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Today we are 15 days away from the regular season opener for the Arizona Cardinals.
Today we look at the history of No. 15. It has three significant players in its history.
It is now worn by receiver Michael Floyd, who enters his third season and is coming off a 1000-yard season. He was the Cardinals' first round pick in 2012 and many believe he is about to become the team's top producing receiver.
Previous to Floyd, in 2011, receiver Sean Jeffcoat wore it. He was a training camp player.
From 2007-2010, receiver Steve Breaston wore 15. He was the second significant player with the number. He was a fifth round pick never expected to be anything more than a special teams player and returner, but he developed quite nicely, as he was one of three Cardinals receivers (along with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin) to gain 1000 yards in 2008. He had 77 receptions that year. He would surpass 700 yards in both 2009 and 2010, but was not re-signed when he became a free agent. He signed a five-year contract with the Chiefs and is now out of the league. He was one of my favorite players when he was here.
Before him is a list of names and busts:
2005-06 -- Carlyle Holiday
2006 -- Michael Spurlock
2000 -- Carey Blanchard
1999 -- Chris Greisen
1995-97 -- Stoney Case (another abomination of a quarterback the Cardinals drafted)
But the guy before Case to wear 15 was the best of the group -- QB Neil Lomax.
Lomax played from 1981-88 and took over for the legendary Jim Hart. He made the Pro Bowl in 1984 and 1987 (the season he led the NFL in passing yardage). His career was ended prematurely with a hip injury in 1988. That injury sent the franchise into a tailspin for a decade. The team was 7-4 when he got hurt. They lost their final five games.
The rest of the guys:
1978-79 -- Steve Pisarkiewicz
1976 -- Sam Wyche
1972 -- Gary Cuozzo
1969 -- King Hill (what a name -- King)
1951 -- Jerry Houghton
