Cardinals and Kolb Trying to Save Face

[Mitch]

Kevin Kolb: what makes his situation all the more curious is that if he is correct in saying that he was consulting the Cardinals' staff and trainers about the lingering symptoms of his concussion---another three weeks after the season ended---why then did the Cardinals elect to pay Kolb the $7M bonus?

It just doesn't make sense that the Cardinals could expect Kolb, who showed a disturbing skittishness in the pocket prior to his concussion that after his second concussion in two years, the second one being so serious to the point of the symptoms lasting 7 weeks---that the Cardinals would expect Kolb to be eager and ready to stay in the pocket this year. AND---the Cardinals' expectation of this is at their own and Kolb's risk.

In this day and age in the NFL where player safety is squarely on the front burner---where a slew of former players are suing the NFL for the long-term effects of their concussions---where Gregg Williams was caught on tape instructing his players to take shots at Frank Gore's head---teams are going to have be very cautious in how they conduct their business in any manner of player safety.

What one may wonder too is---was Kolb informing the Cardinals' trainers perhaps in the hope that the Cardinals would not pick up his bonus?

At first thought---one might think this is ludicrous.

How could he walk away from the money?

Well, consider this: Kevin Kolb, despite only starting 14 games in his 5 year career has now been paid (or assured of guaranteed money) well over $30,000,000. That's right: 30 million dollars.

When the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb, they signed Kolb to a two year $12.25M contract which all but $1.4M was front loaded---thus Kevin Kolb in 2010 started four games for the Eagles and made $10.85M.

The point is this: even if the Cardinals had decided to cut their ties with Kolb---Kevin Kolb would never have to work another day in his life---

Maybe, just maybe---Kolb was hoping the Cardinals would have given him a sooner chance at retirement---and who could blame Kolb if that is the case?

So why then is Kolb saying he has a lot to prove and that he intends to show the Cardinals that their investment in him was good?

Now that the Cardinals picked up his bonus, what else is he going to say?

Both the Cardinals and Kolb are trying to save face on what thus far has been a debacle of trade---but both are doing it at the mercy of the player's short and long-term livelihood---and that is what is most disturbing.

In addition, upon his arrival at team headquarters for the off-season workouts, Kolb publicly aired his frustration with Coach Ken Whisenhunt--Kolb was miffed as to why Whisenhunt didn't inform him directly of the team's interest in Peyton Manning. Wha?

Then Kolb had the temerity to suggest in rather didactic terms that he settled the score with Whisenhunt as to how "relationships should be formed."

I guess when you are sitting on $30M, most of which came from a team that offered blind trust to him in the form of a 5 year $65M contract---I guess you can chastise the head coach publicly.

Those kinds of conversations between a coach and player should be kept behind closed doors.

But what Kolb's actions suggest is that he is not a player who is happy, relieved and grateful that Peyton Manning didn't wind up in Arizona so that he could be given another chance to prove himself with yet another $7M thrown into the kitty.

If any player should have felt most indignant about the Peyton Manning courtship it should have been Alex Smith---but there has not been one public peep from him and, after all, he led his team to a 13-3 regular season record, a stunning come from behind playoff win versus the bounty hunting Saints and then a berth in the NFC Championship.

Even Tim Tebow is happy to be a Jet.

But Kevin Kolb feels dissed.

Enough about Kolb---because what's even more disturbing is the Cardinals' culpability in all of this.

One would think the Cardinals would make the safety of their QB a top priority, especially seeing as Kurt Warner suffered a concussion which in addition to complaining during the 2009 playoffs that the Saints were trying to target his head, led to his decision to retire with one year left on his contract.

Then in 2010---both Derek Anderson and Max Hall suffered concussions---the shot that Hall took was about as scary a hit as one would ever see---and who was it against? Yup, the Saints.

Last year it was Kolb's turn.

And when you think about it---as attractive and surreal a notion it was to think of Peyton Manning taking the reins in Arizona---Manning's situation is equally scary if not more so, for one bad hit could lead to crippling neck and back issues for the rest of his life.

If anyone thinks Peyton Manning is a slam dunk in Denver---if LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison have anything to say about it, Manning may not make it through his first game as a Bronco.

But---here's another thought---how is it that with all the concussion issues the Cardinals have had at the QB position over the past three years, they are heading into this year's draft still not knowing who their right tackle will be?

How can that possibly be?

The Cardinals say they hate to play rookies.

Is a rookie going to be the new right tackle?

