An Idiocy, he is....

Young Gun

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By far & away, that was probably the most profound statement(article) Gambo has ever written.

I will never take anything he writes seriously again.
 
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mdsisquo

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???? Link ????? I have no idea what article you are talking about.
 
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Young Gun

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you know, the one from this morning on the Republic.
 
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mdsisquo

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Sorry, I really don't know it. Can you give me a link so I can read it. I don't Know what the Link is for the republic. I would like to put that link under my favorites since I hear of it so much but have never actually visited it. Thx!:thumbup:
 
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Young Gun

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'New' Cards won't change losing ways

John Gambadoro
Special for azcentral.com
Mar. 31, 2003


I hate having to burst your bubble, Cardinals fans. No, seriously, I don't like having to do this. Especially when everyone is feeling all warm and tingly inside. And trust me, I want to believe in this organization, but after seven years here I find it impossible to trust its judgment. So I believe I have an obligation to kind of curb your enthusiasm with a little reality check. So here goes. The Cardinals still stink.

Now I believe that many of you are smart enough to realize that and are not buying into the recent hype. But for the rest of you who now think the Cardinals have turned the corner, let's be completely honest with each other. What have they really done? They have added a below-average quarterback, an aging former superstar running back on the decline, and a safety whom nobody ever heard of before the Super Bowl. They also have brought in some backup/depth guys at linebacker and on the offensive line along with a pretty good fullback. But they are little if any better right now then they were last season. They still have not addressed their major two priorities, getting someone who can rush the passer and someone who can be a big-play receiver.

And let's make one thing clear while we are being completely honest. Not one of the seven players who signed with the Cardinals came here to win. Not one. Why? Because there is not one player in the NFL who would ever come here to win. Not one. They have come here for a payday and/or for a chance to play. But certainly not to win.

And that includes Emmitt Smith. Now I'm not against the Cardinals signing Smith and in fact realize that some positives may come out of it. Maybe he can change the perception of the organization and that would be a good thing. But I still believe the only thing that can completely change the way the Cardinals are perceived is by winning. I'm not sure Smith is here to win. He's here because this was the only place that was going to give him a starting job and because somehow the Cardinals forked over a ridiculous $7 million to $8 million over two years to a player who is soon to be 34 years old, past his prime and whose numbers have gone down for two straight seasons. I would imagine that everyone in the NFL is laughing at the red birds having signed Smith for that much money.

Sure, having Smith will sell tickets. It didn't take long for the Cardinals to try and capitalize on his signing. They took out a half-page ad in Sunday's Arizona Republic with a photo of Smith holding his No. 22 Cardinals jersey and an accompanying slogan: "Arizona Cardinals Season Tickets - Order Yours Today." (That wasn't a bad move because there are enough Cowboy fans in the Valley who will love to watch Smith play even if he doesn't have much left.)

And let's touch on that for a second. How much does Smith have left? He averaged a career-low 3.8 yards per carry last season and his 975 total rushing yards were his lowest total since his rookie season of 1990. He was a salary cap casualty in Dallas, where the Cowboys, who finished with the exact same 5-11 record as Arizona, are looking toward the future. And they don't see a 13-year veteran on the decline as part of their future. So why would Arizona? The Cardinals have an exciting third-year back in Marcel Shipp, who gained 834 yards in just 188 carries, which is 66 fewer than Smith had last season. Shipp also averaged a very solid 4.4 yards per carry and appeared on the verge of becoming a top back. The Cardinals have said they will continue to use Shipp but how much can he develop when Smith is the one getting the majority of the carries? And while Smith is the all-time leading rusher and future Hall of Famer and Shipp is right now a relative unknown, the question can be asked as to who is better right now.

But when you average just 37,354 fans per game and have had just 16 sellouts since coming to Arizona in 1988, you don't need to look much further as to why the Bidwills so desperately wanted Smith in the fold.

And with no other options Smith had no choice but to sign with Arizona. He has his three Super Bowl championships, and winning - although it would be nice - is not a main priority for Smith in the desert. He is here to get his carries and make more money. If Smith had been in his prime or if there were similar options out there for him there is no way in the world he would have come to Arizona, and he knows it.

