2013 Free Agent targets

[CtCardinals78]

These are some guys who should be targets for the Cardinals this March

RB- Rashard Mendenhall the guy is coming off a major injury and had a serious attitude in PIT last year, but all sign point to him not returning in Pittsburgh. Arians was well liked by his players in Pittsburgh and a change of scenery could do him some good, plus he should come cheap.

OT- Brandon Albert I have a suspicion Joeckel may be the guy KC takes at number 1 which will allow KC to cut ties with their star LT. This is a rare situation that does not come around often if it comes to fruition. The Cardinals must make this happen. This one move could go a long way in fixing the OL by putting Albert in at LT, keep Massie at RT and move Brown to RG.

Quentin Groves-Resign him, he played great last year.

Anthony Spencer-Kick the tires on this guy. He may not to be the best pass rusher, but at the right price will add good depth.

Dannell Ellerbe ILB- with Ray Lewis retiring chances are the Ravens won't let him walk, but he's a decent young ILB that could do well next to DWash.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Agreed with all of it but Mendenhall. At this point there are two types of RB's out there. The elite, and the dime a dozen guys.

Unless Mendenhall wants a HUGE pay cut he is not worth the money, IMO.

Look what Arians and company did with Vic Ballard for example. I know it sounds crazy but if William Powell can learn to pass block the I am fine with him, and Ryan "The Infirmary" Williams


Sent from Rugbymuffin's Super Phone

 

[Totally_Red]

Wouldn't be surprised to see Bruce Arians target CB Darius Butler from Indy. You can never have enough cornerbacks.


http://www.nfl.com/player/dariusbutler/79897/profile

 

[kerouac9]

We're not going to have the money to sign two top free agent targets--considering health, Branden Albert might be the best LT prospect on the market, and Levi Brown is still returning to the active roster this spring.

I'd like to bring back Groves, Rashard Johnson, Nick Eason, Paris Lenon, and Greg Toler. Not sure if we're going to have a lot of scratch left over after those guys, even when we release Stewart Bradley.

 

[Chopper0080]

We're not going to have the money to sign two top free agent targets--considering health, Branden Albert might be the best LT prospect on the market, and Levi Brown is still returning to the active roster this spring.

I'd like to bring back Groves, Rashard Johnson, Nick Eason, Paris Lenon, and Greg Toler. Not sure if we're going to have a lot of scratch left over after those guys, even when we release Stewart Bradley.

Yeah, not much money to play with. I don't know if Donnie Avery is a FA, but if he was, Arians might being him in because he knows the system. Maybe a vet QB or a more versatile TE or a RB like Chris Ivory who I would like.

 

[cardpa]

We're not going to have the money to sign two top free agent targets--considering health, Branden Albert might be the best LT prospect on the market, and Levi Brown is still returning to the active roster this spring.

I'd like to bring back Groves, Rashard Johnson, Nick Eason, Paris Lenon, and Greg Toler. Not sure if we're going to have a lot of scratch left over after those guys, even when we release Stewart Bradley.

Funny how fans and beat writers view their local team. A few days ago in our paper (Eagle country) the article ripped on the present CBs for the Eagles DRC and Asomugha as players that should be released and then went on to mention possible replacements for them which included Greg Toler and Michael Adams of the AZ Cardinals.

I personally would let go of Eason and Lenon. I also have a sneaky suspicion that Bradley will be a starter next year. Don't know why just a gut feeling.

 

[NJCardFan]

Funny how fans and beat writers view their local team. A few days ago in our paper (Eagle country) the article ripped on the present CBs for the Eagles DRC and Asomugha as players that should be released and then went on to mention possible replacements for them which included Greg Toler and Michael Adams of the AZ Cardinals.

I personally would let go of Eason and Lenon. I also have a sneaky suspicion that Bradley will be a starter next year. Don't know why just a gut feeling.

That's because Asomugha turned out to be a terrible signing. Sort of like us and Dexter Jackson or Duane Starks.

 

[cardpa]

That's because Asomugha turned out to be a terrible signing. Sort of like us and Dexter Jackson or Duane Starks.

A lot of folks here wanted Asomugha in a Cardinal uniform. Guess we should be happy it never happened. I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone here who thought there come a day where it would be thought that Adams and Toler were better replacements for DRC or Asomugha.

