Cardinals Carpe-ing The Heck Out of Diem

[Chopper0080]

Wow, a lot of hype from a slew of "meh" signings. Cardinals signed two good player in Cason and Powers, and then a bunch of depth guys. Shaughnessy, Stanton, Alexander, Brinkley, Mendenhall and Bell are medicore talents who signed contracts that reflect that. It's isn't bad to sign players like this, rosters need them. But to get excited about them is a bit silly.

Stanton isn't going to throw for 4500 yards. Mendenhall isn't going to run for 1400 yards. Neither Brinkley, Alexander or Shaughnessy are going to get 10+ sacks or 6+ picks. The only one who should warrant any excitement would be Stanton, but that is only if you feel like the rest of the league are idiots and Arians is a world class illusionist.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Wow, a lot of hype from a slew of "meh" signings. Cardinals signed two good player in Cason and Powers, and then a bunch of depth guys. Shaughnessy, Stanton, Alexander, Brinkley, Mendenhall and Bell are medicore talents who signed contracts that reflect that. It's isn't bad to sign players like this, rosters need them. But to get excited about them is a bit silly.

Stanton isn't going to throw for 4500 yards. Mendenhall isn't going to run for 1400 yards. Neither Brinkley, Alexander or Shaughnessy are going to get 10+ sacks or 6+ picks. The only one who should warrant any excitement would be Stanton, but that is only if you feel like the rest of the league are idiots and Arians is a world class illusionist.

Jesus who is predicting any of that? So your contention is everyone signed in FA has to be 10 sack guy or 1500 yard rusher to be a " good signing"?

None of they guys signed are world beaters. Hell as many have pointed out in many cases its been a downgrade in talent. However THEY ARE MAKING 1/3 THE MONEY. How any one can debate this topic and not bring up cost is beyond me.

So yes I think the Cardinals did well in replacing a bunch of "name" guys that many were ready to cut 2 mos ago anyway. BUT THEY HAVE adequately replaced and/or achieved getting more depth AT 1/3 THE PRICE.

I'm expecting my 10 sack 4000 yard passing 1500 yard dofference makers to come via next draft or two as well as continued development from our current players. Not Yeromiah bell and Rashard Mendenhall.

Does it have to be superstar or bust?

 

[kerouac9]

Jesus who is predicting any of that? So your contention is everyone signed in FA has to be 10 sack guy or 1500 yard rusher to be a " good signing"?

None of they guys signed are world beaters. Hell as many have pointed out in many cases its been a downgrade in talent. However THEY ARE MAKING 1/3 THE MONEY. How any one can debate this topic and not bring up cost is beyond me.

So yes I think the Cardinals did well in replacing a bunch of "name" guys that many were ready to cut 2 mos ago anyway. BUT THEY HAVE adequately replaced and/or achieved getting more depth AT 1/3 THE PRICE.

I'm expecting my 10 sack 4000 yard passing 1500 yard dofference makers to come via next draft or two as well as continued development from our current players. Not Yeromiah bell and Rashard Mendenhall.

Does it have to be superstar or bust?

I think we have/had plenty of "lunchpail" guys on both sides of the football. The reason this team is 5-11 is because we didn't have enough guys making plays. The reason that you're satisfied that we're going to be 5-11 again in 2013 is that we released 2 of our 5 best playmakers on the defense--you know, the only good unit on the 2012 Cardinals--in Rhodes and Wilson.

For as interested in the Cardinals finances as you are, are you ready to admit that you're Bill Bidwill III? I can't think of another reason you'd be excited for so much "savings," when the rookie salary scale means that there's no reason to "save" for rookie contracts.

The Eagles signed Conor Barwin for 6 years, $36M, $8M guaranteed. What a great deal for locking up a proven edge rusher at a contract that you can get out of in 2014 that makes the team better right away, and could be an immense value in the future.

