PHX Reporter

After the last minicamp practice on Tuesday, Jonathan Gannon was asked what he knew about his team.

"They care," the Cardinals coach said. "They are team-first people."

This sentiment has been a recurring theme since Gannon's arrival and is integral to the culture he aims to establish. The atmosphere has been notably positive, particularly since the offseason began. This was emphasized by two key offensive players in recent interviews.

Last week, quarterback Kyler Murray spoke on Arizona Sports about how the Cardinals' reputation has improved.

"You look around the league and how they talk about the Cardinals," Murray said. "It flipped from maybe a talented team that doesn't play hard and isn't well-coached or doesn't play smart to, 'Oh, these guys, they might not be as talented but nobody wants to play them because they play hard as hell.'"

Running back James Conner echoed similar sentiments on The Rich Eisen Show Wednesday, discussing Gannon's influence and the team's current state.

"Our message has been maximizing yourself on the field and off the field, trying to put the best product on the field that we've got," Conner said. "We've got a talented team so if guys can put out their best product on the field we will be in good shape."

Conner further explained changes within the roster.

"We cleansed the roster," Conner added. "Guys who weren't serious about football, guys who were not in it for the right reasons, guys who didn't put the team first, we were slowly weeding that stuff out. That's what it takes. We cleanse and now we're ready to attack."

Conner clarified it was players who "weren't putting the team first." This aligns with what Gannon has frequently highlighted as a crucial part of his philosophy.

"It's easy to see in this business," Conner said.

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