Arizona Cardinals

Cardinals' Ifeanyi Momah finally found where he belongs

Published May. 18, 2015 4:08 p.m. ET

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The Arizona Cardinals signed Ifeanyi Momah after watching him at the veteran combine. Momah, a wide receiver his whole career is finally making the switch to tight end.

Momah told the Cardinals official team page he probably should have made the switch a long time ago.  

“My agent’s been telling me since I first came out that I should be a tight end, but I was kind of stubborn,” Momah said. “I was a receiver at heart.”

Although Momah wasn't crazy about switching positions, he knew he needed to make a change if he wanted to have a career in the NFL.

“When I got released in Philadelphia this past year in August, I knew something had to change,” Momah said. “I was about 230 pounds and fighting to stay at that weight. I didn’t feel strong. I didn’t feel like myself.”

Momah finally agreed to make the switch when the Detroit Lions called and asked him to try out as a tight end.

“It was the first time I ever put my hand on the ground in a workout,” he said.

Momah didn't make the Lions roster, but continued to work as a tight end until he eventually got signed by the Cardinals. Head coach Bruce Arians had nothing but positive things to say about the ex-wide receiver.

“I can’t say Mo’s real name, but he’s been really impressive the first week and a half,” coach Bruce Arians said last week. “I’m going to need to learn how to say his name pretty soon because he’s impressing me.”

Momah is hoping that playing the position he was built for will be an advantage in the NFL.

“When you get to the NFL, there are  5-(foot)-6 guys and 5-8 guys who can just run better, because they have a lower center of gravity and can get in and out of routes,” Momah said. “I feel like I can keep up, but it wasn’t easy. It was tough. Being inside and getting matched up with the safeties and linebackers, it’s a huge difference than being matched up with corners – guys that can stay on your hip and run with you. I know I have a big advantage with that. I need to take advantage of it.”

(h/t Arizona Cardinals)

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