Arizona
Clayton Tune not the only Cardinals standout in Saints loss
GLENDALE — Arizona Cardinals quarterback Clayton Tune takes the cake for the biggest standout in Saturday’s 16-14 loss to the New Orleans Saints as he battles Desmond Ridder for QB2. The second-year pro was far from the only Cardinal that had people talking postgame, though.
A look at some of the other standouts from the Cardinals’ preseason opener:
Michael Carter, RB
Carter’s 11-yard touchdown Saturday night marked Arizona’s first of the preseason.
The veteran running back also paced all Cardinals rushers with 41 yards and the score on seven touches.
“I wish we would have won, but it was a learning experience,” Carter said postgame. “Great moments to learn from and personally, I felt like I did pretty well. I had some help of course, but overall, I think the most important thing was I had fun today.”
It was a good showing for Carter, who entered the matchup listed as the RB5 on Arizona’s depth chart.
“To be honest, I stopped caring about that a long time ago,” Carter said about his place on the depth chart. “It’s a crowded room, but it was a crowded room in New York. All of the experiences that I’ve gotten, they all lead up to right now. The young me probably wouldn’t know how to handle the situation.
“It’s a fun room, though. There’s literally no bad blood, no animosity. Top to bottom, everybody helps each other and I think that’s really special. It all starts with our position coach (Autry Denson).”
Xavier Thomas, OLB
The Cardinals need someone to step up in the outside linebackers room following the loss of projected starter BJ Ojulari to a reported torn ACL.
Could Thomas be that guy?
It’s only one preseason game, but the fifth-round rookie made an impact on numerous occasions behind a sack and three tackles.
“I thought he played with a high, high motor, high effort, which was really good to see,” Gannon said of Thomas. “I saw a violent edge up there and I thought he rushed pretty good. He was definitely back around the mix. He caught my eye and he’ll have a lot to learn from too. It was good to see him out there and lathered up and playing.”
Dadrion “Rabbit” Taylor-Demerson, S
Much like Thomas, Taylor-Demerson was quick to stand out thanks to his violence and speed throughout Saturday’s action.
Tying for the team lead in tackles with three, Taylor-Demerson was continuously on the hunt to make a play.
“He’s one that’s kind of been under the radar like you said. He’s doing a really good job and he’s playing fourth down, too. I thought that he was in the right spot most of the game. I saw him have a couple violent hits. I thought he did a good job.”
Darius Robinson, DL
Robinson saw only two series — one more than fellow first-rounder Marvin Harrison Jr. — but was quick to find himself on the stat sheet with the first tackle of New Orlean’s opening drive.
“I thought he looked good. I gotta watch the tape on that, but I saw him make one play in there,” head coach Jonathan Gannon said postgame. “I saw him get pounded on a double and they didn’t move him. He looked good.”
Dan Chisena, WR
Chisena led the way for Arizona’s receiving corps on Saturday night, reeling in all five of his targets for 63 yards.
He averaged 12.6 yards per catch and had a long of 27 yards.
Chisena has his work cut out for him this preseason residing in a very crowded wide receivers room.
Starling Thomas V, CB
Thomas is right there in the mix for a meaningful role — if not a starting role — after putting together a strong training camp.
He continued on his trend upward Saturday with a pass defensed and strong defensive play on another incompletion.
Thomas — and Kei’Trel Clark — were the only cornerbacks in the mix to start or at least in the conversation that saw playing time on Saturday.
Max Melton, Garrett Williams and Sean Murphy-Bunting, all of which appear to have a leg up on the competition did not log a snap against New Orleans.
Blake Gillikin, P
Gillikin was a busy man Saturday night, averaging 44.2 yards per punt on five attempts.
He saw one land inside the 20-yard line.
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A former candidate for Gilbert mayor has opened the first Arizona location of a Founding Fathers-themed ice cream shop in Chandler.
Brooker’s Founding Flavors Ice Cream is a Utah-based ice cream shop centered around the early history of the United States. Female employees scoop cones in bonnets and dresses; male employees wear tricorn hats and coats. The ice cream flavors have names like Martha Washington’s Colonial Cotton Candy and Alexander Hamilton’s Not Throwing Away My Scoop.
