And Rumors Start: Fitzgerald

[imaCafan]

I agree that letting go of Boldin was bad, but you are downplaying Fitz too much. Fitz is 8th in catches this season and 10th in receptions this season. Boldin is 24th and 27th, playing alongside two former Pro Bowlers. (I realize the difference in offenses already.)

What's the difference between catches and receptions??????

 

[NeverSayDieFan]

Hey! Rugby...I hear ya'...

When Whiz' came on-board, and Kurt regained his form, and Q , was well, Q, I thought...Hmmmm? Have we really turned the corner?? BUT after this years' pretty pathetic performance by both the front office and the team?? Well, I have to think that maybe long-term Cardinal success is just a desert "mirage". This off-season is really pivotal to re-establishing a good vibe. Question is how serious are the B's about winning?? Time will tell. GO CARDS!

 

[ajcardfan]

What's the difference between catches and receptions??????

10th in total yards receiving is what i meant by "receptions".

 

[imaCafan]

Ahhhh, got it....

 

[john h]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/256451-pats-a-destination-for-fitzgerald

As if this season isn't a huge swift kick in the nads already. It is already understood this is just BS, and is really nothing to get bent out of shape about. More of a complaint about how this will be the headlines all offseason long. Nothing but stories about who is leaving AZ and how fast they can get out of town.

Seriously, so tired of this stuff.

I will tell you this, we have 2, count them, 2 core players. Dockett and Fitzgerald.

If Fitz leaves this offseason, I don't know how anything the Cardinals say or do will ever regain the smallest amount of trust in the organization, take away the "Same ol' Cardinals" mantra, or ever get the label of CHEAP off the owners of this organization.

Just a shame that this will be the "big news" from Arizona all offseason long.



Perhaps one day the football gods will give us a player who wants to be "THE GUY" that turned this organization around and produced a Championship to one of the most unsuccessful sports organizations of all time.

Sorry to rant, but this week, strictly football wise, is VERY depressing.

Fitz said in plain English for everyone to hear and understand. He does not care about money as he has all he will ever need. He said at this point in his life he wants to win the super bowl and get a ring. Do we fit that profile? Absolutely not and he will leave after the 2011 season regardless of what we offer unless we come up with some miracle QB who has a miracle eason. Fitz said it and I believe him. With that in mind do you trade Fitz before the start of the season and after the draft? I suspect you could get some real good draft picks. Can you picture Fitz and Rivers or Peyton Manning? A DBs worst nightmare.

 

[john h]

Fitz has a NO-TRADE contract. That should prevent the Cardinals from shopping him around, even if they were dumb enough to consider it.

Fitz would be more than happy to be traded to a contender and would quickly wave a no trade clause. What are the chances we will win the division next year? Perhaps 100-1. He has clearly said all he cares about is winning a ring. Not money. Well there will be no rings around here next year. Would say three draft picks be worth more to us than to have Fitz for one more year and us having no experienced QB. Fitz is one of my favorite players of all time but circumstances say you trade him unless you think we can contend next year. That is very very remote.

 

[john h]

When Whiz' came on-board, and Kurt regained his form, and Q , was well, Q, I thought...Hmmmm? Have we really turned the corner?? BUT after this years' pretty pathetic performance by both the front office and the team?? Well, I have to think that maybe long-term Cardinal success is just a desert "mirage". This off-season is really pivotal to re-establishing a good vibe. Question is how serious are the B's about winning?? Time will tell. GO CARDS!

You are "right on target"! This year will tell us if we are the old cards or what we thought was the new cards. That mirage came in the form of Kurt Warner and was more an accident than great thinking on the part of the Cards front office.

We have so many needs I am not sure where to start other than you always start with the QB, GM, and Head Coach. These three along with the owner determine our destiny. Do you fire any of those guys? We do not have a QB worth firing. The GM apparently has a lifetime job. I doubt the owners would pay for two Head Coaches at the same time. Whiz will likely be here until his contract expires. Conclusion: We are in trouble but we will all be back here next year complaining about anything and everything.

 

[conraddobler]

Oh, now there's an idea for a thread. Say Carolina will trade us picks but only if it's their pick for our pick and Larry Fitzgerald?

