The Cardinals might have done something more important than sign a linebacker Wednesday night.
They proved a degree of legitimacy by hanging onto a guy after a successful team in a major market came calling.
According to Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic, the Cardinals kept outside linebacker Matt Shaughnessy with a two-year deal. He had visited the Patriots earlier in the day.
Granted, the Cardinals could have money-whipped him into staying, or the Patriots might not have offered much or anything at all.
But for a team that made a surprising step last year, keeping a player who did the same is a strong statement for the program Bruce Arians is building. Shaughnessy emerged as a solid player against the run, and now he gets to be a symbol of something even greater.