Jeff Blake Comments on www.azcardinals.com
Video should be up soon with Blake, McGinnis, and Sullivan.
http://www.azcardinals.com/press/pressdetails.php?sid=1118
Cards Land Four Free Agents
After a week and a half of free agent visits, the Cardinals landed four key acquisitions on Wednesday, March 12. Super Bowl XXXVII most valuable player Dexter Jackson, whose two first-half interceptions against the Oakland Raiders led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first NFL championship six weeks ago, quarterback Jeff Blake, an 11-year NFL veteran and former Pro Bowler (1995), fullback James Hodgins, a two-year starter for the St. Louis Rams, and versatile NY Jet outside linebacker James Darling have all agreed to contracts.
Jackson agreed to a five-year contract, Hodgins and Darling to four-year deals, while Blake’s contract is a three-year deal.
“We are exciting about the acquisitions to our team today,” offered Vice President of Football Operations Rod Graves. “I think we got some quality, quality people and in addition to that, some great football players. I have asked for your patience and I want to say to the media and to the fans that I appreciate that patience. We are not through yet and we are still going to be working diligently to add quality football players to this team. This was a big day for us simply because we had so many fall in one day.”
“Free agency, you lose some players, you gain some players,” observed Head Coach Dave McGinnis. “I am extremely pleased about the way this has fallen for us. The best thing I have heard all day is that ‘We are not done yet.’”
In 2002, his second season as a starter, Jackson registered a career-best 86 tackles with 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, and 10 pass deflections to key a Buccaneer secondary that ranked first in the NFL in pass defense (155.6 yards per game) and led the league with 31 interceptions.
"You ask anybody who plays the game and understands the game, they’ll tell you, 'Dexter Jackson was a big part of our defense,'” offered Jackson during his visit to Arizona last week. "If you go back and watch film, you’ll see, and it is hard to make plays on that defense.
"I am a worker and I am going to bring that enthusiasm to Arizona."
Considered one of the best lead blockers in the NFL, the 6–1, 270-pound Hodgins started 20 of 55 games for the Rams and in 2001 was integral to the success of running back Marshall Faulk, the NFL offensive player-of-the-year, and quarterback Kurt Warner, the league's most valuable player.
He owns career totals of 13 rushing attempts for 25 yards and one touchdown and has caught 21 passes for 111 yards and one score.
During his free agent visit to Arizona on Monday, Hodgins talked about what he could bring to Arizona.
“My work ethic. If we are wearing pads, I am going 100%. A lot of the NFL gets into a buddy system and they don’t like to mix it up too much. But to stay on top of my game and to be physical, you have to always practice that way. I think I set that tempo at practice.”
Blake, 32, who previously played with the N.Y. Jets (1992–93), Cincinnati Bengals (1994–99), New Orleans Saints (2000–01), and Baltimore Ravens (2002), owns career passing totals of 2,828 pass attempts, 1,597 completions, 19,282 yards, 119 touchdowns, and 80 interceptions. He also has gained 1,845 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 384 career rushing attempts. He has started 87 of his 101 NFL games.
His career passer rating of 79.2 places him among players active in 2002 who are on pace to rank in the NFL’s all-time top 20, a list that also includes Steve McNair, 81.7; Neil O’Donnell, 81.6; Steve Beuerlein, 80.9; Chris Chandler, 80.7; Jeff George, 80.4; and Donovan McNabb, 79.3.
“To add a quarterback like Jeff Blake that is a veteran presence, his numbers speak for themselves as far as what he’s been able to do on a consistent basis, and then when you are with him, when you talk to him, the guy exudes confidence and that is only going to help us,” stated McGinnis.
Graves concluded after meeting with the coaching staff this morning that the team would pursue Blake instead of waiting for a deicision from Kordell Stewart.
Blake was present at the Cardinals Training Facility on Wednesday after signing his contract and re-emphasized his position from Tuesday's visit that things can easily be turned around in Arizona. He felt confident about coming to Arizona, especially after Cardinals offensive lineman Leonard Davis gave him the okay.
“I go to the same church as Leonard back in Austin and he said it was okay,” joked Blake. “He doesn’t say much so if he says it is okay, then it is okay.”
Blake is also hoping that teammate Kevin Kasper will be willing to part with his number 11 jersey.
“If he wants to be a real receiver, he’s got to wear an eighty number,” laughed Blake. “We’ll see if it is a problem. A number doesn’t identify me, I identify myself. But I am hoping it will be 11.”
The 6-0, 250-pound Darling was one of the Jets’ key situational defenders last year and collected 33 solo tackles, 9 assists, 1 quarterback sack, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass deflections. In addition, he posted 16 tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams. In 91 career games (24) starts, Darling owns 122 solo tackles, 98 assists, 4.5 quarterback sacks, 3 interceptions, 9 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles and 87 special teams tackles.
During Darling’s visit last Friday, the veteran linebacker emphasized that his decision would be made based on having a shot to compete for a starting position.
“We’ll give him a chance to compete at all three of those spots,” said McGinnis. “He’s done it in this league before so he’ll get an opportunity to compete.”
Additionally, two returning veterans, fullback Dennis McKinley and running back Travis Prentice, have agreed to two- and one-year contracts, respectively.
Meanwhile, Graves is still involved in negotiations with defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday.