If Antoine Cason or Jerraud Powers are good, they'll be gone before you can say "Richard Sherman" or "Greg Toler." Otherwise, you're buying high in 2014.

BTW--Sean Smith signed with KC for $1M more than Indy got for Toler. THAT'S what good free agency management looks like.

It doesn't look like Lorenzo Alexander.

 

[wa52lz]

I think we have/had plenty of "lunchpail" guys on both sides of the football. The reason this team is 5-11 is because we didn't have enough guys making plays. The reason that you're satisfied that we're going to be 5-11 again in 2013 is that we released 2 of our 5 best playmakers on the defense--you know, the only good unit on the 2012 Cardinals--in Rhodes and Wilson.

For as interested in the Cardinals finances as you are, are you ready to admit that you're Bill Bidwill III? I can't think of another reason you'd be excited for so much "savings," when the rookie salary scale means that there's no reason to "save" for rookie contracts.

The Eagles signed Conor Barwin for 6 years, $36M, $8M guaranteed. What a great deal for locking up a proven edge rusher at a contract that you can get out of in 2014 that makes the team better right away, and could be an immense value in the future.

If Antoine Cason or Jerraud Powers are good, they'll be gone before you can say "Richard Sherman" or "Greg Toler." Otherwise, you're buying high in 2014.

BTW--Sean Smith signed with KC for $1M more than Indy got for Toler. THAT'S what good free agency management looks like.

It doesn't look like Lorenzo Alexander.

So you're saying if the Cards signed Connor Barwin to that contract, you wouldnt be saying they overpaid for a guy who got 11.5 of his 19 career sacks in one season, 2yrs ago and whose skills have declined, becuase teams just dont let proven edge rushes walk away?

 

[kerouac9]

So you're saying if the Cards signed Connor Barwin to that contract, you wouldnt be saying they overpaid for a guy who got 11.5 of his 19 career sacks in one season, 2yrs ago and whose skills have declined, becuase teams just dont let proven edge rushes walk away?

For 2 years, $4M? I doubt that's what I'd say. And that's not what the national press is saying right now. One million more guaranteed in 2013 for a guy that has 3 more sacks in one season than Alexander has in his entire career? I think that's probably a bargain.

And it takes the pressure off having to draft for need at OLB in the 2013 draft.

It seems to me that the Cards are remarkably gun-shy in their approach to 2013 free agency. After the dumb deals that the previous regime agreed to, there's certainly reason to, but I don't see much of a long-term plan in having to find a whole bunch of starting-caliber players in 2014 free agency instead of 2013.

 

[GuernseyCard]

I think we have/had plenty of "lunchpail" guys on both sides of the football. The reason this team is 5-11 is because we didn't have enough guys making plays. The reason that you're satisfied that we're going to be 5-11 again in 2013 is that we released 2 of our 5 best playmakers on the defense--you know, the only good unit on the 2012 Cardinals--in Rhodes and Wilson.

For as interested in the Cardinals finances as you are, are you ready to admit that you're Bill Bidwill III? I can't think of another reason you'd be excited for so much "savings," when the rookie salary scale means that there's no reason to "save" for rookie contracts.

The Eagles signed Conor Barwin for 6 years, $36M, $8M guaranteed. What a great deal for locking up a proven edge rusher at a contract that you can get out of in 2014 that makes the team better right away, and could be an immense value in the future.

If Antoine Cason or Jerraud Powers are good, they'll be gone before you can say "Richard Sherman" or "Greg Toler." Otherwise, you're buying high in 2014.

BTW--Sean Smith signed with KC for $1M more than Indy got for Toler. THAT'S what good free agency management looks like.

It doesn't look like Lorenzo Alexander.

If they bought the Connor Barwin of two seasons ago, they got a solid deal. If they've picked up the guy from last season it's a pig in a poke.

No one is satisfied with 5-11, but differ on the prescription for leaving that behind. You favoured keeping Whiz, if I recall, and now seem to be defending retaining those whose skills offer diminishing returns.