If it's Riley Reiff or Cordy Glenn, well they would have to do what Levi Brown had to do when he arrived---switch from playing LT to playing RT, that and learn a brand new offense (with all of the elaborate blocking schemes) and then try to acclimate to the far greater speed and power of the NFL game.

Wonder how secure that will make Kevin Kolb feel to have a rookie right tackle?

What should the Cardinals do?

1. Negotiate a buyout of Kolb's contract with Kolb's agent, if at all possible. It would be very interesting to see if Kolb would accept his $7M roster bonus plus another $1M as the $8M he was guaranteed---and call it what it is: an injury settlement.

2. Do not waste snaps on Kolb---give Skelton and Bartel the bulk of the snaps and draft a QB and sign a young veteran like Dennis Dixon.

3. Sign a veteran right tackle like Kareem McKenzie and draft a tackle in one of their first three picks.

4. Play FB Anthony Sherman as the pass blocking RB and/or sign a veteran RB who is a good blocker.

5. Continue to have Skelton and all the QBs clearly define the pocket---and continue to hone the forming of it.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

What should the Cardinals do?

1. Negotiate a buyout of Kolb's contract with Kolb's agent, if at all possible. It would be very interesting to see if Kolb would accept his $7M roster bonus plus another $1M as the $8M he was guaranteed---and call it what it is: an injury settlement.

Why in the world would they do that? They could have just cut him, instead they restructured.

If the Cards wanted to be rid of him, they could have done it already. Face it, Kolb is on the roster for at least 2012.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

There's nothing to negotiate. He has $19M in the bank, and a mere $1M in salary due if he's on the team come September. The team can walk away having spent $20M at the end of 2012.

We'll see what Smith has to say about SF flirting with PM when they put a mike in his face. Doubtful that Kolb's measured words will have any effect.

Bottom line. I think Kolb wants to play and succeed as a Card.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

Why in the world would they do that? They could have just cut him, instead they restructured.

If the Cards wanted to be rid of him, they could have done it already. Face it, Kolb is on the roster for at least 2012.

There is no report that the Cards have restructured his deal. Only that it was an option.

 

[Mitch]

There's nothing to negotiate. He has $19M in the bank, and a mere $1M in salary due if he's on the team come September. The team can walk away having spent $20M at the end of 2012.

We'll see what Smith has to say about SF flirting with PM when they put a mike in his face. Doubtful that Kolb's measured words will have any effect.

Bottom line. I think Kolb wants to play and succeed as a Card.

They still owe him $6M beyond this year (pro-rated signing bonus).

This year's salary:

$2M---signing bonus ($2M a year for 5 years)
$7M---roster bonus
$1M---salary
$500K---workout bonus

$10.5M

 

[dreamcastrocks]

There is no report that the Cards have restructured his deal. Only that it was an option.

Interesting. Thought I read that on azcentral.

Thanks,

 

[Mitch]

Why in the world would they do that? They could have just cut him, instead they restructured.

If the Cards wanted to be rid of him, they could have done it already. Face it, Kolb is on the roster for at least 2012.

He is on the roster---and I agree nothing is likely to change.

I guess the main question is: does anyone see any evidence of Kolb being willing to overcome his natural skittishness in order make this offense work?

He has more reasons than ever to be skittish---and there is really no financial incentive for him, he already has the money.

The motivations would be pride and a burning desire to prove himself as a top level NFL QB---which by now he should have shown more obvious signs of.

To his credit I think he feels a sense of obligation to the Cardinals for making such a big investment in him---but could his sense of obligation be stronger than his fear of sustaining another debilitating concussion?

Is that even remotely possible under the circumstances?

And believe it or not---it puts far greater pressure on the offensive line to protect a QB as vulnerable as Kolb, but not the good kind of pressure---the kind that leads to all kinds of mistakes.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

They still owe him $6M beyond this year (pro-rated signing bonus).

This year's salary:

$2M---signing bonus ($2M a year for 5 years)
$7M---roster bonus
$1M---salary
$500K---workout bonus

$10.5M

His two bonuses have been paid - 10 + 7
He rec'd 2 in salary for 2011.
He's collecting his work out bonus now

The only thing outstanding is his $1M salary in 2012

So.. Bottom line, the Cards can walk away today, but it will still have cost $19.5M. It's a pointless financial exercise and given that his signing bonus would be accelerated, likely hurt the CAP.

 

[RonF]

When you remember what the cards paid Leinart over the years to hold a clip board, I hope its not deja vu all over again.