 

[oaken1]

A lot of folks here wanted Asomugha in a Cardinal uniform. Guess we should be happy it never happened. I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone here who thought there come a day where it would be thought that Adams and Toler were better replacements for DRC or Asomugha.

there is player ability....then there is system.....DRC is an athletic freak with poor work ethic...Asomughwhatsisname is a beast with great ability.....IMO both have been poorly utilized in Philly

 

[binkar]

Obviously I'd love a guy like Paul Kruger, but that's just not happening. Nor is Branden Albert IMO.

I'd love Chris Ivory. The guy averages 5.1 YPC and is a really tough runner. I think he's restricted though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1wjt_lmJfs

I'd be interested in James Casey, TE from the Texans.

Martellus Bennet is a great run blocker and above average in the passing game, but I'd doubt we'd pay for him.

Donnie Avery, who was with Arians in Indy last year, could bring a speed element to the offense to help in the vertical passing attack.

Austin Collie has had major injury problems, but maybe worth bringing in on a low risk deal.

Devery Henderson is the king of the go route.

Jasper Brinkley, Vikings LB would be great in Lenon's spot, but likely will cost too much.

Philip Wheeler, LB Raiders. If he would come cheep I'd like him for depth. He locates the ball well and has decent athleticism.

 

[cardpa]

there is player ability....then there is system.....DRC is an athletic freak with poor work ethic...Asomughwhatsisname is a beast with great ability.....IMO both have been poorly utilized in Philly

They both have acquired a reputation as guys who don't like playing to the scheme of the defense in Philly. Much like Rolle and DRC when they were here. They are also seen as lazy at times and downright uninterested at others.

 

[GuernseyCard]

They both have acquired a reputation as guys who don't like playing to the scheme of the defense in Philly. Much like Rolle and DRC when they were here. They are also seen as lazy at times and downright uninterested at others.

Thank you for not confusing uninterested with disinterested...

 

[DoTheDew]

I'd like to bring back Groves, Rashard Johnson, Nick Eason, Paris Lenon, and Greg Toler. Not sure if we're going to have a lot of scratch left over after those guys, even when we release Stewart Bradley.

It will be interesting to see if we can work out a Kolb restructure.

 

[ARZCardinals]

funny problem CARDINALS HAVE NO MONEY TO SPEND

they aren't gonna get jack **** in FA. They are going into the offseason with 750k too much on the books.

Freeing up Todd Heap and a handful of other players isn't going to amount to much. Add to it the team has to hold a min of $200k in reserves....that's roughly 1 mill they have to get cut just to break even.

Then how are they going to get extra money?

Sorry, but this team is broken and they won't have any $ till next year.

We are gonna ride and die with what the roster has next year.

don't be a fool and think the Cards are going to get any FA's that are on anyones top 50 list.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Obviously I'd love a guy like Paul Kruger, but that's just not happening. Nor is Branden Albert IMO.

I'd love Chris Ivory. The guy averages 5.1 YPC and is a really tough runner. I think he's restricted though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1wjt_lmJfs

I'd be interested in James Casey, TE from the Texans.

Martellus Bennet is a great run blocker and above average in the passing game, but I'd doubt we'd pay for him.

Donnie Avery, who was with Arians in Indy last year, could bring a speed element to the offense to help in the vertical passing attack.

Austin Collie has had major injury problems, but maybe worth bringing in on a low risk deal.

Devery Henderson is the king of the go route.

Jasper Brinkley, Vikings LB would be great in Lenon's spot, but likely will cost too much.

Philip Wheeler, LB Raiders. If he would come cheep I'd like him for depth. He locates the ball well and has decent athleticism.

I agree with a lot of those names.

I would love to see Jasper Brinkley brought in.

Also, how can you not want the Black Unicorn.

 

[MoeIsBetter]

Chris Ivory is a guy I'd look at. Same with Andre Brown (RB Giants).

 

[Stout]

Ivory and Levitre (sp?) must be near the top of the list, if not on top of the list, if not THE list, IMO

 

[GatorAZ]

We're not going to have the money to sign two top free agent targets--considering health, Branden Albert might be the best LT prospect on the market, and Levi Brown is still returning to the active roster this spring.

I'd like to bring back Groves, Rashard Johnson, Nick Eason, Paris Lenon, and Greg Toler. Not sure if we're going to have a lot of scratch left over after those guys, even when we release Stewart Bradley.