I, for one, prefer to see the team in a position to clear some bad deals away.

For the price of Toler, in passing, we got two CB's for the upcoming season.

Will they play well or be part of the core, who knows?

 

[Stop Whining]

Why hasnt Rhodes being a top caliber player been snatched up in the first wave of FA? Gay & Toler being mediocre at best caught on with another team right away. Has Rhodes priced himself out of a team?

 

[kerouac9]

If they bought the Connor Barwin of two seasons ago, they got a solid deal. If they've picked up the guy from last season it's a pig in a poke.

No one is satisfied with 5-11, but differ on the prescription for leaving that behind. You favoured keeping Whiz, if I recall, and now seem to be defending retaining those whose skills offer diminishing returns.

I, for one, prefer to see the team in a position to clear some bad deals away.

For the price of Toler, in passing, we got two CB's for the upcoming season.

Will they play well or be part of the core, who knows?

We'll see on Barwin. For $8M guaranteed on two years, I think it's worth the risk. That's $2M more than we guaranteed Stewart Bradley, and at least Barwin has shown that he CAN be productive at an impact position.

I favored keeping Whis in a role that was purely administrative, and forcing a new offensive coaching staff on him. That was based on what was available on the coaching market.

As for clearing "some bad deals away," why is it important to you as a fan how much money the Cards pay for players, especially productive ones? If Rhodes was playing for $4M instead of $6M, would that make a difference to you? Why?

I suspect that it wouldn't make a difference, and you don't really care what the team spends as long as they field a team--any kind of team--in July and August. That's fine, but it's not really my bag.

As for getting out of dumb contracts, I've said many times that I have no problem getting out of the contracts of Bradley and Kolb. They were essential cuts to get the team compliant with the salary cap and giving the team breathing room to sign some free agents and their draft class.

But Rhodes was coming off the cap in 2014 whether he played this year or not. The same thing with William Gay. If we saved enough money for 2 CBs in not competing for Toler's dumb contract, then what's the football rationale for cutting William Gay?

And around we go again.

 

[GuernseyCard]

We'll see on Barwin. For $8M guaranteed on two years, I think it's worth the risk. That's $2M more than we guaranteed Stewart Bradley, and at least Barwin has shown that he CAN be productive at an impact position.

I favored keeping Whis in a role that was purely administrative, and forcing a new offensive coaching staff on him. That was based on what was available on the coaching market.

As for clearing "some bad deals away," why is it important to you as a fan how much money the Cards pay for players, especially productive ones? If Rhodes was playing for $4M instead of $6M, would that make a difference to you? Why?

I suspect that it wouldn't make a difference, and you don't really care what the team spends as long as they field a team--any kind of team--in July and August. That's fine, but it's not really my bag.

As for getting out of dumb contracts, I've said many times that I have no problem getting out of the contracts of Bradley and Kolb. They were essential cuts to get the team compliant with the salary cap and giving the team breathing room to sign some free agents and their draft class.

But Rhodes was coming off the cap in 2014 whether he played this year or not. The same thing with William Gay. If we saved enough money for 2 CBs in not competing for Toler's dumb contract, then what's the football rationale for cutting William Gay?

And around we go again.

As a fan, I'm not overly concerned with player compensation. However, as the head of a legal team involved in sales and acquisitions, I can appreciate value within an existing and projected market place.

I think (don't know) that the team wanted to extend Rhodes at numbers they perceived as today's market value, and were not prepared to simply let the contract play out. In the Gay case, his play was a factor in not allowing things to go forward. I believe they regret the loss of Toler but, again, the price was considered a bit outlandish.

Until proven wrong, we've adequately dealt with the CB issue and can only hope and pray when it comes to Safety role. Doubt on the latter issue, we've seen the team's final response to that need.

As it stands we'll clear $12M in dead money this year, and that will help next off-season.

