Arizona
Another weekend, another opportunity for Arizona Cardinals rookies to give back
Arizona Cardinals rookie WR Xavier Weaver ready to study playbook
Rookies for the Arizona Cardinals enjoyed some flag football with athletes from Special Olympics Arizona on Saturday at the team facility.
Arizona Cardinals rookies spent another Saturday morning at the team’s facility in Tempe, volunteering their time to play flag football with another group the organization works with every year.
Last week it was girls high school flag football teams. This week, athletes from Special Olympics Arizona visited the Cardinals to play some ball and interact with the players. These are the kind of events where all of those involved get a lot out of the experience.
“I’m really thankful to be here in Arizona, so the least I can do is give back my free time to others in our community, and I’m really thankful to be here with my teammates,” Cardinals rookie Darius Robinson said. “I just see their smiles and their faces playing ball. We as football players, we can take it for granted how blessed we are to play a game, just to see how happy they are to do the same things we do. So just happy to see them smile.”
Robinson has been helping people since college. At Missouri while in college, Robinson started his own non-profit organization that handed out 100 bookbags for children at his church, and also raised money for families at Christmastime. He said he’s excited to continue doing community work with the Cardinals as well as on his own.
Robinson said his mother inspired him to do such work, telling him to appreciate what he is blessed with in life.
“Life is great for me, so the least I can do is give back my time and energy and pour it into other people,” Robinson said.
Ben Wrubel, Vice President of Programs for Special Olympics Arizona, said it means a lot for the athletes to get to spend time with the Cardinals.
“Our athletes are always told from the time they’re born that they can’t, they can’t, they can’t. And Special Olympics really tries to prove that they can. To get to hang out with the athletes, to do drills with the rookie class, to do drills with Marvin Harrison Jr., that’s a once in a lifetime opportunity. And they’re soaking it all in and it means the world to them,” Wrubel said. “It just shows what sports can do, how sports can bring people together.”
There were an estimated 75 flag football players in attendance Saturday, plus coaches and caregivers.
Arizona
WATCH: How Helping One Woman provides hope and support with ‘Girl’s Night Out’
PEORIA, AZ — What if a simple dinner could help someone rebuild their life? In Peoria, a local chapter of Helping One Woman is doing just that by gathering once a month for a “Girls Night Out” with a powerful purpose.
Each month, women in the community nominate someone facing an unimaginable challenge: the loss of a spouse or child, a cancer diagnosis, or another life-altering hardship. That woman becomes the evening’s honoree.
At the dinner, attendees each contribute at least $10 and take part in raffles supported by local businesses. By the end of the night, the funds raised are gifted directly to the recipient to help with expenses during a difficult time.
But organizers say the money is only part of the impact. The room full of encouragement, hugs, and shared support can be just as powerful.
ABC15’s Cameron Polom talked with the Peoria chapter president and two women whose lives were changed thanks to the group’s generosity. See the full Uplifting Arizona story in the video player above.
See more from Uplifting Arizona:
Arizona
What have the Cardinals done in NFL free agency? – Arizona Sports
The NFL’s legal tampering window is officially open, and it didn’t take long for the Arizona Cardinals to get in the mix.
A running list of the new names and familiar faces coming to Arizona in 2026:
New names on Cardinals roster this free agency
Kendrick Bourne
The former San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots wide receiver brings another body to Arizona’s wide receivers room that includes Michael Wilson and Marvin Harrison Jr.
He’s got plenty of familiarity with new Cardinals head coach Mike LaFleur from their time together in San Francisco (2017-20). Bourne also spent a year with expected Cardinals starter Jacoby Brissett in 2024 with the Patriots.
The wide receiver caught 37 passes for 551 yards in 16 games played (eight starts) last year.
He’s now on board for two years in Arizona.
Isaac Seumalo
The guard spent the past three years with the Pittsburgh Steelers after a seven-season stint with the Philadelphia Eagles.
He’s started 104 out of 125 games played and has spent time at both left and right guard during his NFL career.