 

[NuttinButTDs]

They still owe him $6M beyond this year (pro-rated signing bonus).

This year's salary:

$2M---signing bonus ($2M a year for 5 years)
$7M---roster bonus
$1M---salary
$500K---workout bonus

$10.5M

I thought the signing bonus is already paid out and so is the roster bonus. 2M/yr is for cap purposes only. So Cards owe 1.5M more for this year.

 

[kerouac9]

When you remember what the cards paid Leinart over the years to hold a clip board, I hope its not deja vu all over again.

According to Spotrac.com, Leinart got about $10 million over his four years with the Arizona Cardinals. Kolb has gotten nearly $20 million over two years, and STILL has fewer career starts than Leinart does.

 

[az jam]

IMO, the bottom line is that this is the make it or break it year for Kolb with the Cards. He will have a full "off-season" of OTA's, min-camps and of course training camp along with 5 preseason games. He will have a chance to learn the full play book, get coaching to improve etc. There will be no excuses if he doesn't perform. It won't matter if its poor performance or anther injury filled season, he will be gone.

 

[john h]

Kevin Kolb: what makes his situation all the more curious is that if he is correct in saying that he was consulting the Cardinals' staff and trainers about the lingering symptoms of his concussion---another three weeks after the season ended---why then did the Cardinals elect to pay Kolb the $7M bonus?

It just doesn't make sense that the Cardinals could expect Kolb, who showed a disturbing skittishness in the pocket prior to his concussion that after his second concussion in two years, the second one being so serious to the point of the symptoms lasting 7 weeks---that the Cardinals would expect Kolb to be eager and ready to stay in the pocket this year. AND---the Cardinals' expectation of this is at their own and Kolb's risk.

In this day and age in the NFL where player safety is squarely on the front burner---where a slew of former players are suing the NFL for the long-term effects of their concussions---where Gregg Williams was caught on tape instructing his players to take shots at Frank Gore's head---teams are going to have be very cautious in how they conduct their business in any manner of player safety.

What one may wonder too is---was Kolb informing the Cardinals' trainers perhaps in the hope that the Cardinals would not pick up his bonus?

At first thought---one might think this is ludicrous.

How could he walk away from the money?

Well, consider this: Kevin Kolb, despite only starting 14 games in his 5 year career has now been paid (or assured of guaranteed money) well over $30,000,000. That's right: 30 million dollars.

When the Eagles traded Donovan McNabb, they signed Kolb to a two year $12.25M contract which all but $1.4M was front loaded---thus Kevin Kolb in 2010 started four games for the Eagles and made $10.85M.

The point is this: even if the Cardinals had decided to cut their ties with Kolb---Kevin Kolb would never have to work another day in his life---

Maybe, just maybe---Kolb was hoping the Cardinals would have given him a sooner chance at retirement---and who could blame Kolb if that is the case?

So why then is Kolb saying he has a lot to prove and that he intends to show the Cardinals that their investment in him was good?

Now that the Cardinals picked up his bonus, what else is he going to say?

Both the Cardinals and Kolb are trying to save face on what thus far has been a debacle of trade---but both are doing it at the mercy of the player's short and long-term livelihood---and that is what is most disturbing.

In addition, upon his arrival at team headquarters for the off-season workouts, Kolb publicly aired his frustration with Coach Ken Whisenhunt--Kolb was miffed as to why Whisenhunt didn't inform him directly of the team's interest in Peyton Manning. Wha?

Then Kolb had the temerity to suggest in rather didactic terms that he settled the score with Whisenhunt as to how "relationships should be formed."

I guess when you are sitting on $30M, most of which came from a team that offered blind trust to him in the form of a 5 year $65M contract---I guess you can chastise the head coach publicly.

Those kinds of conversations between a coach and player should be kept behind closed doors.

But what Kolb's actions suggest is that he is not a player who is happy, relieved and grateful that Peyton Manning didn't wind up in Arizona so that he could be given another chance to prove himself with yet another $7M thrown into the kitty.

If any player should have felt most indignant about the Peyton Manning courtship it should have been Alex Smith---but there has not been one public peep from him and, after all, he led his team to a 13-3 regular season record, a stunning come from behind playoff win versus the bounty hunting Saints and then a berth in the NFC Championship.

Even Tim Tebow is happy to be a Jet.

But Kevin Kolb feels dissed.

Enough about Kolb---because what's even more disturbing is the Cardinals' culpability in all of this.

