Cardinals QB Ready For Fresh Start

New Arizona Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is excited to get in the desert and work - indoors of course.

ARIZONA -- New Arizona Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is like many of us, at least when it comes to staying indoors when the weather reaches asinine temperatures here in the desert.

"One thing I am definitely looking forward, I heard camp is indoors just because it gets so hot out there, so being able to enjoy camp at about 70 degrees indoors, that'll be pretty fun," said Ridder in a virtual interview with reporters.

There will be plenty of changes Ridder will have to make after arriving via trade with the Atlanta Falcons weeks ago, though the Cardinals are confident his addition to a quarterback room that already holds Kyler Murray and Clayton Tune will pay dividends.

He's confident - and grateful - to be wearing a new set of threads after starting 17 games for the Falcons the past two years.

"Coming into the league, you know NFL stands for not for long. You're just grateful to be able to go out there and play - no matter who it's for, no matter where it is - you're able to go out there and play the game that we love. I knew myself I didn't play my best football here in Atlanta. And obviously with the new coaching staff on you know, new guys coming in, I knew that it'd be possible that they go in a different direction and they did," said Ridder.

"The Arizona Cardinals reached out to GM Terry [Fontenot] and then he gave me the call. I was ecstatic just to be here in Arizona. I spent a couple of days out there, it was like two Super Bowls ago. I just loved the area. Loved the city of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Glendale kind of that trifecta. It was just a beautiful place. I'm excited to get my family out there, excited to be out there and ready to work."

A new change of scenery provides Ridder with a new opportunity, and despite Murray having a firm grasp on the starting job, Arizona's newest gunslinger has learned all too well how vital being prepared is for a man in his position.

Going from a starter to second option could impact plenty of quarterbacks in this league.

Not Ridder.

"My approach doesn't change anything. When you talked about my rookie year coming in and being behind Marcus [Mariota], I was coming in to learn like I was the starter. It didn't matter what I was - the fourth quarterback or the first quarterback on the roster. It doesn't matter who you are. You have to be ready to go out there and play on Sunday," he said.

"As we saw last year around the league, all it takes is one play, whether that's the first play in Week 1 or the 18th play in Week 16. Whatever it may be, you have to be ready to go and make it a smooth transition from the so-called starter to backup. Just going in being able to learn, being a sponge. Kyler's been in the league for a year or two longer than I have so it's going to be exciting to get over there to learn what he's learned, to see how he learns, to see how he manages the game on and off the field. It's just gonna be interesting."