Could this move backfire on Smith? There have been comparisons of Smith ending his career in Arizona to Tony Dorsett ending in Denver, Franco Harris ending in Seattle, O.J. Simpson ending in San Francisco and Thurman Thomas ending in Miami. I think a better comparison is not with a running back but with another fellow named Smith - Bruce Smith. The future Hall of Fame defensive end was beginning the tail end of his career when he left Buffalo to sign with the Washington Redskins in 2000. Smith has had three average seasons with the Redskins, with a combined 19 sacks in those three years, but has not made the impact expected when they signed him. He's a good guy to have around the locker room, but when Daniel Snyder signed him along with Mark Carrier and Deion Sanders and a whole slew of free agents in 2000 and 2001, he was expecting to make the playoffs and challenge for a Super Bowl. Bruce Smith is not the dominant player he once was, as is Emmitt Smith. I think the impacts will be similar. The only difference is that Washington is better than Arizona.

When a team struggles it is usually the prominent player who gets the blame (see Jake Plummer) over the ownership/management. So if the Cardinals get off to a bad start and Smith struggles, he very well could have the finger pointed at him. That is what happens to losing organizations.

Let's look at the other two supposed significant signings.

Jeff Blake in my opinion is a better quarterback then Plummer, but why is it that the former Cardinals signal caller was much more sought out in free agency? Around the NFL, Plummer is viewed as the better quarterback. I thought Plummer was a bad quarterback. Blake is OK. He's not great, not really even good. He's adequate. He probably won't make as many mistakes as Plummer did, which is a good thing. But again, he signed with Arizona because there was nowhere else for him to go. Baltimore didn't want him back at his price and Chicago wanted Kordell Stewart over him (as did Arizona but they got tired of waiting). So it basically was sign with the Cardinals or hope down the road that someone brings you in as a backup. So he signed here. Blake said all the right things when he signed but in reality he is viewed as a stop-gap quarterback. He's here until the Cardinals can find a young star for the position.

Dexter Jackson was originally going to Pittsburgh but a few more dollars up front convinced him to come to Arizona. He has had a combined seven interceptions in the last two years for Tampa Bay, and the word is the Bucs were not that upset to see him go. As bad as Kwamie Lassiter played following his breakout season of 2002 (when he had nine interceptions) his tackle total of 88 was 17 more than Jackson had last year. Jackson may very well have been a product of the great defensive system in Tampa Bay.

It is normal for fans at this time of year to get excited about their team. It is the nature of the fan to want to believe that his/her team has upgraded. It's called hope. And every year the Cardinals do something that makes the fans believe they are headed in the right direction. Last year the fans got excited when the team signed Duane Starks and Freddie Jones and then drafted defensive end Wendell Bryant. The year before it was adding veteran guard Pete Kendall and drafting Leonard Davis. The year before that it was drafting supposed franchise back Thomas Jones and signing Center Mike Gruttadauria. I see seven new players this year, none an impact player. So while many fans are getting excited and believing that the Cardinals have turned the corner. I've decided that I've seen this act before. So I'll believe it when I see it.
 

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I can't say EVERYTHING he says is wrong. That being said, isn't a hometown writier supposed to be FOR the home team? Is this a NY thing where negativity rules the day and if you say anything nice (or even impartial), you're a wimp or worse? Is he a Jim Rome wanna be?

Last question: Is it just me or does this guy not seem like the NEM of sportwriters? Let him go play in the traffic or something else useful.

Pete
 

Cbus cardsfan

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I usually think he is an idiot,but ,in this case,he's exactly right.I've kind of been quiet lately because everyone has been so excited by these signings and i didn't want to come across as a "nem"..I've thought pretty much the same thing as Gambo thought.Let's say the Lions signed Smith.Most of us would be making fun of them.Losing Boston will hurt more than any of these signings will help.They lost out on Colvin who was their number 1 target and couldn't even kep Jenkins even though they offered more money.The fact that players sign elsewhere for less money,supposedly DB included,should tell you all you need to know about the Cards front office and their perception around the league.Drafting Leftwich and,hopefully,a 7 win year will start to turn the perception around.But,going by Cardinal history,they will draft an un-exciting player,finish 3-13,and lead the league in cap space again next year and have nothing to show for it.I hope that's not the case but it IS the Cardinals we are talking about.:(
 
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Young Gun

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Yes, I understand & know how you all feel. But, each time the Cardinals organization is trying to make a step forward there's always some 'NEM' sportswriter trying to knock them down.