One would think the Cardinals would make the safety of their QB a top priority, especially seeing as Kurt Warner suffered a concussion which in addition to complaining during the 2009 playoffs that the Saints were trying to target his head, led to his decision to retire with one year left on his contract.

Then in 2010---both Derek Anderson and Max Hall suffered concussions---the shot that Hall took was about as scary a hit as one would ever see---and who was it against? Yup, the Saints.

Last year it was Kolb's turn.

And when you think about it---as attractive and surreal a notion it was to think of Peyton Manning taking the reins in Arizona---Manning's situation is equally scary if not more so, for one bad hit could lead to crippling neck and back issues for the rest of his life.

If anyone thinks Peyton Manning is a slam dunk in Denver---if LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison have anything to say about it, Manning may not make it through his first game as a Bronco.

But---here's another thought---how is it that with all the concussion issues the Cardinals have had at the QB position over the past three years, they are heading into this year's draft still not knowing who their right tackle will be?

How can that possibly be?

The Cardinals say they hate to play rookies.

Is a rookie going to be the new right tackle?

If it's Riley Reiff or Cordy Glenn, well they would have to do what Levi Brown had to do when he arrived---switch from playing LT to playing RT, that and learn a brand new offense (with all of the elaborate blocking schemes) and then try to acclimate to the far greater speed and power of the NFL game.

Wonder how secure that will make Kevin Kolb feel to have a rookie right tackle?

What should the Cardinals do?

1. Negotiate a buyout of Kolb's contract with Kolb's agent, if at all possible. It would be very interesting to see if Kolb would accept his $7M roster bonus plus another $1M as the $8M he was guaranteed---and call it what it is: an injury settlement.

2. Do not waste snaps on Kolb---give Skelton and Bartel the bulk of the snaps and draft a QB and sign a young veteran like Dennis Dixon.

3. Sign a veteran right tackle like Kareem McKenzie and draft a tackle in one of their first three picks.

4. Play FB Anthony Sherman as the pass blocking RB and/or sign a veteran RB who is a good blocker.

5. Continue to have Skelton and all the QBs clearly define the pocket---and continue to hone the forming of it.

Mitch: One of your best ever articles. I will add this about Manning as I have had personal experience with neck operations. At age 41 i had bone from my hip placed in my C2/C3 and C3/C4 vertebra. It is a very long and serious operation where the surgeon makes his incision in the front of your neck and sweeps everything aside so he can approach your vertebra from the back. Sometimes the fusion does not take which was probably what happened to Manning. In my opinion the time period to have the bone fuse properly is clearly not one year and that would be for a normal guy not playing in the NFL. I watched my fusion heal on X-Rays on a regular basis. You also lose some neck mobility in that you cannot look up like you once could. I think it was 3-4 years until it was a solid piece of bone. When you fuse this high in the neck you are risking total paralysis or death. I think Peyton is crazy and the team who signed him have lost their minds. Peyton has proved he is one of the top 5 QBs of all time. He probably has enough money to buy a team of his own. He is young and has a family. When that fusion is only one year out and a 280 lb linebacker at full speed hits you in the neck what is going to give is the fusion. That is the weak link. I would hope Manning's wife, his father, and his brother would offer him their thoughts. That is my firm opinion and I will never change my mind unless the medical reports I read are wrong. The consequences of this turning ugly are much worse than losing your legs. I hope this is not about ego. I would not even want to watch Manning play now. I would not want to ever seen him being carted off the field motionless.

 

[john h]

There's nothing to negotiate. He has $19M in the bank, and a mere $1M in salary due if he's on the team come September. The team can walk away having spent $20M at the end of 2012.

We'll see what Smith has to say about SF flirting with PM when they put a mike in his face. Doubtful that Kolb's measured words will have any effect.

Bottom line. I think Kolb wants to play and succeed as a Card.

I think you are right in that he may want to play but the reality of the situation is he is putting his life at risk and he knows it. He is not going to walk in front of a bus in the form of a LB coming at him. He is going to retreat like he did last year. I would not blame him.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

He is on the roster---and I agree nothing is likely to change.

I guess the main question is: does anyone see any evidence of Kolb being willing to overcome his natural skittishness in order make this offense work?

He has more reasons than ever to be skittish---and there is really no financial incentive for him, he already has the money.

The motivations would be pride and a burning desire to prove himself as a top level NFL QB---which by now he should have shown more obvious signs of.

To his credit I think he feels a sense of obligation to the Cardinals for making such a big investment in him---but could his sense of obligation be stronger than his fear of sustaining another debilitating concussion?

