Arizona Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter refreshed

Cardinals inside linebacker Kevin Minter shed a lot of the baggage he carried in 2014. Gone are the 20 pounds he thought he needed to be the run-stopper coaches wanted. And just as importantly, gone is the harness contraption he wore all year after suffering a torn left pectoral muscle in the first preseason game.

Today, Minter feels like a new man. At 238 pounds, he’s lighter than he was in college at Louisiana State. He’s faster, in better condition and intent on proving he’s more than just a “thumper” who can’t play on obvious passing downs.

“I felt like this game is different now,” Minter said. “A lot of linebackers in this league used to play safety in college. I had to go with the times. I have to keep up with these guys, the Andre Ellingtons, the Chris Johnsons.”

So far the Cardinals are pleased with Minter’s transition. He’s playing not only on first and second downs, but on third downs, too, lining up next to safety Deone Bucannon, who plays linebacker in some passing situations.

The Cardinals need Minter to fulfill the potential they saw when they drafted him in the second round in 2013. Daryl Washington remains suspended. Larry Foote, a starter last year, is now a coach. Sean Weatherspoon hasn’t practiced in pads in camp because of a hamstring injury.

That’s left Minter as “the guy” at inside linebacker, a role he prepared for in the offseason.

To become that guy, Minter had to lose weight. He gave up desserts and cut back on fried foods, a tough adjustment because “I’m from the South,” Minter said.

He also went back to the track workouts he did at Peachtree Ridge High in Suwanee, Ga. The head football coach also was the head track coach, so guess what football players did in the spring?

“It made us better, but it sucked,” Minter said, smiling. “That was some of the best shape I’ve been in.”

So this offseason, Minter went back to running sprints of 100 and 200 yards. It helped him dropped the weight coaches wanted.

“People put a lot on being at that certain weight,” he said. “So I was like, ‘I got you. I’ll be as light as you want me to get. You want me to be 210? I’ll be 210.’”

Minter has been the victim of bad fortune in his short NFL career. In 2013, he played behind Washington and Karlos Dansby. Last year, Minter suffered the torn pectoral on the first play of the preseason.

He had the option of undergoing surgery and missing the season, or wearing a harness that kept him from fully extending his left arm.

Minter opted for the harness, delaying surgery to the offseason.

“Some guys opt for surgery and other guys play through it,” coach Bruce Arians said. “I applauded him for playing through it.

“And he didn’t bitch about it and didn’t look for any help. He took his criticism like a man. A lot of guys would have said, ‘I’m opting out and getting surgery.’”

Asked how much the harness restricted his reach, Minter extended his left arm about halfway.

“I know how important the year was and I knew how much my team needed me,” he said. “If I had a chance to play I was going to take and that’s what happened.

“I didn’t want to boast about it. I felt if I was going to be out there, I was going to put my best foot forward regardless of what was wrong with me. I didn’t want people feeling a certain way about me, like, ‘Oh he’s got an arm (injury) he’s got an excuse.’ But it really wasn’t.”

Minter played in all 16 games, starting five and finishing with 49 tackles. This year, he plans to be more than a role player.

“I always wanted to be ‘that’ guy for this team,” Minter said. “I was the guy in college and felt I could do that at this level, too.”