On a trip to Utah in 2019, Arizonan Shane Krauser went to a Brooker’s and was blown away.
“I walked out of that, called my wife Janelle and I said, ‘We will own one of these,’” Krauser said.
The couple had no previous restaurant experience, but decided to open up the chain’s first location outside of Utah, choosing a storefront near the intersection of Chandler Boulevard and Dobson Road. The store opened on June 6.
Krauser loves how the shop creates conversation among customers about American history.
“I love history. I love the Founding Fathers. I love the ideals of America,” Krauser said. “It’s an amazing concept.”
Opening Founding Flavors isn’t political, it’s a ‘labor of love’
Krauser is a retired lawyer turned motivational speaker who addresses topics including “freedom, the proper role of government and the parameters of the U.S. and state constitutions,” according to his website.
In 2024, Krauser ran for Gilbert mayor, but withdrew his candidacy amid scrutiny over involvement with a past investment fraud scheme and his son’s appearance in a video with the Gilbert Goons, The Arizona Republic reported.
Although the shop plans to host events celebrating the 250th anniversary of the U.S., such as one for Constitution Day in September, Krauser said he does not see the ice cream store as related to his political career.
“The mayoral run was something to be involved in politically. This is more of a labor of love,” Krauser said. “This is not political in nature at all. It’s an ice cream shop with an American theme.”
Details: 2560 W. Chandler Blvd. #3, Chandler. brookersicecream.com, 480-881-6100.
Reach the reporter at reia.li@gannett.com. Follow @reia_reports on Instagram.
Arizona CEO accused of stealing millions
Jeffrey Gottfurcht, the now-former CEO of Mesa startupo Cyber Dive, is accused of stealing at least $1.5 million from the company to buy gifts for his girlfriend. FOX 10’s Brian Webb has more.
PHOENIX – An Arizona chief executive officer is facing major legal trouble after being accused of embezzling money from his company.
What we know:
Cyber Dive is an Arizona startup that sells child-safety smartphones, designed so parents can monitor their children’s online activity. The company is run out of a business complex in Mesa, but the startup is barely hanging on after the CEO allegedly took off with the money to spend on his girlfriend.
Jeffrey Gottfurcht is facing federal embezzlement charges. He stands accused of lying and doctoring documents to trick investors before running off with at least $1.5 million.
On the company Facebook page, Gottfurcht claimed to be the first rheumatoid arthritis sufferer to scale Mount Everest.
Local perspective:
Red flags first popped up at the company on Feb. 13, with strange occurrences coming into the office.
Derek Jackson, who co-founded Cyber Dive, recalled the moment the discrepancies came to light.
“They mentioned to me something about getting routing documentation for funds from an acquisition deal,” Jackson recounted. “They said ‘where are those documents?’ He said he was gonna send him at 3 p.m. today, and my response was what deal are you talking about?”
Dig deeper:
Court documents show Gottfurcht used the money to buy his escort girlfriend a Lamborghini, a four-bedroom house in Miami, and a diamond ring. The girlfriend has posted videos on TikTok, but her identity is hidden because she has not been charged with a crime.
When asked to confirm if Gottfurcht purchased the car, the diamond ring, and the house, Jackson responded, “Yes. So it gets deep. Yes, it gets very deep.”
“It’s a huge gut punch,” Jackson said regarding the impact on the startup. “I think it’s been challenging to stay motivated to keep the company going because when this happened, Jeff drained the account to zero.”
At the Cyber Dive headquarters, half the workforce was let go. Jackson is now serving as the interim chief executive officer, looking for new investors to keep the lights on while coming to grips with the loss of a partner and friend.
Jackson stated that the total amount of money taken is closer to $4 million.
“I was in the army. I was an intelligence officer. I was targeting people in ISIS. I don’t even hate terrorists as much as I hate Jeff right now,” Jackson said.
The other side:
No one answered the door at the Paradise Valley home Gottfurcht shares with his wife and three children. Court paperwork shows that his wife is seeking a divorce, and helped turn her husband in to the authorities.
What’s next:
Gottfurcht was previously arrested in Scottsdale in May over allegations of domestic violence. He remains behind bars on a $250,000 bond.
The Source: Information in this report was gathered from Derek Jackson, and from court documents.
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