Levi will be released. They're not paying him nearly 7M to be a backup. They'll pay him 5M to go away and his contact is clean in 2014.

 

[binkar]

funny problem CARDINALS HAVE NO MONEY TO SPEND

they aren't gonna get jack **** in FA. They are going into the offseason with 750k too much on the books.

Freeing up Todd Heap and a handful of other players isn't going to amount to much. Add to it the team has to hold a min of $200k in reserves....that's roughly 1 mill they have to get cut just to break even.

Then how are they going to get extra money?

Sorry, but this team is broken and they won't have any $ till next year.

We are gonna ride and die with what the roster has next year.

don't be a fool and think the Cards are going to get any FA's that are on anyones top 50 list.

That's true, but in the NFL there are usually ways to free up space. Whether it's releasing guys, converting salaries to bonuses, asking guys to take pay cuts, etc.

I don't anticipate us freeing up a lot of room, but I think we will free up enough to bring in a few new faces on the cheap.

 

[D-Dogg]

Caviar dreams, Top Ramen budget.

I'm much, much, MUCH more interested in how we can shed some bloated salary before thinking about FA.

 

[Stout]

Caviar dreams, Top Ramen budget.

I'm much, much, MUCH more interested in how we can shed some bloated salary before thinking about FA.

This goes without saying, though. We MUST slash salary by getting rid of some of these useless players.

 

[kerouac9]

Levi will be released. They're not paying him nearly 7M to be a backup. They'll pay him 5M to go away and his contact is clean in 2014.

No, they're not. But Levi Brown isn't going to be a backup. He's going to be the starter heading into the 2013 season. Why? Because while Nate Potter played pretty well for a 7th-round rookie, you can't go into 2013 depending on him and no one behind him to compete in the NFL. Levi Brown will be on the roster, because he's better than Nate Potter, and certainly better than the nothings on the roster BEHIND Nate Potter.

Maybe he'll be off the roster in 2014, when his salary jumps from $4.75 million to $6 million, but he'll be here in 2013.

 

[GuernseyCard]

No, they're not. But Levi Brown isn't going to be a backup. He's going to be the starter heading into the 2013 season. Why? Because while Nate Potter played pretty well for a 7th-round rookie, you can't go into 2013 depending on him and no one behind him to compete in the NFL. Levi Brown will be on the roster, because he's better than Nate Potter, and certainly better than the nothings on the roster BEHIND Nate Potter.

Maybe he'll be off the roster in 2014, when his salary jumps from $4.75 million to $6 million, but he'll be here in 2013.

Agree that he'll be here, but, the figures I've seen show Levi at $6.4 against the CAP in 2013.

 

[Cards Czar]

No, they're not. But Levi Brown isn't going to be a backup. He's going to be the starter heading into the 2013 season. Why? Because while Nate Potter played pretty well for a 7th-round rookie, you can't go into 2013 depending on him and no one behind him to compete in the NFL. Levi Brown will be on the roster, because he's better than Nate Potter, and certainly better than the nothings on the roster BEHIND Nate Potter.

Maybe he'll be off the roster in 2014, when his salary jumps from $4.75 million to $6 million, but he'll be here in 2013.

The 4.75 is his base salary. If we let Levi go this year we take a 1.85M cap hit. Now if we let him go next year we save 1.425M.

2013 4.75 base plus 1.4M signing bonus hit plus .250K workout bonus = 6.5M.

2014 6.0 base minus 4.2M remaining bonus hit plus work out bonuses (375K). Remember that with the new CBA there is a pro rated section of the workout bonuses that count against the cap. I think its 50% of the workout bonuses. That's where I get my figures.

 

[GuernseyCard]

The 4.75 is his base salary. If we let Levi go this year we take a 1.85M cap hit. Now if we let him go next year we save 1.425M.

2013 4.75 base plus 1.4M signing bonus hit plus .250K workout bonus = 6.5M.

2014 6.0 base minus 4.2M remaining bonus hit plus work out bonuses (375K). Remember that with the new CBA there is a pro rated section of the workout bonuses that count against the cap. I think its 50% of the workout bonuses. That's where I get my figures.

Levi received a $7M signing bonus in 2012. There is still $5.6M to be accounted for under the CAP. It would be accelerated into 2013, if he was cut.