http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/story.hts/sports/fb/nfl/1831718
March 22, 2003, 9:12PM
No doubting Cards' future seems bright
PHOENIX -- Every four years, the NFL schedules its spring meetings at the Arizona Biltmore, and for the first time since the Cardinals moved from St. Louis in 1988, there is positive news coming from the team's practice facility in Tempe.
The Cardinals are pursuing running back Emmitt Smith, defensive tackle Vonnie Holiday and outside linebacker Junior Seau, the latter of whom will be waived if his agent is unable to work out a trade. A trade for Seau is unlikely because his new team would have to assume his gargantuan contract.
Tuesday, Phoenix will make a presentation to host the 2008 or 2009 Super Bowl in the Cardinals' new, retractable-roof stadium in Glendale. They'll leave Sun Devil Stadium at Arizona State for their new home in 2006. The official groundbreaking ceremony is April 12.
The Cardinals lost quarterback Jake Plummer (Broncos) and receiver David Boston (Chargers) in free agency, but there seems to be a bright outlook for three reasons:
One, Michael Bidwill -- one of owner Bill Bidwill's sons and the only respected member of the family -- has been given more power over daily operations. He's heavily involved in the city's bid to host a Super Bowl for the first time since 1996.
Two, Michael Bidwill promoted Rod Graves, a Houston native who graduated from Texas Tech, to run the football operation. Graves has worked his way through organizations to become one of the few African-Americans to run his team's personnel department.
Three, even after two losing seasons, coach Dave McGinnis remains popular with fans and media who are confident he can win if given the resources other coaches enjoy. McGinnis works well with Graves. Like Graves, McGinnis is a Texas native. He grew up in Snyder and played at TCU.
Those who follow McGinnis and Graves closely believe they can put an end to the team's losing reputation if they're given a level playing field by the Bidwills. But anyone who knows the Bidwills is skeptical about how much freedom they'll give Graves and McGinnis and how much money they'll pump into the personnel department.
Around the league
A tall tale?
-- One reason the Cardinals want to get rid of running back Thomas Jones, the seventh overall pick in 2000, and sign Emmitt Smith is because they believe he lied to them last season about an injury.
The Cardinals placed Jones on the reserved/non-football injury list for the last five games and didn't pay him. He claimed he suffered a broken hand at home when he hit it on a countertop as he reached for the telephone. He even got his mother to visit the facility and vouch for him. But the Cardinals didn't believe their story.
Last month, a Tempe man came forward to claim Jones suffered the broken hand when he slugged the guy in a local bar. Jones has one year left on his contract. If the Cardinals can't trade him, he's expected to be waived.
Decision day
-- It's looking more like the Texans will use the third pick in the draft on Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs, an underclassman who registered 24 sacks last season and won the Lombardi Award.
Wednesday, the Texans will attend the Sun Devils' pro day. They'll put Suggs through every possible drill and test he'll allow.
The Texans will select Suggs or Miami receiver Andre Johnson. They won't trade down unless a team blows them away with a trade offer, which isn't likely.
If Suggs blows everyone away Wednesday, it's not out of the question Cincinnati might use the first pick in the draft on him.
Texans coach Dom Capers is certain Suggs is an ideal fit at the outside linebacker spot vacated by Jeff Posey. Suggs played at 250 to 255 last season as a junior. He was 6-3, 262 at the Indianapolis combine last month because he wanted to impress teams that want him as a 4-3 defensive end, although he didn't run or work out.
General manager Charley Casserly is on record as saying if all things are equal, he'll take an offensive player. The Texans had the worst offense in the NFL.
Johnson, also an underclassman, is an incredible athlete. He's 6-2, 230 and runs in the 4.3s. He's tough, likes to hit defensive backs and doesn't mind going over the middle. He has good, quick, strong hands, but he's an inconsistent receiver at this stage of his career.
Remember that such exceptional receivers as Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Joe Horn, Isaac Bruce and Eric Moulds are known for dropping easy passes.
The Texans could use their No. 2 selection on a receiver like Tennessee's Kelley Washington or Chattanooga's Tyrone Calico. Texans receivers coach Kippy Brown has been scouting Washington and Calico by attending their pro days.
