TEMPE, Arizona – Arizona Cardinals’ new wide receiver, AJ Green, feels he still has “a lot to do” and doesn’t think he has any proof when signing with a different team for the first time in his career.
“I still feel young,” Green, 32, said on Thursday during his introductory Zoom press conference. “The legs look young. … I think I still have many years playing at a high level.”
Green signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals in the hope that those legs can help bring Arizona to at least its first playoff spot since 2015. Sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that the deal is worth up to $ 8.5 million and includes a guaranteed $ 6 million.
“I think that is the main objective, with winning a championship,” said Green. “For me, I’ve been in Cincinnati for 10 years. So, for me, going somewhere where the organization is ready to win now, is unbelievable.”
He said Arizona was among a handful of teams that were “very” interested in him, but Green’s attraction to the Cardinals was how he fit into his offensive scheme.
“I was looking for an attack that could really fit my skill set and I felt that – with Kyler [Murray] and hop [DeAndre Hopkins] and [Christian] Kirk, and the guys that they have around this offense – I felt that this would be the best option for me, “said Green.
His stability as a defender also helped the Cardinals cause.
Green said last season was “difficult” because of Bengals’ three-man quarterback carousel, especially as he was coming out of an ankle injury that made him lose all 2019. But he said he also feels that last season has helped to become mentally stronger.
“I’ve been in Cincinnati for 10 years, so that’s all I know,” said Green. “So coming to Arizona is invigorating. I think you know the league with Tom Brady, all these other guys [that] have been in those same places for years and you saw what Tom Brady did last year. I think it’s fine. “