The Sports Xchange

TEMPE, Ariz. — Optimistic and confident, the Arizona Cardinals wrapped up offseason work this week, firmly believing they can make a run at the franchise’s first Super Bowl victory.

Head coach Bruce Arians ended mandatory minicamp a day early because he believed the team had accomplished everything it could. And just as important, no serious injuries were suffered.

Arians didn’t want to risk one by holding what would have been an abbreviated practice on Thursday.

There was a feeling of accomplishment everywhere around the team’s Tempe facility. Construction workers were putting the finishing touches on a multimillion dollar renovation of the team’s headquarters. Players spent the final minicamp in the expanded locker room, which is located next to the expanded weight room and the new dining facility.

The Cardinals think they have a state-of-the-art roster, too.

Assistant head coach Tom Moore has won Super Bowls while coaching with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts. He’s excited to see what the 2015 Cardinals can accomplish.

“In 38 years, I can’t say I’ve ever been this excited,” Moore told azcentralsports.com. “I’m really excited with what I see. You just see the camaraderie among the team. We’re still in the process of getting the team element, which is the final roster of 53. That’s when we become the Cardinals. But the talent and the work ethic and what I’m seeing in the weight room … I haven’t been this fired up in 38 years.”

Quarterback Carson Palmer is in the best shape of his career, which is saying something because he has always had an impressive work ethic.

By mandatory minicamp, he was taking the starter’s share of all snaps and looked fully recovered from the torn ACL suffered seven months ago.

Palmer will be protected by what the Cardinals expect to be one of the franchise’s best offensive lines since moving to Arizona in 1988.

“We still have a long way to go and a lot of football to be played,” Palmer said. “Pads change a lot of things for a lot of guys. But it’s a good-looking group.”