Blitzzona certainly doesn’t have the same ring to it as Blitzburgh does, but in the case of former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Larry Foote, that’s exactly what he sees his new team, the Arizona Cardinals, as being.
“I was watching these guys (Cardinals defense) last year and seeing they led the league in blitzing, and as a linebacker you just want to go there and play that style,” said Foote in a recent radio interview.
Foote, who was released by the Steelers back in March, said that he still considers himself to be a blitzing linebacker that can take it to offenses and that the Cardinals defense is a good fit for him.
“If you’re a linebacker, this is heaven for you,” he said. “With the guys up front and with the addition of (Antonio) Cromartie, and we already got (Patrick) Peterson, we’re going to be a tough defense.”
Foote only managed to play in the Steelers season-opener in 2013 as a torn biceps cost him the rest of his season, but now that he’s fully recovered, the Cardinals hope that he can he hold down the fort inside with Daryl Washington facing a possible suspension to start the 2014 season.
Foote will turn 34 in June, so 2014 will more than likely be his last year in the league should he make the Cardinals roster. While it’s unfortunate that he wasn’t able to end his career with the Steelers, it won’t be the first time that a longtime Pittsburgh linebacker has gone on to finish his career in the desert as that’s where Joey Porter also played his last football.
“I know I’m on deck,” said Foote. “I know it’s coming to an end, but just knowing that, it just gives me energy and want to keep this thing going, and I’m just excited. I’m ready to prove to myself, first, that I can still play at a high level.”