Suggs vs. Johnson
-- Here are some things the Texans have to weigh when deciding on Terrell Suggs and Andre Johnson: It's harder to find a classic 3-4 outside linebacker whom you believe has Pro Bowl ability as a pass rusher.
Although Suggs would have to drop into pass coverage on occasion, most of the time he would be rushing the quarterback or playing the run. Suggs would be able to make a quicker impact because of the nature of his position.
Rookie receivers, especially underclassmen, often take two or three years before developing the way the coaches expect.
If Johnson is the third pick, one spot behind Michigan State receiver Charlie Rogers (Detroit), he could hold out, which would hamper his progress as a rookie. Rogers is represented by Houston agent Carl Poston, who has a reputation around the NFL of driving such a hard bargain that many of his high No. 1 picks have been involved in long holdouts. Because Johnson is a receiver, he won't sign until Rogers establishes the market for their position.
Pretty in pink?
-- When Gregg Bingham played middle linebacker for the Oilers during the Luv Ya Blue era, he was the ultimate macho man. He never missed a play or a day of practice and led the team in tackles each season.
Now, Bingham is heavily involved in the women's fashion world. But here's the deal: Like father, like daughter.
Bingham, who has been a Houston businessman since he retired in 1984, has been traveling the country on buying trips with his daughter, Stevie, the owner of the new Bella Boutique -- a smaller version of Fred Segal in Los Angeles -- at Richmond and Wesleyan.
Speaking of Bingham, he'll be one of the many former Oilers from the late 1960s through the early 1980s who are going to Canton, Ohio, for Elvin Bethea's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 3.
If you were an Oilers fan and you've wanted to visit Canton, this is the year to go because it is the site of a three-decade reunion of former players and coaches. Plus, it's the 40-year anniversary of the original class, and every member has been invited back.
Rotan's Sammy Baugh, 89, is the only surviving member of the illustrious 1963 class.
John McClain covers the NFL for the Chronicle. His NFL Notebook appears Sundays.
March 22, 2003, 9:12PM
No doubting Cards' future seems bright
PHOENIX -- Every four years, the NFL schedules its spring meetings at the Arizona Biltmore, and for the first time since the Cardinals moved from St. Louis in 1988, there is positive news coming from the team's practice facility in Tempe.
The Cardinals are pursuing running back Emmitt Smith, defensive tackle Vonnie Holiday and outside linebacker Junior Seau, the latter of whom will be waived if his agent is unable to work out a trade. A trade for Seau is unlikely because his new team would have to assume his gargantuan contract.
Tuesday, Phoenix will make a presentation to host the 2008 or 2009 Super Bowl in the Cardinals' new, retractable-roof stadium in Glendale. They'll leave Sun Devil Stadium at Arizona State for their new home in 2006. The official groundbreaking ceremony is April 12.
The Cardinals lost quarterback Jake Plummer (Broncos) and receiver David Boston (Chargers) in free agency, but there seems to be a bright outlook for three reasons:
One, Michael Bidwill -- one of owner Bill Bidwill's sons and the only respected member of the family -- has been given more power over daily operations. He's heavily involved in the city's bid to host a Super Bowl for the first time since 1996.
Two, Michael Bidwill promoted Rod Graves, a Houston native who graduated from Texas Tech, to run the football operation. Graves has worked his way through organizations to become one of the few African-Americans to run his team's personnel department.
Three, even after two losing seasons, coach Dave McGinnis remains popular with fans and media who are confident he can win if given the resources other coaches enjoy. McGinnis works well with Graves. Like Graves, McGinnis is a Texas native. He grew up in Snyder and played at TCU.
Those who follow McGinnis and Graves closely believe they can put an end to the team's losing reputation if they're given a level playing field by the Bidwills. But anyone who knows the Bidwills is skeptical about how much freedom they'll give Graves and McGinnis and how much money they'll pump into the personnel department.
Around the league
A tall tale?
-- One reason the Cardinals want to get rid of running back Thomas Jones, the seventh overall pick in 2000, and sign Emmitt Smith is because they believe he lied to them last season about an injury.
