Cardinals promise 'aggressive' offseason

The Arizona Cardinals entered 2016 with much higher expectations than a 7-8-1 season that would end without a playoff game. To ensure that won't happen again in 2017, the team's front office is bracing for a busy offseason.

"We'll certainly be aggressive and keep our foot on the gas pedal, try to keep pushing this thing in the right direction," general manager Steve Keim said to Darren Urban of the team's official website.

The Cardinals were just one win away from appearing in the Super Bowl in 2015, so the results of the following season were a shock to the system.

"There's no doubt we took a step back last year. We've got to pick up the pieces and make some good decisions this offseason," Keim said.

Veteran quarterback Carson Palmer and receiver Larry Fitzgerald have committed to returning for another shot at glory in 2017. The team houses what is believed to be a championship roster, but Keim will be working on plugging any perceived holes in the ship.

"It's a tough double-edged sword for me. There are guys like Carson and Larry where you know the end is sooner rather than later. So you have to try and build around them and, so to speak, go for it now," Keim said.

"But that's our mindset every year. We're never in a rebuilding phase."