Maybe we will finally learn the truth one day -- that certain NFL linebackers weren't born but created in a laboratory.
How else to explain 225- to 250-pound men that can run 40-yard dashes in 4.5 seconds and bench press refrigerators?
The Cardinals have two of these athletic freaks on their team in Deone Bucannon and Haason Reddick. Both are former first-round picks who light up the charts in nearly every physical testing category.
Right now, though, they are having trouble getting consistent playing time. One player that's keeping them off the field? Josh Bynes, an eight-year veteran who, if built in a lab, wasn't given the same state-of-the-art parts.
"I've never been the fastest player in the world, but I don't really care for that," Bynes said. "I'm not the strongest. One thing's for sure, though: I know what I need to do on each and every down. I'll give you that. And I'll go as hard as I can and as fast as I can."
Bucannon ran a 4.49-second 40-yard dash coming out of college, Reddick a 4.52 and Bynes a 4.81. However, football is not all physical. The new Cardinals coaching staff began the offseason believing Bucannon and Reddick would be its top two linebackers, until Bynes forced himself into a full-time role.
He has 30 tackles this season, and analytics site Pro Football Focus has given Bynes a team-best 82.4 grade through four games. Beyond his own responsibility, Bynes makes sure the entire defense lines up correctly before each snap.
"When it gets hectic, when things get chaotic, when there is a lot of noise out there on the field, somebody has to take control," defensive coordinator Al Holcomb said. "He's been doing that for us, in terms of orchestrating everything. That's what we need that position to be able to do for us."
Bynes had an early jumpstart on learning the intricacies of linebacker because his dad, Herb, was his position coach in high school. When Bynes got to college at Auburn, he gravitated to the responsibility of the defensive play-caller.
"I'd be the guy with the wristband," Bynes said.
Bynes went undrafted in 2011 but stuck with the Ravens for three seasons and the Lions for three more. He remained unsigned during the 2017 offseason until the Cardinals finally called in the middle of training camp.
Bynes performed so well in short order that he made the team, and the Cardinals inked him to a three-year extension this offseason. Despite the physical limitations, Bynes, 29, will have 10 years in the NFL if he plays out the contract.
"You can find all the measurables, but the one thing about football is, it's football," Bynes said. "I'm a living testament to that."
There was a play against the Seahawks on Sunday that personified Bynes' mental aptitude. Seattle had a 4th-and-1 from the Arizona 44 with 34 seconds left before halftime.
As Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson moved under center, Bynes plugged the gap of a would-be quarterback sneak. As Wilson switched to shotgun, Bynes responded by moving around the Cardinals' defensive linemen. Bynes won the cat-and-mouse game as the Seahawks eventually called timeout. Seattle turned the ball over on downs on the next snap.
"I tried to listen to what he was saying and think about what we have going on," Bynes said. "I'm moving guys because I'm figuring something out. Coach (Holcomb), if I feel like something is going on, he gives me the ability to do that. I just want to put us in the best position to win that down, and then win the game."
Bynes' athletic shortcomings are rarely glaring because he always knows where to be, and his football intelligence is a boon to the whole defense. It's a gift that is hard to duplicate – on a football field or in a lab.
"I'm not perfect," Bynes said. "Everybody makes mistakes. That's part of the game. But I just love having that on my back, knowing that guys can trust me. That's a hard thing to have in life, or in a relationship, or anything. When people trust you, you don't want to let them down. That's what I think about when I take the field. I don't want guys to lose trust in me. I'm going to get us in the best situation, the best checks, each and every play."
Images from past matchups between the Cardinals and this week's opponent, the 49ers
San Francisco 49ers fullback Roger Craig (33), runs for good yardage as he is tackled by St. Louis Cardinals cornerback Ken Sims during the fourth quarter on Sunday, Oct. 19, 1987 at Candlestick Park, San Francisco. Craig ran for 71 yards and received for 99 yards also scoring two touchdowns.
San Francisco 49ers Roger Craig takes to the air to try to pick up extra yardage as Phoenix Cardinals Lonnie Young moves in for the tackle during first quarter action in their game on Sunday, Nov. 6, 1988 in Tempe, Arizona. San Francisco led 16-0 at the half.
