NFL Cardinals coach Bruce Arians denied a report that he was leaving the team after Sunday's game against the Giants, claiming "nothing has changed for the last month and a half," according to Bob McManaman of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. Arians said, "If you want to ask me about this fake news story that has come up -- I’m quoting the President now -- nothing has changed. I don’t know where all that s--t came from." Arians "brought up the report himself" after opening his weekly news conference with the "usual review regarding injuries and some brief thoughts" from Sunday’s game. He was asked specifically about a Pro Football Weekly report by Hub Arkush posted yesterday and why "others have speculated as well that this will be his final season," Arians: “I have no idea. I don’t even know who in the heck this guy is. I don’t know where these supposed meetings took place. That’s fun. It was good reading.” McManaman notes Arians is "under contract for next season and has a team option" for '19. Following Sunday's season finale, Arians will talk with his staff, GM Steve Keim and the players, "turn in all their reports, hold some final team meetings, and then take some time to contemplate what’s next." Arians: “I’ll sit down with my wife and son and daughter and we’ll talk about it and see if we can make a decision sometime between Monday and February” (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/27).
INITIAL REPORT: PRO FOOTBALL WEEKLY's Arkush in the initial report cited sources as saying that Arians will "agree to part ways with the Cardinals next week." Sources said that it will be an "amicable split and that Arians is not being fired," but that Keim and Cardinals President Michael Bidwill "support Arians' decision and aren't overly upset they will be able to start fresh with a new coach as they reshape their roster." Keim "hasn't openly expressed any concerns with the job Arians has done this year." Sources added that the "working relationship between the two is still solid." However, there is "disappointment for both ownership and management with the team's 7-8 record and struggles with quality teams" (PROFOOTBALLWEEKLY.com, 12/26).
