Arizona Cardinals notebook: Team places running backs coach James Saxon on administrative leave
The Cardinals have placed running backs coach James Saxon on administrative leave following news that he had been charged with two counts of domestic violence earlier this summer.
On Thursday, ESPN reported that Saxon was charged with two counts of domestic battery, including a low-level felony for allegedly assaulting a woman in front of a child under the age of 16, on May 25 in Indianapolis. The charges stem from an incident on May 7.
“We are aware of the incident and notified the NFL as required,” the Cardinals said in a statement. “The matter is currently under review pursuant to league policies. After consultation with the league office, James has been placed on paid administrative leave. We will have no further comment pending additional proceedings.”
Coach Kliff Kingsbury, addressing reporters after Friday’s training camp practice, said the team was aware of Saxon’s arrest when it happened. Saxon, however, has continued to coach the team’s running backs throughout the offseason and every day thus far in training camp up until Friday, when he was not at State Farm Stadium.
Read more: Cards RB coach faces domestic battery charges involving Indiana woman
News of Saxon’s domestic battery charges came a day after Cardinals wide receiver Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was arrested for criminal speeding upon being clocked driving 126 mph on Loop 101.
“As a head football coach, you want the focus to be on football and you don’t want distractions for your team,” Kingsbury said. “It’s early in camp, I’m hoping we can get back to really focusing on football and trying to become the best team we can be. It’s never something you want to stand up here and answer every day it seems like.
“But that’s how it’s played out and moving forward, we’ve got to be better as an organization handling our business, there’s no question.”
Kingsbury said he is hoping the veteran leadership within the locker room will help keep the club focused.
“You never want to have distractions when you’re trying to build a team and build camaraderie and trying to be the best version of yourselves, but we’ve definitely had that,” Kingsbury said. “Luckily, we have some great leaders and guys who can compartmentalize things and continue to work to get better. But you’d like the focus to be on football moving forward and hopefully, that’s the case.”
During Saxon’s absence, Kingsbury said, offensive assistants Don Shumpert and Kenny Bell will shares responsibilities when it comes to coaching the running backs.
Saxon’s Class 6 felony count comes with a sentence range of six months to 2½ years in prison. The other charge, a misdemeanor, has a sentencing range of up to a year in prison. Saxon is scheduled for an attorney conference on Aug. 25, according to the report, at which a trial date could be set.
Saxon, 56, joined the Cardinals in 2019 and is in his 23rd season as an NFL coach, having previously served as running backs coach with the Bills, Chiefs, Dolphins, Vikings and Steelers. A running back at San Jose State, he was drafted by the Chiefs in 1988 and played eight seasons in the NFL with Kansas City, Miami and Philadelphia.
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Not practicing
Like Thursday, several players were given an excused veteran’s day off from practice on Friday, including defensive end J.J. Watt, offensive linemen Justin Pugh and Kelvin Beachum, running back James Conner, backup quarterback Colt McCoy and cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.
Meanwhile, tight end Zach Ertz (calf), receiver Antoine Wesley (groin/hip), cornerback Marco Wilson (groin) and rookie tight end Trey McBride (back) missed their second day of workouts. With so many players not available, Kingsbury ended Friday’s practice some 30 minutes early.
“We were down a bunch of guys, a lot of the injuries, a lot of things like that, plus we had those rest days,” Kingsbury said, explaining the shorter session. “We’re trying to stay consistent and even. If we know we’re going to be down bodies, we don’t want to put those guys out there for need.”
Kingsbury said he is hoping quarterback Kyler Murray (COVID) will be back for Saturday’s “Red and White Practice.” Murray has been out all week since testing positive for the virus but has been participating in quarterback meetings via Zoom.
“He wants to be back, there’s no doubt. I can tell,” Kingsbury said. “He’s about over it. He’s been good. He feels better, there’s no doubt, so that’s good. But yeah, he just wants to get back out there. I think he’s getting stir crazy.”
Read more: Cardinals WR 'Hollywood' Brown returns to camp after arrest
Friendly feud
When the Cardinals puts on pads for the first time in camp on Tuesday, the physicality ratcheted up and as a result, three brief skirmishes broke out on the field between players. One of them was a dust-up between receiver DeAndre Hopkins and linebacker Isaiah Simmons.
“Hop’s actually like my best friend on the team. He’s like my big brother,” Simmons would say later. “To get under his skin, I had to keep going. We had a good hug at the end of the day. He knows there’s no hard feelings. I know there’s no hard feelings. That’s why I was smiling the whole time. But I was glad to see him get a little fiery because he’s a really, really calm, peaceful person.
“I don’t know if you know but he’s got a big peace sign on his hand that’s tattooed. So to see him get like that, it’s kind of fun. It’s something good to see.”
Simmons said Hopkins has been one of his biggest mentors since entering the NFL three years ago as a first-round pick out of Clemson. Hopkins, who also attended Clemson, is always pushing the young defensive standout, and pulling him aside to offer advice and admonishment alike.
How did they become friends?
“My rookie year I was standing outside the (team) facility and he was like walking in and he said, ‘Take my number down,’ ” Simmons recalled. “We hung out that weekend and ever since we’ve just kind of clicked. Our relationship has grown greatly.”
Related: Cardinals plan to use Isaiah Simmons' versatility on defense
Money matters
Not only were the Cardinals able to keep starting left tackle D.J. Humphries under contract through the 2025 season by signing him to a three-year extension earlier this week, but they were also able to clear some salary cap space this season.
According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Humphries received a $17 million bonus as part of the extension and will earn $21 million in 2022. His cap hit, however, dropped to $12.6 million, creating $6.7 million in available cap space for Arizona.
Dortch-land
Greg Dortch might have bounced around with five different teams in the past four years, but the 5-foot-7 wide receiver and kick returner might have found a home with the Cardinals since joining the franchise last season, spending most of his time on the practice squad.
“He’s gotten better and better. He was definitely our scout team MVP last year,” Kingsbury said. “I mean, every time we went to practice, he was making play after play after play. … Everybody on the field – offensively, defensively, special teams – has faith in him.”
What separates Dortch, according to Kingsbury, is the former Wake Forest standout’s dauntless exploits.
“He’s fearless, I’d say first and foremost,” the coach said. “You watch him return punts and he never wants to fair catch it. And anytime he gets his number called, he’ll go up and go across the middle and he doesn’t think anybody can cover him. He’s a guy with a very confident personality.
“He’s just got to continue to learn the system and really master it. I think that’s the next step for him But anytime he’s been asked to make a play, play in a game, whatever he does, scout team, he’s always somehow coming up with plays.”
Have an opinion on the Arizona Cardinals? Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic.com and follow him on Twitter @azbobbymac. Listen to him live on Fox Sports 910-AM every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 on Calling All Sports with Roc and Manuch.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals place RB coach James Saxon on administrative leave
