New Cardinals radio color analyst revealed to be A.Q. Shipley

Cardinals owner Michael Bidwill on Shipley’s hiring:

“Great guy, knows the game so well,” Bidwill told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke after the announcement on Monday. “When you think about the positions that have to know the game … center is super important, and A.Q. is so smart. I think he’s going to do a great job of translating the game and filling those big cleats of Ron Wolfley.”

Shipley was drafted in the seventh round of the 2009 draft at 226th overall by the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, 6’1 offensive lineman didn’t make the roster and wouldn’t get his first opportunity until 2012 with the Indianapolis Colts. The next season, he found himself on the Baltimore Ravens before returning to the Colts the subsequent year.

After bouncing around his first three seasons, Shipley found his home with the Cardinals, appearing in 59 games and starting 40 games. He was the starting center for the franchise in 2016 and 2017, where quarterbacks like Carson Palmer, Drew Stanton and Blaine Gabbert were under center for Shipley.

“Yes, it’s going to be difficult,” Shipley said. “It’s going to be very difficult to actually watch [the Cardinals] play and know that I’m not there. Yet at the same time, I also know my responsibility of being a dad and how important that is, and that pretty much puts everything into perspective for me.”

Arizona begin its preseason schedule against the Kansas City Chiefs on Aug. 9th, which will likely be Shipley’s first opportunity to call for the team on the air.