TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cardinals players have not gone as far as to start a pool to pick the day defensive coordinator Todd Bowles leaves to become an NFL head coach, but they believe it is coming soon -- despite the three-year contract extension Bowles received Thursday.
"His days are numbered," cornerback Jerraud Powers said.
"It's like a clock counting down. It's not when Todd Bowles is going to leave . . . We just kind of hope the right job doesn't come open as quickly as we think it is going to come. He is definitely deserving of what he gets."
Bowles has shaped the Cardinals' defense into one of the best units in the NFL despite the many "next men up" who have been forced to step into the lineup because of a series of injuries and suspensions. For that he was given a three-year extension through 2017 that will make him one of the five highest-paid assistants in the league, according to reports.
The move took Bowles by surprise. The sides had not been discussing a new contract before team president Michael Bidwill and general manager Steve Keim came to Bowles with the offer.
"They are first-class all the way," Bowles said. "What they did was very generous, very humbling for me."
Bowles, who turns 51 Friday, downplayed the idea that the deal gave him more security.
"You can still get fired in this league," he said. "There is no such thing as security. In this league you have been down low, you have been up high. Like Coach (Bruce) Arians said, you can go from the top floor to the bottom floor real fast."
The deal might enable Bowles to be more picky as head coaching jobs open in the next year or two, but when asked, he was willing to look no further into the future than the Cardinals' game against Detroit at the University of Phoenix Stadium on Sunday.
"I can't even think of that right now," Bowles said. "My job hasn't changed. My focus hasn't changed. I'm trying to beat the Lions."
Bowles served as an interim head coach with Miami in 2011 and was mentioned as a candidate for the Cleveland job last winter before pulling his name from consideration early in the process.
It is not difficult to understand others' infatuation. The Cardinals led the NFL in fewest rushing yards per game (84.4) and were seventh in points allowed in 2013, his first season as the team's defensive coordinator. The unit has put up similar numbers this season despite the loss off linebackers Karlos Dansby (free agency) and Daryl Washington (suspension) and early season-ending injuries to Darnell Dockett and John Abraham.
The Cardinals are third in the league in rushing defense (78.6 yards per game) and have allowed only one team to rush 100 yards in a game this season. They lead the league with 14 interceptions and have 19 takeaways, and their plus-12 turnover margin is tied with New England for the league lead.
Newcomer linebacker Larry Foote, who has made the loss of Dansby palatable, spent 11 of his previous 12 seasons with Pittsburgh, and he believes Bowles has many of the traits that make Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, one of the most widely respected defensive coaches in the game. Like LeBeau, Bowles is an aggressive play-caller who is not afraid to send extra pressure on an opposing quarterback and trust his cornerbacks in single coverage. The Cardinals blitz about four plays in 10, according to a statistical analysis.
"People don't open up the vault for nothing," Foote said when asked what the extension meant. "They're not doing it because they like you or they get along with you. They respect him.
"He's cut from that (LeBeau) cloth," he said, continuing with the comparison. "He's just ahead of his competition, and coordinators are going to have to catch up to him. Brilliant football minds. Former players. Played 'DB.' They know the game in-and-out. Both aggressive. They are just ahead of the curve."
The Cardinals' defense has done its best work late. The Cardinals are plus-11 in turnover margin in the fourth quarter, and they have three defensive touchdowns in the last period after getting two in last week's 31-14 victory over St. Louis.
"He's kind of got that genius sense that he can see a formation and figure out what is coming just by looking at it," defensive tackle Calais Campbell said.
"He has the ability to know what he has in front of him as far as talent goes and put us in a position to win. I personally think he will be a very good head coach. As soon as the rest of the league figures that out, I'm sure he might be be gone. I love playing for him, so I'd like to keep him as long as I can."
Bowles, typically low key, said he did not plan to celebrate the extension any time soon.
"We don't get off for Christmas or Thanksgiving, so this day hasn't changed," Bowles said.
"We are trying to get ready for the Lions."
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BURST: Todd Bowles discussees his contract extension and preparations for this week's game vs. Detroit.