According to Next Gen Stats, the guard allowed a 3.7% pressure rate last year. That was the lowest rate among all eligible guards in 2025.
Gardner Minshew
Minshew agreed to terms on a one-year deal on Monday.
He’s expected to back up expected starter Jacoby Brissett in 2026, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro.
Coming off his seventh NFL season and first with the Kansas City Chiefs, Minshew appeared in four games (one start) last year. He completed 46.2% of his throws for 37 yards and an interception.
Before landing with the Chiefs, Minshew spent time with the Las Vegas Raiders (2024), Indianapolis Colts (2023), Philadelphia Eagles (2021-22) and Jacksonville Jaguars (2019-20).
RB Tyler Allgeier
Allgeier comes over to Arizona on a reported two-year contract.
Before agreeing to terms on the $12.25 million deal with Arizona on Monday, Allgeier played four seasons with the Atlanta Falcons.
He ran for 514 yards and eight touchdowns on 143 carries last year, while adding another 14 catches for 96 yards.
While he worked mostly behind Bijan Robinson the past three years, Allgeier did surpass the 1,000-yard mark as a rookie in 2022.
Familiar faces
L.J. Collier
Collier is back on a one-year deal.
The defensive lineman appeared in four games in 2025 due to a knee injury suffered in Week 2.
He recorded six tackles and two QB hits in what was his third season with the team.
Roy Lopez
After a one-year stint with the Detroit Lions, Lopez is back with his hometown team on a reported two-year deal.
In 17 games played last year, he recorded two sacks, four tackles for loss and a pass defensed.
Before his time in Detroit, Lopez spent two seasons with Arizona from 2023-24. During that span, he registered a sack, six tackles for loss, three passes defensed and a forced fumble in 30 games played (21 starts).
K Chad Ryland
Ryland is back on a one-year deal, the team announced.
Ryland went through plenty of struggles last season after a having a career year in 2024. His accuracy dropped from 87.5% in 2024 to 75.8% last season. He was especially inconsistent from 40 yards and on, compiling a 13-of-20 mark (65%). Inside 40 yards, though, Ryland was 12-of-13 (92.3%).
Arizona brought in kicker Josh Karty late in the year (more on him later), but Ryland never gave up his role and appeared in all 17 games.
A one-year deal isn’t going to break the bank by any means.
P Blake Gillikin
The Cardinals must feel pretty good about where Gillikin is at in his recovering from a back injury last year with their signing of the punter to a one-year deal.
Before he went down five games into the season, the punter was leading the league in yards per punt with 51.7.
Not only that, across his five seasons (65 games) in the NFL, he holds the all-time record for yards per punt at 48.5.
Staying healthy is key for Gillikin, who also missed time in 2024 due to an ankle injury.
RB James Conner
Technically not a free agent, Conner was a potential cut candidate given his contract.
But after reportedly revising his deal, Conner is returning for his sixth season with the Cardinals.
The running back brings plenty of leadership and a bruising running style to the mix.
He’s coming off an abbreviated 2025 (three games) due to an ankle injury but had rushed for a pair of 1,000-yard seasons the two years prior. He scored at least seven rushing touchdowns each season from 2022-24.
CB Sean Murphy-Bunting
Much like Conner, Murphy-Bunting was another prime cut candidate due to his contract but reportedly revised his deal with Arizona as well.
Murphy-Bunting has a lot to prove after missing all of 2025 due to an injury suffered away from the team facility.
In his first season with the Cardinals, the cornerback recorded 52 tackles, three interceptions, five passes defensed and two forced fumbles across 15 starts.
Arizona
Arizona’s Jaden Bradley named Big 12 men’s basketball player of year
Arizona Duke and Michigan lead race for top seeds in March Madness
Arizona, Duke, and Michigan hold strong as top contenders for men’s March Madness number one seeds with UConn and Houston battling for the final spot.
The Arizona men’s basketball team went 29-2 overall and 16-2 in the Big 12, winning the conference’s regular season title.