The Cardinals placed Jones on the reserved/non-football injury list for the last five games and didn't pay him. He claimed he suffered a broken hand at home when he hit it on a countertop as he reached for the telephone. He even got his mother to visit the facility and vouch for him. But the Cardinals didn't believe their story.
Last month, a Tempe man came forward to claim Jones suffered the broken hand when he slugged the guy in a local bar. Jones has one year left on his contract. If the Cardinals can't trade him, he's expected to be waived.
Decision day
-- It's looking more like the Texans will use the third pick in the draft on Arizona State defensive end Terrell Suggs, an underclassman who registered 24 sacks last season and won the Lombardi Award.
Wednesday, the Texans will attend the Sun Devils' pro day. They'll put Suggs through every possible drill and test he'll allow.
The Texans will select Suggs or Miami receiver Andre Johnson. They won't trade down unless a team blows them away with a trade offer, which isn't likely.
If Suggs blows everyone away Wednesday, it's not out of the question Cincinnati might use the first pick in the draft on him.
Texans coach Dom Capers is certain Suggs is an ideal fit at the outside linebacker spot vacated by Jeff Posey. Suggs played at 250 to 255 last season as a junior. He was 6-3, 262 at the Indianapolis combine last month because he wanted to impress teams that want him as a 4-3 defensive end, although he didn't run or work out.
General manager Charley Casserly is on record as saying if all things are equal, he'll take an offensive player. The Texans had the worst offense in the NFL.
Johnson, also an underclassman, is an incredible athlete. He's 6-2, 230 and runs in the 4.3s. He's tough, likes to hit defensive backs and doesn't mind going over the middle. He has good, quick, strong hands, but he's an inconsistent receiver at this stage of his career.
Remember that such exceptional receivers as Terrell Owens, Randy Moss, Joe Horn, Isaac Bruce and Eric Moulds are known for dropping easy passes.
The Texans could use their No. 2 selection on a receiver like Tennessee's Kelley Washington or Chattanooga's Tyrone Calico. Texans receivers coach Kippy Brown has been scouting Washington and Calico by attending their pro days.
Suggs vs. Johnson
-- Here are some things the Texans have to weigh when deciding on Terrell Suggs and Andre Johnson: It's harder to find a classic 3-4 outside linebacker whom you believe has Pro Bowl ability as a pass rusher.
Although Suggs would have to drop into pass coverage on occasion, most of the time he would be rushing the quarterback or playing the run. Suggs would be able to make a quicker impact because of the nature of his position.
Rookie receivers, especially underclassmen, often take two or three years before developing the way the coaches expect.
If Johnson is the third pick, one spot behind Michigan State receiver Charlie Rogers (Detroit), he could hold out, which would hamper his progress as a rookie. Rogers is represented by Houston agent Carl Poston, who has a reputation around the NFL of driving such a hard bargain that many of his high No. 1 picks have been involved in long holdouts. Because Johnson is a receiver, he won't sign until Rogers establishes the market for their position.
Pretty in pink?
-- When Gregg Bingham played middle linebacker for the Oilers during the Luv Ya Blue era, he was the ultimate macho man. He never missed a play or a day of practice and led the team in tackles each season.
Now, Bingham is heavily involved in the women's fashion world. But here's the deal: Like father, like daughter.
Bingham, who has been a Houston businessman since he retired in 1984, has been traveling the country on buying trips with his daughter, Stevie, the owner of the new Bella Boutique -- a smaller version of Fred Segal in Los Angeles -- at Richmond and Wesleyan.
Speaking of Bingham, he'll be one of the many former Oilers from the late 1960s through the early 1980s who are going to Canton, Ohio, for Elvin Bethea's induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on Aug. 3.
If you were an Oilers fan and you've wanted to visit Canton, this is the year to go because it is the site of a three-decade reunion of former players and coaches. Plus, it's the 40-year anniversary of the original class, and every member has been invited back.
Rotan's Sammy Baugh, 89, is the only surviving member of the illustrious 1963 class.
John McClain covers the NFL for the Chronicle. His NFL Notebook appears Sundays.
