Rookie Cardinal Stuns NFL Fans After Boldly Calling Out the Cowboys’ ‘America’s Team’ Label.QQ
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Week 9 was a coming out party for Arizona Cardinals rookie defensive lineman Walter Nolen, who had a dominant performance against the Dallas Cowboys.
Making the showing more impressive was the fact that Nolen, who had four tackles (two for loss), one sack, two QB hits and one pass defensed, was making his NFL debut after missing the first seven contests due to injury.
While basking in the glory of his outstanding debut and the Cardinals’ convincing 27-17 win, Nolen took a dig at the Cowboys for their ugly performance, referencing Dallas’ “America’s Team” label.
“Dallas, you know it’s supposed to be America’s team. It didn’t look like it that way,” Nolen said, per PHNX Sports’ Bo Brack.
Normally we’d prefer a rookie to keep a low profile, especially after playing his first NFL game, but Nolen earned the right to diss Dallas after how well he played.
Taken with the No. 16 pick in April’s draft, Nolen was placed on the physically unable to perform list during the offseason because of a calf injury and remained there through the start of the season. Clearly, he was well worth the wait.
“It was amazing. It was even better that we got the dub. So for me to go out there and have the performance I did on top of the win, it was surreal,” Nolen said after the game.
“To have your first NFL game and go out there and do what he did, it’s like, come on man. That’s incredible,” Calais Campbell said of Nolen. “Now I gotta make sure his head don’t get too big. You gotta stay a little poised.”
With Nolen and the Cardinals riding a head of steam following an impressive win over the Cowboys in Week 9, Arizona will look to get a winning streak going in a Week 10 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.
