Cardinals Agree To Contract Extension With MLB Gerald Hayes

[Jim O]

Cardinals Agree To Contract Extension With MLB Gerald Hayes

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Tempe, AZ – The Arizona Cardinals Football Club today announced that the team has signed middle linebacker Gerald Hayes to a five-year contract extension. In accordance with club policy, terms were not disclosed.

Hayes (6-1, 253) is in his fourth season with the Cardinals after being drafted in the third round (70th overall) of the 2003 NFL Draft out of Pittsburgh. The 2006 season is his first season as the full time starter at middle linebacker, and in eight games Hayes leads the team with 61 total tackles (50 solos) and also has two interceptions, one sack and two fumble recoveries. In addition to leading the team in tackles in four games this season, Hayes collected a career-high 13 tackles when the Cardinals visited the Oakland Raiders on October 22.

A Paterson, NJ native, Hayes has appeared in 36 games (11 starts) with 109 tackles (84 solos), one sack, two interceptions, one forced fumble and three fumble recoveries since being drafted by the Cardinals in 2004. He missed the 2005 season on injured reserve after injuring his knee during training camp.

Hayes becomes the second member of the starting defensive unit to sign a contract extension during the 2006 season. Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett signed a five-year extension on October 13.

- azcardinals.com -

 

[D-Dogg]

Good, he's about the only one who earned one of those that could.

 

[ChandlerCard]

That's good news! Hayes has shown a lot since coming back from injury, and I think he's still got room to grow. Keeping a solid nucleus through this kind of resigning is a good long-term strategy (although I wish we could have spent more in free agency last year).

 

[CaptTurbo]

Not thrilled but you could do worse.

Hayes will not lose games for you. With solid personel around him he will be solid.

 

[Red Hawk]

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Not thrilled but you could do worse.

Hayes will not lose games for you. With solid personel around him he will be solid.

.... which could be said about every MLB since the dawn of football...

 

[Russ Smith]

Good move Hayes can play, he's no Urlacher of course but I'm imagining we didn't pay him at near that level either. Good solid young player and I've been impressed with his leadership at times on the field for a guy who's been hurt alot, he seems to be involved.

 

[az jam]

Makes sense. Hayes is solid. One less hole to fill in the off season.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Agree with the sentiments here. Only player this year worthy of an extension.

 

[arthurracoon]

 

[General Chaos]

I'm glad they took care of this. That leaves Leonard Davis as the only other notable FA this year.

 

[roland77]

Per ESPN:

The extension, which came on the last day for teams to sign players and count what would normally be signing bonuses as base salary toward the 2006 spending limit, is worth $21 million with $8 million guaranteed, ESPN's John Clayton reports.

 

[Pariah]

Good for Hayes. Good for the Cardinals.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Per ESPN:

The extension, which came on the last day for teams to sign players and count what would normally be signing bonuses as base salary toward the 2006 spending limit, is worth $21 million with $8 million guaranteed, ESPN's John Clayton reports.

Interesting, so you mean that they pretty much used ALL of their available cap this year?

Cheap Bidwill at it again.

(that was for you Boise)

 

[Pariah]

Interesting, so you mean that they pretty much used ALL of their available cap this year?

Cheap Bidwill at it again.

(that was for you Boise)

They didn't use it to help us WIN THIS YEAR, though.

 

[MadCardDisease]

YES!

Hayes has been one of the few bright spots on this team. He is also one of the few guys that takes on the vocal leader role.

 

[Cheesebeef]

They didn't use it to help us WIN THIS YEAR, though.

in reality, I've realized that the Bidwills may not be cheap per se, they're just flat out stupid how they do business and try and construct a winner. Yeah, our salary cap is in great shape as we continue to be one of the worst teams in football! Hurrah!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

in reality, I've realized that the Bidwills may not be cheap per se, they're just flat out stupid how they do business and try and construct a winner. Yeah, our salary cap is in great shape as we continue to be one of the worst teams in football! Hurrah!

Managing the salary cap, and negotiating contracts should fall in the scope of the GM's job......

 

[Pariah]

Managing the salary cap, and negotiating contracts should fall in the scope of the GM's job......

So what?

 

[Cheesebeef]

Managing the salary cap, and negotiating contracts should fall in the scope of the GM's job......

you're right. it should, but I suspect it doesn't. Either that or Rod Graves is beyond the moron that I already believe him to be. And that would be saying something.

46 million for Dockett and Hayes - that's a lot of scratch for two relatively average NFL defenders.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

So what?

So maybe the GM isn't doing a good job??? Or any job for that matter if the Bidwills are doing the negotiating.

 

[Pariah]

So maybe the GM isn't doing a good job???

ooookkay...does that not fall under "the team?"

 

[ajcardfan]

46 million for Dockett and Hayes - that's a lot of scratch for two relatively average NFL defenders.

I think we'll see that those contracts really won't be that big in the future. I read something recently that said the projections for the salary cap will be in the 150 million range by around 2010 or 2011.

 

[Shane]

Per ESPN:

The extension, which came on the last day for teams to sign players and count what would normally be signing bonuses as base salary toward the 2006 spending limit, is worth $21 million with $8 million guaranteed, ESPN's John Clayton reports.

21 million toatal with 8 guaranteed doesnt sound like a whole lot. I wonder if it is 4 or 5 years? Glad we locked this guy up though. Very deserving!

 

[dreamcastrocks]

ooookkay...does that not fall under "the team?"

What is this "the team" bit that you are talking about? Yes, if the Cards were more creative in their contracts, the would have been able to sign more players in the offseason, rather than resigning their own with the money left over.

As we all know, we can't change the Bidwills as owners, so either we hire a GM who can be creative with the contracts (if he is the one responsible for our current contract negotiation) or we hire Ronald McDonald as our next GM because it wouldn't matter who we bring in, if the Bidwills are the ones writing all the contracts. (Atleast with McDonald in there, they could have free Happy Meals.)