Is that even remotely possible under the circumstances?

And believe it or not---it puts far greater pressure on the offensive line to protect a QB as vulnerable as Kolb, but not the good kind of pressure---the kind that leads to all kinds of mistakes.

I'm sure that no one can definitively say either way. We don't know what we have in Kolb yet. We will at some point this season.

Frankly, I'm not comfortable with any of our QB's on the roster. I don't have much faith in Whisenhunt and his ability to groom young QB's. That's why not getting Manning hurts.

 

[WildBB]

Both the Cardinals and Kolb are trying to save face on what thus far has been a debacle of trade---but both are doing it at the mercy of the player's short and long-term livelihood---and that is what is most disturbing.

In addition, upon his arrival at team headquarters for the off-season workouts, Kolb publicly aired his frustration with Coach Ken Whisenhunt--Kolb was miffed as to why Whisenhunt didn't inform him directly of the team's interest in Peyton Manning. Wha?

Then Kolb had the temerity to suggest in rather didactic terms that he settled the score with Whisenhunt as to how "relationships should be formed."

I guess when you are sitting on $30M, most of which came from a team that offered blind trust to him in the form of a 5 year $65M contract---I guess you can chastise the head coach publicly.

Yeah, if Kolb did indeed state this publicaly then we do have something to worry about. He's allready paid, and he's mouthing off at the head coach allready.

 

[Russ Smith]

If Kolb really doesn't want to play again you don't think he could find a doctor to examine him who would come to the conclusion he shouldn't play again and thus retire on doctors advice?

I think he wants to play but doesn't know yet if he can and how could he, he's a QB not a doctor, if the doctors don't know how long the concussion will bother him how can he possibly know?

I got really concerned about Kolb late last year when he said he still had problems, that was months ago that he still had problems that long after has to be a real concern to him and the Cards.

It's entirely likely you will get your wish and Skelton will be the QB.

 

[Mitch]

Mitch: One of your best ever articles. I will add this about Manning as I have had personal experience with neck operations. At age 41 i had bone from my hip placed in my C2/C3 and C3/C4 vertebra. It is a very long and serious operation where the surgeon makes his incision in the front of your neck and sweeps everything aside so he can approach your vertebra from the back. Sometimes the fusion does not take which was probably what happened to Manning. In my opinion the time period to have the bone fuse properly is clearly not one year and that would be for a normal guy not playing in the NFL. I watched my fusion heal on X-Rays on a regular basis. You also lose some neck mobility in that you cannot look up like you once could. I think it was 3-4 years until it was a solid piece of bone. When you fuse this high in the neck you are risking total paralysis or death. I think Peyton is crazy and the team who signed him have lost their minds. Peyton has proved he is one of the top 5 QBs of all time. He probably has enough money to buy a team of his own. He is young and has a family. When that fusion is only one year out and a 280 lb linebacker at full speed hits you in the neck what is going to give is the fusion. That is the weak link. I would hope Manning's wife, his father, and his brother would offer him their thoughts. That is my firm opinion and I will never change my mind unless the medical reports I read are wrong. The consequences of this turning ugly are much worse than losing your legs. I hope this is not about ego. I would not even want to watch Manning play now. I would not want to ever seen him being carted off the field motionless.

I appreciate you sharing your experiences with us John. Man---you fought in Nam---and like you said once you've been hit, you never forget and you never stop worrying about whether you will be hit again.

You echo the exact feeling I have about Kolb. I do not want to see him take another hit---any hit. When I played QB in high school, the toughest thing to do was to hang in the pocket and make the throw that you know immediately after you are going to be nailed in the solar plexus and your head is going to do a whiplash on the turf---and then the flashings of the white stars---

If our offense wasn't predicated on the QB having to stand tough in the pocket and deliver, I could talk myself into thinking Kolb has a chance.

He's got no chance in this offense. None.

The reason why Skelton does is he's big---he's harder to take down and it's much harder to land blows on him in the head area because at his height it would be an obvious 15 yarder and a likely $20K fine. I've also noticed that Skelton does exactly what you are supposed to do when you get hit---have your body go limp and ease into and out of the hit. Skelton is very smart that way.

Thanks again, John---I feel tremendously honored to know you.

 

[CardsFan88]

Considering what is available, I'd feel much better with Skelton getting a chance to start and preparing himself like that. It's all too clear that he is going to start what would probably be the majority of the games, might as well give him all the OTA/training camp reps, intra-week reps, preseason game starts with any vanilla game planning.

