Antonio Smith and JJ

[az1965]

No news on any attempt to re-sign them? Are we going to let them hit the FA market?

 

[mjb21aztd]

I really hope we sign Antonio Smith back that kid has a motor and is huge for our dline, Arrington meh we could replace him in the draft if we have to. But please resign Smith!!!!!

 

[Perfectionist]

No news on any attempt to re-sign them? Are we going to let them hit the FA market?

Really, not much news on anything yet, except on the coaching situation. Dansby had to be tagged and no word on Kurt. I guess when things start to happen it will be with a bang.

 

[joeshmo]

Mike Silver of Yahoo thinks Warner will be re-signed before free agency starts. It is good to note that Silver and Warner talk to each other all the time. Silver and Warner wrote a book together and they along with their families are really good friends. So like Urban said in his blog he would not be surprised if Silver is getting his info straight from Warner himself.

Urban also in his blogs and stories about James being cut or not cut implies that JJ will not be back or at the least really give free agency a shot. I think Urban gives out a lot of hints if you look for them, so I think he is hinting that the Cards wont be bringing him back.

As for Smith again in an Urban story Wiz asked Smith to give the Cards a shot at matching any offer he gets in free agency and Smith said he would.

It would also be good to note that there are some other free agents that should be discussed IMO. Berry, Haggans, Beisel, Terrelle Smith, and a couple of others I am probably missing.

 

[cgolden]

I hope they resign JJ but I'd let him hit the market and see what kind of buzz there is for his services. Sproles getting tags moves him up a notch on the ladder but I bet he still doesn't garner a ton of interest.

As for Smith, I think we all like the guy but don't we all expect Campbell to be able to step in and provide similiar, if not better, production at a lower price? They drafted two defensive ends last year for this exact reason. Smith is as good as gone.

 

[WildBB]

I hope they resign JJ but I'd let him hit the market and see what kind of buzz there is for his services. Sproles getting tags moves him up a notch on the ladder but I bet he still doesn't garner a ton of interest.

As for Smith, I think we all like the guy but don't we all expect Campbell to be able to step in and provide similiar, if not better, production at a lower price? They drafted two defensive ends last year for this exact reason. Smith is as good as gone.

MTL, but he's still way ahead of where Campbell's progress has taken him. Depending if we keep Boldin around(resigned), that may actually have a bearing on if we retain Smith.

 

[D-Dogg]

If we draft LeSean McCoy (which is a possiblity) then JJ is redundant. I'll be curious as to how we proceed with JJ. I personally love the guy.

Antonio Smith...I'd love to keep him but I fear we'll get priced out. He is one of my favorite players on the defense...probably 4th favorite behind AW, DRC, Dock, and followed by Dansby, Rolle, Berry and Gabe.

 

[az jam]

Antonio Smith will be in demand as their aren't many good free agent DEs. Peppers will probably be franchised today and Suggs already has.

IMO Smith will get a damn good contract that will be tough for the Cards to match.

 

[CardinalChris]

If Smith leaves we have a depth issue at DE. I expect Berry to be back with a similar deal to last year's incentive laden contract. Calias was drafted to replace Smith, so we are prepared, but we will be forced to bring in another rotational guy if Smith gets a 4mil. per year deal.

That is an interesting connection between Edge and JJ. Trust me, Whiz will go into the year with 3 RB who could spot start. Signing JJ doesn't mean RBs won't be drafted and James cut loose. In fact I think RB will be a 3-5th round pick for us regardless of Edge and JJ.

Some of those other role players, Haggans, Beisel, T. Smith, and E Brown are replaceable, but I think the staff wants to keep cohesion and chemistry after last year's run and will work hard to bring them back. I doubt teams will be looking to sign them to start, so they should return unless they are unhappy with the team/staff/locker room. Beisel and Hagans are interesting since LB is fast becoming our thinnnest position.

 

[CardinalChris]

Antonio Smith will be in demand as their aren't many good free agent DEs. Peppers will probably be franchised today and Suggs already has.

IMO Smith will get a damn good contract that will be tough for the Cards to match.

Yeah, my guess is 4-5 million a year. AZ will be hard pressed to match that.

 

[cgolden]

If Smith leaves we have a depth issue at DE. I expect Berry to be back with a similar deal to last year's incentive laden contract. Calias was drafted to replace Smith, so we are prepared, but we will be forced to bring in another rotational guy if Smith gets a 4mil. per year deal.

I don't think they'll have much of a depth issue. Campbell slides in to Smith's spot and Iwebema (who barely played at all last year) slides into Smith's spot. If you really want to be three deep at DE, there's always Keilen Dykes on the practice squad or they sign a low rung free agent or draft a kid late. And we haven't even mentioned Bryan Robinson who's capable of playing DE and probably would have last year at times if he wasn't starting at DT/NT. With Watson back healthy, I could see BR taking some snaps outside.

Bottom line: As long as we can assume that Campbell can put up similar stats to Smith, I don't see DE being a need heading into the draft.

 

[CardinalChris]

I don't think they'll have much of a depth issue. Campbell slides in to Smith's spot and Iwebema (who barely played at all last year) slides into Smith's spot. If you really want to be three deep at DE, there's always Keilen Dykes on the practice squad or they sign a low rung free agent or draft a kid late. And we haven't even mentioned Bryan Robinson who's capable of playing DE and probably would have last year at times if he wasn't starting at DT/NT. With Watson back healthy, I could see BR taking some snaps outside.

Bottom line: As long as we can assume that Campbell can put up similar stats to Smith, I don't see DE being a need heading into the draft.

Yes, we have bodies to play, but none of those players mentioned have the same ability as Campbell does playing in the 3rd slot on a rotational basis. Not to mention the possibility of a Disgruntled Dockett and we are a holdout and injury away from Kenny Alphabet and Bryan Robinson as our starting ends with Dykes playing 30% of the time? That is bad, bad news. DE is a very important need, and I think the front office knows it.

 

[cgolden]

Yes, we have bodies to play, but none of those players mentioned have the same ability as Campbell does playing in the 3rd slot on a rotational basis. Not to mention the possibility of a Disgruntled Dockett and we are a holdout and injury away from Kenny Alphabet and Bryan Robinson as our starting ends with Dykes playing 30% of the time? That is bad, bad news. DE is a very important need, and I think the front office knows it.

I think just about every team in the NFL can say that if they lost both of their starting DE's they'd be hurting. If we're going to assume that two starters could go down, than we need more depth at corner, safety, inside backer, outside backer, offensive tackle, guard, a center and running back. Well practically every position outside of receiver.