 

[Catfish]

That crap team we had in 2012, you know the one that was so bad the Cardinals need to replace all but about 5 guys, beat Seattle last year. No reason we can't beat them this year. And remember John Skelton? The worst QB to ever play in the NFL? The Cards beat SF in 2011 with him at QB. So no reason we can't beat them this year.

I don't want to rain on your parade Jake, but do not forget that SF has 15 picks in the upcoming draft, and they are already head and shoulders ahead of us in talent. Much the same can be said of Seattle. Yes we did win one game against Seattle last year, but that was the first time we played them. They might have been looking ahead, and we might have been having one of those days that happen in the NFL. That certainly didn't happen the last time we played them last year when they shut us out 58-0. That is the kind of win a truly talented team puts on one who has just stolen a game from them.

That is not to say that we won't win a couple of games that we should lose this year. BA has a penchant for being very good in situational football, (third downs, last two minutes of halves, red zone encroachments etc.). That just might get us an extra win or two, but generally talent wins out, and both Seattle and SF are considerably in front of us right now in that department.

The good news about that is with the way our Scouts, FO, and Staff have become a very together unit, who work tirelessly with singularity of purpose, and with the way this Staff communicates, we stand to act in the draft, just like we did in free agency, (which incidently sets this draft up perfectly for us). With that in mind, we can anticipate using FA to set up our draft again next year, and the year after. Soon we will be much closer to the talent level of Seattle and San Francisco, and THEN we can compete on a level footing with them.

I am not saying that we have our QBOF here on this roster, or even that we will have him after the draft. But, if this FO and Staff continue to work like they did this year, it will not be long before a really talented QB wants to be one of the FA's that signs here with us, because he will see what Kurt Warner saw when we had our SB roster. Franchise QB's are smart people, who know the limits of a fleeting group of roster players who are together at one time, and at least one of them will want to ride that roster to a SB ring, just as Warner attempted to do.

I believe good things are coming for this franchise, (and that good things have already come to us). I believe that watching Cardinal's Football will be fun again this year, even though we will likely not be able to compete for a divisional championship. This roster will almost certainly play fundamentally sound football, and will play with the enthusiasm that gym rats bring to a roster. They will also play with a certain confidence in their own abilities, (not to be confused for arrogance), which will let them play free from worry of making a mistake, (a problem which plagued young players attempting to perform for Whiz).

Arians already knows these players, and he will communicate to the draftees, what he has already communicated to the Free Agents. This team will be the Smart, Tough, Disciplined, team that Whiz always sought, but never produced, because he was more concerned about his system than he was about the players, (who had to make it work), and whether or not he taught those players fundamentally sound technique, or put the player into a position in which he could excel.

 

[kerouac9]

I don't want to rain on your parade Jake, but do not forget that SF has 15 picks in the upcoming draft, and they are already head and shoulders ahead of us in talent. Much the same can be said of Seattle. Yes we did win one game against Seattle last year, but that was the first time we played them. They might have been looking ahead, and we might have been having one of those days that happen in the NFL. That certainly didn't happen the last time we played them last year when they shut us out 58-0. That is the kind of win a truly talented team puts on one who has just stolen a game from them.

That is not to say that we won't win a couple of games that we should lose this year. BA has a penchant for being very good in situational football, (third downs, last two minutes of halves, red zone encroachments etc.). That just might get us an extra win or two, but generally talent wins out, and both Seattle and SF are considerably in front of us right now in that department.

The good news about that is with the way our Scouts, FO, and Staff have become a very together unit, who work tirelessly with singularity of purpose, and with the way this Staff communicates, we stand to act in the draft, just like we did in free agency, (which incidently sets this draft up perfectly for us). With that in mind, we can anticipate using FA to set up our draft again next year, and the year after. Soon we will be much closer to the talent level of Seattle and San Francisco, and THEN we can compete on a level footing with them.