Remember this sort of stuff will help skelton with the area he was least proficient in, seeing the game in NFL speed. Once he sees something, he reacts quickly, but it's all the minutiae between the snap and that point that preparation as the starter will help him with. Condensing that aspect I believe will give us a much better picture on what Skelton can be, and can definitely turn a couple bad plays into good plays with its effects on the game might be the difference in an 8-8 team last year getting over the top this year. Hoping Kolb is the man in face of all evidence only hurts Skelton and our chances. I don't want a $$$ decision against all odds hurt us on the field for W/L. Yet I see us heading directly there.

This is his 3rd season and Skelton hasn't really gotten much of a chance to be developed. He's been thrown into the fire as a very raw player, and done some good things. He is no Cam Newton, but Cam was highly recruited out of high school and went to a football school. Skelton was way more raw and should be expected to come along slowly. Aaron Rogers looked like a scrub early in his career too, he just wasn't ready. Once he was, we all see what he can become. I'm not saying he'll be as good as Rogers, but players properly developed can become that great even if they didn't look very good early on. Cam beat everyone's expectations. Which is more of a plus to Cam then a negative on Sketlon. But Kolb is holding him back from being more prepared from what IS the inevitable. That skelton will start next year and is the QB that has the future with this team as at least a decent possibility.

I too would not mind Dennis Dixon. Not because he was a steeler, but what I liked from him in Duck land. We need someone who can be on the field, and while he gets knicked up, he can still play. If you have serious doubts your QB won't be there during playoff time, and it's still the offseason, do something about it. (which is what miffed me about the Manning situation, we had every incentive conceivable to NOT pick up the bonus, but still did. Even though that also knocked us from Manning contention, not the other way around...though it looks like Denver was probably the front runner, even if they weren't, it wouldn't of mattered, we let Kolb's bonus dictate to us instead of the other way around).

That protection in the contract was put in JUST for this sort of occurrence imo and we didn't use the out. You put that sort of protection in if the guy flat out sucks, doesn't fit, gets injured, and for a guy who didn't play well at all AND got injured with a known recurring injury that causes players to retire early, that contract out was singing as powerfully as Pavarotti in his prime to be used.

I agree we must sign someone who can pass block. It's nice that we had the best run blockers and pulling guards that we've had for a long time during this era, but it's come at the expense of not being able to block the pass rush, especially the guys with speed, or heaven forbid they send two guys around (or over under) levi.

Levi does also quit on plays. I've seen so many times when he's beat he just stops and assumes the QB is toast, only to find out the QB, even running back squirms out, and if he had continued playing it might have resulted in a big play, only to then be smashed because Levi wasn't there. Not just Levi, I saw that with multiple guys.

Last year I said I'd play an OL at TE on a regular basis, perhaps even two. If we're going to pass, having 3-4 receivers and no time to throw to them is worse than having two receivers and the time to attempt to throw to them EVERY TIME. If we want to use our TE's, we should get better linemen.

Unless we add more talent in FA, I'd still do it, though maybe start with one on the left and go as needed. You'd think given the offseason we could address the issue, but Snyder isn't a tackle, and Keith while being decent, is injury prone, and when he's injured he too can't handle the speed rush.

We re-signed Levi, which I don't mind, I just want him to be used in the way that plays to his strengths. Run-blocking. If we use him how he has been used the last few years it was a horrible signing, because again we'll be setting him up to fail, our QB to be toasted, and our season record stunted, maybe by that game or two that keeps us out of the playoffs.

I think we have some good talent, and very capable of making a playoff run...except with our QB/OT position. Yes we have other holes, but every team has holes. Not all holes are equal, and the QB/OT one is a devastating situation. It might be equaled to five holes at other position in terms of effects of that single hole. I don't want to see another season ruined because of this, but it sure is setting up that way. Still plenty of time to go to address some of this, but it needs to be addressed. That hole is greater than all other holes combined on this team, and then some.

Sherman as rb who can block sounds good to me. Anything that can get our QB whoever it is time to throw is a plus. The key is getting the time to throw. We don't have Warner. We don't have Marino. We tend to pass more than we run. So pass blocking is a necessity, run blocking is a luxury. Why we pay more attention to the luxury while we put a Aints bag over our head for pass blocking is beyond me. (speaking of which, some saints fan really has to go to opening day and wear one of those things and write on it...I didn't see no bounty). But we do it and risk the season solely on this. That's too much to risk.

