Alright, 12s, let's talk about the desert birds for a minute, because what's brewing in Arizona with their QB, Jacoby Brissett, is *wild* and absolutely relevant to our Seahawks. While Brissett is still locked in a contract dispute with the Cardinals, it didn't stop him from rounding up some teammates in South Florida this week to get some work in, prepping for what's supposed to be *their* season. This guy is fighting for his money while trying to lead a new offense, and you gotta wonder what kind of vibe that sets for their locker room, right?
Brissett's Contract Mess and Preseason Snubs
It's no secret Brissett is battling it out with the Cardinals over his contract. He's slated to earn $4.88 million for 2026, with a maximum value of $5.39 million. But here's the kicker, folks: only $1.5 million of that is guaranteed. That's a tiny cushion for a starting quarterback heading into a new system. And get this: Brissett skipped the voluntary portion of their offseason program entirely. He did show up for mandatory minicamp last month, but even then, he didn't participate in practice. You can't tell me that's not a red flag for a team trying to gel. Meanwhile, he's on social media posting pictures after workouts with Marvin Harrison Jr., Trey McBride, Elijah Higgins, Kedon Slovis, and Semi Fehoko. It's a bizarre mix of showing leadership and holding out, leaving everyone to guess what's really going on behind the scenes in Phoenix.New Offense, Old Problems for the Desert Birds?
The Cardinals are supposedly rolling out a whole new offense this season, led by head coach Mike LaFleur, who spent the last three seasons as the Rams offensive coordinator. That's a pretty significant change. You'd think a starting QB would want to be front and center for every single rep. But LaFleur himself said earlier in the offseason that he wasn't worried about Brissett's absence from the voluntary program. His exact quote was that Brissett has "done probably everything we’ve ever done schematically." Is that confidence, or just coach-speak for "what can I do?" It's a gamble when you're implementing a new system and your signal-caller isn't fully immersed. Our Seahawks under Mike Macdonald will be ready to exploit any early-season jitters, that's for sure. So, what does this whole saga mean for the NFC West? Cardinals veterans are set to report to training camp on July 22. That's when things get real. Will Brissett be fully integrated? Will the contract dispute be resolved? How long will it take for this new offense to click, especially with their QB's limited practice time? Every snap, every practice, every snap will be under a microscope. For us Seahawks fans, this is prime time to watch a division rival deal with some serious early drama. You know Coach Macdonald and our guys are eyeing this situation, ready to pounce on any early season stumbles from our competition. Let's get it, Seattle!This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.