I am not saying that we have our QBOF here on this roster, or even that we will have him after the draft. But, if this FO and Staff continue to work like they did this year, it will not be long before a really talented QB wants to be one of the FA's that signs here with us, because he will see what Kurt Warner saw when we had our SB roster. Franchise QB's are smart people, who know the limits of a fleeting group of roster players who are together at one time, and at least one of them will want to ride that roster to a SB ring, just as Warner attempted to do.

I believe good things are coming for this franchise, (and that good things have already come to us). I believe that watching Cardinal's Football will be fun again this year, even though we will likely not be able to compete for a divisional championship. This roster will almost certainly play fundamentally sound football, and will play with the enthusiasm that gym rats bring to a roster. They will also play with a certain confidence in their own abilities, (not to be confused for arrogance), which will let them play free from worry of making a mistake, (a problem which plagued young players attempting to perform for Whiz).

Arians already knows these players, and he will communicate to the draftees, what he has already communicated to the Free Agents. This team will be the Smart, Tough, Disciplined, team that Whiz always sought, but never produced, because he was more concerned about his system than he was about the players, (who had to make it work), and whether or not he taught those players fundamentally sound technique, or put the player into a position in which he could excel.

LOL. No need to support these assertions with any evidence. Any evidence at all.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

So you're saying if the Cards signed Connor Barwin to that contract, you wouldnt be saying they overpaid for a guy who got 11.5 of his 19 career sacks in one season, 2yrs ago and whose skills have declined, becuase teams just dont let proven edge rushes walk away?

^^^^ He gets it.

 

[Chopper0080]

Jesus who is predicting any of that? So your contention is everyone signed in FA has to be 10 sack guy or 1500 yard rusher to be a " good signing"?

None of they guys signed are world beaters. Hell as many have pointed out in many cases its been a downgrade in talent. However THEY ARE MAKING 1/3 THE MONEY. How any one can debate this topic and not bring up cost is beyond me.

So yes I think the Cardinals did well in replacing a bunch of "name" guys that many were ready to cut 2 mos ago anyway. BUT THEY HAVE adequately replaced and/or achieved getting more depth AT 1/3 THE PRICE.

I'm expecting my 10 sack 4000 yard passing 1500 yard dofference makers to come via next draft or two as well as continued development from our current players. Not Yeromiah bell and Rashard Mendenhall.

Does it have to be superstar or bust?

"Hes excited about what hes seen so far. So am I."

That is your quote. My question is, if you know these are a "downgrade in talent", why are you excited? You say we got slightly worse for 1/3 the cost, but where are the savings going? Where did that saved money go? Not to 2014, that is for damn sure. Of all of the players we cut, Kevin Kolb, Chris Wells, Early Doucet, Stewart Bradley, William Gay, Adrian Wilson and Kerry Rhodes, only Kolb, Bradley and Wilson gave us ANY 2014 savings and Wilson's number was minimal. The rest did nothing for our 2014 cap. NOTHING.

So, again, why are you "excited" at the direction of this team if we are "downgrading" in talent by cutting players who do not benefit our financial situation past the 2013 season?

If you like change for change's sake, just admit it. Don't try and come up with ridiculous reasons that don't make any sense like saving money for the 2013 season and then using that money to add marginal talent. I have been a Cardinals fan for many years and let me tell you, we never lack in marginal talent.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I think we have/had plenty of "lunchpail" guys on both sides of the football. The reason this team is 5-11 is because we didn't have enough guys making plays. The reason that you're satisfied that we're going to be 5-11 again in 2013 is that we released 2 of our 5 best playmakers on the defense--you know, the only good unit on the 2012 Cardinals--in Rhodes and Wilson.

For as interested in the Cardinals finances as you are, are you ready to admit that you're Bill Bidwill III? I can't think of another reason you'd be excited for so much "savings," when the rookie salary scale means that there's no reason to "save" for rookie contracts.

