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Tinted Visor Craze Hits Cardinals

Players taking the practice field with "swagged out" look

QB Kyler Murray (left) and WR Christian Kirk are among the players wearing tinted visors this offseason
QB Kyler Murray (left) and WR Christian Kirk are among the players wearing tinted visors this offseason

Kliff Kingsbury downplays comparisons to actor Ryan Gosling, preferring to be known as a football coach and not a celebrity.

But the Cardinals coach is happy to let his players look as Hollywood as possible.

The practice field has been bombarded with tinted visors this offseason, as rookies, veterans, stars and role players alike have kept their eyes hidden behind the mask.

"I think as swagged out as they want to get, it's all right," Kingsbury said. "And it's bright every day. I feel their pain. I wear sunglasses, so they can wear visors."

Notable players wearing the tinted visors include quarterback Kyler Murray, running back David Johnson, cornerback Patrick Peterson, linebacker Terrell Suggs, wide receiver Christian Kirk, safety D.J. Swearinger, cornerback Byron Murphy, linebacker Jordan Hicks, tight end Ricky Seals-Jones, cornerback Robert Alford and defensive end Darius Philon, among others.

"Everybody wants to look good out there," Swearinger said. "Get a good picture for Instagram."

It's a stark departure from last season, when tinted visors were not allowed by coach Steve Wilks, according to running back Chase Edmonds.

"Someone might have had one," Edmonds said. "Maybe Pat P. If you're 8-for-8 (on Pro Bowls), then yeah, go on with that tinted visor. Go on, Pat. But he was like the only one."

Now that he's allowed to wear it, Edmonds has joined the tinted visor brigade.

"I've always been a visor guy," Edmonds said. "I like it a lot. It gives you some shade. You ain't got the sun in your eyes. You got the swag look. I think T-Suggs has the mirror one. You can't see (in) at all. That's dope."

Some players forgo the tinted visors for practical reasons. Edge rusher Chandler Jones doesn't wear one because it makes it harder for him to breathe, but Swearinger scoffed at that.

"D-linemen, man, them boys tend to not be as in good of shape as the DBs," Swearinger said. "I've heard that in the past, but if you're in good shape, you're good."

The tinted visors won't make their way to the games, as the NFL outlawed them in 1998. While Murray likes the look in practice, he is not against the ban.

"Then other people would be able to wear it, and a lot of people look way more scary than I do," Murray said.

Swearinger will continue to wear his clear visor on Sundays -- unless he can successfully petition the NFL to wear the tinted option. That only happens in specific cases accompanied by doctor's note.

"I think I'm going to get LASIK this offseason," Swearinger said. "I might have a little excuse."

Images from Friday's offseason work

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