A.Q. Shipley Named New Cardinals Radio Analyst
A.Q. Shipley performed within the NFL for 12 years however the majority of his time was with the Cardinals and with it, nearly all of his fondest professional reminiscences.
“I liked each facet of my time in Arizona,” Shipley stated.
The middle shaped his closest friendships with linemen like Justin Pugh, Jared Veldeer, Mike Iupati and Earl Watford, and nonetheless takes holidays with quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton. He and his household dwell within the Valley.
Shipley has an opportunity to construct on these reminiscences after the Cardinals chosen him because the crew’s new shade analyst, changing Ron Wolfley. Wolfley retired in February after 20 seasons within the sales space.
“I feel there’s a complete totally different space of experience to explaining the sport and that begins and finishes actually with the offensive line,” Shipley stated. “Once I performed, I used to be two inches too quick, my arms had been two inches too quick. How did I keep within the league all that point? I took it very critically, studied my tail off and felt that I used to be more durable and labored more durable than most.
“I will take the identical facet into this. I feel it is actually cool to speak about why this straightforward inside zone works to the left however the protection ran a twist stunt and wrapped the Will linebacker. I am talking a overseas language to some, but when I can try this in a method the place my Mother can perceive it then I do know all people can perceive it.”
Shipley will even function a model ambassador to the group in addition to seem on the crew’s TV reveals and podcasts. However his predominant function shall be working alongside play-by-play man Dave Pasch and sideline reporter Paul Calvisi, every of whom have been on the printed crew for greater than 20 years.
“Once you have a look at whether or not it is Wolf or (Invoice) Walton or the NBA or faculty soccer analysts on ESPN, there’s one frequent factor with the most effective,” Pasch stated. “All of them have totally different strengths, totally different personalities, however the greatest frequent denominator is ardour for the sport. A.Q. has that.”
When Pasch and Shipley did a mock broadcast collectively throughout the interview course of, Pasch thought Shipley was “a pure.”
“It’s a little totally different on radio as a result of numerous instances you are simply calling the motion and you are not working off TV parts,” Pasch stated. “You do not have a possibility to be a storyteller as a lot, so there is not as a lot back-and-forth, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a part of my job to assist him get comfy and get to the purpose the place individuals really feel like the 2 of us have actually good chemistry.”
Shipley has been within the media. He has achieved some podcasting with Pugh breaking down offensive line play, he has been making appearances on The Pat McAfee Present — the 2 had been teammates on the Colts — the final couple of years.
Shipley signed with the Cardinals in 2015, becoming a member of head coach Bruce Arians for a 3rd time, having performed with Arians in each Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. Shipley hoped to start out that season, though the Playing cards ultimately signed Lyle Sendlein in coaching camp. Shipley performed a reserve function for a crew that reached the NFC Championship.
He emerged because the starter in 2016 and held that spot by 2019 – though he missed the 2018 season after tearing his ACL in coaching camp. In his 60 video games with the Cardinals, he began 51 instances.
Shipley signed with the Buccaneers – the place Arians was then teaching – in 2020 however solely performed in a few video games earlier than struggling a career-ending neck harm. Shipley earned a Tremendous Bowl ring when Tampa Bay received the Tremendous Bowl that season.
He thought his post-playing profession could be in teaching, and he served on Arians’ Tampa employees in 2021. However with a rising household – he has three kids age 7 and youthful – the life-style of teaching was not a match.
Along with his new duties, Shipley can nonetheless be part of the sport.
“I really like with the ability to discuss soccer,” Shipley stated. “It is mainly doing precisely what I love to do when it comes to a training facet besides now it is in entrance of individuals from the media angle.”