I doubt LaMichael James gets to the 3rd round, but just a thought (that's not a hate on williams/beanie/hyphen) if we brought in Dixon. I'd love to see James on the Cards. But not getting a tackle in FA screws us imo. We are forced to now take one in the 1st or 3rd, and if we don't, we'll still have a season killing hole. This is not a good position to be in. Get a tackle in fa, and draft players that push us forward because they are BPA not needs.

While Levi is a good run blocker, and might be a better fit for a run oriented offense, he is literally suicide being the blind side protector going against the defensive side most likely to see speed rushers on a team that throws as often as us. He just isn't put into a position to win, but fail. He IS being misused.

On a larger note, I believe the philosophy for our OL has been to not have a bunch of high paid guys on the line unless they truly are best in league while not wanting to put ourselves in such a position as well. Get a bunch of mediocre guys that seem to stay healthy, are coachable, and play the physical way they like or can pull, whatever, and coach them up. While people have been lambasting Grimm, I think the plan has been to turn chicken scratch into chicken salad. Grimm can't make Levi stop speed rushers. He frankly hasn't been working with much. Everything has been on the cheap and developmental/late round pick/udfa types. Given this I think Grimm has done a decent job in this regard. What fails is the lack of realization that we need more, and the push to demand more. Maybe that's on him, maybe whis, maybe keim, maybe graves. It's somewhere, I don't know where.

Give Grimm some better talent and then we might have more to go on, and a line that doesn't help leave wreckage at the QB position. But I think that's what Grimm is being counted on, to be the guy who can coach up a significant portion of the roster so that the salary cap isn't spent on the line, and available for the more sexy positions. That is literally what I think is going on. Save on cap space with the line, spend it elsewhere. Perhaps even the notion of spending more higher round picks elsewhere instead of the line, because sometimes the two go hand in hand, at least in the prior rookie contract structuring. Less money and less high draft picks on the line so you can concentrate it elsewhere. It does make some sense, but if the end result is speed rushers lobotomizing your QB's, you have to tweak that approach a bit.

But they've gone too far imo. Or maybe if Levi panned out, it works. Either way it should be known by now that it doesn't work as is, and they need to seriously address it. The rookie structure has now been changed, and taking picks high won't be a huge contract. Hopefully they finally get it, and pour some into the line. If not 1st round, then definitely 3rd. You hate to not go BPA, but if we go into next year and don't even have a 3rd round pick as a rookie with a potential future on the line then it just doesn't seem we're doing it right. A FA OT pickup before the draft would be great and allow us to better improve the team elsewhere. Overall I'm not satisfied with the talent at tackle in this draft. They are some serviceable people, but on the other hand, you have studs at other positions. I'd rather get stud at some other position, than a serviceable, marginally good tackle who has some flaws. That is the best I see with Reiff or Glenn. One handles speed rushers better, but lacks strength and size. The other is a mauler, but can't handle speed rushers. I really don't want either if it keeps us from getting a stud somewhere else. I could live with it, since it is a need, but know in my heart it wasn't an optimal approach, and we could of set ourselves up to take a better approach but chose not to.

I still blame the OL first and Kolb 2nd for the troubles. People tend to forget that it was AFTER seeing our wonderful speed rushing stopping prowess numerous times that THEN Kolb got skittish. Early on he was standing in the pocket better. It was only AFTER he figured out our line sucked at speed rush stopping and he had to have his head on a swivel that he got skittish, and then started causing problems that weren't the OL's fault, but his own by bailing out. He doesn't trust our line on the field whatever he says off the field. Then came a few up the gut and his 'head in the game' was toast.

How can they ask a guy with concussions to stand in the pocket behind this run offense built line which cannot block edge rushers? It's like Sam Malone running a bar and not drinking. It has to be that sort of out of place, amazing, turnaround in order to work. Extraordinary expectations require more than wishful thinking and lip service. I don't see how anything we've done in this regard been anything but wishful thinking and lip service. It may not only ruin our season, but screw our draft up. Team face unknowns all the time. But when there are known problems left unaddressed, it's a recipe for disaster.

So with all that said, we have the draft and 2nd wave of free agency to go so there is still time, but if it isn't addressed, I think that is the most likely reason our season goes down in flames...and it was entirely knowable. Hell it was painfully obvious. It does have me a bit worried because start of free agency is generally where you start to plug such obvious holes. There wasn't a guy we wanted to sign to a 10 million a year contract out there, but still we should of picked up someone as a 1-2 year stopgap already. Perhaps the plan is to draft BPA and sign a tackle after the draft. That might be decent, but I'm just guessing that will all the idiocy imo we're doing, it's hard to believe that a certain set of events will play out like that.

