Anyone have insider article?

[SeattleCard]

I see that espn Insider has written and article on Emmitt and the Cards... anyone have it?

 

[SweetD]

If they do how about posting the user name and password for all of us fellow Cards Fans.

 

[Stronso]

Emmitt Smith decided to join the Arizona Cardinals because they offered two things no other teams did -- money and a starting job. The Arizona Cardinals decided to pursue Emmitt Smith because he gave them something they desperately needed -- a marketable name.

But now that we've established that no other team was all that interested in Smith and the Cardinals were a team without an identity, let's examine what impact Smith will have on a downtrodden franchise with only one winning season in the last 18 years.

Smith has gone on record as saying he's still a 1,300-yard back. While he should have no problem racking up that many yards over the course of his two-year contract, he'll be hard-pressed to get that many yards next year.



Not that Smith doesn't have the juice anymore. There is every reason to believe the 34-year-old Smith, compelled to quell any talk of him being too old, will come to Arizona with a renewed vigor and chip on his shoulder. Smith, who was told he was too small and slow to be a big-time running back, has made a habit out of proving people wrong. The problem won't lie with Smith, but with his teammates.

The Cardinals simply don't have a cast that can give Smith the support he needs to succeed. The offensive line could be a team strength if the unit could stay healthy for a whole season. The Cards have a set of mammoth bookend tackles in Anthony Clement (6-8, 350) and L.J. Shelton (6-6, 341), and the right side of the line is huge when you add guard Leonard Davis (6-6, 360) in the mix. Add in the aggressive Pete Kendall and center Mike Gruttadauria, and you have a line that could easily be in the top third in the league.

But even if that line could form a solid front for Smith, it'll have problems opening up holes for him. Teams will stack eight and perhaps nine men in the box because the Cardinals' passing game instills about as much fear as toy poodle.

The Cardinals picked up Jeff Blake as a replacement for Jake Plummer, but so far they've given him nobody to throw to. They let David Boston and MarTay Jenkins go, and Frank Sanders is currently talking to the Baltimore Ravens. That means the top three wideouts are gone and will be replaced by Bryan Gilmore, Kevin Kasper and Jason McAddley. That trio accounted for 38 receptions last year, and this year the number might not get much better.

The team needs to add the threat of a forward pass, but even if the Cards draft a quality receiver there is little chance that player would make an immediate impact. The Cards have been asleep at the wheel in pursuing receivers in free agency, and the most attractive names left on the list are Antonio Freeman, Oronde Gadsden and Germane Crowell. For those of you keeping score at home, that's one old receiver with diminishing skills, one wideout with a bad wrist and arthritic toes, and one who has had surgeries on both knees.

The Cardinals' other hope will be acquiring some talent through June 1 cuts, but the most likely receivers to be released are Muhsin Muhammad and Marcus Robinson, two more veterans with a lengthy injury history.

It is difficult to imagine the Cardinals' situation at receiver being significantly upgraded between now and the start of the regular season, meaning even if Smith comes into camp in shape and looks more like the Emmitt of old than an old Emmitt, the odds are stacked against him.

 

[BW52]

Nothing like having the facts straight.Wasn`t Gruttadauria released a few weeks ago.

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by BW52
Nothing like having the facts straight.Wasn`t Gruttadauria released a few weeks ago.

Yeah, no joke. All this comes with being an NFL backwater... for now.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by kerouac9
Yeah, no joke. All this comes with being an NFL backwater... for now.

Isn't he still on the roster?

 

[SeattleCard]

Thanks for posting Stronso...

 

[kerouac9]

Originally posted by WizardOfAz
Isn't he still on the roster?

No, he was cut two or three weeks ago.

 

[WizardOfAz]

Originally posted by kerouac9
No, he was cut two or three weeks ago.

I knew they were going to release him, but I never saw the offical confirmation.

Strange, since the team still lists him on their roster.

 

[BW52]

I saw that he was still on the roster on the official site,Of course the official site still has McAddley wearing # 11.Last seasons IR and PS listed also.Really needs to be updated.Ourlads has Grutts still on the team also.I guess the "official" cut hasn`t happened yet.

 

[Pariah]

The Cardinals' other hope will be acquiring some talent through June 1 cuts, but the most likely receivers to be released are Muhsin Muhammad and Marcus Robinson, two more veterans with a lengthy injury history.

I didn't know Muhammad was due to be cut. I don't think his injury history is nearly as significant as the other WRs mentioned. I'm really excited about the prospect of potentially being able to add him. He's damned good.

 

[ajcardfan]

Gruts has yet to be released. The team announced he would be released once he came in for a physical. That hasn't happened yet, as far as I know. It could well be that they are having to negotiate some type of injury settlement.

 

[Northern Card]

Perhaps a silly thought, but how about Thomas Jones and say our third and compensatory pick to the 49ers for Tai Streets?

 

[Cardiac]

Originally posted by Northern Card
Perhaps a silly thought, but how about Thomas Jones and say our third and compensatory pick to the 49ers for Tai Streets?

Can't trade compensatory picks, NFL rules don't allow it. The 49er's are also very deep at RB. Plus Tai Streets isn't worth draft picks IMHO.

Muhammad and Robinson are the 2 best options.