The 2000 season was the Arizona Cardinals' 81st season in the National Football League (NFL), their 102nd overall and their 13th in Arizona. The Cardinals ranked 24th in the NFL in total offense and 30th in total defense.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 215 The Cardinals ranked last in the NFC in Takeaways/Giveaways with a rating of −24.
The Cardinals surrendered 443 points in 2000, the second-worst in the NFL that season, and second-worst in franchise history.The St. Louis Rams surrendered 471 points in 2000; the 2003 Cardinals allowed 452 points. Arizona's minus-233 point differential is the worst in team history.Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1940 to 2012, playing for the Ari (StL/Chi) Cardinals, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points Differential.
Two of the Cardinals' three victories came by one point each (vs. NFC East rivals Dallas and Washington), and they were 0–8 on the road. Following the most lopsided of those eight road losses, 48–7 at Dallas in week eight, coach Vince Tobin was fired, ending his tenure in the desert after 4½ seasons with a 29–44 record. Defensive coordinator Dave McGinnis was named interim coach, and he held the job through the end of the 2003 season. The 3–13 mark would be matched in 2018.
The Cardinals suffered through their poorest season since the 1970 AFL–NFL merger, eclipsing the 4–12 marks of 1991, 1992, 1995 and 1997. The Cardinals also went 4–9–1 in 1971, 1972 and 1973, and 4–11–1 in 1986, and would suffer through another 4–12 campaign in 2003.
Offseason Signings Position Player 1999 team Date signed Contract PK Cary Blanchard New York Giants February 28 Undisclosed G Norberto Davidds-Garrido Carolina Panthers April 20 2 years C Mike Gruttadauria St. Louis Rams February 19 4 years, $8.6 million DT Tony McCoy Indianapolis Colts June 9 2 years
Re-signings Position Player Designation Date signed Contract DB Tommy Bennett UFA July 22 QB Dave Brown UFA February 22 2 years TE Derek Brown UFA April 28 Undisclosed DE Jerry Drake UFA May 23 Undisclosed OL Matt Joyce UFA February 22 3 years TE Chris Gedney Other February 23 Undisclosed LB Mark Maddox UFA Undisclosed LB Ronald McKinnon UFA February 24 3 years DT Brad Ottis UFA March 29 2 years DT Mark Smith RFA June 28 Undisclosed
Departures Position Player Reason 2000 team RB Mario Bates Released Detroit Lions OT James Dexter UFA Carolina Panthers C Aaron Graham UFA Kansas City Chiefs TE Johnny McWilliams UFA Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Murrell UFA Washington Redskins LB Patrick Sapp UFA Indianapolis Colts DE Eric Swann Released Carolina Panthers
NFL draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 2000 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeDeke CooperSafetyNotre DameRenard CoxCornerbackMarylandGreg DeboltPunterPittsburghBryan GilmoreWide receiverMidwestern StateSean KeenanQuarterbackWilliamsMatt KellerFullbackOhio StateJohn ShoemakerWide receiverUC DavisDavid WaldenGuardStephen F. AustinJordan YoungerCornerbackUConn
Personnel
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue 1 Denver Broncos L 17–31 0–1 Sun Devil Stadium 2 Seattle Seahawks W 21–3 1–1 Sun Devil Stadium 3 at Minnesota Vikings L 17–35 1–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 4 at San Diego Chargers L 20–24 1–3 Qualcomm Stadium
Regular season On December 18, Dave McGinnis was named as the 38th head coach in franchise history. He had been interim coach since October 23, when Vince Tobin was fired.NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 97
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance 1 September 3 at New York Giants L 16–21 0–1 Giants Stadium 77,434 2 September 10 Dallas Cowboys W 32–31 1–1 Sun Devil Stadium 66,008 3 Bye 4 September 24 Green Bay Packers L 3–29 1–2 Sun Devil Stadium 71,801 5 October 1 at San Francisco 49ers L 20–27 1–3 3Com Park 66,985 6 October 8 Cleveland Browns W 29–21 2–3 Sun Devil Stadium 44,296 7 October 15 Philadelphia Eagles L 14–33 2–4 Sun Devil Stadium 38,293 8 October 22 at Dallas Cowboys L 7–48 2–5 Texas Stadium 62,981 9 October 29 New Orleans Saints L 10–21 2–6 Sun Devil Stadium 35,286 10 November 5 Washington Redskins W 16–15 3–6 Sun Devil Stadium 52,244 11 November 12 at Minnesota Vikings L 14–31 3–7 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 64,223 12 November 19 at Philadelphia Eagles L 9–34 3–8 Veterans Stadium 65,356 13 November 26 New York Giants L 7–31 3–9 Sun Devil Stadium 42,094 14 December 3 at Cincinnati Bengals L 13–24 3–10 Paul Brown Stadium 50,289 15 December 10 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 10–44 3–11 Alltel Stadium 53,472 16 December 17 Baltimore Ravens L 7–13 3–12 Sun Devil Stadium 37,452 17 December 24 at Washington Redskins L 3–20 3–13 FedExField 65,711 Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: at New York Giants
Week 2: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 4: vs. Green Bay Packers
Week 5: at San Francisco 49ers
Week 6: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week 7: vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Week 8: at Dallas Cowboys
Week 9: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 10: vs. Washington Redskins
Week 11: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 12: at Philadelphia Eagles
Week 13: vs. New York Giants
Week 14: at Cincinnati Bengals
Week 15: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 16: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Week 17: at Washington Redskins
Standings
NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 290
Best performances David Boston, Week 1, 128 Receiving Yards vs. New York GiantsNFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 207 David Boston, Week 2, 102 Receiving Yards vs. Dallas Cowboys David Boston, Week 7, 123 Receiving Yards vs. Philadelphia Eagles David Boston, Week 14, 184 Receiving Yards vs. Cincinnati Bengals Jake Plummer, Week 1, 318 Passing Yards vs. New York GiantsNFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 206 Simeon Rice, Week 12, 3.0 Quarterback Sacks vs. Philadelphia EaglesNFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, , p. 209
Records Led NFL, kickoffs, 86 Led NFL, kickoff yards returned, 2296 Led NFL, average kickoff yards per return, 26.7 Led NFL, kickoff returns for touchdowns, 3
References
Cardinals on Pro Football Reference Cardinals on jt-sw.com