San Francisco 49ers' Jerry Rice eyes the hall as he?s hit by a Steve Young pass for a 37-yard gain during second-quarter action on Sunday, Oct. 24, 1993 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. Defending on the play is Phoenix Cardinals' Robert Massey.
San Francisco 49er quarterback Jeff Garcia scrambles through the Arizona Cardinal defense to gain first down yardage during the fourth quarter of the 49ers 24-10 victory Monday, Sept. 27, 1999, in Tempe, Az. The Cardinals Brad Ottis moves for the tackle.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Terrell Owens scores on a 21-yard pass play in front of Arizona Cardinals safety Kwamie Lassiter (42), cornberback Renaldo Hill (21), defensive tackle Wendell Bryant (92) and safety Justin Lucas (41) during the first quarter, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002 in San Francisco.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Jake Plummer watches the action in the last few minutes of the San Francisco 49ers 38-28 win over in the fourth quarter, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002 in San Francisco.
Arizona Cardinals running back Marcel Shipp scores from the six yard line in front of San Francisco 49ers safety Tony Parrish, left, and defensive end Andre Carter in the second quarter, Sunday, Oct. 27, 2002 in San Francisco.
Arizona Cardinals running back Troy Hambrick scores past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ahmed Plummer on a 2-yard pass reception in the second quarter Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004, in San Francisco.
Arizona Cardinals receiver Anquan Boldin pulls in a pass as San Francisco 49ers' Shawntae Spencer defends in the first quarter Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, in Tempe, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown, left, throws a pass under pressure from San Francisco 49ers linebacker Brandon Moore in the second quarter Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004, in San Francisco.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Lloyd catches a touchdown in front of Arizona Cardinals cornerback David Macklin late in the fourth quarter Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004, in San Francisco. The 49ers beat the Cardinals, 31-28, in overtime.
San Francisco 49ers quarterbackTim Rattay, right, is pursued by Arizona Cardinals defensive tackle Bertrand Berry (92) and defensive tackle Darnell Dockett (90) in the fourth quarter Sunday, Oct. 10, 2004 in San Francisco. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals, 31-28, in overtime.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown celebrates his two-point conversion to tie the game against the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, in Tempe, Ariz. The 49ers won, 31-28.
San Francisco 49ers Mike Adams (20) and Tony Brown (98) try to bring down Arizona Cardinals running back Emmitt Smith in the first quarter Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, in Tempe, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh McCown (12) looks to pass in the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Dec. 12, 2004, in Tempe, Ariz. McCown returned as a starter this week after being benched the past two weeks by coach Dennis Green.
Arizona Cardinals wide reciever Larry Fitzgerald enters the end zone for a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Willie Middlebrooks tries to stop him during the first half of a regular season game at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico on Sunday Oct. 2, 2005.
Arizona Cardinals safety Robert Griffith enters the field holding a Mexican flag at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico on Sunday Oct. 2, 2005. In the first regular-season NFL game outside the United States in the league's 86-year history, the winless Arizona Cardinals face the 49ers in front of an expected 85,000 fans.
Arizona Cardinals cornerback Eric Green gets tackled by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Tim Rattay during the first half of a regular season NFL game, the first outside of the United States at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico on Sunday Oct. 2, 2005.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Tevo Johnson, right, gets tackled by San Francisco 49ers Safety Tony Parrish during the first half of the first regular season NFL game held outside of the United States at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, Mexico on Sunday Oct. 2, 2005.
Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin (81) dives into the end zone past San Francisco 49ers' Shawntae Spencer, right, on 54-yard touchdown reception during the fourth quarter Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005, in San Francisco. Arizona won 17-10.
San Francisco 49ers' Mke Adams, left, intercepts a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals' Anquan Boldin, center, during the second quarter in San Francisco on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2005. At right is 49ers' Derrick Johnson.
