Steve Keim, Cardinals Agree to New Contract: Latest Details, Comments, Reaction

In a move that has long been anticipated, the Arizona Cardinals signed general manager Steve Keim to a contract extension today, along with head coach Bruce Arians.      

NFL Network's Albert Breer reported the news of the deal. Cardinals vice president of media relations Mark Dalton also provided a statement from team president Michael Bidwill:

Kent Somers of AZCentral.com added further details:

Keim has been part of the Cardinals front office since 1999, but it wasn't until 2013 that he ascended to the role of general manager. While Keim hasn't been on the job long, he has already developed into one of the league's best executives.    

After going 18-30 from 2010 through 2012, Keim took the reins. Arizona is 21-11 during his tenure as GM, including a playoff appearance in 2014. That success has also coincided with Keim's hiring of Arians.

Bidwill first made it clear on Feb. 11 that he intended to extend both Keim and Arians. According to ArizonaSports.com, Bidwill felt he owed it to them due to the fantastic work that they have done:

"

I think it's the right thing to do, and I want to reward people that have had success and brought success to the team. I can't think of two people more deserving—coach of the year, two times in three years, executive of the year. ... They've both done tremendous jobs, brought tremendous leadership and success to the organization and I want to be in the habit of rewarding people that bring that kind of success.

"

In addition to the respect that Bidwill has for Keim and Arians, it is obvious that they have a great deal of belief in each other as well.

When Arians accepted the 2014 AP NFL Coach of the Year Award, he paid Keim the ultimate compliment, per Adam Schein of Schein on Sports:

Keim has shown a great deal of dedication to the Cardinals organization over the course of his career, and that dedication has been reciprocated in the form of a new contract.

Now that Keim is entrenched, though, the challenge is for Arizona to take that next step. Although they made the playoffs in 2014, they must win playoff games and compete for the NFC West crown moving forward.

That certainly won't be easy with the Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and St. Louis Rams standing in their way, but there is enough talent in place to continue improving.

Arizona should be much healthier on the defensive side of the ball in 2015, and the offense will be far superior to what it was late in 2014 provided quarterback Carson Palmer and running back Andre Ellington are able to get back to full strength.

With a strong draft and some shrewd maneuvers in free agency, Keim has a great chance to live up to his contract and solidify himself as one of the top general managers in football.   

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