I also think the media should have asked Kolb what he thought about the moves or lack thereof along the line. Yes, a tough question, but a fair one. Then asked if he thought there was enough talent there to keep him upright? The Manning questions don't matter. It's the concussion and line questions that do.

But since when are journalists, journalists? Not in my lifetime and I'll be 34 in june.

Kolb is here and for the balance of time in which we could make a change for 2012, there will be no change that I can see or expect. It'll be him or Skelton. But given what we know, I feel it is foolish to have done so. I can understand it, but still feel it is wishful thinking and foolish.

I feel under this scenario (given all we have is hope of availability and that should be well known) we should prepare Skelton as the #1, because I don't see how he isn't the starter by year's end. That's even without playing ability of Kolb being the question and it is still a question (rather availability is the bigger one). It would be even more foolish not to approach it in this way. Otherwise we risk compounded mistakes. I hope we don't compound our mistakes.

In other words, we want to give Kolb one more shot given how much we sunk, fine, one more season. But we don't have to stunt Skelton and thus our teams chances with Skelton, who will be the starter at some point just because our front office wants so badly for Kolb not to have been a major mistake. That's not team success first. That's not commitment to winning. That's CYA and CYA doesn't help a team on the field it hurts it.

 

[Crazy Canuck]

I think you are right in that he may want to play but the reality of the situation is he is putting his life at risk and he knows it. He is not going to walk in front of a bus in the form of a LB coming at him. He is going to retreat like he did last year. I would not blame him.

Well, we know what you would do. Now let's see what Kolb does.

 

[devilalum]

I would much rather have a slightly less skilled Skelton who isnt afraid to take a hit. With this offensive line the Cards need a tuff QB.

 

[JeffGollin]

It's Just Football...

Every day you read about someone being hit by a bus, winning the lottery, getting shot in a drive-by, getting fired, meeting a new friend, breaking a tooth etc. etc.

Kevin suffered a concussion. His team had a rare opportunity to possibly sign the best QB in NFL history and someone who could totally transform an offense into a scoring machine. It didn't work out. Kevin is back along with his competition-buddy, Skelton. It is what it is.

Trying to read the minds and bruised egos of everyone concerned is well nigh impossible. Different people are going to react in varying ways.

Bleep happens.

Prediction - Everyone is going to buckle up their chin-straps and play football. They will try to maximize their W's and minimize their losses. Maybe they'll be successful; maybe not; maybe in-between. But trying to scope out the very core of each individuals inner-feeings figures to be futile and frustrating.

So buckle up and let's get it on.

 

[ajcardfan]

I really didn't get any sense of drama over what Kolb said to the media about Manning when Whisenhunt talked about it yesterday. No big deal, IMO.

 

[Reddog]

It just doesn't make sense that the Cardinals could expect Kolb, who showed a disturbing skittishness in the pocket prior to his concussion that after his second concussion in two years, the second one being so serious to the point of the symptoms lasting 7 weeks---that the Cardinals would expect Kolb to be eager and ready to stay in the pocket this year. AND---the Cardinals' expectation of this is at their own and Kolb's risk.

Maybe, just maybe---Kolb was hoping the Cardinals would have given him a sooner chance at retirement---and who could blame Kolb if that is the case?

Mitch, this is a bizarre notion. But I have to admit I have been thinking this same thing. I just sensed that Kolb was in no rush to play after his toe injury and prior to the concussion. I could totally see him mailing it in this season and then retiring after this year and disappearing to his ranch to hunt and fish the rest of his life like a lottery winner.

 

[Jersey Girl]

I'm sure that no one can definitively say either way. We don't know what we have in Kolb yet. We will at some point this season.

I have been against having Kolb here from the get-go, but I have to agree with Nick. We really don't know what we have in Kolb or how he will react to having had the concussions. As much as I wanted him cut after we were out of the Manning sweepstakes, I will take and wait-and-see approach. I want to see how he looks in camp and in the preseason. I think the coaches will do what's best for the team and, if that means sitting the million dollar man then so be it.

I really didn't get any sense of drama over what Kolb said to the media about Manning when Whisenhunt talked about it yesterday. No big deal, IMO.

Yeah, I heard his comments. I thought they were pretty okay. Nothing to see here.