Markus Golden won’t ‘cut out the possibility of returning’ to Cardinals

Markus Golden is due to become a free agent and the Arizona Cardinals, the team for which he has played the past four seasons, has a new head coach.

At face value, it might not look like the sort of situation that would favor Golden staying put, but he isn’t ruling that out.

‘My agent’s been talking to them, on and off’

Asked during an appearance on Movin’ The Chains if he saw returning to the Cardinals as a possibility, Golden said, “Yes, yes. My agent’s been talking to them, on and off, during the season, so I never cut out the possibility of returning. We’ll see how it works out, man.

“No matter what happens, I’ll be ready and I’ll be prepared because I’m going to keep on working and I’m going to keep putting the work in.”

“Arizona gave me the opportunity to play, so we’ll see how it works out. No matter what happens, I’ll be ready and I’ll be prepared because I’m going to keep on working and I’m going to keep putting the work in.”

‘I love being that outside linebacker in the 3-4’

Golden would prefer playing in a 3-4 scheme, as he has throughout his NFL career. However, he had experience playing defensive end at Missouri in a 4-3.

“But from playing in the NFL, I love being that outside linebacker in the 3-4,” he said. “I feel like it frees you up a little more and you can help a lot during the game.”

‘I’m basically a hundred percent, I feel good’

Golden has struggled with health issues the past two seasons. He dealt with a torn ACL that limited him to only four games in 2017 and played in 11 games last season. But he insists he is back to full form physically.

“I’m basically a hundred percent, I feel good,” Golden said. “I’ve been working hard, I’ve been training and everything. And I’ve actually been able to actually get this offseason and been able to work this offseason. Because the last offseason, of course, I was hurt from my ACL injury.”

‘I’ve still been fighting, still been working hard’

He had only 2.5 sacks last season after generating zero in his abbreviated 2017 campaign. Golden is looking to get back to the level he reached in 2016, when he had a career-best 12.5 sacks after posting four as a rookie in 2015.

“I came out of my rookie year more motivated, just learned a lot and was working hard in the offseason and was able to bounce back and have a big year,” Golden said. “But since then I had a few injuries and was banged up a little bit. But I’ve still been fighting, still been working hard. No excuses, trying to push through it no matter what.

‘I feel like I’m back to where I need to be’

“And I’ve still got confidence in myself because I’m starting to feel back healthy and I feel like I’m back to where I need to be.”