TEMPE, Ariz. — Jen Welter accepts the title of trailblazer, embraces the chance to be a role model for girls and, perhaps most of all, can't wait to get beyond the hype and on to work when the Arizona Cardinals open training camp this weekend.
It's only a six-week internship coaching inside linebackers for the Cardinals, through training camp and the four preseason games. Nonetheless, it marks another barrier broken for women in sports.
The 37-year-old Welter appeared at a news conference at Cardinals headquarters Tuesday and gave all the credit for her hiring to Bruce Arians, saying the coach's "heart made this happen.