Markus Golden plans to bring 'old-school dog mentality' to Arizona Cardinals' defense

For a guy who loves football as much as the effervescent and gung-ho Markus Golden, it came as a shock on Wednesday morning when he revealed ow much he had soured on the sport and thought about walking away from the game.

You can blame the New York Giants for that, he said. And you can thank the Arizona Cardinals, he added, for changing his mind.

During a video conference call with reporters after signing a new two-year contract to keep playing outside linebacker in Arizona, Golden divulged how unhappy he became with the Giants last season when he wasn’t given enough starting snaps as a pass rusher. It began to eat away at him and lose his hunger for feasting on quarterbacks.

“I love to compete,” Golden said. “I never played this game for money. I always played this game for respect and to be in the NFL to be able to compete with the best players. I felt last year in New York, I got out there, I competed, and I did everything to prove that I was the guy and they didn’t give me the opportunity.

“So that took my love away from the game a little bit. And I ain’t going to lie, it rubbed me the wrong way because that’s what the game has always been about — if you work hard and do what you’re supposed to do, you’re going to be out there. So, I felt a little disrespected by New York.”

Midway through the season, the Cardinals arrived to save the day. They needed a pass rusher after losing Chandler Jones to a torn biceps and inquired as to Golden’s availability via a trade. General manager Steve Keim had drafted Golden, after all, using a second-round pick on the former Missouri standout in 2015, and he knew full well about the linebacker’s high energy and non-stop motor.

For a sixth-round draft pick, Golden found himself back in the desert and he hasn’t stopped being ecstatic about it.

“When the Cardinals came and traded for me, it was a blessing because it was like, ‘Who else is going to come save me and get me out of a situation like this?’ The Cardinals,” Golden said. “So, it was a blessing. Wasn’t nobody else would have saved me from that.

“There were times where I thought, ‘Man, after this year, I’m going to retire and hang it up,’ because I play the game to compete, man, and I felt like I wasn’t allowed to do that out there. Once I’m not allowed to do that, it kind of made me not want to play. Being able to come back here and play for the Cardinals, it got me back going. It got me back motivated, it got me back to my old self and I was able to go out there and compete like I knew I could.”

In nine games, Golden collected 25 tackles with 3½ sacks, 15 quarterback hits, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He is expected to land a full-time role opposite Jones in 2021 on a revamped defensive front that also includes Jordan Phillips and now, J.J. Watt, the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year.

The Cardinals finished tied for fourth in total sacks last season with 48, a number Golden can see increasing with a healthy Jones and the addition of Watts.

“Any time you’ve got great players — Chandler Jones, J.J. Watt, two of the best players to really ever play in the NFL to be able to rush the passer — you’ve got guys like that and then I believe in myself, too,” he said. “I’m ready to get out there and work with them. I know what I’m going to bring to the table with those guys. We’ve got a lot of pieces.

“Of course, I expect big things. And I know everybody else that’s a part of it expects big things. So, we’re going to get together, make sure we’re working and get it going and do whatever we’ve got to do to win.”

When early negotiations began Monday prior to the official start of free agency, Golden didn’t hesitate to re-sign with the Cardinals. Others team were interested, he said, but he never gave them a chance to court him.

“Me being honest, man, I didn’t want to play nowhere else,” he said. “I wanted to come here and help the Cardinals win. I know I can still help a team win at a high level and I can play at a high level. I’d rather be here and help my team, the Arizona Cardinals, win a championship.”

The Cardinals are making a case toward being legitimate contenders upon signing Watt, trading for three-time Pro Bowl center Rodney Hudson and adding seven-time Pro Bowl wide receiver A.J. Green, plus bringing back veteran right tackle Kelvin Beachum. Add them to a returning group of stars that include quarterback Kyler Murray, receiver DeAndre Hopkins and safety Budda Baker at least puts the team into the conversation.

“I wanted to be a part of it, man,” said Golden, who had a career-high 12½ sacks for the Cardinals in 2016 and had 10 for the Giants in 2019. “ I wanted to come here and get after the quarterback with those guys and get out there and make plays with those guys and celebrate, man.

“That’s what I’m excited about. I feel like me being here, I’m going to bring that old-school dog mentality, that old-school Cardinals defense dog mentality back, so I’m excited about that, too.”

Golden’s decision to re-sign with Arizona had little to do with money and everything to do about having already found a home. He makes no bones about that but wouldn’t say other NFL free agents should feel the same way.

“No not at all,” he said. “Me, I’m the type of guy who stays out of people’s business. I know how I feel. I’m not afraid to say how I feel. That’s who I’ll always be and that’s how I feel. It’s a blessing to be able to play here as an Arizona Cardinal. … But I don’t knock anyone else for doing what they’ve got to do. Everybody lives different lives and everything, but I know what’s best for me and I’m not afraid to say what’s best for me.”

Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch.