Arizona Cardinals have high hopes for new quarterback Chris Streveler

Chris Streveler (YouTube)

The Arizona Cardinals have a new quarterback in their organization, where they have high expectations. According to Cardinals general manager Steve Keim, the newly signed Chris Streveler of Naperville, Illinois is a quarterback that Arizona is “excited about” and “is a legend in the CFL.”

Keim went on to state that Streveler was the reason that the Winnipeg Blue Bombers won their first Grey Cup since 1990 this past November. Yikes! That is a hyperbole to say the least.

Streveler did record a touchdown for the Blue Bombers in the Grey Cup game. It came on an 18 yard touchdown pass to Grey Cup MVP Andrew Harris of Winnipeg, Manitoba. However Streveler saw minimal action (three pass completions in three attempts for 39 yards and nine rushes for 30 yards) to state that Winnipeg won “because of him.”

In looking back at the Blue Bombers 33-12 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Calgary, there were several other players on Winnipeg who deserved high praise. Harris, the Blue Bombers running back, had 18 carries for 134 yards and one touchdown, and five catches for 35 yards and another major score. Quarterback Zach Collaros of Steubenville, Ohio had 17 pass completions in 23 attempts for 170 yards.

One cannot forget about the crisp Bombers defense, which limited Hamilton to only 12 total points. Cornerback Marcus Sayles of Alpharetta, Georgia, who has signed on with the Minnesota Vikings, led Winnipeg with six tackles. Veteran defensive end Willie Jefferson of Beaumont, Texas had two forced fumbles and three quarterback sacks. Meanwhile, Mike Jones of Baltimore, Maryland and Brandon Alexander of Orlando, Florida each had an interception.

Did Streveler play a key role to Winnipeg winning the Grey Cup in 2019? The answer is yes. His mobility (726 yards rushing during the Canadian Football League regular season) is something that Arizona Cardinals fans should get excited over. But to say Streveler was the reason why Winnipeg won the Grey Cup was a definite stretch indeed.