Trouble is our FO put a no trade clause in his contract.

Once again, an idiotic idea.

I'd of just given him more money, because trading him now would be awesome.

 

[conraddobler]

Same here, but you need a good defense, IMO, to pull it off.

I love defense, run the ball and play defense, if you build a team like that it usually lasts.

The number one thing to build around IMO are players who are good and smart football players, who don't do dumb things a lot.

Our team football IQ went into the crapper when Warner left.

 

[Second Deck]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/256451-pats-a-destination-for-fitzgerald

As if this season isn't a huge swift kick in the nads already. It is already understood this is just BS, and is really nothing to get bent out of shape about. More of a complaint about how this will be the headlines all offseason long. Nothing but stories about who is leaving AZ and how fast they can get out of town.

Seriously, so tired of this stuff.

I will tell you this, we have 2, count them, 2 core players. Dockett and Fitzgerald.

If Fitz leaves this offseason, I don't know how anything the Cardinals say or do will ever regain the smallest amount of trust in the organization, take away the "Same ol' Cardinals" mantra, or ever get the label of CHEAP off the owners of this organization.

Just a shame that this will be the "big news" from Arizona all offseason long.



Perhaps one day the football gods will give us a player who wants to be "THE GUY" that turned this organization around and produced a Championship to one of the most unsuccessful sports organizations of all time.

Sorry to rant, but this week, strictly football wise, is VERY depressing.

That person was called Boldin that wanted to be a Cardinal and a leader until Team Cardinal decided to screw him.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

Uhm....Warner?!

Sorry must have missed the part where he won a Superbowl.

Warner turned this squad around for two years, and we are back on the dung heap.

So, no. Warner is not the guy. If he was 25 and played 10 years and won a lot of games yes.

No disrespect to Warner, just sayin' that is not what I am talking about.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

That person was called Boldin that wanted to be a Cardinal and a leader until Team Cardinal decided to screw him.

Agreed. Worst move ever by this franchise, and they have had a lot of them.

I hope they spent there 32 millions well this year.

I mean 28 million and 4 million in Bulger's pocket would have been too little for the Bidwills.

I heard those bowties cost about 500,000 each

 

[john h]

Also, Montana played in an era where freshman NEVER started, and sophomores had to be practically super human to get the chance to.

Sorry, but both Dan Marino and Joe Montana had more shine coming out of college than Luck.

I still have never seen Andrew Luck plan and am anxious to see him in the bowl game.

Watching Tebow the other day he reminded me of Cam Newton. Both can run and there are questions about there passing. Tebow, I think is actually bigger than Newton, looked very good for a rookie making his first start. He is a very smart kid and probably knows the play book very well. I think he made a 60 yd or so run for a TD. His throws looked beautiful and on target. He also showed he does have good arm strength. He looks like he will be an NFL starter and maybe more. He looked good enough to be the starter this week.

The QB that has surprised me this year is Cutler. Cutler has been looking all world. Orton has been demoted in favor of Tebow. How the Broncos traded Cutler and Peyton Hillis is beyond me. Hillis is nearing 1200 yds rushing with two games left. He is also the best blocking back in the NFL. I will not be surprised if the Bears end up in the Super Bowl. I am disappointed in our RBs. I am not going to lay it all on the OL blocking. They can look real good at times and then both have a tendency to fumble at inopportune times. I suggest we take a RB somewhere in the draft.

 

[Go Devils]

Really?

Coming out of USC, he was dubbed by some talking heads to be "the greatest QB ever to step foot on a college football field" and "destined for greatness on the NFL level." He played too in a pro-style offense and won big in it.

Don't let revisionist history cloud your judgement. Leinart was highly heralded coming out of USC.

Link? I did not hear this, also who knows how far he would have fell had the Cards not drafted him? He was a product of the talent around him @ SC and anyone with a footbal brain ie. NFL scouts knew except for the Cards FO who only wanted him for marketing. Dude cant even make it as a 2nd stringer now.

 

[Bobcat]

If we go into next year with a similar or slightly better QB situation and Fitz, our offense will suck again.

Luck to Leinart isn't the best comparison. Luck is considered by every scout that I've heard and read as the best prospect since Peyton, maybe better. Leinart was so good that he lasted until the 10th pick in the first round.