The Eagles signed Conor Barwin for 6 years, $36M, $8M guaranteed. What a great deal for locking up a proven edge rusher at a contract that you can get out of in 2014 that makes the team better right away, and could be an immense value in the future.

If Antoine Cason or Jerraud Powers are good, they'll be gone before you can say "Richard Sherman" or "Greg Toler." Otherwise, you're buying high in 2014.

BTW--Sean Smith signed with KC for $1M more than Indy got for Toler. THAT'S what good free agency management looks like.

It doesn't look like Lorenzo Alexander.

For someone who has so much "knoweldge" about this team you sure seem to miss the boat quite a bit.

First of these 'lunchpail" guys you speak of? Every team has them. They are called the bottom 2/3 of a team. See in the actual real live NFL, you cant have 4 10 sack guys on the DL, 3 100 tackle LBS, and 4 10 INT DBs. Thats not only typically financially impossible but also logically impossible. You see most teams have 8-10 Star/ProBowl/Top 10 at their position and the rest of the team is filled with a) rookies (which will be the backbone of this team and why the FO is not going nuts in FA) b) good players who "do their part" and c) guys you are looking to replace.

All these free agents? Are augmenting the stars we have in Washington, Dockett, Campbell, Peterson and Fitzgerald.

Our rookie class is going to play quite a bit. I expect to add 2-3 more starte type core players in Draft and these FAs you harangue will be have contracts ending when BINGO we can sign them next year or following if they perform well or get different guys if they dont. I dont think anyone is saying Antnie Cason and Josh Cribbs are taking the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. They are good players who will play a part and free up the studs (Peterson and Fitz) to make plays and dominate. The coaching, play of our stars, and draft will tell if thats worth 5 wins or 9.

And BTW I didnt just look at Football OUtsiders guide to best FA's when making my assessment of the market. I watched alot of Sean Smith last year. I wuld rather have a healthy Powers and like Cason just as much. Only get that by watching the games, not praying to the Stats bible to get all my insight.

And Barwin regressed last year and cost himself money with his 2012 performance. He is far from a sure thing and recieved far less then he would have in 2011. And wouldnt it make sense for this team.No a OLB at #7 that has a Aldon Smith or Bruce Irvin level impact??? That makes more sense then 36 million for Connor freaking Barwin.

I get the Cardinals plan. I have no idea how they team you would put together would play but I am sure as hell glad its not my team.

And I dont think we go 5-11 next year. I see 7 wins but waiting to see how the rest of the offseaso progresses. But ill wait to the draft before I get all full of myself and throw out extreme predictions as if they are Marshall Law that Ill change 8 times between now and the end of the year.

 

[kerouac9]

Congrats, AZF. Your content-free flame-baiting has landed you on my ignore list. You're joining the exclusive company of Crazy Canuck and THESMEL.

I look forward to not having to read your drivel in the future, not wondering when the mods are going to step in and at least warn you for not contributing any football conversation to your posts.

 

[Arizona's Finest]

Congrats, AZF. Your content-free flame-baiting has landed you on my ignore list. You're joining the exclusive company of Crazy Canuck and THESMEL.

I look forward to not having to read your drivel in the future, not wondering when the mods are going to step in and at least warn you for not contributing any football conversation to your posts.

Wow this is Exhibit A for examples going forward of people who dish it out but cant take it.

It AMAZING to me the way you talk down to people, are as snide and smug as you are yet have the balls to call for the mods and complain about people "flaming you"... rich LOL

I may not be very sensitive with my words but youll NEVER catch me running to mods to ban others or complaining someone is being mean to me. Hopefully Im still allowed to play at Recess after this punishment.

And how you didnt take the football insight from my previous post (it took up about 95% of what I said) and instead accuse me of just "coming at you" is even more laughable. Reading what you want to read I guess.

See ya

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

Wow this is Exhibit A for examples going forward of people who dish it out but cant take it.