Video should be up soon with Blake, McGinnis, and Sullivan.
http://www.azcardinals.com/press/pressdetails.php?sid=1118
Cards Land Four Free Agents
After a week and a half of free agent visits, the Cardinals landed four key acquisitions on Wednesday, March 12. Super Bowl XXXVII most valuable player Dexter Jackson, whose two first-half interceptions against the Oakland Raiders led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to their first NFL championship six weeks ago, quarterback Jeff Blake, an 11-year NFL veteran and former Pro Bowler (1995), fullback James Hodgins, a two-year starter for the St. Louis Rams, and versatile NY Jet outside linebacker James Darling have all agreed to contracts.
Jackson agreed to a five-year contract, Hodgins and Darling to four-year deals, while Blake’s contract is a three-year deal.
“We are exciting about the acquisitions to our team today,” offered Vice President of Football Operations Rod Graves. “I think we got some quality, quality people and in addition to that, some great football players. I have asked for your patience and I want to say to the media and to the fans that I appreciate that patience. We are not through yet and we are still going to be working diligently to add quality football players to this team. This was a big day for us simply because we had so many fall in one day.”
“Free agency, you lose some players, you gain some players,” observed Head Coach Dave McGinnis. “I am extremely pleased about the way this has fallen for us. The best thing I have heard all day is that ‘We are not done yet.’”
In 2002, his second season as a starter, Jackson registered a career-best 86 tackles with 3 interceptions, 1 fumble recovery, and 10 pass deflections to key a Buccaneer secondary that ranked first in the NFL in pass defense (155.6 yards per game) and led the league with 31 interceptions.
"You ask anybody who plays the game and understands the game, they’ll tell you, 'Dexter Jackson was a big part of our defense,'” offered Jackson during his visit to Arizona last week. "If you go back and watch film, you’ll see, and it is hard to make plays on that defense.
"I am a worker and I am going to bring that enthusiasm to Arizona."
Considered one of the best lead blockers in the NFL, the 6–1, 270-pound Hodgins started 20 of 55 games for the Rams and in 2001 was integral to the success of running back Marshall Faulk, the NFL offensive player-of-the-year, and quarterback Kurt Warner, the league's most valuable player.
He owns career totals of 13 rushing attempts for 25 yards and one touchdown and has caught 21 passes for 111 yards and one score.
During his free agent visit to Arizona on Monday, Hodgins talked about what he could bring to Arizona.
“My work ethic. If we are wearing pads, I am going 100%. A lot of the NFL gets into a buddy system and they don’t like to mix it up too much. But to stay on top of my game and to be physical, you have to always practice that way. I think I set that tempo at practice.”
Blake, 32, who previously played with the N.Y. Jets (1992–93), Cincinnati Bengals (1994–99), New Orleans Saints (2000–01), and Baltimore Ravens (2002), owns career passing totals of 2,828 pass attempts, 1,597 completions, 19,282 yards, 119 touchdowns, and 80 interceptions. He also has gained 1,845 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 384 career rushing attempts. He has started 87 of his 101 NFL games.
His career passer rating of 79.2 places him among players active in 2002 who are on pace to rank in the NFL’s all-time top 20, a list that also includes Steve McNair, 81.7; Neil O’Donnell, 81.6; Steve Beuerlein, 80.9; Chris Chandler, 80.7; Jeff George, 80.4; and Donovan McNabb, 79.3.
“To add a quarterback like Jeff Blake that is a veteran presence, his numbers speak for themselves as far as what he’s been able to do on a consistent basis, and then when you are with him, when you talk to him, the guy exudes confidence and that is only going to help us,” stated McGinnis.
Graves concluded after meeting with the coaching staff this morning that the team would pursue Blake instead of waiting for a deicision from Kordell Stewart.
Blake was present at the Cardinals Training Facility on Wednesday after signing his contract and re-emphasized his position from Tuesday's visit that things can easily be turned around in Arizona. He felt confident about coming to Arizona, especially after Cardinals offensive lineman Leonard Davis gave him the okay.
“I go to the same church as Leonard back in Austin and he said it was okay,” joked Blake. “He doesn’t say much so if he says it is okay, then it is okay.”
Blake is also hoping that teammate Kevin Kasper will be willing to part with his number 11 jersey.
“If he wants to be a real receiver, he’s got to wear an eighty number,” laughed Blake. “We’ll see if it is a problem. A number doesn’t identify me, I identify myself. But I am hoping it will be 11.”
The 6-0, 250-pound Darling was one of the Jets’ key situational defenders last year and collected 33 solo tackles, 9 assists, 1 quarterback sack, 2 interceptions, and 3 pass deflections. In addition, he posted 16 tackles and two fumble recoveries on special teams. In 91 career games (24) starts, Darling owns 122 solo tackles, 98 assists, 4.5 quarterback sacks, 3 interceptions, 9 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles and 87 special teams tackles.
During Darling’s visit last Friday, the veteran linebacker emphasized that his decision would be made based on having a shot to compete for a starting position.
“We’ll give him a chance to compete at all three of those spots,” said McGinnis. “He’s done it in this league before so he’ll get an opportunity to compete.”
Additionally, two returning veterans, fullback Dennis McKinley and running back Travis Prentice, have agreed to two- and one-year contracts, respectively.
Meanwhile, Graves is still involved in negotiations with defensive lineman Vonnie Holliday.