I have also heard this about John Skelton. So please stop thinking that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Stop it please. John has only had 3 weeks in the system. He has played just as week any rookie QB so far this years. Don't let Whiz's BS influence any of you. Whiz is so confused at this time. Just look at Sommers article today on Whiz. This is pure BS. If we weree to get Luck he would just sit on the bench according to Whiz's so called system. IE Mark Rippian of the Washington Redskins. But really he was behind Joe Thiesmen. Similar to Matt L was behind Kurt W.

BOBCAT

 

[Cheesebeef]

Don't let revisionist history cloud your judgement. Leinart was highly heralded coming out of USC.

which is why he fell all the way to 10th passed teams who needed QBs and wasn't even the first QB taken in the draft?

He was heralded as an amazing college QB, but there were a lot of questions about his arm strength/mental attitude when he came out, thus the fall to 10.

And you listed Brady Quinn above as "can't miss"... dude went in THE SECOND ROUND.

 

[Cheesebeef]

I have also heard this about John Skelton.

BOBCAT

you heard WHAT about Skelton? That he was a can't miss prospect like Luck? If you did, pass whatever the hell you're smoking because that stuff is out of this world.

 

[earthsci]

So please stop thinking that the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. Stop it please.

Yeah, you would be real cool me telling you the same thing about Whiz wouldn't you? Don't tell me how to think.

 

[Buckybird]

How do you guys think that the Cardinals have done drafting QBs, especially later in the draft?

Have you ever heard the household names of: Kelly Stouffer, Steve Pisarkiwicz, Timm Rosenbach then Matt Leinart? All have been 1st rd QB bust in Big Red country!!! We couldn't get it wrong again could we?

 

[Evil Ash]

which is why he fell all the way to 10th passed teams who needed QBs and wasn't even the first QB taken in the draft?

He was heralded as an amazing college QB, but there were a lot of questions about his arm strength/mental attitude when he came out, thus the fall to 10.

He would've gone to the Titans (@ #3) if Jeff Fisher had his way. Bud Adams is a Texas boy and preffered Vince Young over him.

There were questions over his arm strength but some of the teams that passed up on him thought that they had their QBOTF and thus went after other needs. Getting Leinart here was thought to be the steal of the draft at the time.

Lets not try to rewrite history here. He was highly thought of but evidently didn't live up to snuff here. Whether he makes it from here on out is up in the air.

And you listed Brady Quinn above as "can't miss"... dude went in THE SECOND ROUND.

Brady Quinn went in the 20s. He was still a 1st round pick and like many other QB prospects was considered "can't miss"

I think Diamondback Jay's point was that you can't trust what the draft experts say as absolute fact. Hell they're wrong more often than they are right ("Ryan Leaf will have a better career than Peyton Manning," "The 1999 QB class is the best since 1983," etc). I trust the opinion of people on here that have watched the players play on a regular basis.

If the so called draft experts were really experts, they would be working as a GM or at the bare minimum as a scout for a team. The draft is a crapshoot - pure and simple (its an educated guess more or less). No matter how much tape you watch of a player, you can never be certain that they will adjust to the pro game.

 

[Diamondback Jay]

He would've gone to the Titans (@ #3) if Jeff Fisher had his way. Bud Adams is a Texas boy and preffered Vince Young over him.

There were questions over his arm strength but some of the teams that passed up on him thought that they had their QBOTF and thus went after other needs. Getting Leinart here was thought to be the steal of the draft at the time.

Lets not try to rewrite history here. He was highly thought of but evidently didn't live up to snuff here. Whether he makes it from here on out is up in the air.

Exactly right. Also, roll back to the draft prior. Had he come out one year earlier, he was projected to go number 1 overall and there seemed to be little debate on that, which was why many were stunned when he elected to return for his senior year at USC. I wonder if that may have inadvertantly hurt his draft stock some for the following year. Regardless, even heading into the draft, there was speculation Houston could take him. If not, a majority of mocks had him going #3 to Tennessee and Vince Young coming here.

Revisionist history does not apply here.