Who knows, maybe someday they will break loose & put a contender together.
 

Russ Smith

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Originally posted by Young Gun
Jeff Blake in my opinion is a better quarterback then Plummer, but why is it that the former Cardinals signal caller was much more sought out in free agency? Around the NFL, Plummer is viewed as the better quarterback. I thought Plummer was a bad quarterback. Blake is OK. He's not great, not really even good. He's adequate. He probably won't make as many mistakes as Plummer did, which is a good thing. But again, he signed with Arizona because there was nowhere else for him to go. Baltimore didn't want him back at his price and Chicago wanted Kordell Stewart over him (as did Arizona but they got tired of waiting). So it basically was sign with the Cardinals or hope down the road that someone brings you in as a backup. So he signed here. Blake said all the right things when he signed but in reality he is viewed as a stop-gap quarterback. He's here until the Cardinals can find a young star for the position.

.

Personally I think it was a stroke of luck that Blake signed before Kordell.I don't care who we wanted more we got the best player of the group and that's all that matters.

Overall I get his point and we need to replace Boston if we're going to win more games this year than last, but I think we've done a nice job of salvaging what started off to be a horrible offseason(after DB left).
 

CardFan67

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Originally posted by John Gambadoro
Special for azcentral.com
Mar. 31, 2003
'New' Cards won't change losing ways

I hate having to burst your bubble, Cardinals fans.

That seems to be the press' Tag phrase at the beginning of, or prior to, every season the Cards have been in the Desert...

And trust me, I want to believe in this organization, but after seven years here I find it impossible to trust its judgment.

Some long time (really long time) fans should take exception to this statement... It is like telling Gilligan and the Skipper that you are tired of eating coconuts after having been on the island for two days... Seven Years... Seven, as in after six? Geesh!

Originally posted by John Gambadoro
Special for azcentral.com
Mar. 31, 2003

'New' Cards won't change losing ways

But when you average just 37,354 fans per game and have had just 16 sellouts since coming to Arizona in 1988, you don't need to look much further as to why the Bidwills so desperately wanted Smith in the fold.

I wonder how much of this has been affected by the lack of support from the local press (written as well as spoken).
 

gnomepete

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Yes, I like Blake better than the others. No the team hasn't remade itself into a Super Bowl contender. Boston? I think the Cards followed the rules about not 'tagging to trade' and that other teams just talk nice to keep out of trouble. (Can you say Matt Millen's honesty is getting him in trouble while people who 'played' get off scott free?)

The team's PLAN seems to have been good. They had the money in place to make themselves MUCH better, but couldn't get the best players to sign - even for more money. That means that they have to change players' PERCEPTIONS of the team. They signed Emmitt to try to help do that (AND to put fans in the seats). And - yes - winning (consistently) ALWAYS fixes this problem, but that's MUCH easier said than done if you can't sign the players to do so.

Is it all WONDERFUL? Hell no! BUT - shouldn't a local sportswriter be more 'on their side' rather than feeding his own ego talking trash about a franchise that gives numerous indications that it is TRYING to turn it around? The St. Louis sportswriters are critical of all the local teams as they see fit, but you ALWAYS get the feeling that everyone is on the same side. Gambo seems like the type to grant interviews to Iraqi TV.

Pete
 
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Ouchie-Z-Clown

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cbus, i agree with you.

and no, i don't think the local press should be "supporting" the local team. i think the local press should be reporting what they see. unfortunately, gambo sees a lot of negatives. i can't say i disagree with him.

this is gonna sound like a blanket statement, and i don't want it to be, but don't know any other way to say it - you folks living in phx don't realize how easy the phx press is on the local teams. i lived back in boston for 4 years and in dc for 4 years. their press absolutely slaughters their teams if they have one mis-step. my years in phx following my east coast adventures had me mystified how the phx teams could have gaffs (signing longley and googs for instance, or letting go all the cards leaders post-'98) and the press would largely leave 'em alone. teams need to be held accountable for their actions. the most visible way to accomplish that is for the press to call 'em out. i don't like gambo, but his callin' them out is warranted.
 
