Weekend in New England
Cardinals coach returns to scene of Super Bowl success
When Kliff Kingsbury began coaching at Texas Tech in 2012, he used to carry a secret weapon on recruiting trips: his Patriots 2003 Super Bowl ring.
“That was something I tried to seal the deal with,” Kingsbury said this week. “It didn’t work as much as I would have liked, but I definitely tried with the ring.”
Kingsbury, a quarterback, was drafted by New England in the sixth round in 2003, joining a roster that included a 26-year-old Tom Brady. Even then, Kingsbury knew there was something different about him.
“He was still the man, there’s no doubt,” Kingsbury said. Everybody knew who he was, and he was a superstar.”
An arm injury and yearlong stay on injured reserve prevented Kingsbury from ever playing a regular-season snap at quarterback for the Patriots, and he was cut prior to the 2004 campaign. But Kingsbury says he owes his coaching career to the year he spent studying under coach Bill Belichick and his staff.
“There were a bunch of really good offensive coaches that I was fortunate enough to be around,” Kingsbury said. “I did a little bit of everything. It taught me how to break down games, and game plan, and all stuff that I still use today.”
Now Kingsbury will try to use those tools against his former team when he leads the Arizona Cardinals (6-4) into Sunday’s matchup with the Patriots (4-6).
“He was not a guy you had to tell anything more than once,” Belichick said, “and he picked up a lot of things on his own.”
With a victory the Cardinals can improve their chances of making it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2015.
Kyler’s cannon
Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray fell on his right throwing shoulder early in last Thursday’s loss to the Seahawks. Murray could be seen grimacing occasionally on the sideline while throwing, but he stayed in the game and had a solid performance, completing 29 of 42 passes for 269 yards and two touchdowns.
Murray said he was limiting throws in practice and felt he’ll be fine for the Patriots game.
“I feel good,” Murray said. “Obviously getting banged up a little bit the past couple of weeks.”
Help at running back
Patriots running back Rex Burkhead said on Instagram this week that he is out for the season after sustaining a knee injury in last week’s loss to the Texans.
Burkhead was one of the more versatile pieces of the Patriots’ offense and was having one of the best years of his career with a combined 466 yards and six touchdowns.
Help could be on the way. Sony Michel was activated from injured reserve last week after being sidelined since Week 3 because of a quad injury. He was a healthy scratch against Houston.