Arizona Cardinals receiver Bryant Johnson (80) is pulled down by San Francisco 49ers Mike Adams (20) during the first quarter of NFL football action Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006 at Cardinals Stadium in Glendale. Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals runningback Edgerrin James (32) runs past San Francisco 49ers Melvin Oliver (96), Walt Harris, center, and Derek Smith, bottom, for a short gain during the third quarter of NFL football action Sunday, Sept. 10, 2006 at Cardinals Stadium in Glendale. Ariz. The Cardinals won 34-27.
Arizona Cardinals' Chike Okeafor, right, reaches to sack San Francisco 49ers' Alex Smith in the first quarter of their NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2006.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, right, is chased by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Derek Smith during the first half on an NFL football game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007.
Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James, right, loses the ball while he is tackled by San Francisco 49ers linebacker Patrick Willis during the first half of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Monday, Sept. 10, 2007. Arizona recovered the ball.
Arizona Cardinals' Kurt Warner (13) throws over San Francisco 49ers' Marques Douglas in the second quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz.
San Francisco 49ers' Trent Dilfer (12) dives for a first down as Arizona Cardinals' Calvin Pace moves in for the tackle in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 25, 2007, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Steve Breaston (15) gets to one yard line in the fourth quarter of their NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald breaks the tackle of San Francisco 49ers linebacker Manny Lawson (99) in the first quarter of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008, in San Francisco.
Arizona Cardinals running back Edgerrin James (32) tries to get away from San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements, right, in the first quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2008.
Arizona Cardinals running back Tim Hightower is stopped by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Nate Clements during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Sept. 13, 2009 in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals running back LaRod Stephens-Howling (36) in action during the second quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 14, 2009.
San Francisco 49ers safety Dashon Goldson, left, breaks up a pass intended for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, right, during the second quarter of their NFL football game in San Francisco, Monday, Dec. 14, 2009.
San Francisco 49ers' Frank Gore, right, runs past Michael Adams (27) during an NFL football game Monday, Nov. 29, 2010, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 27-6.
San Francisco 49ers running back Brian Westbrook (20) tries to break away from Arizona Cardinals safety Adrian Wilson (24) in the third quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Jan. 2, 2011.
Arizona Cardinals' Early Doucet against the San Francisco 49ers in an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 11, 2011 in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback John Skelton (19) looks to throw as San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) watches during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 29, 2012, in Glendale, Ariz.
San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore (21) is tackled by Arizona Cardinals outside linebacker Sam Acho (94) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012.
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Daryl Washington (58) tackles San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree during the second half of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Dec. 30, 2012.
Arizona Cardinals running back Andre Ellington (38) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers safety Donte Whitner (31) during the third quarter of an NFL football game in San Francisco, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2013.
Arizona Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, left, and San Francisco 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh shake hands after an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 29, 2013, in Glendale, Ariz. The 49ers won 23-20.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver John Brown (12) scores a touchdown as San Francisco 49ers free safety Eric Reid (35) defends during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014, in Glendale, Ariz.
San Francisco 49ers strong safety Craig Dahl #43, Arizona Cardinals tight end Darren Fells #85 and San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Nick Moody #54 during an NFL game played at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2014.
San Francisco 49ers running back Carlos Hyde (28) is tackled in the end zone for a safety by Arizona Cardinals strong safety Deone Bucannon (20) and Kevin Minter, bottom, during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals free safety Tyrann Mathieu (32) celebrates his interception against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 27, 2015, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals guard Mike Iupati (76) against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 29, 2015.
Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson (31) runs from San Francisco 49ers linebacker Nick Bellore, middle, and defensive end Taylor Hart (96) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 6, 2016.
Arizona Cardinals tight end Jermaine Gresham (84) is hit by San Francisco 49ers free safety Eric Reid (35) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) throws as San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Eli Harold (58) pursues during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Jaron Brown (13) is hit by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Jimmie Ward (25) and cornerback Dontae Johnson (36) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz.
Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) pulls in the game winning touchdown as San Francisco 49ers cornerback Rashard Robinson (33) defends during overtime of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 1, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 18-15.
Arizona Cardinals running back Adrian Peterson (23) runs against San Francisco 49ers defensive end Leger Douzable during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017.
Arizona Cardinals inside linebacker Karlos Dansby (56) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017.