It AMAZING to me the way you talk down to people, are as snide and smug as you are yet have the balls to call for the mods and complain about people "flaming you"... rich LOL

I may not be very sensitive with my words but youll NEVER catch me running to mods to ban others or complaining someone is being mean to me. Hopefully Im still allowed to play at Recess after this punishment.

And how you didnt take the football insight from my previous post (it took up about 95% of what I said) and instead accuse me of just "coming at you" is even more laughable. Reading what you want to read I guess.

See ya

Quoted, so K9 can see it.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Quoted, so K9 can see it.

jackass!

 

[Cardinals.Ken]

jackass!

Hehehehehe...

 

[kerouac9]

Quoted, so K9 can see it.

Nah. I get the updates on e-mail, anyway. Basically, the mods have let this board become more open since Skkorp left, but in some ways it's an uglier place. I'm fine with it.

You see, AZF is the weak. And I'm the tyrrany of evil men.

But I'm trying, Ringo. I'm trying real hard to be the shepherd.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Nah. I get the updates on e-mail, anyway. Basically, the mods have let this board become more open since Skkorp left, but in some ways it's an uglier place. I'm fine with it.

You see, AZF is the weak. And I'm the tyrrany of evil men.

But I'm trying, Ringo. I'm trying real hard to be the shepherd.

no one on this board should EVER compare themselves to Jules. Doing so just makes the perpetually uncool (any of us who waste as much time as we do here), RIDICULOUSLY uncool.

 

[kerouac9]

no one on this board should EVER compare themselves to Jules. Doing so just makes the perpetually uncool (any of us who waste as much time as we do here), RIDICULOUSLY uncool.

Fine. I'll rephrase.

I got this little country boy named AZF. I found him at a bus stop two days outta Georgia, barefoot, country as a chicken coop. I took him to my place in Compton, told him it was Hollywood.

 

[Duckjake]

I don't want to rain on your parade Jake, but do not forget that SF has 15 picks in the upcoming draft, and they are already head and shoulders ahead of us in talent. Much the same can be said of Seattle. Yes we did win one game against Seattle last year, but that was the first time we played them. They might have been looking ahead, and we might have been having one of those days that happen in the NFL. That certainly didn't happen the last time we played them last year when they shut us out 58-0. That is the kind of win a truly talented team puts on one who has just stolen a game from them.

Come on Catfish get on the bandwagon. The 2008 Super Bowl team lost 47-7 to New England, and 35-14 to Minnesota, and 48-20 to Philadelphia in an embarrassing Thanksgiving game. Philly didn't go home happy the last time we played them that year did they?

That 2008 team was loaded with Cardinal talent. Boldin, Hayes and Wells from 2003, Berry, Fitz, Dansby, and Dockett from 2004. Warner, Antonio Smith, Rolle and Okeafor from 2005.

Now look at what we have from 2010 and 2011. Dan Williams, Daryl Washington, and O'Brien Schofield. 2011 brought us Patrick Peterson, Rob Housler, Sherman and Sam Acho. Plus we have Fitz and Dockett and Campbell from earlier years. So we have the nucleus to get to that same level again. All we need is good QB play and to stop blowing up the offensive line every season.

People need to quit hanging their hats on that 58-0 game as the reason our defense needed to be rebuilt. It was an outlier. We could just as easily claim our offense was awesome because they scored 31 points against Detroit and be just as off base.

We'll be back and if SF and Seattle think we won't they're in for a surprise.

 

[Chopper0080]

For someone who has so much "knoweldge" about this team you sure seem to miss the boat quite a bit.

First of these 'lunchpail" guys you speak of? Every team has them. They are called the bottom 2/3 of a team. See in the actual real live NFL, you cant have 4 10 sack guys on the DL, 3 100 tackle LBS, and 4 10 INT DBs. Thats not only typically financially impossible but also logically impossible. You see most teams have 8-10 Star/ProBowl/Top 10 at their position and the rest of the team is filled with a) rookies (which will be the backbone of this team and why the FO is not going nuts in FA) b) good players who "do their part" and c) guys you are looking to replace.

