Michael Bidwill isn't unaware of the criticism facing his general manager, but the Cardinals' chairman and president said Wednesday he had plenty of reasons to like the job Steve Keim has been doing for his team.
"He just picked a Rookie of the Year (in Kyler Murray)," Bidwill said during an extended interview on Arizona's Sports 98.7 FM. "He had a lot to do with hiring Kliff Kingsbury. He's done a lot of things right. I feel like we've certainly turned, and for as much as the Cardinals are going in the right direction, Steve Keim deserves a lot of credit for that. I hope fans realize that was a lot of his decision-making."
Bidwill cited moves like the trade for running back Kenyan Drake among the recent good moves Keim has made.
"He has received his fair share of criticism," Bidwill added. "Some of these draft picks didn't work out. But you look at this last year, look at the number of starters who were not available for the defense and had they been available, things could have been, on the defensive side of the ball, much different. That had to do with injuries and other things you can't blame the general manager for."
-- While it was floated in the media the Cardinals would be the host team for the NFL's game in Mexico City in 2020, Bidwill said of the possibility, "We'll see."
"Nothing has been announced yet," Bidwill said. "The rumor was strong a few weeks ago. I don't know if it is still strong."
Since the Cardinals last hosted a Super Bowl, the NFL did institute a rule saying that any teams hosting a Super Bowl had to give up a home game at some point to the league's International Series. The Cardinals and State Farm Stadium are scheduled to host another Super Bowl in February of 2023.
"(The Cards hosting an international game) will happen between now and, believe it or not, we're less than 36 months from our next Super Bowl," Bidwill said.
As far as the NFL's expansion into international locales in general, Bidwill said he likes how the NFL has been doing it thus far.
"I think there are some challenges, especially time-zone challenges and the body clock and everything like that," Bidwill said of having a full-time franchise internationally. "There could be a competitive disadvantage to one team or a competitive advantage to another team, depending on which way you are flying. ... There is certainly room to grow going forward."
-- Bidwill said he was in favor of the league moving to a 17-game season. The expansion of the schedule is one of the main negotiating points between the league and the NFL Players Association as they attempt to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement. The current CBA runs out after the upcoming season.
"I think our fans would like more," Bidwill said. "We have surveyed our fans. The health/safety data plays out that we can do 17 games and it's not going to impact the safety and the health of the players. I am really proud of the work the league is doing in terms of the health and safety. A lot of big strides have been made. ... We'll see where the players land."
-- Asked about the potential of the Cardinals appearing on the HBO training camp series "Hard Knocks," Bidwill didn't rule it out.
"We're always going to listen to everything," Bidwill said, noting that the Cardinals, by rule, could be chosen, just like the rules put them in a position to lose a home game to an international game. "We'll see what comes up. But I think we've done a good job of being available and volunteering to do things, like 'All or Nothing.' So we'll see where we end up."
-- Bidwill said he had talked with wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald about buying a piece of the Phoenix Suns before it happened, even joking how it could come with downside. "We talked about some of the business parts of it and I thought it was great and I congratulated him, but I also said, 'Look out, sometimes there is some criticism, and I know you don't get a lot of criticism.' "
Bidwill chuckled when asked about Fitzgerald potentially buying a piece of the Cardinals someday -- "I think the team will continue to be owned by the Bidwill family" -- but added that definitely could see Fitzgerald as an ambassador to the team in the future, before saying he didn't want to yet start talking about Fitzgerald's post-playing days.
"He is such the heartbeat of the team," Bidwill said of the receiver who last month committed to playing a 17th season.
-- Bidwill also addressed a handful of player situations that need resolving this offseason. He said the Cardinals would like to bring back left tackle D.J. Humphries, who is scheduled to become a free agent, and did note the team has the franchise tag as an option.
He said it was a "positive" Drake decided to change his Twitter avatar to a photo of the running back wearing a Cardinals uniform, and reiterated it was a great job to get him and it worked out well. As for bringing back the free-agent-to-be, "it takes two people to make a deal, and there are a lot of moving parts."
As for running back David Johnson, who is under contract, Bidwill said he'd like to see Johnson revert to the form that made him so special in 2015 and 2016 on the field, while praising Johnson's off the field work in the community. Bidwill deferred to Keim when it came to the idea the Cardinals might move on from Johnson. "He's a member of the organization just like anyone else under contract," Bidwill added.
-- Bidwill did say the Cardinals have cap room, but there are contract extensions with the team's own players than may eat up a chunk of that prior to the opening of free agency, and Bidwill said he hoped there would be "some more" extensions done at some point following the extension to Fitzgerald.
-- He praised the outpouring of support from the community following the death of his father, Bill, in October, saying it helped the family get through a difficult time.
-- As a helicopter pilot, Bidwill was also asked about flying helicopters following the tragic accident that took the life of former NBA star Kobe Bryant, Bryant's daughter and seven other people.
"Tremendous loss, not just Kobe but everybody on that helicopter," Bidwill said. "I knew pretty quickly that the weather was extremely bad. In the vast majority, 90 percent plus, of aircraft accidents and incidents, it's (because of) pilot error. Immediately that's where my head was and pretty much that was confirmed within a couple of hours. I've got a lot of friends who are also pilots, including some in the L.A. area, and hearing the weather reports, there is no reason a helicopter should have been flying that day."
Photographer Gene Lower has captured Larry Fitzgerald throughout his Cardinals career. Here are 100 of images of the wide receiver through the years.

WR Larry Fitzgerald during training camp early in his career.

WR Larry Fitzgerald catches a pass against the 49ers.

WR Larry Fitzgerald conducts an orchestra.