The Wildcats were rewarded for their dominance in the Big 12’s men’s basketball awards, which were announced on March 9.
Arizona’s Jaden Bradley was named the Big 12 Player of the Year, while Tobe Awaka earned the conference’s Sixth Man of the Year award and coach Tommy Lloyd earned Coach of the Year accolades.
Bradley averaged 13.4 points and 4.6 assists. Awaka was the nation’s leading rebounder off the bench, averaging 9.7 rebounds and 9.9 points when entering the game as a reserve. Lloyd led Arizona to its first Big 12 regular-season title.
Arizona State was completely shut out of the awards, with Moe Odum not receiving honorable mention honors despite averaging 17.1 points per game and 5.9 assists per game for the Sun Devils.
2026 Phillips 66 All-Big 12 Men’s Basketball Awards
- Player of the Year: Jaden Bradley, Arizona
- Defensive Player of the Year: Flory Bidunga, Kansas
- Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Freshman of the Year: AJ Dybantsa, BYU
- Newcomer of the Year: Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
- Sixth Man Award: Tobe Awaka, Arizona*
- Most Improved: Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
- Coach of the Year: Tommy Lloyd, Arizona
All-Big 12 First Team
- Jaden Bradley, Arizona
- Brayden Burries, Arizona
- Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
- Emanuel Sharp, Houston
- Kingston Flemings, Houston*
- Joshua Jefferson, Iowa State
- Flory Bidunga, Kansas
- Christian Anderson, Texas Tech
- JT Toppin, Texas Tech*
All-Big 12 Second Team
- Richie Saunders, BYU
- Baba Miller, Cincinnati
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State
- Darryn Peterson, Kansas
All-Big 12 Third Team
- Koa Peat, Arizona
- Cameron Carr, Baylor
- Rob Wright, BYU
- Themus Fulks, UCF
- Xavier Edmonds, TCU
All-Big 12 Honorable Mention:
- Arizona: Tobe Awaka
- Baylor: Tounde Yessoufou
- Cincinnati: Moustapha Thiam
- Colorado: Isaiah Johnson
- Houston: Joseph Tugler, Milos Uzan
- Kansas: Melvin Council Jr.
- Kansas State: PJ Haggerty
- Oklahoma State: Parsa Fallah
- TCU: David Punch
- Texas Tech: Donovan Atwell
- West Virginia: Honor Huff
- Utah: Terrence Brown
All-Defensive Team
- Jaden Bradley, Arizona
- Motiejus Krivas, Arizona
- Emanuel Sharp, Houston
- Joseph Tugler, Houston
- Tamin Lipsey, Iowa State
- Flory Bidunga, Kansas*
A tie resulted in an extra position on the team
All-Freshman Team
- Brayden Burries, Arizona*
- Koa Peat, Arizona
- AJ Dybantsa, BYU*
- Kingston Flemings, Houston*
- Darryn Peterson, Kansas*
All-Newcomer Team
- Cameron Carr, Baylor
- Themus Fulks, UCF
- Baba Miller, Cincinnati
- Melvin Council Jr., Kansas
- Donovan Atwell, Texas Tech
*- unanimous selection
Reach Jeremy Cluff at jeremy.cluff@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter @Jeremy_Cluff.
Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Sign up for azcentral Preps Now. And be sure to subscribe to our daily sports newsletters so you don’t miss a thing.
-
Wisconsin1 week agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMassachusetts man awaits word from family in Iran after attacks
-
Pennsylvania6 days agoPa. man found guilty of raping teen girl who he took to Mexico
-
Detroit, MI5 days agoU.S. Postal Service could run out of money within a year
-
Miami, FL7 days agoCity of Miami celebrates reopening of Flagler Street as part of beautification project
-
Sports6 days agoKeith Olbermann under fire for calling Lou Holtz a ‘scumbag’ after legendary coach’s death
-
Virginia7 days agoGiants will hold 2026 training camp in West Virginia
-
Culture1 week agoTry This Quiz on the Real Locations in These Magical and Mysterious Novels