I got a way to get into the online game from inside the Mexico and you may first here

ROLANDO CANTU, CARDINALS Offending LINEMAN (2004-06) And you will Native From MONTERREY, MEXICO: I was on routine squad into the 2004, got slashed, and additionally they finalized myself back. The fresh plan for 2005 was then put-out, and i also remember perfectly that we had a beneficial training camp one to year and additionally they explained I was carrying out most better. I did wonderfully. I did not [play], but I experienced the ability to be there.

WILSON: I allow the Cardinals a good amount of borrowing from the bank for taking the newest problem and you will carrying it out. Men and women in the group within the Ny extremely must drive the trouble to find out and therefore people and you can who to speak to help you as much as the ownership organizations. Logistic things came into play as well, such as for example time areas, travelling — how far are they planning to need to travelling — that’s why In my opinion Mexico is instance a nice-looking nation, it was not likely to need to be a large travels. Relatively easy away from a time area direction. Loads of you to ran on calculus, as well as the full time, brand new [Cardinals] decided that they had end up being happy to throw in the towel a home game for as long as it produced experience to them financially in the future down and you will enjoy. Geographically, these include quite personal.

If the final 53-guy rosters have been revealed, it clipped myself however, told me they’d sign me back to your practice squad

The new 2005 Cardinals-49ers game inside Estadio Azteca lay a regular-season attendance checklist regarding 103,467 admirers, and therefore stood for nearly four 12 months. Robert Laberge/Getty Pictures

MIKE NOLAN, 49ERS Advisor (2005-08): I remember we’d an event, [group manager] John York and i regarding the conference. He told you, “Would you like to enjoy during the Mexico Urban area or do you need to play about Hall off Fame game?” And i also told you . Really don’t require an additional online game from the preseason my first 12 months. I would instead only play the in the-season online game into the Mexico Area. And i thought out-of a fan perspective, the newest 49ers provides many admirers off truth be told there. I did not learn at the time exactly who we’d gamble, but i finished up to play Arizona. Which is the way i think of they first started.

Thus for me it was, ‘Hey, take it toward

BERTRAND BERRY, CARDINALS Defensive Prevent (2004-09): The initial thing I recall is a good amount of all of our guys did not have passports. To make certain that, in the first place, was anything I found very interesting. With all of the players we’d into group, there is certainly a long range to locate passports and i also just contemplate convinced eg, ‘Man, i had not come everywhere. We hadn’t over one thing besides gamble recreations the entire life.’

GONZALEZ: e were to be kept, is actually a night out together you to definitely from inside the Mexico we have to get having higher respect, due to the historical situations (Tlatelolco Slaughter) of which our company is completely aware here, however, that people must simplify to your colleagues during the the usa. Sure, advantages and you can drawbacks was indeed weighed, it was decided that people needed to just do it because we had to simply accept that we offer a program and you will a great reason behind fun. So, in lieu of emphasizing brand new not-so-favorable matter because of the concept of new time, we chose to provide a choice and you may say, ‘Today, October. dos, there are also things about celebrating.’

The newest NFL got over numerous “American Pan” preseason online game for the Mexico before believed a normal-season video game here. AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana

BERRY: I just had an effective impact regarding the entire situation. We wasn’t those types of boys apprehensive about they. I became excited. I appreciated performing stuff no-one had ever done. useful content Let’s wade stand out in the Mexico. Let us go bring some Cardinals fans back with our company out-of all over new edging.’