All these free agents? Are augmenting the stars we have in Washington, Dockett, Campbell, Peterson and Fitzgerald.

Our rookie class is going to play quite a bit. I expect to add 2-3 more starte type core players in Draft and these FAs you harangue will be have contracts ending when BINGO we can sign them next year or following if they perform well or get different guys if they dont. I dont think anyone is saying Antnie Cason and Josh Cribbs are taking the Cardinals to the Super Bowl. They are good players who will play a part and free up the studs (Peterson and Fitz) to make plays and dominate. The coaching, play of our stars, and draft will tell if thats worth 5 wins or 9.

And BTW I didnt just look at Football OUtsiders guide to best FA's when making my assessment of the market. I watched alot of Sean Smith last year. I wuld rather have a healthy Powers and like Cason just as much. Only get that by watching the games, not praying to the Stats bible to get all my insight.

And Barwin regressed last year and cost himself money with his 2012 performance. He is far from a sure thing and recieved far less then he would have in 2011. And wouldnt it make sense for this team.No a OLB at #7 that has a Aldon Smith or Bruce Irvin level impact??? That makes more sense then 36 million for Connor freaking Barwin.

I get the Cardinals plan. I have no idea how they team you would put together would play but I am sure as hell glad its not my team.

And I dont think we go 5-11 next year. I see 7 wins but waiting to see how the rest of the offseaso progresses. But ill wait to the draft before I get all full of myself and throw out extreme predictions as if they are Marshall Law that Ill change 8 times between now and the end of the year.

Yes, the plan is to cut 2013 salaries to try and offset the dead money incurred by cutting Kolb, Bradley and Wilson. Not sure that is something to get excited about as a fan. As a fan I would prefer them to not count the dead money and instead use the savings of cut players to improve the overall talent of the roster. That would excite me.

 

[Catfish]

BA has a penchant for being very good in situational football, (third downs, last two minutes of halves, red zone encroachments etc.). That just might get us an extra win or two,



The good news about that is with the way our Scouts, FO, and Staff have become a very together unit, who work tirelessly with singularity of purpose,


But, if this FO and Staff continue to work like they did this year, it will not be long before a really talented QB wants to be one of the FA's that signs here with us,

BA Himself told us in a video that he would stress situational football, and that they would work on it every practice.

Keim said in a video that the staff has done this, and that they will continue to do so because he wanted every decision to be a Cardinal's Decision, not one person's imposed will.

More free agents, (and better free agents), signed with us this year than any other year I can recall, AND they did it at very good prices. For the most part they are each better than the player they replaced on our roster, with the glaring exception of Saftey. While they did address this position, they have left it to the draft to complete that move. Keim said that he would set up the draft by using free agency, and he delivered on that. He is about to sign Carson Palmer at QB, making both Kolb and Skelton disposable, AND he did it for less money. This draft is very deep and very strong at both OL and Saftey, and only a fool would believe that the Cardinals will not take advantage of that to address both positions with relevant players.

K-9, I want to say, that I don't post here just to be wasting my time. I do so because I find it pleasurable, and a wonderful hobby which I can afford, (being on a fixed income as I am). I don't understand your need for proof on every post that you disagree with, and I certainly don't understand why you feel that you are entitled to make such demands of posters.

We are not publishing something that people are paying for. These are our beliefs and often our hunches that we are posting. For you to sit in judgement as to the intent or veracity of all these posts is without merit, AND without entitlement.

You are not my parent, nor my teacher, nor my judge and jury. You are simply another poster on this board who, like me, expresses your opinion. For you to demand proof of anything you disagree with is disingenuous, AND inappropriate. Please, in the future, kindly consider my comments to be opinion, and treat them as such. As to whether you choose to believe in them or not is your choice. I have gone to great lengths to justify your requests thus far-----I will not do so in the future. If you take umbrage with them, so be it.