The news came out Monday night, not surprisingly, that Adrian WIlson had a potential suitor.
The Cardinals vice president of pro personnel and Ring of Honor member for his starring role as a safety for the franchise had been targeted by the New York Giants -- who were asking permission to interview Wilson -- about their vacant general manager job. It just so happened that Wilson just talked about possibly becoming a GM at some point on a recent episode of "The Dave Pasch Podcast."
For Wilson, it's about attacking his current job the right way. He said where his feelings are now of becoming a GM somewhere and staying with the Cardinals in his current post, it's "a little bit of both."
"Any job, you do it so you can get to the highest point you can possibly get to, whether it is being a head coach in the National Football League or being a general manager. When I got into this business, I got into it it first to learn it, secondly to be dedicated and loyal to this franchise. I also want to win a Super Bowl while I'm here."
Wilson said he wants to proceed up the chain the right way, including "to go interview" places.
"One day I think that'll happen for me," Wilson said.
(UPDATE: The Giants have also requested permission to interview long-time Cards exec and like Wilson also a former Cardinals safety, Quentin Harris. Harris has been in the front office longer than Wilson, and you may know him from a stirring preseason speech at the outset of this Flight Plan episode.)
I've known WIlson since he came into the NFL. He was the epitome of work and loyalty as a player. (One of my favorite stories I've ever written was how Wilson grew into the guy he became.) Once he decided this was what he wanted to do, I had little doubt he'd eventually become a GM. Don't know if that's now or later, but at some point.
Ever since Wilson came back to the Cardinals to work for close friend Steve Keim and decide if either coaching or front-office work were what he wanted to do post-playing career -- Wilson, obviously, decided on the latter -- he's worked his tail off to learn the business. He wasn't a Ring of Honor safety when he started, he was one of the guys who would pick players up at the airport.
Safe to say he's come a long way since then, a trusted voice in the front office and for Keim.
"I'm definitely not going to bull(expletive) him," Wilson said. "I'm not going to do that to him because I know how important the job is to him. at the same time, I want to be successful too. I don't want to be part of a team where I'm not giving everything my all."
Even if owner Michael Bidwill comes with a question, "I'm not going to cut the corner and tell him something I think he wants to hear. I'm not here for that."
Wilson is a prepared worker, always evaluating video of players. (Not a surprise from the guy who once cut an offseason beach vacation short because he was so antsy to get back to training during his playing days.)
Given his playing pedigree, he's also that guy who can have discussions with players even if they are tough for a player to hear.
"Sometimes it takes hard conversations to get them to play at their best or what we think is their best," Wilson said.
Dub in New York would be fascinating to watch, to be honest. But his shot is coming at some point.
