Am I the only one excitied about the future of this team?

[CtCardinals78]

I understand the doom and gloom mentality in here, but I don't think things are nearly as bad as they are being made out to be. Look at today for instnace, what exactly have the Cardinals lost

Karlos Dansby: A great LB, who was seeking elite money. It is no surprise he left. It sucks, but it is not the end of the world. Peoplecan bitch and moan all they want about Graves not getting this done earlier, but Graves did try and Dansby made it known that he was going to test the free agency market where some team would overpay. The Cards were close to his offer, which tells me that he had no interest in returning which is fine. Dansby was all about the money and he got it. If Foote comes in I think Hayes and Foote will do a nice job, not as good as Dansby/Hayes, but well enough.

Antrel Rolle: Why the hell is everyone SO upset about him leaving? He was an awful corner and a huge liability in coverage. Fortunately Wiz and co saw the light and converted him to FS. He was still horrible in coverage and a liability. He was exciting when he got his hands on the ball, but ask yourselves is he really worth more than Ed Reed and he just be the most replaceable starter if he leaves. Ryan Clarke would be a nice pickup or maybe the Cards will have a shot at one of the safties in the first round if they don't get one in FA.

Q: This hurts. I wish he could have stayed, and I do not think he will be easily replaced. But this team has now established some sort of running game and his loss SHOULD be missed this year less than in years past.

Whisenhunt said he wants a smashmouth football team. That is what he is starting to build. The offense has been slowly morphing into that and I think the transformation on that side of the ball in nearly complete. This year is the defense's turn. There is a lot of young talent on this team and we are just starting to see what they can do(Toler, Campbell etc). Don't forget about Cody Brown as well. The Cards have 6 picks in the first four rounds. They now have plenty of room to make some moves in FA. I do not blame them for sitting put during the first couple days of FA. This defense is quietly getting younger and more importantly Wiz is building it the way he wants.

This year may or may not be rough, but I still think the Cards are the favorites to win the NFCW again next year despite all the losses. They are in great position to make all the right moves I believe. I am interested and excitied to see the type of team Whisenhunt always wanted to build. He now has the opportunity to build the team he wants. I can't wait for the season to start.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I am but we ride or die with Matt. If he's good, we'll be good. If he's not, we're looking at a couple of really lean years me thinks.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I'm with you...

 

[WildBB]

Looking forward to the Steelers - Westcoast. Ready or not, comin' at ya. Time to get young and PHYSICAL.

 

[Red Dawn]

I'm onboard too!

 

[Zeno]

Although the first day of free agency makes it seem bleak for us--we lost Boldin, Dansby, Rolle and a 5th round pick and all we have to show for it are low 3rd and 4th round pick.

A lot is riding on our young guys but I have faith in Whisenhunt's judgement. We'll see how the rest of FA shakes out and the draft--I am sure he'll have the team playing well and make sure the right guys are on the field at the right spots.

 

[Chopper0080]

The hard part is that despite their flaws these players are the guys who helped drag us from the hell that was the "same old Cardinals." That will always mean something to me.

 

[Bert]

No doom and gloom here. Nothing that happened today was anything that I didn't see coming a long way off.

We're a day into free agency. This organization has a plan, I stand firmly on that belief.

 

[Buckybird]

I am but we ride or die with Matt. If he's good, we'll be good. If he's not, we're looking at a couple of really lean years me thinks.

no doubt.
The Cards next 3-4 years could ride on how good/bad the QB is & a major setback if he fails this season.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

I am but we ride or die with Matt. If he's good, we'll be good. If he's not, we're looking at a couple of really lean years me thinks.

My avatar says it all.

 

[Syracusecards]

I'm oddly calm and passive about this whole thing. Q leaving is sad, no doubt about that, but it was expected.

All of these moves were expected. Karlos obviously had no intention of letting us in the bidding war and Rolle was way overpaid by the Giants (stupid on their part IMO).

Consistency is the name of the game in football and the only one of these players who consistently brought it was Q. Our D was the weak link because Rolle and Karlos were incosistent, only bringing it when it was national.

Somehow, I think this will all work out and we'll be stronger for it. Maybe not this year, but the next (if there's football).

 

[PJ1]

Not happy but will wait until FA and draft are over. I am not blaming the FO but we have lost plenty as of right now.

 

[Red Dawn]

It seems bleak now, but the consistent winners in the league lose players and reload. We are trying to become a consistent winner. With Whiz calling the shots we have as good a chance as anyone.

 

[CtCardinals78]

The hard part is that despite their flaws these players are the guys who helped drag us from the hell that was the "same old Cardinals." That will always mean something to me.

I will miss Q. Always thought Rolle was a bust and am glad to see him gone and am indifferent about Dansby. This team will be fine and I for one am happy as hell the Cards aren't out there grossly overpaying FA's today.

I think everyone needs to stop and look around at the teams throwing around the big cash today...Bears, Giants, and Dolphins. All team that underperformed, missed the playoffs and are desperate to add that "one missing piece" to get them back in the playoffs. Look at the teams that consistantly play it cool in FA and sit out the first few days, Packers, Colts, usually the Pats. They get the role players that contribute more than the superstars. Even the freaking Redskins learned their lesson this year and are staying relatively quiet. Build through the draft and supplement through FA.

 

[Feeble Mcjackson]

I love all this ground and pound talk like the NFL is a running league still. It is a passing league and passing the ball with a top QB is what wins championships. Only two running teams, the ravens and the jets were in the final eight this year and they both had amazing defenses. Our defense lacked even with rolle and dansby.

last 5 super bowl winning QB's? big ben, tom brady, peyton manning, eli manning, drew brees. All pro bowl QB's.

