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Late last week, former New Orleans Saints FB Mike Karney was released from the team that drafted him in the 5th round of the NFL Draft. The stocky bowling ball of a FB paved the way for some big seasons for RB Deuce McCalister not too many years ago, but for the first time in his career last year, Karney got bit by the injury bug, playing in only 9 games. Don’t feel excessively sorry for Karney though. He got married back in his old stomping grounds of Arizona where he played for the Sun Devils earlier this decade, and joined XTRA 910 in Phoenix to talk about tying the knot just a day after learning that he was out of work.
Any nerves for the big, bruising Karney on his wedding day?
“I’m more anxious than nervous. I feel like it’s kind of like gameday to tell you the truth. But today’s going to be a great day. I’m just going to try to sit back and try to take it all in and enjoy it as much as possible.”
On getting the phone cal
l on his way to his rehearsal dinner:
“It’s never easy. You know, to be honest with you, I was in a great situation down in New Orleans. My goal was to finish my career there, no matter how long that was going to be. It was tough to take, but I have a great agent who was able to get me a lot of great information throughout the last month about what could be transpiring and what’s going on. So getting the phone call was kind of more, yeah it’s happening, yeah it’s sad, but I’m just glad they made a decision because they could have strung this out and waited to try to trade me or cut me at a later date which would have made it almost impossible to sign with another team.”
On former teammate Deuce McCallister, who was also released by the Saints this offseason:
“Unbelievable man. Just a first class guy. Just hard working, very humble, very quiet. Wasn’t a vocal leader, you know, led by example every single day. Probably the smartest football player I ever came across, ever played with. I was in his wedding last year and he was in my wedding this year and we have a great friendship. And at the end of the day, he’s by far the best New Orleans Saint to ever put on a uniform there.”
Thoughts about returning to Arizona where he played college to play for the Cardinals?
“I’d love to be a Cardinal. That’d be the ultimate. That’d be the best scenario for me. I’m from Seattle, I grew up in Seattle, but I call Arizona home. I’ve been living there for almost the last ten years now. I’d love to be a Cardinal. I love what they’re doing there.”
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