Arizona linebacker Sean Weatherspoon has been a popular man in the Cardinals’ locker room leading to the NFC Championship game.
The former Falcons star, who played four seasons in the NFC South, has been more than willing to share his insights into Carolina quarterback Cam Newton and the Panthers leading to Sunday’s 6:40 p.m. matchup at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.
“Just thinking about playing Cam over the years and watching him on tape, they’ve obviously got it going,” Weatherspoon said in phone interview after practice Thursday. “They have for the past couple of years. You can kind of tell that he’s taken that next step as far as his maturity level goes. He’s definitely doing some good things out there with the football. He’s not turning it over.”
Weatherspoon, who was the Falcons’ first-round pick in the 2010 draft (19th overall), ruptured his Achilles tendon while running with the training staff in June 2014.
Last offseason, the Falcons wanted to re-sign Weatherspoon and thought he was a key part of rebuilding the defense. However, the Falcons offered a performance-based and incentive-laden deal, while Arizona’s deal was guaranteed.
Given his injury history, Weatherspoon was advised by his representatives to accept the offer with guaranteed money.
Weatherspoon, 28, was slowed by a hamstring injury, but started to see more action late this season. The 6-foot-1, 241-pounder played in 14 games as a reserve and made nine tackles for the Cardinals.
Over the past six games, Weatherspoon has played an average of 13.3 snaps per game. He played a season-high 18 against the Packers in the divisional-round playoff game Saturday.
He likes the way he and the Cardinals are playing.
“We have a tough front, and (Kevin) Minter is playing (middle linebacker),” Weatherspoon said. “I’ve had a history covering backs from being in Atlanta going against (Darren) Sproles and the guys that we had on the roster like Antoine (Smith) and Jacquizz (Rodgers) all of those scatbacks. They’ve wanted me to go out there and do that. Since the Cincinnati game in Week 8 or 9, things started to pick up a little bit more.”
After his second season in the NFL, Weatherspoon appeared headed to Pro Bowl status. He had career-highs in tackles (127) and sacks (four) and was named second-team all-NFL by profootballfocus.com in 2011. In the 2012 season, when the Falcons reached the NFC Championship game, Weatherspoon had more than 100 tackles.
But it’s been a struggle since for Weatherspoon. He played in only seven games in 2013 after hamstring and knee injuries and missed all of 2014 with a blown Achilles.
Then he suffered a hamstring injury on the first day of training camp with the Cardinals and didn’t play until the final exhibition game.
“I didn’t get a chance to compete, and that was tough,” Weatherspoon said. “Ultimately, I just accepted whatever role I had and just went at it the best way that I could.”
So, the late-season and playoff action, has been promising to Weatherspoon, who’s set to play in his second championship game.
“I understand what this moment is completely about,” Weatherspoon said. “I was a young player, playing in the NFC Championship game. I understand now. (Former Falcons tight end) Tony (Gonzalez) was in like his 17th year and hadn’t even been there before.
“A lot of people don’t get a chance to play in the championship game twice. You just can’t take it for granted. You don’t want this moment to slip by.”
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