WR Larry Fitzgerald heading to Charlotte for the NFC Championship game after the 2015 season.

WR Larry Fitzgerald during a portrait session.

WR Larry Fitzgerald looking over a play-sheet.

WR Larry Fitzgerald has an off-field passion for photography.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a touchdown catch against the Falcons in the playoffs after the 2008 season.

WR Larry Fitzgerald reaches for a pass with one hand before a game against the Titans at Sun Devil Stadium in 2005.

WR Larry Fitzgerald unveiling the Cardinals' new uniforms in 2005.

WR Larry Fitzgerald with his first career catch against the Rams.

WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrating a big play.

WR Larry Fitzgerald in the lead-up to the Super Bowl in Tampa Bay after the 2008 season.

WR Larry Fitzgerald during a portrait session.

WR Larry Fitzgerald during a portrait session.

WR Larry Fitzgerald catches the game-winning touchdown against the Dolphins as a rookie.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a diving catch against the Bengals.

WR Larry Fitzgerald working on his photography skills.

WR Larry Fitzgerald during a portrait session.

WR Larry Fitzgerald scores a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

WR Larry Fitzgerald and Arizona Coyotes great Shane Doan.

Former Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson talks with WR Larry Fitzgerald before a game between the Cardinals and the Cowboys in 2011.

Cardinals QB Kurt Warner gives WR Larry Fitzgerald a hug after their NFC Championship win against the Eagles on January 18, 2009.

WR Larry Fitzgerald on the catwalk.

WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrates against the Eagles.

WR Larry Fitzgerald hauls in a pass over two Seahawks defenders.

WR Larry Fitzgerald with Cardinals owner Bill Bidwill after he was drafted.

WR Larry Fitzgerald with Jerry Rice.

WR Larry Fitzgerald arriving to a game against the Bills.

WR Larry Fitzgerald's name on the marquee.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a one-handed catch against the Seahawks.

WR Larry Fitzgerald is presented an award by team president Michael Bidwill.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a diving catch against the 49ers.

WR Larry Fitzgerald on the sideline in Chicago.

WR Larry Fitzgerald on the mic.

WR Larry Fitzgerald catches a touchdown against the Patriots.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a catch over a Vikings defender.

WR Larry Fitzgerald throws a pass.

WR Larry Fitzgerald catches a touchdown against the Buccaneers.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the Buccaneers.

WR Larry Fitzgerald takes the field before an NFL game.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the Packers.

S Adrian Wilson puts WR Larry Fitzgerald in a headlock.

WR Larry Fitzgerald during a portrait session.

WR Larry Fitzgerald playing some golf.

WR Larry Fitzgerald gets flipped over.

WR Larry Fitzgerald shakes the hand of a veteran.

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald with a game-winning touchdown catch against the 49ers.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the Bears.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the Packers.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the Saints.

WR Larry Fitzgerald scores the game-winning touchdown against the Packers in the NFC Divisional Round after the 2015 season.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a diving catch against the Seahawks.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a diving catch against the Lions.

Team president Michael Bidwill presents WR Larry Fitzgerald with a Humanitarian of the Year Award in 2012.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the Lions.

A portrait of WR Larry Fitzgerald.

WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrates after a big play.

WR Larry Fitzgerald warms up before a game against the Chiefs in 2012.

WR Larry Fitzgerald gets introduced before a game.

An official helps WR Larry Fitzgerald tie his shoe.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a catch against the Packers in 2012.

WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrates after the NFC Championship game in 2009.

WR Larry Fitzgerald takes a photo of a veteran.

WR Larry Fitzgerald gets pumped up before a game.

WR Larry Fitzgerald signing autographs during training camp in Flagstaff.

WR Larry Fitzgerald after getting drafted.

WR Larry Fitzgerald with an acrobatic catch against the Seahawks.

WR Larry Fitzgerald scores a touchdown against the Falcons in 2013.

WR Larry Fitzgerald honors his late mother, Carol, with his breast cancer awareness gloves.

WR Larry Fitzgerald leaves the field after the 2013 finale against the 49ers.

WR Larry Fitzgerald scores a touchdown against the Bears.

WR Larry Fitzgerald shakes the hand of a young football player.

From left: WR Larry Fitzgerald, RB Beanie Wells and RB Tim Hightower at Celebrity Fight Night.

WR Larry Fitzgerald waits for a pass against the Eagles.

WR Larry Fitzgerald with a big smile.

WR Larry Fitzgerald is announced during warmups.

WR Larry Fitzgerald secures a pass against the Rams.

WR Larry Fitzgerald is honored for making the Pro Bowl.

WR Larry Fitzgerald finds room to run against the Eagles.

WR Larry Fitzgerald with a hearty laugh on game day.

WR Larry Fitzgerald in warmups.

WR Larry Fitzgerald at the Super Bowl.

WR Larry Fitzgerald catches a pass against the Texans.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the Falcons.

WR Larry Fitzgerald conducts an orchestra.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the Lions.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the 49ers.

WR Larry Fitzgerald celebrates in San Francisco.

WR Larry Fitzgerald receives a funny phone call.

WR Larry Fitzgerald with an official before a game.

WR Larry Fitzgerald running onto the field.

WR Larry Fitzgerald against the Seahawks.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes an acrobatic catch.

WR Larry Fitzgerald early in his career.

WR Larry Fitzgerald at training camp in Flagstaff.

WR Larry Fitzgerald makes a catch against the 49ers.

WR Larry Fitzgerald locks arms with team president Michael Bidwill (to his left) and coach Bruce Arians during the National Anthem.

WR Larry Fitzgerald gestures to the crowd after a touchdown catch against the Eagles.

WR Larry Fitzgerald catches a pass against the Vikings.