Cardinals General Manager Steve Keim admitted he was “angry, disappointed, embarrassed” about his team’s loss to the undermanned Patriots Sunday night.
Coach Bruce Arians took it a step further, unafraid to call out specific individuals while expressing his displeasure with the loss.
Via Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic, Arians aired out a few guys during his post-mortem press conference.
His targets included first-round pick Robert Nkemdiche, whose performance Arians described as “poor.”
“He jumped offside when they weren’t even set on a big third down,” Arians said. “Other than that, he was not a factor.”
Regarding cornerback Justin Bethel, who has been dealing with a foot injury, Arians said: “Justin has to decide if he’s going to play with that foot. He was just an average spectator in special teams, missed two tackles. If he’s going to play, he needs to play better or he shouldn’t play.”
But perhaps the best was his scolding of the choreographed dance penalty, after Chandler Jones’ celebration was joined by safety D.J. Swearinger.
“One of the things that has not happened around here will not happen again – or you won’t be here,” the coach said.
Of course, they’re not going to cut Jones after trading a second-round pick for a pass-rusher, so it ought to serve as notice to Swearinger.
But the way Arians was calling guys out after the loss, there are plenty of guys who should be on notice as well.