Burfict's mom, Lisa Williams, a former gang member, encouraged Burfict to return to football after his dreadful combine performance.

Hey Cardinals fans this is the BiggRedBird. I thought I would give my pre draft day thought. I feel like we as fans have looked over a crucial position on our football team. That is ILB. In this article it is not about stats or what Mayock or Kiper force feed into your minds. This is about bringing to the defense the one thing we were missing even during our epic Superbowl run. Now I am sure you are asking what that is.....The Force (not the Star wars kind)

All great defenses have that guy who is completely instinctive and makes plays based off of instinct and emotion. He has a goo grip on the scheme of the defense and is always in the right place at the right time. Being a Pac-12 fan (go AZ CATS) I have had a chance to watch Vontaze Burfict for the last couple of seasons and I like what I see. I see a guy who is all in for his team. A guy the defense has to respect and acknowledges that he is out there. A sideline to sideline ball hawking monster is what I call him. From the line of scrimmage out to about 15 to 17 yards Burfict is the man. Plays faster than any combine time and is still one of the better talents in the draft. Does not miss tackles and plays as if someone who understands the game, he is rarely out of position and boy can he hit.

People have a way of taking someone and turning the whole world against them. But people need to realize what a player brings to the team. Burfict is a modest man off the field and has never been in trouble. OK so he failed the drug test...big deal, I promise you some of these guys talking trash takes a trip from time to time whether it be alcohol or drugs, take your pick, it runs wild in sports and anywhere else the dollar signs grow by leaps and bounds. Is it something that can be stopped, absolutely all it takes is the right motivation Is he a hot head on the field? Yes. Is he a guy that just by watching you wanna go hit someone? Yes.

Burfict has found a way to try to clean an image that was tarnished mostly by the media and ridiculous actions on the field. " "There have been rumors that I have off-the-field issues, but I've never been arrested. I have no off-the-field issues. I'm a stay-at-home guy. I like to hang out with my girlfriend, stay home and cook and play video games." To me that sounds like the type of player I want on my team. He went from 90 tackles in 2011 to 69 in 2012. The biggest reason was his weight. He ballooned up too 260 pounds last year. Now in at 246 his diet and company has changed, speaking with stand out guys like Ray Lewis and Nick Barnett. I say he deserves a chance and Arizona should be that team. Most say he is un draft-able but in the 5th or 6th round if he is there it should be all systems go. You cant teach talent, but by good examples of great locker room people like D. Dockett A. Wilson and C. Campbell he can come to a place he is familiar with and have nothing to worry about except football, where he can be taught the Cardinal way of life.

Don't be against him because you were told to, be for him cause you have the choice to do so. Do we have the personnel to help maximize Burficts potential, we sure do the best strength and conditioning guy in the biz along with a teacher of a D Coordinator in R. Horton. Give him a chance and we reap the benefits of having a guy we could possibly pair with D. Washington. I do not know about you but it is time out for Patrick "Covers WR's on the Madden" Willis and who ever else the whiners got over there getting the spotlight. C'mon Vontaze to the BiggRedWave and "GET YOUR MIND RIGHT"