Leinart is not a pro bowl caliber QB. At least not yet.

If the Cardinals win 6 games next year i will be happy. Anything more then that will be just gravy.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Although the first day of free agency makes it seem bleak for us--we lost Boldin, Dansby, Rolle and a 5th round pick and all we have to show for it are low 3rd and 4th round pick.

A lot is riding on our young guys but I have faith in Whisenhunt's judgement. We'll see how the rest of FA shakes out and the draft--I am sure he'll have the team playing well and make sure the right guys are on the field at the right spots.

We'll have 6 picks in the first four rounds plus a de facto rookie (C. Brown)

If we sign R. Clark, we will have lost very little in Rolle.

If we sign J. Porter, we will have replaced both B-Train and Okeafor

If we sign Foote or Witherspoon, we have a serviceable temporary replacement for Dansby.

If Breaston totals 1000 yards and Doucet 500, we will have replaced the Q / Breaston on-field production.

 

[CtCardinals78]

We'll have 6 picks in the first four rounds plus a de facto rookie (C. Brown)

If we sign R. Clark, we will have lost very little in Rolle.

If we sign J. Porter, we will have replaced both B-Train and Okeafor

If we sign Foote or Witherspoon, we have a serviceable temporary replacement for Dansby.

If Breaston totals 1000 yards and Doucet 500, we will have replaced the Q / Breaston on-field production.

Terrific way to look at it. That is a lot of "if's" in there, but there is nothing there that is impossible.

 

[Zeno]

If we sign J. Porter, we will have replaced both B-Train and Okeafor

If we sign Foote or Witherspoon, we have a serviceable temporary replacement for Dansby.

Even if we don't sign Porter if Davis and Brown develop in to quality pros we will be fine there.

I am not a fan of Foote but at best he'd be a stopgap for whatever rookie ILB I would hope we draft this year.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Terrific way to look at it. That is a lot of "if's" in there, but there is nothing there that is impossible.

that is a terrific way to look at it, but it's also somewhat myopic. there's no way we sign all three of those guys. we all know it.

but we're paying for the sins of the father right now... literally. bad rookie contracts made before we got into the stadium that have bitten us in the ass in several different ways. We'll dip this year, but if Matt's decent, with a good draft this year, hopefully a solid FA or two pick up next year and a little more seasoning on guys like Toller, DRC, Doucet and Campbell, we'll be in good shape to be a force to reckon with for years after that.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

that is a terrific way to look at it, but it's also somewhat myopic. there's no way we sign all three of those guys. we all know it.

but we're paying for the sins of the father right now... literally. bad rookie contracts made before we got into the stadium that have bitten us in the ass in several different ways. We'll dip this year, but if Matt's decent, with a good draft this year, hopefully a solid FA or two pick up next year and a little more seasoning on guys like Toller, DRC, Doucet and Campbell, we'll be in good shape to be a force to reckon with for years after that.

A clairvoyant calling out a myopic...

 

[ajcardfan]

that is a terrific way to look at it, but it's also somewhat myopic. there's no way we sign all three of those guys. we all know it.

but we're paying for the sins of the father right now... literally. bad rookie contracts made before we got into the stadium that have bitten us in the ass in several different ways. We'll dip this year, but if Matt's decent, with a good draft this year, hopefully a solid FA or two pick up next year and a little more seasoning on guys like Toller, DRC, Doucet and Campbell, we'll be in good shape to be a force to reckon with for years after that.

We're definitely looking long term more than short term. In a sense, this might be the year to retool the roster some because we should still be able to compete in our division next year even with these losses. But, after next season it is probable that all of our division is going to get tougher over next five years and an aging roster with huge contracts could've hamstrung us badly as happened with the Niners, Hawks and Rams the last few seasons.

If we draft well, it will all be good.

 

[Cheesebeef]

A clairvoyant calling out a myopic...

unfortunately, i think we both know the odds of me being clairvoyant are pretty high as far that single post was concerned.

 

[Buckybird]

We're definitely looking long term more than short term. In a sense, this might be the year to retool the roster some because we should still be able to compete in our division next year even with these losses. But, after next season it is probable that all of our division is going to get tougher over next five years and an aging roster with huge contracts could've hamstrung us badly as happened with the Niners, Hawks and Rams the last few seasons.

If we draft well, it will all be good.

It's gonna all hinge on the play of the QB. Is Matt the guy or do we start all over finding one. We aren't winning a Super Bowl without a top flight passer & history says so.

 

[ajcardfan]

It's gonna all hinge on the play of the QB. Is Matt the guy or do we start all over finding one. We aren't winning a Super Bowl without a top flight passer & history says so.

Yep, that's pretty obvious. If Matt isn't good, then all bets are off for who knows how long.

 

[PACardsFan]

I love all this ground and pound talk like the NFL is a running league still. It is a passing league and passing the ball with a top QB is what wins championships. Only two running teams, the ravens and the jets were in the final eight this year and they both had amazing defenses. Our defense lacked even with rolle and dansby.

last 5 super bowl winning QB's? big ben, tom brady, peyton manning, eli manning, drew brees. All pro bowl QB's.

Leinart is not a pro bowl caliber QB. At least not yet.

If the Cardinals win 6 games next year i will be happy. Anything more then that will be just gravy.

Our defense lacked BECAUSE of Rolle & Dansby. Good riddance to both of them. They were both significantly overrated. Can we please get that through our heads.