The Arizona Cardinals didn't sign John Abraham until the eve of training camp last season. Then they didn't utilize him as an every-down player until injuries forced their hand early in the campaign.
Down the stretch he was a key component to the Cardinals making a playoff push. In the last 10 regular-season games of 2013, Abraham compiled 11.5 sacks and 23 of his 31 tackles. Now 36 years old, entering his 15th NFL campaign, Abraham believes he's still able to contribute every snap.
"Damn skippy," the veteran said Tuesday at Arizona's organized team activities, where he sat out to rest, per KTAR-FM. "I'm glad they finally let me do it. I'm definitely ready for it and that's why I'm resting now. I'm not going to put everything on the field now and they say, 'Oh John, you're only out there for 50 percent of the plays.'
"Everybody knows how I play; I don't like to come off the field. Even when I played for Atlanta, it was tough to come off the field."
Last season's sack tally was the fourth-most in his career. Knowing the outside linebacker position better has the veteran aiming for an even higher number in 2014.
"I'm shooting for at least 20 (sacks). I always shoot high," he said. "Shoot high, you might hit low, but at least you shoot high. Don't bowl; you've got to shoot a basket. Shoot high, don't bowl."
There is one bowl that Abraham would like to see.
"Super Bowl in Arizona -- 49 is going to be a nice little number for us this year, so hopefully we can get there and be the first team to do it and win one (in our home stadium), because I'm getting up in age," he said.
Sitting in the NFL's toughest division, the Cardinals will need a rejuvenated Abraham -- and much more -- to make that Super Bowl XLIX dream a reality.Â
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