, please,'” Harrison Sr. added.
Through nine weeks, the Cardinals rank 18th in total yards per game (340), 19th in points per game (22.5), and 20th in passing yards per game (202.5). So, even if Murray has missed four games with a foot injury, it might not be a matter of personnel.
Harrison Jr. Reacts to His Father’s Comments
The Cardinals took Marvin Harrison Jr. with the No. 4 pick last season, but they haven’t always gotten him as involved as they should be in the passing game. That may have a significant impact on how his father feels about the team, but the young wideout also believes that their situations cannot be compared.
“I think our situations are different,” Harrison Jr. said. “I think the era of football is different, the system I think … to be honest with you guys, it’s just like he played with Peyton Manning, obviously a Hall of Fame quarterback.”
The Ohio State product admitted that, given his father’s background as one of the most successful pass catchers of his generation and a former NFL player, he has a different understanding of what a successful football team should look like.
“It’s hard for him to watch,” Harrison Jr. continued. “I think it’s a combination of what he’s used to. Obviously, if you’re a parent who’s never played football and you see your kid playing, this is all you know, but he’s been in the locker room, been on an NFL team, been in the best offense with one of the best quarterbacks of all time. So, he kind of sees it all from a different perspective. I think that’s what kind of makes it hard to watch for him.”
Harrison Jr. has bounced back after a slow start to the season, and he’s up to 31 catches on 50 targets for 492 yards and three touchdowns. He has a 79.6 PFSN impact grade, which ranks 23rd among wide receivers, and he might benefit from Brissett being under center instead of Murray.