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Young Gun

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4LIFE, that was a really strong statement & I respect that, sad but true, that's just the way it is I guess. People get negative football & as a result they give negative columns like that of Gambo.
 

gnomepete

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Originally posted by PHXSPORTS4LIFE
no, i don't think the local press should be "supporting" the local team. i think the local press should be reporting what they see. unfortunately, gambo sees a lot of negatives. i can't say i disagree with him.

I don't think they should be yes men or anything like that, but I have a hard time with local press that seems to be an opponent rather than a supporter. I guess that's old school St. Louis sports because the baseball Cardinals seem to do it that way.

Pete
 

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The Packers haven't had a losing season in over 10 years, but still get ripped left and right by a few reporters. One of the reporters is much more criticle than Gambo is. To him if you don't win the Super Bowl the season is a failure. As long as it's objective reporting I'm OK with it. I don't want all fluff pieces. I want to know who was responsible for giving up the 50 yard run. I want to know who blew the assignment, the corner or the safety when they get toasted for an 80 yard TD pass. I want to know why Green Bay always seems to draft the bad player in the first round instead of a good one. Sometimes it hurts to know the truth, but I want the truth instead of a bunch of fluff pieces as long as it's objective.
 

justAndy

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as a hopeful yet usually disappointed fan...

... I'll do what i always do - wait for the season. College studs are often pro busts, you never know what aging vets have left, you never know how the young guys will have progressed since last year, you don't know how all the FA signings will fit in... that's just the tip of the berg...
 

john h

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Originally posted by Cbus cardsfan
I usually think he is an idiot,but ,in this case,he's exactly right.I've kind of been quiet lately because everyone has been so excited by these signings and i didn't want to come across as a "nem"..I've thought pretty much the same thing as Gambo thought.Let's say the Lions signed Smith.Most of us would be making fun of them.Losing Boston will hurt more than any of these signings will help.They lost out on Colvin who was their number 1 target and couldn't even kep Jenkins even though they offered more money.The fact that players sign elsewhere for less money,supposedly DB included,should tell you all you need to know about the Cards front office and their perception around the league.Drafting Leftwich and,hopefully,a 7 win year will start to turn the perception around.But,going by Cardinal history,they will draft an un-exciting player,finish 3-13,and lead the league in cap space again next year and have nothing to show for it.I hope that's not the case but it IS the Cardinals we are talking about.:(

The take or article sounds like this guy should be a reporter in the group that reports at Centcomp each day and ask General Brooks those insightful questions.
 

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Here is why I have a Problem with this Commentary

I have never given creedance to an article from a reporter who has no connection with what he is writing about. It is impossible for me to recognize any commentary coming out of the valley as worth the paper it is printed on because the media there is a total joke!!!

They have not penetrated the safety net that the Cards have put up since they have moved there. It is always impossible to get quick,accurate information whenever news breaks on this team. Rarely, have I read or heard of an inside track on what the Cards may or may not do. When I do hear of such a rumor it is either way off or from a national media source.

I don't know this Gambo or whatever his name is and quite frankly I have never read one of his columns and given the points that he has attempted to make in this one I do not think I will be reading a column of his again. I mean he is way off on Jeff Blake. Blake is an above avg. QB who has been on alot of rotten teams. No one really knows what he can do with quality players around him. I do know this, we will not see stupid Int.'s like we have watched the last few years and Jeff will make the effort to keep the drive alive.

That being said this Gambo character is also way off on Emmitt. Although I was not a fan of signing Smith because I think Shipp is the guy, this signing is not going to hurt Marcel in the slightest. Tugboat will learn from the best and when Emmitt is done Marcel will step right in with proper preparation and more than adequate training. The only thing that Gambo got right was the fact that the Cards haven't solved their problems at WR and DL , but any bandwagon fan can figure that one out. So I wouldn't pay much attention to this Guy!
 
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