I think Diamondback Jay's point was that you can't trust what the draft experts say as absolute fact. Hell they're wrong more often than they are right ("Ryan Leaf will have a better career than Peyton Manning," "The 1999 QB class is the best since 1983," etc). I trust the opinion of people on here that have watched the players play on a regular basis.

If the so called draft experts were really experts, they would be working as a GM or at the bare minimum as a scout for a team. The draft is a crapshoot - pure and simple (its an educated guess more or less). No matter how much tape you watch of a player, you can never be certain that they will adjust to the pro game.

Again, spot on and thanks for getting and clarifying what my ultimate point was meant to be.

With Quinn, there were many debates over whether the Raiders would take him or JaMarcus Russell at number 1 overall. I remember vividly that the "experts" completely raved over how "strong" Cleveland's draft was, and over the fact that they were able to draft "two top five talents". Quinn went in the first, and Cleveland paid a hefty price to get him.

The draft is a huge crapshoot all across the board (not just at QB). I refuse to buy into the myth that there's a "fail proof" position to pick by, or a "fail proof player" to pick. I could go down the line at every position and pick five or six guys without trying who were supposed to be stars that bombed miserably; or failed to live up to expectations.

I take a young, proven All Pro over a maybe any day. Not to sound redundant, but if you trade Fitzgerald for Luck, you possibly fix one hole, but open up another gaping one. That's taking one step forward, two steps back.

If we did reps here, I'd give you about 10 of them. Thanks!

 

[Chopper0080]

Anyone who has watched Andrew Luck play substantially can see where the Leinart, Quinn, Harrington, and all the other QB comparisons fall short. I watch a lot of football, college and pro, and the best comparison to Luck that I have seen in college is Peyton Manning.

Not only is he a smart player who is also very physically gifted, he runs his team. He directs one of the most complex offensive systems in college football,and does it very well. He calls audibles, and sets his protection schemes. It is great to watch a college QB consistently look off coverage, move defensive backs, and throw receivers open. Not only this, but he is one of the more athletic QB's in college as well. Great size, arm strength, and leadership as well.

I know that there are not locks or cant' miss prospects, but Luck is one of the closest that I have ever seen. Pretty much worth whatever we would have to give up to get him.

 

[Buckybird]

I know that there are not locks or cant' miss prospects, but Luck is one of the closest that I have ever seen. Pretty much worth whatever we would have to give up to get him.

No doubt Chopper. Winning the Super Bowl pretty much starts & ends with having a great QB. If drafting Luck meant the possibility of trading #11, I'm 95% sure I would do it.

 

[Chopper0080]

No doubt Chopper. Winning the Super Bowl pretty much starts & ends with having a great QB. If drafting Luck meant the possibility of trading #11, I'm 95% sure I would do it.

My only hesitation would be trading away a weapon that would help make Luck's transition that much smoother.

 

[john h]

http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/view/256451-pats-a-destination-for-fitzgerald

As if this season isn't a huge swift kick in the nads already. It is already understood this is just BS, and is really nothing to get bent out of shape about. More of a complaint about how this will be the headlines all offseason long. Nothing but stories about who is leaving AZ and how fast they can get out of town.

Seriously, so tired of this stuff.

I will tell you this, we have 2, count them, 2 core players. Dockett and Fitzgerald.

If Fitz leaves this offseason, I don't know how anything the Cardinals say or do will ever regain the smallest amount of trust in the organization, take away the "Same ol' Cardinals" mantra, or ever get the label of CHEAP off the owners of this organization.

Just a shame that this will be the "big news" from Arizona all offseason long.



Perhaps one day the football gods will give us a player who wants to be "THE GUY" that turned this organization around and produced a Championship to one of the most unsuccessful sports organizations of all time.

Sorry to rant, but this week, strictly football wise, is VERY depressing.

Everything points to Fitz leaving at the end of his contract or being traded at the end of the year as the Cards are not going to come out of this with nothing. Fitz made it abundantly clear he is no longer playing for the money but for a ring. He said he has all the money he will ever need if he never works another day in his life. Does anyone truly expect this team to be playing for a ring in the next two years? The best the Cards can do is trade him to a contender which Fitz will demand and get something in return rather than let him walk in 2012 and get nothing.